Poet and lyricist Javed Akhtar took part in a public debate on the existence of God in New Delhi. The event was held at the Constitution Club. Islamic scholar Mufti Shamail Nadwi argued for faith and free will. Akhtar questioned belief by pointing to war and human suffering. He said violence in God’s name raises moral doubts. During the debate, Akhtar quipped that Narendra Modi was “better” because he at least cares for people. The remark went viral online. The debate sparked sharp reactions across social media. (PC: India Today)

Rights groups have condemned a sharp rise in executions in Saudi Arabia. At least 347 people have been executed this year. This is the highest number on record. UK-based group Reprieve said most cases were linked to drug crimes. Many of those executed were foreign nationals. Some were minors at the time of arrest. Families were often not informed in advance. Critics say trials were unfair and confessions forced. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has pushed reforms but dissent is tightly controlled. Saudi authorities deny wrongdoing and defend the death penalty.

Violence continued in Bangladesh after the death of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi. A mob set fire to the home of a leader from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. The attack happened in Lakshmipur late at night. A seven-year-old girl died in the fire. Her father and two sisters suffered severe burns. They were taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Police said the doors were locked before the house was set on fire. The country remains on high alert. Protests have spread to several cities. Leaders have called for calm amid rising tension. (PC: HT)

A minute’s silence was held at Bondi Beach to remember victims of last week’s deadly shooting. The attack happened during a Hanukkah event. Fifteen people were killed, including two children. Crowds gathered as heavy police security guarded the area. Candles were lit across Australia in a show of unity. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was booed by some in the crowd. Community leaders blamed rising antisemitism. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticised Australia after the attack. (PC: BBC)

India has indefinitely suspended visa services at the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) in Chittagong, Bangladesh, effective December 21, 2025, citing security concerns following a recent incident near the Assistant High Commission of India in the port city. The move comes amid heightened tensions and unrest triggered by the death of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi, which sparked protests and clashes. The IVAC statement said operations will remain halted until further notice, with a decision to resume only after the security situation is reviewed. No timeline has been given for reopening the centre. (PC: The Hindu)

Bangladesh's Bengali cultural institutions face systematic attacks from Islamic radicals, with patterns suggesting Pakistani involvement. Udichi Shilpi Gosthi's Dhaka office was attacked Friday, following assaults on Chhayanaut, Prothom Alo, and The Daily Star amid Sharif Osman Hadi protests. Udichi, founded in 1968 and awarded the Ekushey Padak in 2013, promoted Bengali identity during Bangladesh's liberation war. These institutions historically opposed Jamaat-E-Islami Bangladesh's pro-Pakistan stance. Since Sheikh Hasina's ouster, Pakistan-Bangladesh ties have strengthened with visa-free access for diplomats, direct flights, and new shipping routes. Reports suggest ISI operates from Pakistan's Dhaka High Commission. Critics view attacks on minorities, newspapers, and cultural centers as ISI destabilization tactics under the Yunus regime's soft approach toward Jamaat.

Nine people were killed and ten injured after gunmen attacked a tavern in Bekkersdal township near Johannesburg early Sunday morning. South African police reported approximately 12 unidentified assailants arrived in two cars at 01:00 local time, opened fire on patrons, and continued shooting randomly while fleeing. Authorities confirmed the tavern held a valid license and launched a manhunt for the perpetrators. The incident highlights South Africa's severe violence crisis, with the country recording one of the world's highest murder rates at 45 deaths per 100,000 people, according to 2023-24 United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime data. Police investigations continue as they pursue the suspects. (PC: X)

Claudio Neves Valente, the suspect in the Brown University mass shooting that killed two students and a Massachusetts Institute of Technology physicist, once left his physics PhD pursuit to work as a software developer in Portugal. After a brief, unhappy stint in Brown’s graduate program in 2001, Valente took an IT specialist job at Portuguese internet company Sapo, despite his academic background. Colleagues described him as reserved but capable, though somewhat out of place in the role. He later moved back to the United States in 2017 after winning the green card lottery. U.S. and Portuguese authorities are still investigating his motives and past. (PC: Reuters)

At least 16 files related to notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein have suddenly disappeared from the U.S. Department of Justice’s public website less than a day after being posted, without any explanation or public notice from authorities. Among the missing materials was a photograph showing President Donald Trump with Epstein, Melania Trump and Ghislaine Maxwell, raising concerns about transparency. The files were part of a larger release mandated by a new federal law requiring disclosure of Epstein-related documents, but critics say the unexplained removals and heavy redactions fuel suspicion and political controversy, with lawmakers demanding answers and transparency from the DOJ. (PC: India Today)

Protesters in Dhaka, Bangladesh, breached security barricades and entered the Parliament building on Saturday following the funeral of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi, whose death has sparked nationwide unrest. Hadi, a prominent activist and political figure, was fatally shot on December 12 and died abroad, triggering intense protests demanding justice.  His funeral drew large crowds amid heavy security, but emotions boiled over as demonstrators overwhelmed barricades. The breach underscores rising tensions and political volatility in Bangladesh as factions clash and public frustration grows.