The practice of affixing a stamp on a passport at a country’s border is on the verge of becoming a relic of the past. The European Union has introduced the Entry, Exit System (EES), a digital border management system that will eventually replace the traditional passport stamp process. With the full implementation of EES by April 2026, the need to physically stamp passports will cease, and digital screening will take its place. Countries like Australia, Japan, and Canada are already using biometric data at their borders, while the United States has announced plans to expand its own system.
In a separate development, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett announced that Israel has officially recognized Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state. During the investigation into the recent blast in Homs, Syria, police obtained footage from a dashcam in the vehicle, which included audio and video recordings and is considered crucial evidence. China has imposed restrictions on 20 U.S. defense companies and 10 individuals for selling arms to Taiwan.
A bomb blast in a mosque during Friday prayers in Homs, Syria, left six people dead and over 20 injured. A video of the late muezzin of the Prophet’s Mosque, Sheikh Faisal Nauman, who passed away last week, went viral on social media. Japan’s cabinet has approved a record defense budget of $58 billion for the 2026 fiscal year, amid increasing regional tensions with China.
In a statement, Nigerian authorities claimed that the U.S. air strikes on extremist targets were highly accurate. According to foreign media, the high court has convicted former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in four cases. British authorities have revealed that a tanker driver, whose nationality remains unclear, was involved in a fuel tanker fire in Pakistan that resulted in the deaths of 10 people. King Charles III has emphasized the importance of empathy, compassion, and understanding in his Christmas address, with royal commentators interpreting it as a positive message for Prince Harry.
According to Iranian media, the former police chief of Afghanistan’s Takhar province, Akrum al-Din Safi, was killed in a targeted shooting in Tehran. The Iranian media also reported that Safi had been visited by an unknown individual at his home a month ago, had an argument, and left. In Canada, a Sikh lawyer’s fight led to the repeal of a century-old law that required professionals to swear allegiance to the British monarch. In a shocking incident in the Indian city of Hyderabad, a man set his wife on fire in front of their children and escaped.
The North Korean state media released images of Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un inspecting a guided missile on a submarine. According to sources, a protest was held outside the Pakistani consulate in Bradford, UK, in response to the recent incident. The Pakistan High Commission said that the relevant material will be investigated in accordance with the law, and if the law is broken, military investigations may begin.
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett announced that Israel has officially recognized Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state. During the investigation into the recent blast in Homs, Syria, police obtained footage from a dashcam in the vehicle, which included audio and video recordings and is considered crucial evidence.
Veteran Bollywood actor Naseeruddin Shah criticized the practice of taking a large team to shoots, stating that a smaller team can be just as effective. The Met Office has predicted that a western wind system may affect the city from Monday to Tuesday, potentially leading to an increase in cold temperatures.
