'Drew Salary While Residing Abroad': UK-Based Islamic Preacher Under ED Lens; Radical Ideology Charge
New Age Islam News Bureau
26 December2025
· ‘Drew salary while residing abroad’: UK-based Islamic preacher under ED lens; radical ideology charge
· Israeli police raid Christmas party in Haifa, arrest Palestinian man dressed as Santa
· KSrelief initiates treatment in Jordan for cancer-stricken Gaza girl
· King's Christmas message urges unity in divided world
· CAIR-NJ Calls on Public Officials to Speak Out Against Anti-Muslim Letter Sent to Passaic County Restaurant
· Christmas: Cleric urges Christian-Muslim unity for Nigeria’s progress
· Father-in-law, son-in-law remanded four more days until Dec 28 over robbery of female student at Al Bukhary Mosque in Kedah
· PFUJ condemns attacks on media in Bangladesh
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India
· NIA's anti-terror conference to firm up common legal norms
· Students protest against alleged Islamophobia at Jadavpur University convocation
· 4 cops injured, internet suspended in Rajasthan’s Chomu after violence erupts during anti-encroachment drive
· JNUTA demands reinstatement of Jamia professor suspended over question on atrocities against Muslims
· 123-Year-Old Church, Muslim Caretaker: Gulmarg Celebrates White Christmas
· How Karnataka Houses debated India’s first anti-hate law: Sound and heat but little light
· ‘Hobson’s Choice amid crackdown’: Mirwaiz Umar Farooq drops ‘Hurriyat Chairman’ designation from social media bio
· Sikh woman gives land for mosque, Hindus pitch in with money
· Army nod to social media peek, not chat: Soldiers can view Instagram, X, YouTube only
· Supreme Court says states cannot name villages after persons, castes or religion law
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Mideast
· Israeli settler attack injures Palestinian baby, five arrested
· Israeli airstrikes kill 3 on Christmas Day in Lebanon
· Syria Kurds chief says ‘all efforts’ being made to salvage deal with Damascus
· Power supply across Kurdistan drops due to technical issue at Iraq’s KhorMor gas field, ministry says
· Editorial: The threat of Yemen’s fragmentation is far reaching
· Turkiye begins black box analysis of jet crash that killed Libyan military chief and 7 others
· Israeli settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque
· Meeting of scholars, preachers, & guides in Dhamar in support of Allah Book & in confronting enemies
· Mass Public Turnout at Historic Al-Janad Mosque to Commemorate Feast of Rajab Friday
· Education Minister chairs Abdullah Bin Khalid College of Islamic Studies Board of Trusteesregular meeting
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Arab World
· Saudi ambassador meets Yemen detainee negotiating delegation
· Madinah’s culinary identity lends itself to shared cross-cultural connection
· KFCRIS’ event focuses on cultural renewal in Japan
· World’s largest falconry festival opens in Riyadh
· Medical supplies delivered to Hadhramaut
· Saudi grand mufti receives CEO of Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites
· Najran’s camels are embedded in local culture and traditions
· Saudi Post issues commemorative stamp to mark Al-Faw’s UNESCO recognition
· National Center for Wildlife releases more than 60 wildlife species at King Khalid Royal Reserve
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Europe
· Royal Family greet crowds after Christmas Day service
· Zelensky adviser claims Ukraine ‘can’t afford’ elections
· Muslim group spreads Christmas cheer to Bristol's homeless for 10th year running
· Community spirit as Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association visit care home on Christmas Eve
· Ukraine a corrupt ‘viper’s den’ – Hunter Biden
· US wants Europe’s largest nuclear plant for cryptomining – Putin
· Putin wishes Trump merry Christmas – Kremlin
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North America
· 'Enjoy what may be your last…': Trump's Christmas message for 'sleazebags' who loved Jeffrey Epstein; warning shot fired
· 'Merry Christmas to all': US releases footage of strikes against ISIS in Nigeria — watch
· ‘Jesus is Palestinian’ message on Times Square billboard triggers reactions online and among tourists
· Gabbard suggests prominent Muslim group wants Shariah law, New Jersey city fires back
· The American people will never get closure on the Epstein files
· Explained: How Americans misused the J-1 visa and exploited foreign labour
· Watch: Trump’s ‘bad Santa’ warning on Christmas Eve; how US President and Melania marked the holiday
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Africa
· Trump announces U.S. Strike on Islamic state targets in Nigeria
· Borno bomb blast sparks heightened security nationwide
· Northern governors condemn Maiduguri Mosque attack
· Al-Shabab remains major threat to stability in Somalia and neighboring countries, UN experts warn
· ‘This Is A Mistake’ – Sheikh Gumi Knocks Nigeria For Allowing U.S Airstrikes Against Terrorists
· NDLEA Urges Nigerians To Stay Drug-Free, Safe During Christmas Celebrations
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Southeast Asia
· Malaysian Bar urges family law reforms as divorces rise, calls to shift away from courtroom battles
· Police take down Malaysia’s largest international drug syndicate, seize RM1.04b in narcotics
· Malaysia’s resilience shines in 2025, says Amir Hamzah, with ringgit roaring and unemployment at decade‑low
· Three hours in, Najib’s 1MDB judgment adjourned — courtroom drama paused for Friday prayers
· 1MDB: Inside Malaysia’s extraordinary tale of missing billions and political downfall
· Perlis assemblyman insists actions justified, vows PAS remains in his heart
· Steven Sim allocates RM100,000 for smart boards at Bukit Mertajam religious school
· Malaysia’s economy resilient in 2025 despite global trade tensions
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South Asia
· Turkey detains 152,000 undocumented refugees, including 42,000 Afghans
· BNP to hold nationwide special prayer after Juma today
· ‘NCP leaning towards seat-sharing deal with Jamaat’
· Jamaatameer collects nomination form for Dhaka-15
· 'This country belongs to people of the hills and plains, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians'
· Afghanistan, India, and a New Chapter of Trade Prospects
· RahmanullahLakanwal, Afghan Asylum Seeker, Faces Possible Death Penalty in U.S. Capital Shooting Case
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/radical-ideology-uk-based-islamic/d/138186
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‘Drew salary while residing abroad’: UK-based Islamic preacher under ED lens; radical ideology charge
Dec 26, 2025
NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate on Friday registered a money laundering case against Islamic preacher MaulanaShamshul Huda Khan and has initiated an investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
Central agency's action is based in an FIR registered by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-terrorism squad. Shamshul is based now based in UK after he obtained the British citizenship in 2013.
Shamshul was appointed as an assistant teacher in a government-aided madrasa in 1984. However, it is alleged that he continued to draw salary from 2013 to 2017, despite neither being an Indian citizen nor actively discharging teaching duties, while residing abroad.
According to officials, Shamshul travelled to several foreign countries and is alleged to have received substantial funds amounting to several crores of rupees through 7–8 bank accounts maintained in India.
"It has further been found that he acquired more than a dozen immovable properties, with an estimated value exceeding Rs 30 crore," they added.
Meanwhile, the investigative agencies have said that his links with radical organisations based in the United Kingdom are under examination.
"He had also visited Pakistan, and his alleged contacts with extremist organisations there are being probed. He is believed to be a member of the Pakistani radical organisation Dawat-e-Islami," officials said.
"He had also visited Pakistan, and his alleged contacts with extremist organisations there are being probed. He is believed to be a member of the Pakistani radical organisation Dawat-e-Islami. The ED is currently examining the funding network, foreign linkages, and assets associated with the accused as part of the ongoing investigation," they added.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/drew-salary-while-residing-abroad-uk-based-islamic-preacher-under-ed-lens-radical-ideology-charge/articleshow/126185682.cms
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Israeli police raid Christmas party in Haifa, arrest Palestinian man dressed as Santa
December 25, 2025
A person dressed as Santa Claus sells toys to people ahead of Christmas in Bethlehem, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, December 23, 2025. (Reuters)
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LONDON: Police in Israel last week arrested a Palestinian man dressed as Santa Claus at a Christmas celebration in Haifa, The Guardian reported.
The Christmas event was closed on Sunday, after Israeli officers stormed the area and confiscated equipment, the MossawaCenter, a rights group for Palestinian citizens of Israel, said.
The Palestinian Santa Claus performer was arrested, as well as a DJ and street vendor.
In a video circulating on social media, police can be seen forcing the men to the ground and handcuffing them, as crowds of bystanders watch on.
The Palestinian man dressed as Santa Claus resisted arrest and assaulted an officer, Israeli police said in a statement.
But the police used excessive force during the raid, which was conducted without legal authority on the music hall venue, Mossawa said.
Palestinians across the occupied West Bank and Gaza are celebrating Christmas this week despite Israel’s imposition of restrictions on daily life there.
Celebrations for Dec. 25 were held in Bethlehem for the first time since the beginning of the war on Gaza.
Marching bands blew bagpipes in processions through the streets in the city of Jesus’ birth.
Churchgoers attended mass there at the Church of the Nativity and Palestinian children sang carols as the city hosted major celebrations.
Gaza’s small Christian community marked its first Christmas in the war-torn enclave since the signing of a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Amid the rubble strewn across Gaza, Christmas trees glitter brought sections of color to the territory, The Guardian reported.
Israel continued military operations and settler attacks took place despite the holiday.
In the town of TurmusAyya outside Ramallah, Israeli settlers uprooted olive trees belonging to Palestinians, and near Hebron soldiers stormed the homes of residents and confiscated vehicles, according to the Palestinian news agency, WAFA.
Israel is carrying out mounting attacks against Christian sites in the occupied Palestinian territories.
A report in March documented 32 attacks on church properties and 45 assaults against Christians.
Pope Leo XIV, in his first Christmas address as pontiff, drew attention to the abysmal humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians there are living in tents amid fierce cold and rain, just as Jesus had been born in a stable, with God “pitching his fragile tent” among the peoples of the world, Leo said.
He added: “How, then, can we not think of the tents in Gaza, exposed for weeks to rain, wind and cold.”
The pope highlighted the plight of “the defenseless populations, tried by so many wars.”
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2627448/middle-east
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KSrelief initiates treatment in Jordan for cancer-stricken Gaza girl
December 26, 2025
Roza Al-Dreimli and her mother meet with KSrelief officials who facilitated her transfer to Jordan for treatment King Hussein Cancer Center. (SPA)
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AMMAN: A cancer-stricken Palestinian girl from Gaza is now undergoing clinical observation prior to treatment at a specialist hospital in Jordan, thanks to the Saudi aid agency KSrelief.
Roza Al-Dreimli was transported to Amman from the Gaza Strip through the initiative of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) as part of Saudi Arabia’s continued commitment to providing life-saving aid and medical care to Palestinians suffering from critical health conditions, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Friday.
The report said that Roza’s case was prioritized due to the complexity of her condition, as assessments indicated a need for advanced treatment of cancerous cells at the base of the brain. She is now at the King Hussein Cancer Center (KHCC).
"Under the supervision of a medical team specialized in pediatric brain tumors, she is currently undergoing intensive clinical monitoring and precise periodic examinations to assess the tumor’s response to treatment, ensure control of the condition, and prevent any potential neurological or visual complications resulting from the tumor’s location," SPA said.
The family expressed profound gratitude for KSrelief’s swift intervention, noting that the specialized care provided at KHCC has renewed their hope for their daughter’s recovery.
Such specialized care is currently unavailable in the Gaza Strip because of the destruction of hospitals during 26 months of bombardment by the Israeli military.
Israel systematically destroyed homes and commercial buildings and infrastructure in the Palestinian enclave in retaliation to the Oct. 7, 2023, raid by Hamas of Israeli border villages, during which the militant group killed more than 1,200 people and took 254 hostages.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2627485/saudi-arabia
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King's Christmas message urges unity in divided world
26 December 2025
Sean Coughlan
King Charles: 'We can find the strength to ensure that right triumphs over wrong'
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The King's Christmas message has invoked the wartime spirit, calling on communities to pull together in an increasingly divided world and urging people to get "to know our neighbours".
His traditional speech, recorded in Westminster Abbey, remembered this year's 80th anniversaries of VE Day and VJ Day and said we should "never lose sight" of the values in which "communities came together in the face of such great challenge".
The King, speaking in the abbey's medieval Lady Chapel, also hailed the "spontaneous bravery" of those who helped in emergencies, such as the Bondi Beach attack in Australia.
A Ukrainian choir sang a carol, with many of the group's singers in the UK because of the war.
The speech included a call for quiet and calm as "our world seems to spin ever faster", with King Charles quoting poet TS Eliot's words about finding the "still point of the turning world".
A royal aide said this was a reference to the social impact of new technologies on communities, and that people might consider a "digital detox".
For the second year, the message was delivered in a location away from a royal palace, the King using a chapel in the abbey to talk about life's "pilgrimage" and the lessons for current times.
In front of Christmas trees originally used for the Princess of Wales's carol concert at the Abbey, he spoke of the importance of community cohesion and bridging divides.
"As I meet people of different faiths, I find it enormously encouraging to hear how much we have in common," said the King, speaking under the chapel's famous vaulted ceiling.
"With the great diversity of our communities we can find the strength to ensure that right triumphs over wrong."
He praised the wartime generation's "courage and sacrifice" and their togetherness in the face of adversity, with the broadcast showing pictures of this year's commemorations marking 80 years since the end of World War Two in Europe and the Far East.
"These are the values which have shaped our country.
"As we hear of division, both at home and abroad, they are the values of which we must never lose sight," said the King.
There was praise too for the heroic actions of those caught up in violent incidents.
"Individuals and communities have displayed spontaneous bravery, instinctively placing themselves in harm's way to defend others," said the King.
His speech was accompanied by images from Bondi Beach in Australia, where earlier this month bystanders intervened against a gun attack on a Jewish community event.
There were also pictures of the King at a synagogue in Manchester, where he met members of the congregation who had tried to stop an attacker.
As an example of building bridges between religious leaders, the broadcast showed this year's state visit to the Vatican, with the King speaking of the "historic moment of spiritual unity" when he prayed with Pope Leo.
The King reflected on the Christmas story, describing Jesus, Mary and Joseph as a "homeless" family, and saying their message was about "peace and reconciliation" and represented a "prayer for our times".
It was a Christmas message that did not dwell on any of the King's personal challenges.
There was no reference to his health, after he recently recorded a video message saying there was "good news" that his cancer treatment would be reduced next year.
There were no references to his brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who was stripped of his titles this year, in the speech.
The accompanying film focused on the working royals, including Prince William and Catherine.
There were pictures of Prince George on his first visit to the Passage homelessness charity, where he went with his father Prince William last week.
The King has been a strong supporter of Ukraine since Russia's invasion and there was a symbolic sign of this with the broadcast including the Carol of the Bells, a Ukrainian carol sung by the Songs for Ukraine Chorus.
Many members of the choir are in the UK because of the war in Ukraine.
Earlier, the King led the Royals in celebrating the high point of the festive season with a service of Christmas carols and prayers at St Mary Magdalene Church on Charles's private Sandringham Estate in Norfolk.
After the service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Norfolk, the royals greeted and interacted with excited crowds who had gathered on the crisp Christmas morning.
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce86x326y08o
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CAIR-NJ Calls on Public Officials to Speak Out Against Anti-Muslim Letter Sent to Passaic County Restaurant
December 25, 2025
The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, said today that public officials should speak out against an anti-Muslim letter sent to a Passaic County restaurant.
CAIR-NJ Communications Manager AyaElamroussi told News 12 New Jersey:
“We really need our officials to come forth and condemn this whether it’s issuing a statement, whether it’s posting a video on social media, whether it’s going to the mosque and speaking to the community. Because right now, the hate against Muslims has been normalized for too long.”
Earlier this week, CAIR-NJ held a press conference at Paterson City Hall alongside Mayor Andre Sayegh and other community leaders to condemn Director of National Intelligence TulsiGabbard’s defamatory and dangerous smear of Paterson and its American Muslim residents.
CAIR’s national office also condemned Gabbard’s rant against American Muslims and Islam during a Turning Point USA conference over the weekend as “delusional” and “disqualifying.”
During a speech at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest on December 20, Gabbard falsely claimed that Muslims in Paterson are plotting to impose “sharia law” and “Islamic principles” on the city through legal or violent means. CAIR-NJ says these claims are baseless, dangerous, and contribute to anti-Muslim hate and discrimination.
Earlier this year, CAIR released its 2025 Civil Rights Report, Unconstitutional Crackdowns, which reveals that Islamophobia remains at record-high levels nationwide.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
Source: cair.com
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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-nj-calls-on-public-officials-to-speak-out-against-anti-muslim-letter-sent-to-passaic-county-restaurant/
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Christmas: Cleric urges Christian-Muslim unity for Nigeria’s progress
December 25, 2025
JideAjia
The Founder and Grand Sheikh of the Caring and Sharing Sufi Centre (Muslims’ In Light Organisation), Dr Rasheed Akinbile, has called on Nigerians to prioritise interfaith harmony, stating, “The unity of Christians and Muslims is essential for the nation’s progress.”
In a Christmas message personally signed by him and made available to PUNCH Online on Thursday, the cleric emphasised that the season offers a unique opportunity for Nigerians to reflect on the virtues of love and selflessness.
“Christmas is a sacred season and we should show love and spread light and laughter across the nation by giving and receiving joy and happiness,” Akinbile stated.
The cleric, who is a well-known advocate for religious tolerance, urged adherents of the two major faiths to look beyond their differences and find common ground in the teachings of Jesus Christ, whom he described as a universal symbol of peace.
“The adherents of the two major faiths must imbibe the teachings of Jesus Christ or Prophet Isa (Alaei Salam), whose entire life was a remarkable disposition of selflessness, sacrifice and service to humanity,” the statement read.
Addressing the current state of the nation, Akinbile noted that national development is intrinsically linked to how citizens treat one another at the community level.
He urged Nigerians to become “their brothers’ keepers” to foster a stable environment for growth.
“We have to deepen the peace and harmony we are enjoying by being our brothers’ keeper and good neighbors to one another in the interest of peace and development of Nigeria,” he added.
He further lauded the Federal Government for its commitment to maintaining law and order and upholding the constitutional right to freedom of religion.
He specifically praised the existing cordial relationship between Muslims and Christians in the country, describing it as a foundation that must be protected.
The Grand Sheikh concluded his message with a spiritual charge, urging the wealthy and comfortable to remember the less privileged during the festivities.
“In spreading light, love, and laughter, we must consciously extend hands of support to fellow human beings and the needy in our various groups and societies.
“I pray that the divine Light, Love and Power brought to the world by Jesus Christ descend upon our dear country and on all citizens,” he said.
Source: punchng.com
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https://punchng.com/christmas-cleric-urges-christian-muslim-unity-for-nigerias-progress/
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Father-in-law, son-in-law remanded four more days until Dec 28 over robbery of female student at Al Bukhary Mosque in Kedah
By Malay Mail
25 Dec 2025
ALOR SETAR, Dec 25 — Two men, a father-in-law and his son-in-law, suspected of being involved in a robbery targeting a female student at Masjid Al Bukhary last Friday, have had their remand extended by another four days to facilitate investigations.
Kota Setar district police chief Assistant Commissioner Syed Basri Syed Ali said the suspects, aged 23 and 46, will remain in remand until December 28, reported BuletinTV3.
