Deport Every Indian: American Journalist Deletes Anti-India Post Amid Outrage; Called For 'Bombing At Hindu Temples'
New Age Islam News Bureau
27 December2025
· Deport every Indian: American journalist deletes anti-India post amid outrage; called for 'bombing at Hindu temples'
· Not Hindustan, Lynchistan: Iltija Mufti after Bengali Muslim man killed in Odisha
· Iran condemns terrorist attack on Mosque in Syria’s Homs Governorate
· The secret keepers of desert balance in Saudi Arabia
· Azerbaijan to host C6 event on combating Islamophobia
· How Many Terrorists Were Killed? – ADC Fires Tinubu Govt, Says US Airstrikes Shows Incompetence
· Frequent flooding in Terengganu’s Kampung Pasir Raja prompts residents to seek new mosque on higher ground
· Islamic Emirate Pursues Balanced Foreign Policy Focused on Economic Growth, Beradar
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North America
· Texas, Florida Spearhead GOP Fight Against Muslim Groups
· Booker says Gabbard ‘endangering’ NJ with remarks on radical Islam, heavily Muslim city; deputy responds
· America's chilling three-word warning after deadly ISIS strikes on 'terrorist scum'
· Will Mamdani be 111th or 112th mayor of NYC?
· ‘He doesn’t have anything until I approve it’: Donald Trump casts himself as final arbiter of Ukraine peace deal; sceptical of Zelenskyy's plan
· ‘People will die…’: Elon Musk slams Zohran Mamdani’s appointment of first openly gay FDNY commissioner
· California’s tech exodus: Entrepreneur warns of a deeper political crisis as tax losses ‘hit $200 billion’
· US revoking visas for no reason, best thing to do is....: Immigration attorneys break down new trend
· Trump teases new talks with Putin
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India
· A year-end Mea Culpa in national interest—The Army-Islam combo doesn’t kill democracy
· India condemns lynching of two Hindu men in Bangladesh, flags ‘unremitting hostility’ against minorities
· Kashmiri shawl seller assaulted in Uttarakhand, forced to chant religious slogans
· Clash over encroachment outside mosque leaves 6 policemen injured; internet services suspended in Rajasthan’s Chomu
· Red Fort blast case: Delhi court extends NIA custody of two accused
· Rashid Khan’s son cancels Bangladesh concert in protest, faces online backlash
· Bulldozing of Muslim colonies in Karnataka shocking: CM Vijayan
· UK-based UP preacher booked over Pakistan links
· From the shadows to power: How the Hindu right reshaped India
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Mideast
· UN force in Lebanon says peacekeeper wounded by Israeli fire
· Lebanon approves financial gap draft law despite opposition from Hezbollah and Lebanese Forces
· UN chief says those behind ‘unacceptable’ Homs attack must face justice
· Islamic Jihad Commends Heroic Operations in Beit She'an and Afula, Palestine
· Katz orders West Bank raid after attack in Israel
· Gaza hospital says receives fuel but only for about two days
· Two killed in stabbing and ramming attack, Israeli police say
· Israel becomes first country to formally recognize Somaliland as independent state
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Arab World
· Saudi Arabia rejects Israel’s recognition of Somaliland
· ‘Flying Over Saudi’ launches cinematic aerial experience of Saudi landmarks
· Coffee in Saudi Arabia’s Northern Borders is about flavor and community
· SAMA adds check clearance to automated services
· KSrelief distributes dates to refugees in Chad
· Princess Sarah visits Madinah development projects
· Saudi Arabia condemns blast that hit mosque in Alawite area of Syria’s Homs
· Korean Embassy uses cinema to bridge borders and strengthen Saudi ties
· Heroic effort by security personnel at the Grand Mosque saves man’s life
· Jeddah Winter Wonderland thrills visitors with rides and entertainment
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Europe
· In Norway, discover 1000 years of Queer expression in Islamic Art
· European NATO nations openly ‘preparing for war’ – Belarusian defense minister
· British-Egyptian activist arrives in UK after travel ban lifted
· UK to offer military 'gap year' to boost recruitment
· Zelensky plans to meet Trump on Sunday for talks on ending Russian war
· Trump pours cold water on Zelensky’s ‘peace plan’
· No turning point for Ukraine: The frontline reality Western media won’t show
· NATO’s scandal-ridden boss wants war with Russia to be his next train wreck
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Africa
· Stop Pampering Terrorists – Adeyanju Tells Tinubu After US Military Strike
· Imam urges Tinubu to stay focused on national vision at Jumat prayers
· Erdogan discusses Sudan war with Burhan as 13 million are displaced
· Guineans head to polls as Doumbouya closes campaign amid democracy concerns
· FG Gives Full Details of US Airstrikes, Reveals Why Explosion Rocked Kwara, Sokoto LGA
· This Is the First Step – US Congressman Sends Warning After Trump Orders Airstrike In Sokoto
· US Military Airstrikes: ‘Nigeria’s Security Has Been an Embarrassment’ – Daddy Freeze
· Police Arrest Two Notorious Terrorists inKwara
· Tinubu Makes Promises to Nigerians On Security
· I Fully Support United States Military Airstrikes – Ben Murray-Bruce
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Southeast Asia
· Listening to the forest: A Kelantan craftsman’s journey through wood, faith and healing
· MetMalaysia warns of heavy rain across multiple states, with some alerts extended to Monday
· Police launch manhunt for Bukit Chabang Puspen inmate who escaped during visiting day
· Malaysia Army chief on leave pending MACC probe, Navy chief named acting Armed Forces chief after Nizam retires
· PM Anwar vows to accelerate Sabah development under new state govt
· Perlis political turmoil hinges on PAS-Bersatu agreement
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South Asia
· Hadi Killing: IslamiAndolon to stage rally in Dhaka on January 9
· ARCS Distributes Aid to Returning Families in Logar Province
· Newly Graduated Police Officers Urged to Prioritize Discipline, Public Service
· Tourism Key Contributor to Economic Growth, Haqqani
· 35 sacks recovered from Pagla Mosque donation boxes
· NCP-Jamaat deal ‘likely in a day or two’
· Tarique Rahman pays tribute to Liberation War martyrs at Savar National Memorial
· Iran introduces biometric screening along Afghanistan border
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
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Deport every Indian: American journalist deletes anti-India post amid outrage; called for 'bombing at Hindu temples'
Dec 26, 2025
American journalist Matt Forney, known for his anti-India posts on social media, called for violence against Indians and their places of worship in an unbridled hate speech that he had to remove amid major social media outrage. Users tagged FBI and reported Matt Forney for his violent post
"In 2026, Indian hatred will hit a boiling point in the form of anti-Indian attacks. Indians will be racilly singled out for violence, India-owned businesses will be vandalized, Hindu temples will be hit with bombings and mass shootings," Forney offered his ominous prediction. He added that the perpetrators will not be the whites but 'Black, Latino or Pakistani'. He said this will lead the media to cover up hate crimes they would otherwise eagerly blame on MAGA and Trump.
Then he said he doesn't promote violence and hence he believed that every Indian should be deported so that the 2026 violence that he predicted would not happen. "As someone who wants peace in America, I deplore all violence, and there is only one way to stop it. For their own safety, we must DEI: Deport Every India," he wrote.
"Deleted a post where I was condemning violence because Indians were marshaling their mass reprot squads," he wrote, giving a link of his Nostr account where the post could be found.
After his hateful rant against Indians, Matt Forney then complained that he had received death threats that he would be 'Kirkified' soon. "The peaceful, high-IQ, high-skilled people of India are threatening to 'Charlie Kirk' me," Forney wrote.
Who is Matt Forney?
Matt Forney is a polarizing social media commentator who posts against India, H-1B visa program. Last month, he claimed that he was fired by The Blaze because of his social media posts against India and H-1B. 'Deport every Indian' is not a new hate speech from him but he frequently makes such posts. But this time, he crossed a line by invoking violence against indians the garb of his prediction.
Earlier, he called Etsy's incoming CEO Kruti Patel Goyal unqualified and said her first action will be to fire Americans and replace them with other Indians.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/deport-every-indian-american-journalist-deletes-anti-india-post-amid-outrage-called-for-bombing-at-hindu-temples/articleshow/126192520.cms
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Not Hindustan, Lynchistan: Iltija Mufti after Bengali Muslim man killed in Odisha
Dec 26, 2025
PDP's Iltija Mufti (Photo: Abid Bhat)
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A day after a Bengali Muslim migrant worker was killed in Odisha over suspicion of being a Bangladeshi, Mehbooba Mufti’s daughter, Iltija, stirred controversy by calling India - rather than Bharat or Hindustan - "Lynchistan."
"Not India or Bharat nor Hindustan. Thy name is Lynchistaan," Mufti tweeted, along with a picture of the man who was lynched in Odisha amid suspicions that the deceased was an illegal immigrant from Bangladesh.
Lashing out at the PDP leader, Jammu and Kashmir BJP Spokesperson Abhijeet Jasrotia said that she was indulging in selective outrage. "She only talks about lynchings of Muslims and not Hindus," he said.
A co-worker who was present when 19-year-old Juel Sheikh was killed in Sambalpur district has alleged that the attack on them started with a demand for identity proof, amid suspicions that the labourers were Bangladeshi nationals.
The incident took place on Christmas Eve in the Shanti Nagar area, where Sheikh and other migrant workers were employed at a construction site.
The altercation occurred when six men approached the migrant workers asking for a bidi and then demanded their Aadhaar cards before launching an attack, leaving one person dead and several others injured.
Majhar Khan, one of the injured labourers from West Bengal's Murshidabad district, said the assailants first asked them for a bidi and then demanded to see their Aadhaar cards. "The miscreants first asked bidi from us and then asked me to show our Aadhaar cards. Later, they rammed Juel Sheikh's head against a hard object," Khan told news agency PTI.
All six accused involved in the lynching have been arrested.
Meanwhile, police have dismissed claims that the group was attacked over their identity. They said a heated exchange over bidis spiralled into a fight and had nothing to do with their religion or nationality.
"The murder has nothing to do with whether the victim was a Bengali or a Bangladeshi," IGP (Northern Range) Himanshu Kumar Lal said.
Source: indiatoday.in
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https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/not-hindustan-lynchistan-pdp-iltija-mufti-after-bengali-muslim-man-killed-in-odisha-2842328-2025-12-26
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Iran condemns terrorist attack on Mosque in Syria’s Homs Governorate
26 Dec 2025
The spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, EsmaeilBaghaei, strongly condemned the terrorist attack on worshippers at the “Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib Mosque” in Syria’s Homs Governorate today, Friday, which resulted in the martyrdom and injury of a number of worshippers.
Iranian news agency Tasnim quoted Baghaei as reaffirming Iran’s principled stance in unequivocally condemning all forms of terrorism and violent extremism, emphasizing the responsibility of all parties whose various illegal interventions—including violations of Syria’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and occupation of parts of its land—have created conditions that enable the continuation , spread of terrorism and violent extremism.
The spokesperson called for the identification and punishment of the perpetrators and masterminds behind this heinous terrorist attack, stressing the responsibility of the current Syrian authorities in this regard.
Source: saba.ye
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https://www.saba.ye/en/news3615630.htm
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The secret keepers of desert balance in Saudi Arabia
HAIFA ALSHAMMARI
December 27, 2025
RIYADH: During the summer of 2024, two desert lynx kittens were born in Taif as part of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to protect and increase the population of caracals in the country.
Although caracals are critically endangered, wildcats in general play a significant ecological role in the Kingdom. They act as natural pest control, and Saudi Arabia is committed to conserving these species while increasing their populations to support a thriving ecosystem.
Despite the Kingdom’s harsh, arid climate, conditions are suitable for wildcats not only to survive but also to flourish. Among the terrestrial species inhabiting Saudi Arabia are sand cats, Arabian wildcats, and the desert lynx.
Felis margarita, or sand cats, are small — around 40-60 cm — with pale sandy fur that allows them to blend into the desert. They have a broad head, large ears, and long hair on the bottom of their feet to walk on hot sand.
“It is small in size and does not mate with other cats. It is the only cat species in the world with hair on the soles of its feet instead of skin to prevent it from sinking into the sand,” said Obaid Alouni, a Saudi environmentalist.
Alouni explained that one defensive technique sand cats use is to lie flat on the ground to avoid detection.
“It lies flat on the ground when it senses danger to avoid being noticed by other animals.”
These cats primarily feed on rodents and small reptiles, occasionally large insects, obtaining their water from their prey. Sand cats are native to West Asia and help regulate rodent and insect populations, preventing outbreaks and reducing disease spread.
Interestingly, raising sand cats as domestic pets is becoming more popular, Alouni said. But he emphasized that adoption is easier when they are kittens, as they remain wild animals. Although widely distributed across the Kingdom, exact population numbers are difficult to determine due to their elusive nature. They are currently listed as “least concern” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Similar to sand cats, Arabian wildcats (Felislybica) are found across the Arabian Peninsula and play a vital role in environmental health.
“They are wild cats that live independently without human intervention,” Alouni told Arab News.
Arabian wildcats resemble domestic cats but have thicker, sandy to grey-brown coats with faint stripes or spots and ringed tails with blunt tips. Like sand cats, they feed on rodents, birds, reptiles, and insects and are listed as “least concern” by the IUCN.
However, Alouni warned that pure populations of Arabian wildcats in Saudi Arabia could be threatened by hybridization with domestic cats.
“Currently, wild cats face the problem of interbreeding with domestic cats. This weakens their immune systems and makes them more susceptible to diseases from other cats,” he said.
“This contributes to the extinction of the purebred lineage and, consequently, the disappearance of their wild instincts,” he added.
While both species are desert dwellers, sand cats are harder to spot as they avoid heavily trafficked areas. They are mainly found in the Ad Dahna desert and the Empty Quarter, where sand dunes dominate the landscape. Arabian wildcats, however, inhabit rocky or mountainous areas such as the Tuwaiq Mountains, valleys, and farms with abundant small prey.
“Wild cats come around towns and villages, and unfortunately, begin mating with domesticated cats that people release outside,” Alouni explained. He stressed the importance of keeping domestic cats away from wildcat habitats, including deserts and camping sites.
The third wildcat species native to Saudi Arabia, the caracal or desert lynx, is critically endangered. “The lynx is classified in size between large and small, and is distinguished by its jump, which can reach 3 meters or even 4 meters in the sky,” Alouni described.
Locally known as Al-Washaq, desert lynx have reddish-tan coats, long legs, and black-tufted ears. They feed on birds, rodents, and sometimes small antelopes. Thankfully, these cats are protected under Saudi law due to their critically endangered status.
Hunting any sand cats, Arabian wildcats, or desert lynx can result in fines of approximately $20,000, according to the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture.
“There is a very severe financial penalty in Saudi Arabia for anyone who hunts it,” Alouni added.
The Kingdom has strict regulations to protect endangered animals, criminalizing not only hunting or killing but also trade. Violators could face penalties of up to $8 million, up to 10 years in prison, or both.
Overall, sand cats, Al-Washaq, and Arabian wildcats are essential to maintaining a healthy environment in Saudi Arabia. By controlling rodent populations, they help prevent outbreaks that could threaten agriculture and public health.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2627564/saudi-arabia
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Azerbaijan to host C6 event on combating Islamophobia
26 December 2025
By Aghakazim Guliyev
Azerbaijan is set to host an international event in April 2026 focusing on the issue of Islamophobia, organisers have announced.
According to Farid Shafiyev, Chairman of the organisation, the Centre for Analysis of International Relations (CAIR) will lead the initiative, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.
“Baku has regularly become a hub for events aimed at addressing Islamophobia, and this work will continue next year,” Shafiyev said during the presentation of CAIR’s annual report.
He also confirmed plans for a separate gathering involving the C6 countries — Azerbaijan, together with Central Asian nations — scheduled for 2026.
On March 16, 2024, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution condemning advocacy of religious hatred that incites discrimination, hostility, or violence against Muslims, amid rising global Islamophobia.
The resolution, titled “Measures to Combat Islamophobia” and tabled by Pakistan on behalf of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, passed with 113 votes in favour, none against, and 44 abstentions. It calls on the UN Secretary-General to appoint a special envoy to address Islamophobia and urges member states to combat religious intolerance, negative stereotyping, and violence against Muslims.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted the growing anti-Muslim hate worldwide, noting that institutional discrimination, divisive rhetoric, and online hate speech are threatening the rights and dignity of Muslim communities.
President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan welcomed the resolutions on combating Islamophobia adopted by the UN General Assembly and called for the immediate implementation of all measures outlined in the documents.
Speaking at the International Conference titled "Islamophobia in Focus: Unveiling Bias, Shattering Stigmas", President Aliyev said, "Regrettably, Islamophobia has recently become more pronounced and systematic on a global scale. Currently, this negative trend extends beyond the borders of any single country and is observed in many parts of the world. Hostility towards Islam, hatred and intolerance against Muslims, and anti-Islamic sentiment are becoming increasingly widespread and severe."
He added, "Islamophobia manifests in various forms, including everyday racism and discrimination, hate speech, physical attacks, stigmatisation in the media and on social media platforms, institutional bias, and other expressions of intolerance. Such unjust and prejudiced attitudes significantly hinder Muslims’ ability to integrate into society and to feel like full-fledged members."
Source: caliber.az
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://caliber.az/en/post/azerbaijan-to-host-c6-event-on-combating-islamophobia
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How Many Terrorists Were Killed? – ADC Fires Tinubu Govt, Says US Airstrikes Shows Incompetence
December 26, 2025
By George OshogweOgbolu
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has described the December 25, 2025 U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) airstrikes in Sokoto State as a highlight of what it called President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s historic incompetence.
The opposition party made this known in a statement on Friday to Naija News signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi.
While welcoming all lawful efforts to protect the lives of Nigerians, the party blamed what it described as the failure of governance under President Tinubu for the unprecedented military attack carried out by a foreign army on Nigerian soil.
It warned that permitting external forces to carry out direct military operations in the country is not sustainable and potentially undermines Nigeria’s strategic interests in the long run.
The ADC also questioned Nigeria’s actual role in the “collaboration,” insisting that Nigeria should not be “mere informants” in an operation that it should be leading.
The party therefore demanded clarifications on operational control, casualties, and specific information about the number and identity of actual terrorists that were killed in the operation.
The ADC cautioned against confusing “collaboration” with what it called “myopic surrender,” and expressed concern over the government’s handling of the information surrounding the operation and the persistent framing of the war against terror in religious terms by the U.S., which it said ultimately endangers Nigeria’s national unity.
The full statement read: “The African Democratic Congress (ADC) recognises the serious security challenges confronting Nigeria and affirms that the protection of Nigerian lives and the defeat of terrorism must remain a central national priority. We therefore support all lawful and effective measures aimed at saving lives and restoring security.
“Nevertheless, the ADC reiterates its long-standing opposition to the physical operation of foreign military forces on Nigerian soil. We must not allow our desperation today to compromise the sovereignty of our country in whatever form or guise.
“It is in this context that we accept the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) airstrikes on “terrorist locations” in Sokoto State on Thursday, December 25, 2025, only as a desperate measure that must not be allowed to substitute for a Nigeria-led action against its domestic security challenges.
“As an anomaly, the action can only be justified in the context of the historic incompetence of the current administration under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in dealing with the nation’s security challenges. This is what happens when a government behaves as though governance is all about revenue collection and all other issues, including national security and diplomacy, could be treated as an afterthought.
“The manner in which Nigerians were informed of this development is equally troubling. When it comes to politics and propaganda, the President addresses the nation directly. Yet, when faced with an issue as sensitive, momentous, and consequential as a foreign military strike on Nigerian soil, the primary source of information was a social media post by the American President, while the only information coming from Nigeria was from a spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This reflects a frightening lack of awareness of the historic significance of this incident by the President of Nigeria.
“The ADC notes the statements by the Nigerian government about the collaborative role it has played in the operation by providing intelligence to the Americans and in managing the narratives around the airstrike. In other words, the Nigerian government merely played the role of an informant in an operation it should have led. We also wonder why Nigeria has allowed the United States government to persist in framing the security situation in sectional religious terms if indeed the relationship is collaborative.
“We therefore demand from the government a clear explanation of the role of Nigeria and the terms of engagement in this “collaboration.” What level of operational control did Nigerian security forces exercise? How many terrorists were actually neutralised? If Nigeria possessed the intelligence that it could pass on to the United States to guide this operation, why was the country unable to lead the mission, despite the trillions of naira spent over the years on security? What special skills or technology did this operation require that Nigeria does not possess? What are the immediate outcomes of the strike, and how many more such strikes should we expect?
“The ADC would like to warn that there is a difference between strategic collaboration and myopic surrender that is ultimately counter-productive to national security and inimical to the long-term sovereign interests of Nigeria. What we see is that President Tinubu has outsourced his most important constitutional responsibility, effectively taking a back seat in a vehicle he is constitutionally assigned to drive. When the President of Nigeria appears compelled to report himself to another head of state, even tagging a foreign President in a Christmas Day message, Nigerians are entitled to ask who is truly in charge of their country.
“Let us be clear. The ADC supports the fight against terrorism and will support any genuine effort to secure the nation. However, we are deeply disturbed by the long-term implications of this incident for Nigeria’s sovereignty, strategic autonomy, and self-respect.
“No one would believe that a single strike on one location can end a war of this nature. Therefore, what matters now is the direction the government intends to take going forward. But it must start by answering the critical questions that this attack has thrown up.”
Source: naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.naijanews.com/2025/12/26/just-in-how-many-terrorists-were-killed-adc-fires-tinubu-govt-says-us-airstrikes-shows-incompetence/
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Frequent flooding in Terengganu’s Kampung Pasir Raja prompts residents to seek new mosque on higher ground
27 Dec 2025
DUNGUN, Dec 27 — Residents of Kampung Pasir Raja, frequently affected by monsoon floods, have urged the government to build a new mosque to ensure worshippers’ safety and comfort.
The Imam of Kampung Pasir Raja Mosque, Bustaman Abdullah, said that the nearly 50-year-old mosque was located in a low-lying area near a river, leaving it prone to flooding during heavy rain.
“Each time it floods, residents find it hard to get to the mosque, and sometimes Friday prayers cannot be performed as the prayer hall is submerged,” he said when met by Bernama in Kampung Pasir Raja here today.
Bustaman said the mosque, which can accommodate about 100 worshippers, had undergone several renovations, including raising the prayer hall by three metres to prevent flooding.
He added that the site for the new mosque had been identified on higher ground, which would make it safer from flood risks.
Meanwhile, Kampung Pasir Raja Village Development and Security Committee chairman Tengku Mat YunusTengku Mat Rani said the committee had sent several applications for a new mosque to the authorities, but had not yet received a positive response.
According to him, the new mosque, which will feature various facilities, is expected to provide villagers with greater comfort when performing prayers.
“We hope the authorities and the government can speed up the construction of the mosque so that residents won’t face problems during floods and flood-related damage and losses can be reduced,” he said. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/12/27/frequent-flooding-in-terengganus-kampung-pasir-raja-prompts-residents-to-seek-new-mosque-on-higher-ground/203418
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Islamic Emirate Pursues Balanced Foreign Policy Focused on Economic Growth, Beradar
December 27, 2025
KABUL: The Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs of the Islamic Emirate, Mullah Abdul Ghani Beradar Akhund, said that the Islamic Emirate pursues a balanced foreign policy focused on economic growth.
