Dhaka, Bangladesh – After 17 years in exile, Tarique Rahman, acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), returned to Dhaka on December 25, 2025, in a historic and widely publicized homecoming. Thousands of supporters welcomed him as the BNP’s potential frontrunner for the upcoming national elections. Rahman arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport alongside

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Vatican City – In his first Christmas sermon as pope, Pope Leo XIV delivered a solemn and unusually direct message about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, calling attention to the plight of Palestinians displaced by years of conflict. The pontiff, the first American pope, addressed global wars, the suffering of civilians, and the challenges facing

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Beirut, Lebanon – The Israeli army has confirmed that an alleged member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was killed in airstrikes across Lebanon, marking another escalation in near-daily violations of the ceasefire with Hezbollah. The strike comes amid heightened tensions in southern Lebanon, just hours after a previous Israeli attack, and as US-brokered

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Mogadishu, Somalia – Residents of Somalia’s capital are making history by voting in local council elections, marking the first direct election in more than 50 years. Despite opposition boycotts and heightened security measures, voters lined up at polling stations across Mogadishu to choose their representatives directly for the first time since 1969. Historical Context: A

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Kyiv, Ukraine – Russia has intensified its claims of territorial gains in Ukraine in 2025, asserting that Moscow’s forces have captured key towns and regions. Analysts and Ukrainian officials remain skeptical, citing satellite evidence and field reports that contradict Moscow’s statements. The announcements come amid stalled US-Ukraine peace negotiations and continued military exchanges on the

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Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – Saudi Arabia has publicly demanded that Yemen’s main southern separatist group, the Southern Transitional Council (STC), withdraw from two eastern provinces it recently seized. The move highlights growing tensions within Yemen’s fragile anti-Houthi coalition and raises concerns about further destabilization in the country. Saudi Arabia Labels STC Actions an “Unjustified Escalation”

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Bekkersdal, South Africa – South African police have arrested 11 suspects in connection with a deadly mass shooting at a tavern in the Bekkersdal township, southwest of Johannesburg, that left 10 people dead and 10 others injured. The arrests include several undocumented miners, highlighting the ongoing issues with illegal mining and firearms in the region.

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Amman, Jordan – Jordan’s military has carried out a series of air strikes targeting drug and weapons smuggling networks along its northern border with Syria. The operations reportedly destroyed smuggling sites, laboratories, and workshops used by trafficking groups, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra. Precision Strikes Against Smuggling Networks On Wednesday, the Jordanian Armed

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Bethlehem, West Bank – The streets of Bethlehem are once again alive with the sound of drums, bagpipes, and brass as Christmas celebrations returned to the city’s iconic Manger Square. After a two-year hiatus due to ongoing conflicts in Gaza and the West Bank, Palestinians gathered to celebrate Christmas with a mixture of joy, resilience,

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The United States will prioritize economic pressure over military action against Venezuela in the coming months, focusing specifically on sanctioned Venezuelan oil, according to a Reuters report citing a US official. The White House has directed the US military to focus “almost exclusively on enforcing a ‘quarantine’ of Venezuelan oil,” even as the region continues

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