Firstpost

Iran Mocks Team Trump As US Deploys Tehran-Inspired Kamikaze Drones | Firstpost America | N18G

Trump Confirms US Tanker Seizure Near Venezuela Amid "Piracy" Accusations | Firstpost America | N18G

Russia’s oil export revenues fall to lowest level since 2022: IEA

'Shubman, myself could have...': Suryakumar Yadav says poor form of leadership duo behind India's 2nd T20I loss

Putin talks to Maduro, Lukashenko meets Venezuelan envoy as Trump ramps up pressure

Nobel Peace Prize Politicised to Boost Western Interests? | Vantage With Palki Sharma

Skydiver Crash-lands, Gets Stuck in Traffic Light in Mexico | Vantage with Palki Sharma

US Approves $686 Million Package for Pakistan's F-16 | Vantage With Palki Sharma

#FirstpostAfrica: Trump Calls Africa "Disgusting & Crime-Ridden", Confirms Sh***ole Phrase US President Donald Trump has reignited one of his most controversial controversies, openly confirming at a Pennsylvania rally that he did use the slur “shithole countries” during a 2018 meeting, a remark he had previously denied. The original comments, aimed at Haiti and several African nations, had drawn global condemnation. At the latest rally, Trump doubled down, boasting about the exchange and saying the US should take immigrants from Norway and Sweden instead. He also accused Somali immigrants of damaging America and targeted Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, claiming she came from “the worst country in the world.”

#VantageOnFirstpost: On this day in 1936, Britain's King Edward VIII abdicated the throne for love. He was the first British monarch to do this voluntarily. He did it to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson | #FPRewind with @palkisharmaupadhyay

#VantageOnFirstpost: Trump Unveils Gold Card Visa for $1 Million

#VantageOnFirstpost: US Approves $686 Million Package for Pakistan's F-16

TEER therapy helps revive Iraqi patient with 15% heart function and multi-organ failure

#VantageOnFirstpost: Are We Overdiagnosing Mental Illness? Here's what Doctors Say | @palkisharmaupadhyay Feeling stressed, anxious, or sad? It doesn’t always mean you have a mental illness. Doctors in the UK warn that over 50% of mental health problems are overdiagnosed, leaving those who truly need help ignored. Social media trends, widened diagnostic definitions, and life’s growing pressures push young people to self-label—leading to confusion between normal emotions and illness. Palki Sharma tells you why this is dangerous.

US Seizes Massive Oil Tanker Near Venezuela. Here's Why it Matters | Vantage With Palki Sharma

#VantageOnFirstpost: US Seizes Massive Oil Tanker Near Venezuela. Here's Why it Matters The United States seized a supertanker called The Skipper near Venezuela, carrying almost two million barrels of heavy crude. Reports say the vessel, owned by a Nigerian company and sailing under a false flag, was moving sanctioned Venezuelan oil linked to an illicit shipping network. US helicopters from the USS Gerald Ford boarded the ship and took control. Washington says the tanker was tied to sanctioned operations involving Venezuela and Iran. Venezuela and Cuba condemned the seizure, calling it illegal. The incident comes amid a wider US military buildup in the Caribbean, including recent strikes and operations targeting alleged trafficking. @palkisharmaupadhyay tells you more.

#VantageOnFirstpost: Why Diwali, Italian Cuisine and Other Traditions Made UNESCO's List UNESCO has released its 2025 Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, which highlights living traditions such as festivals, music, crafts and rituals. More than 800 elements from 157 countries are now included. This year’s additions feature Deepavali, one of India’s most celebrated festivals, alongside Italian cooking. Other entries include Egypt’s koshary, Ghana’s highlife music and dance, Iceland’s swimming pool culture and Switzerland’s yodelling tradition. UNESCO says the inscription supports safeguarding efforts and can raise international visibility. Italy and China have both reported tourism gains following recent heritage listings. UNESCO also operates a fund to support preservation projects. @palkisharmaupadhyay tells you more.