Mullah Beradar made the remarks during the inauguration and launch of several major power projects in Herat province worth 3.98 billion Afghanis, the office of the deputy PM for economic affairs said in a statement the other day.
“Out of nine large electricity projects, construction work on four projects has officially been launched, while five others put into operation,” the statement said.
The deputy PM described the projects as vital for Afghanistan’s industrial and economic growth, stating that their completion will ensure 24-hour electricity supply to all industrial parks in Herat.
He added that the projects will also provide electricity to commercial centers, rural areas, and residential neighborhoods, contributing to a stable domestic power supply.
Mullah Beradar announced tax exemptions for investors in cold storage facilities, saying such investors will be exempt from taxes for five years and guaranteed uninterrupted electricity by Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat under all circumstances.
He called on domestic and foreign investors to take advantage of the available opportunities and urged countries to adopt a policy of engagement with Afghanistan instead of restrictive approaches, considering the country’s current security stability as an important opportunity.
The deputy PM for economic affairs also instructed contracting companies and technical teams to complete newly launched projects with high quality and within the designated timeframe.
Among the completed projects are the extension of a 220-kilovolt power transmission line from Turkmenistan over a distance of 130 kilometers and the construction of four substations in Karukh, Pashtun Zarghun, Obeh, and Chisht-e-Sharif districts, supplying electricity to around 40,000 households.
Meanwhile, construction work has begun on new projects including the Pul-e-Hashemi substation, expansion of the 24th Hoot Martyrs substation, installation of Line B at Noor-ul-Jihad substation, and extension of transmission lines between Pul-e-Hashemi, Noor-ul-Jihad, and 24th Hoot Martyrs substations.
On the sidelines of the event, Mullah Beradar also laid the foundation stone of the Pamir Aluminum Can Manufacturing Company in Herat’s industrial park, the statement said.
The project, valued at $120 million, is the first aluminum can production facility in Afghanistan and will be built on 16 acres of land, creating employment opportunities for about 1,700 people.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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https://thekabultimes.com/islamic-emirate-pursues-balanced-foreign-policy-focused-on-economic-growth-beradar/
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North America
Texas, Florida Spearhead GOP Fight Against Muslim Groups
26 December 2025
Nicole Weatherholtz
Republican leaders in Texas and Florida are escalating efforts aimed at Muslim advocacy groups — a campaign that civil rights advocates describe as a coordinated push to frame Islam as a "national security threat."
Advocates say state and federal lawmakers, along with GOP Govs. Ron DeSantis of Florida and Greg Abbott of Texas, have sought to restrict support for Muslim-led groups by tying them to terrorism, particularly after Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, terror attack on Israel and the ensuing war in Gaza.
One central focus has been the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), which bills itself as the largest Muslim advocacy group in the United States.
"The way that we see this is as a coordinated, multipronged attack on Muslims in the United States through legal, executive and legislative measures aimed at silencing dissent, aimed at weakening and putting on the defensive Muslim-led organizations," TuqaNusairat, executive director for the Institute of Social Policy and Understanding, said.
Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., has repeatedly targeted CAIR through legislation, linking the group to Hamas or the Muslim Brotherhood.
"CAIR, as a Muslim terror organization, has been allowed to act with impunity, using taxpayer dollars effectively because of its tax-exempt status," Fine told The Hill.
Fine said his efforts have influenced the governors' actions.
"I'm glad my leading on this resolution last year has led to DeSantis to take that to the next level, Abbott to take it to the next level," he said. "And I'm glad to see in the United States, we're taking the mainstream Muslim terror threat seriously, because it's a clear and present danger to the country."
In recent weeks, Abbott and DeSantis have taken the unusual step of designating CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organizations — a designation typically handled by the U.S. State Department.
Abbott argued the groups seek to impose Sharia law and support terrorism, while DeSantis urged Florida lawmakers to codify protections "against CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood."
CAIR officials argue the Republican officials' rhetoric is dangerous.
"It is all noise, but very dangerous noise, when the noise comes from government agencies institutionalizing or trying to make the appearance that this is official and this is true," Wilfredo Ruiz, communications director for CAIR's Florida chapter, told The Hill before DeSantis designated CAIR as a terrorist group.
CAIR has denied any links to terrorist organizations and has sued both states to overturn the orders.
The designations could bring tangible consequences. Abbott's order would bar CAIR from owning land in Texas, while DeSantis's would restrict Floridians from providing the group "material support" while receiving state funds.
Advocates say the efforts align with broader moves by the Trump administration to investigate nonprofits and limit funding based on the "national interest." Experts warn the political rhetoric is fueling online hate.
"Part of the problem here is that the tolerance for this kind of rhetoric has become normalized," Raqib Hameed Naik, executive director of the Center for the Study of Organized Hate, told The Hill.
"The online front, I can tell you, it's literally an epidemic," Naik added.
Source: newsmax.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.newsmax.com/us/texas-florida-cair/2025/12/26/id/1239742/
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Booker says Gabbard ‘endangering’ NJ with remarks on radical Islam, heavily Muslim city; deputy responds
By Charles Creitz
December 26, 2025
Sen. Cory Booker and the top U.S. counter-terrorism official sparred Tuesday over DNI Tulsi Gabbard’s reference to Paterson, New Jersey’s Muslim community during her speech to AmericaFest earlier this week.
Booker, D-N.J., took issue with part of director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard’s speech to AmericaFest in Phoenix over the weekend, where she called out threats to the U.S. homeland from Islamist ideology.
Booker ripped Gabbard for name-dropping his state’s third-largest city, Paterson. The city, between New York City and the Delaware Water Gap, is named for Irish immigrant and Constitution signatory William Paterson but has a sizable, growing Arab Christian and Muslim community.
"Paterson is one of New Jersey’s oldest cities and has always embodied the best American values — industry, perseverance, and diversity," Booker tweeted Tuesday.
"Tulsi Gabbard's dangerous attempt to sow fear, pit people against each other, and smear the Muslim Americans of Paterson, NJ is dishonest, cruel, and un-American — it endangers an entire community," said Booker, who hails from nearby Newark.
Paterson reportedly has the second-highest percentage of Muslims behind Muslim-majority Hamtramck, Michigan. Paterson’s sister city is Ramallah, in the Palestinian West Bank, according to WKXW.
"In Jersey, we know our state's diversity is our strength, and we stand up for our own," Booker said.
During her speech, Gabbard warned that Islamist ideology fuels terror groups that should be defeated "militarily" but also presents a "direct threat to freedom" because it is effectively "political" thought.
Gabbard warned that such ideology is both political and a direct threat to freedom because it seeks to "create a global caliphate that governs us here in America" and seeks enforcement of Sharia Law governance.
"If you fail to comply, if you fail to adhere to this ideology, if you dare to exercise your God-given right to free speech, censorship is not what we face. They will use violence or any means they deem as necessary to silence us," Gabbard warned during her Phoenix address, before noting that German cities have canceled Christmas festivals due to the threat of radical Islamists; warning some may be taking root in America.
"In places like Dearborn, Michigan, and Minneapolis, Minnesota, Islamist clerics are openly pushing this Islamist ideology, trying to recruit and radicalize young people," she went on, saying that advocacy-group-backed efforts to institute Sharia law are already in place in Houston, Texas, and Paterson, New Jersey.
"Paterson is proud to call themselves the first Muslim city. They are working to implement in their own governments these Islamic principles that are forced on people through the use of laws or violence," she said.
"The bottom line is this. When we talk about the threat of Islamism, this political ideology, there is no such thing as individual freedom or liberty. As Charlie [Kirk] said over and over again, it is fundamentally incompatible with our nation's foundation of freedom."
Paterson, which has struggled for years with crime and corruption problems — including the indictment of Councilman Michael Jackson and others on pending election fraud charges, collectively rebuked Gabbard’s claim that its Muslim community posed any kind of threat.
Mayor Andre Sayegh, a Democrat, called Gabbard "egregiously misinformed" at a press conference called to rebuke the former Hawaii congresswoman.
"We’re a better city because Muslims call Paterson home. It’s a point of pride that they contribute to the social and economic fabric of Paterson," he said.
In terms of laws passed in Paterson, in 2020, the city council approved an ordinance allowing the Adhan — or Muslim call to worship — to be broadcast in the city. Imam QuddoosFarra’d told the Paterson Times that it is no different from Christians using churchbells or Jews using a Shofar.
However, National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent, a Washington state Republican nominated by President Donald Trump, staunchly defended Gabbard and slammed Booker.
"The insane policies championed by Booker and the Democrat Party under the Biden administration have allowed a staggering 18,000 known and suspected terrorists to enter our nation, many through the botched Afghanistan withdrawal and the open southern border," Kent said.
"This disastrous approach has put American lives at risk, prioritizing unchecked borders over national security."
"In the last year, Muslim jihadis have carried out successful attacks in New Orleans, Colorado, and Washington D.C., spreading terror from coast to coast, while our dedicated law enforcement heroes have thwarted over a dozen more jihadist plots, preventing even greater devastation."
Kent said it was Gabbard who exposed threats from 2,000 Afghan evacuees under Biden’s Operation Allies Welcome who had ties to terrorism — and that the DNI is "confronting the dangers recklessly inflicted on our nation by cowards like Booker and Biden."
Source: foxnews.com
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https://www.foxnews.com/politics/booker-says-gabbard-endangering-nj-remarks-radical-islam-heavily-muslim-city-deputy-responds
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America's chilling three-word warning after deadly ISIS strikes on 'terrorist scum'
Chris Hughes
26 Dec 2025
The United States has launched “powerful and deadly” airstrikes against Nigerian terrorists in a major escalation following brutal attacks on Christians. US President Donald Trump branded the group “terrorist scum” as they had been attacking Christians and confirmed he had ordered “numerous perfect strikes.”
The Christmas Day attacks targeted Islamic State militants in north western Nigeria as overstretched local troops struggled to hold back the local terror threat. President Donald Trump said the ISIS groups had been "targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians."
Residents and security analysts have said Nigeria's security crisis affects both Christians, predominant in the south, and Muslims, who are the majority in the north. Nigeria, which is battling multiple armed groups, said the U.S. strikes were part of an exchange of intelligence and strategic coordination between the two countries.
The extent and impact of the attacks yesterday is not yet known and it is believed more assaults on ISIS in Nigeria are expected. America’s Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, warned on social media of : "More to come..."
The armed groups in Africa's most populous country include at least two affiliated with the Islamic State - an offshoot of the Boko Haram extremist group known as the Islamic State West Africa Province in the northeast, and the lesser-known Islamic State Sahel Province (ISSP) known locally as Lakurawa and prominent in the northwest.
Although officials did not say exactly which group was targeted, security analysts said the target, if indeed against Islamic State militants, was likely members of Lakurawa, which became more lethal in border states like Sokoto and Kebbi in the last year, often targeting remote communities and security forces.
The Nigerian military has said in the past that the group has roots in neighboring Niger and that it became more active in Nigeria's border communities following a 2023 military coup. That coup resulted in fractured relations between Nigeria and Niger, and affected their multinational military operations along the porous border.
Multiple analysts have said Lakurawa has been active in northwest Nigeria since around 2017 when it was invited by traditional authorities in Sokoto to protect their communities from bandit groups.
The militants, however, "overstayed their welcome, clashing with some of the community leaders ... and enforcing a harsh interpretation of sharia law that alienated much of the rural population," according to James Barnett, an Africa researcher with the Washington-based Hudson Institute.
"Communities now openly say that Lakurawa are more oppressive and dangerous than the bandits they claim to protect them from," according to Malik Samuel, a Nigerian security researcher with Good Governance Africa. Lakurawa controls territories in Sokoto and Kebbi states, and has become known for killings, kidnapping, rape and armed robbery, Samuel said.
But some of the attacks blamed on Lakurawa are by the Islamic State Sahel Province, which has expanded from Niger's Dosso region to northwestern Nigeria, according to the U.S.-based Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project. It said: "ISSP has maintained a low profile, operating covertly to infiltrate and entrench itself along the Niger-Nigeria border, and is now also expanding its operations toward the Beninese border," the project said in a recent report.
The security woes are more of a governance problem than a military one. Motives for attacks differ but the gangs are often driven by the near absence of a state and security presence in conflict hot spots, making recruitment easy. Those hot spots, data show, have some of the country's highest levels of poverty, hunger and lack of jobs.
Nigeria's Minister of Defense Christopher Musa once said in his past capacity as the defense chief that military action is only 30% of what is needed to fix the country's security crisis, while the remaining 70% depends on good governance.
"The absence of the state in remote communities is making it easy for non-state actors to come in and present themselves to the people as the best alternative government," said Samuel. Thursday's U.S. strikes were seen as crucial help for Nigeria's security forces, which are often overstretched and outgunned as they fight multiple security crises across different regions.
In states like Sokoto, the military often carries out airstrikes targeting militant hideouts and Nigeria has embarked on mass recruitment of security forces. But analysts say military operations targeting the gangs are not usually sustained and the militants easily move on motorcycles to new locations through vast forests that connect several states in the north.
They also often use hostages - including schoolchildren - as cover, making airstrikes difficult.
Source: mirror.co.uk
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https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/americas-chilling-three-word-warning-36457543
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Will Mamdani be 111th or 112th mayor of NYC?
Dec 27, 2025
NEW YORK: Matthias Nicolls did not create this problem.
A 17th century New York statesman before New York was a state, Nicolls was a man of many accomplishments. He drafted an early legal code for the colony of New York and served as the speaker of the Assembly. His great-grandson William Floyd signed the Declaration of Independence. His family owned vast swaths of Long Island. His modern descendants include musical nobility (David Crosby).
On top of that, in 1671, Nicolls was appointed the sixth mayor of New York.
But it turns out that in 1674, he was also appointed the eighth mayor of New York. And this fact has caused a near-existential crisis for Zohran Mamdani, the mayor-elect: Will he become New York City's 111th mayor, or its 112th?
The sources of confusion are numerous, as reported by the news site Gothamist, which brought the whole sordid tale to light.
Part of the problem is a numbering convention whereby a mayor who serves two nonconsecutive terms gets counted twice, just as Donald Trump is considered both the 45th and 47th president.
Another complicating factor is the misplacement of a historical record called the Minutes of the Mayor's Court, which somehow persisted for more than three centuries.
Here's what happened.
From 1653 to 1665, New Amsterdam, as New York was then known under Dutch rule, was run by a pair of officials called burgomasters. Under English rule, starting in 1665 New York had mayors appointed by the colonial governor. Nicolls, in 1671, was the sixth. John Lawrence, in 1672, was the seventh. But in 1673, the Dutch retook the colony from the English and reinstalled the burgomasters. In the fall of 1674, the English regained control, and on Nov 10, Nicolls was sworn in, again, this time as New York's eighth mayor.
None of this mattered much until the early 20th century, when the city started publishing a numbered list of mayors in the City of New York Official Directory, better known as the Green Book. The book's compilers missed Nicolls' second term, and listed his successor William Dervall as mayor No. 8. The result is that the number of every mayor from Dervall onward was off by one.
It took until the 1980s for someone to figure this out. In 1982, a historical editor stumbled upon the missing Minutes of the Mayor's Court for 1674 in the custody of the Manhattan County Clerk, rather than in the office of the City Clerk, where most such records reside.
In 1989, based on the recently unearthed information, another historian, Peter Christoph, wrote in the Record of the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society that then-Mayor Ed Koch was actually New York's 106th, not 105th. "It is a mind-boggling thought: 99 mayors misnumbered - most of them gone to the grave, secure in the knowledge of their place in history, but all of them numerically out of whack," he wrote.
But no one official paid attention, and the miscount continued through mayor No. 110 (or 111), Eric Adams. This fall, an amateur historian named Paul Hortenstine flagged the mix-up to reporters.
So here we are. Mamdani, who initially expressed excitement at the prospect of becoming the city's 111th mayor, now says he will be psyched to become the 112th.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/will-mamdani-be-111th-or-112th-mayor-of-nyc/articleshow/126198679.cms
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‘He doesn’t have anything until I approve it’: Donald Trump casts himself as final arbiter of Ukraine peace deal; sceptical of Zelenskyy's plan
Dec 27, 2025
US President Donald Trump has said any peace deal to end the war between Ukraine and Russia will ultimately depend on his approval, casting himself as the final decision-maker ahead of talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Florida.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Politico on Friday, Trump appeared unenthusiastic about Zelenskyy’s latest peace proposal, a revised 20-point framework that the Ukrainian leader is expected to present during their meeting on Sunday.
The plan includes ideas such as a demilitarised zone and requests for US security guarantees.
“He doesn’t have anything until I approve it,” Trump said, referring to Zelenskyy’s proposal. “So we’ll see what he’s got.”
Zelenskyy has said the meeting will focus on key unresolved issues, including security guarantees, control of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and territorial questions surrounding the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine.
According to the New York Times, Zelenskyy has described the agenda as broad and said “a lot can be decided before the New Year”.
Trump’s remarks underline how dependent Kyiv’s future strategy has become on convincing the US president that Ukraine is prepared to compromise.
While Washington has pushed Zelenskyy to soften some of his earlier demands, Russia has largely held to its hardline position and has not publicly responded to the latest proposal, reported Politico.
Despite his scepticism, Trump said he expected the talks to be constructive. “I think it’s going to go good with him. I think it’s going to go good with [Vladimir] Putin,” he said, adding that he hopes to speak with the Russian president “soon”.
The comments came a day after Zelenskyy held discussions with Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and the president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, which the Ukrainian leader later described as a “good conversation”.
As per the New York Times, Zelenskyy said those talks produced “good ideas” and new thinking on formats and timelines for pushing diplomacy forward.
Zelenskyy’s proposal includes the creation of a demilitarised zone in parts of Donbas still under Ukrainian control, but only if Russia withdraws its forces from a corresponding area in Donetsk.
Moscow has shown no sign of accepting anything short of full control of the region, highlighting the wide gap between the two sides.
Trump also said Russia was under economic pressure. “Their economy is in tough shape, very tough shape,” he told Politico.
During the interview, Trump confirmed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would also visit him this weekend. “I have Zelenskyy and I have Bibi coming. They’re all coming,” he said.
“They respect our country again.” According to an NBC report cited by Politico, Netanyahu is expected to brief Trump on the growing threat from Iran.
Trump’s remarks followed US airstrikes against ISIS targets in Nigeria, which he said were delayed by a day for symbolic reasons. “I said, ‘nope, let’s give a Christmas present,’” he told Politico, claiming the strikes had heavily damaged militant camps.
As diplomacy continues, Zelenskyy has said Ukraine is ready to show flexibility but warned that if Russia refuses to engage seriously, stronger pressure from the West would be needed to bring the war closer to an end, reported the New York Times.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/he-doesnt-have-anything-until-i-approve-it-donald-trump-casts-himself-as-final-arbiter-of-ukraine-peace-deal-sceptical-of-zelenskyys-plan/articleshow/126198376.cms
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‘People will die…’: Elon Musk slams Zohran Mamdani’s appointment of first openly gay FDNY commissioner
Dec 27, 2025
Elon Musk has criticised New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani over his decision to appoint Lillian Bonsignore as commissioner of the Fire Department of New York, warning that the choice could have serious consequences for public safety.
Reacting to a news clip announcing the appointment, Musk wrote on social media, “People will die because of this. Proven experience matters when lives are at stake.” The clip highlighted that Bonsignore will become the FDNY’s first openly gay commissioner, a milestone that Mamdani has framed as part of his broader leadership vision.
Musk’s criticism focused on the fact that Bonsignore, despite decades of service within the department, has never worked as a firefighter. His comments quickly spread online, intensifying debate over whether top leadership of the FDNY should come from a firefighting background or whether broader emergency management experience is sufficient.
Bonsignore is a 31-year veteran of the FDNY who began their career as an emergency medical technician in 1991 and later rose through the ranks to become chief of the department’s emergency medical services. They oversaw EMS operations during the COVID-19 pandemic and retired in 2022. FDNY data shows that EMS units now respond to more than 70 per cent of the department’s emergency calls, a statistic supporters cite as evidence of their extensive operational and administrative experience.
Mamdani has described the appointment as historic, noting both the symbolic and practical significance of elevating a long-serving EMS leader to the commissioner role. Supporters argue that the position is primarily managerial, with responsibility for strategy, budgets and coordination across the department, while frontline firefighting decisions are handled by senior uniformed officers with specialised expertise.
Critics maintain that leading one of the world’s largest fire departments requires direct firefighting experience, particularly during major fires, large-scale disasters and complex rescue operations. Musk’s remarks have amplified those concerns and pushed the appointment into a wider national discussion about leadership standards, public safety and how political priorities shape senior emergency service roles in New York City.
Source: indiatimes.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/people-will-die-elon-musk-slams-zohran-mamdanis-appointment-of-first-openly-gay-fdny-commissioner/articleshow/126198316.cms
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California’s tech exodus: Entrepreneur warns of a deeper political crisis as tax losses ‘hit $200 billion’
Dec 27, 2025
Entrepreneur and investor Chamath Palihapitiya has warned that California is facing a deepening political and fiscal crisis as major founders and companies continue to leave the state. In a widely circulated post, Palihapitiya argued that the departures have already cost California tens of billions of dollars in lost tax revenue, with the total potentially rising beyond $200 billion as those businesses expand elsewhere. He linked the losses to what he described as political hostility towards innovation, warning that further exits could weaken the state’s job market and tax base.
California’s turning point
At the centre of Palihapitiya’s argument is Elon Musk, whose companies Tesla and SpaceX shifted key operations from California to Texas. He traces the roots of that move to tensions during the COVID-19 lockdowns, which he says highlighted a political climate increasingly hostile to major innovators.
Palihapitiya pointed to a 2020 social media exchange involving then California Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez, who used profane language against Musk amid disputes over pandemic restrictions. Musk’s brief reply, “Message received,” has since been cited by critics as a symbol of a broader breakdown between California’s political leadership and its most productive business figures.
How the tax losses add up
The $200 billion figure cited by Palihapitiya is an estimate and projection rather than an official state calculation. He argues it reflects the long term impact of lost income taxes, capital gains and corporate growth following the departure of founders and the highly paid employees who moved with them. In his view, the number will continue to rise as Tesla grows and if SpaceX eventually goes public while based outside California.
Palihapitiya contrasts this outcome with what he believes California could have achieved by working more collaboratively with innovators. He argues that embracing major employers and founders could have generated hundreds of billions of dollars in tax revenue over time, helping to sustain public finances rather than deepen deficits.
A political warning, not just an economic one
Beyond the financial estimates, Palihapitiya frames the issue as a political failure. He accuses California’s leadership of fiscal mismanagement, overspending and a reluctance to conduct meaningful audits or impose spending restraint. According to him, the state’s response to shrinking revenues has been to seek more money from those who remain, rather than reform how public funds are managed.
He warns that if the current trajectory continues and more founders and investors leave, California risks losing high value jobs and further weakening its tax base. Without significant reforms, he suggests the state could face severe financial stress within the next decade.
Texas and the national reaction
Palihapitiya’s comments quickly drew attention from political figures outside California, including Ted Cruz, who echoed the criticism and publicly invited him to relocate to Texas. Cruz framed the moment as evidence of Texas’s appeal as a low tax, business friendly alternative to California’s regulatory environment.
