'Do I Need To Choose My Friends Based On Religion?': Woman After Hindutva Vigilantes Disrupt Her Birthday At Bareilly Cafe
New Age Islam News Bureau
30 December 2025
Grab from a purported video of vigilantes barging into the Bareilly cafe. (Express Photo)
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· ‘Do I need to choose my friends based on religion?’: Woman after vigilantes disrupt her birthday at Bareilly cafe
· Trump tells Hamas to disarm or ‘hell to pay’, warns Iran against resuming nuke program
· Saudi Arabia expresses concern over UAE pressure on STC, warns against threats to its security
· Altrincham surgeon who was stabbed outside Hale mosque receives MBE for promoting peace and forgiveness
· CAIR-Austin Calls on Gov. Abbott, Other Politicians to Condemn Harassment of Austin Muslims and Stop Fomenting Hate
· You Will Not Be Successful If You Drop Christianity – George Akume’s Wife Warns Him Amidst New Wife Reports
· Hindu mum in Malaysia gets interfaith boost in race to find abducted daughter before she turns 18
· Bangladesh’s Gen Z party faces revolt over Islamist alliance, risking its future
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India
· Sambhal: Heavy security deployed ahead of anti-encroachment drive near ShahiJama Masjid
· 'Posted pro-terror content after Pahalgam attack': Mob assault cops, frees accused in Assam’s Lakhimpur; 10 arrested
· HumayunKabir accuses Mamata of ‘appeasing Hindus’, says Muslim voters shifting towards him
· Trump once again claims credit for ending India-Pakistan conflict during Netanyahu meeting
· ‘No amount of finger pointing…’: India rejects Pak remarks on treatment of minorities, slams its 'abysmal' record
· MP resident Asad Khan renounces Islam, and embraces Hinduism in Kashi
· Jharkhand school survey to get ‘Other’ religion category after objection
· Sighting of suspicious balloons on the rise in J-K, say officials after latest find of PIA-marked plane-shaped one
· BJP turned 'VandeMataram' into language of hate: Congress leader Surjewala
· Six Hindu Raksha Dal members held for distributing swords in Ghaziabad colony
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Mideast
· Hamas armed wing confirms spokesman killed by Israel in August
· Arab Coalition announces ‘limited’ airstrike targeting two ships that smuggled weapons to Yemen
· Aggression will be met with ‘immediate harsh response’: Iranian political adviser
· Pentagon announces $8.6 billion Boeing contract for F-15 jets for Israel
· Trump still eyes Turkiye jet deal despite Israel objections
· Syria reveals new post-Assad banknotes
· 2025: The most successful year in Syrian history since 1970
· Iran Central Bank governor resigns amid protests over currency drop
· Amman ranks among world’s top cities after first Quality of Life Index
· Iraq parliament elects Halbousi as speaker in first post-election session
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Arab World
· National program identifies 165 native plants for afforestation efforts in Asir
· Riyadh governor receives Lebanese ambassador
· Saudi astronauts help achieve breakthrough in cartilage-repair research
· 6 road projects costing $2bn for Riyadh underway
· Makkah Municipality to clean natural reserves
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Europe
· Two men charged after 'meat cleaver incident' at Islamic centre
· Trump ‘very angry’ about Ukrainian attack on Putin’s residence
· Watford church set for mosque conversion 'ransacked'
· Response to Kiev’s attack on Putin’s residence will not be diplomatic – Moscow
· The EU has everything to gain from peace. Why does it keep insisting on war?
· Cabinet Office withdraws Andrew papers after 'error'
· Police fired twice during fatal shooting, says IOPC
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North America
· ‘Israel would not exist today without Netanyahu’: Trump praises Israeli PM at Mar-a-Lago
· Trump threatens to ‘knock the hell’ out of Iran
· ‘We will knock them down’: Trump draws red line on Iran’s missile programme; Tehran fires back with warning
· 'Radical Islamic terrorism': FBI arrests ISIS sympathiser; attempted to provide bomb-making components
· 'Anti-Indian abuse...': Mehdi Hasan condemns 'racist' attacks on VivekRamaswamy by MAGA Christian nationalists
· Trump hopes to reach phase two of Gaza ceasefire 'very quickly'
· Missing Texas teen believed to be in 'imminent danger'
· Trump says US destroyed ‘big facility’ in Venezuela
· New year, new mayor for New York City
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Africa
· Gombe mosques, churches resist prepaid billing – Jos discos
· ‘For the sake of Allah, Prophet don’t join APC’ – NNPP begs Kano Gov Yusuf
· Muslim Students: Tinubu’s Tax Reforms Must Be Fair, Inclusive to Gain Public Trust
· Ivory Coast: Ruling party tightens grip on parliament
· Controversy grows in DRC over alleged tolerance of anti-Tutsi rhetoric
· NiDCOM, Family Appeal For Release Of Nigerian On Death Row In Saudi Arabia
· Enemies Thought I Was Finished, God Elevated Me – Defence Minister, Musa
· Your Problem Is That You Were Not Given A Ministerial Slot – Wike Blasts Makinde
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Southeast Asia
· Malaysia’s ASEAN chairmanship strengthened regional unity, says Anwar
· King receives update on construction of TunkuLaksamana Abdul Jalil Mosque in Johor
· Anwar: Asean to weigh Myanmar’s post-election developments
· Mujahid, PAS settle defamation suit out of court with public apology
· Justice in focus: Landmark rulings that tested freedoms and redefined citizenship in Malaysia’s 2025
· Perikatan youth wings say coalition decisions must be made collectively, not unilaterally
· PAS signals leadership push in Perikatan following Muhyiddin’s resignation
· ‘No plans to contest seats in Peninsular Malaysia during next general election’
· Selangor Sultan urges comprehensive flood solutions
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South Asia
· Interior Ministry Rejects International Report Labelling Afghanistan Insecure Country
· Haqqani Welcomes Efforts to Improve Afghanistan-Pakistan Relations
· UN Rapporteur Urges Independent Probe Into Killing of Former Military Officers in Tehran
· NCP’s gamble, Jamaat’s gain?
· Books Compliant with Islamic, Afghan Values Approved for Publication
· KSrelief begins distribution of food packages to 2,000 families in Kunduz
· Turkish Companies Interested in Investment in Afghanistan’s Water, Power Projects
· Over 10,000 Afghanistan and Pakistan Traders’ Shipments Stalled at Karachi Port
· U.S. Allocates $2 Billion to UN, Afghanistan Excluded from Aid
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
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‘Do I need to choose my friends based on religion?’: Woman after vigilantes disrupt her birthday at Bareilly cafe
by Manish Sahu
December 30, 2025
Grab from a purported video of vigilantes barging into the Bareilly cafe. (Express Photo)
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Three days after vigilantes disrupted her birthday celebrations at a cafe in Bareilly, while raising allegations of love jihad, the 22-year-old woman said the incident has left her distressed and afraid to step out of her house.
“I feel deeply ashamed that my friends were harassed and assaulted… Do I now need to choose my friends based on their religion?” said the woman, a final-year nursing student.
“I have confined myself to the house and not stepped out… because of fear.”
On Saturday, nearly two dozen vigilantes barged into the cafe and allegedly assaulted the birthday group and staff. The incident, videos of which went viral on social media, was purportedly triggered by the presence of two youths from the Muslim community at the party.
Police have so far arrested five people in connection with the incident. The key accused, Rishabh Thakur and Deepak Pathak, were not among them, officials said. While it was alleged that Rishabh and Deepak have links with the Bajrang Dal, the organisation’s Bareilly coordinator Aryan Chaudhary denied the claim.
Police had detained the two youths, Shaan and Waqaib, along with the café owner, ShailendraGangwar, invoking provisions of breach of peace. They were released later on bail on personal bonds, officials had said.
Hailing from Badaun district, the woman has been living in the nursing institute’s hostel for the past four years. Her father is a farmer, and she is the eldest of two siblings.
Now staying at her aunt’s house in Bareilly, she recounted what transpired on December 27. “I had invited 40 of my classmates but only 12 could attend… Waqib and Shaan were among them,” she said.
Around 12.30 pm, her friends assembled at the cafe. About an hour later, as she was cutting her birthday cake, the group of assailants allegedly barged in, raising slogans.
“They started assaulting my classmates, Waqib and Shaan… they misbehaved with the others, including me, while questioning us about our religion,” she claimed.
“My friends pleaded with them to let us leave. Although they were pushed out of the hall, the attackers continued to beat Waqib and Shaan, who suffered serious injuries,” she added, alleging that the assailants even attempted to snatch her mobile phone.
After the ruckus, she said she has not returned to her institute and has left the hostel. “I am going through depression because it has ruined my image not just locally, but across the country and even beyond. I cannot understand who gave these assailants the authority to judge people and decide who I should be friends with.”
She said her parents and relatives never objected to her having Muslim friends. “I regularly post photos with my friends on social media… I organised the birthday celebration only after asking my parents. They know who my friends are. If they have no objection, then who are these people to try to ‘guide’ me?”
She added that neither her upbringing nor her profession teaches her to judge or differentiate people on the basis of religion.
The woman further alleged that the attack appeared to be planned. “… they [the men] immediately targeted Waqib and Shaan as soon as they entered the room,” she claimed. “The police should investigate who tipped them off.”
Source: indianexpress.com
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https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/lucknow/religion-woman-vigilantes-disrupt-birthday-bareilly-cafe-10446374/
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Trump tells Hamas to disarm or ‘hell to pay’, warns Iran against resuming nuke program
December 30, 2025
PALM BEACH, Florida: US President Donald Trump is urging Hamas to disarm or would have “hell to pay” and warNed that the United States could support another major strike on Iran were it to resume rebuilding its ballistic missile or nuclear weapons programs.
“If they don’t disarm as they agreed to do, then there will be hell to pay for them,” Trump told a joint news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida.
Israel and Hamas accuse each other of major breaches of the deal and look no closer to accepting the much more difficult steps envisaged for the next phase. Hamas, which has refused to disarm, has been reasserting its control as Israeli troops remain entrenched in about half the territory.
During his Monday comments, Trump heaped the blame on the militant group for not disarming more promptly, arguing that Israel had lived up to its side of the deal and warning that Hamas was inviting grave consequences.
“They have to disarm in a fairly short period of time,” he said.
Trump publicly threw his support behind Netanyahu, who has taken a hard line on moving to the next stage of the Gaza ceasefire plan.
“I’m not concerned about anything that Israel’s doing,” Trump said. “I’m concerned about what other people are doing or maybe aren’t doing. But I’m not concerned. They’ve lived up to the plan.”
Iran’s weapons program
Trump suggested Tehran may be working to restore its weapons programs after a massive US strike in June.
“I’ve been reading that they’re building up weapons and other things, and if they are, they’re not using the sites we obliterated, but possibly different sites,” Trump told reporters during a press conference.
“We know exactly where they’re going, what they’re doing, and I hope they’re not doing it because we don’t want to waste fuel on a B-2,” he added, referring to the bomber used in the earlier strike. “It’s a 37-hour trip both ways. I don’t want to waste a lot of fuel.”
Trump, who has broached a potential nuclear deal with Tehran in recent months, said his talks with Netanyahu focused on advancing the fragile Gaza peace deal he brokered and addressing Israeli concerns over Iran and over Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Iran, which fought a 12-day war with Israel in June, said last week that it had conducted missile exercises for the second time this month.
Netanyahu said last week that Israel was not seeking a confrontation with Iran, but was aware of the reports, and said he would raise Tehran’s activities with Trump.
A second phase in Gaza?
Trump said he wanted to move to the second phase of the ceasefire deal between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas reached in October after two years of fighting in Gaza, a progression that entails international peacekeeping forces deployed in the Palestinian enclave.
Netanyahu said this month that Trump had invited him for the talks, as Washington pushes to establish transitional governance for the Palestinian enclave amid Israeli reluctance to move forward.
The deployment of the international security force was mandated by a November 17 UN Security Council resolution.
While Washington has brokered three ceasefires involving its longtime ally — between Israel and Hamas, Israel and Iran, and Israel and Lebanon — Netanyahu is wary of Israel’s foes rebuilding their forces after they were considerably weakened in multiple wars.
Overall, Trump’s comments suggested he remains firmly in Netanyahu’s camp, even as some aides have privately questioned the Israeli leader’s commitment to the Gaza ceasefire. His comments also suggested he is willing to risk additional hostilities related to Gaza and Iran, even as Trump has taken credit for resolving Israel’s wars in both places.
Trump struck a warm tone as he greeted Netanyahu before their meeting, going so far as to say that Israeli President Isaac Herzog had told him he planned to pardon Netanyahu of corruption-related charges — a conversation Herzog’s office immediately denied took place.
Netanyahu reciprocated, telling reporters after the meeting that he was gifting Trump the country’s Israel Prize, which he said has historically been reserved for Israelis.
Next steps in Gaza Ceasefire plan
Trump’s plan to end the Gaza war ultimately calls for Israel to withdraw from the Palestinian territory and Hamas to give up its weapons and forgo a governing role.
The first phase of the ceasefire included a partial Israeli withdrawal, an increase in aid and the exchange of hostages for Palestinian detainees and prisoners.
An Israeli official in Netanyahu’s circle said that the prime minister would demand that the first phase of the ceasefire be completed by Hamas returning the remains of the last Israeli hostage left in Gaza, before moving ahead to the next stages. The family of the deceased hostage, Ran Gvili, joined the prime minister’s visiting entourage.
Israel has yet to open the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt, also a condition of Trump’s plan, saying it will only do so once Gvili’s remains are returned.
Trump said that he and Netanyahu did not agree fully on the issue of the Israeli-occupied West Bank but the Republican leader did not lay out what the disagreement was.
Turkey, Syria also discussed
Before the meeting, Trump told reporters he would talk to Netanyahu about the possibility of stationing Turkish peacekeepers in Gaza. That is a fraught subject — while Trump has frequently praised Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, Israel and Turkiye have a much more circumspect relationship.
While the fighting in Gaza has abated, it has not stopped entirely. Although the ceasefire officially began in October, Israeli strikes have killed more than 400 Palestinians — most of them civilians, according to Gaza health officials — and Palestinian militants have killed three Israeli soldiers.
Netanyahu said on Monday that Israel was keen to ensure a peaceful border with Syria, and Trump said he was sure Israel would get along with President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, who took power after longtime strongman Bashar Assad was deposed last year.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2627791/middle-east
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Saudi Arabia expresses concern over UAE pressure on STC, warns against threats to its security
December 30, 2025
Riyadh: Saudi Arabia on Tuesday expressed regret over what it described as pressure by the United Arab Emirates on Southern Transitional Council (STC) forces to carry out military operations in Yemen’s Hadramout and Al-Mahra governorates, warning that such actions pose a direct threat to the Kingdom’s national security and regional stability.
In a statement, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the reported moves were inconsistent with the principles of the Arab Coalition that supports the internationally recognised government of Yemen and undermined ongoing efforts to achieve security and stability in the country.
The ministry referred to earlier statements by the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council and the coalition leadership concerning the movement of ships carrying weapons and heavy vehicles from Fujairah port to Mukalla without official authorization.
Saudi Arabia stressed that any threat to its national security constituted a “red line,” adding that it would not hesitate to take all necessary measures to confront and neutralize such risks.
The Kingdom reaffirmed its support for Yemen’s security, stability, and sovereignty, as well as its full backing of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council and its government. It also reiterated that the southern issue is a just cause that can only be addressed through dialogue as part of a comprehensive political solution involving all Yemeni parties, including the STC.
Riyadh further emphasized the importance of the UAE responding to Yemen’s request to withdraw its military forces within 24 hours and to halt military or financial support to any Yemeni faction.
The statement called for wisdom to prevail in order to preserve Gulf unity, bilateral relations, and the shared goal of regional stability and development.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2627815/saudi-arabia
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Altrincham surgeon who was stabbed outside Hale mosque receives MBE for promoting peace and forgiveness
DAVID PRIOR
December 29, 2025
Dr Nasser Kurdy
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An Altrincham surgeon who was nearly killed in a knife attack outside a Hale mosque has been awarded an MBE for his work promoting peace and forgiveness.
Dr Nasser Kurdy, 66, has been recognised in the New Year’s Honours list for services to Community Interfaith Reconciliation following more than two decades of work building bridges between different faiths.
The orthopaedic surgeon was stabbed in the back of the neck as he arrived at the Altrincham & Hale Muslim Association (AHMA) centre on Grove Lane in September 2017.
Ian Rooke, then 29 and of no fixed abode, attacked Dr Kurdy from behind, leaving him with a two-inch stab wound. The father of three was treated in hospital and discharged shortly after. Rooke was jailed for five years and four months at Manchester Crown Court after admitting wounding with intent and possessing an offensive weapon.
Following the attack, Dr Kurdy said the ordeal had made him a better person and expressed hope to be involved in his attacker’s rehabilitation.
He has since founded I4giveH8, delivering talks on forgiveness to schools, community groups and prisons, including through the Sycamore Tree restorative justice programme.
Dr Kurdy served as lay imam at AHMA from the early 2000s until 2022, regularly delivering Friday sermons and leading Islamic study circles.
For the past eight years, he has worked to strengthen ties between Muslim and Jewish communities in South Manchester. Since 2021, he has been a trustee of Friends of Roots UK, supporting reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians, and has helped raise over £20,000 in food aid for Palestinian families.
Dr Kurdy was one of a number of Greater Manchester-based people to receive awards.
Source: todaynews.co.uk
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https://altrincham.todaynews.co.uk/news/2025/12/29/altrincham-surgeon-who-was-stabbed-outside-hale-mosque-receives-mbe-for-promoting-peace-and-forgiveness/
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CAIR-Austin Calls on Gov. Abbott, Other Politicians to Condemn Harassment of Austin Muslims and Stop Fomenting Hate
December 29, 2025
Muslim civil rights and advocacy group calls on Austin PD to investigate potential violations of local laws or park regulations
(AUSTIN, TEXAS, 12/29/25) – The Austin, Texas, chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Austin) today called on Governor Greg Abbott, Attorney General Ken Paxton and Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) to condemn the targeted harassment of a group of Austin Muslims at a local public park and stop fomenting anti-Muslim hate across the state.
WATCH VIDEO OF THE INCIDENT
CAIR-Austin also called on the Austin Police Department to review the incident (Reference # 2587406) and determine whether it violated any local criminal laws or Austin Parks and Recreation regulations.
On December 26 around 7:00 a.m., during a monthly potluck breakfast at Walnut Creek Park hosted by a local Austin Muslim group, two individuals arrived and began shouting anti-Muslim slurs and cursing at Muslim families as they gathered to eat and socialize. One of the individuals was dressed in a Crusader-era costume and used a megaphone to amplify the harassment. A community member called 911, and police officers responded but did not intervene, citing free speech protections and advising the Muslim families to conclude their gathering and leave the park.
The harassment may be connected to similar incidents in other states, some of which have resulted in criminal charges.
Last month, CAIR and its Florida chapter (CAIR-Florida) welcomed the University of South Florida Police Department’s decision to file felony hate-crime–enhanced charges against two men involved in Islamophobic harassment of Muslim students praying inside a USF parking garage.
In a statement, CAIR-Austin Operations Manager ShaimaaZayan said:
“Texas Muslim families and non-profit organizations in Texas have recently faced increased targeted harassment and Islamophobic bigotry by state officials and hateful groups, and Austin is no exception. These attacks and smear campaigns against the Muslim community and the organizations that serve them should not concern the Muslim community alone. Divisive, hateful and threatening rhetoric undermines the safety and sense of belonging of all Texans.
“Local law enforcement authorities must take reports of religious harassment seriously and ensure that everyone can practice their faith and go about their daily lives without intimidation. This incident must be condemned by elected officials and reviewed for potential legal violations – just as it would be if the roles were reversed.”
The incident occurred just days before the Austin Muslim community began its celebration of January 2026 as the city’s first Austin Muslim Heritage Month (AMHM). The month will include a series of city-sponsored events highlighting the contributions and talents of Austin’s Muslim community, aimed at fostering belonging and unity among Austinites.”
Muzzammil Ahmad, an Austinite Imam who attended the event and witnessed the incident, said:
“When Muslim families show up for this monthly potluck with their children right after morning prayers, they do so in good faith, seeking joy, fresh air, and connection to one another and God’s nature. It was deeply troubling that those hateful individuals chose to intimidate and threaten us in a public place that is meant for children to play around safely.
