Supreme Court Declines Plea To Bar Modi From Offering Chadar At Ajmer Dargah Shrine
New Age Islam News Bureau
05 January 2026
The Ajmer Sharif dargah.
File picture
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· Supreme Court declines plea to bar Modi from offering chadar at Ajmer dargah shrine
· 'This is life now': Umar Khalid tells friend over phone after Supreme Court denies bail
· Israeli settlers vandalize graves at Islamic cemetery in Jerusalem
· CNN suggests ‘false information’ could be behind UAE-KSA tensions
· Award-winning Birmingham hospital nurse struck off for posting anti-Muslim and immigrant content on Facebook
· US ‘banditry’ in Venezuela is harbinger of chaos – Moscow
· Israel Reveals Plan To Help Nigeria Fight Insecurity
· Al-Aqsa Mosque imam thanks Malaysia for Palestine support
· Conditions for a free and fair election in Bangladesh not in place: Jamaat-e-Islami
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India
· JNU slogans row: Students raise controversial calls against PM Narendra Modi, Amit Shah after SC denies bail to Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam
· Why SC denied bail to Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam but awarded it to five other anti-CAA activists
· Demand for ban on non-Hindus in Kumbh areas gets Uttarakhand CM’s attention: ‘Will hold discussions’
· ‘Go Back, BJP Agent’: TMC supporters protest after Humayun Kabir visits Kolkata’s Brigade Parade Ground ahead of his new party’s rally
· Rahul Gandhi’s social justice politics has no meaning without Pasmanda Muslims, Bihar Congress leader says
· 15-year-old boy arrested in Punjab for sharing sensitive information with Pakistan handlers
· Sunali Khatun, deported on suspicion of being Bangladeshi while pregnant, gives birth to baby boy in Birbhum
· Omar Abdullah at Express Adda: ‘I find it difficult to use Union Territory and Jammu & Kashmir in the same sentence’
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Mideast
· Iran says no leniency for ‘rioters’ as protests persist
· Syrian officials in talks with Israel under US mediation: government source
· Presidents of Turkiye, UAE discuss Gaza’s humanitarian crisis
· Food aid from Mohammed bin Rashid Humanitarian Ship enters Gaza
· Israel says targets Hezbollah, Hamas in Lebanon strikes
· Palestinian embassy in UK officially inaugurated
· Dollar seen surpassing 150K Dinars as Kurdistan oil proposal emerges
· Sana’a: Armed tribal rally in Bani Hushaysh condemns insult to Holy Qur’an
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Arab World
· Saudi project clears 736 explosive devices in Yemen
· Imam Turki Royal Reserve welcomes 124 new endangered animals
· Saudi leadership sends cables of condolences after passing of former Jordan prime minister
· GCC secretary general receives Executive Director of World Bank Group in Riyadh
· French historical account connects Saudi highlands to modern cafe culture
· Saudi FM meets with Egyptian president during Cairo visit
· National eLearning Center launches ‘Multiversity,’ honors outstanding achievements
· KSrelief launches platform for NGOs to receive accreditation for international work
· New framework launched for first aid volunteer work at Two Holy Mosques
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Europe
· Watford mosque plan latest: response to objections issued
· Chris Mason: Starmer's strategy of avoiding criticising Trump over Maduro
· 'We need Greenland': Trump repeats threat to annex Danish territory
· UK sides with Denmark against Trump’s Greenland claim
· Muslim hikers raise £50k in Everest challenge
· Who’s Moving: British Red Cross, Islamic Relief Worldwide, Humanists UK and more
· Manchester Arena families say MI5 must be fully included in new law on cover-ups
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North America
· CAIR-Philadelphia Condemns Neo-Nazi, Racist Vandalism Targeting Roxborough High School
· US threatens greater control over Western Hemisphere
· 'Nobody is going to fight...': Top White House aide does not rule out military option if US targets Greenland
· Trump signs 'Make Iran Great Again' hat for Republican senator who hopes 2026 will be the year that...
· ‘White people will have a different relationship to property’: Zohran Mamdani's tenant director faces backlash over ownership rights
· Joe Biden earns the largest presidential pension in history: A look at his record-breaking $417,000 annual pension and lifetime benefits
· Canada's Chrystia Freeland to quit as MP and become adviser to Zelensky
· NYC trans subway icon Bernie Wagenblast hosts Zohran Mamdani's inauguration
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Africa
· United Nations Children's Fund warns of alarming rise in sexual violence against children in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa
· Amnesty accuses Uganda of torture and mass arrests ahead of January elections
· Police Hunt For Rivers Former SSG, Arrest Pastor Over Alleged Plot To Assassinate Nyesom Wike
· ‘I Pray This New Year Grants Him Clarity Of Purpose’ – Kwankwaso Wishes Gov Yusuf Amid Defection
· Many People Don’t Know Our Secret – Enenche Denies Using Church Funds For Personal Items
· Terrorists Abduct Travellers On Kwara Highway
· ‘Nigeria Is Burning, Presidency Is Editing Pictures’ – Atiku Hits Tinubu’s Govt
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Southeast Asia
· Indonesian Govt, BSI team up to boost rural economy via sharia banking
· Sarawak govt pledges continued backing for non-Muslim places of worship
· Anwar sends prayers for Dr Mahathir’s recovery after admission to IJN
· Prosecution withdraws appeal, father’s acquittal stands in Zayn Rayyan case
· Army Chief calls on troops to maintain professionalism and unity
· About 80 Malaysians a day turn to HEAL 15555 mental health hotline for help, says Dzulkefly
· ‘Game-changing’ PM term limit would prevent leaders from ‘overstaying welcome’, says Zahid
· Ringgit gains against US dollar as safe-haven demand wanes
· Ombudsman crucial for freedom of information law
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South Asia
· Islami Chhatra Shibir announces new DU unit committee
· DNCC to form team to oversee management
· 26 countries, 7 int’l bodies invited to observe national polls, referendum
· UN warns dry, warm winter could threaten Afghanistan’s food and water security
· U.S. Court Jails Afghan National for Foiled Islamic State-Linked 2024 Election Plot
· Over 1,300 Vehicles Stopped in Kabul for Lacking Documents or Using Tinted Windows
· Scientific Seminar Held on Importance of Reading, Study in Helmand
· Turkish Investors Express Interest in Solar Energy Projects in Country
· Azizi Vows Respectful Support for Returning Traders, Industrialists
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/supreme-court-rejects-plea-modi-ajmer-dargah/d/138329
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Supreme Court declines plea to bar Modi from offering chadar at Ajmer dargah shrine
06.01.26
The Ajmer Sharif dargah.
File picture
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The Supreme Court on Monday declined to entertain a plea to restrain Prime Minister Narendra Modi from offering the traditional chadar at the tomb of Sufi saint Khawaja Moinuddin Chishti at the Ajmer dargah in Rajasthan.
The court said the matter was “not justiciable” and had become “infructuous” since the latest event had already taken place.
Hindu claimants insist that the dargah was built after destroying an ancient Shiva temple.
Successive Prime Ministers have offered the chadar at the dargah over the decades. Union minority affairs minister Kiren Rijiju offered a chadar at Ajmer Sharif on behalf of the central government on December 22 last year and also delivered Modi’s message of peace and
communal harmony as mentioned in the teachings of Chishti.
On Monday, when the petition, filed on December 22, 2025, came up for hearing, a bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi refused to entertain it.
“This matter is infructuous…. This matter is not justiciable, we would not make any comment,” the bench orally told the counsel as soon as the matter came up for hearing.
Counsel Barun Kumar Singh, representing Jitender Singh, the president of the Vishwa Vedica Sangathan, and Vishnu Gupta, representing the Hindu Sena, sought to plead that a civil suit relating to the disputed site was also pending before a local court.
The counsel explained that a civil court in Rajasthan is seized of a complaint filed by Gupta, claiming that the shrine land was part of an ancient Hindu temple to Lord Shiva.
CJI Kant, however, said the petitioners were free to pursue civil remedy before the appropriate court and the apex court’s decision not to entertain the writ petition would not have a bearing on those proceedings.
The local court had earlier issued notices to the Centre, the Archaeological Survey of India and local authorities over the claim and the matter is pending adjudication.
The petitioners have contended that the Prime Minister offering the chadar while the dispute was pending would send a wrong message and the Constitution too did not permit such traditions.
It was the case of the petitioner before the Supreme Court that since the suit relating to the claims made by the Hindu groups was pending, the Prime Minister should not be seen offering the chadar at the shrine as “it would cause prejudice” to the rights of the
plaintiffs and hurt the sentiments of lakhs of devotees.
According to the plaintiffs, architectural remains and the surroundings of the dargah suggested the existence of a Hindu shrine.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/supreme-court-says-plea-against-modi-chadar-at-ajmer-dargah-is-not-justiciable-now-prnt/cid/2141229
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'This is life now': Umar Khalid tells friend over phone after Supreme Court denies bail
06.01.26
Qasim Ilyas, father of activist Umar Khalid outside the Supreme Court, in New Delhi, Monday, Jan. 5, 2026.
PTI photo
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This was what jailed human rights activist Umar Khalid had to say to his friend Banojyotsna Lahiri over the phone from Tihar after the Supreme Court denied his bail plea.
Lahiri posted on X the conversation they had during the monitored, five-minute call. She told Umar that five co-accused had received bail while he and Sharjeel Imam, another former student activist, had not.
She wrote: “’I am really happy for the others, who got bail! So relieved’, Umar said. ‘I’ll come tomorrow for Mulaqat (scheduled meeting with a prisoner),’ I replied. ‘Good good, aa jana. Ab yahi zindagi hai.’”
Umar’s father S.Q.R. Ilyas was visibly downcast as he walked out of the Supreme Court, declining TV cameras a sound bite.
Sharjeel, too, had a phone conversation with his brother Muzammil after the verdict.
“He (Sharjeel) said, ‘Chalo ek aur saal waitkarte hain (OK, let’s wait one more year).’ He is strong like that, but I know he feels the pain deep inside after six years in jail,” Muzammil told The Telegraph.
“We will have to wait for around a year, until the prosecution witnesses are examined, before we can approach the lower court for bail….
“We were ready for anything today but I can’t understand how this can be a conspiracy by a group of people if bail has been granted to all but two of them. The question then is, who did they commit this so-called conspiracy with?”
Umar has been in jail since September 13, 2020, and Sharjeel since January 28, 2020 — almost a month before the late-February communal riots in Delhi that year, which they are accused of instigating through protests against the new citizenship regime.
Shakra Begum, mother of Gulfisha Fatima — the lone woman to face prolonged imprisonment in the case — struggled to find words after the court granted bail to her daughter, arrested on April 9, 2020.
Gulfisha’s mother said: “I have not spoken to the lawyers yet. I just know that the court has allowed her to come back home. I don’t know when they will release her.”
RJD parliamentarian Manoj Jha has attended bail hearings — one of the few senior politicians to do so — of Meeran Haider, who headed the party’s youth wing in Delhi when he was arrested. Haider too was granted bail.
Jha told this newspaper: “Constitutional courts have the power and indeed the duty to grant bail where incarceration becomes unduly long, unjustified, or disproportionate. Yet, in the case of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, the prevailing judicial view seems to be that the time already spent in jail is still not long enough, and that the delay in trial is not yet shocking or unconstitutional.
“This raises troubling questions about how much incarceration must be endured before constitutional protections are activated and achieved. However, I welcome the grant of bail to the other five.”
Kapil Mishra, Delhi government minister and Delhi BJP vice-president, told reporters: “The SC verdict underscores that the Delhi riots were a premeditated conspiracy, and some political parties were behind it.”
Mishra’s provocative speech before the riots had come under Delhi High Court’s glare but the police did not find it illegal.
In a post on X, Congress MP Sasikanth Senthil said: “Shocking. Have no words to describe this verdict. Is Justice still a virtue in this country?”
CPM parliamentarian John Brittas tweeted: “The principle that ‘bail is the rule, jail the exception’ clearly doesn’t apply when it comes to certain individuals.
“Meanwhile, convicted rapist and murderer Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh (sentenced in 2017) has just been granted yet another 40-day parole — his 15th temporary release from prison since conviction. One languishes indefinitely without trial. The other enjoys repeated ‘jail vacations’ on demand.”
Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti too drew a parallel between Ram Rahim and Umar.
“What a travesty of justice…. The scales of justice are breaking under the burden of injustice,” she posted on X.
Pro-BJP handles on social media slammed politicians of the Opposition Democratic Party of the US, including New York mayor Zohran Mamdani, for speaking out in solidarity with Umar and others before the verdict.
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Israeli settlers vandalize graves at Islamic cemetery in Jerusalem
January 05, 2026
A view of the Mount of Olives Jewish cemetery (foreground) and Islam’s al-Aqsa mosque complex with the golden Dome of the Rock, in Jerusalem on a rainy day, Dec. 27, 2025. (AFP)
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LONDON: Israeli settlers vandalized graves at an Islamic cemetery in occupied East Jerusalem on Monday.
They destroyed numerous headstones and caused significant damage to others, the Palestinian Wafa news agency reported.
Several Islamic cemeteries near the ancient eastern and southern walls of Jerusalem and have been damaged by vandals or excavation works by authorities since 2021.
The two most prominent targets have been Al-Yusufiya and Bab Al-Rahma graveyards. Headstones at the latter, located next to the eastern wall of Al-Aqsa Mosque, were vandalized on two separate occasions last year.
The Israel Nature and Parks Authority plans to create a “Bible Trail” in the area that will include parks that extend into the neighborhoods of Silwan, Al-Bustan, Wadi Al-Hilweh, and Batn Al-Hawa, where a biblically-themed “City of David” is under development.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2628366/middle-east
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CNN suggests ‘false information’ could be behind UAE-KSA tensions
January 06, 2026
Footage released by an Arab military coalition supporting Yemen's government shows the unloading of military vehicles at Mukalla Port after arriving from the UAE. (Coalition/Handout)
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RIYADH: Tensions between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi could have been sparked by false information provided to the UAE about the Saudi Crown Prince’s recent visit to Washington, CNN has reported.
The American news channels says it has learned from its sources that Saudi Arabia believes Abu Dhabi mobilized the separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC) forces, which it backs, in provinces bordering the kingdom after being falsely informed that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had asked US President Donald Trump during a White House visit in November to impose sanctions on Abu Dhabi over its alleged support for a warring party in Sudan’s civil war.
CNN’s reporting also suggests that Riyadh has reached out to the UAE to explain that it made no such request.
Meanwhile, the American channel says the UAE official who spoke to it on the condition of anonymity didn’t directly address the matter when asked about the false information claims.
During the November visit, President Trump did publicly announce that he had instructed his government to intervene in a bid to resolve the ongoing, bloody conflict in Sudan, based on a request from the Saudi Crown
Prince. However, neither the statements of the president, the crown prince, nor any reports published by Saudi or US media made any reference to the UAE at the time.
On 30 December, Riyadh launched airstrikes on what it says was a UAE military equipment shipment to Yemen, which was uncoordinated with the Coalition.
The Kingdom also backed the Yemeni government’s call for UAE forces to leave the country, which Abu Dhabi has agreed to honor, issuing a statement that insinuates it has done so of its own will.
The UAE statement also claimed an unwavering commitment on the part of Abu Dhabi to Saudi Arabia’s security and sovereignty, rejecting any actions that could threaten the Kingdom or undermine regional stability.
Meanwhile, CNN said it also understands that further Saudi strikes targeting the STC remain on the table should the separatists not withdraw. After the UAE pulled its troops from Yemen last week, the STC moved toward secession, but under intense military pressure from Riyadh and its local allies, it lost territory, and it now claims it is happy to enter a dialogue with other Yemeni parties.
The Kingdom, for its part, has reaffirmed numerous times its belief that the Southern cause is a just one and has called for it to be discussed among the various parties at the negotiation table and away from the battlefield. Saudi Arabia has called for a dialogue to occur in Riyadh to discuss the Southern separation issue, and its call has been welcomed by the Yemeni government, various Yemeni factions — including the STC itself, as mentioned — and the majority of Arab and Muslim countries.
A problematic figure in the equation is Aidarous Al-Zubaidi, President of the STC, who is believed to have dual citizenship, and many Yemenis on social media have been posting images of his UAE passport and renouncing him as unfit for governing, claiming he serves a foreign agenda. Others also posted videos of him making statements that he would be happy to establish ties with Israel, should Southern Yemen gain its independence. Most recently as well, a post by Yemen’s Media Minister Moammar Eryani has accused the STC of allowing the theft and spread of weapons in Eastern provinces.
Eryani added that the STC has been deliberately causing chaos and “using Al Qaeda as a scarecrow to achieve its own political gains at the expense of Yemeni people”. CNN also says it has learned that
Saudi concerns extend beyond UAE involvement in Yemen and Sudan. Riyadh, according to the report, is also wary of the UAE’s policies in the Horn of Africa and in Syria, where it believes Abu Dhabi has cultivated ties with elements of the Druze community, some of whose leaders have openly discussed secession.
While no Saudi source was mentioned in the reporting, CNN’s narrative is in line with several public Saudi statements, which have objected to the recent Israeli recognition and endorsement of Somaliland’s separation from Somalia, Israeli attempts to undermine and attack the new Syrian government, and any attempt to impose a Southern Yemeni state by military means.
Israel maintains a close relationship with Abu Dhabi and an even closer one since the signing of the 2020 Abraham Accords, while Saudi Arabia has refused normalization with Tel Aviv until it recognizes a Palestinian State and adheres to a credible and irreversible path to achieving a Two-State Solution. This Saudi position has been reiterated yet again during the Crown Prince’s November visit to Washington.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2628400/saudi-arabia
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Award-winning Birmingham hospital nurse struck off for posting anti-Muslim and immigrant content on Facebook
By Kirsty-Louise Card
January 06, 2026
Roberta Batchelor, who won the ‘pride of nursing’ award in 20215, posted the offending images while working for University Hospitals Birmingham back in August 2024.
The images included a boat filled with people arriving at a beach captioned “these give nothing and get everything” and a homeless veteran with the caption "these give everything and get nothing” in August 2024.
Another showed "a highlighted section of the book of Deuteronomy stating 'Foreigners who live in your land will gain more and more power, while you gradually lose yours.
"'They will have money to lend you, but you will have none to lend them. In the end they will be your rulers.'”
A fourth post was a split image showing a security inspection captioned “YOU AT THEAIRPORT” and a man departing from a boat captioned “MUHAMMAD AT DOVER.”
On August 5, 2024, the Trust launched an investigation after receiving a complaint from a member of the public raising concerns about posts.
Batchelor confessed to making the posts and apologised, saying she was "disgusted" with herself for being so angry and she "should never allow myself to get into such a situation as a professional”.
In the NMC report, Mrs Batchelor said she was "posting horrible stuff on Facebook (and) I was angry because at the time the government was going to take away the elderly TV licence and winter fuel.
"I allowed myself to get caught up in all the uprest in the country. I can not forgive my self[sic] for doing this as all my family are if[sic] black and ethnic minority.
"I find it very difficult to forgive myself for doing this ridiculous thing. I apologised to all my family and friends, also work friends who knew it wasn’t something I would do without a reason."
The ward manager, who had worked her way up from being a cleaner, also wished "to be removed from nursing as I don’t feel I should have that privilege".
The NMC panel considered the order to strike off as "necessary to protect the public and to mark the seriousness of Mrs Batchelor’s misconduct and underpin the importance of maintaining public confidence in the profession, and send to the public and the profession a clear message about the standard of behaviour required of a registered nurse".
Source: expressandstar.com
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https://www.expressandstar.com/news/local-hubs/birmingham/2026/01/05/award-winning-birmingham-hospital-nurse-struck-off-for-posting-anti-muslim-and-immigrant-content-on-facebook/
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US ‘banditry’ in Venezuela is harbinger of chaos – Moscow
5 Jan, 2026
The capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by the US threatens to throw the world back into an era of “chaos and injustice,” the Russian ambassador to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, has said.
Washington’s attack on the Latin American nation has demonstrated the world order the US wants to build, the diplomat told an emergency session of the UN Security Council on Monday, adding that it “horrifies even the staunchest Atlanticists.”
