Operation Sindoor Sent Clear Message To Terror Sponsors, Says Defence Ministry In Year-End Review
New Age Islam News Bureau
01 January 2026
Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) Lt General Rajiv Ghai with Air Marshal AK Bharti and Vice Admiral AN Pramod during a press conference on 'Operation Sindoor', in New Delhi, Monday, May 12, 2025.
PTI
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· Operation Sindoor sent clear message to terror sponsors, says Defence ministry in year-end review
· Yemen expresses appreciation for Saudi Arabia’s role in supporting country’s security
· The Council on American-Islamic Relations Condemns Vandalism of Menorah at Bridgeport Synagogue
· The Civilian Joint Task Force Nabs Suspected Suicide Bomber InYobe State
· PAS, a prominent political party, wants to restore Islam as the core of governance, says MenteriBesar of Kedah in Malaysia
· Political violence, mob attacks marked Bangladesh’s rights record in 2025, according to data compiled by the ManabadhikarShongskriti Foundation (MSF)
· Saudi foreign minister discusses Gaza and West Bank situation with Palestinian vice president
· War and peace: Ukrainians share their wish for 2026; hope for 'hell' to end
……..
India
· Kashmiri shawl seller assaulted, forced to chant 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' in Haryana; JKSA slams 'growing reign of terror'
· Centre must rebut Chinese claims of mediation between India, Pak: Owaisi on Operation Sindoor
· Bareilly birthday party attack puts all friendships with Muslims on trial in India
· In 'love jihad' case, Muslim man poses as Hindu, gets woman to divorce husband
· India made big mistake: Pahalgam kingpin admits terror camps hit during Sindoor
· Post Operation Sindoor, Pakistan waging proxy war, has clear agenda to destabilise Punjab: DGP Yadav
· BJP wants NIA to verify Kogilu evictees’ citizenship, accuses Karnataka Govt of creating ‘mini-Bangladesh’
· Mahakal temple visit by actor NushrrattBharuccha sparks fatwa row
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Mideast
· Israel begins demolishing residential buildings in West Bank camp
· EU warns Yemen developments risk Gulf stability
· Hoping for better year ahead, Gazans bid farewell to ‘nightmare’
· UN chief condemns Israeli law blocking electricity, water for UNRWA facilities
· One security force member killed, 2 wounded in Aleppo suicide attack, Syria says
· Aoun reassures Lebanon that risk of war is ‘fading’ in year-end message
· Israel to ban 37 aid groups from Gaza including MSF and Oxfam
· Iranians try to access local government building on fourth day of protests, state media says
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North America
· ‘A new era’: ZohranMamdani appoints al Qaeda detainee’s lawyer RamziKassem as NYC chief counsel - who is he?
· Indian-origin ZohranMamdani sworn in as New York City first Muslim mayor at historic subway station - watch
· Trump says he is withdrawing National Guard troops from some US cities
· Trump vetoes first bills of his second term
· US wipes out alleged ‘narco-convoy’
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Africa
· Terrorism Financing: EFCC Arraigns Bauchi Commissioner, Three Others
· Ex-Ogun Lawmaker Abducted In Mosque
· Mosque Bombing: Group Decries Channels TV’s Coverage
· DHQ Access U.S-Nigeria Air Strikes InSokoto
· Fubara Speaks On Political War In Rivers State
· ‘You Are Clever By Half’ – Wike Accuses Fubara Of Breaking Agreement Brokered By Tinubu
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Southeast Asia
· Foreign Ministry: Malaysia condemns Israeli ban on humanitarian aid organisations in Gaza
· King and Queen extend New Year greetings, call for national unity
· Penang zakat collection rises over 10pc to approach RM200m
· Johor’s 2025 revenue hits record RM2.67b, MB pledges to return it to Johoreans
· Perikatan will move forward with spirit despite ‘storm of resignations’, says PAS info chief
· Could HadiAwang be the next Perikatan chairman? Kelantan Bersatu doesn’t rule it out
· Anwar joins packed Bukit Bintang crowd to ring in New Year, kick off Visit Malaysia 2026
· Malaysians warned over fraudulent RM1,500 badal haj advertisements
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South Asia
· Health Ministry Prioritizes Equity, Support for Vulnerable Groups, Official
· Commercial Market to Be Built in Qarabagh district of Kabul, Committee
· MawlaviKabir, UNAMA Deputy Discuss Humanitarian Aid, Returnees
· Mawlavi Sadr Highlights Protection of Islamic System, Strengthening Public Confidence
· 10,784 Consignments of Construction Materials Inspected at Afghan Ports Last Month
· UN Requests $1.71 Billion for Afghanistan Humanitarian Aid in 2026
· Jamaatameer clarifies Reuters interview on meeting Indian diplomats
· Jamaat open to unity govt with BNP
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Arab World
· Saudi FM receives call from Somali counterpart
· Saudi crown prince receives phone call from Pakistani PM
· Saudi gifted students excel globally with 129 awards in 2025
· New project brings AlUla’s heritage to life
· Riyadh reserve invites visitors for tourism activities
· KSrelief chief met UK representatives to Sudan
· Saudi cities dazzle with staycation attractions for New Year celebrations
· WHO to accredit Asir region for governance and public services
· Saudi FM Prince Faisal receives Omani counterpart
· Saudi Red Sea Authority unveils digital guide to organize coastal tourism
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Europe
· British Muslims among UK’s most generous donors
· UK welcomes new year with celebrations across the country
· Ukrainian drones target Moscow during Putin’s New Year address – mayor
· Former Soviet republics react to Ukraine’s failed strike on Putin residence
· Russian forces expanding buffer zone in Ukraine – senior commander
· Lukashenko claims he warned Putin about assassination attempt
· Macron backs bill: France plans social media ban for under-15s; draft law cites screen time risks
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/operation-sindoor-message-defence-ministry/d/138268
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Operation Sindoor sent clear message to terror sponsors, says Defence ministry in year-end review
01.01.26
Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) Lt General Rajiv Ghai with Air Marshal AK Bharti and Vice Admiral AN Pramod during a press conference on 'Operation Sindoor', in New Delhi, Monday, May 12, 2025.
PTI
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Operation Sindoor stands as a “resounding testament” to India’s unwavering resolve against terrorism, the defence ministry said on Wednesday, describing the military action as a calibrated and decisive blow delivered with precision and professionalism deep inside Pakistan’s terror infrastructure.
In a year-end review statement, the ministry said the operation sent an “unambiguous message” to the world that “India will not tolerate terror, and those who sponsor it will face the full force of retribution”.
“This operation would be remembered as a defining moment in India’s military history and as a symbol of military precision and national resolve,” the ministry added.
Operation Sindoor was carried out in the early hours of 7 May in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 innocent civilians.
At least 100 terrorists were eliminated when Indian armed forces launched a series of precision missile strikes on nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. The strikes triggered a four-day military conflict between India and Pakistan.
According to the ministry, the operation demonstrated decisive leadership, joint operational synergy and the nation’s intent to safeguard its sovereignty against brutal killings by Pakistan-based terrorists.
It showcased “unmatched multi-domain capability” and was executed simultaneously across land, maritime and air domains, as well as the emerging domains of cyber, space and information warfare.
“With strategic foresight and restraint of the forces, Operation Sindoor highlighted India’s sustained focus on capability development, i.e., from intelligence dominance to cutting-edge technology and joint operational readiness,” the statement said.
It termed the operation a “classic demonstration of execution of will of the nation” through seamless integration of all organs of the government.
The ministry said the success of home-grown technologies and weapon systems in combat validated the vision of ‘Aatmanirbharta’.
While the Indian Air Force carried out strikes from the air, Army soldiers remained firmly deployed along the Line of Control and “delivered a befitting reply to every Pakistani action”.
The Indian Navy maintained a strong posture in the north Arabian Sea, “sending a clear message to Pakistan that India is capable and prepared to strike at every vital Pakistani base, from sea to land”, the ministry said, quoting an earlier statement by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
Singh told Parliament that Operation Sindoor had only been halted and not ended. “If Pakistan again tries to carry out any nefarious act, we are fully prepared for an even more intense and decisive action,” he had said.
The ministry said the operation was powered by the country’s “transitional shift in its policy against terrorism”.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the guidance of the defence minister, India sent a clear message to its adversaries that the sovereignty, unity and integrity of Bharat will never be compromised, the statement said.
Singh had also asserted that the action was completely in self-defence and was “neither provocative nor expansionist”.
On 10 May, at approximately 1:30 am, Pakistan launched a “massive attack” on Indian Air Force bases, army ammunition depots, airports and military cantonments using missiles, drones, rockets and other long-range weapons, along with electronic warfare technologies.
The Indian air defence system, counter-drone system and electronic equipment “completely thwarted the attack”, the ministry said, adding that the adversary failed to hit any targets and no vital assets were damaged.
“Major airbases like Chaklala, Sargodha, Rafiqui, Rahimyar Khan, Jacobabad, Sukkur, and Bholari were struck, and the mission was successfully accomplished,” the statement said.
On 10 May, Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations contacted India’s DGMO and appealed for a halt to military operations.
Formal talks were held on 12 May, after which both sides decided to cease military operations.
The ministry said the effective use of state-of-the-art ‘Made-in-India’ weapons during the operation testified to India’s progress towards self-reliance, which is “fundamental to ensuring strategic autonomy” in the current geopolitical landscape.
From Operation Sindoor to the Mission Sudarshan Chakra vision, record defence production and exports, equipping soldiers with the latest weapons and technologies and finalising future deals, “2025 gave a glimpse of a secure, self-reliant and prosperous India”.
The year-end review also highlighted the growing drone threat along the western front.
A total of 791 drone intrusions were reported during 2025, with nine incidents along the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir and 782 along the IB in Punjab and Rajasthan.
“Effective employment of own spoofers and jammers along the western front significantly countered the drone threat,” the ministry said.
During the year, Indian forces brought down 237 drones along the IB sector, including five drones carrying war-like stores, 72 carrying narcotics and 161 without any payload.
The security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, the ministry said, remains “firmly under control” due to the relentless efforts of the Indian Army.
The ‘whole-of-nation’ approach has resulted in a reduction in violence levels, scaled-down protests and zero incidents of stone pelting, the statement said.
Following the DGMO talks on 10 May and 12 May, the situation remains stable though unpredictable, the ministry noted, adding that there has been an increase in Pakistan’s attempts to surreptitiously infiltrate terrorists through the Line of Control and the IB sector.
Pakistan attempted to activate the Poonch-Rajouri region as a “hotbed for proxy war during the year 2023-24”, it said.
The ministry said Pakistan continues to demonstrate a persistent intent to prosecute a proxy war strategy, as evidenced by the functionality of training camps, the presence of terrorists in launch pads and continuing infiltration attempts.
Significant efforts are being made by Pakistan to exploit the IB sector to smuggle weapons and narcotics using drones and to infiltrate large numbers of terrorists.
In view of ongoing operational concerns, sanction was accorded for emergency procurement in niche technology domains, including drones and counter-drone systems, weapon systems, precision ammunition, electronic warfare and surveillance systems.
The ministry said 29 capability development schemes have already been contracted, while another 16 were likely to be contracted in December 2025.
On drone manufacturing and achieving ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in ammunition production, the ministry said 515 Army Base Workshop and select Corps Z Workshops and EME Battalions have established credible drone manufacturing capability using in-house expertise and collaboration with subject matter experts.
These facilities are state-of-the-art and meet quality requirements. A total of 819 drones have been manufactured so far, including 193 surveillance drones, 337 kamikaze, armed or weaponised drones and 289 first pilot view drones.
The ministry also assessed the situation along the northern borders, saying it remains stable yet sensitive.
It asserted that the deployment of the Indian Army along the Line of Actual Control is “robust, well poised” and prepared to deal with any emerging contingency.
Bilateral interaction between India and China at political, diplomatic and military levels facilitated positive developments and stabilisation along the northern borders, it said.
After the disengagement agreement in Depsang and Demchok in 2024, 2025 witnessed reduced deployment levels of the People’s Liberation Army opposite the northern borders and in traditional training areas.
The PLA maintained 10 Combined Arms Brigade-size forces each in tactical and operational depth opposite the northern borders and in training areas, while the overall BMP pattern remained unchanged from 2024.
The ministry said India’s defence preparedness has been enhanced with the induction of new-generation equipment and deployment of newly created force multipliers such as Rudra Brigades, Divyastra Batteries and Bhairav Battalions along the northern borders.
Significant improvement in infrastructure, connectivity and billeting was also recorded across all sectors along the northern front.
The ministry said India’s military actions are calibrated, with the approach aimed at achieving peace and tranquillity while adhering to the principle of “Mutual and Equal” security.
During 2025, various channels of communication were effectively used to address mutual concerns along the LAC.
The year saw renewed engagement through the 33rd and 34th rounds of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination meetings in March and July, followed by the 24th round of Special Representatives talks on 19 August in New Delhi.
The positive developments in bilateral ties were further reinforced during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to China for the SCO Summit in Tianjin in August 2025.
Constructive engagement was also reflected during the 23rd Corps Commander Level meeting held in the western sector of Eastern Ladakh on 25 and 26 October.
At the ground level, Border Personnel Meetings continued in a cordial and friendly environment to resolve issues of concern.
Reiterating its assessment of Jammu and Kashmir, the ministry said the security situation in the Union Territory remains firmly under control, with consistent improvement in the hinterland since 2019, underpinned by sustained counter-infiltration measures, relentless operations in higher reaches and efforts to reduce local recruitment by fostering development.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/operation-sindoor-sent-clear-message-to-terror-sponsors-says-defence-ministry-in-year-end-review/cid/2140480
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Yemen expresses appreciation for Saudi Arabia’s role in supporting country’s security
December 31, 2025
President of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Rashad Al-Alimi. (SABANEW)
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RIYADH: Yemen’s foreign ministry expressed appreciation on Wednesday for the “pivotal and responsible role” of Saudi Arabia in supporting the security and stability of Yemen and the region.
The statement came after the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen carried out a “limited airstrike” on an Emirati shipment at Al-Mukalla port. The coalition said it had information that such weapons would be transported and distributed to locations in Hadramaut.
The ministry also welcomed the statements issued by other friendly countries and regional and international organizations, which affirmed their full support for the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Yemen.
The ministry also appreciated the countries’ commitment to strengthening regional security, emphasizing that such positions reflect solidarity with Yemen in facing current challenges.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2627942/middle-east
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The Council on American-Islamic Relations Condemns Vandalism of Menorah at Bridgeport Synagogue
December 31, 2025
The Connecticut chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CT) strongly condemns the recent vandalism of the outdoor menorah at Congregation B’nai Israel in Bridgeport.
On December 24, 2025, a person was recorded on surveillance footage deliberately toppling a large menorah at Congregation B’nai Israel. Police are actively investigating this incident as vandalism and have identified a person of interest.
“These hateful acts targeting any religious symbols or intentionally disrespecting any faith are attacks on the dignity and safety of all faith communities in Connecticut,” said Farhan Memon, Chairman of CAIR-CT. “We stand in solidarity with the Jewish community and call on law enforcement to fully investigate the incident and hold perpetrators accountable. Connecticut must be a place where people of all backgrounds can worship, celebrate, and live without fear.”
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-CT’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR-CT esproteger las libertadesciviles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a losmusulmanesenlosEstadosUnidos.
Source: cair.com
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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-ct-condemns-vandalism-of-menorah-at-bridgeport-synagogue/
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The Civilian Joint Task Force Nabs Suspected Suicide Bomber inYobe State
January 1, 2026
By EnioluwaAdeniyi
Operatives of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) have arrested a suspected suicide bomber allegedly sent to attack troops, hunters, and vigilantes in Yobe State.
The suspect, identified as Ibrahim, was apprehended in Damaturu by a local hunters’ group in collaboration with troops of Operation Hadin Kai and later transferred to Maiduguri, Borno State, for further investigation.
A vigilante source, who spoke with Daily Trust under the condition of anonymity, said Ibrahim was taken to the JIBWIS mosque in the Tashan Journey area of Maiduguri, where he claimed to have dropped a bag containing an improvised explosive device (IED).
“However, the bag was not found at the indicated location,” the source added.
Further interrogation reportedly revealed that Ibrahim had planted another explosive device in a bag at the entrance of the Gamboru Market Mosque. His accomplice, identified as Adamu, who wore a suicide vest, allegedly entered the mosque and detonated the device.
The source said the bombing was part of a broader coordinated attack.
“The suspect also disclosed that six suicide bombers were deployed to Maiduguri ahead of the attack under the coordination of a terror kingpin,” the vigilante disclosed.
Naija News reports this comes at the time suspected bandits, on Wednesday night, launched a violent attack on a police station in the Ipele-Owo community of Owo Local Government Area, Ondo State, setting the facility ablaze and throwing the community into panic.