#VantageOnFirstpost: Nobel Peace Prize Politicised to Boost Western Interests? Peace groups in Oslo have refused to organise a torch rally to celebrate this year's Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado. Machado, who has called for a foreign intervention to oust Venezuela's president, has emerged as a controversial winner. Palki Sharma tells you how the prize has been politicised to promote Western interests. @palkisharmaupadhyay tells you more.

#VantageOnFirstpost: Oracle's AI Earnings Miss, Shares Slide — Is the AI Boom in Trouble? Oracle’s latest quarterly results sent shockwaves through the tech world, with the company’s stock tumbling more than 10% after revenue fell short of analysts’ expectations — despite a 14% rise overall and a 68% surge in AI‑related sales. Investors are increasingly wary that the AI boom may be overheating, with soaring hardware costs, shortening chip lifecycles, and mounting debt at specialised firms raising red flags. Oracle’s chairman himself has sounded cautious about rapid industry change. With more than $400 billion poured into AI chips and infrastructure, some experts, including famed investor Michael Burry, now warn of a classic tech bubble that could have broad economic fallout. @palkisharmaupadhyay tells you more.

#VantageOnFirstpost: When 12 Lawmakers Raised Hands for 10 Notes in Pakistan It was an ordinary day in Pakistan’s National Assembly until Speaker Ayaz Sadiq spotted 10 five-thousand-rupee notes on the floor. That’s a total of 50,000 PKR! He asked the owner to come forward, and shockingly, 12 lawmakers raised their hands to claim it for just 10 notes. @palkisharmaupadhyay brings you the Joke of the Day.

#VantageOnFirstpost: US Sends B‑52s as China–Russia Military Pressure Mounts Over Japan East Asia’s military tensions have sharply escalated as the U.S. deployed two strategic B‑52 bombers to fly alongside Japanese F‑35 and F‑15 jets in waters between Japan and South Korea. The move came just 24 hours after China and Russia conducted joint air patrols near Japanese airspace, signalling a direct message to Beijing and Moscow. Tokyo says Chinese jets nearly locked missiles on Japanese aircraft during a recent standoff, a charge China denies. With four major powers flexing military muscle—China, Russia, Japan and the U.S.—the region now faces heightened risk of miscalculation just as Japanese businesses cite China ties as their top concern for 2026. @palkisharmaupadhyay tells you more.

#FirstpostAmerica: Coca-Cola, McDonald's Trolled Over AI Xmas Ad Artificial Intelligence has officially crashed the Christmas season — and not in the way brands hoped. McDonald’s Netherlands pulled its new 45-second AI-generated holiday advert after it was met with fierce online ridicule, with viewers calling it “awful”, “anti-Christmas” and “pure slop”.

Judge orders ICE to 'immediately' release wrongfully deported Kilmar Abrego Garcia

#FirstpostAmerica: Iran Mocks Trump For Copying Drone Iran mocked Washington this week after the Pentagon confirmed it has deployed a new strike drone modeled on Tehran’s Shahed-136. Iranian officials called it a humiliating moment for a superpower that once dismissed Shaheds as crude weapons.

Why Diwali, Italian Cuisine and Other Traditions Made UNESCO's List | Vantage With Palki Sharma

Abdul Quadir Indori shines with 2 gold medals at Asian Youth Para Games 2025

Oracle's AI Earnings Miss, Shares Slide — Is the AI Boom in Trouble? | Vantage with Palki Sharma

US Sends B‑52s as China–Russia Military Pressure Mounts Over Japan | Vantage with Palki Sharma

EU activates emergency clause to immobilise Russian assets indefinitely under new rule

'Horrendous': Gill, Suryakumar face fans' ire after failing again against South Africa in 2nd T20I

Trump Unveils Gold Card Visa for $1 Million | Vantage With Palki Sharma

PM Modi and Trump Hold Surprise Call Amid Trade Talks | Vantage with Palki Sharma | N18G

