SEOUL, Dec 26, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ordered the "expansion" and modernisation of the country's missile production next year and the construction of more factories to meet growing demand, state media said Friday. "The missile and shell production sector is of paramount importance in bolstering up the war deterrent," the North Korean leader said. Pyongyang has significantly increased missile testing in recent years. Analysts say this is aimed at improving precision strike capabilities, challenging the United States as well as South Korea, and testing weapons before potentially exporting them to Russia. He also learned about research into "new underwater secret weapons", KCNA said.

"I am proud to call the United States my home," he said in a statement. Ahmed faces the "imminent prospect of unconstitutional arrest, punitive detention, and expulsion" from the United States, the court filing said. When reached for comment Thursday, the State Department expressed defiance. That mission has pitted me against big tech executives -- and Elon Musk in particular -- multiple times," Ahmed said. Breton, the EC's former top tech regulator, often clashed with tycoons including Musk -- a Trump ally -- over their obligations to follow EU rules.

“A cold wave, however, might set in by the end of the month or early January,” he said. A cold wave is an official way of describing lower minimum temperatures during winter. A cold wave occurs when the night temperature in winter falls to 10°C or lower. The temperature drop, however, failed to constitute a cold wave, for it was confined to a small pocket. The officially recorded minimum temperature in Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions ranged from 10°C and 11°C on Thursday.

VATICAN CITY, Dec 26, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Pope Leo XIV on Thursday urged Russia and Ukraine to find the "courage" to hold direct talks and spoke of the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza in his first Christmas message. "Let us pray in a particular way for the tormented people of Ukraine," he said. Britain's King Charles III called for "compassion and reconciliation" at a time of "division" across the world in his annual Christmas Day message broadcast. In Syria, Christmas lights illuminated Damascus's Old City despite the Christian community's fears of violence after a deadly attack in June. - Trump's Christmas message -In the United States, President Donald Trump issued a starkly different message to those of religious leaders.

KYIV, Ukraine, Dec 26, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Ukraine used British Storm Shadow missiles to attack a Russian oil refinery on Thursday, the Ukrainian military said. The Novoshakhtinsk refinery was hit by the missiles and "numerous explosions" were recorded, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said in a social media post. It has already used the British missiles to attack targets inside Russia. "Units of the air force of the armed forces of Ukraine successfully struck the Novoshakhtinsk oil products plant in the Rostov region of the Russian Federation with Storm Shadow air-launched cruise missiles," the statement said. Ukraine, which faces daily missile and drone onslaughts from Russia, has sought to respond with attacks inside Russia on energy and infrastructure facilities.

Zelensky says has had talks on Ukraine with US envoysKYIV, Ukraine, Dec 26, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday he had had "very good" talks with US President Donald Trump's envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, focused on ending the "brutal Russian war". "We discussed certain substantive details of the ongoing work," he said in a post on social media. Zelensky thanked the two envoys for their "constructive approach, the intensive work, and the kind words". They had also agreed during the conversation that Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov would speak with the two envoys again Thursday. Zelensky conceded on Wednesday that there were some points in the document that he did not like.

Early Thursday, the National Weather Service (NWS) forecast that southern California, including Los Angeles, the second-most populous US city, was at risk of excessive rainfall. It warned of a "broad plume of moisture" producing heavy rain in California on Thursday. State authorities declared a state of emergency in several counties, including Los Angeles. Check conditions before venturing out today," Los Angeles County officials said Thursday on X. - Rescue work -Heavy rain began lashing Southern California Wednesday, where some communities had already seen 10 inches (25.4 centimeters) of rain in the first storm, forecasters said.

Trump says US launched 'numerous' deadly strikes on IS in NigeriaPALM BEACH, United States, Dec 26, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - President Donald Trump said Thursday that US forces conducted deadly strikes against Islamic State "Scum" in northwestern Nigeria, and vowed more attacks if the militants keep killing Christians. Without providing details, the commander in chief said "The Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes," on Christmas Day, against IS targets. US Africa Command said in an X post that it conducted a strike "at the request of Nigerian authorities...killing multiple ISIS terrorists." Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth took to X to praise his department's readiness to take action in Nigeria, and said he was "grateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation." Nigeria's government and independent analysts reject framing the country's violence in terms of religious persecution -- a narrative long used by the Christian right in the United States and Europe.

