1.89 lakh policemen deployed across Bangladesh ahead of January 7 polls: Report

1,74,000 police personnel will be on duty, while the remaining 15,000 policemen will be engaged in routine work.

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Russia launches fresh drone strikes on Ukraine after promising retaliation for Belgorod attack

Russia has launched a fresh drone assault on Ukraine after promising that strikes on the Russian border city of Belgorod “would not go unpunished”

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Major blow to Imran Khan as Pak’s top poll body rejects his nomination papers from two seats

Pakistani election officials have rejected former Prime Minister Imran Khan as a candidate in the country’s February parliamentary election

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Missile strikes in Ukraine show Putin 'must be stopped,' says U.S. President Biden

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'Massive' Russian strikes kill at least 30 across Ukraine

Schools, a maternity hospital, shopping arcades and blocks of flats were among the buildings hit in the barrage, said Ukrainian officials.

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Myanmar junta says to crack down on scam operations on Thai border

In recent weeks the junta has said it has arrested scam ringleaders from a militia-run enclave on the border with China

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Former EU Commission president Jacques Delors dies at 98

Delors, a Socialist, had a high-profile political career in France, where he served as finance minister under president Francois Mitterrand from 1981 to 1984.

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Hasina announces Awami League's poll manifesto, pledges to build 'Smart Bangladesh'

The Awami League coined “Smart Bangladesh: Development is visible, now employment will enhance” as the theme for the manifesto.

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Six killed in Israeli operation in occupied West Bank: Palestinian health ministry

The six persons were killed by Israeli air strikes.

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Israel pummels central Gaza, dozens more Palestinians killed

Israel's military on Wednesday reported three more soldiers killed in action in Gaza.

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Israel Army arrests senior Palestinian lawmaker Jarrar

Jarrar had been previously arrested by Israeli forces in October 2019 and released in September the following year, after being held without trial

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Israeli forces bombard central Gaza in apparent move toward expanding ground offensive

Israeli forces have bombarded Palestinian refugee camps in central Gaza in apparent preparation to expand their ground offensive into a third section of the besieged territory

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Police in Serbia detain nearly 40 people as opposition plans more protests against election results

Serbian police said they have detained at least 38 people who took part in a protest against reported widespread irregularities during a recent general ballot that declared the governing populists winners of the parliamentary and local councils’ elections

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Egypt floats ambitious plan to end Israel-Hamas war and create transitional Palestinian government

A senior Egyptian official and a European diplomat say that Egypt has put forward an ambitious proposal to end the Israel-Hamas war

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Israel- Hamas war | Palestinians recount 'torture' in Israeli army custody

Israel vowed to defeat Hamas after a deadly attack by militants on October 7, launching a relentless military campaign in Gaza

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UN urges rescue of 185 Rohingya adrift in Indian Ocean

Thousands of the mostly Muslim Rohingya, are heavily persecuted in Myanmar.

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Israel strikes 2 homes, killing more than 90 Palestinians while hundreds have been detained

The army said more than 700 people with alleged ties to the militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad have so far been sent to Israeli lockups

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ECOWAS delegation in Sierra Leone after 'coup' attempt

A recent summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) launched the delegation to "facilitate the deployment of a security mission to Sierra Leone to help stabilise the country"

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Japan eases arms export controls allowing weapons sales to U.S.

Sales of the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC3) system to the United States would be Japan's first export of lethal arms since the end of World War II.

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China shuts down 34,000 online accounts for spreading 'rumours'

Police "severely cracked down on illegal and criminal activities."

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UN approves watered-down resolution on aid to Gaza without call for suspension of hostilities

The U.N. Security Council has adopted a watered-down resolution calling for immediate speeded-up aid deliveries to hungry and desperate civilians in Gaza – but without the original call for an “urgent suspension of hostilities” between Israel and Hamas

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U.S., Venezuela swap prisoners: Maduro ally for 10 Americans, plus fugitive contractor 'Fat Leonard'

The deal represents the Biden administration's boldest move yet to improve relations with the major oil-producing nation.

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Pakistan arrests activists to stop them from protesting in Islamabad against extrajudicial killings

Human rights activists and Bakhsh's family have been demanding justice for him.

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Rights group slams Meta for 'silencing' pro-Palestinian voices

The content in question was posted by "Palestinians and their supporters, including about human rights abuses".

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China urges Philippines to make 'rational choice' over maritime tensions

China's top diplomat warned his Philippine counterpart this week that the two countries were "facing serious difficulties".

