Politics

Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh’s First Female PM Has Died At 80. She Was The World’s 2nd Elected Female Leader In A Mainly Muslim Nation, After Pakistan’s Benazir Bhutto. Out Of Power Since 2006, Khaleda Remained Influential As Her BNP Party Heads Into The Feb 2026 Elections, As A Leading Contender, With Son Tarique Rahman Emerging As A P.M Candidate.

Manjula Sood (80, 1945–2025), The U.K’s First Female Asian Lord Mayor Of Leicester In 2008, Died On 12/24/25. She Moved From India In 1970; Taught Primary School From 1973; Became The City’s First Female Hindu Councillor In 1996; And Received An MBE And Honorary Doctorate. Tributes Hail Her As A Pioneer For Diversity, Women, And Leadership.

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King Vajiralongkorn, On The Thai Throne Since 2016, Is The First Sitting Thai Monarch To Visit China Since Diplomatic Ties Began In 1975. Invited By President Jinping For The 50th Anniversary Of Their Relations, The Trip Signals Deepening Ties. His Father, King Bhumibol (Reigned 70 Years, 1946–2016), Made Only High-Profile U.S. Visits In The 1960s.

Trump Signed A Bill Ending The Longest Ever, 43-Day, U.S Govt Shutdown (10/1–11/12/2025), After A 222–209 House Vote. It Fully Funds The VA, SNAP, & Congress; But Funds Other Agencies To 1/30/2026, & Leaves ACA Tax Credits Unresolved. The Standoff Furloughed 700k Workers; Cut Flights; & Halted SNAP, The Nation’s Largest Food Aid Program.

Zohran Mamdani, 34, Will Become NYC’s First Muslim, First South Asian, And 2nd-Youngest Mayor (After Hugh J. Grant, 30, In 1889), Leading The Most Populous & Highly Diverse U.S. City. In Virginia, Democrat Ghazala Hashmi, 61, Is Elected Lt. Gov., Becoming The First Muslim Woman, First Indian American, & First South Asian To Win Statewide Office.