“Muslims want what everyone else wants: to live, work, raise their children, and practice their religion freely and peacefully. Our faith teaches us the values of respect, and coexistence, and these are the values we bring with us into shared public places. We call on law enforcement to make sure these spaces remain safe and welcoming to everyone regardless of their faith.”
Earlier this year, CAIR released its 2025 Civil Rights Report, Unconstitutional Crackdowns, which reveals that Islamophobia remains at record-high levels nationwide.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR esproteger las libertadesciviles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a losmusulmanesenlosEstadosUnidos.
Source: cair.com
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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-austin-calls-on-gov-abbott-other-politicians-to-condemn-harassment-of-austin-muslims-and-stop-fomenting-hate/
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You Will Not Be Successful If You Drop Christianity – George Akume’s Wife Warns Him Amidst New Wife Reports
December 30, 2025
By Justina Otio
The wife of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, Regina Akume has warned her husband to return to Christianity or he will not be successful.
Regina, who is the member representing Gboko/Tarka Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, gave the warning during the wedding reception of the SGF’s son, which held on Sunday in Makurdi, Benue State.
She stated that her husband’s rise and achievements were rooted in his Christian faith.
A video of her comments, later circulated on social media, was shared by Idoma Television on Monday.
In the video, Akume prayed for her husband’s long life and good health, while advising him not to abandon Christianity.
She said, “I pray that the Lord will increase his years, good health of mind and body, and give him clarity in thinking and doing things right.
“And he should remember that he is a Christian, and it is Christianity that brought him this far. To drop Christianity now and go for anything else, he will not be successful.
“So my advice to him is to come back to Christianity and follow the line of Christ. We came all the way to the office of SGF, not through enemies but through Jesus Christ. And Jesus Christ is still alive and still working for us. I wish that he would come back to Christianity.”
Her comments come amid widespread discussions following reports that the SGF recently married another wife.
Akume reportedly married ZaynabNgohemba-George, the former wife of the Ooni of Ife, Oba AdeyeyeOgunwusi.
The marriage became public on December 26, 2025, after a Facebook post by Abraham Double-D Dajoh, a member of the AkumeDajoh family from Mbakor, Benue State, welcoming Zaynab into the family.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/12/30/you-will-not-be-successful-if-you-drop-christianity-george-akumes-wife-warns-him-amidst-new-wife-reports/
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Hindu mum in Malaysia gets interfaith boost in race to find abducted daughter before she turns 18
Dec 30, 2025
PETALING JAYA – With just months before her abducted daughter turns 18, M. Indira Gandhi, a Hindu, has received an unexpected lifeline: Malay-Muslim activists, including a prominent Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) leader, have pledged to help reunite her with the child she has not seen in 16 years.
The intervention on Dec 29 marks a significant shift in a case that has long involved religious and political sensitivities, with Muslim activists historically reluctant to wade into what many viewed as a contentious faith-based dispute.
In 2009, PrasanaDiksa was 11 months old when she was forcibly taken by Madam Indira’s then husband after he converted to Islam. He went into hiding amid a custody battle, and the girl’s whereabouts remain a mystery.
The renewed push to find Prasana comes as she approaches her 18th birthday on April 8, 2026, after which she will legally be an adult and custody orders may become moot. The urgency has galvanised Muslim scholar Zaharudin Muhammad – son-in-law of PAS president HadiAwang – to step forward after being approached recently by Madam Indira’s supporters.
Mr Zaharudin, who chairs the Sungai Buloh division of PAS, reframed the 16-year ordeal as a humanitarian issue transcending religious lines, pledging to leverage his influence among the Islamist party’s reported 1.3 million members to facilitate a reunion.
“This is not about legal issues for me, and it is no longer about religion or matters of faith. What concerns me is the humanitarian aspect, and this is also a responsibility in Islam,” Mr Zaharudin told a press conference.
Despite his association with the biggest Islamist party in Malaysia, Mr Zaharudin said he has joined the initiative in his personal capacity and denies any political motive.
He also said he would lean on his experience in reuniting families of different faiths in helping Madam Indira.
“Even before social media existed, I used to print thousands of posters to seek information and help reunite families. This is not my first time helping converts,” he said.
Mr Zaharudin dismissed concerns regarding potential backlash, including from within PAS or the wider Muslim community, stressing that the effort should not be misunderstood. Treating it as a religious dispute, he added, risks obscuring a basic humanitarian responsibility.
Among those who have answered Mr Zaharudin’s call is social media activist SyarulEma Rena Abu Samah, also known online as Ratu Naga.
With more than 364,000 followers on TikTok and over 203,000 on Facebook, she has vowed to use her social media presence to sustain public attention. She also warned against allowing the issue to become a communal flashpoint.
“Questions of faith belong to the individual. But the relationship between a mother and her child is not something we have the right to break,” she told the press.
Madam Indira’s bid to find her daughter is one of Malaysia’s longest-running custody disputes.
The dispute started after her former husband, who now goes by the name Muhammad Riduan Abdullah, took Prasana and changed her religion to Islam without Madam Indira’s consent.
The activist intervention comes as the legal journey remains stalled despite a 2018 landmark decision in the federal court in Madam Indira’s favour.
On Nov 22, Madam Indira joined her supporters in a Walk for Justice to Bukit Aman, the federal police headquarters, to press for action.
In response, Inspector-General of Police Mohd Khalid Ismail said on Nov 26 that the police were still tracing Prasana and her father. Mr Khalid also said there is a travel ban against Mr Riduan, but this has been disputed by Madam Indira’s lawyer.
Investigations are ongoing amid allegations that he has been drawing petrol subsidies and financial aid while in hiding.
Civil society groups have echoed the call for enforcement of court orders. Ms LatheefaKoya of legal rights group Lawyers for Liberty, who brought the activists together, said the government still has outstanding legal obligations to Madam Indira.
“The police have the capability to track down serious security threats. It is difficult to understand why this case remains unresolved,” Ms Latheefa said in the press conference.
Madam Indira’s lawyer, Mr Rajesh Nagarajan, said the help extended by the activists and a PAS leader would help open doors while sustaining public attention.
“The situation has always been about a mother being unlawfully separated from her child despite clear court orders,” Mr Rajesh told The Straits Times.
Meanwhile, Madam Indira reiterated that she would respect her daughter’s choice if she wishes to remain a Muslim. “I hope our Muslim friends can help to find Prasana. If she wants to be Muslim, I have no issue with that.”
She also wondered whether her daughter had sat the SPM examinations, Malaysia’s national secondary school-leaving exam, which ended on Dec 23.
Madam Indira acknowledged that Prasana, who may be living under a different identity, might not even know her mother is looking for her.
“At the end of the day, I want to be at peace knowing that I have done everything to find her. She may not know this now. I hope one day she will,” she said.
Source: straitstimes.com
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/hindu-mum-in-malaysia-gets-interfaith-boost-in-race-to-find-abducted-daughter-before-she-turns-18
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Bangladesh’s Gen Z party faces revolt over Islamist alliance, risking its future
Dec 29, 2025
DHAKA – A Bangladeshi youth-driven party born out of the country’s 2024 uprising is facing an open revolt from within after sealing an election alliance with an Islamist group, a move analysts say could jeopardise its future and reinforce established parties.
At least 30 senior leaders of the National Citizen Party (NCP) have openly opposed its alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami, announced on Dec 28, with several resigning in protest.
The Muslim-majority South Asian nation goes to the polls on Feb 12.
Before the deal, opinion polls had predicted Jamaat finishing a close second behind the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of former prime minister Khaleda Zia, while the NCP lagged far behind in third place.
“The NCP presented itself as a youth-driven alternative to traditional power structures. That identity is now under serious strain,” said Mr H.M. NazmulAlam, an academic.
“Youth-based movements do not collapse only because they lose elections. They collapse when they lose clarity and internal unity,” he said.
‘Alliance for greater unity’
The NCP was formed earlier in 2025 by leaders of the protests that ousted long-time prime minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, forcing her to flee to India. Driven by Gen Z activists born after the late 1990s, it says it aims to free the nation from decades of nepotism and the dominance of Hasina’s Awami League and the BNP.
With the Awami League banned, the vote will be effectively a direct contest between the BNP and Jamaat, which has trailed the other two in the past and had not been allowed to contest any elections since 2013 after a court said its registration as a political party conflicted with Bangladesh’s secular Constitution.
An interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus revoked all the restrictions on Jamaat in August 2024.
The NCP’s struggle shows the challenges of turning street power into votes and holds lessons for neighbouring Nepal, where similar youth-led protests ousted the government in 2025 and fresh elections are due in March, political analysts have said.
NCP chief Nahid Islam told a press conference late on Dec 28 that the recent killing of 32-year-old Sharif Osman Hadi, a key figure in the uprising, forced his party to seek an alliance to keep at bay forces trying to derail the election through violence.
“The dictatorship we overthrew is attempting to sabotage the election. Therefore, for the sake of greater unity, we have reached an electoral understanding with Jamaat,” said Mr Nahid, 27.
“This was a majority decision within the party, but some may be opposed to it and they are free to take their own decisions.”
Mr Hadi was shot in the head by masked assailants in Dhaka earlier in December while launching his election campaign as an independent candidate. The police say they have identified the killers but have not apprehended them.
‘Centrist idea and ideology will vanish’
Mr Nahid earlier told Reuters his organisation was weak because it had not had enough time to build itself.
It was also hampered by scarce funds and an unclear stance on key issues such as rights for women and minorities, Reuters reported in early December, citing party leaders who said alliance talks had been under way for some time.
One senior NCP leader to have resigned is Dr TasnimJara, a doctor who left a career in Britain to join the party. She is now seeking the support of nearly 5,000 voters to be allowed to contest as an independent.
“I promised you and the people of this country that I would fight for you and for building a new political culture,” she said on Facebook. “Whatever the circumstances, I am determined to keep that promise.”
Political analyst Asif Shahan, a professor at the University of Dhaka, said the NCP was “doomed”.
“If you go with Jamaat, it will help Jamaat, not you,” he said. “It will give them a liberal cover, and in return, you will become a force for the right. Your centrist idea and ideology – already poorly defined – will simply vanish.” REUTERS
Source: straitstimes.com
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India
Sambhal: Heavy security deployed ahead of anti-encroachment drive near ShahiJama Masjid
Dec 30, 2025
SAMBHAL: Security officials, including the Rapid Response Force and police personnel, have been deployed near Sambhal'sShahiJama Masjid as the district administration plans to clear illegal encroachments near the mosque's cemetery on Tuesday.
SP Kuldeep Singh said, "Adequate police force, including 9 SHOs, three inspector rank officers and one company each of PAC and RRF, are deployed. A team with drones has also been engaged."
On November 24, police and district administration officials conducted a flag march in Sambhal as part of efforts to create a sense of security among people. The march coincided with the completion of one year since violence in the city that claimed four lives, according to news agency ANI.
District Magistrate RajendraPensia said, "This is part of our regular administrative process, involving a full police and administrative team that carries out flag marches routinely. They do so in the mornings and evenings. These marches also occur at the local level, with district officers participating as well. This instils a sense of security and trust in the people towards the police and administration."
On November 17, chief minister Yogi Adityanath held a review meeting in Sambhal, assessing ongoing development works and the law-and-order situation. He directed government and district officials to develop Sambhal in a phased manner, emphasizing that the district's development is a key government priority, a release said.
In the first phase, he instructed officials to restore ancient pilgrimage sites and traditional wells. The second phase should focus on projects such as a museum and light-and-sound facilities. He also called for swift action on the construction of the District Court, jail, and PAC unit in Sambhal.
The Chief Minister reviewed the performance of several departments, including Revenue, Home, Justice, Charitable Works, PWD, Tourism-Culture, and Urban Development. He noted that Sambhal has 68 pilgrimage sites and 19 wells, and the government is working to identify and restore them. He instructed the local administration to accelerate these efforts.
Violence had erupted in Sambhal on November 24, 2024, during a survey by the Archaeological Survey of India of a Mughal-era mosque, which led to four deaths and injuries among police and locals. The survey was part of a legal process following a petition filed by senior advocate Vishnu Shanker Jain, who claimed the mosque was originally a temple.
Source: indiatimes.com
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'Posted pro-terror content after Pahalgam attack': Mob assault cops, frees accused in Assam’s Lakhimpur; 10 arrested
Dec 30, 2025
DIBRUGARH: As many as 10 people were arrested by Lakhimpur police on Monday for their involvement in a violent mob attack on a police team in Bongalmora, where officers had gone to arrest Baharul Islam, accused of posting pro-terror content on social media.
The mob not only assaulted the police personnel but also freed Islam, who is now on the run.
The incident occurred on Dec 27 in the Bongalmora area when a team from Bihpuria police station attempted to arrest Islam, who had been absconding since a case was registered against him earlier this year.
Lakhimpur senior superintendent of police (SSP) GunendraDeka told reporters that Islam was wanted for posting content on social media supporting the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, in which 26 civilians were killed.
“After the Pahalgam incident, several people posted on social media supporting the heinous act. One such person was Baharul Islam, who used a fake account,” the SSP said. He added that police had gathered sufficient evidence before registering a case, but Islam went underground to evade arrest.
Acting on intelligence inputs, the police team tracked Islam to Sonapur in Bongalmora and nabbed him on Dec 27. However, as officers were preparing to transport him to the police station, they were attacked by a mob of more than 10 people.
“A group led by Atabur Rahman attacked the police team and freed Baharul Islam,” Deka said. The assault left sub-inspector GokulJoyshree and the driver seriously injured, while several other personnel sustained minor injuries.
The SSP described the attack as premeditated, identifying Rahman as the main conspirator. “It was a planned assault,” he stated. Following the incident, a case was registered at Bihpuria police station under Sections 191, 296, 109, 121, 115, and 324 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The 10 people arrested on Monday were identified as Afazuddin, Ikramul Hussain, Fakhruddin Ahmed, Noor Hussain, Gulzar Hussain, NazrulHaque, Kazimuddin, Mohd Abdul Hamid, Bilal Hussain, and Atabur Rahman. According to the SSP, several of them had prior criminal records.
“More people were involved and will be arrested soon,” Deka said. He added that Baharul Islam, previously arrested for dealing in fake gold, has once again gone underground but assured that he would be apprehended. “He will be in police custody soon,” the SSP said.
Source: indiatimes.com
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HumayunKabir accuses Mamata of ‘appeasing Hindus’, says Muslim voters shifting towards him
by Tanusree Bose
December 29, 2025
Suspended Trinamool Congress MLA HumayunKabir on Monday claimed that his recently launched political outfit, Janata Unnayan Party (JUP), would get the minority votes in the upcoming Assembly elections in West Bengal.
West Bengal will go to the polls early next year.
“In 2026, the minority vote will come to us. Mamata Banerjee’s TMC will not get it. The minority voters want their own representatives. If required, I will field 200 candidates and 90 of them will be Muslims,” said the Bharatpur MLA.
Accusing TMC of doing “communal politics” by “appeasing Hindus”, Kabir said, “In the 2026 Assembly elections, it will be Hindus versus Muslims. (BJP leader) SuvenduAdhikari is doing Hindu politics, and (TMC supremo) Mamata Banerjee is also doing Hindu appeasement by building Jagannath Temple, organising Durga Puja Carnival, doling out Durga Puja funds to clubs.”
“I will be the leader for Muslims. In 2026, the division between Hindu and Muslim votes will come out clearly in the open. Our main target is the Muslim votes,” Kabir said.
Questioning the chief minister laying the foundation stone of ‘DurgaAngan’, a cultural complex dedicated to Goddess Durga in New Town in Kolkata, the suspended TMC MLA said, “Government money cannot be spent like this. Why is the BJP quiet now? Why are they not going to court? It must then be understood that Mamata Banerjee and the BJP have some understanding. The state administration is completely spineless and will act only on the chief minister’s orders.”
Responding to TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee’s comment that those building religious places should stay out of politics, Kabir said, “If this suggestion is for me, then it should also apply to his aunt (Mamata Banerjee) also.”
On Sunday, the TMC MP had said, “Everyone has the right to build a religious place, but they shouldn’t bring politics into it… If you are in politics, then build hospitals, schools.”
“I will start the construction of the Babri mosque once all the required paperwork is completed,” Kabir said.
He also alleged that the police started to “target” him after he laid the foundation stone for a Babri-style mosque in Murshidabad.
“Since the day I laid the foundation stone for the Babri-style masjid, the police have been after me,” Kabir said, alleging harassment of his family by police.
On Sunday, police detained Kabir’s son Ghulam Nabi Azad, popularly known as Robin — for allegedly assaulting Kabir’s personal security officer (PSO). Azad was later released on bail.
“They tried to slap non-bailable sections but could not… Anyone can make allegations against me and my son, but without notice, how can they come to my residence with such force? They could not give any answer,” Kabir said.
Threatening to “take the police to task”, Kanbir said: “If anyone thinks that by getting orders from Kolkata, they will file false cases against me, or my party workers in 27 police stations of Murshidabad, then they are wrong. In Lalgola, police have been roaming around my daughter’s in-laws’ place with a measuring tape for the last four days. They have five properties. Let them touch my son-in-law, my daughter, or their properties. What I have said, I will do. I will take the police to task.”
Source: indianexpress.com
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Trump once again claims credit for ending India-Pakistan conflict during Netanyahu meeting
30 Dec 2025
US President Donald Trump has once again claimed that his administration played an important role in ending the military confrontation between India and Pakistan, repeating the assertion during a bilateral meeting with visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago on Monday.
As he opened discussions with Netanyahu and senior members of his delegation, Trump said he had “settled eight wars” during the first year of his second term in the White House, though he complained that he had received little recognition for these efforts.
Among the conflicts he cited were hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which he claimed to have resolved by threatening both countries with steep trade penalties.
Trump said he warned the two sides that trade would be cut off and tariffs raised sharply if fighting continued, prompting what he described as a swift resolution.
He then went on to repeat his claim regarding South Asia, stating that he had stopped the fighting between India and Pakistan.
“Settled eight wars, but we don’t know the countries. Azerbaijan… It’s good when you can say it,” Trump said.
He added that Russian President Vladimir Putin had once expressed surprise at how quickly the conflict was resolved, claiming, “I literally settled it in one day.”
Trump further asserted that trade pressure had been central to his strategy. “They do trade. I said, ‘We’re going to cut you off from trade. No more trade,’ to both of them… Then I put 200 per cent tariffs… the next day they called. Thirty-five years of fighting, and they stopped,” he said.
Referring specifically to South Asia, Trump added, “India. How about India and Pakistan… So I did eight of them.”
Since May 10, when Trump announced on social media that India and Pakistan had agreed to a “full and immediate” ceasefire following what he described as a “long night” of talks mediated by Washington, the US president has repeated the claim more than 70 times in public remarks, meetings with foreign leaders, and overseas visits.
However, India has consistently rejected claims of third-party mediation, maintaining that the decision to halt hostilities was reached bilaterally.
The escalation began after India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in retaliation for the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which killed 26 civilians. This was followed by four days of intense cross-border drone and missile exchanges between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
On May 10, India and Pakistan announced an understanding to end the conflict, bringing the brief but severe military standoff to a close.
Source: newindianexpress.com
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‘No amount of finger pointing…’: India rejects Pak remarks on treatment of minorities, slams its 'abysmal' record
29 Dec 2025
India on Monday rejected remarks by Pakistan’s foreign ministry on the condition of minorities in the country.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson RandhirJaiswal said Pakistan’s "horrific and systemic victimisation" of minorities across faiths is a well-established fact, and that no amount of "finger pointing" would "obfuscate" the issue.
Rejecting the comments, New Delhi said Islamabad’s abysmal record on the treatment of minorities “speaks for itself”.
“We reject the reported remarks from a country whose abysmal record on this front speaks for itself. Pakistan’s horrific and systemic victimisation of minorities of various faiths is a well-established fact. No amount of finger-pointing will obfuscate it,” Jaiswal said.
He was responding to media queries on comments made by Pakistan foreign ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi.
Earlier on Monday, Andrabi said the “persecution of minorities in India is a matter of deep concern”, when asked about vandalism reported during Christmas celebrations in some parts of the country. He referred to what he described as “recent condemnable incidents” during Christmas, as well as alleged campaigns targeting Muslims.
Andrabi also called on the international community to take note of incidents “targeting religious minorities” in India, including “Christmas-related vandalism and attacks on Muslims”, and to take steps to protect the fundamental rights of vulnerable groups.