The incident occurred around 10 pm while many Christian residents were preparing for crossover services to mark the New Year, prompting both officers and civilians to flee for safety amid heavy gunfire.
Eyewitnesses who spoke with Punch said the attackers, numbering about 20, stormed the area in what was described as a “commando style” assault, shooting sporadically before descending on the Ipele Police Divisional Station.
“It was a terrorist attack. The attackers numbering about 20, came into the Ipele community in a commando style and began to shoot sporadically before attacking the Police Divisional Station in Ipele,” an eyewitness who spoke under anonymity said.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2026/01/01/cjtf-nabs-suspected-suicide-bomber-in-yobe/
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PAS, a prominent political party, wants to restore Islam as the core of governance, says MenteriBesar of Kedah in Malaysia
By Malay Mail
01 Jan 2026
The Kedah menteri besar added that PAS’ struggle to gain control of the country’s political system must continue consistently and with determination. — Picture by Shafwan Zaidon
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KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 1 — PAS will continue its struggle to reclaim control of the country’s leadership and dominate the political system to restore Islam as the primary foundation of governance.
In a Facebook post yesterday, PAS central election director, Datuk Seri Muhammad SanusiMdNor, said only Islam can save the country and the world from oppression and injustice caused by a system of governance not based on Islamic teachings.
The Kedah menteribesar added that PAS’ struggle to gain control of the country’s political system must continue consistently and with determination.
“Therefore, the struggle to take over the country and regain control of the political system must be carried out by PAS with full commitment, regardless of the circumstances.
“Have faith — only Islam can save this world. Beyond that, most systems are corrupt and expose humanity to injustice and oppression,” he said.
Muhammad Sanusi, who is also the Kedah PerikatanNasional (PN) chairman, said the absence of Islamic guidance in governance ultimately allows a country to be dominated by parties that do not make Islam the basis of politics.
As an example, he claimed this situation occurred under the current administration led by PakatanHarapan (PH) and BarisanNasional (BN).
“Leaders who govern but do not adhere to Islam will eventually be dominated by others who do not make Islam the foundation of politics,” he said.
Muhammad Sanusi said PAS must continue to create space for Islam to flourish as a system of governance, while ensuring justice and security for non-Muslims.
“We are noble and safe with Islam. Our hearts are pure with Islam. We do not oppress anyone; we act justly, without discrimination, and do not deny the rights of any citizens while in government. That is the principle of Islam,” he said.
He added that Islam prohibits oppression, discrimination, and denial of rights, and demands respect for others as long as the rights and dignity of Islam are not violated.
However, he said there are boundaries that cannot be crossed if anyone attempts to erode the rights of Muslims.
“When they have lost reason and disregard feelings, trying to undermine our rights, we too have feelings. This is the boundary line — do not cross here because we have never crossed over there,” he said.
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/01/01/pas-wants-to-restore-islam-as-the-core-of-governance-says-kedah-mb/203913
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Political violence, mob attacks marked Bangladesh’s rights record in 2025, according to data compiled by the ManabadhikarShongskriti Foundation (MSF)
Dec 31, 2025
Political violence, a sharp rise in mob attacks, deaths in custody and sustained pressure on journalists defined Bangladesh's human rights situation in 2025, according to data compiled by the ManabadhikarShongskriti Foundation (MSF).
Presenting its findings at a press briefing at the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) today, MSF said the year was marked by a steady contraction of democratic space and persistent failures in accountability and law enforcement.
The organisation based its assessment on reports published in national media.
MSF said election-related violence and internal party rivalries intensified during the year, alongside continued allegations of extrajudicial killings and torture during law enforcement operations and deaths in custody.
It also cited the continued use of the Cyber Security Act and ordinance to file cases against journalists.
According to MSF data, 599 incidents of political violence affected 5,604 people in 2025. Of them, 86 were killed and 5,518 injured, including 97 who suffered gunshot wounds.
Among those killed were 65 BNP members, eight Awami League members, three Jamaat-e-Islami members and 10 people whose political identities could not be confirmed.
After the election date was announced, MSF recorded 26 incidents linked to nominations and campaigning, affecting 252 people. Three were killed and 249 injured. Separately, 169 attacks on political leaders and activists left 47 dead and 187 injured.
MSF said 67 cases were filed this year in connection with the fall of the government and the July-August mass uprising. These cases named 7,780 accused and listed 11,179 unidentified individuals.
Following the ban on the Awami League's activities, MSF reported the arrest of 3,695 leaders and activists of the party and its affiliated organisations in cases linked to the anti-discrimination student movement and the fall of the government.
The organisation also highlighted mass arrests under joint forces' "Operation Devil Hunt", launched in February, under which 22,284 people were detained. Of them, 11,313 were identified as affiliates of the previous Awami League government.
Overall, MSF said 212,800 people were arrested nationwide this year in special police drives and other cases.
Allegations of extrajudicial killings continued, with MSF recording 19 incidents of gunfights that left 22 people dead. Twelve of those deaths occurred during eight joint forces operations led by the army. The organisation also recorded 20 deaths in law enforcement custody, including six reported as suicides in police stations.
In prisons, MSF documented 116 deaths, most attributed to illness, though it also noted cases of suicide, torture and unexplained deaths.
Journalists remained under pressure, MSF said, recording 289 incidents affecting 641 journalists, including one killing, injuries, threats and legal harassment. It also cited attacks on the offices of ProthomAlo and The Daily Star on December 18.
MSF further reported 428 lynching incidents that killed 166 people, the recovery of 641 unidentified bodies, and continued violence against women, children and minorities.
The organisation called for an independent commission to investigate serious rights violations, stronger protection for journalists and minorities, reforms in policing and prisons, and greater empowerment of the National Human Rights Commission.
AdvSaidur Rahman, chief executive of MSF, Mohammad Tipu Sultan, project coordinator and TaninaKhatun, human rights monitoring officer of MSF were present at the press briefing.
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/political-violence-mob-attacks-marked-bangladeshs-rights-record-2025-msf-4069996
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Saudi foreign minister discusses Gaza and West Bank situation with Palestinian vice president
December 31, 2025
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan discussed the situation in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank during a meeting with the Palestinian Vice President Hussein Al-Sheikh in Riyadh on Wednesday.
Talks included the dire humanitarian conditions faced by Gaza’s residents, Israel’s ongoing violations of the ceasefire there, and the Israeli escalation in the West Bank, Saudi Press Agency reported.
The two officials highlighted the importance of ensuring the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid, releasing Palestinian Authority funds, protecting the Palestinian banking system, the implementation of President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan, and the Kingdom’s support for a reform program launched by President Mahmoud Abbas.
They also discussed continuing efforts to ensure the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including the formation of an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2627951/saudi-arabia
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War and peace: Ukrainians share their wish for 2026; hope for 'hell' to end
Dec 31, 2025
Ukraine marks its fourth year New Year since Russia's offensive. Wishing peace at the commencement of 2026, Ukrainians express the "hell" their life has become due to attacks and power cuts.
Strikes on energy grids in Ukraine intensified during the winter of 2025, leaving over 2,600 residences without power in the sub-zero temperatures in the Kyiv region alone. AFP reported in the Kyiv suburb of Vyshhorod, a four-day blackout ended just in time before the new year. The residents shared how they wanted the war to end "as soon as possible."
"What else can we wish for? At a time like this, nothing else comes to mind," said Kostiantyn Biden, a local ceiling fitter. He shares that his building was left without power and water during the blackout.
Strikes from Russia have pounded Ukraine almost daily. Drones and missile attacks have been falling on Russia's neighbouring country since the full-scale invasion in February 2022.
A local beauty salon staff in Vyshhorod shared the "hell" she is going through with her staff working in a shelter amid the power outages. Daria Lushchyk, the manager at the salon, shares that the clients are still coming in regardless of the unstable conditions.
"Everyone has somehow adapted and understands that stopping is absolutely not an option," she said. "Nothing can stop our Ukrainian girls from coming in and getting themselves glam," she added, sharing the great spirit she had witnessed.
She further goes on to share her wish for the New Year 2026, "Of course, peace," she said, adding she does not find it wise to say wishes out loud, "or they might not come true."
Pensioner Neonila said Ukrainians had learned to live with recurring power outages, relying on candlelight and mobile phone flashlights. Yet, she admitted the New Year brought her little sense of celebration.
"We’ll mark it quietly at home, without any extravagance," she said.
In Vyshgorod, authorities established so-called "resilience centres" during the blackout, allowing residents to charge their phones and access basic services.
The town has also endured heavy bombardment. Longtime resident Ivan Oleksiiovych described the attacks to AFP as senseless, calling them "stupid."
Neonila said she was reluctant to make plans for 2026. She had few wishes for next year.
"That there be light," she said. "Everything else will follow."
Russia, however, has denied targeting civilians. It has called its invasion a "special military operation" aimed at preventing the expansion of NATO. Kyiv and its allies have called the war aim a lie.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/europe/war-and-peace-ukrainians-share-their-wish-for-2026-hope-for-hell-to-end/articleshow/126276008.cms
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India
Kashmiri shawl seller assaulted, forced to chant 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' in Haryana; JKSA slams 'growing reign of terror'
FayazWani
31 Dec 2025
SRINAGAR: Kashmiri shawl sellers and traders are facing increasingly difficult times in some North Indian states, with allegations of harassment and assault, including being asked to leave their places of work. The latest incident has been reported from the Fatehabad area of Haryana.
"A Kashmiri youth selling warm clothes was accosted by a right wing element in Haryana’s Fatehabad, who was holding a Kashmiri vendor by his collar and forcing him to chant ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai and VandeMataram’. When the youth refused, he was threatened, grabbed by the neck, choked, and subjected to humiliating and degrading treatment,” the J&K Students Association said in a statement.
The Association also released a video purportedly showing the Kashmiri seller facing harassment.
“Another video of an innocent Kashmiri man being dehumanised, humiliated & thrashed only because he refuses to chant VandeMataram. Surprised that @cmohry @HaryanaPolice27 @DGPHaryana are allowing this to happen with such impunity. You can’t force us to chant VandeMataram or Jai Shree Ram. Deal with it,” PDP leader Iltija Mufti posted on X.
Recently, a group of Kashmiri shawl sellers, many of whom had been working Himachal Pradesh for over 25 to 30 years, alleged that they were repeatedly targeted and intimidated and asked to stop their business, which is their primary source of livelihood.
It was the 17th alleged incident of harassment of Kashmiri shawl sellers in Himachal Pradesh in recent months.
Kashmiri shawl sellers and traders have also faced harassment and assaults in Haryana and Uttarakhand.
According to J&K Students Association national convenor Nasir Khuehami, there is a "growing reign of terror against Kashmiri shawl sellers and traders across several North Indian states including Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, and Uttarakhand."
“In just ten days, more than a dozen incidents of intimidation, harassment, threats, and violence have occurred. This is not an isolated phenomenon but a systematic and dangerous pattern of targeted harassment,” he said.
Khuehami said Kashmiri shawl sellers were being accosted, threatened, and forcibly made to chant ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai, Jai Shree Ram and VandeMataram’ slogans.
“When some Kashmiri traders refused, they were threatened, grabbed by the neck, choked, and subjected to humiliating and degrading treatment. Their belongings have been vandalised and looted, they have been prevented from selling their shawls, and in several cases their mobile phones were damaged when they attempted to record these incidents,” he said.
The J&K Students Association has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, seeking urgent intervention to stop intimidation, harassment, and targeted violence against Kashmiri students and shawl vendors.
Peoples Conference chairman and MLA SajadGani Lone termed the attacks against Kashmiri traders as “hate crimes” against civilians.
In an appeal to Home Minister Amit Shah, Lone said, “these are incidents of hate crime against civilians, fellow Indians who are trying to earn a dignified living for themselves. Additionally they are ambassadors of integration with the rest of the country.”
“In the J&K context these attacks strengthen elements who are opposed to the idea of India in J&K. These attacks fall in the ambit of national security. Extraordinary measures would be needed to stop these acts. The concept of impunity is the big problem. Attackers it seems do not even remotely feel that the law of the land will catch up with them,” Lone said in a post on X.
The repeated incidents have created fear and uncertainty among Kashmiri students and traders pursuing education and earning their livelihood outside Jammu and Kashmir.
Source: newindianexpress.com
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https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2025/Dec/31/kashmiri-shawl-seller-assaulted-forced-to-chant-bharat-mata-ki-jai-in-haryana-jksa-slams-growing-reign-of-terror
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Centre must rebut Chinese claims of mediation between India, Pak: Owaisi on Operation Sindoor
01 Jan 2026
HYDERABAD: AIMIM president and Lok Sabha MP AsaduddinOwaisi has said Chinese claim of mediation between India and Pakistan is an affront to the country and that it must be strongly rebutted by the Union Government.
Normalcy in ties with China cannot be at the cost of India's honour or its sovereignty, he said.
"After US President (Donald Trump) announced a ceasefire before us and claims to have used trade sanctions to secure peace, we now have the Chinese foreign minister making similar claims officially. This is an affront to India and must be strongly rebutted by the government," Owaisi said in a social media post late on Wednesday.
China wants to place India and Pakistan at the same level and is trying to project itself as superior in South Asia.
"Is this what the Modi government agreed to when the PM visited China," he said.
The Chinese Foreign Minister's claim of mediation is surprising and the Centre must rebut it officially and assure the country that no third party intervention is acceptable, the Hyderabad MP added.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday said tensions between India and Pakistan were among a list of "hot issues" mediated by China this year.
New Delhi has been maintaining that the May 7-10 conflict between India and Pakistan post Pahalgam terror attack was resolved through direct talks between the Director Generals of Military Operations of the two countries.
India has also been consistently maintaining that there is no place for any third party intervention in matters relating to India and Pakistan.
Source: newindianexpress.com
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https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2026/Jan/01/centre-must-rebut-chinese-claims-of-mediation-between-india-pak-owaisi-on-operation-sindoor
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Bareilly birthday party attack puts all friendships with Muslims on trial in India
STELA DEY
31 December, 2025
New Delhi: Bareilly was in the news this week. Not for its jhumka or barfi. A birthday cake was being cut. Friends were laughing. Then a dozen men stormed in, fists flying, slogans rising, and the room turned into a courtroom without a judge, jury, or law.
On trial was the freedom to pick your friends.
This is a story about permission—who has it, who grants it, and who is increasingly denied it in India today.
In Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly, a 22-year-old woman did nothing radical. She invited several friends to a cafe for her birthday. Two of them happened to be Muslim men. That was enough to justify violence, public humiliation, and a social media trial under the now-familiar banner of “love jihad”. The allegation did not need evidence; the optics were sufficient.
What followed was an assault on two young men, harassment of a group of students, and the criminalisation of ordinary social life—of birthdays, friendships, photographs, and presence.
This is not new. Just a couple of months ago in Uttarakhand, women were stopped from participating in a beauty pageant after objections over ‘culture’ and ‘values’. Different state, different setting, same logic: Public spaces must be policed, women must be questioned for their choices, and religion must sit at the centre of that explanation.
The most chilling part of the UP woman’s account is the aftermath of this disruption. She is indoors now, afraid to step out. Ashamed, she says, not of her attackers, but of the attention. This is how intimidation works: the victim shrinks, while the vigilante expands.
The many faces of the vigilante
The vigilante takes many different forms. My closest friend is a Muslim. Her grandmother is Christian. Her father is Muslim. Her mother is Hindu. Her parents had an arranged marriage in the 1990s, at a time when interfaith unions existed without needing hashtags, police complaints, or moral guardians.
No mobs arrived to verify intent. No one demanded to know who was “converting” whom. Family histories were complicated, porous, and ordinary—just like India itself.
And yet someone asked me a question: “How do you get along so well with her? Is she from the same caste as you?”
That question did not come from a vigilante. It came from someone educated, urban, well-meaning. Which is precisely the point.
The policing of religion, caste, and women in India begins with curiosity framed as concern, with identity inquiries disguised as social instinct. Vigilantes simply act out what society has already normalised.
This is why friendships now invite suspicion. Why women’s movements require justification. Why presence itself becomes provocative.
When every interaction is evidence
A basic question still lingers as incidents like this become increasingly common: Who authorised these men? Not the woman’s parents, who knew her friends. Not society, which pretends to value harmony. Certainly not the law.
And yet, they walked in with total confidence, certain that the burden of explanation would fall not on them, but on the young woman and her Muslim friends. Certain that the video would circulate, the outrage would be noisy but brief, and consequences, if any, would be selective.
This is where the “love jihad” discourse does its most insidious work. It is not about love, nor conversion. It is about control. These men want to map women’s lives—who they speak to, sit with, laugh with. It assumes women are either naive or traitors, incapable of consent, in need of surveillance. Every interaction becomes evidence. Every friendship, a possible crime scene.
