Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met in Dhaka on Wednesday at the residence of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to pay their final respects. According to Geo News, this was the first such meeting between senior officials of the two countries since their conflict in May 2025.

The meeting took place against the backdrop of recent hostilities between India and Pakistan. India had blamed Pakistan for a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, in Indian-administered Kashmir, an allegation Islamabad has consistently denied. Following the attack, India launched strikes inside Pakistan, prompting retaliatory action from Islamabad. The confrontation ended after a ceasefire brokered by the United States.

The Dhaka meeting, marked by a cordial handshake between the two leaders, symbolized a rare moment of contact between the neighboring nations after months of tension.

Israel has warned that it will suspend the operations of several donor and humanitarian organizations working in the war-torn Gaza Strip, accusing them of failing to comply with new regulations. According to the report, the restrictions are set to take effect from Thursday and will affect more than 30 groups, including Doctors Without Borders, the Norwegian Refugee Council, CARE International, the International Rescue Committee, Oxfam, and Caritas. Israel claims these organizations did not meet requirements to share information about their staff, funding, and activities.

Tel Aviv further alleged that some staff members of Doctors Without Borders were cooperating with Hamas and that the organization failed to clarify their roles. Doctors Without Borders denied the accusations and warned that Israel’s decision would have a devastating impact on its medical work in Gaza. International organizations described Israel’s new rules as arbitrary, while Israeli authorities stated that permits for 37 groups had not been renewed.

The dispute underscores growing tensions between Israel and international aid agencies over operational transparency and humanitarian access in Gaza.

The United Arab Emirates has announced the withdrawal of its remaining troops from Yemen, citing recent Saudi-led coalition airstrikes and escalating tensions in the country’s southern region. The decision follows a demand from Yemen’s internationally recognized government, which gave the UAE 24 hours to remove its forces. The UAE Defense Ministry said the move was made voluntarily, considering the impact of current conditions on the safety and effectiveness of its counterterrorism mission, and that coordination with partners would ensure troop security during the process.

Earlier, Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council chairman Rashad al-Alimi canceled the joint defense agreement with the UAE, imposed a 90-day state of emergency, and restricted all border crossings for 72 hours. The developments came after coalition airstrikes targeted two UAE-linked ships at Mukalla port, which reportedly entered without authorization. Yemen’s government accused the vessels of transporting weapons to the Southern Transitional Council, further complicating the security situation.

The UAE’s withdrawal marks a significant shift in the coalition’s dynamics and could affect ongoing operations in southern Yemen.

U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly praised Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, crediting him for helping avert a potential nuclear war between Pakistan and India. At a December 22 press conference, Trump claimed he had ended eight wars and said his mediation saved millions of lives. Since June, this was at least the tenth time Trump publicly lauded Munir, calling him a “great warrior” and “exceptional man.” Trump also acknowledged Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s role in peace efforts during his October speech at the Sharm El-Sheikh peace summit.

Analysts link the warming U.S.-Pakistan ties to the four-day war between India and Pakistan in May 2025, which ended through U.S. mediation. Pakistan recognized Washington’s role and nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, while India denied U.S. involvement. Former Pakistani officials said the conflict elevated Munir’s international stature and marked a turning point in bilateral relations.

Experts note that Pakistan’s cooperation in counterterrorism and Munir’s diplomatic outreach, including two U.S. visits in 2025, have positioned Islamabad as a potential regional player in Washington’s strategic plans.

More than 3,000 migrants have died this year while attempting to reach Spain by sea, according to Spanish migrant rights group Caminando Fronteras. The organization reported that between January and December 15, 2025, a total of 3,090 people drowned, including 192 women and 437 children. Although the total number of deaths decreased compared to 2024, the number of shipwrecks rose to 303, with 70 boats disappearing without a trace.

Caminando Fronteras research coordinator Helena Maleno said that despite the lower death toll, the rise in shipwrecks remains alarming. Spain’s Interior Ministry stated that by December 15, 35,935 irregular migrants had arrived by sea and land, compared with 60,311 during the same period in 2024. Authorities attributed the decline in arrivals mainly to stricter border policing, particularly in Mauritania, a key departure point for migrants heading to Spain.

The report highlights the continuing risks faced by migrants seeking better lives in Europe and the impact of intensified border controls on migration routes.

