A Hindu man, identified as Amrit Mondal (also known as Samrat), was beaten to death by a mob in Rajbari district, Bangladesh, late Wednesday after being accused of extortion, police said. Locals claimed he and his associates demanded money from a resident, prompting villagers to attack him when they thought he was a robber. Mondal was taken to a health complex but died early Thursday. Police detained one associate and recovered firearms. The incident follows recent communal violence in Bangladesh, including the lynching of another Hindu man days earlier, raising concerns over mob justice and minority safety. (PC: India Today)

Israeli police detained a Palestinian man dressed as Santa Claus at a Christmas celebration in Haifa, forcibly dispersing the event and also arresting a DJ and a street vendor before later releasing them. Rights group Mossawa Centre alleged excessive force and said the raid lacked legal authority, while police claimed the Santa-clad man resisted arrest and assaulted an officer. Footage shows officers dragging him from the scene. The incident, set amid broader holiday tensions, drew criticism as Palestinians mark Christmas under ongoing restrictions and amid regional conflict. 

Six Maoists, including senior leader Ganesh Uike, were killed in separate gunfights with security forces in Odisha as part of an intensified anti-Naxal operation. The encounters occurred in forested areas during a coordinated operation involving Odisha Police and central armed forces. Ganesh Uike, considered a key strategist and wanted in several cases of violence, was a significant target for security agencies. Arms, ammunition and Maoist literature were recovered from the sites. Officials said the operation was based on specific intelligence inputs and marks a major blow to Maoist activities in the region, reinforcing the state’s commitment to curb left-wing extremism. (PC: NDTV)

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)

India’s aviation sector is set to expand with two new airlines, Al Hind Air and FlyExpress, receiving No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) from the Civil Aviation Ministry. Al Hind Air, promoted by Kerala-based Alhind Group, plans to begin operations as a regional commuter airline using ATR 72-600 turboprop aircraft, with Kochi as its main hub and a focus on underserved routes in southern India. FlyExpress has also secured approval, though details about its fleet, routes, and operational base are yet to be disclosed. The entry of these airlines is expected to enhance regional connectivity, increase competition, and provide more travel options for passengers across the country. (PC: HT)

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 30-year-old migrant labourer from Murshidabad in West Bengal, identified as Juel Sheikh, was beaten to death in Sambalpur district’s Shanti Nagar area on Wednesday night while returning from work. The assault followed an altercation with a group of men who stopped Sheikh and his co-workers, allegedly over a request for a bidi (cigarette) that escalated into violence. Sheikh sustained serious head injuries and died at a hospital. Odisha police have arrested six suspects and are investigating. While West Bengal leaders say the attack was due to suspicion of being a Bangladeshi immigrant, police deny this motive and call the incident a sudden provocation. (PC: The Hindu)