Thailand has said the removal of a Lord Vishnu statue near its border with Cambodia was driven by security needs and not religious reasons. Officials said the structure was not a registered religious site and was a later installation in a disputed area. Videos on social media showed the idol being pulled down by Thai forces, though the clips could not be verified. India’s foreign ministry said such acts hurt religious sentiments and urged both sides to resolve issues through dialogue. Cambodia claimed the statue stood inside its territory and accused Thailand of damaging a heritage site. The incident comes amid renewed border clashes between the two countries, with talks now under way to ease tensions. (PC: HT)

Tarique Rahman, a senior leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, returned to Bangladesh on Thursday after living in London for 17 years. The 60-year-old is the son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia and is seen as the party’s main face ahead of the next general election. BNP leaders said large crowds gathered in Dhaka to welcome him. Rahman left Bangladesh in 2008 during the rule of Sheikh Hasina. Several cases were filed against him at the time, but he was cleared after Hasina was removed last year. Hasina now lives in India and her Awami League is unlikely to contest the coming polls. (PC: BBC)

Several countries including the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, France, Japan and others have strongly condemned the Israeli security cabinet’s approval of 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, saying the move violates international law and could fuel instability in the region. In a joint statement, they urged Israel to reverse the decision and halt settlement expansion, warning it risks undermining peace efforts, the Gaza ceasefire plan and long-term stability. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar rejected the criticism, saying the actions were necessary for security and that foreign governments should not interfere. (PC: Reuters)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered a Christmas Eve message amid continued Russian attacks, saying Ukrainians share “one dream” and quoting the phrase “May he perish”—widely interpreted as a reference to Russian President Vladimir Putin—though he did not name him directly. Zelensky used the speech to emphasize unity, faith, and resilience despite missile and drone strikes that killed several people and caused power outages. He also reiterated Ukraine’s longing for peace and highlighted that true aspirations should focus on ending the war and securing peace for Ukrainian families. (PC: NDTV)

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman addressed a large public rally in Dhaka, outlining his roadmap to restore democracy and peace in the country. Speaking after years in exile, Rahman declared “I have a plan,” stressing the need to rebuild democratic institutions, ensure public safety and protect citizens’ rights. He called for national unity beyond political, religious and social divisions, urging people to work together for a stable and inclusive Bangladesh. Rahman emphasized peaceful political change, justice and democratic participation as key pillars of his vision for the nation’s future.

A Hindu advocate plans to contest the Gopalganj-3 seat once held by former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in Bangladesh’s February 12 election. Gobinda Chandra Pramanik, general secretary of the Bangladesh Jatiya Hindu Mohajote, will file his nomination on December 28 as an independent. He told local media he is a “neutral person” with no party links and wants to speak for common people. Several candidates from BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, National Citizen Party and other groups are also in the race. The polls will be held under an interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, amid reports of rising attacks on minority communities after Hasina’s removal last year. (PC: NDTV)

A Cardiff couple who invited a homeless man into their home for Christmas in 1975 ended up living with him for 45 years. Rob and Dianne Parsons opened their door to Ronnie Lockwood, who arrived with a bag of belongings and a frozen chicken. Lockwood, who had autism, had lived on the streets since his teens. The couple planned to let him stay for one night but later helped him find work and become part of their family. He supported them with childcare and church work and left money to charity when he died in 2020 at age 75. A new centre in Cardiff now carries his name. (PC: BBC)

US authorities say they have found more than one million additional records that may be linked to the Jeffrey Epstein case. The FBI and federal prosecutors in New York told the Department of Justice about the discovery. The department said lawyers are reviewing the files and making required redactions to protect victims. It plans to release the records in stages in the coming days and weeks. The disclosure follows criticism over delays in publishing Epstein files under the Epstein Files Transparency Act signed into law last month. The law orders the public release of records while protecting victim identities and active investigations. The department did not explain how the new material was located. (PC: BBC)

Bangladesh Nationalist Party acting chairman Tarique Rahman returned to Dhaka on Thursday after more than 17 years in self-exile in the United Kingdom. He arrived with his wife Zubaida Rahman and daughter Zaima Rahman. Large crowds gathered along routes near the airport to welcome him. Party leaders said Rahman travelled in one of two specially imported bulletproof vehicles to a reception in Purbachal, where he was scheduled to address supporters. The BNP expects a very large turnout for the event. After his speech, Rahman is to visit his mother, former prime minister Khaleda Zia, who is receiving treatment at Evercare Hospital.

A new report by the US Department of Defense says China now treats its claims on Arunachal Pradesh as part of its “core interests”. The report also places Taiwan and China’s territorial and maritime claims in the South China Sea in the same category. It says these goals are linked to Beijing’s plan to achieve what it calls the “great rejuvenation” of the Chinese nation by 2049. The document notes that China sees these issues as central to its national identity and long-term strategy. It adds that Beijing is using diplomatic, military and economic tools to protect these claims and shape regional security trends.