Palihapitiya’s response signalled openness to the idea, reinforcing the perception that competition between US states for talent and capital is intensifying.
A divided response
Reaction to the warning has been sharply split. Supporters argue Palihapitiya is highlighting a real and growing problem, pointing to rising costs and company departures as evidence of policy failure. Critics counter that Musk’s move was driven by personal and financial factors that predated any single political incident, and that the fiscal impact is being overstated.
What is clear is that the debate over California’s tech exodus has moved beyond individual companies. As founders, investors and politicians continue to clash, the argument has become a broader test of how California balances regulation, taxation and innovation, and what it risks losing if that balance continues to shift.
Source: indiatimes.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/californias-tech-exodus-entrepreneur-warns-of-a-deeper-political-crisis-as-tax-losses-hit-200-billion/articleshow/126195833.cms
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US revoking visas for no reason, best thing to do is....: Immigration attorneys break down new trend
Dec 27, 2025
Immigration attorneys commented on a new trend they have been observing since the beginning of December, that visas are getting revoked without any valid reason. Immigration attorney Rahul Reddy said the new trend is confusing, as people who have, for example, a DUI case 12 years ago and followed all the rules, got the stamping after disclosing everything to the authorities, are suddenly getting their visas revoked for the same 12-year-old DUI.
H-1B, H-4, and F-1 visas are being revoked in large numbers.
Earlier, revocation used to occur only when new information is found about any individual, like any involvement in fraud or criminal activity that the US admin was not aware of before or when the visa was granted, Reddy explained. "There is no public statement but visas are getting revoked," Reddy said.
Immigration attorney Emily Neumann said apart from the State Department's random social media posts reminding everybody that having a visa is a privilege and not a right and it can be revoked any time, there has been no statement from the authorities on why these visas are getting revoked.
"These are people who already disclosed all their information. It's not that there's ne information that causes the Department of State to question whether you qualify. They have already determined that these people qualify. In some cases, they even got their visa stamping done during the current Trump administration. But still got their visas revoked. So that tells me this has nothing to do with actual public safety," Emily said.
Visa revocation means nothing if you are in the US
Neumann explained that these visa revocations mean nothing unless you leave the US. It doesn't take effect until they leave the US and they will have to go for stamping again and show the same documents
Visa revoked after leaving the US
Some NRI groups on social media pointed out that people are getting their visas revoked once they land in India. Several people received the message that their visas had been prudentially revoked when they left the US. It means they can't re-enter the US using the same visa and will have to get a fresh visa interview. All visa interviews in India are randomly deferred as the Department of State has started social media vetting.
Don't travel even if you don't have any criminal record, valid visa stamp
Both Reddy and Neumann emphasized that H-1B visa holders should avoid traveling outside the US even if they have a valid visa stamping and even if they have no criminal record, because rules are changing every month. "You should not travel until this administration is out of office," Neumann said.
Source: indiatimes.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/us-revoking-visas-for-no-reason-best-thing-to-do-is-immigration-attorneys-break-down-new-trend/articleshow/126195835.cms
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Trump teases new talks with Putin
26 Dec, 2025
US President Donald Trump has said he will likely speak with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in the near future to discuss the Ukraine conflict. His comments come as the US leader is expected to hold talks with Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky this weekend.
In an interview with Politico on Friday, Trump suggested that “it’s going to go good with Putin,” adding that he expects to speak with him “soon, as much as I want.” He would not elaborate on when the talks would take place, or whether they would be before or after negotiations with Zelensky.
The last Putin-Trump phone call took place on October 16, when the Russian leader congratulated the US president on helping to mediate a peace agreement in Gaza. At the same time, Moscow and Washington have maintained active contacts over Ukraine, with Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, holding five-hour talks with Putin over the Ukraine conflict at the Kremlin in early December.
The Trump-Zelensky meeting in Florida on Sunday will focus on territorial issues – particularly regarding Russia’s Donbass – which remain the main stumbling block in talks to end the conflict, according to the Ukrainian leader. Zelensky also said he would bring up the idea of a referendum on territorial concessions to Russia if Moscow agrees to a ceasefire of 60 days or longer.
Moscow, however, has dismissed the referendum idea as a ploy to buy time to rearm and regroup, stressing that Donetsk and Lugansk Regions are inalienable parts of Russia.
Earlier this week, Zelensky unveiled a plan that proposes to freeze the conflict along current front lines in Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporozhye, and Kherson regions and requires Russian forces to withdraw from several Ukrainian regions. Zelensky has also demanded ”Article 5-like” security guarantees from the US, NATO, and European states.
Moscow insists that a sustainable settlement is only possible if Ukraine renounces its NATO membership aspirations, commits to demilitarization and denazification, and recognizes the new territorial reality on the ground.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/630069-trump-teases-new-talks-putin/
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India
A year-end Mea Culpa in national interest—The Army-Islam combo doesn’t kill democracy
SHEKHAR GUPTA
27 December, 2025
Where does a columnist go if he has a disagreement with himself? Or a rethink over a stated view that has failed the test of time. This being the last National Interest of 2025 is a good occasion to do so. Will I do so every year-end? I hope not. I hope I won’t have arguments to rethink, recalibrate or simply resile from that often.
An opinion column is exactly what it is meant to be, one writer’s opinion. It can’t and shouldn’t win everybody’s approval. It better be provocative. The readers’ disagreement with some will be more intense than for others. The readers then have the recourse to write back, in anger or criticism, either in a letter to the editor, or at ThePrint, to our Readers’ Editor. Where does the writer go, except to the reader?
I know so many of you might think I got something so wrong in all of the nearly 50 of the National Interest pieces written this year. I might disagree with that! But I can list at least five over some 25 years that deserve a Mea Culpa. I’d deal with the most recent of these this week.
This was published on 28 September 2024. It asserted that Islam doesn’t kill democracy. The army-Islam combo does. How come Pakistan and Bangladesh rarely have a peaceful transition while Islamic Indonesia and Malaysia do?
Similarly I argued that Myanmar had a military-ruled hybrid system (they’re polling this Sunday) despite being almost entirely Buddhist, especially after they brutally expelled most of their tiny Muslim minority, the Rohingya. And if Buddhism was the challenge to their democracy, how come Sri Lanka had no such issues?
As I look back, I see many flaws with this formulation. The first, that so many Islamic countries have no democracy despite their army not interfering. My distant vision was clouded by what I see in the neighbourhood. Iran has no military rule, and while it has regular elections, the unelected clergy rules. This is the classical hybrid arrangement and stable, unlike Pakistan’s where power equations occasionally shift.
The Gulf monarchies fear not their armies, but democracy. They rule with the benefit of natural resources and in the name of Islam. It is most pronounced in the case of Saudi Arabia. Turkey has regular elections, but Erdogan has used religion to mutilate the constitution and destroy much of the Opposition.
In that 2024 piece I also overlooked the lessons of the Arab Spring (2011), again because of nearsightedness. The western world, liberal foundations and Obama administration hailed this as a “wonderful democratic upsurge” in Muslim autocracies. Good riddance, people had now arrived to claim their place under the sun.
There was some liberal excitement in India as well. After all, we were roused by ‘singhasankhaalikaroki ab janataaatihai (get off the throne, people have arrived to claim it) poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar quoted by Jayaprakash Narayan (JP) in the fight against the Emergency. Or those Faiz Ahmed Faiz lines so popular with our Left-liberal community: “Sab taajuchhalejayenge,sab takht girayejayenge/aur raj karegikhalk-e-khuda, jo main bhihunaur tum bhi ho.” (when crowns are tossed, thrones toppled, and power vests in God’s people, that’s you and I)
That unravelled fast. In some cases people welcomed the return of the past dictatorship, as in Egypt. And in some the dictator survived but the country became a failed state (Syria) with many rebel armies rising not in the name of democracy or even nationalism but versions of Islam.
Tunisia and Algeria carried out “corrections” to remain intact; Yemen is still broken and at war; and Libya, we don’t have the space to talk about its horrible plight. I tried explaining Libya in this episode of CutTheClutter. Cruel though it may sound, you need to ask if the country wasn’t better off under Colonel Gaddafi? At least he was an Arab nationalist. Now we have the country divided between two warlords buying black-market arms with stolen oil money.
The main reason Arab Spring failed was that the only institutionally organised group in all of these countries was Muslim Brotherhood. While democracy was its vehicle to power, its agenda was ideological, pan-national religious conservatism.
Iwas particularly wrong with this argument because in many of the Islamic nations the army has actually been a force of stability and safety, even for minorities. Next door we are watching the army play that invaluable role, at least as yet, in Bangladesh with its history of instability and martial law. In Egypt, General Abdel Fattah El-Sisi got rid of Muslim Brotherhood’s Mohamed Morsi and found popular acceptance and a sigh of relief.
Similarly in Tunisia and Algeria the army has balanced out the Islamist forces and prevented the slide into a failed state. The idea that the army-Islam combo was needed to destroy democracy therefore, was too sweeping a generalisation.
Whether there is a contradiction between Islam and democracy, is a complex debate. Let’s nuance it with two questions. One, is there a contradiction between a Muslim state and democracy? And second, what’s the difference between Islamic and Islamist?
The answer to the first, unfortunately, is mostly yes despite exceptions like Indonesia (country with largest Muslim population), Malaysia and the Maldives. None of the three describes itself as an Islamic republic. Indonesia is mostly secular. A doctrinaire adherence to faith brings a pre-ordained unitary system of governance. Just like communism. That’s why the global Lib-Left-Islamic alliance is just so much blah. Both sides are cynical in partnering against a common enemy, the ‘evil’ West and its ‘favourite child’ Israel. The Islamic intelligentsia needs the Left for global respectability and the Left needs alienated Muslims as gun fodder. Why not fight American imperialism and neo-liberalism to the last angry Muslim? Can a communist state be democratic? Don’t confuse it with socialism. And can an Islamic nation have democracy?
This brings us to the distinction between Islamic and Islamist. The former is simply adherence to a faith. It’s a choice just like being Hindu, Christian, Jewish or atheist. It doesn’t seek to force others to alter their ways to conform to yours. Contrarily Islamist is a political philosophy that wants to enforce rules of the faith on non-believers and if they don’t, punish them.
That’s ISIS, the ideology that fuelled the Bondi Beach massacre of Jews in Australia, Easter bombings targeting Christians in Sri Lanka and the depredations in Syria and its neighbourhood and across the world. Forget democracy, the Islamists wouldn’t even countenance nationalism. They want a caliphate transcending all Muslim nations. That’s why the force every Muslim nation fears the most is ISIS, the Islamists. The unfortunate truth is that fair elections brought them into power (in the name of Muslim Brotherhood) in so many states.
We can safely say therefore, that there is a contradiction between Islamists (as distinct from Islam) and democracy. Pakistan is an Islamic republic with a strong nationalism. It isn’t Islamist. It will never fight for another Islamic nation, unless of course it’s paid for it. Even Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed use Islam to fuel their hatred of India.
Even the Taliban, who run the world’s most shariat-compliant state, fear ISIS because it threatens their nationalism. Will they risk a free election? Nor would any of the Gulf states. Iraq stands out as an exception but its Shia-majority demographics and the Iranian influence qualify its democracy.
In my September 2024 column I overlooked these nuances. My vision was focused too tightly on the neighbourhood. The regrettable fact is that as you draw a line from the Red Sea to the Bay of Bengal the only countries where Muslim citizens have had uninterrupted free vote that determine who rules for a finite time are at the two extremities: Israel and India. I, accordingly, stand corrected.
Source: theprint.in
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India condemns lynching of two Hindu men in Bangladesh, flags ‘unremitting hostility’ against minorities
26.12.25
India on Friday condemned the recent incidents of lynching of two Hindu men in Bangladesh, with the ministry of external affairs expressing deep concern over what it called a “unremitting hostility” against minorities in the neighbouring country.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi was disturbed by the recent killing and stressed that those responsible must be held accountable.
“The unremitting hostility against minorities in Bangladesh is a matter of great concern. We condemn the recent killing of a Hindu youth in Bangladesh and expect that the perpetrators of the crime will be brought to justice,” Jaiswal said.
According to the MEA, there have been around 2,900 incidents of violence against minorities during the tenure of Bangladesh’s interim government.
The MEA said India has consistently raised concerns over attacks on minorities and rejected what it called a “false narrative” being pushed by Bangladesh on such incidents.
“We condemn the gruesome killing of a Hindu in Bangladesh. We have given statements earlier as well, rejecting the false narrative put out by Bangladesh,” the MEA said.
The remarks follow two separate incidents of lynching of men from minority communities in Bangladesh this month.
A man was beaten to death by a mob in Rajbari district late on Wednesday night. Police identified the victim as 30-year-old Amrit Mondal, also known as Samrat. According to local authorities, the violence stemmed from alleged extortion-related activities.
Police said Samrat, allegedly a top-tier local criminal, had allegedly arrived in the area to demand extortion money. A violent clash reportedly broke out after villagers confronted him. He was found in critical condition and taken to a local hospital, where he was declared dead.
Cops claimed Samrat had multiple cases registered against him, including a murder case, and was the leader of a local group known as the “Samrat Bahini,” which allegedly extorted money by threatening villagers.
Villagers alleged that on Wednesday night, Samrat and his associates went to the house of a local resident, Shahidul Islam, to collect extortion money. When the family raised an alarm by shouting “robbers,” locals gathered and assaulted Samrat.
The killing has drawn wider attention as it comes days after another lynching of a man in Bangladesh’s Mymensingh district. In that incident, 27-year-old garment factory worker Dipu Chandra Das was beaten to death by a mob over unverified allegations of blasphemy.
Police said his body was tied to a tree and set on fire before being recovered and sent for post-mortem examination.
That incident was condemned by Bangladesh’s interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, which said there was no place for communal hatred or mob violence in what it termed a “New Bangladesh,” and promised strict action against those responsible.
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) acting chairman Tarique Rahman in his first address to party supporters hours after he landed in Dhaka on Thursday, said he wants to make a safe Bangladesh where people irrespective of castes, creeds and faiths can live in a peaceful environment.
"We have people from the hills and the plains in this country - Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians. We want to build a safe Bangladesh, where every woman, man and child can leave home safely and return safely," he said.
Both incidents have taken place amid widespread unrest in Bangladesh following the death of political activist Sharif Osman Hadi. His demise triggered protests, vandalism and attacks on political and diplomatic sites across several parts of the country.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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Kashmiri shawl seller assaulted in Uttarakhand, forced to chant religious slogans
26.12.25
A Kashmiri shawl seller was allegedly assaulted and forced to chant religious slogans by a group of unidentified men in Uttarakhand’s Kashipur, triggering police action and political reactions.
Police said the incident took place on December 22 in the Manpur area, where the 30-year-old trader was stopped by six unknown individuals near Ujala Hospital.
A video of the incident later surfaced on social media, prompting intervention by the authorities. “A case has been registered and some suspects in the matter has been detained,” police said on Friday.
Udham Singh Nagar Senior Superintendent of Police Manikant Mishra said the police acted as soon as the video came to light.
“As soon as the video surfaced, the police immediately took action and had the video removed from the social media platforms to prevent any kind of social tension,” he said.
The complainant, Bilal Ahmed, told police that the men allegedly forced him to chant religious slogans. “When he refused, they verbally abused and assaulted him,” the complaint said.
According to the police, the accused also attempted to rob Ahmed of the warm clothes and cash he was carrying and issued threats. They allegedly warned him of dire consequences if he returned to the area to sell his goods.
Ahmed, a native of Kupwara in Jammu and Kashmir, is currently living in nearby Ramnagar and has been working in the region for the past nine years, the officer said.
The SSP said that “any attempt to disrupt law and order and social harmony will not be tolerated,” and appealed to people to refrain from circulating provocative content online.
The incident has drawn political attention as well.
Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti urged the Uttarakhand police chief to intervene and ensure “that the perpetrators are held accountable and such incidents are not repeated in future”, reported Tribune India.
Police later confirmed that arrests have been made.
“Police in Uttarakhand's Kashipur have arrested some of the accused charged with the assault on a Kashmiri shawl seller who was allegedly forced to chant religious slogans,” officials said, as reported by National Herald.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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Clash over encroachment outside mosque leaves 6 policemen injured; internet services suspended in Rajasthan’s Chomu
by ParulKulshrestha
December 27, 2025
A longstanding dispute over an alleged encroachment outside a mosque in Chomu escalated into violent clashes on Thursday late night, leaving six police officers injured leading to detention of over 50 people. As a precautionary measure, internet services has been suspended in the area.
The dispute centres on around 100 feet of land outside the Kalandari mosque, located at a key intersection near the Chomu bus stand. Police officials say locals and traders have complained for decades that the encroachment has reduced the width of the main road from 100 to 80 feet, resulting in frequent traffic congestion. Despite numerous complaints and repeated police negotiations over several months, the issue remained unresolved and now a court has issued a stay order.
Addressing a press conference at the Secretariat on Friday, Minister of State for Home Affairs Jawahar Singh Bedham outlined the sequence of events. He stated a meeting was held on Thursday between the police administration and the concerned parties, during which an agreement was reached to remove the encroachment. “Both sides had agreed to to remove the encroachment,” Bedham said.
However, the situation deteriorated rapidly later in the night. “Late Thursday night, some miscreants attempted to re-encroach the road by installing iron railings. When the administration tried to stop them, they resorted to stone-pelting in which several police personnel were injured,” the minister said. He added that the situation was brought under control and action was taken against those involved, based on video footage, photographs, and other evidence. Detentions are underway.
The state government said its response was firm and immediate, acting on high-level directives. Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma has asserted that there will be no leniency towards those who tamper with law and order. “Stone-pelters will not be treated with kid gloves and will be sent behind bars according to the law,” he said.
Minister Bedham firmly asserted that the government’s actions were impartial. “The Rajasthan government’s policy on encroachment removal is completely impartial and there is no question of religion or caste involved.”
Police said the situation in Chomu remains tense but under control, with a heavy police deployment deployed in place. An investigation into the incident in underway.
Source: indianexpress.com
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Red Fort blast case: Delhi court extends NIA custody of two accused
26.12.25
A Delhi court on Friday extended the National Investigation Agency’s custody of two accused in the Red Fort blast case, allowing the probe to continue as investigators piece together the events leading up to the attack.
Additional Sessions Judge Prashant Sharma permitted the NIA to quiz accused Yasir Ahmed Dar for ten more days, while co-accused Dr Bilal Naseer Malla will remain in the agency’s custody for another eight days. Media persons were barred from covering the proceedings.
The Red Fort blast, which took place on November 10, claimed 15 lives.
According to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) investigations, Umar-un-Nabi, who was driving the explosive-laden car that detonated outside the historic complex, was the alleged planner of the terrorist attack.
The agency arrested Dr Malla in Delhi on December 9, describing him as a "key accused in the conspiracy". According to the NIA investigations, Naseer had knowingly harboured Umar-un-Nabi by providing him logistical support.
He is also accused of destruction of evidence related to the terrorist attack, the agency stated earlier on December 9. Dar was arrested on December 18 as the ninth accused in the case.
A resident of Jammu and Kashmir, he is alleged to have been a close associate of Umar-un-Nabi. So far, the NIA has arrested nine people in connection with the blast.
Those taken into custody include Dr Muzammil Ganaie, Dr Adeel Rather and Dr Shaheen Sayeed.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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Rashid Khan’s son cancels Bangladesh concert in protest, faces online backlash
Dec 27, 2025
Kolkata: Vocalist Armaan Khan, son of Ustad Rashid Khan, faced severe backlash following the cancellation of his concert in Bangladesh. He said he was targeted by online trolls after expressing that true Islam promotes peace and does not condone the lynching of individuals from any religion.
In response to these attacks, Armaan addressed those who suggested he abandon Islam due to his involvement in music, which they labelled ‘haram'. He questioned why these critics, primarily from Bangladesh, do not direct similar criticisms towards renowned Muslim artistes from Pakistan but focus their attention on those from India.
Armaan expressed concern that he and his sisters were being targeted due to their family's background of inter-faith marriage. He said, "I have not read the Quran in its entirety but I'm confident no religion endorses lynching of individuals. It is my duty to protest, and I will do so."
The decision to cancel the concert in Bangladesh was a result of this protest. "I refuse to perform in a country where musical instruments are treated with disrespect. We revere our instruments. I do not need to perform in a country that disrespects what I hold sacred, which in this case is music. What is more troubling is the way I am being criticised for expressing this view. My parents had an inter-faith marriage. Are these attacks directed at me because my mother is Hindu?" he asked.
Addressing those who suggested he abandon his religion, he said, "They have the audacity to ask me to renounce Islam because music is allegedly considered ‘haram'. I challenge them by questioning why they do not make the same claims about the renowned Muslim artistes in Pakistan, like Ghulam Ali and Mehdi Hasan? If music is ‘haram', why are qawwalis performed at dargahs? I will not accept such distortions without response. People cannot distort facts without consequence."
Armaan also urged all Indian musicians to protest against the current situation in Bangladesh. "Do not perform there. Let this be a statement. No one should feel so insecure about potential backlash that they accept the disrespect shown to our music. Don't think about the monetary loss or the fans you lose for being honest. If you have skill, you will get concerts elsewhere and be able to perform. We owe it to our music to speak out now," he declared.
Source: indiatimes.com
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Bulldozing of Muslim colonies in Karnataka shocking: CM Vijayan
December 26, 2025
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday said that the bulldozing of Fakir Colony and Wasim Layout, where Muslims have been living for years, in the capital city of Karnataka, is extremely shocking and painful.
Chief Minister Vijayan said this action of the Congress government in Karnataka is another version of the anti-minority aggressive politics being practiced by the Sangh Parivar in North India.
It is surprising that while the North Indian model of bulldozer justice is being implemented in South India, its implementation is being done in Karnataka by the Congress government there, he said.
“How can the Congress justify such mass evictions by the very rulers who should have to take the initiative to provide shelter to the poor and not evict anyone from their homes?” CM Vijayan asked.
Source: thestatesman.com
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UK-based UP preacher booked over Pakistan links
27 Dec 2025
LUCKNOW: The Enforcement Directorate has opened a money laundering case against Maulana Shamsul Huda Khan, a UK-based Islamic preacher from UP, after an FIR by the Anti-Terrorist
Squad flagged alleged radical links and suspicious foreign funding. Khan, a native of Azamgarh, was appointed an assistant teacher in a government-aided madrassa in 1984 but left India in 2007, later settling in the UK and acquiring British citizenship by 2013. Despite living abroad, he allegedly continued to draw a salary for nearly a decade, earning around Rs 16 lakh, and later secured voluntary retirement with full benefits in 2017.
Investigators say he “fraudulently availed medical leave, updated service records, and remained on paper a serving employee” while overseas.
ED sources claim Khan amassed properties worth Rs 33 crore in Sant Kabir Nagar and deposited about Rs 5 crore in cash from “suspicious entities”. Multiple FIRs have been registered under cheating, forgery, FEMA provisions, and charges including concealment of foreign citizenship and waging war against India.
An ATS report dated March 25, 2025, alleges he travelled frequently to Pakistan for “dawah-related activities” and maintained links with clerics and organisations in Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi. The probe also flags interactions with separatist-leaning individuals in Jammu and Kashmir and attempts to build ideological influence in eastern Uttar Pradesh after 2017.