The underlying assumption is simple and brutal: Religious identity must dictate social behaviour. A Hindu woman’s proximity to a Muslim man is never neutral. It always requires scrutiny, explanation, and, if necessary, punishment.
A rehearsal of fear
Notice the inversion in the Bareilly case. The men who stormed a cafe are framed as protectors of social order. The students celebrating a birthday are treated as disruptors. Even the police response mirrors this confusion—detention of the assaulted boys for “breach of peace”, flattening the difference between attackers and those attacked, as if violence and presence are moral equivalents.
This is the ecosystem vigilantes thrive in: Moral panic and institutional hesitation.
The woman now asks a devastating question: Do I now need to choose my friends based on religion? That is not a rhetorical flourish. It is the logical endpoint of this politics.
If friendship requires religious vetting, if women need ideological clearance to step into cafes, if mobs can decide which relationships are permissible, then the promise of constitutional freedom is already hollowed out, long before it is formally taken away.
What happened in Bareilly is a rehearsal; a test of how much can be normalised, how far fear can travel, how quietly young people can be pushed back into line.
Police action, arrests, denials of organisational links—these are procedural responses. But the bigger question remains unanswered: Who feels entitled to interrupt private lives in public spaces, and why?
Until that question is confronted, birthdays will continue to need security, friendships will continue to invite suspicion, and women will continue to pay the price for crimes they never committed.
Source: theprint.in
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https://theprint.in/opinion/pov/bareilly-birthday-party-attack-puts-all-friendships-with-muslims-on-trial-in-india/2815997/
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In 'love jihad' case, Muslim man poses as Hindu, gets woman to divorce husband
Dec 31, 2025
In an alleged case of love jihad, a Muslim man in Madhya Pradesh’s Ratlam, posing under a Hindu name, allegedly forced a woman to divorce her husband and live with him, and later threatened to kill her if she reported him to the police after his true identity was revealed.
A case has now been registered at the Industrial Area police station in Ratlam, in which the woman alleged in her complaint that the man, Imran - who went by the name Sonu - repeatedly asked her to leave her husband and promised to marry her once she was divorced.
She further claimed that she and Imran began living together like husband and wife. However, when he failed to keep his promise, a heated argument broke out between them on December 26, 2025, around 4 pm, during which he allegedly threatened to kill her if she reported the matter. The complainant then approached the police and lodged a report.
Following the complaint, the police are investigating the case and searching for the accused, who was earlier out on bail in a narcotics case.
The incident involves a 30-year-old woman residing in a posh locality of Ratlam. In her complaint, she stated she had studied up to Class 12. She first met the accused in 2020 in the Ram Mandir area, where he introduced himself as Sonu, claiming to be Hindu.
In June 2023, she re-established contact with the accused over the phone. He allegedly promised to marry her and persuaded her to divorce her husband. Trusting his assurances, she left her husband in July 2023 and began living with her father.
On September 14, 2023, she and the accused started living together like husband and wife in a rented room near Sakshi Petrol Pump in the Nayagaon area. The accused told her they would marry once her divorce was finalised.
While living together, she overheard the accused talking to others on the phone and realised that Sonu was not Hindu but Muslim, and that his real name was Imran.
After Nayagaon, they moved into a rented flat in the Mhow Road area.
On November 8, 2024, her divorce was finalised. When she asked Imran to marry her, he refused and continued to avoid the issue, leading to tension between them.
A heated argument broke out on December 26, 2025, after which he allegedly began threatening her, saying he would kill her if she went to the police.
On the night of December 29, 2025, the woman approached the police, stating that the accused, Imran, had presented her as his wife in various places and had engaged in physical relations with her multiple times. Police registered a case against Imran under the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
Source: indiatoday.in
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https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/ratlam-woman-alleges-deception-threats-man-posing-hindu-sonu-real-name-imran-madhya-pradesh-crime-news-love-jihad-2844620-2025-12-31
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India made big mistake: Pahalgam kingpin admits terror camps hit during Sindoor
Dec 31, 2025
Subodh Kumar
A top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) leader has acknowledged that India’s Operation Sindoor destroyed terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan, even as he issued provocative threats against New Delhi. Claiming India had “made a mistake” by targeting terror camps, the aide of Hafiz Saeed openly reiterated the group’s focus on Kashmir, declaring that the outfit would “never back down from the Kashmir mission.”
SaifullahKasuri, the deputy chief of Hafiz Saeed-led outfit and the mastermind of the Pahalgam terror attack, made the remarks during a public gathering attended by thousands of LeT cadres and sympathisers.
“India made a big mistake in Operation Sindoor by targeting only terrorist hideouts,” Kasuri was heard saying in a video wherein India Today TV couldn't verify its authenticity.
Attempting to grab attention with his venomous remarks, the LeT leader said, “My last words... listen to your own people, listen to those outside, listen to friends and listen to enemies, those who impose restrictions, those who create obstacles, listen to us. Those who try to portray us as terrorists, listen to us.”
Escalating his rhetoric, Kasuri warned of upheaval, declaring that “the whole world can be turned upside down, the system can be changed,” while insisting that the group would not abandon its objectives.
“We will never back down from our Kashmir mission,” he claimed.
The LeT leader also made sweeping and historically contentious territorial claims, alleging that regions, including Kashmir, Amritsar, Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur, Junagadh, parts of Munavadar, Hyderabad Deccan, Bengal and areas of Pakistan were “taken away” from Islamabad — remarks widely seen as an attempt to incite hostility and expand LeT’s ideological narrative beyond Kashmir.
Earlier, Kasuri addressed a rally and said he had become famous as he was being “blamed for being the mastermind of the Pahalgam terror attack”.
“I was blamed as being the mastermind of the Pahalgam terror attack, now my name is famous in the entire world,” he said at a rally in Kasur in Punjab province.
ABOUT OPERATION SINDOOR
India launched Operation Sindoor from May 7-10 following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack carried out by Pakistan-backed terrorists, claiming 26 lives, mostly tourists.
Nine terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK) were destroyed - seven by the Indian Army and two by the Indian Air Force. The strikes were precise, calibrated and time-bound, reinforcing deterrence while maintaining escalation control.
Pakistan’s subsequent attempts to target Indian military and civilian assets using drones were successfully foiled by Army Air Defence units, demonstrating the effectiveness of integrated counter-UAS and layered air defence systems.
Along the Line of Control, more than a dozen terror launch pads were destroyed using ground-based weapons, disrupting infiltration routes and logistics. On May 10, Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) approached his Indian counterpart, leading to an understanding regarding a ceasefire and military action.
India has maintained that Operation Sindoor was a precision action aimed exclusively at dismantling terror infrastructure and not directed at civilians or state assets.
Source: indiatoday.in
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https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/operation-sindoor-destroys-lashkar-e-taiba-terrorist-camps-pakistan-pok-india-foils-drone-attacks-2844616-2025-12-31?utm_source=Taboola_Recirculation&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=IT
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Post Operation Sindoor, Pakistan waging proxy war, has clear agenda to destabilise Punjab: DGP Yadav
HarpreetBajwa
31 Dec 2025
CHANDIGARH: Following Operation Sindoor, Pakistan is waging a proxy war with the game plan of destabilizing Punjab, said the state's Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav here on Wednesday.
The focus of the Punjab Police would be on hybrid challenges such as trans-border smuggling using drones, foot soldiers active in terror activities and organized crime, said Yadav. He added that the state government has sought funds to the tune of Rs 175 crore from the Union government to procure 17 anti-drone systems in the next financial year.
Addressing an annual press conference here on Wednesday, Yadav outlined an ambitious and technology-driven “Vision 2026” for the Punjab Police, centered on a massive infrastructure and capability upgrade. He said, "We will operationalise a strategy involving issuance of Red Corner and Blue Corner notices in coordination with the CBI and the NIA, and our focus will be on bringing criminals from abroad to face the law. The entire ecosystem, including financiers and those who support them, would be mapped in an end-to-end manner, and the networks will be targeted and busted."
Yadav said, "Pakistan has a clear agenda to push drugs, arms and explosives into the state, as their intelligence operatives, whom we call Pakistan Intelligence Units (PIUs), use drones, social media and criminal networks to destabilize Punjab. The game plan of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is to push a narrative that Punjab is a destabilized state."
He added, "Trans-border smuggling of arms and ammunition is taking place in the state. This year, post Operation Sindoor Pakistan Army Chief General AsimMunir is waging a proxy war in Punjab and India is giving a befitting reply to him. He wants to create a disturbance in Punjab. That is why through drones they are sending arms, ammunition and drugs. There has been a massive push of arms in Punjab from Pakistan, which is almost five times more than past trends. Now, one kg of heroin is being dropped using drones, with one or two Khyber Pakhtunkhwa-made pistols."
Yadav said, "The other challenge is the people who mastermind these actives are sitting in Europe, North America, South East Asia and Gulf countries. The foot soldiers who are being used have a minor criminal record. A few have NDPS cases registered on them."
He said, "Three anti-drone systems have already been installed in the border areas and six more will be operationalised. The state government has sought Rs 175 crore funds from the Centre to procure 17 more anti-drone systems in the next financial year. A high-powered committee headed by Special DGP Ram Singh, besides Special DGPs Praveen Sinha, SS Srivastava and Additional DGP Neelabh Kishore, has been formed for this purpose."
Yadav added, "Trials in coordination with the BSF are going on, an expression of interest has been issued, and the best available system will be procured in a coordinated manner with the BSF and other agencies."
He said that Drone Response Teams (DRTs) have also been pressed into action, and will be greatly synergized with Village Defence Committees (VDC) members’ involvement in the coming year.
"For border security, Yadav said that the second line of defence will see 2,367 CCTV cameras installed at 585 locations along the international border at a cost of Rs 49.58 crores, which will act as force multipliers."
"A key focus is the upgrade of the Dial 112 Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) with dedicated Dial 112 Central control room building to be established at Mohali at a cost of Rs 52 crore, while a fleet of vehicles will be augmented at a cost of Rs 50 crore," he added.
Yadav said, "Our target is to drastically reduce the current average response time of 12-13 minutes to just 7-8 minutes. District Control Rooms across Punjab are also being upgraded with an investment of Rs 25 crore to ensure seamless coordination and faster incident management, directly contributing to the reduced response time target."
The DGP revealed that the Punjab government has spent over Rs 800 crore on modernisation of the police in the last three years. He said that all SP rank officers in the field have been given new vehicles. Besides, all police stations and police posts have also been equipped with new vehicles.
He added that the state government has approved a mega police building project worth Rs 426 crore to be spent over the next three years. This includes new headquarters for the Cyber Crime division at Phase 4 in Mohali, new police lines in Nawanshahr and Malerkotla districts, and 11 other new police station buildings. New ANTF range offices will be opened in Ludhiana, Ferozepur and Jalandhar, with existing ones upgraded with modern gadgets and forensic tools.
Yadav said that pursuant to the new criminal laws, a witness protection scheme has already been notified by the Punjab government which will further help in improving the conviction rate. Network connectivity at police stations will be upgraded by 50 mbps to 100 mbps at all police stations depending on the workload.
He said the AGTF has further upgraded its technical capabilities, with Punjab Artificial Intelligence System (PAIS 2.0) now supporting voice analysis, besides other state-of-art features, and the Organised Criminal Information System (OCIS) -- a powerful digital solution designed to streamline the management of criminal records -- is further being upgraded.
Yadav also stressed that the Punjab Police will carry out a thorough investigation to identify and take stringent action against travel agents involved in procuring/facilitating passport on fake particulars for organised criminals.
To improve traffic management and emergency response in cities, Yadav said that dedicated traffic and road safety police stations will be established. These will be integrated with Integrated Command and Control Centres (IC3) for real-time monitoring using city CCTV feeds and adaptive traffic signals, he said.
Source: newindianexpress.com
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https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2025/Dec/31/post-operation-sindoor-pakistan-waging-proxy-war-has-clear-agenda-to-destabilise-punjab-dgp-yadav
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BJP wants NIA to verify Kogilu evictees’ citizenship, accuses Karnataka Govt of creating ‘mini-Bangladesh’
December 31, 2025
Karnataka Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka on Wednesday sought an inquiry by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to verify the citizenship of the illegal residents recently evicted from Bengaluru’s Kogilu Cross, claiming that the area risked becoming a hotbed of terrorist “sleeper cells”.
Speaking to reporters following a visit to the site, where 167 illegally constructed houses were demolished on December 20, Ashoka accused the Congress Government of creating a “mini-Bangladesh” in parts of the state.
Ashoka’s remarks came amid a war of words between the ruling Congress and the BJP over an alternative arrangement the Government has announced for the eligible evictees, even as the issue of eviction echoed in the poll-bound neighbouring Kerala.
“Fakir Layout in Kogilu Cross is gradually at risk of becoming a center for sleeper cells. Therefore, the Government should verify the citizenship of the illegal residents. It should be handed over to the NIA for investigation,” the BJP MLA said.
Ashoka said that encroachments of 150-200 acres were cleared at 40 places in Bengaluru. “Is it possible to build houses for all of them? Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar has not visited other places where encroachments were cleared,” he said, alleging that the Congress had sympathy only for minorities.
Most of the houses demolished during the eviction drive at Kogilu Cross reportedly belonged to Muslims.
The citizenship of the people who were residing at Kogilu Cross should be verified first, Ashoka said, demanding that the state have the NIA investigate the matter.
“The Government led by CM Siddaramaiah has cheated Kannadigas and created a mini-Bangladesh in various parts of Karnataka,” he alleged.
Earlier in the day, BJP state president B Y Vijayendra announced a seven-member committee led by Yelahanka MLA S R Vishwanath to “bring out the truth” behind the eviction drive at Fakir Colony and Wasim Layout, near Kogilu Cross.
Meanwhile, the Government, which had announced that the Kogilu evictees who own no land or house elsewhere would be given homes under a housing scheme on January 1, 2026, postponed the handover by a day.
Housing Minister B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan said the chief minister had instructed officials of the revenue department and the Greater Bengaluru Authority to conduct a comprehensive document review “without any haste”.
“In this context, the distribution of houses that was scheduled for January 1 has been postponed to January 2,” he said in a statement, adding that “the Government’s intention in this matter is to provide housing only to the eligible ones”.
Source: indianexpress.com
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https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/bangalore/bjp-nia-kogilu-evictees-karnataka-govt-mini-bangladesh-10448961/
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Mahakal temple visit by actor NushrrattBharuccha sparks fatwa row
Dec 31, 2025,
Bhopal: A spiritual visit by Bollywood actor NushrrattBharuccha to the Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain triggered controversy after the national president of the All India Muslim Jamat, Maulana Mufti ShahabuddinRazviBareilvi, issued a fatwa objecting to her participation in Hindu rituals.
On Tuesday, Bharuccha, known for her roles in SonuKeTitu Ki Sweety, PyaarKaPunchnama and Dream Girl, spoke about visiting the world-famous MahakaleshwarJyotirlinga for the second time, participating in the BhasmaAarti and receiving blessings. Videos and photos of the visit spread on social media, showing her in prayer and receiving a temple chadar at the deity's sanctum, moments she described as "beautiful" and "deeply meaningful".
"This is my second visit to the temple; I really liked the way special arrangements are made and attention given to smallest details for all the pilgrims. There are so many people who have come to seek blessings of Mahakal just before New Year; and now I also plan to come here every year," she said in the video shared online. Bharuccha also wrote "Jai Mahakal", in an Instagram story.
Within hours, Razvi issued a fatwa stating that the actress's participation in Hindu rituals contravened Sharia and described it as a grave sin (Gunah-e-Azeem) for a practising Muslim.
When asked about the validity of his statement, Razvi told TOI visiting places of worship across religions was not inherently objectionable, but added, "as a Muslim, we can't indulge in idol worship or participate in the rituals of other religions." He referred to visuals of Bharuccha wearing a tika, taking part in BhasmaAarti and offering jal, and said these crossed a doctrinal boundary in his interpretation of Islamic law. "I don't have any legal authority to take action… I can only guide and advise that she must do tauba (repent) and read Kalma to atone for her gunah," he said.
The fatwa, issued as a religious opinion and not through any court or legal mechanism, sparked debate on social media, with Razvi receiving hate comments. Asked if such orthodox statements might further divide communities, he said, "Hate comments don't bother me. But, I have always shirked orthodoxy and have been very vocal against Hindu killings in Bangladesh, Kashmir as well as Pakistan, but here, I'm only guiding as a religious leader. If Nushrratt is a good Muslim, she will pay heed; else she can simply ignore my fatwa."
