Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with the family and relatives of Hind Rajab, a six-year-old Palestinian girl killed during Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, the presidential office confirmed on Wednesday. The meeting took place at Ankara’s Presidential Complex, where Erdogan expressed sympathy and paid special attention to the children in the family. According to Turkish media, he also spoke via video call with relatives who could not attend in person.

Cultural and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy was also present at the meeting. Earlier, the Rajab family attended a special screening of the film “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” which portrays the young girl’s life and honors her memory. Hind Rajab’s death has drawn international attention as civilian casualties continue to mount during Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza.

Erdogan’s outreach underscores Turkey’s continued criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza and its efforts to highlight the humanitarian toll of the conflict. The meeting may further strengthen Ankara’s diplomatic positioning on the Palestinian issue.

The United States has approved a record $11.1 billion arms sale to Taiwan, marking the largest defense package ever offered to the island. The deal, authorized under President Donald Trump’s administration, includes rocket systems, howitzers, Javelin anti-tank missiles, Altius combat drones, and various equipment parts. Washington described the sale as essential for strengthening Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities and maintaining regional stability.

The announcement comes as Beijing intensifies military and diplomatic pressure on Taipei, conducting frequent air and naval maneuvers near the island. Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense welcomed the decision, emphasizing that the new weapons will enhance its deterrence capacity. The Pentagon stated that the sale supports US national, economic, and security interests by modernizing Taiwan’s armed forces.

Analysts view the move as a signal of continued US commitment to Taiwan’s defense under the Taiwan Relations Act. However, the sale is expected to draw sharp criticism from China, which considers Taiwan a breakaway province and opposes foreign military support.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declared that his country delivered a lasting lesson to India during the brief May 2025 conflict, which followed escalating tensions in Jammu and Kashmir. Speaking at an event in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sharif asserted that India’s government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi would never forget the defeat it suffered in the 87-hour war.

According to Sharif, Pakistan’s armed forces achieved victory in what he described as a ‘battle for truth,’ supported by national unity and prayers. Pakistani officials claim to have downed six Indian fighter jets, including three Rafales, and several drones before a U.S.-brokered ceasefire on May 10 ended hostilities between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.

Analysts note that Sharif’s remarks reflect Islamabad’s attempt to reinforce domestic confidence and regional deterrence. However, New Delhi has not publicly acknowledged such losses, and independent verification remains limited. The comments may further strain bilateral relations as both sides continue to rebuild diplomatic channels after the brief but intense confrontation.

Cambodia is preparing to declare a unilateral ceasefire following 11 days of intense border clashes with Thailand that have left at least 52 people dead. The conflict, which began on December 7, has seen artillery, drone, and rocket exchanges along the disputed frontier, displacing more than 800,000 civilians from both sides. Cambodia’s Defense Ministry accused Thai forces of continuing bombardments, while Thailand insisted that Phnom Penh, as the alleged aggressor, must initiate a credible ceasefire.

Thai Foreign Ministry spokesperson Marati Nalita Andamo stated that any truce must meet specific conditions and include cooperation on landmine clearance. Cambodia has not officially responded to Thailand’s demand. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump said both nations had agreed to halt fighting, though shelling reportedly continued. Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul denied any external pressure to end hostilities.

The proposed ceasefire could mark a turning point in one of Southeast Asia’s most serious border escalations in recent years. Regional observers warn that without mutual trust and international mediation, renewed violence remains a significant risk.

The United States Southern Command confirmed that four suspected drug traffickers were killed during a military operation targeting a narcotics-laden vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean. The strike, carried out by US forces, was directed at a ship allegedly linked to a designated terrorist organization. The operation resulted in no American military casualties, according to an official statement released via social media platform X.

The Southern Command emphasized that the mission was part of ongoing efforts to curb transnational drug trafficking networks operating across the Pacific. While details about the vessel’s origin and destination remain undisclosed, officials described the action as a necessary step to disrupt criminal groups financing terrorism through narcotics trade. The announcement follows a series of maritime interdictions conducted by US forces in the region.

Analysts note that the strike underscores Washington’s intensified focus on maritime security and counter-narcotics operations in the Pacific corridor. Further investigations are expected to determine the affiliations of the deceased traffickers and the broader network behind the shipment.

Malaysia’s Immigration Department detained 46 Bangladeshi nationals during a four-hour raid at a factory on Wednesday, following public complaints about undocumented workers. The detainees, aged between 18 and 43, were arrested for immigration-related offenses, including expired visas and lack of valid travel documents. Authorities transferred them to the Lenggeng Immigration Depot for further legal processing.