He said further investigations are still ongoing.
Media reports previously described the case as particularly disturbing, with the father-in-law allegedly conspiring with his son-in-law to carry out the robbery before both were arrested by police last Saturday.
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/12/25/father-in-law-son-in-law-remanded-four-more-days-until-dec-28-over-robbery-of-female-student-at-al-bukhary-mosque-in-kedah/203228
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PFUJ condemns attacks on media in Bangladesh
Dec 26, 2025
Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has strongly condemned the recent violence, vandalism and arson targeting media houses in Bangladesh.
In a joint statement issued yesterday, PFUJ President Afzal Butt and Secretary General Arshad Ansari denounced the targeted attacks on the offices of The Daily Star and ProthomAlo, as well as the assault on NurulKabir, editor of New Age and president of the Editors' Council.
"Silencing the press through physical intimidation is a direct violation of the constitutional right to freedom of expression and the rule of law," the PFUJ leaders said.
They also expressed deep concern over reports that more than 100 journalists in Bangladesh remain detained without trial, demanding their immediate and unconditional release.
The PFUJ further highlighted what it described as a disturbing regional trend, pointing to similar incidents of violence in Nepal. Just months ago, mob attacks targeted the Kantipur Group, Annapurna Post and Image TV.
The leadership also paid tribute to photojournalist Suresh Rajak of Avenews TV, who died in an arson attack in Kathmandu on March 28, 2025, noting that the perpetrators of these crimes remain unaccountable.
The PFUJ called upon the governments concerned to conduct fair, impartial and speedy investigations into all incidents of arson and violence, identify and bring the perpetrators to justice, end the culture of impunity and ensure the safety of journalists as they perform their professional duties.
"Violence and harassment aimed at silencing the media are unacceptable in any democratic society," the statement concluded.
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/crime-justice/news/pfuj-condemns-attacks-media-bangladesh-4066316
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India
NIA's anti-terror conference to firm up common legal norms
26 Dec 2025
MukeshRanjan
NEW DELHI: With special focus on measures to strengthen prosecution-led counter-terror efforts across the country and evolve a unified legal framework governing investigations, senior police functionaries will deliberate during the two-day ‘Anti-Terror Conference’ beginning Friday.
Organised by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the conference will be inaugurated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. According to officials, the participating police officers will extensively share their operational experiences, best practices and deliberate over the use of emerging technologies to counter terror networks in the country.
he other points on the agenda are the mechanisms for improved international legal cooperation and strategies to dismantle terror ecosystems operating in different counter-terrorism theatres across the country. The officials said, ‘During the course of the different sessions at the meet, the police officers are going to review the progress made on the consensus and recommendations adopted at last year’s meet.
During the meet last year, there was a consensus among various central and state agencies and police forces on the need for stronger collaborative efforts backed by a standardised strategy to combat the menace of terrorism, particularly with respect to cybercrime and financial terrorism.
The conference had then focused on the need for a unified approach to deal with terrorism across states in the interest of national security, the officials said, adding that a consensus had then also emerged during the sessions on the importance of a holistic, well-rounded strategy, encompassing the entire national framework extending from the government down to the lowest levels of policing and investigation.
As the tone of last year’s conference saw intense discussions on key terror-related topics and concerns through five thematic sessions, this year’s conference may include some key announcements by the Home Minister.
The previous conference witnessed several announcements made by the Home Minister linked to far-reaching measures to make India’s anti-terror fight more impactful, including the formulation of a national counter-terrorism policy and strategy to fight the entire ‘ecosystem’ of terrorism. The Home
Minister may discuss or share some developments on the policy this year, as suggested by the sources.
Underlining the government’s commitment of ‘zero tolerance’ against terrorism, the Home Minister last year had also emphasised the need for adoption of a coordinated approach, from police stations up to the DGP office, to deal with new challenges like terror funding through illegal drug trade and crypto.
Officials said, ‘During the meet, the Home Minister is going to personally review the progress made on all these counts.’ Meanwhile, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is in the process
of finalising India’s first anti-terror policy, which will provide a template for all states to combat and respond to terror-related incidents, the officials said.
key sessions
Collecting evidence from foreign jurisdictions
Digital forensics and data analysis in CT investigations
Effective trial management
Addressing radicalisation and espionage
Tackling hybrid threats to national security
Disrupting terror financing networks through tools, techniques, and case studies
Building future-ready counter-terrorism strategies
Source: newindianexpress.com
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https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2025/Dec/26/nias-anti-terror-conference-to-firm-up-common-legal-norms
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Students protest against alleged Islamophobia at Jadavpur University convocation
SubhenduMaiti
26 Dec 2025
KOLKATA: Two students held a poster reading ''there is no place for Islamophobia at Jadavpur University'' while receiving their citations and certificates from the Vice-Chancellor (VC), triggering controversy.
Speaking to media, the students alleged that during an English semester examination held on Monday, an invigilator had asked a third-year undergraduate female student wearing a head scarf to help her classmate partially remove her hijab to verify whether she was using any wireless headphone.
“We thought such type of conduct is undesirable in a prestigious university like JU, which is known for its liberal and secular views. We had no intention to create any ruckus but we thought we must protest against this conduct. That’s why we had held a poster while receiving undergraduate degrees during the convocation programme,” said one of two protesting girls on Wednesday evening.
Distancing itself from the protest, the CPI(M)-backed Students’ Federation of India (SFI) leader said, ''What they did is entirely their own decision. It had nothing to do with SFI's demonstration during the convocation demanding immediate student union polls, representation in ICC, or campus security. We do not support any act which may hurt the sentiments of an individual."
Dismissing the allegations, an English faculty member said, ''We deny allegations of Islamophobia. Several students were caught attempting to cheat during the exam, following which vigilance was tightened. If anyone's conduct seemed suspicious, re-checking was carried out. At least four examinees were caught using headphones last week, none of whom belonged to the minority community.''
If teachers are targeted in this manner, it would become impossible for them to carry out their duties, the faculty member said requesting anonymity.
It’s learnt that the JU authorities have started looking into the allegations after students submitted a letter to the VC.
Source: newindianexpress.com
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https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2025/Dec/25/two-students-protest-against-alleged-islamophobia-at-jadavpur-university-convocation
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4 cops injured, internet suspended in Rajasthan’s Chomu after violence erupts during anti-encroachment drive
December 26, 2025
Four policemen were injured in stone-pelting during the removal of iron railings erected along a road outside a mosque in Chomu town, 40 kms away from Jaipur early Friday, reported news agency PTI.
According to police, discussions were held on Thursday evening between the administration and members of a community over stones placed on the road outside the mosque. The community members had agreed to remove the stones on their own. However, after the stones were removed, some people allegedly began installing iron railings to create a boundary outside the mosque, leading to fresh objections as the structure encroached the roadway.
Tensions flared when police proceeded to remove the iron railings using an excavator on Friday morning. Some miscreants allegedly began hurling stones at the excavator and the police.
The injured police personnel were admitted to hospital.
“The situation is completely under control. Four policemen sustained injuries in stone-pelting. Strict action will be taken against those taking law into their hands,” Director General of Police (Law and Order) Sanjay Agarwal was later quoted as saying by PTI.
As the situation escalated, additional police force was rushed to the spot from Chomu, Harmada, Vishwakarma, Daulatpura, and other police stations nearby. Police also fired tear gas shells and used mild force to disperse the crowd.
Deputy Superintendent of Police, Chomu, Usha Yadav said two to three others also sustained minor injuries. “All senior police officers are on the spot, and additional police personnel have been deployed to maintain law and order,” she said.
Internet services have been suspended in Chomu for 24 hours as a precautionary measure. Police personnel have been conducting flag marches across the town since morning to maintain law and order, and teams have been formed to identify and arrest those involved in the violence.
Source: indianexpress.com
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https://indianexpress.com/article/india/rajasthan-cops-injured-internet-suspended-in-chomu-violence-anti-encroachment-10439659/
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JNUTA demands reinstatement of Jamia professor suspended over question on atrocities against Muslims
December 26, 2025
The Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers’ Association (JNUTA) has demanded the reinstatement of the JamiaMilliaIslamia (JMI) professor who was suspended allegedly for setting a question on atrocities against Muslims in the BA (Hons.) Social Work semester examination.
“Questioning and debating, and differences in perspectives, are integral to academics,” the JNUTA said in a statement issued on Wednesday night, adding that the question was “perfectly legitimate” in a paper dealing with social problems in India.
The JMI administration issued an order on December 23 suspending the professor until an inquiry committee submits a report. According to university officials, action was taken after social media denounced the question, calling it “polarising and communal”.
‘Academic witch-hunt’
The JNUTA described JMI’s action as an “academic witch-hunt”.
The association said, “The JNUTA demands a stop to what can be described as the beginning of an academic witch-hunt that can only sound the death knell of an institution of higher learning.”
“The extension of a disagreement or difference of opinion to the point of policing academic thought to suit this or that narrative goes fundamentally against the spirit of such questioning and debate, and no university can remain a university if it indulges in such practices,” it added.
Source: thehindu.com
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123-Year-Old Church, Muslim Caretaker: Gulmarg Celebrates White Christmas
Dec 25, 2025
On Christmas Day, St. Mary's Church stands out in the heart of a snow-covered Gulmarg. As the faithful queue to offer quiet prayers, the church represents the syncretic culture of Kashmir and demonstrates how religion can act as a binding force between communities.
Muzaffar Ahmad, a local Muslim, is the caretaker of the 123-year-old Victorian-style church. On Christmas Day, he is heartened to see visitors from diverse backgrounds filling the pews. He notes that many visitors are pleasantly surprised when they learn of his identity.
"When people hear that a Muslim is the caretaker of the church, they feel so happy," Muzaffar said. "It feels good that my service here is bringing people joy."
For many visitors, celebrating a "White Christmas" is a lifelong dream, and the serene setting of St. Mary's makes the experience fulfilling. "It's wonderful to have a white Christmas and so nice that we could come to church," said a visitor from Hyderabad. Another added, "It's the first time in my life I'm celebrating Christmas in the snow."
Gulmarg is currently draped in a thick white blanket. On this bright, sunny day, the light turns the snow on the ground and mountains into a golden carpet. Long icicles hang from the church's steep green roof, a result of sub-zero overnight temperatures.
A large number of tourists have arrived to celebrate Christmas and the New Year in this "winter wonderland." Hotels are fully booked through next week. On the nearby slopes, people from across the country have arrived to learn skiing. For locals who earn their living through winter sports and tourism, the influx of visitors is as festive as the holiday itself.
Gulmarg remains India's premier ski destination. This recent snowfall arrived at the start of Chillai Kalan-the harshest 40-day period of winter-providing the perfect timing for the snow to settle. While the cover is not yet deep enough for professional skiing, the atmosphere is electric.
At the Gulmarg Gondola, Asia's highest cable car, long queues of tourists wait for a dream ride. The ascent offers a panoramic view of snow-capped peaks as the cabins pass over a vast, frozen pine forest.
Source: ndtv.com
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How Karnataka Houses debated India’s first anti-hate law: Sound and heat but little light
JOHNSON T.A.
December 25, 2025
Both Houses of the Karnataka Legislature recently passed the Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2025, which is the first such legislation in the country. The debates on the Bill in both the state Assembly and Legislative Council, however, seemed lacklustre, even as the proposed law touches upon the lofty ideals of democracy and constitutionalism, at the heart of which is the freedom of speech and expression guaranteed under Article 19 of the Constitution.
During the debates, there was barely any acknowledgment of the global cultural shifts, particularly among the younger generations, where public affronts based on religion, ethnicity, nationality, race, caste, gender, sexual orientation, or other identity markers are increasingly deemed unacceptable.
Nor was there any invocation of the celebrated champions of free speech, like the French writer Voltaire, and their views.
The discussions unfolded along predictable partisan lines. The Siddaramaiah-led Congress government defended its legislation as a necessary response to rising hate speech and hate crimes, especially in the age of social media. The principal Opposition BJP slammed it, warning that the law was “vague, unconstitutional and vulnerable to misuse”, likening it to a return to the “excesses” of the Emergency era.
The Bill, passed by both the Houses during the just-concluded winter session of the state Legislature, now awaits the assent of the Governor amid appeals from the BJP to withhold his approval.
According to government sources, the Bill was brought by the Siddaramaiah government at the instance of the Congress leadership to address what it views as the growing incidence of hate and enmity, driven largely by the reach and speed of the internet and social media platforms.
The law seeks to “curb and prevent dissemination, publication or promotion of hate speech and hate crimes, which cause disharmony and hatred in society, against a person or group of persons or organisations, and provide punishment for such crimes”.
The law allows its invocation for bias expressed through actions or words on grounds including religion, race, caste or community, sex, gender, sexual orientation, place of birth, residence, language, disability, or tribal identity.
Two provisions of the Bill have especially generated heat. First, it prescribes imprisonment of up to seven years for repeat offences — significantly more stringent than punishments under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. Comparable provisions under the BNS, such as Section 196 (promoting enmity), Section 299 (outraging religious feelings through malicious acts), Section 352 (intentional insult), and Section 353 (statements for public mischief), have lighter penalties.
Second, offences under the Bill are classified as non-bailable. This marks a sharp departure from existing provisions, under which bail is often granted due to the lower maximum punishments.
Hate speech in social media age
By all accounts, the explosion of information technology and social media has resulted in a spike of hate speech cases, especially online, previously defined by the IPC and BNS laws under provisions for intentional insults, outraging of religious feelings, mischievous statements and promoting enmity among communities.
Such cases originating on social media increased from 130 in 2020 to 994 in 2025 (up to November 30) in the state, according to data compiled by the Karnataka Police. The cases linked specifically to hate speech doubled from 39 in 2022 to 84 in 2024, which stood at 77 by the end of November 2025.
Despite various reservations expressed by sections of the police and civil society, particularly about the ambiguity of definitions, the Bill was tabled, debated, and passed by both Houses.
“What is not covered in the BNS, we have brought into this Bill,” state Home Minister G Parameshwara said while piloting the legislation.
Assembly, Council debates
The debate in the Assembly was short-lived as the Bill was passed soon after its introduction amid protests by the BJP MLAs, especially from coastal Karnataka, a region accounting for most of the hate-linked incidents in the state. Of the 130 cases recorded in 2020, 54 were from coastal districts while in 2025, the region accounted for 320 of 994 cases.
The Congress MLAs maintained that the proposed law did not violate Article 19 and instead fell squarely within the “reasonable restrictions” permitted under Article 19(2). The BJP leaders countered them, alleging that the Bill was designed to target political opponents and silence dissent.
Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Assembly, R Ashoka, attacked the Bill, saying it intended to “make Hitlers out of the police”. “This is a Bill that seems to have come to the mind of the Home Minister when it did not seem necessary for the makers of the Constitution. They have introduced terms like mental pain and creation of feelings of hate as constituting a hate speech,” he argued.
The disruptions in the Assembly meant that substantive arguments were largely deferred to the Legislative Council, which saw a considerably more detailed debate, with 23 speakers from both the Congress and the BJP articulating their positions.
In the Council, invoking the Constitution as the “Bhagavad Gita of the country”, BJP MLC K S Naveen said, “BabasahebAmbedkar gave fundamental rights to all citizens. Freedom of speech and expression is the foundation of democracy. This freedom does not exist in dictatorships.”
He argued that the Bill amounted to the government dictating what citizens could or could not say, placing excessive discretionary power in the hands of executive magistrates and police officers functioning under the political executive.
BJP leader and MLC C T Ravi described the Bill as “a dangerous weapon for political retribution.” He cited landmark Supreme Court judgments — RomeshThapar vs State of Madras (1950), BrijBhushan vs State of Delhi (1950), Sakal Papers vs Union of India (1961), and KesavanandaBharati vs State of Kerala (1973) — to argue that freedom of speech formed part of the Constitution’s basic structure.
“The definition of hate speech (in the Bill) is vague and emotion-based. Who decides what causes emotional distress? Police officers? This gives a free licence to the administration to target rivals,” Ravi argued.
He warned that even forwarding content on social media without malicious intent could attract prosecution, potentially criminalising ordinary WhatsApp users.
The debate took a sharp ideological turn when Ravi delved into the distinction between religion and dharma, asserting the moral universality of Hindu dharma and questioning whether criticism of religious doctrines could be criminalised under the Bill. “One religion is identified with the global phenomenon of terrorism. When that religion is analysed it is seen as a political ideology and not a religion,” he alleged.
Amid the din, state IT Minister PriyankKharge intervened, saying that “If you make a hate speech, the law applies. If you don’t, it won’t.”
Other BJP MLCs echoed their party line. K PrathapSimhaNayak warned that no law should become a “double-edged sword”. “Constitutional rights are sacrosanct. For short-term political gains, a law has been brought that challenges the ideals of the freedom struggle,” he claimed.
BJP MLC Bharathi Shetty acknowledged the need to curb hate speech but criticised the lack of its “clear definition” in the Bill. “There is a danger that even criticism of the government could be construed as hate speech,” she said.
Govt’s defence
Parameshwara rejected the Opposition’s charges, citing Article 19(2) which explicitly allows the State to impose reasonable restrictions for the sake of public order, decency, morality, and prevention of incitement to an offence.
He also referred to a May 2025 Supreme Court order in Vishal Tiwari vs Union of India, which emphasised the need for effective legal mechanisms to curb hate speech. “Hate speech erodes dignity, fuels disharmony, and undermines tolerance in a multicultural society,” he said.
Senior Congress leader and MLC B K Hariprasad strongly supported the Bill, calling secularism a basic feature of the Constitution as affirmed in the apex court’s S R Bommai judgment. “Currently, without any Emergency being imposed, the rights of several people are being curbed. They (BJP) are not saying why (climate activist) SonamWangchuk has been jailed. (Former IPS officer) Sanjiv Bhatt has been in prison for seven years. There are people like (student activist) Umar Khalid, who have been languishing in jail without a chargesheet… Minorities are routinely targeted for political gains. Hate speech leads to violence and deaths. The Supreme Court itself has repeatedly intervened,” he said.
Congress MLC Ivan D’Souza, a lawyer from coastal Karnataka, argued that bailable offences had failed to deter moral policing, vigilantism, and hate crimes. “A stringent law creates deterrence. Repeat offenders deserve stronger punishment,” he said, drawing parallels with the BJP-led state governments’ moves to amend various cow slaughter and religious conversion laws.
Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar did not speak during the debates, but defended the Bill outside the House. “This Bill is to maintain peace and brotherhood. Hate speech has increased. Those opposing it are the ones making provocative speeches,” Siddaramaiah said following the end of the winter session on December 19.
Shivakumar also asserted that “hate speech has no place in a civilised society”.
A S Ponnana, legal adviser to the CM, argued that social media had amplified the impact of hate speech beyond traditional legal frameworks. “This law is against hate speech, not freedom of speech,” he stated.
Voices from civil society
The civil society groups, including Campaign Against Hate Speech, welcomed the intent of the legislation, but criticised its vague definitions as well as a lack of the consultation process.
The group noted that hate speech disproportionately targets Dalits, Muslims, Christians, women, and queer communities. However, it warned that emotion-based definitions could restrict legitimate speech and dissent. “It has potential to address endemic hate, but also to restrict Article 19(1)(a),” the activist group said in a letter to Siddaramaiah.