In November, Pakistan had raised objections to the participation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the flag-hoisting ceremony at the Ram Temple.
Those remarks were also rejected by the Ministry of External Affairs, which described them as politically motivated and unacceptable.
“We have seen the reported remarks and reject them with the contempt they deserve. As a country with a deeply stained record of bigotry, repression, and systemic mistreatment of its minorities, Pakistan has no moral standing to lecture others,” Jaiswal had said at the time.
Source: newindianexpress.com
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MP resident Asad Khan renounces Islam, and embraces Hinduism in Kashi
December 29, 2025
Asad Khan, a resident of Sagar district in Madhya Pradesh, embraced Sanatan Dharma after arriving in Kashi. His purification and religious rituals were performed according to Vedic rites on a boat in the Ganges River, in the presence of 21 Brahmins on Monday.
Asad Khan was purified by Brahmins and given a new name, AtharvaTyagi. Sudhir Singh, the president of Hanuman Sena, said that the ceremony was held in the Ganga River in front of AssiGhat. Atharva’s family had adopted another religion under pressure a long time ago. He had long desired to embrace Sanatan Dharma.
Atharva contacted Brahmins and the Hanuman Sena in Kashi through social media and discussed performing the rituals for his return to the faith.
Alok Yogi, who performed the rituals, said that Asad was first purified, and then, after the puja, he was given his new name, AtharvaTyagi, marking his return to the faith.
According to Atharva, he is an engineer and a resident of Madhya Pradesh. His entire family lives in the Sagar district and still follows Islam.
Atharva said that since childhood, he used to visit temples and perform prayers, but as he grew older, he faced difficulties visiting temples because of his name, Asad. Atharva is a devotee of Bajrang Bali (Lord Hanuman).
He was facing difficulties in performing prayers and, during this time, was deeply affected by the incidents happening to Hindus in Bangladesh. He said he made this decision to live his life in accordance with his beliefs.
Source: thestatesman.com
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Jharkhand school survey to get ‘Other’ religion category after objection
by ShubhamTigga
December 30, 2025
The Jharkhand Education Department has introduced an ‘Other’ option in the religion column of the DAHAR (Digital Habitation Mapping and Real-time Monitoring) 2.0 survey for schoolchildren, following objections raised by Adivasi groups over the exclusion of tribal religious identities from data collection process.
The DAHAR 2.0 survey is being conducted by the Jharkhand Education Project Council under the SamagraShiksha framework to prepare the annual work plan and budget for school education by mapping enrolment and dropout data of children aged between three and 18 years.
Earlier, the religion column in the survey form had six options — Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Jain and Buddhist — with no provision for Adivasi children who identify with Sarna or other indigenous belief systems. Adivasi organisations and leaders had objected to the format, arguing that the absence of an appropriate category would result in “forceful conversion” of Adivasis into Hinduism with government support.
Following the objections, the Education Department modified the portal and added an ‘Other’ religion option.
According to officials, the DAHAR survey, introduced in Jharkhand over a decade ago and later upgraded as DAHAR 2.0, is a key tool used by both the Centre and the state to assess school coverage, identify dropouts, and plan infrastructure and welfare interventions under the SamagraShiksha campaign.
Adivasi leaders, including Premshahi Munda and former minister GeetashreeOraon, had earlier flagged that the absence of an ‘Other’ category in school-level surveys effectively rendered Adivasi religious identity invisible in official education data, potentially affecting policy planning and budget allocations.
Congress leader GeetashreeOraon alleged that the Centre had been broadly doing away with the ‘Other’ religion option from government portals since 2020, leading to the erosion of the constitutionally recognised identity of Adivasis, and that the same approach is now being reflected in school-level data collection exercises.
“The Sarna community strongly opposes the conduct of any census or survey in a Fifth Schedule state like Jharkhand without a separate or appropriate religion code for Adivasis. This is the government’s strategy to forcefully bring the Adivasis into the Hindu fold and to destroy the Sarna identity,” she said.
Speaking to The Indian Express, JEPC Project Director Shashi Ranjan said the DAHAR 2.0 survey format was adopted from the Union government and that the state had merely digitised an existing questionnaire used for annual out-of-school children surveys.
“This is an annual exercise. Earlier, it was done physically through a detailed form in which the ‘Other’ category was already in-built. When we made it app-based, some fields did not reflect properly due to technical issues. These issues have been corrected,” he said.
Source: indianexpress.com
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Sighting of suspicious balloons on the rise in J-K, say officials after latest find of PIA-marked plane-shaped one
by Arun Sharma
December 30, 2025
Amid continued search operations and heightened vigil across Jammu and Kashmir, Army troops in the Pargwal area along the Line of Control (LOC) on Monday seized an aeroplane-shaped balloon, with markings of the Pakistan flag and the letters PIA — a commonly used acronym for Pakistan International Airlines — written on it.
The J&K Police also seized a drone lying abandoned in the fields at Gohled village near the LoC in Poonch district’s Mendhar tehsil.
The seized balloon was found lying in the fields in GurahManhasa village, officials said, adding that PIA was written on it in both English and Urdu. Investigations have been initiated to find out how it reached the area, they said.
Though such balloons with Pakistani markings have been found in parts of J&K in the past, their sightings have increased, officials said. Last Friday, a similar balloon was found in the fields in Samba district’s Ramgarh area along the International Border with Pakistan. After being informed by locals, police seized it and launched searches to find other such objects.
Police sources said that these are only balloons and have not been found carrying any explosive or other material so far.
The detection of such balloons is not confined only to Jammu province. Security forces on Wednesday seized 10 balloons carrying a Pakistani flag near Sarna Top along the LoC in Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has 240 km of the International Border with Pakistan, and 740 km of the LoC.
While the Army and the BSF keep watch 24×7 along the border to prevent any cross-border activity by terrorists and narcotics smugglers, the J&K Police, along with other security forces, maintain vigil in the hinterland. However, terror outfits and Pakistan-based drug syndicates have been found dropping arms and ammunition, as well as narcotics, through drones, which are often seized by security forces and police from time to time, officials said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Inspector General of Police for Rajouri-Poonch range, Tajinder Singh, urged officers to augment operations through innovative intelligence collection and analysis techniques.
Addressing a comprehensive intelligence, security and crime review meeting in Poonch on Sunday, he emphasised on the strengthening of human intelligence at the grassroots level for timely inputs and proactive policing to counter cross-border narcotics smuggling and terror networks.
Source: indianexpress.com
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BJP turned 'VandeMataram' into language of hate: Congress leader Surjewala
30 Dec 2025
CHANDIGARH: Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala on Tuesday alleged that the BJP had turned the slogan "VandeMataram", which signifies respect for the motherland, into a language of hatred.
He accused the BJP of following a divisive political model in Haryana by repeatedly pitting communities against each other. He said the state has been divided along multiple lines over the years- Jat versus non-Jat, Punjabi versus Aggarwal, Ravidasia versus Valmiki among the poor, Sikh versus Hindu, and attempts to create divisions between Brahmins and economically weaker sections.
The Rajya Sabha MP alleged that the party polarised communities in Mewat by dividing Hindus and Muslims.
The leader said that the spread of hatred has reached such an extent that even Kaithal-Kapisthal, regarded as a sacred land associated with Lord Krishna's teachings, is witnessing people abusing and branding their own as outsiders.
Appealing to the people of Haryana, especially the youth and farmers, he asked who was responsible for sowing the "crop of hatred" in a state known for feeding the nation through agriculture.
He said the time for silence was over and urged people to rise above divisions and follow the message of love, duty and righteousness as taught in the Bhagavad Gita.
When the law appears helpless before offenders, the only remaining hope lies in the collective conscience and wisdom of the people of Haryana, Surjewala said.
Source: newindianexpress.com
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Six Hindu Raksha Dal members held for distributing swords in Ghaziabad colony
30 Dec 2025
GHAZIABAD: Police have arrested six members of Hindu Raksha Dal for distributing over two dozen swords in Shalimar Garden colony, an officer said.
These six are among the 17 office bearers of the Hindu Raksha Dal, including its president BhupendraChowdhry 'Pinki', who have been named as accused in the case. Bhupendra is on the run.
More than two dozen unidentified members of the group have been booked, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Trans Hindon) NimishPatil said.
The case has been registered under sections 191(2) (guilty of rioting), 191(3) (guilty of rioting, being armed with a deadly weapon or with anything which, used as a weapon of offence, is likely to cause death), 127(2) (wrongful confinement) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, he said.
Police teams are raiding the hideouts of the group members who took out a procession in the colony.
Raising pro-Hindu and anti-Muslim slogans, they went door-to-door in the area, distributing weapons.
"Police will not permit any outfit to disturb harmony and law and order. All the named and unnamed accused will be nabbed soon. All of them are currently absconding," Patil said on Monday.
Meanwhile, Bhupendra released a video in which he said that 250 weapons have been distributed among people to face Muslims who "attack Hindu families and molest Hindu girls and women".
"Hindus must be well-equipped with weapons to fight Muslims. Hindu Raksha Dal will help the Hindu community. These days, the condition of Hindus in Bangladesh is very miserable. Hindus are being killed there.
We will not let the condition of Hindus become like that of Hindus in Bangladesh," he said in the video.
DCP Patil said police are keeping a close watch on the law and order situation in the area, which is surrounded by Muslim-dominated areas like Shaheed Nagar and Pasonda village.
Source: newindianexpress.com
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Mideast
Hamas armed wing confirms spokesman killed by Israel in August
December 29, 2025
GAZA CITY: Hamas’s armed wing confirmed on Monday the death of its spokesperson, Abu Obeida, months after Israel announced he had been killed in an air strike in Gaza.
The Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades released a video statement on its Telegram channel, saying: “We pause in reverence before... the masked man loved by millions... the great martyred commander and spokesperson of the Qassam Brigades, Abu Obeida.”
Israel previously announced it had killed Abu Obeida in a strike on Gaza on August 30.
During the war, Abu Obeida, whose real name was Hudhayfa Samir Al-Kahlout, emerged as a central figure eagerly awaited by Gazans, as well as by Arab and international media, for official statements from Hamas’s military wing, particularly those related to prisoner-exchange operations.
Born on February 11, 1985, and raised in the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, Abu Obeida joined Hamas at an early age before becoming a member of the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades.
He later became the group’s sole spokesman, delivering video statements in military uniform with his face consistently concealed by a red keffiyeh.
He had been the target of multiple Israeli assassination attempts.
According to Hamas officials, Abu Obeida embodied what they describe as “resistance” and was known for fiery and impactful speeches, many of which included threats against Israel or announcements of military operations.
“For many years, only a very small circle of Hamas officials knew his true identity,” a Hamas official told AFP.
Israel has decimated Hamas’s leadership, saying it seeks to eradicate the group following Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which triggered the war.
The video announcing Abu Obeida’s death was delivered by a masked man dressed in the former spokesperson’s distinctive style, who said he would adopt his predecessor’s name for future statements.
In the same video, he also announced the deaths of four other Hamas commanders in Israeli attacks during the war.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2627769/middle-east
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Arab Coalition announces ‘limited’ airstrike targeting two ships that smuggled weapons to Yemen
December 30, 2025
RIYADH: The Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen on Tuesday said it conducted a “limited” airstrike targeting two ships that smuggled weapons and other military hardware into Mukalla in southern Yemen.
In a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the Coalition Forces spokesman, Major General Turki Al-Maliki, said that two ships coming from the port of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates entered the Port of Mukalla in Hadramaut without obtaining official permits from the Joint Forces Command of the Coalition.
“The crews of the two ships disabled the tracking systems of the two ships and unloaded a large quantity of weapons and combat vehicles to support the Southern Transitional Council forces in the eastern governorates of Yemen (Hadramawt, Al-Mahra) with the aim of fueling the conflict. This is a clear violation of imposing a truce and reaching a peaceful solution, as well as a violation of UN Security Council Resolution No. (2216) of 2015 AD,” said the spokesman.
The coalition urged civilians and fishermen to evacuate the Port of Mukalla, signaling that a major military operation to force an STC withdrawal could be imminent.
Al-Maliki said the Coalition Forces acted on a request by Rashad Al-Alimi, the president of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, “to take all necessary military measures to protect civilians in the governorates of Hadramawt and Al-Mahra.”
Al-Alimi, the president of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, warned last week that unilateral actions by the STC were pushing the country toward a dangerous tipping point.
“Given the danger and escalation posed by these weapons, which threaten security and stability, the Coalition Air Forces conducted a limited military operation this morning targeting weapons and combat vehicles unloaded from the two ships at the port of Al-Mukalla. This was done after documenting the unloading, and the military operation was carried out in accordance with international humanitarian law and its customary rules, ensuring no collateral damage occurred,” spokesman Al-Maliki said on Tuesday.
He affirmed the Coalition’s "continued commitment to de-escalation and enforcing calm in the governorates of Hadramawt and Al-Mahra, and to prevent any military support from any country to any Yemeni faction without coordination with the legitimate Yemeni government and the Coalition. This is aimed at ensuring the success of the Kingdom and the Coalition’s efforts to achieve security and stability and prevent the conflict from spreading.”
Disregarding previous agreements with the Coalition, the group calling itself Southern Transitional Council, or STC, launched a sweeping military campaign early in December, seizing the governorates of Hadramaut along the Saudi border and the eastern governorate of Al-Mahra in Yemen’s border with Oman.
The UAE-backed STC forces captured the city of Seiyun, including its international airport and the presidential palace. They also took control of the strategic PetroMasila oilfields, which account for a massive portion of Yemen’s remaining oil wealth.
This prompted Saudi Arabia to issue a firm demand for the STC to withdraw and hand over the seized areas to the National Shield Forces, a Saudi-backed unit.
The coalition warned that any military movements undermining de-escalation efforts would be dealt with immediately to protect civilians, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
On Dec. 26, the UAE issued a statement welcoming Saudi Arabia’s efforts to support security and stability in Yemen.
The statement carried by state news agency WAM praised Saudi Arabia’s constructive role in advancing the interests of the Yemeni people and supporting their legitimate aspirations for stability and prosperity.
Yemen declares state of emergency
The leader of Yemen's presidential council declared a state of emergency and cancelled a security pact with the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday in response to the Abu Dhabi-backed separatists seizure of swathes of territory.
"The Joint Defence Agreement with the United Arab Emirates is hereby cancelled," a statement said, while a separate decree announced a 90-day state of emergency including a 72-hour air, sea and land blockade.
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Aggression will be met with ‘immediate harsh response’: Iranian political adviser
December 30, 2025
TEHRAN: A top political adviser to Iran’s supreme leader said on Monday that any aggression against the country would be met with an “immediate harsh response,” after US President Donald Trump threatened to “eradicate” any attempt by Tehran to rebuild its nuclear program.
“Iran’s #Missile_Capability and defense are not containable or permission-based. Any aggression will face an immediate #Harsh_Response beyond its planners’ imagination,” Ali Shamkhani wrote on X.
Speaking at a news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday in Florida, Trump threatened to “eradicate” any attempt by Tehran to rebuild its nuclear program or ballistic missile arsenal following US and Israeli strikes earlier this year.
During their fifth meeting in the United States since Trump’s return to power this year, Netanyahu also appeared to have steered the US leader toward focusing on Israel’s concerns about Iran.
Israeli officials and media have expressed concern in recent months that Iran is rebuilding its ballistic missile arsenal after it came under attack during the 12-day war with Israel in June.
Trump said Iran “may be behaving badly” and was looking at new nuclear sites to replace those targeted by US strikes during the same conflict, as well as restoring its missiles.
“I hope they’re not trying to build up again because if they are, we’re going have no choice but very quickly to eradicate that buildup,” Trump said, adding that the US response “may be more powerful than the last time.”
But Trump said he believed Iran was still interested in a deal with Washington on its nuclear and missile programs. Tehran denies that it is seeking nuclear weapons.
Iran on Monday denounced the reports as a “psychological operation” against Tehran, emphasizing it was fully prepared to defend itself, and warning renewed aggression would “result in harsher consequences” for Israel.
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Pentagon announces $8.6 billion Boeing contract for F-15 jets for Israel
December 30, 2025
WASHINGTON: Boeing was given an $8.6 billion contract for the F-15 Israel Program, the Pentagon said on Monday, after US President Donald Trump met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida.
“This contract provides for the design, integration, instrumentation, test, production, and delivery of 25 new F-15IA aircraft for the Israeli Air Force with an option for an additional 25 F-15IA aircraft,” the Pentagon said.
The Pentagon said the contract involved foreign military sales to Israel. The US has long been by far the largest arms supplier to its closest Middle East ally.
Pro-Palestinian and anti-war protesters around the US had demanded an end to Washington’s military support for Israel due to its devastating assault on Gaza but those demands have not been met in the administrations of President Donald Trump and former President Joe Biden.
Contract work will be performed in St. Louis, and was expected to be complete by Dec. 31, 2035, the Pentagon said in a statement.
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Trump still eyes Turkiye jet deal despite Israel objections
December 30, 2025
PALM BEACH, United States: US President Donald Trump said Monday he was considering selling top-end F-35 fighter jets to Turkiye, during a visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who adamantly opposes the move.
“We’re thinking about it very seriously,” Trump said when asked about an F-35 deal for Turkiye as he met Netanyahu at the US leader’s Florida club.
The United States booted Turkiye from development of the F-35, a top-of-the-line stealth plane, in 2019 after the NATO ally went ahead with purchases of missile defense from Russia.
Trump, however, has warm relations with Turkish President RecepTayyip Erdogan, despite the veteran Islamist-rooted leader’s fiery denunciations of Israel’s devastating offensive in Gaza.
Israeli policymakers argue that F-35s would benefit Turkiye in a potential war. Israel and Turkiye are at odds over war-ravaged Syria, which neighbors both countries.
Asked about the potential for conflict between Israel and Turkiye, Trump called Erdogan “a very good friend.”
“We’re not going have a problem,” Trump said of Israel and Turkiye. “Nothing’s going to happen.”
Trump in his first term also agreed to sell F-35s to the United Arab Emirates after it recognized Israel.
He more recently voiced support for F-35 sales to Saudi Arabia, despite longstanding US policy that Israel must have a military edge over potential regional adversaries.
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Syria reveals new post-Assad banknotes
December 29, 2025
DAMASCUS: Syrian leader Ahmad Al-Sharaa unveiled on Monday new banknotes replacing those showing ousted ruler Bashar Assad and his family, hoping the Syrian pound can regain some of the value lost to over a decade of war.
Improving the standing of the Syrian pound is among the greatest challenges for Syria’s new authorities, who will remove two zeros, in a process known as redenomination.
The new bills, which range from 10 to 500 Syrian pounds, will enter circulation on January 1. They show images of roses, wheat, olives, oranges and other agricultural symbols for which Syria is famous.
After unveiling the banknotes, Sharaa said the new currency marks “the end of a previous, unlamented phase and the beginning of a new phase that the Syrian people... aspire to.”
“The new currency design is an expression of the new national identity and a move away from the veneration of individuals.”
Since the start of Syria’s civil war in 2011, the pound has plunged from 50 to around 11,000 against the greenback, and Syrians are forced to carry huge wads of banknotes even for basic needs like grocery shopping.
The removal of the zeros, which does not impact the currency’s value, was done to make transactions easier and restore trust in the Syrian pound.
“If someone wants to buy something simple, they need to carry bags in order to trade, so people go for dollars,” Sharaa said, adding that the currency revamp will boost “the national currency within the country and strengthen trust.”
“Syria deserves a strong economy and a stable currency.”
Syria’s old banknotes were printed in Russia, Assad’s former backer.
When asked by journalists, Syrian central bank chief Abdul Qadir Al-Hasriya did not specify where the new currency will be printed.
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2025: The most successful year in Syrian history since 1970
ANAN TELLO
December 29, 2025
LONDON: One year after the fall of Bashar Assad, Syrians are holding fast to hope as 2025 emerges as the country’s most diplomatically successful year in about five decades, marked by renewed international engagement and regional reintegration, even as the legacy of repression and war remains deeply etched into daily life.
The scale of that change is best understood against the longevity of the rule that preceded it. Modern Syria was shaped by more than five decades of Assad family dominance, beginning when Hafez Assad, then defense minister, seized power in a military coup on Nov. 16, 1970.
He formally became president in March 1971, inaugurating an era of centralized authority and political repression that would persist through his son’s presidency.
