BNP vice-chairman Abdus Salam Pintu, implicated in the 2004 grenade attack on Sheikh Hasina's rally, was released from Bangladesh's Kashimpur Central Jail after nearly 17 years. The attack had killed 24 and injured over 300. Although sentenced to death in 2018, his release follows an acquittal by the High Court. Allegations also link him to aiding and funding terror groups.
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President Joe Biden addressed the California wildfires, which have caused significant destruction, during a press briefing. Over 34,000 acres have burned, resulting in 10 deaths and 180,000 residents being evacuated. Biden, joined by Kamala Harris, pledged federal support for recovery efforts. Harris cancelled a foreign trip to assist with the crisis.
South Korean investigators urged prosecutors to indict President Yoon Suk Yeol for rebellion, abuse of power, and obstructing parliament due to his martial law declaration. Yoon, who was impeached after troops were deployed to block the national assembly, claimed the martial law was a warning to parliament.
US President Donald Trump held his first cabinet meeting, discussing various topics including government spending, immigration, and the economy. Elon Musk, also present, emphasized DOGE's role in updating government technology. Trump confirmed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s White House visit and announced a 25% tariff on EU goods. He also addressed potential workforce reductions within federal agencies.
Iraq's President Abdul Latif Rashid has sued Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and Finance Minister Taif Sami over unpaid salaries for civil servants in Kurdistan. The lawsuit highlights ongoing financial disputes between Baghdad and the autonomous region, exacerbating tensions within Iraq's leadership.
Former CIA Director Michael Hayden compared Trump's Time Person of the Year selection to Hitler's. VP-elect JD Vance defended Trump, criticizing "career bureaucrats" and highlighting past recipients like Obama and Clinton. Vance's defense marks a shift from his earlier criticism of Trump.
The EU vowed Friday to respond "firmly and immediately" to trade barriers after US President Donald Trump unveiled tariffs that could hit both allies and competitors. "The EU will react firmly and immediately against unjustified barriers to free and fair trade," the commission, which runs trade policy for the bloc's 27 nations, said in a statement.
41-year-old Jeffrey Goedde confessed to fatally stabbing his 75-year-old father, Edward Goedde Jr., approximately 50 times in their Missouri home. He surrendered to Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, claiming it was an accident. Police discovered the victim with multiple stab wounds, broken bones, and signs of strangulation. Goedde is charged with first-degree murder and is being held without bond.
Donald Trump's transition team is planning for the U.S. to withdraw from the WHO on the first day of his potential second term. This move aligns with Trump’s longstanding criticism of the agency, suggesting it failed to hold China accountable for COVID-19. Critics warn this could undermine global health efforts and increase China's influence.
Twenty US states, led by Maryland's Attorney General, are suing federal agencies over the Trump administration's dismissal of federal probationary workers. The states claim the mass firings are unlawful and will negatively impact state economies by increasing unemployment and reducing tax revenue.
George Glezmann, a 66-year-old American detained by the Taliban in Afghanistan since 2022, has been released and is on his way back to the US. His release was facilitated by negotiations led by Qatar and US mediators.​"George Glezmann is free. George was wrongfully detained in Afghanistan for two and a half years, but now he’s on his way to be reunited with his wife Aleksandra. Welcome home, George!" Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.