Name: IDF Officer Who ‘Lied’ About Oct 7 ‘Rapes’, Booby-Trapped; Critical | Gaza School Bombed 5TH Time
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Description: Vach was seriously hurt in Gaza and sustained life-threatening wounds.

US President Donald Trump asserts he prevented a nuclear conflict between India and Pakistan, claiming Pakistan’s leadership credited him with saving millions of lives.

Trump Claims Credit for Preventing Indo-Pak Nuclear Crisis

US President Donald Trump asserts he prevented a nuclear conflict between India and Pakistan, claiming Pakistan&rsquo;s leadership credited him with saving millions of lives.

US President Donald Trump has repeated his claim of resolving the India-Pakistan conflict and asserted that Islamabad's leadership credited him for saving millions of lives.
"We stopped a potential nuclear war between Pakistan and India. And the head of Pakistan, a highly respected General, he's a Field Marshal and also the Prime Minister of Pakistan, said President Trump saved 10 million lives, maybe more...,&rdquo; Trump said Monday.
He made these remarks at Mar-a-Lago, Florida, flanked by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, Navy Secretary John Phelan, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
&ldquo;You know, eight planes were shot down. That war was starting to rage, and he actually said the other day that President Trump saved 10 million lives, maybe more. So we solved all these wars. The only one I haven't solved yet is Russia, Ukraine,&rdquo; he said.
Since May 10, when Trump announced on social media that India and Pakistan had agreed to a &ldquo;full and immediate&rdquo; ceasefire after a &ldquo;long night&rdquo; of talks mediated by Washington, he has repeated his claim over 60 times that he &ldquo;helped settle&rdquo; the tensions between the two neighbours.
New Delhi has consistently denied any third-party intervention.
India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians.
India and Pakistan reached an understanding on May 10 to end the conflict after four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes.&nbsp;

Editors of top Bangladeshi newspapers say freedom of expression is overshadowed by journalists’ right to survive, following violent attacks on media offices in Dhaka.

Journalists in Bangladesh Face Violence Amidst Rising Tensions

Editors of top Bangladeshi newspapers say freedom of expression is overshadowed by journalists&rsquo; right to survive, following violent attacks on media offices in Dhaka.

Bangladesh's media is facing a difficult time and the freedom of expression has been overtaken by concerns over journalists' "right to stay alive", editors of several leading Bangladeshi newspapers have said.
The remarks came on Monday in the wake of mobs vandalising and setting ablaze the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star newspapers in Dhaka on Thursday night, trapping several journalists and staff inside for hours as police and fire services were initially prevented from reaching the spot.
"Freedom of expression is no longer the main issue. Now it is about the right to stay alive," Daily Star editor and publisher Mahfuz Anam said at a press conference attended by senior politicians, business leaders and media owners.
The media in Bangladesh is facing a fight for survival, he said.
Anam said the attacks were aimed at killing journalists and staff rather than being acts of protest against specific newspapers.
Otherwise, the mob would have told journalists to leave before setting the buildings on fire, he said.
Instead, 26-27 media workers were trapped on the rooftop of The Daily Star building while the fire brigade was not allowed to reach them, Anam said.
He also cited social media messages allegedly calling for journalists of the two dailies to be hunted down and killed at their homes.
Meanwhile, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) defended its delayed intervention, saying immediate action could have worsened the situation.
"The reason we could not go into action there was to ensure that no human life was lost,&rdquo; DMP Additional Commissioner Nazrul Islam told reporters.
The interim government led by Muhammad Yunus has said nine people have been arrested so far in connection with the attacks on the offices of the two newspapers and cultural organisations Chhayanaut and Udichi Shilpi Goshthi, following the death of radical right-wing youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi.
The newspapers were accused by the attackers of "serving the interests" of India and the deposed prime minister, Sheikh Hasina.
A staunch India critic, 32-year-old Hadi was a key figure in last year's pro-democracy uprising that ousted Hasina&rsquo;s Awami League regime on August 5, 2024.
The 32-year-old Inqilab Mancha spokesperson died while undergoing treatment in Singapore on Thursday last week. Hadi was a candidate for the scheduled February 12 general elections.
While the interim government condemned the attacks, it described the perpetrators as fringe elements, drawing criticism from rights groups and journalists who said authorities failed to prevent the violence despite appeals for protection.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Human Rights Chief Volker Turk express concern over recent lynchings and call for investigations and protection of all minorities in Bangladesh.

UN Voices Concern Over Violence in Bangladesh Targeting Hindus

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Human Rights Chief Volker Turk express concern over recent lynchings and call for investigations and protection of all minorities in Bangladesh.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has voiced concern over the violence in Bangladesh, including the lynching of a Hindu man in the country.
&ldquo;Yes, we're very concerned about the violence that we've seen in Bangladesh,&rdquo; St&eacute;phane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, said at the daily press briefing on Monday.
He was responding to a question on the Secretary-General&rsquo;s response to the attacks on minorities in Bangladesh and especially the lynchings of Hindus in the last few days.
"Whether it's in Bangladesh or any other country, people who don't belong to the &lsquo;majority&rsquo; need to feel safe, and all Bangladeshis need to feel safe. And we're confident that the Government will do what it can to keep every single Bangladeshi safe,&rdquo; Dujarric said.
Dipu Chandra Das, a 25-year-old garment factory worker, was lynched to death by a mob and his body set on fire over alleged blasphemy in Baluka in Mymensingh last week.
Two more persons were arrested on Sunday in connection with Das&rsquo;s lynching. With the latest arrests, 12 people have been held for their alleged involvement in the murder, The Daily Star newspaper reported, quoting police and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) sources.
Meanwhile, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk has said he was deeply troubled by the killing of Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, a leader of last year&rsquo;s protests in Bangladesh, who died of his injuries after being shot last week.
Turk called for calm and for everyone to refrain from violence.
&ldquo;Retaliation and revenge will only deepen divisions and undermine the rights of all,&rdquo; he said.
&ldquo;I urge the authorities to conduct a prompt, impartial, thorough and transparent investigation into the attack that led to Hadi&rsquo;s death, and to ensure due process and accountability for those responsible.&rdquo;
With the parliamentary elections scheduled for February, Turk said it was vital to ensure an environment in which all individuals can participate safely and peacefully in public life, and freely express different views.
&ldquo;I urge the authorities to uphold the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and security of journalists at this critical time, and prevent further escalation of unrest,&rdquo; Turk said.
The High Commissioner said his Office stands ready to work with the authorities and all stakeholders to support efforts that uphold human rights and prevent further violence.