Thailand has released 18 Cambodian soldiers three days after both countries agreed to a renewed ceasefire. The soldiers had been detained since July during border clashes between the two Southeast Asian neighbors. Thailand’s foreign ministry confirmed the release, describing it as a gesture of goodwill and confidence-building. Cambodia’s defense ministry said the soldiers returned home on Wednesday morning after 155 days in Thai custody.

The border conflict, which began in July, had previously been halted through mediation by U.S. President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. However, fighting resumed earlier this month, resulting in at least 101 deaths and the displacement of about half a million people from both sides. The two nations reached another ceasefire agreement over the weekend, which took effect on Saturday afternoon.

The soldiers were initially scheduled to be repatriated on Tuesday, but Thailand delayed the handover, citing alleged ceasefire violations. Cambodia denied those allegations, maintaining that it had not breached the agreement.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has sharply condemned U.S. President Donald Trump’s renewed threat of military action against Iran. In a post on social media platform X on December 30, Pezeshkian warned that any aggression against the Islamic Republic would be met with a severe and regretful response.

Trump made the remarks a day earlier in Florida during a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying the United States would have no choice but to eliminate Iran if it tried to reorganize. He also suggested that any future U.S. strikes could be stronger than before. Analysts described this as Trump’s first open and direct military threat against Iran’s conventional missile program, a key element of the country’s defense policy.

The report recalled that in June, the United States joined an Israeli military operation targeting three Iranian nuclear sites. Trump had then claimed Iran could produce a nuclear weapon within two months, a statement that contradicted assurances from the International Atomic Energy Agency and Iranian officials, who maintain that Iran’s nuclear program is peaceful and focused on energy and medical development.

US President Donald Trump has warned that the United States would support another major strike on Iran if the country resumes its nuclear weapons development. Speaking at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida after meeting Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump said he believes Iran has been trying to restart its weapons program since the US attack in June.

At a press conference, Trump stated that he had heard Iran was producing nuclear weapons and other materials, and warned that any renewed activity would lead to strikes on different facilities than those previously destroyed. He cautioned Iran to halt its nuclear ambitions, noting that US B-2 bombers require a 37-hour journey for such missions, which he said the US does not wish to repeat.

The report added that the US administration is currently engaged in discussions with Tehran over a possible nuclear agreement, while Iran has conducted two missile tests earlier this month.

Analysts are closely watching how the Middle East’s geopolitical and security landscape will evolve in 2026. The region faces multiple flashpoints, including a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Iran, renewed fears of Israeli military operations in Gaza, challenges confronting Syria’s post-Assad government, and intensifying competition between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates over influence in Sudan and Yemen.

The Israel-Iran truce, brokered by the United States after a 12-day war in June 2025, remains unstable amid concerns over Iran’s missile drills and Israeli pressure for renewed strikes. In Gaza, Israel has violated the October ceasefire more than 730 times, killing over 400 Palestinians, raising doubts about the durability of peace efforts. Meanwhile, Syria’s new government under President Ahmed al-Sharar faces internal and external threats, with its stability depending on Gulf, Turkish, and European support.

Analysts also highlight growing Saudi-UAE rivalry, with both backing opposing factions in Sudan and Yemen. This competition could deepen rifts between the two Gulf powers despite U.S. efforts to mediate. The overall regional outlook remains uncertain as multiple conflicts threaten to reshape alliances and power balances.

Yemen’s Houthi movement has issued a strong warning to Israel following its recognition of Somaliland as an independent state. On December 26, Israel became the first country to formally recognize Somaliland, a self-declared republic that separated from Somalia in 1991. The move drew sharp condemnation from Somalia and several Muslim-majority nations, as well as statements from the European Union, African Union, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the Arab League.

Houthi leader Abdel-Malik al-Houthi declared that any Israeli presence in Somaliland would be treated as a military target, describing it as aggression against Somalia and Yemen and a threat to regional security. He warned that the consequences of Israel’s decision would be serious, calling it a hostile act toward Somalia, Yemen, and countries along both shores of the Red Sea.

Somaliland, strategically located along the Gulf of Aden, has long sought international recognition and maintains its own currency, passport, and armed forces.