Given the nature of the debates in the state Legislature, the BJP’s strong opposition, and the concerns raised by the civil society, it is apparent that the new law, if given an assent by the Governor, will be tested in the courts for its legality and validity.
The state law department was said to be in favour of sending the Bill to a legislative sub-committee if it was staunchly opposed in the House. However, the short-lived debate in the Assembly seemingly ended the prospects of such a legislative review of the proposed law.
Source: indianexpress.com
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‘Hobson’s Choice amid crackdown’: Mirwaiz Umar Farooq drops ‘Hurriyat Chairman’ designation from social media bio
26.12.25
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the chief cleric and a moderate separatist voice in the Kashmir Valley, has removed the designation of “Chairman All Parties Hurriyat Conference” from his verified X profile, citing pressure from authorities following the ban on Hurriyat constituents under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Explaining the move, Mirwaiz said he was compelled to make the change after being warned that his account would be taken down if the designation remained, describing the situation as a “Hobson’s choice”.
“For some time now, I was being pressed by the authorities to make changes to my X (formerly Twitter) handle as Hurriyat chairman, as all constituents of Hurriyat Conference, including the Awami Action Committee that I head have been banned under the UAPA, making Hurriyat a banned organisation, failing which they will take down my handle.
“At a time when public space and avenues of communication stand severely restricted, this platform remains among the very few means available to me to reach out to my people and share my views on our issues with them, and the outside world. Under such circumstances, it is a Hobson's choice I was left to make,” Mirwaiz said on X.
The bio on Mirwaiz’s X handle, edited on Thursday evening, now carries only his name and basic location details. He has more than two lakh followers on the platform.
Mirwaiz, whose own organisation, the Awami Action Committee, has been banned by the Centre under the stringent anti-terror law, was not immediately available for further comment.
Formed in 1993, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) emerged as an alliance of separatist groups in Jammu and Kashmir and, at its peak, wielded considerable influence, enabling it to coordinate mass shutdowns and political mobilisations. Over the past decade, however, its dominance steadily waned due to internal infighting and a subsequent crackdown by the Centre that sharply tightened its approach towards separatist groups.
Following the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, the Centre banned most of the constituent organisations of the APHC. Since then, several senior leaders have been arrested or booked under stringent laws, while others have withdrawn entirely from public activity.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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Sikh woman gives land for mosque, Hindus pitch in with money
Dec 26, 2025
Jakhwali (Fatehgarh Sahib): In the Season of Giving, a 75-Sikh woman has donated land for construction of a mosque in a village of Punjab's Fatehgarh Sahib district, and Sikh and Hindu families have pitched in with money.
This heart-warming tale comes from Jakhwali -- a predominantly Sikh village (400-500 families), with sizable Hindu (150 families) and Muslim (100 families) populations. This hamlet, around 55km from Chandigarh, has a gurdwara and a Shiva Temple but no mosque.
"Our Muslim friends here didn't have a mosque and had to go for namaz to the next village, so I thought of giving them 5 marlas of land (around 1360 sqft) so that they also have a place to pray," Bibi Rajinder Kaur told TOI, adding with a smile: "We feel very happy that they will be happy."
Satnam Singh, her grandson, said that Sikh, Muslim and Hindu families live "like brothers" in the village and it has always been this way. "Whenever there is a religious event, everyone contributes and participates," he said.
The absence of a mosque was felt but since a solution wasn't coming at panchayat level, Bibi Rajinder Kaur volunteered her land.
"After discussions within the family, we felt that we have a field there and in the same area, we have a temple, gurudwara and another shrine. If we give some land, the mosque can also come up there. So, we asked Muslim community if the place suited them, and they said it was perfect. As the land was in Dadi Ji's name, we got it registered in the name of Muslim committee," said Satnam Singh.
"They (Muslims) also participate in our programme like Sabha langar and they do sewa (service) there. We believe we should respect every religion," he added.
His brother, Monu Singh, who is a village panch, said that since govt land cannot be given for construction of any religious place, they discussed within the family and decided to donate their own land. "The entire village, regardless of religion, is contributing to the mosque construction," he added.
Local BJP netaAjaib Singh, a former sarpanch, recalled that when the temple was built, Muslims and Sikhs contributed for its construction, and the same happened when the gurdwara was built. "This is how we live. We will all contribute till the last brick is laid and the mosque is complete," he said.
Gursewak Kumar, who belongs to the Brahmin community, said the village's togetherness is a matter of pride.
The Masjid committee expressed their gratitude to the villagers. Kala Khan, president of the committee, said they have great relations with villagers and people of various communities live in harmony. "We appreciate the family's land donation and the support of the Sikh and Hindu communities. We expect to complete construction in Feb" Khan said.
Villager Balbir Khan said they had been struggling for 25-30 years to find land for a mosque. "We had to go to neighbouring Mullapur village, 2km away, for Namaz. We are grateful for the land that has been donated. Work has already started," he said.
Kala Khan said that all communities have contributed around Rs 3.5 Lakh for the mosque and they hope to get more.
Punjab Shahi Imam, Maulana Usman Ludhianvi, who laid the foundation stone of the mosque, said Punjab is known for such examples of communal harmony.
Source: indiatimes.com
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Army nod to social media peek, not chat: Soldiers can view Instagram, X, YouTube only
Imran Ahmed Siddiqui
26.12.25
The army has revised its social media policy, allowing officers and ordinary soldiers to access Instagram, YouTube, X and Quora for “purposes of viewing and monitoring only” while barring any form of interaction on these platforms.
Personnel, earlier banned from using these apps at all, can now view and monitor content, but solely to “obtain knowledge/ info”. Posting, commenting, sharing, reacting and sending messages remain prohibited.
Facebook remains under a total ban.
“Only passive participation to obtain knowledge/ info has been permitted (on certain apps). Uploading of user-generated content/ messages, etc, are not allowed,” an army official said.
He added: “For apps like Skype, WhatsApp, Telegram and Signal, exchanges of unclassified information of a general nature/ content have been permitted.”
The official added: “The content should be exchanged only with known persons and the responsibility for correctly identifying the recipient lies with the user.”
Under the new guidelines, the hitherto-banned LinkedIn can be used to upload one’s resumé.
“The revised guidelines have been issued to every army unit and department,” another army official said.
“The objective is to allow soldiers to view and monitor content on social media for their own awareness and information-gathering. Soldiers have also been directed to flag fake or misleading posts that they find to senior officers.”
The army periodically revises its social media guidelines.
In 2020, a complete ban was imposed relating to platforms such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram after multiple instances came to light of foreign agencies honey-trapping soldiers for sensitive information.
In 2018, intelligence agencies had asked central ministries, including the defence ministry, to remain alert to “honey traps” set up by foreign agencies to target personnel who deal with sensitive information.
The warning came days after the arrest of Nishant Agarwal, an engineer with the BrahMos Aerospace in Nagpur, on the charge of passing on sensitive information to Pakistani spy agency ISI after being honey-trapped online.
Sources said foreign intelligence agencies were suspected to be using English and Urdu-speaking women to trap Indian officers through social media.
In some instances, they sent friend requests on Facebook, exchanged numbers and engaged in sex chats with the targets via Chinese-made smart phones before beginning to blackmail them.
Delhi police had in 2018 arrested Group Captain ArunMarwah, 51, of the air force under the Official Secrets Act. A probe had allegedly revealed that the ISI had honey-trapped him online through two Facebook accounts and WhatsApp.
In December 2015, the Delhi police had arrested Ranjith, another air force officer, on the charge of sharing secret documents with ISI operatives. Ranjith had apparently come in touch with a woman on Facebook while recovering from illness at a military hospital.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/army-nod-to-social-media-peek-not-chat-soldiers-can-view-instagram-x-youtube-only-prnt/cid/2139618
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Supreme Court says states cannot name villages after persons, castes or religion law
26.12.25
States cannot name villages after individuals, castes and religion if the purpose is to ensure communal harmony, the Supreme Court has ruled.
The court passed the order while allowing an appeal filed by Bhika Ram and another villager from Rajasthan’s Barmer district to name two villages after two individuals who had donated land to the local gram panchayat.
When the Rajasthan government invited objections in January to an order on panchayats and panchayat samitis, villagers of MeghwalokiDhani said the names of two new revenue villages — Amargarh and Sagatsar — were derived from the names of individuals who had donated land.
On a writ petition filed by the villagers, Rajasthan High Court quashed the notification naming the two villages in keeping with state policy. A division bench set aside the order, following which Bhika Ram and another village approached the Supreme Court.
A bench of Justice Sanjay Kumar and Justice AlokAradhe took note of the Rajasthan government’s 2009 circular laying down that “while deciding the name, it shall be ensured that it is not based on any person, religion, caste, or sub-caste”.
The court said “the aforesaid circular is in the nature of a policy decision”.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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Mideast
Israeli settler attack injures Palestinian baby, five arrested
December 25, 2025
JERUSALEM: Israeli security forces announced on Thursday the arrest of five Israeli settlers over their alleged involvement in an attack on a Palestinian home that injured a baby girl in the occupied West Bank.
The eight-month-old infant suffered “moderate injuries to the face and head” in the late Wednesday attack, according to the official Palestinian news agency Wafa.
It blamed the attack on “a group of armed settlers,” accusing them of “throwing stones at homes and property” in the town of Sair, north of Hebron.
A statement from the Israeli police said that five suspects had been arrested for their “alleged involvement in serious, violent incidents in the village of Sair.”
Israeli security forces had received reports of “stones being thrown by Israeli civilians toward a Palestinian home,” adding a Palestinian girl was injured.
“The preliminary investigation determined the involvement of several suspects who came from a nearby outpost,” the statement said, referring to Israeli settlements not officially recognized by Israeli authorities.
All Israeli settlements in the West Bank are considered illegal by the international community.
Some are also illegal under Israeli law, though many of those are later given official recognition.
Almost none of the perpetrators of previous attacks by settlers have been held to account by the Israeli authorities.
A Telegram group linked to the “Hilltop Youth,” a movement of hard-line settlers who advocate direct action against Palestinians, posted a video showing property damage in Sair.
More than 500,000 Israelis currently live in settlements in the West Bank, occupied since 1967, as do around three million Palestinians.
Violence involving settlers has risen in recent years, according to the United Nations, and October was the worst month since it began recording such incidents in 2006, with 264 attacks that caused casualties or property damage.
The violence in the West Bank, a territory occupied by Israel since 1967, has surged since Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack, which triggered the Gaza war.
Since the start of the war, Israeli troops and settlers have killed more than 1,000 Palestinians in the West Bank, including many militants as well as dozens of civilians, according to an AFP tally based on figures from the Palestinian health ministry.
According to official Israeli figures, at least 44 Israelis, both soldiers and civilians, have been killed in Palestinian attacks or Israeli military operations in the same period.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2627442/middle-east
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Israeli airstrikes kill 3 on Christmas Day in Lebanon
NAJIA HOUSSARI
December 25, 2025
BEIRUT: Israeli airstrikes killed three people and wounded another in Lebanon on Thursday, as President Joseph Aoun reaffirmed his government’s commitment to disarming Hezbollah and ensuring state control over all weapons in the country.
The Israeli attacks hit the eastern Hermel district and the southern town of Janata. The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health confirmed the casualties, while the Israeli military claimed the strikes targeted Hezbollah operatives.
Aoun said the disarmament process was “ongoing in accordance with circumstances.”
Army chief Gen. RodolpheHaykal is expected to present a report to the Cabinet early in the new year, confirming the completion of disarmament south of the Litani River and outlining the next phase northward to the Awali River.
A formation of eight Israeli warplanes flew at high altitude over Baalbek and its surrounding villages before retreating southeast toward the eastern mountain range.
In a series of strikes, an Israeli drone targeted a passenger bus at the Al-Nasseriya–Hawsh al-Sayyed Ali junction, killing two people, including Ali Abdulamir Salman.
Another drone strike hit a car in the town of Janata in the Tyre district, injuring a passerby who was taken to hospital for treatment.
In the afternoon, a third Israeli drone targeted a pickup truck at the entrance of Safad al-Battikh in Bint Jbeil district, injuring one person. The Israeli army later confirmed the strike, claiming it had targeted a Hezbollah member.
The military then announced it had killed Hussein Al-Jawhari, describing him as a “senior member of the Iranian Quds Force’s operations unit,” in an airstrike in Lebanon.
Joseph El-Kosseifi, head of Lebanon’s Editors Syndicate, condemned the Israeli army on Thursday for opening fire on an Al Mayadeen television crew. The team had been filming a report in the southern town of Dhayra with the knowledge and coordination of the Lebanese army.
On Wednesday night, Israeli forces demolished several homes in the border town of KfarKila. Separately, two Israeli drones dropped explosive devices on the town of Houla, damaging an excavator and several vehicles. Another drone dropped a sound bomb on the town of Odaisseh.
Israeli reconnaissance aircraft also flew at low altitude over Beirut and its southern suburbs.
In recent weeks, Israel has intensified its raids across the border, averaging around six strikes per day in December — equivalent to one strike every four hours.
UNIFIL reported that the ceasefire agreement has been violated more than 10,000 times, or once every 53 minutes on average. The figure includes more than 2,500 ground activities by the Israeli army and more than 7,800 violations of Lebanese airspace, the UN peacekeeping force said.
Speaking to journalists during the Christmas celebration in Bkerke, led by Maronite Patriarch Bechara Al-Rahi, Aoun expressed hope for the “birth of a new Lebanon” and a peaceful end to hostilities.
“We are celebrating Christmas while a bleeding wound remains in the south,” he said.
“Our people have not yet returned to their villages, our detainees remain in Israeli prisons, and attacks continue, most recently today in the south and the Bekaa. I hope for the end of wars and the beginning of peace.”
Aoun said that Lebanese diplomats are working alongside the Mechanism Committee with key international partners, including the US, EU, and Arab states, to prevent violence escalating and support ceasefire efforts.
“In negotiations, each side naturally pushes its demands higher, but I remain optimistic,” he said. “God willing, we are heading toward positive outcomes.”
The president added that the new year must bring institutional reform.
“We hope 2025 will mark the birth of a new Lebanon, one that is governed by institutions, not parties, sects, or confessional divisions, but a state built on transparency and accountability,” he said.
Asked if he was satisfied with the pace of reforms, Aoun pointed to progress in the past year, saying that “we have put things on the right track. The government has signed over 2,000 decrees in the past 10 months. The situation is improving, and I am optimistic.”
He reiterated his commitment to holding parliamentary elections on time alongside Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. Referring to the electoral law to be adopted, Aoun said that “it is up to MPs to debate and decide in Parliament. Our duty is to ensure a safe and democratic process.”
During an exceptional meeting with senior leadership, as well as commanders of operational units and regiments, Haykal said that the army is “nearing completion of the first phase” of its plan to place all weapons under the authority of the state.
He said that the next phases are being approached “with precision and deliberation,” and that planning is underway based on evaluation of all relevant data and evolving circumstances.
The army chief praised the military’s “professional performance,” which he said, “continues to earn the trust of brotherly and friendly nations,” despite periodic accusations and Israeli “disinformation campaigns” aimed at undermining confidence in the army’s role and doctrine.
“One of the key reasons for the confidence and support the army receives is its proven track record in fulfilling its duties across all Lebanese regions, especially in the south, despite limited resources,” he added.
Source: arabnews.com
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Syria Kurds chief says ‘all efforts’ being made to salvage deal with Damascus
December 25, 2025
DAMASCUS: Syrian Kurdish leader Mazloum Abdi said Thursday that “all efforts” were being made to prevent the collapse of talks on an agreement with Damascus to integrate his forces into the central government.
The remarks came days after Aleppo saw deadly clashes between the two sides before their respective leaders ordered a ceasefire.
In March, Abdi signed a deal with Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa to merge the Kurds’ semi-autonomous administration into the government by year’s end, but differences have held up its implementation.
Abdi said the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the Kurds’ de facto army, remained committed to the deal, adding in a statement that the two sides were working toward “mutual understanding” on military integration and counter-terrorism, and pledging further meetings with Damascus.
Downplaying the year-end deadline, he said the deal “did not specify a time limit for its ending or for the return to military solutions.”
He added that “all efforts are being made to prevent the collapse of this process” and that he considered failure unlikely.
Abdi also repeated the SDF’s demand for decentralization, which has been rejected by Syria’s Islamist authorities, who took power after ousting longtime ruler Bashar Assad last year.
Turkiye, an important ally of Syria’s new leaders, sees the presence of Kurdish forces on its border as a security threat.
In Damascus this week, Turkish Foreign Minister HakanFidan stressed the importance of the Kurds’ integration, having warned the week before that patience with the SDF “is running out.”
The SDF control large swathes of the country’s oil-rich north and northeast, and with the support of a US-led international coalition, were integral to the territorial defeat of the Daesh group in Syria in 2019.
Syria last month joined the anti-IS coalition and has announced operations against the jihadist group in recent days.
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Power supply across Kurdistan drops due to technical issue at Iraq’s KhorMor gas field, ministry says
December 25, 2025
BAGHDAD: Electricity supply across Kurdistan dropped by 1,000 megawatts due to a “teachnical issue” at KhorMor gas field, one of the largest in the Kurdish region, the Kurdish ministry of electricity said on Thursday.
The Ministry of Natural Resources, together with the UAE’s Dana Gas teams, which jointly operate the field, are making efforts to address the problem and restore stability, the ministry of electricity said.
A source at the field also said the technical glitch is under repair and expected to be resolved in a few hours.
The ministry’s statement did not elaborate on what the technical issue was, but said the supply of 250 million standard cubic feet of gas has been reduced.
In November, a rocket hit a storage tank at the gas field, leading to a shutdown in production and extensive power cuts. Operations resumed days later.
The attack was the most significant since a series of drone attacks in July hit oilfields and cut production from the region by around 150,000 barrels per day.
The Kurdistan Regional Government exercises autonomy in northern Iraq, where US companies have significant investments in energy.
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Editorial: The threat of Yemen’s fragmentation is far reaching
December 25, 2025
RIYADH: As Yemen’s political landscape continues to shift at a dizzying pace, it is worth pausing to reflect on the official Saudi position — and the commentary of some of our leading Saudi columnists — regarding the recent unilateral moves by the Southern Transitional Council (STC) in the governorates of Hadramout and Al-Mahrah. These actions, taken without the consent of the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) or coordination with the Arab Coalition, represent a dangerous gamble with the future of a fragile nation — one that Saudi Arabia, like its Arab neighbors, wishes only peace, stability, and prosperity.
There is no ambiguity in the Kingdom’s stance: it has worked tirelessly to preserve calm in Hadramout and Al-Mahrah, steering both regions away from military escalation and toward peaceful solutions. In a bid to contain the situation, Saudi Arabia, in coordination with its brothers and partners in the United Arab Emirates and the PLC, dispatched a joint team to negotiate with the STC. The goal was clear — facilitate the withdrawal of STC forces and hand over military sites to the National Shield Forces.
Yet despite Riyadh’s call for de-escalation and its appeal to the STC to prioritize national interest and social cohesion, the Council has persisted in its confrontational posture, seemingly indifferent to the grave consequences of its actions.
