Iran Ready To Expand Counter-Terrorism Cooperation With India: Ambassador Mohammad Fathali
New Age Islam News Bureau
31 December 2025
Representational image.
Shutterstock
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· Iran ready to expand counter-terrorism cooperation with India: Ambassador Mohammad Fathali
· Saudi Arabia reveals details of Yemen bombing, as UAE set to withdraw
· Gulf nations offer support for Yemen’s government and Saudi security
· British Muslims 'helping to strengthen public services'
· CAIR-Austin Welcomes City Policy Change After Religious Harassment Incident Targeting Muslims at Park Potluck
· Military Tracks Boko Haram, ISWAP Fighters Fleeing After US Airstrikes
· Madani govt elevates Islam as governance foundation, says Anwar
· Iran Seeks to Develop Railway Through Afghanistan to Connect China with Europe
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India
· FIRs against BJP MLA for ‘insult to Quran’
· 'Was radicalising youths': Assam Police busts terror cell linked to Bangladesh; 11 arrested
· UP Muslim panchayat bans 'nikah' at hotels: DJs, fireworks, salami restricted; violators to face Rs 11,000 fine
· NIA court issues proclamation against 3 Kashmiris based in US, Germany for 'anti-national propaganda'
· Is Mamata Banerjee embracing ‘soft Hindutva’? Political logic of her temple push explained
· Thirupparankundram row not conflict between Hindus and Muslims, but between Modi Government and Madurai people: MP Su. Venkatesan
· Four arrested for attempting to forcibly encroach 'karbala' land in UP's Pratapgarh
· Eight months after Pahalgam terror attack, walking up to Baisaran meadow
· Jammu and Kashmir court acquits three in terror case, cites gaps in prosecution evidence
· Sambhal administration flags illegal encroachment on graveyard near Shahi Jama Masjid
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Arab World
· Saudi Cabinet: Kingdom will not hesitate to confront threats
· Saudi King Salman receives message from Russian president
· Saudi Arabia positions space sector as pillar of knowledge economy
· Riyadh university gets top spot in education index
· Saudi National Centre marks Gulf Wildlife Day
· New initiative launched at the Prophet’s Mosque
· Jazan Festival opens on Friday
· Saudi FM calls US counterpart Marco Rubio
· Saudi Arabia’s Qiddiya City opens Six Flags theme park
· Saudi Post issues commemorative stamps for Riyadh Air
· Yemeni government says it appreciates Saudi leadership of coalition supporting legitimacy
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Mideast
· 10 countries warn of ‘catastrophic’ Gaza situation
· Arab League chief ‘deeply concerned’ over Yemen tensions
· Syria imposes night curfew on port city after sectarian violence
· UAE, US discuss regional developments in Yemen and Gaza, WAM news agency reports
· Israel army kills West Bank attacker who tried to run over troops
· Trump asks Netanyahu to change West Bank policy
· Israel to suspend several aid groups from Gaza
· Iranian president offers talks as protests spread
· No justification for disturbances in Latakia, coastal Syria: govt
· 480 settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque under maximum Israeli security
· Tribal Gathering in Al-Amjood, Shar‘ab Al-Salam, Taiz, affirming readiness, supporting Qur’an & Palestine
· Hodeida: Consultative meeting for local mosque speakers to strengthen community awareness
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Europe
· Doncaster mosque to welcome New Year by distributing free food boxes to the community as part of 'Meals with Love' campaign
· NATO’s war-cries, explained: How the bloc’s best sold war to the West in 2025
· Two in court after Boxing Day incident at Kirkcaldy Islamic Centre
· Pensioner 'carried on roof of car' and killed in crash
· French right reignites row over Brigitte Bardot's legacy with call for national tribute
· Bucks arrest as Watford church set for mosque conversion 'ransacked'
· EU calls for Ukraine ceasefire a ploy – Russia’s envoy to OSCE
· Ukraine erases Tchaikovsky as symbol of ‘Russian imperialism’
· Swarm of Ukrainian kamikaze drones intercepted near Moscow – officials
· Eurostar delays persist as passengers stuck onboard overnight
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North America
· Trump says US hit 'big facility' linked to alleged Venezuelan drug boats
· Why Zohran Mamdani will take oath as NYC mayor underground in an abandoned subway station at 31st midnight
· 'Wow': When Trump told Mamdani 'You are even better looking in person than you are on TV'
· Motorcycles worth $40m seized from FBI most-wanted Olympic snowboarder
· Trump administration says it's withholding childcare funds from Minnesota amid fraud allegations
· US cuts off Minnesota’s child care funding amid massive fraud probe
· US banking giant reveals massive Russia exit cost
· One of America's most successful experiments is coming to a halt
· ‘We turned off the money spigot’: Trump administration freezes Minnesota child care funds. But why?
· Who were sanctioned? Inside Washington’s crackdown on Venezuela-Iran’s weapons supply chain
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Africa
· 11,300 Zamfara imams to enjoy salary upgrade
· Bauchi Commissioner Sent To Kuje Prison Over Alleged Money Laundering
· Trump Is Not Trying To Bring War To Nigeria – US Congressman
· Chief Imam of Ibadanland installs Alhaji Iyiola as Bashorun Musulumi
· Kebbi Govt, Police Dismiss Bomb, Helicopter Claims In Hospital Explosion
· ‘We Will Make You Sweat In This Studio’ – Abati Invites Wike
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Southeast Asia
· In Johor, Indonesian worker killed in Bandar Penawar landslide while installing septic tank
· In Sarawak, SAR radius expanded in Pulau Bruit, crocodile attack victim, 14, still missing
· Religious school teacher pleads guilty to sexually assaulting pupils
· Man pleads not guilty to injuring participant at pro-Palestine rally
· Islamic education key to building ethical resilience: Minister
· Penang cops nab two men over fatal Sungai Bakap restaurant attack by masked assailants, case classified as murder
· King receives briefing on Malaysian Armed Forces from defence minister
· Opposition leader’s office: Hamzah Zainudin has not resigned, viral letter false
-----South Asia
· Pakistan Police Detain Three Afghan Journalists in Islamabad
· Large-Scale Infrastructure Projects to Address Public Needs, Says Hanafi
· Work Begins on Long Overpass in Kabul
· Officials from MoIC Attend ICESCO Online Meeting on Islamic Manuscripts
· 25 Artillery Personnel Graduate from BM-21 Training Program, Ministry
· DU, CU and JU suspend activities to mourn Khaleda Zia’s death
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/iran-counter-terrorism-india-ambassador/d/138253
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Iran ready to expand counter-terrorism cooperation with India: Ambassador Mohammad Fathali
31.12.25
Representational image.
Shutterstock
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Iran is keen to deepen cooperation with India in counter-terrorism and addressing regional instability, the country’s newly appointed Ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, has said.
Emphasising the importance of sharing experiences in combating extremist violence while respecting each other’s independent policies and national interests, Fathali pointed to several areas where the two countries could work more closely.
In an interview with PTI Videos on Tuesday, the ambassador also highlighted the scope for launching new initiatives with India in emerging technologies, renewable energy, academic and scientific collaboration, and cultural diplomacy.
“Terrorism and regional instability are areas where Iran and India can expand cooperation, with full respect for each other’s independent policies and national interests,” the ambassador said, referring to India’s actions against terrorism in May and Iran’s own challenges amid ongoing regional tensions.
“Iran has long been a victim of terrorism and has paid a heavy price in confronting extremist violence. In this fight, we have lost many of our best commanders and soldiers, which reflects the seriousness of our commitment to countering terrorism,” he said.
Fathali noted that Iran has developed significant expertise in counter-terrorism and is willing to share its experience with “friendly partners.” Succeeding Dr Iraj Elahi as ambassador, he said his focus would be on building upon his predecessor’s work while initiating cooperation in new priority areas.
“My priority will be to ensure continuity and further build on these valuable achievements. Strengthening regular political dialogue, expanding economic and cultural cooperation, and enhancing engagement between the private sectors of the two countries will remain key areas of focus,” the ambassador said.
He also acknowledged existing challenges in bilateral ties, including unilateral sanctions, banking restrictions, limited awareness within the private sectors, and logistical constraints.
“I believe these challenges can be addressed through sustainable financial arrangements, streamlined trade procedures, and stronger direct engagement between business communities in both countries,” he said.
Bilateral trade between India and Iran continues to remain well below its earlier peak, largely due to US sanctions imposed on Tehran. In 2024, total trade between the two countries stood at around USD 2.3 billion, with India exporting USD 1.25 billion to Iran and importing USD 1.06 billion.
This marks an 87 per cent decline from the 2018-19 peak of nearly USD 17 billion, when crude oil accounted for the bulk of imports. India stopped importing crude oil from Iran in May 2019 after US sanctions waivers expired.
Highlighting regional connectivity, the ambassador underlined the strategic significance of the Chabahar Port project, calling it a crucial pillar for facilitating India’s access to Afghanistan, Central Asia and the International North-South Transport Corridor.
“By reducing transit time and costs, this connectivity framework can strengthen regional supply chains and enhance trade resilience for all participating countries,” the ambassador stated.
Ambassador Fathali presented his credentials to President Droupadi Murmu on December 15.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/iran-ready-to-expand-counter-terrorism-cooperation-with-india-ambassador-to-india-mohammad-fathali/cid/2140389
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Saudi Arabia reveals details of Yemen bombing, as UAE set to withdraw
31 Dec 2025
UAE to withdraw ‘counterterrorism’ units from Yemen after Saudi-led strike
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Saudi Arabia has released more details on the coalition bombing of the Yemeni port of Mukalla, which has triggered tensions with Gulf Arab neighbour the United Arab Emirates and prompted the latter to say it will withdraw its forces from Yemen.
Coalition spokesman Major-General Turki al-Maliki showed images documenting the military operation carried out early on Tuesday morning.
He stated that upon entering the port of Mukalla, it became clear that the two ships were carrying more than 80 vehicles and containers of weapons and ammunition. He added that the UAE side transferred vehicles, containers, and Emirati personnel to the al-Rayyan base without informing Saudi Arabia.
The spokesman said the coalition adhered to the rules of engagement during the military operation.
The UAE announced the withdrawal of its forces from Yemen, declaring an end to what it called “counterterrorism” operations there, after Riyadh accused Abu Dhabi of supporting separatists in Yemen.
The announcement on Tuesday came after Yemen’s internationally recognised government demanded the UAE pull its forces from the country within 24 hours, a call backed by Saudi Arabia.
Hours earlier, Saudi Arabia-led coalition forces attacked the southern Yemeni port of Mukalla, targeting what Riyadh said was a UAE-linked weapons shipment destined for the separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC) in Yemen.
The STC, which initially supported Yemen’s internationally recognised government against the Houthi rebels, launched an offensive against the Saudi Arabia-backed government troops this month, seeking an independent state in the south.
The advance broke years of deadlock, with the STC seizing control of broad swaths of southern Yemen, including the Hadramout and Mahara provinces, in defiance of warnings from Riyadh. Hadramout borders Saudi Arabia, and Mahara is close to the border.
Saudi Arabia on Tuesday said it was disappointed about “pressure exerted by the UAE” on the STC to conduct military operations in the Hadramout and Mahara provinces. Riyadh said it considered the moves a threat to its national security.
“In this context, the kingdom stresses that any threat to its national security is a red line, and the Kingdom will not hesitate to take all necessary steps and measures to confront and neutralise any such threat,” it said.
Following Tuesday’s rapid-fire events, the UAE’s Ministry of Defence said it carried out a “comprehensive assessment” of its role in Yemen and decided to end its mission there.
“In light of recent developments and their potential implications for the safety and effectiveness of counterterrorism missions, the Ministry of Defence announces the termination of the remaining counterterrorism personnel in Yemen of its own volition, in a manner that ensures the safety of its personnel,” the ministry said in a statement.
The UAE announcement came amid efforts to tamp down tensions that have erupted in recent days.
Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the statements of Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which it said reflected a “commitment to prioritising the interests of the region, strengthening the principles of good neighbourliness, and adhering to the foundations and principles upon which the GCC Charter is based”.
Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and the UAE are part of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
Meanwhile, Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud held telephone conversations with United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, discussing “regional developments”.
Tensions over the STC
The Saudi-led coalition’s strike on Mukalla revealed widening tensions within a coalition built in 2015 to combat the Houthis, who control most of northern Yemen.
Emirati troops first arrived in Yemen as part of the coalition that year, but the UAE pulled most of its forces out in 2019, leaving only a limited number in the government-run south.
Following the Mukalla strike, which did not cause casualties, Rashad al-Alimi, the head of Yemen’s Saudi-backed Presidential Leadership Council, dissolved a defence pact with the UAE and gave Emirati forces 24 hours to leave.
In a televised speech, al-Alimi said it had been “definitively confirmed that the UAE pressured and directed the STC to undermine and rebel against the authority of the state through military escalation”, according to the Yemeni state news agency.
Saudi Arabia backed al-Alimi’s call for the UAE to withdraw its forces from Yemeni territory, and asked that it halt “any military or financial support to any party” in the country.
The UAE said it had been surprised by the Saudi Arabian air strike, and that the shipments in question did not contain weapons and were destined for the Emirati forces, rather than the STC.
It said it was committed to ensuring the security of Saudi Arabia and that it was seeking a solution “that prevents escalation, based on reliable facts and existing coordination”.
Yemeni state television showed what it said was black smoke rising from the port in the early morning, with burned vehicles. Al-Alimi declared a no-fly zone, and a sea and ground blockade on all ports and crossings for 72 hours.
However, the STC remained defiant, insisting there was “no thinking about withdrawal” from its newly seized positions.
“It is unreasonable for the landowner to be asked to leave his own land. The situation requires staying and reinforcing,” STC spokesman Anwar al-Tamimi told the AFP news agency.
“We are in a defensive position, and any movement towards our forces will be responded to by our forces,” he added.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/12/31/uae-to-pull-forces-out-of-yemen-as-tensions-rise-with-saudi-arabia
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Gulf nations offer support for Yemen’s government and Saudi security
December 31, 2025
Footage released by an Arab military coalition supporting Yemen's government shows the unloading of military vehicles at Mukalla Port after arriving from the UAE. (Coalition/Handout)
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LONDON: Gulf and Arab countries on Tuesday offered their support for the internationally recognized government in Yemen, after the UAE withdrew its forces from the country.
It came after the military coalition supporting Yemen’s government carried out airstrikes targeting a shipment of weapons and vehicles destined for southern separatist forces. The shipment arrived in the port of Al-Mukalla on two vessels that traveled from Fujairah in the UAE.
Early on Tuesday, shortly after the airstrikes, Rashad Al-Alimi, the head of Yemen’s presidential council, told Emirati authorities to withdraw their troops from Yemen within 24 hours.
Saudi authorities said the separatists, who operate under the Southern Transitional Council and are supported by the UAE, pose a direct threat to the Kingdom’s national security, and regional stability, after recently seizing territory in the governorates of Hadramaut and Al-Mahra.
Authorities in Qatar said they were following the developments “with keen interest.” The country’s foreign ministry said Doha fully supported the legitimate government in Yemen, and stressed the importance of preserving the country’s unity and safeguarding the interests of the Yemeni people.
It added that the security of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Cooperation Council member states “constitute an inseparable part of the security of the State of Qatar, reflecting the deep-rooted fraternal ties and shared destiny that unite the GCC states.”
The ministry also commended Saudi Arabia and the UAE for statements “which reflect a commitment to prioritizing the interests of the region.”
Kuwait also offered its “unwavering support” for Yemen’s government and said the security of Saudi Arabia and GCC was the basis of its own national security. Its foreign ministry praised the “responsible approach” taken both by Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Bahrain, which currently chairs the GCC, said it had confidence in the leaderships of Saudi Arabia and the UAE “and their ability to contain any differences in viewpoints within the framework of a unified Gulf.”
The nation’s foreign ministry offered “unequivocal” support for regional and international initiatives designed to help achieve a comprehensive and lasting political solution in Yemen.
Egypt said it had full confidence in Saudi Arabia and the UAE “to handle the current developments in Yemen with wisdom.” Efforts to reach a comprehensive political settlement for Yemen will continue, it added.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2627876/middle-east
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British Muslims 'helping to strengthen public services'
30TH DECEMBER
Charity (Image: PA)
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A new report reveals how British Muslims generosity is 'increasingly bolstering frontline services' across the UK.
The report, 'Building Britain: British Muslims Giving Back' from Equi, urges the government and policymakers: to harness British Muslim charitable giving as a partner in delivering public services, especially at a time when councils, the NHS and welfare systems are under unprecedented strain.
The report found that as Britain’s most generous community, Muslim donors give £2.2bn a year- four times more than the national average, rising to ten times amongst high earners.
It said Muslim-led charities provide housing aid, emergency cash grants, food support and psychological care, directly reducing demand on overstretched local authorities and the NHS.
In 2023, the National Zakat Foundation’s housing support prevented evictions that would have cost councils £28.8 million. Every £1 of charity delivered £73 in public savings and young British Muslims are 'increasingly donating to UK causes, tackling homelessness, child poverty and mental health crises'.
The report said, 'charities face debanking, securitisation, restrictive funding rules and a lack of government recognition and match-funding and faith-literate policymaking could unlock billions to be spent in the UK while sustaining Britain’s global humanitarian reach.
Muslim charities are already acting as partners in public service delivery and filling gaps left by austerity and cuts to statutory services.
From housing support to mental health counselling, their interventions reduce reliance on government systems and strengthen social cohesion. Yet despite this measurable impact, Muslim charities 'remain overlooked in national policy conversations'.
Equi’s Managing Director Professor Javed Khan OBE said: “British Muslim giving is not just generosity but a lifeline for public services that needs recognising.
“From preventing evictions to supporting mental health, these donations are saving millions for the taxpayer and strengthening communities across Britain.
"The evidence is clear that Muslim-led action is delivering frontline support where the state is struggling. With proper recognition and collaboration, their impact could be transformative for the UK’s public services.”
Source: asianimage.co.uk
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https://www.asianimage.co.uk/news/united_kingdom/25729578.british-muslims-helping-strengthen-public-services/
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CAIR-Austin Welcomes City Policy Change After Religious Harassment Incident Targeting Muslims at Park Potluck
December 30, 2025
The Austin, Texas, chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Austin) today welcomed a decision by city and police officials to review an incident of religious harassment targeting members of the Muslim community at a park potluck and change the policy of how this type of incidents are handled in the future.
Austin City Manager T.C. Broadnax said that while the incident may involve free speech protected under the First Amendment:
“However, after reviewing the video, Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis is making immediate changes in how these types of incidents are handled, including that in the event of an apparent hate speech occurrence, officers will call a supervisor on scene. In many instances, while hate speech is not illegal, individuals may be cited for other violations, such as causing a disturbance.
“The City of Austin will also be reviewing policy to ensure the provision of safe spaces on City properties and at City facilities for community members to gather free of harassment or intimidation.”
In a statement, CAIR-Austin Operations Manager Shaimaa Zayan said:
“We welcome and applaud the City of Austin’s review of this incident, its recognition that the rhetoric used by this extremist was abhorrent, and its decision to ensure that law enforcement responds to harassment like this by bringing a supervisor to the scene. This new policy will benefit not only the Muslim community but all vulnerable communities facing similar harassment based on their identity.”
Yesterday, CAIR-Austin called on Governor Greg Abbott, Attorney General Ken Paxton and Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) to condemn the harassment and stop fomenting anti-Muslim hate across the state and called on APD to review the incident for potential law violation.
In a statement, Council Member and Civil Rights Attorney Mike Siegel, representing D7 where the incident happened, said:
“I’m alarmed by the hateful incident that occurred Saturday morning in Walnut Creek Park, when two individuals chose to target Muslim community members with hate speech. I commend those who stood up against this religiously‑motivated harassment and reported it to APD and the City. I also appreciate the City’s swift response and Chief Davis’s commitment to use this moment to strengthen our approach to such incidents. We all deserve to enjoy our parks and public spaces free from harassment and discrimination.”
The incident occurred just days before the Austin Muslim community began its celebration of January 2026 as the city’s first Austin Muslim Heritage Month (AMHM). The month will include a series of city-sponsored events highlighting the contributions and talents of Austin’s Muslim community, aimed at fostering belonging and unity among Austinites.”
Earlier this year, CAIR released its 2025 Civil Rights Report, Unconstitutional Crackdowns, which reveals that Islamophobia remains at record-high levels nationwide.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
Source: cair.com
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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-austin-welcomes-city-policy-change-after-religious-harassment-incident-targeting-muslims-at-park-potluck/
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Military Tracks Boko Haram, ISWAP Fighters Fleeing After US Airstrikes
December 30, 2025
By Enioluwa Adeniyi
The Nigerian military is monitoring Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters believed to be fleeing their hideouts in the wake of recent United States airstrikes.
Naija News reports that US President, Donald Trump, announced on Christmas Day that American forces had conducted lethal strikes against Islamic State targets in north‑western Nigeria.
