Pakistan lawmaker Maulana Fazlur Rehman criticised his own government over strikes on Afghanistan that caused civilian deaths. Speaking in Karachi, he said, “If we justify attacks across the border, then we cannot object to India doing the same.” Rehman questioned the logic of the Pakistan army led by Asim Munir. He referred to India’s Operation Sindoor, saying Pakistan had lost moral ground. India has condemned Pakistan’s strikes on Afghan civilians and reaffirmed support for Afghanistan’s sovereignty.

India has summoned Bangladesh High Commissioner Riaz Hamidullah for the second time in a week amid growing tensions. The move came hours after Bangladesh called in Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma over security concerns. India raised objections about threats near its mission in Dhaka and blamed extremist groups. The Ministry of External Affairs said Bangladesh must ensure the safety of Indian missions. Ties have been strained since the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus took charge. India said it supports peace and fair elections in Bangladesh. (PC: PTI)

A Sikh religious procession was disrupted in South Auckland, New Zealand, after members of a far-right group blocked the route and performed a haka. Videos showed protesters chanting Christian slogans and stopping the nagar kirtan on Great South Road. The agitators were linked to supporters of Brian Tamaki, leader of the Destiny Church. Police remained between the groups to prevent violence. Organisers said the procession had official approval. Several New Zealand lawmakers criticised the disruption and voiced support for the Sikh community. Political leaders in India also urged authorities to raise the issue with New Zealand, calling the incident a threat to religious freedom. 

Bangladesh on Tuesday summoned India’s envoy to protest incidents near its diplomatic missions in India, citing security concerns. The Bangladesh Foreign Ministry said demonstrations outside the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi and the visa centre in Siliguri endangered diplomatic staff. Protests by groups including the Vishva Hindu Parishad led police to use crowd-control measures after barricades were breached. Dhaka condemned what it called acts of intimidation against diplomatic establishments. The move comes amid strained ties linked to unrest in Bangladesh and the exile of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in India. Bangladesh has suspended visa services at some missions, citing safety concerns. (PC: India Today)

Winston Peters has criticised the India–New Zealand free trade agreement, calling it “neither free nor fair”. He said his party, New Zealand First, will oppose the deal in Parliament. Peters said the pact excludes key dairy products such as milk, cheese and butter, despite dairy being a major export. He added that New Zealand would open its market to Indian goods without similar access for dairy exports. Peters also raised concerns over immigration concessions linked to the deal. He said he conveyed his party’s position to S Jaishankar. (PC: NDTV)

London-based singer Charles Antony, who flew to India to perform a special Spanish song for Lionel Messi at Kolkata's December 13 event, "ran to save my life" amid chaos at Salt Lake Stadium. Positioned near galleries, Antony witnessed water bottles, stones, and metal objects hurled at Messi, Suárez, and De Paul as angry fans who paid ₹4,000-₹20,000 rioted after barely glimpsing their idol. With his access tag making him a target, police advised fleeing to safety as crowds stormed the ground. Antony grabbed equipment and ran to his hotel, later relocating for safety. Unlike 2016's well-managed Maradona event, this descended into "mobocracy," leaving fans from Meghalaya, Assam, and Bengaluru heartbroken. (PC: PTI)

Bangladesh summoned India's envoy Tuesday over security concerns at Bangladeshi missions in New Delhi and Siliguri, where massive protests erupted following Hindu worker Dipu Chandra Das's mob lynching. Bangladesh condemned "premeditated violence" against diplomatic establishments as VHP protesters breached barricades in Delhi, prompting police lathi-charge. Ties deteriorated after India summoned Bangladesh's envoy last week over National Citizen Party leader Hasnat Abdullah's inflammatory speech threatening to shelter Indian separatists and sever seven northeastern states. Bangladesh suspended visa operations in Delhi, Siliguri, and Tripura citing security concerns. India dismissed "misleading propaganda" about protests, stating demonstrations were brief and posed no security threat. Tensions escalated following Sheikh Hasina's exile in Delhi.

Large-scale protests erupted across West Bengal including Kolkata and Siliguri after Bangladeshi Hindu garment worker Dipu Chandra Das was lynched on December 18 over false blasphemy allegations. Hindu Jagran Manch and VHP staged demonstrations outside Bangladesh Visa Application Centre, while BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari led 2,000 protesters threatening to return with 10,000 people on December 26. Bangladesh suspended visa services indefinitely at missions in New Delhi, Tripura, and Siliguri citing security concerns. India summoned Bangladesh's envoy, formally objecting to minority attacks and diplomatic threats. Investigators found blasphemy claims baseless, suspecting workplace disputes triggered the incident. Police arrested 12 people, including factory supervisors, for forcing Das out instead of contacting authorities.

Massive protests erupted outside Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi following the mob lynching of Hindu youth Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh, Bangladesh. Led by Vishva Hindu Parishad and other Hindu organizations, demonstrators condemned atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh. Delhi Police deployed heavy security with three barricade layers along San Martín Marg and stationed paramilitary personnel around the diplomatic enclave. Protesters breached the first barricade before being stopped at the second, where police placed a DTC bus to block further movement. Demonstrators raised slogans like "Yunus sarkar, hosh mein aao," chanted Hanuman Chalisa, and burned effigies. VHP leaders repeatedly urged protesters to maintain discipline and comply with law-and-order requirements.

The US Embassy announced expanded online presence reviews for all H-1B and H-4 visa applicants globally, effective December 15, as part of standard screening procedures. This enhanced vetting targets program abuse while permitting companies to hire qualified foreign workers. Thousands of pre-scheduled visa interviews in India are being postponed by several months, with December 15 appointments rescheduled to March and December 19 slots moved to late May. Indian professionals, forming the largest H-1B holder group, face significant delays. Many applicants already in India cannot return to the US without valid visas. The Embassy urges early applications and warns of additional processing times, emphasizing that US visas are "a privilege, not a right." (PC: NDTV)