World News

Benjamin Netanyahu's legal troubles, which have lasted for years, continue to divide Israeli society at a moment of intense regional instability.

EU warns US against pressuring Ukraine over Russia on peace plan

The EU’s top diplomat warned that US pressure on Ukraine to accept a hasty peace deal risks rewarding Russia’s aggression.

PM Modi ‘deeply concerned’ over Khaleda Zia’s health, offers support to Bangladesh

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday expressed concern over Khaleda Zia’s worsening health, saying India is ready to extend all possible support.

Europeans rally round Ukraine as Trump envoy heads to Moscow

Witkoff left the talks to travel to Moscow where he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday.

Trump says US ‘very satisfied’ with Syria’s progress, praises new leadership

Trump said the US is “very satisfied” with developments in Syria and urged a strong Israel-Syria dialogue, crediting his lifted sanctions for helping the country’s transition.

US, UK announce deal on pharmaceutical tariffs, drug pricing

The Times newspaper first reported the UK is preparing to announce the deal. The Department for Business and Trade didn’t respond to a request for comment.

Putin’s India visit on Dec 4-5: What to expect on S-400 deliveries, oil trade and geopolitical alignment | Explained

With defence, energy, and strategic cooperation at the center of the agenda, the summit is expected to influence the next phase of India–Russia relations at a time of considerable global flux.

Who are Imran Khan’s sons Kasim and Sulaiman, and how did they become wealthier than their father?

Imran Khan’s sons have raised alarm over their father’s treatment in prison as officials delay their return to Pakistan on citizenship grounds.

Netanyahu seeks pardon; president vows decision guided by Israel’s best interests

Israeli President Isaac Herzog says Netanyahu’s pardon plea will be considered solely in the interest of the state and society amid ongoing corruption cases.

China’s defence firms see 10% drop in revenue: How corruption halted Beijing's arms contracts | Explained

SIPRI’s findings show that revenues of China’s leading military firms fell by 10 percent in 2024. In contrast, Japan recorded a 40 percent jump, Germany saw a 36 percent rise and military revenues in the United States increased by 3.8 percent.

Starmer urges UK to tackle Brexit impact, accept EU trade-offs for economic renewal

PM Keir Starmer calls for reducing frictions with the EU and defends last week’s budget as key to growth and stability.

'They have decided to put me in jail": Imran Khan's sister Aleema alleges crackdown on PTI leadership

Aleema Khan alleged that due process is being ignored at a time when public anger is reportedly growing over Imran Khan’s treatment in prison.

Govt debunks Pakistan’s false claim that India asked for Imran Khan’s custody

According to the PIB’s fact-check unit, the letter circulating online is a complete fabrication designed to look like a “top-secret Ministry of External Affairs" document.

Global arms sales hit record $679bn: How India is benefitting, what the data reveals

SIPRI says global arms revenues rose 5.9% in 2024 to an unprecedented $679 billion, driven by the wars in Ukraine and Gaza and rising geopolitical tensions.

Six years since the first COVID case: What we know now about the origins, global toll and India’s progress | Explained

The first known case challenges the notion that the pandemic erupted suddenly. Instead, several peer-reviewed studies indicate that SARS-CoV-2 may have been circulating at low levels before December 2019.

Hong Kong fire probe finds unsafe scaffolding netting as arrests curb criticism

Authorities say some scaffolding netting used in the Tai Po housing complex failed fire-safety standards, even as criticism over the disaster sparks arrests and warnings against dissent.

Awami League calls Hasina sentencing ‘entirely predictable’, blames Yunus govt

The Awami League has rejected the corruption verdict against Sheikh Hasina and her family, accusing the interim government of weaponising the anti-graft body for political gain.

Netanyahu in court after Trump-backed pardon bid sparks political backlash

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu appeared in court after requesting a presidential pardon in his corruption case, a move critics say should require him to leave politics and admit guilt.