The US invaded the oil-rich South American country on Saturday, abducting Maduro and his wife, taking them to a US warship from which they were subsequently flown to New York. They appeared in court on charges of drug-trafficking conspiracy on Monday – to which the Venezuelan president declared “I am a decent man!” before entering a not-guilty plea.
Maduro had previously warned that Washington was seeking to get its hands on Venezuela’s natural resources. US President Donald Trump stated on Sunday that Washington seeks to “run” the Latin American nation so that “we can take advantage of the economics of what they have.”
Nebenzia condemned the US actions as “international banditry.” The US’ open pursuit of “hegemonistic ambitions in Latin America” and its desire to gain “unlimited control over natural resources” only contribute to a resurgence of neo-colonialism and imperialism, he said.
The world must stand united in rejecting Washington’s belligerent foreign policy, Nebenzia said, warning that “the bell is already tolling” for each UN member state and the future of the organization itself.
Ignoring the threat posed by the US to the system of international relations would mean condoning the violation of international law, as well as disregard for “civilized” conduct on the international stage.
Russia – along with other BRICS nations – had already strongly condemned the US actions. Moscow called for Maduro’s immediate release and expressed solidarity with the people of Venezuela.
Reactions from the West have been far more muted. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas urged “restraint,” calling for adherence to the UN Charter. A follow-up joint statement signed by all EU member states except Hungary neither condemned nor supported the US actions.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/630650-us-banditry-harbinger-chaos-moscow/
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Israel Reveals Plan To Help Nigeria Fight Insecurity
January 6, 2026
By Enioluwa Adeniyi
The Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, has disclosed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is prepared to assist Nigeria in addressing the growing security threats, particularly the targeted attacks on Christians.
Freeman, who spoke during an interview on Prime Time, a current affairs programme on Arise Television, on Monday, said the support will focus on intelligence sharing and security cooperation.
While reaffirming Israel’s commitment to Nigeria’s stability, Freeman emphasised that all assistance will be done with full consent and direction from Nigerian authorities.
“We will be led by the Nigerian government as to where we can work and partner to help tackle insecurity as a whole within the country,” the ambassador stated.
He, however, stressed that the nature of intelligence-based support requires discretion.
He said, “Any communication behind the scenes will obviously remain behind the scenes. When you’re dealing with issues of intelligence and information, it’s not something that we’re going to talk about publicly, because that would undermine the entire purpose of having a conversation about intelligence.”
Freeman clarified that Netanyahu’s remarks were not exclusive to Nigeria but part of a broader concern for the safety of Christians globally.
“What Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke about was Christians across the world. He didn’t only speak about Christians in Nigeria. He spoke about Christians across the world,” he explained.
He also highlighted Israel’s record of religious tolerance, pointing out that it remains the only country in the Middle East where the Christian population is on the rise.
“He highlighted the fact that Israel is the only country in the Middle East where the Christian population is growing. And I think that was the point that Prime Minister Netanyahu was making,” Freeman added.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2026/01/06/israel-reveals-plan-to-help-nigeria-fight-insecurity/
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Al-Aqsa Mosque imam thanks Malaysia for Palestine support
6 Jan 2026
Al-Aqsa Mosque imam praises Malaysia’s humanitarian aid and prayers for Palestinians in Gaza and Al-Quds during meeting with PM Anwar
KUALA LUMPUR: The Imam of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Baitulmaqdis, Sheikh Ali Umar Yaqoub Abbasi, has expressed his appreciation to the government and people of Malaysia for their unwavering prayers and continued humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people, both in Gaza and in Al-Quds (Baitulmaqdis).
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the appreciation was personally conveyed to him by Sheikh Ali Umar during a courtesy call today.
He said that during the meeting, both sides shared views and agreed on the importance of safeguarding the sanctity of the Al-Aqsa Mosque as well as the future of Al-Quds.
“I also shared the initiatives undertaken by the MADANI Government to continue supporting efforts to safeguard and liberate the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
“May Allah SWT continue to bless our efforts as we stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Palestine in opposing the terrorism of the Zionist regime of Israel,” he said in a Facebook post today.
Also present at the meeting was Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Dr Zulkifli Hassan.
Source: thesun.my
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https://thesun.my/news/malaysia-news/al-aqsa-mosque-imam-thanks-malaysia-for-palestine-support/
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Conditions for a free and fair election in Bangladesh not in place: Jamaat-e-Islami
Jan 5, 2026
Jamaat-e-Islami believes that conditions for a free, fair, and neutral election have yet to be created in the country.
The party's top leaders expressed this view at a meeting of the central executive council held today at its central office in Mogbazar, Dhaka, according to a press release issued by Jamaat's central publicity department.
The meeting, chaired by Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur Rahman, discussed in detail the environment surrounding a referendum and the 13th parliamentary election.
"The meeting observed that conditions for a free, fair, and neutral election have not yet been created in the country. Allegations are coming in from different areas that some government officials within the administration are working in favour of a particular party. In various parts of the country, political leaders and activists are still being killed in broad daylight," the statement read.
"Through 16 years of movement and struggle, fascism has been driven out. This beloved new Bangladesh has been achieved at the cost of 1,500 martyrs and more than 30,000 injured and maimed protesters. It must not be allowed to fall hostage to any conspiracy, plot, or group," it added.
The central executive council called on the Election Commission, concerned election officials, and law enforcement agencies to perform their duties with utmost neutrality, without leaning towards any particular party.
The council also strongly demanded that strict measures be taken to ensure 100 percent neutrality of the administration and bring about a desired improvement in the country's law and order situation.
Nayeb-e-ameers of the organisation, along with the secretary general, assistant secretaries general, and members of the central executive council, were present at the meeting.
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/conditions-free-and-fair-election-not-place-jamaat-4073826
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India
JNU slogans row: Students raise controversial calls against PM Narendra Modi, Amit Shah after SC denies bail to Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam
Jan 6, 2026
NEW DELHI: A group of JNU students raised controversial slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah on campus after the Supreme Court denied bail to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the 2020 riots conspiracy case.
According to a purported video of the protest, which was held on Monday night, slogans condemning Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah were raised.
Aditi Mishra, Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union president, said that every year, students hold a protest to condemn the violence which occurred on the campus on January 5, 2020.
"All of the slogans raised in the protest were ideological and do not attack anyone personally. They were not directed towards anyone," Mishra told PTI.
Meanwhile, a senior police officer said no complaint has been received regarding the slogans.
On January 5, 2020, violence broke out on the JNU campus when a mob of masked men stormed three hostels, attacking students with sticks, stones, and iron rods, and damaging windows, furniture, and personal belongings.
At least 28 people, including JNU Students' Union president Aishe Ghosh, were injured as chaos reigned on the campus for nearly two hours.
The Delhi Police had come under attack for not acting when the mob was running riot on the campus, and especially for naming student union leaders, including Ghosh, in the two FIRs related to vandalism on the campus.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/jnu-slogans-row-students-raise-controversial-calls-against-pm-narendra-modi-amit-shah-after-sc-denies-bail-to-umar-khalid-sharjeel-imam/articleshow/126366222.cms
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Why SC denied bail to Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam but awarded it to five other anti-CAA activists
Ratna Singh
Jan 6, 2026
The Supreme Court on Monday refused to grant bail to anti-Citizenship Amendment Act activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the conspiracy case linked to the 2020 Delhi riots even as it allowed it for five others, Gulfisha Fatima, Meera Haider, Shifa Ur Rehman, Mohammd Saleem Khan and Shadab Ahmed.
They have been in prison for more than five years now.
The court made an exception for Khalid and Imam, arguing that both were “masterminds” and the material on record made out a “prima facie case” against them under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
It noted that it had refrained from adopting a “collective approach” and had instead “independently examined the specific role” attributed to each accused person. “Treating all accused identically irrespective of their roles would risk transforming pre-trial detention into a punitive mechanism divorced from individual circumstances,” the court explained.
Khalid and others had approached the Supreme Court to seek relief after the Delhi High Court rejected their bail pleas in September. After hearing detailed submissions from both the prosecution and the accused, the Supreme Court had reserved its verdict in December.
The seven had been arrested at various points between January and September 2020 in connection with communal violence that took place in North East Delhi in 2020. The clashes took place between supporters of the Citizenship Amendment Act, which for the first time introduced a religious clause in Indian citizenship, and those opposing it.
The violence claimed 54 lives and left hundreds injured, with most of the victims being Muslims.
Prolonged incarceration not ‘unconstitutional’
On Monday, the court decided to tackle the argument made by Khalid and the others that keeping them in custody for such a long period in the absence of an early conclusion of the trial violates their right to personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution.
Their lawyers clarified that they were not asking the court to examine the merit of the prosecution’s case, but only to consider the delay in the trial.
However, the Supreme Court held that “delay cannot be examined in isolation” and that alone “does not automatically justify bail”. The court observed that while the “right to a speedy trial is an important part of Article 21”, this right must be balanced with national security. Under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the right to bail is severely restricted, and courts must first see whether there is a “prima facie case under Section 43D(5) of the Act” made out against the accused, the Court added.
Under this section, a person charged with serious offences cannot be granted bail under normal circumstances. Before considering any bail application, the court must hear the public prosecutor.
Further, if the court, after a preliminary look at the case diary or chargesheet, finds that the allegations appear to be true, it is legally barred from granting bail, regardless of the merits of the case to be examined at trial.
The court referred to its earlier judgments, including Union of India v KA Najeeb, 2021, which held that “courts can grant bail in exceptional cases” where prolonged detention becomes unjust.
However, the court clarified that the Najeeb judgment does not lay down an automatic rule that bail must be granted simply because an accused has spent a long time in jail. “The Court must consider, in totality, whether continued detention has become constitutionally unjustifiable,” it held
The Supreme Court held that in the present case “the delay could not be blamed entirely on the prosecution or the courts”. The argument about the delay in the trial had already been examined by the Delhi High Court in the case of a co-accused from the same FIR, it added. The Supreme Court noted that the High Court had clearly held that bail under Section 43D(5) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act cannot be granted merely on the ground of delay, particularly when the delay is attributable, at least in part, to the conduct of the defence.
While the Supreme Court acknowledged that the accused persons in the High Court were not the same as the present case, it said the High Court’s findings still matter because they come from the “same case, the same trial records, and the same procedural background”.
The court said: “They negate the overarching portrayal that the appellants have remained in custody solely on account of prosecutorial inertia or a dormant trial.”
The court held that prolonged custody is a serious concern, but in this case, “it has not reached a stage where detention has become unconstitutional”. Instead of granting bail, the appropriate response is to ensure that the trial proceeds faster, it held.
The court observed that while Khalid and others can raise the issue again if the trial continues to stagnate, at this stage, a delay alone does not justify bail.
The Supreme Court reiterated that deciding bail under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act is very different from deciding bail in ordinary criminal cases. “Section 43D(5) does not exclude judicial scrutiny, nor does it mandate denial of bail by default,” the court held. “The restriction operates only upon the court being satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the accusation against the accused is prima facie true.”
Why deny bail to Khalid and Imam?
The Supreme Court observed that, when the material on record is considered as a whole, it “establishes that Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam stand on a qualitatively different footing from the remaining accused”, both in the prosecution’s version of events and in the evidence relied upon.
Describing Khalid and Imam as “masterminds”, the Supreme Court noted that the prosecution’s evidence includes “direct, corroborating, and contemporaneous material, such as recoveries, digital communication records and statements” suggesting their “managerial roles”.
On the other hand, the court noted that the participation in the events of the other accused persons who were granted bail is primarily based on their “associative or peripheral actions”.
“The alleged masterminds are stated to have exercised command authority and to possess the ability to mobilise or influence individuals within and outside their immediate circle,” the judgment stated.
The court observed that the continued detention of those alleged to be the “architects of the conspiracy may be required to safeguard broader security interests and deter future acts”, while the justification for “holding minor participants is comparatively reduced once the investigative purpose is exhausted”.
The Supreme Court held that Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam are “prima facie attributed a central role and alleged to be ideological drivers of the alleged conspiracy”.
“The charge-sheets attribute to them the role of formulating the protest strategy, including the alleged transition from sit-in demonstrations to chakka jams, selection of locations, and articulation of the broader political objective sought to be advanced,” the court added.
However, while granting bail to Gulfisha and others, the court observed that, “they are consistently described as local-level facilitators”.
“Their alleged involvement is site-specific and operational, confined to particular localities such as Seelampur, Jafrabad, Chand Bagh, Jamia, and Shaheen Bagh,” the court added.
The court further noted that the allegations against Gulfisha and the other four accused primarily concern “on-ground mobilisation, logistical coordination, funding at the local level, stockpiling of materials, and execution of directions” allegedly received from Khalid and Imam, as opposed to the “formulation of the overarching strategy”.
Rejecting argument that Khalid’s absence from the riot sites or the lack of weapons or recoveries should affect bail. It noted that under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, organisers of a conspiracy can be held responsible for “planning and coordination”, even if they did not personally execute violent acts.
Taking the prosecution material cumulatively, the court found that it “disclosed reasonable grounds for believing the accusations against Khalid were prima facie true” hence bail be denied.
Imam contended that the case against him rests solely on “speeches, pamphlets, and protest-related activities”. The court, however, did not accept this “characterisation as complete”.
The court accordingly found that the prosecution material taken at face value, “discloses reasonable grounds for believing that the accusations against the appellant are prima facie true”.
“The material relied upon is not confined to abstract ideology,” the court held. “It comprises digital coordination, attribution of planning and mobilisation, presence supported by location records, a protected witness statement describing differentiated chakka jam strategy, and speech material exhorting disruption and choking of essential services.”
However, the court also provided “a defined window for reconsideration of bail”. It held that Khalid and Imam would be free to renew their bail pleas “after the examination of the protected witnesses relied upon by the prosecution, or after one year from the date of the order”, whichever is earlier.
Stringent bail conditions
The court observed that the release of the five appellants, Gulfisha Fatima, Meera Haider, Shifa-ur-Rehman, Mohammd Saleem Khan and Shadab Ahmed, on bail, were subject to stringent conditions, imposed not as mere formalities but as safeguards necessary to “protect national security, public order, and the integrity of the trial process”.
The court barred them from attending any gathering or circulating any material during the pendency of the trial. It further directed them to “surrender their passports”, if any, before the trial court. In cases where no passport exists, an affidavit to that effect must be filed. The immigration authorities would be informed to ensure that they are not permitted to leave the country without judicial permission.
The court directed each of them to post a personal bond of Rs two lakhs with two local sureties of the same amount. They were further “restrained from leaving Delhi without prior permission of the trial court”, and any travel request must clearly disclose reasons and would be considered strictly on its merits.
The court mandated that the accused person furnish their current residential addresses, contact numbers and email addresses to the investigating officer and the trial court. It restrained them from changing these particulars “without giving at least seven days’ prior written notice”.
Each appellant is required to personally appear twice a week before the Delhi Police.
They were expressly restrained from “contacting, influencing, intimidating, or attempting to contact” any witness, and prohibited from “making or disseminating any statement, article, or post” relating to the case.
Finally, the appellants were directed to “fully cooperate with the trial”, “maintain peace and good behaviour”, and warned that any offence could lead to cancellation of bail.
Source: scroll.in
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Demand for ban on non-Hindus in Kumbh areas gets Uttarakhand CM’s attention: ‘Will hold discussions’
by Aiswarya Raj
January 6, 2026
A day after Shri Ganga Sabha president Nitin Gautam sought a ban on non-Hindus from entering the Kumbh Mela area, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said he would discuss the matter and implement appropriate measures.
On Sunday, citing bylaws that ban the entry of non-Hindus into Har ki Pauri, the president of the sabha that manages the area and the surrounding Ganga ghats, Nitin Gautam, said the rules were framed with a 100-year outlook. “So, we need to plan for the next 100 years ahead. Those people who have little connection to our religion, culture, and sentiments… this is one of the biggest festivals of Sanatan to be held in Ujjain, Allahabad, Nasik and Haridwar, and the entry of non-Hindus would only lead to some loss for us. We seek that only Hindus be permitted to enter the area where the Kumbh will take place.”
The Kumbh is scheduled to take place in January 2027.
He added that after gauging the environment, “it is important to ensure that the space is exclusively reserved for Hindus”.
Responding to media queries, Chief Minister Dhami said the government would hold talks with priest groups to reach an appropriate resolution. “Haridwar is the central seat of Hinduism and is on the banks of the Ma Ganga. We are taking measures in accordance with it. We are looking into acts governing the region and will hold discussions with the priests to bring out suitable proposals,” he said.
A source in the CMO said it would be impractical to implement such a proposal because of the footfall of tourists from across the world in the region.
Manglaur MLA Qazi Nizamuddin said they have never violated the bylaws restricting entry into Har ki Pauri. “I abide by the law that no non-Hindu is allowed to go to Har ki Pauri. However, other than that, it is not practical. There is no clarity on the area that will be limited, and Jwalapur in the municipal limits has a sizable Muslim population. There are dozens of Muslim corporators in the municipal corporation; there needs to be an appropriate decision, and we cannot take an extreme step in this regard,” he said.
Nizamuddin also called the row an attempt to divert public attention from the Ankita Bhandari case, in which the BJP is “facing resentment”.
Haridwar recorded 3.49 crore visitors in 2024, the highest in the state, and the Kumbh Mela is expected to provide employment and economic opportunities. Such a ban could affect livelihoods, especially of Muslims who make up a considerable number in the region.
In 2024, three Muslim MLAs — Congress MLA Qazi Nizamuddin from Manglaur, BSP MLA Mohammad Shahzad from Laksar, and Congress MLA Furqan Ahmed from Piran Kaliyar — opted out of an event at Har ki Pauri following pushback from the Shri Ganga Sabha, which cited the 1935 municipal laws barring the entry of non-Hindus into the area.
Source: indianexpress.com
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‘Go Back, BJP Agent’: TMC supporters protest after Humayun Kabir visits Kolkata’s Brigade Parade Ground ahead of his new party’s rally
by Tanusree Bose
January 5, 2026
Suspended Trinamool Congress MLA Humayun Kabir on Monday faced protests during a visit to Kolkata’s Brigade Parade Ground, where he has planned a rally of his new party along with a Quran reading session.
While Kabir, who floated the Janata Unnayan Party in December 2025, was addressing the media after the visit, a group of people who were playing cricket on the ground began shouting slogans against him, accusing the MLA of being a “BJP agent”. All of them claimed to be supporters of the ruling TMC.
With a cricket ball and bat in their hands, the protesters shouted “Khela Hobe (the game is on)” and “Go Back, BJP Agent”. They also vowed to shout slogans against Kabir whenever he visited the ground.
When asked whether they were political workers, the protesters claimed they had come from the Kolkata Port area to play cricket and identified themselves as TMC supporters.
For his part, Kabir said before leaving the ground, “Let them try to disrupt the meeting if they can. We will see who whose agent is. I will not respond to their allegations.”
Kabir said close to 10 lakh people would come to the Brigade Parade Ground for the party rally next month, adding that he would obtain all necessary permissions for the event.
The TMC has distanced itself from Kabir since he laid the foundation stone on December 6, 2025, for a “Babri Masjid-style” mosque that he plans to build at Beldanga in Murshidabad.
Kabir has said that his primary intention is to be the leader of the Muslim community in Bengal and speak for its development, alleging that the TMC used the community only for votes. He has also said that he will oust the TMC from power and invited other parties to join him.
Source: indianexpress.com
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Rahul Gandhi’s social justice politics has no meaning without Pasmanda Muslims, Bihar Congress leader says
by Santosh Singh
January 5, 2026
Congress leader Ali Anwar Ansari, a former Rajya Sabha MP and head of the All India Pasmanda Muslim Mahaz (AIPMM), said Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi’s social justice politics has no meaning if it does not include Pasmanda Muslims.