Police have arrested six more people in connection with the grisly murder of Dipu Chandra Das, who was beaten to death and burned in Mymensingh's Bhaluka.Abdullah Al Mamun, an additional police superintendent, said the new arrests were made around Wednesday midnight by the Detective Branch. The six suspects allegedly incited the factory staff and spread rumours that Dipu had "blasphemed".After the killing, police said the murder occurred after Dipu's colleagues had handed him over to an enraged crowd.The colleagues had allegedly also forced Dipu, a readymade garment factory worker, to resign before inciting the mob on him.With the latest, the total arrests over the gruesome murder rose to 18, according to a media statement from the district police office.�"bdnews24.com

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and former adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan. Asif Mahmud wished Tarique Rahman success in his future political journey, hoping it would prove beneficial and welfare-oriented for the country and its citizens. Tarique Rahman today returned home after 17 years in exile. A Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight carrying Tarique Rahman from London landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 11:40 am via Sylhet. Later, Tarique Rahman attended the public event at July 36 expressway and addressed to the thousands of people.

Mobile network operators in Bangladesh deployed portable network towers and expanded capacity to ensure uninterrupted connectivity during the reception marking the return of BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman after around 17 years. Robi Axiata Chief Corporate Officer Shahed Alam said the operator deployed five Cellular on Wheels (COW) units to maintain service continuity. The operator also installed mobile towers and strengthened the network by sharing capacity with nearby sites. Grameenphone did not disclose the number of portable towers deployed or specific technical measures. Due to overnight network upgrades and advance technical measures, no major complaints related to call quality or video streaming were reported.

NCP leaders: Return a product of mass uprisingHasnat Abdullah, chief coordinator (Southern) of the National Citizen Party (NCP), said Tarique Rahman’s return should be viewed as a milestone in Bangladesh’s ongoing struggle for democracy. NCP Convener Nahid Islam echoed similar views, calling Tarique Rahman’s return a positive outcome of Bangladesh’s democratic movement. He said Tarique Rahman’s return could strengthen multiparty democracy and stressed the need to build a culture of coexistence and healthy political competition in the new political reality. BNP leaders and family welcome him homeBNP leaders, family members and supporters also welcomed Tarique Rahman upon his arrival at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Across party lines, leaders said Tarique Rahman’s return marks a new phase in Bangladesh’s political journey—one shaped by the demand for democratic rights, accountability and political coexistence.

Chinese ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen has said that media exchange plays a vital role in understanding the civilisation and culture of both countries. ‘Media exchange allows us to learn closely from each other. The foundation of China-Bangladesh media exchange is the life and culture of our peoples. The envoy made the remarks at a function titled Golden Silk Road Bangladesh Media Award held at the National Art Gallery of the Shilpakala Academy in Dhaka on Wednesday. He hoped that similar initiatives would continue in the future to deepen people-to-people relations and promote cultural exchange.

After 17 years and three months in exile, BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman returned to Bangladesh on Thursday, marking one of the most significant political homecomings in recent years. A Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight (BG-202) carrying Tarique Rahman landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 11:45am. From the airport, Tarique Rahman travelled directly to the venue of a public reception at the July 36 Expressway—popularly known as the 300 Feet Road—in Purbachal. A personal noteAmong those returning with Tarique Rahman was his daughter’s pet cat, Jebu, which the family had kept with them throughout their years in exile. Tarique Rahman had left Bangladesh on September 11, 2008, following his release from prison during the military-backed caretaker government.

An explosion ripped through a mosque in the northeastern Nigerian city of Maiduguri and killed at least seven worshippers Wednesday, witnesses and security sources told AFP. No armed groups immediately claimed responsibility for what anti-jihadist militia leader Babakura Kolo said was a suspected bombing. “We can confirm there has been an explosion,” police spokesman Nahum Daso told AFP, adding that an explosive ordnance disposal team was already on-site. Nigeria has been battling a jihadist insurgency since 2009 in a conflict that has killed at least 40,000 and displaced around two million from their homes in the northeast, according to the UN. Meanwhile, in the countryside, the insurgency continues to rage, with analysts warning of an uptick in jihadist violence this year.