Over the following decades, Syria drifted deeper into rigid Cold War alignments, recurrent confrontations with its neighbors and, eventually, entrenched international isolation. That trajectory hardened under both Hafez and Bashar Assad, leaving little room for political reform and laying the groundwork for the uprising that erupted in 2011.
But today, post-Assad optimism was on display earlier this month, when thousands gathered in cities including Damascus, Homs, and Aleppo to mark the anniversary of Assad’s downfall.
In Damascus’s Umayyad Square, crowds danced to an Arabic song repeating the chorus, “Raise your head up high, you’re a free Syrian,” reflecting aspirations shaped by nearly 14 years of civil war.
Behind the public celebrations, analysts say Assad’s removal opened a rare historical window.
“Syria has opened a new chapter that many once thought impossible,” Nanar Hawach, a senior Syria analyst at the International Crisis Group, told Arab News. “Diplomatic ties are rebuilding, investment is returning, and the country is beginning to shake off years of isolation.”
Even so, he added, the country’s future hinges on developments at home. “To maintain this momentum, the government needs to focus internally: prioritizing day-to-day security and building trust with all communities.
“External support remains vital, but lasting peace will depend on Syrians feeling safe, included, and represented in the new order they are working to build.”
That view is shared by Comfort Ero, the ICG’s president and CEO. “Syria has made incredible strides forward on the international stage in the past year — forging partnerships, attracting funding and securing the easing of some of its most crippling sanctions,” she told Arab News. “But its future now depends on what happens at home.”
Indeed, the past year brought a wave of diplomatic normalization. Syria restored regional and international ties, saw US and European sanctions lifted or suspended, and rejoined major global forums.
The war-weary country reappeared at high-profile gatherings including the Arab League Summit in Baghdad, the Russian-Arab Summit, the World Economic Forum in Davos, and the Doha Forum.
That momentum culminated in November with interim President Ahmad Al-Sharaa’s visit to the White House, the first such visit by a Syrian leader since independence from France in 1946.
During the trip, Syria formally joined the US-led Global Coalition Against Daesh, days after the US Treasury removed Al-Sharaa, a former Al-Qaeda supporter who once had a $10 million bounty for his capture, from its Specially Designated Global Terrorist sanctions list.
Similarly, the UN Security Council adopted on Nov. 6 a US-backed resolution delisting Al-Sharaa and Interior Minister Anas Hasan Khattab, a move widely seen as a powerful signal of international recognition of Syria’s political transition.
These diplomatic gains followed the dramatic moment on Dec. 8, 2024, when Assad fled to Moscow as a coalition of rebel groups, led by Al-Sharaa, then-commander of the armed group Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham, seized Damascus in a lightning offensive.
Within two months, the new military command named Al-Sharaa transitional president, repealed the 2012 constitution, and dissolved the regime’s parliament, army, and security agencies.
In March, he signed a draft constitutional declaration establishing a five-year transitional period and announced a transitional cabinet.
Economic relief soon followed. The EU suspended major sanctions; the UK lifted asset freezes and most sanctions; and the US ended its comprehensive sanctions program and twice suspended the Caesar Act before permanently repealing it on Dec. 17 — a move many believe will facilitate foreign investment and speed reconstruction.
The Caesar Act had long blocked Syrian banks from accessing the global financial system, restricting external transfers and limiting correspondent banking relationships. Its repeal marked the culmination of a sustained diplomatic push led by Riyadh.
In May, during a high-level visit to Saudi Arabia, US President Donald Trump announced from Riyadh the lifting of sanctions on Syria and met the following day with Al-Sharaa. Around the same time, Saudi Arabia and Qatar paid off Syria’s $15.5 million World Bank debt.
Investment activity soon accelerated. In July and August, Syria had signed 47 investment agreements worth more than $6.4 billion with Saudi companies and secured $14 billion in deals with companies from Qatar, the UAE, Italy, and Turkiye, targeting transport, infrastructure, and real estate.
Diplomatic engagement continued into the fall. In September, Al-Sharaa addressed the UN General Assembly — the first Syrian head of state to do so since 1967. He pledged accountability and national rebuilding.
While in New York, he held meetings across diplomatic and policy circles, including a highly symbolic discussion with former CIA director David Petraeus.
Assad’s fall and early signs of recovery have also encouraged many displaced people to return to their original towns and villages.
According to the UN Refugee Agency, more than 1.2 million Syrians have voluntarily returned from neighboring countries since December 2024, alongside nearly 1.9 million internally displaced people who have gone back to their home areas.
At the same time, Syrians with the means to do so are reopening small businesses and rebuilding homes, even without reliable public services and amid widespread destruction.
Marking the anniversary of Assad’s fall on Dec. 7, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged the international community to “stand firmly behind this Syrian-led, Syrian-owned transition,” stressing the need for sustained humanitarian support, fewer barriers to reconstruction, and backing for economic recovery.
“On this anniversary,” he said, “we stand united in purpose — to build a foundation of peace and prosperity and renew our pledge to a free, sovereign, united, and inclusive Syria.”
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Iran Central Bank governor resigns amid protests over currency drop
December 29, 2025
TEHRAN: The head of Iran’s Central Bank resigned on Monday as protests erupted in Tehran and several other cities after the country’s currency plummeted to a new record low against the US dollar.
State TV reported the resignation of Mohammed Reza Farzin, as hundreds of traders and shopkeepers rallied on Saadi Street in downtown Tehran and in the Shush neighborhood near Tehran’s main Grand Bazaar.
The official IRNA news agency confirmed protest gatherings.
Witnesses reported similar rallies in other major cities, including Isfahan in central Iran, Shiraz in the south, and Mashhad in the northeast.
In some places in Tehran, police fired tear gas to disperse protesters.
Witnesses said that traders shut their shops and asked others to do the same.
The semi-official ILNA news agency reported that many businesses stopped trading, even though some kept their shops open.
On Sunday, protests were limited to two major mobile markets in downtown Tehran, where the demonstrators chanted anti-government slogans.
Iran’s rial on Sunday plunged to 1.42 million to the dollar.
On Monday, it traded at 1.38 million rials to the dollar.
Reports about Farzin’s possible resignation have circulated over the past week.
When he took office in 2022, the rial was trading at around 430,000 to the dollar.
The rapid depreciation is compounding inflationary pressure, pushing up prices of food and other daily necessities and further straining household budgets, a trend that could worsen with a gasoline price change introduced in recent days.
According to the state statistics center, the inflation rate in December rose to 42.2 percent from the same period last year and is 1.8 percentage points higher than in November.
Food prices rose 72 percent, and health and medical items were up 50 percent from December last year, according to the statistics center.
Reports in official Iranian media that the government plans to increase taxes in the Iranian new year, which begins on March 21, have raised further concern.
Iran’s currency was trading at 32,000 rials to the dollar at the time of the 2015 nuclear accord that lifted international sanctions in exchange for tight controls on Iran’s nuclear program.
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Amman ranks among world’s top cities after first Quality of Life Index
December 29, 2025
AMMAN: Jordan’s capital Amman has completed its first Quality of Life Index, ranking among the world’s leading cities to be assessed under the globally recognized framework, it was reported on Monday.
As a result, the city has become only the second in the Arab world — after Saudi Arabia’s Madinah — to be ranked in the program.
The Greater Amman Municipality said the city placed 10th globally out of 100 participating cities, with its index set to be officially listed on the international Quality of Life platform, the Jordan News Agency reported.
The assessment was developed in collaboration with the Quality of Life Initiative of the UN Human Settlements Programme — known as UN-Habitat — to advance urban well-being and human-centered development.
The Quality of Life Index combines objective data with residents’ perceptions, using global well-being indicators alongside local measures, offering a comprehensive picture of daily life.
The index measures performance across nine key areas: basic services, mobility, culture and recreation, education, environment, economy, governance, health and well-being, and housing and social cohesion.
Yousef Shawarbeh, the mayor of Amman, said the initiative aimed to support the city’s long-term vision of becoming a prosperous, inclusive and sustainable urban center, Petra reported.
He added that the index provided deeper insight into residents’ lived experiences and would help guide policymaking to improve quality of life.
AkramKhraisat, director of the Amman Urban Observatory, said the city’s participation marked a major step toward data-driven urban planning.
He added that the index would enable the municipality to better prioritize services, promote inclusive development, and assess the impact of policies on residents’ well-being, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Officials said the initiative complemented a range of ongoing development projects in the capital, including public transport improvements, participatory greening and urban agriculture schemes, climate action planning, digital transformation initiatives and the Greater Amman Municipality Strategic Plan 2022–2026.
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Iraq parliament elects Halbousi as speaker in first post-election session
December 29, 2025
BAGHDAD: Iraq’s parliament elected Sunni Muslim lawmaker Haibat Al-Halbousi as speaker at its opening session on Monday following November’s national election, launching a process to form a new government that often takes months.
A parliamentary statement said Halbousisecured 208 out of a total of 283 votes. The speaker plays a key role in maintaining legislative order, mediating disputes and building consensus in Iraq’s sectarian-oriented and often fragmented political system.
Under the Iraqi constitution, parliament must elect a speaker and two deputies at its opening session, then choose a new president within 30 days. The president will in turn task the largest parliamentary bloc with forming a government.
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani’s bloc won the most seats in the election. The next government will need to navigate the delicate balance between US and Iranian influence, with dozens of Iran-aligned militia groups complicating the picture.
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Arab World
National program identifies 165 native plants for afforestation efforts in Asir
NADA HAMEED
December 29, 2025
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s National Afforestation Program has identified more than 165 species of native plants suitable for afforestation in the Asir region, highlighting the ecological diversity of one of the Kingdom’s most environmentally varied areas, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The findings form part of broader national efforts to expand vegetation cover, address land degradation, and support sustainability goals linked to the Saudi Green Initiative and Vision 2030.
According to the program, the identified species are distributed across a wide range of natural environments in Asir, including mountainous terrain, highlands, slopes, valleys, plains, rocky landscapes, and coastal areas stretching from the Red Sea to Tihama.
The species belong to numerous plant families, including Fabaceae, Anacardiaceae, Burseraceae, Capparaceae, Ebenaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Malvaceae, Myrtaceae, Oleaceae, and Primulaceae, among others.
Plants suitable for afforestation range from large and small trees to perennial and annual shrubs, herbs, succulents, bulbs, and climbing plants.
Among the most notable species identified are the grey mangrove, mastic tree, mooring or ben tree, juniper, sycamore fig, wild olive, henna, wild jasmine, hawthorn, and arak.
The Saudi Arabian Botanical Society described the announcement as an important step in protecting plant diversity and strengthening the ecosystem conservation in the Kingdom.
Munirah bin Hamad Al-Hazani, founder and president of the society, said that prioritizing native species is central to sustainable afforestation.
“Focusing on the cultivation of native plants adapted to diverse environments forms the cornerstone of sustainable afforestation projects, as it plays a pivotal role in enhancing vegetation cover, combating land degradation, and conserving natural and financial resources,” she told Arab News.
Al-Hazani added that long-term success depends on cooperation between government bodies and the nonprofit sector, alongside community involvement and environmental awareness programs.
The National Afforestation Program has increasingly emphasized community participation, working with government agencies, private companies, and nonprofit organizations to support planting initiatives and environmental education. Its approach includes promoting volunteerism and discouraging harmful environmental practices, while focusing on the use of native plants adapted to local conditions.
Parallel efforts are underway in other regions of the Kingdom to support vegetation restoration through research and infrastructure development. In Jouf, often referred to as the Kingdom’s food basket, the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority has established a Central Nursery and a Wild Seeds Research and Production Station to address the growing demand for reliable sources of native seeds and seedlings.
The project was launched in 2023 under the directive of Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif, the minister of interior and chairman of the authority’s board of directors.
Since then, the facilities has become a key component of vegetation restoration efforts within the reserve.
The authority has focused on building operational capacity by recruiting and training specialists to manage cultivation and research activities. The research and production station includes 14 mother-seed production fields containing over 400,000 trees and shrubs.
Planting began in late 2024, with more than 30 native plant species represented, selected for their role in the reserve’s natural ecosystem.
The facility also includes two seed storage units with a combined capacity of 3,000 kilograms. Seeds are collected annually from multiple sites within the reserve and used for seedling production habitat rehabilitation.
The Central Nursery spans 6,000 square meters and includes 30 greenhouses spanning 1,500 square meters, as well as two shade houses used during summer months. A plant hardening facility, designed to prepare seedlings for natural environmental conditions, covers 10,000 square meters and is divided into seven sections. The nursery’s annual production capacity reaches 1.5 million seedlings, representing more than 15 native plant species.
Together, these initiatives underscore the growing role of native plant research and propagation in Saudi Arabia’s afforestation strategy, particularly as the Kingdom works to balance environmental restoration with long-term sustainability goals.
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Riyadh governor receives Lebanese ambassador
December 29, 2025
RIYADH: Riyadh Gov. Prince Faisal bin Bandar received the Ambassador of Lebanon to Saudi Arabia Ali Karanouh at Al-Hakam Palace in Riyadh on Monday.
Prince Faisal welcomed the ambassador and wished him success in his new duties, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Madinah Gov. Prince Salman bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz received Shakhawat Hossain, the consul general of Bangladesh in Jeddah, in Madinah on Monday.
The parties discussed various topics of mutual interest.
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Saudi astronauts help achieve breakthrough in cartilage-repair research
December 29, 2025
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has recorded a major scientific milestone with its astronauts helping to produce a cartilage-repair nanomaterial in space for the first time, building on the work done during the Kingdom’s landmark SSA-HSF1 mission in 2023.
The Saudi Space Agency announced that its astronauts’ involvement in 19 experiments aboard the International Space Station would enhance quality of life on Earth.
The SSA explained that the research, led by scientists Yupeng Chen and Mari Anne Snow, in an international collaboration, focused on developing advanced biomaterials for tissue engineering, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.
Saudi astronaut RayanaBarnawi helped to conduct the experiments and collect data in the microgravity environment. The material produced could assist in tissue treatment and organ transplantation.
The research findings were published in Nature in July 2025, one of the world’s leading scientific journals.
Barnawi said: “Conducting the experiment in space enabled the fabrication of an advanced nanomaterial and the production of reliable data that supports the development of scientific research contributing to improving human life and serving humanity.”
The SSA said the Kingdom wants to maximize the scientific return from human exploration missions for the benefit of the planet.
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6 road projects costing $2bn for Riyadh underway
December 29, 2025
RIYADH: The Royal Commission for Riyadh City has announced plans to undertake phase three of its major road overhaul program costing more than SR8 billion ($2 billion).
The plan includes six projects that are a part of the Riyadh Main and Ring Road Axes Development Program, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.
The plan is to expand Riyadh’s transport infrastructure, enhance connectivity across the capital, and position the city as a leading regional hub for mobility and logistics services, in line with Saudi Vision 2030.
The third phase, scheduled for completion in three to four years, includes the Jeddah Road Development Project (29 km), Taif Road Development Project (15 km), and the Thumamah Road Development Project – Eastern Section (8 km).
In addition, the city will undertake the King Abdulaziz Road Development Project – Northern Section (4.7 km), Othman bin Affan Road Development Project – Northern Section (4.3 km) and Engineering Enhancements for Congested Areas – Phase II.
The Jeddah Road Development Project, with 14 bridges and five main lanes, will have a capacity of up to 353,000 vehicles per day.
The Taif Road Development Project will improve connectivity between the southern and western districts and city center. It has four bridges, four main lanes, and two tunnels, with a capacity of up to 200,000 vehicles per day.
The Thumamah Road Development Project will include three bridges and three tunnels, linking northern and eastern Riyadh, with a capacity of up to 200,000 vehicles per day.
The King Abdulaziz Road Development Project will have four bridges, four main lanes, and one tunnel, with a capacity of up to 450,000 vehicles per day.
The Othman bin Affan Road Development Project will have seven bridges and upgraded areas, with a capacity of up to 500,000 vehicles per day.
The Engineering Enhancements for Congested Areas – Phase II project targets eight locations across the city’s network, to reduce congestion, and raise the traffic capacity by 40 to 60 percent.
To minimize the impact on traffic flow and nearby communities, the royal commission has prepared a diversion plan, in coordination with city authorities.
The project is a part of directives issued in February 2020 by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is also board chairman of the royal commission.
The commission launched phase one in August 2024 with four projects totaling SR13 billion, and phase two in February 2025 with eight projects exceeding SR8 billion.
Additional phases are expected to be announced at a later date.
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Makkah Municipality to clean natural reserves
December 29, 2025
MAKKAH: Makkah Municipality, in partnership with the Saudi Red Crescent Authority and volunteers, has launched an initiative to clean natural reserves south of the holy city.
The plan is part of a broader program focused on protecting natural resources and enhancing the landscape, aligning with national goals to improve quality of life and foster community engagement.
Volunteers will assist in waste removal and upgrading natural facilities, reflecting increased public awareness of environmental conservation, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.
The initiative aims to promote environmental responsibility and sustainable practices, ensuring these reserves remain safe and welcoming for residents and visitors.
The municipality plans further initiatives focused on raising environmental awareness and enhancing Makkah’s urban landscape.
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Europe
Two men charged after 'meat cleaver incident' at Islamic centre
Stephen Bark
29 Dec 2025
Two men have been arrested following an incident involving a meat cleaver in the car park of an Islamic centre on Boxing Day. Police were called to Kirkcaldy Islamic Centre at around 2.50pm following reports of a disturbance.
When police arrived, the two men had already left the scene but they were later traced on Winifred Street. Located on St Mary's Road, the Islamic centre is around a 20 minute walk away from Winifred Street.
It is understood that a meat cleaver was used in the incident, which is not being treated as a hate crime.
Two men, both aged 46, were taken to hospital for assessment and they have since been arrested and charged in connection with the incident. Both were due to appear at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court today, Monday, December 29.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 2.50pm on Friday, 26 December, 2025, police received a report of a disturbance involving two men in the St Mary’s Road area of Kirkcaldy.
“Officers attended and carried out a search for the men involved, who were subsequently traced on Winifred Street. Enquiries established this was an isolated incident and not a targeted attack.”
“Two men, both aged 46, were taken to hospital for assessment before being arrested and charged in connection with a number of offences. They are expected to appear at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court on Monday, 29 December, 2025.”
In a statement, Kirkcaldy Islamic Centre said: "We extend our sincere gratitude to Police Scotland for their prompt and professional actions. We continue to cooperate fully with the authorities and await further updates regarding this serious matter."
Melanie Ward, MP for Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy said: “I was deeply concerned to hear about this incident at Kirkcaldy Islamic Centre on Friday, which was extremely frightening for those present.
“What took place is completely unacceptable. Everyone deserves to feel safe in our town and our Muslim friends and neighbours are an important part of our community. We stand with them.
“I’m grateful to the local Police for acting quickly and I understand that two men appeared in court today on charges related to this incident, and have been remanded in custody. I will remain in close contact with the Police, as well as with the Chair of the Islamic Centre.”
Source: dailyrecord.co.uk/
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Trump ‘very angry’ about Ukrainian attack on Putin’s residence
29 Dec, 2025
US President Donald Trump has condemned the attempted Ukrainian drone strike on the residence of Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating the attack made him “very angry” and came at a “delicate period of time.”
Earlier on Monday, Moscow said Putin’s residence in Novgorod Region came under a concentrated long-range drone attack overnight. A total of 91 kamikaze drones were used in the strike, all of which were intercepted. Top Russian officials condemned the attempted strike as a terrorist attack, vowing retaliation and signaling the incident was bound to affect Moscow’s position in the ongoing negotiations to settle the Ukraine conflict.
Speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu outside the White House, Trump confirmed he learned about the attack from Putin during a phone conversation earlier in the day. The incident made the US president “very angry,” particularly since it came during “a delicate period of time,” he said.
“Early in the morning [Putin] said he was attacked. It’s not good. Don’t forget, you know, the Tomahawks. I stopped the Tomahawks. I didn’t want that,” Trump said, referring to US-made cruise missiles that have been repeatedly requested by Kiev.
The exchange between the two presidents was earlier confirmed by Kremlin foreign policy aide YuryUshakov, who said Trump was “shocked” by the attack on Putin’s residence and said, “Thank God, we did not give the Tomahawks” to Kiev.
Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky, however, has denied the attack actually took place, accusing Moscow of seeking to jeopardize the “progress” made by Kiev and Washington. Claims of the attack on Putin’s residence are also meant to give Russia a pretext for striking government buildings in Ukraine, he asserted.