Ansari, who joined the Congress just before the Bihar Assembly elections, said secular parties must work for backward Muslims instead of taking their votes for granted.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Ali Anwar Ansari said, “Rahul Gandhi talked of social justice with EBCs (Extremely Backward Classes), OBCs (Other Backward Classes), Dalits and Muslims at its fulcrum. We are surely disappointed with the Bihar Assembly results, but five states, including West Bengal, are going to the polls this year.”
The Bihar elections held in November last year saw the NDA get a landslide victory over the Mahagathbandhan, which included the Congress.
Ansari said the Congress had to think beyond Hindu-Muslim polarisation and communalism. “The Pasmanda movement can neutralise Muslim communalism,” said the AIPMM chief, who had served as a two-time Rajya Sabha MP from a JD(U) ticket before moving to the Congress.
Ansari said, “Rahul Gandhi did mention (Pasmanda Muslims) once or twice, but there was no forward movement. Either there should be a devoted Pasmanda cell in the party, or an EBC-Pasmanda cell could also work. After all, the Sachchar Committee and the Rangnath Mishra Commission have also endorsed the very idea of Pasmanda. Just as there is EBC in Hindus, there is Pasmanda among Muslims. The Bihar caste-based survey has also identified 10.5% Muslim EBCs or Pasmanda.”
Ansari now plans a series of meetings under the AIPMM.
Over a dozen EBC, Dalit and Muslim leaders, including Ansari, had joined the Congress during Rahul Gandhi’s Samvidhan Bachao (Save the Constitution) meetings in Patna before the Bihar elections.
Source: indianexpress.com
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15-year-old boy arrested in Punjab for sharing sensitive information with Pakistan handlers
06 Jan 2026
CHANDIGARH: A 15-year-old boy has been apprehended in Punjab's Pathankot for allegedly sharing information about sensitive locations with Pakistani handlers, police said on Tuesday
According to police, the boy was radicalised on a social media platform.
Police had received information that the boy was in contact with and was providing information concerning the country's security to Pakistan military officers, ISI and frontal organisations running terror modules in that country, Pathankot Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Daljinder Singh Dhillon said.
On the basis of this information, the boy was apprehended on Monday and questioned, the SSP told reporters in Pathankot.
The SSP said the boy had lost his father, who resided in J-K, over an year back and suspected that he was murdered.
Police investigations did not find that the boy's father was murdered but the boy suspected so and it affected his psyche, the SSP said.
The boy visited many social media platforms and during this he fell in the trap of the Pakistani agencies and was in touch with them for the past one year, he said.
The Pakistani agents had created a clone of the boy's mobile phone, Dhillon said.
Describing the boy as tech-savvy, the SSP said Pakistani agencies and handlers had started taking information from his mobile phone through cloning.
He had done videography of some important locations and taken information. Possibly if his phone was hacked that information could have even gone live, SSP said.
He was also in touch with gangsters running terror module, he said.
"Had we not apprehended him, in future he could have carried out any kind of activity," he said.
Source: newindianexpress.com
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Sunali Khatun, deported on suspicion of being Bangladeshi while pregnant, gives birth to baby boy in Birbhum
Subhendu Maiti
05 Jan 2026
KOLKATA: Sunali Khatun, a migrant worker from Birbhum district in West Bengal who was deported to Bangladesh by police on suspicion of being a Bangladeshi national and later brought back to India following a SC directive, gave birth to a baby boy at Rampurhat Government Medical College and Hospital.
Sunali, a resident of Murarai in Birbhum, was arrested by Delhi Police in June last year and pushed back to Bangladesh even though she was in an advanced stage of pregnancy.
Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Samirul Islam said that both the mother and the newborn are stable.
“I have spoken to the doctors at the hospital. They have told me that both mother and the infant are stable and are doing fine,” Islam said.
Expressing happiness, Abhishek Banerjee, national general secretary of Trinamool Congress, in an X handle post today said, “I am deeply moved and genuinely heartened to learn that Sunali Khatun has given birth to a healthy baby boy at Rampurhat Medical College, Birbhum. This moment of joy feels even more profound against the backdrop of the injustice she was subjected to."
"In a shocking abuse of power, she was falsely branded as a Bangladeshi and forcibly deported to Bangladesh by the Delhi Police and the Union Government. Her ordeal was a violation of dignity that no citizen, least of all a pregnant mother, should ever be forced to endure. Yet, through it all, Sunali displayed extraordinary courage and resolve,” he added.
Pregnant Sunali, along with her eight-year-old son Sabir, returned to India on 5 December after spending more than six months in Bangladesh.
Four others among the six Bengali-speaking Indians, including Sunali and Sabir, who were pushed back to Bangladesh by the Delhi Police on suspicion of being Bangladeshis, stayed back in the country.
All six belong to the same family and hail from Birbhum in West Bengal.
Source: newindianexpress.com
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https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2026/Jan/05/after-facing-bangladesh-deportation-ordeal-migrant-worker-sunali-khatun-gives-birth-to-baby-boy-in-birbhum
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Omar Abdullah at Express Adda: ‘I find it difficult to use Union Territory and Jammu & Kashmir in the same sentence’
by Vandita Mishra
January 6, 2026
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on J&K’s statehood issue, being part of the INDIA Bloc and the state of Opposition in India. He was in conversation with Vandita Mishra, National Opinion Editor, The Indian Express
Vandita Mishra: The AQI in Srinagar is better than Delhi but unhealthy still. Between Srinagar and Delhi, where do you breathe easier, literally and politically?
Politically, I breathe easier in Srinagar. These days the sky seems bluer in Delhi. We have had a long dry spell and because of the geography of the Valley, there is nowhere for this pollution to flow out. So unless it rains and settles, it basically hovers over us.
In October, you completed one year of government. Does it come off easier on your tongue now, to say that you are Chief Minister of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir?
I find it very difficult to use the words Union Territory and Jammu & Kashmir in the same sentence. I hate being reminded that we are a UT. I don’t remember ever being introduced as the Chief Minister of the State of Jammu & Kashmir when I was, so why should I be introduced as the Chief Minister of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, unless you are trying to drill it into us that we are a Union Territory?
In Conversation With The J&K Chief MinisterJammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in conversation with The Indian Express National Opinion Editor Vandita Mishra at the Express Adda in New Delhi on Wednesday. (Express photo by Renuka Puri)
There is a constant comparison drawn between your government vs LG and how the situation was in Delhi. While you have been Chief Minister of a full State, Arvind Kejriwal always had to contend with a powerful LG. Also, Kejriwal got into this power sharing arrangement with a confrontational approach. Yours has been much more conciliatory. One year on, do you think the change of approach has led to a different outcome?
In terms of the relationship between the government of J&K and the government of India, other than a couple of major issues on which we haven’t made as much progress as I would have liked, particularly on the restoration of statehood, the government of India has been well disposed towards the government of J&K. So no complaints there. Unfortunately, the same has not been true in terms of our relationship with the LG, in spite of the fact that he has publicly said that he is only responsible for law and order and security. That has not translated on the ground. I can name institutions that should ordinarily have transferred to the elected government but haven’t so far.
When incidents like Delhi (Red Fort blast) keep happening, it is difficult to imagine a normalisation of relations between India and Pakistan. I am an advocate of dialogue but in creating conditions conducive for dialogue, the onus doesn’t just rest on India
Can you give some examples of things you wanted to do but couldn’t?
The J&K Power Development Corporation. I am the power minister. It is a corporation that is part of the ministry but the LG is the chairman. I was chairman of the corporation when I was the CM. We have two universities — Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University and Islamic University of Science and Technology — where the statutes meant that the CM was chancellor. After the elections, these universities should have been transferred to the elected government. He continues to be the chancellor. He is the chairman of the cultural academy even though the culture department is with the elected government. He has appointed an IAS officer as Director Information even though the post is a J&K Administrative Services cadre post. I am the tourism minister. The tourism development authorities in various places should either be headed by me or somebody nominated by me but he continues to hold on even to tourism development authorities.
You make a distinction between your equation with the government at the Centre and with the LG. Does the distinction hold, given that the LG is the Centre’s appointee?
To the extent that he is doing this with their concurrence, that is a worry but I am drawing the distinction because in most other respects, the government of India has left me with limited scope to complain. We are an economically disadvantaged part of the country. It would be easy for the Centre to bring my government to its knees. All they had to do was choke our funds at the end of the year. But they gave more money at the end of last year than was part of the budget. And I have hope and expectation that the same thing will be done this year.
Express adda with Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar AbdullahDr Dalbir Singh, National Secretary, INC
But the big issue is statehood and on that they’ve kept you hanging.
It is a matter of disappointment. We keep being told that it will come at the appropriate time but nobody tells us how they will assess what the appropriate time is. Is the appropriate time when the BJP is in power in J&K? If that’s the case, be honest. My point is that the Supreme Court, Parliament and the people of India were told that this is a three-step process of delimitation-election-statehood. Two steps have been completed. Why are we being made to wait for the third step?
Is this something you have raised with the Centre?
There has not been a public occasion with the PM or a senior minister of the government of India where statehood has not been mentioned. My three newly elected Rajya Sabha members from J&K went and met the Union home minister and one of the things they talked about was statehood and the answer we got is, ‘Yes, it’s happening.’ But publicly, they say at the ‘appropriate’ time. If I have to be told that, then please give me a target so I can work towards it.
Your critics have said that you have not been assertive enough vis-à-vis the LG and the Centre… that you have normalised the disempowerment.
If I had to be part of the disempowerment, then I would have sat here and smiled and told you that everything is great. The fact that I haven’t done that would suggest that it is not business as usual and I am not silent on the issues that are of concern to the people.
The government of India is led by the BJP that has a project of nationalism, with a particular view on the representation of minorities. This is a government that doesn’t have a single Muslim MP. Do you worry about what it means for Indian pluralism?
All of us should worry about these things. An India where an elected CM (Nitish Kumar) can pull off the face covering of a young woman on a whim and not face any blowback is deeply distressing. Would he do that to a woman with a ghunghat? It is symbolic of the transformation you are talking about and it is not a good thing.
Express adda with Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar AbdullahHotelier Deepak Sarin with wife and author Rekha Sarin
Do you think the people of Kashmir have moved on from the moment of abrogation of Article 370?
If by acceptance you mean that people aren’t coming out on the streets every day and protesting against it, that’s true, they are not. But does that mean that they have willingly accepted the changes? No. If they had, then the BJP and the parties associated with the BJP would have done significantly better in the assembly elections. The fact is that the seats in the Valley went primarily to the National Conference or its ally, the Congress, and a handful of seats to the PDP.
How would you characterise people’s mood in Kashmir?
To suggest that there is one uniform thought process across the Valley would be to simplify a complex situation. There is a constituency that doesn’t accept J&K as part of India. There’s a constituency that happily identifies itself with the BJP and then there’s a large group in the middle that is deeply unhappy with the change that was made but also knows that there is no short-term solution. The only thing they can do is hope for the best in the days ahead.
Do you worry about radicalisation?
I think radicalisation in certain quarters is a reality. We saw it play out in the blast in Delhi. Look at the way in which the BJP reacts to things in J&K. You have a medical college that is part of the Mata Vaishno Devi University. Admission to that college is on the basis of the NEET exam. Out of 50 students, 40 plus turned out to be Muslims, one Sikh and six or seven Hindus. The BJP was up in arms. ‘Ye mata ka paisa hai, ye in logo pe kyun lagega.’ These children qualified on the basis of merit. But you want their seats to be decided on religious grounds. Look at the storm on the composition of the football team for the Santosh trophy because the majority of the players selected happened to be Kashmiri Muslims.
After the Red Fort blast, there was bulldozer action against the family home of the suspect. You spoke out against it. The Supreme Court has spoken against what is called ‘bulldozer justice’, a form of collective and instant punishment. There has also been anecdotal evidence and reports about educated Kashmiris finding it more difficult to find houses on rent in other parts of the country.
I wish this was just a reaction to the Red Fort blast but it is not. We’ve been hearing these sort of things for many years now. I have nephews who are studying outside of J&K. They have struggled to find PG accommodation. I know for a fact that in a part of the NCR, orders were issued asking for Muslim employees to be identified in corporations and businesses operating there. The wording of the order was even more worrying. It said foreign nationals and Kashmiri Muslims. You’re effectively saying that they are in the same category. You are pushing an entire community to the sidelines. About bulldozer justice, you did the same thing after the Baisaran attack earlier this year. About 10 homes were blown up. Subsequently, you found out that there was no Kashmiri involvement barring one person who helped them. Now there are 10-12 people, if one of them goes across and gets training, whose fault is it?
After the Pahalgam attack, you held a special session of the assembly that was unprecedented. Why?
It was a dastardly attack. How does your blood not boil? I wanted the people in the rest of the country to know that this is not something that the people of J&K identify with. Before our assembly session, the people had come out on their own to express solidarity. The assembly session was unprecedented, so was the reaction of the common people of J&K. You had people coming out and lighting candles, saying this was not in our name. Our assembly session was a continuation of that.
With bulldozer action, do you think that moment has been frittered away?
If I were to say that, it would sound almost transactional. We did what we felt was right. God forbid something like that were ever to happen again, we would do it again regardless of whether your bulldozers come after that and blow up our homes.
You have been candid about your disappointments with the INDIA Alliance. You have spoken about irregular meetings; most recently, on the Congress’ campaign of vote chori.
The Congress is free to choose its own political issues. My political philosophy and ideology centre on the restoration of autonomy to J&K and about what happened on August 5, 2019. These are issues that none of my INDIA Bloc partners will share at this point, barring perhaps the DMK and possibly the TMC. Therefore, if the Congress wants to make a public campaign out of vote chori and the SIR, why not?
Where do you stand on vote chori?
If by vote chori,you mean the machines are fiddled with, I don’t support that. My belief is we should own the defeat and work towards correcting it. If we blame the machine, then nothing will ever go right.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah
In its campaign, the Congress has targeted the EC, saying that it is in cahoots with the Modi government to steal elections. Do you agree with the campaign?
You are up against a government that uses these bodies to its advantage. How can you not take them on? The EC is supposedly an independent body. There’s no smoke without fire. Now how large a fire it is, that is debatable but something is not right.
Where do you think the obstacles lie in the INDIA alliance being more coherent than it is?
The lack of clarity as to why we are there, because I have heard confusing views on that. One, that we are only there for the General Election. But if we are there in the interim also, then we need to make it work when elections take place even at the state level. We don’t seem to be able to do that. The election campaign wasn’t as difficult as the seat-sharing talks within the alliance. I lost more hair in the conversation with the Congress than I lost in selecting my own candidates and then in campaigning for them to win.
As someone who could be described as one of Macaulay’s children, how do you look at the decolonisation campaign that the BJP has now launched?
This was a country that welcomed everybody. Somewhere that India still exists. We need to protect it. There was a reason why a Muslim majority J&K chose not to go with Pakistan.
And with Pakistan, how do you see the long arc of the relationship, because there are consequences in Kashmir?
When incidents like Delhi keep happening, it is difficult to imagine a normalisation of relations. And when the army chief keeps giving himself more power in Pakistan, who is India to talk with anyway? Even if I were to advocate a dialogue between the two countries, what purpose would be served by PM Modi talking to PM Shahbaz Sharif when all power rests with Rawalpindi. In creating conditions conducive for dialogue the onus doesn’t just rest on India.
You have made a distinction between restoration of statehood and special status. Do you envisage a time when the issue of special status comes back to front and centre?
Why should we assume that the situation today will persist in perpetuity?
What are the conditions under which you think this could happen?
Obviously, it’ll require a change of government in the Centre, one that is better disposed towards us.
Source: indianexpress.com
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Mideast
Iran says no leniency for ‘rioters’ as protests persist
January 05, 2026
PARIS: Iran will offer no leniency to “rioters,” though the public has a right to demonstrate, the head of the country’s judiciary said on Monday, following more than a week of sometimes-deadly protests.
The remarks came after US President Donald Trump warned Iran would “get hit very hard by the United States” if the authorities killed more demonstrators.
Protests erupted on December 28 when shopkeepers in capital Tehran staged a strike over high prices and economic stagnation. They have since spread to other cities and expanded to include political demands.
“I instruct the attorney general and prosecutors across the country to act in accordance with the law and with resolve against the rioters and those who support them... and to show no leniency or indulgence,” Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei said, according to the judiciary’s Mizan news agency.
He went on to add that Iran “listens to the protesters and their criticism, and distinguishes between them and rioters.”
Demonstrations have taken place in 23 of Iran’s 31 provinces and affected, to varying degrees, at least 45 different cities, most of them small or medium-sized and concentrated in the west, according to an AFP tally based on official statements and media reports.
At least 12 people have been killed since December 30 in localized clashes, including members of the security forces, according to official announcements.
According to Mizan, police intelligence officers in the capital have identified a suspected rioter hideout and seized “weapons, ammunition, and materials for making improvised explosive devices.”
Since the protests began, officials have publicly struck a conciliatory tone when it comes to protesters’ economic demands, while vowing to take a hard line against any chaos or destabilization.
Iran’s economy has been hit hard by tough international sanctions, with the national currency, the rial, losing more than a third of its value against the US dollar over the past year and inflation in double digits.
On Sunday, the government announced a monthly allowance for every citizen to alleviate economic pressure, equivalent to around 3.5 percent of the average monthly wage.
The reformist newspaper Arman Melli said Monday that the authorities had “heard the voices of the protesters,” while the conservative papers Javan and Kayhan accused the United States and Israel of financially supporting rioters.
Watching ‘very closely’
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said the US was watching the situation “very closely.”
“If they start killing people like they have in the past, I think they’re going to get hit very hard by the United States,” he said on Sunday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meanwhile, said his country stood “in solidarity with the struggle of the Iranian people and with their aspirations for freedom.”
On Monday, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei said at a press conference attended by AFP journalists that Israel was trying “to exploit the slightest opportunity to sow division and undermine our national unity.”
Iran’s prosecutor general Mohammad Movahedi-Azad last week warned against “externally designed scenarios” to harness the protests, promising a “decisive response.”
Israel fought a 12-day war with Iran in June, which the US briefly joined with limited strikes on nuclear facilities.
- ‘Movement by movement’ -
The Fars news agency said on Monday that “the trend observed on Sunday night shows a notable decrease in the number of gatherings and their geographic reach compared to previous nights.”
Local media’s accounting of the protests is not exhaustive, and state-run outlets have downplayed their coverage of the demonstrations, while videos flooding social media are often impossible to verify.
On Monday, most shops in Tehran were open and residents were going about their business after the end of the weekend on Sunday, according to AFP reporters in the capital.
However, riot police were deployed at major intersections and officers were stationed in front of some schools. Several universities have resumed classes, but only online.
Protests have also taken place among the Iranian diaspora.
At a demonstration in Paris on Sunday, 29-year-old French-Iranian translator Sahar Aghakhani told AFP: “With each new protest, Iranian men and women gain ground. Movement by movement, we’re getting closer to the end of the regime.”
Iran has experienced several outbreaks of nationwide protests in recent years, most notably in 2022 over the death in custody of Mahsa Amini over the alleged breach of Iran’s Islamic dress laws for women.
So far, the current protests have not reached the same scale.
Source: arabnews.com
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Syrian officials in talks with Israel under US mediation: government source
January 05, 2026
LONDON: Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan Al-Shaibani and General Intelligence Directorate Head Hussein Al-Salameh led a delegation in talks with Israel that were mediated and coordinated by the US.
A source from the Syrian government confirmed on Monday that the resumption of talks with Israel reaffirms Syria’s strong commitment to restoring its non-negotiable national rights.
The discussions are primarily focused on reactivating the 1974 Disengagement Agreement to ensure Israeli forces withdraw to pre-Dec. 8, 2024 lines, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency.
This will be part of a security agreement that ensures Syrian sovereignty and prevents interference in its internal affairs, the source added.
Following the collapse of Bashar Assad’s regime and the change of power in Damascus in December, Israeli forces entered the demilitarized buffer zone established in 1974. They also conducted hundreds of air strikes, ground raids and set up checkpoints inside Syrian territory, near the town of Quneitra.
Source: arabnews.com
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Presidents of Turkiye, UAE discuss Gaza’s humanitarian crisis
January 05, 2026
LONDON: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Emirati counterpart Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan discussed regional issues, including Gaza, during a phone call on Monday.
