World

A Babbel–Captioning Group list highlights the most mispronounced words in the U.S. in 2025, including names like Zohran Mamdani and terms like Louvre, acetaminophen, Murdaugh and Mounjaro. Linguists note rising pronunciation challenges as global news and culture influence language

Digvijay Pratap Singh and Nitin Kumar Sinha advanced to the quarterfinals of the ITF M15 Gwalior tournament with straight-set wins. Top seed Aryan Shah and Rohan Mehra also progressed, highlighting India’s strong showing at the Chambal Tennis Association courts

Tanvi Sharma and Ashmita Chaliha advanced to the women’s singles quarterfinals of the Guwahati Masters Super 100 badminton tournament. Other Indians including Isharani Baruah, Tushar Suveer, Ruthvika Shivani Gadde and Rohan Kapoor also progressed, while several compatriots bowed out in tough matches

Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi defeated five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand in an all-Indian final to win the Jerusalem Masters. Erigaisi prevailed 2.5-1.5 in blitz tie-breaks, pocketing USD 55,000, while Anand finished runner-up with USD 35,000

Arsenal regained a five-point lead in the Premier League with a 2-0 win over Brentford, while Liverpool dropped points again at Anfield in a 1-1 draw with Sunderland. Chelsea lost to Leeds, and Aston Villa climbed into third place

Joe Root struck his first Ashes century in Australia, scoring an unbeaten 135 to lead England’s recovery on Day 1 of the second test at Gabba. Despite Mitchell Starc’s six wickets, England reached 325-9 with Jofra Archer’s career-best 32

Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi accused Pakistan of using border closures, economic pressure, and “unacceptable” security demands to destabilise the Taliban government, amid rising cross-border tensions and recent Pakistani airstrikes that Kabul says violated Afghan sovereignty and killed civilians

Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, released from a U.S. prison after Donald Trump pardoned him, thanked the former U.S. president and maintained his innocence. The pardon, issued days before Honduras’ elections, reignited controversy over his drug-trafficking conviction

Russian President Vladimir Putin called his five-hour meeting with US envoys on resolving the Ukraine war “necessary” and “useful” but acknowledged major disagreements. The talks, part of Donald Trump’s renewed peace push, continue as US and Ukrainian negotiators prepare for further discussions

Bangladesh’s ICT-BD issued an arrest warrant for ex-PM Sheikh Hasina’s son Sajib Wajed Joy over crimes against humanity during the 2025 July Uprising. The tribunal also summoned former ministers Anisul Huq, Salman F Rahman, and Junaid Ahmed Palak

Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi accused Pakistan of attempting to impose “mysterious projects” on Kabul and pressuring the Taliban administration through border closures, trade restrictions and security demands, amid escalating tensions following Pakistani air strikes that killed civilians in Afghan provinces.

American zoologist Laurie Marker has maintained a cheetah sperm bank in Namibia for 35 years, preserving genetic diversity as wild populations drop to under 7,000. The bank serves as a last-resort conservation tool to prevent potential cheetah extinction

The US has expanded social-media vetting for H-1B and H-4 visa applicants, requiring all profiles be public from December 15. The move tightens immigration scrutiny amid broader restrictions, including paused Green Card processing for 19 countries following a deadly shooting involving an Afghan national

Trump said Putin “would like to end the war” in Ukraine, citing a meeting between Putin and his allies Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff. He reiterated his claim the conflict would not have begun under his presidency as diplomatic tensions persist.

A mild 4.1-magnitude earthquake struck Bangladesh on Thursday, with light tremors felt in Dhaka and nearby districts. No damage was reported. The shallow quake highlights the country’s high seismic risk following last month’s deadly 5.7-magnitude tremor

A Pakistani-born U.S. citizen, Luqmaan Khan, was arrested in Delaware after police found a converted handgun, high-capacity magazines, body armour and a notebook outlining attack plans on a police building. The FBI seized additional weapons. He’s charged federally with illegal machine-gun possession.

Washington is closely tracking the Modi–Putin summit in New Delhi, with US analysts examining the optics, defence and energy outcomes, and potential White House reaction. Experts say the response will depend on India’s public embrace of Putin and the deals concluded.

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in New Delhi on Thursday for a two-day visit marked by high-level security and key talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit will focus on defence, trade and energy cooperation.

India’s junior women’s hockey team lost 1-3 to Germany in their second FIH Junior Women’s World Cup match in Santiago. Hina Bano scored for India, but Germany sealed victory with goals from Frerichs, Schönhoff and Reisenegger. India next play Ireland

Indian shuttlers dominated the Guwahati Masters Super 100 tournament, with Tanvi Sharma and Tharun Mannepalli leading the charge. Several home players, including Tasnim Mir, Ashmita Chaliha, Anmol Kharb and Meiraba Luwang Maisnam, advanced to the next round with impressive wins

India named Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya in the T20I squad for the five-match series against South Africa starting December 9. Gill returns as vice-captain subject to fitness clearance, while Pandya proved his fitness in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy

New Zealand led West Indies by 96 runs after Day 2 of the first test in Christchurch. Shai Hope and Tagenarine Chanderpaul hit half-centuries, but Jacob Duffy’s five-wicket haul and Matt Henry’s three wickets kept New Zealand ahead

New Zealand led West Indies by 96 runs after Day 2 of the first test in Christchurch. Shai Hope and Tagenarine Chanderpaul hit half-centuries, but Jacob Duffy’s five-wicket haul and Matt Henry’s three wickets kept New Zealand ahead

Md Rahmatullah, former India forward and Asian Games hero, passed away in Los Angeles at 87 after a prolonged illness. He represented India 12 times, scored five goals, and starred in the 1958 Asian Games. He also excelled with Mohammedan Sporting and Mohun Bagan