The Trump administration issued new guidelines allowing US visa officers to deny visas and permanent residency to foreign nationals with health conditions including diabetes, obesity, heart disease, cancer, and mental health issues. The State Department directive, sent to embassies worldwide, instructs officers to flag applicants whose conditions may require "hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of care," deeming them potential "public charges." Officers must assess whether applicants can independently cover medical expenses without government assistance and consider dependents' health conditions affecting employment. While medical exams already screen for communicable diseases, the new guidance extends scrutiny to chronic illnesses. Immigration attorney Charles Wheeler criticized officers making medical projections without proper training, calling it "troubling." (PC: Mint & India Today)

The Russian Embassy in Pakistan accused The Frontier Post newspaper of spreading "anti-Russian propaganda" and serving Western political interests. The Embassy claimed the publication, with its global news service headquartered in Washington, runs articles by "ardent Russophobes" and never portrays Russia positively. Moscow criticized the newspaper for ignoring the Moscow Format of Consultations on Afghanistan held October 7, 2025, despite dedicating an entire section to Afghan news. The Embassy defended Russia's economic resilience, citing 4.1% GDP growth in 2024, 2.5% unemployment, and manufacturing sector growth of 8.5%. It also highlighted successful testing of Burevestnik cruise missiles and Poseidon underwater vehicles, urging Pakistanis to seek diverse information sources.

An explosion triggered during Friday prayers at a mosque located within a school complex in the Kelapa Gading area of North Jakarta injured at least 54 people, mostly students, including several with serious burns and glass-fragment injuries. The blasts—heard as two loud bangs just as the sermon began—occurred near the mosque loudspeaker, officials say. An anti-bomb unit found toy rifles and a toy gun near the scene; investigations are ongoing to determine motive and cause. (PC: Reuters)

Russia's Embassy in Pakistan sharply criticized The Frontier Post newspaper, accusing it of publishing anti-Russian propaganda and serving Western political interests rather than practicing press freedom. The Embassy claimed the publication's Washington-based global news service promotes a "Russophobic" agenda, exclusively featuring critics of Russian foreign policy and President Vladimir Putin. It alleged the newspaper ignored the Moscow Format of Consultations on Afghanistan held October 7, 2025, despite extensive local media coverage. Defending Russia's economic strength, the Embassy highlighted 4.1% GDP growth in 2024, 2.5% unemployment, and manufacturing sector growth of 8.5%, dismissing Western narratives of economic vulnerability. The statement urged Pakistanis to seek diverse information sources.

New York City’s Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani made his first major political visit to Puerto Rico, days after his historic election victory. He is attending the annual Somos conference in San Juan, a key event for New York’s political leaders, lobbyists, and policymakers. The three-day event mixes strategy sessions with social meetings. Mamdani, 34, will join top officials, including Attorney General Letitia James, at receptions and workshops. His visit signals his growing influence beyond New York. Mamdani’s win, with over two million votes, has energized Democrats ahead of the 2026 midterms and drawn strong reactions from Donald Trump. (PC: HT)

Former International Criminal Court prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo has said recent US air strikes on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific are crimes against humanity. He told the BBC the attacks were “planned and systematic” and targeted civilians during peacetime. The Trump administration says the strikes are part of an armed conflict against drug cartels. At least 66 people have been killed in the past two months. The White House said President Trump acted under international law to protect Americans from “narcoterrorists.” Critics say the attacks were unlawful and lacked clear evidence. (PC: BBC)

Bangladesh's Yunus administration scrapped plans to recruit music and physical education teachers in primary schools after Islamist groups, including Hefazat-e-Islam and Islami Andolon Bangladesh, called these posts "un-Islamic" and threatened street unrest. Teachers and students from Dhaka University and Jagannath University protested Thursday, calling the decision "cultural fascism." The Ministry of Primary and Mass Education quietly dropped music and PE posts from recruitment advertisements that originally included general, religion, music, and physical education positions. Protesters gathered at Aparajeyo Bangla statue and Sculpture Square, demanding reinstatement through songs and human chains. Critics argue the policy undermines child development and Bangladesh's secular identity, warning the army-installed Yunus administration is repeatedly bowing to Islamist pressure. (PC: X)

Pakistani forces allegedly fired projectiles into Afghanistan on Thursday evening, violating a ceasefire agreement while delegations from both nations met in Turkey for peace negotiations. An Afghan military official confirmed Pakistan used light and heavy weapons targeting civilian areas, but Afghanistan refrained from retaliating to respect ongoing talks. The ceasefire, mediated by Qatar in Doha, followed weeks of border skirmishes along the Durand Line last month. Relations between the neighbors have deteriorated significantly, with Pakistan accusing Kabul of sheltering militant groups conducting attacks on Pakistani soil, claims the Taliban government denies. Conversely, Afghanistan alleges Pakistan harbors Islamic State affiliates responsible for attacks within Afghan territory. The Thursday talks aim to stabilize the fragile ceasefire and prevent hostilities from resuming. (PC: JK News Today & NDTV)

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has filed charges after being groped by a man while out among the public in Mexico City, and has urged that sexual harassment be made a criminal offence nationwide. Sheinbaum underscored the broader danger: “If this happens to the president, what does it mean for all women in our country?” She emphasised that only about half of Mexico’s 32 states currently classify harassment as a crime, and has asked her Women’s Ministry to review local laws to ensure uniform criminalisation across the country. (PC: AFP)

Maya Handa, a rising leader in progressive politics, was appointed campaign manager for Zohran Mamdani in July, replacing Elle Bisgaard-Church, and has been credited with steering his victory over former governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican contender Curtis Sliwa. Handa previously worked on Mamdani’s state assembly team and managed State Senator Zellnor Myrie’s mayoral bid; she has also collaborated with national figures such as Jamaal Bowman and Elizabeth Warren. Forming alliances with the progressive Working Families Party and grassroots community groups, her strategy helped Mamdani flip working-class Black and Latino neighbourhoods in Brooklyn and the Bronx from primary defeats into general-election victories. (PC: X)