Observers in Riyadh will note that the Kingdom remains steadfast in its support for the PLC and Yemen’s internationally recognized government. Its commitment to Yemen’s stability is not rhetorical — it is political, economic, and developmental. Saudi Arabia’s vision is to shepherd Yemen from the shadows of conflict into an era of peace, prosperity, and regional integration. This is not merely a function of geography or shared borders; it is a reflection of the Kingdom’s religious, political, and economic responsibilities in the Arab and Islamic world.
From this vantage point, the newspaper firmly believes that the STC’s unilateral actions in Hadramout constitute a blatant violation of Yemen’s transitional framework. They undermine the legitimacy of the recognized government, threaten the fragile peace, and jeopardize the political process. Worse still, they echo the very tactics employed by the Houthi militias — an alarming parallel that should not be ignored.
It is therefore essential to reiterate the Kingdom’s position: the STC must withdraw its forces from Hadramout and Al-Mahrah, restoring the status quo ante. This is not a punitive demand, but a necessary step to safeguard national security and prevent further military flare-ups.
At the same time, Saudi Arabia has consistently affirmed that the southern issue is a just cause — one that must be addressed in any future political settlement. It is enshrined in the outcomes of Yemen’s National Dialogue and must be resolved inclusively, reflecting the aspirations of all southern Yemenis — not reduced to the ambitions of any single individual, including the likes of Aidarous Al-Zubaidi or other STC figures.
Ultimately, we urge the separatists to choose reason over recklessness. Partitioning Yemen will not bring peace — it will sow the seeds of future wars, embolden extremist actors, and pose a threat not only to Yemen’s internal cohesion but to regional and international stability. As Western and American policymakers know all too well: what happens in Yemen never stays in Yemen.
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Turkiye begins black box analysis of jet crash that killed Libyan military chief and 7 others
December 25, 2025
ISTANBUL: The technical analysis of the recovered black boxes from a jet crash that killed eight people, including western Libya’s military chief, began as the investigation proceeded in cooperation with Libyan authorities, the Turkish Ministry of Defense said Thursday.
The private jet with Gen. Muhammad Ali Ahmad Al-Haddad, four other military officials and three crew members crashed on Tuesday after taking off from Turkiye’s capital, Ankara, killing everyone on board. Libyan officials said the cause of the crash was a technical malfunction on the plane.
The high-level Libyan delegation was on its way back to Tripoli after holding defense talks in Ankara aimed at boosting military cooperation between the two countries.
The wreckage was scattered across an area covering 3 square kilometers (more than a square mile), complicating recovery efforts, according to the Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya.
A 22-person delegation, including five family members, arrived from Libya early on Wednesday to assist in the investigation.
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Israeli settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque
25 Dec 2025
Occupied Quds – Saba: Israeli settlers stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, under the protection of Israeli occupation forces.
The Palestinian news agency WAFA, citing local Palestinian sources, reported that dozens of settlers stormed the mosque's courtyards and performed Talmudic dances and rituals.
Israeli occupation forces frequently tighten their restrictions on the access of worshippers and Jerusalemites to the mosque, confiscating their identity cards at its gates.
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Meeting of scholars, preachers, & guides in Dhamar in support of Allah Book & in confronting enemies
25 Dec 2025
A large meeting of scholars, preachers, and religious guides was held on Thursday in Dhamar Governorate under the title: “The Responsibility of Scholars and Preachers in Supporting the Book of Allah and the Sanctities, Consolidating the Faith-Based Identity, and Affirming Our High Readiness to Confront the Enemies.”
The meeting, organized by the branch of the General Authority for Endowments and Guidance in the governorate under the slogan “Faith is Yemeni and Wisdom is Yemeni,” heard remarks by Dhamar Governor Mohammed Al-Bukhaiti, who stated that the Islamic nation is being targeted militarily, economically, and intellectually. He noted that the repeated insults to the Holy Qur’an constitute an organized and systematic act that requires a response, warning that silence over such acts could be followed by measures that further restrict Muslims in Western countries.
He pointed out that the enemy is employing all its capabilities to target the nation, while some of its own sons adopt a neutral stance and evade responsibility. He stressed the need to unite ranks, focus on major issues and common ground that are beyond dispute, and avoid details that sow division , discord and serve the agendas of the enemies of the nation.
Al-Bukhaiti urged scholars, preachers, and guides to support the local authority, fulfill their jihadi role, and make effective use of the pulpit to enlighten people about their religious and worldly affairs, and to confront the enemies of Allah who lie in wait against the homeland and the nation.
For his part, Faisal Al-Hatfi, Director of the General Authority for Endowments and Guidance branch in the governorate, emphasized the importance of the anniversary of Rajab Friday as a faith-based, educational, and jihadi milestone. He referred to the mass mobilization and the steadfast Yemeni stance in support of Palestine and in confronting the forces of hegemony and arrogance, under the leadership of Sayyed Abdul-Malik Badr Al-Din Al-Houthi, and the manifestations of the Qur’anic March project in supporting the religion of Allah and the causes of the nation.
He explained that the Prophet’s description of the people of Yemen as “Faith is Yemeni and wisdom is Yemeni” is not only a badge of honor, but also a great responsibility that must be fulfilled. He called on scholars, preachers, and guides to rise to their role in raising awareness of the conspiracies of the enemies of the homeland and the nation, confronting their soft wars , false doctrines, consolidating the faith-based identity and Qur’anic culture.
In turn, Sheikh Fouad Naji, a member of the Supreme Council of the Yemeni Scholars Association, considered the commemoration of Rajab Friday an expression of gratitude and thanks to Allah for the blessing of guidance, a renewal of the covenant, and perseverance upon it.
He noted that the positions of the Yemeni people and their leadership regarding the insults to the Holy Qur’an and in support of the oppressed Palestinian people embody the faith-based identity, stressing that the most effective response to insults against the Book of Allah is adherence to it and its application in reality, in word and deed, as a way of life.
He emphasized the role of scholars, preachers, and guides in confronting soft wars, consolidating the faith-based identity, guiding the nation, and elevating it at a time when danger has reached its peak. He also stressed the necessity of unity among Yemenis, rejecting disputes , division, and for everyone to move along the path of jihad and readiness for the next round of confrontation with the enemies.
For his part, Sheikh Taha Al-Hadari, Secretary-General of the Yemeni Scholars Association, spoke about the anniversary of Rajab Friday as an occasion that reminds Yemenis of their entering the religion of Allah in multitudes, the special status granted to them by the Prophet, their role in supporting him and spreading his message.
He affirmed that the people of Yemen, who embraced Islam collectively with a pure and sincere faith characterized by goodness, mercy, benevolence, and jihad, do not need to import cultures; rather, they export thought and practical stances. He stressed that they bear a great responsibility toward the nation, as they are most closely connected to the Greatest Messenger and his message.
He added that what reformed the nation was jihad, responding to the commands of the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family), unity, rejection of externally imposed borders and attempts to divide them into sects and schools, noting that doctrines divide, while the Holy Qur’an unites.
Meanwhile, Sheikh Musleh Al-Qeiri, Director of Sheikh Mohammed Al-Imam’s Office, affirmed that the Holy Qur’an is our support , source of strength, and that Yemenis are proud to belong to its nation. He noted that the enemies of Islam who insult it will never succeed, as Allah Almighty has preserved the Qur’an—unlike other heavenly books—from any addition or omission.
He pointed to the distinction of the people of Yemen in embracing Islam collectively, and the attributes of faith, wisdom, and jurisprudence bestowed upon them by the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family). He explained that the unity of Yemenis under the banner of the Qur’an, with the Noble Messenger as their role model, will bring goodness to all.
Sheikh Al-Qeiri called on preachers and guides to unify efforts in calling to the Book of Allah with love, mercy, brotherhood, rejecting disputes , division, aligning along one path , one goal: the religion of Allah and the support of the nation.
A statement issued at the conclusion of the meeting—attended by the governorate’s General Mobilization official, Ahmed Al-Dhorani, along with a number of executive office and district directors—affirmed the necessity of holding fast to the firm rope of Allah, adhering to the Holy Qur’an as the source of guidance, dignity, honor, and rejecting any insult or targeting of Islamic sanctities, foremost among them the Glorious Book of Allah and the Greatest Messenger, Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family).
The statement also emphasized adherence to the Yemeni faith-based identity derived from authentic Muhammadan Islam—an identity that embodies faith in word and deed, steadfastness upon the truth, commitment to Qur’anic values, and sincere belonging to Islam—while working to support the just causes of the nation and its oppressed Muslim peoples.
It strongly condemned campaigns insulting the Holy Qur’an, the most sacred of sanctities, rejecting them categorically , holding the supporting and inciting parties fully responsible.
The statement renewed the firm stance in supporting and backing the Palestinian , Lebanese peoples and all the oppressed of this nation, rejecting the ongoing Zionist crimes against them. It called on the Islamic nation to shoulder its religious and moral responsibility toward Palestine, Lebanon, and all just causes of the oppressed.
It also called on the Yemeni people, and the Arab and Islamic nation, to activate the weapon of comprehensive economic, cultural, and media boycott, to express outrage toward the enemies of the nation, to embody the principle of loyalty , disavowal, and to adopt all legitimate positions that contribute to confronting hostile policies. It further urged Arab and Islamic regimes to halt their direct , indirect support for aggression , crimes against the peoples of the nation and its sanctities.
The statement urged everyone to carry the spirit of jihad, declare general mobilization, maintain high readiness for the coming round of confrontation, and continue general mobilization activities—foremost among them tribal gatherings, protests condemning repeated insults to the Holy Qur’an, and Friday rallies.
Scholars, preachers, and guides of Dhamar Governorate also affirmed the importance of the broad commemoration of Rajab Friday, consolidating the faith-based identity , its great values, which represent protection and immunity against soft warfare.
They further affirmed their continued commitment to performing their religious and awareness duties, enhancing Qur’anic awareness, fulfilling their responsibilities in clarifying the truth, confronting projects of deception and normalization.
Source: saba.ye
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Mass Public Turnout at Historic Al-Janad Mosque to Commemorate Feast of Rajab Friday
25 Dec 2025
There is a massive public influx to the historic Al-Janad Mosque (Masjid Mu'adh ibn Jabal) in Ta'iz Governorate to commemorate the festival of Friday of Rajab, marking the entry of the people of Yemen into Islam. Crowds are arriving from various governorates in a scene that reflects the profound religious and historical dimension of the occasion and its place in the Yemeni consciousness.
The activities held at the mosque include cultural, speech, and choral evenings, commemorating the Yemenis' entry into Islam at the hands of the Prophet's ﷺ envoys, Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib and Mu'adh ibn Jabal, and embodying the depth of Yemen's faithful identity. Al-Janad Mosque is one of the oldest Islamic landmarks in the country, serving as an annual venue for commemorating major religious occasions, where spiritual atmospheres blend with pride in Islamic belonging.
The Director of the Endowments and Guidance Authority office in Ta'iz, Mohammed Al-Miliki, affirmed that Friday of Rajab is a pivotal historical juncture where Yemenis transitioned from ignorance to the light of Islam, referring to the Prophet's ﷺ testimony to the faith and wisdom of the people of Yemen. He explained that commemorating the occasion renews the covenant with Islamic values and affirms steadfastness and adherence to principles in the face of attempts to distort Islam.
The activities include Quranic recitations, guiding speeches, remembrance circles, religious hymns and Mawlid, in addition to poems and anthems highlighting the historical role of Yemenis in supporting and spreading Islam. Al-Miliki also stressed the uniqueness of Al-Janad Mosque as a religious and national symbol and the necessity of preserving it as part of the religious identity and a message of unity and adherence to values.
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Education Minister chairs Abdullah Bin Khalid College of Islamic Studies Board of Trusteesregular meeting
25 Dec 2025
Manama, Dec. 25 (BNA): The Board of Trustees of Abdullah Bin Khalid College of Islamic Studies held its regular meeting, chaired by Dr. Mohammed bin Mubarak Juma, Minister of Education and Chairman of the Board.
The meeting reviewed agenda items and followed up on decisions from the previous meeting. Dr. Hamad Al Abdullah, Dean of the Abdullah Bin Khalid College of Islamic Studies, presented key developments, including work on the college’s strategic plan, the admission of 86 new students in the first semester of the current academic year, approval to introduce postgraduate programmes, advanced academic advising, and the creation of a graduate tracking database.
The meeting concluded with a number of decisions in line with approved regulations to support the college’s development and improve academic outcomes.
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Arab World
Saudi ambassador meets Yemen detainee negotiating delegation
December 25, 2025
RIYADH: Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Jaber met with a negotiating delegation concerned with detainees in the country on Thursday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
During the meeting in Riyadh, the ambassador commended the significant efforts by the negotiating team, which recently culminated in an agreement.
He also reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s continued support for the complete release of all detainees, abductees and forcibly disappeared persons from all parties.
During the meeting, he emphasized the importance of completing implementation procedures, exchanging lists and records, and expediting the execution of the agreed mechanism for the exchange process.
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Madinah’s culinary identity lends itself to shared cross-cultural connection
TAMARA ABOALSAUD
December 25, 2025
RIYADH: In every part of the Arab world, people have long argued about to whom certain traditional dishes belong, each wanting to claim the “correct” recipe and origin as their own, a contention that stands true across the Kingdom’s cities as well — and that might not be such a bad thing.
One of its most historically and religiously significant cities, Madinah, is a perfect example of how culinary diversity actually lends itself to culinary connection between different homes and cultures.
Chef Heba Ramadan, raised in Riyadh but originally from Madinah, spoke to Arab News about the city’s unique culinary character, which earned it the title of UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy in November 2025.
To Ramadan, Madinah embodies nostalgic childhood memories, family gatherings and joyful moments — especially those centered around food.
As long as you get to the right flavor, it does not matter how you got there.
“Each house has their own way. That’s why I can’t say this way is right or that way is wrong,” she said.
Ramadan added that recipes are not fixed texts or religious doctrines, but are dynamic pieces of social and geographic history that represent changing people, changing times, and the melding of various customs and influences.
If you visit homes across Madinah today, you will find slight variations in the way that families prepare certain dishes.
“For example, Madini rice — everyone knows this dish, but each family makes it differently. Some families don’t put saffron because the grandfather didn’t like saffron, so they grew up cooking it that way.”
Another popular dish is wheat soup: Ramadan said that some people, like her mother, make it using whole milk, others with goat milk, some with no milk at all, and even some who make it with tomato.
“When I searched, I found that people from Makkah make it with tomato, so you see how the dish changes from family to family.”
A recipe is a living organism; it is affected by factors of its surrounding environment. Personal preference is one example, while others are more complex and drawn out.
Over generations, recipes naturally evolve due to convenience and changing lifestyles.
Busier lives, more demanding careers and increasingly expensive economies mean that people lack the time to recreate recipes from scratch in the exact way they were once done traditionally.
Instead, puff pastries (i.e. convenience) often win against making handmade dough (i.e. time-consuming manual labor).
On the other hand, sometimes adjustments are added on.
Ramadan said that jareesh, a beloved dish across the Kingdom, was originally made without any protein, just buttermilk.
Over time, chicken or other meats were included in the dish to add nutritional value.
“Mothers added protein so the kids would eat better, and that’s how the recipe changed.”
A vital factor to keep in mind is Madinah’s unique position as a historical religious passageway and gathering point for pilgrims.
Historically, pilgrims did not stay for just a few days, but instead for weeks or even months.
“They didn’t just visit — they lived, they stayed and they exchanged experiences,” Ramadan said.
These long stays led to deep cultural exchange as pilgrims arriving from around the world brought their spices, recipes, ingredients and techniques with them.
Madinah’s food absorbed these influences over time and foreign dishes were adapted into local versions, and vice versa; a process that Ramadan said does not erase authenticity, but defines it.
Kabuli rice, made with orange zest and citrus juice, is believed to have adapted from these exchanges.
At the end of the day, most of us enjoy dishes the way they were made growing up because those flavors were tied to emotional memory.
Perhaps these reasons explain why Ramadan is a little skeptical of UNESCO’s method of defining “official” recipes.
She believes that culinary heritage cannot be standardized without losing its essence, and trying to standardize it by finding the most common factors between recipes or asking the city’s historical families for the correct methods does not paint a true picture of its culinary character.
And considering the close-knit socialization of residents in a small city like Madinah, “everyone knows the families in Madinah and how each family cooks their dishes,” she added.
Ramadan believes the city was chosen because its food is flavor-driven, historically layered and maintained through households rather than institutions.
She suggests UNESCO may have been fascinated by the number of variation within a single culinary identity, yet, all the flavor profiles feel recognizably “Madini.”
For example, “we have different types of rice. Even if it’s white rice, each one has a different flavor.”
Madinah’s traditional dishes were developed based on the local agriculture, seasonal availability of ingredients and circumstantial factors like electricity availability.
Before refrigeration, daily cooking depended on fresh, same-day ingredients, so every dish was directly tied to the land.
Ramadan, who transitioned into cooking to pursue her passion after spending more than a decade in an accounting and finance career, believes that food is meant to be shared, remembered and respected.
She started out in gastronomy by opening her own business before putting it on hold during COVID-19, after which she returned to work as a baker and in hot kitchens.
As her cooking career took off, Ramadan was selected by Diriyah to create traditional dishes for a few of their major events.
Ramadan began representing the Kingdom internationally as a traditional Saudi chef, working with the Saudi Tourism Authority and continuing her work with Diriyah.
Much of Ramadan’s career was defined by the realization that much of Madinah’s food heritage was undocumented and misunderstood.
And although she sees food as dynamic and flexible, Ramadan also strongly believes that it is her job to represent Saudi food globally in a traditional framework, sans any modern fusions or fireworks.
While she respects chefs who experiment with fusion recipes and welcomes any tourists visiting the Kingdom to try both the modern and the traditional, her role adamantly favors cultural representation, not reinterpretation.
Abroad, authenticity is required in both preparation and plating.
Ramadan is admittedly worried about safekeeping these recipes through future generations; as reliance on convenience increases and families spend less time together in the kitchen, she fears that youth are becoming less interested in cooking or trying new foods.
In her opinion, this had led to losing important skills such as smelling food to identify what spices or ingredients are missing.
“This is something you train. It doesn’t come from reading a recipe … you learn by standing next to your mother, your grandmother, and smelling,” she said.
“It’s not written. It’s sensory.”
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KFCRIS’ event focuses on cultural renewal in Japan
December 25, 2025
RIYADH: The King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies organized a cultural event on Wednesday, attended by chairman of KFCRIS’s board of directors, Prince Turki Al-Faisal.
The event featured Japanese researcher Dr. Naoki Yamamoto, who delivered a lecture on pathways to cultural renewal in Japan and led a workshop on Japanese tea preparation, Saudi Press Agency reported.
In his lecture, Yamamoto explored the concepts of courage and chivalry in Islamic heritage and compared them to the principles of chivalry in samurai culture, viewing both as value systems that share ideals of bravery, discipline, and generosity.
The event also included a workshop on Japanese tea preparation, presented by Yamamoto, to introduce a traditional practice that has been an essential part of Japanese cultural identity for centuries.
The activity is part of the center’s efforts to promote cultural dialogue, host specialized researchers, and offer in-depth perspectives on shared human heritage.