The two leaders looked at UAE-Turkiye relations and ways to enhance cooperation in key sectors to support shared development goals, according to the Emirates News Agency.
The call also covered various regional and international issues, focusing on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The parties underscored the importance of maintaining the ceasefire in the Palestinian coastal enclave, ensuring the continuous delivery of sufficient humanitarian aid while alleviating the suffering of civilians.
Both leaders stressed the need to intensify efforts toward a just and lasting peace through the two-state solution, which they view as the only path to long-term stability and security for the region, the WAM added.
Source: arabnews.com
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Food aid from Mohammed bin Rashid Humanitarian Ship enters Gaza
January 05, 2026
LONDON: The first delivery from the Mohammed bin Rashid Humanitarian Ship — which arrived at Al-Arish Port last week — has entered the Gaza Strip with 387 tonnes of food parcels to aid Palestinians.
As part of the UAE’s Operation Chivalrous Knight 3 campaign, 10 million meals have been packaged to support Palestinians in Gaza. The Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum Global Initiatives provided the assistance, the Emirates News Agency reported.
Mohammed Al-Kaabi, the campaign’s spokesperson, said the UAE’s humanitarian team in the Egyptian port of Al-Arish “works day and night, around the clock, to ensure aid reaches its beneficiaries in the Gaza Strip as quickly as possible.”
The team was able to deliver the first batch of the ship’s cargo to Gaza on Monday, one week after its arrival in Al-Arish, he added.
Following inspection, sorting, and storage, food supplies were prepared for transfer to the Gaza Strip via the UAE’s humanitarian aid convoys which aimed at supporting the basic needs of the Palestinian people, he said.
The UAE’s Chivalrous Knight campaign has been providing humanitarian aid to Palestinians from land, air, and sea since the conflict in Gaza began in late 2023.
Source: arabnews.com
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Israel says targets Hezbollah, Hamas in Lebanon strikes
January 05, 2026
CAIRO: The Israeli military launched strikes on southern and eastern Lebanon on Monday, Lebanese state media reported, after warning it would hit what it called Hezbollah and Hamas targets in four villages.
It was the first such warning issued by the Israeli military this year, as Israel continues to strike targets in Lebanon despite a ceasefire with Hezbollah.
An AFP photographer in Kfar Hatta, one of the targeted villages in south Lebanon, saw dozens of families flee the village after the warning was issued, amid drone activity in the area, adding that ambulances and fire trucks were on standby.
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported strikes on the four villages.
It later reported a new series of strikes near the southern towns of Saksakiyeh and Sarafand, without prior warning.
According to the NNA, the strike on Al-Manara in eastern Lebanon caused “the complete destruction of a house and serious damage to surrounding houses, cars and commercial establishments.”
The Israeli military said in a statement it “began striking Hezbollah and Hamas terror targets in Lebanon.”
In two separate posts on X, the military’s Arabic-language spokesman, Col. Avichay Adraee, said the villages were Kfar Hatta and Annan in south Lebanon, and Al-Manara and Ain Al-Tineh in eastern Lebanon.
Adraee said the military would hit Hezbollah sites in Kfar Hatta and Ain Al-Tinah, and Hamas sites in Annan and Al-Manara.
The NNA said the home targeted in Al-Manara belonged to Sharhabil Sayed, a Hamas leader in Lebanon who was killed by Israel in 2024.
Repeated attacks
Despite a year-old ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, Israel carries out regular strikes on Lebanon, usually saying it is bombing Hezbollah sites and operatives, and occasionally Hamas targets.
Two people were killed in an Israeli strike that targeted a vehicle on Sunday, around 10 kilometers (six miles) from the border, the Lebanese health ministry said.
In November, an Israeli strike on south Lebanon’s Ain Al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp killed 13 people.
Israel said it targeted a Hamas compound, with the group rejecting the claim.
It has also hit Hamas’ ally in Lebanon, the Jamaa Islamiya group, which claimed responsibility for multiple attacks against Israel before the ceasefire.
Under heavy US pressure and fears of expanded Israeli strikes, Beirut has committed to disarming Hezbollah, which was badly weakened after more than a year of hostilities with Israel including two months of open war that ended with the November 2024 ceasefire.
Lebanon’s army was expected to complete the disarmament south of the Litani River — about 30 kilometers from the border with Israel — by the end of 2025, before tackling the rest of the country.
All four of Monday’s targeted villages are located north of the river.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Sunday called the disarmament efforts far from sufficient.
Lebanon’s cabinet is to meet on Thursday to discuss the army’s progress, while the ceasefire monitoring committee — comprising Lebanon, Israel, the United States, France and UN peacekeepers — is also set to meet this week.
At least 350 people have been killed by Israeli fire in Lebanon since the ceasefire, according to an AFP tally of Lebanese health ministry reports.
Source: arabnews.com
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Palestinian embassy in UK officially inaugurated
January 05, 2026
LONDON: The embassy of Palestine was officially inaugurated in London in a short ceremony on Monday, hailed by its ambassador as a “profound milestone” in British-Palestinian relations.
“We gather today to mark a historic moment — the inauguration of the embassy of the State of Palestine to the United Kingdom, with full diplomatic status and privileges,” said ambassador Husam Zomlot in a speech outside what was previously known as the Palestinian Mission to the UK in west London.
The official upgrading of the mission to embassy status came after the UK announced it would recognize the State of Palestine in September 2025, along with several other countries, including Australia and Canada, at a time of major international concern about the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Sporting a traditional black and white keffiyeh scarf, Zomlot told the ceremony this is “not merely a change of name,” but a “change of direction” toward Palestinian statehood.
“What a way to begin a new year together, marking a profound milestone in the British-Palestinian relations, and in the Palestinian people’s long journey to freedom and self-determination,” Zomlot said, before unveiling the embassy’s new plaque.
“This is a day of hope, a day of steadfastness, and a day that reminds the world that peace is not only possible, it is inevitable... when rooted in justice, dignity, equality and mutual recognition.”
The UK’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to an AFP query on whether the UK planned to follow suit by opening a British embassy in the Palestinian territories.
Speaking just after Zomlot at a lectern flanked by Palestinian and British national flags, UK diplomatic representative Alistair Harrison said the occasion represented a “moment of hope.”
“This is the beginning of a step change in our bilateral relationship,” he said.
“I wish you ambassador, and your team, a very happy stay in what is now your embassy, and congratulations.”
A fragile ceasefire has been in place since October in Gaza, following a devastating war waged by Israel in response to Hamas’s unprecedented deadly October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
Source: arabnews.com
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Dollar seen surpassing 150K Dinars as Kurdistan oil proposal emerges
2026-01-06
The US dollar exchange rate could rise to 150,000 Iraqi dinars per $100, the spokesperson for Al-Sulaimaniyah currency exchange market, Jabbar Koran, expected on Monday, citing increased demand for foreign currency and insufficient dollar injections by the Central Bank of Iraq.
The exchange rate has already climbed in recent days, exceeding 148,000 dinars per $100.
In remarks to Shafaq News, Koran explained that the situation is compounded by declining global oil prices, noting that “these factors reduce Iraq’s ability to supply the Central Bank with sufficient funds if oil prices continue to fall globally while domestic spending increases.”
He also pointed out that Iraq is unable to boost oil exports due to production quotas set by the OPEC+ alliance, a group of oil-producing countries that coordinates output levels to manage global supply.
As an alternative, Koran proposed investing surplus crude oil by converting it into refined products such as gas and gasoline, then exporting them to neighboring countries, including Turkiye and Syria.
“One of the main obstacles to increasing domestic production is the limited number of refineries in Iraq,” he said, calling for greater use of existing refineries in the Kurdistan Region.
According to the Ministry of Finance, Iraq’s federal budget collected more than 82.377 trillion dinars ($62.9B) from January to August 2025. Official data showed that oil revenues reached 73.822 trillion dinars ($56.5B), accounting for 90% of total income, while non-oil revenues stood at 8.555 trillion dinars ($6.5B).
Source: shafaq.com
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Sana’a: Armed tribal rally in Bani Hushaysh condemns insult to Holy Qur’an
05 Jan 2026
Residents of Al-Runah sub-district in Bani Hushaysh District, Sana’a Governorate, organized an armed tribal rally on Monday to condemn the American offense against the Holy Qur’an , to affirm support for the Book of Allah and Islamic sanctities.
Participants in the rally, attended by Shura Council member Fadl Mani’, District Director Rajeh Al-Hanami, and Mobilization Officer of Al-Runah sub-district Ali Al-Nahmi, expressed their anger and strong denunciation of the heinous act committed by one of the U.S. candidates against the Holy Qur’an and Islamic sanctities, considering it a provocation to the feelings of Muslims worldwide.
The participants affirmed their full readiness and high preparedness to confront any threats targeting the homeland, their steadfast stance in defending Palestine and Islamic holy sites.
A statement issued by the rally called for a serious and decisive global stance that criminalizes insults to sanctities and holds accountable all those involved, placing full responsibility on the United States, Britain, and the Zionist entity for repeated offenses that reflect deep-seated hatred and open hostility toward Islam , Muslims, and that are consistent with their record of aggression, occupation, and violations of sanctities.
The statement urged the Islamic nation to mobilize and rise in support of the Book of Allah, and to express anger and categorical rejection of this heinous crime targeting the most sacred sanctities of Islam, stressing the rejection of passing such offenses under any misleading pretext such as freedom of expression or other false claims.
It also emphasized the continuation of the Yemeni people on the path of faith, jihad, steadfastness on the righteous and honorable position supporting the Palestinian people, and full readiness to engage in any upcoming round of conflict with enemies , confront their schemes targeting the homeland, the region, and the entire Islamic nation.
Source: saba.ye
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Arab World
Saudi project clears 736 explosive devices in Yemen
January 05, 2026
RIYADH: Members of Saudi Arabia’s Project Masam removed 736 explosive devices from various regions of Yemen last week.
The total included 672 unexploded ordnances, 59 anti-tank mines, four anti-personnel mines and one improvised explosive device, according to a recent report.
The explosives were planted indiscriminately and posed a threat to civilians, including children, women and the elderly.
The demining operations took place in Marib, Aden, Jouf, Shabwa, Taiz, Hodeidah, Lahij, Sanaa, Al-Bayda, Al-Dhale and Saada.
Ousama Al-Gosaibi, Project Masam’s managing director, said the initiative had cleared a total of 530,687 mines since it began in 2018.
Teams are tasked with clearing villages, roads and schools to facilitate the safe movement of civilians and delivery of humanitarian aid.
The project trains local demining engineers, provides them with modern equipment, and offers support to Yemenis injured by the devices.
Source: arabnews.com
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Imam Turki Royal Reserve welcomes 124 new endangered animals
January 05, 2026
JEDDAH: The National Center for Wildlife, in partnership with the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve Development Authority, has released 124 endangered animals into the reserve as part of ongoing programs to breed and reintroduce wildlife into their natural habitats.
Mohammed Qurban, CEO of the center, said the release supports continued work to strengthen ecosystem stability within protected areas, Saudi Press Agency reported.
He added that the initiative is part of a broader series of wildlife releases across several reserves, contributing to the goals of the Saudi Green Initiative and Vision 2030 to enhance sustainability and improve quality of life.
The release included 100 sand gazelles, 10 mountain gazelles, and 14 Arabian oryx.
Qurban also noted that the program reflects strong cooperation with partners across the wildlife sector and a shared commitment to effective protected-area management.
He said the initiative follows international best practices and is supported by specialized centers, scientific research, and advanced technologies to monitor wildlife and assess risks facing endangered species.
Recently, the center presented a specialized program for breeding and reintroducing endangered wildlife, as part of Gulf Wildlife Day.
Biodiversity in the Kingdom is vast, with 65 ecosystems that are home to more than 12,000 wildlife species, including birds, mammals and plants.
This diversity highlights the importance of ongoing efforts to preserve natural resources and maintain biodiversity for future generations.
Since its establishment, the National Center for Wildlife has implemented strategic plans to protect wildlife, restore ecosystems and ensure long-term sustainability.
It leverages advanced technology and scientific research in its efforts toward sustainability.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi leadership sends cables of condolences after passing of former Jordan prime minister
January 05, 2026
RIYADH: King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sent cables of condolences to Jordan’s King Abdullah after the passing of a former prime minister, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Ali Abu Al-Ragheb died on Sunday aged 79. He was premier between June 19, 2000 and October 25, 2003.
In separate cables, the king and crown prince prayed that God forgive the deceased and have mercy on him, SPA added.
They also extended their condolences to his family.
Source: arabnews.com
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GCC secretary general receives Executive Director of World Bank Group in Riyadh
January 05, 2026
RIYADH: The Gulf Cooperation Council’s Secretary-General Jasem Al-Budaiwi received on Monday Abdulaziz Al-Mulla, the executive director of the World Bank Group, and Suhail Al-Saeed, the group’s executive director in the Kingdom, at the General Secretariat’s headquarters in Riyadh.
The parties discussed areas of cooperation between the GCC and the World Bank Group, the General Secretariat said in a statement.
They also reviewed a number of proposed initiatives and programs.
Source: arabnews.com
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French historical account connects Saudi highlands to modern cafe culture
TAREQ AL-THAQAFI
January 05, 2026
MAKKAH: A 1716 publication titled “Voyage de l’Arabie Heureuse” (“Journey to Arabia Felix”) offers some of the earliest European documentation of coffee production and consumption in southern Arabia, according to Omar Murshid, an antiquarian specializing in local art, heritage and rare historical artifacts.
According to Murshid, the 1716 book, written by French merchant and traveler Jean de La Roque, provides early written evidence connecting products from southern Arabia’s highlands to Europe’s coffeehouse culture.
Speaking to Arab News, Murshid explained that La Roque traveled with missions of the French East India Company to the Red Sea region between 1708 and 1713.
His account is considered one of Europe’s earliest systematic examinations of coffee cultivation, trade, and societal influence.
The text identifies “mokha coffee” as originating in southern Arabian territories historically spanning from Yemen through the Sarawat range, areas that today include Asir, Abha, Jazan, and Najran.
La Roque described coffee trees as native to mountainous environments, noting that cultivation was concentrated in higher elevations rather than lowland areas.
He linked bean quality to altitude and cooler nighttime temperatures and detailed the appearance of the coffee plant, its fruit and preparation process, including roasting, grinding, and brewing.
The book also records that coffee was widely consumed locally before becoming an export commodity, describing it as a part of daily social ritual.
La Roque identified the port of Mokha harbor as the main export center, where coffee harvested from the mountains was transported by camel caravans over journeys lasting 15 to 20 days before being shipped to Europe.
According to Murshid, La Roque documented early European encounters with coffee in Mokha, describing how it was served hot, without sugar or milk, in small dark vessels.
While initially bitter, subsequent sips produced chest openness and mental sharpness, prompting one English trader to proclaim the beverage “stirs the soul and revitalizes the frame beyond French wine.”
Roasting fragrances — merging chocolate, cinnamon, and floral notes — captivated before consumption.
The text highlights the economic value of Arabian coffee at the time. Murshid said La Roque reported that Mokha coffee sold in Paris for significantly higher prices than beans from Java or other parts of the East Indies, reflecting its reputation for quality.
He also observed that coffee’s arrival in Europe contributed to the rise of dedicated gathering spaces in cities including Paris and London, which evolved into cafes associated with social and intellectual exchange.
Health considerations were also addressed. Murshid noted that La Roque cited contemporary European physicians who believed moderate coffee consumption aided digestion and improved mood, views that contributed to its acceptance among European consumers.
In his conclusion, La Roque described Arabia Felix as a region of agricultural and commercial importance despite its difficult terrain and relative remoteness.
Murshid said the account illustrates how coffee production and trade connected southern Arabia to global markets and influenced European habits.
He added that “Voyage de l'Arabie Heureuse” remains an important historical source for understanding the early movement of coffee from southern Arabia to Europe.
The text is frequently referenced in research and cultural initiatives focused on Arabian coffee heritage and continues to inform contemporary discussions about the origins of cafe culture.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi FM meets with Egyptian president during Cairo visit
January 05, 2026
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan was received by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on Monday during a visit to Cairo, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
At the beginning of the meeting, Prince Faisal conveyed the greetings of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to El-Sisi and the Egyptian people.
The president responded by conveying his greetings and appreciation to the king and crown prince, wishing the Kingdom’s government and people further progress and prosperity.
Prince Faisal and El-Sisi reviewed Saudi-Egyptian relations and discussed the latest regional and international developments, SPA added.
According to an Egyptian Presidency statement, El-Sisi and Prince Faisal stressed their countries held “identical” positions on “reaching peaceful solutions to the region’s crises.”
They said solutions must “preserve the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of states,” singling out Sudan, Yemen, Somalia and the Gaza Strip.
Later, Prince Faisal met with his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty and they discussed issues of common interest.
The two officials discussed the latest regional and international developments, with particular focus on the situation in Sudan, Yemen, Somalia and Palestine.
Source: arabnews.com
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National eLearning Center launches ‘Multiversity,’ honors outstanding achievements
January 05, 2026
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s National eLearning Center recently launched a “Multiversity” initiative to enhance collaboration between universities and the private sector.
The announcement was made at the Digital Learning Forum, at the center’s headquarters in Riyadh, under the patronage of Education Minister Yousef bin Abdullah Al-Benyan, who is also the NeLC’s board chairman.
The Multiversity initiative focuses on program development, joint teaching, and the sharing of digital resources.
It seeks to improve efficiency and effectiveness and expand access to quality higher education.
The forum honored institutions that excelled in the National Digital Learning Indicator 2024–2025, which monitors the progress of digital learning and training across the Kingdom.
In addition, winners of the second edition of the Innovation Award in eLearning and training were recognized.
The award seeks to foster innovation, enhance the quality of skills programs, and acknowledge national efforts in human capability development, and the implementation of eLearning and training.
At the conclusion of the forum, the Professional Certificate in AI Augmented Teaching was launched in partnership with the National Institute for Educational Professional Development.
The certificate aims to empower teachers and faculty members to use artificial tools responsibly and effectively, and enhance the quality of learning experiences in digital environments.
The event also marked the launch of the “Numo” platform, affiliated with the National Institute for Educational Professional Development and developed in partnership with the Ministry of Education.
The goal is to strengthen teachers’ professional development through integrated and tailored online training pathways.
Source: arabnews.com
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KSrelief launches platform for NGOs to receive accreditation for international work
TAMARA ABOALSAUD
January 05, 2026
RIYADH: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center on Monday launched a new digital system for enabling and accrediting non-profit organizations at the organization’s headquarters in Riyadh.
The new service enables Saudi NGOs to obtain a preliminary approval certificate to carry out humanitarian relief projects and volunteer programs outside the Kingdom.
Adviser at the royal court and supervisor-general of KSrelief, Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, inaugurated the platform.
KSrelief is “a firmly rooted institution that has made humanity a comprehensive and enduring mission,” he said.
The organization has achieved significant impact in more than 100 countries through more than 4,000 relief and humanitarian projects, exceeding $8.2 billion (SR30.8 billion) in assistance.
“Behind these numbers are human stories, lives saved in critical moments, families who found safe shelter, and communities that regained the tools needed to rise again.”
Today, a new chapter begins as national NGOs are invited to join the platform which, in its foundational phase, has succeeded in assessing, preparing and licensing more than 50 local NGOs in accordance with the highest standards of international governance, Al-Rabeeah said.
“These organizations have already proven their effectiveness in the most vulnerable communities by implementing 229 humanitarian and relief projects and programs, and by carrying out more than 50,000 surgical operations in more than 20 countries, with expenditures exceeding SR115 million.”
Another aspect of KSrelief’s efforts is its “robust” system of volunteer work, “reflecting the readiness and commitment of Saudi national cadres to serve humanity,” Al-Rabeeah added.
More than 1,200 volunteer projects have been implemented in dozens of countries with a total value exceeding $147 million.
Al-Rabeeah extended his thanks and appreciation for such work that reinforces the image of the Saudi citizen as a proactive ambassador of peace, sincerity and selflessness.