The US Embassy in India says expanded online presence reviews for all H-1B and H-4 visa applicants have led to mass interview postponements and longer processing delays.

Vetting being conducted globally for all applicants of all nationalities for H1-B, H-4 visas: US Embassy

The US Embassy in India says expanded online presence reviews for all H-1B and H-4 visa applicants have led to mass interview postponements and longer processing delays.

The US Embassy in India on Monday said starting December 15, the United States has "expanded" online presence reviews to all H-1B and H-4 applicants as part of standard visa screening, and this vetting is being conducted globally for "all applicants of all nationalities" for these two visa categories.
The brief statement by the embassy in a post on social media comes amid pre-scheduled interviews of thousands of H-1B visa applicants slated for later this month in India being abruptly postponed by several months.
Amid the hardship faced by many of these applicants, the US Embassy here posted on X, "WORLDWIDE ALERT FOR H-1B AND H-4 VISA APPLICANTS Beginning December 15, the Department of State expanded online presence reviews to ALL H-1B and H-4 applicants as part of standard visa screening. This vetting is being conducted globally for ALL applicants of ALL nationalities for H1-B and H-4 visas (sic)."
The H-1B visa programme is used extensively by American technology companies to employ foreign workers. Indian professionals, including technology workers and physicians, form one of the largest groups of H-1B visa holders.
The brief statement also comes at a time when the US has launched a crackdown to check abuse of the H-1B visa programme, as also illegal immigration.
The embassy in its post also said, "It is an effort to address abuse of the H-1B program while still permitting companies to hire the best of the best temporary foreign workers."
US embassies and consulates continue to accept and process H-1B and H-4 nonimmigrant visa applications, it said, adding, "We encourage applicants to apply as early as they can and anticipate additional processing time for these visa classifications".
The rescheduling of the interviews is for all applicants who were previously given appointments from December 15 onwards.
The mass cancellation of scheduled interviews of the H-1B visa applicants in view of the enhanced vetting measures is set to result in significant delays in their return to the US.
A large number of applicants have already arrived in India and are now unable to return to the US since they don't have a valid H1B visa to travel back to the US for their jobs.
For example, those whose interviews were scheduled for December 15 had received emails postponing the date to sometime in March. Applicants whose appointments were scheduled for December 19 were given new dates in late May.
The US Embassy through many posts on X in the past several months has underlined that a US visa is "a privilege, not a right".
On June 19, it wrote in a post, "A US visa is a privilege, not a right. US visa screening does not stop after a visa is issued &ndash; and we may revoke your visa if you break the law".
On June 23, the US Embassy had asked those applying for an F, M, or J non-immigrant visa to switch the privacy settings of their social media accounts to &ldquo;public&rdquo; to facilitate vetting, which it said was necessary to establish their identity and admissibility to the US under law.
In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh had on December 18 said that the US Administration has recently announced that every visa adjudication is a national security decision.
The US has also clarified that a US visa is a privilege, not a right, he said.
"As part of the follow-up measures, the US Administration (through notifications dated June 18 and December 3 respectively) has expanded screening and vetting to identify visa applicants who are inadmissible to the United States.
"This is applicable for student and exchange visitor applicants the F, M, and J non-immigrant classifications, as well as H-1B applicants and their dependents (H4 visa applicants), further impacting visa appointment schedules," the MoS had said.
Visa issuance and the related policy and procedural frameworks are the sovereign prerogative of the concerned country, Singh said.
The government of India "remains engaged" with the US government to promote mutually advantageous and secure mobility frameworks that allow for streamlining avenues for legal mobility of students and professionals, as well as facilitating short-term tourist and business travel, he had said in his written response.

New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters criticises the India–New Zealand FTA, calling it unfair, while governments defend trade growth and investment benefits.

New Zealand Foreign Minister criticizes India–New Zealand FTA as an unfair deal

New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters criticises the India&ndash;New Zealand FTA, calling it unfair, while governments defend trade growth and investment benefits.

