European members of the UN Security Council have sharply condemned escalating violence by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, calling it a record level of aggression. In a joint statement delivered by UK Ambassador James Kariuki on behalf of Denmark, France, Greece, Slovenia, and the United Kingdom, the group cited over 260 attacks against Palestinians in October alone, according to UN humanitarian data. Kariuki emphasized that the Council will revisit Resolution 2334, which explicitly denounces settlement activities and urges Israel to comply with international law. He warned that current Israeli policies contradict the resolution, heightening instability in the West Bank and jeopardizing both Gaza’s 20-point recovery plan and prospects for a two-state solution. The European bloc reiterated opposition to illegal settlement expansion, forced evictions in East Jerusalem, and new housing projects. They urged Israel to protect Palestinian civilians and preserve the status quo at Jerusalem’s holy sites, underscoring that continued violence undermines peace efforts and regional stability.

Police in Patiya, Chattogram, are under scrutiny after a detained student leader, Sheyaib-ul Islam Fahim, allegedly posted selfies and Facebook statuses while in police custody. Fahim, president of the Baralia Union Ward 7 unit of the banned Chhatra League, was arrested on December 17 on charges of involvement in anti-state activities. Despite being detained, he reportedly used a hidden mobile phone to post photos and messages, including one showing a sleeping police officer. The incident sparked widespread criticism on social media, with many questioning how a detainee could access a phone under police supervision. Patiya Police Station Officer-in-Charge Ziaul Haque stated that Fahim had concealed the phone in his undergarments, which was later confiscated. He confirmed that the suspect was sent to court under the Anti-Terrorism Act. The controversy has raised concerns about custodial oversight and police accountability, prompting calls for an internal investigation into the breach of detention protocols.

Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus chaired the weekly meeting of the Advisory Council in Dhaka, where the deteriorating health of activist and Inquilab Mancha spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi was a key topic. Hadi, a prominent figure in the July uprising, remains in critical condition at Singapore General Hospital after suffering a massive heart attack and severe infection. According to officials, Singapore’s Foreign Minister Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan has been in regular contact with Dr. Yunus regarding Hadi’s condition. A senior Bangladeshi foreign ministry official has been dispatched to Singapore to coordinate with Hadi’s family, hospital authorities, and the Singaporean government. Doctors are reportedly preparing for a complex brain operation to remove a bullet fragment lodged in his brainstem. The government’s press wing confirmed Hadi’s condition as “extremely critical.” His family members are by his side, and additional relatives are traveling to Singapore. The situation has drawn close attention from both Dhaka and Singapore, with urgent medical and diplomatic coordination underway.

Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has briefed foreign diplomats in Dhaka on the government’s preparations and security measures for the upcoming 13th national election and referendum. The briefing, held at the Padma State Guesthouse and led by Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam, outlined updated plans to ensure safety and order during the electoral process. According to the ministry’s statement, armed forces and law enforcement agencies are on high alert and ready to respond to any situation. Around 40 diplomats from various embassies attended the session, where they were informed that the Election Commission will welcome foreign election observers and invited them to send monitoring teams. The government also reassured embassies about the safety of their personnel and premises. The move comes amid heightened international attention on Bangladesh’s electoral environment. Officials emphasized transparency and cooperation with the diplomatic community, signaling efforts to maintain stability and confidence ahead of the polls.

Bangla Academy has announced the recipients of its 2025 awards, recognizing eight individuals for their contributions to literature, science, and the arts. The awards will be formally presented on December 27 during the Academy’s 48th annual general meeting. Each award carries a monetary prize ranging from fifty thousand to two hundred thousand Bangladeshi taka. Among the honorees are Professor Mansur Musa for linguistic research, Khosru Chowdhury for science communication, and Sanaul Haque Khan for poetry. Hafiz Rashid Khan will receive the Sa’dat Ali Akhand Literary Award for his research on ethnic literature, while actor-director Tariq Anam Khan will be honored for his contributions to theatre. Shibabrata Barman is recognized for translation, Safiq Islam for his mathematics book, and fiction writers Subrata Barua and Anisur Rahman for their storytelling achievements. The Bangla Academy awards, established to promote intellectual and creative excellence, remain among Bangladesh’s most prestigious honors. The 2025 selections highlight the diversity of contemporary Bangladeshi scholarship and creativity across disciplines.

