'It Is Laughable': Maulana Rashidi Reacts To RSS Chief's 'Hindu Rashtra' Call; Terms It Vote Bank Politics
New Age Islam News Bureau
23 December 2025
· ‘It Is Laughable’: Maulana Rashidi Reacts To RSS Chief's 'Hindu Rashtra' Call; Terms It Vote Bank Politics
· NGOs fear ‘catastrophic impact’ of new Israel registration rules
· Man charged with being member of Islamic State
· Texas comptroller questions whether some Islamic schools can be excluded from voucher program
· Christian Genocide: US Steps Up Surveillance Over Nigeria
· Malacca, Muslims against ban on Christmas decorations in “halal” restaurants and hotels
· Attack on media houses involved a section of the govt and had political backing: Nahid Islam
· Foreign ministers chair Saudi-Omani coordination council meeting in Muscat
-----
India
· BJP backs RSS chief’s ‘Hindu Rashtra’ remarks, Oppn says Constitution runs country
· Uttarakhand: RSS, other Hindu outfits object to Christmas celebration at hotel on banks of Ganges, event cancelled
· Jinnah gave Vande Mataram a communal colour: UP CM Yogi; SP says our ‘nationalism inclusive’
· Bengal: 13 convicted of lynching father-son during Waqf protest in Murshidabad
· VHP, Bajrang Dal protest at Bangladesh High Commission; Mehbooba Mufti bats for Hindus, adds dig at Nitish Kumar
· Hindutva hurdle on PM Modi's trip to Ajmer Sharif, Supreme Court to hear plea on December 26
· On camera, Delhi vigilantes harass African football coach for not speaking Hindi, shop owner for halal meat
· Cong’s dilution of Vande Mataram was outcome of appeasement politics: CM
· Bengal Babri row: Suspended TMC MLA Humayun Kabir floats new party; CM Mamata hits back
· Amid Deepam Row, Tamil Nadu Dargah Festival Showcases Hindu-Muslim Harmony
· Madhya Pradesh: Local BJP leader abuses visually impaired woman for 'enabling religious conversions'
--------
Mideast
· Syrian government and SDF agree to de-escalate after Aleppo violence
· Syrian forces seize SAM-7 anti-aircraft missiles from smugglers
· How growing public support to disarm Hezbollah is forcing a reckoning in Lebanon
· Italy wants military to stay in Lebanon after peacekeepers leave
· Turkiye expects second phase of Gaza ceasefire to start early 2026
· Palestinian president affirms readiness to work on Trump’s peace plan
· Netanyahu vows independence of commission of inquiry into Oct 7
· Jordanian field hospital in southern Gaza carries out complex procedure on Palestinian patient
· Germany charges ex-Syrian agent with dozens of murders
· Israeli strike on vehicle near Sidon in Lebanon kills 3
-------
Europe
· Peterborough mosque attacker receives a suspended jail sentence
· Trump says US 'has to have' Greenland after naming special envoy
· Russian general killed by car bomb in Moscow, officials say
· Keighley Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association's day of giving
· ‘Rats fleeing sinking Ukrainian ship’ – Russian intel
· The EU is happy to mug its own taxpayers after failing to rob Russia
· Orban warns against cash for Ukrainian oligarchs’ ‘gold toilets’
· Russia escalates attacks on key Ukrainian region of Odesa
-------
North America
· CAIR-WA Praises Decision to Release Muslim Community Member from ICE Detention
· CAIR-NY Designates CUNY as ‘Institution of Particular Concern’ for Mistreatment of Anti-Genocide Voices
· CAIR Welcomes Dropping of Deportation Order for Chinese Man Who Documented Uyghur Concentration Camps
· ‘Tariffs are a discipline, not a magic wand’: Top White House aide explains why duties are beneficial in the long run
· CAIR-NJ Condemns Tulsi Gabbard’s ‘Delusional and Dangerous’ Attack on New Jersey Muslims
· BREAKING: CAIR Condemns Tulsi Gabbard’s Rant Against American Muslims and Islam as ‘Delusional and Disqualifying’
· Trump unveils plans for 'Golden Fleet' battleships named after himself
· Marjorie Taylor Greene says Venezuela’s Maduro critical of Israel, opposition Maria Corina Machado backs strong ties with Jerusalem
--------
Africa
· Kano police rescue man from mob action after allegedly destroying Qur’an
· Niger Abduction: ‘We Are Expecting More To Be Released’ – Bishop’s Aide
· Suspected ISWAP Terrorists Arrested In Lagos
· Federal High Court Re‑Lists Terrorism Charge Linked To Bello Turji
· Why I Spoke About Christian Persecution In Nigeria – Nicki Minaj
· Tinubu Lacks Power To Declare Bandits, Kidnappers As Terrorists – Adamu
· Oluwo Reacts To Purported Terrorists Group In His Community
· Kidnappers, Armed Criminal Groups Are Terrorists, We Will Deal With Them – FG
------
Southeast Asia
· Man arrested under anti-terror law after device scare at St Joseph’s Church in Singapore
· New national standard launched to elevate quality of tahfiz education
· King of Malaysia arrives in Abu Dhabi for special visit
· JAKIM to boost dakwah with international ulama collaboration
· Najib’s house arrest case: Agong as ‘constitutional monarch’ means ruler’s powers must follow Constitution, court says
· Nilai police hunt 60-year-old local suspect after Desa Palma vehicle blast
· Anwar urges respect for judiciary after High Court rules on royal addendum
---------
South Asia
· Islamic Emirate Prioritizes Cultural Development, Heritage Protection
· BNP steps aside in four constituencies for Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam
· Meeting Held to Finalize Draft Plan for Permanent Migration Solutions
· Efforts Underway to Ease Visa for Afghan Nationals, Mortazavi
· Kabul Municipality Launches 1.9 Billion Afs Shahr-e-Naw Park Project
· Kabul, Tehran to Implement Plan on Food, Medicine Regulation
· Afghan, Indonesian Officials Discuss Cultural Ties
· Polio-Free Afghanistan Urges Vaccination for All Border Travelers
· India to Supply Medicines to Afghanistan on Long-Term Basis
· Ousted regime spent millions to disrupt electoral process: CA tells US special envoy
---------
Arab World
· Saudi Arabia’s Qiddiya ‘shaping the future,’ says executive ahead of Six Flags opening
· Saudi health center in Hajjah serves 6,200 beneficiaries in November
· Saudi Shura Council speaker in Kuala Lumpur for official visit
· Standing alongside passionate, innovative teachers from around the world humbling and inspiring: Saudi teacher
· KAUST develops environmental disaster data skills
· Al-Qatif Street Food Festival celebrates Saudi culinary arts
· Prince Turki visits nation’s new DarkSky International site
· Saudi tourism minister visits heritage sites along Northern Trail
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/hindu-rashtra-vote-bank-politics-rss/d/138127
-------
‘It Is Laughable’: Maulana Rashidi Reacts To RSS Chief's 'Hindu Rashtra' Call; Terms It Vote Bank Politics
Dec 23, 2025
NEW DELHI: All India Imam Association president Maulana Sajid Rashidi on Monday criticised RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s remarks on India being a Hindu Rashtra, saying the idea went against the Constitution and the country’s democratic character.
Responding to Bhagwat’s statement that India is a Hindu Rashtra and that the Constitution’s preamble reflects this., Rashidi said, "...He does not know that a Hindu rashtra can only be a slogan. Those who are singing the praises of the Hindu nation want to crush the constitution. India is not of one religion but of 140 crore residents. If there is a Hindu kingdom, then the constitution of India will die. We see that all the Islamic countries, where the principles of the Quran are followed, are not democratic countries. It has become a religious country.."
Reacting to Bhagwat’s view that the culture of the majority should be respected and not opposed, Rashidi questioned how can Hindus who are in majority be threatened terming the assertion “laughable.”
“In Dubai there are 8 per cent Hindu, 5 per cent Hindu in Oman, 15 per cent in Saudi Arabia they are all safe. Here you’ve 80 per cent Hindus; majority and they are not safe? It is laughable, and you’re saying that in a country where from PM to peon is a Hindu. All the judges are Hindu, IAS, IPS are Hindu and still the 80 per cent Hindus are in danger,” he added.
He alleged that fanning insecurity among the majority community was politically motivated and purely oriented for vote bank politics.
“Telling Hindus that they are in danger is just the politics of the vote bank, it has nothing to do with the constitution,” he said, adding, “I believe that RSS is a big organisation. Its leaders should talk very thoughtfully. The contradictions in his remarks are glaring,” he said.
Rashidi further also referred to Bhagwat’s earlier comments acknowledging the historical and continuing presence of Muslims in India, and then contradicting them saying, he is the chief of a big organisation like RSS he should make comments after thorough thinking. “On one hand he says there is no India without Muslims. Muslims were always there, are and will always be, then he says everybody living here is a Hindu, they don’t consider them Muslims ...”
Warning of constitutional consequences, if India were to be a Hindu rastra he said, “The day this country becomes a Hindu rashtra, that day the constitution will be over, then Manusmriti will be implemented and then whatever is told in it will happen with Dalits and other religions ...”
Earlier on Sunday Mohan Bhagwat speaking at Kolkata Vyakhyanmala, a session to celebrate the centenary of RSS, said seeing RSS through the lens of BJP is a big mistake.
He further added, "There are people who spread wrong narratives about the Sangh. Interpretation of the Sangh should be objective and not through secondary sources. The goal of the Sangh is organisation of the entire Hindu society, but it is not aimed at opposing others...If you see that Sangh is anti-Muslim, you can make (that) your opinion. But change your opinion if you don't find that."
Source: indiatimes.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/it-is-laughable-maulana-rashidi-reacts-to-rss-chiefs-hindu-rastra-call-terms-it-vote-bank-politics/articleshow/126132191.cms
-------
NGOs fear ‘catastrophic impact’ of new Israel registration rules
December 22, 2025
People walk amid shelters at the Nuseirat camp for displaced Palestinians in the central Gaza Strip on Monday. (AFP)
-----------
PARIS: New rules in Israel for registering non-governmental organizations, under which more than a dozen groups have already been rejected, could have a catastrophic impact on aid work in Gaza and the West Bank, relief workers warn.
The NGOs have until December 31 to register under the new framework, which Israel says aims not to impede aid distribution but to prevent “hostile actors or supporters of terrorism” operating in the Palestinian territories.
The controversy comes with Gaza, which lacks running water and electricity, still battling a humanitarian crisis even after the US-brokered October ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas, sparked by the Palestinian militant group’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.
Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism told AFP that, as of November 2025, 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.”
Requests are rejected for “organizations involved in terrorism, antisemitism, delegitimization of Israel, Holocaust denial, denial of the crimes of October 7,” it said.
‘Very problematic’
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.
The NGOs barred under the new rules include Save the Children, one of the best known and oldest in Gaza, where it helps 120,000 children, and the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC).
They are being given 60 days to withdraw all their international staff from the Gaza Strip, the occupied West Bank and Israel, and will no longer be able to send humanitarian supplies across the border to Gaza.
In Gaza, Save the Children’s local staff and partners “remain committed to providing crucial services for children,” such as psychosocial support and education, a spokeswoman told AFP.
The forum that brings together UN agencies and NGOs working in the area on Thursday issued a statement urging Israel to “lift all impediments,” including the new registration process, that “risk the collapse of the humanitarian response.”
The Humanitarian Country Team of the Occupied Palestinian Territory (HCT) warned that dozens of NGOs face deregistration and that, while some had been registered, “these NGOs represent only a fraction of the response in Gaza and are nowhere near the number required just to meet immediate and basic needs.”
“The deregistration of NGOs in Gaza will have a catastrophic impact on access to essential and basic services,” it said.
NGOs contacted by AFP, several of whom declined to be quoted on the record due to the sensitivity of the issue, say they complied with most of Israel’s requirements to provide a complete dossier.
Some, however, refused to cross what they described as a “red line” of providing information about their Palestinian staff.
“After speaking about genocide, denouncing the conditions under which the war was being waged and the restrictions imposed on the entry of aid, we tick all the boxes” to fail the registration, predicted the head of one NGO.
“Once again, bureaucratic pressure is being used for political control, with catastrophic consequences,” said the relief worker.
Rights groups and NGOs including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have accused Israel of carrying out a genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, a term vehemently rejected by the Israeli government.
“If NGOs are considered to be harmful for passing on testimonies from populations, carrying out operational work and saying what is happening and this leads to a ban on working, then this is very problematic,” said Jean-Francois Corty, president of French NGO Medecins du Monde.
‘Every little criticism’
The most contentious requirement for the NGOs is to prove they do not work for the “delegitimization” of Israel, a term that appears related to calling into question Israel’s right to exist but which aid workers say is dangerously vague.
“Israel sees every little criticism as a reason to deny their registration... We don’t even know what delegitimization actually means,” said Yotam Ben-Hillel, an Israeli lawyer who is assisting several NGOs with the process and has filed legal appeals.
He said the applications of some NGOs had already been turned down on these grounds.
“So every organization that operates in Gaza and the West Bank and sees what happens and reports on that could be declared as illegal now, because they just report on what they see,” he told AFP.
With the December 31 deadline looming, concerns focus on what will happen in early 2026 if the NGOs that are selected lack the capacity and expertise of organizations with a long-standing presence.
Several humanitarian actors told AFP they had “never heard of” some of the accredited NGOs, which currently have no presence in Gaza but were reportedly included in Trump’s plan for Gaza.
“The United States is starting from scratch, and with the new registration procedure, some NGOs will leave,” said a European diplomatic source in the region, asking not to be named. “They might wake up on January 1 and realize there is no-one to replace them.”
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2627167/middle-east
-------
Man charged with being member of Islamic State
December 23, 2025
Abdullah Yousef is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday
-----------
A 23-year-old man has been charged with being a member of the Islamic State group.
Abdullah Yousef, of Galapagos Grove in Bletchley, Milton Keynes, was arrested on 16 December and charged with a string of terrorism offences on Monday.
Mr Yousef was charged with one count of membership of a proscribed organisation, one count of possession of information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, and four counts of dissemination of a terrorist publication.
He was charged by officers from Counter Terrorism Policing South East and has been remanded in custody to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.
Source: bbc.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c898n1l13gyo
------
Texas comptroller questions whether some Islamic schools can be excluded from voucher program
BY AYDEN RUNNELS
DEC. 22, 2025
Then-state Sen. Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills, in the Senate chamber on May 2, 2023. Now acting state comptroller, Hancock is seeking to bar some Islamic and Chinese-linked schools from Texas' school voucher program. Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribun
----------
Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock is asking the Texas Attorney General’s Office whether certain schools can be excluded from Texas’ new school voucher program based on connections to a U.S. Muslim advocacy group or alleged ties to the Chinese government.
In a request for opinion filed to state Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office on Dec. 12, Hancock asked whether schools could be excluded from the program if they were linked to a “foreign terrorist organization” or a “foreign adversary.” Hancock suggested schools that had hosted events for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Muslim civil rights group which Gov. Greg Abbott recently designated as a terrorist organization, would be affected.
CAIR is suing Abbott over the terrorist designation, claiming it was defamatory and not based in law.
Hancock also alleged that one school in the state was owned or controlled by a group connected to an adviser for the Chinese government, which he wrote “appear to implicate newly enacted laws restricting property ownership, control, and financial influence by foreign adversary entities in Texas.” Senate Bill 17, which went into effect on Sept. 1, bans governments, companies and individuals who legally reside in China, Russia, Iran and North Korea from owning land and properties in the state.
Hancock said in a statement that the request came after “credible concerns” were raised about the affiliation of some pre-approved providers for the voucher program, and so legal guidance was requested. The Houston Chronicle first reported Hancock’s request.
“This request does not prejudge any institution or presume any outcome,” Hancock said. “It simply reflects our obligation to safeguard personal data from foreign adversaries and ensure that no public funds are used, directly or indirectly, in a manner that conflicts with Texas law or undermines the security interests of our state.”
Hancock did not indicate in his request or statement which schools or how many could potentially be affected by the determination from Paxton’s office. Attorney General opinions are not legally binding, but are used as guidance for state agencies as they operate.
A spokesperson for CAIR Texas said in a statement that the events hosted at the schools were “Know Your Rights” events designed to inform students about state and federal civil rights and protections. The group challenged that any part of Senate Bill 2, which created the new voucher program, or “other relevant laws” authorized excluding schools from the program.
“Hosting civil rights education for students is lawful. So is teaching students about their rights under the U.S. and Texas Constitutions,” a spokesperson with CAIR Texas said. “Any attempt to penalize schools for learning about their civil rights from an organization Greg Abbott happens to dislike would raise serious First Amendment concerns.”
About 600 Texas private schools and 200 vendors have already applied for the state’s new voucher program in the 10 days since applications opened, according to the Comptroller’s office. The applications are accepted on a rolling basis. The creation of the voucher program was long sought after by Abbott, and rules for the vouchers were approved in late November. Applications for Texas families open Feb. 4.
Abbott’s designation of CAIR as a foreign terrorist organization is part of an uptick in Texas politicians’ criticisms of Islam and the presence of Muslim organizations in the state. The increase was in part sparked by several investigations earlier this year into the East Plano Islamic Center’s “EPIC City” development in North Texas.
Source: texastribune.org
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.texastribune.org/2025/12/22/texas-school-voucher-exclusions-kelly-hancock/
-------
Christian Genocide: US Steps Up Surveillance Over Nigeria
December 23, 2025
By George Oshogwe Ogbolu
The United States has been carrying out intelligence-gathering flights over large parts of Nigeria since late November, signalling heightened security cooperation between both countries, according to flight tracking data and US officials cited by Reuters.
The exclusive report published on Monday said the purpose of the surveillance missions could not be independently confirmed.
Reuters noted that the flights followed threats by Donald Trump in November to intervene militarily in Nigeria over what he described as the government’s failure to halt violence against Christian communities.
The surveillance operations also come months after a US pilot working for a missionary agency was kidnapped in neighbouring Niger.
Flight tracking data for December showed that the contractor-operated aircraft typically took off from Ghana, flew over Nigeria, and returned to Accra.
The data identified the operator as Tenax Aerospace, a Mississippi-based firm that provides special mission aircraft and works closely with the US military, according to its website. The company did not respond to requests for comment.
The Africa team lead at the Critical Threats Project of the American Enterprise Institute, Liam Karr, who analysed the flight data, said the operation appeared to be running out of Accra, which he described as “a known hub for the U.S. military’s logistics network in Africa.”
Karr said the flights suggested Washington was rebuilding its intelligence capacity in the region after Niger last year ordered US troops to leave a major desert air base and turned to Russia for security assistance.
“In recent weeks, we’ve seen a resumption of intelligence and surveillance flights in Nigeria,” he told Reuters.
A former US official said the aircraft was among several assets moved to Ghana by the Trump administration in November.
While it was unclear how many aircraft remained there, the official said the missions included tracking the kidnapped US pilot and gathering intelligence on militant groups operating in Nigeria, including Boko Haram and its splinter faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province.
A current US official confirmed the aircraft had been flying over Nigeria but declined to provide details, citing diplomatic sensitivity.
Another administration official said Washington was continuing to work with Nigeria to “address religious violence, anti-Christian attacks, and the destabilising spread of terrorism.”
In a statement, the Pentagon said the US government held “productive meetings” with Nigeria following Trump’s message on the country, but declined to comment on intelligence activities.
Nigeria’s military spokesperson and Ghana’s deputy defence minister did not respond to requests for comment.
Nigeria has repeatedly said armed groups target both Muslims and Christians, arguing that US claims of Christian persecution oversimplify a complex security situation and overlook efforts to protect religious freedom.
A Nigerian security source told Reuters that the US agreed during a November 20 meeting between National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to deploy air assets for intelligence gathering.
A spokesperson for the Nigerian military did not respond to a request for comment.
Flight tracking data showed the Tenax Aerospace aircraft at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida on November 7. MacDill hosts the headquarters of the United States Special Operations Command.
The aircraft later flew to Ghana on November 24, days after the high-level security meeting, and has since flown over Nigeria almost daily.
The aircraft is a Gulfstream V, a long-range business jet commonly modified for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, according to the data.
Source: naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.naijanews.com/2025/12/23/christian-genocide-us-steps-up-surveillance-over-nigeria/
-------
Malacca, Muslims against ban on Christmas decorations in “halal” restaurants and hotels
12/22/2025
by Joseph Masilamany
Controversy over a circular from the Department of Religious Affairs, which went viral on social media, stating that the decorations are reminiscent of a Christian holiday. The holiday is a religious, not a cultural, event and raises ‘issues related to faith’. But experts and officials say such a measure violates the spirit of tolerance and openness in the country.
Kuala Lumpur (AsiaNews) - A senior minister in the state of Sarawak has criticised the alleged ban on Christmas decorations in “halal” certified restaurants and hotels in Malacca, calling the policy superficial and inconsistent with Malaysia's multi-religious character.
This clear stance comes alongside national guidelines drawn up in recent days by the government to settle the controversy. The head of Sarawak's Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industries and Performing Arts, Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, said those responsible for the directive should adopt a more open mindset in a pluralistic society. ‘If they cannot accept this, then it would be better for them to live alone on an island like hermits,’ he told the local newspaper Free Malaysia Today.
The controversy erupted after a circular, allegedly issued by the Malacca Islamic Religious Affairs Department (Jaim), went viral on social media. The document stated that Christmas decorations were not allowed in kitchens or retail outlets of halal-certified hotels, arguing that Christmas is a religious rather than a cultural holiday and could raise ‘issues related to faith.’ However, the circular also specified that hotels were free to place decorations in non-halal-certified areas, such as lobbies and public spaces.