New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters has openly criticised the India&ndash;New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA), describing it as &ldquo;neither free nor fair&rdquo; and warning that it represents a &ldquo;bad deal for New Zealand&rdquo; that sacrifices too much for limited gains.
In a post on X, Peters said his party, New Zealand First, was &ldquo;regrettably opposed&rdquo; to the pact, arguing that it makes &ldquo;serious concessions&rdquo; in areas such as immigration and investment while failing to deliver meaningful benefits for New Zealand&rsquo;s exporters. Dairy farmers, he said, stand to gain little from the agreement. &ldquo;This is not a good deal for New Zealand farmers and is impossible to defend to our rural communities,&rdquo; he said.
&ldquo;We consider the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement to be neither free nor fair. Regrettably, this is a bad deal for New Zealand. It gives too much away, especially on immigration, and does not get enough in return for New Zealanders, including on dairy,&rdquo; Winston Peters, leader of New Zealand First, a nationalist political party and a key partner in the country&rsquo;s ruling coalition, said on X.
The remarks contrast sharply with the tone adopted by the governments of both countries, which recently announced the conclusion of negotiations on the FTA. Officials say the agreement could help double bilateral trade over the next five years. According to New Zealand government estimates, tariffs would be eliminated or reduced on 95% of New Zealand&rsquo;s exports to India, with more than half becoming duty-free from the first day. Indian goods, in turn, would receive duty-free access to the New Zealand market.
Alongside the trade pact, New Zealand has committed to invest around $20 billion in India over a 15-year period.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has defended the agreement, saying it delivers broad-based economic benefits. &ldquo;The gains are wide-ranging and significant,&rdquo; Luxon said in a statement, citing opportunities for &ldquo;jobs for Kiwis, exports and growth&rdquo; driven by India&rsquo;s scale and fast-growing economy. He also noted that the deal fulfils a 2022 election pledge by his National Party to conclude an FTA with India in its first term.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi echoed that optimism, calling the agreement a &ldquo;historic milestone&rdquo; achieved in just nine months. In a social media post, PM Modi said the FTA &ldquo;sets the stage for doubling bilateral trade in the coming five years&rdquo; and said India welcomes over $20 billion in investment from New Zealand across multiple sectors. He also highlighted potential benefits for innovators, entrepreneurs, farmers, MSMEs, students and youth, while pointing to growing cooperation in sports, education and culture.
Peters, however, has questioned both how quickly the deal was finalised and what it ultimately delivers.
He said New Zealand First had urged its coalition partner to avoid &ldquo;rushing into concluding a low-quality deal with India&rdquo; and instead use the full parliamentary term to negotiate stronger outcomes. &ldquo;Unfortunately, these pleas went unheeded,&rdquo; Peters said, accusing National of favouring &ldquo;doing a quick, low-quality deal over doing the hard work necessary to get a fair deal that delivers for both New Zealanders and Indians.&rdquo;
Dairy has emerged as one of the most contentious issues. Peters pointed out that New Zealand would be &ldquo;completely opening its market to Indian products under this deal,&rdquo; while India would retain &ldquo;significant tariff barriers&rdquo; on New Zealand&rsquo;s major dairy exports. He noted that this would be New Zealand&rsquo;s first trade agreement to exclude core dairy products such as milk, cheese and butter. In the year to November 2025, exports of these items were worth about $24 billion, accounting for roughly 30% of the country&rsquo;s total goods exports.
India has said the FTA excludes market access for dairy and several other sensitive products &mdash; including coffee, milk, cream, cheese, yoghurt, whey, sugar, spices, edible oils and rubber &mdash; in order to protect its farmers and domestic industry. Two-way trade between India and New Zealand stood at around $1.81 billion in 2024, dominated by Indian pharmaceutical exports and New Zealand forestry and agricultural products. This remains small compared with India&rsquo;s total goods trade of more than $1 trillion in the 2024&ndash;25 financial year.
Immigration-related provisions have also drawn strong objections from Peters. He said National had made &ldquo;serious concessions&rdquo; that &ldquo;have nothing to do with two-way trade&rdquo; but instead encourage increased movement of people from India to New Zealand. On a per capita basis, he argued, New Zealand has offered far greater labour market access than Australia or the United Kingdom did in their FTAs with India.
&ldquo;This is deeply unwise given New Zealand&rsquo;s current labour market conditions, with too many New Zealanders in unemployment or doing it tough economically,&rdquo; he said.
New Zealand First has also raised concerns about a proposed new employment visa specifically for Indian citizens, warning it could attract significantly higher levels of migration &ldquo;at a time when we have a very tight labour market.&rdquo; Peters added that provisions allowing Indian students to work during and after their studies could &ldquo;tie the hands of future New Zealand Governments&rdquo; and limit flexibility in responding to changing labour market conditions.
Despite his criticism, Peters stressed that his party&rsquo;s opposition is not directed at India or its leadership. He said New Zealand First remains &ldquo;deeply committed to the advancement of the India&ndash;New Zealand relationship,&rdquo; which he described as strategically important for New Zealand. Peters noted that his first overseas visit as foreign minister outside Australia and the Pacific was to India, and that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has since increased resources aimed at strengthening ties with New Delhi.
He also said he has &ldquo;the utmost respect&rdquo; for External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and that New Zealand First has communicated its position clearly. &ldquo;We have made clear to him that our opposition to the deal is not a critique of the Government of India or its negotiators &ndash; but rather the reflection of a difference of opinion between the parties that comprise New Zealand&rsquo;s Coalition Government,&rdquo; Peters said.

Md Motaleb Sikder, a senior NCP labour leader, was shot in Khulna following recent political unrest and the killing of student activist Sharif Osman Hadi.

Bangladesh student leader shot during protests over Hadi killing

Md Motaleb Sikder, a senior NCP labour leader, was shot in Khulna following recent political unrest and the killing of student activist Sharif Osman Hadi.