Source: arabnews.com
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New framework launched for first aid volunteer work at Two Holy Mosques
January 05, 2026
JEDDAH: The General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque has launched a first aid volunteering framework for national associations, in partnership with the Saudi Red Crescent Authority.
The initiative aims to promote volunteerism and enhance emergency response efficiency within the Two Holy Mosques, in line with Vision 2030 goals, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The framework organizes first aid volunteer work within an integrated system, ensuring unified procedures and coordinated efforts among organizations. It seeks the highest standards of quality and safety in serving pilgrims.
The authority clarified that participating organizations must meet general requirements, including official accreditation and registration with relevant authorities, the SPA added.
Emergency volunteer associations will be responsible for providing medical personnel, equipment, and emergency supplies in coordination with the Saudi Red Crescent Authority to ensure field teams are fully prepared and able to respond effectively.
Volunteer teams must include licensed healthcare practitioners or certified specialists, such as personnel trained in basic life support, and must fully comply with instructions from both entities.
The authority invited interested associations to submit official applications, including team details, specializations, fields of work, and member names, via volunteer@gph.gov.sa.
The authority emphasized that the framework reflects its commitment to improving services in the Two Holy Mosques, strengthening partnerships with national entities, and enhancing the pilgrim experience while maintaining the highest levels of safety and care.
Source: arabnews.com
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Europe
Watford mosque plan latest: response to objections issued
5TH JANUARY
By Fintan McGuinness
The team behind plans to turn a Watford church into a mosque has offered a “comprehensive” response to objectors.
Proposals for St Thomas United Reformed Church in Langley Road, which also include a community space and nursery, received 84 positive responses and 37 objections before the consultation phase closed.
Planning Bee Ltd has since submitted a document responding to all objections raised, on behalf of the applicant, to demonstrate that it has considered each concern.
Fears were particularly focused on parking and traffic issues due to Langley Road already facing “severe” congestion and these were responded to first.
It said a transport assessment predicts trip generation is “well within the capacity of the surrounding network” because peak activity is deliberately staggered to prevent “any concentrated surge”.
The majority of users will apparently walk to the mosque due to its location in a residential area.
In terms of parking, it highlighted that the church had operated without parking overspill prior to its 2015 closure and said parking will be managed “more rigorously” than it was then. It is also willing to secure the parking management plan as a planning condition to ensure it is enforceable.
On both points, it said objectors had not provided evidence to contradict its data on journeys.
Neighbours had also said the scale and intensity of activity is excessive for the area, but the response labelled such claims “subjective and unsupported” and added that the use class and building footprint would not change.
Regarding noise, it said it is willing for conditions to limit hours of operation, external congregation, and amplified sound. Insulation would be upgraded.
The proposal will also apparently use “locally characteristic materials” so it would not be out of keeping with the area, follow Ofsted and Children’s act safeguarding procedures, and generate no ecological loss while boosting the building’s energy efficiency.
Some objections had claimed the scheme would only serve a “specific group”, but the response dismissed this as “legally irrelevant to planning” and said it therefore “carries no weight”.
However, it explained that the meeting rooms, nursery spaces, training areas, and community rooms would be open to the wider public and available for community hire and activities.
The final reason for objection was that a toilet near the nursery would also be used by coffee shop visitors, but it was confirmed this would be for nursery staff and users only with other bathrooms available elsewhere.
Overall, the document said no objections demonstrate material planning harm or conflict with the local plan and national planning policy.
Source: watfordobserver.co.uk
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Chris Mason: Starmer's strategy of avoiding criticising Trump over Maduro
06 Jan 2026
Chris Mason
In Labour's general election manifesto, on page 117 in case you wanted to check, the party promised to be "a defender of the international rule of law".
Not a wildly controversial line, nor a surprising one, given Labour's leader, Sir Keir Starmer, is a former international human rights lawyer.
And yet here we are, days after America seized the Venezuelan president and his wife from the country's capital Caracas, and the prime minister's language about whether that amounted to a breach of international law is circumspect.
In the immediate aftermath of Washington's extraordinary actions, Sir Keir's words could hardly have been more bland given the gravity of what we were witnessing.
In a social media post, he talked about "a transition of power" in Venezuela being something the UK had long supported.
But what about how it was brought about?
His answers, or lack of them, are the latest case study in No 10's handling strategy of a maverick US president: don't commentate, act in what they believe is a pragmatic, sober way and have discussions in private.
Notably, the prime minister hasn't spoken to President Trump since Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were, as Washington puts it, captured.
Strategically, the prime minister decided a year or so ago, once he knew Donald Trump was returning to the White House, that he would resist the temptation to offer a running public commentary on what was highly likely to be a – literally – remarkable presidential term.
To do so, he calculated, would risk ongoing public spats with not just the most powerful man on the planet, but someone with near zero compunction when it comes to spectacularly falling out with people.
Better, instead, Sir Keir concluded, to be cautious and revere the upsides of a decent relationship with the White House, something the prime minister is proud to have secured.
His supporters point to, for instance, the deal the government secured with Washington to limit the impact of tariffs imposed by the White House last year – a deal, ministers believe, was the difference between thousands of jobs being retained by Jaguar Land Rover in the UK and them going.
Sounding off about President Trump, his allies say, might be tempting but would not only be "juvenile" as one put it, but not be in the UK's best interests.
The government's equivocation has been pounced on by its critics, within the Labour Party and beyond.
Its rivals on the Left, the Liberal Democrats, the Scottish National Party and the Green Party of England and Wales have been quick to condemn the prime minister's lack of willingness to condemn President Trump.
Some Labour backbenchers share that concern – and took issue with the phrase from Sir Keir that came closest to criticising Washington, when he told me and others "it is for the US to justify the actions it has taken".
This, said his critics, amounted to granting President Trump permission to mark his own homework.
Strikingly, the Conservative leadership and some of its backbenchers were broadly supportive of the government's position, arguing that publicly criticising the White House was not likely to be in the UK's interests.
Among Labour MPs, while there is unease, some now public, some private, there doesn't appear at this stage to be an overwhelming cacophony of noisy opposition to Downing Street's position.
"I feel sure that the response needs to be much stronger and the parliamentary Labour Party will be saying so. It's been a bit half-hearted at the moment," said one MP.
Another Labour MP said even among private WhatsApp groups, the criticism is aimed at President Trump, not the prime minister's response.
"I suspect it's because we recognise that Trump is a massive loose cannon and Starmer is having to go very canny right now," one MP said.
Source: bbc.com
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'We need Greenland': Trump repeats threat to annex Danish territory
06 Jan 2026
Thomas Mackintosh
Donald Trump has again proposed annexing Greenland, after Denmark's leader urged him to "stop the threats" over the island.
Speaking to reporters, the US president said "we need Greenland from the standpoint of national security".
Trump has repeatedly raised the prospect of the semi-autonomous Danish territory becoming an annexed part of the US, citing its strategic location for defence purposes and mineral wealth.
Greenland's Prime Minister Jens Frederik Nielsen responded by saying "that's enough now" and described the notion of US control over the island as a "fantasy".
He said: "No more pressure. No more insinuations. No more fantasies of annexation. We are open to dialogue. We are open to discussions. But this must happen through the proper channels and with respect for international law."
Earlier, Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen had said "the US has no right to annex any of the three nations in the Danish kingdom".
Frederiksen added that Denmark "and thus Greenland" was a Nato member and covered by the alliance's security guarantee, and said a defence agreement granting the US access to the island was already in place.
The Danish prime minister released her statement after Katie Miller - the wife of one of Trump's senior aides, Stephen Miller - posted on social media a map of Greenland in the colours of the American flag alongside the word "SOON".
The Danish ambassador to the US responded to the post by Miller - a right-wing podcaster and former aide to Trump during his first term - with a "friendly reminder" that the two countries were allies and saying Denmark expected respect for its territorial integrity.
The back and forth over the future Greenland comes in the wake of a major military operation against Venezuela on Saturday, seizing its president Nicolás Maduro and his wife and removing them to New York.
Trump later said the US would "run" Venezuela and US oil companies would "start making money for the country".
The situation has reignited fears that the US may consider using force to secure control of Greenland, a vast island in the Arctic - something the US president has previously refused to rule out.
Trump has claimed that making it part of the United States would serve American security interests due to its strategic location and its abundance of minerals critical to high-tech sectors.
The Trump administration's recent move to appoint a special envoy to Greenland prompted anger in Denmark.
Greenland, which has a population of 57,000 people, has had extensive self-government since 1979, though defence and foreign policy remain in Danish hands.
While most Greenlanders favour eventual independence from Denmark, opinion polls show overwhelming opposition to becoming part of the US.
In comments to the BBC, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said that only Denmark and Greenland could decide the territory's fate.
"Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark must decide the future of Greenland, and only Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark," he said.
Separately, a representative for the European Union has rejected a claim by Trump that the EU "needs" the US to control the territory.
Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One at the weekend that "the EU needs us to have [Greenland] and they know that."
European Commission chief spokesperson Paula Pinho told the BBC that it was "certainly not" the EU's position, adding that she was unaware of any discussions with the US about the issue.
Source: bbc.com
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UK sides with Denmark against Trump’s Greenland claim
6 Jan, 2026
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has denounced US President Donald Trump’s renewed interest in acquiring Denmark’s self-governing island of Greenland.
Starmer’s remarks came after Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen urged Trump to stop making “threats” against a fellow NATO member.
“Denmark is a close European ally, a close NATO ally. And the future therefore has to be for Greenland, for the Kingdom of Denmark, and only for Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark,” Starmer told Sky News political editor Beth Rigby on Monday, while offering support to Frederiksen.
“I stand with her. She’s right about the future of Greenland,” Starmer added.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper told the House of Commons that the UK will continue to work closely with Denmark on security issues. “The future of Greenland is a matter for the Greenlanders and Danes, and no one else,” she said.
Trump has suggested that the US should control the Arctic island given its strategic location. “We do need Greenland, absolutely,” the president told The Atlantic in an interview published on Sunday, citing competition with the Russian and Chinese navies.
In the past, he has also insisted that the US should annex Canada and reinstate control over the Panama Canal.
Trump restated interest in Greenland shortly after the US invaded Venezuela and abducted its President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, whom he accused of drug trafficking. The military operation has been condemned by the Venezuelan government, as well as by Russia and China.
Source: rt.com
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Muslim hikers raise £50k in Everest challenge
January 06, 2026
Vic Minett
A man who set up an outdoor activities group for Muslims has taken more than 30 people to Mount Everest, in a hike that has raised £50,000 for charity.
Haroon Mota, of Muslim Hikers, went into his third such expedition suffering from long Covid, but said it was a "special experience" for the group, which reached base camp on the world's highest peak, where the high altitude leads to low oxygen levels.
They faced temperatures of -20C in the challenge for Charity Right, which says it is fully committed to "ending child hunger by providing regular school meals".
Muslim Hikers, from Coventry, has another Everest trip planned for November, which is fully booked and has a waiting list.
Mota's first experience of high altitude came in a 2008 expedition, he said "was the most breathtaking experience ever and it's what made me fall in love with mountains and the great outdoors".
He repeated that in 2018 and "after founding Muslim Hikers during the pandemic, I've constantly tried to push boundaries".
"All 33 made it to base camp [this time], which is quite extraordinary I think, especially considering the conditions."
Muslim Hikers, which said it was "committed to promoting diversity, inclusivity, and accessibility in outdoor fitness and adventure", said some participants travelled from the US, Australia and the Middle East.
Mota said of the expedition that sometimes "you need that sort of mindful sort of reset to connect with nature, connect with God".
'Create new role models'
"It was very, very challenging nevertheless, and I went into this trip like with long Covid, 'cos I was in Morocco like the month before hiking in the Atlas Mountains there.
"So there's less oxygen in the air already, but to go out there on long Covid, it just made it awfully horrible for me from a physical perspective, despite being the fittest I've been in my entire life.
"Then I caught a chest infection, caught a fever [and] I was close to being evacuated in a helicopter twice."
Last year, the non-profit movement hosted 32 hiking events for more than 4,000 people, primarily initiatives in the UK.
People "pray together, we share halal food", Mota added.
"I've been adventuring for 20 odd years and in my early stages of adventure I saw so few people of colour, so few Muslims in the outdoors.
"Setting up Muslim Hikers had the objective of tackling under representation, creating new role models, promoting positive representation."
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy8plxvqe1o
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Who’s Moving: British Red Cross, Islamic Relief Worldwide, Humanists UK and more
05 Jan 2026
Dynamic Earth appoints chief executive
Edinburgh’s science centre and planetarium charity Dynamic Earth has appointed Gwilym Gibbons as its chief executive to succeed Anastasia Rocke.
Gibbons will take on the role in May 2026 and replace Rocke who has served as interim CEO since July 2025.
The incoming chief executive will join from the Crichton Trust where he has been CEO since 2018.
He is also an active lifeboat crew member and holds various non-executive positions with organisations including NHS Dumfries and Galloway and the National Independent Lifeboat Association.
Pete Downes, Dynamic Earth trustee chair, said: “We were enormously impressed with Gwilym’s experience, including in relation to large-scale capital projects, which we believe make him ideally placed to lead Dynamic Earth through an exciting period of change and transformation.”
Islamic Relief Worldwide brings in chief executive
Islamic Relief Worldwide has appointed Iftikhar Shaheen as its chief executive.
Shaheen has taken charge immediately to replace Waseem Ahmad and brings more than 20 years of experience as a humanitarian and international development practitioner.
Interim CEO Nadeem Malik will return to his role of managing director at the charity.
Shaheen has held leadership roles with organisations including VSO International, Norwegian Refugee Council, and Merlin – now part of Save the Children.
Islamic Relief’s chair Haroun Atallah said: “Iftikhar's wealth of experience, values-driven leadership, and commitment to humanitarian excellence will strengthen our ability to serve the world's most vulnerable communities.”
Winning Scotland hires CEO
Children’s charity Winning Scotland has hired Richard Orr as its chief executive.
Orr will take over in February from Zahra Hedges, who is leaving after four years, having held roles in communications, business development and fundraising.
He also serves as a trustee of charity Healthy Valleys in Lanarkshire.
Catherine Simpson, Winning Scotland’s chair, said: “We are very grateful to Zahra for her leadership, dedication, and vision.
“Richard has been part of Winning Scotland since the beginning […] we know that Winning Scotland will be in the safest of hands under his leadership.”
Chair joins ActionAid UK
ActionAid UK has appointed Joy Warmington to chair its board of trustees.
Warmington led racial justice and equality charity brap for more than 20 years and will begin her term at ActionAid UK in May this year.
She has also developed access programmes for marginalised communities across Birmingham and built international partnerships, including in South Africa, as a teacher.
Warmington will replace interim chair Faraz Tasnim, who said: “Joy’s appointment reflects ActionAid UK’s ongoing commitment to feminist, inclusive leadership that shifts power and drives meaningful, lasting change.”
Chair hire made at NCB
The National Children’s Bureau (NCB) has appointed Sarah Mullen as its chair of trustees.
Mullen, who has more than 35 years’ experience in the public and charity sector, has previously chaired Bliss and Respect, as well as serving as co-chair on the government’s expert panel on the mental health needs of children in care.
She has been an NCB trustee since 2022 and its vice chair since 2023. Mullen has replaced Alison O’Sullivan who stepped down in December 2025.
Anna Feuchtwang, NCB chief executive, said: “I know she will challenge us to go further and do better as we support the many children, young people and families facing deepening financial pressures and unacceptably high levels of household poverty.”
Veterans’ Foundation picks new chair
Military charity the Veterans’ Foundation has appointed Andrew Anderson as its chair.
The new chair has been a charity trustee for three years and succeeds Peter Mountford after a decade of service.
Anderson, who served for seven years in the parachute regiment, said: “I’m very grateful to Peter for his leadership and the personal mentorship he has shown me. He has helped shape the Veterans’ Foundation into a vital force for good. It’s a privilege to now serve as chair.”
MVT appoints new co-chairs and trustee
The Music Venue Trust (MVT) has announced the appointments of Chris Prosser and Jane Beese as co-chairs.
Prosser and Beese have joined the charity which represents hundreds of UK grassroots music venues after Phyllis Belezos stepped down as co-chair.
Madeleine Blyth also joins to bring the number of MVT trustees to 16.
Beese became a MVT trustee in September 2023 and hosted Venues Day 2014 at the Southbank Centre, central London, and the same event two years later at The Roundhouse in Camden.
Prosser, a founding member of the board, served as MVT chair from its 2014 inception until September 2019. He recently became interim co-chair and the charity’s announcement formalises that.
Beverley Whitrick, MVT chief operating officer, said: “The appointment of Chris and Jane as co-chairs, alongside the addition of Madeleine’s expertise, strengthens our ability to advocate effectively for the venues, artists, and communities who depend on this essential cultural network.”
Chair of Paul Hamlyn Foundation steps down
The chair of the Paul Hamlyn Foundation has stepped down after more than two decades.
Jane Hamlyn left the charity established by her father Paul in 1987 in December 2025 after 23 years.
She will be succeeded by trustee James Lingwood but will remain a trustee.
The outgoing chair was awarded a CBE in 2019 in recognition of her work as chair and the charity has provided grants to organisations including the Royal Shakespeare Company, Tate, and YoungMinds.
Halima Khan, chief executive, said: “We extend our deepest thanks to Jane for her exceptional leadership, commitment and service to the foundation”.
King’s Foundation chair departs after peerage
The chair of the King’s Foundation has departed having been offered a life peerage.
Ann Limb was conferred a life peerage by King Charles after a nomination made by prime minister Keir Starmer and will sit on the Labour benches in the House of Lords to take the title Baroness Limb, of Moss Side in the City of Manchester.
Limb will continue in her role as chair while the board looks for her successor.
She said: “This is a significant honour and not one I had expected. I shall miss the work I have been able to do for The King’s Foundation enormously.”
Scottish SPCA hires new corporate services director
The Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) has hired Tom Greenan as its corporate services director.
Greenan has previously worked in a similar role at Forestry and Land Scotland and as a route finance director with Network Rail in Scotland. He was also a board trustee at St Vincent’s Hospice from July 2019 to June 2021.
Mark Bishop, Scottish SPCA chief executive, praised Greenan’s “excellent business skills” on his appointment to the animal welfare charity.
Greenan added: “I am very excited to be joining one of the best known and longest established charities in Scotland.”
Canal & River Trust to bring in interim fundraising director
The Canal & River Trust has announced the appointment of Tim Hunter as its interim fundraising director.
Hunter, replacing Maggie Gardner, will join the charity in February 2026 having been interim director of income generation at the NSPCC since April 2025.
He also served as director of private sector partnership and fundraising at the UN World Food Programme, Oxfam GB fundraising director and UNICEF international fundraising director.
Campbell Robb, Canal & River Trust chief executive, said: “I’m delighted that Tim will be joining the trust.
“His wealth of experience will be of great value as our charity continues to appeal to the public to support our incredible 250-year-old canal network.”
Bayes Centre for Charity Effectiveness director to step down
Alex Skailes has stepped down as director of Bayes Centre for Charity Effectiveness (CCE).
Skailes departed from City St George’s University of London after 15 years in the post at the end of December last year.
She has been appointed as an honorary visiting professor at Bayes so will continue her relationship there.
Skailes said: “I am proud of the role CCE has played in supporting leadership, governance, and being a catalyst for impact across the nonprofit sector.
On her appointment as visiting professor, she added: “I look forward to seeing CCE continue to thrive and to staying close to the sector and in contact with many of you.”
Charity Commission secures new director
The Charity Commission has appointed Jan Lasik as its director of legal and accountancy services.
Lasik was formerly general counsel and secretary of the National Trust and served as deputy head of legal at the Bank of England.
He will be responsible for assuring the legal integrity of the commission’s regulatory work and policies.
David Holdsworth, commission chief executive, said: “We were fortunate to attract an impressive pool of candidates in which Jan stood out.
“He brings a strong understanding of charity and wider law at a challenging time for the sector.”