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/mahakal-temple-visit-by-actor-nushrratt-bharuccha-sparks-fatwa-row/articleshow/126276291.cms
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Mideast
Israel begins demolishing residential buildings in West Bank camp
December 31, 2025
NUR SHAMS, occupied West Bank: Israeli bulldozers began demolishing 25 buildings housing Palestinians in a refugee camp on Wednesday, in what the military said was an effort to root out armed groups in northern areas of the occupied West Bank.
The buildings, home to some 100 families, are in the Nur Shams camp, a frequent site of clashes between Palestinian militants and Israeli forces.
Israeli military bulldozers and cranes tore through the structures early Wednesday, sending thick plumes of dust into the air, an AFP journalist reported. Many residents watched from a distance.
The military said the demolitions were part of an operation against militants.
“Following ongoing counterterrorism activity by Israeli security forces in the area of Nur Shams in northern Samaria, the commander of the Central Command, Major General Avi Bluth, ordered the demolition of several structures due to a clear and necessary operational need,” the military told AFP in a statement.
“Areas in northern Samaria have become a significant center of terrorist activity, operating from within densely populated civilian areas.”
Earlier this year, the military launched an operation it said was aimed at dismantling Palestinian armed groups from camps in northern West Bank — including Nur Shams, Tulkarem and Jenin.
“Even a year after the beginning of IDF operations in the area, forces continue to locate ammunition, weapons, and explosive devices used by terrorist organizations, which endanger IDF soldiers and impair operational freedom of action,” the military said on Wednesday.
Earlier in December, AFP reported residents of the targeted buildings retrieving their belongings, with many saying they had nowhere to go.
The demolitions form part of a broader Israeli strategy aimed at easing access for military vehicles within the densely built refugee camps of the West Bank.
Israel has occupied the Palestinian territory since 1967.
Nur Shams, along with other refugee camps in the West Bank, was established after the creation of Israel in 1948, when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were displaced from their homes in what is now Israel.
With time, the camps they established inside the West Bank became dense neighborhoods not under their adjacent cities’ authority. Residents pass on their refugee status from one generation to the next.
Many residents believe Israel is seeking to destroy the idea of the camps themselves, turning them into regular neighborhoods of the cities they flank, in order to eliminate the refugee issue.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2627941/middle-east
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EU warns Yemen developments risk Gulf stability
January 01, 2026
The European Union said on Wednesday that recent developments in the Yemeni provinces of Hadramout and Al Mahra threaten to bring new risks to the Gulf region.
“The EU calls for de-escalation and avoiding steps that further threaten stability of Yemen and the region,” an EU spokesperson said in a statement.
“The EU reiterates its strong commitment to the unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Yemen, as well as its support for the Presidential Leadership Council and the Government of Yemen,” the spokesperson added.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2627980/middle-east
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Hoping for better year ahead, Gazans bid farewell to ‘nightmare’
December 31, 2025
GAZA CITY: As 2025 draws to a close, Palestinians in Gaza are marking the new year not with celebration, but with exhaustion, grief and a fragile hope that their “endless nightmare” might finally end.
For residents of the battered territory, daily life is a struggle for survival.
Much of Gaza’s infrastructure lies in ruins, electricity remains scarce and hundreds of thousands of people live in makeshift tents after being repeatedly displaced by the two years of fighting that began with Hamas’s attack on Israel in October 2023.
“We in the Gaza Strip are living in an endless nightmare,” said Hanaa Abu Amra, a displaced woman in her thirties living in Gaza City. “We hope that this nightmare will end in 2026 ... The least we can ask for is a normal life — to see electricity restored, the streets return to normal and to walk without tents lining the roads,” she said.
Across Gaza, a territory of more than 2 million people, scenes of hardship are commonplace.
The outgoing year brought relentless loss and fear, said Shireen Al-Kayali.
“We bid farewell to 2025 with deep sorrow and grief,” she said.
“We lost a lot of people and our possessions. We lived a difficult and harsh life, displaced from one city to another, under bombardment and in terror.”
Her experience reflects that of countless Gazans who have been forced to flee repeatedly, often with little warning, taking with them only what they could carry.
Entire families have been uprooted, livelihoods destroyed, and communities fragmented as the war dragged on for two years.
Despite the devastation, some residents cling to the belief that the new year might bring an end to the fighting and a chance to rebuild.
For many Gazans, hope has become an act of resilience, particularly after the truce that came into effect on October 10 and has largely halted the fighting.
“We still hope for a better life in the new year, and I call on the free world to help our oppressed people so we can regain our lives,” said Khaled Abdel Majid, 50, who lives in a tent in Jabalia camp.
Faten Al-Hindawi hoped the truce would finally end the war.
“We will bid farewell to 2025, leaving behind its pain, and we hope that 2026 will be a year of hope, prayer, determination and success stories.”
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2627971/middle-east
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UN chief condemns Israeli law blocking electricity, water for UNRWA facilities
January 01, 2026
United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres condemned on Wednesday a move by Israel to ban electricity or water to facilities owned by the UN Palestinian refugee agency, a UN spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said the move would “further impede” the agency’s ability to operate and carry out activities.
“The Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations remains applicable to UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East), its property and assets, and to its officials and other personnel. Property used by UNRWA is inviolable,” Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the secretary-general, said while adding that UNRWA is an “integral” part of the world body.
UNRWA Commissioner General PhillipeLazzarini also condemned the move, saying that it was part of an ongoing “ systematic campaign to discredit UNRWA and thereby obstruct” the role it plays in providing assistance to Palestinian refugees.
In 2024, the Israeli parliament passed a law banning the agency from operating in the country and prohibiting officials from having contact with the agency.
As a result, UNRWA operates in East Jerusalem, which the UN considers territory occupied by Israel. Israel considers all Jerusalem to be part of the country.
The agency provides education, health and aid to millions of Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. It has long had tense relations with Israel but ties have deteriorated sharply since the start of the war in Gaza and Israel has called repeatedly for UNRWA to be disbanded, with its responsibilities transferred to other UN agencies.
The prohibition of basic utilities to the UN agency came as Israel also suspended of dozens of international non-governmental organizations working in Gaza due to a failure to meet new rules to vet those groups.
In a joint statement, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom said on Tuesday such a move would have a severe impact on the access of essential services, including health care. They said one in three health care facilities in Gaza would close if international NGO operations stopped.
Source: arabnews.com
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One security force member killed, 2 wounded in Aleppo suicide attack, Syria says
December 31, 2025
A suicide bomber suspected of having links to Daesh tried to target a church in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on New Year’s Eve before detonating his explosive belt near a security patrol, killing one member and wounding two others, the interior ministry said on Wednesday.
Nour Al-Din Al-Baba, an interior ministry spokesperson, said investigations were underway to determine the attacker’s identity. The suspect was believed “to have an ideological or organizational background linked to Daesh,” he told state-run television channel Al Ekhbariya.
The attack comes at a time when Syrian authorities have increased cooperation with US forces in the fight against Islamic State.
Earlier in December, two US Army soldiers and a civilian interpreter were killed in Syria by a suspected Daesh attacker who targeted a convoy of American and Syrian forces before being shot dead. The US military responded by launching large-scale strikes against dozens of Islamic State targets in the country.
Wednesday’s attack was carried out in Aleppo’s Bab Al-Farajneighborhood, the interior ministry said. No group has claimed responsibility.
In images released by Syria’s state news agency SANA, a damaged stone passageway is seen after the suicide bombing, with debris and twisted metal scattered along the corridor and smoke stains marking the walls.
Syria’s government is led by former rebels who toppled leader Bashar Assad in late 2024 after a 13-year civil war, and includes members of Syria’s former Al Qaeda branch who broke with the group and clashed with Daesh.
Syria has been cooperating with a US-led coalition against Daesh, reaching an agreement in November when President Ahmed Al-Sharaa visited the White House.
Source: arabnews.com
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Aoun reassures Lebanon that risk of war is ‘fading’ in year-end message
NAJIA HOUSSARI
December 31, 2025
BEIRUT: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Wednesday sought to reassure citizens in his year-end address, saying “the overall atmosphere remains positive and the risk of war is fading,” amid widespread concern over a possible Israeli escalation against Hezbollah.
Fear of renewed attacks followed Israeli criticism of a Lebanese Army weapons-confiscation operation that is set to enter its second phase at the start of the 2026. The plan include the expansion from areas north of the Litani River to the Awali River, after the first phase was completed south of the Litani.
President Aoun cautioned that this does not mean “completely eliminating the risk of war,” stressing that “work is underway with various friendly and brotherly countries to completely neutralize the threat of war.”
Addressing Internal Security officials, Aoun said that the “situation is among the best,” noting that this assessment has been echoed by foreign visitors to Lebanon, despite the strain caused by large numbers of Syrian and Palestinian refugees.
He added that security forces were fully carrying out their duties and solving crimes with notable speed, pointing to the successful visit of Pope Leo XIV earlier this year as further evidence of progress.
On Monday, Egyptian Ambassador to Lebanon Alaa Moussa stressed during a Beirut press conference that implementing “international agreements and resolutions, foremost among them the Nov. 27, 2014 agreement and Resolution 1701, constitutes the fundamental approach to sparing Lebanon further security tensions,” speaking of “dire consequences that could result from continued escalation.”
The Egyptian diplomat indicated that “there are no hidden warnings or threats directed at Lebanon, but rather a clear commitment to the agreements signed by the concerned parties, which must be fully implemented by everyone.”
The ambassador stated that his country, under the directives of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, is “exerting intensive efforts to reduce tensions in southern Lebanon and the region in general, through active diplomatic contacts led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs BadrAbdelatty with relevant regional and international parties.”
Israeli military spokesman AvichaiAdraee published on Wednesday a summary of Israeli attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon in 2025.
“The Army targeted approximately 380 armed operatives, including Ali Tabatabai (chief of staff), Hassan Kamal (responsible for anti-tank missiles on the southern front), Abbas Hassan Karky (logistics officer in the southern command), and Khodr Saeed Hashem (commander of the naval force in the Radwan Unit),” he said.
“It also attacked approximately 950 military targets, including 210 launch sites and weapons depots, 140 military buildings, and about 60 tunnel entrances,” Adraee added.
In the statement, he accused Hezbollah of committing about 1,920 ceasefire violations and said the military would continue its raids and targeting operations in the new year.
UNIFIL Com. Gen. DiodatoAbagnara said in his end-of-the-year message that “UNIFIL will continue to support Lebanon and Israel in implementing their obligations under Resolution 1701, building on the stability achieved in 2025 and strengthening efforts toward a lasting peace.”
As part of the weapons restriction plan, on Tuesday, the Fatah movement — the Palestinian National Security Forces in Lebanon — handed over a new batch of heavy and medium weapons from the Ain Al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp to the Lebanese Army in four trucks, away from the media.
This is the second batch of weapons to be handed over from the camp, which is the largest Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon. It represents the fifth phase of the Palestinian weapons handover process in the camps, four of which were completed between Aug. 21 and Sept. 13, 2025, encompassing nine camps, including Ain Al-Hilweh.
The handover follows and implements an agreement reached between Aoun and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas after the latter’s visit to Lebanon in May.
Abbas had announced “the Palestinian Authority’s support for the Lebanese state’s plan to extend its authority over all Lebanese territory, including the Palestinian camps.”
Hamas continues to refuse to hand over its weapons to the Lebanese Army, while Hezbollah maintains its weapons north of the Litani River.
The Lebanese Army implemented “exceptional security measures in various Lebanese regions on New Year’s Eve, with the aim of maintaining security.”
It called on citizens to “cooperate with the security measures taken to maintain public safety and prevent incidents,” warning of the consequences of firing weapons, which will be prosecuted as it poses a threat to public safety.
In another measure, authorities announced that gun licenses and traffic permits will be suspended until Jan. 2, 2026.
In Beirut’s southern suburbs, residents signed a pledge as part of an Internal Security Forces campaign against celebratory gunfire on New Year’s Eve, committing not to fire weapons in public and to report violations with photos or videos.
Source: arabnews.com
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Israel to ban 37 aid groups from Gaza including MSF and Oxfam
December 31, 2025
JERUSALEM: Israel plans to ban 37 aid organizations from operating in Gaza from Thursday unless they hand over detailed information on their Palestinian staff, despite mounting criticism from the United Nations and the European Union.
Several NGOs have told AFP the new rules will have a major impact on food and medical shipments to Gaza, and humanitarian groups warn there is already not enough aid to cover the devastated territory’s needs.
Israel’s deadline for NGOs to provide the details expires at midnight on Wednesday.
“They refuse to provide lists of their Palestinian employees because they know, just as we know, that some of them are involved in terrorism or linked to Hamas,” spokesman for the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism, Gilad Zwick, told AFP, naming 37 NGOs that had so far failed to meet the new requirements.
“I highly doubt that what they haven’t done for 10 months, they will suddenly do in less than 12 hours,” Zwick said. “We certainly won’t accept any cooperation that is just for show, simply to get an extension.”
For its part, Hamas, the armed Palestinian group which still controls part of Gaza, branded the Israeli decision “criminal behavior” and urged the United Nations and broader international community to condemn it.
Israel says the new regulation aims to prevent bodies it accuses of supporting terrorism from operating in the Palestinian territories.
A fragile ceasefire has been in place in Gaza since October, following a deadly war waged by Israel in response to Hamas’s unprecedented attack on Israeli territory on October 7, 2023.
On Tuesday, Israel specified that “acts of de-legitimising Israel” or denial of events surrounding Hamas’s October 7 attack would be “grounds for license withdrawal.”
Israel has singled out international medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF), alleging that it had two employees who were members of Palestinian militant groups Islamic Jihad and Hamas.
“We continue to seek reassurances and clarity over a concerning request to share a staff list, which may be in violation of Israel’s obligations under international humanitarian law and of our humanitarian principles,” MSF said, urging Israel to allow it to operate.
“We will be exploring all possible avenues to alter the outcomes of this decision.”
Apart from MSF, some of the 37 NGOs to be hit with the ban are the Norwegian Refugee Council, World Vision International, CARE and Oxfam, according to the list given by Zwick.
‘Guarantee access’
On Wednesday, United Nations rights chief Volker Turk described Israel’s decision as “outrageous,” calling on states to urgently insist Israel shift course.
“Such arbitrary suspensions make an already intolerable situation even worse for the people of Gaza,” he said.
The European Union warned that Israel’s decision would block “life-saving” assistance from reaching Gazans.
“The EU has been clear: the NGO registration law cannot be implemented in its current form,” EU humanitarian chief HadjaLahbib posted on X.
UN Palestinian refugee agency chief Philippe Lazzarini said the move sets a “dangerous precedent.”
“Failing to push back against attempts to control the work of aid organizations will further undermine the basic humanitarian principles of neutrality, independence, impartiality and humanity underpinning aid work across the world,” he said on X.
UNRWA itself has faced the ire of Israeli authorities since last year, with Lazzarini declared persona non grata by Israel.
Israel had accused UNRWA of providing cover for Hamas militants, claiming that some of the agency’s employees took part in the October 7, 2023 attack.
A series of investigations found some “neutrality-related issues” at UNRWA, the agency says, but insists Israel had not provided evidence for its headline allegation.
On Tuesday, the foreign ministers of 10 countries, including France and the United Kingdom, had already urged Israel to “guarantee access” to aid in the Gaza Strip, where they said the humanitarian situation remains “catastrophic.”
In a territory with 2.2 million inhabitants, “1.3 million people still require urgent shelter support,” the ministers of Britain, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Japan, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland said.
While a deal for a ceasefire that started on October 10 stipulated the entry of 600 trucks per day, only 100 to 300 are carrying humanitarian aid, aid groups say.
COGAT, the Israeli defense ministry body responsible for Palestinian civilian affairs, said last week that on average 4,200 aid trucks enter Gaza weekly, which corresponds to around 600 daily.
Israel’s ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg, IditRosenzweig-Abu, said that 104 aid organizations had filed for registration according to the new guidelines.
Nine were rejected, while 37 did not complete the procedures, she said on X, insisting the registration process “intended to prevent the exploitation of aid by Hamas.”
Source: arabnews.com
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Iranians try to access local government building on fourth day of protests, state media says
December 31, 2025
Iranian protesters tried to break into a local government building in the southern Fars Province on Wednesday, state media said, on a fourth day of demonstrations over the cost of living that have prompted an unusual government offer of dialogue.
Protests over high inflation and a slump in the value of the local rial currency began among shopkeepers in Tehran on Sunday and by Tuesday had spread to several universities in Tehran, with the reported break-in attempt on Wednesday.
“A few hours ago an organized group tried to get into the governorate building in the city of Fasa, their attack failed with the intervention of security forces,” state media said. “The leader of these rioters, a 28-year-old woman, was arrested.”