Federal clarification on halal certification
In response to growing controversy, the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Zulkifli Hasan clarified that there is no prohibition for holders of the Malaysia Halal Verification Certificate (Sphm) to use images, illustrations or decorations related to religious festivals other than Islam. In doing so, however, the principle of Halalan Toyyiban, the Islamic concept that encompasses “lawful, safe and wholesome” practices, must not be compromised. “The use of decorations, images and illustrations of non-Islamic festivals of a temporary nature on food products is permitted,” Zulkifli said in a statement reported by Berita Harian.
At the same time, he stressed that objects of worship are not permitted and that decorations must not involve the display of the Sphm certificate or halal logo alongside non-Islamic religious images. Zulkifli said the position is consistent with a 2023 decision by Malaysia's Department of Islamic Development (Jakim), which ruled that Sphm holders are allowed to use non-Islamic festive images under existing halal standards.
Malacca's directive has drawn criticism from political leaders across all parties. Ayer Keroh Assembly member Kerk Chee Yee said that if the ban were real, it would end up being a step backwards and should be corrected by the state government. Leaders of the ruling coalition have also questioned this policy. UMNO Youth chief Akmal Saleh, who is also a Merlimau Assembly member, said Christmas decorations have no impact on compliance. ‘Halal certification is about food preparation and ingredients, not festive decorations,’ said the expert, who also urged JAIM to review the circular.
Christian-Muslim context
Malaysia is a Muslim-majority nation where Islam is the official religion of the federation, but at the same time, the Constitution guarantees freedom of worship. Christians make up about 9% of the population, with large Christian communities in Sarawak and Sabah, where Christianity is closely intertwined with indigenous cultures and local history. Halal-certified establishments commonly serve customers of all faiths, and festive decorations for Hari Raya (Eid al-Fitr), Deepavali and Chinese New Year are widely displayed in public spaces and commercial establishments, including halal-certified establishments.
Sarawak, which actively promotes interfaith coexistence and observes the religious holidays of all communities, is often cited as a model of pluralism in Southeast Asia. Zulkifli emphasised that mutual respect for cultural and religious diversity is a distinctive feature of the nation's pluralistic society. He encouraged industry operators to comply with halal standards without neglecting religious and cultural harmony, advising hotels and restaurants with Sphm certification to consult regularly with the relevant authorities for specific guidance.
‘Close cooperation between state Islamic religious authorities, Jakim and industry operators is essential to ensure that halal policies are implemented prudently, while preserving the integrity of Malaysia's halal certification and social harmony,’ he concluded. At the time of publication, the Malacca State Government has not yet issued a definitive statement reconciling the state circular with federal halal guidelines.
Source: asianews.it
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.asianews.it/news-en/Malacca%2C-Muslims-against-ban-on-Christmas-decorations-in-%26ldquo%3Bhalal%26rdquo%3B-restaurants-and-hotels-64522.html
-------
Attack on media houses involved a section of the govt and had political backing: Nahid Islam
Dec 22, 2025
Nahid Islam, convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP), today said they believe the attacks on The Daily Star and Prothom Alo involved a section of the government and had political backing.
"The whole incident was planned," he said.
Nahid, the former information adviser, said they had anticipated the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, but alleged that a conspiracy to manipulate events in Bangladesh following his death had been prepared in advance.
He made the remarks while delivering a solidarity speech at a joint protest titled "Bangladesh Under the Attack of Mob Violence", organised by the Editors' Council and the Newspaper Owners' Association of Bangladesh (NOAB) at a hotel in Dhaka earlier today.
Expressing deep regret over the recent attacks on media houses, Nahid said, "It is even more unfortunate that those who carried out this incident used the slogans of the July uprising and the name of Hadi to justify attacks on Prothom Alo, The Daily Star, and cultural institutions."
Calling for a proper investigation, Nahid said, "It is very clear who carried out these incidents. They went there, committed the crimes, and we must ensure the government conducts a fair investigation and punishment. Those who shot Hadi in broad daylight must also be held accountable."
He added, "We must never allow attacks on media or any institutions in the name of the July uprising or anything else. Anyone who supports or approves such acts must face action."
Source: thedailystar.net
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/attack-media-houses-involved-section-the-govt-and-had-political-backing-nahid-islam-4063901
---------
Foreign ministers chair Saudi-Omani coordination council meeting in Muscat
December 23, 2025
MUSCAT: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan met with Oman’s Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al-Busaidi on Monday.
They reviewed bilateral relations between their nations and ways to enhance and develop them across various fields. Additionally, they discussed regional and international developments.
The ministers co-chaired the third meeting of the Saudi-Omani Coordination Council in the Omani capital, Muscat, with the participation of the heads of the Council’s subsidiary committees and the two heads of the Council’s General Secretariat teams.
The meeting comes as an affirmation of the keenness of Saudi and Omani leaders to strengthen ties and advance them toward greater prosperity for both nations.
In his remarks during the meeting, Prince Faisal affirmed that gathering builds on the previous council meeting, held last year in AlUla, and on its positive and fruitful outcomes within the framework of the approved recommendations and initiatives.
He stressed the importance of continuing the work of the council’s subsidiary committees to complete the necessary procedures to implement the remaining initiatives, and of the General Secretariat’s role in follow-up and in addressing any challenges that may hinder implementation.
He also underscored the importance of developing and enhancing trade relations, stimulating investment, and strengthening cooperation between the public and private sectors.
He also praised the ongoing work to establish and launch the Coordination Council’s electronic platform, which aims to connect all committee work and initiatives to facilitate follow-up on the Council’s progress.
Al-Busaidi affirmed in his remarks the qualitative progress in relations between the two countries and the notable development witnessed across numerous sectors toward achieving economic integration and enhancing intra-trade and joint investments.
The Omani foreign minister also highlighted deeper cooperation in the security and judicial fields, as well as the cultural and tourism sectors, noting the advanced and continuous political cooperation, consultation, and coordination on regional and international issues.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2627184/saudi-arabia
-----
India
BJP backs RSS chief’s ‘Hindu Rashtra’ remarks, Oppn says Constitution runs country
IANS
December 22, 2025
The BJP on Monday came out in support of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat’s remarks describing India as a “Hindu Rashtra” and his comments flagging what he termed “Islamic extremism” in West Bengal, triggering sharp political reactions across parties.
Addressing a gathering on Sunday, Bhagwat had asserted that India is a “Hindu nation” and said no constitutional sanction is required for it, as it is a “truth”.
He also raised questions over suspended Trinamool Congress MLA Humayun Kabir’s announcement to construct a Babri Masjid-like mosque in West Bengal, alleging that the move was “being done for votes”. The RSS chief further stated that government funds should not be used for the construction of religious places.
Backing Bhagwat’s remarks on Bengal, BJP spokesperson Pratul Shah Deo cited recent developments in Murshidabad, where an announcement regarding the construction of a Babri Masjid had been made.
Speaking to IANS, Deo said, “The entire West Bengal government called Maulanas there and afterwards, a large gathering was held where it was stated that we will build the Babri Masjid here. This is being done solely by the Trinamool Congress to appease the Muslim community, which is an insult to the Sanatanis. For show, they did suspend the MLA, but his arrest has not yet been made, indicating collusion between the government and this suspended MLA.”
He further alleged that the issue was deliberately raised with elections approaching.
“This is not an issue that needed to be raised at this time, but with elections in sight, the Trinamool Congress has deliberately raised this issue through one of its MLAs. So, the RSS chief is right,” Deo added.
BJP MLA Ram Kadam also supported Bhagwat’s remarks and stressed the need for Hindu unity.
Speaking to IANS, Kadam said, “Our Sarsanghchalak’s statement is true and attempts to shed light on the reality. On the sacred land of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee and her supporters have caused suffering, harassment and oppression to our Hindus. They have forced their way into homes, committed misconduct against women and the people of Bengal are witnessing all of this.”
Kadam further alleged political motives behind references to Babri Masjid.
“Those who claim to speak in the name of Babri are doing so only for political gains. They do not care for anyone and are merely using excuses to gain control over a particular religion. However, if Hindus unite, no one would dare to engage in such Pakistan-pleasing, deceitful actions,” he said.
Shiv Sena leader Manisha Kayande emphasised that Hindus should unite in the face of emerging challenges.
“Considering the kind of activities taking place in our country and the nature of threats we face, Hindus should not divide themselves on the basis of caste and must unite. Our party firmly believes in this stance,” she told IANS.
The Opposition, however, strongly criticised the RSS chief’s remarks, asserting that India is governed by the Constitution and not by ideological declarations.
Samajwadi Party MP Awadhesh Prasad questioned the premise of the “Hindu Rashtra” statement.
Speaking to IANS, he said, “I would like to ask Mohan Bhagwat, very respectfully, what kind of Hindu nation he wants. Today, the highest constitutional and administrative positions in our country are held by Hindus. The President, the Prime Minister and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court are all Hindus.”
Prasad pointed out that political leadership across parties is predominantly Hindu.
“Leaders of the ruling party are Hindus, and even leaders of the Opposition, including the Samajwadi Party, are Hindus. The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh is also a Hindu. So what is the scale or definition by which they measure who is Hindu and Hindu Rashtra?” he asked.
He further said Bhagwat must clarify whether such a vision aligns with constitutional values.
“Our country functions through the Constitution, through which Baba Saheb Ambedkar gave equal rights to all communities. Bhagwat should clarify whether he intends to follow the Constitution framed by Baba Saheb Ambedkar in his so-called Hindu Rashtra,” Prasad added.
Janata Unnayan Party founder Humayun Kabir also reacted to Bhagwat’s comments, dismissing fears of unrest.
Speaking to reporters, he said, “We respect Mohan Bhagwat, but his assessment that there might be riots here is incorrect. We will not allow any such situation. When a Trinamool leader announced the construction of a temple, there were no riots. So why would it happen now?”
Kabir further alleged links between the RSS and the Bengal government.
“Mohan Bhagwat needs the state government’s permission to visit here. Since Mamata Banerjee has been helping the RSS in the state, the number of their shakhas has increased from 558 to 12,000. On the other hand, madrasas receive nothing, and the Muslim community does not get any benefits,” he claimed.
Source: thestatesman.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.thestatesman.com/india/bjp-backs-rss-chiefs-hindu-rashtra-remarks-oppn-says-constitution-runs-country-1503529215.html
------
Uttarakhand: RSS, other Hindu outfits object to Christmas celebration at hotel on banks of Ganges, event cancelled
22 Dec 2025
A Christmas event scheduled to be held at a hotel run by the Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department on the banks of the Ganges in Haridwar has been cancelled following objections from Hindu outfits, a hotel official said on Monday.
Several activities for children were scheduled for December 24 at Hotel Bhagirathi on the occasion of Christmas, but they will not be held now, hotel owner Neeraj Gupta said.
After information about the Christmas event at the hotel spread on social media, Hindu organisations began protesting against it.
Ujjwal Pandit, an office-bearer of the Shri Ganga Sabha, in a post on social media, warned that Christmas celebration on the banks of the Ganges would not be tolerated and asked the organisers to cancel it immediately.
Pandit, secretary of the Ganga Sevak Dal of the Ganga Sabha, said, "Events related to foreign culture will not be tolerated on the banks of the Ganges. This event is an insult to the religious sanctity of Haridwar and the dignity of the Ganges. Christmas has nothing to do with our Hindu religion."
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) also opposed the Christmas celebration on the banks of the Ganges.
RSS' Shetriya Prachar Pramukh Padamji told PTI that whether it is the Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department or any other organisation, everyone should 'respect the religious beliefs, traditions and dignity' of Haridwar.
He said, "Haridwar is the city of the Ganges, the land of gods, and here beliefs and traditions in accordance with Hindu culture have been followed for centuries, and no one has the right to disrupt them."
However, when contacted, the management of Hotel Bhagirathi said that no event was planned on Christmas that would have gone against the dignity of Haridwar, Hindu culture and its traditions.
Hotel owner Neeraj Gupta said, "We were not organising any such Christmas-related event at the hotel. A Christmas tree was indeed decorated at the hotel reception, but the plan was to organise games for the children on this occasion."
He said that in addition, a grand Ganga Aarti was to be performed on the banks of the Ganges, and keeping in mind the religious significance, sanctity, and purity of the Ganges, only pure vegetarian food was to be served.
Gupta said non-vegetarian food and alcohol are prohibited at the hotel.
He said that due to the protests by Hindu organisations, the programmes planned for children at the hotel have now been cancelled, and only the grand Aarti will be held on the banks of the Ganges on this occasion.
Source: newindianexpress.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2025/Dec/22/uttarakhand-rss-other-hindu-outfits-object-to-christmas-celebration-at-hotel-on-banks-of-ganges-event-cancelled
-------
Jinnah gave Vande Mataram a communal colour: UP CM Yogi; SP says our ‘nationalism inclusive’
by Maulshree Seth
December 23, 2025
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath claimed on Monday that it was the “appeasement politics” of the Congress and actions of Muslim League founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah that played a key role in turning the national song, Vande Mataram, into a subject of controversy.
Starting a special discussion on Vande Mataram in the state Assembly to mark 150 years of the national song, the CM said these factors deepened India’s cultural divisions and contributed to the Partition, adding this resistance was driven by political interests rather than religious concerns.
Claiming it was Jinnah who purposely gave a communal colour to Vande Mararam, Adityanath said the decision to dilute the song was the first major compromise by the Congress in the name of appeasement.
These compromises emboldened the separatist forces and weakened national unity, he said.
“Vande Mataram was sung at the Congress sessions between 1896 and 1922 without any opposition and had the support of several national leaders, including Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. The objections began only after Jinnah left the Congress and raised the issue in the Muslim League for political gains,” Adityanath said.
Referring to the events of 1937, the CM said Jinnah opposed the song in Lucknow during the Congress-led government. Citing a “correspondence” between Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose, the CM said it reflected attempts to accommodate minority opinion, adding that parts of the song were later removed in the name of communal harmony.
By 1937, the Congress had restricted singing of Vande Mataram to only two verses and even that was made optional, Adityanath said, describing the move as a setback to national sentiment.
An opposition was earlier voiced to the song by Mohammad Ali Jauhar during the Khilafat movement in 1923, which was politically motivated, the CM said.
“Vande Mataram’s version adopted by the Constituent Assembly in 1950 reflected the legacy of these earlier decisions,” he further said.
Highlighting the song’s historical importance, Adityanath said the song played a vital role in the freedom movement and inspired protests, satyagrahas and revolutionary actions. He referred to the remarks by Rabindranath Tagore and Aurobindo Ghosh and recalled its association with the 1905 Bengal Partition movement.
Maintaining that Vande Mataram represented India’s national spirit, Adityanath urged people to reflect on past compromises and called upon the citizens of the country to revisit Bankim Chandra Chatterjee’s Anand Math.
Also, Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak dared SP leaders to sing Vande Mataram in the Assembly, alleging that one of their leaders used to refer to Bharat Mata as a “dayan” (witch).
The SP leaders, he added, do not have the right to talk about either Ambedkar or Lohia as they were “fake samajwadis” (fake socialists) as all they know about is “pariwar ki jai” (victory to a family).
Later, Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya questioned the SP MLAs as what one of their leaders, who is in jail, used to say about Bharat Mata. He said, “Hum Bharat Mata ki jai bol rahe hain, Vande Mataram bol rahe hain.. Agar us baat ko yaad nahi dilayenge to aap sudharoge nahi. Bharat Mata ki jai bolne shuru kar dijiye. Bharat Mata ki jai bolne mein pareshani kyon hoti hai? (We are hailing Mother India and Vande Mataram. If we don’t remind, you will not mend your ways. Start saying ‘hail Mother India’. Why you have trouble saying this?”)
“From 2012 to 2017, when the SP was in power, cases were withdrawn against the Students’ Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) activists. It was disrespect of Bharat Mata,” Maurya said.
Targeting the SP over its PDA (picchda, Dalit and alpsankhyak) slogan, Maurya said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was actual PDA as he belonged to most backward community.
“When the CM announced that Vande mataram should to be recited in madrasas, why” Samajwadi Party leaders started having issues,” he asked.
Responding to the BJP leaders’ claims, senior SP leader Shivpal Yadav said, “You say that one who would not sing Vande Mataram is an anti-national, but I will say those who fail to protect daughters, steal vote of the poor to win elections are a real danger to democracy.”
“The BJP thinks the SP leaders would be scared of their nationalism, but our nationalism is inclusive,” he said.
Congress legislator Aradhna Mishra said that their party did not need to give a proof of patriotism to anyone. “The Congress has sacrificed a lot and is always ready to sacrifice for the country. But that should not be an issue in politics,” she said.
Source: indianexpress.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/lucknow/during-vande-mataram-debate-bjp-targets-congress-jinnah-sp-says-our-nationalism-inclusive-10433902/
-------
Bengal: 13 convicted of lynching father-son during Waqf protest in Murshidabad
by Atri Mitra
December 23, 2025
Almost eight months after a 72-year-old man and his 40-year-old son were brutally hacked to death by a mob during a protest against the Centre’s new Waqf law, a court in Murshidabad on Monday convicted 13 men of mob lynching.
Judge Amitabh Mukhopadhyay of Jangipur Sub-Divisional Court will pronounce the sentence on Tuesday.
On April 11 this year, as the protest against the new Waqf law turned violent in the Samshergunj area of Murshidabad, a mob lynched Hargobind Das and his son Chandan Das.
One more person was killed in the communal violence.
The district police formed an SIT to probe into the murders, and 13 people, including neighbours of the Das family, were arrested.
In its 983-page chargesheet, police said the accused broke open the door of the Das family house and dragged the father and son out before hacking them to death on the street.
All the 13 people arrested by the police have been convicted under BNS sections 103(2), 310(2), 331(5), 191(3), 115(2), 126(2), 332(a), and 3(5).
They are Dildar Nadab, Asmaul Nadab, Inzamul Haq, Ziaul Haq, Fekharul Sheikh, Aazfarul Sheikh, Munirul Sheikh, Iqbal Sheikh, Nurul Sheikh, Saba Karim, Hazrat Sheikh, Akbar Ali, and Yusuf Sheikh.
Public Prosecutor Sameer Chattopadhyay said two of the sections under which they have been convicted are punishable by death.
The Das family has sought maximum punishment for the convicts.
“On the testimony of several witnesses, forensic report, police investigation report and other evidence, the court has proved the charges against the 13 accused,” the public prosecutor said.
Source: indianexpress.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/kolkata/bengal-13-convicted-of-lynching-father-son-during-waqf-protest-in-murshidabad-10433977/
-------
VHP, Bajrang Dal protest at Bangladesh High Commission; Mehbooba Mufti bats for Hindus, adds dig at Nitish Kumar
23.12.25
Hundreds of activists from the VHP and Bajrang Dal on Tuesday stormed the barricades put up outside the Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi in protest against communalism in the neighbouring country, and Jammu and Kashmir politician Mehbooba Mufti denounced alleged harassment of Hindu women in Bangladesh even as she took potshots at Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar.
Security had been beefed up outside the high commission ahead of the protest over the lynching of a Hindu man in Bangladesh. The area had been secured with three layers of barricading and more force from the police and paramilitary.
But police struggled to keep the demonstrators at bay as they tried to climb over barricades. Slogans against the Bangladesh government rent the air as the protesters raised banners and placards.
One placard read: "Hindu rakt ki ek ek boond ka hisaab chahiye [Each drop of Hindu blood must be accounted for]."
In Srinagar, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti expressed concern over the alleged harassment of Hindu women in Bangladesh.
"Reports from Bangladesh alleging that Hindu women fear moving freely while wearing sindoor are deeply disturbing," the former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
"Sadly, the Indian leadership appears to face a moral dilemma in raising this grave issue with Bangladeshi authorities, as lumpen elements at home are themselves seen forcibly pulling off the hijabs of Muslim women. In a world dominated by fanatics, who will truly stand up for the rights and dignity of women?" she added.
She was referring to the recent incident in Patna where Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar had pulled at the face covering of a Muslim woman who was there to receive an appointment letter as a government AYUSH system doctor.
The doctor has since refused to join the job and according to reports has moved to Bengal.
Source: telegraphindia.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/vhp-bajrang-dal-protest-at-bangladesh-high-commission-mehbooba-mufti-bats-for-hindus-adds-dig-at-nitish-kumar/cid/2139238
-------
Hindutva hurdle on PM Modi's trip to Ajmer Sharif, Supreme Court to hear plea on December 26
23.12.25
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose party and government flaunt their Ayodhya campaign credentials, on Monday ran into an attempt by Hindutva proponents to legally bar him from paying homage at an Islamic shrine they claim was built after destroying a temple.
The Supreme Court, however, refused to entertain the petitioners’ oral request for urgent listing on Monday of their plea, which seeks to restrain Modi from offering the traditional chadar at the tomb of Sufi saint Khawaja Moinuddin Chishti at Ajmer Sharif.
The bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, though, allowed the lawyer who made the request to apply through the Supreme Court registry for urgent listing, so that the plea can be considered on December 26.
According to the petitioners, the Prime Minister offering the chadar at Ajmer Sharif would “cause prejudice to” Hindus’ case in a Rajasthan civil court for a handover of the site on the grounds that the dargah was erected over a demolished Shiva temple.
Successive Prime Ministers since Independence have, as a matter of tradition, offered the ceremonial chadar at the dargah during the annual Urs festival, which began on Monday.
A PTI report said Union minority affairs minister Kiren Rijiju offered a chadar at Ajmer Sharif on behalf of the central government on Monday.