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World’s largest falconry festival opens in Riyadh
December 25, 2025
RIYADH: The 2025 King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival, which started on Thursday at the Saudi Falcons Club’s Malham facility north of the capital, has attracted falconers from the Kingdom and around the world.
The first day of the event, running until Jan. 10, featured six qualifying heats for local competitors in multiple classifications: Gyr Pure Fledgling and Passage, Peregrine, and Saker varieties in Fledgling (Farkh) and Passage (Qarnas).
Participants will vie over 139 rounds for 1,012 prizes worth over SR38 million ($10 million). There are two primary disciplines, the Milwah lure racing trials over 400 meters, and Mazayen beauty contests.
The racing has four skill levels — owners, amateurs, professionals, and elite — with separate divisions for Saudi and international competitors. The beauty competitions have exacting aesthetic criteria.
This year’s edition has drawn falconers from nine nations, including the GCC states, Italy, Ireland and Syria. The festival holds three Guinness World Records for the planet’s largest falcon event based on bird participation.
Walid Al-Taweel, spokesman of the Saudi Falcons Club, said the festival remains committed to cultivating next-generation interest in the sport.
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Medical supplies delivered to Hadhramaut
December 25, 2025
RIYADH: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center has delivered a range of medical supplies to the office of Yemen’s Ministry of Public Health and Population on the Hadhramaut coast.
According to the Saudi Press Agency, the assistance will enhance the readiness of health facilities to combat the cholera outbreak in the region, as part of the Emergency Response Project for Cholera in Yemen.
Saleh Al-Omqi, Hadhramaut local council secretary-general, expressed his appreciation for the center’s efforts to contain the cholera outbreak, contributing to improving the operational readiness of health facilities.
He also praised Saudi Arabia for its continued support in strengthening the resilience of the health system in the face of epidemic crises.
The project targets the most affected areas to reduce infection rates and limit the spread of cholera through specialized medical teams responsible for monitoring travelers at land and air entry points in several governorates, including Aden and Hadhramaut, benefiting approximately 1.15 million people.
The initiative reflects the Kingdom’s ongoing commitment, through its humanitarian arm KSrelief, to strengthening healthcare measures and combat the cholera epidemic.
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Saudi grand mufti receives CEO of Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites
December 26, 2025
Sheikh Dr. Saleh bin Fawzan bin Abdullah Al-Fawzan, the grand mufti of the Kingdom, chairman of the Council of Senior Scholars, and general president of scientific research and Ifta, received Saleh bin Ibrahim Al-Rasheed, the CEO of the Royal Commission for Makkah City and the Holy Sites, at the presidency headquarters in Riyadh on Thursday.
Al-Rasheed reviewed the projects and services undertaken by the Commission in Makkah City and the Holy Sites, in accordance with the directives of the leadership, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
For his part, the grand mufti commended the efforts of the Royal Commission for Makkah City and the Holy Sites and the attention it receives from the rulers in serving the pilgrims.
The reception was attended by Sheikh Dr. Fahd bin Saad Al-Majed, who is secretary-general of the Council of Senior Scholars, secretary-general of the permanent committee for Ifta, and supervisor of the office of the grand mufti.
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Najran’s camels are embedded in local culture and traditions
December 25, 2025
RIYADH: In Najran, camels are not only a vital livestock resource but also a cornerstone of local identity and tradition.
According to HadiBenyan Al-Amer, head of Najran’s Camel Association, the region has several distinct camel breeds.
Principal among them is the Awarik, an ancient Arabian lineage linked to territories where arak trees flourish, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.
These light-colored, sparsely-haired camels possess remarkable resilience, and are prevalent across southern Arabia.
The Majahim are characterized by dark hues spanning black to brown, and excel in both milk yield and endurance.
The Asayil are prized for their sleek, lean physiques, and dominate in speed-based competitions.
Al-Amer said traditional water sources known as Odood, or traditional water wells and artesian wells, have sustained herders navigating the Empty Quarter’s grazing lands for generations.
These permanent water points, equipped with dedicated drinking basins for camels, showcase the animals’ extraordinary environmental resilience.
Among the principal wells accessible from Najran are Al-Minkhali, Abu Shadid, HamraNathil, Tamani, Umm Al-Wahat, and Khujaima.
Countless additional wells dot the Empty Quarter and adjacent territories, forming the backbone of camel owners’ far-reaching pastoral networks.
Dr. Hind bint Dawood Al-Shuqair of Najran University’s Arabic Language Department explained how camels have permeated Arab consciousness through legends and stories spanning thousands of years.
Representing endurance, power, and grace, they have become inseparable from Arab cultural identity.
Archaeological evidence at Al-Ukhdood, Mount Al-Tharwa and Hima, preserves through carvings and ancient artwork the deep bond between people and camels, Al-Shuqair said.
She drew attention to Saudi Arabia’s substantial investment in camel heritage, exemplified by proclaiming 2024 as the Year of the Camel.
This designation emphasizes their importance to national prosperity and cultural heritage while backing global initiatives to promote awareness of camels as valuable economic and cultural assets.
The Kingdom further demonstrates its commitment to protecting the animals through the annual King Abdulaziz Festival, the SPA reported.
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Saudi Post issues commemorative stamp to mark Al-Faw’s UNESCO recognition
December 25, 2025
RIYADH: Saudi Post has issued a SR3 ($0.79) commemorative stamp to celebrate the registration of Al-Faw Archaeological Area on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, making it the eighth Saudi site on this prestigious list.
Located south of Riyadh at the junction of a vast plain and the Tuwaiq mountain range, Al-Faw is strategically positioned along ancient trade routes connecting the southern Arabian Peninsula to its center and east.
The area in Wadi Ad-Dawasir, at the intersection of the Empty Quarter desert and the Tuwaiq mountain range, is home to almost 12,000 archaeological remains and has a history of human habitation stretching back more than 6,000 years.
The site features a landscape shaped over millennia by human interaction with the environment and which was abandoned in the 5th century AD owing to depleted water sources.
The commemorative stamps issued honor significant national and international events, highlighting key chapters of Saudi history making them collectible for philatelists, researchers, and heritage enthusiasts, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
UNESCO, while recognizing the site last year, has said the site was a strategic point on the ancient trade routes of the Arabian Peninsula, but was abruptly abandoned around the fifth century.
Archaeological remains uncovered at the site range from prehistoric times to the late pre-Islamic era, testifying to successive occupations by three different populations.
Features include paleolithic and neolithic tools, tapered structures, cairns and circular constructions, the sacred mountain of KhashmQaryah, rock carvings, funeral cairns, an ancient water management system, and remains of the city of Qaryat Al-Faw.
Other Saudi sites on the UNESCO Heritage List are Al-Hijr (2008), At-Turaif in Diriyah (2010), Historic Jeddah (2014), rock art in the Hail Region (2015), Al-Ahsa Oasis (2018), Hima Cultural Area (2021), and UruqBaniMaarid protected area (2023).
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2627430/saudi-arabia
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National Center for Wildlife releases more than 60 wildlife species at King Khalid Royal Reserve
December 25, 2025
The Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Royal Reserve Development Authority, in cooperation with the National Center for Wildlife, released more than 60 wildlife species at King Khalid Royal Reserve today near Riyadh, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
This initiative, according to the agency, is part of programs to reintroduce endangered species to their natural habitats, reflecting the integrated national efforts to protect wildlife and promote its sustainability.
“Releasing wildlife into the King Khalid Royal Reserve enhances biodiversity and restores natural habitats within the reserve. This contributes to providing a safe natural environment that supports the stability of wildlife and facilitates its adaptation to its natural habitats”, said the authority’s CEO, Talal Al-Hariqi.
He added that such efforts align with the National Strategy for Environmental Conservation and fulfill one of the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which aims to create an attractive environment that contributes to improving quality of life and promoting sustainability.
He also said that the collaboration with the National Center for Wildlife Development is a model for institutional integration in implementing reintroduction programs. This is achieved by unifying scientific and technical expertise and applying global best practices in wildlife conservation, thus ensuring the success of these programs and the long-term sustainability of their results.
Ziad bin Abdulaziz Al-Tuwaijri, director-general of projects and operations at the authority, said that the King Khalid Royal Reserve has released more than 60 wildlife species, including Arabian oryx, Arabian hares, and Arabian gazelles. This initiative aims to enrich the reserve’s biodiversity, contribute to restoring ecological balance through the reintroduction of endangered animals, promote sustainability, and support and revitalize ecotourism.
He said that over past years, the authority released more than 300 wild animals of different types, including reptiles, mammals, and local birds, all of which are classified on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List as species that are vulnerable or threatened with extinction.
He said that animals released in the King Khalid Royal Reserve are subject to periodic and continuous monitoring through field studies and modern monitoring techniques, such as surveillance cameras and tracking collars, where many natural births and herd growth have been recorded, reflecting the success of the release and reintroduction programs.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2627427/saudi-arabia
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Europe
Royal Family greet crowds after Christmas Day service
26 December 2025
Thomas Mackintosh
King Charles and Queen Camilla have attended a Christmas Day church service at Sandringham, with the Prince and Princess of Wales and other royals by their side.
After the service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Norfolk, the King, Queen, Prince William, his wife Catherine and their three children spoke to excited crowds who had waited outside on the crisp Christmas morning.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, was not present, but his daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie were there along with their husbands.
The Princess Royal and her daughter Zara Tindall, with her family, also attended, as did the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.
The Christmas morning church service is a big event in the royal calendar, bringing together the Royal Family for a public appearance, with crowds and photographers capturing the moment.
People from across the UK, Europe and the United States queued up from 21:00 GMT on Christmas Eve to see the Royal Family on Christmas Day.
Just before 11:00 the Royal Family arrived outside the church and were greeted by Reverend Canon Dr Paul Rhys Williams.
The service inside the church was relayed by speakers to the crowd outside, who waited for the opportunity to chat to the royals afterwards.
Shortly before midday, the Royal Family emerged from the church after the service and spent time with members of the public who had lined up on the grass outside.
Three of the younger royals – Prince George, Princess Charlotte and their younger brother Prince Louis – interacted with the crowds on their own.
The children could be seen taking Christmas cards, toys, flowers and chocolate selection boxes from some of those in the crowd, chatting to them and shaking their hands.
Catherine had in-depth conversations with many individuals as she clutched bouquets of flowers which had been gifted to her.
The royals are spending Christmas at their Sandringham estate, which has been the customary seasonal meeting place for the family since 1988.
The Sandringham service comes hours before the King delivers his traditional Christmas message, filmed this year in Westminster Abbey.
It follows his "good news" earlier this month about responding well to cancer treatment.
The King's Christmas Day message called for unity in an increasingly divided world.
In his annual speech, recorded in Westminster Abbey, he said we should "never lose sight" of the values in which "communities came together in the face of such great challenge".
On Christmas Eve, the Catherine and Princess Charlotte's pre-recorded Christmas piano duet from inside Windsor Castle was broadcast.
The mother and daughter sat together to play a piece they know well by Scottish composer Erland Cooper, for Catherine's Christmas carol concert.
Kensington Palace had teased the clip ahead of the programme with a video of Catherine and a then unknown person playing the piano captioned "a special duet...".
While their children attended the Christmas Day church service, neither Andrew nor his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson were there.
In October, King Charles announced he would strip his younger brother Andrew of his titles and made the changes following weeks of intense scrutiny over the former prince's links to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
His connection to Epstein came under scrutiny again last week after a photo of Andrew lying on the laps of women was released by the US government as part of the so-called "Epstein files".
Andrew was one of many well-known figures to be pictured in the files, and appearing in them is not evidence of a crime. Andrew has always denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein.
Buckingham Palace has also said Andrew will leave his Royal Lodge home in Windsor, and will move in the New Year to an undisclosed property on the Sandringham estate, which is privately owned by the King.
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1w9xrx480wo
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Zelensky adviser claims Ukraine ‘can’t afford’ elections
26 Dec, 2025
Ukraine cannot afford to finance elections on its own due to a budget deficit, Mikhail Podoliak, a senior adviser to Vladimir Zelensky, has claimed, insisting that Kiev should focus on “militarization” efforts.
Zelensky’s presidential term expired in May 2024, but he refused to call an election, citing martial law. Russia has proclaimed Zelensky “illegitimate” while insisting that legal power now lies with Ukraine’s parliament. Moscow has also suggested that Zelensky’s dubious status poses an obstacle to reaching a peace agreement.
However, US President Donald Trump – who once referred to Zelensky as “a dictator” – has recently ramped up pressure on the Ukrainian leader to hold elections. In response, Zelensky said he was prepared to hold a vote, but demanded that its Western backers guarantee security.
Speaking to Novini Live on Thursday, Podoliak claimed there is another obstacle to holding a presidential vote. “We are not supposed to finance this. Objectively, we cannot afford it because we have a budget deficit,” he said.
According to Podoliak, Ukraine’s budget has other priority expenditures, including “militarization” and “social programs, which should compensate for the economic losses of individual households.” He suggested, nonetheless, that the country’s Central Electoral Commission and a working group in parliament should calculate the approximate cost of holding elections.
The back-and-forth over the election comes as a Socis poll this week suggested that Zelensky would overwhelmingly lose in a run-off presidential election to his former top commander and potential primary rival, Valery Zaluzhny. The survey indicated that Zaluzhny would sweep a run-off vote with 64%. Another poll, published by news outlet DelovayaStolitsa on Tuesday, indicated that 44% of Ukrainians oppose the prospect of online voting over fears that the authorities could falsify the results.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has noted that Moscow would consider halting strikes deep into Ukraine on election day – provided that millions of Ukrainians living in Russia are allowed to participate.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/russia/630033-zelensky-adviser-ukraine-cant-afford-election/
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Muslim group spreads Christmas cheer to Bristol's homeless for 10th year running
25 December 2025
A social action group has taken to the streets of Bristol for the 10th year running to give hot food and drinks to those who need them.
Muslims4Bristol hosted their annual Christmas 'share and care' day, which sees Muslim families prepare hot food and drinks to share with Bristolians who are alone on Christmas Day.
Mohammed Elsharif, who has been organising the event since 2015, said: "This is an annual tradition where Muslims, for the past ten years, go out on Christmas Day to share this special day with our Bristol brothers and sisters who spend the day alone - we will be their families on such a day.
"This action of kindness and togetherness amongst our diverse communities is much more needed than before”.
This year's event saw three families cook 150 meals, with 12 volunteers turning up to help distribute them.
NegatHussien, who has volunteered for several years, said: "Giving back to those who need it most during Christmas, spreading festive joy, and making a real difference in someone’s day is truly rewarding.
"It’s a wonderful way to gain perspective and feel grateful for what you have."
MunaTalha who is also a volunteer described the day as 'really special.'
"As a Muslim we think Christmas is a beautiful special event and we want to celebrate it with those who have been forgotten. We go out and spend some time and talk and start some conversation."
She added: "It's not just about giving food, it's about showing care, conversation and love."
Source: itv.com
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https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2025-12-25/muslim-group-spreads-christmas-cheer-to-bristols-homeless-for-10th-year-running
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Community spirit as Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association visit care home on Christmas Eve
25 December 2025
By Hugo Berger
Young volunteers from a Tilford-based Muslim youth group visited a care home on Christmas Eve to share gifts, conversation and festive goodwill.
Members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association Islamabad (Tilford) visited the care home in Godalming on Tuesday, December 24, to spend time with residents during the festive period.
The group handed out chocolates and roses, symbolising sweetness, love and appreciation, and took time to sit and chat with residents, sharing stories and bringing smiles on Christmas Eve.
The visit formed part of the association’s wider commitment to community service, social responsibility and interfaith harmony, with the aim of strengthening understanding and compassion across generations and cultures.
Saeed Ahmad Rafiq, spokesman for the youth association, said: “We believe that small acts of kindness can make a significant difference.
“Spending time with the residents, listening to their stories, and sharing moments of joy was a deeply rewarding experience for our youth. It reflects our core values of compassion, service, and love for all.”
Residents warmly welcomed the visit and thanked the young volunteers for their thoughtful gifts and companionship, with the initiative creating lasting memories for both residents and participants.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association said it remains committed to serving local communities through charitable initiatives and outreach activities, aiming to make a positive contribution to society.
Source: altonherald.com
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https://www.altonherald.com/news/community-news/community-spirit-as-ahmadiyya-muslim-youth-association-visit-care-home-on-christmas-eve-864843
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Ukraine a corrupt ‘viper’s den’ – Hunter Biden
25 Dec, 2025
Ukraine is a “viper’s den” rife with corruption, Hunter Biden, the son of former US President Joe Biden, has said, as he reflected on his time as a board member of the Ukrainian energy company Burisma.
Hunter Biden was hired by Burisma in 2014, when his father served as vice president in the Obama administration, and left the post in 2019. He reportedly earned around $1 million annually, with critics pointing out that he lacked any experience in the energy sector and was effectively “cashing in” on his father’s prominent position.
In an interview on the Shawn Ryan Show aired on Monday, Hunter Biden expressed regret about his involvement in Ukraine’s affairs. “It was a mistake because I was very, very naive about what a viper’s den Ukraine is.”
What an absolute… level of corruption that [is] still staggering because they’re part of a kleptocracy,” he added.
He went on to explain that he believed his tenure in Burisma to be a blunder, “not because of anything that I did that I am embarrassed about or in any way whatsoever feel conflicted about as it relates to what I did for Burisma. But because of the political position that it put us all in.”
The Biden family has long been entangled in controversy over Burisma, with the New York Times reporting last August that Hunter Biden sought assistance for the company from the US ambassador to Italy in 2016. Hunter’s legal team described the outreach as a “proper request,” and stressed that it did not lead to any projects.
Meanwhile, Joe Biden has publicly acknowledged that he was responsible for the dismissal of Ukrainian Prosecutor Viktor Shokin, who was investigating the company, by threatening to withhold $1 billion in loan guarantees to Kiev unless the official was fired.
Ukraine has long been reeling under endemic corruption, with the problem only exacerbating after the escalation of Kiev’s conflict with Moscow in 2022.
A poll by Info Sapiens this spring suggested that almost 80% of Ukrainians consider the graft a very serious issue, while the EU has designated corruption as one of the key obstacles impeding Kiev’s membership in the bloc.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/630030-ukraine-corrupt-viper-den-hunter-biden/
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US wants Europe’s largest nuclear plant for cryptomining – Putin
25 Dec, 2025
Washington is interested in using its proposed stake in the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) for a cryptomining operation, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a meeting with business leaders on Thursday, according to Kommersant.
The facility has been fully controlled by Russian forces since 2022 and has reportedly figured in US President Donald Trump’s proposed 28-point peace roadmap for Ukraine.
In the ongoing US-Russian negotiations, the president’s envoys have shown interest in sharing control of the plant with Moscow and using Washington’s stake to mine cryptocurrency, Putin said, business daily Kommersant wrote on Thursday.
Moscow is also considering a US proposal for the plant to once again provide electricity for Ukraine, he reportedly said.
Russia is currently analyzing a counteroffer from Washington in the latest round of shuttle diplomacy, after Putin envoy Kirill Dmitriev’s recent return from Miami, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists on Thursday.
A day earlier, Vladimir Zelensky unveiled his own draft plan, in which he wanted the Russian-held ZNPP to be controlled by Ukraine and the US on a 50/50 basis.
