SEOUL, Dec 30, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has toured a factory making new multiple rocket launchers that could target the South, touting their ability to "annihilate the enemy" in a concentrated attack, state media reported Tuesday. A 2020 study by the RAND think tank assessed that North Korean artillery systems could inflict 10,000 casualties in just an hour if targeting major population centres like the South Korean capital Seoul. Accompanied by top officials from North Korea's missile programme, Kim said the new weapons system would serve as his military's "main strike means", according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). "From South Korea's perspective, this means the military threat from the North is increasing," he added. "Systems to mount various types of small nuclear warheads on multiple rocket launchers are already in place," he added.

Chief Organizer of the southern region of the National Citizen Party (NCP) Hasnat Abdullah on Monday said there will be no compromise on the issue of justice (Insaaf). He submitted his nomination papers at around 3:30pm on Monday. Shaheed’s family members, along with alliance leaders and party leaders and activists, were also present. He also mentioned that Sharif Osman Bin Hadi was martyred while establishing justice and said justice must be ensured from the local to the national level of the state. At the same time, we will maintain an uncompromising position on the issue of justice,” Hasnat said.

Former Adviser of the interim government Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain has joined the National Citizen Party (NCP), taking on the responsibilities of party spokesperson and head of the election management committee. In the interim administration, Asif served as the advisor for the youth, labour, and local government ministries. NCP Convenor Nahid Islam said at the briefing that Asif had been entrusted with overseeing the party's election management committee, a role that will involve coordinating activities for those who are not standing as candidates. He noted that Asif had resigned from his government post earlier and formally joined the party on Monday. "We hope that this journey with Asif Mahmud will help us achieve our goals and objectives," Nahid said.

BOGOTÁ, Dec 30, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced on Monday the country's minimum wage would increase by 23.7 percent starting in the new year, its highest raise in 25 years. The increase, coupled with the government's transportation subsidy, would take the monthly minimum wage from 1.6 million pesos ($422) to two million pesos ($520). Petro, Colombia's first leftist president, has overseen a series of minimum wage hikes since coming to power, including a 16 percent raise in 2023. Colombia's Ministry of Finance and Public Credit said Petro's administration has raised the minimum wage by 42.4 percent over the past three years. Roughly half of workers in Colombia, many of whom work informal jobs, make less than the minimum wage, according to Colombia's National Administrative Department of Statistics.

WASHINGTON, United States, Dec 30, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - The United States said Monday it had approved a $1.8-billion sale of patrol aircraft to Denmark, despite renewed tension after an envoy of President Donald Trump called again for seizing Greenland. The State Department said it approved a request from Denmark to buy the P-8A patrol and reconnaissance system from Boeing, which will include up to three aircraft. One week earlier, the State Department approved a separate sale of nearly $1 billion in air-to-air missiles to Denmark. The United States has long pushed NATO allies to pay more on defense, with Trump seeking to reduce the US footprint in Europe despite Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Trump has refused to rule out seizing Greenland by force, insisting that the United States needs the resource-rich island for its own security.

BNP Chairperson and three-time former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia passed away at 6am on Tuesday while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. During this period, corruption cases were filed against Khaleda Zia and her two sons. While in detention, Khaleda Zia spent Eid-ul-Fitr on October 14, 2007, and Eid-ul-Azha on December 21 that year in jail. When her mother died in Dinajpur on January 18, 2008, Khaleda Zia was released on parole for six hours the following day to attend the funeral. On November 27, 2024, Khaleda Zia was acquitted in the corruption case.

The dollar largely rose against main rivals, precious metals retreated from record highs and oil prices firmed in quiet post-Christmas trading with some focus on Ukraine talks. The prospect of cuts has helped push world stock markets to multiple record highs this year, offsetting worries about stretched valuations in the tech sector. The precious metals had both hit record highs on expectations of more rate cuts, which made them more desirable to investors. Silver shed almost 10 percent on Friday's close, sliding down to $71.86 an ounce having earlier touched a record above $84. An end to the war could see sanctions on Russian oil removed, adding to an oversupplied market.