The Federal Government confirmed the operation, describing it as part of ongoing counterterrorism cooperation between Nigeria and the United States.
In the aftermath of the air raids, there were reports of heightened movement by armed groups into neighbouring areas.
The Chairman of the Traditional Council in Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State, Daniel Abomtse, raised concern over what he described as an influx of armed herders into some communities soon after the attack.
Community leaders in Tangaza, Gudu, and parts of Illela in Sokoto State, in an interview with Punch, also reported noticeable dislocation and movement by suspected fighters.
Some residents, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said suspected bandits were seen moving in smaller groups toward remote forest corridors, while others were believed to be attempting to cross into neighbouring border communities.
Senior military officials, speaking with Punch on Monday, said the armed forces are tracking the movements of the fleeing militants.
“We know they are fleeing. We have information on that and we are working on it. They are being monitored and their movements are being tracked,” one official said.
Another military source highlighted ongoing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) operations, adding, “Is it possible for us not to know they are fleeing? We have the information and we are conducting ISR to track them.”
Meanwhile, retired senior military officers have offered differing views on the possibility of deploying troops to Nigeria.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, recently said that the Ministry of Defence would advise the government on possible next steps when asked on CNN whether Nigeria might consider allowing US soldiers into the country.
However, a former senior officer, Brigadier‑General Peter Aro (retd.), said he does not support the deployment of US forces on Nigerian soil, warning that such a move could have serious legal, diplomatic and social implications.
He noted that foreign troops should only be deployed under a formal defence pact approved at the highest level of government and cautioned that the consequences would be “profound.”
According to him, Nigeria’s fragile internal cohesion could be further strained if foreign military personnel were stationed in the country.
He said, “I strongly do not support the deployment of US soldiers on Nigerian soil. This is a serious matter that must be approached with utmost caution. From a legal and diplomatic standpoint, foreign boots on the ground can only follow a formal Defence Pact approved at the highest levels of government, and even then, the consequences would be profound.
“At a time when our country is already grappling with fragile national cohesion, the presence of foreign troops could deepen internal mistrust, fuel insurgent propaganda, and exacerbate existing regional and religious sensitivities. Notably, even some northern elites and intellectuals: judging by reactions on social media, are uncomfortable with this intervention, and that discomfort speaks volumes.”
Aro argued that increased US involvement did not require American military deployment, saying Nigeria already had sufficient ground forces, including the armed forces, police mobile units and civil defence personnel.
He said the gaps in counter-insurgency operations were in air power, surveillance and precision strike capability, areas in which the US could support Nigeria without replacing local troops on the ground.
He added that maintaining Nigerian control of land operations was important for legitimacy and long-term stability.
However, another retired officer, Brigadier General Bashir Adewinbi (retd.), supported closer security cooperation with the US, saying collaboration among countries was a normal practice.
He said the National Security Adviser’s recent visit to the US was part of ongoing cooperation and linked the Christmas Day strike to a joint Nigeria-US effort.
Adewinbi said that if the deployment of US soldiers was considered necessary to improve security, he would support it provided it followed due diplomatic processes and clearly defined terms of engagement.
He said. “You can remember NSA went to America because of this. The strike conducted on Christmas Day is a joint Nigeria-USA exercise. Whatever it is, they are effective, efficient, and they have achieved a lot within a short period of time.
“On deployment of US soldiers to Nigeria, if it is a way to solve our problem, if there is need, it is collaboration.
“It happens between countries and international communities. Yes, collaboration is the answer to the problem of the world today.”
He further pointed out that such a collaboration would not weaken the morale of Nigerian troops, saying international partnerships were aimed at achieving results.
He said Nigeria should be open to working with any country, if it would help address insecurity.
He added, “There is nothing wrong in collaboration. If they come, they must have stated the terms and conditions and what they are coming to do. It cannot dampen morale.”
Also commenting, Major General Dayo Olukoju (retd.), said , “When we move forward, we will tell you whether the move is right or not.
“At this instance, strategic mistakes cannot be made.”
A former spokesman for the Nigerian Air Force, Group Captain Sadique Shehu (retd.), criticised suggestions that United States soldiers should be deployed to Nigeria to assist in the ongoing war against terrorism.
Shehu said it was disappointing that such an idea was being considered, noting that as a former military officer, he found the development worrying.
He said Nigeria could seek assistance and technology support from foreign partners, but should not depend on foreign soldiers to fight on its soil.
He said, “It is very disappointing that some are even thinking of that. As a military man, I am ashamed. How did we arrive here? We agree we don’t have their technology, but if you are talking about their soldiers coming to fight for us, the country is finished then.”
He, however, said the likelihood of the US deploying large numbers of troops in Nigeria, as seen in Iraq or Afghanistan, was low. According to him, what was more likely was the deployment of small advisory teams, something he said had been ongoing.
Shehu also commented on the reported US strikes in Sokoto, saying there was no confirmed information yet on whether any terrorists were killed during the operation.
He said, “As of now, there’s no evidence that any terrorists have been killed. All we know now is that there was an attack, but that they have killed anybody, we don’t know.”
The retired officer added that Nigeria should clearly define the terms of any security assistance received from foreign partners and ensure that Nigerian authorities communicate directly with citizens rather than relying on statements from foreign governments.
He said, “What arrangement did they make? When I say I’m inviting you to my house to repair my roof, I must tell you that it’s the roof in my parlour, not the roof in my bedroom.
“So, you come and see, this is what countries do. And I’m afraid, this is my personal opinion, I don’t think we did that in Nigeria. When an attack happens, it shouldn’t be Trump talking to Nigerians. This is what I think: it should be Nigerians talking to Nigerians. We should not be listening only to what Washington says.
“After this attack, we first heard from Trump. Is that right? It shouldn’t be like that. Yes, we need their help, and we are happy they are helping. But you must set out the rules and regulations for how that help is going to be provided.”
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/12/30/military-tracks-boko-haram-iswap-fighters-fleeing-after-us-airstrikes/
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Madani govt elevates Islam as governance foundation, says Anwar
31 Dec 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 31 — The Madani government continues efforts to elevate Islam based on the values of ihsan (compassion), justice and wisdom, not merely as an identity but as a foundation for national governance and leadership, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
In a post on X today, Anwar said the effort has been strengthened through meetings and dialogues with prominent local and international ulama, held in an atmosphere of mutual respect and trust.
He said the engagements provided a platform for candid exchanges on the challenges facing the Muslim community and the role of Islamic leadership in an increasingly complex world.
“I emphasise the need for Islamic leadership to be firm and courageous on matters affecting the community, and to actively seek just and dignified solutions, including in defending the human rights of our brothers and sisters suffering in Gaza,” he said.
Anwar also prayed that every effort to elevate Islam be guided by integrity and wisdom, and bring benefits to the Muslim community and humanity as a whole. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/12/31/madani-govt-elevates-islam-as-governance-foundation-says-anwar/203787
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Iran Seeks to Develop Railway Through Afghanistan to Connect China with Europe
December 31, 2025
KABUL: Jabbar Ali Zakari, Head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways, said on Tuesday that Iran is interested in developing a railway network through Afghanistan to connect China with Europe, highlighting the country’s strategic location as a key transit route.
In a meeting with Mullah Abdul Ghani Beradar Akhund, the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Zakari proposed establishing a joint committee and engaging with relevant companies to advance the project.
“The initiative will significantly boost regional trade and economic cooperation by providing a direct overland route linking China and Europe through Afghanistan,” the statement quoted the Iranian official as saying.
Meanwhile, Beradar noted that about three years ago, he had discussed the economic value and significance of this project with the Vice President of the Islamic Republic of Iran and provided the necessary information regarding its economic benefits.
He emphasized that a joint committee should be established as soon as possible and that practical work on the project should begin without delay.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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https://thekabultimes.com/iran-seeks-to-develop-railway-through-afghanistan-to-connect-china-with-europe/
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India
FIRs against BJP MLA for ‘insult to Quran’
Dec 31, 2025
Kolkata: Multiple FIRs were lodged against BJP's Haringhata MLA Asim Sarkar for disrespecting the Quran, prompting Bengal BJP to distance itself from the MLA's comments.
Sarkar made the comment last week and it went viral on social media.
Bengal minister of state for power Akhruzzaman filed a complaint against Sarkar at Raghunathganj police station. Another complaint was lodged at Basanti police station.
In a complaint lodged at Shamsherganj police station, Trinamool MLA Amirul Islam said, "A video clip went viral and Sarkar is seen making derogatory, uncouth statements. He tried to demean Islam and it seems that he did that deliberately. It is also clear that he tried to intentionally hurt the sentiments of Muslims. Being a representative of people, he should have shown restraint in his comments."
The Social Democratic Party of India has also lodged a complaint against Sarkar at Domkal police station. Jamaat-e-Islami Hind condemned Sarkar's statement, terming it "unconstitutional", "insulting" and "unparliamentary".
Referring to Sarkar's statement, BJP's Bongaon MP and junior Union minister Shantanu Thakur said, "Asim Sarka made a remark and we don't want to comment on that. I hope that he reads things before speaking on them."
Source: indiatimes.com
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'Was radicalising youths': Assam Police busts terror cell linked to Bangladesh; 11 arrested
Dec 31, 2025
GUWAHATI: Assam police busted a module of Imam Mahmuder Kafila (IMK) with the arrest of 11 alleged operatives of the Bangladesh-based Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) offshoot formed in 2018. Investigators said IMK expanded its base in the state after Bangladesh's Aug 2024 regime change that led to the exit of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Of the 11 people held by Assam police's Special Task Force (STF), 10 were picked up from Assam and one from Tripura in operations since late Monday night. CM Himanta Biswa Sarma acknowledged the threat from such modules. "Fundamentalists are definitely active in Assam. The issue will remain for long as Bangladesh is Assam's neighbouring country," Sarma said.
STF chief and Guwahati police commissioner Partha Sarathi Mahanta said IMK used encrypted social media groups to radicalise and recruit youths in Assam and nearby states, spread propaganda, raise funds through hawala and UPI channels, and facilitate cross-border travel for training.
"Probe revealed that following the regime change in Bangladesh in Aug 2024, top leaders of JMB, Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) and al-Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) issued directions to IMK leadership to activate and expand its Indian modules. Bangladeshi nationals Umar and Khalid were assigned to coordinate Assam-based activities. The head of the Assam cell is one Nasim Uddin alias Tamim of Barpeta Road in Barpeta district in Assam," Mahanta said.
Nasim Uddin was among those 11 arrested. Multiple charges under BNS, 2023 and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967 were slapped on the suspects.
Mahanta said IMK, banned in India, was formed by Jewel Mahmud alias Imam Mahmud Habibullah alias Sohail, described as a former JMB member who claims to be the amir (leader) of IMK and propagates the ideology of "Ghazwatul Hind (Battle against India)".
Mahanta said IMK propagated an ideology aligned with proscribed transnational jihadi organisations and operated through secure social media platforms. "One such social media group is 'Purva Akash', which functions as a principal communication and recruitment platform. People from Assam, Bengal and Tripura were being radicalised, recruited, financially mobilised. IMK disseminates extremist propaganda advocating violent jihad and the armed conquest of India."
Investigators found that some Assam-based IMK operatives had travelled to Bangladesh earlier this year on valid passports and visas for training and coordination, Mahanta further said.
Source: indiatimes.com
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UP Muslim panchayat bans 'nikah' at hotels: DJs, fireworks, salami restricted; violators to face Rs 11,000 fine
Dec 31, 2025
AGRA: In a move to curb extravagance and encourage austerity at weddings, a ‘panchayat' by the Muslim community in Kosi Kalan, a town in Mathura, unanimously decided to ban ‘nikah' (marriage) ceremonies at hotels, guest houses or marriage halls and placed strict restrictions on DJ music, fireworks and ‘salami' (gift) ritual to grooms. Those flouting the panchayat's order will be counselled and repeated violations will invite a fine of Rs 11,000.
‘Nikah' in this town will be solemnised only in mosques, said Meenuddin, a member of the panchayat. He added that wedding feasts and other arrangements will continue to be held at hotels, guest houses and marriage venues.
"The panchayat took the steps after a row recently erupted in the area when the DJ music was played loudly on the road at a wedding procession with people dancing," Jibran Hussain, an advocate who attended the gathering, told TOI on Tuesday. He added that in Islam, ‘nikah' is always meant to be simple and lavish spendings is strongly discouraged.
"This is the first time our community here has spoken out so strongly against social evils linked to weddings. The panchayat was held by the Eidgah committee at Sarai Nikasa in Delhi Gate area on Dec 26. It was attended by residents from the town and its surrounding areas," said Meenuddin.
This would help maintain equality among all sections of the Muslim community as a lot of families find it very difficult to spend too much money on weddings. It will also prevent nuisance, such as competition over spendings in neighbourhoods, and essentially maintain harmony, Meenuddin pointed out.
"DJ music and fireworks in wedding processions often create disputes and fights in localities, which harm unity and brotherhood. These steps will help restore simplicity and harmony in society," said committee secretary Mehraraj Qureshi.
Qureshi added, "If a DJ or band is found playing at any wedding function — on either the bride's or groom's side — local clerics or qazis invited from outside will not solemnise the ‘nikah', as decided in the panchayat."
Source: indiatimes.com
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NIA court issues proclamation against 3 Kashmiris based in US, Germany for 'anti-national propaganda'
Fayaz Wani
30 Dec 2025
SRINAGAR: The Special NIA court in Srinagar has issued a proclamation notice against three Kashmir residents including a woman, who are presently based in US and Germany, in a case related to alleged anti-national propaganda and secessionist misinformation and spreading disaffection against the Union of India through social media platforms.
The proclamation notice has been issued against Mubeen Ahmad Shah son of late Ali Mohammad Shah and Azizul Hassan Ashai alias Tony Ashai son of Nazir Ahmad Ashai, both residents of Jawahar Nagar area of Srinagar, and Rifat Wani, daughter of Ghulam Mohammad Wani R/o Trehgam, Kupwara.
The trio are not living in J&K but are based abroad. While Mubeen and Tony are based in the US, Rifat is based in Germany.
The court has issued proclamation notice against the trio under Section 82 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973 in connection with FIR No. 07/2020 of Police Station Counter Intelligence Kashmir (CIK).
The case pertains to serious offences under Sections 153-A and 505 of IPC and Section 13 of UAPA.
A spokesman of J&K police’s CIK in a statement said the case against the trio was registered following credible intelligence inputs revealed a well-orchestrated conspiracy by anti-social and anti-national elements acting at the behest of secessionist forces operating within and outside the Valley.
“The investigations have uncovered that the accused were masquerading as news portals, journalists and freelancers while allegedly misusing social media platforms including Facebook, X, and WhatsApp to create and circulate fake, motivated, exaggerated and out-of-context content,” the statement said.
The objective of the digital misinformation campaign, according to investigators, was meant to incite street violence, disrupt normal life, damage public property, disturb public order and fuel mass unrest, thereby promoting anti-national sentiments and a secessionist agenda aimed at creating disaffection against the Union of India
“The accused were found to be actively propagating content prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India, spreading false and fabricated narratives with the clear intent of instigating disaffection against the Union of India,” the statement said adding, after issuance of arrest warrants, the accused went underground and are absconding to evade the process of law.
According to the CIK statement, despite being declared absconders, the accused continue to remain active on social media platforms and persist in spreading provocative and misleading content aimed at inciting violence and destabilising public order in J&K.
Taking serious note of deliberate evasion of the accused, the Special NIA Court has issued a proclamation under Section 82 CrPC and directed the trio to appear before the court on or before January 31, 2026.
The court has warned the trio that failure to comply will invite proceedings under Section 83 CrPC, including attachment of property.
Source: newindianexpress.com
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Is Mamata Banerjee embracing ‘soft Hindutva’? Political logic of her temple push explained
RAVIK BHATTACHARYA
December 31, 2025
A Jagannath temple in the coastal town of Digha in south Bengal, a temple complex in Kolkata dedicated to Goddess Durga, and a Mahakal temple in Siliguri in north Bengal. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, often the target of BJP attacks for “minority appeasement”, is on a temple project spree.
“Many people blame me for appeasement politics, but I am a true secularist,” Banerjee said on Monday after laying the foundation stone of Durga Angan, the 17-acre temple and cultural complex dedicated to Goddess Durga coming up in Kolkata’s New Town area. “I believe in the peaceful coexistence of all religions. You can’t show me a religion whose celebrations I don’t attend. I cover my head when I visit gurdwaras. Why do you complain when I attend rozas (fasting during Ramzan)? Every religion has its cultural practices. How can I disregard any of them? Some people are looting and vandalising. Decisions are being made about who will stay and who will have to leave. I will pray to Goddess Durga to destroy evil.”
This comes at a time when the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government — riding high on the state becoming the second-most popular destination for international tourists and leveraging UNESCO’s recognition of Durga Puja — is planning to promote heritage tourism and develop new circuits built around religious sites such as Gangasagar (the venue of the annual Gangasagar Mela), Tarapith (a Shakti Peeth in Birbhum), and Dakshineswar (a famous Kali temple).
The TMC sees three benefits in the CM’s pursuit of temple projects, two of them political and one economic.
“Firstly, the Opposition, mainly the BJP, has always targeted the party for Muslim appeasement. It is wrong. Earlier, our CM buily Dakshineswar and Kalighat temple skywalks. You will see her at iftar parties, Eid celebrations, and in gurdwaras and churches. She is truly secular. Her initiative for temples further consolidates her image and negates the Muslim appeasement tag. This will benefit us in the upcoming polls. She is taking the wind out of the BJP in Bengal,” said a senior leader close to the CM.
“Secondly, Bengal is the second state when it comes to visits by foreign tourists (2025). Creating such infrastructure will further woo more tourists. These are not only temples but also a place of art and culture. Not only foreign tourists but also domestic tourists are expected to flock here. The Jagannath temple, which was inaugurated on April 30, has already seen 1 crore footfall,” added the TMC functionary.
Another senior TMC leader said that while Muslims were not expected to vote for the BJP, the CM’s temple politics would ensure that the party’s attempts to forge a pan-Hindu base would fall flat. The party will need this broad social coalition of various Hindu caste groups if it has to come to power in the state.
“In previous elections, we have seen women vote for us, thanks to Didi’s Lakshmir Bhandar and other schemes. Muslims vote for us in a consolidated manner. But a section of Hindu votes goes to the BJP. That’s why they got 77 seats (in 2021). This time, we expect more Hindu votes to come our way. Even if a small section of Muslim votes in Malda and Murshidabad districts shifts, it won’t go to the BJP. But we will benefit from not only Hindu votes but the votes of the Matua community and the Rajbangshi communities (part of Hindu votes) because the BJP failed to deliver its promise to them,” said the leader.
Is the BJP in a bind?
The Opposition has targeted Banerjee, with the BJP appearing to be in a bind since it cannot be seen opposing the construction of temples and the Left alleging that it illustrates the failure of the TMC government to deliver on development and jobs.
While Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP, one of the CM’s most trenchant critics, has reiterated RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s recent statement that governments should not be building temples — Bhagwat pointed out that the Ram Temple in Ayodhya was constructed by a Trust — Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday told reporters, “We welcome the construction of temples, but it is too late.”
Accusing the CM of appeasement on this too, Adhikari once claimed in the Assembly that the site of the Durga Angan complex was shifted following the objections of local Muslims, some of whom refused to part with their land for the project.
The Left alleged that the CM was engaging in “soft Hindutva politics” to hide her government’s failures.
“The CM has nothing to show for the state’s development, industrialisation, or jobs. She has failed on those parameters. She wants to hide the fact that the government is deeply entrenched in corruption and scams. That is why she is now banking on temple politics and wants to follow the RSS-BJP path. She is following the BJP’s divisive politics. On one hand, she will go to iftar parties and on the other, she is building temples. How can a government build temples?” CPI(M) Central Committee member Sujan Chakraborty told The Indian Express.
Source: indianexpress.com
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Thirupparankundram row not conflict between Hindus and Muslims, but between Modi Government and Madurai people: MP Su. Venkatesan
December 30, 2025
“The Thirupparankundram issue which is perceived to be a fight between Hindus and Muslims, is actually a fight between the Modi government and Madurai people,” said CPI(M) MP Su. Venkatesan.
He spoke at a day-long hunger strike at the Palanganatham in Madurai, protesting what it called attempts by right-wing groups to stoke communal tension over ‘Karthigai Deepam’ at Thirupparankundram hill.
In his address, Mr. Venkatesan said there was “no place for religious fanaticism in the soil of Madurai” and described the CPI(M)’s fast as a struggle to “protect people’s unity” and put development, rather than hate, at the centre of public discourse.
He accused organisations aligned with the RSS, BJP and Hindu Munnani of trying to turn the Thirupparankundram ‘Karthigai Deepam’ into a ‘riot lamp’.
The MP slammed right wing forces for manufacturing conflict over the Deepam site through a ‘same pattern’ of religious riots, resembling ‘Ayodhya politics’ to derail focus from real issues.