The Ukrainian leader has also demanded territorial concessions from Moscow, which currently holds the initiative on the front line. He also called for Ukraine to maintain an 800,000-strong peacetime army and “Article-5-like” security guarantees from Washington, NATO and Kiev’s European backers.
Moscow has maintained that Ukraine and its Western European sponsors have deliberately undermined the US peace push with complete non-starters for Russia.
The provisions they have attempted to introduce “did not improve the documents or chances of reaching long-term peace,” senior Russian negotiator and Kremlin foreign policy aide YuryUshakov said earlier this week.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/russia/630028-us-wants-cryptomining-zaporozhye-putin/
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Putin wishes Trump merry Christmas – Kremlin
26 Dec, 2025
Russian President Vladimir Putin has wished merry Christmas to his US counterpart, Donald Trump, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has revealed.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Peskov said that Putin had already sent a telegram with greetings to Trump, adding that “there is no indication that a phone conversation between the two leaders is planned for today.”
Under the Trump administration, relations between Russia and the US have been notably warmer than during the tenure of former President Joe Biden.
Putin and Trump have been engaged in active talks over settling the Ukraine conflict and reinvigorating bilateral relations, holding a high-stakes summit in Alaska in August aimed at ending hostilities between Moscow and Kiev, though the talks failed to produce a breakthrough.
In June, Putin also called Trump on his 79th birthday, with the two discussing Iran and the Middle East during a 50-minute conversation. The leaders also held a phone call on October 16, during which Putin congratulated Trump on helping mediate the peace agreement in Gaza.
Last year, several weeks before Trump’s inauguration, Putin refrained from sending any Christmas greeting to most Western leaders as well as the US President, explaining that America has positioned as an “unfriendly” country towards Russia.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/russia/630031-putin-wishes-trump-merry-christmas/
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North America
'Enjoy what may be your last…': Trump's Christmas message for 'sleazebags' who loved Jeffrey Epstein; warning shot fired
Dec 26, 2025
US President Donald Trump in his Christmas message on Thursday (local time) launched a sharp attack on his critics, calling them "sleazebags" and accusing them of having close ties with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein before "dropping him like a dog" and then "blaming Trump." He also fired shots at Democrats and "fake media coverage" further warning "enjoy what may be your last Merry Christmas."
Sharing a post on Truth Social, Trump posted, "Merry Christmas to all, including the many Sleazebags who loved Jeffrey Epstein, gave him bundles of money, went to his Island, attended his parties, and thought he was the greatest guy on earth, only to 'drop him like a dog' when things got too HOT."
He claimed these critics "falsely claimed they had nothing to do with him, didn’t know him, said he was a disgusting person, and then blame, of course, President Donald J Trump."
Trump further went on to assert that he was "actually the only one who did drop Epstein, and long before it became fashionable to do so."
The US President further alleged that those who would be named in the "ongoing Radical Left Witch Hunt" would largely turn out to be Democrats.
He said, "When their names get brought out in the ongoing Radical Left Witch Hunt (plus one lowlife 'Republican,' Massie!), and it is revealed that they are Democrats all, there will be a lot of explaining to do, much like there was when it was made public that the Russia, Russia Hoax was a fictitious story - a total Scam - and had nothing to do with 'TRUMP.'"
He also criticised the media coverage on Epstien files singling out The New York Times.
"The Failing New York Times, among many others, was forced to apologize for their bad and faulty Election 'Reporting,' even to the point of losing many subscribers due to their highly inaccurate (FAKE!) coverage. Now the same losers are at it again, only this time so many of their friends, mostly innocent, will be badly hurt and reputationally tarnished. But sadly, that’s the way it is in the World of Corrupt Democrat Politics!!! Enjoy what may be your last Merry Christmas!" he added.
The post comes amid renewed scrutiny of Epstein's links with powerful figures, alongside ongoing political and legal debates over the release of documents.
Trump and Epstein were friends for several years, but the MAGA leader has stated that they fell out around 2004, years before Epstein was first arrested. Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein.
Meanwhile, the US Justice Department (DOJ) has released nearly 30,000 additional pages of documents linked to Epstein, marking the largest disclosure so far in the long-running investigation.
The newly released files contain multiple references to Trump, including an email from a prosecutor noting flights Trump took on Epstein’s private jet during the 1990s.
In a response to the latest files released, the DOJ said that some of the latest documents released from the Epstein files contained "untrue and sensationalist claims" against Trump, which were submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 US election.
The latest disclosure follows criticism of an earlier tranche of records, some of which were briefly removed from the DOJ's online portal over concerns about protecting victims’ identities. The files were later restored after authorities determined that no victims were depicted in the disputed material.
The newly released material also included hundreds of video and audio files, as well as surveillance footage from August 2019, the month Epstein was found dead in his jail cell while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/enjoy-what-may-be-your-last-trumps-christmas-message-for-sleazebags-who-loved-jeffrey-epstein-warning-shot-fired/articleshow/126181193.cms
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'Merry Christmas to all': US releases footage of strikes against ISIS in Nigeria — watch
Dec 26, 2025
The US department of war on Thursday released a footage of strikes against ISIS terrorists in northeast Nigeria.
The video shows a missile being launched from an aircraft carrier.
This comes after US President Donald Trump announced “powerful and deadly strike” against ISIS terrorists whom he described as “terrorist scum”.
The precision strikes mark the first attack by US forces in Nigeria under Trump, and come after the Republican unexpectedly berated the West African nation in October and November, saying Christians there faced an “existential threat” that amounted to “genocide” amid Nigeria's myriad armed conflicts.
In a post on Truth Social, US President Trump said the strike was carried out “at my direction as Commander in Chief” and targeted ISIS militants.
He alleged that the group had been “targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even centuries”.
He added that the “Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing”.
Trump further said that under his leadership, the US would not allow “radical Islamic terrorism to prosper”.
He concluded the post by saying, “May God bless our military, and Merry Christmas to all, including the dead terrorists, of which there will be many more if their slaughter of Christians continues.”
Trump, in recent months, has repeatedly spoken about the situation of Christians in Nigeria. In November, he had called on his secretary of defence to “prepare for possible action” and warned that the US could enter Nigeria “guns-a-blazing” to protect the Christian population in Africa’s most populous country, reported CNN.
The diplomatic offensive was welcomed by some but interpreted by others as inflaming religious tensions in Africa's most populous country, which has seen bouts of sectarian violence in the past.
Nigeria's government and independent analysts reject framing the country's violence in terms of religious persecution — a narrative long used by the Christian right in the United States and Europe.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian foreign ministry also confirmed the attack launched by the US and said, “Nigerian authorities remain engaged in structured security cooperation with international partners, including the United States of America, in addressing the persistent threat of terrorism and violent extremism,” the foreign ministry said in a statement released early on Friday.
“This has led to precision hits on terrorist targets in Nigeria by air strikes,” in the country's northwest, it added.
Source: indiatimes.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/merry-christmas-to-all-us-releases-footage-of-strikes-against-isis-in-nigeria-watch/articleshow/126181153.cms
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‘Jesus is Palestinian’ message on Times Square billboard triggers reactions online and among tourists
Dec 25, 2025
A digital billboard carrying the message “Jesus is Palestinian” lit up New York City’s Times Square this week, quickly becoming a flashpoint for debate among tourists, holiday visitors, and social media users. Installed during the Christmas season, the display has prompted sharp reactions, with some calling it provocative and others praising it as a statement meant to spark reflection.
Funded by the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), the billboard shows the slogan in large black letters against a green background, alongside a separate panel wishing passersby a “Merry Christmas.” Its placement in one of the world’s most visited public spaces ensured immediate attention, and controversy.
Tourists and netizens react to the message
Several visitors interviewed by the New York Post described the billboard as “divisive” and “inflammatory,” arguing that it felt out of place during a festive period meant for unity. Some British tourists, in particular, voiced discomfort, while others said that Jesus is a universal religious figure, making any modern political or ethnic label unnecessary.
Online, reactions were equally mixed. One user wrote, “That's a beautiful and thought-provoking message to see in such a vibrant place!” Another responded simply, “Wait what?”
ADC defends billboard, says goal is to spark conversation
Adeb Ayoub, National Executive Director of the Arab American organization, told the New York Post that the non-profit has been renting advertising space in Times Square since earlier this year, with different messages rotating on a weekly basis.
He said the broader theme behind the campaign is “America First,” aimed at encouraging people to see common ground between Arab and Muslim communities and Christians in the US during what he described as “the busiest time in New York City.”
“There’s a lot more similarities between Arabs and Muslims and Christians in this country than others want to allow us to believe and there are similarities and there is a fear of culture, shared religion,” Ayoub told.
“Most of the Americans in this country are Christian and the birthplace of Christianity is Palestine. If people wanna go back and forth and debate it, then great, the billboard sparked debate. At least you’re having a conversation about it. Otherwise, we’re silenced and our voices and positions don’t come out.”
Ayoub added that Jewish groups he claims have waged a digital war against him since the Spring are free to promote their own views about Jesus as well.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/jesus-is-palestinian-message-on-times-square-billboard-triggers-reactions-online-and-among-tourists/articleshow/126173585.cms
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Gabbard suggests prominent Muslim group wants Shariah law, New Jersey city fires back
By Kevin Killough
December 25, 2025
Director of National Intelligence TulsiGabbard claimed at a recent Turning Point USA AmericaFest event that the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) called for Sharia Law in the U.S.
"Earlier this year, there was a conference that was held representing organizations like the Council on American Islamic Relations, also known as CAIR, which issued a call to action to use American legal and political systems to implement Sharia law," she declared.
Gabbard said the group’s ideology is “antithetical to the foundation that we find in our Constitution."
Gabbard specifically criticized the city of Paterson, New Jersey, which calls itself the first Muslim City. Gabbard said the town is working to implement Islamic principles in the local government.
Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh disputed Gabbard’s claims and asked her to apologize.
SelaedinMaksut, the executive director of CAIR's New Jersey chapter, also disputed the remarks and said they place Muslim residents at risk.
“We condemn TulsiGabbard’s remarks as dangerous and inflammatory lies. By falsely portraying Islam and Muslim communities as threats to American freedom, she engages in reckless fearmongering that endangers real people," he said.
Source: justthenews.com
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https://justthenews.com/government/federal-agencies/leaders-paterson-new-jersey-criticize-gabbard-her-remarks-about-cair
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The American people will never get closure on the Epstein files
25 Dec, 2025
Across the United States, Democrats and Republicans are demanding that their leaders come clean with the Epstein files and the truth finally be told. What they are getting instead is a massive redaction campaign.
Not since 1998 with the Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky show trial has the American public been so incensed by a sex scandal like the one the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein personally directed for many years. Here is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to send not just one or two powerful ‘untouchables’ to prison for the worst crime imaginable – sexual abuse of a minor – but many dozens, possibly hundreds. In other words, a vast network of international power, wealth, and systemic abuse.
Yet today we are no closer to the truth as to the identities of the sick perpetrators. Under the bipartisan Epstein Files Transparency Act, the Justice Department was required to release all of its investigative material on Mr. Epstein by Dec. 19, though it was allowed to redact and withhold certain material in order to “protect the victims,” which is of course understandable. It also withheld materials that would “jeopardize a federal investigation.” Whether we’ll actually see a single suspect face trial is presently unknown, but the DOJ took full advantage of that loophole as 680 pages of the release were entirely redacted, which made the release practically redundant and senseless.
Were we the people once again expecting too much from the government? That’s very likely, but considering that we are talking about child abuse, even just a single redacted page would have appeared suspicious; hundreds of pages totally blacked out is completely unacceptable. After all, an investigation would not be hindered by the release of the identities of those individuals who had sexual relations with underage girls. The American people deserve better than this. The American people deserve the names of those pedophiles who are walking the streets free today.
In the beginning, President Donald Trump was of the opinion that such a mission was a cause worth pursuing. On the 2024 campaign trail, he pledged he’d have “no problem” releasing more files related to Jeffrey Epstein if elected. He even said he’d make public the late sex offender’s “client list” of those elite pedophiles who paid a visit to his notorious Little Saint James Island in the Caribbean. It is not difficult to imagine the nervous tremors that reverberated throughout the nation following that statement, and it could very well be the source of the ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome’ that has infected so many among the world’s top movers and shakers. It looked as though the MAGA movement would turn a deranged part of the establishment on its head.
Once in office, however, Trump, who has maintained his innocence throughout the saga, vacillated on the question of what to do with the files. He has gone from saying he would welcome the release of the documents to calling the whole scandal a “Democratic hoax.” As for an Epstein client list, his Attorney General Pam Bondi was on the record as saying it was in her possession, only to later deny the existence of a client list. This has led to both Democrats and Republicans asking what Trump was hiding, if anything.
What we know is that Trump was good friends with Epstein from the late eighties, but ended contact with the pedophile in 2004, four years before Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting prostitution from a minor. This is where the plot thickens as a number of highly influential men, including Bill Gates, Larry Summers, and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (formerly Prince Andrew), continued their friendship with Epstein even after he had been publicly exposed as a child predator.
One political figure who appeared prominently in the latest file release was – yes, you guessed it – Bill Clinton, who also claims to have cut off relations with Epstein in 2005, years before child molestation charges were filed against the latter. This is where the political battle between the Democrats and Republicans has exploded and can expect to worsen over time. Clinton’s spokesperson Angel Ureña has accused the White House of using the former Democratic president as a scapegoat.
“The White House hasn’t been hiding these files for months only to dump them late on a Friday to protect Bill Clinton,” the spokesperson said in a statement on X.
“This is about shielding themselves from what comes next, or from what they’ll try and hide forever. So they can release as many grainy 20-plus-year-old photos as they want, but this isn’t about Bill Clinton. Never has, never will be,” the statement added.
Despite the Democrats and Republicans initially working together to release the files, it was inevitable that ‘politics as usual’ would spoil the party. In fact, it is truly a spectacle to watch powerful, influential men doing everything possible – short of murder – to conceal their guilt in Epstein’s extensive pedophilia ring. Actually, scratch the murder part. Regardless of what the FBI would have us believe, there is simply no way that Jeffrey Epstein was able to commit suicide inside of his jail cell, which did not come specially equipped with convenient hooks in the ceiling from which to hang oneself. Prison cells are built specifically to be suicide proof.
But I digress.
It would be nice to think that there will be some sort of political price to be paid for these crimes against society’s most vulnerable segment, and that could very well happen in the 2026 midterm elections. Although we can expect there to be no smoking guns, no bombshell revelations, no crack-of-dawn arrests for the child molesters, there very well could be a political backlash against Trump and the Republican Party for keeping the country in the dark when it comes to Mr. Epstein and his massive closet of skeletons. A large part of that backlash could come from within MAGA itself, which had such high hopes for Trump cracking down on the sexual predators.
Source: rt.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.rt.com/news/630021-epstein-files-never-closure/
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Explained: How Americans misused the J-1 visa and exploited foreign labour
Dec 25, 2025
The J-1 visa was meant to be America’s soft-power handshake. A cultural exchange that allowed young people from around the world to live, work briefly, and absorb the idea of the US as a land of opportunity, fairness and learning. Over the years, that idea quietly thinned out. In its place emerged something colder: a lightly regulated labour pipeline that blurred the line between exchange and exploitation.
A recent investigation by the New York Times lays bare how a programme designed to showcase American values was steadily repurposed into a profit-driven system that left thousands of foreign students and trainees vulnerable.
What the J-1 visa is meant to be
The J-1 visa allows foreign students, interns and trainees to work temporarily in the US under categories such as summer work travel, internships and professional training. While the programme sits under the US State Department, its day-to-day functioning is outsourced to more than a hundred approved sponsor organisations.
These sponsors recruit participants overseas, place them with American employers, monitor their working conditions and act as the primary point of contact if problems arise. In theory, they are custodians of the programme’s cultural mission. In practice, they wield enormous power over people who have very little leverage once they arrive.
Participation has grown dramatically. What was once a modest exchange initiative now brings hundreds of thousands of young workers into the US every year, many funnelled into low-wage sectors that struggle to attract domestic labour.
How the programme became a business
The turning point was structural, not accidental.
Sponsors were permitted to charge recruitment and placement fees with no upper limit. Many participants paid thousands of dollars before ever setting foot in the US, often borrowing money or draining family savings. By the time they arrived, they were already financially trapped.
What awaited many of them bore little resemblance to the internships or training experiences advertised. Instead of professional exposure, participants found themselves doing physically demanding, repetitive work on farms, in factories, at processing plants or in hospitality jobs with long hours and minimal supervision.
At the same time, sponsor organisations increasingly operated like commercial enterprises. Executives paid themselves large salaries. Family members appeared on payrolls. Some sponsors placed participants with businesses owned by board members or relatives. Others created side companies, including insurance providers, and required visa holders to purchase those services as a condition of participation.
None of this violated the rules as they were written.
Why participants could not push back
The system left workers structurally dependent.
A J-1 visa is tied to a sponsor. If a placement turns abusive or unsafe, the sponsor decides whether the participant can be moved elsewhere or whether their stay effectively ends. Complaining risks job loss. Job loss risks deportation.
Many participants reported injuries, harassment and unsafe conditions. When they sought help, sponsors often mediated quietly with employers rather than intervening decisively. The incentive was clear. Employers are repeat clients. Participants are temporary and replaceable.
Unlike other US guest worker programmes, the J-1 system does not prohibit recruitment fees, a safeguard specifically designed elsewhere to prevent debt-driven coercion. The result was a legal grey zone where pressure did not need to be explicit to be effective.
What oversight failed to fix
None of this was unknown to authorities. Internal reviews over decades flagged profiteering, weak oversight and conflicts of interest. Lawmakers briefly considered reforms that would have capped fees and tightened controls.
Those efforts stalled. Sponsors lobbied aggressively, warning that the programme could not survive without charging participants. The structure remained intact, growing larger and more lucrative with time.
Even today, while sponsors are required to disclose their fees to the government, that information is not easily accessible to prospective applicants. Transparency exists largely on paper.
Why this story matters
The J-1 saga exposes an uncomfortable truth about modern immigration systems. Exploitation does not always happen at the margins or through illegal channels. It can thrive inside legal frameworks when ideals are outsourced, oversight is weak and profit incentives are left unchecked.
A visa designed to promote cultural understanding ended up teaching a different lesson: that without accountability, even the most well-intentioned programmes can be bent into tools of quiet exploitation.
For many young people who arrived believing in the promise of America, the exchange was real. Just not the one they were sold.
Source: indiatimes.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/explained-how-americans-misused-the-j-1-visa-and-exploited-foreign-labour/articleshow/126174546.cms
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Watch: Trump’s ‘bad Santa’ warning on Christmas Eve; how US President and Melania marked the holiday
Dec 25, 2025
US President Donald Trump marked Christmas Eve in a light-hearted mood, joking with children about Santa Claus, coal-filled stockings and even a “bad Santa” infiltrating the country. He joined first lady Melania Trump for the annual NORAD Santa-tracking calls from their Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
Vacationing at his Palm Beach resort, Trump took part in the Christmas Eve tradition on Wednesday that allows children who call the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) to track Santa Claus as the US military playfully follows his journey around the world.
Some of these calls are patched through to the president, giving youngsters a chance to speak directly with the commander-in-chief.