Thai PM says he will return 'power to the people', signals readiness to dissolve parliament

Morocco: Deadly Building Collapse in Fes Kills 22; Thousands Of Buildings At Risk | Firstpost Africa

#TheDictator: He lived in luxury. His people lived with ration cards. Who is he? Episode 4 drops soon. #GuessTheDictator

Bangladesh Set to Hold General Election on February 12 | Vantage with Palki Sharma

In show of force, US & Japanese bombers fly together after China-Russia drills

US jobless claims jump by 44,000 as concerns about the labour market persist

With threats of sanctions, White House pressures ICC to grant immunity to Trump: Report

'My voice stifled': Bangladesh president takes aim at Yunus, wants to quit after Feb election

Egypt Fans Reject Liverpool After Salah Snub | First Sports With Rupha Ramani

#FirstpostNews: Trump Says CNN Should Be Sold as Warner Bros. Discovery Weighs Bids | N18G

Gautam Gambhir shouts in anger as Arshdeep Singh bowls a 13-ball over against South Africa - WATCH

France horrified as Marseille’s drug war pulls children into the crossfire

Yuvraj Singh and Harmanpreet Kaur stand unveiled at New Chandigarh Stadium ahead of IND vs SA T20I

#FPReels| Myanmar: Junta Airstrike At A Hospital Kills At Least 31 An aid worker says a Myanmar military airstrike hit Mrauk-U’s general hospital, killing at least 31 people and injuring 68, as the junta intensifies its campaign ahead of elections this month. The strike follows a surge in nationwide attacks since the 2021 coup, including an airstrike last week in Sagaing that killed at least 18 civilians.

Cambodia Pull Out Of SEA Games Over Tensions With Thailand | First Sports With Rupha Ramani

Smriti Mandhana: The Comeback That Redefined Indian Women's Cricket | First Sports With Rupha Ramani

'Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon 2' Movie Review: Kapil Sharma's comedy is powered by sharp timing and seamless performances

Messi's India Tour: $120,000 Tickets, Ramp Walk But No Football? | First Sports With Rupha Ramani

#FirstSports: Messi's India Tour: $120,000 Tickets, Ramp Walk But No Football? Lionel Messi is finally coming to India after 14 years, but his GOAT Tour looks nothing like what fans imagined. From meet-and-greets and musical concerts to a charity fashion show and padel matches, the three-day, four-city tour has everything except real football. With ticket prices soaring up to a staggering $120,000, the question now is simple: will Indian fans actually get to see the Messi they fell in love with, or just the marketing machine behind him? In this deep dive, @rupharamani breaks down the full schedule, the hype, and why Messi’s India visit might be the biggest spectacle in the country even without the football magic.

Liverpool V Salah: Egyptian Cafes Empty, Fans Fuming Over UCL Snub | First Sports With Rupha Ramani

#FirstSports: Liverpool V Salah: Egyptian Cafes Empty, Fans Fuming Over UCL Snub For eight years, Liverpool and Mohamed Salah lived a shared destiny. But today, that partnership stands on the brink of collapse. After Salah called out the Liverpool management, the anger is now rising within both Anfield fans and supporters across the Arab world. Saudi voices, Egyptian cafés, English fanbases, global critics, everyone has taken sides. Cafes in Egypt remained empty during the Champions League game between Liverpool and Inter Milan. @rupharamani breaks down the entire fallout, why both Salah and Liverpool are losing in different ways, how the drama has hurt their global image, and what this rift means for the future of the club, the player, and the massive fanbases connected to them.

‘Very warm and engaging’: PM Modi holds call with Trump amid bilateral trade talks

#FirstSports: Cambodia Pull Out Of SEA Games Over Tensions With Thailand Cambodia have pulled out of the South East Asian Games in Thailand owing to tensions between the two countries. The tournament is underway and will conclude on December 20. @rupharamani brings you the top headlines.

