Islamist militants in northwest Pakistan kill 16 security personnel, police officer says

A recent unclassified war game by CSIS and MIT revealed that increasing US nuclear capabilities would not deter China from using atomic weapons in a conflict over Taiwan. The exercise explored scenarios where nuclear weapons might be employed, showing minimal impact of US nuclear capabilities on Beijing's willingness to deploy such arms. The study suggested China could move away from its no-first-use policy in critical conflicts, highlighting the pressure both sides face to resort to...

A rebel army in Myanmar, the Arakan Army, announced the capture of a major military headquarters in the country's west, the second regional command to fall to the junta's armed resistance movement. The Arakan Army, part of the Three Brotherhood Alliance, launched an offensive in October 2023, achieving significant victories along Myanmar's border with China. This marks another setback for the military government, which seized power in early 2021, triggering nationwide protests and armed rebellion...

Ten months after India announced plans to fence the 1,643-km-long border with Myanmar to control the influx of drugs and weapons, the government is facing opposition from local communities with ethnic ties across the border. The struggle between security imperatives and ethnic bonds highlights the conflict between national priorities and age-old relationships. This delicate situation underscores the complexity of balancing security measures with preserving cultural and historical connections. Full Article

Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan urges visitors to dress 'respectfully' by avoiding indecent clothes like mini skirts, torn jeans, and night suits to preserve the temple's cultural dignity. The temple has put up banners displaying prohibited attires and requested cooperation from devotees to maintain decorum. Other temples like Thakur Shri Radha Damodar and Pagal Baba have also issued similar appeals against inappropriate clothing. Full Article

U.S. President Joe Biden approved $571.3 million in defense support for Taiwan, with the State Department also authorizing the potential sale of $265 million worth of military equipment to the island. Despite no formal diplomatic ties, the U.S. is obligated by law to assist Taiwan in defending itself against Chinese claims of sovereignty, leading to increased tensions with Beijing over Taiwan's rejection of China's sovereignty claims. China has escalated military pressure on Taiwan through frequent...

India strongly condemns the deadly attack at a Christmas market in Germany's Magdeburg, expressing solidarity with the victims and offering assistance to injured Indians. The attack, carried out by a 50-year-old Saudi doctor, resulted in 5 deaths and over 200 injuries, with the suspect displaying Islamophobic tendencies. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz mourned the tragic event, revealing that Saudi Arabia had previously warned German authorities about the suspect's extremist views. Full Article