He noted that after the 2019 Supreme Court verdict on the Babri Masjid-Rama Janmabhoomi case, ‘many problems regarding places of worship have been raised in courts,’ with 18 cases registered in 2024-25 alone.
“They claim a temple existed under a mosque and start a case to create tension as seen in Uttar Pradesh and other States,” he added.
Mr. Venkatesan criticised former Chief Minister and AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami for ignorance of his party’s past stances under MGR and Jayalalithaa, which upheld traditions and rejected such provocations.
Invoking a 3,000-year-old history of Thirupparankundram from Vel worship to Buddhist, Jain and other traditions, Mr. Venkatesan said the hill symbolised a shared Tamil spiritual heritage that cannot be reduced to a single communal narrative.
He cited practices where Hindus and Muslims jointly pull the Sandanakoodu chariot and serve devotees during festivals, insisting the real conflict was ‘between religious fanatics and friendly human beings,’ not between religious communities.
In his concluding speech, CPI(M) politburo member K. Balakrishnan warned that the AIADMK-BJP alliance posed a grave threat to Tamil Nadu’s peace and growth, slamming Mr. Palaniswami for enabling Hindutva organisations to escalate small issues into religious riots destroying the secular nature of the State.
Highlighting soaring inflation, the decline of traditional businesses and unemployed qualified youth, he accused BJP and its allies of dividing people in the name of religion while ignoring the real issues.
Mr. Balakrishnan affirmed that CPI(M) would not allow such atrocities to continue, declaring “this election will change things.”
Slogans at the protest urged the Union government not to neglect Madurai, and demanded action on drinking water, industrial investment, small and medium enterprise protection and youth employment along with a firm stand against religious provocation.
In addition, Madurai district CPI(M) secretary M. Ganesan, in the presence of suburban district secretary K. Rajendran, spoke at the protest.
Source: thehindu.com
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Four arrested for attempting to forcibly encroach 'karbala' land in UP's Pratapgarh
31 Dec 2025
PRATAPGARH: Police have arrested four people for allegedly attempting to forcibly encroach upon 'karbala' land in Ranjitpur Chilbila area here, officials said on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, some people reached the site with JCB machines and allegedly tried to damage the place, triggering protests by local residents, Circle Officer (City) Prashant Raj said.
He said the police rushed to the spot, brought the situation under control, and seized the two JCB machines.
On a complaint filed by Muharram Committee president Haider Ali, a case was registered against the accused for allegedly hurting religious sentiments and attempting to disturb communal harmony, the officer said.
Following the registration of the case, police arrested Vijay Maurya, Vishal Maurya, Anoop Shrivastava, and Ankit Jaiswal on Tuesday evening, Raj said.
Further investigation is underway, he added.
Source: newindianexpress.com
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Eight months after Pahalgam terror attack, walking up to Baisaran meadow
by Naveed Iqbal
December 31, 2025
Like every other morning, Noor Jahan, 40, and her six-year-old son are busy collecting firewood to cook their meals. Kashmir is already in the grip of chillai kalan, the peak winter months when the days are short and the cold clings to the mountains, settling deep into the bones. The mother and son go around a small mosque metres from their hut, bending every now and then to pick dried branches and twigs. They can no longer go into the nearby forests for wood like they used to.
“Hamein aage jana mana hai, toh hum nahin jaate (We are not allowed to go any further, so we don’t),” she says.
Since that afternoon of April 22, when the guns rang out in the meadow up the hill, a sense of fear has hung over the Lidder Valley mountains that rise out of Pahalgam, disrupting the life that Noor Jahan and her neighbours led in this settlement of 10 homes, most mud huts like hers.
It’s from here that the trek to the Baisaran meadow begins. It was from here that she witnessed terror that afternoon, when the blood of 26 civilians had spilled on to the emerald green meadow, changing Pahalgam forever. She had stood outside her hut, watching people, young and old, run downhill from the meadow, shrieking, shaking in fear. “Since then, I have only seen men in uniform go up and down the hill,” she says.
Now, as the year that saw one of the deadliest terror attacks on civilians winds down, Noor Jahan finds it hard to move on — if only memory and fear could be flipped like the pages of a calendar.
She did not hear the gunshots that day. “It (the attack) happened in the afternoon. I was probably busy cooking,” she says.
April is the peak tourist season in Pahalgam. It is also the time her husband, a daily-wage labourer, finds work more easily, when the markets and hotels are full.
Off the market in Pahalgam, the road goes up for 2.5 km, before splitting into two — a 5-km longer road that passes through the settlement where Noor Jahan lives, and a shorter 2-km trek. Both these routes meet at a point, beyond which a kilometre-long path leads up to Baisaran.
Until the attack, Baisaran was a popular tourist destination, along with three other meadows in Pahalgam — Aru Valley, Betab Valley and Chandanwari. Every tourist season, about 5,000 ponywallahs would ferry visitors to Baisaran and back. What made the meadow irresistible was its location — along a popular trekking route to Tullian Lake, an alpine waterbody nestled between sharp-edged mountains.
Tourists who have trekked up to Baisaran often talk of being taken by surprise at the sudden clearing in the middle of a thick forest. The climb is tough, with the path strewn with boulders and largely accessible only on horseback, a journey that takes around two hours. Except for the pine trees, there is little that grows out of the rocky facade of the hill.
But now, the road to Baisaran lies deserted, the meadow itself shut since the terror attack, pending a security review. “Usually, this would have been such a busy time. It’s all quiet now. This is not like any other December,” she says.
The trek to Baisaran
Rouf Wani, 36, drags his feet as he treks up the shorter, 2-km route to the meadow. It’s his first trek in the eight months since the attack and he is without his pony.
Walking up the winding route to the meadow, the ponywallah halts after every few steps. He looks around, afraid of being stopped by security officials. “I have spotted tyre tracks. Only Army trucks or official vehicles go up till the pony tracks now,” he says.
As the climb to Baisaran begins, the town unfolds on the right, the expansive Golf Course spread out like a green carpet. Pahalgam is fresh off a spell of rain and for a December morning, it’s unusually sunny. That’s how Baisaran feels to most tourists, Wani says, after the tough, hour-long climb, the meadow opens up “like the skies clear up after the rain”.
But all that changed after April 22. The gunshots that echoed in the park that day were absorbed by the dense forests, and didn’t reach downhill, where Wani was when the terrorists struck. “I was about to start a trip uphill in the afternoon when I got a call from a ponywallah who was outside the park. When he told me that there had been firing in the park, I didn’t believe him at first…I have gone up and down that route my entire life, and never once felt a sense of fear.”
His calls to the police and the local Army units that day were met with similar disbelief. Wani says he raced up the hill in 40 minutes with at least 10 other pony owners to help the tourists.
“Women and children were running downhill. We helped them because the route is covered in stones, making it easy to trip and fall,” he says, adding, “That day too, I couldn’t bring myself to go inside the meadow.”
Throughout the day, before the police, ambulances and all-terrain vehicles could arrive at the scene, he recalls the wave of grief and panic that had taken hold of everyone around him.
“There are nine villages in Pahalgam. I don’t know of anyone who slept well that night. I will never forget what I saw on the run up the hill — the blood and bodies that weren’t whole anymore. Each time I look at this track, I can still see the blood on the gravel from that day,” he says.
The attack changed everything, he says. Since then, with very few tourists in Pahalgam, he gets work ferrying Amarnath pilgrims and tourists on the Chandanwari route. “As much as I would like to get back to work here, I don’t think I can ever take another family to Baisaran,” he says.
Before the attack, he says, the park would come alive during the tourist season, with traders selling handicrafts, pashmina shawls and papier mache outside its gates. “There were several tea stalls too. Ponywallahs would stop at the (park) gates and then take the tourists back to the (Pahalgam) market. A family would easily spend two hours at the meadow, taking in the scenery, rolling down the hills and doing zip lining. On some days, they would stay till 9 pm,” he says.
While the tourism department’s rate for hiring a pony to Baisaran is Rs 1,320, Wani and the others usually charge around Rs 3,000-4,500 for the trek, depending on the season.
Nearly 2 km from the park, Wani bends down to pick a board that announces ‘Welcome to Baisaran Adventure Trek’. He says he is not sure when the board broke off its wooden beams. Across Pahalgam, all signages pointing to Baisaran, like this board, have been removed or scrubbed off to dissuade people from walking up the trail.
Refusing to walk any further, he says, “Isse aage nahin jayenge (I will not go beyond this point). There are clear instructions that the place is closed.”
As he walks back to the town, Wani says, “Visitors have started inquiring about the Baisaran meadow again, asking if they can go up, but we cannot violate security instructions,” he says.
Pahalgam Usually bustling with tourists in December, the Pahalgam market wears an empty look. (Express photo by Shuaib Masoodi)
Down in the town
Mohammad Yawar, 29, was among those who were outside the park gates that day, waiting for customers and talking to other shawl sellers. He only has to close his eyes to hear the gunshots from that day. “If I ever find the men who were behind the attack, I will make them answer for their lack of humanity,” he says, standing by the roadside, at the point where the road to Baisaran begins. These days, he spends most days hanging around, doing nothing.
But until the terror attack, tourist season meant brisk business. He and the other shawl sellers had worked out a roster and would take turns to go up to Baisaran — “a good spot to sell”. The rest, he says, would remain in the market that day.
April 22 was his turn at the park.
“When I first heard the gunshots behind me, I thought someone was bursting crackers. It did not occur to me that someone would choose this place to fire guns,” he says.
Then, Yawar says, he heard more gunshots coming from the left — and the hair on his neck stood up. “Everyone started running. I threw my bag of shawls right there and started running along with the tourists. It was not until I was down the turn from the park that I realised the firing was taking place at intervals,” he recalls.
Everything — the park full of tourists one minute, the horror and screams the next — now seems distant. “Despite the cold, Christmas and New Year would bring many tourists to Pahalgam. This year, Pahalgam is empty,” he says.
Metres away, on the main road in Pahalgam market, Mohammad Ayoub, 65, stands at the door of his 85-year-old handicrafts shop, soaking in the winter sun. Business has been terrible this Christmas, he says. “Tourist numbers are down by nearly 80%. Yet, I open the shop everyday. I have run this place for about 45 years. Before me, my father ran it,” says Ayoub.
While Pahalgam has seen “good years and bad years”, something snapped after April 22. “Even in the worst years, it was always understood that tourists would not be harmed. But that changed with the attack in the meadow.”
Ayoub points to the banners and buntings going up in the market for the Pahalgam Winter Festival, now an annual event that lasts from Christmas to New Year’s Day. “The festival always sees a good turnout and when that happens, I’m hoping people will see that it is safe to come back here. I have done enough business, seen enough highs and lows to know that somehow, things always turn around.”
In the market, a group of men in their late 20s walk around, sipping coffee out of styrofoam cups and taking turns to pose for photographs. From Rajasthan, the four are on a year-end trip to Kashmir. “I’ve been here for four days now. We landed in Srinagar, went to Gulmarg and then came to Pahalgam,” says one of them.
He says two of the four in the group haven’t told their families about the trip to Pahalgam. “They would have tried to dissuade us. But we had to come here.”
Source: indianexpress.com
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Jammu and Kashmir court acquits three in terror case, cites gaps in prosecution evidence
31.12.25
A sessions court in Jammu and Kashmir has acquitted three men accused of involvement in terror activities, citing lack of evidence and serious gaps in the prosecution’s case.
The order was passed by the court of the additional sessions judge, a special judge designated under the NIA Act, who ruled that the prosecution had failed to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.
The accused, Wajid Ahmad Bhat, Masrat Bilal Bhuru and Rameez Ahmad Dar, all residents of Kulgam district, were acquitted on Monday. Judge Manjeet Rai directed that they be released forthwith if they were not required in any other case.
The three were arrested by police at a checkpost in the Batamaloo area of Srinagar on October 10, 2022. The prosecution alleged that they were found in possession of grenades and magazines with live rounds.
In his order, the judge reiterated a settled principle of criminal law: the burden lies entirely on the prosecution.
“The present case is marked by material discrepancies about how the accused came to be apprehended and what exactly was recovered from whom,” the court said.
The judge pointed to multiple procedural lapses, including a failure to record identifying marks or numbers on the case property and the non-preservation of seal impressions. These lapses, the court noted, broke the chain of custody.
The order also referred to contradictory evidence on the sealing process and on how the grenades were presented to the bomb disposal squad.
The court further flagged repeated failures by witnesses to correctly identify the accused and to link specific grenades to specific individuals.
It also noted a “total absence of independent witness or corroborative evidence for the UAPA allegations of association with Al-Badr and intended terrorist act.”
Quoting settled law, the order stated: “Once such doubt arises, the accused are entitled to benefit of doubt.”
The court concluded, “This Court holds that the prosecution has failed to establish beyond reasonable doubt that the accused were in conscious and unauthorised possession of the alleged grenades, magazine and rounds on 10.10.2022 at Command Post Batamaloo, and the charge under section 7/25 Arms Act is not proved.”
The accused were represented by advocates Mir Urfi, Waheed Ahmad Dar and Anil Raina.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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Sambhal administration flags illegal encroachment on graveyard near Shahi Jama Masjid
Piyush Srivastava
31.12.25
The Sambhal administration on Tuesday claimed that over two dozen illegally built shops and houses have cropped up on a Muslim burial ground adjacent to the Shahi Jama Masjid.
The district administration on Tuesday conducted a measurement survey of the graveyard spread across 4,780 square metres of public land based on a complaint by a Hindutva group.
Subhas Chandra Tyagi, a leader of Sri Kalki Sena, had in his complaint to Sambhal district magistrate (DM) Rajendra Pensiya alleged that the rioters had pelted the police with stones from these buildings during a court-ordered survey of the mosque on November 24, 2024.
“We conducted the measurement survey of about 4,780 square metres of the land of the graveyard today based on a complaint. We found encroachment in its three corners. People have illegally built over two dozen shops and houses on the land,” Pensiya told reporters at the site on Tuesday.
“We are serving notices to the encroachers. A tehsildar’s court will hear the case.
We’ll initiate a demolition drive if the court is not satisfied with their replies,” he added.
Over 1,000 police and paramilitary forces were deployed at the site during the survey.
Sambhal superintendent of police Krishna Kumar Bishnoi said: “The administration had received a complaint that some people had encroached on the graveyard land. Over 1,000 square metres of the area is in the possession of encroachers. Shops and houses are standing on the land meant exclusively for use as a graveyard in the revenue department records.”
Mashhoor Mohammad, owner of a grocery shop on the graveyard land, said: “My family has owned the shop for the last 100 years. We have every detail to prove our ownership of the land where my shop is located. We hope the administration will allow us to prove our claims.”
Large-scale violence had broken out in front of the Shahi Jama Masjid on November 24 last year during the local court-ordered survey. The survey was meant to evaluate Hindu petitioners’ claim that Mughal emperor Aurangzeb had built the mosque after demolishing a temple, and the site should therefore be handed over to Hindus.
Four people had died during a clash with the police.
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Arab World
Saudi Cabinet: Kingdom will not hesitate to confront threats
December 30, 2025
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet, chaired by King Salman, on Tuesday said the Kingdom would not hesitate to take the necessary measures to confront any threat to its national security, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
It added that it rejected any challenges to the security, stability and sovereignty of Yemen.
The Cabinet was meeting following a “limited airstrike” targeting weapons and military vehicles reported to be destined for the Southern Transitional Council in Yemen, which was carried out by the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen that backs Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council.
It also also said it hoped the UAE would cease any military or financial support to the southern separatist forces or any other party within Yemen, and expressed hope that Emirati forces would withdraw from Yemen within 24 hours in accordance with a Yemeni request.
The Cabinet said it hoped that the UAE will take the necessary steps to preserve Saudi-Emirati relations which the Kingdom is keen to strengthen, and said it looks forward to working together toward everything that will enhance the prosperity and stability of countries of the region.
The Cabinet expressed its regret over the outcome of de-escalation efforts that the Kingdom has been keen to pursue, which have been met with an unjustified escalation that contradicts the principles upon which the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen was founded, undermines its efforts to achieve security and stability in Yemen, and is inconsistent with all the promises the Kingdom received from the UAE.
The Cabinet said it appreciated the role of the coalition in protecting civilians in the governorates of Hadramaut and Al-Mahra in response to the request of the President of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Rashad Al-Alimi, and in reducing escalation in order to achieve security and stability and preventing the expansion of the conflict.
The Cabinet reaffirmed that the Kingdom will not hesitate to take necessary steps and measures to confront any infringement or threat to its national security, and its commitment to , and its full support for Al-Alimi and his government.
In other regional affairs, the Cabinet reaffirmed the Kingdom’s support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and safety of Somalia, and rejects the declaration of mutual recognition between Israel and Somaliland as it enshrines unilateral separatist measures that violate international law.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi King Salman receives message from Russian president
December 30, 2025
RIYADH: King Salman received a written message from Russian President Vladmir Putin regarding ties between the two countries.
Russian Ambassador to the Kingdom Sergey Kozlov delivered the message to Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Elkhereiji in Riyadh, the Foreign Ministry wrote in a post on X on Tuesday.
The two officials reviewed strong relations between Saudi Arabia and Russia and discussed the latest regional and international developments, as well as the efforts made in this regard.
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Saudi Arabia positions space sector as pillar of knowledge economy
December 30, 2025
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is stepping up efforts to develop its space sector as part of wider plans to build a diversified, knowledge-based economy under Vision 2030, officials and industry figures say.
Space is increasingly seen in the Kingdom as a driver of technology development, job creation, and international cooperation, Saudi Press Agency reported.
Policymakers say it now underpins a range of services, from telecommunications and navigation to climate monitoring and disaster management.
CEO of the Saudi Space Agency Mohammed Al-Tamimi said space technologies are closely linked to daily life and national development priorities.
“Space has become a vital tool for human development,” he said, noting that innovations in communications, Earth observation and navigation support sectors such as agriculture, logistics and urban planning.
Al-Tamimi added that growing private-sector involvement is creating new opportunities for startups and international partnerships, as Saudi Arabia seeks to build local capabilities rather than rely solely on imported technology.
Recent years have seen a series of institutional reforms. The establishment of the Saudi Space Agency in 2018, the transfer of regulatory responsibilities to the Communications, Space and Technology Commission, and the creation of the Supreme Space Council, chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, have helped set clearer governance and strategy for the sector.
Saudi Arabia has also expanded its participation in global programs. Agreements with NASA include cooperation on climate and space-weather missions, while partnerships with research centers and space companies support training, joint experiments, and technology transfer.
Domestically, investment is being directed toward satellite manufacturing, Earth-observation platforms, and data services linked to smart-city and environmental projects. Neo Space Group, owned by the Public Investment Fund, is expected to play a key role in developing sovereign capabilities and attracting international partners.
Youth programs and education initiatives feature prominently in the strategy. Competitions, academic research projects, and astronaut training opportunities are designed to encourage students to pursue careers in science and engineering.
In 2023, Saudi astronauts Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali Al-Qarni participated in the Axiom-2 mission to the International Space Station, conducting scientific and outreach activities.
According to national indicators, the Saudi space economy was valued at around $8.7 billion in 2024 and is forecast to grow steadily through 2035, with expansion expected across both manufacturing and downstream services such as data analytics and navigation.
Officials also highlight sustainability as a priority. New regulations aim to ensure safe and responsible space activity, while the Kingdom plans to host the Space Debris Conference in 2026 to discuss global challenges linked to congestion in orbit.
As Saudi Arabia deepens partnerships and builds local expertise, analysts say the sector could support economic diversification, strengthen research capacity and provide high-skilled opportunities for young Saudis.
For policymakers, the space sector is less about prestige and more about practical outcomes: better services, stronger national capabilities and a foothold in an industry expected to grow rapidly in the coming decade.
Source: arabnews.com
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Riyadh university gets top spot in education index
December 30, 2025
RIYADH: The Imam Mohammed Ibn Saud Islamic University has secured first place in Saudi Arabia for the Quality Education 2025 index, according to the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, and ranked 29th globally. This accomplishment highlights the university’s educational leadership and sustainable social impact, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.
The Impact Rankings evaluate higher education institutions based on their contributions to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, assessing educational, social, economic, and environmental impacts beyond traditional metrics.
The Quality Education Index (SDG 4) measures a university’s capacity to provide high-quality education, promote lifelong learning, and establish equity, as well as develop human resources essential for national development and community service.
IMSIU’s ranking reflects its commitment to improving the educational system, learning outcomes, and academic quality.
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Saudi National Center marks Gulf Wildlife Day
December 30, 2025
RIYADH: The National Center for Wildlife is celebrating Gulf Wildlife Day, highlighting its role in preserving biodiversity and promoting sustainable ecosystems throughout the Kingdom.
Observed annually on Dec. 30, Gulf Wildlife Day emphasizes the importance of regional coordination among Gulf Cooperation Council countries in wildlife conservation. It aims to raise awareness of the importance of preserving species and to highlight various initiatives supporting biodiversity, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
In support of the event, the center is presenting its specialized programs for breeding and reintroducing endangered wildlife.