Speaking to children from several US states, the president struck a jovial tone and said he enjoyed the interaction so much that he “could do this all day long.” However, he further highlighted that he would eventually have to return to pressing global issues, including efforts to end the war between Russia and Ukraine.
“We want to make sure that Santa is being good. Santa’s a very good person,” Trump said while speaking to children aged between four and ten. “We want to make sure that he’s not infiltrated, that we’re not infiltrating into our country a bad Santa.”
US President and Melania Trump sat side by side and took around a dozen calls between them. While the first lady spoke quietly with children, advising them to sleep early so Santa could arrive, the president joked about her focus.
“She’s able to focus totally, without listening,” Trump said as Melania remained on her call.
During the conversations, Trump mixed humour with reassurance. When an eight-year-old girl from North Carolina asked whether Santa would be angry if children did not leave cookies for him, Trump replied, “He won’t get mad, but I think he’ll be very disappointed.”
“You know, Santa — he tends to be a little bit on the cherubic side. You know what cherubic means? A little on the heavy side,” he added. “I think Santa would like some cookies.”
In another call, an eight-year-old girl from Kansas said she hoped Santa would not leave coal in her stocking.
“You mean clean, beautiful coal?” Trump responded, invoking a phrase he has frequently used while promoting domestic coal production. Laughing, he added, “I had to do that, I’m sorry.”
“Coal is clean and beautiful. Please remember that, at all costs,” Trump said, before acknowledging that the child preferred a Barbie doll, clothes and candy.
At several points, Trump referenced the military updates on Santa’s location, relayed by a general overseeing the NORAD operation, telling children when Santa would be reaching their homes.
Despite the festive tone of the calls, Trump later returned to his familiar political messaging. Shortly after wrapping up the Christmas Eve conversations, he posted on his Truth Social platform: “Merry Christmas to all, including the Radical Left Scum that is doing everything possible to destroy our Country, but are failing badly.”
Trump contrasted his administration’s achievements with policies he opposes.
“We no longer have Open Borders, Men in Women's Sports, Transgender for Everyone, or Weak Law Enforcement. What we do have is a Record Stock Market and 401K’s, Lowest Crime numbers in decades, No Inflation, and yesterday, a 4.3 GDP, two points better than expected,” he added.
Trump has a history of using Christmas messages to criticise political opponents. In past years, he has posted holiday greetings aimed at what he has described as the “Radical Left Lunatics.”
On Christmas Eve, however, the president appeared to enjoy the lighter moment, telling reporters watching nearby at Mar-a-Lago that speaking with children during the Santa-tracking calls was a welcome break from global affairs.
Source: indiatimes.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/watch-trumps-bad-santa-warning-on-christmas-eve-how-us-president-and-melania-marked-the-holiday/articleshow/126169350.cms
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Africa
Trump announces U.S. Strike on Islamic state targets in Nigeria
Dec 26, 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday announced that American forces had carried out what he described as a “powerful and deadly” strike against Islamic State militants in Nigeria, following weeks of sharp criticism of the Nigerian government over the persecution of Christians.
In a Christmas evening post on his social media platform, Trump offered no operational details and did not specify the scale of damage inflicted or the number of militants targeted in the operation.
A U.S. Defense Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity because the information has not been publicly disclosed, confirmed that the strikes were conducted in coordination with Nigerian authorities. According to the official, the operation was approved by Nigeria’s government, underscoring ongoing security cooperation between Washington and Abuja in the fight against extremist groups operating in West Africa.
Islamic State–affiliated factions have been active in parts of northern and northeastern Nigeria, where insecurity linked to insurgency and sectarian violence has persisted for years.
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.africanews.com/2025/12/26/trump-announces-us-strike-on-islamic-state-targets-in-nigeria/
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Borno bomb blast sparks heightened security nationwide
December 26, 2025
Following the Christmas Eve terrorist attack in Maiduguri, Borno State, the authorities have scaled up security across the country with massive deployments of operatives in worship centres and urban hubs.
No fewer than 16,738 tactical squads were deployed in Borno, Kogi, Edo, Bauchi, Plateau, Kano, Abia, and other states.
President Bola Tinubu had directed the authorities to deploy additional tactical teams to Borno and other states, following the terrorist attack in a Maiduguri mosque in which four people were killed.
A suicide bomber had detonated an explosive device at the Al-Adum Mosque in Gamboru Market, Maiduguri, around 6pm on Wednesday, when worshippers had gathered for prayers, injuring several persons.
The mosque, located near the Customs district, is a popular place of worship frequented by traders and sellers who patronise the bustling market daily.
Vice President KashimShettima, in a statement on Thursday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communication, Stanley Nkwocha, disclosed that the President had ordered the immediate intensification of security operations in Borno State following Wednesday’s attack.
He vowed that the perpetrators of the bomb explosion would face the full weight of the law. He affirmed that additional tactical teams had been deployed to track down those responsible for the attack.
“The Federal Government will not tolerate any attempt to undermine the peace and security of our nation. Our security agencies are working around the clock to ensure that the perpetrators of this heinous crime are brought to justice immediately,” Shettima stated.
He described the attack as “a despicable assault on innocent citizens and the peace of the nation.”
The Nigerian Army confirmed that four persons were killed and 32 others injured in the explosion, which occurred during Maghrib (evening) prayers at about 6pm on Wednesday.
The Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation Hadin Kai, Lt.-Col. Sani Uba, in a statement on Thursday, said preliminary investigations indicated that the blast was caused by a suspected Boko Haram suicide bomber who detonated an improvised explosive device.
“Initial findings show that the explosion was caused by a suspected Boko Haram terrorist suicide bomber who detonated an IED, killing himself and two civilians at the scene,” Uba said.
He disclosed that although 32 civilians initially sustained injuries, two later died in the hospital, bringing the total number of civilian deaths to four.
“Two of the injured victims remain in critical condition, while others are stable and responding to treatment,” Uba added.
Earlier, the spokesperson of the Borno State Police Command, Nahum Daso, stated that preliminary investigations suggested the incident may have been a suicide bombing, based on the recovery of fragments of a suspected suicide vest and witness accounts, while investigations were ongoing to establish the exact cause and circumstances.
Daso added that police were conducting a sweep of the area in search of possible secondary devices.
Shettima expressed confidence that the existing security architecture would not only apprehend the perpetrators but also unravel the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
“We sympathise with the Government of Borno State, residents, and families who have lost their loved ones in this attack. The Federal Government is confident that those responsible for this despicable act of terrorism will face the full weight of the law,” he said.
He assured Nigerians that the Tinubu administration’s commitment to national security, anchored in constitutional responsibility, remained unwavering.
“Since President Bola Tinubu assumed office in 2023, this administration has consistently reaffirmed its unyielding commitment to safeguarding the security, unity and stability of our nation,” Shettima stated.
“This commitment remains steadfast under God and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We will continue to provide our security agencies with all necessary resources and support to decisively defeat terrorism in all its forms.”
He added that the Federal Government was working closely with state authorities and local security agencies to ensure the protection of vulnerable communities and critical infrastructure across the North East and other regions.
Borno State Governor, BabaganaZulum, condemned the attack, describing it as “utterly condemnable, barbaric and inhumane.”
In a statement, Zulum urged heightened vigilance at places of worship and public spaces during the festive season.
“Attacking a place of worship is a desecration of its sanctity at a time when Muslim faithful are performing acts of worship,” he said, while offering condolences to the families of the deceased and prayers for the injured.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr Tajudeen Abbas, also condemned the Maiduguri mosque attack, describing it as barbaric and an assault on the nation’s conscience.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Krishi, Abbas expressed condolences to the victims’ families and reaffirmed the Federal Government’s resolve to combat insecurity through enhanced funding, intelligence-driven operations and community-based initiatives.
Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, has been at the centre of a prolonged insurgency led by jihadist groups Boko Haram and its offshoot, the Islamic State West Africa Province, since 2009.
Boko Haram launched its insurgency in Borno State with the aim of establishing an Islamic caliphate. The militants have historically targeted mosques, markets and crowded public spaces using suicide bombers and improvised explosive devices since 2009.
Although the violence has waned from its peak a decade ago, it has spilled into neighbouring Niger, Chad and Cameroon.
The timing of the explosion, just hours before Christmas celebrations, heightened tensions in the city, particularly among Christian communities preparing for the holiday.
The attack occurred on the same day President Tinubu released his Christmas message, in which he vowed that no Nigerian would suffer or die because of their religious beliefs.
“No one, regardless of ethnicity or belief, should be made to suffer for professing and practising his faith,” the President stated, pledging to do “everything within my power to enshrine religious freedom in Nigeria and protect people of different faiths from violence.”
Pattern of attacks
In recent months, concerns have mounted over a potential resurgence of militant activity in parts of Borno State, despite government claims of progress in degrading the operational capabilities of terrorist groups.
According to the 2025 Global Terrorism Index, Nigeria now ranks sixth globally, up from eighth position in 2023 and 2024, indicating persistent systemic challenges in addressing terrorism.
In the aftermath of the blast, the Borno police deployed over 1,000 officers state-wide, while the Explosives Ordnance Disposal unit conducted routine sweeping and scanning of worship centres and recreational areas.
Sokoto State Police Command also confirmed the deployment of over 1,000 officers to worship and recreation centres, with no crime reported as of Christmas Day.
The command’s spokesperson, Ahmed Rufai, said the police had not recorded any crime during the period.
According to him, “We deployed over 1,000 officers across the state to secure churches, recreational centres and major roundabouts within the metropolis.
“As of now, we have not received any report from any of our teams. So far, the celebration has been peaceful, without any issue or criminal activity.”
In Delta State, the Commissioner of Police, OlufemiAbaniwonda, ordered the deployment of marine police along waterways to curb the activities of sea pirates and illegal bunkerers, particularly in Escravos, Burutu and Warri.
The measure was taken to ensure the protection of traders and travellers during the Christmas and New Year festivities, according to a special Christmas bulletin signed by the state Police Public Relations Officer.
Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers and Tactical Commanders were directed to deploy personnel in all celebration venues and resorts.
Special patrol teams drawn from the Dragon Patrol, Safer Highways, Quick Response Squad, Rapid Response Squad, CP-SAT and Eagle-Net squads were deployed across major routes, junctions and flashpoints within Asaba and other parts of the state.
Traffic control measures were also strengthened at the Asaba Head Bridge, with police officers and traffic wardens deployed solely for traffic management.
The Ondo State Commissioner of Police, AdebowaleLawal, assured residents of a hitch-free Christmas period, noting that additional personnel had been deployed for overt and covert operations across black spots, highways and strategic locations.
Similarly, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Ondo mobilised hundreds of personnel across the state’s 18 local government areas to maintain law and order throughout the festive season.
In Kogi, Bauchi, Kwara, Edo, Kano, Plateau and Abia States, police and NSCDC commands announced extensive deployments, patrols and intelligence-led operations to ensure peaceful celebrations, with religious and community leaders commending the visible security presence.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Kogi State Police Command spokesperson, William Aya, said several measures have been implemented to strengthen security.
“These include the deployment of adequate police personnel, enhanced patrols, intelligence-led operations, visibility policing and the strategic positioning of officers at worship centres, recreational areas, major highways, markets and other public places,” the statement read.
It added that personnel from conventional police units, the Police Mobile Force, Motor Traffic Department, Safer Highway Patrol and other tactical formations were mobilised to maintain law and order and prevent criminal activities during the celebrations.
Similarly, Plateau State witnessed a significant deployment of security personnel as joint patrols by the Army, police, and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps were observed in Jos, the state capital, and Riyom, Bassa, Mangu, Bokkos, and BarkinLadi.
Security agents were stationed at strategic locations and also mounted roadblocks on major highways leading to and out of the state.
Worship centres witnessed a remarkable security presence, particularly during and after the Christmas services.
The Plateau State Government had earlier announced the deployment of 1,450 personnel of Operation Rainbow, a state-owned security outfit, to boost security in the state.
The NSCDC, on the other hand, deployed 2,608 personnel across the state.
In Edo, the police rolled out 5,000 officers to enhance security during the Yuletide.
The state PPRO, EnoIkoedem, disclosed in a statement on Thursday that the roadblocks and checkpoints across the major roads in the state were necessitated by the crime trends.
She noted that officers have been directed to conduct lawful stop-and-search operations aimed at preventing crime, intercepting criminal elements, and ensuring the safety of law-abiding citizens, while also compelling vehicles to slow down at critical points.
“The Edo State Police Command hereby states that over 5,000 personnel have been deployed within the state, in and out of Benin City, for enhanced security during the Yuletide.
“Strategies employed include deployment of roadblocks and checkpoints across major roads in the state, necessitated by prevailing crime trends and the need to protect lives and property.
“Officers have been directed to conduct lawful stop-and-search operations aimed at preventing crime, intercepting criminal elements, and ensuring the safety of law-abiding citizens, while also compelling vehicles to slow down at critical points.
“The command notes with deep concern that within the last year, it recorded about eight casualties and four deaths of police officers, largely resulting from encounters with criminal elements who refused to submit to lawful searches and drove recklessly in attempts to evade security checks.
“These unfortunate incidents informed the decision to strengthen and sustain stop and search operations as a proactive response to protect both officers and members of the public.”
The Niger State Police Command has equally intensified security in the state.
The Commissioner of Police, AdamuElleman, ordered adequate security at worship places and recreation centres.
“He directed Area Commanders, Tactical Commanders and DPOs that the deployment should adequately cover public places, particularly, places of worship, recreation centres, amusement parks, motor parks and highways within the State to provide the required security coverage before, during and after the season,’’ the command explained in a statement.
The Kano Police Public Relations Officer, AbdullahiHaruna, told The PUNCH on Thursday that the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Bakori, had directed all operational commanders to intensify security across the state, particularly at worship centres and recreational facilities.
“The commissioner has mandated all operational commanders to ensure adequate security at worship centres and recreational facilities across the state,” Abdullahi said.
He added that Bakori also ordered round-the-clock visibility patrols and effective traffic control to ensure the free flow of traffic throughout the festive period.
According to him, the directive was issued during a meeting with heads of departments, area commanders, squadron and tactical commanders, as well as divisional police officers.
Meanwhile, the Kano State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has deployed 1,350 personnel to boost security during the yuletide.
The NSCDC Public Relations Officer in the state, Ibrahim Abdullahi, told The PUNCH that the deployment was aimed at enhancing visibility and preventing criminal activities during the festivities.
“As part of efforts to enhance visibility and patrols, the Corps has deployed 1,350 personnel for improved security during the Yuletide,” he said.
“These units will conduct continuous foot, mobile and overt patrols at entry and exit points of cities, markets, major highways, motor parks and public venues to deter criminal activities,” Abdullahi added.
In Kwara State, the Police Command said it activated comprehensive security measures ahead of the Christmas and New Year festivities.
This was contained in a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, AdetounEjire-Adeyemi.
The statement, titled, ‘Yuletide Security Arrangements: Kwara Police Activate Comprehensive State-wide Deployment,’ said the initiative was part of proactive policing strategies aimed at boosting public confidence during the festive season.
The Commissioner of Police, AdekimiOjo, explained that the deployment aligned with the nationwide security arrangements of the Nigeria Police Force as directed by the Inspector-General of Police, KayodeEgbetokun.
He pointed out that visibility policing, intelligence-led patrols and targeted operations had been intensified around places of worship, markets, motor parks, highways, recreational centres and other public spaces.
Ojo added that tactical and specialised units had been placed on high alert, with sustained surveillance and raids ongoing in identified flashpoints across the state.
The Kwara State Commandant of the NSCDC, Umar Muhammed, deployed 2,380 personnel across the state.
The NSCDC spokesperson, Ayoola Shola, said the deployment was aimed at protecting critical national assets, public facilities and residents across the 16 local government areas of the state.
He said personnel were drawn from specialised units, including the Armed Squad, Counter-Terrorism Unit, Anti-Vandal Unit and the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive unit.
The police in Abia confirmed the deployment of adequate men, even as the NSCDC disclosed that 850 officers and men had been mobilised across the state.
CAN reacts
Reacting to the security situation, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Kano State, Mr John Namaza, said while absolute security could not be guaranteed anywhere in the world, the state was currently enjoying relative peace.
“Honestly, I cannot say that I am completely satisfied with the security situation because even in developed countries, no one can give you a 100 per cent guarantee of safety,” he said.
Namaza, however, described the prevailing peace in Kano as commendable compared to previous years.
Also speaking, the spokesperson for the Bauchi State Police Command, Nafiu Habib, reassured residents that adequate security measures had been put in place to ensure a peaceful and hitch-free festive period.
He encouraged citizens to pray for peace, unity and national progress while supporting the efforts to address the country’s security challenges.
The NSCDC spokesperson in Bauchi State, Saminu Yusuf, said the State Commandant, OloyedeOyerinde, approved the deployment of over 1,100 personnel to complement other security agencies during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
The Bauchi State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Abraham Damina, expressed satisfaction with the level of security deployment across the state.
Speaking with The PUNCH on Thursday, Damina said security operatives were visible at various worship centres, describing the development as commendable.
The Niger State chapter of CAN said it has passed information to the Churches to be security-conscious and ensure that they monitor movements around their worship places.
The media aide of the CAN chairman, Daniel Atori, in a statement on Wednesday, said the association was conscious of the security situation in the state and has urged church leaders to be vigilant, warning the members to be vigilant.
Source: punchng.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://punchng.com/borno-bomb-blast-sparks-heightened-security-nationwide/
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Northern governors condemn Maiduguri Mosque attack
By Chimezie Godfrey
December 25, 2025
Northern States Governors’ Forum has condemned the suicide attack at the Gomboru Market Mosque in Maiduguri.
The Chairman of the Forum, Gov. InuwaYahaya of Gombe State, who made the commendation on behalf of his colleagues, sympathised with victims of the attack.
Yahaya in a statement on Thursday in Gombe by his media aide, Mr IsmailaUba-Misilli, described the attack as a barbaric, dastardly and cowardly act aimed at instilling fear and undermining peace.
He expressed sorrow over the incident, extending condolences to the Government and people of Borno.
He described the targeting of a place of worship as a grave violation of human conscience and religious sanctity, stressing that such acts only reinforce the resolve of the region to stand united against terrorism and violent extremism.
Yahaya called for enhanced security measures, particularly around places of worship and public spaces, especially during festive periods when large gatherings are common.
He assured the people of Borno of the solidarity and full support of the Northern Governors as security agencies intensify efforts to prevent further attacks.
“We pray that Almighty Allah grants eternal rest in AljannatulFirdaus to the souls of those who lost their lives, comforts their families, and grants speedy recovery to the injured.”
He also prayed for continued strength and wisdom for the leadership of Borno under Gov. BabaganaZulum as it confronts security challenges with courage and resilience.
He reiterated the collective determination of Northern States to work together in support of peace, security, and the protection of innocent lives, stressing that acts of terror would not break the spirit or unity of the region.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Wednesday evening attack during Maghrib prayers, claimed the lives of five worshippers and left at least 35 others injured.