Counsel Barun Kumar Singh, representing Vishwa Vedica Sangathan president Jitender Singh and Hindu Sena president Vishnu Gupta, made the oral request during the morning mentioning time.
“We are praying for listing today itself, this matter for hearing. This is regarding the offer of chadar by the Hon’ble Prime Minister at the Ajmer Sharif dargah,” he said.
“We are seeking a stay on that offer.... Otherwise it will cause prejudice to the plaintiff….”
Counsel Singh said the civil court in Rajasthan had, on the basis of a complaint filed by Gupta, already issued notices to the Centre, Archaeological Survey of India and some local authorities.
He claimed the Sufi shrine had been built by invaders, and government representatives honouring it violated the constitutional values of India’s dignity and sovereignty.
“No, I will not list any matter today. We are not listing any matter the same day,” Justice Kant said.
“Every mentioning request has to be scrutinised by the registry. You will have to follow the procedure.”
Singh then requested that the matter be listed at least on December 26 or 29 when the vacation bench would sit.
Justice Kant said the court would consider the request if the petitioner filed a proper application before the registry for scrutiny.
According to the petitioners, the continued State-sponsored ceremonial honours, official patronage and symbolic recognition extended to Moinuddin Chishti are unconstitutional.
“It is contended that historical records indicate Moinuddin Chishti arrived in India during Shahabuddin Ghori’s invasions in the 12th century, actively assisted the invading forces in subjugating native rulers, and only later assumed the identity of a Sufi mystic, with his dargah institutionalised centuries after his death,” the petition, filed through advocate M.G. Anantha Narayana, says.
“Petitioners argue that glorifying and officially patronising a figure historically aligned with foreign invasions and conversion campaigns undermines national dignity, historical truth, and cultural integrity, violates Articles 14, 19(1)(a), 21, and 51A of the Constitution, and lacks any legal or constitutional basis….
“Consequently, the petitioners seek to prohibit the Government of India, including the Prime Minister, from offering ceremonial homage such as chadar at the Ajmer Dargah, as such acts are contrary to the will of the people, national sovereignty, and the ethos of the Indian constitution.”
The petition claims it was Jawaharlal Nehru who, in 1947, began the tradition of Prime Ministers offering a chadar at the Ajmer Sharif.
Source: telegraphindia.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/hindutva-hurdle-on-pm-modis-trip-to-ajmer-sharif-supreme-court-to-hear-plea-on-december-26-prnt/cid/2139127
-------
On camera, Delhi vigilantes harass African football coach for not speaking Hindi, shop owner for halal meat
22.12.25
Two viral videos from Delhi, one involving a BJP councillor confronting a foreign football coach and another showing students forcing their way into shops, have triggered a wider debate on intolerance, vigilantism and the abuse of authority in public spaces.
In the first video, Renu Chaudhary, an elected councillor of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, was seen berating an African national who works as a football coach training children in a public park in East Delhi.
Speaking loudly in Hindi, Chaudhary questioned why the coach has not learnt the language despite staying in India and threatened consequences if he fails to do so within a month.
“If you are earning money here, learn to speak Hindi,” she is heard saying, warning that the park could be taken away if the coach does not comply.
In another portion of the undated clip, she issued a stern warning about park timings and safety, holding those present responsible for any alleged wrongdoing after 8 pm.
Chaudhary later claimed she had raised the issue months earlier but allowed the coach to continue after residents vouched for his work with children.
The video drew criticism online, with users calling the remarks “shameful” and accusing the councillor of disregarding constitutional values in pursuit of political posturing.
Another video surfaced from the Delhi University campus, where a group of students allegedly forced entry into a mall and threatened staff over the sale of halal-certified food products.
The clip showed protesters questioning product labelling and warning shopkeepers against continuing sales, reportedly forcing some outlets to shut.
The incident has sparked online discussions around consumer choice, campus regulations and the dangers of taking the law into one’s own hands.
The Telegraph Online has not independently verified the videos.
While authorities are yet to issue an official statement, multiple social media users flagged concerns over intimidation and the normalisation of mob pressure.
Together, the two episodes underline a growing unease over how power, identity and cultural assertions are being enforced on the ground, often without legal sanction and with little regard for individual rights.
Source: telegraphindia.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/delhi-vigilante-videos-emerge-prompt-debate-over-intolerance-and-abuse-of-authority/cid/2139104
--------
Cong’s dilution of Vande Mataram was outcome of appeasement politics: CM
Dec 23, 2025
Lucknow: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday blamed the Congress and Mohammad Ali Jinnah for India's "cultural division" and the Partition, saying that the compromise made over Vande Mataram was the first and most dangerous outcome of Congress' appeasement politics.
Initiating a discussion on Vande Mataram in the Assembly on the second day of the winter session, the CM said the compromise made by Congress over Vande Mataram gave rise to separatism.
The UP assembly became the first House to take up the discussion on Vande Mataram. "Chhai chhandon mein gaya jana wala Rashtriya geet hai, uslo kaat kar do chhandon mein simit karna, ye kisi majhabi majboori ka natija tha ya satta bachane ke liye rashtra chetna ko girvi rakhne ke liye ek suniyojit sajish (The national anthem, which was originally meant to be sung in 6 verses, was cut down and limited to 2 verses. Was this the result of some religious compulsion, or was it a well-planned conspiracy to mortgage national consciousness in order to cling to power?)," Yogi said.
The CM claimed that as long as Jinnah was in the Congress, Vande Mataram was not a point of contention. "Once Jinnah left the Congress, he made it a tool of the Muslim League and deliberately gave the song a communal colour. The song remained the same, but the agenda changed," Yogi said.He recalled that on Oct 15, 1937, Jinnah raised a slogan against Vande Mataram from Lucknow, when Jawaharlal Nehru was the Congress president. "On Oct 20, 1937, Nehru wrote a letter to Subhas Chandra Bose saying the background of the song was making Muslims uncomfortable," he said, calling it a "clear admission of the Congress' appeasement policy".The CM claimed that on Oct 26, 1937, the Congress decided to drop some portions of Vande Mataram in the name of "harmony", which he described as a "sacrifice of national consciousness".
The CM said that in March 1938, Jinnah demanded that Vande Mataram be completely changed, but the Congress did not resist. "This emboldened the Muslim League, sharpened separatist tendencies and marked the first compromise on cultural symbols, which eventually laid the foundation of India's Partition," he said.
Yogi said the opposition to Vande Mataram was neither religious nor faith-based but purely political.
Yogi said that singing Vande Mataram was a tradition in Congress conventions between 1896 and 1922. "This was the time when there was no fatwa or any religious noise," he said, adding: "The problem arose when politics started wearing a religious mask, as done by the Congress." "Bharat Mata ki Jai and Vande Mataram reverberated from every stage then. Even freedom fighters like Abul Kalam Azad supported it. No one termed it as 'anti-Islam'," he noted. But in 1923, during a Congress convention, Mohammad Ali Jauhar protested against Vande Mataram. "This was not rooted in religion but was a part of the politics of 'Khilafat'," he said, asserting that Congress since then started bowing before the protest against Vande Mataram.
Yogi said that Congress leaders like Rafi Ahmad Kidwai had termed Vande Mataram as a symbol of the freedom struggle. "But Congress never allowed Kidwai to grow," he said.
Instead of standing in support of the national song, the Congress formed committees and eventually decided in 1937 that only two stanzas would be sung and that too not mandatorily, which the CM termed "national surrender".
Yogi said that the truncated version of Vande Mataram recognised by the Constituent Assembly was a result of the same appeasement policy. "The nation adopted the song, but the Congress had already cut it," he alleged.
Yogi said that Mahatma Gandhi too termed the song as a 'national spirit'. "He endorsed it as a song that inspired nationalism. It is like a national anthem to us," he said, quoting Gandhi.
Calling Vande Mataram the "soul of India", Yogi said it was not merely a song but the mantra of the freedom struggle. "Rabindranath Tagore called it the soul of India, Aurobindo Ghosh described it as a mantra. Vande Mataram was written on the first tricolour unfurled abroad by Madam Bhikaji Cama, and Madan Lal Dhingra's last words were also Vande Mataram," he said.
He warned that even today, some political forces are trying to revive the same divisive mindset.Yogi also blamed the Congress for gagging democracy by imposing the Emergency in 1975 during the centenary celebrations of the national song. Calling the song a "symbol of the nation's soul, struggle and resolve", Yogi said, When Vande Mataram was celebrating its silver jubilee, the country was still under British rule.
Yogi said that dreams of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay were being fulfilled by Modi govt through its 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' vision.
The CM said that the Constituent Assembly on Jan 24, 1950, gave Vande Mataram the status of a national song. "Coincidentally, this was the same year when the United Province became Uttar Pradesh," he pointed out.
Source: indiatimes.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/congs-dilution-of-vande-mataram-was-outcome-of-appeasement-politics-cm/articleshowprint/126128053.cms
-------
Bengal Babri row: Suspended TMC MLA Humayun Kabir floats new party; CM Mamata hits back
Dec 22, 2025
NEW DELHI: West Bengal MLA Humayun Kabir on Monday launched his new political party, the Janata Unnayan Party, days after the Trinamool Congress (TMC) suspended him over his decision to lay the foundation stone for a Babri-style mosque in Murshidabad district.
Speaking at a public meeting in Beldanga, Kabir said his party will contest the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections. He named eight candidates who will be fielded in the polls, though he did not say how many seats the party will contest in total. "We can only tell you later how many seats we will be finally contesting," he told the gathering during the inauguration.
Kabir, who is the MLA from Bharatpur, said he plans to contest from two assembly seats, Rejinagar and Beldanga, in Murshidabad.
The ex-Trinamool leader further said he aimed to remove West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee from power in the upcoming assembly elections, which are due in less than six months. Kabir claimed that the chief minister has changed and is no longer accessible to ordinary people.
"Mamata Banerjee is no longer the same person I knew. She is beyond the reach of the common man," he alleged, challenging her to win even a single seat.
"I challenge Mamata Banerjee directly; show me that you can win a single seat. We will reduce Mamata Banerjee's party to zero in Murshidabad," Kabir claimed. "I also want to warn the BJP. If they field candidates in 200 seats, I will show them by winning 100 seats," the JUP chief added.
Earlier, the suspended MLA had asserted that he would emerge as a “kingmaker” in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. He predicted that neither the ruling TMC nor the BJP would secure a simple majority, estimating that no party would cross the 148-seat mark in the 294-member Assembly.
“I will be kingmaker after the elections. No one can form a government without my support,” Kabir said. He further claimed that his new party would contest 135 seats and win enough constituencies to play a decisive role in government formation. “Whoever goes to take oath as the chief minister will need the support of my party’s MLAs,” he added.
Political sparring over new outfit
While the TMC has not reacted directly, chief minister Mamata Banerjee accused the BJP of trying to drive a wedge among Muslims in Bengal while addressing a party meeting in Kolkata.
Meanwhile, the BJP has dismissed Kabir’s move with state BJP president Samik Bhattacharya saying Kabir would not have any impact in the elections and accused him of working indirectly to help the TMC return to power.
BJP national spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said, “Humayun Kabir is an agent of the TMC. Mamata Banerjee deliberately got Humayun Kabir to form a party to create polarisation, so that Muslim voters who are unhappy with Mamata do not shift to the opposition but instead move separately. This entire script has been written by Mamata Banerjee."
Babri-style mosque move
Kabir was suspended by the TMC on December 4 after his statement on building a Babri-style mosque sparked controversy. Two days later, on December 6, the anniversary of the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992 — Kabir went ahead and laid the foundation stone for the mosque at Rejinagar.
Over the past decade, Kabir has been associated with several major political parties in West Bengal. He was expelled by the TMC in 2015 after criticising Mamata Banerjee and alleging that she was promoting her nephew, Abhishek Banerjee. He later contested the 2016 Assembly elections as an independent but lost. He then joined the Congress, before moving to the BJP ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Kabir contested the Murshidabad Lok Sabha seat on a BJP ticket in 2019 but finished third. He later returned to the TMC and won the Bharatpur Assembly seat in 2021.
Source: indiatimes.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/bengal-babri-row-suspended-tmc-mla-floats-new-party-cm-mamata-hits-back/articleshow/126119650.cms
-------
Amid Deepam Row, Tamil Nadu Dargah Festival Showcases Hindu-Muslim Harmony
Dec 22, 2025
Despite protests relating to the Thiruparankundram deepam row, preparations for the Santhanakoodu festival on the hilltop dargah turned into a display of communal amity between Muslims and Hindus.
A few hours before the representatives from the mosque took the flag and sandalwood paste to the dargah, a team of two Hindu artistes played mridangam and thavil, joining a Muslim musician Nagore, who was performing the nadaswaram.
S Murugan, a Hindu percussionist, told NDTV, "All we need is communal harmony and unity. That's important." Selladurai, another percussionist, echoed it. Responding to demands to light the deepam on the pillar next to the hilltop dargah, Meenakshi Sundaram, who played Thavil in the mosque, said, "In my view it should be a samathuva deepam, an egalitarian one."
Adding another dimension to the custom, the two bulls that pull the decorated chariot carrying the mosque's flag are sent by a Hindu family. The Hindu man, who brought the bulls, said, "I've been doing this for eight years and before this, my family was part of this custom. My forefathers had their own bulls. Later, we always got them from a Hindu family."
As the decorated cart pulled by bulls walked through the streets near the Thiruparankundram temple, a small group of around 25 Muslims were escorted by the police to walk up to the hill to hoist the flag.
Meanwhile, police detained 50 people in Thiruparankundram as they protested, demanding access to the pillar next to the dargah, just before the dargah festivities began.
The mosque management said the discord has been created by "motivated" outfits, including Hindu Munnani and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). "Hindus and Muslims live in amity here. We celebrate their festivals and they ours. But groups unrelated to Thiruparankudram are attempting to create a divide and trigger communal clashes. We can't let that happen," said M Arif Khan, Secretary of the Hazrat Sultan Sikandhar Badusha Mosque. Another member Sherif added, "This question doesn't arise and the temple management believes the place where the deepam is lit now over the last more than 100 years is according to Ahama rules and this tradition should not be changed."
Although a single judge Bench permitted the lighting of the deepam on the pillar next to the dargah in addition to the traditional spot, the temple chose not to enforce it and confined the lighting to the pillar near the Uchipillayar temple at a lower level on the hill, just above the temple tower. The temple, HR&CE department, state government and police have appealed against it. A two-judge bench has completed arguments and orders have been reserved.
Meanwhile, the grand finale of the celebration at the Thiruparankudram mosque and dargah would be on January 16, when the festivities would come to a close.
Source: ndtv.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/amid-deepam-row-tamil-nadu-dargah-festival-showcases-hindu-muslim-harmony-9872227
--------
Madhya Pradesh: Local BJP leader abuses visually impaired woman for 'enabling religious conversions'
23 Dec 2025
BHOPAL: A local BJP leader from Madhya Pradesh’s Jabalpur district has been caught on camera abusing a visually impaired woman over allegations of religious conversion.
The video which went viral on Monday, is related to an incident which reportedly happened in the premises of a Church in Hawa Bagh area under Gorakhpur police station of Jabalpur district on Saturday.
In the video, the BJP's recently appointed Jabalpur city unit vice president Anju Bhargava is seen shouting at a visually impaired woman, in the presence of a policeman.
She grabbed the face of the visually impaired woman and twisted her arms, while shouting abuses at her.
The BJP leader accused the woman of conducting religious conversions, doing 'dhandha' (business) and earning money.
The video showed the visually impaired woman asking Bhargava to speak properly and speak to her instead of getting physical.
The BJP leader, instead of stopping the misconduct with the woman, is seen telling her that she “will be blind in her next birth too.”
The shocking video was shared on X (formerly twitter) by the Congress’s national chairperson Supriya Shrinate on Monday.
"The woman who is physically assaulting the visually impaired woman is Anju Bhargava, the BJP’s district vice president of Jabalpur. This cruelty is the easiest way to advance in the BJP. These people are stains on society."
Jabalpur district of Madhya Pradesh had recently reported two incidents of violence by incited by Hindu right-wingers accusing Christian missionaries of engaging in religious conversions, including the incident in Gorakhpur.
Source: newindianexpress.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2025/Dec/22/madhya-pradesh-local-bjp-leader-abuses-visually-impaired-woman-for-enabling-religious-conversions
-------
Mideast
Syrian government and SDF agree to de-escalate after Aleppo violence
December 23, 2025
DAMASCUS: Syrian government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces agreed to de-escalate on Monday evening in the northern city of Aleppo, after a wave of attacks that both sides blamed on each other left at least two civilians dead and several wounded.
Syria’s state news agency SANA, citing the defense ministry, said the army’s general command issued an order to stop targeting the SDF’s fire sources. The SDF said in a statement later that it had issued instructions to stop responding to attacks by Syrian government forces following de-escalation contacts.
The Syrian health ministry said two people were killed and several were wounded in shelling by the SDF on residential neighborhoods in the city. The injuries included two children and two civil defense workers. The violence erupted hours after Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said during a visit to Damascus that the SDF appeared to have no intention of honoring a commitment to integrate into the state’s armed forces by an agreed year-end deadline.
Turkiye views the US-backed SDF, which controls swathes of northeastern Syria, as a terrorist organization and has warned of military action if the group does not honor the agreement.
Integrating the SDF would mend Syria’s deepest remaining fracture, but failing to do so risks an armed clash that could derail the country’s emergence from 14 years of war and potentially draw in Turkiye, which has threatened an incursion against Kurdish fighters it views as terrorists.
Both sides have accused the other of stalling and acting in bad faith. The SDF is reluctant to give up autonomy it won as the main US ally during the war, which left it with control of Daesh prisons and rich oil resources.
SANA, citing the defense ministry, reported earlier that the SDF had launched a sudden attack on security forces and the army in the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyah neighborhoods of Aleppo, resulting in injuries.
The SDF denied this and said the attack was carried out by factions affiliated with the Syrian government. It said those factions were using tanks and artillery against residential neighborhoods in the city.
The defense ministry denied the SDF’s statements, saying the army was responding to sources of fire from Kurdish forces. “We’re hearing the sounds of artillery and mortar shells, and there is a heavy army presence in most areas of Aleppo,” an eyewitness in Aleppo told Reuters earlier on Monday. Another eyewitness said the sound of strikes had been very strong and described the situation as “terrifying.”
Aleppo’s governor announced a temporary suspension of attendance in all public and private schools and universities on Tuesday, as well as government offices within the city center.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2627178/middle-east
------
Syrian forces seize SAM-7 anti-aircraft missiles from smugglers
December 23, 2025
LONDON: Syrian security forces discovered a cache of SAM-7 anti-aircraft missiles on Monday in Al-Bukamal, a city near the border with Iraq.
The Interior Ministry said the weapons, seized by the Internal Security Directorate during a raid on a house, would have been smuggled out of the country. Investigations are continuing to identify and arrest those responsible for the smuggling attempt, officials said.
The ministry said it remains committed to efforts to combat smuggling and other illegal activities as part of its efforts to protect the security and stability of the nation, the Syrian Arab News Agency reported.
The latest seizure comes just days after authorities intercepted what was described as a significant arms-smuggling shipment on Dec. 17 in the Damascus countryside. The weapons seized included rocket-propelled grenades destined for Lebanon.
And on Dec. 20, a joint operation by security forces from the Damascus countryside and Daraa resulted in the arrest of five people accused of smuggling weapons to illegal groups in Syria, including the terrorist organization Daesh.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2627177/middle-east
------
How growing public support to disarm Hezbollah is forcing a reckoning in Lebanon
KHALED AL KHAWALDEH
December 22, 2025
DUBAI: Lebanon’s government recently instructed the army to prepare a plan to disarm all armed factions and restore the state’s monopoly on weapons. It was widely interpreted as a move to disarm Hezbollah.
However, despite international calls for Hezbollah to surrender what remains of its heavy arsenal, the move has triggered a political tit-for-tat that now threatens to plunge the country into a new civil war.
With Israeli airstrikes ongoing in the south and the US heaping on the pressure, President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam have attempted to build public consensus around a weakened Hezbollah laying down its arms.
According to a recent Gallup poll, which surveyed a random sample of 1,010 people from across the country, excluding Hezbollah strongholds in southern Beirut and other cities like Baalbek, the Lebanese public is largely in favor of the moves.
Some 79 percent of respondents told Gallup they were in favor of the exclusive right of the Lebanese state to maintain arms, compared to just 19 percent who were against.
Among Lebanese Shiites, who form the political base of Hezbollah, 69 percent said they were opposed to disarming non-state actors, compared to 29 percent who agreed — underlining the fragmented nature of Lebanese society and politics.
“The prolonged conflicts associated with Hezbollah’s growing influence in Lebanon and the broader region have left many Lebanese wary of further armed confrontations,” Dr. Mariam Farida, a lecturer and Middle East expert at Macquarie University, told Arab News.
“Nonetheless, despite the report indicating significant public support for Hezbollah to relinquish its arms, many Shiite residents remain hesitant.
“This support is rooted in a belief that Hezbollah’s arms serve as a necessary deterrent against external threats, particularly from Israel, and as a safeguard for their communities in the absence of a strong and capable Lebanese government.”
Since the November 2024 ceasefire, Israel has continued to bomb suspected Hezbollah positions across the country and to occupy five strategic hilltops in the south, despite its obligation to withdraw.
Farida said this was the main challenge with disarmament, which would require a confident Lebanese army to prove it was able to adequately defend Lebanon’s sovereignty.
Nevertheless, she believes growing public support for the government’s disarmament moves was born from an increasing “collective desire to strengthen government institutions.”
