World News
Syrian rebel leader urges Israel to end airstrikes after Assad's overthrow
Al-Sharaa said the Israelis have crossed the rules of engagement in his interview with Syrian TV on Saturday. About 400 Israeli airstrikes in past days have destroyed much of the Syrian army's assets
 "Syrian rebel leader urges Israel to end airstrikes after Assad's overthrow")
UnitedHealth CEO murder suspect Mangione hires former top NY prosecutor
Friedman Agnifilo spent decades working in New York City's criminal justice system, serving as the top assistant for seven years to former Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance
 "UnitedHealth CEO murder suspect Mangione hires former top NY prosecutor")
UN desertification talks end without agreement to combat droughts
The 12-day talks, which concluded a day later than scheduled, saw nations defer consensus on a global drought response regime to COP17, planned for 2026 in Mongolia
 "UN desertification talks end without agreement to combat droughts")
Moody's Ratings cut France's credit grade, heaps pressure on new govt
In an unscheduled change, Moody's lowered its assessment of the euro area's second-biggest economy to Aa3 from Aa2, three levels below the maximum rating
 "Moody's Ratings cut France's credit grade, heaps pressure on new govt")
US in direct contact with Syrian rebel group that ousted Assad: Blinken
Blinken is the first US official to publicly confirm contacts between the Biden administration and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, which led a coalition of armed opposition groups that ousted Assad
 "US in direct contact with Syrian rebel group that ousted Assad: Blinken")
Ukrainian drones strike Russia as Kyiv reels from consecutive air attacks
Oryol Governor Andrey Klychkov confirmed on Saturday that a Ukrainian drone strike set fire to a fuel depot there. In a separate Telegram post later that day, he said the blaze had been contained
 "Ukrainian drones strike Russia as Kyiv reels from consecutive air attacks")
Brazilian police arrest ex-Bolsonaro cabinet member in coup plot probe
Braga Netto was formally accused in November, along with Bolsonaro and 35 others, of plotting a coup to keep Bolsonaro in office following his failed 2022 re-election bid
 "Brazilian police arrest ex-Bolsonaro cabinet member in coup plot probe")
Pakistan reports four new cases of polio, year's tally rises to 63
Of the 63 cases reported in the country so far this year, 26 were from Balochistan, 18 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 17 from Sindh and one each from Punjab and Islamabad
 "Pakistan reports four new cases of polio, year's tally rises to 63")
WHO tells South East Asian nations to intensify efforts to prevent drowning
According to WHO's first Global Status Report on Drowning Prevention, South-East Asia reported 83,000 drowning fatalities in 2021, accounting for 28 per cent of the global drowning burden
 "WHO tells South East Asian nations to intensify efforts to prevent drowning")
Prez-elect Trump to 'use best efforts' to abolish daylight saving time
In the United States, daylight saving time starts on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November. The time changes take place at 2:00 am local time
 "Prez-elect Trump to 'use best efforts' to abolish daylight saving time")
Maldivian Airlines adds 4 new China routes as Indian tourists' number falls
Beginning January 2025, the airline will operate flights to Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, and Xi'an
 "Maldivian Airlines adds 4 new China routes as Indian tourists' number falls")
China keen to invest $1 billion in Pakistan to establish medical city
Pakistan has held strong bilateral relations with China which has supported it through many investments and development projects such as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project
 "China keen to invest $1 billion in Pakistan to establish medical city")
South Korea's Yoon defiant after impeachment over martial law bid
The Constitutional Court will decide whether to remove Yoon sometime in the next six months. If he is removed from office, a snap election will be called
 "South Korea's Yoon defiant after impeachment over martial law bid")
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol impeached after failed martial law bid
Yoon is now suspended from office pending a decision by South Korea's Constitutional Court, which has up to 180 days to rule on his removal or reinstatement
 "South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol impeached after failed martial law bid")
Half of PIA's fleet grounded due to shortage of essential components
The position is that 17 aircraft of the PIA fleet remain out of service
 "Half of PIA's fleet grounded due to shortage of essential components")
OpenAI CEO, Perplexity donate $1 mn each to Trump's inaugural fund
President Trump will lead our country into the age of AI, and I am eager to support his efforts to ensure America stays ahead, Sam Altman said in a statement
 "OpenAI CEO, Perplexity donate $1 mn each to Trump's inaugural fund")
OpenAI whistleblower Suchir Balaji found dead; police rule out foul play
The 26-year-old Indian American had accused OpenAI of using copyrighted content to train its AI models. Details
 "OpenAI whistleblower Suchir Balaji found dead; police rule out foul play")
Time has come for US Congress to act on Bangladesh: Congressman Thanedar
Raising the issue of attacks over minority Hindus in Bangladesh, Indian-American Congressman Shri Thanedar has said that the time has come for the US Congress to act.
 "Time has come for US Congress to act on Bangladesh: Congressman Thanedar")
Time fact-checks Trump, a first for Person of the Year designee in history
The fact-check accompanies a transcript of what the president-elect told the newsmagazine's journalists
 "Time fact-checks Trump, a first for Person of the Year designee in history")
S Korean parliament to vote on impeachment motion against President Yoon
It'll be the second time for the National Assembly to hold a vote on Yoon's impeachment motion
