Venezuelan opposition leader and 2025 Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado was injured while traveling to Norway to attend the award ceremony, her spokesperson confirmed to AFP on Monday. Machado reportedly suffered a spinal injury after an accident occurred as she crossed rough seas in a small fishing vessel on her way to Oslo. She was treated at Oslo University Hospital’s Ullevål facility, though details of her condition remain undisclosed.

Due to the incident, the 58-year-old politician missed the official Nobel Peace Prize presentation. Despite her injuries, she greeted supporters upon arriving in Oslo. Machado, a prominent critic of President Nicolás Maduro, had previously accused the Venezuelan government of electoral fraud in the 2024 elections, from which she was barred. She had been in hiding since August 2024.

Observers note that the accident underscores the personal risks faced by opposition figures in Venezuela. Machado’s recovery and subsequent political activities are expected to draw international attention in the coming weeks.

A recent historical analysis revisits the 1971 surrender of Pakistani forces in Dhaka, highlighting the absence of Bangladesh’s Liberation Army Commander-in-Chief, General M.A.G. Osmani, from the ceremony. The article argues that India’s dominance in the surrender proceedings and its earlier agreements with the provisional Bangladeshi government limited Bangladesh’s autonomy in the immediate post-war period.

According to the account, India’s military and political leadership sought to frame the conflict as an India–Pakistan war, sidelining the Mukti Bahini’s contribution. The piece cites alleged secret accords between India and the provisional government, which allowed Indian officials and troops to remain in Bangladesh temporarily and influenced the formation of the paramilitary Rakkhi Bahini. Eyewitnesses and historical sources suggest Osmani’s absence stemmed either from Indian obstruction or his own protest against subordination.

The analysis concludes that these events left enduring questions about the completeness of Bangladesh’s independence and the extent of India’s influence in shaping the new nation’s early governance and security structures.

The United States military confirmed that air and naval forces carried out strikes on three vessels suspected of drug trafficking in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing at least eight people. The operation, part of an ongoing anti-narcotics campaign, was announced Monday by the US Southern Command. Officials said the targeted ships were moving along a known smuggling route and were directly involved in narcotics transport.

According to a statement posted on social media platform X, intelligence reports indicated the vessels were part of transnational drug networks. The command described those killed as 'narco-terrorists'—three on the first vessel, two on the second, and three on the third. The strikes bring the total death toll from recent anti-smuggling missions in the region to over 90.

US military authorities emphasized that such operations will continue as part of broader efforts to curb international drug trafficking across maritime routes in the Pacific and the Caribbean.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met Sudan’s army chief, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, at Riyadh’s Al-Yamamah Palace to discuss the ongoing conflict in Sudan and efforts to restore security and stability. The Saudi Press Agency reported that senior Saudi officials, including the defense and foreign ministers, attended the meeting, reflecting Riyadh’s continued diplomatic engagement in the region.

Separately, U.S. Special Envoy for Africa, Massad Boulos, met Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman to review bilateral relations and regional peace initiatives. Both sides described the talks as productive and forward-looking, emphasizing cooperation on shared priorities. Some reports suggested Boulos also met al-Burhan, though this has not been independently confirmed.

The meeting underscores Saudi Arabia’s active role in mediating the Sudanese crisis, which has persisted since April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. Riyadh’s involvement aims to facilitate peace talks and humanitarian aid, positioning the kingdom as a key regional mediator in African stability efforts.

Saudi Arabia has executed 340 people so far in 2025, setting a new record for the second consecutive year, according to data compiled by AFP. The Saudi authorities announced three additional executions on Monday, pushing the total beyond last year’s figure of 338. The country continues to apply capital punishment for a range of offenses, including murder, drug trafficking, and terrorism-related crimes.

Human rights organizations have expressed alarm over the rising use of the death penalty, calling it the highest annual total since records began in the 1990s. Groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have repeatedly urged Riyadh to impose a moratorium, citing concerns over due process and fairness in trials.

Observers note that the increase in executions comes despite Saudi Arabia’s pledges to reform its justice system under Vision 2030. The trend may heighten international scrutiny and could affect the kingdom’s human rights image as it seeks greater global investment and diplomatic engagement.

Former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad and his family have been living in seclusion and luxury in Moscow for over a year, according to a Guardian report. After leaving Syria on December 8, 2024, with Russian military assistance, Assad has resumed his earlier profession as an ophthalmologist. He is reportedly studying medicine again, learning Russian, and refining his medical skills while avoiding political activity.