Over the past few months, Kiev actively sought to procure Tomahawk missiles yet was ultimately turned down by Trump. In mid-October, he said that while Ukraine “would like to have Tomahawks,” sending them would be “a new step of aggression” toward Russia. Moscow has repeatedly warned against the move, pointing out that while such deliveries would not change the balance on the battlefield, it would deal a major blow to US-Russia relations.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/630206-trump-very-angry-ukraine/
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Watford church set for mosque conversion 'ransacked'
29TH DECEMBER
By Fintan McGuinness
A teenager has been arrested after a Watford church earmarked for conversion into a mosque was reportedly ransacked.
Police were called to reports of external cameras being smashed at the derelict former St Thomas United Reformed Church, in Langley Road, at 4.17pm on Saturday (December 27).
A small group of males apparently then damaged an upstairs window to get in, before taking or discarding boxes and packages from inside while letting off several fire extinguishers.
An 18-year-old from Buckinghamshire has been arrested on suspicion of burglary with intent to commit damage. He has been released on police bail while enquiries continue.
The former church is set to be refurbished and turned into a mosque, with community facilities including a nursery, café, sport/events hall, and meeting rooms, subject to planning permission.
A spokesperson for the team behind the ‘Masjid Al-Ummah’ plan described the break-in as “deeply distressing for the community” and said they were grateful for officers' fast response.
Police say they are not treating the incident as religiously motivated at this stage, but the Masjid spokesperson said that the site being repeatedly targeted raises serious concerns about safety, hate crime and the wellbeing of those who use it and live nearby.
The Masjid spokesperson added: “We believe that the expediting of the planning application for redevelopment of the site by Watford Borough Council is clearly in the interests of local residents, the police, the wider community and the council itself.
“In its current condition, the building is vulnerable and has become a focus for repeated criminal behaviour.”
Detective Inspector Chris Parperi said: “I want to reassure the local community that detectives are investigating this incident and making enquiries.
“At this stage, it is not being treated as a religiously motivated incident and work is ongoing to establish the full circumstances.”
Crosses were spray painted along the hoarding surrounding the former church, which shut in 2015, in October this year.
Danny Manning, of Langley Road, has admitted to criminal damage in relation to the October incident but denied racially aggravated criminal damage and two counts of possession of a bladed article.
The 26-year-old is set to appear at St Albans Crown Court for trial in March.
Information about the latest break-in can be reported online, or by calling 101, quoting crime reference 41/122349/25.
Anonymous reports can be made through the independent charity Crimestoppers, via its website or on 0800 555 111.
Source: watfordobserver.co.uk
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https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/25726838.watford-church-set-mosque-conversion-ransacked/
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Response to Kiev’s attack on Putin’s residence will not be diplomatic – Moscow
29 Dec, 2025
Russia’s response to a failed Ukrainian drone attack on President Vladimir Putin’s state residence will not be diplomatic, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned on Monday.
Earlier in the day, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that on the night of December 28-29, “the Kiev regime launched a terrorist attack using 91 long-range strike unmanned aerial vehicles on the state residence of the president of the Russian Federation in Novgorod Region.”
He noted that all 91 UAVs were intercepted, with no casualties or material damage reported.
Lavrov noted that while Moscow remains committed to the US-mediated peace process, “Russia’s negotiating position will be revised” in light of Ukraine’s “reckless actions.”
“Targets for retaliatory strikes and the time for their implementation by the Russian Armed Forces have been determined,” the minister warned.
“The answers will not be diplomatic. Let them not get their hopes up,” Zakharova told Russian media late Monday, calling the attempted attack unprecedented. “The unprecedented nature of this attack lies in the fact that it was carried out during the negotiations in the United States… At the very moment, when plans are being discussed, this, excuse me, bloody, rabid, terrorist scum, is undermining peace efforts.”
Kremlin foreign policy aide YuryUshakov told Russian media that during a phone conversation with Putin on Monday, US President Donald Trump said he was “shocked by this news and expressed outrage, stating that he could not have imagined such crazy actions on the part of Kiev.”
Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky has denied the attack, claiming Moscow is only seeking a pretext to jeopardize the “progress” made by the US and Ukraine and to attack the government quarter in Kiev.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/russia/630216-russia-response-ukraine-attack-putin-residence/
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The EU has everything to gain from peace. Why does it keep insisting on war?
29 Dec, 2025
By LadislavZemánek
Europe is no longer sleepwalking into disaster. It is marching toward it with wide-open eyes, clenched fists, and a disturbing sense of moral self-satisfaction. At the very moment when the United States, under Donald Trump’s leadership, is returning to diplomacy, restraint, and strategic realism, the European Union’s governing elite is choosing escalation, economic self-harm, and permanent confrontation with Russia.
This is ideological obsession masquerading as virtue. Nothing captures this moral and intellectual collapse more clearly than the EU’s recent push to expropriate Russia’s frozen sovereign assets. Brussels and Berlin have been aggressively pressuring member states to approve a plan to seize up to €210 billion in Russian state funds and funnel them into Ukraine. It is a frontal assault on the principles of sovereign immunity and property rights that underpin the global financial system – and the EU’s own credibility within it.
The fact that this plan was ever taken seriously reveals how far the European leaders have drifted from reality. Confiscating sovereign assets sets a precedent that will haunt the EU for decades, shattering trust among international investors and signaling that legal guarantees in Europe are conditional on political fashion.
Belgium, of all countries, became the unlikely voice of reason. Because most of the frozen Russian assets are held by Euroclear, a firm registered on Belgian soil, Brussels understood the obvious: when Russia inevitably challenges this theft in international arbitration, Belgium – not the European Commission – will be left holding the bill. Rather than acknowledging this legitimate concern, EU leaders considered outvoting Belgium altogether, sacrificing national sovereignty on the altar of ideological obsession.
This is what the European Union has become: a bloc that lectures the world about the rule of law while actively conspiring to destroy it when inconvenient.
The reckoning came at the December 18–19 EU summit in Brussels. After sixteen exhausting hours, European governments failed to reach an agreement on confiscating Russian assets. It was a humiliating defeat for Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and for Friedrich Merz, who has increasingly positioned himself as Germany’s most aggressive advocate of confrontation with Moscow.
But instead of stepping back, EU leaders did what they always do when reality intrudes: they borrowed money.
Unable to steal Russian assets outright, the EU agreed on an 'emergency' plan based on €90 billion in joint EU debt – money that will be transferred to Kiev and never repaid. This is not aid; it is a permanent transfer of wealth from European taxpayers to prolong a war that the EU has already lost strategically.
European citizens were not consulted. They never are. They will simply pay – through higher debt servicing, inflation, and reduced public spending – while being lectured about values and sacrifice by the same elites who will never bear the consequences of their decisions.
Yet even in this climate of hysteria, cracks are forming. Czechia, Hungary, and Slovakia refused to follow Brussels off the cliff. Their leaders – Andrej Babiš, Viktor Orbán, and Robert Fico – stood against asset confiscation, endless debt, and permanent war. In doing so, they articulated a sovereigntist, peace-oriented vision that is quietly gaining ground across Central Europe, understanding a simple truth Brussels refuses to face: the EU cannot build its future on the permanent demonization of its largest neighbor.
It is no accident that this shift coincides with clear signals from Washington. The Trump administration has made it plain: it will support patriotic forces in Europe willing to challenge liberal dogma and endless war. For the first time in years, European dissenters are no longer isolated.
What terrifies Brussels is not Russia, but the possibility that EU citizens might realize another path exists.
European progressivists and liberal globalists have driven themselves into a kind of collective hysteria. Anyone who questions escalation is branded immoral. Anyone who speaks of negotiation is accused of betrayal. The result is a foreign policy driven not by outcomes, but by emotional conformity and performative outrage. Europe’s leaders talk endlessly about values yet ignore consequences.
Donald Trump described the EU as a decaying collection of countries ruled by weak leaders. The response from the European Commission was pure denial: a self-congratulatory declaration of gratitude for its “excellent leaders,” starting with von der Leyen herself. Nothing could better illustrate the chasm between the EU’s governing class and the societies they claim to represent.
Reality, meanwhile, intrudes. Friedrich Merz has now openly admitted what many feared: NATO troops could end up fighting Russia directly in Ukraine. This is no longer a hypothetical risk. It is a logical endpoint of Europe’s current trajectory. Escalation begets escalation. Red lines dissolve. What began as 'support' inches closer to direct confrontation between nuclear powers.
At the same time, the EU continues to sabotage itself economically. Just days ago, an overwhelming majority of members of the European Parliament voted to ban imports of Russian gas starting in late 2027. Once again, this was framed as independence and prosperity. Once again, it will deliver the opposite.
Energy prices will rise permanently. Industry will continue to flee. Ordinary Europeans will pay more to live poorer lives – all while being told this is necessary for moral reasons. Hungary and Slovakia have already announced legal action against Brussels, recognizing the ban for what it is: economic vandalism dressed up as virtue.
Combined with radical green policies and aggressive cultural progressivism, this agenda is not merely misguided – it is suicidal. The EU is transforming itself into a zone of economic stagnation, social tension, and strategic irrelevance. Spengler’s “decline of the West” no longer reads like prophecy. It reads like a daily briefing.
Against this backdrop, Trump’s approach to Russia looks restorative. Washington increasingly understands that endless proxy war benefits no one – least of all Ukraine. The Trump administration’s goal is clear: end the war, stabilize the region, rebuild Ukraine for people to live normal lives, and restore pragmatic engagement with Russia.
This is what responsible great-power politics looks like. That realism extends to the global order. The White House’s regret over Russia’s expulsion from the G8 and its openness to new formats – a “core five” of the US, China, Russia, India, and Japan – reflect a clear-eyed assessment of power. These are the states that shape global outcomes. The EU, for all its rhetoric, does not. Its absence from such a framework is not an insult, simply a consequence.
The EU has excluded itself through its own arrogance and delusion. By outsourcing strategy to ideology and leadership to bureaucracy, it has made itself irrelevant. Ironically, Europe would still be represented indirectly – by Russia, which increasingly positions itself as a defender of traditional European civilizational values abandoned by the Western European elites.
The great, unspoken truth is this: Europe has everything to gain from US-Russia rapprochement. Peace would mean cheaper energy, revived trade, reduced security risks, and space to repair Europe’s internal fractures. Normal relations with Moscow are not a concession. They are a necessity.
Yet Brussels resists peace with astonishing determination. Why? Because peace would force accountability. It would expose years of catastrophic misjudgment. It would shatter the myth of moral infallibility that the EU’s ruling class clings to so desperately.
Trump’s America is moving forward. Western Europe is digging in.
Unless the EU realigns. Unless it abandons its war obsession and restores diplomacy, it will continue its slide into decline. Peace is not Europe’s enemy. Denial is.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/630203-us-peace-eu-war/
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Cabinet Office withdraws Andrew papers after 'error'
29 Dec, 2025
Rachel Hagan
The Cabinet Office has blamed an "administrative error" for mistakenly sharing official papers referring to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
A No 10 file from 2004 and 2005 relating to royal visits - released as part of the government's annual transfer of records to the National Archives under the 20-year rule - was briefly made available to journalists before being withdrawn.
The version originally released under embargo included minutes of a meeting about the overseas travel of various royals, including the then-Duke of York, who was serving as a UK trade envoy.
That information was later redacted from the file before it was made public on Tuesday at the National Archives in Kew, west London.
The Cabinet Office, which is responsible for transferring the files to the National Archives, said the documents were never intended for public disclosure.
A spokesman said: "All records are managed in line with the requirements of the Public Records Act. Any release is subject to an extensive review process, including engaging expert stakeholders."
Anti-monarchy campaigners said there was no justification for withholding the papers, particularly given Andrew has since been stripped of royal titles over his links to deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew has always denied any claims of wrongdoing.
Graham Smith, chief executive of campaign group Republic, said: "The royals are one of the most secretive institutions in the UK. These documents should be released without fear or favour, to allow the public to make informed judgements about the royals."
The minutes themselves, seen by journalists before being pulled, appeared largely routine.
They discussed Andrew's travel plans as a trade envoy - a role that earned him the nickname "Airmiles Andy" - including visits to China, Russia, southeast Asia and Spain.
Mugabe 'depressingly healthy'
Other papers released to the National Archives reveal the Foreign Office ruled out military action to overthrow Zimbabwe's long-time leader Robert Mugabe, despite mounting frustration in Tony Blair's government over his refusal to relinquish power.
An options paper drawn up in 2004 warned that any UK-led intervention would be politically isolated, costly and lack a viable exit strategy, concluding it was not a "serious option".
The Foreign Office had to admit there were few good options for ratcheting up the pressure on Mugabe who, at the age of 80, remained "depressingly healthy" and determined to stay on until he had secured a succession to his liking.
The papers also reveal Downing Street was forced to apologise after then-Prime Minister John Major's birthday telegram to the Queen Mother in 1994 was addressed in an "improper manner".
The Queen Mother's private secretary contacted No 10 to complain, although the files do not explain what caused the offence. Officials said the message had left Downing Street correctly but blamed an error in transmission and suggested telegrams should be abandoned altogether.
There is also evidence of the limits placed on transparency under the Freedom of Information Act. Newly declassified papers show officials refused to release details of a conversation between Blair and French president Jacques Chirac following the death of Diana, Princess of Wales in Paris in 1997.
While papers relating to Diana's death and funeral arrangements were released, a memo summarising the Blair-Chirac discussion was ruled out of scope.
Officials argued it was "fundamentally not in the public interest" to disclose private conversations between world leaders, warning doing so would inhibit frank exchanges in future.
Also revealed in the files were the ambitious and ultimately abandoned plans for a wholesale redevelopment of Downing Street under Blair.
Briefing papers dated March 2005, just two months before the general election, describe a multi-million-pound project, codenamed Project George, to overhaul the ageing estate, parts of which date back to the 17th century and had not undergone a major refurbishment since the 1960s.
The proposals included a two-storey "subterranean suite" beneath the No 10 garden, featuring a 200-seat conference room that could double as a "safe haven" in the event of a terror attack.
There were also plans for an underground service road to separate VIP visitors from refuse collections, a new staff entrance, a cafe and "recreation facilities" in the basement.
Officials warned that failing sewers, power supplies and IT systems were causing an "unacceptable failure of critical services".
The plans, to be funded through the private finance initiative over 30 years, extended to Nos 11 and 12 Downing Street and 70 Whitehall - the home of the Cabinet Office - which would have been given a new glass-fronted extension and blast-resistant glazing. The files do not explain why the plans were dropped.
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c20k060zy8eo
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Police fired twice during fatal shooting, says IOPC
30 Dec, 2025
Kris Holland
Officers fired twice during a fatal police shooting in which a man thought to have been carrying a handgun was killed, a watchdog has said.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched an investigation after the man was shot and killed when Norfolk Police was called to a two-vehicle collision in London Road, Thetford, at around 20:25 GMT on Sunday.
On Monday, the IOPC confirmed that "two shots were fired by police shortly before 9pm" and what appears to be a non-police-issue firearm has been recovered from the scene.
The man, believed to be in his sixties, was given first aid but was declared dead at the scene shortly before 22:15.
His next of kin have been notified, the IOPC said.
Norfolk Police found a badly damaged Mercedes van, which had been involved in the collision, when they arrived at the scene, the force said.
It was unoccupied and the airbag had gone off. There was also a Honda Jazz which was damaged on one side. The driver suffered minor injuries and declined medical treatment in hospital.
Members of the public had told police that a man had been spotted carrying a black handgun in London Road heading towards a Sainsbury's store.
He was seen on the southbound carriageway of the A11, near the Brandon Road roundabout, walking in a northbound direction.
Armed response officers went to the southbound carriageway. The man was approached by police officers, and a short time later was shot by police from a short distance away, the force said.
IOPC director Amanda Rowe said: "Fatal police shootings are rare, however when they do occur it's essential that an independent investigation is carried out into the actions and decision-making of the officers involved.
"Our investigation is in its initial stages and we are in the process of obtaining and reviewing evidence as we begin to piece together the circumstances surrounding this incident.
The IOPC said it would be making contact with the man's family to explain its role and the next steps the investigation would take.
Deputy Chief Constable Dave Marshall, of Norfolk Police, said "This is a very serious matter, sadly someone has lost their life, and I understand people will want to know what happened.
"However, there is a duty on this organisation, my colleagues and I, to protect the integrity and independence of the IOPC investigation so it can progress and make its own assessment of what happened.
"We are co-operating fully with the IOPC investigation and are in the process of handing over all body-worn video footage, 999 calls and drone footage so this can be thoroughly investigated, and to ensure full transparency."
The force informed the IOPC shortly before 21:40. Investigators have begun gathering evidence, including getting initial accounts from the officers involved. Police logs and body-worn video footage were also being checked.
The nearby A11, closed to traffic while investigators worked, reopened northbound at about 14:30, but remained closed southbound, with diversions in place.
Images from the scene showed forensic officers surveying the carriageway.
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz949nglvnlo
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North America
‘Israel would not exist today without Netanyahu’: Trump praises Israeli PM at Mar-a-Lago
Dec 30, 2025
Israel would not exist today if Benjamin Netanyahu were not the country’s prime minister, US President Donald Trump said during a meeting with the Israeli leader outside his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.
Netanyahu met Trump to discuss the next phase of the fragile Gaza truce, as well as broader regional issues, including Iran. Trump warned that if Tehran were to rebuild its nuclear facilities, the United States would “knock them down.”
Speaking alongside Trump, Netanyahu praised the US president, saying, “We have never had a friend like President Trump in the White House — it’s not even close. You can judge that not by the frequency of our meetings, but by their content and intensity.”
“I think Israel is very blessed to have President Trump leading the United States — and I would say leading the free world — at this time,” Netanyahu added. “It’s not only Israel’s great fortune; I think it’s the world’s great fortune.”
Trump, in turn, described his relationship with Netanyahu as “extraordinary” and recalled addressing Israel’s parliament. “We have a great relationship. It was a great honour to speak before your leaders at the Knesset in October,” he said.
Praising Netanyahu’s leadership, Trump said, “Bibi’s a strong man. He can be very difficult on occasion, but you need a strong man. If you had a weak man, you wouldn’t have Israel right now. Israel, with most other leaders, would not exist today.”
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/israel-would-not-exist-today-without-netanyahu-trump-praises-israeli-pm-at-mar-a-lago/articleshow/126239528.cms
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Trump threatens to ‘knock the hell’ out of Iran
30 Dec, 2025
President Donald Trump warned the US could carry out further military strikes against Iran if it attempts to rebuild its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. He made the remarks to journalists alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida on Monday.
In June, the US and Israel carried out coordinated airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, claiming they were intended to prevent Iran from advancing its nuclear program. Tehran has vehemently denied seeking nuclear weapons and condemned the strikes as unprovoked violations of its sovereignty. Iranian officials have stated that the damaged facilities will be rebuilt and uranium enrichment will continue.
“If it’s confirmed, they know the consequences, and the consequences will be very powerful, maybe more powerful than the last time,” Trump said on Monday. “We’ll knock them down. We’ll knock the hell out of them. But hopefully that’s not happening.”
The US president indicated he would “absolutely” support Israeli military action against Iran’s missile program, saying the US would act “immediately” against any nuclear advances.
“We know exactly where they’re going, what they’re doing, and I hope they’re not doing it, because we don’t want to waste the fuel on a B-2 – it’s a 37-hour trip both ways,” he added.
Trump noted it would be “much smarter” for Tehran to “make a deal” with Washington, claiming that Iran missed an opportunity “the last time, before we went through a big attack on them.”
Omani-mediated US-Iran negotiations were suspended earlier this year after Washington joined Israel’s 12-day bombing campaign. In October, the EU and UK reimposed sanctions on Iran, which had been lifted as part of the 2015 nuclear deal that the US withdrew from during Trump’s first term in office. Tehran has since said it is no longer bound by the 2015 agreement.
Iran has insisted it remains open to reaching a deal with the US, but only if Washington stops setting what Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi previously described as “impossible and unacceptable preconditions.”
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/630218-trump-iran-strikes-threat/
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‘We will knock them down’: Trump draws red line on Iran’s missile programme; Tehran fires back with warning
Dec 30, 2025
US President Donald Trump on Monday said that Iran will have to face “very powerful” consequences if it tries to rebuild its missile programme.
This comes after reports that Tehran may be attempting to rebuild its ballistic missile programme at sites different from those targeted by US strikes earlier this year. However, this development is yet to be confirmed.