KYIV, Ukraine, Dec 30, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Russia accused Ukraine on Monday of having fired dozens of drones at one of President Vladimir Putin's residences, an accusation that Ukraine called a "lie" aimed at undermining US-led efforts to end the war. It's not good," Trump told reporters of the alleged attack at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. President Putin told me about it." Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, describing it as a "special military operation" to demilitarise the country and prevent the expansion of NATO. Nikita, a 23-year-old who fought in Ukraine for a year, lauded Russia's advance in eastern Ukraine, even if it came "at a cost".

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Begum Khaleda Zia, the country’s first female prime minister and chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has passed away at the age of 80. She died while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka early Tuesday morning around 6am, confirmed her personal physician Professor AZM Zahid Hossain. Khaleda Zia was admitted to Evercare Hospital on November 23 for routine tests, during which doctors detected a chest infection and decided to keep her under observation. Plans were considered to take her abroad for advanced treatment, but her fragile condition made travel impossible. Khaleda Zia had long been battling multiple health complications, including heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, liver cirrhosis, and kidney problems.

Former adviser of interim government Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain has formally joined the National Citizen Party (NCP) but will not contest the 13th Jatiya Sangsad election. He has also been given the responsibility of serving as chief of the party’s election management committee. The announcement was made at 6:30 pm on Monday during a press conference at the party’s temporary central office in Banglamotor, Dhaka, where NCP Convener Nahid Islam stated that Asif Mahmud has been appointed the party’s spokesperson. "Today, Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain officially joined the National Citizen Party (NCP)," announced Nahid. Nahid further announced that Asif Mahmud will not be 'contesting the election himself'.

With 2,582 candidates in the fray, Bangladesh is heading towards its 13th national parliamentary election, scheduled for February 12. By the close of the final day, 2,582 candidates had submitted nomination papers nationwide. The final day of nomination submission witnessed a significant rush, as candidates filed their papers across the country. The Jatiya Party, led by GM Quader and which served as the opposition in recent parliaments, is participating in the polls. According to Shamim Haider Patwary, around 200 candidates from the Jatiya Party have submitted nomination papers nationwide.

Foreign aid commitments jump to $1.219b during July-Nov of FY26DHAKA, Dec 29, 2025 (BSS) - Foreign aid commitments to Bangladesh from the development partners rose sharply in the first five months (July-November) of the current fiscal year (FY26) as it more than doubled compared to the same period last year. In the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year (FY25), commitments stood at only $522.68 million. ERD officials said that with the overall situation improving, the volume of new commitments has increased significantly. According to ERD data, foreign loan disbursements increased during the July–November period compared to the same period last year. During July–November of the current fiscal year, Bangladesh paid $1.89 billion in principal and interest on various foreign loans.

RANGPUR, Dec 29, 2025 (BSS) - A total of 56 candidates have filed their nomination papers for six parliamentary constituencies in Rangpur amid festive atmosphere ahead of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad elections, slated for February 12, 2026. According to district administration sources, nominations were filed in all six constituencies of the district. Of them, nine candidates submitted papers in Rangpur-1, five in Rangpur-2, 10 in Rangpur-3, 11 each in Rangpur-4, Rangpur-5 and Rangpur-6. Earlier, 61 candidates had collected nomination papers for these constituencies. According to the election schedule, scrutiny of nomination papers will be conducted from December 30 to January 4, 2026.

Returning Officer and Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Yusuf Ali said the candidates submitted their nomination papers in compliance with the electoral code of conduct between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm today. In Jamalpur-1, covering Dewanganj and Bakshiganj upazilas, four candidates submitted nomination papers. In Jamalpur-2 (Islampur), nine candidates filed their nominations, while 11 candidates submitted papers in Jamalpur-3, comprising Melandah and Madarganj upazilas. In Jamalpur-4 (Sarishabari), 10 candidates submitted nomination papers and in Jamalpur-5 (Jamalpur Sadar Upazila), 12 candidates filed their nominations. According to the election schedule, scrutiny of nomination papers will be conducted from December 30 to January 4, 2026.