Motor Neurone Disease Association appoints first chief operating officer
The Motor Neurone Disease Association has appointed Quinton Newell as its first chief operating officer.
Newell, who has 25 years of experience, joined the association from the National Institute for Health and Care Research. He previously spent 14 years at Cancer Research UK.
Tanya Curry, chief executive, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Quinton to the executive leadership team.
“As chief operating officer, Quinton will play a key role in driving forward our strategy, strengthening how we work across the organisation.”
Trustees appointed at British Red Cross
British Red Cross has announced the appointments of Helen Bennett and Gabrielle Inglis to its board of trustees.
The pair joined the board on 1 January 2026. Bennett is chief executive of PR agency Weber Shandwick UK and has more than 25 years of experience in communications.
Inglis has worked as a wealth management associate in the Royal Bank of Canada’s charity team.
They have replaced Lewis Iwu and Geeta Nargund who stood down on 31 December in 2025 after two full terms, eight years, on the board.
Liz Padmore, British Red Cross chair, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Helen Bennett and Gabrielle Inglis to the board.
“Each brings valuable experience and insights that will strengthen our leadership and the impact of the British Red Cross.”
Trustees join SCVO board after election
The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) has elected Carolyn Lochhead, Kenny Steele, Allison Barr, Chris Platt, and Kim Atkinson as new trustees.
They were elected after Scotland’s national membership organisation for the voluntary sector held an AGM in December.
Lochhead is director of external affairs at the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations. Steele is chief executive of the Highland Hospice.
Team Jak Foundation CEO Barr also joins along with Montrose Community Trust chief executive Platt.
Scottish Sports Association CEO Atkinson returns to the SCVO board for a second term to replace Gillian Reid-McKee.
New president joins Humanists UK
Actor and writer Janet Ellis has been announced as the next president of Humanists UK.
Ellis has replaced Adam Rutherford and her term will run through 2027. She has presented major BBC shows including Jigsaw and Blue Peter from 1983 to 1987.
The MBE winner, awarded in 2016, has been an ambassador of Maggie’s cancer centres, Reading Force and Marie Curie. She also serves as a National Youth Theatre trustee.
Andrew Copson, Humanists UK chief executive, said: ‘We’re absolutely delighted to welcome Janet Ellis as our next president.
“Janet is a brilliant communicator with a unique ability to connect with people.”
Source: civilsociety.co.uk
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Manchester Arena families say MI5 must be fully included in new law on cover-ups
06 Jan 2026
Daniel De Simone
Families bereaved by the Manchester Arena bombing say MI5 failed them and must be fully included in a new law designed to stop cover-ups in public life.
In a letter to Sir Keir Starmer, seen by the BBC, they ask the prime minister: "How many times must MI5 show that it cannot be trusted before something is done?"
MI5 was found by a public inquiry not to have given an "accurate picture" of the key intelligence it held on the suicide bomber who carried out the attack which killed 22 people and injured hundreds on 22 May 2017.
The "Hillsborough Law", making its way through Parliament, follows campaigning by families affected by the 1989 Hillsborough disaster that claimed 97 lives.
Police leaders were found to have spread false narratives about that disaster, blaming Liverpool fans, and withheld evidence of their own failings.
The new law will force public officials to tell the truth during investigations, including those into major disasters.
But a director of the campaign behind the new law told the BBC he has been "misled" by the government during negotiations over how it will apply to the intelligence services.
The government said: "We are listening to feedback about how to strengthen [the law] whilst also protecting national security."
Known as the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, the new law has three pillars:
The first establishes a general duty of candour on all public officials, meaning they will be required to tell the truth proactively in their working life
The second is an ancillary duty of candour that applies to official investigations, which includes inquiries and inquests
The third is set to re-balance funding for legal representation for state bodies and victims during inquiries
The bill would create criminal sanctions for breaches in the duty for candour.
Labour's manifesto for the 2024 general election said: "Labour will introduce a 'Hillsborough Law' which will place a legal duty of candour on public servants and authorities".
Speaking last year, Sir Keir said the new legislation would change "the balance of power in Britain" to ensure the state could "never hide from the people it is supposed to serve".
But barrister Pete Weatherby KC, director of Hillsborough Law Now (HLN) campaign group, told the BBC the government had "misled" him during negotiations over how the law will apply to MI5, MI6 and GCHQ.
He represented victims' families during the landmark Hillsborough inquests a decade ago and has played a central role in making the new law a reality.
He also represented families bereaved by the Manchester Arena attack during the public inquiry into that atrocity, during which MI5 was criticised for giving a false account.
Weatherby said the "government have tried to put forward measures relating to intelligence services which look better than they are, and we've ended up in a position which certainly wasn't the position that we negotiated with them".
He said it was a "major problem" and "very disappointing".
He said HLN accepts there are some caveats that will apply to MI5 and the intelligence services, as the prime minister himself has said.
During the Manchester Arena public inquiry, and an earlier official review, MI5 provided a false narrative about intelligence it received about the suicide bomber before the attack.
The public inquiry chairman concluded that the statements had not presented an "accurate picture". He also found MI5 missed a significant opportunity to take action that might have prevented the attack.
The families of five people killed in the Manchester Arena attack in 2017 have written to the prime minister, calling on him to ensure the new law will apply in the fullest way to MI5 and the other services.
The authors of the letter are the families of Liam Curry, 19, Chloe Rutherford, 17, both from South Shields, Megan Hurley, 15, from Liverpool, Eilidh MacLeod, 14, from the Isle of Barra, and Kelly Brewster, 32, from Sheffield.
In the letter, the bereaved families say: "You made a personal promise that you would bring in the law.
"We're now asking you to keep that promise in full by ensuring the new law applies to the security and intelligence agencies in the same way it applies to everyone else."
The letter adds: "MI5 failed our loved ones and failed us.
"It did so by failing to prevent the Arena bombing. But it then failed and hurt us further through its lack of candour after the attack.
"During the Manchester Arena inquiry, MI5 lied about the key intelligence it held about the suicide bomber before the attack.
"Despite MI5 lying to a public inquiry in this way, no one has been held to account.
"This lack of accountability needs to change. Creating a full duty of candour responsibility on MI5, MI6 and GCHQ is the clearest route to creating this change.
"We are dismayed that, as the draft bill is currently written, MI5 and the other organisations are being allowed to escape the full duty of candour responsibility.
"Every security and intelligence officer should be required the tell the truth, and the leaders of the organisations should also bear full responsibility.
"How many times must MI5 show that it cannot be trusted before something is done?
"We are calling on you to keep your promise and ensure that MI5, MI6 and GCHQ are held to the same standards as everyone else."
Claire Booth, a sister of Kelly Brewster, survived the bombing and her daughter was severely injured. She told the BBC that MI5's conduct after the attack was "infuriating" and made her feel like "we were collateral damage".
She added: "It was just one of them things as far as MI5 were concerned.
"They didn't stop it [the attack], but the fact that they've then not been truthful about what their involvements were, what they knew… it all just adds insult to injury. It's not fair."
In response, a government spokesperson said: "The Hillsborough Law will once and for all end the culture of cover-ups and hiding the truth, ensuring transparency, accountability, and support for people affected.
"The law will apply to all public authorities including the intelligence agencies.
"The Bill creating the Hillsborough Law is currently going through Parliament and we are listening to feedback about how to strengthen it whilst also protecting national security."
Weatherby said the key problem is a provision which would have the effect of "disapplying" the ancillary duty of candour to individual security and intelligence officers.
He said that, in the context of Manchester Arena case, this is crucial, adding that if the duty falls on the organisation only, nothing will change.
If it falls on the individual officers as well, they will risk criminal liability and sanction if they sit on their hands whilst the corporate body lies to inquiries and courts.
Last year MI5 was forced to apologise after it gave false evidence to three courts in a neo-Nazi spy and is currently under investigation by its regulator.
In December, MI5 apologised after it was heavily criticised by a major police investigation into the IRA spy known as Stakeknife. MI5 had disclosed documents years late and provided misleading evidence about its knowledge of the spy.
Booth said that the intelligence services "should have the same duty as everybody else to be open and honest.
"And I think if it's not applied to them, we're never going to get to the bottom of when things like terrorist attacks or the Hillsborough disaster".
Source: bbc.com
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North America
CAIR-Philadelphia Condemns Neo-Nazi, Racist Vandalism Targeting Roxborough High School
January 5, 2026
The Philadelphia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Philadelphia), a chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned racist, neo-Nazi and antisemitic graffiti spray-painted on Roxborough High School on Saturday night.
“Acts of hate like this are meant to intimidate and divide, but they ultimately strengthen our resolve to stand together against bigotry,” said CAIR-Philadelphia Executive Director Ahmet Tekelioglu. “Racist, antisemitic and neo-Nazi vandalism has no place in our schools or our city, and it must be confronted swiftly and unequivocally by community leaders and law enforcement authorities.”
Tekelioglu called on local officials to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure accountability, while also investing in education and community-based efforts to prevent hate crimes.
He said CAIR and the American Muslim community stand in solidarity with all those challenging antisemitism, systemic anti-Black racism, xenophobia, anti-Muslim hate, white supremacy, and all other forms of bigotry.
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
Source: cair.com
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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-philadelphia-condemns-neo-nazi-racist-vandalism-targeting-roxborough-high-school/
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US threatens greater control over Western Hemisphere
6 Jan, 2026
The US will exert greater power across the Western Hemisphere, the State Department declared following the abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro during a raid on Caracas.
US forces invaded the oil-rich South American country on Saturday, capturing Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Both were later indicted by the Department of Justice on drug-trafficking charges. Maduro and Flores pleaded not guilty when they were brought before a New York court on Monday, while the Venezuelan government has denounced the raid as an “imperialist attack.”
President Donald Trump said the military action against Venezuela marked the return and expansion of the Monroe Doctrine, a 19th-century policy originally aimed at preventing European powers from exerting influence in the region.
“This is OUR Hemisphere, and President Trump will not allow our security to be threatened,” the State Department wrote on X on Monday.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a similar warning in an interview with NBC. “This is the Western Hemisphere. This is where we live, and we’re not going to allow the Western Hemisphere to be a base of operations for adversaries, competitors, and rivals of the United States,” he said.
Trump said he wants American companies to gain access to Venezuela’s oil industry, which was nationalized by Maduro’s predecessor, Hugo Chavez. He added that the US intends to “run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper, and judicious transition,” without providing further details.
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil said the US had used drug charges as a pretext for “a colonial war” aimed at pillaging the country’s resources. Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, who was sworn in as Venezuela’s acting president on Monday, demanded Maduro’s release.
“President Donald Trump: our peoples and our region deserve peace and dialogue, not war,” Rodríguez wrote on Instagram, while vowing to safeguard Venezuela’s sovereignty.
Russia has also condemned the operation. Russian envoy to the UN Vassily Nebenzia described the raid as “international banditry,” warning that it was pushing the world toward chaos and “an epoch of lawlessness.”
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/630657-rubio-rule-western-hemisphere/
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'Nobody is going to fight...': Top White House aide does not rule out military option if US targets Greenland
Jan 6, 2026
A top White House aide on Monday did not rule out the use of military force if the United States ever decided to take control of Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark.
Stephen Miller, senior adviser to President Donald Trump, described Greenland as "a colony of Denmark" and claimed, "Nobody is gonna fight the US militarily over the future of Greenland."
The comments follow calls by Trump for the Arctic island to come under US control. Trump told journalists on Sunday, "We need Greenland," arguing that controlling the island was essential for Washington's "national security."
The MAGA chief added that the island is surrounded by "Chinese and Russian ships" and has previously offered to purchase Greenland. Trump has also not ruled out military action to achieve that aim.
TAPPER: Can you rule out that the US is going to take Greenland by force?
STEPHEN MILLER: Greenland should be part of the US. By what right does Denmark assert control over Greenland? The US is the power of NATO.
TAPPER: So you can't take military force off the table?
The push sparked warnings from Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. She said that a US takeover of Greenland would threaten the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), stating, "If the United States decides to military attack another NATO country, then everything would stop — that includes NATO and therefore post-World War II security."
Frederiksen warned that such a move could disrupt decades of international cooperation and security agreements.
However, Miller said that: "Greenland should be part of the US. By what right does Denmark assert control over Greenland? The US is the power of NATO."
Greenland’s own premier, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, urged both Denmark and the US to work through proper channels. He told the public, "The situation is not such that the United States can conquer Greenland. That is not the case. Therefore, we must not panic. We must restore the good cooperation we once had."
He also posted on social media, asking Trump to abandon "fantasies of annexing Greenland" and that any discussions must respect international law.
Greenland has major strategic and economic value. The island hosts a US military base and is rich in oil, minerals and other resources.
Moreover, melting Arctic ice could make Greenland a key location for future shipping routes. Copenhagen has previously expressed willingness to allow more US troops on the island.
Trump’s comments on Greenland come shortly after the US operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, which has raised questions about the administration’s approach to international law.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/nobody-is-going-to-fight-top-white-house-aide-does-not-rule-out-military-option-if-us-targets-greenland/articleshow/126364133.cms
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Trump signs 'Make Iran Great Again' hat for Republican senator who hopes 2026 will be the year that...
Jan 6, 2026
US President Donald Trump was photographed holding a signed "Make Iran Great Again" hat alongside Republican Senator Lindsey Graham as widespread demonstrations continued across Iran against the government’s political and economic corruption.
In a photo posted Monday on Graham’s X account, the senator was seen giving a thumbs up next to Trump and held a black hat with his signature.
"Another great day with @POTUS who has brought America back, stronger than ever, at home and abroad," Graham wrote.
"God bless our Commander in Chief and all of the brave men and women who serve under him." He added, "I’m proud to be an American. God bless and protect the brave people of Iran who are standing up to tyranny."
The protests in Iran began over economic hardship on December 28 and have now spread to more than 220 locations across 26 of Iran’s 31 provinces, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency.
Senator Graham puts on a “Make Iran Great Again” hat:
I pray and hope that 2026 will be the year that we make Iran great again.” pic.twitter.com/dWDCLybB4A
At least 20 people have been killed, and more than 990 arrested. Demonstrators have been chanting anti-government slogans as the country faces a deepening economic crisis. Inflation is around 40 per cent, and the cost of staples such as meat and rice has surged.
US President Trump has issued warnings to the Iranian government over the crackdown on protesters. "We’re watching it very closely. If they start killing people like they have in the past, I think they're going to get hit very hard by the United States," he said on Sunday.
Iranian authorities have vowed to respond to the protests while listening to legitimate grievances.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called the protesters "rioters."
Video footage from BBC Persian showed protests in Tehran, Yasuj, Sari, Ilam, Arak, Hamedan, Amol, Lahijan, Kermanshah, Malekshahi, Semnan and Noorabad. Protesters were seen chanting "Freedom, freedom, freedom" and "Death to the dictator." In some cities, security forces opened fire, including outside a government compound in Malekshahi, killing at least four protesters.
The current unrest is the most widespread in Iran since the 2022 protests triggered by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, which resulted in over 550 deaths and 20,000 detentions.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/trump-signs-make-iran-great-again-hat-for-republican-senator-who-hopes-2026-will-be-the-year-that-/articleshow/126363263.cms
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‘White people will have a different relationship to property’: Zohran Mamdani's tenant director faces backlash over ownership rights
Jan 5, 2026
Comments made by Cea Weaver, the newly appointed director of New York City’s Office to Protect Tenants, have drawn criticism after a video clip resurfaced in which she discussed changes to property ownership under shared equity housing models. The clip began circulating widely on social media following her appointment by Mayor Zohran Mamdani earlier this month.
In the video, Weaver speaks about moving away from treating property as an individual asset toward collective ownership structures. During that discussion, she says such a shift would mean “families, especially White families,” would have a different relationship to property than they do now. The remarks were made before her appointment but have been widely shared in recent days, prompting debate and backlash online.
The resurfaced clip has also led to renewed attention on Weaver’s past public statements and social media posts, some of which expressed opposition to private property and homeownership. Those posts, which date back several years, have since been deleted but were recirculated by critics after her appointment.
Weaver previously worked with Housing Justice for All, a tenant advocacy coalition involved in campaigns for stronger rent regulation and tenant protections. As director of the Office to Protect Tenants, her role includes overseeing tenant education, enforcement of housing standards and coordination with other city agencies on housing issues.
City Hall has not publicly commented on the specific remarks highlighted in the clip. Mayor Mamdani has said his administration will prioritise tenant protections and affordability measures, including proposals affecting rent-regulated apartments that would require approval from the city’s Rent Guidelines Board.
The controversy comes as New York City continues to face high housing costs and competing views over ownership, affordability and regulation.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/white-people-will-have-a-different-relationship-to-property-zohran-mamdanis-tenant-director-faces-backlash-over-ownership-rights/articleshow/126357995.cms
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Joe Biden earns the largest presidential pension in history: A look at his record-breaking $417,000 annual pension and lifetime benefits
Jan 5, 2026
The career politics of former US President Joe Biden have given him the experience to retire with the highest government-funded retirement package ever given to a US President. This is worth $417,000 annually compared to his current salary package as President, worth $400,000. According to Demian Brady, the Vice President at the National Taxpayer Union Foundation, former President Biden’s career experience gave him a chance to retire under two separate retirement plans at the same time due to his roles as a senator, a vice President, and a President. This is twice the retirement package former US President Barack Obama receives.
Joe Biden’s retirement income and how it is calculated from government pensions
As reported, the income that Biden will receive during his retirement comes from two different sources. First, the income for the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) was calculated depending on the 44 years he had served as a senator and the vice president. His three highest years of income were also taken into account. Brady estimates the income for the CSRS to be at $166,374 a year, with an additional payment of $18,186 to cover the spousal benefit. Without the CSRS restriction on the payment to 80% of the highest paid salary, he would have earned more than 254,000 dollars.
The second source would be the Former Presidents Act of 1958, where the presidential pension would be equivalent to that of a Cabinet secretary, at present $250,600 per annum. Moreover, the act also takes care of providing office space and office personnel, office equipment, and travel expenses for free for a lifetime.
Why Biden’s retirement package is historically unusual and how it funds his operations for life
Brady explains the nature of Biden’s pension by stating that his retirement compensation package is “historically unusual,” stating that very few former presidents have been able to reap the benefits of two prominent retirement systems ever in the nation’s history. The fact that Biden, in addition to his experience in the Senate and his vice presidency, served a complete presidential term gives the retired president the ability to benefit beyond the current sitting president’s salary.
Apart from money for the pension, Biden gets quite a lot of money to finance operations for life. For the financial year 2026, the General Services Administration allocated over $1.5 million to finance operations for his office, including $727,000 for office space without any limit to size and location. This takes care of all operational expenditure, as well as employees and office equipment. Brady has expressed reservations that younger presidents, like Obama, should enjoy offices for life that can be used to write a book or land a speaking engagement, as Obama did later in life.
How much do Presidents and Congress members get in pensions
As reported, Biden’s generous pension package has reignited debate about retirement benefits for senators and representatives financed by taxpayers. This year, in 2025, a Senate bill titled the Presidential Allowance Modernization Act has been proposed by Sen. Joni Ernst to limit the retirement package to $200,000. An earlier form of the act was passed by Congress in 2016 but was vetoed by President Obama, who would have enjoyed the same benefits.
The issue also goes beyond the presidents alone. Each member of Congress is eligible for a federal pension after five years of service at a cost of around $38 million a year. Controversial ones include Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who retired after meeting the requisite eligibility, earning her a pension of $8,717 a year, in comparison to Rep. Nancy Pelosi's $107,860 a year. Still, Rep. Greene could earn over $265,000 in her lifetime.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/joe-biden-earns-the-largest-presidential-pension-in-history-a-look-at-his-record-breaking-417000-annual-pension-and-lifetime-benefits/articleshow/126352327.cms
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Canada's Chrystia Freeland to quit as MP and become adviser to Zelensky
Jan 6, 2026
Canada's former deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland has said she will leave parliament to accept a job as adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Freeland said her role as an economic development adviser for Ukraine would be unpaid. In July, she will also take on a position to lead the Rhodes Trust, an educational charity, in the UK.
