Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed shared stunning footage of lightning striking the Burj Khalifa's spire as the UAE battles severe weather conditions. The video shows the world's tallest building silhouetted against storm clouds amid heavy rainfall and thunder. The National Centre of Meteorology confirmed the country entered the peak phase of the 'Al Bashayer' low-pressure system, causing rain, lightning, thunder, and potential hail. Authorities urged residents to stay indoors and avoid flood-prone areas. Emirates and flydubai cancelled flights, while Dubai International Airport warned of delays. The Ministry of Human Resources allowed remote work for private sector employees. Streets across Dubai, Sharjah flooded as meteorologists predict continued unstable weather with thunderstorms and strong winds.

At least 30 journalists were rescued after violent protesters set fire to The Daily Star’s office in Dhaka, Bangladesh, trapping media personnel inside. Protesters first vandalised the ground and first floors, smashing equipment and furniture, before igniting the building. Terrified journalists sent distress messages, with one crying, “You are killing me,” as smoke filled the premises. Firefighters, security forces and volunteers launched a rescue operation, evacuating those trapped after hours of chaos. The attack, linked to escalating protests over the death of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi, has raised serious concerns over press freedom and journalist safety in Bangladesh. (PC: NDTV)

Ahmed al Ahmed, dubbed the “Bondi Hero,” was handed A$2.5 million (about US$1.65 million) raised online after he tackled and disarmed an alleged gunman during a deadly mass shooting at Bondi Beach, Sydney. More than 43,000 donors worldwide contributed, including billionaire Bill Ackman. Ahmed, a Syrian-born father of two who was shot and is recovering in hospital, was presented with the cheque at his bedside. Australia’s prime minister and NSW premier praised his bravery. In his remarks, Ahmed urged unity and standing together to protect human life. The shooting left 15 people dead and many injured. (PC: Reuters)

  A suspect in the Brown University mass shooting, which occurred on December 13, 2025 at the Barus & Holley engineering building in Providence, Rhode Island, has been found dead in New Hampshire from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said. The shooting killed two students and wounded nine others, prompting a multistate manhunt and nationwide attention. Authorities also investigated a potential link between the campus attack and the killing of an MIT professor days later. Surveillance footage and public tips aided the search, and officials worked to identify the motive and timeline of the suspect’s actions. (PC: X)

Sharif Osman Hadi, a **32-year-old leader of Bangladesh’s 2024 student-led uprising and convener of the political platform Inqilab Mancha, died on December 18, 2025 in a Singapore hospital after succumbing to injuries from a December 12 assassination attempt in Dhaka, Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. Hadi was airlifted to Singapore for advanced treatment but could not be saved despite medical efforts. His death has sparked widespread protests and unrest across Bangladesh, with demonstrators demanding justice and targeting media offices and political symbols. The interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, declared a national mourning and vowed to investigate the attack. (PC: AFP)

In Bangladesh’s Mymensingh district, a Hindu man named Dipu Chandra Das was brutally lynched by a mob over alleged blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad, his body tied to a tree and set on fire, police said. The killing occurred amid widespread nationwide unrest triggered by the death of radical activist Sharif Osman Hadi, which has sparked massive anti-government and anti-India protests across major cities. Authorities later regained control, recovered the body, and began investigations, but no formal complaint has yet been filed. The incident highlights rising tensions and communal violence in Bangladesh. (PC: AP)

European Union leaders have reached a €90 billion interest‑free loan agreement to support Ukraine’s military and economic needs for 2026–27, after intense talks at a Brussels summit. The loan, backed by joint EU borrowing rather than frozen Russian assets, follows disagreements over legal and political risks tied to using immobilized Russian central bank funds. Belgium’s opposition played a key role in shelving the asset‑backed plan. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had urged tapping those assets, calling it morally justified. The deal excludes Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic from contributing and keeps pressure on the EU to find further support mechanisms. (PC: Getty Images)

House Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released a new batch of around 68 photographs from late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s estate as a deadline looms for the U.S. Department of Justice to disclose its Epstein-related files. The undated, uncaptioned images show prominent figures including Noam Chomsky seated with Epstein on a plane and Bill Gates standing beside a woman whose face is redacted. Several photos include redacted passports and ID documents of women from multiple countries and a text message screenshot about sending girls for Epstein, though context is unclear. Some images also depict women with excerpts from Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita written on their bodies, raising further concern. Lawmakers stress that appearances in the photos do not imply wrongdoing, but the releases continue to fuel calls for transparency into Epstein’s network and activities. 

Massive protests erupted across Bangladesh after the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a radical political leader and Inquilab Mancha spokesperson, who succumbed to injuries from a shooting earlier this month. Demonstrators in Dhaka and other cities marched, chanted slogans, and demanded justice, accusing authorities of failing to protect Hadi. Violence escalated as protesters vandalised and set fire to media offices like Daily Prothom Alo and Daily Star, and also targeted an Awami League office. Slogans against India and anti-government sentiments were voiced, including at the Indian Assistant High Commission in Chattogram. The interim government declared a day of mourning as security remained tight. 

Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent Bangladeshi youth and student movement leader, died in a Singapore hospital on December 18, 2025, from injuries sustained when he was shot in Dhaka a week earlier during his election campaign. Hadi was 32 and a key figure in last year’s uprising and outspoken critic of pro-government politics. After being critically wounded on December 12, he was airlifted to Singapore for treatment but succumbed despite intensive care. His death has ignited widespread protests and violence in Bangladesh, with demonstrators attacking media offices and demanding justice, highlighting deep political tensions ahead of national elections. (PC: NDTV)