Post-return, Khan established a girls’ madrassa in Khalilabad and floated two NGOs, which allegedly received foreign donations. Authorities sealed his madrassa campuses this year over financial irregularities, suspecting them to be “operational nodes for foreign fund inflows”. The government suspended four officials from the Minority Welfare Department, calling the case “one of the most extraordinary instances of administrative collusion and systemic breakdown”.
Source: newindianexpress.com
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From the shadows to power: How the Hindu right reshaped India
Mujib Mashal, Hari Kumar
27.12.25
In Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s most important speech of the year, his annual Independence Day address in August, he used the stage to honor the group that changed his life and is remaking India.
That it was Modi’s most forceful and public nod in his 11 years in office to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh — the far-right Hindu nationalist group known as the RSS, which had molded his personal and professional life since he was a young boy — was a reflection of what a king-making power the group has become as it celebrated its 100th anniversary this year.
The RSS originated as a shadowy cabal for the revival of Hindu pride after a long history of Muslim invasions and colonial rule in India, its early leaders openly drawing inspiration from the nationalist formula of fascist parties in Europe during the 1930s and 1940s. It has survived repeated bans, including being accused in the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, to grow into the largest right-wing juggernaut in the world.
More than a decade of Modi, one of their most ambitious and capable recruits, at the helm of national power has brought the organization the kind of success and acceptability that many of its leaders say they never dared imagine. While there have at times been tensions with the strongman premier, the RSS is closing in on its dream to rebuild India’s secular republic as a muscular, Hindu-first nation.
The RSS has infiltrated and co-opted India’s institutions to such a degree that its deep roots will ensure it remains a powerful force long after Modi is gone. It reaches inside India’s society, government, courts, police, media and academic institutions through a vast umbrella of affiliated groups, placing core members into all of them. It makes and breaks political careers. It commands loyalty across the nation by offering young men a path to relevance and influence in their communities through Hindu-nationalist activism
Though the RSS still cultivates an air as a secret society, it has been proudly more public in recent years. Its members and its influence are everywhere.
When you see Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party dominate critical elections, you are seeing the RSS’ political machine at work, with the central group shaping the fates and fortunes of the party’s candidates. And when you see Hindu vigilantes parading through Muslim neighborhoods or ransacking churches, you are seeing the RSS affiliates exercising their vision of supremacy.
The group’s political dominance has divided India, a country of 1.4 billion people, along religious fault lines more than ever. Its philosophy casts India’s 200 million Muslims and Christians as descendants of foreign invaders who need to be put in their place.
Modi, who was deputized to the RSS’ political wing in the 1980s after he made a name for himself as an organizer, has described the organization as a giant river, with dozens of streams flowing from it that touch every aspect of life in India. He has lauded it for championing traditional values through difficult times when Indian society has been in flux.
“Service, dedication, organization, and unmatched discipline — these have been its hallmarks,” he said in his rain-soaked Independence Day address at the Red Fort.
On its surface, the RSS is a vast social services organization. The movement’s organizing principles are built around neighborhood groups, training tightly knit classes of boy-scouts-for-life through exercise classes and spiritual reflection. This is the RSS’ recruiting pool, and its enforcement squad for reshaping the societal fabric. It is also where the organization systematically builds its influence in every walk of life.
Besides Modi’s BJP — which describes itself as the world’s largest political party, with more than 100 million members — the group’s many arms include a large student wing, trade unions, farmers unions, networks of professionals, religious outfits and charity organizations. The affiliates, which hold regular coordinating meetings, push the RSS’ Hindu agenda to amass political heft as the surest bet for irreversibly entrenching their vision of India.
“If we have power, everything will fall in line,” said Durga Nand Jha, an academic who is a longtime RSS associate and leads a think tank affiliated with the organization.
Yet, shaped by past crackdowns over pursuing a society at odds with the founding secular outlook, the organization that commands enormous sway over the world’s most populous nation does so with little transparency or accountability. It operates without maintaining detailed records. It has accumulated vast riches that are spread through a multitude of small, independent outfits and trusts.
“Nothing is owned by the RSS,” said Dr. Nishith Bhandarkar, a leader of the organization in India’s financial capital of Mumbai. “We just have the people.”
To understand the organization, The New York Times spoke to the group’s leaders, attended its conclaves and met grassroots units to report this account of its rise and what it wants for India’s future.
The RSS’ leaders have taken a nuanced public stance in recent years, presenting a more inclusive idea of majoritarian rule for the country. But on the streets that nuance is often lost. A new generation of more extreme right-wing leaders compete for attention, their rhetoric amplified by social media, often normalizing violence against minorities.
Vigilantes who proudly identify as members of RSS affiliates police public life along religious lines, frequently enforcing economic boycotts of Muslim businesses. They have turned Hindu celebrations into public shows of force. They have ransacked churches over accusations of forced conversions to Christianity, rampaged through Christmas celebrations and dug up Muslim graves. They have dragged couples from trains on suspicion of interreligious relationships, and lynched men on allegations of carrying beef, which many Hindus do not eat, as they consider cows sacred.
Its ideas deeply permeate India, from the pages of history textbooks to WhatsApp chat groups, screaming television debates, and even in the country’s courtrooms — long seen as protectors of India’s secularism.
Last December, one of the RSS’ most hard-line affiliate groups held a seminar on the campus of Allahabad High Court, one of the country’s largest and oldest courts. In his keynote address, Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav said that Hindu society had fixed its shortcomings while listing everything he saw as wrong with “these people,” a subtle reference later made clear when he used a derogatory term to describe Muslims.
“I feel no hesitation in saying that this is India and it will run as per the wishes of its majority,” the judge said.
Building Blocks
Early one August morning in Mumbai, about a dozen men trickled into a local park in the dark, braving the rain. Among them were property dealers, advertising agents and a retired navy officer. Their time in the RSS ranged from five to 55 years.
Each paid their respects to a small saffron flag, then nodded to the leader of the group and joined a circle where they sang devotional songs. A drill sergeant blew his whistle, leading them through stretching exercises performed with a well-oiled, military urgency despite their aging steps, and a standing march.
The morning ended, as it does every morning, with the same salutation: the men standing in neat lines, extending their right arms in front of their chests with their palms facing down, bowing their heads to the saffron flag.
These meetings of RSS cells, known as shakhas, have been the organization’s building blocks since its founding by a medical doctor in 1925.
As India struggled for independence from British rule, a group of right-wing ideologues saw a deeper, bigger fight: to revive Hindus after the Muslim invasions of centuries past had broken their spirit and opened the path to other colonial powers. The RSS pursued a bottom-up approach to reorganizing society.
There are now 83,000 shakhas spread across the country, each linked from the neighborhood level to the national through WhatsApp groups. They remain the central pillar of molding the kind of men the RSS wants as the warriors of its vision for India. They build habits and instill ideology through simple daily repetition by leaning into something fundamental — a basic human need for community and camaraderie.
It is in these shakhas that the RSS closely watches for potential and recruits its leaders. (Modi had started attending as a young boy, before becoming a full-time RSS campaigner in his youth.) These recruits then seed a litany of affiliated organizations that make up the RSS’ vast network.
“For the past 100 years, our volunteers have consistently sustained this system in all kinds of circumstances,” Mohan Bhagwat, the RSS’ sixth and current chief, said about the shakhas in a recent lecture. His role is at times compared to that of the Roman Catholic pope.
Researchers at Sciences Po in Paris who studied the RSS have described its mode of operation as “a deliberate process of spawning new organizations to expand the network, while ensuring they remain tied to a central executive.” The researchers found 2,500 organizations with “concrete, traceable, material ties” that make them “tightly networked parts of a single entity.”
The RSS’ early leaders defined their fight in no uncertain terms: India was to have an exclusively Hindu identity.
In a book published in 1939, M.S. Golwalkar, the group’s second and longest-serving chief, drew on the example of Adolf Hitler’s purging of the Jews in Germany to say it was not possible for races and cultures to be assimilated into one united whole.
The only way non-Hindus could remain in India, Golwalkar argued, was if they “wholly subordinated to the Hindu Nation, claiming nothing, deserving no privileges, far less any preferential treatment — not even citizen’s rights.”
But the conservative streak within India’s independence movement was initially overpowered by a liberal elite that held on to a pluralist vision of India, led by Gandhi, who went on hunger strike to protest religious violence.
After a swath of the country was cleaved off to create the nation of Pakistan for Muslims when the British left in 1947, the Hindu right was furious that the new Indian state had not been given a similarly outright religious identity. The target of their fury was Gandhi, who was later shot dead at an evening public prayer.
The shooter was a right-wing Hindu activist with ties to the RSS, which distanced itself by saying he had quit years earlier. Still, the organization was banned and became a pariah for decades.
India’s imagining as a secular republic was a top-down, idealistic project that left unaddressed the open wounds and humiliations of Muslim invasions and colonial rule. It was a fundamental grievance that the RSS tapped into as fuel for expansion.
It began to inch into politics by launching a political wing in the 1950s that later recast itself as today’s ruling BJP. It got its first big break in the 1970s, and it kept building.
Rise to Power
When Indira Gandhi, India’s then prime minister and leader of the Congress party, suspended India’s democracy in 1975 to stay in power after a court had disqualified her election victory, her government’s persecution of the RSS and other groups created a wave of sympathy for them. RSS leaders were arrested in droves, and they began casting themselves as pillars of the effort to save Indian democracy.
“My mother voted for Congress, but my father was with the RSS,” S.M. Baghadka, 84, a retired government worker and longtime RSS member, said during a morning exercise session in Nagpur. “After Indira jailed my father, my mother also changed sides.”
A campaign over a contested religious site in the 1990s gave the RSS its second big break and forever changed the course of Indian politics.
A 16th-century mosque in the town of Ayodhya had become a symbolic target of the group, which claimed it had been built on land where a Hindu temple to the deity Ram once stood. The dispute had meandered through India’s judiciary, but the Hindu right had other ideas.
The president of the BJP crisscrossed the country in a truck decked out as a chariot, stirring deadly local tensions as his caravan moved. The movement’s bigger goal was to unite Hinduism’s vast diversity in a way similar to the invading monoliths, RSS leaders said. “Jai shri ram,” or hail to the Lord Ram, became its battle cry.
The buildup culminated in 1992 when mobs that included known RSS affiliates — armed with rods, pickaxes and burning rage — climbed the mosque’s domes and tore it down.
The RSS was banned again. But the formula has remained central to its success ever since: uniting Hindus around grievances from the past and injecting a militant sense of score-settling, right down to the local level, that treats India’s Muslim and Christian citizens as remnants of that past.
The group first tasted significant power in the late 1990s as part of a coalition government.
But it wasn’t until Modi became prime minister in 2014, with a clear majority, that its agenda was rolled out in earnest.
Modi moved swiftly to build a lavish Ram temple at Ayodhya after the Supreme Court essentially gave a pass to the mob demolition of the mosque. He also did away with the longtimesemiautonomy of the Muslim-majority state of Jammu and Kashmir to bring it under New Delhi’s direct control.
The RSS’ community presence around the country also doubled over the past decade. Its leaders enjoy the freedoms, and luxuries, that come with unchecked power. They opened a lavish campus in New Delhi, consisting of three 13-floor towers built across 3.7 acres. Bhagwat travels with a security entourage close to the size of Modi’s.
“The society listens to us,” Bhagwat said.
It hasn’t all been smooth. Some RSS leaders feel Modi has grown so powerful that he overshadows the organization’s culture of community. They say Bhagwat has had to find subtle ways, especially in areas like education and culture that are a prime focus for the RSS, to work with Modi’s penchant for doing everything in his name and his image.
Publicly, Bhagwat has pushed back against reports of quarrels between the mother ship and its political arm.
“There is struggle,” he said. “But not quarrel.”
For the RSS’ vast networks, Modi’s symbolic value is immense, connecting their daily work to the height of power.
AlhadSadachar, 49, a human resources consultant who has been an RSS volunteer in Nagpur since childhood, said Modi “has come from this ground level, so he understands better.”
“Every House, Every Street”
As the RSS’ centenary celebrations got underway in October, there was no sign of any past stigma.
Television channels ran wall to wall coverage. Powerful politicians stood for the RSS’ trademark salute, wearing the uniform of brown pants, white shirt and black cap. Congratulatory messages poured in from Bollywood celebrities to the Dalai Lama.
In Nagpur, where the RSS was founded and is headquartered, Bhagwat watched thousands of uniformed volunteers perform drills, songs, and yoga poses before a crowd of about 10,000, including dozens of foreign diplomats.
When the chief ideologue got up for a culminating speech, his vision was clear: The RSS must expand until it covers “every house, every street.”
But, like many speeches of RSS leaders, the mission was muddied by double speak and the contradictions between what he says and how his affiliates rule on the ground.
The mustachioed chief is credited with moving the needle on issues the RSS has been slow on, including trying to reduce the hold of India’s rigid caste system to create an “exploitation free” society. He has criticized vigilantes and said the RSS did not support the dismantling of mosques and building of temples (besides the one in Ayodhya.)
But he added: The RSS will not object to members participating in such movements in their own capacity.
The RSS’ ultimate goal is the creation of a “Hindu rashtra,” an all-encompassing system that is often simplified as turning India’s secular republic into a Hindu state. Bhagwat said that the term had been misunderstood — that what they really mean is the consolidation of the Hindu nation. Their definition is a cultural one, and they consider everyone living in India as Hindu, he said.
But throughout his recent talks Bhagwat has also referred to “other communities,” a euphemism for religious minorities. At one point, he recommended having three children because the Hindu birthrate is declining faster than “other communities.”
In the centenary speech in Nagpur, he spoke of embracing those who follow religions that came with the foreigners and called for “harmonious and respectful” treatment of their places of worship. He discouraged “engaging in hooliganism” and incitement of violence.
Then, as he often does, he left the door ajar.
“However, the good people of the society and the younger generation also needs to be vigilant and organized,” he said. “They will also have to intervene if necessary.”
To see how this kind of gray doublespeak plays out, look to India’s largest state of Uttar Pradesh, with more than 200 million people. The state’s powerful BJP chief minister, Yogi Adityanath is often spoken of as a potential successor for Modi.
Adityanath frequently attends large Hindu events and rides helicopters to shower flowers on processions of Hindu pilgrims. But when his state’s police clamp down on public displays of religiosity by Muslims, he has justified it by saying India is a secular state and that Muslims should practice their religion in private.
“Faith is not something to be displayed at roundabouts,” said Adityanath, a trained Hindu monk who carries out his duties in a saffron robe.
As Adityanath was lauding the RSS for its centenary, swaths of his state had been on the boil for days and his government had shut the internet.
Tensions flared after police arrested a man who had displayed a large sign of “I (heart) Muhammad” on the birthday of Islam’s prophet. When Muslims held large protests to express outrage at the arrest, Adityanath unleashed more police, who used clubs to break up rallies, arrested dozens and brought criminal charges against more than 1,000 people.
His authorities brought in bulldozers to demolish the homes of the protest leaders, an act that has earned him the nickname “Bulldozer Baba.”
There was no similar show of police force when his Hindu supporters took to the streets in large numbers, in an equally religiously charged demonstration of support for his clampdown. They carried signs that declared “I (heart) Mahadev,” in reference to a Hindu deity, but also “I (heart) Yogi” and “I (heart) Bulldozer.”
Source: telegraphindia.com
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Mideast
UN force in Lebanon says peacekeeper wounded by Israeli fire
December 27, 2025
BEIRUT, Lebanon: The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon said an Israeli attack near their position in the country’s south wounded a peacekeeper on Friday, reiterating a call for Israel to “cease aggressive behavior.”
It is the latest incident reported by the peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, where UNIFIL acts as a buffer between Israel and Lebanon and has been working with Lebanon’s army to support a year-old truce between Israel and militant group Hezbollah.
“This morning, heavy machine gunfire from Israel Defense Forces (IDF) positions south of the Blue Line impacted close to a UNIFIL patrol inspecting a roadblock in the village of Bastarra. The gunfire followed a grenade explosion nearby,” UNIFIL said in a statement.
The force added that “the sound of the gunfire and the explosion left one peacekeeper slightly injured with ear concussion.”
Also on Friday, UNIFIL said “another patrol carrying out a routine operational task also reported machine gunfire from the Israeli side in immediate proximity to their position” in Kfarshuba, south Lebanon.
The peacekeeping force said it had informed the Israel army of its activities in these areas.
Earlier this month, UNIFIL said Israeli forces fired on its peacekeepers in southern Lebanon.
Last month it said Israeli soldiers shot at its troops in the south, while Israel’s military said it mistook blue helmets for “suspects” and fired warning shots.
In October, UNIFIL said one of its members was wounded by an Israeli grenade dropped near a UN position in the country’s south, the third incident of its kind in just over a month.
“Attacks on or near peacekeepers are serious violations of Security Council resolution 1701,” the peacekeeping force added, referring to the 2006 resolution that formed the basis of the November 2024 truce.
UNIFIL reiterated its call to the Israeli army to “cease aggressive behavior and attacks on or near peacekeepers working for peace and stability along the Blue Line.”
Israel carries out regular attacks on Lebanon despite the truce, usually saying it is targeting sites and operatives belonging to Hezbollah, which it accuses of rearming.
It has also kept troops in five south Lebanon areas it deems strategic.
Source: arabnews.com
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Lebanon approves financial gap draft law despite opposition from Hezbollah and Lebanese Forces
NAJIA AL-HOUSSARI
December 26, 2025
BEIRUT: Lebanon’s Cabinet on Friday approved a controversial draft law to regulate financial recovery and return frozen bank deposits to citizens. The move is seen as a key step in long-delayed economic reforms demanded by the International Monetary Fund.
The decision, which passed with 13 ministers voting in favor and nine against, came after marathon discussions over the so-called “financial gap” or deposit recovery bill, stalled for years since the banking crisis erupted in 2019. The ministers of culture and foreign affairs were absent from the session.
The legislation aims to address the fate of billions of dollars in deposits that have been inaccessible to Lebanese citizens during the country’s financial meltdown.
The vote was opposed by three ministers from the Lebanese Forces Party, three ministers from Hezbollah and the Amal Movement, as well as the minister of youth and sports, Nora Bayrakdarian, the minister of communications, Charles Al-Hajj, and the minister of justice, Adel Nassar.
Finance Minister Yassin Jaber broke ranks with his Hezbollah and Amal allies, voting in favor of the bill. He described his decision as being in line with “Lebanon’s supreme financial interest and its obligations to the IMF and the international community.”
The draft law triggered fierce backlash from depositors who reject any suggestion they shoulder responsibility for the financial collapse. It has also drawn strong criticism from the Association of Banks and parliamentary blocs, fueling fears the law will face intense political wrangling in Parliament ahead of elections scheduled in six months.
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam confirmed the Cabinet had approved the bill and referred it to Parliament for debate and amendments before final ratification. Addressing public concerns, he emphasized that the law includes provisions for forensic auditing and accountability.
“Depositors with accounts under $100,000 will be repaid in full with interest and without any deductions,” Salam said. “Large depositors will also receive their first $100,000 in full, and the remainder will be issued as negotiable bonds backed by the assets of the Central Bank, valued at around $50 billion.”
He said further that bondholders will receive an initial 2 percent payout after the first tranche of repayments is completed.
The law also includes a clause requiring criminal accountability. “Anyone who smuggled funds abroad or benefited from unjustified profits will be fined 30 percent,” Salam said.
He emphasized that Lebanon’s gold reserves will remain untouched. “A clear provision reaffirms the 1986 law barring the sale or mortgaging of gold without parliamentary approval,” he said, dismissing speculation about using the reserves to cover financial losses.
Salam admitted that the law was not perfect but called it “a fair step toward restoring rights.”
“The banking sector’s credibility has been severely damaged. This law aims to revive it by valuing assets, recapitalizing banks, and ending Lebanon’s dangerous reliance on a cash economy,” he said. “Each day of delay further erodes people’s rights.”
While the Association of Banks did not release an immediate response after the vote, it previously argued during discussions that the law would destroy remaining deposits. Bank representatives said lenders would struggle to secure more than $20 billion to cover the initial repayment tier and accused the state of absolving itself of responsibility while effectively granting amnesty for decades of financial mismanagement and corruption.
The law’s fate now rests with Parliament, where political competition ahead of the 2025 elections could complicate or delay its passage.
Lebanon’s banking sector has been at the heart of the country’s economic collapse, with informal capital controls locking depositors out of their savings and trust in state institutions plunging. International donors, including the IMF, have made reforms to the sector a key condition for any financial assistance.
Source: arabnews.com
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UN chief says those behind ‘unacceptable’ Homs attack must face justice
December 27, 2025
UNITED NATIONS/PARIS: United Nations chief Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the deadly attack on Friday prayers at a mosque in the Syrian city of Homs, and said the perpetrators should be brought to justice.
“The Secretary-General reiterates that attacks against civilians and places of worship are unacceptable. He stresses that those responsible must be identified and brought to justice,” spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.
The explosion killed at least eight worshippers at a mosque in a predominantly Alawite area of Homs, with an Islamist militant group claiming responsibility.
France also condemned the attack, calling it an “act of terrorism” designed to destabilize the country.
The attack “is part of a deliberate strategy aimed at destabilizing Syria and the transition government,” the French foreign ministry said in a statement.
It condemned what it said was an attempt to “compromise ongoing efforts to bring peace and stability.”
The attack, during Friday prayers, was the second blast in a place of worship since Islamist authorities took power a year ago, after a suicide bombing in a Damascus church killed 25 people in June.
In a statement on Telegram, the extremist group Saraya Ansar Al-Sunna said its fighters “detonated a number of explosive devices” in the Imam Ali Bin Abi Talib Mosque in the central Syrian city.
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Islamic Jihad Commends Heroic Operations in Beit She'an and Afula, Palestine
26 Dec 2025
The Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine commended the two heroic operations carried out in the Beit She'an and Afula areas of occupied Palestine on Friday afternoon, which resulted in a number of casualties among the occupying Zionist settlers.
In a press statement received by the Yemeni News Agency (Saba), the movement affirmed that these heroic operations are a response to the ongoing policy of aggression against the Palestinian people in their homeland.
Source: saba.ye
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Katz orders West Bank raid after attack in Israel
December 26, 2025
JERUSALEM: Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz on Friday ordered the military to launch an operation in the village of Qabatiya in the occupied West Bank after it emerged that a Palestinian who killed two people came from there.
The minister instructed the Israeli forces to “act forcefully and immediately against the village of Qabatiya, from which the murderous terrorist emerged, in order to locate and thwart every terrorist and strike the village’s terror infrastructure,” Katz’s office said in a statement.
“Anyone who aids terrorism or sponsors and backs it will pay the full price,” it added.
The military said in a separate statement that it was preparing to begin an operation in Qabatiya in the northern West Bank, which has seen repeated violent incidents.
Friday’s stabbing and car-ramming attack in northern Israel triggered the minister’s action.
The assault came a day after an Israeli military reservist dressed in civilian clothes rammed his vehicle into a Palestinian man in the West Bank, where violence has surged since the war in Gaza began.
“Preliminary investigation indicates this was a rolling terror attack that began in the city of Beit Shean, where a pedestrian was run over,” Israeli police said in a statement about Friday’s attack, adding that the victim was a 68-year-old man.