Iran’s Tasnim news agency cited a local official as saying four “attackers” were detained and three members of the security forces had been wounded during the incident.
A video carried by state media showed a group of people trying to break open the gate of the building. Reuters verified the location of the footage but was not able to independently verify the timing.
The governor of Fasa told state media that “the protests were caused by inflation and economic conditions. Individuals influenced by hostile channels and media participated in them... the situation is back to normal.”
Iranian authorities have responded to previous protests over issues ranging from prices, drought, women’s rights and political freedoms with forceful security measures and extensive arrests.
This time the government said it would set up a “dialogue mechanism” with leaders of the demonstrations, the first major protests since Israeli and US strikes on Iran in June, which prompted widespread expressions of patriotic solidarity. It has not said how the mechanism would work.
Iran’s economy has faced significant challenges for years following the reimposition of US sanctions in 2018, when President Donald Trump withdrew from an international agreement concerning Iran’s nuclear program during his first term.
Iran’s rial currency has lost nearly half its value against the dollar in 2025, with inflation reaching 42.5 percent in December in a country where unrest has repeatedly flared in recent years.
In September, United Nations sanctions were reinstated, and Reuters reported in October that Iranian authorities held multiple high-level meetings to address economic instability, find ways to bypass sanctions, and handle public discontent.
In 2022, Iran faced protests across the country over price hikes, including for bread, a major staple.
Over the same period and into 2023, the country’s clerical rulers faced the boldest unrest in years triggered by the death of a young Iranian Kurdish woman, MahsaAmini, in the custody of the morality police, who enforce a strict female dress code.
Source: arabnews.com
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North America
Indian-origin ZohranMamdani sworn in as New York City first Muslim mayor at historic subway station - watch
Jan 1, 2026
Indian-origin ZohranMamdani was sworn in early Thursday as New York City's mayor, beginning a four-year term. The 34-year-old Democrat took the oath of office just after midnight at the long-abandoned City Hall subway station beneath City Hall, assuming charge of the United States’ largest city.
Mamdani made history as New York’s first Muslim mayor, placing his hand on the Quran during the ceremony.
“This is truly the honour and the privilege of a lifetime,” Mamdani said after taking the oath.
The ceremony was administered by New York Attorney General Letitia James, a close political ally.
It was held at the historic City Hall station, one of the city’s original subway stops, known for its striking arched ceilings and architectural grandeur
Source: indiatimes.com
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Trump says he is withdrawing National Guard troops from some US cities
Dec 31, 2025
Max Matza
US President Donald Trump has said he is withdrawing National Guard troops from several US cities, including Chicago and Los Angeles, after a Supreme Court ruling last week undermined his authority to use troops for policing.
"We will come back, perhaps in a much different and stronger form, when crime begins to soar again," Trump wrote on Truth Social on New Year's Eve.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Trump administration withdrew its legal attempts to keep control of troops deployed in LA. Last week, the Supreme Court ruled that Trump could not use troops in Chicago for domestic law enforcement.
Trump's statement also mentioned Portland, Oregon, but not Washington DC, where troops remain on patrol.
Trump decision to order the deployment of National Guard troops to Democratic-run cities set off a series of legal cases challenging his authority to do so. The troops are normally under the authority of state governors.
Hundreds of troops had been sent to Chicago and Portland, but had not yet been assigned to patrol city streets, as the legal challenges played out in court.
Trump has said the troops are needed to enforce the law and crackdown on crime and illegal immigration. Critics deny that the troops are necessary, and accuse Trump of attempting an "authoritarian" crackdown, which threatens democracy.
The Supreme Court ruled last week in Trump v Illinois that the president did not have the authority to send troops into Chicago.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Trump administration withdrew a legal motion in California, seeking to keep the troops under Trump's control.
California Governor Gavin Newsom praised the move, posting on X: "This admission by Trump and his occult cabinet members means this illegal intimidation tactic will finally come to an end."
He said Trump's announcement of a troop withdrawal from US cities "is the political version of 'you can't fire me, I quit.'"
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson praised the Supreme Court ruling last week, saying telling MS Now "there is at least another branch of government that recognises that the overreach by the president is a real threat to our democracy".
Source: bbc.com
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Trump vetoes first bills of his second term
Dec 31, 2025
Kayla Epstein
President Donald Trump has made the first vetoes of legislation since retaking the White House nearly a year ago, setting up a potential showdown with US lawmakers.
The two bills he vetoed passed Congress with bipartisan support, meaning lawmakers could muster enough votes to override him in the new year.
A Trump ally, and well-known Republican, Representative Lauren Boebert, sponsored one of the bills, which was aimed at cutting the amounts that communities in her home state of Colorado are paying toward a new water pipeline.
The other bill would have supported a flooding mitigation project for a Native American tribe in Florida that had sued to stop construction of "Alligator Alcatraz".
In a message to Congress, Trump called the Colorado plan economically unviable.
"Enough is enough. My Administration is committed to preventing American taxpayers from funding expensive and unreliable policies," Trump said.
He added the bill would have hurt repayments to the federal government for building the pipeline, which will bring fresh water to the eastern part of the state..
Boebert, one of a handful of conservative lawmakers to break with Trump and push for the release of the Epstein files this winter, responded to the veto with a post on X, writing: "This isn't over."
"I sincerely hope this veto has nothing to do with political retaliation," she then said in a statement.
Trump has also sparred with Colorado's political leaders over the imprisonment of Tina Peters, a 73-year-old county clerk who echoed false claims that the 2020 election was stolen and was convicted by both the state and US government for election security-related offences.
Trump, who pardoned Peters of her federal charges this month, has called on the Colorado's Democratic governor, Jared Polis, to release her.
Polis has said it is up to the courts to decide her case, which has become a rallying cry for Trump's Make America Great Again wing of the Republican party.
"Free Tina Peters!" Trump posted on Truth Social on Monday, and wrote about Colorado officials: "I wish them only the worst. May they rot in Hell."
The second bill he vetoed, the Miccosukee Reserved Area Act, would have required the Interior Department to help the tribe in Florida prevent flooding in a part of their community that has vulnerable infrastructure.
In his veto message, Trump wrote that the Miccosukee had conducted "unauthorised" development on the land in question.
The White House also alleged the tribe "actively sought to obstruct reasonable immigration policies that the American people decisively voted for when I was elected."
The Miccosukee tribe took legal action against the Trump administration's construction of an immigration detention centre in the Florida Everglades known as "Alligator Alcatraz".
In court filings, the tribe had argued it was uniquely impacted by the construction of the site, and its construction posed environmental risks.
Source: bbc.com
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US wipes out alleged ‘narco-convoy’
1 Jan, 2026
The US has destroyed three alleged narco-trafficking boats travelling in a convoy in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing a number of people aboard, as part of Washington’s growing pressure campaign against Venezuela.
The latest lethal “kinetic strike” was conducted in international waters on December 30, the US Southern Command announced on Wednesday.
The Pentagon claimed that prior to the strikes, US intelligence agencies had “confirmed the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes and had transferred narcotics between the three vessels.”
“Three narco-terrorists aboard the first vessel were killed in the first engagement. The remaining narco-terrorists abandoned the other two vessels, jumping overboard and distancing themselves before follow-on engagements sank their respective vessels,” it said.
The Pentagon said it “immediately notified” the US Coast Guard to launch a search and rescue operation, but the fate of those stranded remains unclear.
The latest strikes bring the total number of known boats destroyed to 33 and the number of people killed to at least 110 since early September, when the US launched Operation Southern Spear.
The “anti-drug” campaign launched by US President Donald Trump has drawn criticism internationally over the use of lethal force in international waters without a proper legal basis, which UN experts said could constitute “extrajudicial executions.”
In November, the US designated the Venezuelan Cartel de los Soles as a terrorist organization, alleging links to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, an accusation which Caracas has rejected.
In December, Trump went further by declaring the Venezuelan government itself a foreign terrorist organization and ordering a blockade of sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving the country.
Maduro has condemned the blockade as illegal under international law and has accused Washington of using the “war on drugs” as a pretext for a regime change operation to seize Venezuela’s natural resources.
Trump had also authorized the CIA to carry out covert actions inside Venezuela; the agency has reportedly carried out a secret drone strike against what the US president described as a “big facility” last week.
Source: rt.com
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Africa
Terrorism Financing: EFCC Arraigns Bauchi Commissioner, Three Others
December 31, 2025
By George OshogweOgbolu
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, YakubuAdamu; BalarabeAbdullahiIlelah; Aminu Mohammed Bose; and KabiruYahaya Mohammed before Justice EmekaNwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Naija News reports that they were arraigned on a ten-count charge bordering on conspiracy, conversion of public funds and alleged terrorism financing contrary to Section 2(1) and Section 19(1) (d) and punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
Prosecution Counsel, Samuel Chime informed the court that the matter was for arraignment, praying that the charge be read to the defendants.
“We have a ten-count charge dated 30 December, 2025 and filed on the same day,” Chime said.
One of the counts reads; “That you YakubuAdamu (being Commissioner for Finance, Bauchi state Government), sometimes in the year 2024, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did receive cash payments in the sum of Six Million, Nine Hundred and Fifty Thousand United States Dollars( USD 6,950,000) otherwise than through a financial institution, and you and offence contrary to Section 2(1) and Section 19(1) (d) and punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
Another count reads; “That you YakubuAdamu(being Commissioner for Finance, Bauchi State Government) SirajoJaja (being Accountant-General of Bauchi state now at large), SamailaIrmiya Liman(now at large), BalarabeAbdullahiIllelah, Aminu Mohammed Bose and KabiruYahaya Mohammed (all being civil servants and signatories to Bauchi State Government Accounts and/or payment instruments), sometimes between January 2024 and May 2024, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did conspire to provide funds in the aggregate sum of about Two Million, Three Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (USD 2,300,000) in cash for the benefit of Bello Bodejo and persons associated with him, pursuant to approvals granted by the executive Governor of Bauchi State, Senator BalaAbdulkadir Muhammed, having reasonable grounds to believe, that the said funds would be used, in whole or in part to finance a terrorist or terrorist group, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 26(1) and punishable under Section 21(2)(a) of the terrorism(Prevention and Prohibition)Act, 2022.”
The defendants pleaded “not guilty” when the charges were read to them.
This prompted prosecution counsel, Samuel Chime to ask the court for a trial date.
“We will be asking for a date to enable us to open our case.” Chime said.
Responding, the defendants counsel told the court that the defence have filed separate motions for bail on behalf of the defendant.
“We filed separate motions for bail in respect of the first, second, third and fourth defendant and all the motions were filed on the 30 day of December 2025.” He added.
In his response, Chime stated that the prosecution have been served and have already filed a joint counter-affidavit.
Justice EmekaNwite thereafter adjourned the matter for ruling on the bail application to 5 January, 2026, while remanding the defendants at Kuje correctional Centre.
Source: naijanews.com
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Ex-Ogun Lawmaker Abducted In Mosque
January 1, 2026
By EnioluwaAdeniy
A former Majority Leader of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Moruf Musa, was on Tuesday evening abducted by gunmen in Ibiade, Ogun Waterside Local Government Area.
Musa, who served in the Assembly between 2007 and 2011, was reportedly seized around 7 pm while observing Muslim prayers inside a mosque located within his residence.
Confirming the incident to Punch on Wednesday, Chairman of Ogun Waterside LGA, GaniyuOdunoiki, said the abduction took place during evening prayer. He added that the attackers fired gunshots along the road as they fled the scene.
“The report is true, the former lawmaker was abducted on Tuesday evening. The gunmen also reportedly shot some people on the road,” Odunoiki said.
“We are now combing the surrounding bushes together with some police officers, though, we are still expecting the anti-kidnapping unit, who are already on their way to join us in the search. The Area Commander for the Nigeria Police from Ogbere is here as well,” he added.
The Ogun State Police Command confirmed the abduction, saying efforts were underway to ensure the victim’s safe return.
“The Ogun State Police Command is aware of the reported abduction of Hon. Musa Moruf in Ibiade, Ogun Waterside Local Government Area.
“Security measures have been activated, including the deployment of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, and the public is advised to remain calm pending official updates,” the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP OluseyiBabaseyi, said.
A resident of the community told Punch that Musa struggled with his abductors for over 20 minutes before being overpowered. The gunmen reportedly fired sporadically into the air to disperse onlookers before escaping with their victim.
Source: naijanews.com
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Mosque Bombing: Group Decries Channels TV’s Coverage
January 1, 2026
The Companion, an influential Muslim professional organisation, has condemned Channels Television for what it described as “unprofessional, insensitive and conflict-provoking” coverage of the tragic bombing of a mosque in Maiduguri on Christmas Eve.
In a statement jointly signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Pro-fessor Tunde Akanni, and National Amir, Imam NojimdeenJimoh, the group accused the broadcaster of downplaying the gravity of the attack and failing to reflect the scale of Muslim casualties during worship.
The Companion said the incident demanded the “highest level of accuracy, empathy and responsibility,” especially in a period of heightened religious emotion, but expressed shock that Channels Television allegedly “glossed over the specifics” of the attack.
According to the group, such reporting “risks distorting public perception of Nigeria’s security realities,” adding that it undermines the principles of conflict-sensitive journalism as advocated by The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and globally accepted media standards.
“This approach goes beyond an editorial lapse. It is a fundamental failure to give a thorough account of events involving the loss of innocent lives in a house of worship. In a volatile environment, journalism must help de-escalate tension, not deepen it,” the statement read.
The Companion further warned that inadequate coverage of such incidents creates an information vacuum that encourages misinformation, resentment and division.
Describing the alleged editorial handling as “reckless and self-serving,” the organisation said Channels Television’s stance contributes to a dangerous narrative that suggests a hierarchy of victims in national tragedies.
“To under-report the targeted killing of Muslims on Christmas Eve is to fail the test of inclusivity and social responsibility. It suggests bias that has no place in a professional newsroom or democratic society,” the statement added.
The group called on Channels Television to issue a public apology to Nigerian Muslims and review its editorial protocols to align with ethical standards.
It also urged the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the Society for Peace Studies and Practice (SPSP) to engage the station in structured training on conflict-sensitive reporting.
The Companion stressed that the Nigerian media must remain a pillar of unity rather than a platform that inadvertently escalates religious, social or political tension.
As at press time last night , Channels Television had yet to respond to the allegations.
Source: thisdaylive.com
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DHQ Access U.S-Nigeria Air Strikes InSokoto
January 1, 2026
By EnioluwaAdeniyi
The Defence Headquarters has said that the battle damage assessment of recent United States airstrikes conducted in conjunction with Nigerian forces is still ongoing.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja, disclosed this on Wednesday while addressing journalists in Abuja. He assured the public that the assessment findings would be released upon completion.
Responding to questions on the effectiveness of the strikes, Onoja said, “On the United States strikes in conjunction with Nigerian forces, there is a process of battle damage assessment. We are still in that process, and I can assure you that once that is completed, we will communicate to the public all our observations.”
The clarification follows public debate on whether the strikes achieved their intended objectives.
On the presence of terrorists at the bombed locations, Onoja confirmed that intelligence reports had established their presence in the region prior to the operation.
“They have confirmed their presence in those areas. The fact that it was not publicised is sometimes for operational security reasons,” he said.
He linked the terrorists’ movement to the proximity of Sokoto to the Sahel region and affirmed that the strikes were intelligence-led.
Onoja noted that the military is closely monitoring terrorist movements and working with local commanders to prevent further infiltration into communities.
“We are monitoring them, and we are doing the necessary things, communicating with all the force commanders… so that they will prevent them from assimilating into the community and causing further havoc,” he said.
He also urged the civilian population to support security agencies with information, describing the approach as a “whole-of-society” strategy.
“The truth is that security or insecurity can only be addressed through the cooperation of every member of society,” he added.
Addressing public criticism of the joint operation, Onoja said the Armed Forces would not respond to every opinion expressed in the media.
“It is not for the Armed Forces to focus on what some people in society do not agree with in our activities. Ours is to focus on our kinetic operations,” he stated.
He also urged members of the public in possession of ammunition fragments or materials from the site of the operation to return them to security agencies.
“We don’t expect anybody to take away those materials… they should return them to the military or security divisions so that we can disarm those things before they cause greater damage,” Onoja warned.
He assured Nigerians that the military remains committed to continuing operations against terrorist groups into the new year.
Source: naijanews.com
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Fubara Speaks On Political War In Rivers State
January 1, 2026
By EnioluwaAdeniyi
The Rivers State Governor, SiminalayiFubara, amidst rising political tension in the state, has declared that the state will not be plunged into another round of political crisis, affirming his reliance on spiritual strength rather than force.
The governor gave the assurance in his New Year message shortly after attending the crossover service at the Government House Chapel of Everlasting Grace in Port Harcourt.