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Morning Digest | Lok Sabha passes Telecom Bill 2023, to replace 138-year-old Indian Telegraph Act; India will ‘definitely look into’ any information on alleged Pannun assassination attempt, says PM Modi, and more

Here is a select list of stories to start the day

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Red Lilies, Water Birds presents a rich tapestry of Indian history through its weaves

The Registry of Sarees is currently showcasing the second iteration of Red Lilies, Water Birds in the city

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Polish pro-EU govt sacks controversial state media authorities

The chairmen and boards of the state television, radio and news agency were removed, Poland's Culture Ministry said in a statement citing the need to restore impartiality of the outlets

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U.K. and France reiterate that Russia's invasion of Ukraine must end in failure as U.S. aid falters

Britain and France are reiterating their determination that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine must end in failure

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Israel-Hamas conflict | Israel faces Gaza ceasefire calls, U.S. vows more arms

The UN Security Council was set to convene on December 19 to weigh a call for a ceasefire in the besieged Palestinian territory, after a previous bid was vetoed by the United States.

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More than 100 dead as 6.2 magnitude earthquake hit China

Scores more were injured in the province after the strong, shallow earthquake struck, state broadcaster CCTV said, citing the provincial earthquake relief headquarters.

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Volcano erupts south of Reykjavik: Iceland Meteorological Office

The eruption began around 22:17 GMT following a series of small earthquakes at around 21:00, the IMO added.

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Morning Digest | Centre sets up secure e-mail for 10,000 users in critical ministries; SCs were never counted in Andaman and Nicobar, now a parliamentary committee sits up and takes notice, and more

Here is a select list of stories to start the day

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Philippines wants to start new energy exploration projects in South China Sea

Mr. Marcos, in an interview with Japanese media on Saturday, said tensions in the South China Sea have "increased rather than diminished" in recent months, warning that a "more assertive China" posed a "real challenge" to its Asian neighbours

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Bangladesh War of Liberation is the bedrock of its ties with India, says Indian envoy

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U.S. approves $300 million support for Taiwan's tactical information systems

Taiwan's defence ministry said the sale will help maintain the effectiveness of its joint combat command and control systems so it can improve battlefield awareness.

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The Tatmadaw | Junta down but not out

Myanmar’s military faces its most formidable challenge in six decades of dominance as opposition fighters and ethnic rebels consolidate in the country’s hinterlands, but it still remains ‘the most effective and best-armed fighting force’ in the country

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U.S. keeps funds for Ukraine flowing despite congressional constraints

Ukraine has already received $111 billion in weapons, humanitarian assistance and other aid from U.S. since Russia launched its invasion more than 21 months ago, but support for aiding the counteroffensive has been waning as some lawmakers see the war taking funding from domestic budget

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New York's Met museum to return Southeast Asian artifacts tied to looting

The return of the sculptures to their countries of origin would empty the Met's collection of art associated with Douglas Latchford, a dealer charged with smuggling looted artifacts from Southeast Asia

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Israeli military says it mistakenly killed three Israeli hostages in Gaza

The Army’s chief spokesman says Israeli troops found the hostages Friday and erroneously identified them as a threat

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Ties with India may suffer ‘serious damage’ if allegations in Pannun case are not addressed, say U.S. lawmakers

An indictment has alleged a plot to kill Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a U.S. citizen, in New York earlier this year

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Tanjore painting exhibition in Kochi showcases Chola era art heritage

Five artists from various parts of Tamil Nadu talk about carrying forward a traditional art form

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Israel bombs Gaza as rift with U.S. grows

U.S. President Joe Biden, whose government has provided Israel with billions of dollars in military aid, delivered his sharpest rebuke of the war on Wednesday

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China's Xi meets with Vietnamese Prime Minister on second day of visit to shore up ties

Xi met with Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong on Tuesday, and they announced that China and Vietnam would work toward a “community with a shared future”

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Poland's new Prime Minister Donald Tusk takes office, ending 8 years of conservative rule

The change of government follows a national election on Oct. 15 that was won by a group of parties running on separate tickets and vowing to work together under Tusk’s leadership

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India and 152 other members vote overwhelmingly at U.N. General Assembly to demand a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza

The U.N. General Assembly has voted overwhelmingly to demand a humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza in a strong demonstration of global support for ending the Israel-Hamas war

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Packed hospitals, treacherous roads, harried parents: Newborns in Gaza face steeper odds of survival

For mothers and fathers in besieged Gaza, the devastating war has subverted all expectations of childbirth and parenthood

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Puma to end kit deal with Israeli national football team; says decision was made in 2022

Following a strategy review carried out at the end of 2022, Puma would stop outfitting the Israeli team from next year

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Zelensky issues plea for support during Washington visit as Ukraine funding stalls in Congress

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is kicking off a quick visit to Washington

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Bangladesh to deploy Army to maintain order ahead of January 7 elections