Unidentified gunmen on Monday shot in the head Motaleb Shikder, a second leader of Bangladesh&rsquo;s violent student-led 2004 uprising. The attack took place in southwestern Khulna city, days after the killing of prominent youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi.
"The Khulna Division head of NCP (National Citizen Party) and central coordinator of the party&rsquo;s workers front, Motaleb Shikder, was shot a few minutes ago," NCP&rsquo;s joint principal coordinator Mahmuda Mitu said in a Facebook post. Mitu, a doctor, said Shikder was rushed to Khulna Medical College Hospital in a critical condition.
The Kaler Kantha newspaper, quoting hospital sources, said Shikder was shot on the left side of his head, and he was bleeding profusely when he was brought to the facility, where the doctors started emergency treatment.
The attack came days after Hadi, a prominent leader of the student-led protests last year that led to the ouster of the prime minister Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government, was shot in the head on December 12 by masked gunmen at an election campaign in central Dhaka&rsquo;s Bijoynagar area.
The 32-year-old Inqilab Mancha spokesperson died while undergoing treatment in Singapore on Thursday. Hadi was a candidate for the scheduled February 12 general elections.
The interim government of Muhammad Yunus staged a nationwide mourning for Hadi&rsquo;s death on Saturday and said no stone would be left unturned to track down his killers as violence erupted in Dhaka and other major cities afresh over the attack and subsequent death.
Faisal Karim Masud's parents, wife and a female friend of the prime suspect have been arrested by police, but said they were unsure about his current whereabouts.
After Monday&rsquo;s clandestine attack on Shikder in Khulna city&rsquo;s Majid Sarani area, police said they were yet at dark about the attack perpetrators or motive but launched an &ldquo;immediate manhunt&rdquo; for their arrest.
Local police station chief Animesh Mondal, however, informed reporters that Khulna Medical College Hospital (KMCH) authorities now shifted Shikder to its City Imaging Centre to pinpoint the state of his injury.

Australian police allege Bondi Beach mass shooting suspects trained tactically before targeting a Hanukkah event, as PM Albanese vows tougher extremism and gun laws.

Sydney Beach Attack: Father-Son Duo Behind Mass Shooting

Australian police allege Bondi Beach mass shooting suspects trained tactically before targeting a Hanukkah event, as PM Albanese vows tougher extremism and gun laws.

The two suspects in a deadly mass shooting at Australia's Bondi Beach carried out "tactical" training in the countryside, police alleged Monday, as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese apologised to the country's Jewish community and vowed tougher laws against extremism.
Father and son Sajid Akram and Naveed are accused of targeting a Hanukkah event on Bondi Beach, killing 15 people in the nation's deadliest mass shooting in almost three decades.
Police documents released Monday said the two had carried out "firearms training" in what was believed to be the New South Wales countryside prior to the shooting.
They said the suspects "meticulously planned" the attack for months, releasing pictures showing them firing shotguns and moving in what they described as a "tactical manner".
The pair also recorded a video in October railing against "Zionists" while sitting in front of a flag of the Islamic State jihadist group and detailing their motivations for the attack, police said.
And they made a nighttime reconnaissance trip to Bondi Beach just days before the killings, documents showed.
The suspects also threw explosives at onlookers during last Sunday's attack, which did not detonate, police said.
Australia observed a minute's silence at 6:47 pm (0747 GMT) on Sunday -- exactly a week since the first reports of gunfire.
On Bondi Beach on Monday, things were gradually returning to normal.
Visitors still spent time in quiet reflection at a memorial set up for the victims, a few placing flowers against walls and on the bridge.
Facing growing political pressure over the attack, Albanese said he would push for tough new laws creating "an aggravated offence for hate preaching".
"We're not going to let the ISIS-inspired terrorists win. We won't let them divide our society, and we'll get through this together," Albanese told reporters on Monday.
And he apologised to the Jewish community "and our nation as a whole" for what took place.
"The government will work every day to protect Jewish Australians, to protect the fundamental right as Australians that they have to be proud of who they are, to practice their faith, to educate their children and to engage in Australian society in the fullest way possible," he added.
 - Crackdown on guns, 'terrorist symbols' -
Australia's federal government has flagged a suite of reforms to gun ownership and hate speech laws, as well as a review of police and intelligence services.
Albanese also announced a sweeping buyback scheme to "get guns off our streets".
It is the largest gun buyback since 1996, when Australia cracked down on firearms in the wake of a mass shooting that killed 35 people at Port Arthur.
And the government of New South Wales -- where the shooting took place -- recalled its parliament for two days on Monday to introduce what it called the "toughest firearm reforms in the country".
"We can't pretend that the world is the same as it was before that terrorist incident on Sunday," New South Wales Premier Chris Minns told reporters.
"I'd give anything to go back a week, a month, two years, to ensure that didn't happen, but we need to make sure that we take steps so that it never happens again."
The new rules will cap the number of guns an individual can own to four, or 10 for exempted individuals like farmers.
There are more than 1.1 million firearms in the state, officials said.
The legislation would also ban the display of "terrorist symbols", including the flag of the Islamic State, which was found in a car linked to one of the alleged shooters.
Authorities will also be able to prohibit protests for up to three months following a terrorism incident.
One of the alleged gunmen, Sajid Akram, 50, was shot and killed by police during the attack. An Indian national, he entered Australia on a visa in 1998.
His 24-year-old son Naveed, an Australian-born citizen, was moved from hospital to jail on Monday, police said.
Minns said Monday he would also look into stricter hate speech legislation next year, including restrictions on the phrase "globalise the intifada".
The phrase is a common chant at pro-Palestinian rallies and refers to uprisings against Israeli forces in the occupied territories.

During his annual Moscow press conference, Vladimir Putin praised Russian troop progress in Ukraine, warned of further military action if diplomacy fails, and downplayed economic concerns under Western sanctions.