Speaking to reporters after his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump said, “Now I hear that Iran is trying to build up again. And if they are, we're going to have to knock them down. We'll knock them down. We'll knock the hell out of them. But hopefully that's not happening.”
“I don't want to say it, but Iran may have been behaving badly. It hasn't been confirmed yet, but if it is, they know the consequences. The consequences will be powerful, maybe more powerful than last time. Iran should have made a deal last time. I had given them an option,” he added.
The US President also said that he has been reading reports suggesting Iran could be rebuilding weapons infrastructure, but not at the locations previously hit by US forces.
“I hope Iran is not trying to build up, as I've been reading, that they're building up weapons and other things,” he said. “If they are, they're not using the sites that we obliterated, but they're using possibly different sites.”
‘Any aggression will face an immediate harsh response’
Meanwhile, a top political adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader said that any aggression against the country would be met with an “immediate harsh response”, after Trump threatened to “eradicate” any attempt by Tehran to rebuild its nuclear programme.
“Iran’s missile capability and defence are not containable or permission-based. Any aggression will face an immediate harsh response beyond its planners' imagination,” Ali Shamkhani wrote on X.
Earlier this year, the US bombed three nuclear facilities in Iran in an operation Trump has repeatedly described as a major success that “obliterated” Iran's nuclear programme.
The strike on Fordow, a heavily fortified underground facility, reportedly involved the use of six 30,000-pound “bunker buster” bombs — weapons deployable only by the US Air Force’s B-2 stealth bombers.
However, Netanyahu has recently warned that Iran is again expanding its ballistic missile activities and is expected to press for tougher action during talks with Trump.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/we-will-knock-them-down-trump-draws-red-line-on-irans-missile-programme-tehran-fires-back-with-warning/articleshowprint/126243009.cms
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'Radical Islamic terrorism': FBI arrests ISIS sympathiser; attempted to provide bomb-making components
Dec 30, 2025
US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Monday arrested an ISIS sympathiser in Texas over attempts to provide bomb-making components and money to individuals he believed were acting on behalf of a designated foreign terrorist organization.FBI chief Kash Patel said that 21-year-old John Michael Garza Jr allegedly shared ISIS propaganda, sent cryptocurrency believing it would fund terrorist activity.
"The FBI and our partners have arrested a 21-year-old alleged ISIS sympathizer in Texas - following a terrorism investigation into attempts to provide bomb-making components and financial support to a designated foreign terrorist organization," Patel said.
"The subject allegedly shared ISIS propaganda, sent cryptocurrency believing it would fund terrorist activity, and attempted to deliver materials intended for explosive devices. This is radical Islamic terrorism, and it was identified and stopped. Great work by our FBI teams and great law enforcement partners," he added.
According to FBI, Garza brought various bomb-making materials to a meeting on Monday evening and gave them to an individual he allegedly believed was an ISIS “brother.”
However, in reality, Garza met with an undercover agent.
During the meeting, Garza described how to mix the components and offered to send an instructional video explaining how to build the bomb. Law enforcement agents arrested Garza shortly after he left the meeting.
"According to the complaint, in mid-October 2025, an undercover New York City Police Department employee noticed a particular social media account — later determined to be Garza’s — that followed several other pro-ISIS accounts and wrote a comment on a pro-ISIS post. When the NYPD undercover engaged with Garza on social media, Garza described himself as a 21-year-old Mexican-American living in Texas," FBI said in a press release.
"In their continuing conversations throughout November and December, Garza shared that he ascribed to the ISIS ideology and sent the undercover multiple official ISIS media releases. Garza paid the undercover small sums of cryptocurrency in November and December 2025, believing that he was supporting ISIS causes, including buying firearms and other materials. Examples of ISIS media releases that Garza provided included," it added.
Source: indiatimes.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/radical-islamic-terrorism-fbi-arrests-isis-sympathiser-attempted-to-provide-bomb-making-components/articleshow/126243856.cms
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'Anti-Indian abuse...': Mehdi Hasan condemns 'racist' attacks on VivekRamaswamy by MAGA Christian nationalists
Dec 30, 2025
British journalist Mehdi Hasan condemned “brazenly racist and anti-Indian abuse” directed at Republican leader VivekRamaswamy and his family, saying such attacks should be rejected across all party lines, irrespective of ideology.
In a post on X, Hasan said he disagrees with Ramaswamy on politics and policy but called the treatment of him and his family, including his children, “outrageous” and “disgusting”. He said the abuse coming from parts of the MAGA Christian nationalist base crossed a serious line and deserved universal condemnation.
I have many disagreements with @VivekGRamaswamy on politics & policy, but the brazenly racist & anti-Indian abuse he & his family, his kids!, have been subjected to by parts of the MAGA Christian nationalist base are outrageous, disgusting, & should be condemned across the board.
Ramaswamy, who is campaigning for governor of Ohio, has faced a wave of racial attacks in recent weeks, particularly from far-right GOP figures. White nationalist commentator Nick Fuentes has repeatedly targeted Ramaswamy using xenophobic language and questioning his background and place in American politics. Fuentes has also said he plans to actively campaign against Ramaswamy in the 2026 Ohio race, urging followers to oppose him because of his Indian heritage.
Even after being endorsed by Trump himself, Ramaswamy still faces comments calling for him to "self-deport."
The attacks have drawn criticism from both sides of the political aisle. Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna described the rhetoric as “chilling” and warned that such race- and religion-based attacks are part of a dangerous strain of extremism in US politics. Some Republican commentators have also rejected Fuentes’s remarks.
The row deepened after social media users began targeting Ramaswamy’s children, sharing images and posting abusive comments.
Vice President JD Vance also weighed in after similar racist remarks like "jeet" were aimed at his Brown Hindu wife, Usha Vance. Responding publicly, Vance said anyone who attacked his wife on racial grounds “can eat s---t."
Source: indiatimes.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/anti-indian-abuse-mehdi-hasan-condemns-racist-attacks-on-vivek-ramaswamy-by-maga-christian-nationalists/articleshow/126241668.cms
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Trump hopes to reach phase two of Gaza ceasefire 'very quickly'
December 30, 2025
Amy Walker
Donald Trump said he hoped to reach phase two of the Gaza peace plan "very quickly", as he warned Hamas would have "hell to pay" if it did not disarm soon.
The US president, whose 20-point peace plan requires the militant group to disarm, made the comments as he met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida for talks on Monday.
During a press conference with Netanyahu after their meeting, Trump said Israel had "lived up to the plan 100%", despite continuing attacks by its military in Gaza.
The US president also said his country could support another major strike on Iran were it to resume rebuilding its ballistic missile or nuclear weapons programmes.
In response to Trump's threat, Iran's supreme leader's top political adviser, Ali Shamkhani, said on X that any aggression towards Iran would be met with an "immediate harsh response".
Asked how quickly Hamas and Israel should move to phase two of the peace plan, Trump said: "As quickly as we can. But there has to be disarmament."
Speaking about Hamas, he said: "If they don't disarm as, as they agreed to do, they agreed to it, and then there will be hell to pay for them.
"They have to disarm in a fairly short period of time".
Trump also said reconstruction in Gaza could "begin pretty soon".
The Gaza peace plan came into effect in October. Under the second phase, a technocratic government would be established in the devastated territory, Hamas would disarm and Israeli troops would withdraw. The reconstruction of Gaza would then begin.
But critics have suggested Netanyahu could seek to delay the process of the plan and instead push for Hamas to disarm before Israeli troops withdraw.
The Israeli prime minister has been accused of not wanting to engage seriously with the issue of a political future for Palestinians.
Hamas officials have said a full disarmament should take place alongside progress towards an independent Palestinian state.
Asked if he was concerned Israel was not moving fast enough to phase two of the plan, Trump said it had "lived up to the plan".
"I'm not concerned about anything that Israel's doing, I'm concerned about what other people are doing or maybe aren't doing," he added.
Since the ceasefire came into effect, at least 414 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli military in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
The Israeli military, which controls more than half of Gaza, has said it has only opened fire in response to ceasefire violations. It has blamed Hamas for the killings of three Israeli soldiers over the same period.
During the press briefing, Trump also warned that the US would launch further attacks on Iran if it was found to be using different sites to develop nuclear weapons.
In June, Trump claimed US air and missile strikes "obliterated" Iran's nuclear facilities. Iran has denied seeking to develop nuclear weapons.
"I hope they're not trying to build up again, because if they are we're going to have no choice but to eradicate that build up," he said.
Trump said he "had been reading" that the country was using "possibly different sites" to those targeted in summer.
Iran, which fought a 12-day war with Israel in June, on Monday denounced the reports as a "psychological operation" against Tehran.
It said it was fully prepared to defend itself, and warned renewed aggression would "result in harsher consequences" for Israel.
Trump and Netanyahu's talks also focused on other regional tension points, including Syria and the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon.
Netanyahu said on Monday that Israel was keen to ensure a peaceful border with Syria, and Trump said he hoped Israel would get along with President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who took power after longtime strongman Bashar al-Assad was deposed last year.
Israel has been suspicious of the new leader, who was once a member of al-Qaeda, and bombed government buildings in Damascus in July.
"Well, I hope he's [Netanyahu] going to get along with Syria because the new president of Syria is working very hard to do a good job," Trump said.
"He really is. I know he's a tough cookie. And, you know, you're not going to get a choir boy to lead Syria."
Trump signed an executive order in June to end US sanctions against Syria.
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdj8jmxyzneo
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Missing Texas teen believed to be in 'imminent danger'
December 30, 2025
Grace Eliza Goodwin
A massive search effort is underway for a young woman who mysteriously vanished outside her Texas home on Christmas Eve, with law enforcement officials saying she could be in "imminent danger".
Camila Mendoza Olmos, 19, was last seen leaving her home in Bexar County, Texas the morning of 24 December, according to the Bexar County Sheriff's office.
She normally goes on a morning walk, but her mother became concerned when she did not come home at a reasonable time, the sheriff's office said.
Sheriff Javier Salazar told ABC News that authorities believe she is in danger and are not ruling out kidnapping or trafficking. They are also considering that the case may cross international borders.
But, he added, Mendoza Olmos may have left on her own accord.
The search, now going on for nearly a week, has turned up scant clues, primarily a video believed to be of her recorded the day she disappeared. Surveillance footage shows a woman searching in the back of her car for an unknown item, the sheriff's office said.
Authorities believe she then walked somewhere, because her car was left behind.
The only items she had on her, authorities said, were her car keys and possibly her driver's license. They were concerned that she left her phone behind, which was unusual.
Sheriff Salazar also told ABC News that Mendoza Olmos, who is a US citizen, was not detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which has been conducting sweeps of suspected illegal immigrants throughout the country.
"That was a personal concern. So, I had it checked to make sure that there were no stops, no detentions, and that she's not somewhere in a federal detention facility," Salazar told the outlet.
Authorities have deployed deputies, investigators, search-and-rescue resources and teams, drones, and cadaver dogs in the search for Olmos, the sheriff's office said.
FBI officers have also been helping out local law enforcement, Sheriff Javier Salazar told CBS.
"Cami needs us," her aunt, Nancy Olmos, wrote on social media. "By the grace of Jesus Christ, we will find you, Cami."
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3w7w5jzgygo
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Trump says US destroyed ‘big facility’ in Venezuela
30 Dec, 2025
President Donald Trump has stated that US forces destroyed a “big facility” along the shore of Venezuela, marking what appears to be the first known land strike by the US within the country.
On Friday, Trump first mentioned the US military action in an interview on WABC radio, saying, “We just knocked out… a big plant or big facility where the ships come from. So we hit them very hard.”
Speaking at Mar-a-Lago alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, Trump described the target as an “implementation” area allegedly linked to drug trafficking.
“There was a major explosion in the dock area where they load the boats up with drugs,” he said.
Details surrounding the operation remain scarce. The location of the facility, method of attack, inflicted damage, and possible casualties are all currently unknown. The Pentagon and US Southern Command have deferred questions to the White House, which has not yet issued a comment.
Trump has previously hinted that the US could launch land strikes inside Venezuela and has authorized covert CIA operations within the country as part of a broader effort to put pressure on President Nicolas Maduro. The US president refused to clarify whether the CIA was involved in the latest strike.
“I don’t want to say that,” Trump said. “I know exactly who it was, but I don’t want to say who it was. But you know, it was along the shore.”
The Venezuelan government has yet to publicly acknowledge the purported attack. Caracas has repeatedly denied that it is involved in drug trafficking, saying the allegations are being fabricated to justify a regime-change operation.
The move follows months of escalating tensions between the US and Venezuela, with the US military hitting at least 30 alleged drug trafficking boats since early September, resulting in at least 107 deaths. The US has built up its military presence in the Caribbean, with 15,000 troops and several warships positioned in the region.
The US has also seized several tankers transporting Venezuelan oil in international waters, claiming the vessels were operating in violation of Washington’s unilateral sanctions. Authorities in Caracas have denounced the seizures as “piracy,” while accusing Trump of trying to gain control of the country’s oil reserves.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/630219-trump-venezuela-big-facility-hit/
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New year, new mayor for New York City
December 30, 2025
By Raphaëlle Peltier
New York mayor-elect ZohranMamdani is set to become the US city's first Muslim mayor, and the youthful optimism of his Democratic Socialist platform will be put to the test as he takes office Thursday with high expectations.
Festive swearing in
At the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve, New York Attorney General Letitia James -- friend to Mamdani, foe to President Donald Trump -- will swear in the new mayor in a private ceremony at a subway stop called Old City Hall Station.
The underground venue reflects his "commitment to the working people who keep our city running every day," his office said.
At midday, left-wing stalwart Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders will preside over a much larger swearing-in ceremony open to the public outside City Hall.
At a neighbourhood celebration, festivities will echo "one of his core messages... that this is a great city, and we like living here," said Lincoln Mitchell, a Columbia University political science professor.
Policy agenda
The mayor-elect, an avowed socialist, campaigned on addressing the prohibitive cost of living in the metropolis of 8.5 million.
One of his key proposals is freezing rent on more than a million apartments, but it's unclear if the city board that handles rent control -- packed with appointees of outgoing Mayor Eric Adams -- will be supportive.
Details of Mamdani's other campaign promises -- the construction of 200,000 units of affordable housing, universal access to childcare, publicly owned supermarkets and free buses -- have yet to be spelled out.
But Mamdani has one ace in his pocket: an excellent relationship with New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who approves measures like the tax hikes he seeks.
Once an election is over, "symbolism only goes so far with voters. Results begin to matter a whole lot more," New York University lecturer John Kane said.
Despite expectations to the contrary, the late November Oval Office meeting between Trump and Mamdani was cordial and calm.
Mamdani "wisely sought a point of common ground with Trump: wanting to make New York City a better place to live," Kane said.
Trump can "be surprisingly gregarious toward those that he perceives to have little leverage over," Kane added.
But federal immigration officers are increasingly active in New York, which could become a flashpoint.
Reassuring the public
At 34, Mamdani is one of New York's youngest mayors and his political resume is short -- he's held office once previously, as a local representative in the State Assembly.
To compensate, he is surrounding himself with seasoned aides, recruited from past mayor's offices and former president Joe Biden's administration.
Mamdani has also already opened dialogue with business leaders, some of whom predicted a massive exodus of wealthy New Yorkers if he won. Real estate sector leaders debunked those claims in recent weeks.
As a defender of Palestinian rights, the mayor -- Muslim and of Indian origin -- will also have to reassure the Jewish community of his inclusive leadership style.
Recently, one of his hires resigned after it was revealed she had posted antisemitic tweets years ago.
'Cultural figure'
"The mayor of New York is always a cultural figure," Mitchell said.
Mamdani has already reflected some of his generation's cultural tastes with his brief forays into rap music, improv classes in Manhattan, and wearing what the New York Times called "the quintessential entry-level suit for a 30-something striving to be taken seriously."
New Yorkers have also noted his enthusiastic support of his wife, Syrian-born artist Rama Duwaji, with approval.
Her Instagram account has gained more than a million followers since November, according to Social Blade statistics.
And on the cover of The Cut, New York magazine's revered fashion and culture publication, she recently marked her own path -- the hallmark of every young generation of city dwellers striving to make it there.
"At the end of the day, I'm not a politician. I'm here to be a support system for Z and to use the role in the best way that I can as an artist," she said.
Source: rnz.co.nz
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https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/582920/new-year-new-mayor-for-new-york-city
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Africa
Gombe mosques, churches resist prepaid billing – Jos discos
December 30, 2025
The Jos Electricity Distribution Company has raised the alarm over increasing resistance to the installation of prepaid meters by churches, mosques and grinding machine operators in Gombe State, saying the development is contributing to massive revenue losses across its network.
Speaking on Sunday with Arewa PUNCH, the Head of Corporate Services of JEDC, Musa Abdullahi, described the opposition, largely driven by social media campaigns as surprising and counterproductive.
“There is an issue trending on social media concerning the metering of churches, mosques, and grinding machine operators. Some of them are opposed to the metering of their business centres,” Abdullahi said.
He expressed disappointment that religious institutions, which preach honesty and moral discipline, would resist a system designed to ensure transparent billing.
“The two religions preach against stealing and encourage worshipping God with one’s resources.
It is therefore surprising that worship centres are resisting a device that accurately measures their actual electricity consumption,” he noted.
Abdullahi explained that JEDC operates strictly as a utility provider and does not discriminate among customers, stressing,
“We are a utility company that sells electricity to consumers. Electricity does not recognise worship centres or markets. Everyone is treated as a consumer,” he said.
According to him, churches and mosques are categorised as high-demand customers due to the heavy electrical load required during worship activities.
“Worship centres consume significant power because of their load. It is only fair that our Imams and Pastors encourage the installation of prepaid meters so that actual consumption can be properly determined,” he added.
Abdullahi further revealed that the company is grappling with a huge gap between energy supplied and revenue collected, running into hundreds of millions of naira monthly.
“In August, we received 19.58 million kilowatt-hours of energy, which translated to N1.57 billion at 70 per cent billing efficiency after removing 30 per cent. However, we collected only N744 million, losing over N800 million,” he disclosed.
The JEDC Head of Corporate Services added that the trend continued in September and worsened in October.
“In September, we received 20.22 million kilowatt-hours, valued at N1.67 billion, but collected just N757 million, again, losing about N800 million. In October, we received 25.26 million kilowatt-hours worth N1.86 billion, yet collections dropped to N694 million. This decline is indefensible,” Abdullahi stated.
He stressed that prepaid metering remains the most reliable tool for transparency, accountability, and sustainability in electricity supply, thus urging all consumers – religious and commercial alike to support the initiative.
Source: punchng.com
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https://punchng.com/gombe-mosques-churches-resist-prepaid-billing-jos-discos/
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‘For the sake of Allah, Prophet don’t join APC’ – NNPP begs Kano Gov Yusuf
December 29, 2025
By Matthew Atungwu
The New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP, has appealed to Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State not to defect to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
The Chairman of the NNPP in Kano State, Suleiman Dungurawa, made this appeal at a press briefing on Monday in Kano.
Dungurawa also debunked speculations that some party members were planning to create enmity between the governor and the national leader of the party, RabiuKwankwaso.
The Kano NNPP chairman further advised residents of the state to remain calm and continue with their lawful activities.
He, however, warned party members not to append their names to documents allegedly being circulated by mischief makers.
“On behalf of all of us collectively, we once again appeal to them, for the sake of Allah and the Prophet, not to leave this party and not to defect to the party that we have opposed and which the masses and other voters have rejected.
“We are aware of the developments happening here in Kano State concerning some individuals who intend to defect to the APC.
“I want to make it clear that the Kano State party, the national party, and our national leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, together with other leaders, do not approve of what is happening.”
Recall that the Director-General of the Protocol Directorate of Kano State Government House, AbdullahiRogo, had said that citizens of the state and voters have agreed that RabiuKwankwaso and Governor Abba Yusuf should defect to the APC from the NNPP.
Source: dailypost.ng
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https://dailypost.ng/2025/12/29/for-the-sake-of-allah-prophet-dont-join-apc-nnpp-begs-kano-gov-yusuf/
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Muslim Students: Tinubu’s Tax Reforms Must Be Fair, Inclusive to Gain Public Trust
December 29, 2025
Sunday Ehigiator
The Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) has warned that the federal government’s proposed tax reforms could further weaken public confidence if concerns about fairness, justice, and inclusivity are not properly addressed.