The Assad family resides in Rublyovka, an elite gated community west of Moscow, home to Russia’s political and business elite. Russian authorities are said to be closely monitoring the family, restricting their external communications. Assad’s sudden departure has angered close relatives and loyalists, including his brother Maher al-Assad, who reportedly failed to reach him.

Diplomatic sources confirm that Assad is safe but barred from political or media engagement. His children are adapting to life in Moscow, with daughter Zein graduating from MGIMO University and son Hafez maintaining a low profile online. Observers say the family is adjusting to life away from power and public visibility.

The International Criminal Court’s (ICC) Appeals Chamber on Monday dismissed Israel’s appeal challenging the legality of investigating alleged war crimes in Gaza committed after October 7, 2023. Israel had argued that the investigation was invalid and that the prosecutor should have issued a new notice following recent referrals. The chamber ruled that the post-October 7 incidents fall under the original 2021 notification, confirming that no new notice was required.

The decision preserves the arrest warrants issued in November 2023 against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Legal experts, including Professor Kevin Jon Heller of the University of Copenhagen, welcomed the ruling, noting that Israel could have exercised its complementarity rights but chose not to. The United States has already imposed sanctions on ICC officials involved in the case, including the chief prosecutor and two deputy prosecutors.

The ruling marks a significant step forward for the ICC’s ongoing investigation into alleged war crimes in Palestine, potentially intensifying diplomatic tensions between Israel, the ICC, and its Western allies.

Hamas deputy chief Khalil al-Hayya stated that the group has a 'legitimate right' to retain its weapons, emphasizing that any post-ceasefire proposal for Gaza must preserve this right. Speaking on Hamas-run Al-Aqsa TV, al-Hayya linked the group’s armament to the broader goal of establishing a Palestinian state. His remarks come amid ongoing Israeli strikes despite a ceasefire that took effect on October 10.

Al-Hayya’s comments directly challenge international and Israeli demands for Hamas’s disarmament under a proposed U.S.-backed peace plan. The plan outlines three stages: prisoner exchanges, Israeli troop withdrawals replaced by an international stabilization force, and Gaza’s reconstruction. Israel insists Hamas must surrender its weapons before progress can be made. Al-Hayya also confirmed the death of the head of Hamas’s weapons production unit in recent Israeli attacks.

The statement underscores deep divisions over Gaza’s future governance and security arrangements. Analysts warn that Hamas’s insistence on keeping its arms could complicate ceasefire negotiations and delay reconstruction efforts in the war-torn enclave.

The United States has transferred several Afghan Black Hawk helicopters from Uzbekistan to Peru, according to Tolo News. These aircraft were moved to Uzbekistan in 2021 after the fall of Kabul and the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan. The Taliban government has not yet commented on the transfer, though Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi recently urged countries holding Afghan helicopters to return them for humanitarian use.

Military analyst Mohammad Zalmai Afghanier noted that Washington and its allies aim to maintain regional security and counter terrorism. He suggested that if the helicopters were returned to Afghanistan, they could be used in anti-terror operations. Following the 2021 government collapse, 46 Afghan military aircraft and helicopters were relocated to Uzbekistan, seven of which were handed over to the US in February 2023.

The move may complicate US–Taliban relations and raises questions about the redistribution of former Afghan military assets. No official US statement has clarified the purpose of Peru’s acquisition.

Pakistan’s security forces killed 13 militants in two separate operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province between December 12 and 13, according to a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). The operations took place in Mohmand and Bannu districts, targeting members of the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), referred to by the military as ‘Fitna al-Kharij’. Seven militants were killed in Mohmand and six in Bannu after intense firefights.

The ISPR claimed the militants had received backing from India, an allegation that could further strain bilateral relations. Pakistan’s security agencies have intensified counterterrorism efforts following a surge in militant attacks across the northwest. Last month, 22 militants were killed in a similar operation in Bannu. The Global Terrorism Index 2025 ranked Pakistan second worldwide for terrorism impact, with a 45% rise in deaths from attacks compared to the previous year.

Analysts warn that despite frequent operations, militant networks remain resilient in border regions, posing ongoing security and diplomatic challenges for Islamabad.