This support is likely fueled by the multi-faceted crisis facing the country, which the International Monetary Fund characterizes as a severe, “man‑made” depression caused by years of mismanagement, corruption, weak governance, and an unsustainable economic model.
It is a notion that was echoed by Dr. Karim Bitar, lecturer in Middle East studies at Sciences Po Paris and professor at Saint Joseph University of Beirut, who says there is a growing frustration at Hezbollah’s inability to deliver tangible results for the Lebanese people.
“I think there are those that say it’s high time that Hezbollah engages in some self-criticism,” Bitar told Arab news.
“Because it went to war with Israel, without having fought corruption in Lebanon, without having built a resilient, strong, productive economy, without being able to protect people in south Lebanon and provide them places to hide from the bombings.”
Moreover, Bitar said there were growing questions of the group’s commitment to Lebanon and its security due to its assertive role in conflicts across the region and its involvement in political assassinations and corruption at home.
“The fact that Hezbollah was penetrated by Israeli intelligence adds to the grievances against the group, even from those who were initially quite supportive,” he said.
“They did not understand why Hezbollah felt compelled to go fight in Syria alongside the regime of Bashar Assad. Why so many political assassinations took place in Lebanon. Why Hezbollah used its weapons against other Lebanese.”
Bitar said the group, which initially had near-unanimous support for its fight to end Israel’s occupation of southern Lebanon, had over the years fallen victim to hubris, which had led to its downfall.
However, he acknowledged the important role that the group played in elevating Shiite communities, which had historically been disenfranchised.
Over the years, the group has played a significant social and civic role in Lebanon, particularly in underserved communities where state services are weak or absent.
Through its network of charities and social institutions, it runs hospitals, clinics, schools, and food assistance programs that provide healthcare, education, and basic support to thousands of families.
“The south and the Bekaa were impoverished and forgotten by central authorities, with the only exception of the Fuad Chehab presidency in the 1960s, who was the first and only president who tried to integrate these regions and offer some sort of support,” Bitar said.
“There was a very significant speech by (former Hezbollah leader) Hassan Nasrallah right after the 2006 war. He said, ‘We will never go back to the time when we were the shoe shiners,’ meaning Christian elites and Sunni elites would look down on Lebanese Shiites.”
Hezbollah has traditionally justified its need for weapons as part of a necessary “axis of resistance” to Israel, which defends Lebanon and supports the Palestinian cause.
However, many Lebanese are now critical of armed support for the Palestinian cause, with 10 percent of respondents telling Gallup they think their country should support Palestine through direct conflict with Israel, while 86 percent said it should not.
Bitar said this was due in part to the lack of results from the latest Israel-Hezbollah war, the destruction and displacement it wrought upon Lebanon, and to the increased internationalization of the Palestinian conflict. Many want to see their own country put first.
“Lebanon paid a very heavy price over the past decades,” Bitar said.
“Lebanon was a buffer state in international geopolitics, the country where all regional powers and international powers would settle their scores, and they realized that not only did it destroy Lebanon, but it did not in any significant way improve the lot of Palestinians.
“The battle (for Palestinians) also takes place on US campuses in Manhattan, at universities in Europe to win public opinion, but also by consolidating a Lebanese economy that would really build a state that would be capable of defending itself.”
Nevertheless, there are still many who see armed conflict with Israel as the only solution.
In recent days, Saudi, French, and American officials held talks with the Lebanese army in Paris aimed at advancing mechanisms that would allow for the disarmament of Hezbollah. It is a controversial move that is likely to spark political backlash regardless of public support.
Bitar said the Lebanese government must ensure it is able to sell the message of inclusivity and a country for all if the plan is to succeed. “There is a very thin line that should not be crossed,” he said.
“Shiites should have the impression that they will remain essential stakeholders in Lebanese politics and that if they give up their heavy arsenal, this would not mean that they will be relegated again and become second-class citizens like they were in the past.”
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2627161/middle-east
-------
Italy wants military to stay in Lebanon after peacekeepers leave
December 22, 2025
ROME: Italy said Monday it intends to keep a military presence in Lebanon even after the UN peacekeeping force it belongs to leaves as planned from December 31, 2026.
“Even after (the peacekeeping force) UNIFIL, Italy will continue to do its part, supporting with conviction the international presence and supporting the capacity development of the Lebanese armed forces,” Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said during a visit to Lebanon, according to a statement.
Asked by AFP if this meant Italy wanted to maintain a military presence in the country, a ministry spokesman confirmed that this was the case.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has acted as a buffer between Israel and Lebanon since 1978, remaining after Israel ended an occupation of southern Lebanon in 2000.
Lebanon had wanted UNIFIL to stay.
But the UN Security Council voted in August to allow only one final extension for UNIFIL after pressure from Israel and its US ally to end the mandate.
UNIFIL is currently led by Italian Major General Diodato Abagnara and numbers 9,923 troops from 49 countries, according to the force’s website.
Italy is the second biggest contributing country with 1,099 soldiers deployed after Indonesia which has 1,232 soldiers.
Israel has hailed the termination of UNIFIL and urged the Beirut government to exert its authority after an Israeli military campaign which devastated Iranian-backed militia Hezbollah.
Under a truce between Israel and Hezbollah, the long-fledgling Lebanese national army has been deploying in southern Lebanon and dismantling Hezbollah’s infrastructure.
“Support is needed to strengthen the Lebanese armed forces, so that they are in the best possible position to defend the country, ensuring security and respect for its borders,” Crosetto said in Monday’s statement.
“We will guarantee our presence in multilateral and bilateral contexts,” he said.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2627153/middle-east
------
Turkiye expects second phase of Gaza ceasefire to start early 2026
December 22, 2025
ANKARA: Turkiye expects the second phase of a Gaza ceasefire deal to begin early in 2026, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Monday, following talks with US, Qatari and Egyptian officials in Miami over the weekend.
Speaking at a press conference in Damascus, Fidan said the discussions focused on obstacles to advancing the deal to its next phase, adding that the priority was for Gaza’s governance to be taken over by a Palestinian-led group.
Representatives from the United States, Egypt, Qatar and Turkiye met on Friday in Miami to review the next steps on the Gaza ceasefire plan, according to a joint statement issued on Saturday by US envoy Steve Witkoff.
A ceasefire took effect on Oct. 10 after a two-year Israeli offensive on Gaza, but the truce has been under intense pressure.
Israel has killed more than 400 people in the territory since it took effect and Hamas has also been accused of violating the agreement.
Along with a cessation of hostilities, the first phase of the truce deal included a ramping-up of much-needed aid supplies, and the return of Israeli hostages, including the deceased, and Palestinian prisoners.
The second phase is meant to see Israeli troops withdraw further, the establishing of an interim authority to govern the territory, the deployment of an international security force, and the disarming of Hamas.
The statement on Saturday from the mediating countries said the first phase of the agreement has led to progress in distributing humanitarian supplies, the return of hostages, partial force withdrawals, and a reduction in hostilities.
The talks on the second phase focussed on the new governing body in Gaza “to protect civilians and maintain public order,“ trade with neighboring countries, and infrastructure development.
The war, which started after a Hamas attack on southern Israel, led to an Israeli military campaign that killed more than 60,000 Palestinians and sparked a vast humanitarian crisis.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2627150/middle-east
-------
Palestinian president affirms readiness to work on Trump’s peace plan
December 22, 2025
LONDON: President Mahmoud Abbas affirmed on Monday that the Palestinian Authority was ready to work with US President Donald Trump to achieve a comprehensive and just peace in line with international resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.
Abbas emphasized the urgent need to implement Trump’s plan and UN Security Council Resolution 2803 by enforcing the Gaza ceasefire, facilitating humanitarian aid, preventing displacement, ensuring the withdrawal of Israeli forces, and enabling the Palestinian government to take on its responsibilities while accelerating reconstruction efforts.
The president highlighted the need to pressure the Israeli government to stop actions that undermine Palestinian institutions, violate Christian and Islamic holy sites, and threaten the two-state solution through settlement expansion, while also underscoring the importance of releasing withheld Palestinian tax revenues.
He made the remarks during a joint press conference with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Ramallah on Monday.
He emphasized the vital role that Greece, with EU support, can have in promoting peace and stability in the region and beyond, according to Wafa news agency.
Kyriakos emphasized that Trump’s 20-point peace plan offers a reliable and practical framework for addressing urgent needs on the ground. He reaffirmed Greece’s strong support for the two-state solution.
Greece has not yet recognized Palestinian statehood. Kyriakos mentioned in September that his country would do so “at the right time.”
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2627148/middle-east
----
Netanyahu vows independence of commission of inquiry into Oct 7
December 22, 2025
JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed a government decision Monday to establish a commission of inquiry into the October 7 attack, assuring the public that it would not be subject to political influence.
“Today the Ministerial Committee for Legislation approved the bill to establish a special state commission of inquiry,” Netanyahu said in a video statement.
“This will be a balanced committee to investigate the events of October 7 and the circumstances that led to them.”
“Contrary to what has been claimed, politicians will not serve on the commission. The composition of the commission will be determined on an equal basis: half by the coalition and half by the opposition,” he said.
The opposition and much of the Israeli public have called for an independent inquiry into the events leading up to and including the 2023 Hamas attack, which resulted in the deaths of 1,221 people, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.
Polls show more than 70 percent of Israelis want a state commission of inquiry independent of the government, like those set up in the past to investigate major state-level failings.
The one established after the October 1973 Arab-Israeli war led to the resignation of then prime minister Golda Meir in June 1974.
The decision to create a state commission rests with the government, but its members must be appointed by the president of the supreme court.
But Netanyahu’s ruling coalition, one of the most right-wing governments in the country’s history, has accused the court of political bias.
The premier nonetheless vowed that “the commission will be made up of experts in security, academia, and law, as well as bereaved parents who will serve as observers.”
A commission appointed only by the government or only by the president of the supreme court “would enjoy the confidence of only part of the public,” he said.
The premier acknowledged that the mandate of the commission and the scope of the probe would be set by the government, noting that “this is not unusual” and that he would agree to being investigated.
Netanyahu has never admitted responsibility for any of the decisions that led to the October 7 attack, despite repeated calls from the opposition to do so.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid slammed the move, noting that it would allow the government to have “control over the hearings, the summoned witnesses, and the agenda.”
“This is not an inquiry committee, this is a death certificate for the truth,” Lapid said during a meeting at the Knesset, Israel’s parliament.
The establishment of the commission will only be finalized after a vote in parliament.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2627166/middle-east
-------
Jordanian field hospital in southern Gaza carries out complex procedure on Palestinian patient
December 22, 2025
LONDON: The Jordanian field hospital in southern Gaza performed a complex surgical procedure this week on a 21-year-old Palestinian patient suffering from an enlarged spleen caused by thalassemia.
The hospital commander said that the operation was carried out by specialized medical, anesthesia, and operating-room teams, which provide advanced care to the people of Gaza amid challenging conditions.
A general surgeon said that the patient needed urgent surgery due to dependence on weekly blood transfusions which had led to iron overload and heart complications. A successful splenectomy was performed after necessary preparations, according to the Jordan News Agency.
Jordan runs two field hospitals in Gaza: one in the north, established in 2009, and another in Khan Younis in the south, which was created in November 2023.
The hospital in southern Gaza includes specialized clinics that cover various medical fields. These include general surgery, internal medicine, orthopedic surgery, anesthesia and intensive care, dermatology, vascular surgery, neurosurgery, pediatric and neonatal surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, plastic and burn surgery, and maxillofacial surgery. Additionally, a mobile prosthetics support unit is available.
Jordan’s humanitarian initiatives in Gaza also include programs such as the land bridge for aid deliveries, the mobile bakery, and the evacuation of critical cases to Jordanian hospitals.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2627155/middle-east
-------
Germany charges ex-Syrian agent with dozens of murders
December 22, 2025
German prosecutors have charged a suspected former member of Syrian intelligence with crimes against humanity and the torture and murder of dozens of prisoners held in a Damascus prison under Bashar Assad, a statement said on Monday.
The accused, who was arrested in May and identified only as Fahad A. under German privacy rules, was suspected of working as a guard in a prison in the Syrian capital between the end of April 2011 and mid-April 2012, it said.
“There, he participated in well over 100 interrogations during which prisoners were subjected to severe physical abuse, such as electric shocks or beatings with cables,” it said.
“On the orders of his superiors, the accused also abused inmates at night, for example by hanging them from the ceiling, dousing them with cold water, or forcing them to remain in uncomfortable positions. As a result of such mistreatment and the catastrophic prison conditions, at least 70 prisoners died.”
German prosecutors have used universal jurisdiction laws that allow them to seek trials for suspects in crimes against humanity committed anywhere in the world.
Based on these laws, several people suspected of war crimes during the Syrian conflict have been arrested in the last few years in Germany, which is home to around one million Syrians.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2627142/middle-east
------
Israeli strike on vehicle near Sidon in Lebanon kills 3
December 22, 2025
BEIRUT: Lebanese state media reported three people killed in an air strike near Sidon that Israel said had targeted Hezbollah operatives on Monday, days ahead of a deadline for Lebanon’s army to disarm the group near the border.
Israel has kept up regular strikes on Lebanon, usually saying it is targeting Hezbollah, despite a November 2024 ceasefire that sought to end more than a year of hostilities with the Iran-backed militant group, which it accuses of rearming.
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said Monday’s strike on a vehicle was carried out by an Israeli drone around 10 kilometers from the southern coastal city of Sidon and “killed three people who were inside.”
An Israeli military statement said the army “struck several Hezbollah terrorists in the area of Sidon.”
Under heavy US pressure and amid fears of expanded Israeli strikes, Lebanon has committed to disarming Hezbollah, starting with the south.
The Lebanese army plans to carry out the task south of the Litani River — about 30 kilometers from the border with Israel — by year’s end.
The latest strike came after Lebanese and Israeli civilian representatives on Friday took part in a meeting of the ceasefire monitoring committee for a second time, after holding their first direct talks in decades earlier this month, also under the committee’s auspices.
In a meeting Monday with Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said the goal of the negotiations was to “stop the hostilities, achieve Israel’s withdrawal, return prisoners held in Israel, and return southern residents to their villages.”
“Lebanon awaits positive steps from the Israeli side,” Aoun added, according to a statement from his office.
More than 340 people have been killed by Israeli fire in Lebanon since the ceasefire, according to an AFP tally of Lebanese health ministry reports.
On Sunday, Israeli strikes in south Lebanon near the border killed one person and wounded another, as Israel also said it targeted Hezbollah members.
Israel’s military has also kept troops in five south Lebanon areas that it deems strategic.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2627141/middle-east
-------
Europe
Peterborough mosque attacker receives a suspended jail sentence
By Gemma Gadd
22 Dec 2025
A man who entered a Peterborough mosque in an incident of “religiously and racially aggravated harassment” before assaulting a police officer has received a suspended sentence.
Alexander Hooper, 57, of Millfield Court, Dogsthorpe, was sentenced on Friday (19 December) at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court.
A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Police said Hooper was found guilty of racially aggravated harassment, religiously aggravated harassment, and assault on an emergency worker.
They went on: “He was handed 27 weeks suspended for 18 months, a compensation order to pay a police officer £100, and a two-year Criminal Behaviour Order with a condition not to enter any mosque in the Peterborough Unitary Area.”
Police said he was also ordered to pay £187 in court costs, and £85 prosecution costs.
The sentencing follows the arrest made at the mosque in Alma Road on 24 October.
On October 25, Superintendent Ben Martin commented: "We recognise the impact this incident has had on the community and the importance of getting the suspect in front of the courts as swiftly as possible.
"We will continue to have an increased police presence near mosques in the city in the coming days as reassurance."
Source: peterboroughtoday.co.uk
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/courts/peterborough-mosque-attacker-receives-a-suspended-jail-sentence-5452540
-------
Trump says US 'has to have' Greenland after naming special envoy
23 Dec, 2025
James Landale
Donald Trump has sparked a fresh row with Denmark after appointing a special envoy to Greenland, the vast Arctic island he has said he would like to annex.
In response to a question from the BBC about the new role of Jeff Landry, the Republican governor of Louisiana, Trump said the US needed Greenland for "national protection" and that "we have to have it".
Landry, he said, would "lead the charge" as special envoy to Greenland, a semi-autonomous part of the Kingdom of Denmark.
The move has angered Copenhagen, which said it would call the US ambassador for "an explanation". Greenland's prime minister said the island must "decide our own future" and its "territorial integrity must be respected".
Gov Landry said in a post on X that it was an honour to serve in a "volunteer position to make Greenland a part of the US".
Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has revived his long-standing interest in Greenland, citing its strategic location and mineral wealth.
He has refused to rule out using force to secure control of the island, a stance that has shocked Denmark, a Nato ally that has traditionally enjoyed close relations with Washington.
"We'll have to work that out," Trump added. "We need Greenland for national security, not minerals."
Trump specifically mentioned Chinese and Russian ships as potential threats in the nearby seas.
Greenland, home to about 57,000 people, has had extensive self-government since 1979, though defence and foreign policy remain in Danish hands. While most Greenlanders favour eventual independence from Denmark, opinion polls show overwhelming opposition to becoming part of the US.
Denmark's Foreign Minister, Lars Lokke Rasmussen, described the appointment of Landry as "deeply upsetting" and warned Washington to respect Danish sovereignty.
He told Danish broadcaster TV2: "As long as we have a kingdom consisting of Denmark, the Faroe Islands and Greenland, we cannot accept actions that undermine our territorial integrity."
Greenland's Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, said the territory was willing to cooperate with the US and other countries, but only on the basis of mutual respect.
He said: "The appointment of a special envoy does not change anything for us. We decide our own future. Greenland belongs to Greenlanders, and territorial integrity must be respected."
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a post on X that the EU stands in "full solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland".
Writing on social media earlier, the US president said Landry understood how "essential Greenland is to our national security" and would advance US interests.
The significance of this appointment is both the US presumption that Greenland is separate to Denmark and the new appointee's assertion that he will help the island become part of the US.
Envoys are informal appointments and unlike official diplomats, do not have to be approved by the host country.
What this appointment shows is that Trump's ambition to control Greenland remains undimmed.
As with his military and rhetorical aggression towards Venezuela, it indicates Trump is determined to gain greater control over what his recent National Security Strategy called "the Western hemisphere", a sphere of influence that he hopes will cover the whole of the Americas.
Trump tried to buy Greenland during his first presidential term. Both Denmark and the Greenlandic government rejected the 2019 proposal, saying: "Greenland is not for sale."
Landry has previously voiced his opinion on Greenland, writing on his personal X account in January: "President Donald J. Trump is absolutely right! We need to ensure that Greenland joins the United States. GREAT for them, GREAT for us! Let's get it done!"
Landry is a military veteran and former police officer who was a US Congressman and Louisiana's attorney general before being elected governor in 2023. He said his new role would not affect his duties as governor.
The dispute over his appointment comes as strategic competition in the Arctic grows, with melting ice opening new shipping routes and increasing access to valuable mineral resources.
Greenland is located in the Arctic between North America and Europe, which also makes it central to US and Nato security planning.
The US has maintained a base in Greenland since World War Two, after invading to establish military and radio stations across the territory after the Nazis occupied Denmark during the conflict.
Vice-President JD Vance visited the base in March as he asked Greenland's people to "cut a deal with the US".
The US reopened a consulate in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, in 2020 - during Trump's first term - after closing it in 1953. A number of European countries, as well as Canada, have honorary general consulates in Greenland.
Source: bbc.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgmd132ge4o
------
Russian general killed by car bomb in Moscow, officials say
23 Dec, 2025
Alex Boyd
A Russian general has been killed in a car bombing in Moscow, officials have said.
Russia's Investigative Committee said Lt Gen Fanil Sarvarov died on Monday morning after an explosive device planted under a car detonated.
He is the third military official to have been killed in bomb attacks in the Russian capital over the last year.
Sarvarov, 56, was the head of the armed forces' operational training department, the committee said.
It added one theory being investigated was that the bomb was planted with the involvement of Ukrainian intelligence services. Ukraine has not commented.
Sarvarov died in hospital as a result of his injuries, the committee said, adding it had opened an investigation into murder and illegal trafficking of explosives.
Investigators have been sent to the scene, in a car park near an apartment block in the south of Moscow.
Images from the area show a badly damaged white Kia Sorento with the doors blown out, surrounded by other vehicles.
According to Russian media, Sarvarov previously took part in combat operations during the Ossetian-Ingush conflict and the Chechen wars in the 1990s and early 2000s, and also led operations in Syria between 2015-2016.
Vladimir Putin was informed of Sarvarov's death immediately, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, a number of military officials and high-profile individuals have been targeted in the Russian capital.
Darya Dugina, the 29-year-old daughter of a prominent nationalist figure and Putin close ally, was killed in a suspected car bombing in 2022.
Gen Yaroslav Moskalik was killed in a car bomb attack last April, while Gen Igor Kirillov died in December 2024 when a device hidden in a scooter was detonated remotely.
A Ukrainian source later told the BBC that Kirillov was killed by Ukraine's security service, though this was never confirmed on the record. As a matter of policy, Ukraine never officially admits or claims responsibility for targeted attacks.
Source: bbc.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8jwn9wznx1o
-------
Keighley Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association's day of giving
22ND DECEMBER
By Alistair Shand
MEMBERS of Keighley's Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association staged a day of community giving.
They visited Herncliffe Care Home in Keighley to distribute gifts to residents.
And then the group headed to the children's ward at Airedale Hospital, to present toys donated by the Ahmadiyya community for young patients who will be spending Christmas there.
Imam and youth leader, Humza Sikander, says: "Taking part in such visits helps young people develop a sense of compassion, selflessness and responsibility towards others.
