Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader since 1989, has reportedly been killed in a sweeping joint operation by the United States and Israel, marking one of the most dramatic escalations in Middle Eastern geopolitics in decades. Iranian state broadcaster IRIB confirmed his death, describing it as “martyrdom” and stating that the 86-year-old cleric was killed in his office during coordinated aerial strikes on Tehran.

US President Donald Trump claimed Washington worked closely with Israel to target Iran’s top leadership, calling Khamenei’s death “the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their country.” He warned that further strikes would continue if necessary to neutralise what he described as Iran’s long-standing nuclear threat.

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States would temporarily run Venezuela following American military strikes and the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, marking a dramatic shift in US policy and raising fresh questions about sovereignty, nation-building and regional stability.

Speaking at a news conference hours after the operation, Trump said the US would administer Venezuela "until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition." He added that Washington was prepared to launch a second, "much larger" military operation if necessary.

Trump said no US service members were killed during the strikes and confirmed that American forces had been operating inside Venezuela. Asked whether US troops would remain on the ground, he replied, "We're not afraid of boots on the ground," adding that the military had "boots on the ground last night at a very high level."

Pressed on how the US would govern Venezuela, Trump said officials were in the process of designating individuals to oversee the country. "We're designating people right now," he said, adding that details would be announced soon. When asked who would run Venezuela, Trump gestured toward himself and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, saying it would be "largely for a period of time the people that are standing right behind me."

The remarks signal a sharp turn toward direct US involvement in Venezuela's internal affairs. Trump has previously been a vocal critic of the 2003 US invasion of Iraq, but his comments suggest a willingness to engage in limited nation-building under US supervision.

Trump said US oil companies would play a central role in rebuilding Venezuela's economy, particularly its energy sector. "The oil business in Venezuela has been a bust, a total bust," he said. "We're going to have our very large United States oil companies go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure, and start making money for the country."

Venezuela holds some of the world's largest proven oil reserves, but years of mismanagement, sanctions and political turmoil have severely reduced production. Just before the news conference, Trump posted an image he said showed Maduro aboard the US warship USS Iwo Jima, appearing blindfolded and wearing ear protection. US officials said Maduro had been captured during the operation and was being transferred to the United States.

Earlier in the day, US authorities said Maduro had been indicted in New York on drugs and weapons charges. The US Attorney General said he would "face the full wrath of American justice." Maduro has previously denied the allegations and rejected claims that he led or protected drug trafficking networks.

Asked whether US forces could have killed Maduro during the raid, Trump said it was possible. "There was a lot of gunfire," he said, adding that Maduro had been attempting to reach what he believed was a safe location.

Venezuela's government declared a national emergency, denouncing what it called "extremely serious military aggression" by the US. Officials in Caracas accused Washington of violating international law and attacking both military and civilian targets.

The US announcement that it intends to administer Venezuela, even temporarily, has intensified international concern and sparked fears of prolonged instability in Latin America, as governments and global institutions weigh the implications of one of the most far-reaching U.S. interventions in the region in decades.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday announced a sweeping new immigration policy, declaring that the United States would “permanently pause migration from all Third World countries” in the wake of an incident where an Afghan national opened fire at two National Guard personnel near the White House.

In a sharply worded post on Truth Social, Trump said that despite America’s technological progress, its immigration system had “eroded those gains and living conditions for many”. He vowed to halt new arrivals, reverse what he called “millions of Biden illegal admissions”, and deport anyone deemed a security threat, public charge, or “non-compatible with Western Civilization”.

Trump added that his administration would revoke federal benefits for non-citizens, denaturalize migrants who “undermine domestic tranquility”, and target those admitted under what he alleged was an “unauthorized and illegal Autopen approval process”.

“These goals will be pursued to achieve a major reduction in illegal and disruptive populations,” he wrote, insisting that “reverse migration” was the only permanent solution.

Concluding with a pointed holiday message, Trump said: “HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL — except those that hate, steal, murder, and destroy everything America stands for. You won’t be here for long!”

A diplomatic flutter has erupted after Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser to the interim government, Muhammad Yunus, gifted a coffee table book to Pakistan’s Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Chairman, General Sahir Shamshad Mirza. The book, titled “Art of Triumph: Graffiti of Bangladesh’s New Dawn,” reportedly features on its cover an image resembling a map that appears to include parts of India within Bangladesh’s borders.

The meeting took place on Saturday at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka, where both sides discussed trade, investment, and defence cooperation. While Dhaka has not issued an official clarification, several Bangladeshi social media users have insisted the image is an abstract depiction of the national flag, not a territorial map.

