The Bollywood spy film Dhurandhar is generating mixed reactions in Pakistan, where it is illegally viewed. Critics and content creators point to factual inaccuracies, especially the portrayal of Karachi’s Lyari gang and a controversial scene featuring a Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) rally. The PPP condemned the film as a “malicious distortion,” while some Pakistanis lamented their own film industry’s reluctance to address local, darker histories.

The Thailand-Cambodia border conflict escalated with Thailand using F-16 fighter jets to bomb targets inside Cambodia, and Cambodia responding with rocket barrages. The severe fighting has killed at least 21 people and forced 700,000 civilians to flee. Both sides continue military action despite a claimed ceasefire by US President Donald Trump.

The latest draft of the US-led peace plan includes a major European concession: fast-tracked EU accession for Ukraine by January 2027. This is coordinated with the EU’s agreement to indefinitely freeze €210bn in Russian sovereign assets, paving the way for a crucial loan to address Ukraine’s €135.7bn financial needs. The plan is being discussed by Steve Witkoff and Volodymyr Zelensky in Berlin.

Darwin, 13 December: Iranian security forces have arrested Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi. She was detained on Friday (12 December) while attending a memorial…

A new £1m scanner at Royal Brompton Hospital using Cadmium Zinc Telluride (CZT), made by British firm Kromek, has cut lengthy lung scans from 45 to 15 minutes. The “amazing feat of engineering” allows for highly detailed 3D images while reducing the radioactive dose by 30%, ushering in a “revolution” in medical imaging.

Germany, a staunch supporter of Ukraine, has summoned the Russian ambassador to demand accountability for a GRU cyber-attack on air traffic control and a major electoral disinformation campaign. Berlin says it will coordinate with EU partners on “counter-measures” to make Moscow pay a price for its hybrid warfare against Europe.

The Russian Central Bank has sued Euroclear in Moscow, branding the EU’s plan to use €210bn in frozen assets for a €90bn Ukraine loan as theft. Belgium, home to Euroclear, demands water-tight financial guarantees before the Brussels summit, fearing a €185bn liability and damage to the international financial system

Darwin, 13 December: Bangladesh witnessed heightened political tension today following an assassination attempt on Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent figure of the July Revolution movement…

Darwin, 12 December: At least 33 people have been killed and around 70 others wounded after an air strike by Myanmar’s military government hit a major…

Darwin, 12 December: More than 600 artifacts have been stolen from a museum in the southwestern UK city of Bristol, authorities confirmed on Thursday. The…