Putin hails Ukraine gains, threatens more, in annual press conference

During his annual Moscow press conference, Vladimir Putin praised Russian troop progress in Ukraine, warned of further military action if diplomacy fails, and downplayed economic concerns under Western sanctions.

Vladimir Putin on Friday hailed his troops' progress in Ukraine during an annual press conference in Moscow -- a staple of his 25-year rule -- with the Russian president emboldened by battlefield gains in Ukraine during a US diplomatic push to end the almost four-year war.
As Russia's offensive enters another winter, Putin has spent days telling Russians that Moscow will seize the rest of eastern Ukraine by force if diplomacy fails.
Lanched in February 2022, the Russian leader's assault on Ukraine has become Europe's worst conflict since World War II, killing thousands on both sides.
Russia has since then lived under massive Western sanctions, along with a domestic crackdown on dissent unseen since the Soviet era.
"Our troops are advancing along the entire line of contact... the enemy is retreating in all directions," Putin said at the set-piece event, shown on big screens across Russian cities.
"I'm sure that before the end of this year we will still witness new successes," he added, reeling off a list of Ukrainian cities in the crosshairs of his army.
Reinforced security measures were in place around Moscow's Kremlin and Red Square with some areas closed for pedestrians. Dozens of police cars and special services could be seen in the streets, AFP reporters witnessed.
Putin was speaking as the EU scrambled to help Kyiv avoid a deal pushed by the United States, seen as imposing an effective capitulation on Ukraine, and as the Kremlin seeks to keep Europe out of the settlement talks.
Escalating rhetoric, Putin earlier this week called EU leaders "piglets" and vowed to seize the rest of Ukrainian land he has proclaimed as Russian "by military means" if talks fail.
In Friday's speech, he warned of "severe" consequences if EU powers followed through on proposals to use Russian assets frozen in Europe to fund Ukraine's defence.
In a tightly-controlled TV show, he takes questions from the press and call-ins from people around Russia's 12 time zones.
 - No 'surrender' -
The Kremlin said almost three million questions had been filed by citizens ahead of the event.
In the capital, locals voiced hope for an end to the dragging conflict -- but on Moscow's terms.
"I have loved ones fighting in (east Ukraine's) Donbas and I would not want us to surrender positions there," Lilya Reshetnyak, a 55-year-old accountant, told AFP.
"It's the only thing that worries me."
But she also wanted to ask the Russian leader about uncomfortable issues in occupied Ukraine, such as a water shortage.
Moscow has seized swathes of eastern Ukraine and is demanding that Kyiv surrender even more territory for fighting to end, which is unacceptable to Ukraine.
Russia has since summer advanced rapidly on the battlefield, especially in the southern Zaporizhzhia region.
Intense fighting has continued in Ukraine, even as the United States intensifies its separate talks with both sides -- with Moscow, whose troops have the upper hand, insisting it wants a deal before a ceasefire.
US President Donald Trump said recently that Russia has a more favourable negotiating position, hinting that Kyiv should give up land.
The Europeans are worried Trump will force a rushed deal that will cede too much to Moscow.
 - Economy, repression -
Putin also downplayed concerns over Russia's slowing economy, which has been on a war footing for almost four years and has prioritised defence over all other sectors.
He said the Russian economy was stable and compared it favourably to sluggish growth across Europe.
Russia has also been living under huge sanctions and persistent inflation. The economy is teetering on the edge of a recession, with growth hovering just above zero.
Criticism of the Ukraine offensive is banned in Russia, and Moscow has punished thousands of its citizens for speaking out against it -- either with fines or prison sentences.
All of Putin's political opponents are in exile, prison or dead.
Putin, a former KGB agent, became the president of Russia after Boris Yeltsin stepped down in December 1999.

Pakistan’s Deputy PM Ishaq Dar alleges India is violating the Indus Waters Treaty, claiming water flow manipulation threatens livelihoods and regional stability.

Pakistan accuses India of attempting to undermine Indus treaty

Pakistan&rsquo;s Deputy PM Ishaq Dar alleges India is violating the Indus Waters Treaty, claiming water flow manipulation threatens livelihoods and regional stability.

Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday accused India of consistently attempting to undermine the Indus Waters Treaty, claiming the current material breaches strike at the heart of the pact.
Dar, who is also the Foreign Minister, was addressing the media a day after Pakistan sought clarification from India regarding variations in the flow of the Chenab river.
&ldquo;We witnessed in April this year India&rsquo;s unilateral abeyance of the Indus Waters Treaty&hellip; But what we are witnessing now is material breaches by India that strike at the heart of the Indus Waters Treaty with escalating consequences both for regional stability and the sanctity of international law,&rdquo; he said.
A day after the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, India took a series of punitive measures against Pakistan that included putting the 1960 vintage Indus Water Treaty (IWT) in &ldquo;abeyance.&rdquo;
The IWT, brokered by the World Bank, has governed the distribution and use of the Indus river and its tributaries between India and Pakistan since 1960.
Dar also mentioned that &ldquo;India&rsquo;s manipulation of water&rdquo; has prompted Pakistan's Indus Commissioner to write a letter to his Indian counterpart seeking clarification on the matter.
He also alleged manipulation of Indus basin waters at a critical time of agricultural cycle directly threatens the life and livelihood in Pakistan.
The minister said India had halted sharing information, hydrological data, and joint oversight required by the treaty, which had exposed Pakistan to floods and droughts.
He warned that suspension of water will be considered as an act of war.