These efforts focus on restoring ecological balance in protected areas, managing nature reserves through habitat monitoring, and promoting responsible ecotourism. The center is also reinforcing its community role awareness through campaigns and educational partnerships that encourage responsible environmental behavior.
Biodiversity in the Kingdom is vast, with 65 ecosystems that are home to more than 12,000 wildlife species, including birds, mammals and plants. This diversity highlights the importance of ongoing efforts to preserve natural resources and maintain biodiversity for future generations.
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New initiative launched at the Prophet’s Mosque
December 30, 2025
RIYADH: President of Religious Affairs at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque Sheikh Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Sudais inaugurated the Hidayah Center today.
The initiative enhances dawah and guidance services for visitors to the Prophet's Mosque, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The center specializes in distributing guidance books and delivering dawah messages, enriching visitors’ spiritual and intellectual experiences while promoting Islamic knowledge and moderation.
Al-Sudais emphasized the need for continuous modernization and advocated using technology to improve service quality. This approach supports the mission of the Presidency of Religious Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque in serving the two holy mosques while maintaining high standards of professionalism. By using technological advancements the presidency ensures its message reaches a global audience effectively.
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Jazan Festival opens on Friday
December 30, 2025
JAZAN: The Jazan Festival 2026 opens this Friday at a 35 sq. km site that features the Kingdom’s largest maritime theater.
The 10,000-capacity facility has five VIP areas, and parking for over 9,000 vehicles, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Built specifically for the festival, the stage meets stringent safety and technical standards, and is expected to provide a high-quality audiovisual experience against the backdrop of the Red Sea.
The site includes shopping zones, kiosks for dining, art gallery, play area for children, bird garden, and a museum showcasing the region’s history and culture.
The theater, events and services aim to provide a cohesive experience, to help establish Jazan as a year-round tourism destination.
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Saudi FM calls US counterpart Marco Rubio
December 30, 2025
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan held a telephone conversation with his US counterpart Marco Rubio on Tuesday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
During the call, the two officials discussed developments in the region and efforts being made regarding them.
Earlier, the US State Department said ongoing tensions in Yemen and regional security were discussed during the call.
Prince Faisal also received a telephone call from his Pakistani counterpart Muhammad Ishaq Dar and they discussed the latest regional and international developments.
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Saudi Arabia’s Qiddiya City opens Six Flags theme park
RASHID HASSAN
December 30, 2025
RIYADH: In a major milestone for Saudi Arabia’s leisure and tourism ambitions, the opening ceremony at Six Flags Qiddiya City was held on Monday under the patronage of Prince Faisal bin Bandar, Riyadh’s governor, marking the launch of the first attraction within Qiddiya’s entertainment ecosystem.
In a post on X, the official account of Qiddiya City said: “Today, under the patronage of Governor of Riyadh Province HRH Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, the Six Flags Qiddiya City opening ceremony commenced, redefining the Kingdom’s entertainment sector.”
Saudi Tourism Minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb also posted on X following the opening, saying: “From the heart of the world’s largest entertainment capital, we inaugurate today Six Flags Qiddiya as the first global expansion of the brand outside North America: A global destination embracing five experiences and rides … placing Saudi Arabia at the forefront of the global entertainment tourism map.”
Six Flags Qiddiya City features a range of world-class rides alongside immersive experiences supported by advanced technologies, all within a design that links entertainment with place and identity, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The opening reflected the rapid progress the Kingdom is witnessing in developing the entertainment sector and consolidating its position as a global destination for major entertainment projects, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.
Abdullah Aldawood, the managing director of Qiddiya Investment Company, expressed his appreciation of the Riyadh governor’s patronage and attendance, noting his enthusiasm and support for initiatives that enhanced development in the region.
The opening represents a practical embodiment of the city’s vision, and Aldawood said: “We are building a destination that inspires imagination, ignites excitement, and brings people together through exceptional experiences.”
The official opening ceremony was attended by Al-Khateeb, Sports Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Esports Federation Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, Riyadh Mayor Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf, and a number of ministers and senior officials.
The theme park opens to the public on Dec. 31 as Qiddiya City accelerates efforts to position itself as a major regional hub for entertainment, sports, and culture.
The park forms part of Qiddiya Investment Company’s flagship development on the outskirts of Riyadh. Located in the Tuwaiq Mountains, about 50 minutes by car from the capital, Qiddiya City is being marketed as a master-planned destination built around the company’s Power of Play strategy.
Qiddiya is central to Saudi Arabia’s transformation strategy under Vision 2030, with the Kingdom targeting up to 150 million visitors annually by 2030, as the nation moves beyond oil-led growth.
Brian Machamer, the president of Six Flags Qiddiya City, said last month: “Six Flags Qiddiya City is not only opening its door to the public for the first time, it is starting to showcase everything Qiddiya City stands for: bold imagination, unforgettable experiences, and a new benchmark for global entertainment.”
The site features 28 rides, including several promoted as record breakers: the Falcons Flight roller coaster, billed as the world’s tallest, fastest and longest; the Iron Rattler, described as the world’s tallest tilt coaster; and Spitfire, marketed as the world’s tallest inverted coaster.
The park also offers 18 family-oriented rides, as well as international dining outlets and retail stores offering exclusive Six Flags merchandise.
Tickets start at SR325 ($87) for adults and SR275 for children, while children under 4 will be admitted free.
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Saudi Post issues commemorative stamps for Riyadh Air
December 30, 2025
JEDDAH: The Saudi Post (SPL), in collaboration with Riyadh Air, has issued commemorative stamps to mark the launch of the new national carrier’s inaugural flights in October, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The SR3 stamps mark Riyadh Air’s preparatory operational phase and commemorate the beginning of operations for the Kingdom’s carrier, which aims to serve more than 100 destinations worldwide.
Fahd Al-Abdulaziz, SPL’s general manager of corporate communications, said the organization was proud to issue the commemorative stamps and noted that it reflected SPL’s role in documenting key national milestones.
He added that the launch of Riyadh Air flights represented a strategic milestone in the aviation sector, strengthening the Kingdom’s global connectivity and supporting the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.
SPL issued a commemorative stamp earlier this month marking the inclusion of the Al-Faw Archaeological Area on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, making it the Kingdom’s eighth location to receive the prestigious designation.
The Saudi Post, in collaboration with the General Entertainment Authority, issued a series of commemorative stamps in September to mark celebrations of the Kingdom’s 95th Saudi National Day under the slogan “Our Pride is in Our Nature.”
SPL issues commemorative stamps to coincide with major national events and significant international occasions.
Each stamp highlights an important moment or preserves a notable chapter in Saudi history, making them sought after by stamp collectors worldwide and historians keen to document the Kingdom’s journey.
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Yemeni government says it appreciates Saudi leadership of coalition supporting legitimacy
December 30, 2025
RIYADH: Yemen’s government appreciates the historical and steadfast positions of Saudi Arabia and its pivotal role in supporting Yemen’s security and stability, a statement issued by the country said on Tuesday.
Yemen also appreciates the Kingdom’s constant concern for protecting civilians, reducing escalation, and preventing the eastern provinces of the country from sliding into conflicts that serve hostile agendas.
The internationally recognized government in Yemen called on the Southern Transitional Council to immediately and unconditionally withdraw from the governorates of Hadramaut and Al-Mahra, hand over military sites and camps to the Homeland Shield Forces and local authorities in the governorates, and refrain from any military or escalatory actions that threaten local security and undermine de-escalation efforts.
The statement affirmed the government’s full welcome and absolute support for the decisions taken by the President of the Presidential Leadership Council and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces Rashad Al-Alimi, including the declaration of a state of emergency and measures to protect local security, preserve the unity and sovereignty of the state, and maintain its legal status, in light of the dangerous developments taking place in the eastern governorates of Yemen.
The government said that a state of emergency was declared “to confront the armed rebellion, protect civil peace, and prevent sliding into chaos and undermining state institutions.”
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Mideast
10 countries warn of ‘catastrophic’ Gaza situation
December 30, 2025
LONDON: The foreign ministers of 10 nations on Tuesday expressed “serious concerns” about a “renewed deterioration of the humanitarian situation” in Gaza, saying the situation was “catastrophic.”
The warning came a day after US President Donald Trump warned Palestinian militant group Hamas there would be “hell to pay” if it fails to disarm in Gaza, as he presented a united front with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“As winter draws in, civilians in Gaza are facing appalling conditions with heavy rainfall and temperatures dropping,” the ministers of Britain, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Japan, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland said in a joint statement released by the UK’s Foreign Office.
“1.3 million people still require urgent shelter support. More than half of health facilities are only partially functional and face shortages of essential medical equipment and supplies. The total collapse of sanitation infrastructure has left 740,000 people vulnerable to toxic flooding,” the statement added.
Trump’s comments on Monday also downplayed reports of tensions with Netanyahu over the second stage of the fragile Gaza ceasefire.
The president, speaking at a news conference with Netanyahu in Florida, said Israel had “lived up” to its commitments and that the onus was on Hamas.
The foreign ministers in their statement said they welcomed the progress that had been made to end the bloodshed in Gaza and secure the release of Israeli hostages.
“However we will not lose focus on the plight of civilians in Gaza,” they said, calling on the government of Israel to take a string of “urgent and essential” steps.
These included ensuring that international NGOs could operate in Gaza in a “sustained and predictable” way.
“As 31 December approaches, many established international NGO partners are at risk of being deregistered because of the government of Israel’s restrictive new requirements,” the statement said.
It also called for the UN and its partners to be able to continue their work in Gaza and for the lifting of “unreasonable restrictions on imports considered to have a dual use.”
This included medical and shelter equipment.
‘Vital supplies’
The ministers also called for the opening of crossings to boost the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
While welcoming the partial opening of the Allenby crossing, they said other corridors for moving goods remained closed or severely restricted for humanitarian aid, including Rafah.
“Bureaucratic customs processes and extensive screenings are causing delays, while commercial cargo is being allowed in more freely,” the statement said.
“The target of 4,200 trucks per week, including an allocation of 250 UN trucks per day, should be a floor not a ceiling. These targets should be lifted so we can be sure the vital supplies are getting in at the vast scale needed,” it added.
The Gaza ceasefire in October is considered one of the major achievements of Trump’s first year back in power, and Washington and regional mediators have hoped to keep their foot on the gas.
The Axios news site said Trump seeks to make announcements as soon as January on an interim government and an international force.
But Trump on Monday gave few details beyond saying that he hoped “reconstruction” could begin soon in the Palestinian territory, devastated by Israeli attacks in response to Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attacks.
The disarmament of Hamas however continued to be a sticking point, with its armed wing again saying that it would not surrender its arms.
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Arab League chief ‘deeply concerned’ over Yemen tensions
December 30, 2025
LONDON: The head of the Arab League on Tuesday said he is deeply concerned over escalating tensions in Yemen and called for solidarity among countries supporting Yemen’s internationally recognized government.
His comments came after the military coalition that backs Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council carried out a “limited airstrike” targeting weapons and military vehicles it said were destined for southern separatist forces.
The shipments arrived in the Yemeni port of Mukalla on board two vessels from Fujairah in the UAE.
Saudi Arabia, a key member of the military coalition, criticized the UAE over its support for the separatists, known as the Southern Transitional Council.
The Kingdom said that any threat to its national security was a red line and that the UAE should follow the Yemeni government’s request to remove its forces from the country within 24 hours.
The UAE later announced it would withdraw its remaining counter-terrorism units from Yemen.
Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit expressed deep concern over the “serious and rapidly unfolding developments in Yemen.”
He called for solidarity among all countries supporting the Yemeni government and to exercise restraint.
He also condemned any military action aimed at “forcibly entrenching a secessionist reality on the ground, in a manner that threatens Yemen’s territorial unity.”
The STC, which wants a separate state in southern Yemen, seized large areas of territory in Hadramout and Al-Mahara provinces in recent weeks.
The STC is meant to be part of a coalition with the Yemeni government opposed to Houthi militants that control the north of the country.
Aboul Gheit said the southern Yemen issue must be addressed through dialogue.
The measures taken by Saudi Arabia and the military coalition were “vital to ensuring peace, security, and the unity of the Yemeni people under their internationally recognized leadership,” said Muslim World League Secretary-General Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa.
“Supporting illegitimate practices only deepens internal divisions and serves those who do not have Yemen’s best interests at heart,” he said.
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Syria imposes night curfew on port city after sectarian violence
December 30, 2025
DAMASCUS: Syrian authorities imposed an overnight curfew in the port city of Latakia on Tuesday after attacks in predominantly Alawite neighborhoods a day prior.
The interior ministry announced a “curfew in Latakia city, effective from 5:00 p.m. (1400 GMT) on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, until 6:00 am (0300 GMT) on Wednesday, December 31, 2025.”
Individuals attacked Alawite-majority neighborhoods on Monday, damaging cars and vandalising shops.
The attacks came a day after three people were killed during mass protests by the minority community that followed a bombing in Homs.
One of them was a member of Syria’s security forces, according to a security source.
Syrian authorities said on Monday forces “reinforced their deployment in a number of neighborhoods in the city of Latakia, as part of measures taken to monitor the situation on the ground, enhance security and stability, and ensure the safety of citizens and property.”
Latakia, a mixed city in Syria’s Alawite coastal heartland, also has several Sunni-majority neighborhoods.
Since Syria’s longtime ruler Bashar Assad, himself an Alawite, was ousted in December 2024, the minority group has been the target of attacks.
Hundreds of Alawites were killed in sectarian massacres in the community’s coastal heartland in March.
Despite assurances from Damascus that all of Syria’s communities will be protected, the country’s minorities remain wary of their future under the new authorities.
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UAE, US discuss regional developments in Yemen and Gaza, WAM news agency reports
December 31, 2025
ABU DHABI: The United Arab Emirates’ Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed received a phone call from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, where they discussed regional developments, topped by situations in Yemen and Gaza, state news agency WAM reported on Tuesday.
The call came after the latest developments in Yemen as Saudi-led coalition forces attacked the southern Yemeni port of Mukalla.
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Israel army kills West Bank attacker who tried to run over troops
December 31, 2025
JERUSALEM: The Israeli military said its troops shot dead a man who tried to run over a group of soldiers in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday.
The incident occurred in Einabus in the northern West Bank, the military said.
“A short while ago, a report was received regarding a terrorist who attempted to run over IDF (Israeli army) soldiers operating in the area of Einabus,” the military said.
“In response, the soldiers fired at the terrorist and eliminated him.”
The Palestinian Red Crescent said it rescued three people after the Israeli army opened fire near Einabus on a vehicle with Palestinian license plates.
“Two of the wounded were shot, and one of them is in critical condition. The third was injured as a result of being beaten,” the Red Crescent said.
The Palestinian civil affairs authority named the man as 20-year-old Qais Sami Jaser Allan, adding that he “was shot by the occupation forces between the towns of Einabus and Awarta.”
The incident came just days after a Palestinian from the West Bank ran over an Israeli in his sixties with his vehicle and later stabbed an 18-year-old girl to death in northern Israel.
The perpetrator was killed during the attack.
Following that incident on Friday, the military conducted a two-day operation in the West Bank town of Qabatiya from where the attacker came, detaining several residents including his father and brothers.
Since the start of the war in Gaza following Hamas’s attack on Israel in October 2023, violence has also surged in the West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967.
Israeli troops and settlers have killed more than 1,000 Palestinians in the territory, 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 also been killed in Palestinian attacks or Israeli military operations in the same period in the West Bank.
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Trump asks Netanyahu to change West Bank policy
December 30, 2025
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump and his top advisers asked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to change Israel’s policies in the occupied West Bank during their meeting according to a US official and another source, both with direct knowledge, Axios said.
Home to 2.7 million Palestinians, the West Bank has long been at the heart of plans for a future Palestinian state alongside Israel.
According to the US official, the White House thinks a violent escalation in the West Bank would undermine efforts to implement the Gaza peace agreement and prevent the expansion of the Abraham Accords before the end of Trump’s term.
Trump and his team expressed concern about the situation in the West Bank and asked Netanyahu to avoid provocative steps and “calm things down,” the sources said.
The president and his team raised settler violence against Palestinian civilians, the financial instability of the Palestinian Authority, and Israeli settlements expansion, the sources said.
The US message was that changing course in the West Bank is critical to repair Israel’s relations with European countries and, hopefully, expand the Abraham Accords. “Netanyahu spoke very strongly against settler violence and said he is going to take more action,” the source with knowledge said.
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Israel to suspend several aid groups from Gaza
December 30, 2025
JERUSALEM: Israel warned on Tuesday that it would suspend from January several aid organizations operating in Gaza for failing to provide details about their Palestinian staff, accusing two Doctors Without Borders employees of links to militant groups.
The Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism said in a statement the move was part of Israel’s decision to “strengthen and update” regulations governing the activities of international NGOs in the Palestinian territory.
“Humanitarian organizations that fail to meet security and transparency requirements will have their licenses suspended,” the ministry said.
It added that organizations which “failed to cooperate and refused to submit a list of their Palestinian employees in order to rule out any links to terrorism” had received formal notice that their licenses would be revoked as of January 1.
The organizations concerned — whose names were not disclosed — were ordered to cease all activities by March 1.
The ministry said the groups were given 10 months to provide the requested information but “nonetheless failed to comply with the requirements.”
The ministry told AFP earlier this month that as of November 25, approximately 100 registration requests had been submitted and “only 14 organization requests have been rejected.”
“The remainder have been approved or are currently under review,” it added.
In its statement on Tuesday, the ministry alleged after an investigation that the international medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) had employed two individuals with links to Palestinian militant groups.
“In June 2024, a member of Palestinian Islamic Jihad was identified as an employee of the organization,” it said.
“In September 2024, another MSF employee was identified as a Hamas sniper.
“Despite repeated requests, the organization did not provide full disclosure regarding the identities and roles of these individuals,” the statement added.
When contacted, MSF said it “would never knowingly employ people engaging in military activity.”
“Any employee who engages in military activity would pose a danger to our staff and our patients.”
The ministry’s statement did not say whether MSF’s license had been revoked.
“In terms of registration, MSF continues to engage and discuss with Israeli authorities,” the charity said. “We have not yet received a decision on re-registration.”
The ministry said its latest measures would not affect the delivery of aid to Gaza.
“Only a limited number of organizations — less than 15 percent — were found to be in violation of the regulatory framework,” it said.
Several NGOs have told AFP the new rules will have a major impact on aid distribution in Gaza.
The amount of aid entering Gaza remains inadequate.
While the October 10 ceasefire agreement stipulated the entry of 600 trucks per day, only 100 to 300 are carrying humanitarian aid, according to NGOs and the United Nations.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2627855/middle-east
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Iranian president offers talks as protests spread
December 30, 2025
TEHRAN: Protests over Iran’s soaring cost of living spread to several universities on Tuesday, with students joining shopkeepers and bazaar merchants, semi-official media reported, as the government offered dialogue with demonstrators.
Iran’s rial currency has lost nearly half its value against the dollar in 2025, with inflation reaching 42.5 percent in December in a country where unrest has repeatedly flared in recent years and which is facing US sanctions and threats of Israeli strikes.
President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a social media post late that he had asked the interior minister to listen to “legitimate demands” of protesters.
Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said a dialogue mechanism would be set up and include talks with protest leaders.
“We officially recognize the protests ... We hear their voices and we know that this originates from natural pressure arising from the pressure on people’s livelihoods,” she said on Tuesday in comments carried by state media.
Video of protests in Tehran showed scores of people marching along a street chanting “Rest in peace Reza Shah,” a reference to the founder of the royal dynasty ousted in the 1979 revolution.
Footage aired on Iranian state television on Monday showed people gathered in central Tehran chanting slogans. The semi-official Fars News Agency reported that hundreds of students held protests on Tuesday at four universities in Tehran.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2627869/middle-east
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No justification for disturbances in Latakia, coastal Syria: govt
SANA
December 30, 2025
LATAKIA, Syrian Arab Republic: Authorities in the Syrian Arab Republic reinforced security forces’ deployment in Latakia and imposed an overnight curfew on Tuesday after violence in the city the day before.
The Interior Ministry announced a “curfew in Latakia city, effective from 5 p.m. (1400 GMT) on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025, until 6 a.m. (0300 GMT) on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025,” it said in a statement.
Ministry spokesman Nureddine Al-Baba said Syria rejected “any acts of sabotage or attacks that affect the dignity of citizens or their property ... and the necessary legal measures will be taken against their perpetrators.”
The ministry said that mistakes by certain individuals could not be generalized or used as a pretext to justify other violations or abuses, stressing that vandalism and mob-like actions targeting public or private property were categorically rejected.
Al-Baba said that imitating the destructive behavior of the former regime or engaging in acts that damaged property ran counter to the values of the Syrian state and the ethics of the Syrian revolution.
“Such conduct is alien to the authentic national identity of Syrians,” Al-Baba said in a statement to SANA.
He emphasized that the Interior Ministry would not allow reckless or unlawful actions, regardless of the justifications presented, and reaffirmed the ministry’s
full commitment to protecting all Syrian citizens within the framework of the law and the authority of the state.
