In Bangladesh, the political group Inqilab Moncho has called for “all-out” blockades in all divisional cities, starting Sunday, as part of escalating protests demanding justice for slain leader Sharif Osman bin Hadi. The announcement follows ongoing sit-ins and road blockades, particularly at Shahbagh in Dhaka, where activists have disrupted traffic while demanding the arrest and trial of Hadi’s killers. Protesters briefly moved to accommodate BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman’s visit to Hadi’s grave, but have since resumed demonstrations. Leaders warn the movement will continue — even escalate — until justice is delivered. (PC: Reuters)

U.S.-backed airstrikes have struck two Islamic State-linked militant camps in the Bauni forest of Sokoto State, northwest Nigeria, targeting foreign fighters infiltrating from the Sahel, the Nigerian government said. The operation, approved by President Bola Tinubu and coordinated with U.S. forces, involved 16 GPS-guided munitions launched from maritime platforms and was announced by U.S. President Donald Trump on social media, who said the group had targeted Christians. Nigerian authorities reported no civilian casualties, though debris fell in nearby towns in Sokoto and Kwara states. Officials highlighted heightened security cooperation amid rising extremist threats in West Africa. (PC: Reuters)

Switzerland’s Army Chief, Lieutenant General Thomas Suessli, has warned that the country is currently unable to defend itself against a full-scale military attack, particularly amid rising geopolitical tensions with Russia, according to his interview with a Swiss newspaper. He said Switzerland is prepared for cyberattacks and assaults by non-state actors, but faces major equipment shortages, with only about one-third of soldiers fully outfitted. Suessli stressed that neutrality alone is not enough without credible military strength and called for increased defence spending and modernisation, including new fighter jets. However, planned upgrades face financial constraints, and full readiness is unlikely before 2050, he said. (PC: The Hindu)

In London, members of the Indian and Bangladeshi Hindu diaspora held a protest outside the Bangladesh High Commission, condemning reported killings of Hindus in Bangladesh and demanding international attention and protection for minority rights. Demonstrators chanted slogans like “Hindu Lives Matter” and played Bangladesh’s national anthem to highlight alleged violence against Hindu minorities. However, a small group of pro-Khalistan activists arrived, chanting their slogans and waving flags, leading to a brief confrontation before UK police intervened to separate the groups and restore order. The incident reflects deep-seated tensions among diaspora factions over religious and political issues. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Canada on Saturday for talks with Prime Minister Mark Carney. The meeting came after heavy Russian strikes on Kyiv, which killed at least two people and cut power to hundreds of thousands of homes. Carney called the attack “barbaric” and announced $2.5 billion in new aid for Ukraine. Zelenskyy said the strikes show Russia does not want peace. Zelenskyy will speak with European allies later today. He will then travel to Florida to meet Donald Trump to discuss territory and peace talks. (PC: Sky News)

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the United States, Israel and Europe are waging a “total war” against Iran. In an interview, he said the aim is to weaken his country. Pezeshkian spoke six months after Israeli and US strikes hit Iranian military and nuclear sites. The attacks followed a 12-day conflict in June. Iran said over 1,000 people were killed. The US later bombed three nuclear sites. Talks on Iran’s nuclear programme then stopped. US President Donald Trump has revived tough sanctions on Iran. (PC: Reuters)

A strong winter storm has disrupted air travel across the United States during the busy holiday period. By Friday night, about 1,600 flights were cancelled and more than 7,400 were delayed, flight tracking data showed. The worst impact was at New York area airports, including JFK, Newark and LaGuardia. Boston, Chicago and Toronto also saw delays. Weather officials issued storm warnings for New York and southern Connecticut, with up to 23 cm of snow expected. Airlines such as JetBlue, Delta and Southwest cancelled hundreds of flights. State leaders urged people to avoid non-essential travel and warned drivers to expect unsafe road conditions. (PC: BBC)

Police in Navi Mumbai have arrested a 30-year-old woman for killing her six-year-old daughter at their Kalamboli home. Officers said the woman first tried to claim the child had suffered a heart attack. A police officer found the case suspicious and ordered a special post-mortem. The early report showed signs of airway blockage. After hours of questioning, the woman admitted to strangling the girl, police said. During the probe, she told officers she was upset that the child did not speak Marathi clearly and often spoke Hindi. Police added that the woman wanted a son and was under psychiatric treatment for other problems. (PC: NDTV)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is travelling to Florida to meet US President Donald Trump to discuss a US-backed 20-point peace plan to end the war with Russia. He will stop in Canada to meet Prime Minister Mark Carney and speak with key allies before the talks. The visit comes hours after Kyiv faced almost 10 hours of Russian missile and drone attacks overnight. One person was killed and 28 were injured, Ukraine’s state emergency service said. Zelensky said the bombardment showed Moscow did not want peace. The plan includes security guarantees and ideas for zones in eastern Ukraine. (PC: BBC)

Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to an immediate ceasefire to halt weeks of intense border clashes rooted in longstanding territorial disputes, taking effect at 12:00 noon on 27 December 2025. The joint statement from both defence ministers calls for a halt to hostilities across all weapons and fronts, freezing troop movements and allowing displaced civilians to return home. The fighting, marked by artillery exchanges and airstrikes, killed dozens and displaced hundreds of thousands. Both sides also pledged cooperation on demining and combating cybercrime. ASEAN observers and international pressure helped bring about the truce after multiple failed truces.