Interim government led by Muhammad Yunus condemns violence and attacks on journalists following Sharif Osman Hadi’s death, calling for restraint ahead of upcoming elections.

Bangladesh interim government condemns violence amid nationwide unrest

Interim government led by Muhammad Yunus condemns violence and attacks on journalists following Sharif Osman Hadi&rsquo;s death, calling for restraint ahead of upcoming elections.

The interim government of Bangladesh, led by Muhammad Yunus, on Friday issued its first statement in response to the ongoing unrest across the country, urging citizens to resist acts of mob violence.
In a statement, the government said it &ldquo;strongly and unequivocally condemn[s] all acts of violence, intimidation, arson, and destruction of properties.&rdquo; It warned that such actions, carried out by a few fringe elements, could derail the nation&rsquo;s democratic process.
&ldquo;This is a critical moment in our country's history. We cannot and must not allow it to be derailed by those few who thrive on chaos and reject peace,&rdquo; the statement added, highlighting the significance of Bangladesh&rsquo;s ongoing democratic transition.
The interim government also emphasized the importance of upcoming elections and the national referendum, describing them as &ldquo;not merely political exercises, but a solemn national commitment.&rdquo; It further noted, &ldquo;This promise is inseparable from the dream for which Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi gave his life. Honouring his sacrifice demands restraint, responsibility, and a firm commitment to reject hatred.&rdquo;
Addressing recent attacks on journalists, the government expressed support for reporters from The Daily Star, Prothom Alo, and New Age. &ldquo;We stand with you. We are deeply sorry for the terror and violence you have endured. The nation has witnessed your courage and tolerance in the face of terror. Attacks on journalists are attacks on truth itself. We promise you full justice,&rdquo; the statement said.
The statement also condemned the recent lynching of a Hindu man in Mymensingh: &ldquo;We wholeheartedly condemn the lynching of a Hindu man in Mymensingh. There is no space for such violence in the new Bangladesh. The perpetrators of this heinous crime will not be spared.&rdquo;
The government concluded with an appeal to citizens: &ldquo;At this critical hour, we call upon every citizen to honour Shaheed Hadi by rejecting and resisting violence, incitement and hatred.&rdquo;
Meanwhile, protests following the death of Inqilab Moncho leader Sharif Osman bin Hadi have continued to escalate. Reports indicate that offices of media outlets, including Daily Star and Prothom Alo, were targeted during a night of violent unrest. Protestors also directed anger at the partially demolished home of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
In response, Inqilab Moncho urged the public to refrain from violence, vandalism, and arson. In a late-night Facebook post on Thursday, the organisation stated: &ldquo;Through destruction and fire, certain groups aim to render Bangladesh an ineffective state. They seek to undermine the independence and sovereignty of our country. You must understand -- 32 and 36 are not the same.&rdquo;
The post continued: &ldquo;As the February elections approach, consider who truly benefits if unrest is created in the country. To maintain stability in Bangladesh, fully cooperate with the government and refrain from violence.&rdquo;

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 Vach was seriously hurt in Gaza and sustained life-threatening wounds. 

IDF Officer Who ‘Lied’ About Oct 7 ‘Rapes’, Booby-Trapped; Critical | Gaza School Bombed 5TH Time

Vach was seriously hurt in Gaza and sustained life-threatening wounds.

Colonel Golan Vach, the Israeli officer who had gained global attention, is critical. Vach had falsely claimed beheading of babies and rapes during the Oct 7 attack. He made the claims after Hamas military operation led to hostage crisis. Vach was seriously hurt in Gaza and sustained life-threatening wounds. A metal rod pierced his body when a tunnel in Gaza collapsed. Hamas said they had booby-trapped Israeli military officer Colonel Golan Vach.

The US will end the random H-1B visa lottery and introduce a weighted system prioritising higher-paid, skilled foreign workers, effective from February 2026.

Trump administration moves to overhaul how H-1B visas are granted, ending lottery system

The US will end the random H-1B visa lottery and introduce a weighted system prioritising higher-paid, skilled foreign workers, effective from February 2026.

The US Department of Homeland Security said Tuesday it was replacing its longstanding lottery system for H-1B work visas with a new approach that prioritises skilled, higher-paid foreign workers.
The change follows a series of actions by the Trump administration aimed at reshaping a visa program that critics say has become a pipeline for overseas workers willing to work for lower pay, but supporters say drives innovation.
&ldquo;The existing random selection process of H-1B registrations was exploited and abused by US employers who were primarily seeking to import foreign workers at lower wages than they would pay American workers,&rdquo; said US Citizenship and Immigration Services spokesman Matthew Tragesser.
Earlier this year, President Donald Trump signed a proclamation imposing a USD 100,000 annual H-1B visa fee on highly skilled workers, which is being challenged in court. The president also rolled out a USD 1 million &ldquo;gold card&rdquo; visa as a pathway to US citizenship for wealthy individuals.
A press release announcing the new rule says it is &ldquo;in line with other key changes the administration has made, such as the Presidential Proclamation that requires employers to pay an additional USD 100,000 per visa as a condition of eligibility.&rdquo;
Historically, H-1B visas have been awarded through a lottery system. This year, Amazon was by far the top recipient, with more than 10,000 visas approved, followed by Tata Consultancy Services, Microsoft, Apple and Google. California has the highest concentration of H-1B workers.
The new system will &ldquo;implement a weighted selection process that will increase the probability that H-1B visas are allocated to higher-skilled and higher-paid&rdquo; foreign workers, according to Tuesday's press release.
It will go into effect Feb 27, 2026, and will apply to the upcoming H-1B cap registration season.
Supporters of the H-1B program say it is an important pathway to hiring healthcare workers and educators. They say it drives innovation and economic growth in the US and allows employers to fill jobs in specialised fields.
Critics argue that the visas often go to entry-level positions rather than senior roles requiring specialised skills. While the program is intended to prevent wage suppression or the displacement of US workers, critics say companies can pay lower wages by classifying jobs at the lowest skill levels, even when the workers hired have more experience.
The number of new visas issued annually is capped at 65,000, plus an additional 20,000 for people with a master's degree or higher.