She was elected in 2013, and served in key roles such finance, foreign affairs and international trade minister under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
She broke from Trudeau in late 2024, accusing him in a public resignation letter of failing to take the threat of US tariffs seriously, which helped force his political exit.
Freeland posted on X on Monday: "Ukraine is at the forefront of today's global fight for democracy, and I welcome this chance to contribute on an unpaid basis as an economic adviser to [Zelensky].
"In the coming weeks I will also leave my seat in Parliament. I want to thank my constituents for their years of confidence in me. I am so grateful to have been your representative."
As well as stepping down as an MP for Toronto's riding of University-Rosedale, a Liberal safe seat, she said she would quit her other role as Canada's special representative for the reconstruction of Ukraine.
Earlier on Monday, Zelensky announced on X that Freeland would be taking on the role as adviser.
The Ukrainian president said she had "extensive experience in attracting investment and implementing economic transformations".
Zelensky's announcement had spurred calls from opposition politicians for her to step down.
Conservative foreign affairs critic Michael Chong said "one cannot be a Canadian MP and an adviser to a foreign government".
"She must do one or the other," he added.
In November it was announced that this summer Freeland would become CEO of the Rhodes Trust, which administers Rhodes scholarships to Oxford University.
In September, she stepped down as Carney's minister of transport and internal trade to take on the new role as Canada's special envoy to Ukraine, and announced she would not be running in the next federal election.
A former journalist who is of Ukrainian heritage, Freeland has long been a vocal supporter of Kyiv in its war with Russia.
In 2014, she was placed on a Kremlin list of Westerners banned from entering Russia in retaliation for sanctions against Moscow.
In 2020, Freeland became the first woman to be appointed as finance minister in Canada's history, where she managed Canada's financial response to the Covid pandemic.
She is also credited with helping renegotiate the current free trade agreement between Canada, the US and Mexico during President Donald Trump's first term in 2018. Trump later called her "toxic".
The USMCA trade deal - or CUSMA in Canada - has been credited with helping the country largely avoid a stiff 35% tariff rate imposed by Trump, who granted Canada an exemption for goods covered by the free trade agreement.
That deal is now up for another round of renegotiations this year.
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c24gngzr4ero
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NYC trans subway icon Bernie Wagenblast hosts Zohran Mamdani's inauguration
5 JANUARY, 2026
New York City marked a historic turning point on Thursday, January 1, as 34-year-old Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as the city’s youngest mayor and its first Muslim leader. Promising a “new era” for the metropolis, Mamdani took the oath of office using the Qur’an during a ceremony that celebrated both political change and the city’s enduring diversity. The ceremony was deliberately shaped as an event created for and by New Yorkers. One of its most distinctive features was the narration, provided by Bernie Wagenblast, the unmistakable voice of the city’s subway system.
For millions of commuters, Wagenblast is the familiar voice reminding passengers to “Stand clear of the closing doors, please.” On this occasion, however, she lent her voice to a moment of civic history.
Wagenblast, 69, is a transportation journalist whose career spans nearly five decades. She has voiced announcements heard by more than a billion subway users each year and has also worked with the PATH customer information line and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Her voice was even heard during the laying of the first cornerstone of One World Trade Center. She also founded the Transportation Communications Newsletter in 1998, further cementing her association with the city’s transport culture.
Ahead of the inauguration, Wagenblast shared on Instagram that she was beginning the new year “on a stellar note” by providing the ceremony’s voiceover. Mamdani confirmed her involvement shortly before taking the stage, expressing his pleasure that she would accompany the event as announcer.
Wagenblast publicly came out as a trans woman in January 2023, sharing that her full name is Bernadette, while noting that she still prefers to be called Bernie. Beyond New York, she continues to share glimpses of her life with followers. Recently, during a trip to Dublin, she posted on Instagram about visiting the Guinness Storehouse.
Declining the costly option of having her photo etched into the foam of a pint, she opted instead for a playful self-portrait, finger-painting a smiley face on top like a true Guinness drinker.
Together, Zohran Mamdani’s inauguration and Bernie Wagenblast’s participation captured the spirit of a city defined by resilience, individuality and change. In Zohran’s address, the new mayor reflected on the significance of the moment, saying that opportunities like this “come rarely, and rarer still is it that the people themselves whose hands are upon the lever of change”. Acknowledging the challenges ahead, he added: “We may not always succeed, but never will we be accused of lacking the courage to try.”
Source: gcn.ie
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https://gcn.ie/zohran-mamdani-inauguration-trans-bernie-wagenblast/
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Africa
United Nations Children's Fund warns of alarming rise in sexual violence against children in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa
January 6, 2026
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is warning that sexual violence against children has reached alarming levels at the Rhoo displacement camp in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, as prolonged conflict and insecurity continue to devastate civilian life.
The UN agency says three decades of fighting in the region, most recently marked by territorial gains by the Rwanda-backed M23 armed group, have created conditions in which children are increasingly vulnerable to abuse. However, UNICEF stresses the crisis is not confined to the battlefield, with reports of sexual violence also occurring outside active conflict zones.
One survivor said she was raped at the age of 13 while returning from an errand. Her family sought medical treatment, but she says the physical and emotional pain has continued.
Camp authorities say emotional turmoil now grips displaced families, as fear and trauma shape daily life. Health workers report that survivors often arrive distressed and frightened, struggling with guilt and anger alongside their experiences.
Outside the camp, insecurity remains acute. Aid workers warn that displaced people face serious risks if they travel even short distances beyond the camp, where armed militiamen are active and civilians are vulnerable to attack and sexual violence.
Justice, meanwhile, remains elusive. Legal experts say survivors often cannot identify their attackers and fear reprisals if they report abuses. In rural, conflict-affected areas like Rhoo, the justice system is largely absent, undermined by corruption, insecurity, and slow legal processes.
Source: africanews.com
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https://www.africanews.com/2026/01/05/unicef-warns-of-alarming-rise-in-sexual-violence-against-children-in-eastern-drc/
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Amnesty accuses Uganda of torture and mass arrests ahead of January elections
January 6, 2026
Amnesty International is accusing Ugandan security forces of torture and arbitrary arrests as the country heads toward elections on January 15. President Yoweri Museveni, now 81, is seeking to extend his four-decade rule, amid growing claims that repression is intensifying to silence the opposition.
Amnesty says it has gathered evidence of security officers beating protesters and firing tear gas at supporters of the National Unity Platform, led by singer turned politician Bobi Wine, who previously challenged Museveni in the disputed 2021 election.
That vote was marred by allegations of irregularities and state violence.
Tensions escalated further on November 28, when an NUP supporter was killed at a rally.
Police said they were dispersing a violent crowd, but the victim’s family told Amnesty they were blocked from witnessing the postmortem and were never given a death certificate.
Amnesty has documented 400 arrests of NUP supporters in recent months.
Several detainees reported being beaten, pepper-sprayed, and tasered.
One man described being dragged from a vehicle and sprayed directly in the mouth during a rally in Kampala.
As election day approaches, fears are rising of an internet shutdown, similar to 2021.
The government denies any such plans, though it warns that broadcasting riots or unlawful processions is prohibited.
Source: africanews.com
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https://www.africanews.com/2026/01/05/amnesty-accuses-uganda-of-torture-and-mass-arrests-ahead-of-january-elections/
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Police Hunt For Rivers Former SSG, Arrest Pastor Over Alleged Plot To Assassinate Nyesom Wike
January 5, 2026
By George Oshogwe Ogbolu
The political feud between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has taken a dramatic turn following the arrest of a Port Harcourt–based medical doctor and pastor over an alleged plot to assassinate the former Rivers governor.
Security sources told SaharaReporters that operatives of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) arrested Dr Tombari Joseph Gbeneol, a medical doctor and founder of Life Forte Chapel Church in Port Harcourt.
According to the sources, Gbeneol’s arrest followed the interception of a telephone conversation between him and the immediate past Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Dr Tammy Danagogo.
In the intercepted call, the suspects allegedly discussed plans to bring in Israeli nationals to carry out the assassination of Wike. The conversation reportedly ended with plans to approach Governor Fubara for funding to execute the operation.
A senior security source described the content of the call as “a grave national security threat,” adding that it triggered the immediate intervention of the IRT.
Following the intelligence report, operatives of the IRT, led by Commissioner of Police Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, moved in and arrested Gbeneol. He has reportedly been in detention for about two weeks.
Security sources further disclosed that efforts are ongoing to arrest Danagogo, who is said to have gone underground since the matter came to light.
Confirming the development, the Nigeria Police said the suspect is currently in custody.
“He is in our custody. Investigation is ongoing,” the Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, told SaharaReporters on Monday.
The police, however, declined to provide further details on the suspect’s identity or the specific nature of the alleged offence, noting that detectives are still working to establish the full circumstances surrounding the case and identify possible accomplices.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2026/01/05/just-in-police-hunt-for-rivers-ex-ssg-arrest-pastor-over-alleged-plot-to-assassinate-nyesom-wike/
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‘I Pray This New Year Grants Him Clarity Of Purpose’ – Kwankwaso Wishes Gov Yusuf Amid Defection
January 6, 2026
By Enioluwa Adeniyi
Former Kano State Governor and leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has celebrated Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf on his birthday, offering heartfelt prayers and reflecting on their long-standing political partnership.
Kwankwaso shared the birthday message in a post on his official 𝕏 (formerly Twitter) account on Tuesday.
In the post, Kwankwaso praised Governor Yusuf for his dedication and contributions to the Kwankwasiyya movement and the development of Kano State over the years.
“On this day, I appreciate the birthday of the Executive Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf,” he wrote.
Recalling their political history, Kwankwaso said the governor had served in multiple capacities under his leadership, from Personal Assistant to Commissioner, before emerging as the state’s chief executive.
“I reflect on the many years of our shared political journey, during which he served in various important capacities; first as my Personal Assistant in my first term and as Minister, and then as Principal Private Assistant, and later as Commissioner during my second tenure, and now as Governor,” Kwankwaso stated.
The former Defence Minister acknowledged Yusuf’s role in advancing the vision of their shared political ideology and programmes aimed at improving lives in Kano.
“Through these roles, he contributed to the vision and programmes we pursued for the development of Kano State,” he added.
Kwankwaso concluded the message with a prayer for divine guidance in the governor’s leadership journey.
“I pray that this new year grants him wisdom, good health, and clarity of purpose,” he said.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2026/01/06/i-pray-this-new-year-grants-him-clarity-of-purpose-kwankwaso-wishes-gov-yusuf-amid-defection/
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Many People Don’t Know Our Secret – Enenche Denies Using Church Funds For Personal Items
January 6, 2026
By Justina Otio
The General Overseer of the Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Paul Enenche, has stated that he has never used proceeds from the church’s financial accounts for his personal items.
Speaking during a church service, the clergyman denied using church funds for personal gain, stating that he has never accessed the church’s financial accounts.
He explained that his needs are met through divine provision, not church resources.
According to him, proceeds from his books, CDs, and other materials are not used for personal expenses, including clothing or accessories.
He stressed that church offerings are reserved for ministry purposes only.
The cleric urged believers to prioritise spiritual growth, service to God, and commitment to the church, rather than focusing on material possessions or public perceptions.
He encouraged Christians to live with purpose, aligning their lives with values that reflect faith, sacrifice, and dedication to the kingdom of God.
Enenche said, “Many people don’t know our secret. Some people will think, oh, this suit is wearing now is church money. This trouser is church money. This watch is, ah, church money. That is the mumuciousness of sense. The church’s checkbook has not been in our possession from day one till now. The CD that is sold in this church. I have not used one naira of it to buy a tie. Seed of destiny, monthly devotion, I write it.
“Not one naira of it has been used to buy socks. How many more church offerings? If the one that you can say is legitimately yours. God, the things we need, he supplies.
“He supplies them like that, directly. I gave about 200, and something suits me in one day. Let’s stop living for things. Let’s stop. Let’s start living for God. Let’s start living in reality. Let’s start living for what matters. Let’s start living for the kingdom. And you will come to the point where they think that people are looking for. They die after you. They rush after you.”
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2026/01/06/many-people-dont-know-our-secret-enenche-denies-using-church-funds-for-personal-items/
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Terrorists Abduct Travellers On Kwara Highway
January 6, 2026
By Enioluwa Adeniyi
Terror returned to North Central Nigeria as gunmen abducted at least four travellers along the busy Isanlu–Isin–Omu Aran highway in Kwara State.
Naija News reports that the incident came barely 48 hours after the massacre of over 40 people in Agwara and Borgu Local Government Areas of Niger State.
The attack, which occurred in the early hours of Monday, added to growing concerns over the region’s deteriorating security situation.
In a separate but related development, suspected terrorists on Monday also attacked a police border patrol outpost at New Kalli village in Borgu, Niger State.
The assault has further deepened fears among residents, many of whom have started fleeing Agwara and Borgu following rumours of another looming attack by criminal gangs.
Sources told Vanguard that the Kwara highway ambush was executed with precision as armed men laid siege to the road, a major route connecting Kwara South to the state capital, Ilorin.
“Bandits are still heavily present in the area and are actively targeting travellers heading towards Ilorin,” a source said, adding that the assailants forced vehicles to stop and whisked away selected passengers to an unknown destination.
As of press time, the Kwara State Police Command had yet to confirm the incident or release any details regarding rescue efforts for the kidnapped victims.
Kwara State has been grappling with a rising wave of insecurity, marked by repeated cases of abductions and violent attacks.
It will be recalled that on November 18, 2025, gunmen stormed a mid-week service at the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in Eruku, killing three worshippers and kidnapping 38 others, including the pastor.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2026/01/06/terrorists-abduct-travellers-on-kwara-highway/
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‘Nigeria Is Burning, Presidency Is Editing Pictures’ – Atiku Hits Tinubu’s Govt
January 5, 2026
By Rachel Okporu Fadoju
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has criticised the presidency over the controversy surrounding a purportedly AI-generated image depicting a meeting between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Rwanda’s President, Paul Kagame.
Naija News reports that Atiku, in a statement through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, has said it is shameful that the presidency is giving a clarification on the lunch image when Nigerians are being crushed by hunger, insecurity, collapsing businesses, and a brutal cost-of-living crisis.
Atiku lamented that the Presidency is repeatedly entangled in controversies over forgery or questionable documents, and cannot suddenly pretend to be shocked by public skepticism.
The statement reads, “The Presidency’s latest “Stop Press” is a textbook case of misplaced priorities and official shamelessness. At a moment when Nigerians are crushed by hunger, insecurity, collapsing businesses, and a brutal cost-of-living crisis, the Presidency chose to brief the nation on who the President had lunch with and who he dined with in Paris.
“That is not leadership. It is tone-deafness in power. While communities in Niger State and other parts of the country are under attack and families can no longer afford basic food, the Presidency is busy explaining camera phones, image quality, and photo editing. By the way, why is Tinubu’s plate empty? Nigerians did not ask for a Paris menu. They asked for leadership.
“On the claim of AI or forgery, the outrage is unconvincing. A Presidency repeatedly entangled in controversies over forged or questionable documents cannot suddenly pretend to be shocked by public skepticism.
“When credibility is eroded, doubt follows naturally. Instead of asking why trust has collapsed, the Presidency is lecturing Nigerians and attacking the media.
“The real falsehood is not a photograph. It is the daily distortion of leadership priorities. Nigeria is burning. The Presidency is editing pictures.
“It is time for the Presidency to abandon public relations theatrics, return home, and confront the emergencies facing Nigerians, hunger, insecurity, and economic collapse, with urgency, humility, and action. That is the minimum Nigerians expect.”
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2026/01/05/nigeria-is-burning-presidency-is-editing-pictures-atiku-hits-tinubus-govt/
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Southeast Asia
Indonesian Govt, BSI team up to boost rural economy via sharia banking
January 5, 2026
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions has partnered with staterun Bank Syariah Indonesia (BSI) to strengthen rural economies through sharia or Islamic banking initiatives.
The cooperation was formalized with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on optimizing sharia banking services and products, attended by Villages Minister Yandri Susanto in Jakarta on Monday.
“We will continue to collaborate to support objective number six of President Prabowo Subianto’s Asta Cita primary missions. God willing, this MoU will bring progress to villages across Indonesia,” he said.
Under Asta Cita number six, the Prabowo administration seeks to drive national development from rural areas. To that end, Susanto noted that the government has launched various villagebased initiatives, most notably the Red and White Village Cooperatives program and the Free Nutritious Meals program.
On that note, the minister stressed the importance of raising public awareness about government programs. He expressed confidence that as a public firm, BSI has the capacity to help expand the reach of such initiatives, including to rural communities.
Earlier, Susanto underscored that fostering strong synergy among all stakeholders in village development is essential to realizing the Golden Indonesia 2045 vision.
“If we work hand in hand with strong commitment, I am confident we will succeed in ushering in Indonesia’s golden era in 2045 or even sooner,” he said on July 23, 2025.
He stressed that the government is firmly committed to driving development from the village level to achieve an equitable economy and eradicate poverty, as mandated in the Asta Cita.
The minister also noted that villages across Indonesia possess vast strengths and potential across various sectors, and that fully harnessing them requires support from other state institutions, the private sector, universities, and youth.
Source: antaranews.com
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https://en.antaranews.com/news/398515/indonesian-govt-bsi-team-up-to-boost-rural-economy-via-sharia-banking
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Sarawak govt pledges continued backing for non-Muslim places of worship
06 Jan 2026
KUCHING, Jan 6 — The Sarawak government is committed to supporting religious harmony and the development of non-Muslim houses of worship throughout the state, said Datuk Lo Khere Chiang.
The Batu Kitang assemblyman reaffirmed this commitment during the presentation of a RM120,000-grant from the Unit for Other Religions (Unifor) to BEM Trinity Hub Church.
“The allocation will be utilised for church-related development and improvement works, aimed at enhancing worship facilities and supporting programmes and activities for the congregation and community,” he said in a statement.
The statement was issued following the symbolic handover of the funds by Lo to members of the church here on Sunday.
In the same statement, members of the church expressed their sincere appreciation to the state government, Unifor, and Lo for the meaningful contribution.
They said the funds will assist the church in further strengthening its role as a place of worship and community engagement. — The Borneo Post
Source: malaymail.com
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Anwar sends prayers for Dr Mahathir’s recovery after admission to IJN
By Malay Mail
06 Jan 2026
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 6 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has offered his prayers for the recovery of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is currently receiving treatment at the National Heart Institute (IJN).
In a post on Facebook today, Anwar, who is on an official trip to Türkiye, said he and his wife were praying for Dr Mahathir’s well-being.
“Azizah (Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail) and I pray for Tun’s health and a speedy recovery, God willing,” he said.
Dr Mahathir, 100, was admitted to IJN at about 9.30am today after reportedly falling at his home and is being monitored.
The matter was confirmed by the former prime minister’s press secretary, Sufi Yusoff.
Dr Mahathir’s office is expected to issue a statement on his condition in due course.
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/01/06/anwar-sends-prayers-for-dr-mahathirs-recovery-after-admission-to-ijn/204507
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Prosecution withdraws appeal, father’s acquittal stands in Zayn Rayyan case
By Malay Mail
06 Jan 2026
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 6 — The Shah Alam High Court today discharged and acquitted Zaim Ikhwan Zahari, the father of the late Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matin, in a case involving the alleged neglect of the autistic child, after the prosecution withdrew its appeal.
According to Sinar Harian, High Court judge Suriyati Hasimah Mohd Hashim made the ruling after being informed that the prosecution no longer intended to proceed with the appeal.
The appeal had been filed against a decision by the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court on July 21, 2025, which acquitted Zaim, 31, after finding that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case at the close of its case.
Zaim’s counsel, Haresh Mahadevan, told reporters that the prosecution had informed the court that a notice to withdraw the appeal was filed earlier in the day.
“They did not wish to proceed with the appeal, and the court therefore decided to strike out the prosecution’s appeal.
“This effectively upholds his acquittal of the charge under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001,” he said. He appeared with co-counsel Ramzani Idris.
The prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutor Ainul Mardiyah Mohd Ali.