"In Islam, serving humanity and fulfilling the rights of people is a fundamental part of faith, alongside worship. By giving their time to care for the elderly and bring comfort to children, these youngsters learn the true religious values expressed through actions of kindness and service."
Source: keighleynews.co.uk
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.keighleynews.co.uk/news/25718422.keighley-ahmadiyya-muslim-youth-associations-day-giving/
-------
‘Rats fleeing sinking Ukrainian ship’ – Russian intel
22 Dec, 2025
Ukrainian government “functionaries” have started moving their families and financial assets abroad in anticipation of the imminent collapse of Vladimir Zelensky’s regime, Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) has reported.
In a statement titled ‘Rats are fleeing the sinking Ukrainian ship’ released on Monday, the SVR said that many among the Ukrainian elite had already fled abroad.
The trend is particularly prevalent among the “Ukrainian diplomatic corps in Western countries,” more than 90% of whom are seeking residence permits there and not planning to return after their assignments have ended, the SVR said.
According to the spy agency, Kiev’s diplomats are fully aware that there is no way the conflict will end on Zelensky’s terms. Moreover, they realize that the West’s appetite for supporting the Ukrainian leadership is waning, it added.
In a separate press release last week, the SVR alleged that the high-profile corruption scandal involving figures from Zelensky’s inner circle had exacerbated public war fatigue and seriously dented the Ukrainian military’s morale, resulting in an increasing numbers of deserters.
Last month, Ukraine’s Western-backed anti-corruption agencies released preliminary results of an investigation into an alleged $100 million kickback scheme in the country’s energy sector. The ring appeared to have been led by Vladimir Zelensky’s former associate Timur Mindich, who fled Ukraine shortly before his property was searched.
The revelations triggered the resignation of several high-ranking Ukrainian officials, including Zelensky’s powerful chief of staff, Andrey Yermak.
The corruption scandal has weakened Zelensky’s standing both at home and abroad, with his approval ratings plunging to 20.3%, according to a recent survey by the pollster Info Sapiens.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly stated that Ukraine is losing the conflict with Russia.
The Russian Defense Ministry estimated in a report last week that Ukraine had lost almost 500,000 servicemen this year alone.
Source: rt.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.rt.com/russia/629891-svr-ukrainian-officials-preparing-flee-abroad/
------
The EU is happy to mug its own taxpayers after failing to rob Russia
By Rachel Marsden,
22 Dec, 2025
Hold up, Eurobozos! And I mean that as a verb – as in to stop and freeze – not as the noun synonymous with the kind of literal bank robbery that they’ve been planning.
Apparently, that needs to be clarified, lest they feel encouraged in continuing to weaponize the wide discretion afforded by their executive function, even as they express explicit deep doubts about their own people backing their actions.
Such was the case on December 18 and 19 when heads of state of European Union countries met about how they were going to magically pull another massive wad of cash that they don’t currently have for Ukraine from the rear compartments of their clown suits.
French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni pointed out the obvious at their EU conclave, according to the Financial Times. Specifically, that convincing their own voters to send even more money to Ukraine might be tough. It probably doesn’t help that repayment odds look roughly the same as getting spare change back from a guy in a hoodie literally treating the entire world like one big panhandling corner.
Then the European Central Bank chimed in, basically saying, “don’t look at us,” and made it clear they won’t be underwriting whatever scheme the EU ultimately came up with, Politico reported. “Monetary financing is not allowed under the treaty,” said ECB chief Christine Lagarde. “You cannot expect me to validate, ex ante, a mechanism under which there would be monetary financing. This is pretty obvious.”
It’s not actually obvious to the Eurojokers, since they probably can’t see too well through their black ski masks.
After 15 hours of arguing in a parked clown car, they ultimately decided that stealing Russian assets sitting in their own banks might cause them a legal headache – maybe because Russia had already kicked off legal action. So they decided instead to stick with one of their old go-to classics: robbing their own taxpayers. Every time they stick it to Putin, it’s Europeans who always seem to get the shaft.
“Today we approved a decision to provide €90 billion to Ukraine for the next two years. As a matter of urgency, we will provide a loan backed by the European Union budget,” said Antonio Costa, president of the European Council comprising the 27 member states.
Their big breakthrough was agreeing to hand Ukraine another €90 billion over two years by tapping what they’re calling “EU budget headroom,” according to their press statement. So the plan now is to go deeper into debt by borrowing more money on capital markets. Their budget has about as much “headroom” as a 6-and-a-half-foot guy trying to fold himself into a Fiat.
These schemes always start with grand talk about making Russia pay, but then tend to end with EU taxpayers picking up the tab while being told that it’s a big win. But now comes the hard part: selling this self-owning move to the EU public.
To kick off this marketing push, inside the clown tent there’s already victory confetti everywhere, even though they really just sound like college kids trying to convince their parents – or the taxpayer, in this case – that blowing their cash on an unlimited Spring Break-style bender in Kiev is actually a really great investment when the Americans are focused on getting to peace as quickly as possible so they can start making money.
Remember their big plan from the past several weeks? The one where they were going to just take Russia’s money and use that? Funny how that vanished. No one has been running around saying, “What a historic triumph it would be to get ourselves another €90 billion deeper into debt.” No, their dream was finding a way to keep funding the military-industrial machine by forcing Russia to foot the bill. They weren’t interested in even just skimming interest off frozen assets anymore, but instead dragging the whole Russian cash cow into the kitchen and carving it up to impress their girlfriend, Zelensky.
That dream hit a wall when Belgium, home to Euroclear – the custodian of those assets – decided that it didn’t feel like volunteering to star in a future court case that risked etching it into the history books in the chapter on “world’s stupidest financial criminals.”
Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic have also just said that they’re opting out entirely of the opportunity to carve deeper into their own national debt for all this – which risks making it awkward for EU leaders who didn’t sit it out when the voters of all these countries start comparing notes.
And just to put it all in perspective, the International Monetary Fund says that Ukraine needs at least €135 billion over those same two years, so the EU is still short. And judging by this plan, they’re officially running out of couches to flip over looking for spare change.
But for now, they’re calling it a win. Yet another carefully choreographed celebration of failure, financed by the same taxpayers who never get invited to the party. They’re just expected to show up after the rager to pay for the cleanup.
Source: rt.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.rt.com/news/629894-eu-rob-taxpayers-steal-russian/
------
Orban warns against cash for Ukrainian oligarchs’ ‘gold toilets’
22 Dec, 2025
Hungary would be better served spending its money domestically than financing golden toilets for Ukrainian oligarchs, Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said.
Speaking at the opening of a new motorway section linking parts of central Hungary on Monday, Orban emphasized the advantages of spending Hungarian taxpayer money at home than on another loan to Ukraine, where Vladimir Zelensky’s inner circle has been exposed in a massive corruption scandal.
“I have just returned from Brussels … where the clever gentlemen have decided to give Ukraine €90 billion ($106 billion) in loans – clearly hoping to get it back later with hefty interest,” Orban stated. Had Hungary not opted out, Hungarian taxpayers would have faced a bill of over €1 billion, twice the price of the motorway section he was opening.
“The truth is, that money is better spent here … for a modern road, rather than … some Ukrainian oligarch for his gold toilet,” he said.
Images of a gold toilet belonging to Timur Mindich, a shady figure known as “Zelensky’s wallet,” have become synonymous with the recently uncovered $100 million graft scheme run by the Ukrainian leader’s inner circle. Mindich managed to flee the country hours before anti-corruption agents reached his apartment, where the shining throne was discovered.
Orban has repeatedly criticized EU financing of Ukraine, and accused the bloc’s leadership of ignoring corruption in the country.
Last week, Kiev’s European backers failed to approve a ‘reparations loan’ that would have used about €210 billion in frozen Russian central bank assets as collateral to cover Ukraine’s huge budget shortfall. Instead, they chose to fund Kiev through common debt, planning to raise €90 billion over the next two years, backed by the EU budget. Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic secured exemptions from the scheme.
Critics have warned that many EU countries already carry high debt and large budget deficits, and that further common borrowing would deepen fiscal strain and shift risks onto taxpayers.
According to senior bloc officials cited by Politico, EU taxpayers will have to pay €3 billion a year in borrowing costs to finance Kiev’s collapsing economy and military under the loan scheme.
Source: rt.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.rt.com/news/629877-hungary-money-ukrainian-oligarchs/
------
Russia escalates attacks on key Ukrainian region of Odesa
23 Dec, 2025
Laura Gozzi
Russia has intensified its strikes on the southern Ukrainian region of Odesa, causing widespread power cuts and threatening the region's maritime infrastructure.
Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba said Moscow was carrying out "systematic" attacks on the region. Last week, he warned that the focus of the war "may have shifted towards Odesa".
President Volodymyr Zelensky said the repeated attacks were an attempt by Moscow to block Ukraine's access to maritime logistics.
Earlier in December, Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened to sever Ukraine's access to the sea as retaliation for drone attacks on tankers of Russia's "shadow fleet" in the Black Sea.
"Shadow fleet" is a term that refers to hundreds of tankers used by Russia to bypass Western sanctions imposed after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
On Monday evening, strikes hit port infrastructure in Odesa, damaging a civilian vessel, the regional governor said.
It was the latest in a series of hundreds of strikes which have disrupted power supplies in the region for days on end and caused several casualties.
On Sunday night, strikes cut off electricity for 120,000 people and sparked a fire at a major port which destroyed dozens of containers of flour and vegetable oil.
Last week, a ballistic missile strike on the Pivdenniy port east of Odesa killed eight people and injured at least 30.
Another attack earlier in the week killed a woman who was travelling in a car with her three children and temporarily cut off the Odesa region's only bridge linking Ukraine and Moldova.
Zelensky indicated a new commander of the air force for the region would be selected soon following the dismissal of Dmytro Karpenko over the weekend.
Odesa's port has always been key for the country's economy. The city is Ukraine's third largest after Kyiv and Kharkiv. It now occupies strategic importance as other ports in the Zaporizhzhia, Kherson and Mykolayiv regions are inaccessible to Ukraine due to Russian occupation.
Despite the war, Ukraine remains one of the world's top exporters of wheat and corn.
Since August 2023, Odesa has been the starting point of a crucial corridor that allows it to export grain out of the country, following the coastlines of Romania and Bulgaria before reaching Turkey.
Zelensky, who has previously accused Russia of "sowing chaos" on the people of Odesa, said that "everyone must see that without pressure on Russia, they have no intention of genuinely ending their aggression".
His comments came as the latest round of US-led diplomatic efforts wrapped up in Miami. The US separately met the Ukrainian and Russian delegations, with the meetings yielding optimistic statements but no clear progress to bring the end of Moscow's nearly four-year war on Ukraine any closer.
US President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff said he and his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov had worked on "aligning positions" on a 20-point draft peace plan put forward by Ukraine earlier this month. The plan is an alternative to a proposal presented by the US in November, which was seen as favourable to Moscow.
Before Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev even returned to Moscow from Florida, Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters that the European and Ukrainian changes to the peace proposal would not improve the chances of peace being achieved.
On Monday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov accused EU countries of having a "firm aspiration" to derail potential Russia-US agreements on Ukraine and to "in general prevent Russia-American relations getting healthier".
He also said European countries were "possessed by a maniacal" fear of a Russian attack. Russia was ready to confirm in a legal agreement that it had no intention of attacking either the EU or Nato, Ryabkov added, echoing previous comments from Putin.
"We've never planned to [attack Europe], but if they want to hear it from us, well, let's do it, we'll put it in writing," Putin said in November.
Russia also launched an early morning air attack on the capital Kyiv on Tuesday.
"Air defence forces are working to eliminate the threat in the sky over the capital," the Kyiv military administration said. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage from authorities.
Source: bbc.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdxe8yqlvgzo
------
North America
CAIR-WA Praises Decision to Release Muslim Community Member from ICE Detention
December 22, 2025
The Washington state chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-WA), a chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today praised U.S. District Court Judge David G Estudillo for releasing prominent Muslim community member and veteran Muhammad Zahid Chaudhry from immigration detention.
Muhammad Zahid Chaudhry was taken into ICE detention on August 21, 2025, at a citizenship interview at the USCIS office in Tukwila, Washington. He has been held at the Northwest ICE Processing Center since then, separated from his wife and two young children. During a habeas hearing today, December 22, Judge Estudillo said he’s ordering Mr. Chaudhry freed from ICE detention in Tacoma, to be released the same day.
Imraan Siddiqi, Executive Director at CAIR-WA, said in a statement:
“In a time of grave injustice, today’s news provided much needed hope to our community. We applaud the court’s decision, and hope that this is only the first step in ensuring Zahid is freed permanently.”
Melissa Chaudhry, Mr. Chaudhrys wife, said, in a statement:
“The US Attorney herself apologized directly to the Court and to my husband, for wrongly detaining him. This was a clear instance of standing up to a bully, and we won. Zahid will be released today. This should never have happened, and they admitted it. My family will be whole again. My children will have their Baba home. And our communities will be richer and stronger by his presence – and more confident, and more courageous, because of this win. Today is proof that the rule of law still matters and that justice can prevail. When we fight, we win.”
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
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-wa-praises-decision-to-release-muslim-community-member-from-ice-detention/
------
CAIR-NY Designates CUNY as ‘Institution of Particular Concern’ for Mistreatment of Anti-Genocide Voices
December 22, 2025
The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY), a chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, joined CAIR National to designate the City University of New York (CUNY) system a ‘Hostile Campus’ for systematic repression of students and faculty advocating for Palestinian human rights.
Since October 2023, the CUNY administration has been targeting Palestinian, Arab, Muslim, Jewish, and other allied students who speak out against the genocide in Gaza, creating a hostile campus environment for free speech and academic freedom. By supporting the controversial International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, CUNY’s Chancellor reinforces a framework that CAIR warns chills protected political speech.
Censorship of pro-Palestinian speech across the CUNY campuses, particularly at Brooklyn College, the City College of New York (CCNY), Hunter College, and Queens College has been documented. This includes a Department of Education Office of Civil Rights Title VI investigation, a lawsuit filed by CUNY Law students, and the systematic cancellation of educational events featuring Palestine. On May 8, 2025, multiple Brooklyn College students who had participated in establishing the Hassan Ayad Liberation Zone were brutalized, hospitalized, and arrested by the NYPD. In July 2025, four faculty members who were publicly supportive of Palestine were dismissed from their positions by the administration, which gave no explanation for their terminations.
In a statement, CAIR-NY’s Executive Director Afaf Nasher, Esq. said:
“CUNY’s pattern of repression has crossed every conceivable line of institutional responsibility. What we are witnessing now is an escalation into outright retaliation, censorship, and the violent suppression of dissent.
“When Arab and Muslim students are brutalized for peaceful protest, when faculty are fired for advocating against genocide, and when entire campuses rewrite policies simply to silence one political viewpoint, it becomes undeniable: The CUNY system has created a hostile campus for anyone who dares to defend Palestinian life.
“Our students and educators deserve an environment where academic freedom is protected, not one where fear and intimidation are deployed as administrative tools. CAIR-NY stands with every member of the CUNY community demanding safety, dignity, and the basic right to speak the truth without being punished for it.”
CUNY has been added to CAIR’s list of designated ‘Hostile Campuses’ across the country for suppressing students who advocate against apartheid, genocide, and U.S.-backed military occupation. In the state of New York, Columbia University, New York University, and Cornell University are also included on this list. To read more about CAIR’s Unhostile Campus Campaign and how to take action, visit: https://islamophobia.org/reportcampus/
Source: cair.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-ny-designates-cuny-as-institution-of-particular-concern-for-mistreatment-of-anti-genocide-voices/
--------
CAIR Welcomes Dropping of Deportation Order for Chinese Man Who Documented Uyghur Concentration Camps
December 22, 2025
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed the dropping of a deportation order for Heng Guan, a Chinese citizen who documented the Chinese government’s Uyghur concentration camps.
Earlier this month, CAIR called for his release from ICE custody.
Guan, who fled China after gathering evidence of human-rights violations against the nation’s Uyghur population, is reportedly at risk of being returned to the country after being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
In a statement, Washington, D.C., based CAIR said:
“We welcome the decision to drop the deportation order against Mr. Guan and commend those who spoke out to protect him from being returned to China, where he could face severe retaliation for exposing human rights abuses against Uyghur Muslims. Whistleblowers and human rights documentarians should be protected, not punished. The United States must uphold human rights for all and protect individuals in our nation who exposed our survived genocide, whether in China or Sudan or Palestine.”
Source: cair.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-welcomes-dropping-of-deportation-order-for-chinese-man-who-documented-uyghur-concentration-camps/
------
‘Tariffs are a discipline, not a magic wand’: Top White House aide explains why duties are beneficial in the long run
Dec 22, 2025
‘Tariffs are a discipline, not a magic wand’: Top White House aide explains why duties are beneficial in the long run
Tariffs are not a tool for headlines but a strategic instrument to rebuild American industry, according to Peter Navarro, White House senior counsellor for trade and manufacturing and one of US President Trump's top advisor. In an op-ed piece in the Wall Street Journal, Navarro discussed the 2025 trade experience, saying both extremes of the debate have been misleading. “The economy didn’t collapse, but neither did a manufacturing renaissance appear on demand. These outcomes should surprise no one who understands how industrial capacity is built.”
Tariffs as a tool, not a quick fix
Navarro said that tariffs reshape bargaining leverage, influence investment decisions and affect supply-chain locations. “Their success can be measured only using the right metrics and the right timeline. Capital needs time to respond. But when supported by stable policymaking, tariffs can powerfully and positively address trade deficits.”
The White House aide said that critics often overlook a key constraint: “You can’t reshore what you no longer have the capacity to produce. After decades of offshoring tooling and the intermediate inputs, supplier networks and skilled trades that go along with it, no policy—tariffs included—can reverse all that damage in a few quarters.”
Tariffs are a discipline, not a press release.
They’re an instrument that reshapes bargaining leverage, investment math, and supply-chain location decisions.
The tariff debate remains distorted by two opposing misconceptions: that tariffs would instantly resurrect American…
Navarro explained that reindustrialization follows a step-by-step process, beginning with upstream materials and components, followed by subassemblies, and ending with full-scale assembly. He added that progress depends on permitting, labour availability, engineering complexity, and capital investment.
What about inflation?
Navarro claimed that tariffs do not automatically raise prices for American consumers. “In practice, tariffs don’t generate inflation so much as apply pressure in international markets. In most, foreign producers are export-dependent. They operate with excess capacity and compete aggressively for access to the U.S. consumer. Their growth models rely on volume, not pricing power.”
He also addressed the question of who bears the tariff burden and how it depends on bargaining power. “In real markets, the burden falls on whoever can’t afford to lose access to the U.S. consumer. For export-driven systems built around subsidised capacity, suppressed domestic consumption and aggressive pricing abroad, that means foreign producers.”
Trade deficits
Navarro said that long-term trade deficits have long-term consequences. “Decades of sustained deficits have coincided with industrial decline and rising dependence on foreign-controlled inputs. By any economic or national-security standard, that outcome isn’t benign.”
“Tariffs aren’t a magic wand. They are a discipline—an instrument that forces the true cost of dependency into corporate planning and counters predatory trade behaviour. Measured on the right timeline, tariffs are a tool for rebuilding capacity, not a headline to be graded on a news cycle,” Navarro concluded.
Source: indiatimes.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/tariffs-are-a-discipline-not-a-magic-wand-top-white-house-aide-explains-why-duties-are-beneficial-in-the-long-run/articleshow/126125082.cms
--------
CAIR-NJ Condemns Tulsi Gabbard’s ‘Delusional and Dangerous’ Attack on New Jersey Muslims
December 22, 2025
The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today strongly condemned Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard’s “delusional and dangerous” attacks on Islam and the American Muslim community, specifically including Muslims in Paterson, New Jersey.
In a speech at Turning Point USA AmericaFest on Dec. 20th, Gabbard falsely claimed that Muslims in Paterson are plotting to impose “sharia law” and “Islamic principles” on the city through the “use of laws or violence.” Gabbard also attacked the broader American Muslim community, conflating an entire faith community with terrorism and violence. CAIR-NJ called her rant targeting Islam and American Muslims “delusional” and “disqualifying.”
In a statement, CAIR-NJ Executive Director Selaedin Maksut said:
“We condemn Tulsi Gabbard’s remarks as dangerous and inflammatory lies. By falsely portraying Islam and Muslim communities as threats to American freedom, she engages in reckless fearmongering that endangers real people.
“Paterson is obviously not governed by ‘sharia law,’ and New Jersey Muslims are obviously not plotting to impose their faith on the people of Paterson. Everyone in America lives under the U.S. Constitution and their respective state law. Suggesting otherwise is not debate – it is incitement that fuels harassment and discrimination. Claiming that Sharia, which refers to the rules Muslims follow like halacha for Jews and canon law for Catholics, is something to be afraid of is also anti-Muslim.
“By conflating Islam, civic participation by Muslims, and terrorism, Gabbard promotes a narrative that has historically fueled harassment, surveillance, mosque vandalism, and violence against Muslim Americans. This rhetoric has real-world consequences, and New Jersey communities have felt them firsthand.
“But what is the Sharia? Claiming that ‘Sharia law’ is something to be feared is itself ignorant and hateful. In reality, Sharia is a moral and ethical guide for personal faith and daily life for Muslims, not a political tool being imposed in Paterson or anywhere in the U.S. Framing it as a threat is classic Islamophobic fearmongering.
