United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan arrived in Islamabad on Friday for his first official state visit to Pakistan. According to Pakistan’s Foreign Office, this marks his first formal visit as president, though it is his second trip to the country this year. Earlier in January, he met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Rahim Yar Khan. During the visit, Sheikh Mohamed and Prime Minister Sharif are expected to review bilateral relations and discuss key regional and international issues.

The Foreign Office described the visit as an important opportunity to further strengthen the longstanding fraternal ties between Pakistan and the UAE. It said the trip reflects both nations’ shared commitment to deepening cooperation in trade, investment, energy, development, and regional stability. The UAE is one of Pakistan’s largest trading partners and a major source of remittances, with thousands of Pakistanis working across various sectors in the Emirates.

In April, the two countries signed several memorandums of understanding to enhance cultural cooperation, establish a joint consular committee, and form a UAE–Pakistan Joint Business Council between their chambers of commerce.

The Gaza Civil Defense Department reported that 25 bodies, including that of female journalist Heba al-Abadla and her mother, were recovered from the rubble of a house in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. The victims were killed in Israeli attacks in January 2024, according to the statement cited by Anadolu Agency.

The department said that rescue operations are being carried out with limited equipment due to Israel’s ongoing blockade of the enclave. Despite a ceasefire agreement that took effect on October 10, Israel has reportedly prevented the entry of heavy machinery needed to clear debris, hindering recovery efforts. Families are identifying victims by clothing or physical features because of a lack of specialized medical equipment.

Gaza authorities have repeatedly accused Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement. Since the war began in October 2023, more than 71,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 171,000 injured, according to Gaza officials.

Two separate fires broke out within one night at Rohingya camps in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, destroying a hospital and several homes. The first incident occurred early Friday, December 26, at the D-block of Madhurchhara Camp No. 4, where a hospital was completely burned down along with valuable medical equipment. Firefighters and local residents brought the blaze under control after about two and a half hours. Earlier, around 10 p.m. on Thursday, December 25, another fire erupted about four kilometers away in the B-block of Kutupalong registered camp, burning five houses. No casualties were reported in either incident.

The destroyed hospital, known as ‘Obat Health Post,’ was established in 2017 by the charity Obat Helpers USA to serve newly displaced Rohingya refugees. It was being operated with support from Human International USA and the Bangladesh camp administration. Local residents and health officials expressed deep concern over the loss, noting that the facility provided free medical care to both Rohingya and nearby communities.

Authorities said the cause of the fires remains under investigation. Security forces remain on alert, and officials have pledged to rehabilitate the damaged health center and assist affected residents.

More than a thousand passengers narrowly escaped a major accident when the passenger launch Imam Hasan-5 collided with a stationary sand-laden bulkhead on the Meghna River at Mohonpur in Matlab Uttar upazila of Chandpur late Thursday night. The collision occurred amid dense fog that severely reduced visibility. Passengers panicked at the loud impact but quickly evacuated to nearby riverbanks for safety. Mohonpur River Police responded promptly, conducting rescue and relief operations at the site.

Eyewitnesses said the launch was moving slowly toward Chandpur due to the thick fog, and limited visibility made it difficult to determine the route, leading to the collision. After the impact, the vessel was anchored near the shore, and all passengers were disembarked safely. Sub-Inspector Abul Kalam of Mohonpur River Police confirmed that no casualties were reported. Passengers were later transported to their destinations by another launch, speedboats, and road transport.

Officials noted that heavy fog during winter nights has increased navigational risks on the Meghna River and urged vessel operators to exercise greater caution to prevent similar incidents.

Two people were killed when two passenger launches, Zakir Samrat-3 and Adventure-9, collided on the Meghna River near Harina in Chandpur Sadar early Thursday night. The accident occurred around 2 a.m. amid dense fog that reduced visibility on the river.

According to Chandpur BIWTA Deputy Director (Traffic) Babu Lal Baidya, the collision happened due to heavy fog in the area. Several others were reported injured, though the exact number of casualties was not confirmed. Authorities said the identities of the deceased could not be determined because the destinations of the two vessels were not identified.