The operation is part of Malaysia’s ongoing crackdown on undocumented foreign labor. In November, the Immigration Department conducted a large-scale operation in Cameron Highlands, detaining 468 foreign nationals, including 174 Bangladeshis, after inspecting nearly 1,900 individuals’ documents. Officials cited expired passes, missing papers, and suspected forged temporary work permits as common violations.

The latest arrests highlight Malaysia’s intensified enforcement of immigration laws amid growing concerns over illegal labor in industrial and agricultural sectors. Rights groups have urged authorities to ensure humane treatment and due process for detained migrant workers.

The United States Congress has permanently lifted all economic sanctions imposed on Syria during the rule of former President Bashar al-Assad. The decision, approved by both chambers of Congress and signed by President Donald Trump, aims to reopen the war-torn nation to domestic and foreign investment after years of civil conflict and economic isolation.

The Senate passed the bill with 77 votes in favor and 20 against, following appeals from Saudi Arabia and Turkey to normalize economic ties with Damascus. Senator Jeanne Shaheen of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said the move would give Syrians a real chance to rebuild after decades of hardship. Syria’s new president, Ahmed al-Shara—once linked to al-Qaeda’s Syrian branch—had been pressing for a full lifting of sanctions since taking office.

The decision has been welcomed in Damascus, where officials described it as a step toward national recovery. Analysts note that the lifting of sanctions could accelerate reconstruction but also raise questions about governance and regional stability.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has accused the United States of attempting to overthrow his government and install a puppet administration to control the country’s vast oil resources. In a televised address on Wednesday, Maduro alleged that Washington, under President Donald Trump, seeks to turn Venezuela into a U.S. colony through political pressure and economic sanctions.

Maduro denounced threats of military intervention and oil embargoes as acts of “barbaric diplomacy,” describing U.S. policy toward Caracas as warlike and imperialist. He claimed that the U.S. aims to dismantle Venezuela’s constitution and sovereignty. Meanwhile, President Trump labeled the Venezuelan government a “foreign terrorist organization,” accusing it of stealing U.S. assets and resources.

The renewed exchange underscores the deepening hostility between Caracas and Washington, with Venezuela’s economic crisis and oil dependency further complicating the standoff. Analysts warn that escalating rhetoric could heighten regional instability and hinder diplomatic resolution efforts.

At least eight women were killed on Wednesday in a drone strike near Kadugli, the capital of Sudan’s South Kordofan state, as they attempted to flee the besieged city. Eyewitnesses told AFP that the attack occurred in Kurkal, about 15 kilometers north of Kadugli, an area under army control but surrounded for 18 months by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The city has become a new flashpoint in Sudan’s prolonged civil war.

Following the RSF’s capture of the army’s last base in Darfur in October, the group shifted its focus to resource-rich Kordofan, a strategic link between army-held Khartoum and RSF-controlled western regions. Communications in the area remain cut off, and the UN recently declared famine in Kadugli. According to the World Food Programme, the humanitarian situation is “extremely dire,” with residents scavenging for food in forests and facing grave risks while trying to escape.

The latest attack underscores the intensifying conflict and the growing civilian toll, as aid agencies warn that access and security conditions continue to deteriorate across Sudan’s war zones.

Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov has claimed that nearly 500,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed since the beginning of 2025. Speaking at a Defense Ministry meeting attended by President Vladimir Putin, Belousov asserted that Ukraine’s military capability has fallen by about one-third compared to last year. He added that the scale of losses has made it difficult for Kyiv to reorganize its forces.

Belousov further stated that Ukraine has lost more than 103,000 pieces of military equipment this year, including 5,500 tanks and armored vehicles supplied by Western allies. He argued that the heavy casualties have discouraged civilians from joining the army, complicating Ukraine’s mobilization efforts.

The remarks come amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict that began in 2022 after tensions over Crimea and Ukraine’s NATO aspirations. Western sources have not independently verified the Russian figures, and analysts caution that both sides often release conflicting casualty data for strategic reasons.

The United States has announced a temporary deployment of Air Force personnel to Ecuador’s Manta air base to support joint anti-narcotics operations with the Ecuadorian military. The move comes as Washington intensifies efforts to curb drug trafficking across Latin America, a region increasingly destabilized by cartel violence. The deployment revives a U.S. presence at Manta, which was used until 2009, despite Ecuadorian voters recently rejecting a proposal to lift the ban on foreign military bases.