“We are calling on local, state, and federal officials to reject this divisive and dangerous rhetoric. Defending freedom means defending it for everyone, not scapegoating Muslim communities for political gain. We will continue to stand against anti-Muslim hate and in defense of civil rights and human dignity.
“But why is Gabbard fabricating these lies? It’s a distraction. One of the deepest frustrations shared by Americans across the political spectrum is the outsized influence of the pro-Israel lobby over US elected officials – an influence that often places Israel’s interests ahead of America’s stated values, public opinion, civil rights, and long-term security. This reality is increasingly visible, and public anger over it is growing.
“Tulsi Gabbard’s rhetoric is a deliberate distraction from that reckoning. Rather than address why bipartisan leaders continue to provide unconditional support, funding, and political cover for Israel despite mounting costs, she fabricates an internal bogeyman by vilifying Muslim Americans. This reframes legitimate criticism of U.S. policy as a civilizational threat, shifting scrutiny away from the entrenched political power of the pro-Israel lobby.
“Muslims are not undermining the West; they are exercising constitutionally protected rights. In reality, Muslim Americans are among the most vocal advocates for an ‘America First’ foreign policy – one rooted in international law, human rights, and accountability. Muslims are not undermining the country; they are challenging a political status quo that many Americans now see as corrupt, unresponsive, and harmful.
“By turning Muslims into a scapegoat, Gabbard attempts to fracture a growing, cross-community movement demanding that U.S. leaders serve American interests – not the genocidal state of Israel. Fearmongering is easier than defending the status quo that more Americans are questioning every day. The desperation is becoming increasingly clear.”
[NOTE: Last month, CAIR’s national office distributed a formal congressional briefing memo “Weaponized Islamophobia: The Return of the Anti-Sharia Hoax,” to every member of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, along with a companion educational document titled “Sharia in American Life.”]
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
Source: cair.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-nj-condemns-tulsi-gabbards-delusional-and-dangerous-attack-on-new-jersey-muslims/
------
BREAKING: CAIR Condemns Tulsi Gabbard’s Rant Against American Muslims and Islam as ‘Delusional and Disqualifying’
December 22, 2025
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard’s rant against American Muslims and Islam during a Turning Point USA conference over the weekend as “delusional” and “disqualifying.” In response to Gabbard’s claim that Muslims in Paterson, New Jersey and other cities are plotting to impose “sharia law,” among other unhinged remarks, CAIR said that Gabbard should retract and apologize for her statements or resign.
During a speech at TPUSA AmericaFest, Gabbard claimed that American Muslims are working to impose “sharia law” and “Islamic principles” across America through the “use of laws or violence,” specifically including the cities of Paterson, New Jersey, and Houston, Texas. Gabbard claimed that clerics in Dearborn and Minneapolis are trying to “trying to recruit and radicalize young people.” Gabbard repeatedly attacked “Islamist ideology” as a thinly veiled stand-in for Islam and went further, outright condemning “Islamic principles.” Gabbard also falsely claimed that a conference representing CAIR had earlier this year called for the implementation of sharia law in America. No such conference ever occurred, and no such remarks have ever been made by CAIR.
Last month, CAIR’s national office distributed a formal congressional briefing memo “Weaponized Islamophobia: The Return of the Anti-Sharia Hoax,” to every member of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, along with a companion educational document titled “Sharia in American Life.”
In a statement, Washington, D.C., based CAIR said:
“As the director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard is responsible for gathering, analyzing and presenting factual information to policymakers so that they can protect the American people. The last person who should serve in this critical, apolitical role is a bigoted conspiracy theorist who spreads hate against the American people.
“Tulsi Gabbard’s rant against the American Muslim community and ‘Islamic principles’ was delusional and disqualifying. If DNI Gabbard truly believes that American Muslims are on the verge of imposing Islamic law on Paterson, New Jersey, she is completely detached from reality and has no business serving as the Director of National Intelligence.
“If, on the other hand, Ms. Gabbard spewed these anti-Muslim conspiracy theories knowing they were false, then her dishonesty also disqualifies her from overseeing our nation’s intelligence collection.
“Sadly, Ms. Gabbard has a long history of expressing a thinly-veiled hostility toward Islam and Muslims under the guise of opposing ‘Islamism,’ which is why she happily met with Bashar Al-Assad and Narendra Modi, men who used the specter of a Muslim boogeyman to justify discrimination and violence against their Muslim populations.
“Tulsi Gabbard’s anti-Muslim rant at Turning Point USA was the moment she took off her mask, dropped all pretenses and confirmed her virulent hatred for Islam and the American Muslim community. She should apologize and retract her remarks or resign, and all elected officials should speak out against her unacceptable, deranged bigotry.”
Earlier this year, CAIR released its 2025 Civil Rights Report, Unconstitutional Crackdowns, which reveals that Islamophobia remains at record-high levels nationwide.
Source: cair.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/breaking-cair-condemns-tulsi-gabbards-rant-against-american-muslims-and-islam-as-delusional-and-disqualifying/
-------
Trump unveils plans for 'Golden Fleet' battleships named after himself
December 23, 2025
Bernd Debusmann Jr
President Donald Trump has announced that the US will commission a new series of heavily armed Navy "battleships" named after himself, as part of a revamped "Golden Fleet".
Construction on the Trump-class USS Defiant ship, which will be equipped to carry an array of weapons, is expected to begin soon, with Trump saying the first vessels will be operational in two-and-a-half years.
The announcement is part of a larger planned expansion of the US Navy by President Trump in both manned and unmanned vessels, including larger missile-armed warships and smaller vessels.
Officials have warned that the US currently lags behind China in both shipbuilding capacity and total output.
Speaking at his Mar-a-Lago golf club in Florida alongside defence secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of the Navy John Phelan on Monday, Trump said he approved the construction of two new battleships to start, with a plan to build up to 25.
"They'll be the fastest, the biggest, and by far, 100 times more powerful than any battleship ever built," Trump said.
Once completed, Trump said the armed vessels would be equipped to carry hypersonic and "extremely lethal" weapons, and would be the flagships of the US Navy.
Trump, who spoke while flanked on both sides with posters of renderings of the "Trump class" ships, said the vessels would be built domestically, and their construction would create "thousands" of jobs.
In a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal, Phelan said that Trump had specifically asked for a "big, beautiful" battleship-type vessel as part of the fleet, which will also include dozens of support and transport vessels.
On 19 December, another new set of vessels, based on the US Coast Guard's Legend-class National Security Cutter, were announced by the US Navy.
"Recent operations from the Red Sea to the Caribbean make the requirement undeniable - our small surface combatant inventory is a third of what we have," Chief of Naval Operations Daryl Caudle said in a video statement about the new ships.
"We need more capable blue water small combatants to close the gap and keep our [destroyers] focused on the high-end fight," he added.
A similar vessel, the Constellatio-class frigate - which Trump approved during his first term in office - was cancelled in 2024 after repeated delays and cost overruns.
Only two ships were reportedly expected to be delivered after approximately $2bn (£1.49bn) was spent on the project.
US officials and defence analysts have repeatedly warned that the US is lagging behind China, its main potential maritime rival, in shipbuilding capacity.
Over 60% of the world's orders this year went to Chinese shipyards, and its navy is already the largest in the world.
Since returning to office in January, Trump has vowed to revive the US shipbuilding industry.
"We used to make so many ships," Trump said in March. "We don't make them very much, but we're going to make them very fast, very soon. It will have a huge impact."
In October, Trump and Finnish President Alexander Stubb penned a deal for the US to purchase 11 Finnish-designed icebreakers, including seven built in the US with Finnish expertise.
The president's announcement also comes as US naval and air assets have surged to the Caribbean amid rising tensions with Venezuela.
The US started attacking vessels in September that were alleged to be carrying drugs, with strikes leaving at least 100 people dead.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Trump claimed that thousands of American lives had been saved because of the boat strikes by stopping lethal drugs from entering the US.
The attacks have been criticised by some experts, who said they could violate international laws governing armed conflict.
Source: bbc.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2084nq2npjo
------
Marjorie Taylor Greene says Venezuela’s Maduro critical of Israel, opposition Maria Corina Machado backs strong ties with Jerusalem
Dec 23, 2025
Georgia GOP Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene said that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was critical of Israel while his principal opponent, Maria Corina Machado, was a major supporter of the country.
Greene wrote on X: “Venezuela is a predominantly Catholic country with very strong laws against abortion with the exception being the life of the mother,” and “Maduro has been critical of Israel calling it a genocide in Gaza and against Zionism.”
Greene said that Maria Corina Machado was more left-leaning on abortion and LGBTQ issues. “Maduro’s opposition, Maria Corina Machado is a strong supporter of Israel and wants to restore strong relations with Israel,” her post continued. “She is more left leaning on abortion and LGBTQ issues.”
She said that the Americans she had talked to did not believe that the tension between the United States and Venezuela was about drugs and oil tankers.
“People voted in 2024 against foreign intervention and foreign regime change as we have seen far too many times how that’s turned out, it’s not good, and people are so sick of it,” the post concluded.
Over the past few months, the US struck alleged drug boats in the Caribbean as the Trump administration said it would go after narcoterrorists.
Greene was one of the few voices in the GOP critical of Israel and the actions its military took during the war in Gaza. She wrote on X in July: “It’s the most truthful and easiest thing to say that Oct. 7 in Israel was horrific and all hostages must be returned, but so is the genocide, humanitarian crisis, and starvation happening in Gaza.”
Source: indiatimes.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/marjorie-taylor-greene-says-venezuelas-maduro-critical-of-israel-opposition-maria-corina-machado-backs-strong-ties-with-jerusalem/articleshow/126125928.cms
--------
Africa
Kano police rescue man from mob action after allegedly destroying Qur’an
December 23, 2025
By Nana Ismail
The Kano State Police Command has rescued a man from angry mob after an alleged blasphemy incident at a hotel in the Badawa area of Kano metropolis.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident happened at about 9:45 p.m. on December 21 at Sarina Hotel, located in Badawa Quarters.
According to the sources, the police received a distress call reporting that three men,Musa Tasiu, Awwal Ibrahim and Soja Snu, all from Dorayi Quarters, had gone to the hotel to smoke shisha.
One of the sources said that Musa Tasiu allegedly entered the hotel mosque, broke the glass door, picked a copy of the Holy Qur’an and tore it.
“Following the incident, people within the premises mobilised in large numbers, and the suspect was on the verge of being lynched,” the source said.
The sources added that a patrol team attached to the division quickly responded to the call, rescued the suspect and restored calm in the area.
The source said the situation has since been brought under control, while investigation into the incident is ongoing.
Source: dailypost.ng
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://dailypost.ng/2025/12/23/kano-police-rescue-man-from-mob-action-after-allegedly-destroying-quran/
--------
Niger Abduction: ‘We Are Expecting More To Be Released’ – Bishop’s Aide
December 23, 2025
By Enioluwa Adeniy
Daniel Atori, media aide to the Bishop of Kontagora Diocese and Proprietor of the abducted schoolchildren, Most Rev. Bulus Yohanna, has said the school is yet to receive the rescued pupils and teachers, despite the Federal Government’s assurance that they have been freed.
Speaking on Monday during an interview on Arise Television, Atori stated that while government officials had claimed the children had been rescued, the school was still verifying and had not received the children physically.
“We have not received these children and teachers, but the Federal Government’s officials say they have all been rescued, so we are taking their word for it,” Atori said.
He explained that the school and diocese had maintained detailed records since the abduction incident and were actively engaging parents to re-identify those still unaccounted for.
“I cannot categorically say they have all been rescued, but we are expecting more to be released,” he added.
Providing a timeline, Atori recalled that 315 individuals, including pupils and teachers, were abducted, and 50 escaped in the early days of the ordeal, leaving 265 still missing.
Atori disclosed that about 100 students were released two weeks ago, bringing the number of those still unaccounted for to 165 at that point.
“We are still continuing in our verification, doing our headcount or expecting more to be released,” he said.
Source: naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.naijanews.com/2025/12/23/niger-abduction-we-are-expecting-more-to-be-released-bishops-aide/
-------
Suspected ISWAP Terrorists Arrested In Lagos
December 23, 2025
By George Oshogwe Ogbolu
Two suspected fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have been arrested in Lagos State.
The suspects, identified as Modu Gana and Ibrahim Dugge, were apprehended on Sunday, December 21, by operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS).
A security source with direct knowledge of the operation told Premium Times that the suspects were arrested in Apapa, Lagos.
“They were arrested around 8:45am on Sunday,” the source said, adding that both men are currently in detention for interrogation.
According to findings, the arrests followed intelligence reports that the suspects had fled the insurgency-hit North-East and relocated to Lagos.
The specific mission of the suspects in the state was not immediately clear as of press time.
When contacted, an official of the DSS media unit said the arrests had not been brought to the agency’s attention.
Since the redeployment of its former spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, the DSS has adopted a covert media policy, explaining that it is necessary to enable the agency to effectively carry out its intelligence duties.
There were no indications, as of press time, that the suspects were planning an attack in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital.
However, security experts have warned that ISWAP has been making efforts to expand its operations beyond the North-East.
The Boko Haram insurgency, which has lasted for over 15 years, has splintered into factions following internal divisions in 2012 and 2016.
Source: naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.naijanews.com/2025/12/23/suspected-iswap-terrorists-arrested-in-lagos/
------
Federal High Court Re‑Lists Terrorism Charge Linked To Bello Turji
December 22, 2025
By Enioluwa Adeniyi
The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted the Federal Government’s application to reopen a terrorism charge against five suspects connected to the notorious terrorist leader, Bello Turji.
Justice Emeka Nwite granted the application on Thursday, ruling on a motion on notice filed by the Attorney‑General of the Federation (AGF) seeking an order to re‑list the charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/633/2024, on the court’s cause list.
Naija News reports that the charge was previously struck out on July 8, 2025, when the defence counsel successfully moved orally for its dismissal for lack of diligent prosecution.
The Federal Government had initially filed an 11‑count terrorism charge against eight defendants, including Turji, who remains at large.
The original charge, filed on December 16, 2024, by the Director of the Department of Public Prosecutions, M.B. Abubakar, named Musa Muhammed Kamarawa, Abubakar Hashimu a.k.a. Doctor, Bashir Abdullahi, Samuel Chinedu and Lucky Chukwuma as the first five defendants.
While Bello Turji, Aminu Muhammad and Sani Lawal — all at large — were listed as the sixth to eighth defendants.
They were accused of providing material services to terrorist groups, including supplying illicit drugs, food items, military and police uniforms, camouflage gear and construction materials to terror camps in Zamfara, Sokoto and Kaduna States.
In one count, Kamarawa, Muhammad and Lawal were alleged to have aided terrorist acts in 2021 in Sokoto State by procuring a military gun truck from Libya and supplying it to a terror leader, Kachalla Halilu, for approximately N28.5 million.
The prosecution said the payment was made partly in cash and partly by electronic transfer, and the vehicle was used to commit acts of terrorism, contrary to Section 18(a) of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act 2013.
In another charge, the prosecution alleged that Kamarawa, Hashimu and Abdullahi provided wound care, medication and shelter to treat injuries sustained by Turji following a terror attack on Tungar Kolo Village in Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara in 2018, an offence under Section 8(1)(b) of the Act.
Four suspects, Kamarawa, Hashimu, Chinedu and Chukwuma, were arraigned on December 23, 2024, before Justice Nwite, where they denied involvement and were remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre.
The matter was initially adjourned to February 10, 2025, for the hearing of pending applications, including bail motions. On March 14, the court denied bail and ordered witness protection before the prosecution began its case.
The first prosecution witness, identified as PW‑1, testified in Hausa, recounting how Kamarawa allegedly assisted Halilu to procure a gun truck for terrorism.
Subsequent trial dates in May 2025 were stalled due to the absence of the lead prosecuting counsel, after which July 8 was fixed for continuation.
However, on that date, the prosecution was absent, and the defence successfully moved to strike out the case — until this most recent application.
At Thursday’s hearing, the AGF’s lawyer, David Kaswe, argued the motion was filed on November 28 and anchored on Sections 6(6) and 36 of the 1999 Constitution and the court’s inherent powers.
He said the prosecution had witnesses and exhibits ready and sought the opportunity to have the charges determined on merits, stressing that terrorism with an international dimension warranted relisting.
“We have presented cogent reasons to have this matter relisted in the interest of justice, public safety and national security. This is a case of terrorism that has an international dimension,” Kaswe said.
He dismissed suggestions that his absence in July was deliberate, asserting the prosecution was diligent and prepared to proceed if the charge was relisted.
The lawyer for the first and second defendants, A.M. Lukman, did not oppose the relisting application but raised concerns about the defendants being held for nine months during the trial and asked the court to award N10 million in costs against the prosecution.
Delivering his ruling, Justice Nwite held that the Federal Government’s application was meritorious.
“I have listened to the submission of the counsel for the applicant and gone through the affidavit evidence and exhibits, including the written address. I am aware that the defendant is not objecting to this application,” the judge said.
“Therefore, I am of the view, and I so hold, that this application is meritorious and accordingly granted. There is no order as to cost,” he ruled.
The matter has been adjourned until January 21, 2026, for the hearing to continue.
Source: naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.naijanews.com/2025/12/22/federal-high-court-re-lists-terrorism-charge-linked-to-bello-turji/
-------
Why I Spoke About Christian Persecution In Nigeria – Nicki Minaj
December 22, 2025
By Rachel Okporu Fadoju
American rapper, Nicki Minaj, has stated that her decision to speak about the persecution of Christians in Nigeria, is due to personal ties to the country and reports of attacks on worshippers.
Naija News reports that Minaj made this known during a surprise appearance at AmericaFest on Sunday, where she responded to a question posed by the widow of Charlie Kirk, Erika.
Asked what inspired her to speak up for Christians in Nigeria, the rapper referenced her love for the country and concerns over a series of kidnappings.
She said, “Nigeria is a place I’ve always loved. Someone very dear to me, my pastor, is Nigerian, and I have lots of Nigerian barbs.
“So hearing that people are being kidnapped while they’re in church, people are being killed, brutalised, all because of their religion that should spark outrage.
“We’re not backing down anymore. We are not going to be silenced by the bullies anymore. We will speak up for Christians wherever they are in this world.”
Minaj also spoke about religious freedom globally, stressing that many people take the right to worship for granted.
She added, “We take for granted that there, right now in this world, are people who cannot worship God as they please, where they please.
“Every time we pray in fellowship, we have to remember the people that are right now in this world hiding to pray in fellowship, and we have to pray for them.”
Source: naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.naijanews.com/2025/12/22/why-i-spoke-about-christian-persecution-in-nigeria-nicki-minaj/
------
Tinubu Lacks Power To Declare Bandits, Kidnappers As Terrorists – Adamu
December 22, 2025
By Richard Ogunsile
A security expert, Kabiru Adamu, has faulted the Federal Government’s stance on designating kidnappers and bandits as terrorists, insisting that only the courts have the constitutional backing to make such a declaration.
Adamu said neither the President nor members of the Federal Executive Council possess the legal authority to unilaterally brand any group as a terrorist organisation under Nigerian law.
Naija News reports that his comments followed a statement by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, who on Monday reiterated President Bola Tinubu’s declaration that kidnappers and bandits would henceforth be treated as terrorists.
The minister made the remark during the Federal Government’s end-of-year press briefing in Abuja, explaining that the policy was aimed at boosting intelligence sharing and strengthening operational coordination among security agencies.
According to Idris, the new stance would enable security agencies to deploy stronger measures in tackling kidnapping and banditry across the country.
However, speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Adamu, who is the Managing Director of Beacon Consulting Ltd, said the declaration could not stand unless it followed due legal process.
He explained that the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, as amended in 2022, clearly outlines how terrorist organisations are identified and designated in Nigeria.
“The law that determines who a terrorist is in Nigeria is the Terrorism (Prohibition and Prevention) Act, as amended in 2022. It defines what constitutes terrorism and also provides procedures for determining who or what qualifies as a terrorist group, or who is supporting and financing terrorism,” he said.
Adamu stressed that the Act does not vest such powers in the executive arm of government.
“That law assigns the responsibility for such determinations to a competent court of jurisdiction and places the duty of petitioning for these determinations on the Attorney General of the Federation,” he added.
The security expert was emphatic that even the President does not have the authority to designate a group as a terrorist organisation.
“So, even the president does not have the power to determine whether a group is a terrorist organization, nor does any member of the executive arm. That authority resides with the judiciary, through a competent court of jurisdiction,” Adamu said.
He reiterated that the law was deliberately structured this way to protect democratic principles and prevent abuse of power.
“The president does not have the power to determine whether a group is a terrorist or not, neither does any member of the administration. That power resides with the competent court of jurisdiction,” he maintained.
Adamu further warned that allowing the executive to wield such powers could open the door to politicisation, with grave consequences for Nigeria’s democracy.
“It would lead to politicization,” he said. “Anyone within the executive arm could, for instance, wake up one day and declare any group a terrorist organization, and the danger lies in the consequences that would follow.”
He also linked his concerns to the current political climate in the country.
“We are in a political season; the campaigns have already begun. So, if that power rests with the executive, I believe it would be harmful to our democracy,” Adamu cautioned.
The expert urged the government to adhere strictly to the provisions of the law while intensifying efforts to tackle insecurity through lawful and constitutionally backed means.
Source: naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.naijanews.com/2025/12/22/tinubu-lacks-power-to-declare-bandits-kidnappers-as-terrorists-adamu/
------
Oluwo Reacts To Purported Terrorists Group In His Community
December 22, 2025
By Rachel Okporu Fadoju
Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, has dismissed reports of a terrorist group in his domain and warned against the spread of false information about the town.