Libya’s armed forces chief Mohammed al-Haddad and four senior officers died after their business jet crashed near Ankara shortly after takeoff, prompting a Turkish investigation.

Libya's top military chief killed in plane crash in Turkey

Libya&rsquo;s armed forces chief Mohammed al-Haddad and four senior officers died after their business jet crashed near Ankara shortly after takeoff, prompting a Turkish investigation.

The head of Libya's armed forces and four other high ranking military officials died late Tuesday when their business jet crashed shortly after taking off from Ankara, officials in Turkey's capital and Tripoli said.
The wreckage of their Falcon 50 aircraft was located by Turkish security personnel in the Haymana district near Ankara, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said. Three crew members were also killed.
Libya's Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah said on his Facebook page: "It is with deep sadness and great sorrow that we learnt of the death of the Libyan army's chief of general staff, Lieutenant General Mohammed al-Haddad."
Haddad earlier Tuesday held talks in Ankara with Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Guler, and his Turkish counterpart, Selcuk Bayraktaroglu, and was returning to Tripoli.
Yerlikaya said on X that Haddad's jet took off from Ankara's Esenboga airport at 1710 GMT, and "contact was lost" 42 minutes later.
The aircraft issued an emergency landing notification near Haymana -- 74 kilometres (45 miles) from Ankara -- but contact could not be reestablished, the minister said.
A senior Turkish official said the plane requested an emergency landing because of electrical failure 16 minutes after it took off.
The jet carried eight passengers including Haddad, four members of his entourage and three crew members "reported an emergency to the air traffic control centre due to an electrical failure, asking for an emergency landing," Burhanettin Duran, head of the presidency's communications directorate, said on X.
Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said the Ankara chief prosecutor's office has launched an investigation into the incident.
-'Like a bomb'-
Several Turkish media outlets broadcast images showing the sky lit up by an explosion not far from the location where the aircraft sent a signal.
Burhan Cicek, a local in Haymana, recalled the moment when the plane crashed.
"I heard a big sound of explosion. It was like a bomb," he told AFP.
Libya's ambassador to Ankara was also at the site.
Walid Ellafi, Libyan minister of state for communication and political affairs, told local television channel Libya al-Ahrar that the Turkish government informed his government of the incident.
"We received a call from the Turkish authorities immediately after the incident, reporting that contact with the aircraft had been lost," the minister said.
"All contact with the aircraft was lost about half an hour after takeoff from Ankara airport due to a technical problem," he said.
"We are awaiting the conclusions of the Turkish investigation, and it appears that the plane crashed."
The minister said the others on the aircraft were Haddad's advisor, Mohammed Al-Assawi, as well as Major General Al-Fitouri Ghraibil, Major General Mohammed Jumaa, and their escort, Mohammed Al-Mahjoub.
Haddad had been the army's chief of general staff since August 2020 and was appointed by then-prime minister Fayez al-Sarraj.
Libya is split between a UN-recognised government in Tripoli, led by Dbeibah, and commander Khalifa Haftar's administration in the east.
The North African country has been divided since a NATO-backed revolt toppled and killed longtime leader Moamer Kadhafi in 2011.
Turkey has close ties with the UN-backed government in Tripoli, to which it provides economic and military support and there have been frequent visits between both sides.
But Ankara has recently also reached out to the rival administration in the east, with the head of Turkey's intelligence agency, Ibrahim Kalin, meeting with Haftar in Benghazi in August.

Freshly released Jeffrey Epstein documents mention Donald Trump’s past ties and private jet travel, as the Justice Department dismisses several allegations as false and sensational.

New Epstein files reference Trump, justice department calls some claims untrue

Freshly released Jeffrey Epstein documents mention Donald Trump&rsquo;s past ties and private jet travel, as the Justice Department dismisses several allegations as false and sensational.