The controversy revives earlier tensions between India and Bangladesh. In December 2024, New Delhi had lodged a strong protest after a Bangladeshi official posted — and later deleted — a similar map claiming Indian territories. Muhammad Yunus himself drew criticism earlier this year for remarks inviting China to expand its influence in India’s northeast. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a meeting with Yunus in Bangkok, had then urged Dhaka to avoid rhetoric that could strain bilateral ties.

At least three Afghan cricketers were killed in a Pakistani airstrike in Afghanistan’s eastern Paktika province, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) said on Friday. The victims, identified as Kabeer, Sibghatullah, and Haroon, had travelled from Urgun to Sharana to play in a friendly match. The ACB said the players were killed “after returning home to Urgun” when they were targeted “in a cowardly attack carried out by the Pakistani regime.” Five others also lost their lives in the strike.

Condemning the attack, the ACB announced Afghanistan’s withdrawal from next month’s tri-nation series with Pakistan and Sri Lanka “as a gesture of respect to the victims.” In a post on X, the board expressed “deep sorrow and grief over the tragic martyrdom of the brave cricketers from Urgun District.”

Afghanistan’s T20 captain Rashid Khan strongly denounced the attack, calling it “immoral and barbaric.” He said, “The loss of innocent lives, including aspiring young cricketers, is a grave violation of human rights. I stand with our people—national dignity must come before all else.”

Senior player Mohammad Nabi said the incident was “a tragedy for the entire Afghan cricket family,” while pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi described it as “a heinous, unforgivable crime.”

According to Afghan media, Pakistani warplanes carried out multiple airstrikes in Paktika’s Urgun and Barmal districts, striking residential areas and causing significant civilian casualties. Kabul accused Islamabad of breaching a 48-hour ceasefire agreement that had been in place following several days of intense cross-border clashes.

The attacks occurred just as Pakistan called for an extension of the ceasefire to facilitate ongoing peace talks in Doha aimed at reducing tensions. Negotiations between the two sides are expected to resume on Saturday amid heightened regional unease.

US President Donald Trump on Friday defended his proposed 100 per cent tariff on Chinese goods, calling it a temporary but necessary step to pressure Beijing ahead of his forthcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Speaking to Fox Business Network, Trump said, “It’s not sustainable, but that’s what the number is. They forced me to do that,” adding that he remained optimistic about the outcome of the talks scheduled in two weeks.

The new tariff plan, announced on October 10, is set to take effect from November 1. In a post on Truth Social, Trump declared, “Given China’s unprecedented stance, the United States will impose a 100 per cent tariff on China, in addition to any tariffs currently in place.” He also indicated plans to tighten export controls on “any and all critical software.”

Trump accused China of “trade hostility” and hinted he might cancel the meeting with Xi if tensions persist. Earlier this year, the tariff war between Washington and Beijing had escalated to record highs of 145 per cent and 125 per cent, respectively. Following recent negotiations, the rates had eased to 30 per cent on US tariffs and 10 per cent on Chinese goods.

President Donald Trump’s preference for one-on-one deals is facing a major stress test as his fragile trade truce with China teeters on collapse. Beijing’s latest move to impose sweeping export controls on rare earths and critical minerals—vital for US defense and tech industries—triggered shockwaves in Washington. Markets initially shrugged off the news, but Trump’s fiery Truth Social post threatening a “massive increase” in tariffs sent Wall Street into a tailspin, marking its worst selloff in six months.

The renewed escalation comes weeks before Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are set to meet in South Korea to finalize a trade pact. Analysts say Beijing’s assertiveness reflects its growing leverage, given US dependence on Chinese materials. “China’s testing the limits of Trump’s transactional diplomacy,” noted Jon Hillman of the Council on Foreign Relations.

While Trump’s bilateral style may work with smaller nations, experts warn it falters against an increasingly self-reliant China. With both sides weaponizing export controls on semiconductors and critical minerals, the specter of another full-blown trade war looms large—one that could reshape global markets and test Trump’s vaunted dealmaking prowess like never before.

Two people were killed and 22 injured on Monday in violent clashes during protests in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), where thousands have taken to the streets against Islamabad’s policies. Eyewitnesses and reports said armed thugs backed by the Pakistan Army and ISI-sponsored Muslim Conference opened fire on civilians demanding basic rights. Videos circulating online show gunmen firing in the air, protesters scaling cars, and locals displaying spent bullet shells as evidence of live fire.

The unrest, led by the Awami Action Committee (AAC), has triggered a region-wide shutdown. Shops, markets, and transport services remain closed, paralyzing daily life. Protesters have raised 38 demands, including the abolition of 12 PoK Assembly seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees settled in Pakistan: a move locals believe distorts representative governance.