Royal rule under strain: How Japan’s male-only succession debate could reshape the monarchy

Japan’s male-only imperial succession law prevents Princess Aiko from becoming emperor, sparking debate amid a shrinking royal family. Public support grows, but conservative lawmakers resist changing centuries-old rules.

Switzerland rejects wealth tax referendum: Why voters said no and why it draws attention in India

Voters were more persuaded by concerns about economic damage. Opponents warned that the measure would push wealthy residents and investors out of the country.

Why 459 Indian truck drivers lost their licences in New Zealand: All you need to know

New Zealand has revoked 459 commercial licences of Indian truck drivers over invalid overseas documents, triggering protests and financial uncertainty for families.

Vladimir Putin to hold Ukraine talks with US envoy Witkoff in Moscow as deal hopes rise

Russia’s president meets US envoy in Moscow after Washington–Kyiv talks, as Europe calls the week pivotal, Kyiv seeks backing in Paris and Donald Trump voices optimism for ending the war.

Elon Musk predicts work will be optional in 10-20 years: What that means for India’s future of jobs | Explained

Only two weeks before the podcast, at the US–Saudi Arabia Investment Forum, Musk repeated the claim that work would become “optional” because AI and robots would take over most forms of production.

From summit snub to diplomatic showdown: How US–South Africa relations unravelled

Donald Trump boycotts South Africa’s G20, accuses it of abuses against white Afrikaners, moves to bar it from the 2026 summit, triggering strong diplomatic retaliation and questions over US authority.

Pakistan hints at Governor’s Rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as protests escalate over Imran Khan 

Pakistan is weighing the option of imposing Governor’s Rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as fears about Imran Khan’s safety and pro-PTI protests intensify.

Pakistan headed for a civil-military clash? Munir’s elevation as supreme commander delayed as Shehbaz goes ‘missing’

Pakistan is witnessing the early signs of a fractured state trying to negotiate power between a weakened civilian government and an emboldened military leadership.

Sri Lanka hails India’s swift cyclone aid under Operation Sagar Bandhu

Top Sri Lankan leaders have thanked India for rapid humanitarian assistance following the destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah.

Who will lead the US Federal Reserve next? Inside Trump’s high-stakes search for Powell’s successor

Donald Trump nears decision on Jerome Powell’s successor as White House narrows shortlist to five candidates, amid rate-cut pressures, market sensitivity and concerns over political influence on US monetary policy.

Miss Universe 2025 debacle exposes deep cracks in the pageant world

The fallout from the 2025 Miss Universe finale has exposed deep cracks in a pageant world struggling with credibility, relevance and internal scandal.

How Venezuelan gangs and African jihadists are flooding Europe with cocaine

Venezuela’s role as a launchpad for cocaine into West Africa, and onward with jihadist help into Europe, is reshaping the global drug trade and pushing European seizures above those in North America.

Imran Khan mystery deepens as son fears 'something irreversible' has happened to ex-Pakistan PM

Kasim said that not even knowing whether his father is safe, injured or even alive is a form of "psychological torture".

Over 1,000 dead as floods ravage Asia: What caused the disaster and why it spread across five countries | Explained

As of early December 2025, the death toll has crossed 1,000, with many more missing, millions displaced and entire communities destroyed.

Inside renewed Russia-Ukraine peace talks: The major hurdles as the US pushes for a deal

A renewed U.S.-led peace effort moves forward but deep disagreements over territory and Ukraine’s future security show a long road to any deal.

Indian migrant worker kicked, hosed and stranded in Malaysia says he can’t return, employer holds his passport

A Tamil Nadu man was recently humiliated and chased away while sleeping outside a Malaysian bank, a chilling reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by migrant workers abroad. He says he desperately wants to return home, but can’t because his employer still holds his passport and has unpaid him for months.

DNA test reunions now sparking inheritance battles as surprise heirs step forward

More and more people are finding their biological relatives via DNA testing, only to be pulled into an emotional and costly fight over inheritance. A recent report in the Wall Street Journal underlines how these surprise heirs are remaking estate battles and forcing families and courts to confront difficult questions of law and morality.