Officials are continuing efforts to gather more details about the victims and the circumstances of the collision as investigations proceed.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry has accused the United States of reviving piracy in the Caribbean Sea through its naval blockade against Venezuela. The ministry expressed hope that US President Donald Trump would make the right decision to prevent a crisis. The statement was reported by TRT World on Thursday.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said the situation in the Caribbean had descended into chaos, with piracy and robbery re-emerging. She reiterated Moscow’s call for de-escalation and urged Washington to seek a mutually acceptable solution within international legal frameworks. Zakharova reaffirmed Russia’s support for Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s efforts to safeguard his country’s sovereignty, national interests, and stable development.

She added that the issue of the US military presence in the Caribbean was discussed at a UN Security Council meeting earlier in the week, where most countries criticized Washington’s actions. Zakharova said such measures violated international maritime law and freedom of navigation, calling on the US to respect the region as a “zone of peace.”

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman is scheduled to visit the grave of late President Ziaur Rahman at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in Dhaka after Friday prayers on December 26, 2025. Following the visit, he will pay tribute to the martyrs of the Liberation War at the National Memorial in Savar. This marks his first public appearance after returning to Bangladesh on Thursday, ending a 17-year absence.

Preparations at the National Memorial have been completed ahead of his visit. According to Anwar Hossain Khan Anu, a sub-assistant engineer of the Savar Public Works Department, the department has finished cleaning and maintenance work at the site in anticipation of Rahman’s arrival. The area has taken on a festive atmosphere as BNP leaders and activists from various regions have begun gathering along the highway leading to the memorial to welcome their leader.

Local reports indicate that the visit will be a symbolic start to Rahman’s renewed political activities following his return to the country.

Dhaka North BNP has initiated a waste removal campaign following the massive public gathering held to celebrate BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman’s historic return to the country. The cleanup began on Friday morning under the leadership of Aminul Haque, the convener of Dhaka North BNP. According to party sources, waste accumulated along the 36 July Expressway (300 Feet Highway), Airport Road, and adjacent areas is being cleared.

The cleanup operation is being carried out under the supervision of Dhaka North BNP, with active participation from volunteers and party members. Leaders stated that the initiative aims to ease public inconvenience and ensure normal movement for city residents. They emphasized that the activity reflects the party’s commitment to maintaining environmental cleanliness and public order.

BNP leaders further noted that the waste removal effort is part of their ongoing practice of conducting peaceful and disciplined programs while upholding environmental responsibility.

At least ten people were killed and thirty-two others injured in a passenger bus accident in Mexico’s eastern Veracruz state, authorities confirmed on Thursday. The bus was traveling from Mexico City to the village of Chicontepec when it crashed near the city of Zontecomatlán on Christmas Eve. According to a statement from the Zontecomatlán mayor’s office, one of the victims was a child. The injured passengers were quickly rescued and taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.

The report noted that road accidents have been increasing in Mexico in recent years, often involving buses and trucks. Authorities have identified excessive speed and mechanical failures as the main causes of such incidents. In late November, a similar crash in the western state of Michoacán left ten people dead and twenty others injured.

The repeated occurrence of fatal bus accidents highlights ongoing safety challenges on Mexico’s highways, prompting renewed concern over vehicle maintenance and traffic regulation enforcement.

The Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir has begun its Central Members’ Conference 2025 at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center, with participation from over six thousand members from across the country. The event, which started on Friday morning, will elect the organization’s new central president for the 2026 term through direct and secret voting by delegates. Current president Zahidul Islam has decided to step down as his student tenure has ended.

According to party sources, the race for the top post is led by current Secretary General Nurul Islam Saddam, followed by central office secretary and former Dhaka University unit president Sibgatullah, central publicity secretary Azizur Rahman Azad, and central publication secretary and DUCSU vice president Sadik Kayem. Historically, the secretary general has usually succeeded as president, making Saddam the frontrunner.

Leaders view this year’s conference as a major challenge, given the approaching national election. They emphasize the need for capable and strategic leadership to attract young voters and to strengthen the organization’s position in the evolving landscape of student politics following recent anti-discrimination movements.

Chuadanga district is experiencing an intensifying cold wave, with temperatures falling below 10 degrees Celsius. On Friday morning, the Chuadanga First-Class Weather Observatory recorded 9.7°C at 6 a.m. and 9.6°C at 9 a.m., with humidity at 95 percent. The temperature dropped nearly 2 degrees in just one day compared to Thursday’s 11.4°C. The cold, driven by northern winds, has severely affected daily life across the border district.