A new batch of Jeffrey Epstein files released Tuesday contains numerous references to President Donald Trump, including documents detailing flights he took on his then friend's private jet, and other claims that his Justice Department described as "untrue and sensationalist."
The latest release contains reams of previously unseen material from the investigation into Epstein, a wealthy US financier who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking underage girls.
A first collection of heavily redacted files made public last Friday sparked criticism that the Justice Department was deliberately excluding references to Trump.
Trump figures prominently, however, in the thousands of documents published on Tuesday, underlining his close ties to the disgraced financier who was already a convicted sex offender when the more serious trafficking case began.
The Justice Department issued a statement defending the 79-year-old Republican shortly after the files dropped, saying some documents "contain untrue and sensationalist claims made against President Trump."
Trump, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, fought for months to prevent release of the vast trove of documents about Epstein.
But a rebellion inside Trump's Republican Party forced him to sign off on a law mandating release of all the documents.
The extraordinary move reflected intense political pressure to address what many Americans, including Trump's own supporters, have long suspected to be a cover-up to protect rich and powerful men in Epstein's orbit.
 - Private jet trips -
Trump said Monday he did not approve of the file dumps, expressing concern that people who "innocently met" Epstein over the years risked having their reputations smeared.
"Everybody was friendly with this guy," he said.
He did not immediately react to Tuesday's release.
Despite attempts to distance himself, Trump was friends for years with Epstein and has given different accounts of how he ended their relationship.
Most recently, he said he threw him out of his Florida golf club for being "a creep."
However, he has also said they fell out when Epstein "stole" young women working in the spa at his club.
The latest documents add to evidence that Trump was close to Epstein.
They include a January 2020 note from New York federal prosecutors who were investigating Epstein's associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, detailing Trump's repeated travel -- eight trips between 1993 and 1996 -- on the financier's private jet.
"Records we received yesterday reflect that Donald Trump traveled on Epstein's private jet many more times than previously has been reported (or that we were aware)," it says.
One flight reportedly had just three passengers: Epstein, Trump and an unidentified 20-year-old.
 - Delays -
One Trump reference was swiftly disputed by the Department of Justice.
A handwritten letter released in Tuesday's tranche was purportedly written by Epstein, while in jail, to Larry Nassar, the former US gymnastics doctor who was imprisoned over rampant abuse of female athletes.
Epstein is shown complaining to Nassar that they are incarcerated while the "president shares our love of young, nubile girls. When a young beauty walked by he loved to 'grab snatch.'"
In a statement the DOJ said the FBI "has confirmed this alleged letter from Jeffrey Epstein to Larry Nassar is FAKE," saying it was postmarked three days after Epstein's death, and entered the mail system in Virginia, despite him being jailed in New York.
Trump critics say the government continues to slow-walk the release of embarrassing material.
At least two emails in the cache mention 10 unidentified "co-conspirators" of Epstein, and Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called for the Justice Department to look into potential Epstein accomplices.
"The Department of Justice needs to shed more light on who was on the list, how they were involved, and why they chose not to prosecute," the senator said.
Maxwell, Epstein's former girlfriend, remains the only person convicted in connection with his crimes.

Bangladesh summons Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma over security concerns at its missions in India, urging stronger protection measures amid recent incidents.

Bangladesh summons Indian envoy over security concerns for missions

Bangladesh summons Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma over security concerns at its missions in India, urging stronger protection measures amid recent incidents.

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Pranay Verma, was on Tuesday summoned to Bangladesh&rsquo;s Ministry of Foreign Affairs amid concerns over the security of Bangladeshi missions in India.
Bangladesh&rsquo;s Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam summoned the Indian High Commissioner, Prothomalo.com reported. Diplomatic sources confirmed the matter.&nbsp;
According to the sources, Verma was summoned in light of the emerging security situation surrounding Bangladesh missions located in various parts of India, including New Delhi and Kolkata, the report added.
Diplomatic sources said that Verma has been requested to ensure strengthened security for Bangladesh missions located in various parts of India. This marks the second time in the past 10 days that Verma has been summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.&nbsp;
The neighbouring country&rsquo;s envoy has been summoned at least six times over various incidents during the tenure of the interim government.
Before today, Verma was summoned to the Foreign Ministry on 14 December.
A statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs following that meeting said that India&rsquo;s cooperation was sought to prevent the attackers who assaulted Inquilab Moncho convener Sharif Osman Hadi from fleeing to India, the report added.&nbsp;

US lawmakers urge Bangladesh to protect religious minorities and ensure accountability following the targeted mob killing of Hindu man Dipu Chandra Das.

US Lawmakers Denounce Hindu Man's Mob Killing in Bangladesh

US lawmakers urge Bangladesh to protect religious minorities and ensure accountability following the targeted mob killing of Hindu man Dipu Chandra Das.

US lawmakers have condemned the targeted mob killing of a Hindu man in Bangladesh, calling on authorities to protect religious minorities and restore the rule of law.
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi condemned the targeted mob killing of Dipu Chandra Das, amid rising instability and unrest.
Krishnamoorthi, an Illinois Democrat, called on Bangladeshi authorities to ensure accountability, protect religious minorities, and restore the rule of law.
"I am appalled by the targeted mob killing of Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu man in Bangladesh&mdash;an act of violence amid a period of dangerous instability and unrest,&rdquo; Krishnamoorthi said in a statement Sunday.
&ldquo;While authorities have reported arrests, the Government of Bangladesh must aggressively pursue a full and transparent investigation and prosecute all those responsible to the fullest extent of the law. It must also take urgent action to protect Hindu communities and other religious minorities from further violence. For the sake of all Bangladeshis, this unrest must end and the rule of law must be upheld,&rdquo; he said.
New York State Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar said she is &ldquo;deeply disturbed" by the ongoing violence against Bangladesh's Hindu minority, exemplified most recently by the brutal lynching of Das.
&ldquo;A mob beat him, set him ablaze, and left his body on a highway. Authorities have reportedly arrested twelve individuals in connection with the horrific crime,&rdquo; she said.
Rajkumar said the incident is part of a &ldquo;troubling&rdquo; pattern of religious persecution and targeted violence against religious minorities in Bangladesh.
She added that the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council documented 2,442 incidents of violence against minorities and over 150 temples vandalised from August 2024 to July 2025.
&ldquo;From Queens to countries across the globe, we all share in the fear, pain, and uncertainty faced by Hindus in Bangladesh. We stand in solidarity with Bangladesh&rsquo;s Hindu community and for human rights and religious freedom globally,&rdquo; she said.
On December 19, Das was lynched to death and his body set on fire over alleged blasphemy in Bangladesh. Das was a factory worker in Mymensingh city.
At least 12 people have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the murder.

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