Jared Isaacman Confirmed as NASA Administrator, Becomes 15th Leader of U.S. Space Agency 
Argentina Unions Rally Against Milei’s Labor Reform as Congress Debates Key Bill 
Dan Bongino to Step Down as FBI Deputy Director After Brief, Controversial Tenure 
Barham Salih Elected as Next UN High Commissioner for Refugees 
Syria, Kurds and U.S. Race to Show Progress on SDF Integration Deal 
U.S.-Russia Talks in Miami Raise Hopes for Potential Ukraine War Deal 
U.S. House Advances GOP Healthcare Bill as ACA Subsidies Near Expiration 
Trump Administration Reviews Nvidia H200 Chip Sales to China, Marking Major Shift in U.S. AI Export Policy 
EU Delays Mercosur Free Trade Agreement Signing Amid Ukraine War Funding Talks 
Canada Signals Delay in US Tariff Deal as Talks Shift to USMCA Review 
Republicans Raise National Security Concerns Over Intel’s Testing of China-Linked Chipmaking Tools 
U.S. and China Push for Ceasefire as Thailand–Cambodia Border Clashes Escalate 
Kennedy Center Reportedly Renamed Trump-Kennedy Center After Board Vote 
Trump Signs Order to Ease Federal Marijuana Rules, Signaling Major Policy Shift 
Federal Appeals Court Allows Trump’s National Guard Deployment in Washington, D.C. to Continue 
Putin Signals Possible Peace or Continued War in Ukraine at Major Year-End Address 
Trump Announces $1,776 Cash Bonus for U.S. Military Personnel Ahead of Christmas 
The Pakistani defense minister alleged that armed terrorist groups are launching attacks on Pakistan from Afghan soil. The Taliban-led government in Afghanistan immediately denied such allegations.
Speaking at a private news channel on Monday, Pakistani defense minister Khwaja Asif said armed groups based in Afghanistan are launching attacks on Pakistan. Asif said they relayed the allegation to the Taliban administration and will continue to make such claims. Asif’s comments follow the National Security Committee meeting at Pakistan’s capital Islamabad with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, military chief General Asim Munir, and other top officials in attendance.
The Pakistani government issued a statement following the NSC meeting, warning “no country will be able to provide sanctuaries to terrorists” and that their attacks “will be dealt with the full force of the state.” While the statement did not mention any country, it was an apparent reference to Afghanistan.
The Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid responded to the allegations, saying that Afghanistan wants good relations with its neighboring countries, including Pakistan.
“The Islamic Emirate is trying its best that the territory of Afghanistan is not used against Pakistan or any other country. We are committed to this goal, but the Pakistani side is also responsible to try controlling the situation, refrain from giving baseless statements and provocative assertions because such statement and mistrust is not in the interest of either side,” said Mujahid.
The back and forth between Afghanistan and Pakistan follow the recent attacks by the Pakistani Taliban, also known as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP. The TTP has been waging war on Pakistan for over 10 years, demanding that their hardline interpretation of Islamic law be imposed, as well as the release of its imprisoned members, and the reversal of a merger between Pakistani tribal areas with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
On New Year’s Day Sunday, a Taliban official said several people were killed and wounded at an attack on an airport in Afghanistan’s capital Kabul. Interior ministry spokesman Abdul Nafi Takor said multiple people were left dead and wounded from the blast and that an investigation was launched into the matter.