Local residents reported worsening hardship as the cold persists. Pedestrians and rickshaw pullers said people are avoiding going out in the mornings, leaving day laborers without work and transport workers without passengers. Children and the elderly are most at risk from the cold, while many rural residents are resorting to lighting fires due to a lack of warm clothing.

Weather observers forecast further temperature decline, and local residents have urged authorities to provide urgent assistance and distribute winter clothing to those in need.

Hotel owners in Siliguri, India, have announced they will no longer rent rooms to Bangladeshi citizens. The decision was confirmed by the Greater Siliguri Hotel Business Welfare Association, which stated that the move was taken in the interest of the country. The association acknowledged that the decision could cause some financial loss to local hotel owners. The report was carried by The Telegraph India.

Ujjal Ghosh, joint secretary of the association, said the group had made a similar decision in December of the previous year, though at that time exceptions were made for Bangladeshi students and patients. The new directive removes all such exemptions. Ghosh cited alleged violence and anti-India statements in Bangladesh as reasons for the stricter stance. The association represents 180 hotels in Siliguri, all of which are expected to comply with the ban.

The report also noted that the local visa office had been closed earlier following protests by the Vishva Hindu Parishad. Many Bangladeshis travel to Siliguri each year for education, tourism, and medical treatment.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered the expansion and modernization of the country’s missile production starting in 2026. According to state media reports on Friday, he also directed the construction of new weapons factories to meet growing demand. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Kim inspected several ammunition and weapons plants with senior officials and instructed them to fulfill the operational needs of the state’s missile and artillery forces.

Kim emphasized that overall production capacity must be increased to keep pace with the armed forces’ requirements, describing missile and ammunition manufacturing as crucial to strengthening war deterrence. In recent years, North Korea has significantly increased missile testing, which analysts say aims to improve strike precision, challenge the United States and South Korea, and test weapons before potential exports to other countries such as Russia.

The report followed news that Kim had visited a nuclear submarine plant, pledging to counter South Korea’s nuclear submarine development and being briefed on research into new underwater weapons. The ruling Workers’ Party is set to hold its first congress in five years in early 2026 to finalize the next five-year economic and military development plan.

The border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia entered its 18th day on Thursday, with a total of 96 people reported dead. According to Cambodia’s state news agency Kampuchea Press, citing the Ministry of Defense, Thai forces shelled a village in Banteay Meanchey province on Thursday morning, killing one Cambodian civilian. Cambodia’s National Assembly condemned the attack as “brutal and inhumane.”

Thailand’s Daily Nation reported that the Thai army accused Cambodia of firing BM-21 rockets into a village in Thailand’s Sa Kaeo province, causing extensive damage to civilian infrastructure. Thai authorities said 23 Thai soldiers and one civilian were killed, while 41 civilians also lost their lives in the ongoing clashes.

In a related development, India condemned the destruction of a statue of the Hindu deity Vishnu in the disputed border area of Cambodia, allegedly by Thai forces. India’s Ministry of External Affairs stated that such acts hurt the sentiments of followers worldwide and should not occur.

China plans to build six new aircraft carriers by 2035, according to a report released Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Defense (Pentagon). The report states that this would give China a total of nine carriers, marking the largest carrier expansion in the Indo-Pacific region since World War II. China currently operates three aircraft carriers, ranking second after the United States, which has 11.

The Pentagon report highlights the Type 003 Fujian carrier as a major advancement for China’s navy. The 80,000-ton vessel is equipped with an electromagnetic catapult system and can carry fifth-generation J-35 fighter jets and KJ-600 transport aircraft. Compared with earlier ski-jump carriers Liaoning and Shandong, the Fujian can support longer missions with heavier fuel and armament loads. The report also notes that China has begun work on a fourth carrier this year.

Additionally, China is developing Type 076 amphibious assault ships with electromagnetic catapults, though the number planned remains unclear. The report mentions that China deployed its carriers during the Joint Sword exercise around Taiwan, signaling its intent to challenge potential third-party intervention during conflicts.