“Later, a young woman was stabbed near Road 71, and the suspect was ultimately engaged with gunfire near Maonot Junction in Afula following intervention by a civilian bystander,” it said, adding that the attacker was taken to hospital.
Both victims succumbed to the injuries, Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency services said in a statement.
MDA also reported that a 16-year-old was slightly injured when “hit by a vehicle.
The Israeli military said the attacker had “infiltrated into Israeli territory several days ago.”
President Isaac Herzog condemned the attack.
Friday’s attack comes just days after Israeli soldiers shot dead a Palestinian teenager in the Qabatiya area.
The military has launched an investigation into the incident after footage emerged showing the teenager not posing any threat or throwing anything at soldiers who shot him.
The attack on Friday also came a day after an Israeli military reservist dressed in civilian clothes rammed his vehicle into a Palestinian man in the
West Bank.
In videos on social media purporting to show that incident, the victim is seen praying by the roadside when the soldier rams him with his vehicle.
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Gaza hospital says receives fuel but only for about two days
December 26, 2025
KHAN YUNIS: A major Gaza hospital that had suspended several services due to diesel shortages said it resumed some operations on Friday after receiving fuel but warned the supplies would only last about two days.
Ravaged by more than two years of war, the Al-Awda Hospital in central Gaza’s Nuseirat district cares for around 60 in-patients and receives nearly 1,000 people seeking medical treatment each day.
Earlier Friday, a senior official involved in managing the hospital, Ahmed Mehanna, said “most services have been temporarily stopped due to a shortage of the fuel needed for the generators.”
“Only essential departments remain operational: the emergency unit, maternity ward and paediatrics,” he had told AFP, adding that the hospital rented a small generator to keep those services running.
He had warned that a prolonged fuel shortage “would pose a direct threat to the hospital’s ability to deliver basic services.”
Under normal conditions, Al-Awda Hospital consumes between 1,000 and 1,200 liters of diesel per day, but it only had some 800 liters available.
Later Friday, Mehanna said that “this evening, 2,500 liters of fuel arrived from the World Health Organization, and we immediately resumed operations.”
“This quantity of fuel will last only two and a half days, but we have been promised an additional delivery next Sunday.”
Mohammed Salha, the hospital’s acting director, accused Israeli authorities of deliberately restricting fuel supplies to hospitals in Gaza.
“We are knocking on every door to continue providing services, but while the occupation allows fuel for international institutions, it restricts it for local health facilities such as Al-Awda,” Salha told AFP.
Health hard hit
Despite a fragile truce observed since October 10, the Gaza Strip remains engulfed in a severe humanitarian crisis.
While the ceasefire agreement stipulated the entry of 600 aid trucks per day, only 100 to 300 carrying humanitarian assistance can currently enter, according to the United Nations and non-governmental organizations.
The remaining convoys largely transport commercial goods that remain inaccessible to most of Gaza’s 2.2 million people.
Earlier Friday, KhitamAyada, 30, who has taken refuge in Nuseirat, said she had gone to Al-Awda hospital after days of kidney pain.
But “they told me they didn’t have electricity to perform an X-ray... and that they couldn’t treat me,” the displaced woman said.
“We lack everything in our lives, even the most basic medical services,” she told AFP.
Gaza’s health sector has been among the hardest hit by the war.
During the fighting, the Israeli miliary repeatedly struck hospitals across Gaza, accusing Hamas of operating command centers there, an allegation the group denied.
International medical charity Doctors Without Borders now manages roughly one-third of Gaza’s 2,300 hospital beds, while all five stabilization centers for children suffering from severe malnutrition are supported by international NGOs.
The war in Gaza was sparked by an unprecedented Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 that resulted in the deaths of 1,221 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.
In Israel’s ensuing military campaign in Gaza, at least 70,942 people — also mostly civilians — have been killed, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.
These figures are considered reliable by the United Nations.
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Two killed in stabbing and ramming attack, Israeli police say
December 26, 2025
JERUSALEM: A Palestinian killed a man and a woman in a stabbing and car-ramming attack in northern Israel on Friday, triggering a threat from the defense minister to crack down on the assailant’s village in the occupied West Bank.
The attack came a day after an Israeli military reservist dressed in civilian clothes rammed his vehicle into a Palestinian man in the West Bank, where violence has surged since the war in Gaza began in October 2023.
“Preliminary investigation indicates this was a rolling terror attack that began in the city of Beit Shean, where a pedestrian was run over,” Israeli police said in a statement, adding that the victim was a 68-year-old man.
“Later, a young woman was stabbed near Road 71, and the suspect was ultimately engaged with gunfire near Maonot Junction in Afula following intervention by a civilian bystander,” it said, adding that the attacker was taken to a hospital.
Both the victims succumbed to the injuries, Israel’s emergency service provider Magen David Adom said in a statement.
MDA also reported that a 16-year-old teenager was slightly injured when “hit by a vehicle.”
The Israeli military said the attacker had “infiltrated into Israeli territory several days ago.”
Following the attack, Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered the military to launch an operation in the village of Qabatiya in the West Bank after it emerged that the attacker came from there.
“Defense Minister Israel Katz instructed the IDF to act forcefully and immediately against the village of Qabatiya, from which the murderous terrorist emerged, in order to locate and thwart every terrorist and strike the village’s terror infrastructure,” Katz’s office said in a statement.
“Anyone who aids terrorism or sponsors and backs it will pay the full price,” it added.
The military said in a separate statement that it was preparing to begin an operation in Qabatiya.
“Horrific killing”
President Isaac Herzog condemned the attack.
“I wish to express my deep shock at the horrific killing spree and the combined terrorist attack in northern Israel carried out by a despicable terrorist,” he said in a statement.
“Israel is committed to reinforcing and strengthening this challenging border and, of course, to bolstering the security response in the area for the full safety of the residents,” Herzog added.
On Thursday, an Israeli military reservist dressed in civilian clothes had rammed his vehicle into a Palestinian man in the West Bank.
In videos on social media purporting to show that incident, the victim is seen praying on the side of a road when the soldier rams him with his vehicle.
Since the start of the war in Gaza following Hamas’ attack on Israel, at least 38 people, including two foreigners, have been killed inside Israel in attacks by Palestinians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.
During the same period, violence has also surged in the West Bank, a territory occupied by Israel since 1967.
Israeli troops and settlers have killed more than 1,000 Palestinians in the West Bank, including many militants as well as dozens of civilians, according to an AFP tally based on figures from the Palestinian health ministry.
According to official Israeli figures, at least 44 Israelis, both soldiers and civilians, have been killed in Palestinian attacks or Israeli military operations in the same period in the West Bank.
Source: arabnews.com
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Israel becomes first country to formally recognize Somaliland as independent state
December 26, 2025
JERUSALEM: Israel became the first country to formally recognize the self-declared Republic of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state on Friday — a decision that could reshape regional dynamics and test Somalia’s longstanding opposition to its secession.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would seek immediate cooperation with Somaliland in agriculture, health, technology and the economy. In a statement he congratulated Somaliland’s president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, praised his leadership and invited him to visit Israel.
Netanyahu said the declaration “is in the spirit of the Abraham Accords, signed at the initiative of President Trump.”
The 2020 accords were brokered by Trump’s first administration and included Israel formalising diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, with other countries joining later.
Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and Somaliland’s president signed a joint declaration of mutual recognition, the Israeli statement said.
Abdullahi said in a statement that Somaliland would join the Abraham Accords, calling it a step toward regional and global peace. He said Somaliland was committed to building partnerships, boosting mutual prosperity and promoting stability across the Middle East and Africa.
Egypt meanwhile said Foreign Minister BadrAbdelatty held phone calls on Friday with his counterparts from Somalia, Turkiye and Djibouti to discuss what they described as dangerous developments in the Horn of Africa following Israel’s announcement.
The ministers condemned Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, reaffirmed their full support for Somalia’s unity and territorial integrity, and warned that recognizing breakaway regions poses a threat to international peace and security, Egypt’s foreign ministry said.
Somaliland has enjoyed effective autonomy — and relative peace and stability — since 1991 when Somalia descended into civil war, but the breakaway region has failed to receive recognition from any other country.
Over the years, Somalia has rallied international actors against any country recognizing Somaliland.
The former British protectorate hopes that recognition by Israel will encourage other nations to follow suit, increasing its diplomatic heft and access to international markets.
In March, Somalia and its breakaway region of Somaliland also denied receiving any proposal from the United States or Israel to resettle Palestinians from Gaza, with Mogadishu saying it categorically rejected any such move.
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Arab World
Saudi Arabia rejects Israel’s recognition of Somaliland
December 26, 2025
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Friday expressed full support for the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of Somalia, and expressed its rejection of the declaration of mutual recognition between Israel and Somaliland.
Israel on Friday formally recognized Somaliland as an “independent and sovereign state” and signed an agreement to establish diplomatic ties, as the region’s leader hailed its first-ever official recognition.
The Kingdom affirmed its rejection of any attempts to impose parallel entities that conflict with the unity of Somalia, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
It also affirmed its support for the legitimate institutions of the Somali state, and its keenness to preserve the stability of Somalia and its people.
Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991, has for decades pushed for international recognition, the key priority for president Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi since he took office last year.
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‘Flying Over Saudi’ launches cinematic aerial experience of Saudi landmarks
December 26, 2025
RIYADH: The Flying Over Saudi experience was launched on Thursday at Boulevard City as part of Riyadh Season, introducing visitors to the first experience of its kind in the Kingdom.
The attraction provides a cinematic aerial journey using immersive technologies and multisensory effects that display Saudi Arabia’s most significant natural and urban landscapes from a new perspective, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The experience takes guests on a visual journey over the Kingdom’s diverse terrain, taking in Saudi Arabia’s vast deserts, towering mountains, lush valleys, modern cities, and expansive coastlines, in addition to special views of the Two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madinah.
The film is presented in 8K resolution, featuring high-quality footage that captures the Kingdom’s geographic and cultural richness in a matter of minutes.
Each ride lasts about eight minutes, enhanced by sensory effects such as wind, water mist, and natural scent elements, along with innovative seat motion that intensifies the sense of realism and creates an experience close to actual flight.
The visual and audio technologies work seamlessly together to immerse visitors fully in the scenes presented.
By combining its immersive elements with footage filmed over diverse landscapes, Flying Over Saudi offers Riyadh Season visitors a new perspective of the Kingdom, one that merges advanced technology with local visual identity and highlights one of the widest natural maps extending from north to south and from the coastlines into the heart of the cities.
The launch of this experience exemplifies Riyadh Season’s commitment to delivering high-quality entertainment built on innovation and advanced presentation techniques. It further contributes to introducing visitors, from the Kingdom and abroad, to the beauty and diversity of Saudi Arabia’s destinations, reinforcing the season’s position as a leading platform for world-class immersive experiences.
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Coffee in Saudi Arabia’s Northern Borders is about flavor and community
December 26, 2025
ARAR: The strong and dark coffee in Saudi Arabia’s Northern Borders region denotes flavor, community and conversation.
The brew is typically prepared with generous amounts of cardamom, saffron or cloves and sometimes ginger. It is boiled in a rakwa or coffee kettle over a wood fire, giving it a unique taste associated with the Bedouin environment.
The coffee is served at “shabbat” gatherings in desert camps and on the outskirts of cities, where families and friends gather around a fire for warmth and conversations, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.
Mohammed Ibrahim Al-Zammam, an Arar elder, said: “Coffee transcends simple hospitality for us — it initiates dialogue and embodies welcome. We dedicate ourselves to mastering its preparation because it demonstrates guest reverence and heritage appreciation.”
Northern heritage advocate Fahd Al-Saqri noted that coffee has evolved into a daily fixture within community councils, stressing that shabbat gatherings cannot truly commence without it.
Residents are keen to select the finest types of coffee beans, and preparation methods vary among families according to taste and custom.
Some families have passed down methods of preparing coffee through generations, with quality recognized by aroma, flavor, and color.
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SAMA adds check clearance to automated services
December 26, 2025
RIYADH: The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) has announced the addition of a check-clearing service to its website. According to a press release, the service aims to complete the clearance of checks clearing within one business day.
The initiative “aligns with the bank’s digital transformation-strategy framework, which seeks to deliver automated services to individuals and entities through a secure and unified digital portal,” the press release stated.
The bank’s e-services portal provides digital alternatives to traditional transaction methods, “enhancing user experience through faster processing, easier access, and advanced data protection measures,” it continued.
The e-services portal offers several additional services, the press release noted, including account inquiries, deposits, and the management of safety deposit boxes belonging to deceased people; the submission of complaints against financial institutions; the submission of personal data rights requests; “joining the bank’s regulatory sandbox; and requesting non-objection clearance for leadership positions.”
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KSrelief distributes dates to refugees in Chad
December 26, 2025
N’DJAMENA: : The Saudi aid agency KSrelief has distributed 432 cartons of dates to refugees arriving from Sudan at the Mare’ Sabri Camp in the Wadi Fira region of Chad.
The assistance was provided as part of the project to distribute 800 tonnes of dates to support needy families in Chad.
This comes within the framework of the humanitarian and relief projects provided by the Kingdom to assist people wherever they may be.
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Princess Sarah visits Madinah development projects
December 26, 2025
MADINAH: Princess Sarah bint Bandar bin Abdulaziz, executive director of the International Dates Council, visited several landmarks and development projects in Madinah on Thursday.
This visit was part of Princess Sarah’s efforts to promote integration between cultural, heritage and agricultural development, and to support initiatives that contribute to improving the quality of life and enhancing the tourism experience, the SPA reported on Friday.
The visit also included a tour of the Al-Safiya Museum, located in the central area south of the Prophet’s Mosque. The museum is a prominent cultural and tourist landmark, combining heritage with modern technologies.
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Saudi Arabia condemns blast that hit mosque in Alawite area of Syria’s Homs
December 26, 2025
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia condemned an explosion at a mosque of the Alawite minority sect in the Syrian city of Homs on Friday that killed eight people.
The city’s press office said an explosive device had detonated inside the Imam Ali bin Abi Talib mosque and that security forces had cordoned off the area.
Syrian news agency SANA cited health ministry official Najib Al-Naasan as saying 18 others were wounded and that the figures were not final, indicating they could rise.
Extremist Syrian group Saraya Ansar Al-Sunnah said on its Telegram channels that it carried out the attack. The group previously claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing at a Damascus church in June that killed 20 people.
In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said: “The Kingdom affirms its categorical rejection of terrorism, extremism, targeting of mosques and places of worship, and terrorizing innocent people. It expresses its solidarity with Syria in this great tragedy, and its support for the Syrian government’s efforts to establish security and stability.”
The statement extended the Kingdom’s condolences to the families of the victims and to the government and people of Syria. It also wished the injured a speedy recovery.
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Korean Embassy uses cinema to bridge borders and strengthen Saudi ties
LAMA ALHAMAWI
December 26, 2025
RIYADH: The Korean Embassy in Riyadh hosted a Korean movie screening at the Cultural Palace on Friday to further Saudi-Korean understanding and enhance soft power through film.
“Film can contain lots of content and messages and culture and way of thinking and how the country lives,” Park So-yeon, consul and second secretary, told Arab News.
“To understand (Korea) much better, even without even going there, we can see the movie or drama,” she added.
“With one movie, it would be a very good way to see Korea, that is why I chose a movie,” she said.
Saudi Arabia and Korea have maintained a longstanding relationship that spans more than 60 years, with diplomatic relations beginning in 1962 when King Saud bin Abdulaziz and Korean President Park Chung-hee signed an agreement.
Since then, cooperation in soft power has flourished, with tourism, education, and cultural partnerships in film and drama expanding.
“The cultural cooperation started a few years ago between Saudi Arabia and Korea and amount the aspects the movie cooperation is the most lively part,” Park said.
Park said that major entertainment companies are expanding into the region and setting up headquarters in Riyadh.
“CG ENM, which is the entertainment Korean company, established regional headquarters in Riyadh in August.”
Park said that she hopes to host more film and cultural events in the new year as more Korean content and production companies make their way to the Kingdom.
The film selected for the screening was “Tunnel,” which features a man driving home for his daughter’s birthday when a tunnel collapses, trapping him inside his vehicle for days.
The consul explained how the selected film features themes of family, perseverance, and teamwork.
“It would be good for families and friends in Saudi Arabia to end this year thinking about family and life, that’s why I chose this movie for this event,” Park said.
The event also features activity stations where guests can customize key rings with charms, with all materials having been shipped directly from Korea for the occasion.
Source: arabnews.com
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Heroic effort by security personnel at the Grand Mosque saves man’s life
RASHID HASSAN
December 26, 2025
RIYADH: Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of the Interior, on Friday reached out to the security guard injured at the Grand Mosque in Makkah while saving a man trying to commit suicide, and praised his bravery.
The heroic effort by the security guard on duty at the Masjid Al Haram saved the life of a man who attempted suicide by jumping from the top floor of the Grand Mosque.
A swift intervention by the security guard averted the fatal fall, the Saudi authorities said on Thursday.
In a post on X, the official account of the Emarah, Makkah Region, said: “The special force for the security of the Grand Mosque has promptly initiated proceedings in a case where a person jumped from an upper level of the Grand Mosque, and a security man was injured while attempting to prevent him from hitting the ground at the time of his fall.”
The interior minister personally contacted soldier Rayan bin Saeed bin Yahya Al-Ahmad to inquire about his recovery after he suffered injuries in the line of duty at the Grand Mosque.
Al-Ahmad sustained multiple injuries while trying to break the man’s fall and prevent him hitting the ground. Medical teams quickly reached the site and after preliminary check-ups rushed both men to hospital for treatment.
The minister commended Al-Ahmad’s bravery, commitment, and heightened awareness during the incident, qualities that demonstrate his dedication to his security mission.
The interior minister told the officer that his response exemplifies the high principles security forces uphold while serving the religion and the country.
The minister characterized the intervention as “far more than routine duty” — describing it as a selfless humanitarian act embodying supreme sacrifice and reflecting the exceptional preparedness and professional capability required to manage critical situations at Islam’s holiest site.
The minister highlighted the unwavering support and care security personnel receive from the Saudi leadership in appreciation of their contributions and sacrifices in safeguarding the Grand Mosque and the pilgrims.
This backing, he noted, provides essential encouragement for maintaining distinguished performance in security operations.
Prince Abdulaziz concluded the call by praying for the officer’s swift recovery and safe return to duty.
As social media filled with the heroic story, Saeed Al-Qahtani, a social media user, praised the life-saving attempt saying: “Is it a military vigilance or a human spirit inhabiting that uniform? Between one heartbeat and the next, and in the heart of reassurance, the security man rescues a desperate soul; transforming the disaster into a heroic rescue story and a smart reading of the features of breakdown before it’s too late. You are not a guardian of a place, you are a guardian of lives.”
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2627529/saudi-arabia
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Jeddah Winter Wonderland thrills visitors with rides and entertainment
NADA HAMEED
December 26, 2025
JEDDAH: Jeddah Season 2025 launched “Jeddah Winter Wonderland” this week, offering the largest winter-themed entertainment experience yet staged in the coastal city.
Running until February, the attraction on King Abdulaziz Road near the Corniche, transformed the area into a festive winter destination inspired by global winter parks, snow-themed settings, immersive lighting and vibrant visual effects.
The grand entrance features a winter fairytale, where the gate rises like a storybook castle, tall stone towers wrapped in glowing blue lights, snowy rooftops, and an arch crowned with the Winter Wonderland sign. Beyond it, a glowing ice-blue tree welcomes visitors to a world where winter magic comes alive under an open sky.
Inside, the experience unfolds with penguins, fake snow, snowmen, a giant moving mammoth, giant polar bears, animated statues, reindeers, and sparkling ice-diamond structures.
The space is divided into four main themed zones — Toy Town, North Pole, Wild Winter and Frost Fair. Each zone features a selection of amusement rides, skill-based games and family-friendly activities.
Winter Wonderland brings thrilling rides, scary horror experiences, kids-only zones, arcade games, roller coasters, and anime-inspired areas. Food stalls line the paths, leading to a giant open-air theater that hosts daily shows and programs. As you walk, live performers in winter-themed costumes dance, wave, interact with guests, and blow bubbles, especially delighting younger visitors.
The space suits children, teenagers, adults, and elders alike, blending family-friendly vibes with adrenalin-filled attractions and immersive entertainment.
Kinda Shehata and Khalda Al-Anqari, both 13 years old and from Jeddah Knowledge School, told Arab News about their experience.
“When I first entered Winter Wonderland, I was honestly shocked by how beautiful it was. I loved the lights, and it’s even better at night. The rides are a perfect mix of scary and fun, and I definitely recommend it,” Kinda said. “We still haven’t had the chance to try everything, but by the end of the night, I’m sure I’ll be recommending this place even more.
“I love how all the rides are so fun, and I’m really excited to try all of them. I also love the variety of food, and the way the staff interact with us, it makes the experience even more enjoyable.”
Khalda said: “The place is unexpectedly amazing and beautiful. It’s a very huge place, mashallah. I don’t think I could finish all the rides and try all the delicious food in just one day.
“I thought my favorite ride would be the green roller coaster with the loops, but unfortunately it was closed. We tried many other rides, but they were smaller and not very extreme. I would recommend adding more scary rides and roller coasters.
“I really like the overall vibe, it feels like something you’d see in London or similar places. It’s very nice, but adding more rides would make it even better.”
Mira Magno, an expat from the Philippines who has lived in Saudi Arabia for 10 years, said: “The weather is nice, and all the rides are good. Everything is enjoyable. I came here with my friends and my three-year-old daughter. It’s a lovely experience for families.”
Suraj from India came to Winter Wonderland with his family. Having lived in Saudi Arabia for more than 26 years, he reflected on how entertainment experiences such as Winter Wonderland have become an annual tradition for his family.
“Winter Wonderland is very good. We also visited City Walk last year, and we make sure to attend these events every year. My children really enjoy the rides and have a lot of fun.”
Fathima and her brother Samvid, 13 and 12 years old respectively, experienced the park with wide-eyed excitement, describing it as extraordinary and full of energy. Surrounded by rides and attractions, she spoke with genuine enthusiasm, especially about her favorite ride.
“This park is very exclusive and extraordinary, and I love it. There are so many rides and attractions. I think everyone should visit. My favorite ride was Apollo 13.”
Her brother added: “Winter Wonderland was not just fun, but a memorable adventure.”
The attraction includes 32 amusement rides, 10 skill games, and nine interactive experiences. Visitors can also explore more than 60 restaurants and retail outlets offering a wide range of international cuisine and shopping options, alongside live music performances and winter-themed decor.
Among the standout zones is North Pole, which draws inspiration from the Arctic. The area features snow-covered landscapes, illuminated ice elements and light shows inspired by the Aurora Borealis. Key attractions in the North Pole zone include the Jeddah ice rink, where visitors can enjoy ice skating to music under colorful festive lighting, blending physical activity with entertainment.
Another highlight is The Snow Dome, an immersive structure offering a 360-degree visual experience. Inside, visitors are surrounded by Aurora Borealis-inspired light displays and interactive color projections, creating a dreamlike environment ideal for families and groups.
Jeddah Winter Wonderland is open to visitors from 4 p.m. to midnight on weekdays and from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. on weekends. Entrance for adults is SR30 ($7.99) on weekdays and SR40 on weekends. Entry for children 6 and under is free.