Why beer bottle caps have exactly 21 ridges: the science behind the standard

Next time you crack open a beer, take a look at the cap; the 21 serrations aren't random. It was over a century of engineering and practical testing that made 21 the "magic number" for sealing, safety, and easy opening. Bottle caps with ridges-what's commonly called a "crown cap"-have been nearly universal for beer and many carbonated drinks. The reason for the now-standard 21 ridges lies in early innovations of the 1890s and many decades of refinement since.

Trump’s pardon plan for ex-Honduran president revives cocaine-trafficking scandal

Trump’s plan to pardon former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández has ignited controversy, reviving a case that exposed one of the largest cocaine-trafficking conspiracies ever linked to a head of state

Hong Kong police reveal first interior images of building where fire claimed 146 lives

A massive fire at Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court housing estate killed 146, left 100 missing and 79 injured. Authorities halted contractor projects and arrested at least 11 people for investigation.

Why US health insurance costs are about to spike

A steep rise in insurance premiums is forcing millions of Americans to confront a growing healthcare affordability crisis, with West Virginia at the centre of the looming shock

The mysterious fungus thriving in Chernobyl’s radiation

Nearly four decades after the Chernobyl disaster, a strange black fungus is not just surviving but thriving in one of the most radioactive buildings on the face of the Earth. Its odd affair with radiation raises a question in scientists' minds as to whether life can adapt in ways we never thought possible. This article is based on verified reporting from Science Alert.

How Trump’s Caribbean boat strikes sparked war-crime questions and bipartisan pushback in Congress

Bipartisan outrage is growing in Washington after reports that a US commander ordered a second strike on a drug boat to kill survivors in Trump’s Caribbean offensive, prompting allegations of possible war crimes and vows of tougher congressional oversight.

Harvard scientist’s wild Jupiter theory brings new mystery to interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS

A new claim about visiting comet 3I/ATLAS has stirred debate among astronomers worldwide. The idea that its strange path could hint at extra-terrestrial technology is pushing curiosity and scepticism to new heights.

Inside Benjamin Netanyahu’s pardon gamble: What it means for Israel’s courts, politics and war-time leadership

Benjamin Netanyahu seeks an unprecedented presidential pardon during his ongoing corruption trial, triggering legal backlash, dividing Israeli politics, testing court authority and raising questions over accountability, governance and war-time leadership.

Bangladesh court convicts ex-PM Sheikh Hasina and UK lawmaker niece Tulip Siddiq in land scam case

A Dhaka court sentenced prime minister Sheikh Hasina to five years and her UK MP niece Tulip Siddiq to two for corruption linked to the Purbachal New Town land project.

‘I have no idea’: Trump says he will release MRI results but cannot say which body part was scanned

Donald Trump says he is ready to release results of an October MRI described as ‘perfect’, but says he does not know which body part was scanned at Walter Reed.

‘Got zero help’: Nalin Haley slams ‘nepo baby’ jibes; says critics ignore real Gen Z struggles

The exchange came amid growing online sparring over generational politics and economic frustrations, with some commentators dubbing it part of the ongoing MAGA “civil war”.

Severe storms kill nearly 1,000 in Southeast Asia, Sri Lanka

Three tropical cyclones, coinciding with the northeast monsoon which typically brings heavy downpours to Southeast Asia this time of year, have caused widespread destruction in the region

Silver hits fresh record after trading outage, supply tightness

The precious metal rose as much as 1.4% to $57.29 in the spot market, surpassing a peak struck on Friday

US says Ukraine talks productive as Witkoff heads to Russia

The meeting, which took place in Florida with US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner also in attendance, was likely the last chance for Ukraine’s negotiators to sway Witkoff before he leads a US delegation for talks in Russia this week.

Trump says he has made his choice to lead the Federal Reserve

“I know who I am going to pick, yeah,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One on his way back to Washington, without naming his choice. “We’ll be announcing it.”