Former anti-discrimination student movement coordinator Tarekul Islam, known as Tarek Reza, has claimed that the death of activist Jannat Akter Rumi was not a suicide but a murder. In a Facebook post on Thursday, he accused ruling party supporters of relentless cyberbullying and threats that allegedly drove Rumi to take her own life. Rumi, a joint coordinator of the NCP Dhanmondi unit, reportedly faced continuous online harassment and phone threats over the past month. According to Reza, despite repeated appeals, authorities failed to provide protection or take action against those responsible. He vowed to seek justice, declaring that those who destroyed his “sister’s life” would not live in peace. The incident has sparked outrage among student activists and renewed debate over digital harassment and political intimidation in Bangladesh. Observers say the case highlights the growing dangers of online abuse targeting political activists, particularly women. Calls are mounting for a transparent investigation and stronger cybercrime enforcement to prevent similar tragedies.

Police recovered the body of Jannat Ara Rumi, a 30-year-old political activist known as the 'July Daughter,' from a women’s hostel in Hazaribagh, Dhaka, on Thursday morning. Rumi, who had been active in the 2024 anti-discrimination and anti-government movements, was serving as a joint coordinator for the Dhanmondi unit of the National Citizen Party (NCP). Her sudden and unexplained death has sparked widespread grief in her hometown of Patnitala, Naogaon. Local leaders and former student movement colleagues described Rumi as a courageous figure who led early demonstrations against the then-ruling Awami League. Friends and associates have demanded a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death, urging authorities to identify and punish anyone found responsible. Rumi, a trained nurse and mother of a four-year-old, had divorced five months earlier and recently relocated to Dhaka for political work. Police have yet to disclose preliminary findings, while the NCP and local activists are calling for transparency and justice. The incident has reignited discussions on the safety of young women in politics and the need for accountability in politically sensitive deaths.

A one-month-old Palestinian infant has died in Gaza due to severe cold, bringing the winter-related death toll to 13, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Aid agencies warn that the lack of blankets, heaters, and warm clothing is worsening the humanitarian crisis among displaced families living in makeshift shelters. Israeli restrictions on the entry of relief materials have further limited access to essential winter supplies. Civil Defense officials have cautioned that children are at particular risk as millions remain without adequate shelter or heating. Most housing in Gaza has been destroyed, forcing families to live in tents that offer little protection from rain and freezing temperatures. The Government Media Office in Gaza accused Israel of failing to uphold ceasefire and humanitarian commitments made in October. Since October 2023, more than 70,700 Palestinians—mostly women and children—have been killed and over 171,000 injured in the ongoing conflict, leaving Gaza in ruins and heightening the risk of further humanitarian catastrophe as winter intensifies.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman is set to return to Bangladesh on December 25, according to his personal secretary Abdus Sattar. His flight from London will arrive in Dhaka via Sylhet around 11 a.m., and he will be accompanied by his daughter. The announcement follows confirmation from BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir earlier this month that Rahman’s homecoming was being finalized. Rahman, the eldest son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, left Bangladesh in 2008 after being released from an 18-month detention under the military-backed caretaker government that took power in 2007. He has since lived in London, maintaining political communication with party leaders remotely. His return marks a major political development for the BNP, which has been struggling with leadership challenges amid ongoing legal and political pressures. Observers say Rahman’s return could reshape the opposition landscape ahead of future elections. Security arrangements and political reactions are expected to intensify as the date approaches.

The United Nations has warned that heavy rainfall has severely worsened living conditions for hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians in Gaza. UNICEF spokesperson Jonathan Cricks described the weather as 'horrific,' noting that flooding reached up to 15 centimeters near his office. The Hamas-run health ministry reported that one child died from hypothermia and at least 11 others were killed when buildings collapsed due to the storm. Despite a ceasefire in place for nine weeks, UN agencies say aid remains insufficient. Around 55,000 families have been affected by the flooding, losing their shelters and belongings, while more than 40 emergency centers have been inundated. Cricks said many families are trying to remove water with buckets, and children in wet clothes face severe health risks. The UN estimates that roughly one million people are living in tents or makeshift shelters, many of which are at risk of collapse in strong winds. Aid agencies are calling for urgent international assistance to prevent further humanitarian deterioration as winter intensifies.