Source: arabnews.com
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Europe
In Norway, discover 1000 years of Queer expression in Islamic Art
BY EMI ELEODE
December 27, 2025
Islamic art can be misunderstood, particularly in the idea that it entirely forbids depictions of living beings. This view, however, ignores the historical complexities involved. In truth, animals and humans have been shown in Muslim culture’s art, particularly in secular and private contexts (though such representations are rare in religious settings).
This complicated legacy, alongside the exploration of Queer identities throughout Islamic art history, has received little attention in mainstream discourse. Recently, museums and galleries have begun highlighting these narratives for the wider public, including, most notably, at The National Museum of Norway with its new exhibition, Deviant Ornaments. Spanning over a thousand years and four continents, the show features more than 40 works by 30 artists and craftspeople, including textiles, wall tiles, decorative plates, illustrations, as well as contemporary paintings, sculptures, and videos, illustrating the intricate and rich history of queer expression in Islamic art.
Curated by Noor Bhangu, a scholar who developed the concept of Deviant Ornaments during her PhD, the exhibition is also influenced by her personal experiences as a racialised South Asian woman living in Norway. The project began with an exploration of queer history alongside Islamic art history, noting that both fields experienced a significant rupture in the 19th century, characterised by a decline in artistic production. ‘People from this region no longer had a script or understanding of sexuality because they were damaged by colonisation. So this rupture was contemporaneous in both disciplines,’ Bhangu explains.
Divided into three themes - Abundance, Ornamentation and History of Sexuality - Deviant Ornaments highlights the erotic turn in the field to challenge rigid ideas of gender, sexuality, and cultural heritage, while also confronting the difficult legacies of Orientalism and colonialism. The exhibition bridges these perceived ruptures by showcasing works by both historical and contemporary artists engaged with ornamental aesthetics from diverse cultural, political, and geographical backgrounds.
Works on show include the 3D-printed work Amorous Couple (2025) by Rah Eleh, commissioned by the National Museum of Oslo. This piece references a 17th-century Mughal miniature housed at the Bibliothèquenationale de France, noted as one of the few visual portrayals of lesbians with dildos in Islamic art history. The work portrays two queer figures. One is identified as the king’s guard holding the dildo, while the other is an aristocrat and one of the king’s wives. In historical texts, such guards are documented to provide pleasure to the wives in secret women’s quarters using objects like a cucumber.
Bhangu worked in close dialogue with Eleh, stating that there is a passage in a manuscript by Venetian diplomat Ottaviano Bon that mentions the banning of cucumbers and carrots. While he doesn’t explicitly name sapphic pleasure, he was clear that such things were outlawed. ‘There's very little reference to female homosexuality and sexuality. We have more representations of men, both visual and textual, but what we have instead in terms of female histories, feminist histories, are references and suggestions. This manuscript is lovely because it also visualises what we're talking about.’
In room two, there is an eye-catching contemporary painting titled Kasbah (2008) by Lynette Yiadom-Boakye. The artwork features a Black figure wrapped in a white shroud, gazing directly ahead. Their eyes seem to follow viewers around the room, and the sitter's gender is ambiguous, reflecting a fluid identity. The title Kasbah refers to a citadel or the Arab quarters of a North African city and it references Édouard Manet’s Orientalist painting Olympia (1863), which depicts a white woman attended by her Black maid, highlighting the racist and sexual legacies of Western art. With Yiadom-Boakye’s painting, the figure confidently occupies space.
Elsewhere, Parisian-born artist Damien Ajavon’s textile sculpture, Cheminvers Oslo (2025), explores the opacity and poetics of textiles, linking them to queer and Afro-diasporic representations. The woven textile is also decorated with the Hand of Fatima and the protective eye amulet to safeguard the labour the show presents, acknowledge its complex histories, and serve as a protective layer for the exhibiting artists, helping them face criticism and challenges from many sides. ‘It's not that we're scared about the Muslim community taking offence, but this exhibition is challenging Islamophobia as well,' says Bhangu.
Source: wallpaper.com
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European NATO nations openly ‘preparing for war’ – Belarusian defense minister
26 Dec, 2025
The leaders of European NATO countries are making no secret of the fact that they are preparing for war against Russia and Belarus, Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin has said.
The situation on Belarus’ western border is “tense, prone to radicalization and difficult,” the defense minister, who also holds the rank of lieutenant general, said in a televised interview on Friday, according to Belta news agency.
“The actions of the leaders of neighboring countries also indicate – and they don’t hide it – that preparations for war are underway,” Khrenin said. “They claim they are threatened by Russia and, of course, by Belarus. We have a Union State, and they will fight us.”
Poland, Germany, France and the Baltic states are all vying to militarize and create powerful armies, he added.
The European NATO nations’ recent commitment to allocate 5% of their GDP to their militaries “already suggests that this is a pre-war budget,” Khrenin said.
The US-led military bloc has been upgrading ports and airfields near Belarus and ramping up drills and training, as well as creating new units and boosting the forward presence of its troops near the Russian and Belarusian borders, he asserted.
The deployment of nuclear-capable, medium-range Russian Oreshnik missiles in Belarus is a strategic deterrent against this, Khrenin said.
“This is our reaction to their aggression, aggressive actions, to their statement that they are going to war with us,” he said. “We say: there is no need, we don’t want to fight. Let’s negotiate.”
On Thursday, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko was briefed on the deployment of the Oreshnik system in his country.
The missile system, armed with hypersonic IRBMs, will enter combat duty before the new year, Russian President Vladimir Putin said last week.
Moscow “has been seeking diplomatic resolutions to contradictions and conflicts as long as there is the slimmest hope of success,” Putin noted. Any lost chances are the responsibility of those who mistakenly “believe that they can use the language of force with us,” he stressed.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/russia/630062-nato-nations-preparing-war-khrenin/
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British-Egyptian activist arrives in UK after travel ban lifted
27 December 2025
Caroline Hawley
The British-Egyptian writer and pro-democracy activist Alaa Abdel Fattah has arrived in the UK after a travel ban imposed by the Egyptian authorities was lifted.
He was freed from jail in September after spending more than a decade of his life behind bars.
His latest imprisonment came after being convicted of "spreading fake news" when he shared a Facebook post about torture in the country.
For Alaa Abdel Fattah and his family this is a new beginning after years of separation and suffering. His mother, Laila Soueif, almost died twice while on hunger strike to push for his release.
The most prominent of Egypt's many political prisoners, he was pardoned by President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi in September but was then not allowed to leave the country.
Now, removed from the travel ban list, he has flown to the UK to be reunited with his 14-year old son who lives in Brighton.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer wrote on X that he was delighted, saying Alaa Abdel Fattah's case had been a top priority for the government.
His sister, Mona, said that hundreds of people around the world had helped bring this moment about and the family could now finally begin to heal.
Speaking to the BBC from Cairo in October after his release, he had said: "I'm learning how to get back into life."
"I'm doing much better than I would have expected. Much better than most people would have expected," he added.
His release in September followed a long campaign by his family - backed by celebrities such as actors Judi Dench and Olivia Colman - and lobbying by the British government.
Source: bbc.com
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UK to offer military 'gap year' to boost recruitment
27 December 2025
Joe Pike
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is to launch a "gap year" scheme to give school and college leavers a taste of the Army, Royal Navy and RAF, but without making a long-term commitment.
The paid 12-month course is aimed at under-25s and is part of efforts to help solve long-term recruitment and retention problems in the armed forces.
Applications open in spring 2026 to be part of the first cohort of 150 recruits, with ministers planning for the scheme to eventually grow to 1,000 young people a year.
The programme is paid but officials have yet to announce a salary.
The MoD says those who join the "gap year" programme will learn skills of leadership, teamwork and problem solving to set them up "for life" whether they pursue a career in the armed forces or not.
Officials hope the scheme will bring a broader range of people into the forces, and that some decide to stay to pursue a career in the military.
Defence Secretary John Healey MP said: "This is a new era for Defence, and that means opening up new opportunities for young people to experience and learn from our Armed Forces.
"This gap year scheme will give Britain's young people a taste of the incredible skills and training on offer across the Army, Royal Navy and RAF. It's part of our determination to reconnect society with our forces, and drive a whole of society approach to our nation's defence.
"As families come together at this time of year, and young people think about their futures, I want the outstanding opportunities on offer in our Armed Forces to be part of that conversation in homes across the UK."
Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge said: "As ever with Labour, the reality does not match the spin. A scheme involving just 150 participants is barely a pilot, let alone the 'whole of society' response they claim to be delivering.
"Of course, the Australian scheme has its strengths but these tiny numbers do nothing for our war readiness, and expose the harsh reality that Labour is prioritising higher welfare spending over a proper increase in the defence budget. Meanwhile, their Defence Investment Plan is months behind schedule, and we still have no idea when, or how, they intend to reach 3% of GDP on defence.
"In contrast, the Conservatives are serious about defending our country, which is why we announced the Sovereign Defence Fund, to raise an additional £50bn for defence and strengthen our deterrence by giving our Armed Forces the modern capabilities they need."
The "gap year" scheme was recommended by the UK Strategic Defence Review in June after being inspired by the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
The ADF gap year programme has been in operation for more than a decade, with applicants offered the chance "get a feel for military life while enjoying unique experiences you can't find anywhere else".
Source: bbc.com
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Zelensky plans to meet Trump on Sunday for talks on ending Russian war
27 December 2025
Sean Seddon
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he will meet his US counterpart Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday, as talks continue on ending Russia's full-scale war.
Zelensky said he wanted to focus on a US-brokered peace plan, and separate proposals for US security guarantees. But a senior Russian official said the plan was "radically different" to the one Russia was negotiating with the US.
The Kremlin has not commented on Zelensky's offer to withdraw troops from Ukraine's eastern Donbas region, if Russia pulls back too.
Overnight, at least five people were injured in the capital, Kyiv, in a fresh wave of Russian air strikes, the mayor said. Another person was wounded in the Kyiv region.
Kyiv Major Vitaliy Klitschko said Ukraine's air defence forces were repelling the attack, with eyewitnesses reporting blasts in the city.
The Russian attack continued on Saturday morning, with Ukraine's air force warning that a drone and missile threat is in force for the entire country.
Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Moscow currently controls about 75% of the Donetsk region, and some 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk. The regions are collectively known as Donbas.
Ukraine has sought to secure guarantees from the US as part of a peace deal, and Zelensky has suggested that a demilitarised "free economic zone" is a potential option for areas of Donbas that Russia has failed to take by force.
On Friday, Zelensky told reporters that the 20-point plan was 90% complete: "Our task is to make sure everything is 100% ready."
He wrote on social media: "We are not losing a single day. We have agreed on a meeting at the highest level – with President Trump in the near future. A lot can be decided before the new year."
But in an interview with Politico published on Friday, Trump said his Ukrainian counterpart "doesn't have anything until I approve it".
"I think it's going to go good with him. I think it's going to go good with [Vladimir] Putin," Trump said.
He also said he expects to speak with the Russian president "soon".
Trump also told Politico that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would visit him in the coming days.
Putin's senior aides have held further talks with US officials over the phone, after Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev returned from a meeting in Florida last weekend.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov was positive about latest developments, but accused Ukraine of trying to "torpedo" talks on the US plan.
"I think December 25, 2025, will remain in all our memories as a milestone when we truly came close to a solution. But whether we can make the final push and reach an agreement depends on our work and the political will of the other side," he said in comments to Russian state TV on Friday.
Shortly after details of Zelensky's imminent visit to Florida emerged, the mayor of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city in the north-east, said two people had been killed and several others wounded in a Russian air strike.
Zelensky has met Trump several times this year, since an initial White House meeting in February descended into a hostile shouting match. Their most recent meeting at the White House in October was far more amicable.
Confirmation of planned top-level talks came after the Ukrainian leader said he had spoken to Trump's chief negotiators, special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner, for an hour over the phone on Christmas Day.
He said the latest round of negotiations had generated "new ideas" on how to end the war, and described it as a "really good conversation".
The White House has proposed establishing what would in effect be a demilitarised zone in eastern Ukraine where both sides agree not to deploy troops - a compromise that would avoid settling the intractable question of legal ownership over the contested territory.
Zelensky signalled on Wednesday that if Ukraine were to pull back by up to 40km (25 miles) from the front line in the east to create an economic zone, then Russia would have to do the same from Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine's industrial heartland in the Donbas.
Ukraine has secured a number of changes to an earlier 28-point draft plan, which was formulated by Witkoff but widely seen as being favourable to Russia.
Zelensky told reporters on Friday that the weekend talks in Florida would focus on several documents, including US security guarantees and a separate economic agreement.
However, Zelensky has repeatedly said the question of territory has proved to be the most difficult issue to resolve, along with the future of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
The White House has proposed Ukraine and Russia split the energy generated by the plant, the largest in Europe. Russian troops currently control it.
Russia is unlikely to agree to a number of points in the updated US plan, especially its territorial proposals. Foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused "groups of states, primarily Western European" of seeking to derail the diplomatic progress that had been made.
Putin has repeatedly warned that Ukrainian troops must withdraw from all of Donbas or Russia will seize it, rejecting any compromise over how to end the war.
Zelensky outlined the latest version of the plan this week, the first time since the original 28-point draft was leaked in November.
Latest proposals commit the US and Europe to providing security guarantees modelled on Nato's Article 5, committing allies to providing military support in the event Russia launches a renewed invasion.
The deal would also see Ukraine's military maintained at 800,000 personnel, a level the Kremlin has demanded be cut.
Source: bbc.com
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Trump pours cold water on Zelensky’s ‘peace plan’
27 Dec, 2025
US President Donald Trump has expressed skepticism about Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky’s latest peace proposal to end the conflict with Moscow, arguing the discussions could move forward only with his blessing.
Trump’s remarks come as he is expected to hold talks with Zelensky in Florida on Sunday. Earlier this week, Zelensky presented a 20-point peace framework, which included a freeze of the frontline in Russia’s Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporozhye, and Kherson regions, Moscow’s withdrawal from several Ukrainian regions, and an 800,000-strong Ukrainian army backed by NATO members. The plan also envisages “Article 5-like” security guarantees from the US, NATO, and European states to Kiev.
In an interview with Politico on Friday, Trump signaled he was in no rush to rally behind Zelensky’s demands. “He doesn’t have anything until I approve it,” Trump stressed. “So we’ll see what he’s got.”
Commenting on Zelensky’s initiative, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov remarked that “the plan – if it can even be called as such – is radically different… from the 27-point [proposal] we were working on with the US side… over the past weeks”.
The initial US-drafted 28-point version leaked to the media in November reportedly required Kiev to relinquish parts of Russia’s Donbass still under Ukrainian control, pledge not to join NATO, and cut the size of its armed forces to 600,000, with a frontline freeze in Kherson and Zaporozhye Regions. Moscow has said that the US proposal could work as a basis for future negotiations. At the same time, Ukraine’s backers in the EU signaled that they would be opposed to any major concessions from Kiev.
Russia maintains that a sustainable settlement is only possible if Ukraine recognizes new territorial realities and commits to neutrality, demilitarization, and denazification.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/630071-trump-pours-cold-water-zelensky-plan/
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No turning point for Ukraine: The frontline reality Western media won’t show
26 Dec, 2025
By Sergey Poletaev
By late December, the gap between political statements and battlefield realities has grown harder to ignore. Despite localized fighting and temporary slowdowns, the Russian Army continues to press forward along key sectors of the front, gradually eroding Ukrainian defenses and dictating the pace of operations.
During a press conference on December 19, Russian President Vladimir Putin succinctly outlined the situation at the front: since March, when Kursk Region was cleared of enemy forces, the full strategic initiative on the battlefield has been in the hands of the Russian Army. This means that Russian forces are advancing along the entire front line.
A counter-question was immediately posed: what about Kupyansk? The Ukrainian military claims to have recaptured the city, and Vladimir Zelensky has reportedly even visited it. So, let’s start our overview there.
Kupyansk
The Russian Army faces challenges in Kupyansk because the ‘West’ group of forces has failed to encircle the city from three sides before engaging in battles. Kupyansk is divided from north to south by the Oskol River; to encircle the city, the Russian Army needs to establish reliable and well-protected crossings north and south of the city, and also advance from the east.
Russian forces were able to establish, fortify, and expand a foothold north of Kupyansk, in the Kondrashovka area; however, they didn’t establish a foothold south of the city, along the Senkovo-Krugliakovka line (1 on map). However, this summer, the Ukrainian defenses in Kupyansk weakened significantly, prompting the Russian command to decide to enter the city from the north.
Until mid-October, battles for Kupyansk progressed fairly well. To reach the city, it was said that troops would have to navigate through a heating pipeline at the bottom of the river (2) and then continue on foot or crawl their way forward. Logistics were complicated and relied on personal delivery or drones. But the risk was worth taking.
By mid-October, the central part of Kupyansk, located on the right bank of the river, was fully under Russian control. Due to logistical challenges, it was not possible to deploy large troop formations in Kupyansk; estimates suggest that no more than 150-200 Russian soldiers were present there at a time.
However, the left-bank portion of the city, where a major railway hub is located, remains under Ukrainian control (3); up to 3,500 soldiers are operationally encircled there.
Ukrainian forces recognized the weak points of the Russian positions on the right bank and launched a local counteroffensive. In late October, Ukrainian forces reinforced their troops and attempted to cut off Russian supply lines between Kupyansk and Kondrashovka (4). As a result, the area north of the city has become a gray zone. Supplies are mainly delivered by drones, despite the fact that the supply routes haven’t been physically cut off.
However, the pace of combat in the city has noticeably slowed, forcing the command of the ‘West’ group of forces to revert to a more conservative approach, shifting the focus to the left bank. The goal is to liberate the area, capture the Kupyansk-Uzlovoy railway station, and establish a physical link with the right bank within the city itself.
Could this local failure of the Russian Army have a noticeable impact on the future course of the conflict? Not really. Kupyansk will only gain strategic importance if the front shifts back by 25-30km, beyond the reach of FPV drones. Only then can the railway be utilized for supplying the army, which would ease logistics in this remote corner of the front.
Liman
In addition to Kupyansk, the ‘West’ group of forces is advancing towards Liman, the second major city north of the Seversky Donets River. Russian forces abandoned Liman during Ukraine’s counteroffensive in 2022. Liman needs to be recaptured by Russian troops not just because it is located in Russia’s Donetsk People’s Republic, but also in order to secure the northern flank for potential future battles over Slavyansk.
In the past month, the eastern flank of the city has been fully isolated, and a 7km stretch of the road between Liman and Seversk has been severed. The partial encirclement on the western flank has expanded, and intense fighting continues within the city itself.
All of this signifies that the Ukrainian garrison in Liman has entered a phase of exhaustion. If it weren’t for orders to hold the city at all costs, Ukrainian forces would likely have retreated long ago, as supplying the city across the river is quite challenging.
Seversk
On December 11, Seversk was officially liberated. The city was captured in less than a month, which is remarkably quick by the standards of the current conflict. Once the Russian army took control of both main routes leading into the city at the end of November, its fate was sealed.
The Ukrainian garrison here could have held out longer, as for example, in Pokrovsk (Krasnoarmeysk). However, unlike in other ‘strongholds’, the Ukrainian forces chose not to launch suicidal counterattacks here and wisely left the area in a timely manner.
The capture of Seversk paves the way to Ukrainian forces’ major stronghold: the Slavyansk-Kramatorsk urban agglomeration. If Russian forces manage to cross the river west of Seversk (1 on map) and establish a foothold on higher ground, Ukraine would have to abandon another defensive line and retreat towards Slavyansk.
Such a maneuver is quite possible. For example, it was the crossing of the Seversky Donets River near the railway bridge in the area of Dronovka that allowed the Russians to cut off one of the routes to Seversk, leading to success in battles for the city.
Pokrovsk – Mirnograd
The Pokrovsk-Mirnograd urban agglomeration was the second most populous area remaining under Ukrainian control in Donbass. Moreover, open steppes stretch for nearly 100km west of Pokrovsk, so beyond the city there are no major settlements where Ukrainian forces can establish durable defense.
Fighting in this area has continued since spring; we’ve covered it in detail before.
In the past month, two key events have occurred. Firstly, the Ukrainian counteroffensive has failed. The Ukrainian attempt to break through the encirclement of Mirnograd from the north via Rodninskoye hasn’t produced any result, and Rodninskoye has partially come back under Russian control.
Secondly, by the end of November, the Russian Army completely liberated Pokrovsk. A tight physical encirclement was formed (for the first time since battles for Mariupol), leaving the garrison in Mirnograd trapped. Hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers surrendered, a few dozen managed to escape through the fields; the fate of the rest is clear.
According to reports, as of December 25, 90-95% of the urban area of Mirnograd had been cleared. Due to our conservative reporting standards, the map shows a smaller area of control – it is based on video evidence, which usually lags behind compared to the situation on the ground.
The fates of Pokrovsk and Mirnograd have been sealed. It’s likely that official announcements of their liberation will come before the end of the year.
Gulaipole
In the past several months, the greatest advance of the Russian Army has been noted between Gulaipole in Zaporozhye Region and Pokrovskoye in Dnepropetrovsk Region. This front is crucial for two reasons: first, it runs along one of Ukraine’s major defensive lines, rendering it largely ineffective.
Second, Russian forces are advancing across open steppes and favorable terrain toward Zaporozhye, and as we can see, the Ukrainian military is currently unable to stop them, as it struggles to establish a stable front there.
Over the past month, Russian forces have taken full control over the eastern bank of the Gaichur river without fighting; troops advanced up to 15km along a 30km front.
Russian troops also established a foothold across the river on the northern flank of the offensive, and captured Peschanoye and Gerasimovka without major resistance.
Ukrainian forces managed to establish a certain defense only in the city of Gulaipole. The Russian Army couldn’t capture it right away; only the part of the city on the eastern bank of the Gaichur river was liberated without battles.
However, Russian troops managed to cross the river and battles are now underway in the central districts of the city. Ukrainian reinforcements sent in to defend the city found themselves operationally encircled, as a 30km stretch of the only road leading into the city is under intense fire control
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/russia/630049-no-turning-point-for-ukraine/
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NATO’s scandal-ridden boss wants war with Russia to be his next train wreck
26 Dec, 2025
By Rachel Marsden
NATO boss, Mark Rutte, says that Western Europe could be heading toward a war with Russia “like our grandparents experienced.” Which implies that he has a phenomenal memory of World War II, 80 years ago. This is especially impressive coming from a man known in the Netherlands, where he spent fourteen years as Prime Minister – until last year – for routinely insisting that he couldn’t remember what he did just the week before.
Germany’s defense minister, Boris Pistorius, was asked about Rutte’s warning and basically told everyone to chill out. Pistorius said of Rutte’s dramatics that “perhaps he wanted to paint a very vivid picture of what could happen,” adding that he doesn’t “believe in such a scenario. In my estimation, Putin isn’t aiming to wage a full-scale war against NATO.”
So if the Germans are telling everyone to calm down, then why is Rutte talking like a hype man for a new world war?
To understand that, you have to understand Rutte, who ran the Netherlands from 2010 to 2024, presiding over four governments, countless scandals, and one very consistent strategy: that of his own survival.
