Iran and Pakistan have deported over 6,000 Afghan migrants in the past 24 hours, according to the Taliban-run commission for refugee affairs. This latest wave contributes to millions of forced returns this year, exacerbating Afghanistan's humanitarian crisis amid warnings from aid agencies.
Police in Badalona, Spain, evicted approximately 400 mostly undocumented migrants from the abandoned B9 school building on Wednesday, December 17, 2025. The eviction, ordered due to severe safety concerns and a judicial ruling, leaves many without immediate shelter. The building had been occupied since 2023, primarily by sub-Saharan migrants.
Italy's Supreme Court has definitively acquitted Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini in the high-profile Open Arms case. The ruling concludes a five-year legal battle stemming from his 2019 decision as Interior Minister to block a migrant rescue ship from docking, where he faced charges of kidnapping and dereliction of duty.
Guan Heng, a 38-year-old Chinese national who secretly filmed alleged detention camps in Xinjiang, faces possible deportation from the U.S. to Uganda. Human rights advocates and his lawyer express grave concerns that he could subsequently be transferred to China, where he would face severe persecution for his actions.
The Indian Navy has commissioned its second MH-60R (Romeo) helicopter squadron, INAS 335 'Ospreys', at INS Hansa in Goa. Presided over by Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, the event marks a significant enhancement of the Navy's anti-submarine warfare and multi-role capabilities on the Western Seaboard, following the induction of the first squadron in March 2024.
A delegation of 30 Canadians, including six Members of Parliament, was denied entry to the West Bank by Israeli authorities on Tuesday. Israel cited 'public safety threats' due to alleged links between the trip's organizer, The Canadian-Muslim Vote, and Islamic Relief Worldwide, an entity Israel designates as a terror group. Canadian officials have expressed objections.
Bangladesh has summoned India's High Commissioner Pranay Verma to protest alleged anti-election activities orchestrated from Indian territory by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her supporters. Dhaka expressed serious concerns over efforts to destabilize the country ahead of upcoming February elections, including incitement to violence and calls for extradition of key figures.
Iranian authorities have seized a foreign oil tanker in the Sea of Oman, alleging it carried 6 million liters of smuggled diesel. The vessel, with 18 crew members from India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, reportedly had its navigation systems disabled. This incident follows a series of similar seizures by Iran in the region.
Moldova has officially extended temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees until March 4, 2027, aligning with the European Union's decision. This ensures continued legal residence, work rights, and access to essential services for thousands of displaced individuals.
A four-storey temple under construction in Redcliffe, Verulam, north of Durban, collapsed on Friday, December 12, 2025. The disaster has resulted in three confirmed fatalities and multiple injuries, with rescue operations continuing amid fears of more people trapped. Preliminary reports indicate the structure lacked approved building plans.
Officials within the Trump administration are engaged in advanced discussions regarding the imposition of terrorism-related sanctions on UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees. The deliberations follow Israeli accusations of UNRWA staff involvement in the October 7 attacks and alleged links to Hamas, prompting significant legal and humanitarian concerns.
Bangladeshi President Mohammed Shahabuddin declared on December 11, 2025, his plan to step down midway through his term following the upcoming February 12, 2026, parliamentary election. He cited 'humiliation' and being 'sidelined' by the interim government led by Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, pointing to instances like the removal of his official portraits from embassies.
Winter Storm Byron has unleashed severe flooding across Gaza's displacement camps, leading to the tragic death of an 8-month-old infant, Rahaf Abu Jazar, from hypothermia. The storm has submerged thousands of makeshift shelters, mixed stormwater with sewage, and intensified the already catastrophic humanitarian conditions for 1.5 million displaced Palestinians, prompting urgent calls for unhindered aid.
A federal judge in Maryland has ordered the immediate release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, citing a lack of legal basis for his detention. The Department of Homeland Security has criticized the ruling and plans to appeal.
Rajwinder Singh has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a non-parole period of 25 years for the brutal 2018 murder of Toyah Cordingley on Wangetti Beach, Queensland. Singh fled to India the day after the crime and was extradited to Australia in 2023 following a $1 million reward.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has launched a comprehensive review of green cards from 19 'countries of concern,' while the Department of Homeland Security has indefinitely suspended processing for Afghan-related immigration requests. These measures, implemented on November 27, 2025, follow national security concerns and a recent incident in Washington D.C.
The World Food Programme has issued an urgent warning that hunger and malnutrition are escalating at an alarming rate in Afghanistan, with aid slashed by 80% due to severe funding shortages. Millions, especially children and women, face unprecedented levels of malnutrition as winter sets in.
Australia has enacted financial sanctions and travel bans against four high-ranking officials of Afghanistan's Taliban-run government. The measures, announced on December 6, 2025, target individuals responsible for severe humanitarian violations, particularly against women and girls, and for undermining governance in Afghanistan.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has launched a review of green cards from 19 'countries of concern,' while the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has indefinitely suspended Afghan-related immigration requests. These measures, effective November 27, 2025, follow a recent shooting incident in Washington D.C. and aim to enhance national security vetting.
Investigation into the fatal Goa nightclub fire on December 6, 2025, continues as police confirm owners Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra fled to Phuket, Thailand, hours after the blaze that killed 25. An Interpol Blue Notice has been issued to trace them, while safety violations at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub are under scrutiny.