China is advancing plans to build the world’s largest hydropower project on the Yarlung Tsangpo River in Tibet, a $168 billion undertaking that could generate around 300 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually—three times the output of the Three Gorges Dam. President Xi Jinping has called for the project to be pursued with force and efficiency, framing it as a cornerstone of China’s renewable energy ambitions. Experts describe the project as an unprecedented engineering feat involving tunnels and reservoirs stretching up to 150 kilometers through the Himalayas. However, India and Bangladesh, both downstream nations, fear severe ecological and hydrological impacts, including altered river flows, flooding, and displacement. Indian analysts have dubbed it a potential “water bomb,” citing its proximity to disputed borders. While Beijing insists the project follows decades of research, limited transparency has fueled speculation about its environmental and geopolitical risks. Analysts warn that the dam could reshape regional water politics, potentially intensifying Sino-Indian tensions and affecting millions dependent on the Brahmaputra basin.

Police recovered the body of Jannatara Rumi, a leader of the National Citizens Party (NCP), from a women’s hostel in Jigatola, Dhaka, on Thursday morning. Rumi, who served as joint coordinator of the NCP’s Dhanmondi unit, was found hanging from the fifth floor of the building. Authorities have yet to confirm whether the death was a suicide or involved foul play. Following the discovery, former Bangladesh Students’ Union president Bappaditya Basu drew public criticism after expressing apparent satisfaction over Rumi’s death in a Facebook post. Basu, a former organizer of the Shahbagh-based Gonojagoron Mancha movement, had previously faced arrest in 2024 on charges of embezzlement and fraud. His remarks have reignited debate over political intolerance and online hate speech in Bangladesh. Investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding Rumi’s death, while political observers warn that such reactions on social media risk deepening divisions among activist groups. The NCP has not yet issued an official statement, and police said an autopsy report will determine the cause of death.

Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refaat Ahmed paid a farewell visit to President Mohammed Shahabuddin at Bangabhaban on Thursday, marking the conclusion of his tenure as the head of Bangladesh’s judiciary. During the meeting, the President commended the Chief Justice for his long and distinguished career, highlighting his professionalism, dedication, and contribution to upholding justice in the country. In response, Chief Justice Ahmed expressed his gratitude to the President for the cooperation extended to him during his tenure. He also briefed the President on key initiatives and reforms undertaken under his leadership to strengthen judicial efficiency and transparency. The meeting reflected mutual respect between the executive and judiciary at a time of transition in the Supreme Court. The farewell marks the end of an era in Bangladesh’s judicial leadership, with the government expected to announce a new Chief Justice soon. Legal observers note that the next appointment will be crucial for maintaining judicial independence and continuity in ongoing reforms.

At least three people were killed early Thursday in a Ukrainian drone strike targeting Russia’s Rostov region, according to regional governor Yuri Slyusar. The attack hit a cargo ship docked at the regional capital’s port, igniting a fire that killed two sailors and injured three others. Another civilian was killed and six wounded in nearby Bataysk city. Authorities said damage assessments are underway. The assault marks another escalation in Ukraine’s campaign to strike deep inside Russian territory, focusing on energy and logistics infrastructure that sustain Moscow’s war effort. Russian officials claim to intercept dozens of drones nightly, while Kyiv has recently acknowledged attacks on oil tankers and ports in the Black Sea, including Novorossiysk, a key oil terminal temporarily shut down after a previous strike. Despite renewed U.S.-led diplomatic initiatives for a ceasefire, neither side has shown willingness to halt hostilities. Turkey has warned that continued attacks on Black Sea shipping could dangerously heighten regional tensions.

Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of the Inquilab Mancha, remains in extremely critical condition after being shot in the head. Doctors at Singapore General Hospital are preparing for a complex brain operation to remove a bullet fragment lodged in his brainstem. The surgery is being considered as a final attempt to save his life, according to sources close to the family. Hadi suffered a massive heart attack and severe infection earlier, worsening his condition overnight. His brothers are by his side in Singapore, while another family member is en route. The Bangladeshi government has dispatched a foreign ministry official to coordinate with hospital authorities and Hadi’s family. The Chief Adviser’s Office confirmed his condition as “extremely critical” and discussed the matter in Thursday’s advisory council meeting. Authorities are also reviewing progress in the investigation into the assassination attempt. Officials say all necessary diplomatic and medical support is being extended as the situation remains grave and fluid.