The biggest crisis of his career came in 2021. Tens of thousands of families were falsely accused of welfare fraud as a result of some algorithm being used for detection. They were forced to repay money they didn’t owe. Lives were wrecked. A parliamentary inquiry later called it “unprecedented injustice.” In other words, in the grand scheme of political screwups, this one really stands out in a league of its own. Eventually, Rutte’s government resigned and Rutte called the decision “unavoidable.” Unavoidable – but also somehow not career-ending for him. Rutte resigned, stayed in charge, and later returned – which is like quitting your job but still keeping your office and your parking spot.
Then there were the puzzling money decisions. Rutte oversaw cuts of €47 billion in public spending from 2011 to 2016. Students paid more, pensioners got squeezed, and social housing dried up. By the end of the decade, homelessness had doubled, and half the country couldn’t find an affordable place to live. But hey, the budget spreadsheets looked fantastic. Thing is, they already did before. It’s almost like Rutte had hopped aboard the European austerity train when he saw everyone else boarding it, without checking if the Netherlands even needed to make the trip.
Next stop for Rutte’s political trainwreck: Groningen. Turns out some gas extraction that Rutte’s administration had greenlit started causing earthquakes in the northern Dutch province of Groningen, including a 3.6 magnitude one in 2012. Who knew? Oh, just a bunch of scientists actually working for the government’s mining supervision authorities, who kept shouting at Rutte while he ignored them. Houses cracked. Residents complained. Maybe that’s a cue that it’s time to take the foot off the gas, right? Nope! The government doubled down and increased production anyway. MPs weren’t impressed, with some calling on Rutte to resign. (Spoiler alert: he didn’t.)
Later, a parliamentary investigation found that the state prioritized gas revenue while taking most of the profit. Safety came a distant second. Apologies came much later – long after the government and special interests in oil and gas had pocketed the cash, which the inquiry said was facilitated by all the singing and dancing that Rutte was doing about the need for security at all cost. Sound familiar? Only back then, it was energy security, not national security and defense using Russia as a convenient bogeyman.
And speaking of a lack of transparency, it turns out that was only Rutte’s first rodeo. Later, Rutte admitted that he routinely deleted the text messages off his government phone that were both sensitive and political. Some involved squabbling with the mayor of Amsterdam over whether Black Lives Matter-type protests should supersede the dystopian Covid-era 1.5 meter social distancing rule. Others were with the CEO of multinational Unilever about tax matters.
The opposition said that Rutte wiping his hard drive on a daily basis with all the nonchalance of cleaning the coffee machine was a great way to avoid all accountability around archiving laws. Particularly when that accountability exists almost exclusively in text message form on your government phone and server. Which brings us to Rutte’s signature phrase.
During government coalition talks in 2021, Rutte repeatedly claimed that he had “no active memory” of key discussions – even when paperwork suggested otherwise. 'No active memory' became his unofficial slogan. Bolstered by his highly selective memory, Dutch media nicknamed him 'Teflon Mark,' because nothing stuck – except maybe the job that he should have been kicked out of several scandals ago.
If all this isn’t quite dramatic enough, then why not also spill some unnecessary details about your private life, too? In Europe, no one really cares much about people’s personal lives, but Rutte has long insisted on regaling the public with ambiguities around his anyway. Even before he became prime minister, he openly wished that he were a thirst trap, specifically bisexual, because “then the whole world is after you.” He also riffed about walking around naked at home. Way to turn your political origin story into some kind of kinky art house movie.
Meanwhile, on the world stage, he seems to be just as thirsty. At Ukrainian peace negotiations in Istanbul over the summer, Rutte complained that Russia had sent a historian as part of its delegation, basically accusing him of using Russian history going back to the 13th century to filibuster the peace talks.
Moscow was quick to point out that the EU also sent a historian – one whose insights could best be described as bargain basement. Wonder why Rutte didn’t notice, despite being in attendance? Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has a hunch: “Mr. Rutte himself is also a historian. But at the same time, I never heard brilliant historical parallels from him.”
And finally, the moment that turned the NATO secretary-general into a meme, and arguably also a household name for a few days. “Sometimes daddy has to use strong words,” Rutte said to US President Donald Trump during a press event, referring to Trump’s public rants on global affairs.
Well, that was all it took for social media to light up like it was Christmas. Including one of its top trolls: Trump himself. “I think he likes me. He said it very affectionately: ‘Hey daddy, you’re my daddy,” Trump said of Rutte.
So this is the same guy who’s now warning Europe about repeating history: famous for deleting messages, forgetting conversations, surviving resignations, and never quite being pinned down on anything – even as he stirs up gratuitous speculation and drama, not just about Russia, but also about himself, personally.
When the dust settles on all this warmongering rhetoric, and the costs from this tsunami of threat inflation come due – if history is any indication, then Rutte the historian probably won’t remember anything.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/630025-nato-chief-rutte-scandals/
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Africa
Stop Pampering Terrorists – Adeyanju Tells Tinubu After US Military Strike
December 26, 2025
By Justina Otio
Human rights lawyer, DejiAdeyanju, has accused the federal government and President Bola Tinubu of pampering terrorists.
Adeyanju stated this while reacting to the military attack on terrorist groups in Northern Nigeria on Christmas Day.
Naija News reports that the strike was approved by former US President Donald Trump, who said it was a powerful operation against ISIS members active in Nigeria.
Trump explained that the mission was aimed at stopping the killing of Christians in Northern Nigeria and preventing what he called widespread violence against them.
Speaking via Truth Social, Trump said US forces hit ISIS camps in Northwest Nigeria and accused the group of murdering innocent people for many years.
He also said that under his leadership, the United States would not allow extremist Islamic groups to grow or succeed.
In response, Adeyanju praised Trump’s action and called on the Nigerian government and President Tinubu to stop shielding terrorists or organising events to forgive them.
Posting on 𝕏, Adeyanju wrote that it was time for Nigeria’s leaders to stop treating terrorists softly and to end forgiveness programs for them.
He wrote, “All hail President Donald Trump. Dear Nigerian government & @officialABAT the time to stop pampering terrorists and organizing forgiveness ceremonies for them is now.”
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/12/26/stop-pampering-terrorists-adeyanju-tells-tinubu-after-us-military-strike/
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Imam urges Tinubu to stay focused on national vision at Jumat prayers
by Bolaji Ogundele, Abuja
December 26, 2025
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday joined Muslim faithful for Jumat prayers at the Lekki Central Mosque in Lagos, where the presiding Imam urged him to remain steadfast in pursuing his vision for the country despite challenges and criticism.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr BayoOnanuga.
Delivering the sermon, the visiting Imam of the mosque, Dr SalahudeenMunirudeenArriyadhi, commended the President for what he described as the administration’s ongoing developmental efforts, reminding him that leadership often attracts divergent opinions.
“You cannot satisfy everyone at the same time,” the Imam said, urging the President to stay focused on governance and service to the people.
Quoting from the Qur’an, Dr Arriyadhi told the President that “Allah was happy with leaders who listened to the cries of his followers but unhappy with leaders who do not attend to the needs of the led,” adding prayers for divine guidance and success for the administration.
“We are praying for you, and you will succeed,” he said.
In his sermon, themed Unity in Diversity and Remembering the Day of Judgement, the cleric said human differences in colour, tribe, religion, language and nationality were divinely ordained and should be embraced rather than feared.
He stressed that diversity was not accidental but a sign of God’s wisdom, noting that it should serve as a foundation for harmony, unity and mutual learning among people.
“Diversity is a sign of Allah’s Wisdom. If Allah had wanted every one of His creations to be one, He would have created them one. Diversity in religion and tribe should not be a source of problems,” the Imam said.
President Tinubu was accompanied to the mosque by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, among other senior officials.
He was received at the mosque by the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, as well as members of the mosque’s management.
The President arrived in Lagos on Saturday, December 20, to spend the end-of-year festive season in the nation’s commercial capital.
Source: thenationonlineng.net
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https://thenationonlineng.net/imam-urges-tinubu-to-stay-focused-on-national-vision-at-jumat-prayers/
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Erdogan discusses Sudan war with Burhan as 13 million are displaced
December 27, 2025
In a high stakes meeting, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed the escalating war in Sudan with President Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.
The violence has led to one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world with some 13 million people displaced.
Erdogan highlighted the severe impact, especially in regions like El-Fasher, where human rights violations are rampant. Since the war began in April 2023, the conflict has devastated communities, and the need for action has never been more urgent.
Turkey is stepping up, offering crucial humanitarian aid and strengthening cooperation in key sectors, including trade, defense, and agriculture. Erdogan stressed that peace, stability, and Sudan’s territorial integrity must be preserved.
Source: africanews.com
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https://www.africanews.com/2025/12/26/erdogan-discusses-sudan-war-with-burhan-as-13-million-are-displaced/
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Guineans head to polls as Doumbouya closes campaign amid democracy concerns
December 27, 2025
Supporters and critics of Guinea’s military leader made their voices heard Thursday as Gen. MamadiDoumbouya held his final campaign rally in Conakry ahead of Sunday’s presidential election.
“I’m here to support MamadiDoumbouya because of his kindness, for the job opportunities he gave to the people who need it, and for the efforts he did for us, for the population,” said voter MariameKourouma, who joined thousands at the Palace of the People. “So we are here to support him as the president of our country.”
The rally marked the close of campaigning for Guinea’s first presidential vote since the 2021 military coup that brought Doumbouya to power. The election comes after years of political instability and amid growing concerns over democratic backsliding across West Africa.
While Doumbouya enjoys strong public backing among supporters who credit him with infrastructure development and anti-corruption efforts, the campaign period has been overshadowed by a crackdown on dissent. Major opposition figures have been sidelined, with some barred from running or forced into exile.
Among Doumbouya’s challengers is Abdoulaye YeroBaldé, a former education minister under ex-president Alpha Condé. His candidacy has drawn attention from opposition supporters who see him as a symbol of resistance to constitutional manipulation.
“Since Alpha Condé asked YeroBaldé to follow him into a third term, he said no, Mr. President, I cannot follow you,” said Mohamed LamineBangoura, an opposition supporter. “We told the Guinean people we would restore democracy. After two terms, we leave power and another group comes.”
Baldé resigned from government in protest after Condé pursued and won a controversial third term — a move that sparked unrest and ultimately preceded the 2021 coup that ousted Condé just a year later.
Despite Guinea’s vast mineral wealth, more than half of its estimated 15 million people live in poverty and face food insecurity. Doumbouya has campaigned on promises of modernization and economic development, pointing to new roads, public works projects and a new constitution approved in a referendum boycotted by the opposition.
The junta has repeatedly delayed a return to civilian rule, ultimately clearing the way for Doumbouya to seek a newly extended seven-year term.
Around 6.7 million registered voters are expected to cast ballots at more than 24,000 polling stations nationwide. Results are expected within 48 hours, with a runoff possible if no candidate secures an outright majority.
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.africanews.com/2025/12/26/guineans-head-to-polls-as-doumbouya-closes-campaign-amid-democracy-concerns/
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FG Gives Full Details Of US Airstrikes, Reveals Why Explosion Rocked Kwara, Sokoto LGA
December 26, 2025
By George OshogweOgbolu
The Federal Government has confirmed that precision airstrikes carried out against foreign Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist elements in Sokoto State were approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, in a statement on Friday night, disclosed that the operation was conducted in close coordination with the Government of the United States of America and successfully targeted two major ISIS enclaves located within the Bauni forest axis of Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
According to him, intelligence reports confirmed that the locations were being used as assembly and staging grounds by foreign ISIS elements infiltrating Nigeria from the Sahel region in collaboration with local affiliates.
The government said the terrorist cells were planning and executing large-scale attacks within Nigerian territory.
He said the precision strikes were executed between 12:12 a.m. and 1:30 a.m. on Friday, December 26, 2025, following explicit presidential approval.
According to him, the operation was carried out under established command-and-control structures, with the full involvement of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and under the supervision of the Ministers of Defence and Foreign Affairs, as well as the Chief of Defence Staff.
The statement reads: “The Federal Government of Nigeria Nigeria Government, in close coordination with the Government of the United States of America, has successfully conducted precision strike operations against two major Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist enclaves located within the Bauni forest axis of Tangaza Local Government Area, Sokoto State.
“Intelligence confirmed that these locations were being used as assembly and staging grounds by foreign ISIS elements infiltrating Nigeria from the Sahel region, in collaboration with local affiliates, to plan and execute large-scale terrorist attacks within Nigerian territory.
“The precision strike operations were executed between 00:12 hours and 01:30 hours on Friday, 26 December, 2025, following explicit approval by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“The operation was carried out under established command and control structures, with the full involvement of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and under the supervision of the Honourable Ministers of Defence and Foreign Affairs, as well as the Chief of Defence Staff.
“The strikes were launched from maritime platforms domiciled in the Gulf of Guinea, after extensive intelligence gathering, operational planning, and reconnaissance.
“A total of 16 GPS-guided precision munitions were deployed using MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial platforms, successfully neutralising the targeted ISIS elements attempting to penetrate Nigeria from the Sahel corridor.
“During the course of the operation, debris from expended munitions fell in Jabo, Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State, and in Offa, Kwara State, near the premises of a hotel. No civilian casualties were recorded in either location, and relevant authorities promptly secured the affected areas.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria reiterates its unwavering resolve to confront, degrade, and eliminate terrorist threats, particularly those posed by transnational extremist networks seeking to undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty and security.
“Nigeria remains fully aligned with its strategic partners and Friends of Nigeria in executing coordinated actions aimed at ensuring lasting peace, border security, and regional stability.
“The Federal Government assures all Nigerians that it remains firmly in control of the national security architecture and is fully committed to the protection of lives and property.
“Citizens are urged to remain calm and vigilant as decisive actions continue against all terrorist groups threatening the nation.“
Source: naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.naijanews.com/2025/12/26/breaking-fg-gives-full-details-of-us-airstrikes-reveals-why-explosion-rocked-kwara-sokoto-lga/
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This Is The First Step – US Congressman Sends Warning After Trump Orders Airstrike In Sokoto
December 26, 2025
By Justina Otio
United States Congressman Riley Moore has reacted to the airstrike against terrorists in Sokoto State.
Recall that Trump had announced on Thursday that the United States had carried out multiple air strikes on Islamic State (ISIS) militants in north-west Nigeria,
Speaking on the development, Moore warned that further action may follow if the violence persists.
In a statement on his 𝕏 handle, he asserted that Trump is determined to put an end to the killing of Christians in Nigeria,
The lawmaker said that the strike represents the first step in addressing what he described as the ongoing slaughter of Christians and the broader security crisis affecting Nigerians across religious and ethnic lines.
“President Trump has been clear that the killing of Christians in Nigeria must end,” he said.
He stated that the administration’s resolve on the matter should not be underestimated.
“As I stated at the outset: Do not test President Trump‘s resolve in this matter.
“Tonight’s strike in coordination with the Nigerian government is just the first step to ending the slaughter of Christians and the security crisis affecting all Nigerians,” he said.
He stressed that the operation signals a stronger stance by the United States in support of Nigeria’s efforts to tackle terrorism and violent extremism, noting that further measures could be taken if the situation does not improve.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/12/26/this-is-the-first-step-us-congressman-sends-warning-after-trump-orders-airstrike-in-sokoto/
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US Military Airstrikes: ‘Nigeria’s Security Has Been An Embarrassment’ – Daddy Freeze
December 26, 2025
By Rachel OkporuFadoju
Nigerian media personality, IfedayoOlarinde, popularly known as Daddy Freeze, has reacted to the reports of a United States airstrike in Sokoto State.
In a press statement issued on Thursday, the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Nigerian authorities remain engaged in structured collaboration with international partners, including the United States of America, to tackle terrorism and violent extremism.
Naija News recalls that the United States had carried out multiple air strikes on Islamic State (ISIS) militants in north-west Nigeria. US President, Donald Trump, announced the development on Thursday, saying the operation targeted fighters accused of killing mainly Christians in the region.
Speaking during an Instagram Live session, Daddy Freeze described Nigeria’s security situation as an embarrassment, stating that the country has struggled with insecurity for many years without lasting solutions.
While expressing concern over US involvement in Nigeria’s security matters, Daddy Freeze said he does not believe the United States has the right to act within Nigeria’s sovereignty.
He said, “Nigeria’s security has been an embarrassment for a long time, unless we don’t want to tell ourselves the truth.
“I don’t believe America has the right to come into the sovereignty of Nigeria. But that apart, are you not embarrassed? Must somebody come from outside?”
Speaking further, Daddy Freeze recounted feeling unsafe while travelling by road between Lagos and Ibadan for a friend’s wedding, describing the fear along the route as a sign of the country’s deeper security problems.
He urged Nigerians to be honest with themselves about the state of security in the country, calling for truth and accountability.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/12/26/us-military-airstrikes-nigerias-security-has-been-an-embarrassment-daddy-freeze/
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Police Arrest Two Notorious Terrorists InKwara
December 26, 2025
By George OshogweOgbolu
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has arrested two notorious bandits and kidnapping kingpins responsible for violent crimes across Katsina, Zamfara, Niger and Kwara States.
Naija News reports that this was disclosed in a statement on Friday by Force PRO, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin.
According to the statement, on Friday, 19th December, 2025, operatives of the Force Intelligence Department–Intelligence Response Team (FID–IRT), attached to Kwara State, in a covert operation carried out in collaboration with operatives of the Kwara State Police Command, intercepted and arrested two members of a dangerous banditry and kidnapping gang along the Komen–Masallaci axis in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The suspects arrested are Abubakar Usman, alias Siddi ‘m’ aged 26 and Shehu Mohammadu, alias Gide ‘m’ aged 30. Both suspects were arrested in Komen–Masallaci village, Kaiama LGA of Kwara State at the time of arrest.
The statement added: “During the operation, the following items were recovered from the suspects: one brand new Honda Ace 125 motorcycle, red in colour, valued at ₦1,850,000.00, which investigations revealed was purchased with proceeds of ransom payments; ₦500,000.00 cash, being unspent ransom money; one AK-47 rifle with a magazine loaded with 20 rounds of live ammunition.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects are members of a notorious banditry and kidnapping gang terrorising communities across Zamfara, Katsina, Niger and Kwara States. Further findings indicate that the gang also doubles as suppliers of arms and ammunition to criminal elements.
“Both suspects are currently cooperating with investigators to enable the arrest of other members of the syndicate and recovery of additional weapons.”
The Police recalled that one of the suspects, Abubakar Usman (alias Siddi), was recently identified as the individual seen in a viral video flaunting firearms and large sums of money on social media.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode AdeoluEgbetokun, commended the operatives involved for their professionalism and dedication.
He reassured Nigerians of the Force’s unwavering commitment to dismantling criminal networks, combating banditry and kidnapping, and ensuring the safety and security of all citizens.
Source: naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.naijanews.com/2025/12/26/police-arrest-two-notorious-terrorists-in-kwara/
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Tinubu Makes Promises To Nigerians On Security
December 27, 2025
By Enioluwa Adeniyi
President Bola Tinubu on Friday assured Nigerians that the ongoing recalibration of the country’s security architecture will yield positive results soon, urging a collective effort to tackle persistent insecurity.
Naija News reports that Tinubu spoke during a meeting with a delegation from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), led by its President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, at his Lagos residence, according to a statement by his Special Adviser on Information & Strategy, BayoOnanuga.
President Tinubu stated that his administration remains committed to establishing state and community police to transform Nigeria’s security narrative.
“The mood of the nation is peaceful, although our ungoverned spaces are so large. The challenge is real, but we will surmount it. We are very religious. We are prayer warriors. We need your focus, vigilance, and cooperation,” Tinubu said.
He explained that the establishment of community and state police would become a reality once the National Assembly completes the required legislative inputs.
Tinubu also addressed logistical challenges in strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture, noting that military hardware is costly and not readily available.
“Military hardware is difficult to replace. It is expensive and not available off the shelf,” he said, adding that the government’s order for four attack helicopters from the United States will take time to arrive, and that Nigeria had also approached Turkey for assistance.
The President acknowledged that delays in security interventions have affected public perception of his administration’s commitment to tackling insecurity. Nonetheless, he reiterated that the government is steadfast in its efforts to restore peace and prosperity, despite the guerrilla tactics employed by bandits and insurgents.
Commenting on the recent abduction and release of school children in Niger and Kebbi states, Tinubu said the nation must remain vigilant. He added that “the rhetoric on how the children were released or what happened to the kidnappers is secondary; the end justifies the means.”
In his remarks, Archbishop Daniel Okoh assured the President of the Christian community’s support.
“You are our President. The Church has no choice but to support you and your administration,” Okoh said.
He acknowledged receipt of palliatives, which are usually extended to the church during religious festivals and even in the off‑season.
Archbishop Okoh commended Tinubu for his “commitment and zeal” in addressing Nigeria’s socio‑economic and security challenges, urging him not to relent.
“We acknowledge that the task before you is daunting, but we are assured of your sagacity. The Christian community is committed to ensuring that you succeed,” he said.
Okoh added that the President’s engagement with the church had “closed the gap between the government and the Church,” a development he described as unprecedented.
The CAN president appealed to Tinubu to always relate directly with the association’s representatives through its established structures in each of Nigeria’s 774 local governments.
He also requested the release of funds to the Christian Pilgrims’ Board to support its mandate.
Other members of the delegation included Vice President, CAN, Rev. Dr Stephen Panya Baba; President, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Bishop Francis Wale Oke; as well as representatives from the Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC), the Catholic and Methodist blocks, and the CAN Chairman, Lagos State, Bishop Stephen Adegbite.
Source: naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.naijanews.com/2025/12/27/tinubu-makes-promises-to-nigerians-on-security/
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I Fully Support United States Military Airstrikes – Ben Murray-Bruce
December 26, 2025
By Justina Otio
Former Bayelsa senator, Ben Murray-Bruce, has commended the United States over its military airstrike on terrorists in the country.
Speaking via a post on 𝕏, he stated that the fight against terrorism should be a shared international responsibility.
He asserted that confronting such a menace should never be Nigeria’s burden alone, especially given its limited resources.
The former lawmaker commended the collaborative effort between the United States and Nigeria, stressing that ISIS remains a grave threat to global peace and security.
He further stated that it is far more effective and responsible when the international community acts collectively.
He said, “I therefore believe the decision by the United States to act, with Nigeria collaborating and providing critical intelligence, was the right one.
“I commend President Donald Trump and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for their leadership, and I fully support the strikes. They were necessary, justified, and ultimately the right course of action.”
Meanwhile, islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has called on the Federal Government to immediately halt all forms of military cooperation with the United States following reports of recent US airstrikes in Nigeria.
Naija News reports that Gumi made the call in a statement posted on his Facebook page on Friday, warning that American involvement could worsen Nigeria’s security challenges and undermine the country’s sovereignty.
While acknowledging that Islam permits the fight against terrorism, the cleric argued that such actions must only be carried out by what he described as “clean hands.”
According to him, the United States lacks the moral authority to lead counterterrorism efforts, citing its global military record.
He said Nigeria made a mistake by allowing foreign powers to participate in its counterterrorism operations, insisting that foreign intervention often comes with hidden political motives.
Gumi cautioned that allowing Nigeria to become a theatre of war would attract anti-US forces into the country and further destabilise the nation.
“This is the mistake Nigeria has made. Terrorists don’t fight terrorists in truth; they may only kill innocent people and have ulterior motives behind the drama of fighting ‘terror’,” he said.