Naija News reports that the Oluwo, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Alli Ibraheem, on Monday, responded to a report that claimed a religious terrorist group of the Jama’atu Ta’awunil Muslimeen, made a deliberate move to castrate the security muscle of Iwo by decimating the strength of Jaysu Security Network.
However, the monarch described the media reports as false, stressing that Iwo remains the most peaceful town in the South-Western States.
According to him, security operatives were working directly with the police to effect the arrest of hardened criminals and threatened to have those spreading false stories about his community arrested.
He said, “The media report of the existence of a terrorist group in Iwo is false and unfounded. Iwo remains the most peaceful town in South Western States promoted by the activities of Jaysu Security Network, an annex of Jama’atu Ta’awunil Muslimeen under the leadership of Sheik Dahood Imran Molaasan.
“Imran Molaasan is an international asset who has efficiently delivered international assignments. He is one of the foremost educational philanthropists, awarding scholarships to indigent students. Jama’atu Ta’awunil Muslimeen has over 40 schools in Iwo, including the College of Education and orphanage homes. The group was established over 20 years ago. I do not know when contributing to strengthening the national security and academic excellence is termed as terrorism. No Terrorist can enter Iwo. Iwo is peaceful.
“They know the nook and cranny of everywhere. The police use them to effect the arrest of hardened criminals. One other peculiarity of Iwo is the non-existence of movement restrictions in the name of rituals. You can move freely in Iwo anytime, including midnight. Iwo is the freest town.
“You can’t also place a sacrifice at junctions in Iwo. Jaysu Security Network will arrest you should you try such. The enemies of Oluwo, Iwo and the unbroken toughness of Jaysu in defending the sanctity of Iwo are behind the lies. It’s all lies. No Bandit in Iwo and no Bandit can encroach on Iwoland.
“Those peddling such unfounded stories are social media terrorists and bandits. I’m assuring you, necessary actions shall be taken against social media terrorists and bandits whose job is cause non-existent tension by manufacturing and spreading fake information.”
Source: naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.naijanews.com/2025/12/22/oluwo-reacts-to-purported-terrorists-group-in-his-community/
--------
Kidnappers, Armed Criminal Groups Are Terrorists, We Will Deal With Them – FG
December 22, 2025
By Oladipo Abiola
The federal government of Nigeria has designated all kidnappers and criminal armed groups as terrorists, vowing that they will be dealt with appropriately.
The announcement was made on Monday by the Minister of Information, Idris Mohammed, during the end-of-the-year press briefing in Abuja.
According to him, any individual or group that kidnaps children, attacks farmers or communities would no longer be able to escape as common criminals, but would be labelled and dealt with as terrorists.
“Henceforth, any armed group or individual that kidnaps our children, attacks our farmers, and terrorises our communities is officially classified and will be dealt with as a terrorist.
“Now, the era of ambiguous nomenclature is over. If you terrorize our people, whether you are a group or you are an individual, you are a terrorist and will be classified as such. There is no name hiding under this again,” the Minister said.
Mohammed praised the improved collaboration between the nation’s security forces, saying it has yielded greater results.
He added that in a bid to secure vulnerable rural areas, the government has announced the deployment of trained and equipped forest guards, saying that these personnel will combine surveillance, local intelligence, and rapid-response capabilities to secure forests and remote locations often used as hideouts by criminal groups.
According to him, the forest guard initiative is expected to disrupt criminal supply routes, dismantle camps, and provide reassurance to farming communities affected by insecurity.
Obvious Results
The Information Minister noted that Nigeria has recorded a string of victories against criminals, terrorists and bandits in recent times, including the capture of a wanted terrorist on the African continent, Abu Barra, who had a substantial bounty placed on him by the United States.
“The most internationally wanted criminals, the ISWAP head residing in Nigeria, has been captured through the coordination of all the security agencies and those also in the intelligence community.
“Don’t forget that Abu Barra was captured a few months ago, and he was also presented to the public by the National Security Advisor and other security chiefs.
“This is one of the most wanted terrorists on the African continent, and he was captured through the coordination of our security forces.
“Remember also, this was someone who had a large sum of money put on his head by even the Americans to capture him and bring him to justice.
“As we speak today, this gentleman, together with his chief of staff, are undergoing and having their day in court, and he is going to get justice that befits them,” he said.
Source: naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.naijanews.com/2025/12/22/kidnappers-armed-criminal-groups-are-terrorists-we-will-deal-with-them-fg/
------
Southeast Asia
Man arrested under anti-terror law after device scare at St Joseph’s Church in Singapore
By Malay Mail
21 Dec 2025
SINGAPORE, Dec 21 — A 26-year-old church volunteer was arrested today over a suspicious item found at St Joseph’s Church in Bukit Timah, Singapore, after police said the object — which resembled an improvised explosive device (IED) — was later assessed to contain no explosive elements.
The Singapore Police Force said it was alerted to the incident at about 7.10am after receiving a call for assistance regarding a suspicious item at the church, located at 620 Upper Bukit Timah Road.
According to police, the man told officers he had discovered the item in a drain within the church premises.
He then “immobilised himself and held on to the suspicious item”.
“For public safety, the police secured the area while the premises were evacuated,” the force said in a Facebook statement, adding that the Singapore Armed Forces’ Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Explosive Defence Group was activated to conduct further assessment.
Following “thorough checks”, police said the item — which “resembled an improvised explosive device” — was assessed at about 10.40am to be “three cardboard rolls and wires taped with black tape with no explosive elements present”. The item was subsequently removed from the scene.
Despite the all-clear, police operations continued into the afternoon. At about 1.45pm, a handcuffed man wearing a blue shirt was seen being escorted out of the church compound to a nearby car park, Singapore-based media organisation CNA reported.
Officers later searched a parked white car believed to be linked to him.
Just before 3pm, police were seen examining several items retrieved from the vehicle’s boot, including two toolboxes.
A Singapore Police Force vehicle entering the compound of St Joseph’s Church in Bukit Timah on December 21, 2025, after the premises were evacuated following the discovery of a suspicious item. — Singapore Police Force pic
A police crime scene investigation van left the church shortly after 5pm. Officers stationed outside the main entrance later moved back into the compound, and the gates were closed. Police said operations concluded and the cordon was lifted at about 5.15pm. No injuries were reported.
The male volunteer was arrested under Section 8(2)(a) of the United Nations (Anti-terrorism Measures) Regulations for his suspected involvement in the incident. Investigations are ongoing.
Earlier in the day, the church was evacuated as a precaution, with officers directing vehicles away and barring entry. Church volunteers informed worshippers that Mass had been cancelled and redirected congregants to the Church of St Mary of the Angels in Bukit Batok, while scheduled services at St Joseph’s Church were called off.
The incident comes amid heightened security sensitivity at the church, which was the site of a stabbing during Mass in November last year and a separate knife-related incident a month later.
Police thanked members of the public “for their patience, understanding and cooperation during the incident”.
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.malaymail.com/news/singapore/2025/12/21/man-arrested-under-anti-terror-law-after-device-scare-at-st-josephs-church-in-singapore/202784
---------
New national standard launched to elevate quality of tahfiz education
23 Dec 2025
The Malaysian Tahfiz Recognition Standard (SPTM) aims to strengthen Quranic education, with RM50,000 incentives for top-performing institutions
BAGAN DATUK: The government has launched a new national standard to elevate the quality of tahfiz education across Malaysia.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi launched the Malaysian Tahfiz Recognition Standard (SPTM) at a major gathering of 25,000 huffaz.
The SPTM will be implemented in stages beginning next year to strengthen tahfiz education and serve as a formal recognition mechanism.
Ahmad Zahid said the recognition of Quran memorisation is a catalyst for excellence in learning the holy book.
He announced an incentive of RM50,000 each for the 10 top-performing tahfiz institutions that meet the SPTM criteria.
The Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) director-general Datuk Dr Sirajuddin Suhaimee said the standard was developed in 2020.
He stated that quality control is crucial for driving management improvements in tahfiz institutions.
The standard encourages institutions to register with State Islamic Religious Authorities for better coordination.
Sirajuddin said the SPTM is a comprehensive guideline produced by scholars and education practitioners.
Five states have received approval to implement the SPTM starting next year.
Selangor, Perak, Penang, Melaka and Sarawak are the first states approved for implementation.
Nine other states are still in the process of preparing for the SPTM rollout.
Training workshops for tahfiz institution inspectors were conducted throughout 2025.
Assessment will begin with self-audits by states before a national evaluation panel reviews the top institutions.
The final stage involves awarding national recognition or ratings to institutions that meet the standards.
Source: thesun.my
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://thesun.my/news/malaysia-news/people-issues/new-national-standard-launched-to-elevate-quality-of-tahfiz-education/
-------
King of Malaysia arrives in Abu Dhabi for special visit
22 Dec 2025
King Sultan Ibrahim arrives in Abu Dhabi for a special three-day visit at the invitation of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
ABU DHABI: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, has arrived in Abu Dhabi for a special visit to the United Arab Emirates.
The royal aircraft landed at Zayed International Airport at 11.45 am UAE time on Monday.
His Majesty was welcomed by UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Saeed Mubarak Al Hajeri.
Malaysian Ambassador to the UAE Tengku Datuk Sirajuzzaman Tengku Mohamed Ariffin was also present.
The visit, which runs until December 24, is at the invitation of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
It marks Sultan Ibrahim’s first official trip to the UAE.
The King departed from the Royal Hangar at Senai International Airport earlier on Monday morning.
Source: thesun.my
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://thesun.my/news/malaysia-news/king-of-malaysia-arrives-in-abu-dhabi-for-special-visit/
-------
JAKIM to boost dakwah with international ulama collaboration
22 Dec 2025
JAKIM will deepen cooperation with international Islamic scholars to enhance preaching and develop progressive, moderate thought within Malaysia’s Muslim community.
PUTRAJAYA: The Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) will continue to collaborate with international Islamic scholars to enhance preaching efforts and strengthen Islamic thought formation.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Senator Dr Zulkifli Hasan said such cooperation is vital for building a moral, well-mannered and progressively thinking society.
He made the remarks after receiving a visit from Nusantara preacher Ustaz Abdul Somad and scholar Sheikh Dr Khalil Ismail Eliyas.
“Discussions with these ulama serve as a catalyst for structuring dakwah initiatives in a more organised and effective manner within society,” Zulkifli told reporters.
He identified potential cooperation areas including education, moral cultivation and developing balanced, moderate societal thinking.
Zulkifli emphasised the need for thought formation that is wasatiyyah (moderate) and ihsani (excellent), rooted in humanitarian values.
“This ensures Islam continues to be understood as a religion that brings mercy to all of creation,” he said.
The minister said discussions with the visiting scholars focused on shaping a dynamic and progressive community.
He reiterated that engagement with international ulama helps better organise and strengthen societal dakwah initiatives.
Source: thesun.my
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://thesun.my/news/malaysia-news/jakim-to-boost-dakwah-with-international-ulama-collaboration/
--------
Najib’s house arrest case: Agong as ‘constitutional monarch’ means ruler’s powers must follow Constitution, court says
By Ida Lim
23 Dec 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 23 — Malaysia’s Yang di-Pertuan Agong is a “constitutional monarch”, which means the ruler’s must exercise his powers — even when it involves clemency or granting mercy such as pardoning convicted persons — according to the Federal Constitution, the High Court has said.
This was why former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday failed in his court bid to serve his jail term at home, as the High Court found the former Agong’s house arrest order on Najib did not follow the procedures in the Federal Constitution.
In her 41-page written judgment released today, High Court judge Alice Loke Yee Ching made it clear that the Agong has to exercise his powers of mercy within the limits in the Federal Constitution.
“To reiterate, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is a constitutional monarch, and he exercises powers and functions in accordance to the provision of the Constitution.
“The exercise of the prerogative power of mercy is no exception. It must be exercised within the legal framework providing for safeguards and limits in the Constitution,” the judge said in her conclusion.
Pardons Board has to give advice to Agong before the ruler decides
The former Agong had during a January 29, 2024 Pardons Board meeting decided to pardon Najib by reducing his jail term and fine, but later made an additional order dated January 29, 2024 to let Najib serve the rest of his reduced jail time at home.
While the 16th Agong’s house arrest order on Najib has been confirmed by the attorney general to exist, the High Court said it is not valid and cannot be enforced or carried out.
This is because the former Agong’s additional order for Najib’s house arrest was not discussed or decided at a Pardons Board meeting, which means it did not comply with the Federal Constitution’s Article 42.
Based on Article 42, the High Court said the Agong can only make a decision on pardons, after going through a decision-making process that involves a Pardons Board meeting and the Pardons Board giving advice to the ruler.
“The Pardons Board as a constitutional body, has an important function of advising the Yang di-Pertuan Agong before a decision is made,” the High Court judge said.
The judge added that all the requirements in Article 42 mean that the Agong cannot make such decisions on his own or “independently” of the Pardons Board.
The judge had listed out many provisions under Article 42 in her judgment, including Article 42(4)(b) which provides that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is to exercise his power — to grant pardons, reprieves and respites — on the Pardons Board’s advice.
High Court decision follows previous court decisions
The High Court’s decision yesterday was also supported by and based on past decisions by the Court of Appeal and Federal Court.
The High Court cited excerpts from the Federal Court’s August 13, 2025 decision which allowed Najib to pursue his court bid for house arrest at the High Court, with Justice Loke emphasising certain points made by the highest court in Malaysia:
The Agong’s exercise of his powers of clemency (to grant mercy) is not absolute, and has to be carried out according to the constitutional limits in Article 42 (especially regarding advice and the procedure stated in Article 42);
Article 42(8) has a procedural and constitutional requirement for the Pardons Board’s meetings to be held in Agong’s presence and for the Agong to preside over such meetings;
Any failure to strictly follow Article 42’s procedural safeguards and substantive requirements will render the entire clemency process open to challenge in court, whether by constitutional challenge or judicial review.
The High Court said the Federal Court had made it clear that the existence of the house arrest order does not make it valid, and that whether it is valid depends on whether it follows the strict requirements of the Federal Constitution.
The High Court judge also quoted extensively from the Court of Appeal’s 2009 judgment in case, which had said the powers of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong as a “constitutional monarch” is defined in the Federal Constitution, and which noted that the rulers’ discretionary or prerogative power has to be exercised judiciously.
The High Court judge summarised the Court of Appeal as saying that the concept of a constitutional monarch “was to preserve the sovereignty of the Rulers within a constitutional framework, balancing their powers and privileged within defined constitutional limitations and restrictions”.
The Court of Appeal was also summarised as noting that the Federal Constitution recognises that rulers have discretionary prerogatives to decide on pardon, and as saying that rulers have to use such powers within limits.
“However, these powers are not unlimited and there are safeguards and limits to be observed, according to the Constitution which provides for the powers. Ultimately, these powers must be exercised judiciously and for the public good,” the High Court judge said in summary of the Court of Appeal’s 2009 decision.
The High Court also cited Article 42 and the same Court of Appeal judgment, when disagreeing that the Agong could make decisions — including on Najib’s house arrest — outside of the Pardons Board meeting.
Quick look at constitutional monarchy
While there are countries that have an absolute monarchy where a ruler has absolute power, Malaysia like many countries have a constitutional monarchy system.
A quick look by Malay Mail at the glossary on Malaysia’s Parliament’s website shows “constitutional monarchy” being explained as: “A system of government in which a country is ruled by a King according to provisions in the Constitution. Malaysia practises Parliamentary Democracy under the Constitutional Monarchy government.”
The Federal Constitution is known as the supreme law or the highest law in Malaysia.
Najib’s lead defence lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah yesterday claimed that the High Court ruling purportedly dilutes the powers of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to grant mercy or pardon, as the court’s decision had said the Agong needed to exercise this power within the Pardons Board’s meetings.
Shafee has said that Najib will be appealing against the High Court’s decision yesterday.
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/12/23/najibs-house-arrest-case-agong-as-constitutional-monarch-means-rulers-powers-must-follow-constitution-court-says/202958
-------
Nilai police hunt 60-year-old local suspect after Desa Palma vehicle blast
By Malay Mail
23 Dec 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 23 — Police are hunting a 60-year-old local man following a vehicle explosion in Desa Palma, Nilai, earlier this morning that left authorities uncovering three suspected improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
Negeri Sembilan Police Chief Datuk Alzafny Ahmad said preliminary investigations found that the suspect acted alone, without the involvement of any other individual or group, according to BuletinTV3.
Authorities successfully detonated all explosive materials found inside the vehicle with the assistance of the Bomb Disposal Unit in the early hours today.
Datuk Alzafny added that the suspect is believed to have fled the scene.
He also has a criminal record under Section 506 of the Penal Code for criminal intimidation.
“We have identified a premise believed to be the suspect’s residence and a raid has been carried out at his address.
“During the inspection, several more explosive materials using the same methods or systems were found inside his home,” he said.
He emphasised that the case is isolated and does not involve any terrorist activity or extremist groups.
The motive for the incident is still under investigation.
“The community, especially in Nilai, need not feel anxious or afraid to go about their daily activities as the police have confirmed that the perpetrator acted alone,” he added.
Residents of Desa Palma were alarmed yesterday morning by a loud explosion from a vehicle.
Police found numerous nails scattered on the road, and several nearby vehicles were damaged by debris from the blast.
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/12/23/nilai-police-hunt-60-year-old-local-suspect-after-desa-palma-vehicle-blast/202936
--------
Anwar urges respect for judiciary after High Court rules on royal addendum
By Malay Mail
23 Dec 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 23 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today called on all parties to respect the judiciary following the High Court’s decision yesterday that rejected former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s bid to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest.
In a Facebook post, Anwar reiterated that the Madani government remains committed to the rule of law and separation of powers.
He emphasised that the judiciary must remain independent and free from external influence, and that he respects the judges’ ruling on this principle.
“Based on the principle of legal sovereignty, all parties should respect the decision made by the judges, including the legal avenues available for filing appeals, as provided under the law and in accordance with the powers of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong,” he said.
Anwar also called for patience and prudence, noting that while some may not sympathise with Najib and his family, it is important to avoid escalating tensions or creating a charged atmosphere in this sensitive matter.
The Kuala Lumpur High Court yesterday ruled that an addendum order by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, which Najib’s lawyers argued would allow him to complete his reduced six-year sentence at home, was constitutionally invalid.
The judge noted that the addendum was not deliberated or decided by the Pardons Board as required under Article 42 of the Federal Constitution, meaning the government has “no power and no duty” to enforce it.
Najib’s legal team has said it will appeal.
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/12/23/anwar-urges-respect-for-judiciary-after-high-court-rules-on-royal-addendum/202923
--------
South Asia
Islamic Emirate Prioritizes Cultural Development, Heritage Protection
December 23, 2025
KABUL: The Islamic Emirate has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting cultural development, safeguarding archaeological and historical sites, and preserving national and religious values as key national priorities, according to a statement from the Ministry of Information and Culture on Monday.
During their visit to Parwan Province, Deputy Ministers of the Ministry of Information and Culture, Mawlavi Qudratullah Jamal and Atiqullah Azizi, emphasised that protecting Afghanistan’s cultural and civilizational heritage is essential to strengthening national identity and passing on historical values to future generations.
The officials stressed that all cultural, archaeological, and tourism-related activities will be carried out while maintaining cultural authenticity and respecting religious and national principles.
They also highlighted the importance of proper monitoring and protection of historical sites to prevent damage, illegal excavation, and smuggling of cultural artefacts.
They pledged continued support and cooperation with local institutions to enhance cultural initiatives, protect heritage sites, and ensure the preservation of Afghanistan’s religious and national values nationwide.
Source: thekabultimes.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://thekabultimes.com/islamic-emirate-prioritizes-cultural-development-heritage-protection/
-----
BNP steps aside in four constituencies for Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam
Dec 23, 2025
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said his party will not field any candidates in four parliamentary seats as part of a seat-sharing arrangement with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh.
Speaking at a briefing at the party chairperson's office in Gulshan today, Fakhrul said that Maulana Manjurul Islam Afendi will contest from Nilphamari-1, Monir Hossain from Narayanganj-4, Ubaydullah Faruk from Sylhet-5, and Junayed Al Habib from Brahmanbaria-2 as candidates of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam.
BNP will not nominate any candidates in these seats, Fakhrul said, adding that the decision was taken based on an understanding with Jamiat-e Ulama-e-Islam.
"If any BNP leader contests in these four seats, either as an independent or in any other manner, organisational action will be taken against them," he warned.
Fakhrul said that Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam will not field candidates in any other constituencies.
At the briefing, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Secretary General Ubaydullah Faruk said that compared to other political parties, they consider BNP more trustworthy.
Source: thedailystar.net
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/politics/news/bnp-steps-aside-four-constituencies-jamiat-ulema-e-islam-4064491
------
Meeting Held to Finalize Draft Plan for Permanent Migration Solutions
December 23, 2025
KABUL: A joint meeting of the inter-agency working group was held on Monday to complete the draft plan aimed at achieving permanent solutions to migration challenges, the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation said in a statement.
The meeting, chaired by Minister of Refugees and Repatriation Mawlavi Abdul Kabir, brought together deputy ministers and representatives from relevant ministries and institutions.
At the outset, the minister welcomed participants and stated that since the resumption of power by the Islamic Emirate, 6.8 million Afghans have returned to the country from neighboring and other countries, both voluntarily and forcibly, a number that continues to rise.
Mawlawi Kabir noted that stability across Afghanistan and the establishment of nationwide security have significantly reduced migration, leading to a noticeable decline in the number of Afghans leaving the country.
He emphasized that the draft plan for permanent migration solutions will play an effective role in addressing long-term migration issues and the challenges of internally displaced persons.