The group stated this yesterday at the opening ceremony of its B-Zone Islamic Vacation Course held at the proposed permanent site of Al-Ummah University, located along the Ibadan-Lagos Expressway in Onigari, Ogun State.
Addressing participants, the National President of the society, MallamTajudeen Mustapha, said the country is facing overlapping challenges, including economic hardship, insecurity, moral decline, and weak leadership, noting that policies viewed as unjust only deepen citizens’ distrust of government.
According to him, “taxation itself is not the core issue, but rather the growing lack of trust in how public resources are managed.”
He added that “agreements and reforms such as the taxation that raise questions of equity and sovereignty make citizens sceptical and disengaged.”
The MSSN leadership stressed that accountability in governance cannot be treated as optional, insisting that authorities must ensure policies are guided by justice, transparency and accountability to regain public confidence.
In his welcome remarks, the Amir of MSSN B-Zone, MallamMoshoodKolawole, described the Islamic Vacation Course as the society’s flagship programme, explaining that it offers participants an opportunity to reflect on personal conduct and collective responsibility.
Kolawole said the programme brought together participants from across southern Nigeria to confront issues such as moral decline, economic pressure, insecurity, and the erosion of values, which he said demand genuine collective action.
Delivering a lecture titled “We Are All Responsible,” the Imam of the Muslim Community at the Federal Polytechnic Ede, Osun State, and Rector of the Federal Polytechnic Ayede in Oyo State, Dr Taofeek Abdul-Hameed, said responsibility rests with every segment of society.
He explained that social injustice, corruption, insecurity, and moral decay continue when individuals and leaders neglect their duties, adding that silence in the face of wrongdoing amounts to complicity.
Abdul-Hameed noted that accountability in Islam extends to actions, words, and omissions, stressing that parents, leaders, youths, and professionals all share responsibility for the state of society.
Also speaking, the Chief Registrar of the organisation, Abdulrazak Yusuf, said 10,158 delegates registered across the Edo, Delta, and Rivers states, attributing the large turnout to improvements made to the online registration system introduced in the previous edition.
He, however, acknowledged challenges with sensitisation, noting that limited awareness of the online process led some members to attempt physical registration.
He called on Area Units to step up awareness efforts ahead of future programmes.
Source: thisdaylive.com
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https://www.thisdaylive.com/2025/12/28/muslim-students-tinubus-tax-reforms-must-be-fair-inclusive-to-gain-public-trust/
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Ivory Coast: Ruling party tightens grip on parliament
December 30, 2025
Ivory Coast’s ruling party has strengthened its hold on power, winning nearly three-quarters of seats in parliamentary elections held on Saturday, according to final results announced by the Independent Electoral Commission.
The Rally of Houphouëtists for Democracy and Peace, the RHDP, secured 197 of the 255 seats, around 77 percent, expanding its majority just two months after President AlassaneOuattara was re-elected for a controversial fourth term. Voter turnout remained low, at about 35 percent, continuing a trend of declining participation.
The RHDP dominated its traditional strongholds in the north, sometimes winning all available seats, while also making gains in southern and western regions historically loyal to the opposition. Election authorities said the vote was largely peaceful, despite isolated incidents that did not affect the overall outcome.
The opposition suffered major losses. The Democratic Party of Ivory Coast, the PDCI, saw its representation halved, while the party of former president Laurent Gbagbo, which called for a boycott, lost all its seats.
With this result, President Ouattara now controls most key institutions, reinforcing stability according to supporters, but raising concerns among critics over shrinking political space and weakened democratic checks.
Source: africanews.com
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https://www.africanews.com/2025/12/30/ivory-coast-ruling-party-tightens-grip-on-parliament/
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Controversy grows in DRC over alleged tolerance of anti-Tutsi rhetoric
December 30, 2025
Controversy is growing in the Democratic Republic of Congo over alleged government tolerance of anti-Tutsi rhetoric. President Félix Tshisekedi met on December 22nd with two Congolese expatriates from the United States, Jean-Claude Mubenga and KalonjiKabambawa Mulumba. Officials say the talks focused on national unity and sovereignty.
But critics say the meeting sent the wrong message.
The following day, Mubenga posted highly inflammatory content online, using dehumanizing language and praising armed groups accused of targeting Kinyarwanda-speaking civilians.
Meanwhile the army spokesperson Major General Sylvain Ekenge has been suspended following controversial remarks about Tutsi women.
The army says the comments were discriminatory and do not reflect the position of the government, the military command, or President Félix Tshisekedi, stressing they were made in a personal capacity.
The Tutsis are an ethnic group living across Rwanda and eastern Congo, and their presence is closely tied to decades of conflict and strained relations between the DRC and Rwanda.
Source: africanews.com
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https://www.africanews.com/2025/12/29/controversy-grows-in-drc-over-alleged-tolerance-of-anti-tutsi-rhetoric/
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NiDCOM, Family Appeal For Release Of Nigerian On Death Row In Saudi Arabia
December 29, 2025
By EnioluwaAdeniyi
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has joined the family of SuleimonOlufemi in appealing for his release from detention in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, citing principles of fairness and justice, as well as strong diplomatic ties between the two countries.
NiDCOM’s Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, Abdur‑Rahman Balogun, signed the statement issued in Abuja on December 29, 2025.
NiDCOM said the diyah (blood money) of $570,000 demanded in Olufemi’s case has been fully raised and paid into a designated Saudi account through collaborative efforts with the Saudi‑based Yaro Brothers and the Association of Nigerians in Saudi Arabia.
The Commission expressed optimism that diplomatic efforts led by the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf MaitamaTuggar (OON), will result in mercy and pardon for Olufemi, who has been in detention for over two decades.
It will be recalled that Olufemi was arrested in Saudi Arabia in 2002 after a police officer was killed during an incident in Jeddah, where he had travelled on a lesser Hajj (Umrah) visa to visit a friend.
The arrest occurred on September 29, 2002, a day after the incident. Following a trial, he was sentenced to death in May 2005, while others involved received prison terms.
NiDCOM noted that under Saudi law, the family of the deceased police officer could choose to pardon Olufemi or uphold the death sentence, since the legal age of the child of the policeman who was killed is now over 18 years.
After a series of diplomatic interventions and meetings with the victim’s family, including participation by NiDCOM’s former Legal Director, Barrister Abdullahi Bello, the family insisted that diyah of $570,000 be paid as a condition for pardon.
NiDCOM said it partnered with the Association of Nigerians in Saudi Arabia, led by the Yaro brothers, to champion the fundraising effort.
“The $570,000 dollars … has been paid into an account opened specifically for this purpose with financial support from well meaning Nigerians,” the statement said.
The commission reaffirmed its support for Olufemi’s case and thanked all contributors who played a role in raising the required amount.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/12/29/nidcom-family-appeal-for-release-of-nigerian-on-death-row-in-saudi-arabia/
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Enemies Thought I Was Finished, God Elevated Me – Defence Minister, Musa
December 29, 2025
By Richard Ogunsile
The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has revealed that he faced opposition and conspiracy from some quarters but credited his eventual rise to national leadership to divine intervention and unwavering faith in God.
Musa made this disclosure while sharing a personal testimony during a worship service at the Conquerors Global Assembly in Abuja.
According to the minister, there was a critical period in his life when forces worked against him, believing they had successfully brought him down.
However, he said God’s intervention turned the situation around and resulted in his elevation.
“We give God the glory for what has happened this year. Even when the enemy thought they were putting us down, they did not know God was going to lift us up,” Musa said.
He added that those who plotted against him underestimated the power of faith.
“In their small minds they conspired and thought they had won. But as long as you have God as your pillar, you will win,” he declared.
The former Chief of Defence Staff urged Christians not to lose hope in the face of adversity, reminding them that challenges are often stepping stones to greater achievements.
“If you are never challenged, you can never improve in life,” Musa said.
He further encouraged believers to remain steadfast, stressing that God does not abandon His people.
“Because we serve a living God, He will never give up on us,” he said.
Speaking on the resilience of the country and its people, Musa described Nigerians as strong and victorious, especially when united in faith.
“As Nigerians, we know we are strong, but we are stronger together with God Almighty. Nigerians are winners,” he said.
The minister also called on citizens to continually pray for the nation and its leaders.
“We must continue to pray for our leaders and our country,” he added.
Musa’s remarks come weeks after President Bola Tinubu nominated him as the Minister of Defence.
On December 2, the President forwarded Musa’s name to the Senate for confirmation following the resignation of the former minister, Mohammed Badaru, who stepped down due to health challenges.
Musa, who previously served as Chief of Defence Staff, was subsequently appointed to steer the affairs of the Defence Ministry amid ongoing security challenges across the country.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/12/29/enemies-thought-i-was-finished-god-elevated-me-defence-minister-musa/
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Your Problem Is That You Were Not Given A Ministerial Slot – Wike Blasts Makinde
December 29, 2025
By Justina Otio
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), NyesomWike, has claimed that the governor of Oyo State, SeyiMakinde, is angry because President Bola Tinubu did not offer him a ministerial slot.
Wike made the claim on Monday in Port Harcourt while responding to allegations made against him by SeyiMakinde.
The minister said that the G-5, which included himself and former governors OkezieIkpeazu (Abia State), Samuel Ortom (Benue State), and IfeanyiUgwuanyi (Enugu State), even met with President Tinubu on this matter, and the president promised to take action.
He said, “When we agreed on this, Seyi’s problem was that he was not given a ministerial slot. Even when he was saying it, you could see the anger in him. We told him to ‘calm down.
“That was even the reason we went to see the President. The President said, ‘There are certain factors I may not have considered; however, something has to be done.’ What again? You already had it on your mind.
“In fact, I remember now, the Rivers Ijaw people organised a reception for me in Port Harcourt. So when Ortom said, ‘Look, we are going to support the President for a second term,’ Seyi replied in the newspapers, saying, ‘Why would you say such a thing?’
“And I called him and said, ‘Even if he [Ortom] said so, you shouldn’t have replied in the newspaper. You should have called a meeting so we could debate.
“By doing this, you’re showing as if there’s a division among us…’”
According to Wike, the $1 million SeyiMakinde claimed to have made as a young man is still intoxicating him today, causing him to react to issues unnecessarily.
He added, “But sometimes you know, having made that $1 million so early, he reacts. Because when he looks back, he sees the figure of $1 million. He forgets that Dangote was not the first person who made $1 million, but he is the richest man in Africa today.”
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/12/29/your-problem-is-that-you-were-not-given-a-ministerial-slot-wike-blasts-makinde/
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Southeast Asia
Malaysia’s ASEAN chairmanship strengthened regional unity, says Anwar
29 Dec 2025
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says Malaysia’s 2025 ASEAN chairmanship fostered unity and dialogue amid global uncertainty, marking Timor-Leste’s historic entry.
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim says Malaysia’s 2025 ASEAN chairmanship strengthened regional unity during a period of global anxiety.
Anwar, serving as the ASEAN Chair, said the summits were crucial platforms for bridging gaps among member states to tackle challenges.
“This year also marked a historic moment when Timor-Leste was accepted as ASEAN’s newest family member,” he said in a Facebook post.
He expressed deep appreciation to all ASEAN partners and world leaders for their commitment to regional stability.
Anwar also thanked all Malaysians for their support and hospitality throughout the chairmanship period.
“This chairmanship has elevated Malaysia as a trusted partner in efforts to uphold peace, stability and hope in the region,” he added.
Malaysia has now concluded its term and handed over the ASEAN chairmanship to the Philippines for 2026.
This was the fifth time Malaysia has led the regional bloc since its 1967 founding, following previous terms in 1977, 1997, 2005 and 2015.
Source: thesun.my
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https://thesun.my/news/malaysia-news/people-issues/malaysias-asean-chairmanship-strengthened-regional-unity-says-anwar/
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King receives update on construction of TunkuLaksamana Abdul Jalil Mosque in Johor
30 Dec 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 30 — His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia was today briefed on the progress of the construction of the TunkuLaksamana Abdul Jalil Mosque, located on JalanKolam Air near Istana Bukit Serene in Johor Bahru, Johor.
According to a post on Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar’s Facebook page, the mosque is being built using the funds bequeathed by His Majesty’s late son, Tunku Abdul Jalil Sultan Ibrahim, the TunkuLaksamana of Johor, who passed away on December 5, 2015.
The mosque will be able to accommodate nearly 1,000 worshippers at a time, it said.
Earlier, Sultan Ibrahim granted an audience to Johor State Secretary Datuk Asman Shah Abd Rahman and Johor Mufti Datuk Yahya Ahmad at Istana PasirPelangi, Johor Bahru.
Also present were Johor Islamic Religious Council chief executive officer MohdRadziMohd Amin, Johor Islamic Religious Department director NasriMd Ali, and Johor Public Works Department director Zainal Tumian. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/12/30/king-receives-update-on-construction-of-tunku-laksamana-abdul-jalil-mosque-in-johor/203697
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Anwar: Asean to weigh Myanmar’s post-election developments
30 Dec 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 30 — Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said on Tuesday that leaders from the South-east Asian bloc Asean will consider developments in Myanmar following the first phase of its election over the weekend.
“Any assessment will proceed in a sequenced manner, guided by the need to reduce violence, avoid actions that could deepen divisions or confer premature legitimacy, and preserve the possibility of an inclusive and credible pathway forward,” Anwar said. — Reuters
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/12/30/anwar-asean-to-weigh-myanmars-post-election-developments/203743
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Mujahid, PAS settle defamation suit out of court with public apology
30 Dec 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 30 — The defamation suit filed by Datuk Seri MujahidYusof against PAS regarding allegations that the former Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department supported lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) culture has been resolved at the High Court here today.
Mujahid’s counsel, NoorazmirZakaria, informed Judge Roslan Mat Nor that both parties had reached a confidential settlement.
“For the record today, a joint statement has been submitted, and once it is recorded by the court, our party will withdraw the suit,” said the lawyer. Lawyer YusfarizalYussoff, representing PAS, confirmed the matter.
Judge Roslan then recorded the agreement based on the joint statement, formally noting the settlement of the defamation suit.
He thanked both parties for agreeing to resolve the dispute amicably out of court and commended the lawyers for their efforts in the negotiations
The joint statement clarified that, upon reconsidering the impact of the defamation proceedings and the associated legal costs, both parties agreed to terminate the dispute conclusively, in light of more pressing national issues requiring priority attention.
“Consequently, both parties have mutually decided to discontinue their dispute in these proceedings. Takiyuddin, in his capacity as PAS Secretary-General, without admission of any liability, hereby offers a sincere and unreserved public apology to Mujahid for the post in question.
“Mujahid, who values this conciliatory gesture, agrees to withdraw the civil suit with prejudice and without an order as to costs,” the statement read.
“Both parties hope this settlement will be accepted and respected by all, and will not be used to disturb the nation’s well-being, unity, and harmony,” the statement concluded.
On Dec 15, 2022, Mujahid, as the plaintiff, filed the suit against PAS through Takiyuddin. He alleged that on Oct 16 of that year, PAS, as the defendant, had maliciously defamed, vilified and slandered him by publishing a defamatory statement in the status section of the party’s official Facebook account.
In its statement of defence, PAS contended that the plaintiff’s claim was defective and invalid, as Mujahid had failed to identify the individual(s) who had control over and posted the statement in question. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Justice in focus: Landmark rulings that tested freedoms and redefined citizenship in Malaysia’s 2025
By Ida Lim
30 Dec 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 30 — Malaysia’s 2025 saw the courts handing out landmark rulings that touched on Malaysians’ rights including the freedom of expression and freedom to gather peacefully for rallies.
Here are the cases that made headlines in 2025:
1. Didn’t tell the police five days before a peaceful rally? It’s not a crime anymore
On July 1, the Federal Court unanimously decided to strike down the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012’s (PAA) Section 9(5) for breaching the constitutional right to peaceful assembly, which means it is no longer a crime punishable by a maximum RM10,000 fine if an organiser fails to give the police a five-day advance notice of a peaceful rally.
After the Federal Court ruling, Malaysian United Democratic Alliance’s (Muda) former secretary-general Amir Hariri AbdHadi was later acquitted on August 8 of a Section 9(5) charge.
While there was no longer a threat of the RM10,000 fine, the Malaysian Bar still gave advance notice to the police of its July 14 “Walk to Safeguard Judicial Independence” in line with the PAA’s Section 9(1), and the police facilitated the march by directing traffic and ensuring participants’ safety.
2. Don’t shoot the messenger: Offensive online remarks to annoy not a crime
On August 19, the Court of Appeal unanimously struck down or declared two words — “offensive” and “annoy” — in the Communications and Multimedia Act’s (CMA) Section 233 as invalid, which made it no longer a crime in Malaysia to make offensive online comments with the intention to annoy.
While the Court of Appeal’s ruling was hailed as a win for freedom of speech in Malaysia, the court decision was on an older version of the CMA, and a newer version of the same law since February has replaced the word “offensive” with “grossly offensive” but kept the word “annoy”.
The Malaysian government is currently appealing this court decision, and was on November 13 allowed by the Federal Court to proceed with the appeal.
3. Perak family’s three stateless generations declared as Malaysians; court’s ruling could prevent others from suffering from intergenerational statelessness
On November 26, the Court of Appeal unanimously decided that three generations of stateless persons in a Perak family — who can trace their roots five generations back to a Malaysian couple — are actually Malaysians.
The landmark court ruling also decided that stateless persons can legally marry and register their marriages in Malaysia, which means the children born to a Malaysian man and his stateless wife can automatically be Malaysians instead of inheriting the mother’s statelessness.
4. Court orders compensation, police investigations in Dutch model Ivana Smit, activist AmriChe Mat and Pastor Raymond Koh cases
Dutch model Ivana Smit’s death
On July 29, the High Court ordered the Malaysian government and three others to pay RM1.1 million in compensation to Smit’s mother Christina Carolina Gerarda Johanna Verstappen over the police’s investigation failures into the 18-year-old model’s 2017 death, and ordered the police to restart investigations with updates every three months to the Attorney-General’s Chambers.
On November 18, the Court of Appeal allowed a stay on the High Court decision, which means the government does not need to pay RM1.1 million or give investigation updates while the government pursues its appeal.
AmriChe Mat’s and Pastor Raymond Koh’s enforced disappearance cases
On November 5, the High Court ordered the government and the police to pay RM3 million in compensation to Amri’s wife NorhayatiMohdAriffin, and also ordered the government and the police to pay RM3 million in compensation to Koh’s wife Susanna Liew in a separate case.
As Koh had also sued via his wife, the High Court also ordered the government to pay him RM2 million in compensation as well as RM10,000 daily since February 2017 for every day that his location remains unknown — with the total payout to Koh exceeding RM33 million.
The government on November 6 appealed against these two High Court decisions.
5. In SIS Forum case, Federal Court affirms companies are not “persons professing the religion of Islam”
On June 19, the Federal Court in a 3-1 decision quashed parts of a Selangor fatwa which had declared the company SIS Forum (Malaysia) as deviant, as companies cannot profess the religion of Islam.
The Federal Court did not decide on religious issues such as Islamic beliefs, but was focused on legal issues such as whether Selangor had acted within its powers under the Federal Constitution when it issued the fatwa.
6. Hindu mum Loh Siew Hong’s children remain Hindus, as Perlis government fails in final bid to revive their unilateral conversion
On April 8, the Federal Court unanimously dismissed the Perlis state government’s final attempt to argue that Hindu mother Loh Siew Hong’s three children’s unilateral conversion to Islam was valid.
The Court of Appeal in January 2024 had said the Hindu-turned-Muslim father’s unilateral conversion of the three children without Loh’s consent was illegal, while the three children had in a separate case told the High Court in 2023 that they did not want to be Muslims.
7. Family Frontiers and govt agree in court on automatic citizenship for Malaysian mums’ overseas-born children, if conditions met
On March 10 at the Federal Court, Family Frontiers and the Malaysian government settled a years-long case revolving around Malaysian mothers’ overseas-born children’s right to automatically be Malaysians.
When settling the case, the Malaysian government agreed that children born overseas to Malaysian mothers — before a 2024 constitutional amendment comes into force — are entitled to apply and will be registered as Malaysians if they meet certain conditions.
The settlement is important as the 2024 amendment, which has yet to come into force, would only apply to Malaysian mothers’ children who are born overseas after it comes into force.
8. 1MDB drops lawsuit against Najib’s stepson Riza Aziz
Government-owned firm 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) on February 24 withdrew its US$248 million (RM1.25 billion) lawsuit against former prime minister Datuk Seri NajibRazak’s stepson RizaShahriz Abdul Aziz and his two companies, and the High Court on March 7 ordered 1MDB to pay RM225,000 in legal costs.