In July last year, Petaling Jaya Sessions Court judge Syahliza Warnoh acquitted the father of two after finding that the prosecution had failed to establish the elements of care, neglect and common intention.
However, the court ordered his wife, Ismanira Abdul Manaf, to enter her defence on the same charge under the relevant provision.
The judge also ordered her to be taken immediately to Kajang Women’s Prison after rejecting an application to stay the sentence pending an appeal to the High Court.
On June 13 last year, the couple pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court here to a charge of neglecting their child.
Under the amended charge, the couple were jointly accused, as persons having custody of Zayn Rayyan, 6, of neglecting him in a manner likely to cause physical injury.
The offence was alleged to have taken place at Block R, Pangsapuri Idaman, Damansara Damai, and a nearby river area, between noon on December 5, 2023, and 9.55pm the following day.
The charge was brought under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, punishable under Section 31(1) of the same Act read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which carries a fine of up to RM50,000, imprisonment of up to 20 years, or both, upon conviction.
Zayn Rayyan was found dead in a stream near Pangsapuri Idaman, Damansara Damai, at about 10pm on December 6, 2023.
The child had earlier been reported missing before his body was discovered about 200 metres from his residential block.
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/01/06/prosecution-withdraws-appeal-fathers-acquittal-stands-in-zayn-rayyan-case/204496
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Army Chief calls on troops to maintain professionalism and unity
06 Jan 2026
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 6 — Army Chief General Datuk Azhan Md Othman has called on Army personnel to maintain professionalism and remain united following viral allegations concerning the entry of unauthorised individuals and alleged immoral activities at one of its military camps.
He stressed that the matter was being taken seriously while expressing confidence that it could be managed effectively.
“All Army personnel are urged to remain calm and continue upholding discipline and the values of professionalism. We must remain united to ensure the country’s security is always safeguarded,” he said after attending the 31st Army Chief’s Main Guard of Honour Ceremony at Dataran Wisma Pertahanan here today.
The Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) has been instructed to carry out an internal investigation into the allegations to safeguard the integrity, discipline and security of the force at all times.
Earlier, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin officiated the 31st Army Chief Rank-Wearing Ceremony.
Azhan has been appointed as the 31st Chief of Army, effective Jan 1, in accordance with the decision of the 631st Armed Forces Council Meeting on Nov 19 and with the consent of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, on December 1. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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About 80 Malaysians a day turn to HEAL 15555 mental health hotline for help, says Dzulkefly
By Malay Mail
06 Jan 2026
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 6 — Malaysians are making around 80 calls a day to the mental health helpline HEAL 15555, as mounting life pressures and greater awareness drive more people to seek emotional and psychological support.
According to Utusan Malaysia, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad said the helpline has recorded 163,709 calls since it began operating on October 21, 2022 until the end of last year, a figure that reflects both rising mental health needs and increasing public confidence in reaching out for help.
Of the total number of calls received, 125,417 cases, or 77 per cent, involved emotional support, while 38,292 cases, or 23 per cent, required specialised intervention by counselling psychologists.
He said the trend showed that more Malaysians were prepared to come forward for assistance, signalling that long-running efforts to reduce stigma around mental health issues were beginning to show results.
“What we are seeing is that more people are willing to seek help. Efforts to obtain mental health support are on the rise, leading to more people contacting the HEAL 15555 helpline,” he said after the 2026 New Year Gathering and Address at the Health Ministry in Putrajaya today.
Dzulkefly said the helpline had also played a critical role in suicide prevention.
A total of 294 cases involving suicidal ideation received psychological intervention, while 157 suicide attempt cases were urgently referred through the activation of MERS999, following close collaboration with the Royal Malaysia Police and emergency departments.
“All individuals involved were successfully rescued and brought to hospital for further treatment,” he said.
He added that call volumes have shown a sharp upward trend each year. In 2023, the helpline received 27,738 calls, which rose to 42,990 calls in 2024, before almost doubling to 90,981 calls in 2025.
According to Dzulkefly, the steady increase cannot be attributed to a single factor, but is influenced by a combination of present-day pressures and growing public awareness of the importance of mental wellbeing.
“It is difficult to determine specific causes, but current life stresses and increased awareness of the need to seek help are among the contributors to this rise,” he said.
*If you are lonely, distressed, or having negative thoughts, Befrienders offers free and confidential support 24 hours a day. A full list of Befrienders contact numbers and state operating hours is available here: www.befrienders.org.my/centre-in-malaysia. There are also free hotlines for young people. Talian Kasih at 15999 (24/7); and Talian BuddyBear at 1800-18-2327(BEAR)(daily 12pm-12am).
Contact Befrienders KL at 03-7627 2929, or 04-2910 100 in Penang, or 05-2380 485 in Ipoh, or 088-335 793 in Kota Kinabalu.
The national mental health helpline HEAL can be reached at 15555.
Those suffering from problems can reach out to: Mental Health Psychosocial Support Service (03-2935 9935 or 014-322 3392); Talian Kasih (15999 or WhatsApp 019-261 5999); Jakim’s Family, Social and Community care centre (WhatsApp 0111-959 8214); and Befrienders Kuala Lumpur (03-7627 2929 or visit www.befrienders.org.my/centre-in-malaysia for a full list of numbers and operating hours).
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/01/06/about-80-malaysians-a-day-turn-to-heal-15555-mental-health-hotline-for-help-says-dzulkefly/204492
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‘Game-changing’ PM term limit would prevent leaders from ‘overstaying welcome’, says Zahid
06 Jan 2026
PUTRAJAYA, Jan 6 — The proposal to limit the prime minister’s tenure to no more than 10 years or two terms is a game changer capable of bringing major reforms to the country’s governance system, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also minister of rural and regional development, said the proposal was suggested by the prime minister himself during a special Cabinet meeting yesterday and was agreed to by all Cabinet members.
He said the term limit is important to prevent a prime minister from holding office for too long, which could lead to leadership fatigue or “overstaying his or her welcome”, even if the individual performs well.
“This is a game changer and, in my view, we do not want a prime minister to remain in power for too long — in other words, to overstay his or her welcome. No matter how good one’s performance is, staying too long can lead to a saturation effect.
“This is a good step proposed by the prime minister himself,” he told reporters after delivering the ministry’s 2026 New Year message here today.
Yesterday, in his New Year address, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said a Bill to limit the Prime Minister’s tenure to no more than 10 years or two full terms would be presented during the next parliamentary session, which begins on Jan 19.
The Bill is among four key pieces of legislation to be tabled as part of Parliament’s direction for this year. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Ringgit gains against US dollar as safe-haven demand wanes
6 Jan 2026
The ringgit opened higher against the US dollar as geopolitical risks eased, with capital flowing back to emerging market currencies
KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit opened marginally higher against the US dollar on Tuesday as investors assessed the United States-Venezuela situation, with an early flight to the greenback proving short-lived amid largely contained geopolitical risks.
At 8 am, the local currency edged up to 4.0650/0745 against the greenback, from Monday’s close of 4.0695/0745.
IPPFA Sdn Bhd director of investment strategy and country economist Mohd Sedek Jantan said that as risk sentiment stabilised, capital flows rotated back into emerging market currencies and higher-yielding assets.
“Overnight, the US dollar was initially supported by geopolitical headlines and global central bank signals, but the momentum faded. The US dollar index slipped 0.17 per cent to 98.26 by late trading, leaving it only marginally higher year to date,” he told Bernama.
He added that the ringgit’s gains were reinforced by a rebound in the Asia Dollar Index, reflecting renewed investor appetite for emerging market currencies as risk tolerance improved.
Despite the early uptick against the US dollar, the ringgit traded lower against a basket of major currencies.
It weakened against the Japanese yen to 2.5958/6020 from 2.5932/5965 on Monday, fell versus the British pound to 5.5012/5140 from 5.4706/4774, and eased against the euro to 4.7626/7737 from 4.7540/7598 previously.
The local currency traded mostly higher against ASEAN peers.
It edged up against the Indonesian rupiah to 242.8/243.5 from 243.0/243.5, firmed versus the Thai baht to 12.9773/13.0167 from 12.9891/13.0109, and rose against the Philippine peso to 6.87/6.90 from 6.88/6.90.
However, it slipped against the Singapore dollar to 3.1686/1763 from 3.1603/1644.
Source: thesun.my
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https://thesun.my/news/malaysia-news/ringgit-gains-against-us-dollar-as-safe-haven-demand-wanes/
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Ombudsman crucial for freedom of information law
6 Jan 2026
PETALING JAYA: Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) has welcomed the government’s plan to introduce a Freedom of Information (FOI) law but warned it will only be effective if paired with an independent ombudsman empowered to enforce disclosure and investigate maladministration.
TI-M president Raymon Ram said independent oversight is crucial to prevent public access to information from being left to the discretion of the very agencies expected to release it.
“An independent ombudsman is essential to the success and credibility of the FOI law.
“TI-M has consistently called for an autonomous federal ombudsman with real investigative authority to address maladministration and uphold the right to information.
“This body must be a strong and impartial watchdog, capable of receiving complaints, reviewing agency decisions and compelling disclosure when information is unjustifiably withheld.
“Without such oversight, the government risks being both gatekeeper and judge of its own transparency – a fundamental conflict of interest,” Raymon told theSun yesterday.
His remarks followed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s announcement during his New Year address at the Prime Minister’s Department monthly assembly yesterday.
Anwar had said the government planned to table both an Ombudsman Bill and an FOI law later this year.
The former would enable the setting up of an independent watchdog to investigate complaints against agencies and officials, while the latter would allow the public to request government documents such as tenders, contracts and public projects to prevent abuse of power, while safeguarding matters related to national security and intelligence.
Raymon said TI-M strongly supports both an independent information commission to oversee the FOI regime and a separate federal ombudsman to investigate maladministration, including cases where information is withheld.
“At minimum, if a public agency refuses requested information, citizens should have a clear right to report it to the ombudsman for investigation and redress.
“Both oversight bodies must be independent, report directly to Parliament, and be shielded from political interference.
“Without enforceable powers, the FOI law risks being hollow and ineffective.”
Raymon, however, cautioned that limiting the FOI law to tenders, contracts and public projects would leave transparency gaps.
“A robust FOI Act must guarantee the rakyat’s right to know across all areas of public governance to prevent corruption and ensure meaningful accountability.
“If the law applies only to selected sectors, significant abuses may remain hidden elsewhere. Exemptions for national security or official secrecy must be tightly defined, not blanket exclusions,” he said, citing TI-M’s endorsement of Article 19, the Principles on Freedom of Information Legislation.
Raymon also urged Parliament to examine how the FOI law would interact with existing secrecy provisions, particularly the Official Secrets Act.
Source: thesun.my
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https://thesun.my/news/malaysia-news/people-issues/ombudsman-crucial-for-freedom-of-information-law/
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South Asia
Islami Chhatra Shibir announces new DU unit committee
Jan 5, 2026
Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir today announced its new Dhaka University unit committee.
Md Mohiuddin Khan has been named president, Ashiqur Rahman secretary, and Md Sajjad Hossain Khan organising secretary.
The announcement came at a members' assembly of the DU unit held at Shaheed Mahbubur Rahman Auditorium on campus.
Central president Nurul Islam attended the assembly as the chief guest, while central publication secretary Abu Shadik Kayem was present as a special guest.
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/islami-chhatra-shibir-announces-new-du-unit-committee-4073801
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DNCC to form team to oversee management
Jan 6, 2026
The Dhaka North City Corporation has taken an initiative to form a nine-member steering committee to ensure unrestricted public access to parks, playgrounds, and public spaces under its jurisdiction and to oversee their proper management and maintenance.
The decision was made at the 13th corporation meeting of DNCC held yesterday at Gulshan Nagar Bhaban. The committee is being formed to regularly monitor whether the 106 parks, playgrounds, and public spaces located across 52 wards under DNCC are being properly managed and maintained.
DNCC Administrator Mohammad Azaz said, "Parks and playgrounds in Dhaka city are operated under different ownerships and management authorities. One of the main reasons for mismanagement and encroachment of parks and playgrounds is this fragmented ownership. Therefore, it has been decided to form a steering committee to bring all stakeholders involved in the management onto a coordinated platform and to oversee their overall activities."
The committee will submit a monthly report to the city corporation, he said.
The committee will also monitor to ensure that no club or commercial institution occupies parks, playgrounds, or public spaces, he added.
Of the 106, 37 are currently owned by DNCC, 17 are owned by the National Housing Authority, and the remaining ones are owned by other institutions and organisations. In addition, some playgrounds and public spaces are managed by various school and college authorities.
The meeting decided to include representatives from the city corporation, Rajuk, Public Works Department/National Housing Authority, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, district administration, and representatives of civil society as members of the committee.
It was also decided that each park and playground will be managed by citizen committees, formed with local residents, under the chairmanship of DNCC's 10 regional executive officers.
The steering committee will supervise the activities of parks and playgrounds through these regional committees.
In cases where parks, playgrounds, and public spaces fall under DNCC's jurisdiction but are not owned by DNCC, development activities will be undertaken by forming committees comprising appropriate representatives of the concerned authorities, local communities, and DNCC representatives.
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/dncc-form-team-oversee-management-4074096
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26 countries, 7 int’l bodies invited to observe national polls, referendum
Jan 5, 2026
The Election Commission (EC) today invited 26 countries and seven international organisations to observe the 13th National Election and the referendum -- both scheduled for February 12.
The commission will bear all accommodation and food expenses of a total of 83 foreign observers coming from these countries and organisations, EC officials said.
According to EC, the initiative has been taken to showcase the credibility of the election.
The number of foreign observers preparing to monitor the February 12 polls has already exceeded those of the last three national elections, said officials.
Meanwhile, the European Union (EU) has confirmed it will send at least 175 observers, while the US-based International Republican Institute (IRI) said it will dispatch a 10-member team.
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/26-countries-7-intl-bodies-invited-observe-national-polls-referendum-4073946
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UN warns dry, warm winter could threaten Afghanistan’s food and water security
By Fidel Rahmati
January 6, 2026
The U.N. food agency warned Afghanistan faces a dry and unusually warm winter through February, with below-average rainfall threatening agriculture, water availability and food security nationwide.
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has warned that Afghanistan is entering a dry and unusually warm winter expected to last until February, raising concerns about water and food security.
In an assessment released on Tuesday, FAO reviewed precipitation conditions from November and December 2025 through January and February 2026, forecasting below-average rainfall across much of the country.
The agency said the 2025–2026 wet season has begun drier and warmer than normal, with widespread soil-moisture deficits already observed nationwide for a second consecutive year.
FAO’s multi-model forecasts indicate that reduced precipitation is likely to persist in most regions, particularly in northern, northeastern and central highland areas, while only a few stronger weather systems in January may bring temporary snowfall and rain.
FAO cautioned that these isolated systems are unlikely to offset the cumulative deficit, leaving seasonal precipitation below normal and snow water equivalents in major mountain basins well under long-term averages, threatening spring meltwater supplies.
The warning comes after Afghanistan experienced low rainfall and drought conditions last year, with aid agencies stressing that continued climate shocks could further strain agriculture, livelihoods and humanitarian needs in an already vulnerable country.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/un-warns-dry-warm-winter-could-threaten-afghanistans-food-and-water-security/
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U.S. Court Jails Afghan National for Foiled Islamic State-Linked 2024 Election Plot
By Fidel Rahmati
January 5, 2026
A US court sentenced an Afghan national to 15 years in prison over a foiled Islamic State-linked plot targeting the 2024 election.
U.S. judicial authorities have sentenced an Afghan national to 15 years in prison for plotting an attack linked to the 2024 U.S. election, officials said on Sunday.
According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Abdullah Hajizadeh was convicted of planning to acquire firearms on behalf of the Islamic State group, following a counterterrorism investigation.
Prosecutors said the plot was disrupted before it could be carried out, stressing that coordinated intelligence and law enforcement actions prevented any immediate threat to public safety.
The court ruled that Hajizadeh’s actions constituted a serious national security risk, underscoring ongoing concerns about election-related violence in the United States.
U.S. authorities have repeatedly warned that extremist groups continue to view major political events, including elections, as potential targets to gain attention and sow instability.
Federal agencies have increased surveillance and preventive measures in recent years, particularly amid heightened political polarization and global security tensions.
The sentencing comes as President Donald Trump announced tougher immigration policies following the death of U.S. National Guard officer Sara Beckstrom from gunshot injuries in a separate incident.
Trump said his administration would permanently halt immigration from certain countries, including Afghanistan, tighten federal benefits for non-citizens, and revoke citizenship from individuals deemed security threats.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/u-s-court-jails-afghan-national-for-foiled-islamic-state-linked-2024-election-plot/
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Over 1,300 Vehicles Stopped in Kabul for Lacking Documents or Using Tinted Windows
January 6, 2026
KABUL: In a coordinated operation over the past week, the Public Security Police, in collaboration with the General Directorate of Traffic, stopped 1,310 vehicles in Kabul, including cars without proper documents and vehicles with heavily tinted windows.
Of the total vehicles stopped, 127 have been transferred to police township for further processing, while 1,183 provincial vehicles were denied entry into Kabul and sent back to their respective provinces, the Ministry of Interior Affairs said in a statement on Monday.
The measure aims to improve traffic safety and enforce vehicle regulations in the capital, ensuring orderly movement and public security.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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https://thekabultimes.com/over-1300-vehicles-stopped-in-kabul-for-lacking-documents-or-using-tinted-windows/
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Scientific Seminar Held on Importance of Reading, Study in Helmand
January 6, 2026
KABUL: The Department of Information and Culture of Helmand province, in collaboration with the Al-Ribat Cultural and Intellectual Administration, organized a scientific seminar to highlight the significance of reading and study.
The seminar aimed to enhance intellectual awareness and strengthen the capacities of youth, the Ministry of Information and Culture said in a statement on Monday.
According to the organizers, individuals who engage in regular reading reach greater heights of knowledge, and there is a noticeable difference between those who read and those who do not.
They encouraged young people to visit public libraries and read books of their interest to continuously improve their knowledge and intellectual abilities.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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https://thekabultimes.com/scientific-seminar-held-on-importance-of-reading-study-in-helmand/
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Turkish Investors Express Interest in Solar Energy Projects in Country
January 6, 2026
KABUL: Representatives from a group of Turkish companies have expressed strong interest in investing in the country’s solar energy sector, focusing on projects with capacities ranging from 10 to 100 megawatts in various provinces.
The discussions took place during a meeting with Mullah Abdul Latif Mansoor, Minister of Water and Energy, who welcomed the potential investment, the ministry said in a statement Monday.
Minister Mansoor emphasized that Afghanistan currently offers a secure and favorable environment for investment and assured the Turkish investors of the government’s full cooperation in advancing renewable energy initiatives.
Both sides agreed to organize technical meetings between Afghan and Turkish teams to develop practical plans for implementing the proposed solar power projects, aiming to expand Afghanistan’s renewable energy capacity and support sustainable development.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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https://thekabultimes.com/turkish-investors-express-interest-in-solar-energy-projects-in-country/
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Azizi Vows Respectful Support for Returning Traders, Industrialists
January 6, 2026
KABUL: The country’s Minister of Industry and Commerce, Nooruddin Azizi, has emphasized the importance of respectful treatment and providing essential facilities for returning traders and industrialists.
Speaking at a recent meeting of the committee responsible for supporting returning business professionals, Minister Azizi highlighted the government’s commitment to creating a conducive environment for investment and entrepreneurship, according to a statement from the ministry on Monday.
According to the statement, the work documents of eight returning traders and industrialists from Iran and Pakistan, active in sectors such as furniture manufacturing, automotive oils, plastics, food products, artificial grass, and cold storage, were reviewed according to established committee guidelines.
“After careful evaluation, seven individuals were officially recognized as certified traders and industrialists, representing a combined investment of over $26 million,” the statement said.
Minister Azizi assured the returning business community that the committee’s mandate is to facilitate their operations and ease the establishment of their enterprises in Afghanistan.
He emphasized that those whose documents have been approved will enjoy the benefits outlined in the committee’s regulations, further encouraging investment and economic development in the country.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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