World

In an interview with ANI, Barlow, a former CIA member who was part of the intelligence agency as a counterproliferation officer during Pakistan's clandestine nuclear activities in the 1980s, detailed how Khan's network provided critical gas centrifuge technology and possibly nuclear weapons plans to Iran in the early 1990s, accelerating Tehran's programme by decades.

As a result of this change, new passport applicants must currently select either male or female based on their birth certificate; however, existing passports with an "X" marker remain valid until their expiration date.

Notably, the move follows the resignation of Chrystia Freeland, the former deputy prime minister and finance minister. Earlier on December 16, hours before the statement on Canada's economy, Freeland announced her resignation from the Cabinet.

India sent humanitarian assistance consignment to Lesotho compromising of 1000 metric tonnes of rice to help in addressing the food security and nutritional requirements of people in Lesotho.

Personnel from the IDF Manpower Directorate and medical teams are accompanying the seven hostages, Eitan Mor, Alon Ohel, Ziv Berman, Gali Berman, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, Omri Miran, and Matan Angrest, as they undergo initial medical evaluations at a facility in southern Israel.

Earlier in the day, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) confirmed that seven hostages had already been transferred to the Red Cross and were on their way to Israeli forces waiting inside Gaza.