Al-Baba added Syria firmly rejected any acts of vandalism or assaults that infringed upon the dignity or property of citizens, noting that such acts constituted clear violations of the law and that legal measures would be taken against those responsible.
The spokesperson called on residents of Latakia governorate, in coastal Syria, to adhere to the law and refrain from actions that could undermine public security or national unity, including inciting rhetoric or irresponsible individual behavior, and from supporting those seeking to spread chaos and destabilize the country.
Earlier, Information Minister Hamza Al-Mustafa stressed that attempts by some groups to exploit events to advance sectarian agendas had failed. “These efforts had no connection to Syria’s national unity and resembled the methods of the former regime, which often betrayed Syrians and justified its crimes with false pretexts,” he said.
Al-Mustafa emphasized that the freedom of expression and protest guaranteed by the new state was a cornerstone for building modern institutions. “However, some have misunderstood it. The unity of Syria and its people remains a national principle beyond debate,” he added.
The minister highlighted that the new state had implemented political approaches aimed at uniting Syrians and overcoming divisions entrenched by the former regime. These efforts, he noted, “have helped resolve many issues while rising above the legacy of past conflicts and massacres.”
He underscored that every crisis provided an opportunity to distinguish between initiatives that benefited the people and those that were harmful, urging Syrians to reject divisive projects and work together to build a homeland inclusive of all.
Authorities have stressed repeatedly that Syria’s unity and sovereignty are non-negotiable and that foreign agendas seeking to exploit internal divisions will be opposed.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2627860/middle-east
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480 settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque under maximum Israeli security
30 Dec 2025
Occupied Jerusalem: The Jerusalem Governorate reported that 480 settlers, escorted by the Israeli occupying forces, infiltrated Al-Aqsa Mosque on Tuesday.
The Governorate added that these incursions occurred during the morning and evening hours, with settlers emerging from the Maghariba Gate in the western wall of the mosque in cascading formations amid maximum security enforced by the occupying soldiers.
It clarified that these incursions were marked by desecration of the Mosque, as settlers engaged in performing Talmudic rites.
Concomitantly with these breaches, the occupying forces impose restrictions on the entry of Palestinian worshippers, vet their personal identities, and detain some at the exterior gates of the Mosque, the Governorate pointed out.
The Mosque comes under daily settler incursions in groups in an attempt to enforce spatial and temporal patterns of access, with Palestinians confirming that the Israeli occupying forces step up their violations with the intent to judaize East Jerusalem, including Al-Aqsa, and obliterate its Arab and Christian identities.
Since 2003, the Israeli occupation police have unilaterally allowed settler incursions into Al-Aqsa, with the number of incursionists steadily increasing year after year.
Source: thepeninsulaqatar.com
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https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/30/12/2025/480-settlers-storm-al-aqsa-mosque-under-maximum-israeli-security
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Tribal Gathering in Al-Amjood, Shar‘ab Al-Salam, Taiz, affirming readiness, supporting Qur’an & Palestine
30 Dec 2025
The General Mobilization in Al-Amjood, Shar‘ab Al-Salam District, Taiz Governorate, organized today an armed tribal gathering to affirm readiness for the upcoming phase, to support the Qur’an, and to denounce the repeated offenses against it.
Participants in the gathering confirmed their steadfast stance on faith and national support for Gaza, backing the Palestinian people and resistance in the face of ongoing aggression and systematic siege.
They also reiterated their absolute rejection of any act insulting the Qur’an, considering it a blatant attack on Islamic sanctities, a flagrant violation of the feelings of Muslims worldwide, and a clear indication of deep-seated hostility toward Islam and its values. The statement renewed full authorization to the Leader of the Revolution, Sayyid Abdul-Malik Badr Al-Din Al-Houthi, to take appropriate measures to defend religion and the homeland, support the causes of the Ummah, and confront the schemes of global arrogance.
Source: saba.ye
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https://www.saba.ye/en/news3618010.htm
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Hodeida: Consultative meeting for local mosque speakers to strengthen community awareness
30 Dec 2025
The Guidance Sector in Hodeida governorate on Tuesday held the first consultative meeting for preachers of al-Hali district, aimed at enhancing the advisory and awareness role of religious platforms in protecting Islamic sanctities.
The meeting, coordinated with local authorities and the General Mobilization, focused on the role of preachers in raising societal awareness, distributing Friday sermon points, and organizing mosque gatherings condemning offenses against Islamic values.
Officials emphasized the importance of preachers educating the community about conspiracies targeting the nation, strengthening internal cohesion, and promoting resilience against current challenges.
Attendees included the Deputy Governor for Services Mohammed Halisy, Deputy Governor for Media Affairs Ali Qashr, and University of Hodeida Rector Dr. Mohammed al-Ahdal.
Guidance Sector head Abdulrahman al-Warfi, highlighted the role of preachers in mobilization, defending national unity, and supporting awareness programs in preparation for the Month of Faith Identity.
Source: saba.ye
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https://www.saba.ye/en/news3617991.htm
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Europe
Doncaster mosque to welcome New Year by distributing free food boxes to the community as part of 'Meals with Love' campaign
Dominic Brown
30th Dec 2025
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Association Doncaster will continue its tradition of welcoming the New Year by distributing free meal boxes.
Members of the community will mark New Year’s Day through worship, street cleaning and the distribution of free meal boxes as part of the “Meals with Love” campaign.
The distribution of free meal boxes to the general public will take place between 12.30pm and 1.30pm on Thursday, January 1 in the parking area of Baitul Baseer Mosque in Edlington on a first-come, first-served basis.
The meal distribution forms part of the association’s ongoing “Meals with Love” campaign, which aims to support anyone in need, build friendships and share kindness within the wider community.
All members of the public are welcome to attend, with volunteers on hand to greet visitors and share food.
A spokesperson said: “New Year’s Day will begin in the early hours of the morning with the Tahajjud prayer in congregation. This voluntary prayer, offered in the deepest part of the night, is a time for heartfelt personal supplication.
“This will be followed by the Fajr (dawn) prayer held at the mosque, bringing worshippers together to reflect with gratitude on the past year and to seek blessings for the year ahead.
“Demonstrating their commitment to serving their neighbours, volunteers from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association will also carry out a street-cleaning effort in the Edlington Lane area. This practical service reflects the community’s emphasis on environmental responsibility and civic pride, helping to ensure that public spaces are cleaner and more welcoming for everyone.
“Beginning the year in prayer and service has become a meaningful tradition for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association. By combining spiritual devotion with practical community support, the association hopes to start 2026 on a positive, hopeful and peaceful note.
“The message at the heart of the day is simple but powerful: serve humanity, promote peace and spread kindness.
“Through initiatives like ‘Meals with Love’, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association Doncaster reaffirms its commitment to building bridges and supporting the local community, one good deed at a time.
“The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community aims to live by its motto of ‘Love for all, hatred for none’.
“Everyone is warmly invited to join in, receive a meal, say hello or simply share in the spirit of community and hope for a peaceful year ahead.”
Source: doncasterfreepress.co.uk
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https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/news/people/doncaster-mosque-to-welcome-new-year-by-distributing-free-food-boxes-to-the-community-as-part-of-meals-with-love-campaign-5458699
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NATO’s war-cries, explained: How the bloc’s best sold war to the West in 2025
30 Dec, 2025
A year of anniversaries – and alarms
While 2025 marked 80 years since the end of the Second World War, in which up to 40 million people died, it seems that NATO members and executives are dangerously keen for a repeat. Senior bloc officials, generals, and EU political leaders repeatedly warned their publics to prepare for war with Russia – including the possibility of sacrificing their children, rationing civilian life, and accepting permanent militarization.
This surge in rhetoric came as the West polarized. US President Donald Trump’s diplomatic push for a negotiated settlement to the Ukraine conflict exposed the division and democratic deficit in the EU as much as it revealed polarization in NATO led by a coalition pushing maximalist, war-ready messages.
Western Europe has produced no coherent strategy, only a noisy, megaphone diplomacy that spiked in inverse relationship to the group’s ability to actually influence the course of events.
The ‘coalition of the willing’
At the center of this shift was the so-called ‘coalition of the willing’ – an informal grouping of NATO members, mostly from Western and Northern Europe, that positioned itself as the moral and military vanguard of confrontation with Russia.
It operates through political signaling and rhetoric. Its members talk more than they deploy, warn more than they plan, and issue ever-graver statements about existential threats while insisting they are independent of Washington for any actual military escalation.
As NATO, the EU, and individual member states found themselves increasingly misaligned in 2025, this group filled the vacuum with rhetoric – megaphone diplomacy and posturing substituting for strategy.
Generals and the language of sacrifice
In December, Britain’s most senior military officer, Richard Knighton, publicly warned that citizens must be prepared to sacrifice their sons and daughters in a future war with Russia. The statement was not tied to any imminent threat or declared operational plan. Seriously.
Weeks earlier, France’s army chief, Fabien Mandon, delivered a similar message to local officials, declaring French people should be prepared to lose their sons in a war with Russia.
Warmonger-in-chief, the Netherlands’ Mark Rutte, has had an extraordinary year, demonstrating a sycophantism above and beyond duty. Rutte’s opportunism to call for sacrificing social benefits in order to hit that NATO 5% target is both unsurprising and sad. In December he announced that the people of Europe should be ready for a war akin to that fought by their grandparents (Rutte’s father lived in Indonesia, a Dutch colony, didn’t fight, and was interned by Japan).
This from the man whose obsequious posturing inured him to “Daddy” Trump, following the US president’s F-bomb-laden remarks over Middle East ceasefire failures.
French President Emmanuel Macron warned of a threat to European liberty greater than at any time since the 1940s, while Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen declared that Europe faced its most dangerous moment since the war’s end.
What united these statements was not intelligence disclosures or new strategic realities, but timing.
Rhetoric without leverage
Despite the intensity of its language, Western Europe’s war posture in 2025 was marked by limited material capacity and increasingly shrill statements. EU states struggled to meet existing weapons production goals, failed to force through a move to steal Russia’s assets frozen in the bloc, and remained dependent on US to put its money where their mouths were.
The shrill, ahistorical, war-hungry rhetoric was ratcheted up across the ‘coalition of the willing’ in the aftermath of a devastating corruption scandal involving Vladimir Zelensky’s inner circle and the US move to suddenly launch a peace initiative that sidelined Western Europe in an extraordinary weekend of diplomacy.
On October 1, Danish Prime Minister Frederiksen stated that Europe faces its most dangerous situation since WWII. You’d think she’d be more worried about the US taking Greenland and training her security forces on what an actual drone threat is and why warning of one when there is none is counterproductive.
The largely impotent European Commission, the very group that failed to steal Russia’s assets despite months of wrangling, got in on the act by issuing guidance for citizens to stockpile 72 hours’ worth of supplies in the event of war with Russia. Imagine we are back to “climb under the table” rhetoric.
Corruption scandals inside Ukraine further undermined confidence in the sustainability of prolonged escalation. Yet rather than prompting reassessment, the graft scandals and failures coincided with louder calls for sacrifice and confrontation.
War talk as political insurance
By mid-2025, escalation rhetoric had begun to serve a secondary function. As the Trump administration pushed diplomacy and signaled reluctance to bankroll an open-ended proxy war, parts of the European establishment appeared to hedge against peace itself.
Military Keynesianism – sustaining economic activity through defence spending – became an unspoken assumption. So did the political utility of external threat narratives, which helped deflect attention from economic stagnation, institutional weakness and leadership failures within the EU.
In this context, warnings of war did not reflect momentum toward conflict so much as anxiety about losing relevance if peace arrived on American terms.
Bottom line
The louder NATO and European leaders warned of war in 2025, the clearer it became that rhetoric was compensating for a lack of control. As Washington explored diplomatic exits and Moscow waited for concrete proposals, Western Europe’s most vocal hawks found themselves shouting from the sidelines.
In general, we can assume that NATO and the EU have a vested interest in war – they have bet on military Keynesianism to keep their ailing economies turning over, and fill the hole left by Trump’s refusal to pursue a war Biden sold to Brussels.
The closer to peace the Trump-led initiative can bring Ukraine and Russia, the more we should expect toxicity from NATO, the EU, and the ‘coalition of the willing’.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/630241-nato-war-cries-explained/
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Two in court after Boxing Day incident at Kirkcaldy Islamic Centre
30TH DECEMBER
By Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
Two men have appeared in court following an incident at an Islamic religious centre in Fife.
It is understood that the incident occurred in the car park of the Kirkcaldy Islamic Centre around 2.40pm on Boxing Day, and involved a meat cleaver.
Police Scotland said the incident was “not a targeted attack”.
On 29 December, a St Andrews man appeared at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court and was charged with threatening and abusive behaviour, carrying an offensive weapon and resisting an officer.
Another man, from Glenrothes, was charged with careless driving, driving under the influence, driving without a licence, threatening and abusive behaviour, and carrying an offensive weapon.
Both men were remanded in custody.
In a Facebook post, Kirkcaldy Islamic Centre said they were confident that the incident did not reflect the feelings of most people in the community.
"We are also deeply appreciative of the strong support and unequivocal condemnation of this incident expressed by Melanie Ward MP, (councillor) Judy Hamilton, and members of the wider community across all faiths, cultures, and backgrounds,” the statement read.
“We remain steadfast in our conviction that this incident does not reflect the values of the people of Kirkcaldy.
“During this festive period, we stand united in prayer, resilience, and our shared commitment to peace, compassion, and mutual respect for all.”
A Police Scotland statement read: “Around 2.50pm on Friday December 26, police received a report of a disturbance involving two men in the St Mary’s Road area of Kirkcaldy.
“Officers attended and carried out a search for the men involved, who were subsequently traced on Winifred Street.
“Inquiries established this was an isolated incident and not a targeted attack.
Melanie Ward, of Scottish Labour, said the incident was "completely unacceptable".
She added: “I was deeply concerned to hear about this incident at Kirkcaldy Islamic Centre on Friday, which was extremely frightening for those present.
“Everyone deserves to feel safe in our town and our Muslim friends and neighbours are an important part of our community. We stand with them.”
In a statement, the Muslim Council of Scotland said that action must be taken by authorities to ‘ensure the safety and security of worshippers".
“This must include enhanced security measures and increased surveillance around places of worship to prevent such incidents and to reassure communities that their safety is a priority,” the group added.
Source: heraldscotland.com
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https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/25730889.two-court-boxing-day-incident-kirkcaldy-islamic-centre/
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Pensioner 'carried on roof of car' and killed in crash
31 Dec, 2025
Jacob Panons
Three men have been arrested after a pedestrian in his 80s died after being hit by a car and carried on top of it for as much as a mile.
Kent Police said the man was struck by a grey Mercedes estate on the A289 Gads Hill, in Gillingham, on Monday and carried for an unspecified distance.
A postman is said to have found the man's body in Grange Road before the vehicle was later discovered in Eastcourt Lane.
A man, 29, from Chatham, and another man, 28, of no fixed address, were arrested the same day. On Tuesday, a third man, 28, from Edgware in north-west London, was also arrested in connection with the incident.
Police said the two occupants of the Mercedes had fled on foot.
Ralph Belmonte, a resident of Grange Road for 47 years, said a postman discovered the body on the road after having mistaken it for a dummy strapped to the roof of a driving car.
"It was only on his return to drop the rest of the mail off that he saw [the body] on the road and approached it thinking that it might have been a dummy and it could create a problem, an accident," Mr Belmonte said.
"And as he went to turn it over, he realised it was actually a body."
He added: "It's as safe as anybody's area really, until something like this happens, you know – everything's safe until becomes unsafe.
"It's not an area known for high crime rate, but it can happen anywhere."
Witness appeal
Detectives investigating the crash released CCTV images which showed two hooded men dressed in dark clothing on a pavement on foot, with one appearing to be running while carrying a number plate.
South East Coast Ambulance Service paramedics treated the pedestrian at the scene but he later died, a spokesperson said.
Det Insp Zoe Wilczek, of Kent Police's serious collision investigation unit, said the force was continuing to appeal for witnesses.
"We would like to thank all those who have assisted our investigation so far," she said.
"We are urging anyone who witnessed the incident, or saw the vehicle or pedestrian prior to the collision, to contact us.
"We're also asking anyone who may have caught any part of the incident on their dashcams and CCTV, and has not yet got in touch with us, to do so."
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0r9rdjr21do
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French right reignites row over Brigitte Bardot's legacy with call for national tribute
30/12/2025
By Theo Farrant
The death of Brigitte Bardot has sparked a fierce political debate in France, after right-wing figures called for a national tribute to the screen legend.
French politicians are deeply divided over how - or whether - to honour Brigitte Bardot, following her death as the screen legend's later-life politics proved as controversial as her films were influential.
Bardot died on Sunday aged 91 at her home in Saint-Tropez on the southern Mediterranean coast. News of her demise prompted an outpouring of tributes, celebrating a woman who became a symbol of French culture, sexual liberation and cinematic glamour, through films such as And God Created Woman, Le Mépris and The Night Heaven Fell.
She will also be remembered for her animal rights activism. She traveled to the Arctic to blow the whistle on the slaughter of baby seals; she condemned the use of animals in laboratory experiments; and she opposed sending monkeys into space.
Yet her legacy remains sharply contested.
Why is Bardot a controversial figure?
In later years, Bardot became closely associated with the far right and was convicted five times for inciting racial hatred, largely over comments targeting Muslims and what she called an “invasion” of foreigners in France, as well as the residents of the French Indian Ocean island of Réunion, whom she once described as “savages”.
Notably, she criticised the Muslim practice of slaughtering sheep during annual religious holidays like Eid al-Adha. "It’s true that sometimes I get carried away, but when I see how slowly things move forward ... my distress takes over," Bardot told the AP when asked about her racial hatred convictions and opposition to Muslim ritual slaughter.
In her final years, Bardot was critical of the #MeToo movement. She said in an interview that most actors protesting sexual harassment in the film industry were “hypocritical” and “ridiculous” because many played “the teases” with producers to land parts.
She said she had never had been a victim of sexual harassment and found it “charming to be told that I was beautiful or that I had a nice little ass.”
In her final television interview earlier this year, Bardot dismissed feminism outright. "Feminism isn’t my thing… I like men,” she told BFM TV, before cutting off the interviewer’s suggestion that the two were compatible with a blunt: “No!”
Resurfaced tension surrounding her legacy
Following her death, the political tensions surrounding her life have resurfaced. Right-wing figure Éric Ciotti has called for a national tribute, arguing that France should honour one of its most recognisable cultural figures.
"The President of the Republic must have the courage to organise a national tribute for our BB!" reads an online petition, which has nearly 25,000 signatures at the time of writing. It suggests a mass public farewell similar to those given to rock star Johnny Hallyday in 2017 or singer and actor Charles Aznavour in 2018.
Far-right leader Marine Le Pen, who is currently barred from holding public office pending an appeal hearing in January, also joined the tributes, describing her as an "exceptional woman" and "incredibly French: free, untameable, whole."
According to the AFP news agency, the office of President Emmanuel Macron reportedly offered to organise a tribute to Bardot but her family failed to respond to the proposal.
On Sunday, shortly after death was announced Macron posted on X to share his condolences. "We are mourning a legend,'' he wrote. "Her films, her voice, her dazzling fame, her initials, her sorrows, her generous passion for animals, her face that became Marianne - Brigitte Bardot embodied a life of freedom. A French existence, a universal radiance. She touched us. We mourn a legend of the century."
Meanwhile, Nice's mayor Christian Estrosi has said the city plans to name an “iconic site" after Bardot in her honour.
But some on the left have been more critical. "To be moved by the fate of dolphins but remain indifferent to the deaths of migrants in the Mediterranean -- what level of cynicism is that?" said Green MP Sandrine Rousseau on social media.
Socialist leader Olivier Faure said that while Bardot was undeniably an iconic actress, national homages are reserved for figures who rendered “exceptional services to the nation”. He argued that Bardot had "turned her back on republican values."
Bardot will be buried privately in Saint-Tropez’s marine cemetery overlooking the Mediterranean. Her funeral will take place on 7 January at the Notre-Dame de l’Assomption church, with the service broadcast on screens across the town.
Whether France will grant Bardot a national tribute remains undecided, leaving the nation to debate how - and if - it should formally honour someone whose life was as legendary as it was divisive.
Source: euronews.com
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https://www.euronews.com/culture/2025/12/30/french-right-reignites-row-over-brigitte-bardots-legacy-with-call-for-national-tribute
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Bucks arrest as Watford church set for mosque conversion 'ransacked'
30 DECEMBER
A Bucks teenager has been arrested after a Watford church earmarked for conversion into a mosque was reportedly ransacked.
Police were called to reports of external cameras being smashed at the derelict former St Thomas United Reformed Church, in Langley Road, at 4.17pm on Saturday (December 27).
A small group of males apparently then damaged an upstairs window to get in, before taking or discarding boxes and packages from inside while letting off several fire extinguishers.