According to the minister, the plan will strengthen coordination among government bodies and international organizations, help attract assistance, identify needs, and clearly define areas of responsibility.
During the meeting, deputy ministers and representatives from the Ministries of Education, Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, Public Health, the Afghan Red Crescent Society, and Kabul Municipality shared their views on the draft plan.
A committee tasked with enriching the draft was instructed to share the revised text with relevant institutions and prepare it for discussion at the next meeting.
Source: thekabultimes.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://thekabultimes.com/meeting-held-to-finalize-draft-plan-for-permanent-migration-solutions/
-------
Efforts Underway to Ease Visa for Afghan Nationals, Mortazavi
December 23, 2025
HERAT: Iran’s Deputy Ambassador, Seyed Hossein Mortazavi, in a meeting with Herat Governor Shaikh Noor Ahmad Islamjar, said that efforts are underway to ease the visa issuance process for Afghan nationals.
He confirmed that cases involving Afghans targeted at the Iran border have been referred to judicial authorities, according to a statement from the provincial governor press office on Monday.
The two sides also discussed bilateral relations, trade cooperation, and issues faced by Afghan migrants, the statement added.
Governor Islamjar called for greater cooperation from Iran in addressing migrant challenges and facilitating trade and transit.
The meeting comes amid reports that several Afghan citizens were recently killed by Iranian border forces.
Source: thekabultimes.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://thekabultimes.com/efforts-underway-to-ease-visa-for-afghan-nationals-mortazavi/
-------
Kabul Municipality Launches 1.9 Billion Afs Shahr-e-Naw Park Project
December 23, 2025
KABUL: The Kabul Municipality said in a statement on Monday that it has started the reconstruction of Shahr-e-Naw Park under a public-private partnership project, with a cost of 1.904 billion Afghanis.
The project will cover an area of 90,663 square meters and includes commercial markets, restaurants, water fountains, a mosque, recreational spaces, and green areas with environmental protection systems.
Municipal officials said that once completed, all public facilities of the park will be available to citizens free of charge.
The project is expected to be completed within three years.
Source: thekabultimes.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://thekabultimes.com/kabul-municipality-launches-1-9-billion-afs-shahr-e-naw-park-project/
-------
Kabul, Tehran to Implement Plan on Food, Medicine Regulation
December 23, 2025
KABUL: An implementation plan has been signed between Kabul and Tehran to enhance cooperation in regulating food, medicine, and health products, the Ministry of Public Health said in a statement on Monday.
Mawlawi Hamdullah Zahid, Deputy Minister for Food and Medicine at the Ministry of Public Health, signed the plan during an official visit to Tehran, based on a previously signed memorandum of understanding, the statement said.
“The agreement focuses on standardizing registration and evaluation processes, improving import regulation, combating smuggling of medicines and health products, encouraging Iranian investment in Afghanistan, capacity building, digitalization of regulatory systems, and technical cooperation between quality-control laboratories,” the statement said.
According to the statement, the plan will be implemented according to a fixed timeline, helping ensure public access to safe, effective, and high-quality medicines while preventing the entry of counterfeit and substandard products.
Source: thekabultimes.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://thekabultimes.com/kabul-tehran-to-implement-plan-on-food-medicine-regulation/
-------
Afghan, Indonesian Officials Discuss Cultural Ties
December 23, 2025
KABUL: The Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Indonesia, Dr. Nanda Owalist, met with Mullah Hamidullah Nisar to discuss strengthening cultural relations, the Ministry of Information and Culture said in a statement on Monday.
Visiting the historical sites and the Ghazni Museum, the Indonesian ambassador said the purpose of his trip was to strengthen cultural relations between Afghanistan and Indonesia and expand cultural and economic cooperation with the Islamic Emirate.
Mullah Hamidullah Nisar stated that the Ghazni Museum houses thousands of historical artifacts from both pre-Islamic and Islamic periods, playing a vital role in preserving and presenting Afghanistan’s historical identity.
He added that such visits contribute to enhancing cultural cooperation and protecting shared historical heritage.
Notably, the Turkish ambassador also visited Ghazni’s museum and historical attractions in a recent official trip.
Source: thekabultimes.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://thekabultimes.com/afghan-indonesian-officials-discuss-cultural-ties/
-------
Polio-Free Afghanistan Urges Vaccination for All Border Travelers
By Fidel Rahmati
December 23, 2025
The “Polio-Free Afghanistan” initiative has warned that all travelers crossing the borders with Pakistan and Iran must be vaccinated against polio.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the organization said that people of all ages should receive the polio vaccine when entering or exiting Afghanistan at border crossings.
Previously, the initiative had emphasized that returning children from Pakistan must be vaccinated at border points to prevent the spread of the virus.
Reports indicate that positive polio cases in Pakistan have increased this year, raising concerns about cross-border transmission and public health risks in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan has also recorded two positive polio cases this year in the provinces of Badghis and Helmand, highlighting the continued presence of the disease despite vaccination campaigns.
Polio, or “childhood paralysis,” remains endemic in both Afghanistan and Pakistan, and global health experts stress that cross-border immunization is essential to eradicate the virus.
Years of conflict, limited healthcare access, and vaccine hesitancy have complicated eradication efforts, making routine vaccination at borders a critical preventive measure for Afghanistan.
Health authorities say that strict vaccination protocols at international crossings, alongside awareness campaigns, are vital to prevent new outbreaks and protect children from lifelong paralysis.
Source: khaama.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.khaama.com/polio-free-afghanistan-urges-vaccination-for-all-border-travelers/
-------
India to Supply Medicines to Afghanistan on Long-Term Basis
By Fidel Rahmati
December 23, 2025
India has pledged to meet Afghanistan’s long-term pharmaceutical needs, underscoring a steady expansion of health cooperation with the Taliban-led administration following a recent visit by its health minister to New Delhi.
In a statement issued on Monday, India’s Ministry of External Affairs said the move would help address Afghanistan’s medicine shortages and reduce its dependence on Pakistani drug imports, which Taliban officials estimate once accounted for up to 70% of the Afghanistan pharmaceutical market.
The ministry also announced the formation of a joint working group between the health ministries of India and Afghanistan, reaffirming New Delhi’s commitment to humanitarian assistance and people-centric engagement with Afghanistan despite the absence of formal diplomatic recognition of the Taliban government.
Taliban Health Minister Noor Jalal Jalali, who visited India from December 16 to 21, held talks with Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh. Discussions focused on healthcare infrastructure projects, the establishment of cancer treatment centres in Afghanistan, and the deployment of Indian medical teams to train Afghanistan doctors and build institutional capacity.
During his visit, Jalali toured at least 10 Indian hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, and health-related institutions, receiving what officials described as positive assurances of cooperation, reflecting India’s broader strategy of using humanitarian and development assistance as a key pillar of its Afghanistan policy.
Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Jalali said deteriorating relations with Pakistan had forced Kabul to seek alternative markets for medicines and medical supplies. He described India as a primary partner in filling the supply gap and said the Taliban were seeking to open a “new chapter” of cooperation, particularly in the health sector.
Contacts between India and the Taliban have intensified in recent months, with the foreign and commerce ministers also visiting New Delhi, even as relations between Kabul and Islamabad have sharply worsened.
Tensions between the Taliban and Pakistan have escalated over border security, cross-border militant activity, and Pakistan’s accusations that Afghanistan territory is being used by armed groups hostile to Islamabad. The situation has been compounded by frequent border skirmishes and Pakistan’s deportation of Afghan refugees, further straining ties.
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has publicly alleged that elements within the Taliban leadership are acting as proxies for India, claims he made during talks between Pakistani and Taliban delegations in Istanbul. India has not responded to the accusation, while Taliban authorities have yet to issue a formal comment.
For New Delhi, analysts say expanding health and humanitarian engagement with Afghanistan allows India to retain strategic influence in the region while positioning itself as a reliable partner for the Afghanistan people amid shifting regional alignments. Source: khaama.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.khaama.com/india-to-supply-medicines-to-afghanistan-on-long-term-basis/
-------
Ousted regime spent millions to disrupt electoral process: CA tells US special envoy
Dec 22, 2025
Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus today reiterated his commitment to holding the 13th National Election on February 12 next year as scheduled.
"The nation is eagerly waiting to exercise their voting rights which were stolen by the autocratic regime," he said.
Prof Yunus made the remark during a telephone conversation with Sergio Gor, US special envoy for South and Central Asia, at around 7:30pm (Bangladesh time).
The discussion, which lasted about half an hour, focused on trade and tariff negotiations between Bangladesh and the United States, the upcoming general election, the country's democratic transition, and the killing of July Movement frontliner Sharif Osman Hadi.
Gor, who also serves as the US ambassador to India, congratulated Prof Yunus for his leadership during recent tariff negotiations, where Bangladesh succeeded in reducing US reciprocal tariffs on its goods to 20 percent.
He also discussed the state funeral of Osman Hadi, which drew massive crowds.
During the conversation, the chief adviser noted that supporters of the ousted autocratic regime were allegedly spending millions of dollars to disrupt the electoral process and that their fugitive leader [deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina] was inciting violence.
He said the interim government is fully prepared to deal with any challenges.
"We have roughly 50 days to go before the election. We want to hold a free, fair and peaceful election. We want to make it remarkable," Prof Yunus added.
Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin, National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman, and SDG Coordinator and Senior Secretary Lamiya Morshed were present during the call.
Source: thedailystar.net
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/ousted-regime-spent-millions-disrupt-electoral-process-ca-tells-us-special-envoy-4064081
-------
Arab World
Saudi Arabia’s Qiddiya ‘shaping the future,’ says executive ahead of Six Flags opening
BASMAH ALBASWARI
December 22, 2025
RIYADH: Qiddiya is “shaping the future of entire sectors,” the entertainment megaproject’s managing director said at a press conference on Monday ahead of the official opening of Six Flags on Dec. 31.
Abdullah Al-Dawood took to the podium to share his pride in Qiddiya City’s speedy progress.
“Today, Six Flags Qiddiya City is complete, and Aquaarabia is over 95 percent complete,” he said.
With doors set to open in nine days, Al-Dawood made sure to remind the audience that this milestone is only the beginning of a grander vision for Qiddiya City and the Kingdom as a whole.
“What we are doing today goes beyond simply developing a project, it is about building a city and shaping the future of entire sectors. God willing, the Kingdom will be among the leading countries in the fields of entertainment, sports, culture and tourism” he said.
Minister of Media Salman Al-Dosari underscored the Kingdom’s recent monumental achievements in alignment with Six Flags Qiddiya City’s symbolic upcoming opening, stating: “We, in Saudi Arabia do not start where others end, we start where others dream.”
En route to the park, Qiddiya executives welcomed members of the press to their grand project as mountains made way to rollercoaster views.
Qiddiya’s progress in becoming a hub for entertainment and sports is visible in the daylight as cranes and construction crew gathered to finalize building some of the most anticipated projects such as Aquaarabia, a waterpark, and golf courses in the heart of the desert.
The park is the first Six Flags outside of North America and forms part of Qiddiya Investment Co.’s flagship development.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2627158/saudi-arabia
------
Saudi health center in Hajjah serves 6,200 beneficiaries in November
December 22, 2025
HAJJAH, Yemen: With support from the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, the Emergency Center for Epidemic Disease Control in the Hayran district of Yemen’s Hajjah governorate provided medical services to 6,237 beneficiaries during November.
According to the center, the pediatric clinic treated 1,895 children, while the internal medicine clinic served 1,463 patients. The epidemiology clinic provided care to 2,879 beneficiaries.
In addition, the laboratory department provided services to 1,396 patients, medications were dispensed to 6,102 individuals, and the medical referral system received 2,146 beneficiaries. The center also carried out 19 medical waste disposal activities during the reporting period.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2627164/saudi-arabia
-------
Saudi Shura Council speaker in Kuala Lumpur for official visit
December 22, 2025
KUALA LUMPUR: Speaker of the Shura Council Dr. Abdullah Al-Asheikh arrived in Kuala Lumpur for an official visit to Malaysia. He is leading a delegation in response to an invitation from Speaker of the Malaysian House of Representatives Johari Abdul.
Upon arrival at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, he was welcomed by Chief Administrator of the Parliament of Malaysia Ahmad Husaini bin Abdul Rahman, along with several other officials.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2627163/saudi-arabia
-------
Standing alongside passionate, innovative teachers from around the world humbling and inspiring: Saudi teacher
RASHID HASSAN
December 22, 2025
RIYADH: Saeed Salem Abdullah Al-Zahrani, a primary school teacher at Al-Mutrafiyah Elementary School in Jubail Industrial City, has been shortlisted for the GEMS Education Global Teacher Prize 2026.
Al-Zahrani has been named on the top 50 shortlist for the prize, a Varkey Foundation initiative organized in collaboration with UNESCO.
He was selected from over 5,000 nominations and applications from 139 countries.
Now in its 10th year, the $1 million prize is the largest of its kind. It was set up to recognize one exceptional teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession as well as to shine a spotlight on the important role teachers play in society.
By unearthing thousands of stories of heroes who have transformed young people’s lives, the prize hopes to bring to life the exceptional work of teachers all over the world.
Reacting to his shortlisting, Al-Zahrani told Arab News: “I am extremely honored to be among the top 50 finalists for the Global Teacher Prize. Standing alongside so many passionate and innovative teachers from around the world is both humbling and inspiring.
“I extend my sincere thanks to the Varkey Foundation, GEMS Education, and UNESCO for recognizing the vital work that teachers carry out every day. Teachers everywhere help ignite curiosity and give young people the confidence to pursue their ambitions, and I am proud to be part of this mission,” he added.
“This prize has provided us a global platform to amplify the voice of teachers and has entrusted us with a deeper responsibility to continue working toward more impactful and humane education — one that believes the mission of education transcends borders and makes a real difference in the lives of individuals and communities,” he said.
Al-Zahrani is a distinguished Saudi educator, renowned for his innovative programs and commitment to inclusive, high-quality education. Teaching at Al-Mutrafiyah Elementary School. He has developed initiatives such as “The Challenge,” “Maher,” and “Steps,” improving reading, writing, and learning outcomes for students of all abilities.
These programs have been adopted in Royal Commission kindergartens and praised by the Minister of Education Yousef Al-Benyan.
Holding a doctorate in linguistics and a masters in counseling psychology, Al-Zahrani integrates storytelling, interactive digital tools, and personalized learning to ensure every student reaches their potential.
He has published research in peer-reviewed journals, presented internationally, and trained teachers across Saudi Arabia and beyond.
Founder of the Global Teacher Prize, GEMS Education, and The Varkey Foundation, Sunny Varkey, said: “Congratulations, Saeed. The Global Teacher Prize was created with a simple mission: to shine a light on teachers like you — educators whose dedication, creativity, and compassion deserve to be celebrated and shared with the world. Your work extends far beyond the classroom — it touches lives and shapes the world.”
UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education Stefania Giannini, said: “Congratulations to this year’s top 50 finalists. UNESCO is honored to stand alongside the Global Teacher Prize in celebrating the extraordinary commitment of teachers everywhere. Our world is navigating profound challenges — from teacher shortages and rapid technological shifts to the urgent demands of climate action. If we are to build a just, inclusive and sustainable future, we must recognize a simple truth: we cannot rise to this moment unless we invest in teachers.”
GEMS Education is one of the world’s leading private K-12 education providers, educating more than 200,000 students of more than 175 nationalities across its global network of owned and managed schools. With nearly half a million alumni, GEMS has built a legacy of impact that spans generations and continents. Established in Dubai in 1959, GEMS remains a family-founded and family-led organization.
The prize is open to working teachers who teach children in compulsory schooling or who are between the ages of 5-18. Teachers who educate children age 4 and over in a government-recognized curriculum are also eligible, as are teachers working on a part-time basis, and teachers of online courses. It is open to teachers in every kind of school and, subject to local laws, in every country in the world.
Teachers applying for the Global Teacher Prize are assessed on teaching practices, how they innovate to address local challenges, achieve demonstrable learning outcomes, impact the community beyond the classroom, help children become global citizens, improve the teaching profession, and gain recognition from external bodies.
The prize will now be narrowed down to the top 10 finalists, and the winner will be chosen by the Global Teacher Prize Academy, made up of prominent individuals, and announced at the World Governments Summit, taking place in Dubai Feb. 3-5, 2026.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2627149/saudi-arabia
-------
KAUST develops environmental disaster data skills
December 22, 2025
JEDDAH: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, and SARsatX, a Saudi company specializing in Earth observation technologies, have developed computer-generated data to train deep learning models to predict oil spills.
According to KAUST, validating the use of synthetic data is crucial for monitoring environmental disasters, as early detection and rapid response can significantly reduce the risks of environmental damage.
Matthew McCabe, dean of the Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division at KAUST, said one of the biggest challenges in environmental applications of artificial intelligence was the shortage of high-quality training data.
He explained that this challenge can be addressed by using deep learning to generate synthetic data from a very small sample of real data and then training predictive AI models on it.
This approach can significantly enhance efforts to protect the marine environment by enabling faster and more reliable monitoring of oil spills while reducing the logistical and environmental challenges associated with data collection.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2627147/saudi-arabia
------
Al-Qatif Street Food Festival celebrates Saudi culinary arts
December 22, 2025
AL-QATIF: The Culinary Arts Commission has launched the Al-Qatif Street Food Festival, which runs until Dec. 30.
The festival offers visitors a rich cultural experience that highlights Saudi culinary arts in a setting that reflects the authenticity and diversity of the Kingdom’s national cuisine, reinforcing the presence of heritage within the contemporary cultural landscape.
The festival showcases Saudi food culture as a vital component of national identity through live cooking stations at which traditional dishes are prepared and presented by experts.
The event features six pavilions that allow visitors to explore a wide variety of foods and beverages made from local ingredients, reflecting the Kingdom’s diverse environments and regional flavors.
The festival also presents a range of accompanying cultural experiences designed to enrich the visitor journey and encourage engagement with food as both an artistic and knowledge-based experience.
These include a dedicated children’s pavilion, tasting spaces, and innovative beverage experiences inspired by Saudi products.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2627145/saudi-arabia
-------
Prince Turki visits nation’s new DarkSky International site
December 22, 2025
JEDDAH: Prince Turki bin Mohammed bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz recently toured the Kingdom’s recently named DarkSky International site, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.
The prince visited the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Nature Reserve after it was officially recognized last week.
Prince Turki, who is a minister of state and chairman of the reserve’s development authority, was accompanied by Prince Faisal bin Fahd bin Muqrin bin Abdulaziz, deputy governor of the Hail region.
During the visit, Prince Turki met with members of the local community, reviewed grazing conditions in the area, and toured historical sites.
The DarkSky designation represents a national achievement that reflects Saudi Arabia’s advanced regional and global environmental standing and its commitment to protecting rare environments, the SPA reported.
Prince Turki said the achievement was made possible by the support of the Kingdom’s leadership in line with the goals of Vision 2030.
He added that the designation of the Nafud Al-Kabir Desert as a DarkSky site highlights the Kingdom’s pioneering approach to international environmental initiatives amid growing global light pollution.
International studies indicate that around 80 percent of the world’s people now live under skies affected by light pollution.
Prince Turki was briefed on the scientific and regulatory efforts undertaken by the authority to reduce light pollution and implement internationally recognized DarkSky management standards.
These efforts aim to preserve the site’s astronomical characteristics, support ecosystem sustainability, and position the area as a hub for astronomical tourism and scientific research, the SPA reported.
The Nafud Al-Kabir Desert is one of the largest accredited sites in the region, covering approximately 13,416 sq. km.
It joins more than 250 protected dark-sky areas worldwide, further strengthening the Kingdom’s position among leading countries in this field.
The Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Nature Reserve Development Authority aims to establish the location as a leading environmental destination and center for astronomy tourism, the SPA reported.
There are more than 160,000 sq. km of land protected from light pollution across 22 countries on six continents.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2627143/saudi-arabia
-------
Saudi tourism minister visits heritage sites along Northern Trail
December 22, 2025
RIYADH: The Kingdom’s Tourism Minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb recently traveled on the Northern Trail from Riyadh to Hail, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.
Part of the Saudi Winter program, the Northern Trail has natural and historical landmarks running across various regions of the country.
Al-Khateeb began the trip in Thadiq governorate where he was briefed on sites including the tourist village of Ghamra.
He perused the village’s Najd-style mud buildings, ancient alleyways and mosques which are typical of the region’s historical sites.
The minister visited the geopark north of Riyadh to see the natural rock formations and valleys.
The park is a UNESCO-recognized Global Geopark and is run under the supervision of the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development.
From there, he continued north to the Qassim region, passing through rural farms and agricultural tourism destinations.
Al-Khateeb visited the Al-Bustan shrine in the city of Buraidah, and the Cultural Heritage Center that is a major attraction for local and foreign visitors.
The minister ended his trip in Hail’s historical mountainous region.
One of his stops was Jabel Umm Sinman in Jubbah, a UNESCO World Heritage site featuring rock inscriptions dating back more than 10,000 years.
The itinerary included hiking trails in the Aja Mountains, desert adventure experiences, the Al-Didhan Reserve, and a stop at the home of pre-Islamic tribal leader and poet Hatim Al-Tai.
Other points of interest along the Northern Trail include the Sheikh Omar bin Muqrin Archaeological Palace in Shaqra, the heritage village in Ushaiqer, and the Al-Askar Palace in Al-Majmaah.
More details about the various sites along the Northern Trail can be found at visitsaudi.com.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2627128/saudi-arabia
-------
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/hindu-rashtra-vote-bank-politics-rss/d/138127