According to the U.S. Embassy in Quito, the mission is a short-term collaboration aimed at strengthening Ecuador’s intelligence and operational capacity against drug networks. Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa welcomed the initiative, saying it would help “identify and destroy trafficking routes” and restore national security. Noboa, seen as a close ally of former U.S. President Donald Trump, faces mounting pressure to address escalating cartel violence.

Ecuador, once one of South America’s safest nations, has become a major transit hub for cocaine from Colombia and Peru. Analysts warn that the U.S. deployment could draw political scrutiny amid rising U.S.-Venezuela tensions and domestic opposition to foreign military involvement.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has filed a lawsuit against the Nobel Committee, challenging its decision to award the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado. The legal complaint demands that the Nobel Foundation halt the disbursement of the prize money, reportedly exceeding one million dollars. Assange argues that Machado’s public support for former U.S. President Donald Trump’s military stance and sanctions against Venezuela contradicts the fundamental principles of the Peace Prize.

In his submission, Assange cited Alfred Nobel’s will, which stipulates that the Peace Prize should honor individuals who promote fraternity among nations and work toward disarmament and peace conferences. He contends that Machado’s endorsement of coercive measures undermines these ideals. The lawsuit has sparked debate among human rights advocates and political observers about the interpretation of Nobel’s legacy.

The Nobel Foundation has yet to issue an official response. Legal experts note that while challenges to Nobel decisions are rare, this case could test the boundaries of the committee’s discretion and the moral criteria underpinning the award.

In Bangladesh’s Chittagong Hill Tracts, tribal individuals who have converted to Islam report facing severe persecution, including social boycotts, economic exclusion, and threats from armed groups. The 2021 killing of Mohammad Omar Faruk Tripura, a convert and preacher, highlighted the dangers faced by new Muslims in remote areas like Roangchhari, Bandarban. His murder remains unsolved, and many families now conceal their faith for safety.

Human rights advocates and local activists describe a pattern of intimidation, extortion, and denial of basic rights for converts, particularly among the Tripura, Marma, and Mro communities. Converts are often accused of betraying indigenous identity and are barred from communal resources and markets. Legal experts call these acts violations of constitutional and human rights protections, while local armed groups such as JSS and UPDF are accused of enforcing anti-conversion campaigns.

Observers warn that the issue reflects a deeper intersection of religion, ethnicity, and politics in the Hill Tracts, leaving converts isolated from both state protection and their original communities.

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Moscow will achieve its objectives in Ukraine through either diplomatic or military means, reiterating plans to establish and expand a 'security buffer zone' along contested regions. Speaking on Wednesday, Putin said the goals of the 'special military operation' would be fulfilled and that Russia preferred diplomacy to address the root causes of the conflict. However, he warned that if Ukraine and its Western backers refuse genuine talks, Russia will proceed militarily.

Putin claimed that Russia continues to advance on all fronts, even as U.S. President Donald Trump presses for a rapid peace agreement. Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov acknowledged Ukraine’s attempts to retake the northeastern city of Kupiansk but said they were unsuccessful, while Kyiv asserted control over 90% of the city. Putin also accused European leaders of spreading fear about war with Russia, insisting Moscow does not seek conflict but is prepared if Europe chooses confrontation.

The remarks come as the war reaches a critical juncture, with territorial control contested and diplomatic efforts intensifying.

The bodies of six Bangladeshi peacekeepers killed in a terrorist drone attack on a United Nations base in Sudan’s Abyei region will return to Dhaka on December 20, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). The attack, which occurred on December 13, also left nine Bangladeshi soldiers injured. They are currently receiving treatment at Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya, and are reported to be out of danger.

The ISPR identified the fallen soldiers as Corporal Masud Rana, Soldier Mominul Islam, Soldier Shamim Reza, Soldier Shanto Mondal, Mess Waiter Jahangir Alam, and Laundryman Sabuj Mia. The Bangladesh Army confirmed that funeral rites will be held with full military honors upon the bodies’ arrival in Dhaka. The government has expressed deep condolences to the bereaved families.

Bangladesh is one of the largest contributors to UN peacekeeping missions. The incident highlights the growing security risks faced by peacekeepers in conflict zones like Sudan, where drone warfare has become an increasing threat to international forces.