An 18-year-old from Buckinghamshire has been arrested on suspicion of burglary with intent to commit damage. He has been released on police bail while enquiries continue.
The former church is set to be refurbished and turned into a mosque, with community facilities including a nursery, café, sport/events hall, and meeting rooms, subject to planning permission.
A spokesperson for the team behind the ‘Masjid Al-Ummah’ plan described the break-in as “deeply distressing for the community” and said they were grateful for officers' fast response.
Police say they are not treating the incident as religiously motivated at this stage, but the Masjid spokesperson said that the site being repeatedly targeted raises serious concerns about safety, hate crime and the wellbeing of those who use it and live nearby.
The Masjid spokesperson added: “We believe that the expediting of the planning application for redevelopment of the site by Watford Borough Council is clearly in the interests of local residents, the police, the wider community and the council itself.
“In its current condition, the building is vulnerable and has become a focus for repeated criminal behaviour.”
Detective Inspector Chris Parperi said: “I want to reassure the local community that detectives are investigating this incident and making enquiries.
“At this stage, it is not being treated as a religiously motivated incident and work is ongoing to establish the full circumstances.”
Crosses were spray painted along the hoarding surrounding the former church, which shut in 2015, in October this year.
Danny Manning, of Langley Road, has admitted to criminal damage in relation to the October incident but denied racially aggravated criminal damage and two counts of possession of a bladed article.
The 26-year-old is set to appear at St Albans Crown Court for trial in March.
Information about the latest break-in can be reported online, or by calling 101, quoting crime reference 41/122349/25.
Anonymous reports can be made through the independent charity Crimestoppers, via its website or on 0800 555 111.
Source: bucksfreepress.co.uk
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https://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/25729514.watford-church-set-mosque-conversion-ransacked/
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EU calls for Ukraine ceasefire a ploy – Russia’s envoy to OSCE
30 Dec, 2025
Calls for a temporary ceasefire by Ukraine’s European backers are merely a ploy aimed at giving Kiev some respite before continuing to fight, Russia’s permanent representative at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Dmitry Polyansky has told RT.
Amid the ongoing discussions around the US-drafted peace roadmap for Ukraine in recent weeks, multiple European countries have renewed calls for a short-term cessation of hostilities as a precondition for any talks between Kiev and Moscow. Russia has repeatedly ruled out the scenario, saying that Ukraine would use it to replenish and rearm its tattered military. Russian officials have insisted on a comprehensive and long-term settlement that would address the root causes of the conflict.
Speaking to RT on Tuesday, Polyansky said that “when people in Europe speak about a ceasefire, they have in mind giving some breathing space to the Kiev regime, which is in agony right now, and which is facing a very hard situation, with their fronts crumbling and strongholds falling one after another.”
According to the diplomat, who served as Russia’s deputy ambassador to the United Nations between 2018 and 2025, the real objective of Kiev’s European backers is to ensure that Ukraine is able “heal its wounds” to continue the conflict from a better position.
Polyansky cited the example of the failed Minsk agreements signed in 2014 and 2015, which were ostensibly intended to reconcile the post-coup government in Kiev with anti-Maidan forces in Ukraine’s east. Germany and France were guarantors of the accords.
Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel and former French President Francois Hollande later acknowledged that the agreements had been used primarily to buy time for Ukraine to strengthen its military.
Commenting on European officials’ claims about a supposed Russian threat, Polyansky characterized these narratives as a “zombieing campaign.” According to the Russian diplomat, European elites portray Russia as a boogieman in a bid to “disguise their own mistakes… [that are] creating problems for their societies, for the taxpayers, for common Europeans.”
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/russia/630264-russia-osce-envoy-polyansky-ceasefire-calls-ploy-ukraine/
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Ukraine erases Tchaikovsky as symbol of ‘Russian imperialism’
30 Dec, 2025
Ukraine’s Culture Ministry has erased the name of renowned Russian composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky from its National Music Academy. Tchaikovsky rose to global prominence in the latter half of the 19th century as a leading composer of symphonic music, including the ballets Swan Lake and The Nutcracker.
The measure is part of Kiev’s broader campaign to remove symbols linked to Ukraine’s shared history with Russia. The Kiev City Council recently voted to dismantle 15 monuments and memorials, including those dedicated to the renowned Kiev-born writer Mikhail Bulgakov, as well as poet Anna Akhmatova and composer Mikhail Glinka, among others. In Odessa, the authorities dismantled the monument to the city’s founder, Russian Empress Catherine II, known as Catherine the Great, as well as a 19th century monument to Russian poet Alexander Pushkin, which was designated a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Ministry of Culture said that the renaming was part of the ongoing “process of decolonization of Ukrainian culture.” The authorities cited experts from the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance as concluding that the mention of Tchaikovsky is a “symbol of Russian imperial policy.”
Soviet-era monuments have also been targeted as part of the campaign. In August, an activist group named ‘Decolonization. Ukraine’ announced that the last known statue of Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin in the country had been toppled with the help of local authorities in Khmelnytskyi Region in western Ukraine.
Commenting on the development at the time, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that “Ukraine is now well known for its fight against monuments.”
Since the Western-backed Maidan coup in 2014, Ukraine has adopted decommunization laws, which banned Soviet-era symbols and mandated the renaming of towns and streets bearing names from the USSR. Following the escalation of the conflict with Russia in 2022, Kiev has doubled down on its campaign, which now effectively targets any cultural figures and landmarks associated with Russia.
Moscow has condemned the destruction of cultural heritage and attacks on historical memory. It has also named the discrimination against Russian-speaking Ukrainians as one of the reasons for the ongoing conflict.
Source: rt.com
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Swarm of Ukrainian kamikaze drones intercepted near Moscow – officials
30 Dec, 2025
Russian air defenses have detected and neutralized 21 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in Moscow Region. At least five of them were intercepted on their way to the capital, according to local officials.
Moscow Region Governor Andrey Vorobyov announced in a post on his Telegram channel on Tuesday evening that the drones were downed in seven municipalities – Ruzsky, Volokolamsky, Odintsovo, Mozhaysky, Narofominsky, Istra and Chekhov – saying air defenses were engaging additional targets.
One man, aged 57, was injured when a drone crashed and exploded in the village of Pagubino in Volokolamsky district. He sustained shrapnel wounds to his back and arm and was hospitalized with injuries assessed to be of moderate severity. Medical personnel provided assistance at the scene before transporting him to a trauma center.
Meanwhile, Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin reported the destruction of five drones flying towards the capital. Flights were temporarily suspended at Vnukovo airport as a precaution.
The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed in a statement that air defense systems had destroyed at least 24 more Ukrainian drones between 8pm and 11pm Moscow time. Of these, 14 were shot down over Kaluga Region, five over Crimea, three over Belgorod, and one over Tula and Kursk each.
Ukraine has routinely launched drone raids deep into Russia in recent months, targeting critical infrastructure and residential buildings in what Moscow has described as desperate “terrorist attacks.”
This drone raid follows an attempted attack on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s state residence in Novgorod Region on December 28-29, which Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov condemned as an act of “state terrorism.”
Moscow has promised a “non-diplomatic” response to the attack. Russia previously conducted strikes on military-related Ukrainian infrastructure, saying it aims to degrade Kiev’s drone and weapons production capabilities.
Source: rt.com
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Eurostar delays persist as passengers stuck onboard overnight
31 Dec, 2025
Claire Keenan
Eurostar passengers are braced for more possible disruption, after a power outage in the Channel Tunnel caused travel chaos for thousands of people on Tuesday.
As people scrambled to get to places in time for New Year's Eve, some travellers said they spent more than six hours stuck onboard trains overnight as services were hit by more delays.
One man told the BBC he had boarded the 19:01 service to Paris, but as of 03:00 GMT he was still stuck on the train at the entrance to the tunnel.
He said staff had told him there was a "50% chance we go to Paris, 50% chance we go back to London".
"I guess my new year plan is in the hands of the tunnel operators now," the 27-year-old Parisian said.
Eurostar said it planned to run all of its services on Wednesday but warned there may still be some delays and cancellations.
The service from London to Paris scheduled for 06:00 GMT has been cancelled.
The problem with the overhead power supply and a broken down LeShuttle train blocked all routes on Tuesday, causing disruption for thousands trying to get away for New Year's Eve.
All trains from London to Paris, Amsterdam and Brussels were cancelled.
Some Eurostar and LeShuttle services had resumed on Tuesday evening, but delays remained, with only one of the tunnel's two rail lines open.
Getlink, which runs the Channel Tunnel, said work continued through the night to fix the power issue.
On Wednesday morning, an update on Eurostar's website said: "Services have resumed today following a power issue in the Channel Tunnel yesterday and some further issues with rail infrastructure overnight.
"We plan to run all of our services today, however due to knock-on impacts there may still be some delays and possible last-minute cancellations.
"Please check for live updates on the status of your train on the train status and timetables page."
Dennis van der Steen, from the Netherlands, was heading home to Amsterdam to spend New Year's Eve with his family and friends.
Instead he said he spent six hours stuck on board a Eurostar train, before it began to move again at about 03:00 GMT.
"We're stuck," he told the BBC.
He said there was no power onboard the train when it stopped, and that some passengers slept while others were "also very worried". He was later told his train would continue on its journey.
Another passenger described feeling a "rollercoaster of emotions" for hours, not knowing whether the train he was on would be able to continue across the Channel or return to London.
His train eventually made it to Brussels, he said, adding: "Glad to be home, saw many families stranded."
Images of massive crowds of travellers stranded at London St Pancras International flooded social media following Tuesday's power outage.
A photograph shared with the BBC by a train driver for Eurostar appeared to show overhead electrical cables strewn across the tracks.
Meanwhile, cars that had hoped to use the Channel Tunnel caused traffic jams near the LeShuttle Terminal in Folkestone.
The Channel Tunnel accommodates Eurostar services as well as LeShuttle vehicle-carrying trains between the UK and France.
Tim Brown, who had been trying to return to the UK after spending Christmas in Germany, told PA News he had been stuck in his car on the LeShuttle train for more than three hours with "no access to food or water".
At least a dozen Eurostar services between the UK, France, Belgium and the Netherlands had been cancelled by midday on Tuesday.
The rail operator apologised and said passengers could rearrange their plans free of charge or can cancel their booking and get a refund or an e-voucher.
On Tuesday, Eurostar has urged its customers "to rebook their journey for another day if possible, with free exchanges available".
"We also advise customers not to come to our stations if their trains have been already been cancelled."
In some cases a selection of your comments and questions will be published, displaying your name and location as you provide it unless you state otherwise. Your contact details will never be published.
Source: bbc.com
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North America
Trump says US hit 'big facility' linked to alleged Venezuelan drug boats
December 31, 2025
Ana Faguy
Donald Trump has said that the US carried out a strike on a "dock area" linked to alleged Venezuelan drug boats.
The US president said there had been a "major explosion" where "they load the boats up with drugs" - but did not give more details or the dock's location. Venezuela's government is yet to respond.
The explosion was caused by a drone strike carried out by the CIA, according to CNN and the New York Times, which cited sources close to the matter. If confirmed, it would be the first known US operation inside Venezuela.
Trump has previously threatened land strikes in Venezuela, as well as authorising covert CIA action, as part of a pressure campaign on President Nicolás Maduro.
There has been no official comment on Trump's remarks from Venezuela and - while there has been speculation on social media - there are no reports of any strikes in Venezuelan state-run media.
According to Colombian President Gustavo Petro, the target was a cocaine factory in the Venezuelan port city of Maracaibo.
In a post on X on Tuesday, Petro suggested the facility was controlled by the ELN guerrilla group, writing: "We know that Trump bombed a factory, in Maracaibo, which we fear was mixing coca paste to make cocaine."
Reporters asked Trump on Monday if the CIA had carried out the attack, and he said: "I don't want to say that. I know exactly who it was, but I don't want to say who it was."
This is the second time Trump has mentioned the explosion. In a radio interview last week, he described a US operation against a "big facility", but provided limited details.
A US strike on land would constitute a marked escalation in the pressure the Trump administration has put on Maduro, whom the US has accused of leading a "narco-terrorist" organisation - an accusation the Venezuelan president has denied.
Since September, the US has launched 30 strikes on what it says are drug-smuggling boats, targeting vessels in the Pacific and the Caribbean, and killing more than 100 people.
The most recent strike was on Monday, with US Southern Command saying in a social media post that two "narco-terrorists" were killed in a "lethal kinetic strike" in the eastern Pacific.
However, the US has provided no evidence to back up its allegations that the boats it struck were carrying drugs.
With the exception of two survivors - a Colombian and an Ecuadorean national - none of the identities of those on board have been made public.
Speaking on Monday, Trump provided little detail about the alleged strike on land, but seemed to signal that a new phase in the pressure campaign on Venezuela had been reached.
"We hit all the boats, and now we hit the area... it's the implementation area. That's where they implement, and that is no longer around," he said without clarifying which area he was referring to.
When the US has previously carried out strikes on alleged drug boats - including Monday's - the Pentagon has published images and videos on social media to confirm the strikes. So far, no images of the dock incident have been shared.
The Trump administration has described strikes on vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific as attacks against terrorists attempting to bring fentanyl and cocaine to the US.
However, fentanyl is produced mainly in Mexico and reaches the US almost exclusively via land through its southern border.
Counter-narcotic experts have also pointed out that Venezuela is a relatively minor player in global drug trafficking.
It mainly acts as a transit country through which drugs produced elsewhere are smuggled.
As well as striking vessels it suspects of transporting drugs, Washington has also deployed a large military force to the Caribbean and ordered a naval blockade of sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela.
The Trump administration has accused Venezuela of using oil revenues to fund drug-related crime and designated the Maduro government as a "Foreign Terrorist Organisation" (FTO).
In recent weeks, US forces seized two oil tankers and pursued a third one.
The Maduro government, which has long accused the US of wanting to steal the South American country's oil riches - Venezuela has the world's biggest proven reserves - called the seizures "piracy".
Nicolás Maduro has also accused the US of using its "war on drugs" as an excuse to try to depose him.
When Trump was asked last week whether the goal of the seizures was to force Maduro from power, the US president responded: "Well, I think it probably would... That's up to him what he wants to do. I think it'd be smart for him to do that. But again, we're gonna find out."
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp8484p7ggmo
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Why Zohran Mamdani will take oath as NYC mayor underground in an abandoned subway station at 31st midnight
TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Dec 30, 2025
Zohran Mamdani will take the oath as the mayor of New York City when the clock strikes 12 and the countdown to 2026 ends. It will be a private event at the abandoned Old City Hall subway station and New York Attorney General Letitia James will administer the oath of office to Mamdani. After the private, underground event, Mamdani will then be publicly sworn in by Sen Bernie Sanders and address the city during an Inauguration Day ceremony on the steps of City Hall at 1 pm.
The choice of the place has raised eyebrows but Letitia James said it's only fitting as NYC subway is the lifeline of the city and a great equalizer. “For all of our strengths and weaknesses as individuals, we ride together on the train, to places far and wide,” James said in a statement. “Zohran is our next mayor because he understands how important it is that New Yorkers living side by side all deserve a city that we can thrive in, no matter what subway line you use.”
What Mamdani said on his oath location
"When Old City Hall Station first opened in 1904 — one of New York's 28 original subway stations — it was a physical monument to a city that dared to be both beautiful and build great things that would transform working peoples' lives. That ambition need not be a memory confined only to our past, nor must it be isolated only to the tunnels beneath City Hall: it will be the purpose of the administration fortunate enough to serve New Yorkers from the building above," Mamdani said.
"When I take my oath from the station at the dawn of the New Year, I will do so humbled by the opportunity to lead millions of New Yorkers into a new era of opportunity, and honored to carry forward our city's legacy of greatness."
History of City Hall Station
The City Hall station was opened in 1904 but it was closed down on New Year’s Day in 1945 because its curved platform did not line up with the doors of newer trains, leaving dangerous gaps. The station can now only be seen during official tours or if riders stay on the Number 6 train after its last stop at the Brooklyn Bridge station as it loops around to begin its voyage uptown.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/why-zohran-mamdani-will-take-oath-as-nyc-mayor-underground-in-an-abandoned-subway-station-at-31st-midnight/articleshow/126256285.cms
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'Wow': When Trump told Mamdani 'You are even better looking in person than you are on TV'
Dec 30, 2025
As Zohran Mamdani is all set to take the oath as the New York City mayor at midnight on January 1, New York Mag writer David Freedlander recounted Mamdani's unforgettable meeting with President Donald Trump where the duo went along extremely well despite their campaign-time bitterness. Freedlander revealed that Trump's first reaction after seeing Zohran Mamdani was 'wow'. "You are even better looking in person than you are on TV," Trump apparently told Mamdani even before their meeting started.
Freedlander sad the cordial tone never changed from there and Trump was legitimately impressed by Mamdani. "After the cameras arrived, he saved Mamdani from a potentially awkward moment and insisted, in response to a reporter’s question, that it was fine to call him a fascist. At least for now, one of the biggest threats to Mamdani’s success appeared to be contained by the mayor-elect’s pure star power," Freedlander noted in his long profile on Mamdani titled 'The Making of Mayor Mamdani'.
Freedland said the social media frenzy that followed Trump-Mamdani bromance was actually just another "beat in a blitz that Mamdani kicked off the day after the election".
The meeting took place on November 21 but that was not the first time Donald Trump spoke about Mamdani's looks. Earlier, Trump claimed he was better looking than Mamdani.
Mamdani's midnight swearing-in at subway station
Mamdani will take the oath as the mayor the moment the countdown to 2026 ends at midnight on January 1. He will take the oath at the abandoned Old City Hall subway station. New York Attorney General Letitia James will administer the oath of office to Mamdani. Mamdani will then be publicly sworn in by Senator Bernie Sanders and address the city during an Inauguration Day ceremony on the steps of City Hall at 1 pm.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/wow-when-trump-told-mamdani-you-are-even-better-looking-in-person-than-you-are-on-tv/articleshow/126255337.cms
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Motorcycles worth $40m seized from FBI most-wanted Olympic snowboarder
December 31, 2025
Max Matza
Mexican officials have seized motorcycles worth $40m (£30m) belonging to Ryan Wedding, the Canadian former Olympic snowboarder who is accused of running a vast drug dealing operation.
The vehicles were discovered by Mexican authorities over several raids, the FBI said in a statement, adding that the seizures came with assistance from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Los Angeles Police Department.
The motorcycles appear to include rare racing models. Last month, officials seized a $13m Mercedes hypercar from Wedding, who is believed to be living under the protection of Mexican drug cartels.
Officials allege Wedding is among the largest narcotics traffickers in North America.
The seizures took place at four properties in Mexico City and the surrounding region, according to a statement from Mexican authorities.
Officials seized 62 motorcycles, many of which appear to be Ducatis, according to photos released by the FBI.
Other items seized include luxury paintings, artworks, drugs and two Olympic gold medals.
It is unclear to whom the medals belong. Wedding competed for Canada in the 2002 Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, but did not win any medals. He came in 24th place in the men's giant parallel slalom ski event.
Last month, the FBI seized a rare 2002 Mercedes CLK-GTR, which had been valued at $13m.
Wedding is on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, with a reward of $15m for information leading to his arrest. Officials in the US have compared him to other famous drug kingpins in Latin America, including Pablo Escobar in Colombia and Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán in Mexico.
His aliases include "El Jefe," "Giant," "Public Enemy," "James Conrad King," and "Jesse King", the FBI says.
Officials allege that he launched his criminal enterprise following his release from a US federal prison in 2011, where he was serving a sentence for cocaine distribution.
Authorities allege he has ordered dozens of murders across the globe, including in the US, Canada and Latin America.
He has also been charged in the US with witness tampering and intimidation, money laundering and drug trafficking.
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwyw542283yo
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Trump administration says it's withholding childcare funds from Minnesota amid fraud allegations
December 31, 2025
Sakshi Venkatraman
The Trump administration said it has frozen child care payments for the state of Minnesota after a conservative YouTuber alleged that several centres run by Somali immigrants were taking public money without providing care.
In a post on X on Tuesday, a top official with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) cited the viral video, and said the agency would target "blatant fraud that seems to be rampant in Minnesota".
State officials have pushed back against allegations of fraud in the video.
Immigration enforcement has recently ramped up in the state, home to the largest population of Somali immigrants in the US, after President Donald Trump said he didn't want them in the country.
"We have frozen all child care payments to the state of Minnesota," HHS Deputy Secretary Jim O'Neill announced in an X post on Tuesday.
He said this decision comes amid "serious allegations that the state of Minnesota has funneled millions of taxpayer dollars to fraudulent daycares across Minnesota over the past decade".
The department said it would suspend the annual payment of $185m (£137m) to the state, pending a full review of the centres in question.
O'Neill's post added that HHS would introduce a "defend the spend" system for all future payments to every state. This would require "justification and a receipt or photo evidence before we send money to a state", he said.
The video by Nick Shirley, which has received millions of views across multiple social media platforms since being posted over the weekend, accused nearly a dozen centres of not providing any services or having any children present when Mr Shirley visited.
Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families Commissioner Tikki Brown said the sites featured in the video have been subject to regular checks.
"While we have questions about some of the methods used in the video, we do take the concerns that the video raises about fraud very seriously," she said.
State officials also told the BBC's US media partner CBS News that they visited some of the sites again this week.
Two had already shut down, they added.
CBS found no evidence of fraud when it reviewed public records for the centres, although it did find citations related to safety, cleanliness, equipment, and staff training. All but two of the facilities mentioned in the video had active licenses and were all visited by state regulators in the last six months.
The most recent inspection was on 4 December at Sweet Angel Daycare, a centre that has drawn particular attention on social media.
FBI Director Kash Patel said earlier this week that he was aware of "recent social media reports", and that investigations into fraud in Minnesota have been ongoing since the pandemic.
"The FBI believes this is just the tip of a very large iceberg. We will continue to follow the money and protect children, and this investigation very much remains ongoing," Patel wrote on X.
In March, a federal jury convicted the head of the now-defunct organisation Feeding our Future in Minnesota for what prosecutors called the largest-ever fraud of pandemic aid, which involved $250m (£186m).
Minneapolis is the latest target in Trump's months-long immigration and crime crackdown in cities across the US.
Earlier this month, Trump said he did not want Somali immigrants in the US, telling reporters they should "go back to where they came from" and "their country is no good for a reason".
Minnesota is led by Democratic Governor Tim Walz, the running mate of former Vice-President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election.
Walz, who has sparred with Trump on immigration and other issues, said: "We welcome support in investigating and prosecuting crime. But pulling a PR stunt and indiscriminately targeting immigrants is not a real solution to a problem."
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c75xnndvlyko
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US cuts off Minnesota’s child care funding amid massive fraud probe
30 Dec, 2025
The US has frozen all child care payments to the state of Minnesota following allegations of widespread fraud, according to Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services Jim O’Neill.
The move came after reports surfaced alleging that Minnesota had funneled millions of taxpayer dollars to fraudulent daycares over the past decade.
“We have frozen all child care payments to the state of Minnesota,” O’Neill said in a statement on X, outlining three additional actions taken in response to the alleged fraud.
O’Neill stated that he had activated the “Defend the Spend” system for all Administration for Children and Families (ACF) payments, requiring justification and proof of receipt before funds are disbursed.
He also demanded a comprehensive audit from Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, including attendance records, licenses, complaints, investigations and inspections of the centers in question. Additionally, a dedicated fraud-reporting hotline has been launched.
ACF Assistant Secretary Alex Adams stated that his office provides Minnesota with $185 million in childcare funds annually, intended to benefit approximately 19,000 American children.
“Any dollar stolen by fraudsters is stolen from those children,” Adams said.
The investigation was prompted by a video posted by YouTuber Nick Shirley, who alleged a large-scale fraud scheme involving Somali-run childcare centers, estimating over $110 million in fraudulent claims.
In response, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced a “massive investigation on childcare and other rampant fraud,” posting videos of agents questioning business operators.
FBI Director Kash Patel said resources had been “surged” to Minnesota, warning that these cases were just “the tip of a very large iceberg” and that perpetrators could face “denaturalization and deportation.”
Walz has defended his administration, while lauding the state’s diverse makeup and large Somali community. Meanwhile, state officials have disputed Shirley’s findings, claiming the centers featured in his video had been inspected within the last six months with “no findings of fraud.”
“We’re committed to holding bad actors accountable,” O’Neill said. “Regardless of rank or office, anyone who’s involved in perpetrating this fraud against the American people should expect to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Source: rt.com
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US banking giant reveals massive Russia exit cost
30 Dec, 2025
Citigroup will post a big loss from the sale of its remaining business in Russia, the US banking giant announced on Monday.
The lender announced plans to wind down its business in Russia in August 2022, amid an exodus of Western firms due to sanctions imposed on Moscow over the Ukraine conflict. The assets of its Russian unit, AO Citibank, at the time totaled around $10 billion, while the cost of leaving Russia was estimated at $170 million. In December 2022, the lender sold its portfolio of ruble-denominated consumer loans to Russia’s Uralsib bank.
The sale of the unit to Russia’s Renaissance Capital is expected to result in a pre-tax loss of about $1.2 billion, the bank said.
“The approvals result in a pre-tax loss on the sale for the fourth quarter of 2025, largely related to the currency translation adjustment (CTA) losses that will also remain in accumulated other comprehensive income until closing,” the bank said in a separate statement.
CTA is an accounting method that captures gains or losses from converting a foreign subsidiary’s financial statements from its local currency to the parent company’s reporting currency.
Citigroup said the loss could change further as a result of foreign exchange movements. The bank will classify its remaining Russian operations as “held for sale” as of the fourth quarter of 2025.
Last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin granted permission for Renaissance Capital to acquire Citigroup’s Russian operations. The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2026, according to a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
Source: rt.com
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One of America's most successful experiments is coming to a halt
Dec 31, 2025
It was a joyous day, the fulfillment of a quarter-century of hard work and relentless fundraising. Srinivasachary Tamirisa, a retired doctor living in Sugar Land, Texas, beamed with pride as his dream - to erect a statue of Hanuman on the grounds of a temple he had helped found - came to life.A crowd of hundreds gathered as both "Vande Mataram," and "The Star-Spangled Banner" were played, a perfect encapsulation of Indian Americans' easy blending into the mores of their adopted home. But just outside, dozens of conservatives gathered, castigating what they called "a demon god." "Why are we allowing a false statue of a false Hindu God to be here in Texas? We are a CHRISTIAN nation," a US Senate candidate asked.
Tamirisa, who emigrated 50 years ago, was stunned. He had built a life that seemed the epitome of American ideal: a successful career as an OB-GYN, delivering about a dozen babies a month. He paid taxes faithfully, raised his children in the affluent Houston suburb, then sent them off to attend elite colleges and become doctors and investment bankers. He had proudly become a citizen. And this is how his adopted country repaid that devotion? "I thought this was heaven on earth." Tamirisa said.
These experiences have led him to question everything about his adopted home and wonder whether future generations of Indians should set their sights on a life in America. If he had his way, he'd return to India himself. "It's not the same," he said. "Why am I here? I question that to myself."
Amid an astonishing wave of anti-Indian animus, it's a question many Indian Americans are asking. In its crudest form, mostly expressed on social media, this antipathy shows up as gutter racism and religious bigotry. But it is fostered, in barely cloaked forms, by top Republican officials who accuse Indians of stealing American jobs. "They engage in a lot of cheating on immigration policies that is very harmful to American workers," Stephen Miller, architect of Trump's immigration crackdown, said. Gov Ron DeSantis of Florida referred to the H-1B visa programme as "chain migration run amok".
It is a startling turn in one of the most successful migration experiments in modern history. Since 1965, when civil rights immigration law opened the US to migrants from countries across the globe, hundreds of thousands of Indians have immigrated to the US. "Indian Americans have really been, in many ways, the poster children for America's legal skilled immigration regime," said Milan Vaishnav, director of South Asia Program at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Now, all of a sudden, decades of mutually beneficial migration are coming to a shuddering halt. Most Americans have positive views of Indian Americans. But the combination of anti-Indian rhetoric and visa policies has already had a powerful chilling effect. Indians last year became the largest contingent of foreign students at US universities, but this year arrivals fell by 44%. The US has been profoundly changed by Indians coming to the country. It stands to reason it will be changed by their not coming, too.
When Sai Sushma Pasupuleti arrived at University of Houston in 2023 to pursue a doctorate in electrical engineering, that path was wide open. Now, it is all but blocked.Recently, she attended a job fair. She approached booth after booth, resume in hand. But each representative asked one question: Are you a US citizen? When she said she was not, they sent her away. "I would like to find some secure place." Perhaps she could find a job in Europe. She doesn't regret the decision to come to the US and said her degree will be valuable wherever she goes. But given how much US has invested in her education, it is puzzling that it seems determined to send her away. Three of her fellow students are also from elsewhere - two from China and one from Ivory Coast. Foreign students have been awarded more doctorates than have US citizens and permanent residents for over two decades.
For all the talk about abolishing DEI in favor of merit, Trump govt seems to believe merit must be redefined in nationalist terms. Its National Security Strategy said so explicitly. "Should merit be smothered, America's historic advantages in science, technology, industry, defence and innovation will evaporate," the document states. However, "we cannot allow meritocracy to be used as a justification to open America's labour market to the world in the name of finding 'global talent' that undercuts American workers." Trumpism seems to be seeking a form of talent autarky. This is a radical change, and one that will surely leave the US poorer, weaker and more isolated.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/one-of-americas-most-successful-experiments-is-coming-to-a-halt/articleshow/126262171.cms
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‘We turned off the money spigot’: Trump administration freezes Minnesota child care funds. But why?
Dec 31, 2025
The US department of health & human services has announced that they will cut all the child care payments to the state of Minnesota.
“We have frozen all child care payments to the state of Minnesota. We have turned off the money spigot and we are finding the fraud,” HHS said in a statement. “You have probably read the serious allegations that the state of Minnesota has funneled millions of taxpayer dollars to fraudulent daycares across Minnesota over the past decade.”
In a post on X, deputy secretary Jim O' Neil said that they have have activated the defend the spend system for all ACF payments. Starting today, all ACF payments across America will require a justification and a receipt or photo evidence before the money being sent to a state.
“We have frozen all child care payments to the state of Minnesota. We have turned off the money spigot and we are finding the fraud,” HHS said in a statement. “You have probably read the serious allegations that the state of Minnesota has funneled millions of taxpayer dollars to fraudulent daycares across Minnesota over the past decade.”
In a post on X, deputy secretary Jim O' Neil said that they have have activated the defend the spend system for all ACF payments. Starting today, all ACF payments across America will require a justification and a receipt or photo evidence before the money being sent to a state.
"Alex Adams and I have identified the individuals in @nickshirleyy's excellent work. I have demanded from @GovTimWalz a comprehensive audit of these centers. This includes attendance records, licenses, complaints, investigations, and inspections," he wrote.
"We have launched a dedicated fraud-reporting hotline and email address at https://childcare.gov Whether you are a parent, provider, or member of the general public, we want to hear from you," he added.
This came as YouTuber Nick Shirley posted a video exposing the Minnesota fraud as he found out a learning center that received $4 million in state funds, but there was no activity in the center and even the signboard misspelled 'learning' and 'learing'. In the video, a woman was seen yelling not to open the gate of the learning center as she feared that it was ICE. Shirley asked the woman whether she thought he or the other man were immigration agents and identified himself as an online commentator.
"Go away. You’re not welcome here. Shame on you," the woman told Shirley.
Source: indiatimes.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/we-turned-off-the-money-spigot-hhs-freezes-minnesota-child-care-funds-but-why/articleshow/126261693.cms
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Who were sanctioned? Inside Washington’s crackdown on Venezuela-Iran’s weapons supply chain
TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Dec 31, 2025
The US imposed sanctions on 10 people and firms from Iran and Venezuela on Tuesday over allegedly contributing to Iran's drone trade and ballistics programme, which the Trump administration said threatened the US and its allies in the Middle East.
The Treasury Department said the latest measures were intended to support the reimposed United Nations sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme, further squeezing the Islamic Republic. Iran has long insisted its nuclear programme is peaceful.
Included in Tuesday's sanctions was a Venezuelan firm and its chairman, accused of purchasing Iranian drones; three Iranian men connected with efforts to procure chemicals used for ballistic missiles; and a group of Iran-based people and firms connected to Rayan Fan Group, a holding company previously sanctioned by the US.
Who are they?
Venezuela-related sanctions (UAV trade with Iran)
1. Empresa Aeronautica Nacional SA (EANSA)
Type: Company (Venezuela-based)
Reason: Maintained, assembled, and supported Iranian-designed Mohajer-series UAVs for the Venezuelan military; materially assisted Iran’s Qods Aviation Industries (QAI).
2. Jose Jesus Urdaneta Gonzalez
Type: Individual (Venezuela-based)
Role: Chairman of EANSA
Reason: Coordinated UAV production with Venezuelan and Iranian armed forces on behalf of EANSA.
Iran-related sanctions (ballistic missile procurement)
3. Mostafa Rostami Sani
Type: Individual (Iran-based)
Role: Procurement facilitator; Chairman of Pardisan Rezvan Shargh
Reason: Procured missile-related chemicals (sodium perchlorate, sebacic acid, nitrocellulose) for Parchin Chemical Industries (PCI).
4. Pardisan Rezvan Shargh International Private Joint Stock Company
Type: Company (Iran-based)
Reason: Controlled by Rostami Sani; supported procurement efforts for Iran’s ballistic missile program.
5. Reza Zarepour Taraghi
Type: Individual (Iran-based)
Role: Managing Director of Pardisan Rezvan Shargh
Reason: Acted on behalf of Pardisan Rezvan Shargh in support of PCI.
Iran-related sanctions (Rayan Fan Group / IRGC-linked tech network)
6. Fanavari Electro Moj Mobin Company (Fanavari)
Type: Company (Iran-based)
Reason: Owned or controlled by Rayan Fan Group (RFKA); linked to IRGC UAV and aerospace programs.
7. Bahram Rezaei
Type: Individual (Iran-based)
Role: Managing Director of Fanavari
Reason: Acted on behalf of Fanavari and controlled related entities supporting Iran’s defense sector.
8. Kavoshgaran Asman Moj Ghadir Company (KAMG)
Type: Company (Iran-based)
Reason: Owned or controlled by Bahram Rezaei; connected to sanctioned defense-linked technology networks.
9. Erfan Qaysari
Type: Individual (Iran-based)
Role: Managing Director of KAMG
Reason: Acted on behalf of KAMG.
10. Mehdi Ghaffari
Type: Individual (Iran-based)
Role: Vice Chairman of KAMG
Reason: Acted on behalf of KAMG
Source: indiatimes.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/who-were-sanctioned-inside-washingtons-crackdown-on-venezuela-irans-weapons-supply-chain/articleshowprint/126258111.cms
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Africa
11,300 Zamfara imams to enjoy salary upgrade
December 31, 2025
A total of 11,300 Friday prayers imams and other clerics would enjoy salary upgrade, the state Zamfara State Government has said.
The salary upgrade would begin from January 2026.
Governor Dauda Lawal who made the pledge, said this was part his administration’s commitment to the welfare of the clerics in the state.
Governor Lawal revealed that the state pay N81.8 million every month as salaries of Islamic clerics and Juma’at Imams including cleaners of the mosques.
“The report for the integrated E-Payment system recommended that your salaries be upgraded and I assure you, from January 2026, we will do that, for your comfort”
Governor Lawal urged the religious leaders to observe ‘Al-Qunut (special prayers) during each of the five daily prayers for God’ s intervention in ending the security challenges in the state.
“I urged you, if possible start making special supplications in each of your daily prayers for Allah’s intervention to uncover anybody that contributed to fuel the menace of banditry in Zamfara either directly or indirectly” he said.
Source: vanguardngr.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/12/11300-zamfara-imams-to-enjoy-salary-upgrade/
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Bauchi Commissioner Sent To Kuje Prison Over Alleged Money Laundering
December 30, 2025
By Richard Ogunsile
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Tuesday, ordered the remand of the Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, pending the ruling on his bail application.
Naija News reports that Justice Emeka Nwite made the order shortly after Adamu and a firm, Ayab Agro Products and Freight Company Ltd, were arraigned on a six-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering involving the sum of ₦4.6 billion.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had, in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/694/2025, listed Adamu as the 1st defendant and Ayab Agro Products and Freight Company Ltd as the 2nd defendant.
The charge, dated December 19, 2025, was filed by the EFCC’s counsel, Samuel Chime, of the commission’s Legal and Prosecution Department.
When the matter was called, Chime informed the court that the case was slated for arraignment and that the prosecution was ready to proceed. The defence counsel did not oppose the application.
After the charges were read, Adamu and the company pleaded not guilty to all six counts.
In count one, the EFCC alleged that Adamu, while acting as Branch Manager of Polaris Bank Ltd, Bauchi, conspired with Ishaku Aliyu, Managing Director of Makayye Investment Resources Ltd (now at large), and Muntaka Mohammed Duguri (also at large) between June and December 2023.
They were accused of facilitating the conversion, transfer, concealment and use of ₦4,650,000,000 allegedly released by Polaris Bank under the guise of financing the supply of motorcycles to the Bauchi State Government through Emmanuel Asomugha General Enterprises.
“The motorcycles were not supplied, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21(a) and punishable under Section 21 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022,” the charge read in part.
Count six further accused Adamu, Aliyu and Duguri of retaining and transferring proceeds of an unlawful act through nominees and third parties in 2023.
The EFCC alleged that parts of the funds were circulated through third-party accounts, including transfers made through I.S. Makayye Investment Resources Ltd and a sum of ₦165,900,000 allegedly transferred to Ayab Agro Products and Freight Company Ltd.
According to the commission, the funds formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, contrary to Section 20(a) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Following the plea, Chime applied for a trial date, but Adamu’s counsel, Chief Gordy Uche, SAN, informed the court that a bail application had been filed on behalf of the commissioner.
Uche urged the court to admit his client to bail pending trial, noting that although the defence had received a counter affidavit from the prosecution, it would not be responding as the EFCC had left the matter to the discretion of the court.
He appealed for bail on liberal terms, recalling that at the previous sitting, he had passionately urged the court to release Adamu to the Bauchi State Attorney-General in the interim due to the need to pay workers’ salaries.
Opposing the bail request, Chime told the court that the EFCC filed a 15-paragraph counter affidavit on December 22 with an exhibit, urging the court to refuse the application and order an accelerated hearing.
Justice Nwite, however, said a short date would be fixed for ruling on the bail application.
He subsequently ordered that Adamu be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the ruling and adjourned the matter till January 2, 2026, for the decision.
At the close of proceedings, the EFCC counsel drew the court’s attention to his earlier promise to bring additional defendants into the matter.
Chime disclosed that the individuals had reported to the commission and that a fresh charge, including Adamu, had been filed.
He prayed the court to allow the charge to be read for the defendants to take their plea, but Justice Nwite declined, noting that the charge was not yet before the court.
Chime later requested that Adamu be remanded in the EFCC’s custody pending the next arraignment to avoid logistical challenges in conveying him to court, a request the judge granted.
Source: naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.naijanews.com/2025/12/30/bauchi-commissioner-sent-to-kuje-prison-over-alleged-money-laundering/
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Trump Is Not Trying To Bring War To Nigeria – US Congressman
December 30, 2025
By Justina Otio
A United States Congressman, Riley Moore, has stated that there will be more military airstrikes in Nigeria.
Speaking via a post shared on his 𝕏 account, Moore assured that United States President, Donald Trump, does not plan on destabilising Nigeria, but counter terrorism and protect civilians.
He stated that the US strikes carried out on Christmas Day, in collaboration with Nigerian authorities, had renewed hope among affected communities.
He wrote, “President Trump is not trying to bring war to Nigeria. He is bringing peace and security to Nigeria and to thousands of Christians who face horrific violence and death.
“The strikes against ISIS on Christmas, in coordination with the Nigerian government, have given hope to the Christians in Nigeria.”
While speaking during an interview on Fox News’ Mornings with Maria, Moore painted a grim picture of the violence in Nigeria, alleging that attacks on Christians had persisted for over a decade.
According to him, tens of thousands of Christians have been killed since 2009, with thousands reportedly losing their lives this year alone.
Moore said the scale of suffering was far worse than many realise, recounting encounters with families who had lost loved ones during attacks.
“Underground, it is more dire than you could imagine. I’ve seen this in person, meeting mothers who lost all their children, murdered right before them,” he said.
Source: naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.naijanews.com/2025/12/30/trump-is-not-trying-to-bring-war-to-nigeria-us-congressman/
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Chief Imam of Ibadanland installs Alhaji Iyiola as Bashorun Musulumi
December 30, 2025
In a significant religious and cultural ceremony held in Ibadan, the Chief Imam of Ibadanland, His Eminence Sheikh Abdulganiyy Abubakry Agbotomokekere, has officially installed Alhaji (Dr.) Ibrahim Iyiola as the Bashorun Musulumi of Ibadanland.
The title, one of the highest honours within the Muslim community in the city, is reserved for individuals who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to the growth of Islam and service to humanity.
Dignitaries from across Oyo State and beyond gathered to witness the momentous occasion, praising Dr. Iyiola’s philanthropic work, leadership, and contributions to Islamic development.
The Chief Imam, in his remarks, described the new Bashorun Musulumi as “a bridge between generations and a symbol of peace, progress, and religious responsibility.”
Dr. Iyiola expressed deep gratitude for the honour, pledging to continue working for the unity, education, and empowerment of Muslims in Ibadan and beyond.
Among the dignitaries who graced the august event are Senator Teslim Folarin, Bashorun Saheed Suberu, Chief Abiola Iyiola, Dr Azeez Adeduntan, and Barr. Akeem Agbaje.