The Sessions Court in May 2020 had already granted a discharge not amounting to acquittal (DNAA) to Riza on five money laundering charges on the same US$248 million, after he reached a settlement with the Malaysian government and agreed to pay millions in ringgit.
Government-owned firm 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) on February 24 withdrew its US$248 million (RM1.25 billion) lawsuit against RizaShahriz Abdul Aziz and his two companies — Picture by MieraZulyana
9. Federal government ordered to review how much it should have paid to Sabah during 1974 to 2021
On October 17, the High Court declared that the federal government has to review the annual amount — 40 per cent of what Sabah contributed to Malaysia’s revenue annually — that it should pay Sabah for the years 1974 to 2021.
The High Court described these 48 years as Sabah’s “Lost Years”, as the federal government did not review or update the annual amount, but just continued paying the same fixed amount of RM26.7 million every year during 1974 to 2021.
The federal government in November filed an appeal against the High Court decision, but clarified it was not appealing against the 40 per cent formula or the need for it to review the annual amount.
10. Semantan Estate fails court bid to physically get back Duta land, but can get compensation from government
On November 13, Semantan Estate (1952) SdnBhd lost its bid to proceed with its appeal at the Federal Court, which means that the title for the 263.272-acre Duta Enclave land would not be transferred back to the company.
Instead, the company will only be able to get compensation from the federal government over the land, which the latter illegally acquired in 1956, and the High Court will next assess how much should be paid as compensation.
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/12/30/justice-in-focus-landmark-rulings-that-tested-freedoms-and-redefined-citizenship-in-malaysias-2025/202554
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Perikatan youth wings say coalition decisions must be made collectively, not unilaterally
30 Dec 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 30 — Any decision or stance made in the name of the PerikatanNasional (PN) is not the absolute right of any party in the coalition unilaterally, said the three youth component wings of PN.
Following Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s resignation as PN chairman, representatives of Bersatu, Gerakan and the Malaysian Indian People’s Party (MIPP) youths have stressed that any decision made in the name of the coalition must be referred to, discussed and decided through the PN Supreme Council.
Bersatu Armada chief HilmanIdham, Gerakan National Youth chief Lee Boon Shian and MIPP National Youth chief Justin Prabakaran in a joint statement said it was in line with the provisions of Clause 13 of the PN Constitution.
“Although all component parties have the right to express their views, the PerikatanNasional’s stance must be decided by consensus with all component parties.
“We urge leadership at all levels to practise politics of wisdom, prudence and maintain the coalition’s manners and ethics to realise a larger agenda for the well-being of the people and the future of Malaysia,” the statement said.
Earlier, Muhyiddin announced his resignation as the central PN chairman effective Jan 1, 2026. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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PAS signals leadership push in Perikatan following Muhyiddin’s resignation
By Muhammad Yusry
30 Dec 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 30 — PAS will put forward a candidate to take over as chairman of PerikatanNasional (PN) following Tan Sri MuhyiddinYasin’s decision to step down from the post effective January 1, 2026, the party’s information chief Ahmad FadhliShaari said today.
The Pasir Mas MP said the proposed candidate must be an individual capable of uniting and mobilising the strengths of all parties within the coalition.
“I am confident that PAS will put forward a candidate from within the party to lead PerikatanNasional as its new chairman. This individual does not necessarily have to be the party president, but rather someone who is trusted to unite and mobilise the strengths of the parties within PN.
“A restructuring of PN’s organisation will certainly be carried out to place greater emphasis on grassroots and organisational work moving forward,” he said in a Facebook post.
He described Muhyiddin’s decision to relinquish the chairmanship as wise and timely, saying PN needs fresh momentum as it prepares for the 16th general election.
Ahmad Fadhli then congratulated Muhyiddin on his decision and extended his well wishes to the incoming PN chairman.
Earlier, Muhyiddin, who is also Bersatu president, announced that he has decided to step down as PN chairman amid mounting tensions within the opposition coalition.
According to party sources cited by BeritaHarian, the former prime minister informed members of Bersatu’s supreme leadership council (MPT) of his decision via a WhatsApp group last night.
Source: malaymail.com
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‘No plans to contest seats in Peninsular Malaysia during next general election’
30 Dec 2025
PETALING JAYA: Warisan vice-president Datuk Junz Wong said the party has no plans to contest seats in Peninsular Malaysia in the next general election.
He said the focus of the party remains on Sabah and advancing the interests of the state.
He added that the matter of expanding beyond Sabah has not been discussed within the party’s decision-making bodies.
“This has never been brought up for deliberation at our meetings. There is no plan to move in that direction at this point.”
He also said Warisan’s strategy remains centred on strengthening its presence in Sabah, particularly in advocating key issues such as federal revenue entitlement and local development.
“Our work in Sabah remains our top priority. We want to ensure the voices of Sabahans are represented at the state and federal levels.”
However, he said the party is not closing the door entirely on future considerations.
“We are two years away from the next general election. Over (that time), we would assess how the situation develops and make decisions accordingly.”
Wong also reaffirmed Warisan’s commitment to its grassroots base and policies aimed at delivering tangible benefits to Sabahans.
“We will continue working to ensure the state’s development and representation are protected and enhanced.”
In GE15 in 2022, Warisan contested 53 parliamentary seats, including 26 in Peninsular Malaysia, but failed to win any seats outside Sabah.
Source: thesun.my
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Selangor Sultan urges comprehensive flood solutions
29 Dec 2025
Sultan Sharafuddin urges experts and technology to achieve zero flood target, telling leaders to stop politicking and focus on solving people’s problems.
SHAH ALAM: The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah (pic), urges a comprehensive approach to the long-standing flood problem, with a clear target of achieving zero flood.
“Seek the best expertise, whether from within or outside the country. Use knowledge, technology and experience. Do not continue to hide behind excuses, because the suffering of the people cannot be treated as the price to be paid for failures in planning.
“I am aware that we are unable to prevent storms, typhoons, heavy rain or natural disasters, which are acts of God. However, I am confident that floods can be overcome if there is a sound system, long-term planning, and honest and disciplined implementation,” he said in his 2026 New Year message.
Sultan Sharafuddin also reminded those entrusted with power and responsibility, particularly political leaders in Selangor, to stop talking about politics and focus fully on efforts to resolve the people’s problems.
His Royal Highness stressed that all planning and actions must be guided by a single primary objective, namely the prosperity of the people and the stability of the state.
“I wish to remind you to stop talking about politics and focus on working to solve the people’s problems, especially with a general election approaching.
“Channel all energy and thought towards building tangible development so that the people can live more comfortably, have their welfare safeguarded and feel protected by a fair and effective system. Remember, nothing is impossible if the intention is sincere and the effort is earnest,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Sultan and the TengkuPermaisuri of Selangor, TengkuPermaisuriNorashikin, conveyed their New Year 2026 greetings to all the people, regardless of race, religion or background.
Sultan Sharafuddin expressed hope that 2026 would bring greater prosperity to the people of Selangor and inspire them to become better individuals, with stronger values and greater contributions to their families, society and the state.
“May Allah SWT bless this state and all my people. Happy New Year 2026,” he added.
Source: thesun.my
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South Asia
Interior Ministry Rejects International Report Labeling Afghanistan Insecure Country
December 30, 2025
KABUL: The Ministry of Interior has strongly rejected a recent report published by the so-called Institute for Economics and Peace, which ranked Afghanistan among the world’s most insecure countries.
The ministry’s spokesman, Abdul MateenQani, said in a statement that nationwide security has been firmly established, providing a stable environment for progress in economic, social, infrastructural, and public service sectors.
He criticized the report for relying on outdated information, unverified sources, and analyses detached from realities on the ground.
Qani reiterated the security forces’ commitment to ensuring security for Afghan citizens, foreign visitors, and tourists.
The spokesman called on international institutions to base future reports on credible field assessments and verified data.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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Haqqani Welcomes Efforts to Improve Afghanistan-Pakistan Relations
December 30, 2025
KABUL: The country’s Interior Minister, KhalifaSirajuddinHaqqani, welcomed recent statements by Pakistani religious scholars and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, describing them as positive steps toward resolving differences and improving relations between the two neighboring countries.
Speaking at a meeting in Kabul the other day, Haqqani said that any effort aimed at addressing problems through dialogue and strengthening bilateral ties is commendable, stressing the importance of mutual understanding and cooperation in fostering stability.
His remarks come after Pakistani religious scholars, during a recent gathering, criticized violations of Afghanistan’s territorial integrity and called for the resolution of disputes through constructive dialogue.
In the same context, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stated that Islamabad holds good intentions and seeks to prevent the use of Afghan territory against Pakistan.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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UN Rapporteur Urges Independent Probe Into Killing of Former Military Officers in Tehran
By Fidel Rahmati
December 30, 2025
UN human rights rapporteur Richard Bennett has called for an independent investigation into the targeted killing of former military officers in Tehran, citing serious accountability concerns.
The United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan has called for an independent investigation into the killing of former Afghanistan’s military officers in Tehran.
Richard Bennett said those responsible for the assassinations of former Afghanistan’s police general EkramuddinSarea and commander Mohammad Amin Almas must be identified and brought to justice.
In a post on X on Monday, Bennett said he was deeply concerned about the targeted killings of former Afghanistan security personnel on Iranian soil.
Nearly five days after the attack, Iranian authorities have yet to publish the results of their investigation into the killings, which took place in the Valiasr district of Tehran.
General Sarea, a former Afghanistan police commander, and Almas were shot dead last Wednesday evening, highlighting growing concerns over the safety of exiled Afghanistan figures in Iran.
The killings follow a similar incident less than four months ago, when MaroufGholami, a military commander close to veteran leader Ismail Khan, was assassinated in the northeastern city of Mashhad, Iran.
Human rights groups and Afghanistan’s opposition figures have warned that former military officials living abroad remain vulnerable to targeted attacks following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
Iran’s foreign ministry said security investigations into the deaths of the two citizens of Afghanistan were ongoing and condemned the attack, while police have yet to release findings despite earlier promises, fuelling calls for transparency and accountability.
Source: khaama.com
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NCP’s gamble, Jamaat’s gain?
Dec 30, 2025
The National Citizen Party's decision to join the Jamaat-led electoral alliance has touched off sharp debate in Bangladesh's political circles. While some warn it could erode the NCP's youthful promise and cast doubt on its future, others see it as a breakthrough for Jamaat-e-Islami.
Political analyst AltafParvez describes Jamaat's success in bringing the NCP into its electoral fold as the Islamist party's biggest political feat to date.
The NCP, formed by student leaders of the 2024 mass uprising that toppled the Awami League regime, entered into a seat-sharing pact with Jamaat-e-Islami and its allies on Sunday.
According to analyst and writer Mohiuddin Ahmad, the NCP practises "state power-centric politics" and will naturally align wherever it is suitable. He, however, said that such arrangements may not last beyond the election.
Salahuddin Muhammad Babar, editor of the daily NayaDiganta and also a political analyst, argues that the Jamaat-NCP "politics of understanding" could open up a new horizon of possibilities in Bangladesh, moving beyond the country's past experience of alliance politics.
However, many who had expected the NCP to strive for a new political order in the post-uprising Bangladesh have voiced disappointment over its seat-sharing pact. Some fear the party could lose relevance before it even has the chance to fully establish itself in the political arena.
After its launch, the NCP had pledged to introduce a "new political arrangement" and had repeatedly expressed optimism about contesting all 300 seats and forming the government.
However, its eventual decision to pursue an electoral understanding with Jamaat and other religion-based parties has raised questions among analysts about the party's political future.
Thirty central NCP leaders also objected to the move, while several leaders and activists resigned, withdrew from the election race, or both, saying the party was "not on the right track".
While many were surprised or even "hurt" by NCP's decision to align with Jamaat, AltafParvez said it was not unexpected. According to him, the move was almost inevitable for the NCP under three political realities.
"From the very beginning, there has been a right-wing tilt among the NCP ranks. Secondly, over the past 17 months, a significant section of the public has held the NCP partly responsible for the failures of the interim government. This is because the head of the government himself had said that it was the students who appointed him. There is also a widespread perception that many advisers were effectively appointed or selected by students.
"As a result, many people associated the government's performance with the NCP, and it has partly tainted the party's political prospects."
As a third reason, he said, "NCP's advisers wanted to ensure that if the party failed to perform well in the election, it would at least have the option of being in the opposition afterwards."
Explaining why the NCP aligned with Jamaat instead of the BNP or contesting independently, Parvez observed, "There was an opportunistic tendency among the party's frontliners -- such as the desire to remain influential, stay close to the administration, hold positions and titles, and remain in the public eye. These populist traits made leaning towards Jamaat almost inevitable."
Explaining why this is a major success for Jamaat, he said, "In South Asia and around the world, Jamaat's image is that of a Shariah-based party. Jamaat-e-Islami exists in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. In its 84-year history across these three countries, this is the first time Jamaat has achieved such a major moral success. It has effectively brought an entire force that led a mass uprising under its fold.
"As a result, it can now demonstrate to the world that despite being a Shariah-based party, its appeal has spread to the liberal middle class."
The analyst added, "Secondly, politics in Bangladesh will continue even after the February 12 election. Even if Jamaat loses, having the NCP with it will make it easier to build opposition politics under Jamaat leadership. In effect, it has eliminated the space for any other opposition force. In politics, moral and cultural aspects matter greatly, and the NCP's young leaders come from a middle-class cultural background."
Mohiuddin Ahmad, however, views the NCP's move into the Jamaat bloc as a natural pre-election development, noting that such alignments have occurred before every election in Bangladesh's history.
"I don't see the NCP's alignment with Jamaat as something exceptional. This is how power politics works. The NCP was born only recently. None of its leaders witnessed 1971, so they have no emotional attachment to it. They practise state power-centric politics and will go wherever it suits them."
He added, "We know they also bargained with BNP and weren't satisfied with the outcome. They may feel they are in a better position bargaining with Jamaat, and that is why they have chosen this path. Moreover, the NCP is not a crystallised political party. The 2024 anti-discrimination student movement involved people outside the ruling establishment, but not all of them joined the NCP when it was formed."
Mohiuddin also said that just as the Awami League had a tendency to "appropriate" the glory of the collective effort that led to independence in 1971, the NCP too shows a similar tendency to appropriate the glory of the 2024 mass uprising.
He added that the NCP is unlikely to wield significant influence as a political party in post-election politics. "We've already become accustomed to such politics in this country."
Salahuddin Muhammad Babar, however, said there is a clear difference between past "alliance politics" and the current Jamaat-NCP "politics of understanding".
"In alliance politics, there is a commitment. When the alliance comes to power, partners have to be given positions and rehabilitated. We have seen how Inu, Rashed Khan Menon and others were given ministerial posts and privileges during the Awami League's tenure.
"The BNP, which previously formed alliances, is also now moving towards a strategy of understanding with like-minded parties. I think Jamaat is following the same model this time."
Describing the current politics of understanding as a new phenomenon, he said, "If different points are raised separately or in isolation in every corner, they do not yield fruitful results. But if these come under a common understanding, and if all parties can participate in a parliamentary election and enter parliament, then real politics will move into parliament. This will ensure the participation of smaller parties as well."
Source: thedailystar.net
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Books Compliant with Islamic, Afghan Values Approved for Publication
December 30, 2025
KABUL: The regular meeting of the Book Evaluation Commission was held under the leadership of MohajerFarahi, Deputy Minister of Information and Culture for Publications Affairs, approving books that are fully compliant with Islamic principles and Afghan cultural values.
During the meeting, reports from previous sessions were reviewed, and the commission positively assessed its recent achievements, the ministry said in a statement on Monday.
Decisions were also taken regarding 130 imported and exported book titles, while 30 additional books were distributed among members for further review ahead of the next session.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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KSrelief begins distribution of food packages to 2,000 families in Kunduz
December 30, 2025
KUNDUZ: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) started distribution of aid packages for 2,000 families in Kunduz city and Imam Sahib district of the province, the provincial Governor’s Press Office said in a statement on Monday.
According to the statement, the distribution process of the food packages was officially started in a ceremony attended by Abdul WaliMohammadi, the head of the Kunduz provincial department of refugees and returnees, Mawlavi Noor Mohammad Saeedi, and officials of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief).
In their speeches, the provincial officials commended the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) for providing urgent supplies to the poor and needy during times of crisis.
According to the statement, each family was provided with flour, oil, rice, beans, and sugar, which is financially supported by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) and technical support from Tawhid Foundation.
It should be noted that the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) has been providing charitable services in the country for years, particularly reaching out to affected areas and people in need during earthquakes and other natural disasters.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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Turkish Companies Interested in Investment in Afghanistan’s Water, Power Projects
December 30, 2025
KABUL: A number of Turkish investors, in a meeting with Mawlavi Abdul Latif Mansoor, Minister of Water and Energy, expressed interest in investing in water and energy projects.
The ministry said in a statement on Monday that the investors will invest in the construction of water dams, power generation facilities, and water supply systems.
Minister Mansoor welcomed the interest and proposed several key projects for investment, including the Ghambiri Irrigation and Power Generation Dam, the Sayad-to-New Kabul Water Supply Project, and the Shatoot-to-Kabul Water Transfer Project.
He assured investors that the Ministry of Water and Energy would provide all necessary facilities and support, emphasizing the importance of holding technical meetings to advance studies and implementation phases.
The Turkish investors also confirmed their readiness to continue cooperation and carry out technical assessments.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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Over 10,000 Afghanistan and Pakistan Traders’ Shipments Stalled at Karachi Port
By Fidel Rahmati
December 30, 2025
More than 10,000 Afghanistan and Pakistan traders face mounting losses as transit shipments and containers remain stuck at Karachi port due to border closures.
The Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry has warned that over 10,000 Afghan and Pakistani traders are facing severe losses as their transit shipments remain stuck at Karachi port.
Express Tribune reported on Tuesday that closures at key border crossings, including Torkham, Spin Boldak, Chaman, and Ghulam Khan, have caused massive disruptions to trade between the two countries.
Officials said 11,000 to 12,000 transit containers destined for Afghanistan and Central Asian republics are stranded at Karachi port due to the ongoing border shutdowns.
In addition, thousands of trucks carrying imports and exports from traders on both sides are parked at the borders, with perishable goods rotting and financial losses mounting.
The United Nations noted in a report that the continued closure of crossings between Pakistan and Taliban-controlled Afghanistan is costing traders on both sides approximately $1 million daily.
Afghanistan relies heavily on Pakistan’s ports and transit routes for trade, making border closures a major blow to its import-export economy.
Similar disruptions have occurred in the past during political tensions or security incidents, highlighting the fragile nature of trade logistics in the region.
Traders are urging both parties to reopen crossings promptly to prevent further economic damage and avoid a humanitarian impact on communities dependent on trade.
Experts warn that prolonged border closures could disrupt supply chains across South and Central Asia, increase costs for businesses, and deepen regional economic instability.
Source: khaama.com
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U.S. Allocates $2 Billion to UN, Afghanistan Excluded from Aid
By Fidel Rahmati
December 30, 2025
The United States announced $2 billion in humanitarian aid for the United Nations, but Afghanistan will not be included due to political interference concerns.
The United States has announced $2 billion in humanitarian aid for the United Nations, though Afghanistan and Yemen will not be included in the assistance.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Monday that the new funding model aims to share the burden of UN humanitarian programs with other developed nations.
Officials described the amount as a fraction of past U.S. contributions, but still significant enough to maintain America’s position as the world’s largest humanitarian donor.
Afghanistan and Yemen, both facing severe humanitarian crises, were excluded due to political interventions in aid distribution, according to U.S. authorities.
American officials cited Taliban interference in Afghanistan and Houthi control in Yemen as the main reasons for withholding assistance from these countries.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) annually requests funding to support millions of vulnerable populations affected by conflict, natural disasters, and food insecurity.
Historically, the U.S. has been the largest contributor to global humanitarian efforts, though President Donald Trump’s administration reduced foreign aid and pressed the UN to downsize or eliminate programs.
The $2 billion allocation represents the first phase of U.S. support for the current UN humanitarian appeal, signaling continued engagement despite political and operational challenges.
Experts say excluding Afghanistan and Yemen highlights the growing impact of political interference on international aid and raises concerns about the effectiveness of humanitarian responses in conflict zones.
Source: khaama.com
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