Army troops would be deployed across the country “in aid of civil power” for 13 days from December 29

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Supreme Court verdict upholding abrogation of Article 370 has 'no legal value': Pakistan

The judicial endorsement of India’s ‘unilateral and illegal actions’ was ‘a travesty of justice’, says caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani

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Guyana, Venezuela Presidents to meet on December 14 on border row

Brazilian President Lula's office said he had proposed CELAC contact both sides about setting up talks, and that he had also warned Mr. Maduro against any "unilateral measures"

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U.S. State Department approves ‘emergency’ sale of tank ammunition to Israel

The State Department said it had notified Congress of the sale late Friday after Secretary of State Antony Blinken determined “an emergency exists that requires the immediate sale” of the munitions

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Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber | The Grand Vizier of COP28

The COP28 President, who is also the UAE’s Industry Minister and the CEO of of Abu Dhabi National Oil, believes his experience in the energy sector enabled him to involve more industrialists in climate talks, bring them to the table at COP, and have them commit to a timeline to phase out fossil fuels

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Six French teens convicted over their roles in an Islamic extremist's killing of a teacher

Samuel Paty was killed outside his school in 2020 after showing his class cartoons of the prophet of Islam during a debate on free expression

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COP28 Summit and India | Is climate fatigue setting in

In this episode of Worldview, we discuss why did India refuse to sign on to the green energy pledge and the climate health agreement at COP28

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UN to hold emergency meeting at Guyana's request on Venezuelan claim to a vast oil-rich region

In a letter to the council president, Guyana’s Foreign Minister, Hugh Hilton Todd, accused Venezuela of violating the U.N. Charter by attempting to take its territory

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India strategic partner but those behind assassination plot need to be held accountable: White House

While responding to a question on the impact that the alleged plot would have on the bilateral India-U.S. relationship, Mr. Kirby said, “We want it fully investigated and those responsible to be held properly accountable”

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Journalists' rights group counts 94 media workers killed worldwide, most at an alarming rate in Gaza

The group said 68 journalists had been killed covering the Israeli-Hamas war since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7

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Armenia and Azerbaijan announce deal to exchange POWs and work toward peace treaty

As part of the deal, Armenia agreed to lift its objections to Azerbaijan hosting next year's international conference on climate change

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Suspect dead amid reports of multiple victims in shooting at University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Police were responding to an additional report of shots fired at the nearby student union

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Navigating the U.S.-China relationship | Explained

What was the outcome of the summit between U.S. President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping held on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference?

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Taiwan probes free China trips used to 'influence' election

Taiwan goes to polls on January 13 to elect a new President and a new Parliament in a contest that has been dominated by relations with China

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Detained Iran protesters raped, sexually assaulted: Amnesty

The London-based organisation said it had shared its findings with the Iranian authorities on November 24 "but has thus far received no response"

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In a rare action against Israel, U.S. says extremist West Bank settlers will be barred from America

The Biden administration has firmly backed Israel since it was attacked by Hamas on Oct. 7, even as international criticism of Israel has mounted

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Myanmar junta chief calls for political solution with ethnic groups

Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing “warned that if armed organisations keep on being foolish, residents of the relevant regions will suffer bad impacts”

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View From India | Glitches in India-US ties over an ‘assassination plot’

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Venezuela: vote shows 'overwhelming' support for claim on region of Guyana

President Nicolas Maduro hailed what he called "an overwhelming victory for the 'Yes' throughout Venezuela."

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Senior White House official meets Jaishankar, Doval, Misri in Delhi

Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jonathan Finer undertook the first comprehensive mid-term review of the India-U.S. Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET) with his Indian counterpart Vikram Misri

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Magnitude 6.9 earthquake strikes off southern Philippines

Shortly after, another 5.4 magnitude quake was registered by the USGS in the area

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Ships face Houthi-claimed attack in Red Sea as officials say a U.S. warship also fires in self-defense

The attack potentially marked a major escalation in a series of maritime attacks in the Mideast linked to the Israel-Hamas war

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New Zealand: 3 Khalistan supporters sentenced for plot to kill Kiwi radio host Harnek Singh

The attack took place on December 23, 2020, when Harnek Singh was ambushed by a group of religious fundamentalists in his driveway

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PM Modi, President Muizzu agree to set up core group to further deepen India-Maldives ties

The leaders discuss ways to bolster economic, development, and people-to-people ties; meeting comes days after Maldivian president asked India to withdraw 77 military personnel, review bilateral agreements

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Israel pavilion at COP venue in Dubai seeks to highlight ‘terrorism’

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Retired U.S. Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman on the U.S. Supreme Court passes away at 93

Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, has died

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