Governor Fubara expressed optimism that 2026 would bring better fortunes for the state and its residents, stressing that his administration is stepping into the new year with “renewed strength and confidence.”
Reflecting on his administration’s performance over the past two years, he acknowledged the challenges but emphasised a hopeful outlook.
“Those who place their trust in God would not be put to shame,” Fubara said, stressing that his faith, not “the instruments of war”, remains his guiding strength.
The governor urged the people of Rivers State to remain calm and ignore unsettling reports suggesting political unrest, stating that his government remains focused on the state’s development.
“Governance anchored on faith, perseverance and service to the people” remains his commitment, he reiterated.
He also admitted that not all expectations had been met over the last two years, but assured residents that 2026 would mark a period of growth and transformation.
Governor Fubara also expressed confidence in Nigeria’s leadership, predicting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would emerge victorious in the 2027 presidential election.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2026/01/01/fubara-speaks-on-political-war-in-rivers-state/
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‘You Are Clever By Half’ – Wike Accuses Fubara Of Breaking Agreement Brokered By Tinubu
December 31, 2025
By Rachel OkporuFadoju
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), NyesomWike, has accused Rivers State Governor, SiminalayiFubara, of reneging on an agreement brokered by President Bola Tinubu to resolve the political crisis in the state.
Naija News recalls that the agreement followed a closed-door meeting convened by Tinubu at the State House in Abuja in June 2025, involving Wike and Fubara, as part of efforts to end the prolonged power struggle that plunged Rivers into a political crisis, leading to a state of emergency and the suspension of the governor and members of the State House of Assembly.
However, Wike, speaking during a thank-you visit to the people of the Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State on Wednesday, said Governor Fubara had failed to honour parts of the agreement.
The Minister, therefore, vowed to make public the details of the deal reached before the President very soon.
He said, “After agreeing on something, you renege. And you think you are a smart politician? You are clever by half.
“Very soon, we will let Rivers people know what we agreed before Mr President. This agreement was not done anywhere; before Mr President. If you can renege on what we agreed before, Mr President, then who are we?”
Source: naijanews.com
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Southeast Asia
Foreign Ministry: Malaysia condemns Israeli ban on humanitarian aid organisations in Gaza
01 Jan 2026
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 1 — Malaysia condemns in the strongest terms the Zionist Israeli regime’s decision to ban and suspend the operations of a large number of international humanitarian aid organisations in Gaza.
The Foreign Ministry (Wisma Putra) said the action is a clear violation of international humanitarian law and will further exacerbate the already dire humanitarian crisis and catastrophe following the regime’s more than two-year war against the people of the Palestinian Territory.
“The obstruction of humanitarian assistance constitutes collective punishment of civilians and undermines the neutrality and independence of humanitarian actors.
“The Israeli regime is legally obliged under the Fourth Geneva Convention to ensure unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza,” it said in a statement on Thursday.
Wisma Putra said that Malaysia calls on the international community to act decisively to compel Israel to immediately rescind its decision and ensure full and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid, or it must be held accountable for its violations of international law.
Malaysia also reaffirms its unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people and will continue to advocate for an end to Israeli aggression, the lifting of the siege on Gaza, and the establishment of an independent and sovereign State of Palestine based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, it added. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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King and Queen extend New Year greetings, call for national unity
1 Jan 2026
Their Majesties Sultan Ibrahim and Raja ZarithSofiah pray for Malaysia’s peace and prosperity in 2026, urging stronger unity and mutual respect.
KUALA LUMPUR: Their Majesties, the King of Malaysia, Sultan Ibrahim, and the Queen, Raja ZarithSofiah, have extended their New Year 2026 greetings to all Malaysians.
In a post on the official Facebook page of Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, Their Majesties prayed for the new year to bring continuous peace and prosperity to the nation.
Sultan Ibrahim called upon the people to further strengthen unity and mutual respect to foster harmony.
“Their Majesties also pray that Malaysia will always be under the protection of Allah SWT and be blessed with enduring peace, progress and well-being,” the post read. – Bernama
Source: thesun.my
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Penang zakat collection rises over 10pc to approach RM200m
01 Jan 2026
GEORGE TOWN, Jan 1 — The Penang Islamic Religious Council (MAINPP) is on track to meet its target of RM200 million in zakat collections for 2025, surpassing last year’s total of RM172.8 million.
Deputy Chief Minister I, Datuk Dr Mohamad Abdul Hamid, said RM196.54 million had been collected by the end of 2025, including RM187.65 million from zakat on wealth and RM8.89 million from zakat al-fitr (obligatory charity).
He noted that the total amount is expected to exceed the RM200 million target once account adjustments are completed in two weeks, with the official final figure to be confirmed on Jan 17.
“This increase of more than 10 per cent reflects the trust and confidence the community has in the integrity of MAINPP, as emphasised by its leadership and management.
“This achievement is also the result of the collective efforts and collaboration of all parties, including the staff of Zakat MAINPP as the implementing agency, strategic partners, and the ongoing support from the Muslim community and corporate sectors in Penang,” he said in a statement today.
Mohamad, who is also MAINPP president, highlighted that the increase in zakat collection is also driven by growing awareness among zakat payers, who have placed their trust in the various initiatives MAINPP has implemented for the development of the underprivileged (asnaf) in the state.
He expressed confidence that through strategic planning, improvements in zakat service systems, and continuous awareness campaigns, MAINPP would be able to utilise zakat funds to empower asnaf through economic development, education, welfare, and social well-being programmes, as outlined in the Penang Islamic Development Agenda 2030 (APAI2030).
Mohamad also extended his appreciation to all zakat payers and encouraged Muslims in the state to continue fulfilling their zakat obligations through MAINPP. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Johor’s 2025 revenue hits record RM2.67b, MB pledges to return it to Johoreans
01 Jan 2026
JOHOR BAHRU, Jan 1 — MenteriBesar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi announced that Johor recorded its highest-ever revenue collection of RM2.67 billion in 2025.
He said this revenue will be channelled back to Johoreans in the form of development projects, public facilities and welfare initiatives.
“We are deeply grateful to His Royal Highness the Regent of Johor, the TunkuMahkota Ismail, for his continuous support, guidance and counsel, which have prioritised good governance and stability for the well-being of Bangsa Johor.
“My highest appreciation and gratitude also go to the state secretary (Datuk Asman Shah Abd Rahman), the entire state executive council, all assemblymen, the civil service, government agencies, government-linked companies and the people of Johor, who are the driving force behind this economic growth,” he said in a Facebook post today.
Onn Hafiz said he hopes the achievement will propel Johor forward in a more structured and competitive way, ensuring a future of prosperity, progress, and well-being.
“I am fully aware that there is still much to improve. Therefore, we remain dedicated to ensuring that revenue is utilised equitably for the benefit of more Johor residents,” he concluded. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Perikatan will move forward with spirit despite ‘storm of resignations’, says PAS info chief
By Malay Mail
01 Jan 2026
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 1 — The resignation of several PerikatanNasional (PN) leaders over the past few days was not as significant as initially expected, according to PAS information chief Ahmad FadhliShaari.
He added that the “storm of resignations” has not jeopardised the work of other state and division level leaders in the coalition who are carrying on even as they wait for further directives from top leaders.
“Alhamdulillah, looking at the ‘storm of resignations’ in PerikatanNasional over the past day or two, it has not been as big as expected. Even at the division or parliamentary level, the same kind of upheaval has not occurred.
“Many state- and division-level PerikatanNasional chairmen are still carrying out their mandates while awaiting work directives from the new PerikatanNasional chairman. God willing, PerikatanNasional will continue to move forward with renewed spirit,” he said in a Facebook statement last night.
The Pasir Mas MP’s remarks follow recent political developments triggered by leadership changes in the Perlis government when PAS’ MohdShukriRamli stepped down as menteribesar, citing health reasons.
Bersatu’s Abu Bakar Hamzah is the new Perlis menteribesar, having been sworn in on December 28, 2025.
Eight assemblymen – three from PAS and five from Bersatu – reportedly withdrew support for him through statutory declarations submitted to the Perlis Ruler.
Subsequently, PAS sacked SaadSeman (Chuping), Fakhrul Anwar Ismail (Bintong) and MohdRidzuanHashim (Guar Sanji), leaving the three state seats vacant.
However, the Perlis speaker confirmed yesterday that by-elections will not be called as the state legislative assembly is more than halfway done with its five-year term.
The Perlis events resulted in the mass resignations of its PN partner from Bersatu, starting with president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as the coalition chairman.
Other Bersatu leaders who have quit their positions in PN since then include Datuk Seri Azmin Ali as secretary-general and Selangor chairman, Datuk Seri Ahmad FaizalAzumu (Perak), Mohamad Hanifah Abu Bakar (Negri Sembilan), Datuk Dr Sahruddin Jamal (Johor) and JaziriAlkafAbdillahSuffian (Sarawak).
PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan has since offered the Islamist party to lead PN.
He said PAS is willing to strengthen, organise and prepare PN for upcoming state elections and the 16th general election.
Takiyuddin also urged coalition partners to reflect on recent developments in Perlis and take steps to rebuild public trust in PN.
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/01/01/perikatan-will-move-forward-with-spirit-despite-storm-of-resignations-says-pasinfo-chief/203938
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Could HadiAwang be the next Perikatan chairman? Kelantan Bersatu doesn’t rule it out
By Malay Mail
01 Jan 2026
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 1 — Kelantan Bersatu does not rule out the possibility that PAS president Tan Sri Abdul HadiAwang will be appointed as the new chairman of PerikatanNasional (PN), replacing Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who resigned effective today.
Its chairman, Datuk KamaruddinMd Noor, said this is considering the status of PAS and Bersatu as the two largest parties in the coalition, BeritaHarian reported today.
In fact, he noted, Muhyiddin had previously offered the position to Abdul Hadi, but the Marang MP declined.
“Since PN only has two major parties, Bersatu and PAS, compared to the others, logically the next PN chairman should come from PAS.
“According to the PN constitution, the leaders of PN are the heads of their respective parties, and if PAS leads PN in the future, it would naturally be Tan Sri Abdul Hadi,” he said.
He made the remarks after welcoming tourists at the entrance in conjunction with the Visit Malaysia Year 2026 event at Sultan Ismail Petra Airport in Kota Bharu today.
Previously, PAS hinted that the party leader who will head PN is not necessarily Abdul Hadi as president.
Instead, PAS information chief Ahmad FadhliShaari said the party leader appointed as PN chairman would be someone trusted to consolidate the strength of the parties within the coalition.
He further said the PN chairman appointment is expected to be made soon after discussions reach a consensus.
“For the PN chairman appointment, all party leaders in PN will discuss to reach an agreement on the new appointment.
“We in Bersatu have no objection if the PN chairman appointed later comes from PAS,” he said.
PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man had previously confirmed that the party will propose several names to be considered as the new PN chairman, replacing Muhyiddin.
The KubangKerian MP said this matter will be discussed in the PN Supreme Council meeting in the near future.
Source: malaymail.com
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Anwar joins packed Bukit Bintang crowd to ring in New Year, kick off Visit Malaysia 2026
By ArifZikri
01 Jan 2026
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 1 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim together with a packed Bukit Bintang crowd welcomed the New Year last night.
The New Year was welcomed with a slew of performances by top local talents along with a multimedia showcase that also served as a countdown celebration for the much anticipated Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign that took place in front of Pavilion KL.
Also present were Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac) Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing as well as Motac secretary-general Datuk Shaharuddin Abu Sohot.
Tiong in a statement said that the celebration was a symbolic event to ignite the momentum for VM2026 while welcoming the world to Malaysia.
“Malaysia is now fully ready to showcase its unique culture, creativity, and the warm hospitality of its people.
“It marks a strong head start towards our aspiration of 43 million international visitor arrivals, further solidifying our position on the global tourism map,” Tiong said.
The main stage was graced with performances by acts such as ShilaAmzah, Aina Abdul, Belle Sisoski, Vanessa Reynauld, Kidd Santhe, The Kuans, KLP48, Nazu, Rezza Shah, Danson Ooi, Euzen and Penny with renowned music director GenervieKam leading the line.
This was followed by a 10-minute cultural performance depicting five major cultures in Malaysia including Bidayuh, Kadazan, Chinese, Indian and Malay which blended traditional rhythms with modern beats.
As the clock struck midnight, the skies were lit up with not just fireworks but also a drone formation show — where it can be seen forming the VM2026 sun bear mascots Wira and Manja while also extending a warm Happy New Year greeting to the crowd.
The VM2026 is guided by five strategic pillars including sustainability, cultural heritage, nature-based adventure, digital innovation, and global connectivity.
The nationwide campaign aims to expand tourism reach, encourage longer visitor stays, and provide meaningful opportunities for travellers to experience the distinct cultural identities of Malaysia’s diverse regions.
Source: malaymail.com
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Malaysians warned over fraudulent RM1,500 badal haj advertisements
31 Dec 2025
Muslims urged to verify cheap badal haj offers as RM1,500 packages are unrealistic and pose high scam risks, says religious affairs minister.
PUTRAJAYA: Malaysian Muslims are being urged to exercise extreme caution over advertisements offering badal haj services for as low as RM1,500.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Dr Zulkifli Hasan (pic) warned such offers carry a high risk of fraud and may not fulfil the requirements for a valid pilgrimage.
He stated that commercial badal haj packages at such prices are unrealistic and do not reflect the actual costs set by Saudi Arabian authorities.
“I advise Muslims in the country to verify the legitimacy of any badal haj offers widely advertised in suraus, mosques and on social media by travel agencies or individuals to avoid becoming victims of scams,” he said.
Zulkifli explained that badal haj services are difficult to carry out commercially as all pilgrims require a valid haj visa or special permit approved by the Saudi Haj and Umrah Ministry.
He noted that not all applications for these permits are approved by the Saudi authorities.
The minister revealed the minimum cost for a haj package for Saudi residents is about 10,000 riyals, equivalent to approximately RM11,300.
This cost only covers permits and tents at Masyair, excluding essential expenses like accommodation, food, and transport.
For the upcoming haj season 1447H/2026, Saudi authorities will continue strict enforcement against invalid travel documents.
Pilgrims found using invalid visas or permits face fines, imprisonment, and blacklisting from entering Saudi Arabia for several years.
The Malaysian government and Tabung Haji continue to remind the public to verify the legitimacy of all haj and badal haj packages.
Strict action will be taken against individuals or travel companies involved in providing fraudulent pilgrimage services.
Zulkifli advised the public to lodge police reports immediately if they suspect or become victims of fraud.
This enables investigations and legal action to protect consumers and maintain the integrity of the country’s tourism industry. – Bernama
Source: thesun.my
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South Asia
Health Ministry Prioritizes Equity, Support for Vulnerable Groups, Official
January 1, 2026
KABUL: The Ministry of Public Health of the Islamic Emirate held a meeting on Universal Health Coverage under the theme “Healthy Generation, Healthy Future, Healthy Economy.”
The meeting was attended by Dr. Mohammad Hassan Ghiyasi, Deputy Minister for Health Policy and Development; Sheikh Mohammad Taher Halim, Director General of the Minister’s Office; Dr. Syed RasoolMangal, Director General of Planning and Policy; several central directors of the ministry, representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and members of the media, the ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Mohammad Hassan Ghiyasi said the Ministry of Public Health is providing healthcare services to the people with the aim of ensuring health equity, strengthening the health sector, and supporting underprivileged communities.
He stated that over the past four years, more than 400 health centers have been constructed in various parts of the country.
He emphasized that the ministry will continue its efforts to protect public health and improve healthcare services in the future.
Meanwhile, Dr. Syed RasoolMangal said that clear solutions and measures for expanding health services have been incorporated into the ministry’s policies and strategies, and that these measures are being implemented seriously.
According to the statement, representatives from the World Health Organisation and UNICEF discussed the health situation, emphasising the importance of joint cooperation and assuring their continued collaboration and support for the Ministry of Public Health.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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https://thekabultimes.com/health-ministry-prioritizes-equity-support-for-vulnerable-groups-official/
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Commercial Market to Be Built in Qarabagh district of Kabul, Committee
January 1, 2026
KABUL: The meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Investment Committee was held on Wednesday at Marmarin Palace, discussing the construction of a commercial market on municipal land in Qarabagh district of Kabul, the office of the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs said in a statement.
After discussion, the committee instructed that the project framework be revised from a public-private partnership to an alternative Sharia-compliant contract and that its financial model be adjusted accordingly and submitted within the specified timeframe to the next meeting of the committee, the statement said.
The meeting also included discussions on presenting a standard proposal related to Chaman-e-Huzoori.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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MawlaviKabir, UNAMA Deputy Discuss Humanitarian Aid, Returnees
January 1, 2026
KABUL: The country’s Minister of Refugees and Repatriation, Mawlavi Abdul Kabir, met with UNAMA Deputy AndrikaRatwatte to discuss coordination of humanitarian assistance and addressing challenges related to returning Afghan refugees, according to a statement from the ministry on Wednesday.