“Our campaign is for fundamental rights denied for over 70 years… either deliver on rights or face the wrath of the people,” AAC chief Shaukat Nawaz Mir declared. He warned that the strike was only “Plan A,” with harsher measures in reserve.

Islamabad has responded with force. Heavily armed troops have staged flag marches across PoK towns, and over 1,000 reinforcements have been dispatched from the capital. Additional battalions have been diverted from Punjab province, while internet services across the region face restrictions.

The crisis in PoK comes days after another tragedy, Pakistani Air Force JF-17 jets bombed a village in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with Chinese LS-6 precision-guided munitions, killing 30 civilians. The strikes, meant to target militants, deepened anger in an area already reeling from terror attacks by groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed, who relocated after India’s Operation Sindoor.

With civil discontent spreading, Pakistan’s military crackdown risks igniting a larger uprising in its restive territories.

At least 30 civilians, including women and children, were killed in deadly airstrikes by the Pakistani Air Force in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Tirah Valley early Monday morning. The strikes, carried out around 2 am, saw eight LS-6 bombs dropped on Matre Dara village, leaving behind scenes of devastation and panic. Local reports indicate several more were injured, though their condition remains uncertain, as rescue teams continue pulling bodies from under the rubble.

Disturbing visuals from the site showed lifeless bodies, including those of children, scattered in the debris. Rights groups have long warned about civilian casualties in counter-terrorism operations in the province. Earlier this year, Amnesty International condemned Pakistan for its “alarming disregard for civilian life” following recurrent drone strikes, which killed multiple non-combatants.

The backdrop is grim—Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has witnessed 605 terror incidents between January and August this year, claiming over 200 civilian and security force lives. After Operation Sindoor dismantled several major terrorist hideouts across Pakistan and PoK, groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed and Hizbul Mujahideen are believed to be regrouping in the region’s rugged terrain, exploiting its proximity to Afghanistan and long-standing militant sanctuaries.

As New Delhi and Ottawa cautiously restore diplomatic engagement, tensions flared again after Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a US-based pro-Khalistan outfit, threatened to “siege” the Indian Consulate in Vancouver on Thursday. The group has urged Indo-Canadians to avoid routine visits to the consulate that day, warning of a complete takeover.

In posters circulated online, SFJ placed a target mark on the face of India’s new High Commissioner, Dinesh Patnaik, accusing Indian missions of running “spy networks” against Khalistan supporters. The outfit also invoked Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s September 2023 statement in Parliament, alleging Indian involvement in the killing of Khalistani activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. “Two years on, Indian Consulates continue surveillance targeting Khalistan Referendum campaigners,” SFJ claimed.

The group further alleged that threats were so severe that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) provided witness protection to Inderjeet Singh Gosal, who assumed leadership of the Khalistan Referendum campaign following Nijjar’s death. SFJ said the planned “siege” would seek “accountability for espionage and intimidation on Canadian soil.”

Neither India’s Ministry of External Affairs nor the Indian Consulate in Vancouver immediately commented on the threats.

Canadian Security Concerns

Earlier this month, an internal Canadian government report acknowledged that extremist Khalistani groups continue to receive financial support from individuals and networks within Canada. The report highlighted organisations such as Babbar Khalsa International and the International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF)—both banned as terrorist groups under Canada’s Criminal Code. It further noted that these groups now largely operate through small, loosely connected clusters of individuals who endorse the Khalistan cause while avoiding formal organisational ties.

The latest threat comes as India and Canada attempt to stabilise strained ties, raising renewed concerns over extremist activities on Canadian soil.

US President Donald Trump’s nominee for Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, struck an optimistic note on the long-pending trade agreement between Washington and New Delhi, saying that the two sides are now engaged in detailed discussions and “not that far apart” from finalizing a deal.

Testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Gor emphasized that the contours of the agreement are largely in place and only “nitty-gritty” issues remain to be worked out. He underlined that the United States places higher expectations on India compared to other nations, describing it as a reflection of the depth of the bilateral partnership. “We hold our friends to different standards,” he remarked, adding that the US sees India not only as a trading partner but also as a strategic ally.

Gor disclosed that President Trump has extended an invitation to India’s commerce and trade ministers to visit Washington next week for discussions with US Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer. The meeting, he said, is expected to pave the way for a formal conclusion to the trade deal, which has been under negotiation for several years.

Addressing concerns over tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, Gor argued that Washington should apply a consistent approach toward both China and India. “I hope you will encourage that we treat China in the same way as we treat India, given what they’re doing to fund Russia’s war machine,” he told lawmakers.

The remarks come at a time when US-India trade relations have faced strain due to tariff disputes and disagreements over market access. However, Gor’s comments signal a renewed momentum, with Washington seeking to balance its economic expectations from New Delhi alongside broader geopolitical considerations.