US Bomber Joins Japan Jets as China–Russia Drills Raise Tensions Near Tokyo | Spotlight | N18G

T20 World Cup 2026 tickets go live: How much they cost, where to buy & more

Why a Spanish woman was fired for regularly showing up 40 minutes early to work

Myanmar Junta Air Strike on Hospital Kills Over 30 As Conflict Escalates | Spotlight | N18G

#FirstpostNews: Trump Pressures Zelensky, Questions Lack of Elections in Ukraine | N18G

Is Trump planning an oil blockade of Venezuela to bring Maduro down?

#FirstpostNews: Lapland is supposed to be the land of magic - reindeer, elves, and Santa Claus. But this Christmas, visitors are noticing something very different. NATO soldiers. Armoured vehicles. Arctic drills happening just 88 kilometres from Russia’s border. Rovaniemi, the “official hometown of Santa Claus,” is now doubling as a frontline training hub, and even Santa Park doubles as a wartime bomb shelter. @prathik.vinod tells you why Santa’s hometown is on a warpath.

#FirstpostNews: Trump Reacts to Machado’s Nobel Peace Prize, Says She ‘Dedicated It to Me’ During a roundtable on Wednesday, President Donald Trump commented on Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, noting that she had “dedicated the prize” to him. Trump said she told him he should have received the award himself for “saving lives.”

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Confesses Using ChatGPT to Help Raise His Newborn | Spotlight | N18G

Bulgaria’s government resigns as mass protests erupt ahead of eurozone entry

#FPReels | Oslo: Nobel Laureate Machado Makes Public Appearance in 11 Months A torchlight procession was held in Oslo on December 10 to honour 58-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado, celebrated for her fight to restore democracy in Venezuela. Machado, who spent over a year in hiding and faced a decade-long travel ban, secretly fled the country despite being accused by authorities of conspiracy, incitement and terrorism. She missed the ceremony but arrived overnight, later appearing on the Grand Hotel balcony to greet supporters, sing Venezuela’s anthem and attend the day’s Nobel events. Ana Corina Sosa Machado, the daughter of María Corina Machado, accepted the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize at the Oslo ceremony in her mother’s absence.

#FirstpostNews: Trump Pressures Zelensky, Questions Lack of Elections in Ukraine U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday voiced concern that Ukraine had gone too long without holding an election, increasing pressure on President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump said he had spoken “in strong terms” with leaders of France, Germany and the U.K. about the issue, adding that Washington was no longer directly funding Kyiv but selling weapons to NATO allies who then supplied Ukraine. European partners have pushed for a weekend meeting involving both Zelensky and the U.S., but Trump said he would decide whether to attend only after receiving “answers” from them.

How lessons from 1971 war can shape India’s whole-of-nation security doctrine

#FirstSports with @RuphaRamani | Get Your Game On - Smriti Mandhana: The Comeback That Redefined Indian Women's Cricket - Liverpool V Salah: Egyptian Cafes Empty, Fans Fuming Over UCL Snub - Messi's India Tour: $120,000 Tickets, Ramp Walk But No Football?

Trump’s Gold Card is Live: Pay $1 Million for Faster Route to US | Spotlight | N18G

Akshay Kumar, Karan Johar, Smriti Irani and other celebs hail Dhurandhar: Triumph for Indian cinema

'I felt kidnapped': US citizen detained by ICE despite offering to show his passport

IND vs SA, 2nd T20I: Proteas make three changes as SKY keeps home side unchanged at new venue

Bangladesh to vote on Feb 12 in first national election after Sheikh Hasina’s ouster

#FirstpostNews: In 24 hours, India has attracted AI investments worth $52 billion from Microsoft and Amazon. Top US big tech companies are investing in cloud infrastructure and data centres in the country. What explains the multi-billion-dollar bet in India's AI sector? Economist and geo-strategist Mark Brolin reveals 4 reasons in conversation with Firstpost's @prathik.vinod.