He warned that American involvement, especially under claims of protecting Christians, could polarise Nigeria along religious lines.
The cleric further argued that airstrikes alone cannot defeat terrorism, stressing that effective counterterrorism requires strong ground operations.
“As a principle, no nation should allow its land to be a theater of war. And no nation should allow its neighbors to be their enemies.
“If Nigeria wants military assistance, China, Turkey, and Pakistan can do the job effectively,” Gumi stated.
Source: naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.naijanews.com/2025/12/26/i-fully-support-united-states-military-airstrikes-ben-murray-bruce/
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Southeast Asia
Listening to the forest: A Kelantan craftsman’s journey through wood, faith and healing
26 Dec 2025
JOHOR BAHRU, Dec 26 — The aroma of forest wood, the shimmer of prayer beads and bracelets, and traditional swords at the Fitrah Alam booth captivated visitors at the Johor Craft Festival 2025, bringing with them stories of heritage, knowledge, and Islamic healing reflected in every product.
Wan Fitrah, 51, founder of Fitrah Alam, said each product is born from the belief that nature is a trust from Allah that must be used wisely — not merely as handicrafts but also as support for health and personal protection.
He said Allah created wood, stone, and metal for human benefit, with each type of wood carrying its own unique properties and virtues.
“In Islamic healing, we use this wood as an energy enhancer. These beneficial woods are used as a means to recovery — as remedies, protection against spirits, and against toxins,” he told Bernama when met at the festival at Padang Akasia, Angsana Mall here today.
Among the woods used as product components are black kemuning, reverse rattan, elephant taming wood, king wood, nibong, bertam shoot, black antidote wood, la’qa, luz, ebony, kekabu core, pasung, ciku core, bamboo tikamkayu, tas, gemunggal, solid bamboo, warrior core, nagasari and flower charcoal.
Wan Fitrah said each type of wood has been studied and categorised according to its functions through in-depth research since 2010, making the production of these items not merely a craft activity but a journey of knowledge spanning more than 15 years.
He explained that black kemuning and black antidote wood are used as primary remedies for illness, witchcraft, and poison, while king wood helps strengthen bones and joints because it contains natural oils.
“As for the defensive types, such as nibong or bertam shoots, they fall into the protective category for safeguarding ourselves from dangerous animals. So, every wood has its own benefits and purpose,” he said while showing his wood collection to visitors.
From these rainforest woods, Wan Fitrah produces swords, walking sticks, pendants, bracelets, rings, prayer beads, and oils — all crafted with care, making each product unique and highly valued.
He said prices range from as low as RM5 to several hundred ringgit depending on the type of wood, level of craftsmanship, and spiritual value attached to it.
“All my products are different from others because they have already been recited with ruqyah,” he said, stressing that these items are merely a medium, and true protection comes only with Allah’s permission.
Originally from Kelantan, he said his early craft knowledge was inherited from his wife’s family in Pahang, before being studied further and introduced to a wider audience.
The father of four said exhibitions such as the Johor Craft Festival 2025 are not only platforms to sell products but also opportunities to introduce local heritage, knowledge, and craftsmanship to the younger generation.
“I really like these craft exhibitions because they allow us to showcase our products, and I hope more programmes like this will be organised,” he said with a smile as visitors admired the beneficial wood on display.
The Johor Craft Festival 2025 runs from December 18 to 29. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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MetMalaysia warns of heavy rain across multiple states, with some alerts extended to Monday
27 Dec 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 27 — The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) today issued a severe continuous heavy rain warning in Pahang and Johor until Monday.
MetMalaysia in a statement announced that in Pahang, the affected areas are Kuantan, Pekan and Rompin while in Johor it involves Mersing.
A severe heavy rain warning has also been issued for Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang (Jerantut, Maran and Bera) and Johor (Segamat, Kluang and Kota Tinggi).
Meanwhile, thunderstorms, heavy rain and strong winds are expected to occur in seven states and the Federal Territory of Labuan until 6 pm today.
MetMalaysia announced that severe weather is expected to hit Batang Padang, Perak as well as Cameron Highlands and Lipis in Pahang while in Negeri Sembilan (Kuala Pilah, Jempol and Tampin), Melaka and Johor in Tangkak, BatuPahat and Pontian.
The same warning was also issued for Sarawak involving Kuching, Serian, Samarahan (Samarahan and Simunjan) and Limbang while Sabah involves the Interior (Kuala Penyu, Beaufort and Tambunan), West Coast, Tawau, Sandakan (Telupid, Kinabatangan, Beluran and Sandakan) and Kudat in Sabah, in addition to Labuan. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Police launch manhunt for Bukit Chabang Puspen inmate who escaped during visiting day
27 Dec 2025
PADANG BESAR, Dec 27 — Police are on the hunt for a male inmate suspected of escaping from the Bukit Chabang Narcotics Addiction Rehabilitation Centre (PUSPEN), with immediate measures in place to ensure public safety.
Padang Besar district deputy police chief Supt Sarih Salleh said a report on the 25-year-old man’s disappearance was received at about 12.07am last night.
He said the report came after PUSPEN officials found the inmate missing during roll call at 4.15pm yesterday.
Sarih said that prior to the incident, the centre had held a Family Visiting Day from 3.30pm to 4pm, but an inspection failed to locate the inmate, who was believed to have escaped.
“Following the incident, the Padang Besar district police headquarters launched Op Tutup by deploying two officers and 22 personnel, and setting up three roadblocks around the district to tighten control and restrict the man’s movement,” he said in a statement today.
Sarih said the man, who hails from Kampung Kubang Pangas, Mukim Kubang Rotan, AlorSetar, Kedah, had previously been convicted under Section 6(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and was ordered by the AlorSetar Magistrate’s Court to undergo two years of treatment and rehabilitation at Bukit Chabang PUSPEN, from July 8, 2025, to July 8, 2027.
He said the case was being investigated under Sections 223 and 224 of the Penal Code.
Members of the public with information are urged to contact the Padang Besar District Police Headquarters or Inspector Muhammad Aziq Alias at 019-6915959 to assist the investigation. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Malaysia Army chief on leave pending MACC probe, Navy chief named acting Armed Forces chief after Nizam retires
By Malay Mail
27 Dec 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 27 — The Defence Ministry today instructed Army chief General Tan Sri Muhammad HafizuddeainJantan to go on leave with immediate effect to allow investigations into allegations of money laundering.
The ministry said the administrative measure was taken to ensure the probe proceeds smoothly without any conflict of interest, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said in a statement.
He also announced the immediate appointment of Navy commander Admiral Tan Sri ZulhelmyIthnain as acting Malaysian Armed Forces chief following the retirement of General Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaffar, who reached the mandatory retirement age.
Khaled said Zulhelmy will assume the duties of Armed Forces chief with immediate effect.
The ministry expressed its highest appreciation for Mohd Nizam’s service, leadership and contributions during his tenure.
It also conveyed its wishes for the smoothness of his retirement affairs.
Bernama reported that activist Badrul Hisham Shaharin, better known as Chegubard, alleged a senior Armed Forces officer was involved in money laundering.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Tan Sri Azam Baki confirmed that a probe under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009 is in progress.
MACC officers visited the Defence Ministry last Tuesday, focusing their checks on procurement projects carried out through open tenders under the Army’s Pusat Tanggungjawab (PTJ).
The investigation, which began on December 23, found 158 projects worth more than RM500,000 and 4,521 projects below that threshold between 2023 and 2025.
Preliminary findings showed several companies repeatedly secured high-value contracts, raising concerns.
As of December 24, MACC had recorded statements from three individuals to assist the investigation.
Source: malaymail.com
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PM Anwar vows to accelerate Sabah development under new state govt
27 Dec 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 27 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has emphasised that the Federal Government is determined to strengthen and accelerate Sabah’s development agenda following the formation of the new state government.
In a Facebook post yesterday, Anwar stated that these efforts will be realised through strategic investments, an inclusive economy, the enhancement of basic infrastructure, and the creation of quality job opportunities, aligning with the true potential of the “Land Below the Wind.”
“Sabah continues to move forward as a more developed and prosperous state under the MADANI government through the implementation of policies rooted in a commitment to MA63 (Malaysia Agreement 1963) and more effective infrastructure management…
“...as well as the empowerment of core sectors such as energy, tourism, modern agriculture, and the blue economy, alongside stronger guarantees of security and sovereignty,” he said.
According to the Prime Minister, all planned initiatives will be carried out with a spirit of togetherness, transparency, and responsibility to ensure that the benefits of development are shared equitably by the people of Sabah, including those in rural and interior areas. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Perlis political turmoil hinges on PAS-Bersatu agreement
26 Dec 2025
Analysts say a new Perlis government without an election depends on a PAS-Bersatu deal, but snap polls may be needed to resolve the crisis
KUALA LUMPUR: A new Perlis state government can still be formed without an election if PAS and Bersatu reach an agreement, analysts say.
This follows the resignation of Mohd Shukri Ramli as Menteri Besar and the declaration of three state seats as vacant.
UniversitiSains Malaysia professor Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid said a new government is possible if Bersatu allows a PAS assemblyman to become Menteri Besar.
He expressed doubt that the two parties could agree, given Bersatu has already forwarded its own MB candidates to the palace.
Election analyst Dr G Manimaran believes a snap election is the best solution to return the mandate to voters.
He argued this would avoid a hung assembly that could paralyse the state administration.
UniversitiKebangsaan Malaysia lecturer Dr JamaeiHamil agreed that dissolving the assembly is an option if no accord is found.
USM analyst Prof Datuk Dr Sivamurugan Pandian said by-elections for the three vacant seats could ensure a stable majority.
He acknowledged the high cost but said it allows parties to gauge public support after the internal crisis.
The vacant seats are Chuping, Bintong and Guar Sanji, declared empty after three PAS assemblymen had their party membership terminated.
Universiti Utara Malaysia analyst Prof Dr MohdAzizuddinMohd Sani said by-elections are now legally required.
“If they were fired, they could still be independent representatives and a government could be formed with simple majority,” he said.
He added that the situation clearly shows internal problems within PAS.
PerikatanNasional won 14 state seats in Perlis during the last general election.
PAS holds nine of those seats, while Bersatu holds five.
The InderaKayangan seat was won by PakatanHarapan.
Source: thesun.my
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South Asia
Hadi Killing: IslamiAndolon to stage rally in Dhaka on January 9
Dec 27, 2025
IslamiAndolon Bangladesh (IAB) will hold a mass rally in Dhaka on January 9 demanding the arrest of those responsible for the killing of Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi and to build public opinion in favour of the July Charter.
The party announced the decision in a release yesterday, following its regular meeting on Thursday at the central office in Purana Paltan, chaired by IAB Ameer Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim.
Earlier, Jamaat-e-Islami said it would organise a rally in Dhaka on January 3 with the same demand.
According to IAB, the January 9 rally will also press for improvement of the law and order situation, recovery of illegal arms, creation of a level playing field, and promotion of the July Charter through a referendum.
At the meeting, the IAB ameer expressed concern over deteriorating law and order and criticised the failure to bring Osman Hadi's killers to justice. The meeting was attended by IAB Secretary General Yunus Ahmed, Assistant Secretary General Gazi Ataur Rahman, Ashraful Alam, Sheikh Fazle Bari Masud, Assistant Secretary General KM Atikur Rahman, Organising Secretary Shah Iftekhar Tariq, and other central leaders.
Source: thedailystar.net
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ARCS Distributes Aid to Returning Families in Logar Province
December 27, 2025
KABUL: The Afghan Red Crescent Society has distributed 22.1 million Afghanis in cash assistance to families returning from Pakistan.
The ARCS said in a statement the other day that the aid distributed to 1,300 returning families in the province, providing essential support for their resettlement and reintegration.
The Afghan Red Crescent emphasized that such assistance aims not only to meet immediate humanitarian needs but also to help stabilize communities affected by displacement, enabling families to rebuild their livelihoods and access basic necessities after returning home.
Officials highlighted that the program reflects the society’s ongoing commitment to supporting vulnerable populations and facilitating a smoother transition for returnees, reinforcing social cohesion and community resilience in Logar and across the country.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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Newly Graduated Police Officers Urged to Prioritize Discipline, Public Service
December 27, 2025
KABUL: The country’s Minister of Interior Affairs, Khalifa Sirajuddin Haqqani has called on newly graduated police officers to strictly implement official directives and maintain respectful and constructive relations with the public.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony of the 16th round of the Police Academy, Khalifa Sirajuddin Haqqani said that, so far, there have been no reports of negligence in implementing the decrees of the Amir al-Mu’minin, and emphasized the importance of continued commitment to the directives of the IEA’s leadership.
He urged the graduates to prioritize good conduct, mutual respect, and positive engagement with citizens in the performance of their duties.
A total of 891 police officers graduated from the academy after completing bachelor’s-level studies in five specialized fields: security, criminal investigation, logistics, prisons, and traffic.
The graduates are set to be appointed to positions within the Ministry of Interior.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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Tourism Key Contributor to Economic Growth, Haqqani
December 27, 2025
KABUL: Shaikh Shir Ahmad Haqqani, the Minister of Information and Culture, has reaffirmed his-led ministry’s commitment to strengthening and developing the tourism sector, describing tourism as an essential component of the country’s economic growth.
Addressing a graduation ceremony of the First Batch of Students from Tourism and Hospitality Institute, Shaikh Haqqani described tourism as a key driver of economic growth and reaffirmed the ministry’s focus on strengthening the sector, according to a statement from the ministry the other day.
According to the statement, 27 students have graduated from the first cohort of the Tourism and Hospitality Institute under the Ministry of Information and Culture.
The event was attended by the Deputy Minister for Tourism, Finance and Administration MawlaviQudratullah Jamal, representatives of tourism unions, ministry officials, parents, and media personnel.
Deputy Minister Jamal encouraged graduates to provide high-quality services to domestic and foreign tourists, stressing that professional training plays a vital role in presenting a positive image of Afghanistan.
The institute’s director stated that 13 students graduated in tourism management and 14 in hospitality services after completing nearly two years of theoretical and practical training.
He added that 50 students are currently enrolled at the institute, while around 160 young people are receiving training in English, Arabic, computer skills, and other fields.
Representatives of tourism unions also praised vocational training in tourism and hospitality, emphasizing its importance in attracting foreign visitors to Afghanistan’s historical, cultural, and natural sites.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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35 sacks recovered from Pagla Mosque donation boxes
Dec 27, 2025
A record 35 sacks of cash, gold ornaments, and foreign currency have been recovered from 13 donation boxes at the historic Pagla Mosque in Kishoreganj.
Every day, people of all classes, regardless of religion, come to the Pagla Mosque from far and wide of the country to donate. Every three to four months, a huge amount of money and foreign currency, including gold ornaments, are found when the donation chests of the Pagla Mosque on the banks of the Narsunda River in the district town are opened.
The donation boxes were opened this morning after three months and 27 days—a shorter interval than the previous opening. The money was removed from the boxes, packed into sacks, and spread out on the floor for counting.
On August 30, the mosque recorded Tk 12,09,37,220 in cash over four months and 18 days, along with foreign currency, gold, and diamonds.
Authorities hope this time's collection will surpass all previous records.
Besides cash donations, devotees from across the country regularly contribute various items such as poultry, cows, and goats.
The counting began at 7:00am today in the presence of Kishoreganj Deputy Commissioner and Mosque Committee President Mohammad Aslam Mollah, Superintendent of Police Dr SM Farhad Hossain, and Additional District Magistrate Md Ershadul Ahmed, convener of the donation box opening committee.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) MijabeRahmat and Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Mohammad Nahid Hasan Khan, and other officials and magistrates of the administration also joined them.
About 500 people are involved in the counting, including around 350 students from Al JamiatulImdadia and two madrasas under Pagla Mosque's orphanage, 100 employees from Rupali Bank, and members of the mosque committee, law enforcement agencies, and the army.
DC Mohammad Aslam Mollah said the donations are used to manage the mosque and Islamic complex, and the remaining funds are deposited in the bank. "So far, Tk 104 crore has been deposited in the bank in cash, and more than Tk 12 lakh has been deposited in the bank along with the online donations. After today's money counting, this money will also be deposited in the bank," he added.
He further said foreign currency and gold ornaments donated to the mosque are kept in the district administration's treasury and will be sold at public auction before being deposited with the original funds. The interest from deposited funds is used to help the helpless and those suffering from complex diseases.
SP Dr SM Farhad Hossain said he and his police members are ensuring overall security from opening the money chest, filling it in bags, counting, and delivering all the money safely to the bank. Law enforcement personnel also secure the chests on other days.
The mosque authorities said an Islamic complex centered on Pagla Mosque will be built on the model of multipurpose mosques located beside the Bosphorus Strait in Turkey. The 10-storey building will accommodate 40,000 to 50,000 worshippers and 5,000 women worshippers separately, with facilities for orphans, religious education, madrasa education, a library, cafeteria, and IT section.
Source: thedailystar.net
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NCP-Jamaat deal ‘likely in a day or two’
Dec 27, 2025
The National Citizen Party is likely to finalise a seat-sharing deal with Jamaat-e-Islami within the next one or two days ahead of the election, even as a section of senior women leaders has publicly opposed any such arrangement.
The prominent women leaders opposing the possible deal include Senior Joint Convener SamantaSarmeen, Joint Member Secretary Nusrat Tabassum, Senior Joint Member Secretary TasnimJara, Joint Convener MoniraSharmin, and TajnuvaJabeen.
They argue that the NCP has already forged a distinct political identity and that any electoral compromise with Jamaat would dilute, and eventually erase, that identity.
One of them, requesting anonymity, said that five of the top party leaders, including Convener Nahid Islam and Member Secretary Akhter Hossen, were in favour of striking a deal with Jamaat.
However, she said, a group of 30 other senior leaders, including the women, disagreed.
She also said that women leaders declined an offer to contest the election as candidates under the possible seat-sharing deal with Jamaat.
Confirming that talks are under way, Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar told The Daily Star yesterday afternoon that discussions with the NCP were being held on a one-to-one basis.
"There is a possibility of sharing seats, and the issue will become clear very soon," he said, adding that clarity would emerge before the December 29 deadline for submitting nomination papers.
Porwar said the final outcome would depend on the nomination submission process, possible withdrawals, and continued discussions.
He also noted that before 2026, Jamaat would decide whether to form an alliance, pursue seat-sharing deals, or contest the election through another arrangement.
NCP Member Secretary Akhter declined to give a specific timeline but said a decision would be taken shortly.
He also said that discussions with both Jamaat and BNP were ongoing and that no final decision had yet been made.
According to NCP sources, the party had been preparing to contest the election alone for the past two months. That posture shifted after the killing of Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, spokesperson of Inqilab Mancho and an independent candidate for Dhaka-8.
He was shot in broad daylight on December 12 and died six days later at a hospital in Singapore. Since then, security concerns among NCP leaders and activists have intensified, while party leaders have increasingly felt that alignment with a major political force is necessary to consolidate the NCP's place in national politics.
With BNP yet to make its position on reforms and the July charter referendum clear, some NCP leaders now view Jamaat as a more suitable option.
Sources said that although no official announcement has been made, most members expressed support for sharing seats with Jamaat during the past two days of executive committee meetings.
A member who attended Thursday night's meeting, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the committee has more than 50 members, 40 of whom were present.
"They discussed election participation and seat-sharing deal with Jamaat. Except for three members, everyone gave a positive signal in favour of a deal," he said.
He added that the committee asked Nahid and Akhter to determine the conditions and process of any such arrangement.
Explaining the reasoning behind the shift, the leader said BNP has moved far from the commitments it made under the July charter, particularly on state reforms and the referendum.
He claimed the BNP has instructed its candidates not to campaign in favour of the July charter, reforms, or the referendum, and that the party has lagged behind in alliance and seat-sharing talks with the NCP.
BNP sources, however, said that until yesterday evening, the NCP had not contacted the party by phone to arrange any meeting or discussion.
Source: thedailystar.net
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Tarique Rahman pays tribute to Liberation War martyrs at Savar National Memorial
Dec 26, 2025
BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman visited the National Memorial in Savar on Friday night to pay tribute to the Liberation War martyrs.
A bus carrying him entered the main entrance of the memorial around 10:04pm, our correspondent reported from the spot.
Dhaka district BNP President Khandaker Abu Ashfaq told The Daily Star that after reaching the National Memorial, Tarique Rahman observed a one‑minute silence in honour of the martyrs.
He then thanked the party leaders, activists, and law enforcers who had been waiting for him for a long time, Ashfaq added.
Afterwards, the BNP acting chairman boarded the bus and signed the visitors' book of the memorial. He later headed towards his Dhaka residence.
Earlier, senior BNP leaders, on Tarique's behalf, paid tribute to the martyrs of the Liberation War by placing a wreath at the memorial earlier this afternoon.
They placed a wreath at the altar of the memorial around 5:06pm as Tarique was delayed after visiting the grave of his father and BNP founder Ziaur Rahman, said Standing Committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy.
Talking to reporters in front of the National Memorial around 5:45pm, Gayeshwar also said that after visiting the grave of Ziaur Rahman, Tarique Rahman left for the Savar memorial. Since there is a rule that wreaths must be placed before sunset, they placed it on his behalf at 5:06pm.
Besides, Gayeshwar, BNP Standing Committee member Abdul Moin Khan, BNP Chairperson's Advisory Council members Amanullah Aman and Lutfuzzaman Babar; Dhaka district BNP President Khandaker Abu Ashfaq; and General Secretary Advocate Nipun Roy Chowdhury, among others, were also present.
Source: thedailystar.net
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Iran introduces biometric screening along Afghanistan border
By Fidel Rahmati
December 26, 2025
Iran has launched biometric screening for Afghan nationals at the Dogharoun border, expanding controls amid security concerns and continued deportations of undocumented migrants.
Iran has launched a biometric registration system for Afghan nationals at the Dogharoun border crossing, a senior provincial security official said, as Tehran steps up efforts to regulate cross-border movement.
AmirullahShamqadari, deputy for security and law enforcement affairs of Iran’s Razavi Khorasan governorate, said the system aims to better manage the entry and exit of Afghan travelers into Iran. The biometric process records fingerprints, iris scans, facial data, and personal histories.
According to the state news agency IRNA, Iranian authorities plan to extend biometric registration to the country’s air borders in the near future, expanding monitoring beyond land crossings.
However, Shamqadari said deportations of undocumented Afghan migrants through the Dogharoun border continue, underscoring Iran’s tightening approach toward irregular migration amid economic strain and security concerns.
The move comes as Iran cites growing security risks linked to cross-border movements, including concerns over militant infiltration and undocumented travel.
Iran hosts millions of Afghans, many of whom fled decades of war, economic collapse, and political instability in Afghanistan. In recent years, Tehran has increased surveillance and border controls as migrant flows surged following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
Security concerns have intensified following recent reports of terror-related incidents involving former Afghanistan military figures, exposing flaws in Iran’s vetting and identity verification systems at border crossings and within cities.
Iranian officials say biometric screening will help distinguish lawful travelers from those posing potential security threats, while improving oversight of migration flows along the eastern border.
Human rights groups, however, warn that expanded surveillance and continued deportations could further expose vulnerable Afghan migrants to risks, calling for safeguards to ensure protection and due process.
Source: khaama.com
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