Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent clarified President Trump's H-1B visa policy aims to temporarily import skilled foreign experts to train American workers, not replace them. Speaking to Fox News, Bessent described it as a "knowledge transfer" strategy to revive US industries like manufacturing, shipbuilding, and semiconductors after years of outsourcing. "Train the US workers. Then go home. Then the US workers fully take over," Bessent explained. He emphasized that Americans currently lack expertise in fields abandoned for decades, making foreign knowledge essential. The policy aligns with Trump's broader effort to restore critical industries domestically. Bessent also confirmed discussions on a $2,000 tariff rebate for families earning under $100,000, ensuring trade policy benefits reach American households directly.

US House Democrats have released new emails from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate that mention former President Donald Trump. The messages, shared by the House Oversight Committee, include exchanges between Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and author Michael Wolff. In one 2011 email, Epstein wrote that a victim “spent hours” with Trump, prompting fresh scrutiny of his ties to Epstein. Congressman Robert Garcia said the emails raise “glaring questions” and urged the Justice Department to release all Epstein-related files. Trump has denied any link to Epstein’s crimes. The release adds pressure on Washington as lawmakers review 23,000 documents from the Epstein estate. (PC: India Today)

Israeli settlers set fire to a Palestinian warehouse, farmland, and a Bedouin village in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday. Several Palestinians were injured in the attacks near Beit Lid and Deir Sharaf. Israeli police said four suspects were arrested. The UN said settler violence last month reached the highest level in nearly 20 years, with over 260 incidents. Israeli President Isaac Herzog and army officials condemned the attacks, calling them “shocking” and “unacceptable.” Rights groups say most cases of settler violence end without punishment, even as tensions rise during the olive harvest season. (PC: BBC)

New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani faces a symbolic clash as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to visit NYC on January 1, Mamdani's first day in office. The democratic socialist had campaigned on arresting Netanyahu over ICC war crimes charges related to Gaza. However, legal experts say this is impossible: the US isn't an ICC signatory, and federal authority over foreign affairs would override any local arrest attempt. Netanyahu dismissed the threat, saying Trump would protect him. While Mamdani acknowledges legal constraints, he insists NYC's time of "celebrating" Netanyahu must end. Republican councilwoman Inna Vernikov officially invited Netanyahu, calling Mamdani an "unashamed Marxist radical." The promise remains politically symbolic. (PC: AP & Mint)

US President Donald Trump has eased his stance on the H-1B visa issue. In an interview with Fox News’ Laura Ingraham, Trump said the US must bring in talented people from around the world for key industries. “You don’t have certain talents in the US. People have to learn,” he said. His remarks mark a shift from his earlier crackdown on the visa programme. In September, Trump introduced a $100,000 fee for new H-1B petitions filed after September 21. The rule does not affect current visa holders or applications submitted before the deadline. (PC: HT)

Thick fog has helped Russian troops move deeper into the key eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk. Ukrainian officials say the weather allowed Russia to increase attacks and send more soldiers into the ruined city. Videos show Russian troops riding through fog on bikes and cars. Ukrainian forces say they destroyed part of a Russian convoy but the situation remains tense. President Volodymyr Zelensky said the fight for Pokrovsk is difficult. Russia is trying to encircle the city and cut off supply routes. Heavy battles also continue in Zaporizhzhia and Kupyansk as Moscow presses on multiple fronts. (PC: BBC)

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces mounting internal pressure as allies confirm he'll fight any leadership challenge from Labour MPs. Fears emerged that his position could be threatened post-Budget in fortnight. Potential successors discussed include Health Secretary Wes Streeting, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, and former Transport Secretary Louise Haigh. Starmer supporters warn leadership contest would replicate Conservative chaos, destabilize markets, and jeopardize Trump relations. Opinion polls show Starmer potentially Britain's most unpopular PM in modern polling history, with Labour commanding merely one-fifth electoral support. One minister stated: "He's hated out there. Worse than Corbyn." May's devolved and local elections represent likely crunch point, though some MPs advocate earlier action. (PC: Britainnica)

Israel's Knesset passed first reading of a controversial death penalty bill targeting "terrorism," with 39-16 votes Monday. Proposed by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, the legislation applies to individuals killing Israelis from "racist" motives "harming the State of Israel and Jewish people's revival." Critics argue wording ensures application almost exclusively against Palestinians killing Jews, not Jewish extremists attacking Palestinians. Amnesty International's Erika Guevara Rosas condemned it as "state-sanctioned killing, domination and oppression," calling it discriminatory and apartheid-system product. The bill requires second and third readings before becoming law. Hamas termed it "blatant international law violation." Over 10,000 Palestinians currently detained in Israeli prisons face alleged torture and medical neglect.

The United Kingdom has suspended intelligence sharing with the United States regarding suspected drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean, concerned that information could facilitate unlawful US military strikes. This unprecedented action strains the longstanding alliance between intelligence partners. Britain previously provided vessel location data to Florida's Joint Interagency Task Force South for counter-narcotics operations. However, UK officials grew alarmed after September's US military strikes killed 76 people on boats. London believes these attacks violate international law marking an assessment shared by UN human rights chief Volker Türk, who termed them "extrajudicial killing." The Trump administration justifies targeting suspected traffickers as "enemy combatants" posing "imminent threats." Senior US defense officials, including Admiral Alvin Holsey, have questioned the campaign's legality. Canada has similarly distanced itself from lethal operations.

Gaza ceasefire negotiations face new complications as scores of Hamas fighters remain trapped in Rafah tunnels behind Israeli-controlled territory's "Yellow Line." US envoy Steve Witkoff proposed amnesty for surrendering fighters, potentially a model for Gaza-wide application though Hamas demands safe passage, which Israel rejects. Jared Kushner met Prime Minister Netanyahu Monday discussing Phase Two challenges: Hamas disarmament, Gaza reconstruction, future governance, and international security force deployment. Key obstacles persist without resolution timelines. Since October 2023's attack killing 1,200 Israelis and capturing 251 hostages, over 69,000 Palestinians died in Israeli strikes. Phase One ceasefire returned 20 living hostages and 24 deceased captives' remains. Sources suggest de-facto Gaza partition increasingly likely between Israeli-controlled and Hamas-ruled territories. (PC: Financial Times & Bloomberg)