WASHINGTON, United States, Dec 24, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - The US Supreme Court dealt a blow to President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown on Tuesday by blocking his deployment of National Guard troops in Chicago. After two lower courts blocked Trump from sending troops into Chicago, his administration made an emergency appeal to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court rebuff of the emergency appeal was a rare defeat for Trump at the top court, where conservatives hold a 6-3 majority. It was not immediately clear how Tuesday's decision would affect the other cases where Democratic-ruled states have challenged Trump's National Guard deployment. Some 300 National Guard troops remain activated in the Chicago area but are not engaged in operations.

General Daily Insight for December 24, 2025 Simple moves can bring calm and clarity. Venus, planet of attraction, enters your 10th House of Career and Status, refreshing your public image and encouraging measured moves that display confidence without heat. Because ambitious goals deserve steady care, make a point of rehearsing any upcoming presentations and thanking any other team members involved. Resources get clearer as Venus, planet of money, enters your 8th House of Shared Resources, encouraging tidy agreements and honest talk about needs. Venus, planet of self-worth, enters your sign today!

THE HAGUE, Dec 24, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Belgium on Tuesday joined a case brought by South Africa before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which accuses Israel of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip. The UN's highest court, based in The Hague, said in a statement that Brussels had filed a declaration of intervention. Several countries including Brazil, Colombia, Ireland, Mexico, Spain and Turkey have already joined the case. In rulings in January, March and May 2024, the ICJ told Israel to do everything possible to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza, including by providing urgently needed humanitarian aid to prevent famine. The campaign has also displaced the majority of the 2.2 million people in the Palestinian territory.

At UN, Russia and China criticize US conduct toward VenezuelaUNITED NATIONS, United States, Dec 24, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Russia and China on Tuesday criticized the United States for its military and economic pressure on Venezuela, telling the UN Security Council it was "cowboy behavior" and "intimidation." Venezuela, which requested the emergency council meeting with the backing of Moscow and Beijing, accused Washington of "the greatest extortion known in our history." US President Donald Trump accuses Venezuela of using oil, the South American country's main resource, to finance "narcoterrorism, human trafficking, murders, and kidnappings." "The responsibility of Washington is also evident for the constant catastrophic consequences of such cowboy-like conduct," he told the council. "This is the greatest extortion known in our history," he added.

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US denies visas to EU ex-commissioner, four others over tech rulesWASHINGTON, United States, Dec 24, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - The US State Department said Tuesday it would deny visas to a former EU commissioner and four others, accusing them of seeking to "coerce" American social media platforms into censoring viewpoints they oppose. The measure targeted Thierry Breton, the former top tech regulator at the European Commission, who often clashed with tech tycoons such as Elon Musk over their obligations to follow EU rules. Also subject to the ban were Anna-Lena von Hodenberg and Josephine Ballon of HateAid, a German organization that the State Department said functions as a trusted flagger for enforcing the DSA. The White House last week suspended implementation of a tech cooperation deal with Britain, saying it was in opposition to the UK's tech rules. "President Trump has been clear that his America First foreign policy rejects violations of American sovereignty," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement.

US slams China policies on chips but will delay tariffs to 2027WASHINGTON, United States, Dec 24, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - US trade officials determined that China should be punished for employing unfair tactics to dominate the semiconductor industry, but will wait 18 months to impose tariffs, American authorities said Tuesday. USTR officials launched the probe in December 2024 in the final weeks of Joe Biden's presidency, extending the initiative when US President Donald Trump took office in January. The White House has jousted with Beijing, but reached a broad truce with China after a major escalation in the spring. The USTR's "Section 301" probe concluded that China had employed "increasingly aggressive and sweeping non-market policies" to dominate semiconductors that have included "massive and persistent" state support of private actors and "wage-suppressing labor practices." The USTR did not respond to an AFP query on the reason for the 18-month timeframe on tariffs.

LONDON, Dec 24, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Kepa Arrizabalaga was Arsenal's League Cup quarter-final hero with the decisive penalty shoot-out save that completed a miserable evening for Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix on Tuesday. It was a cathartic moment for the Spanish goalkeeper, who infamously refused to be substituted before Chelsea's League Cup final penalty shoot-out defeat against Manchester City in 2019. Kepa also missed a spot-kick in the Blues' 2022 League Cup final shoot-out loss to Liverpool. Arsenal are into the League Cup semi-finals for a second successive year as they chase their first trophy since winning the FA Cup in 2020. The north Londoners have only won the League Cup twice, with their last triumph coming in 1992-93, before any of their current squad were born.

HONG KONG, Dec 24, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Gold prices broke past $4,500 in Asian trade Wednesday on optimism that the Federal Reserve will continue cutting interest rates next year, and amid rising tensions between the United States and Venezuela. The precious metal hit a peak of $4,519.78 to extend a rally that has seen it surge more than 70 percent since the start of 2025.

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Two dead, others missing in US nursing home blast: governorWASHINGTON, United States, Dec 24, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - At least two people died and several others were missing after a "catastrophic" explosion Tuesday demolished part of a nursing home in eastern Pennsylvania, the US state's governor said. We know that there are some number of individuals still missing," Governor Josh Shapiro told a press conference. The governor praised quick-thinking first responders, notably firefighters who "were quite literally climbing up ladders, handing individuals in this nursing home to police, who were at times carrying two people on their back to safety." "They pulled many residents out of the building via windows, doors, stuck in stairwells, stuck in elevator shafts." "We are still in rescue mode until we know the building is clear," he said.

On behalf of the government, Education Adviser Professor C R Abrar visited the bereaved family in Mymensingh on Tuesday. During the visit, he spoke with Rabilal Das, the father of Dipu Chandra Das, among others. The education adviser reiterated that the killing was a heinous criminal act with no justification and no place in Bangladeshi society. Such acts of violence will be met with the full force of the law, the adviser said. The adviser reiterated the Interim Government’s resolve to protect all citizens and to ensure that justice is served.

SHERPUR, Dec 23, 2025 (BSS) - Members of the Narcotics Control Department (NCD) in a drive arrested a suspected drug dealer along with 1,600 pieces of yaba tablets in Dubarchar area under Sherpur upazila of the district on Tuesday afternoon. The arrested man was identified as Md Abdur Rashid, 34), son of Abdul Khalek of Jhaubari village under Roumari upazila in Kurigram district. During the operation, law enforcement officials also seized 37 grams of powder used in the production of yaba tablets and a motorcycle allegedly used for drug trafficking from his possession. Assistant Director of the Mymensingh Divisional Detective Office of the Narcotics Control Department, Md Kawsarul Hasan Roni, said that a case has been filed against the accused with Sherpur Sadar Police Station under the Narcotics Control Act. Meanwhile, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Sherpur Sadar Police Station Md Sohel Rana confirmed that the arrested individual was produced before the court and subsequently sent to jail.

Kurigram is witnessing intensifying cold as icy northern winds and dense fog grip the district, causing severe hardship for residents, especially in char areas. Despite the absence of a formal cold wave, locals report heavy dew at night and fog-covered mornings, reducing visibility and worsening the chill. Cold is being felt most acutely in char regions of Kurigram Sadar, Ulipur, Nageshwari, and Rajarhat upazilas. Many residents, particularly the elderly, children, and day laborers, are confined indoors, losing income and struggling with the cold. Kurigram District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer Abdul Matin said Tk 54 lakh has been allocated to distribute blankets and winter clothing across the district’s nine upazilas.