Ratwatte expressed satisfaction with the cooperation and effective performance of the Refugees Ministry, saying UN agencies spent $2.5 billion this year to address refugee challenges, reflecting the United Nations’ commitment to supporting Afghans.
Citing UN data, he said Afghanistan’s population increased by 10 percent in a short period due to returnees, adding that joint efforts by the Islamic Emirate and the UN helped manage the situation and prevent a crisis.
Mawlawi Abdul Kabir thanked the UN for its assistance and said an emergency winter aid plan has been prepared to support returnees nationwide, including food and cash assistance for 1,000 families in each province.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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Mawlavi Sadr Highlights Protection of Islamic System, Strengthening Public Confidence
January 1, 2026
KABUL: Mullah Mohammad Ibrahim Sadr, Senior Security Deputy of the Ministry of Interior, visited Khost province as part of his ongoing provincial tours, where he highlighted the protection of the Islamic system and strengthening public confidence.
During a meeting with provincial officials, Mawlavi Sadr described his responsibilities as a trust from Almighty Allah, emphasizing that this trust must be carried out with sincerity and good intentions, according to a statement from the ministry on Wednesday.
He underscored the importance of protecting the Islamic system, strengthening mutual trust with religious leaders and the public, maintaining law and order, ensuring coordination among security institutions, and providing continuous security for the people.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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10,784 Consignments of Construction Materials Inspected at Afghan Ports Last Month
January 1, 2026
KABUL: The Standards and Quality Authority said in a statement on Wednesday that 10,784 consignments of construction materials were inspected and controlled at various ports across the country during the past month the current solar year.
Of these, five consignments were found to be below the established standards and were returned to the exporting countries, the statement said.
The authority emphasized that to ensure standardized construction, increase building safety, and maintain public confidence, it will continue to strictly prevent the entry of substandard construction materials into Afghanistan.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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UN Requests $1.71 Billion for Afghanistan Humanitarian Aid in 2026
By Fidel Rahmati
December 31, 2025
The United Nations has requested $1.71 billion for 2026 to support humanitarian programs in Afghanistan, citing widespread poverty, unemployment, and urgent relief needs.
The United Nations has requested $1.71 billion in funding for humanitarian programs in Afghanistan for 2026, warning that the country remains one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises despite a slight reduction in overall needs.
According to the UN Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, approximately 21.9 million people, nearly 45 percent of the population, will require humanitarian assistance next year. Ongoing conflict, economic fragility, food insecurity, and climate-related shocks are cited as the main drivers of need.
The UN report highlights that years of underinvestment in basic services, combined with recurring natural disasters, widespread drought, and the return of millions of migrants from neighboring countries, have severely weakened the resilience of Afghanistan families.
Aid organizations also noted the impact of restrictions on women and girls, stating that denial of education, employment, and participation in public life reduces household income, increases dependence on humanitarian aid, and limits relief operations.
Afghanistan faces staggering socioeconomic challenges, with UN data indicating nearly 75 percent unemployment and 90 percent of the population living below the poverty line, intensifying vulnerability to crises.
The return of millions of Afghan migrants from Iran and Pakistan in recent years has put immense pressure on local economies, public services, and humanitarian infrastructure, straining an already fragile system.
The UN has warned that continued funding shortages could force aid agencies to scale back life-saving programs, particularly for women, children, and internally displaced persons, at a time when needs remain acute nationwide.
Experts stress that sustained international support, alongside targeted economic and social programs, is critical to mitigating the ongoing humanitarian disaster and preventing further deterioration in the livelihoods of millions people of Afghanistan.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/un-requests-1-71-billion-for-afghanistan-humanitarian-aid-in-2026/
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Jamaatameer clarifies Reuters interview on meeting Indian diplomats
Jan 1, 2026
Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman has clarified his position regarding references to a meeting with Indian diplomats that appeared in a recent interview he gave to the UK-based international news agency Reuters.
In a Facebook post this morning, he criticised several media reports claiming that he held a "secret" meeting with Indian officials, calling such reports misleading and baseless.
In an interview with Reuters, a journalist asked him whether he had any communication, discussions or meetings with India, given that it is a neighbouring country.
Responding to the question, the Jamaatameer said that after falling ill around the middle of last year and returning home following medical treatment, many people from home and abroad came to visit him.
"Just as diplomats from other countries came to see me, two Indian diplomats also visited my residence at that time. I spoke with them as I did with others," he said.
He added that during discussions with visiting diplomats, they had informed all concerned that such visits would be disclosed publicly.
"We told them that all diplomatic visits had been publicised, and we wanted to publicise your visit as well," he said, adding that the Indian diplomats requested that the visit not be made public.
The Jamaatameer said he had made it clear that any future meetings involving bilateral interests between the two countries would be made public.
"There is nothing secretive about this," he said.
Expressing surprise, he said some local media outlets had reported that the Jamaatameer held a "secret" meeting with India.
"I strongly condemn such reports," he said, urging journalists to refrain from publishing misleading news without verifying facts in the future.
According to a Reuters report, Shafiqur confirmed that he met an Indian diplomat earlier this year following his bypass surgery.
"Unlike diplomats from other countries who made open courtesy visits to him, the Indian official asked that the meeting remain confidential," he was quoted as saying by Reuters.
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/jamaat-ameer-clarifies-reuters-interview-meeting-indian-diplomats-4070606
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Jamaat open to unity govt with BNP
Jan 1, 2026
Jamaat-e-Islami is open to joining a unity government after February's parliamentary vote, and has held talks with several parties, its chief told Reuters yesterday.
Opinion polls suggest that Jamaat-e-Islami, a once-banned Islamist party, will finish a close second to the BNP in the first election it has contested in nearly 17 years, as it marks a return to mainstream politics in the predominantly Muslim nation of 175 million.
Jamaat last held power between 2001 and 2006 as a junior coalition partner with the BNP and is open to working with it again.
"We want to see a stable nation for at least five years. If the parties come together, we'll run the government together," Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur Rahman said in an interview at his office in a residential area in Dhaka, days after the party created a buzz by securing a tie-up with a Gen-Z party.
Jamaat advocates Islamic governance under sharia law but has sought to broaden its appeal beyond its conservative base. Shafiqur said anti-corruption must be a shared agenda for any unity government.
The prime minister will come from the party winning the most seats in the February 12 election, he added. If Jamaat wins the most seats, the party will decide whether he himself would be a candidate, he said.
The party's resurgence follows the ousting of long-time prime minister Sheikh Hasina in a youth-led uprising in August 2024. Hasina, whose Awami League party is now barred from the election, was a fierce critic of Jamaat, and during her tenure, several of its leaders were sentenced to death for alleged war crimes during the 1971 independence war with Pakistan, a war Jamaat opposed.
Jamaat had been banned from elections since 2013 after a court ruled its charter violated the country's secular constitution. An interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus lifted all restrictions on the party in August 2024.
TIES WITH INDIA AND PAKISTAN
Shafiqur said Hasina's continued stay in India after fleeing Dhaka was a concern, as ties between the two countries have hit their lowest point in decades since her downfall.
India, South Asia's biggest power, had cultivated a close working relationship with Hasina, helping expand business and trade ties between the neighbours.
As New Delhi seeks to engage parties that could form the next government, Shafiqur confirmed meeting an Indian diplomat earlier this year after his bypass surgery. Unlike diplomats from other countries who made open courtesy visits to him, the Indian official asked that the meeting remain confidential, the Jamaat chief said.
"Why? There are so many diplomats who visited me and it was made public. Where is the problem?" Rahman said. "So we must become open to all and open to each other. There is no alternative to develop our relationship."
India's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Shafiqur's statement about the meeting or any request for it to be confidential.
An Indian government source confirmed contacts with various parties.
Asked about Jamaat's historical closeness to Pakistan, the Jamaat chief said: "We maintain relations in a balanced way with all. We are never interested in leaning toward any one country. Rather, we respect all and want balanced relations among nations."
He said any government that includes Jamaat would "not feel comfortable" with President Mohammed Shahabuddin, who was elected unopposed with the AL's backing in 2023.
Shahabuddin, the ceremonial head of the country, himself told Reuters this month that he was willing to step down midway through his term.
Shahabuddin, in a telephone conversation with Reuters yesterday, declined to comment on Rahman's position, saying he did not want to "complicate the matter further".
Source: thedailystar.net
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Arab World
Saudi FM receives call from Somali counterpart
December 31, 2025
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received a telephone call from his Somali counterpart Abdisalam Abdi Ali on Wednesday, Saudi Press Agency reported.
During the call, the two officials affirmed the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of Somalia and discussed the latest developments in the region. A number of issues of common interest were also discussed.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi crown prince receives phone call from Pakistani PM
December 31, 2025
RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received a phone call from Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday, Saudi Press Agency reported.
During the call, the two leaders reviewed Saudi-Pakistani relations and ways to develop prospects for joint cooperation. They also discussed regional and international developments.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi gifted students excel globally with 129 awards in 2025
January 01, 2026
RIYADH: The King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba) has announced that Saudi gifted students secured 129 international awards in 2025 across 26 Olympiads and the International Science and Engineering Fair.
The achievement, the result of collaboration with the Ministry of Education, maintained the Kingdom’s second-place ranking at the ISEF global competition, with Saudi national teams winning 996 awards in scientific competitions by year-end.
Mawhiba’s report highlighted that more than 31,000 students benefited from Mawhiba programs, with more than 14,000 enrolled in academic and research initiatives offered through 105 local and international initiatives, partnered with 70 academic and scientific entities across 24 cities.
In a significant milestone, registration for the National Program for Gifted Identification exceeded 95,000 students this year.
Moreover, the Mawhiba Advanced Program for Science and Mathematics supported more than 2,770 students across 100 cities and governorates, aimed at enhancing their skills in science and mathematics.
Mawhiba is a nonprofit foundation dedicated to nurturing gifted students at local, regional and international levels, playing a pivotal role in fostering young talent with a globally recognized methodology for high performance and creativity.
Source: arabnews.com
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New project brings AlUla’s heritage to life
January 01, 2026
ALULA: In the heart of AlUla’s Old Town, where mud-brick houses preserve the memory of early life there, Al-Bandari Ibrahim launched a cultural project to display the creativity of local women by transforming heritage into a living, interactive experience that reflects the community’s identity.
The project is built on tangible and intangible heritage as foundations of cultural identity and is set within the historic Old Town to emphasize authenticity and continuity across generations, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
Local residents play a central role in the project, strengthening their participation in tourism while benefiting economically by sharing traditional knowledge and inherited skills, including clothing, artifacts, handicrafts, and agricultural practices.
Visitors are invited to wear traditional attire, take photographs, and create personalized souvenirs through hands-on experiences that deepen their understanding of AlUla’s heritage.
The project provides an immersive tourism experience that aligns with AlUla’s growth while preserving its cultural value, contributing to the documentation of heritage practices and transforming them into a sustainable cultural and tourism asset.
Source: arabnews.com
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Riyadh reserve invites visitors for tourism activities
January 01, 2026
RIYADH : The tourism programs offered by the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve Development Authority are a cornerstone of ecotourism, covering about 91,500 sq. km of diverse terrain, including mountains, plains, plateaus, valleys, reefs and sand dunes.
This rich environment, combined with historical and heritage sites, creates a blend of nature, history and culture, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
A standout feature is the Linah Camp, which offers a comprehensive experience that highlights the area’s beauty and promotes environmental awareness. Visitors can immerse themselves in nature through recreational activities, including stargazing and learning about the reserve’s biodiversity.
The camp also features a shooting range where trained instructors guide visitors in precision-based activities, enhancing their skills and self-confidence in a tranquil setting. Accommodation options vary, catering to groups of 12 to 31 people, with environmental guides and hunting specialists available to ensure a professional experience.
The reserve is home to species such as gazelles and Arabian oryx, and hunting is conducted in accordance with environmental regulations.
The Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve Development Authority is dedicated to improving its tourism offerings, aiming to establish the reserve as a premier environmental and tourism destination that reflects both natural richness and cultural heritage, the SPA reported.
Source: arabnews.com
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KSrelief chief met UK representatives to Sudan
January 01, 2026
Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, adviser at the Royal Court and supervisor-general of Saudi aid agency KSrelief, recently met with head of British Office Sudan and UK Special Representative to Sudan Richard Crowder in Riyadh.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed humanitarian and relief affairs, as well as prospects for humanitarian action in Sudan, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Praising the Kingdom’s efforts in Sudan, Crowder noted that KSrelief provides essential relief and hope to millions worldwide.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi cities dazzle with staycation attractions for New Year celebrations
AFSHAN AZIZ
December 31, 2025
JEDDAH: Many residents and visitors have opted for staycations in Saudi Arabia to welcome in the new year because of the dizzying array of attractions on offer, including music, theater, art and culinary delights for all ages.
Riyadh, in particular, has proved to be a magnet for those seeking high-energy celebrations. Boulevard City, at the heart of the capital’s festivities, is expected to have large crowds for the planned fireworks.
Huda Al-Faisal, visiting from Dhahran with her husband and two children, said: “We decided to spend our school holidays in Riyadh and visit Boulevard City and Boulevard World.
“Because it is lively, safe, and full of entertainment for the whole family, especially with the onset of winter, it almost feels like being in a Western country.”
The city offers a variety of culinary experiences, from gourmet restaurants to food trucks serving international favorites.
Riyadh’s cultural and entertainment calendar extends beyond the capital. The opening of the Six Flags Qiddiya city on the outskirts has added a new dimension to festive celebrations.
The theme park promises a thrilling start to the year with rollercoasters, water attractions, and family-friendly entertainment.
Diriyah Season continues to captivate with shows, drawing theater enthusiasts eager to enjoy world-class productions in a uniquely Saudi Arabia setting.
Omar Al-Rajab, a Riyadh resident, said: “We’re planning to catch ‘Wicked’ and then explore the Diriyah markets. It’s the perfect mix of culture and entertainment.”
The coastal cities offer a different attraction. In Jeddah, the corniche has been transformed into a hub of color, entertainment, and music, with events including the Art Promenade. Families have been gathering along the promenade to enjoy the lively atmosphere.
Fatimah Al-Qahtani, who is running a game contest on the corniche, said: “Seeing everyone come together, enjoying the music and activities, reminds me how celebrations can truly bring people closer and create lasting memories.”
For those seeking immersive experiences, Winter Wonderland in Jeddah offers themed zones with thrill rides, interactive games and roaming shows, for children and adults.
The Eastern Province is hosting the Sharqiya Winter Festival, where cultural celebrations meet modern entertainment. Visitors can enjoy music, art installations, and culinary delights that showcase the region’s heritage.
Also, The Red Sea Project promises a luxurious celebration with beach parties, sunset cruises, and opportunities to relax at world-class spas or shop in exclusive boutiques.
Ahmed Al-Harthy, who traveled from Jeddah for a friend’s getaway, said: “We booked a beachside dinner and a short cruise till the weekend. It’s peaceful, calm and fun (and) at the same time perfect to start a new year.”
For those seeking history and Islamic culture, Madinah offers a quieter but equally enriching experience. The Prophet’s Biography Exhibition is an interactive journey through Islamic history, while traditional markets such as Al-Tabbakha allow visitors to explore centuries-old culinary traditions.
Families can enjoy guided tours, taste authentic dishes, and even experience a farm visit showcasing Saudi hospitality and culture.
Visiting from Jeddah, Layla Rahman said: “We wanted our children to start the new year by visiting the Prophet’s Mosque, learning and experiencing something meaningful while feeling closer to Islam. Since they are on holiday, we came down for a week.”
The desert landscapes of Al-Ula offer a magical alternative for travelers seeking nature, history, and luxury.
Winter at Tantora, a cultural festival set among the historic rock formations, features live music, art installations, and performances under the stars. Visitors can enjoy guided hikes, stargazing, and open-air shows.
Mariah Johnson, a teacher in Dammam, said: “We will be staying until Friday. Spending the night here felt like stepping into another world. The performances, the scenery, everything is just so surreal, and with the amazing weather, it is unforgettable.”
Resorts and beachfront venues in both Jeddah and Dammam have extended their new year celebrations into the weekend, keeping the festive spirit alive beyond the midnight countdown.
In Jeddah, seaside hotspots including La Plage Beach Resort’s DJ beach party and Siyal Resort offer weekend DJ evenings into the first days of January. Also, luxury lounges such as Soleil Rooftop at Rosewood Jeddah offer live music and themed entertainment.
