News

1 Dec 25

Here's a roundup of today's major stories from around the world, based on the latest reports. I've categorized them for clarity.

Trump Announces Pardon for Honduras' Ex-President: President-elect Donald Trump stated he will pardon former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, convicted of drug trafficking for running a "narco-state" with bribes from cocaine traffickers. This comes ahead of Honduras' presidential elections, where a right-wing candidate from Hernández's party leads.
White House Tightens Immigration Reviews After Shooting: Following the shooting of two National Guard members last week, the Trump administration has halted all asylum application decisions and is expediting stricter legal immigration checks.
TSA Imposes $45 Fee for Non-REAL ID Travelers: Starting soon, the TSA will charge $45 for domestic flyers without a REAL ID-compliant ID, aiming to enforce the 2005 REAL ID Act.
F-16s Intercept Plane Near Mar-a-Lago: NORAD scrambled F-16 jets and deployed flares to intercept a small aircraft violating restricted airspace over Palm Beach, marking over 40 such incidents since Trump's inauguration.
White House Christmas Decorations Unveiled: Melania Trump revealed the 2025 holiday setup, featuring traditional themes with a focus on red, white, and blue accents.

Pope Leo XIV's Historic Visit to Lebanon: In his first trip to the country, Pope Leo XIV prayed at the tomb of Saint Charbel Makhlouf amid ongoing regional tensions, emphasizing peace and interfaith dialogue.
Deadly Israeli Raid in Syria: Israeli forces killed 13 people in a southern Syria incursion targeting Muslim Brotherhood members, part of frequent post-Assad operations; six Israeli soldiers were also wounded in related clashes.
Philippines Protests Demand Corruption Prosecutions: Thousands, including Catholic clergy, rallied against officials implicated in typhoon relief scandals that killed over 250; President Marcos vows jail time for at least 37 by month's end.
Bangladesh's Khaleda Zia Critically Ill: The former Prime Minister is on ventilation under specialist care, her party announced, amid political uncertainty.
Severe Weather Devastation in Southeast Asia: Floods and landslides from typhoons have killed over 1,000 across Sri Lanka, Indonesia (600+ deaths on Sumatra), and Thailand, displacing hundreds of thousands.
India's Cyclone Ditwah Approaches: The storm threatens coastal states with heavy rain and winds; Delhi's AQI hit 400, prompting flight safety measures for Indigo and Air India.

India's GDP Surges 8.2% in Q2: Government credits reforms for the strong growth, though industrial production slowed to 0.4% in October due to weak sectors.
Maruti Warns on Small Car Phase-Out: The Indian automaker says unscientific emission norms could end affordable small cars.
Airbus A320 Software Fixes Disrupt Airlines: Global carriers face delays implementing mandatory updates for fuel efficiency and safety.
Gold Prices Near Record Highs: Spot gold rose ~1.6% amid U.S. rate cut expectations.

India Dominates Hockey Junior World Cup: The men's team crushed Chile 7-0 in their opener.
Indian Women's Cricket T20 Series vs. Sri Lanka: A five-match series kicks off December 21 in Visakhapatnam and Thiruvananthapuram.
Badminton Semifinals Breakthrough: Young Indian shuttlers Tanvi Sharma, Unnati Hooda, and Treesa Jolly–Hariharan Amsakarunan advance at Syed Modi International.

Meta Faces Drug Ad Scrutiny: Despite policies, ads for cocaine and oxycodone persist on Facebook and Instagram.
UK Bird Flu Alarms Wildlife Experts: Outbreaks could signal "the beginning of the end" for some species.
India Cracks Down on Cyber Scams: Supreme Court empowers CBI to probe 'digital arrest' frauds and mule accounts in banks.

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