At least 17 people were killed and 20 others injured when a school bus carrying students and adults fell into an 80-meter-deep ravine in northern Colombia’s Antioquia region. The bus was returning from a graduation trip to the Caribbean town of Tolú and was en route to Medellín when the accident occurred early Sunday morning near El Chispero, on the Remedios–Zaragoza road.

Antioquia Governor Andrés Julián confirmed the tragedy on social media, describing it as a devastating loss for the community during the holiday season. The victims included students from Liceo Antioqueño High School and the driver, Jonathan Taborda Cocacolo, who worked for the tourism company Preculture. Local authorities said the injured, aged between 16 and 27, were taken to hospitals in Segovia and Remedios.

Officials stated that the trip was privately organized by students, not a school-sponsored event. Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the crash, while local leaders and the tourism network have expressed condolences to the victims’ families and the affected community.

Israeli forces shot and killed a 23-year-old Palestinian man near Hebron in the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The victim, identified as Muhammad Wael al-Sharouf, was reportedly killed after Israeli troops alleged he attempted a stabbing attack. The Israeli military described the incident as the neutralization of a 'terrorist' in the Hebron area.

The killing follows another fatal shooting a day earlier, when Israeli forces killed a 16-year-old boy in the northern West Bank, claiming he had thrown an explosive device. Palestinian authorities identified the teenager as Muhammad Iyad Abahra and accused Israeli forces of withholding his body. The incidents come amid escalating violence across the West Bank since the Gaza war began in October 2023.

According to Palestinian data, at least 1,093 Palestinians have been killed and around 11,000 injured in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since October 2023. The continued clashes highlight the deepening humanitarian and political crisis in the occupied territories.

Thailand has declared martial law in several districts of its eastern Trat province following escalating border clashes with Cambodian forces. According to Thai media reports on Sunday, the move came after a Thai army staff sergeant was killed by a BM-21 rocket strike while on duty near the frontier. The Defense Ministry confirmed that the navy has also imposed curfews across four districts as fighting continues to intensify.

Under martial law, Thai security forces have been granted expanded powers to detain suspects, search vehicles, and inspect properties without prior authorization. Rear Admiral Parach Rattanachaipan of the Thai Navy stated that marine units had regained control over key areas in Cham Rak subdistrict after heavy combat. Senior military officials emphasized that Thailand’s strategic goal is to prevent Cambodia from posing a long-term security threat.

Cambodia’s Defense Ministry, however, accused Thailand of shelling multiple villages and conducting airstrikes using F-16 fighter jets. Regional observers warn that the escalation could destabilize cross-border trade and humanitarian conditions if diplomacy fails to de-escalate tensions.

A Sydney resident, Ahmed Al-Ahmed, has been hailed as a hero after confronting and disarming a gunman during a deadly attack at a Hanukkah celebration near Bondi Beach. Video footage circulating online shows Al-Ahmed, dressed in a white shirt, rushing toward an armed man in a parking area, tackling him from behind, and seizing his rifle. The footage also shows Al-Ahmed placing the weapon on the ground as the assailant retreats toward a nearby bridge.

The attack left 11 people dead, according to local reports. Australian media identified Al-Ahmed, 43, as a local fruit shop owner and father of two. Relatives said he was shot twice during the confrontation. Social media users and community members have widely praised his bravery, crediting his intervention with preventing further casualties.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the incident, while community leaders have called for unity and resilience in the wake of the tragedy. Al-Ahmed’s actions have sparked national discussions about civilian courage in crisis situations.

European Union Defense and Space Commissioner Andrius Kubilius has warned that Russia could create a real conflict scenario in Europe within the next three to four years. Speaking after a meeting with Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, Kubilius described the situation as a potential 'conflict test' for Europe and urged rapid strengthening of the continent’s defense capabilities.

Kubilius emphasized that Russia’s economy has effectively become a wartime economy, posing a long-term security threat to Europe. He identified two major challenges: the potential for Russian aggression and the United States’ call for Europe to assume greater responsibility for its own security as Washington shifts focus toward the Indo-Pacific. He noted that while progress is being made through new financial tools and strategic planning, Europe still heavily depends on U.S. intelligence and satellite systems.

Kubilius also proposed initiating discussions on a European Defense Union that could include the UK, Norway, and Ukraine, stressing that Europe must prepare for greater responsibility within NATO and consider the long-term goal of a unified European army.