Along the Eastern Province coast, the Dammam and KhobarCorniche zones that are a part of the broader Khobar Season winter calendar, feature live DJ beach sessions and open-air music.
The seasonal Eastern Nights Festival at King Fahd Park and surrounding public spaces provide a blend of music, dance, and regional artistry.
Source: arabnews.com
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WHO to accredit Asir region for governance and public services
December 31, 2025
RIYADH: The World Health Organization will accredit several areas in Asir region for the quality of their governance and integrated services, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
During a recent visit, the WHO delegation rated the cities of Abha, Tareeb, and MuhayilAsir, as well as King Khalid University.
The delegation praised the level of institutional performance of the Healthy Cities and Quality of Life Program Office at Asir principality, describing it as an advanced national model in governance and cross-sectoral integration.
The assessment was part of a field visit by the delegation from Dec. 14 to 22. The WHO officials were accompanied by a team from the Ministry of Health.
The delegation recorded positive impressions regarding the level of community participation, the integration of health with quality of life, and pride in local identity.
The delegation recommended continued support of Asir’s Healthy Cities and Quality of Life Program Office as a national center of expertise, completion of the accreditation procedures for the cities, and building on developmental observations.
It also called for Asir region to be used as a model for other areas.
The visit included a review of health, education and community initiatives and tours of government entities and municipalities.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi FM Prince Faisal receives Omani counterpart
December 31, 2025
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad bin Hamoud Al-Busaidi in Riyadh on Wednesday.
During the meeting, the two sides reviewed the strong fraternal relations between Saudi Arabia and Oman and discussed ways to further enhance cooperation across various fields.
They also exchanged views on recent regional developments and stressed the importance of continued efforts to promote security and stability in the region.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi Red Sea Authority unveils digital guide to organize coastal tourism
December 31, 2025
RIYADH: The Saudi Red Sea Authority has launched the Introductory Guide to Coastal Tourism Activities, a new digital reference designed to bring information, regulations and procedures together in one place, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
According to SPA, the platform aims to make it easier for tourists, investors and operators to understand requirements related to coastal tourism, while helping streamline procedures across the Kingdom’s coastal destinations.
According to the authority, the guide offers beneficiaries a single gateway to updated rules, conditions and application processes. Users are directed via smart links to the official platforms of relevant government bodies, reducing processing time and creating what the authority says is a more integrated and reliable digital experience. The guide also includes FAQs and advisory notes on permitted and prohibited practices.
The first phase focuses on yachting activities and provides an outline covering a yacht’s journey from arrival to departure. It details documentation requirements, licensing procedures, port-of-entry coordination through licensed agents, and lists of approved maritime tourism service providers, including yacht charter companies and marinas.
In addition, the guide highlights safety measures, environmental sustainability guidelines and mechanisms for submitting feedback and complaints, with periodic updates to ensure alignment with current regulations.
Officials said the launch reflects extensive coordination between the authority and partner entities, with the goal of supporting the growth of the coastal tourism sector, strengthening investment opportunities and contributing to the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.
The guide is expected to serve as a unified reference that simplifies processes for service providers, answers key questions for tourists and offers clearer, more direct information for investors interested in coastal tourism opportunities across the Kingdom.
Source: arabnews.com
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Europe
British Muslims among UK’s most generous donors
31.12.2025
British Muslims are among the UK’s most generous donors, giving an estimated £2.2 billion (nearly $3 billion) annually to charitable causes — up to four times the national average, according to new research by think tank Equi.
While much of this generosity has traditionally supported international aid, there is a growing shift towards domestic giving.
“While a significant share of British Muslim charitable giving supports international humanitarian causes, there is substantial untapped potential to expand support for UK-based initiatives,” Equi noted in its report.
This trend is driven in part by a generational and cultural shift.
Young British Muslim professionals increasingly direct their donations to causes within the UK, both faith-based and secular. They are responding to visible local crises, including homelessness, food insecurity, and child poverty.
Equi highlights the role of British Muslim charities in filling gaps left by a struggling welfare state.
“Despite barriers, both large and small organizations offer housing aid, emergency cash grants and psychological support aimed at diverse groups of beneficiaries, regardless of their faith,” the report said.
“This is valuable work that directly eases pressure on strained public services, which often goes unrecognized.”
However, the report also flags significant challenges for domestic engagement. These include debanking, securitization, restrictive government funding criteria, and a lack of full government recognition, which can hinder the impact of Muslim-led charities.
To address these barriers, Equi calls for more faith-literate and inclusive policymaking.
“Strategic engagement with Muslim and other faith-led organizations, based on principles of collaboration and inclusion, can enhance social cohesion, maximize benefit from Muslim initiatives and experiences, and reshape perceptions of British Muslim contributions to civic life,” the think tank said.
Equi also suggests that proven approaches such as “match-funding” could encourage more UK-focused donations from faith-based organizations.
“This approach would ensure that both domestic and international vulnerable populations are supported by UK aid,” the report stated.
Source: aa.com.tr
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UK welcomes new year with celebrations across the country
Tabby Wilson
January 01, 2026
Millions of people across the UK have officially rung in the new year, gathering at firework events and parties all over the country.
In London, 12,000 fireworks were set off in the city's biggest pyrotechnic display to date, with 100,000 people watching on from the banks of the Thames.
Edinburgh Castle was lit up by six minutes of carefully choreographed explosions, surrounded by tens of thousands of revellers attending the famous Hogmanay street party.
The new year brings chilly weather with snow and ice forecast across much of the UK.
A yellow weather warning for snow and ice is in place for northern Scotland from 06:00 GMT until the end of Friday.
On 2 January, a further yellow warning for snow and ice has been issued across large parts of England and Wales between midnight and noon, extending as far south as London and Kent.
As the iconic midnight bongs of Big Ben sounded across London, the London Eye was at the centre of Europe's biggest firework display, which celebrated some of the highlights of 2025.
The soundtrack included Raye, Sabrina Carpenter, Ed Sheeran and Coldplay, and featured voiceovers from stars such as Celia Imrie, Andrew Cotter and Alison Hammond.
England's Women's Rugby World Cup triumph was acknowledged in the display, along with the Lionesses' win at the Euros and Cynthia Erivo's performance in Wicked: For Good.
London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan hailed the display as the most "legendary" in the world, writing on X that the city's new year celebrations held a clear message about "the importance of togetherness".
Other celebrations took place across the country, from Belfast to Cardiff, Manchester and Newcastle.
Edinburgh held its last official celebration in 2024, after "extreme weather" forced organisers to cancel Hogmanay celebrations.
This time, approximately 45,000 people attended the sold-out street party to usher in 2026, with some of the fireworks used in the display salvaged from last year's cancelled event.
The spectacle was accompanied by a soundtrack that featured some of Scotland's biggest artists, such as Lewis Capaldi and Simple Minds, before concluding with a version of Auld Lang Syne by Skye duo Valtos.
Liverpudlians Cheryl and Terry Brown were among those making merry in the Scottish capital, soaking up all four days of the city's celebrations alongside their seven-year-old son, Oliver.
"We done it a few years ago and we just had to come back," Terry told the BBC, explaining that the family had celebrated in Belfast and London on previous years but Edinburgh's party atmosphere has kept them coming back.
And they aren't the only ones. Cosmio and Neal, two friends from the US state of New Jersey, crossed the pond specifically to ring in 2026 from Edinburgh.
"The dancing, the people, the energy, the vibe - it's just the best way to bring in the new year together," said Neal.
Cosmio added that the pair have made travelling for new year a regular thing but says the energy from the street party in Edinburgh is "a thousand times better" than watching the famous ball drop in New York's Times Square.
Celebrations have already taken place in much of the rest of the world, too. Japan and South Korea marked the event with bell-ringing ceremonies in their capital cities, while Australians celebrated with a spectacular firework display in Sydney.
Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro was lit up by a similarly enormous series of pyrotechnics, with organisers hoping to beat their 2024 Guinness World Record for the biggest New Year's Eve celebration.
On the RRS Sir David Attenborough, stationed in the Antarctic, the crew and science teams rang in the new year with the ship's bell.
By midday GMT, it will officially be 2026 worldwide.
Source: bbc.com
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Ukrainian drones target Moscow during Putin’s New Year address – mayor
31 Dec, 2025
Several Ukrainian long-range drones were intercepted as they headed toward the Russian capital on New Year’s Eve, Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin has announced. No casualties or damage have been reported.
“The Russian air defense forces have destroyed one UAV flying toward Moscow,” Sobyanin wrote on Telegram at 11:55pm, just as Russian President Vladimir Putin’s traditional New Year’s Eve address began.
Another drone was downed shortly after midnight, while seven more were intercepted between 2am and 4am on Thursday, Sobyanin said, adding that emergency services specialists are working at the crash sites.
Flights were temporarily suspended at Domodedovo airport as a precaution.
The incident follows another attempted drone raid on Moscow the day before, in which Russian air defenses downed at least 21 hostile UAVs, Moscow Region Governor Andrey Vorobyov said. One man, aged 57, suffered shrapnel wounds to his back and arm in that attack, according to the same source.
Ukraine has routinely launched drone attacks deep into Russia in recent months, targeting critical infrastructure and residential buildings in what Moscow has described as desperate “terrorist attacks.”
Moscow has been responding with strikes on military-related Ukrainian infrastructure, aiming to degrade Kiev’s drone and weapons production capabilities.
The latest drone raids follow an attempted attack on Russian President Putin’s state residence in Novgorod Region on December 28-29, which Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has condemned as an act of “state terrorism.” Moscow has promised a “non-diplomatic” response to the attack.
Source: rt.com
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Former Soviet republics react to Ukraine’s failed strike on Putin residence
31 Dec, 2025
Ukraine’s failed attempt to strike Russian President Vladimir Putin’s residence in Novgorod Region has drawn swift reactions from several leaders in the former Soviet space. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has publicly condemned the incident, while Uzbek leader ShavkatMirziyoyev warned it threatened regional stability and long-term peace.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reported the incident on Tuesday, saying Kiev had launched 91 long-range drones at Putin’s home on the night of December 28–29. No damage was caused, he said. Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky denied the claim.
On Wednesday, Russia’s Defense Ministry released a flight map and video showing the debris of one of the UAVs that had been used in the failed strike, describing it as “targeted” and “carefully planned.”
The incident came shortly after US President Donald Trump indicated that the Ukraine peace process was nearing a conclusion, following his meeting with Zelensky and a phone call with Putin on Sunday.
Lukashenko described the attack as the “wildest terrorism at the highest state level.” Speaking to reporters in Minsk on Wednesday, he said Russia had the capability to strike Zelensky’s residences but chose not to do so. Lukashenko recalled that when Russia’s nuclear-capable Oreshnik hypersonic missile system was used for the first time, Putin categorically rejected suggestions from “hotheads” to deliver further strikes against “decision-making centers.”
“Actions threatening state facilities and the security of the country’s leadership are unacceptable and hinder the negotiation process,” Tajik President EmomaliRahmon said during a phone call with Putin, according to his press service.
“Such acts pose a threat to stability and security and undermine long-term peace,” Uzbek President ShavkatMirziyoyev said during a phone call with Putin, according to the Kremlin press service.
Kazakh President Kassym-JomartTokaev denounced the attempted attack during a phone call with Putin, while Kyrgyz President SadyrJaparov voiced “extreme concern,” his spokesman AskatAlagozov said.
A number of international leaders have also commented on the incident, including US President Donald Trump, who said he was “very angry” after hearing the news.
Moscow has said the attack was an attempt to undermine Trump’s efforts to mediate an end to the Ukraine conflict. EU leaders held an emergency call after Russia reported the attempted strike, Bloomberg wrote, citing unnamed sources.
Source: rt.com
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Russian forces expanding buffer zone in Ukraine – senior commander
31 Dec, 2025
The Russian military has been progressively pushing Ukrainian troops away from the border, expanding a buffer zone in Ukraine’s Sumy and Kharkov Regions, the chief of Russia’s General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, has stated.
According to a press release published by Russia’s Defense Ministry on Wednesday, Gerasimov made the announcement while inspecting the grouping of forces ‘Sever’ (‘North’).
“The forces of the joint troop grouping are confidently moving deeper into the enemy’s defenses,” with the offensive having reached a record pace in December, the senior commander said.
“In a month’s time, more than 700 square kilometers of territory was liberated,” Gerasimov estimated.
After driving Ukrainian troops out of Russia’s Kursk Region earlier this year, the troops of ‘Sever’ (‘North’) began establishing a cordon sanitaire in the adjacent Ukrainian Sumy and Kharkov regions. According to Gerasimov, the Russian military has taken control of 32 localities there, with the city of Volchansk in Kharkov Region being the largest.
Moscow’s forces continued to extend the buffer zone in December at the order of President Vladimir Putin, the military chief noted.
During his inspection, Gerasimov also decorated multiple service members with state awards and extended New Year’s greetings to the troops, the Defense Ministry’s statement said.
Last month, the top general announced that another Ukrainian stronghold and a key logistical hub in Kharkov Region, the city of Kupyansk, was under full control of Russian forces. The ongoing operation to destroy lingering Ukrainian units, which are tactically encircled to the east of the town, is expected to be concluded by the end of February at the latest.
Kiev, in turn, has rejected reports of the encirclement and dismissed Moscow’s statements as inflated.
Source: rt.com
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Lukashenko claims he warned Putin about assassination attempt
1 Jan, 2026
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has said he warned his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin about a possible assassination plot ahead of a planned trip to South Africa for a BRICS summit in 2023. He made the remarks while commenting on a recent Ukrainian drone attack on Putin’s residence in Novgorod Region.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Ukraine launched 91 long-range drones at Putin’s residence overnight on December 28–29, with no damage reported. Kiev has denied the allegation.
Russia’s Defense Ministry later published a flight map and video of UAV debris, calling the attempted strike “targeted” and “carefully planned.”
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, Lukashenko recounted a personal exchange with Putin shortly before the BRICS summit in South Africa back in 2023. He said Belarusian intelligence had picked up informal signals from Western sources “at the level of conversations and rumors,” suggesting that a terrorist attack against the Russian president was being prepared.
Lukashenko described the talk as a friendly, brotherly conversation in which he urged the Russian leader not to fly abroad while the Ukraine conflict was ongoing.
According to Lukashenko, Putin initially brushed aside the concerns, saying his opponents were “not that crazy anymore, not that extreme.” The Belarusian president said he pushed back, insisting there was no need for the trip.
Ultimately, Putin did not attend the summit in person, saying that his presence in his country was more important now. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrovtraveled there instead. Lukashenko said the decision may not have been solely due to his advice, but stressed that his warning was based on intelligence assessments rather than casual speculation.
Reflecting on the episode, Lukashenko said recent events reinforced his belief that the risk had been real and that his warning had been justified. “It is clear that they all in the West understand: if you remove Putin, everything will be different. This must be taken seriously. I am telling this for the first time today because one must not be careless. They have deceived, and he [Putin] admits it, constantly,” the Belarusian leader said.
In 2025, Putin visited seven countries: Belarus, the United States, China, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, India, and Turkmenistan.
Source: rt.com
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Macron backs bill: France plans social media ban for under-15s; draft law cites screen time risks
Dec 31, 2025
France is preparing a fresh legislative push to curb excessive screen time among children, with a draft law proposing a ban on social media access for those under 15 by next September, according to a document seen by AFP.
The move has the backing of President Emmanuel Macron, who earlier this month said Parliament should begin debating the proposal in January. The initiative follows Australia’s decision this month to impose a social media ban on children under 16, a move described as a world first.
“Many studies and reports now confirm the various risks caused by excessive use of digital screens by adolescents,” the draft law states.The government said children with unrestricted online access are exposed to “inappropriate content” and risk cyber-harassment, while excessive screen use can also disrupt sleep patterns.
The proposed law contains two key provisions. One would make it illegal “the provision by an online platform of an online social media service to a minor under 15”. The second calls for a ban on mobile phone use in secondary schools.
Macron has repeatedly said that protecting minors in the digital space is a priority for his government. However, enforcement challenges and compliance with international and European Union law have complicated previous efforts.
France already introduced a ban on mobile phone use in pre-schools and middle schools in 2018, but the measure is rarely enforced. In 2023, the country also passed a law setting a “digital legal age” of 15, but it has since been blocked for violating European Union rules.
Earlier this month, France’s upper house, the Senate, backed an initiative aimed at protecting teenagers from excessive screen time and social media access. The proposal includes a requirement for parental authorisation for children aged between 13 and 16 to register on social media platforms.
The Senate-backed proposal has been sent to the National Assembly, which will need to approve the text before it can become law.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/europe/macron-backs-bill-france-plans-social-media-ban-for-under-15s-draft-law-cites-screen-time-risks/articleshow/126274483.cms
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/operation-sindoor-message-defence-ministry/d/138268