China carried out a second consecutive day of live-fire military exercises around Taiwan under the name “Justice Mission 2025.” According to Beijing, the two-day drills included simulated attacks on maritime targets and blockade exercises around key Taiwanese ports such as Keelung and Kaohsiung. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) said destroyers, frigates, fighter jets, and bombers were deployed, with operations covering northern and southern waters to test sea-air coordination and blockade capabilities. Taiwan condemned the drills as an act of military intimidation and lodged a strong protest.

The exercises took place as the United States approved a major arms sale to Taiwan and Japan’s prime minister suggested possible military response if force is used against the island. China’s foreign ministry warned that foreign arms support to Taipei could quickly escalate tensions in the Taiwan Strait. PLA spokesperson Shi Yi described the drills as a legitimate and necessary warning to “Taiwan independence” forces.

Taiwan’s defense ministry reported detecting 130 Chinese aircraft and 14 naval vessels near the island within 24 hours, calling the maneuvers a sign of China’s growing aggression.

Israel’s decision to recognize Somaliland as an independent state has complicated its efforts to normalize relations with Saudi Arabia, according to a senior source from the Saudi royal family quoted by Israel’s Channel 12 on Sunday. The source said the move angered Riyadh and pushed the possibility of diplomatic normalization further away, warning that it increases Israel’s isolation across the region.

The Saudi source described the recognition as equivalent to endorsing separatism and a violation of regional security. He cautioned that the decision challenges Arab and Muslim nations that have not recognized Somaliland, including Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan. The source also argued that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s pursuit of a second term is fueling regional instability and undermining Somalia’s UN-recognized borders, which include Somaliland.

The source concluded that Netanyahu’s policies disregard international law and diplomatic norms, further straining Israel’s standing in the Middle East.

Israel has released 10 Palestinians detained in Gaza under a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement with Hamas, according to Anadolu Agency on Sunday. The released individuals were taken by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah for medical examinations and necessary treatment.

Human rights organizations from both Palestine and Israel reported that more than 9,300 Palestinians remain imprisoned in Israel, including women and children. The report cited allegations of torture, starvation, and medical neglect among detainees, leading to several deaths. Rights groups also stated that mistreatment of Palestinian prisoners has intensified during Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza.

Since the conflict began in October 2023, over 70,900 people have been killed—mostly women and children—and about 171,200 injured, while large parts of Gaza have been reduced to rubble.

The United States has allocated $2 billion to support United Nations humanitarian operations, with Bangladesh among 17 countries set to benefit. The funding will be distributed through an 'umbrella fund' targeting specific agencies and priority sectors. The US administration described the move as part of a new financial approach under the Trump administration, which seeks to reduce foreign aid while maintaining the country’s position as the world’s largest humanitarian donor.

Although the $2 billion allocation is lower than previous levels, the administration called it a generous contribution. However, the new funding model has raised concerns among humanitarian organizations due to significant program cuts. Afghanistan and the Palestinian territories are excluded from the list, with aid for Palestine expected to come through Trump’s incomplete Gaza peace plan.

According to UN data, the current amount represents only a small fraction of recent humanitarian assistance levels, as the US once provided up to $17 billion annually. Critics worldwide warn that reduced Western aid could increase hunger, displacement, and disease risks for millions and weaken international influence.

More than 3,090 migrants died in 2025 while attempting to reach Spain from various countries, according to Spain’s migrant rights organization Caminando Fronteras. The group reported that the number of deaths, though still high, marked a significant decrease compared to 2024 as fewer people attempted the perilous crossings. Most fatalities occurred along the Atlantic migration route from Africa to Spain’s Canary Islands, one of the world’s most dangerous sea passages.

The report noted that while arrivals to the Canary Islands have fallen, a new, longer, and more dangerous route from Guinea has emerged. Among the dead were 437 children and 192 women. Caminando Fronteras also observed a rise in migrant boats departing Algeria toward Ibiza and Formentera in the Mediterranean, a route increasingly used by migrants from Somalia, Sudan, and South Sudan in 2025. Deaths on this route doubled from the previous year to 1,037.

Spain’s Interior Ministry stated that by December 15, 2025, a total of 35,935 migrants had reached Spain, about 40 percent fewer than during the same period in 2024, with roughly half arriving via the Atlantic route to the Canary Islands.