Source: thenationonlineng.net
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://thenationonlineng.net/chief-imam-of-ibadanland-installs-alhaji-iyiola-as-bashorun-musulumi/
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Kebbi Govt, Police Dismiss Bomb, Helicopter Claims In Hospital Explosion
December 30, 2025
By Enioluwa Adeniyi
The Kebbi State Government and the State Police Command have debunked speculations suggesting that a bomb explosion or helicopter attack was responsible for the recent blast at Bagudo General Hospital in Bagudo Local Government Area.
In separate statements issued on Tuesday, both authorities attributed the explosion to a fire outbreak involving gas cylinders, not an explosive device.
Speaking in Birnin Kebbi, the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Yakubu Bala-Tafida, said preliminary investigations by security agencies revealed that the explosion occurred in the hospital staff quarters due to a gas-induced fire.
“The explosion was not caused by any bomb or aerial assault. It was a fire incident involving gas cylinders,” Bala-Tafida said.
He noted that no lives were lost, and residents had evacuated the affected building before the explosion occurred.
“We commend the swift response of the Police Command and other security operatives for promptly securing the area and ensuring public safety. The government remains committed to the protection of lives and property,” he added.
The Kebbi State Police Command, through its Public Relations Officer, SP Bashir Usman, also confirmed that the explosion was a result of an inferno that overheated air-conditioning and refrigerator gas cylinders.
A tactical team comprising Explosive Ordnance Disposal-Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (EOD-CBRN) experts and the Commissioner of Police Tactical Team conducted an on-site assessment, which ruled out any explosive or aerial involvement.
“The assessment confirmed that no explosives or helicopter activity was involved. No injuries or fatalities were recorded,” Usman said.
He urged the public and media outlets to refrain from spreading unverified reports that could cause panic.
“We urge the public to remain calm and disregard misinformation suggesting a bomb blast or helicopter strike,” he added.
Source: naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.naijanews.com/2025/12/30/kebbi-govt-police-dismiss-bomb-helicopter-claims-in-hospital-explosion/
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‘We Will Make You Sweat In This Studio’ – Abati Invites Wike
December 30, 2025
By Richard Ogunsile
Prominent journalist and ARISE News Morning Show anchor, Reuben Abati, has publicly invited the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to appear on the programme, insisting that the minister would be subjected to tough questioning if he honours the invitation.
Naija News reports that Abati made the remark during Tuesday’s edition of the ARISE News Morning Show, where he questioned Wike’s frequent media engagements outside the studio while avoiding direct interviews with the programme’s panel.
Speaking on the show, Abati claimed that Wike lacked the confidence to face the Morning Show crew, stating that the minister preferred selective media chats where he controlled the narrative.
“He has gone from Abuja to Port Harcourt, only God knows where he is going for another media chat,” Abati said.
He added, “He doesn’t have the confidence to come to this studio. Let him come, he will sweat, even with the AC. In this studio, we will make him sweat. Let him come here.”
Abati’s remarks drew attention on social media, with many Nigerians reacting to the challenge thrown at the former Rivers State governor.
Earlier on the programme, Abati also took a swipe at Wike’s media aide, Lere Olayinka, accusing him of excessive loyalty and sycophancy.
The former presidential spokesman criticised Olayinka for publicly kneeling to serve the minister, describing the act as unbecoming of a media professional.
According to Abati, such conduct reflected blind loyalty rather than professionalism in public service.
In a swift response, Olayinka fired back at Abati, lambasting him and describing the former media aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan as a failure.
Olayinka’s reaction further escalated the war of words, turning the exchange into a public media spat between both camps.
As of the time of filing this report, Wike has not responded to the invitation by the ARISE News Morning Show or to Abati’s remarks.
Source: naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.naijanews.com/2025/12/30/we-will-make-you-sweat-in-this-studio-abati-invites-wike/
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Southeast Asia
In Johor, Indonesian worker killed in Bandar Penawar landslide while installing septic tank
31 Dec 2025
KOTA TINGGI, Dec 31 — An Indonesian man died after being buried three metres deep in a landslide while carrying out installation works on a septic tank in Bandar Penawar yesterday.
Senior operations commander and assistant fire Supt Mohd Khairul Sufian Dahari said the 52-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene in front of a factory under construction.
He said a nine-member team was dispatched in a Fire Rescue Tender vehicle following an emergency call at 1.00 pm.
“Two plumbing workers were buried; however, a 32-year-old local man managed to escape. The other victim was buried under approximately three metres of soil.
“The operations team excavated the ground and extracted the victim using rope systems,” he added in a statement today.
Mohd Khairul Sufian reported that the victim’s body was recovered at 4.00 pm and the operation was concluded by 4.25pm. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/12/31/in-johor-indonesian-worker-killed-in-bandar-penawar-landslide-while-installing-septic-tank/203813
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In Sarawak, SAR radius expanded in Pulau Bruit, crocodile attack victim, 14, still missing
By Malay Mail
31 Dec 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 31 — Search and rescue (SAR) operations for a 14-year-old boy reportedly snatched by a crocodile at Sungai Kelai Jetty, Rumah Panjang Jingga, Pulau Bruit in Daro, Sarawak, continued yesterday with the search radius extended to 26 kilometres, but no trace of the victim or signs of an adult crocodile have been found.
The victim, Agustine Fernando Anak Nyalong, has been missing since last Friday while at the river area.
A spokesperson for the Operations Centre (PGO) of the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) said the fourth day of the operation began at 7.14am, focusing on the Batang Paloh riverbank from Rumah Panjang Jingga to Kampung Sedi, covering approximately 20 kilometres.
“The search also involved small boats along the riverbank to track possible traces of the victim or clothing, while marine boats with the Sarawak Safety and Enforcement Unit (UKPS) patrolled the main river with strong currents.
“The search radius was then extended to 26 kilometres from the incident site up to the Batang Paloh bridge construction area, but inspections along the riverbank found no physical evidence, victim’s clothing, or signs of an adult crocodile,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
The SAR team also checked previous crocodile traps and bait, but no new catches or clues were found to indicate the movement of the victim or the animal.
“During today’s operation, only a few baby crocodiles were found, with no signs of an adult crocodile linked to this incident,” the spokesperson added.
As a result, the SAR operation was suspended at 6pm after discussions with the victim’s family and agreement among all agencies, due to the lack of new leads and safety concerns.
The search will resume today at 8am, focusing on the riverbank and potential movement paths of the victim.
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/12/31/in-sarawak-sar-radius-expanded-in-pulau-bruit-crocodile-attack-victim-14-still-missing/203802
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Religious school teacher pleads guilty to sexually assaulting pupils
31 Dec 2025
A 40-year-old teacher pleaded guilty to three counts of physical sexual assault against two male pupils at a Wangsa Maju religious school.
KUALA LUMPUR: A religious school teacher pleaded guilty to three charges of physically sexually assaulting two male pupils.
The 40-year-old Indonesian man, named Kumpul, was charged as a person in a position of trust for offences against the boys, aged 11 and 10.
The offences occurred at a religious primary school in Wangsa Maju between April 2024 and November 2025.
He was charged under Sections 14(a) and 16(1) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017.
Section 14(a) carries a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment and caning, while Section 16(1) prescribes up to five years’ jail and a minimum of two cane strokes.
Deputy public prosecutor Siti Pervinah Mohamad Yusof did not offer bail, citing the accused as a flight risk.
She cited immigration records showing discrepancies in his passport information.
Judge Noridah Adam denied bail and set January 5 and 21, 2026, for the presentation of facts and sentencing.
The accused was unrepresented in court.
Source: thesun.my
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://thesun.my/news/malaysia-news/courts/school-teacher-pleads-guilty-to-sexually-assaulting/
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Man pleads not guilty to injuring participant at pro-Palestine rally
31 Dec 2025
A 32-year-old unemployed man denies punching a fellow participant during the Global Sumud Flotilla rally outside the US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur.
KUALA LUMPUR: An unemployed man pleaded not guilty to injuring a fellow participant during the Global Sumud Flotilla rally in October.
Isa Hazmi Zulkifli, 32, was charged at the Magistrate’s Court with voluntarily causing hurt by punching Mohd Hafizi Nor Azrin.
The alleged offence occurred at about 1.30 pm on Oct 2 in front of the US Embassy here.
He is accused under Section 323 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of one year’s jail, a fine of up to RM2,000, or both.
The court set bail at RM1,300 with one surety and fixed Feb 12 for mention of the case.
Source: thesun.my
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://thesun.my/news/malaysia-news/courts/man-pleads-not-guilty-to-injuring-participant/
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Islamic education key to building ethical resilience: Minister
December 30, 2025
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Pratikno, on Tuesday called for a stronger role for Islamic education to help societies confront rapid technological change and deepening ethical challenges.
“Islam must assert its presence by taking clear positions in the face of these challenges, and Islamic education is the key driver of that process,” Pratikno said at a Review and Design on Islamic Education forum hosted by the Religious Affairs Ministry in Jakarta.
He said the world is entering an era defined by volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity, marked by fast-paced change, widespread disinformation and a growing gap between technological progress and human values.
Against that backdrop, Pratikno urged educators, scholars and policymakers to draw inspiration from the Islamic Golden Age, when science, research, knowledge and the arts were seen as long-term investments in civilization rather than isolated pursuits.
He stressed that Muslim scholars of that period did more than absorb ideas from Greek, Persian and Indian traditions, noting they made foundational contributions to modern science.
As an example, he cited the concepts of algorithm and algebra, which he said were developed by the ninth-century scholar Al-Khwarizmi and remain central to modern mathematics and computing.
“That era did not recognize a separation between knowledge and values, science and spirituality, or innovation and ethics,” Pratikno said, adding that such integration is increasingly relevant today.
He said Islamic education, together with the ethical principles it promotes, could offer moral guidance for current and future challenges, including deepfake technology, biased artificial intelligence systems and surveillance capitalism.
Rather than remaining static, Islamic education should evolve into a dynamic intellectual framework capable of helping shape a just, ethical and sustainable future, he added.
Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar echoed those remarks, saying religion and human progress should reinforce, not undermine, each other.
“Religion should never restrict creativity. It functions as a moral compass that guides people to be creative, civilized and responsible,” Nasaruddin said.
He called for education curricula that emphasize compassion, mutual respect and care for the environment, saying such values are essential for navigating technological change without losing humanity.
Source: antaranews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://en.antaranews.com/news/398017/islamic-education-key-to-building-ethical-resilience-minister
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Penang cops nab two men over fatal Sungai Bakap restaurant attack by masked assailants, case classified as murder
31 Dec 2025
NIBONG TEBAL, Dec 31 — Police have detained two men to assist in the investigation into a fatal attack at a Sungai Bakap restaurant yesterday, in which a group of masked men armed with sharp weapons killed one man and injured two others.
Penang police chief Datuk Azizee Ismail said the two men were detained in the state several hours after the incident.
He said the investigation includes pursuing several other suspects and determining the exact motive for the attack.
“The detained men are assisting with the case, which has been classified as murder under Section 302 of the Penal Code,” he told Bernama today.
Based on preliminary investigations, the victims were attacked by more than 15 masked men wielding sharp weapons.
Azizie said the police are appealing for the public’s cooperation, urging anyone with information about the incident to share it with their nearest police station.
Yesterday, the media reported that a group of armed masked men attacked the victims around 4.30pm, allegedly over a debt issue.
A 59-year-old man died due to severe slash wounds to the head, while the two other men, who were seriously injured, were taken to Sungai Bakap Hospital.
Earlier, several videos circulating on social media showed the injured victims, including one in critical condition, believed to have been hurt in the assault. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/12/31/penang-cops-nab-two-men-over-fatal-sungai-bakap-restaurant-attack-by-masked-assailants-case-classified-as-murder/203821
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King receives briefing on Malaysian Armed Forces from defence minister
31 Dec 2025
JOHOR BAHRU, Dec 31 — The King of Malaysia, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, was briefed today on the latest developments concerning the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF).
A post on the official Facebook page of Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar stated that the briefing was delivered by Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin during an audience with His Majesty at Istana Pasir Pelangi here.
Meanwhile, a separate post stated that Sultan Ibrahim also graciously granted an audience to the Inspector-General of Police, Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail, at the palace.
In his capacity as the Honorary Chief Commissioner of the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), His Majesty was briefed by Mohd Khalid on matters of national security.
The Regent of Johor, His Royal Highness Tunku Mahkota Ismail, was also in attendance. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/12/31/king-receives-briefing-on-malaysian-armed-forces-from-defence-minister/203810
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Opposition leader’s office: Hamzah Zainudin has not resigned, viral letter false
By Malay Mail
31 Dec 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 31 — The office of the leader of the Opposition last night confirmed that a letter circulating on social media claiming that Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin had resigned is fake.
The matter was verified by officials at the office when contacted, according to a report published today in Berita Harian.
Earlier, two letters using the letterheads of the office and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) went viral, purportedly stating that Hamzah had stepped down as Opposition Leader.
The letters claimed the resignation followed Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s stepping down and considered current political realities and needs.
They also alleged that the decision was made after careful consideration to ensure leadership continuity and stability of PN in line with the new direction under the future appointed chairman.
Yesterday, Muhyiddin confirmed he would resign as PN Chairman, effective January 1 next year.
Following him, Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali also announced his resignation as PN Secretary-General and Selangor PN Chairman, effective January 1, 2026.
Others stepping down include PN Perak Chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu, PN Johor Chairman Datuk Dr Sahruddin Jamal, and PN Negeri Sembilan Chairman Mohamad Hanifah Abu Baker.
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/12/31/opposition-leaders-office-hamzah-zainudin-has-not-resigned-viral-letter-false/203798
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South Asia
Pakistan Police Detain Three Afghan Journalists in Islamabad
By Fidel Rahmati
December 30, 2025
Pakistani police detained three journalists in Islamabad overnight, prompting concern among media advocates over press freedom and the safety of exiled reporters.
Sources said Pakistani police detained three Afghanistan’s journalists around 1 a.m. on Tuesday in Islamabad, raising renewed concerns over the safety of exiled media workers in the country. The arrests reportedly took place in the Faisal Town area of the capital.
The detained journalists were identified as Zekrullah Yazdani, Ashiqullah Jalalzai, and Atiqullah Rahimi, according to sources. No official explanation for the detentions has been provided so far.
Following the Taliban’s return to power, hundreds of Afghan journalists fled the country fearing reprisals, censorship, and threats to their lives. Many sought temporary refuge in neighboring Pakistan while awaiting resettlement or visa processing.
The Afghanistan Media Support Organization (AMSO) earlier expressed concern over the growing number of Afghanistan journalists being detained in Pakistan. The group warned that visa delays and arrests have created fear and uncertainty among refugees.
AMSO said the suspension of visa renewals and the detention of Afghan asylum seekers, including journalists, has placed many at risk of forced deportation. The organization urged immediate action to protect vulnerable media workers.
Pakistan has recently intensified measures against undocumented foreigners, leading to widespread arrests and deportations. Human rights groups say Afghan refugees, including journalists, have been disproportionately affected.
In response, AMSO called on international and humanitarian organizations to pressure Pakistan to guarantee the safety of Afghan journalists and halt arbitrary detentions. The group also urged host countries to accelerate relocation programs.
Observers warn that continued detentions could further endanger press freedom in the region. They say without international intervention, Afghan journalists in exile may face increasing risks, including forced return to Afghanistan.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/pakistan-police-detain-three-afghan-journalists-in-islamabad/
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Large-Scale Infrastructure Projects to Address Public Needs, Says Hanafi
December 31, 2025
KABUL: Mawlavi Abdul Salam Hanafi, Deputy Prime Minister for Administrative Affairs, stated on Tuesday that officials of the Islamic Emirate are continually working to address public needs through the implementation of large-scale infrastructure projects nationwide.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of a 235-meter-long overpass in Kabul, Hanafi stated that the leadership of the Islamic Emirate is prioritizing development initiatives that aim to ease daily challenges faced by citizens, particularly in urban centers.
He noted that major projects in transportation, urban development, and public services are being designed to improve living conditions and strengthen the country’s infrastructure.
The deputy PM added that the Islamic Emirate remains committed to using available resources effectively to ensure sustainable development and long-term benefits for the population.
He emphasized that such projects are intended not only to reduce current problems but also to support economic growth and stability.
According to Hanafi, authorities are making continuous efforts to implement these projects transparently and efficiently, while encouraging public cooperation to ensure their successful completion.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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https://thekabultimes.com/large-scale-infrastructure-projects-to-address-public-needs-says-hanafi/
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Work Begins on Long Overpass in Kabul
December 31, 2025
KABUL: The construction of a flyover worth 462 million Afghanis aimed at easing traffic congestion officially began on Tuesday, near the Kabul Governor’s Office, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs said in a statement on Tuesday.
The project was inaugurated by Mullah Abdul Ghani Beradar Akhund, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, the statement said.
Speaking at the ceremony, Beradar said that due to population growth, increased economic activity, and the current conditions of Kabul city, urban development, transport infrastructure, and city order are among the most essential needs.
He stressed that Kabul must be developed in a modern manner and based on a well-organized urban master plan.
The Deputy Prime Minister praised Kabul Municipality for undertaking unprecedented efforts in the areas of transport infrastructure and urban order, saying these initiatives deserve appreciation.
He also called on Kabul residents to fulfill their civic responsibilities by maintaining cleanliness and public order and to fully cooperate with infrastructure projects.
In closing, he urged the engineers involved in the project to complete the work in accordance with all technical standards and quality requirements.
The flyover will be 235 meters long, 18 meters wide, and 6.8 meters high and will be completed within 15 months.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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https://thekabultimes.com/work-begins-on-long-overpass-in-kabul/
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Officials from MoIC Attend ICESCO Online Meeting on Islamic Manuscripts
December 31, 2025
KABUL: Officials from the country’s Ministry of Information and Culture participated in an online scientific meeting organized by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), focusing on Islamic manuscripts.
The meeting, titled “Islamic Manuscripts in Kazakhstan: Realities and Aspirations,” was hosted by ICESCO’s Calligraphy and Manuscripts Center at the organization’s headquarters in Rabat, the ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.
Representing Afghanistan, Qari Obaidullah Hanif, Head of the National Archives; Mohammad Shafiq Ahmadzai, Head of Foreign Relations; and cultural attachés of the Ministry of Information and Culture attended the meeting, the statement said.
The program aimed to review the current state of Islamic manuscripts, explore methods for their preservation, and discuss ways to utilize this heritage in contemporary research.
The Director General of ICESCO highlighted manuscripts as a fundamental component of human intellectual history and emphasized the need to update catalogues and strengthen scientific collaboration.
Several researchers from Kazakhstan also presented on the status, linguistic diversity, and significance of Islamic manuscripts in their country.
At the conclusion of the meeting, a closed expert session was held to discuss future collaborative opportunities in the field of Islamic manuscripts.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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https://thekabultimes.com/officials-from-moic-attend-icesco-online-meeting-on-islamic-manuscripts/
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25 Artillery Personnel Graduate from BM-21 Training Program, Ministry
December 31, 2025
KABUL: The Ministry of National Defense said in a statement on Tuesday that 25 personnel have graduated from various units of the Artillery Directorate of the General Staff after completing a one-month training program on the BM-21 multiple rocket launcher system.
The ministry stated that the graduates successfully completed theoretical, technical, and practical training related to the operation of the BM-21 system.
During the graduation ceremony, officials emphasized responsibility, protection of public property, and obedience to commanders within the framework of Islamic principles.
According to the Ministry of National Defense, the training program was launched to strengthen specialized skills, enhance operational capacity, and improve the overall readiness of forces in the effective use of artillery equipment.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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https://thekabultimes.com/25-artillery-personnel-graduate-from-bm-21-training-program-ministry/
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DU, CU and JU suspend activities to mourn Khaleda Zia’s death
Dec 30, 2025
Dhaka University, Chittagong University and Jahangirnagar University have suspended academic and administrative activities and postponed examinations as they observe mourning following the death of BNP Chairperson and former prime minister Khaleda Zia.
DU, in a press release issued by its Public Relations office today, announced a three-day mourning from Tuesday to Thursday. Flags will be flown at half-mast, and all classes and examinations, including those at affiliated colleges, have been halted.
DU has also arranged transport for teachers, students, and staff to attend Khaleda Zia's namaz-e-janaza at Manik Mia Avenue, scheduled for tomorrow.
The Controller of Examinations confirmed that all scheduled exams during the period have been postponed, with revised dates to be announced later.
JU suspended all office operations, academic activities, and examinations for Wednesday. Flags will remain at half-mast from December 31 to January 2, with special prayers scheduled on January 2 across campus religious institutions.
Meanwhile, CU has declared a three-day mourning from December 31, 2025, to January 2, 2026. Flags will be flown at half-mast, and observances arranged in line with university regulations.
In accordance with the chief adviser's announcement, December 31 has been declared a general holiday, suspending all academic and administrative activities for the day.
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/passing-khaleda-zia/news/du-cu-and-ju-suspend-activities-mourn-khaleda-zias-death-4069426
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/iran-counter-terrorism-india-ambassador/d/138253