A suspected suicide bomber reportedly infiltrated the mosque at the height of the prayers, turning a sacred moment of devotion into a scene of grief and anguish.(NAN)
Source: newsdiaryonline.com
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https://newsdiaryonline.com/northern-governors-condemn-maiduguri-mosque-attack/
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Al-Shabab remains major threat to stability in Somalia and neighboring countries, UN experts warn
December 26, 2025
The al-Shabab extremist group continues to pose the greatest immediate threat to peace and stability in Somalia and the wider region, including neighboring Kenya, U.N. experts warned in a report released Wednesday. Despite ongoing military efforts by Somali and international forces to curb its activities, al-Shabab’s ability to execute complex, asymmetric attacks remains undiminished.
The group, which is linked to al-Qaida, not only carries out deadly attacks but also maintains a sophisticated network of extortion, forced recruitment, and effective propaganda. The report highlighted an attempted assassination of Somalia's president on March 18 in Mogadishu, underscoring the persistent danger posed by the group in the capital.
The U.N. Security Council on Tuesday voted to extend the mandate for the African Union’s peacekeeping force in Somalia until December 31, 2026. This force, which includes 11,826 personnel, plays a key role in stabilizing the country amid ongoing threats from al-Shabab.
In neighboring Kenya, the extremist group’s influence is felt through a range of attacks, including improvised explosive devices, kidnappings, and raids, particularly in counties bordering Somalia. The report revealed that al-Shabab has averaged six attacks per month in Kenya this year.
The panel also raised concerns over the growth of the Islamic State’s presence in Somalia, noting that although smaller than al-Shabab, the group’s expansion poses a significant security threat to the region.
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.africanews.com/2025/12/25/al-shabab-remains-major-threat-to-stability-in-somalia-and-neighboring-countries-un-expert/
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‘This Is A Mistake’ – Sheikh Gumi Knocks Nigeria For Allowing U.S Airstrikes Against Terrorists
December 26, 2025
By George OshogweOgbolu
Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has called on the Federal Government to immediately halt all forms of military cooperation with the United States following reports of recent US airstrikes in Nigeria.
Naija News reports that Gumi made the call in a statement posted on his Facebook page on Friday, warning that American involvement could worsen Nigeria’s security challenges and undermine the country’s sovereignty.
While acknowledging that Islam permits the fight against terrorism, the cleric argued that such actions must only be carried out by what he described as “clean hands.”
According to him, the United States lacks the moral authority to lead counterterrorism efforts, citing its global military record.
He said Nigeria made a mistake by allowing foreign powers to participate in its counterterrorism operations, insisting that foreign intervention often comes with hidden political motives.
Gumi cautioned that allowing Nigeria to become a theatre of war would attract anti-US forces into the country and further destabilise the nation.
“This is the mistake Nigeria has made. Terrorists don’t fight terrorists in truth; they may only kill innocent people and have ulterior motives behind the drama of fighting ‘terror’,” he said.
He warned that American involvement, especially under claims of protecting Christians, could polarise Nigeria along religious lines.
The cleric further argued that airstrikes alone cannot defeat terrorism, stressing that effective counterterrorism requires strong ground operations.
“As a principle, no nation should allow its land to be a theater of war. And no nation should allow its neighbors to be their enemies.
“If Nigeria wants military assistance, China, Turkey, and Pakistan can do the job effectively,” Gumi stated.
Source: naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.naijanews.com/2025/12/26/this-is-a-mistake-sheikh-gumi-knocks-nigeria-for-allowing-u-s-airstrikes-against-terrorists/
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NDLEA Urges Nigerians To Stay Drug-Free, Safe During Christmas Celebrations
December 25, 2025
By Ernest Victor
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has appealed to Nigerians to put their health and safety first during the festive season by making responsible choices and steering clear of drug use.
In a Christmas message shared on its X page on Thursday, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Brig. Gen. BubaMarwa (Rtd), extended goodwill to Nigerians across the country and paid tribute to NDLEA officers for their continued commitment to protecting communities from drug abuse.
“Your dedication and sacrifice in protecting our communities from drug abuse are deeply appreciated,” Marwa said.
He called on members of the public to use the holiday period as an opportunity to make healthy, drug-free decisions that would safeguard their wellbeing and that of others.
“Together, we can build a safer, healthier, and more prosperous Nigeria. Wishing you all a peaceful, joyous, and drug-free Christmas,” he added.
The message comes at a time of growing concern over drug use in Nigeria. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, as contained in the World Drug Report 2025, the national prevalence of drug use stands at 14.4 per cent. This figure is nearly three times the global average and affects an estimated 14.3 million Nigerians between the ages of 15 and 64.
Source: naijanews.com
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Southeast Asia
Malaysian Bar urges family law reforms as divorces rise, calls to shift away from courtroom battles
By Ben Tan
26 Dec 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 26 – The Malaysian Bar has proposed several reforms to strengthen family units, following concern over the latest rise in divorce statistics, calling for collaborative resolution and early intervention support.
In a statement, Malaysian Bar president Mohamad Ezri Abdul Wahab said a collaborative family practice framework and dedicated support units should be introduced to address the impact of rising divorces on children caught in domestic upheavals.
He suggested adopting a structured, non-adversarial model similar to practices in other Commonwealth jurisdictions such as Australia, Canada, Hong Kong and the United Kingdom, where parties commit to resolving matters without resorting to court battles.
“This reduces hostility, promotes transparency and improves long-term family outcomes. Family courts should also be equipped with counsellors, psychologists, social workers and mediators who can assist parties before and during proceedings. Early intervention can stabilise relationships, assist in reconciliation where possible, and support co-parenting where separation is inevitable,” he said.
Mohamad Ezri was responding to the latest marriage, divorce and reconciliation statistics released by the Department of Statistics.
He noted that while marriages recorded only a slight increase of 0.9 per cent in 2024, divorces rose by 4.1 per cent, and reconciliation cases continued to decline.
“These patterns point to pressures within Malaysian families, which require thoughtful attention and sustained policy intervention,” he said, stressing that rising divorce rates signal more than marital breakdown, as they affect the children involved.
Mohamad Ezri also called for mediation to be made a mandatory first pathway for families before litigation begins, to reduce emotional and financial strain and promote more stable arrangements for children.
He highlighted the need for broader socioeconomic support, noting that family cohesion is closely linked to cost-of-living pressures, childcare accessibility, mental health services and work-life balance.
“The latest statistics highlight the need for a more resilient and supportive family justice ecosystem. The Malaysian Bar remains committed to working with the judiciary, government, religious authorities and civil society to strengthen institutional frameworks that protect families. Reforms that prioritise stability, fairness and the well-being of children are essential if Malaysia is to develop a more cohesive society,” he said.
Source: malaymail.com
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Police take down Malaysia’s largest international drug syndicate, seize RM1.04b in narcotics
26 Dec 2025
KAJANG, Dec 26 — Police have taken down the largest international drug syndicate ever uncovered in Malaysia, seizing 6.2 tonnes of narcotics with an estimated street value of RM1.04 billion in a Klang Valley raid last month.
Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) director Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the operation codenamed Op Gaharu 2.0 was conducted on December 21 following the arrest of six individuals, including three women, in an earlier phase on December 16.
He said the first raid on December 21 at Taman IndustriSelasa Jaya, Seri Kembangan, led to the seizure of 5,983 kg of liquid and 207 kg of white powder, both suspected to be MDMA, a type of methamphetamine.
On the same day, the task force raided a premises in Taman Perindustrian Kepong, confiscating 20 kg of powder suspected to be cocaine and 1.25 kg of white powder believed to be ketamine.
“The total seizure is estimated at 6,212 kg with a street value of RM1.04 billion. The quantity of drugs confiscated is sufficient to potentially harm approximately 20.7 million users,” he said during a press conference at Semenyih police station today.
Hussein said investigations revealed the syndicate brought in chemists and imported precursor chemicals from abroad, utilising local coordinators and members to process the drugs.
He revealed that the syndicate operated from 14 factory units and 10 residential properties, which had been converted into processing labs and storage facilities, all rented for between RM6,000 and RM10,000 per month.
Investigations indicate the syndicate used Malaysia as a processing hub to distribute the drugs to several international destinations, including Hong Kong and Australia.
It is believed to have had over 12 members, including its mastermind, and to have been active since January this year.
“Based on the equipment seized, it is clear this was a large-scale operation. We will seek cooperation from relevant foreign authorities and Interpol to track down and arrest the remaining syndicate members and the mastermind,” he said.
Separately, Hussein added that the syndicate was also found to be conducting online fraud activities, as one of the raided premises in Kajang had been used as a scam call centre.
Fourteen individuals were arrested at the premises, and their case has been handed over to the Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) for further investigation. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Malaysia’s resilience shines in 2025, says Amir Hamzah, with ringgit roaring and unemployment at decade‑low
26 Dec 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 26 — Malaysia has maintained its economic resilience in 2025, supported by the country’s trade neutrality and openness despite United States (US) President Donald Trump’s tariff wars and geopolitical turbulence, said Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir HamzahAzizan.
He said the country has established a solid foundation for future growth, but maintaining competitiveness will require continuous reform rather than complacency.
“When I walked into this role in December 2023, Malaysia’s fiscal deficit stood at 5.5 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP). Today, it’s likely to close at 3.8 per cent for 2025, on track for 3.5 per cent in 2026, and the ringgit has emerged as Asia’s best-performing currency.
“Unemployment holds at a decade-low three per cent, and we’ve achieved a record for foreign direct investment (FDI) that signals confidence in Malaysia’s trajectory. These results came from steady implementation across Madani Economy’s three pillars,” he said in his posting on LinkedIn today.
Amir Hamzah said for 2026, the government remains committed to enhancing economic resilience, focusing towards deeper execution.
“We’ve proven that the Madani Economy framework works. Now it’s about sustaining momentum while navigating external shocks.
“Malaysia has clearly turned a corner in its post-Covid 19 recovery and is regaining its position as the Asian Tiger. There’s more work ahead, and we must drive a resolute desire to keep going, anchored on the plan,” he added. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Three hours in, Najib’s 1MDB judgment adjourned — courtroom drama paused for Friday prayers
By Kenneth Tee
26 Dec 2025
PUTRAJAYA, Dec 26 — Court proceedings in the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) trial were briefly paused today after the High Court adjourned, three hours into the reading of its judgment, to allow for Friday prayers.
Justice Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah, the Federal Court judge who previously presided over the 1MDB trial at the High Court, told a packed courtroom at around 11.35am that he needed another hour and a half to complete reading his findings.
Sequerah had started reading the court’s verdict when proceedings began around 9.25am at the Palace of Justice here.
Sequerah also ordered for Najib — the accused — to be brought back to court for proceedings to resume at 3pm sharp.
Najib remained stoic as he sat in the dock throughout the proceedings, while his wife Datin Seri RosmahMansor was seated behind him.
In this case, Najib is alleged to have misused his position in the government and 1MDB to obtain RM2.22 billion for himself, and to have laundered money by receiving, spending and transferring funds belonging to the company.
Under the four charges of abuse of power, Najib is accused of using his three positions — as prime minister, finance minister and chairman of 1MDB’s board of advisers — to obtain financial benefits totalling RM2.22 billion for himself.
He also faces 21 charges of allegedly laundering said illicit funds through his personal AmIslamic Bank account.
If the High Court finds Najib guilty, the 72-year-old former prime minister will be facing jail time and hefty fines.
If the High Court finds that the prosecution has not proven Najib’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt, he will be acquitted and freed from the charges.
Regardless of the outcome, the decision will not affect Najib’s current imprisonment.
This is because he is currently serving a jail sentence in a separate case involving the misappropriation of RM42 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd.
Najib is now about halfway through his six-year jail term, which will end in August 2028 or August 2029, depending on whether he pays the RM50 million fine imposed in the SRC case.
Source: malaymail.com
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1MDB: Inside Malaysia’s extraordinary tale of missing billions and political downfall
26 Dec 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 26 — Malaysia’s massive 1MDB corruption scandal allegedly saw top officials loot billions from state funds, splurging on luxury assets worldwide including a Monet painting and even funding a Hollywood blockbuster.
The case also ensnared global banking firm Goldman Sachs, which helped raise US$6.5 billion for the now-defunct fund that prosecutors say was plundered of US$4.5 billion between 2009 and 2015.
The scandal shook Malaysian politics, contributing to the 2018 downfall of the ruling coalition that had governed since independence in 1957, and led to the convictions of two former Goldman bankers.
Here’s what you need to know about 1MDB:
What was 1MDB?
1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) was a state investment fund launched by Datuk Seri NajibRazak in 2009, shortly after he became prime minister.
It invested in power plants, energy assets and real estate in Malaysia and the Middle East, under Najib’s close supervision.
Whistleblowers said Jho Low, a well-connected Malaysian financier with no official role, helped set up the fund and made key financial decisions.
Alarm grew in 2014 when 1MDB’s debts ballooned to about US$11 billion and questions surfaced over missing money.
The Sarawak Report news portal first blew the whistle, followed by The Wall Street Journal in 2015, which published documents showing Najib received at least US$681 million in payments to his personal accounts.
How was the money spent?
The US Department of Justice later launched a major probe, alleging that stolen Malaysian funds were laundered through the US financial system and used to buy luxury assets.
It is estimated that over US$4.5 billion was diverted from 1MDB between 2009 and 2015 by fund officials and associates.
Tens of millions of dollars were used in 2012 by Najib’s stepson Riza Aziz, an aspiring film producer, to fund the Hollywood film The Wolf of Wall Street, starring Leonardo DiCaprio.
Hundreds of millions more were spent on high-end real estate in Beverly Hills, New York and London.
Other purchases reportedly included a US$35 million Monet painting, a US$5.5 million Van Gogh, a US$35 million Bombardier jet, a US$100 million stake in EMI Music Publishing, and a US$250 million yacht.
What role did Goldman play?
Apart from Najib, Malaysia also charged Goldman Sachs and several current and former employees for their role in arranging 1MDB bond sales.
Prosecutors said bank officials helped divert large sums and bribed officials to secure contracts, while misleading investors.
Two ex-bankers were accused — along with Low and a former 1MDB employee — of being involved in misappropriating large sums during the fundraising, bribing officials to ensure they were selected to carry out work and giving false statements to investors.
Tim Leissner, Goldman’s former Southeast Asia chairman, pleaded guilty in the US to bribery and money-laundering charges, agreeing to a lifetime ban from the securities industry. He was handed a two-year sentence after assisting investigators.
A second banker, Ng Chong Hwa, also known as Roger Ng, a Malaysian former managing director, was given a 10-year sentence.
How were the assets recovered?
In July 2020, Goldman agreed to pay US$3.9 billion to Malaysia in a settlement that ended criminal proceedings over its role in arranging 1MDB bonds.
The deal included a US$2.5 billion cash payment and a guarantee to help recover at least US$1.4 billion in misappropriated assets.
Tensions resurfaced in 2023 when Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim sought to renegotiate the agreement, saying Malaysia “cannot be taken for a ride”. Goldman later sued the government as the dispute dragged on.
Despite the uncertainty, asset recovery efforts have surpassed expectations.
The US Department of Justice said in June 2024 that it had recovered and helped return about US$1.4 billion to Malaysia, and in January 2025, it recovered another US$20 million.
In August 2025, JPMorgan Chase agreed to pay US$330 million to settle all matters related to 1MDB.
Earlier this month, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission said talks with US officials would lead to the return of 12 high-value paintings — including works by Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse and Joan Miro — worth more than US$30 million. — AFP
Source: malaymail.com
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Perlis assemblyman insists actions justified, vows PAS remains in his heart
By Malay Mail
25 Dec 2025
PETALING JAYA, Dec 25 — Bintong assemblyman Fakhrul Anwar Ismail has defended his actions alongside two other PAS representatives in Perlis, insisting their move was justified even if others may see it differently.
Speaking to BeritaHarian (BH), Fakhrul argued that Perlis MenteriBesarMohdShukriRamli had weakened PAS in the state, stressing that a change in leadership was necessary.
“Our actions are right in our judgement, though others with different views may see them as wrong. What is certain is that the MenteriBesar’s conduct has indeed weakened PAS in Perlis. He must be replaced,” he told BH today.
Fakhrul said further details regarding MohdShukri’s actions would only be disclosed once the appointment of a new MenteriBesar was completed.
“Wait until the new MenteriBesar is appointed, then we will list them,” he added without elaborating.
Nevertheless, he noted that he would use the available avenues to appeal, emphasising that PAS remained close to his heart.
PAS last night expelled three Perlis assemblymen — Fakhrul (Bintong), SaadSeman (Chuping), and MohdRidzuanHashim (Guar Sanji) — following a decision by the party’s central committee under its constitution.
Source: malaymail.com
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Steven Sim allocates RM100,000 for smart boards at Bukit Mertajam religious school
26 Dec 2025
Minister Steven Sim contributes RM100,000 to SMA Al-Ahmadiah Al-Ijtimaiah for smart boards, enhancing digital learning for 168 students.
BUKIT MERTAJAM: Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development Minister Steven Sim has contributed RM100,000 to SekolahMenengah Agama Al-Ahmadiah Al-Ijtimaiah.
The funds will be used to procure five smart boards for the 129-year-old religious school, benefiting its 168 students.
Sim, who is also the Bukit Mertajam MP, said the initiative aims to keep the institution relevant amid rapid technological advancements.
“The adoption of modern technology will also help ease teachers’ workload and create a more interactive and contemporary learning environment,” he said.
He announced that three additional smart boards will be contributed next year to fully equip all classrooms.
During a visit to the school in Padang Lalang, Sim received briefings from management on other needs to improve education quality.
Last year, he contributed RM60,000 for a Smart TV project and learning equipment for the school’s Islamic kindergarten.
Source: thesun.my
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https://thesun.my/news/malaysia-news/steven-sim-allocates-rm100000-for-smart-boards-at-bukit-mertajam-religious-school/
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Malaysia’s economy resilient in 2025 despite global trade tensions
26 Dec 2025
Malaysia’s economy remains resilient in 2025 with a lower fiscal deficit and strong FDI, says Finance Minister II, amid US tariff wars and geopolitical turbulence.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has maintained its economic resilience in 2025, supported by the country’s trade neutrality and openness despite United States President Donald Trump’s tariff wars and geopolitical turbulence.
Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir HamzahAzizan said the country has established a solid foundation for future growth.
He added that maintaining competitiveness will require continuous reform rather than complacency.
“When I walked into this role in December 2023, Malaysia’s fiscal deficit stood at 5.5% of gross domestic product,” he said in a LinkedIn post.
“Today, it’s likely to close at 3.8% for 2025, on track for 3.5% in 2026, and the ringgit has emerged as Asia’s best-performing currency.”
He also noted unemployment holds at a decade-low 3%.
The minister said the country has achieved a record for foreign direct investment that signals confidence in Malaysia’s trajectory.
“These results came from steady implementation across MADANI Economy’s three pillars,” he said.
For 2026, the government remains committed to enhancing economic resilience, focusing towards deeper execution.
“We’ve proven that the MADANI Economy framework works,” Amir Hamzah said.
“Now it’s about sustaining momentum while navigating external shocks.”
He stated Malaysia has clearly turned a corner in its post-COVID-19 recovery and is regaining its position as the Asian Tiger.
“There’s more work ahead, and we must drive a resolute desire to keep going, anchored on the plan,” he added.
Source: thesun.my
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https://thesun.my/news/malaysia-news/malaysias-economy-resilient-in-2025-despite-global-trade-tensions/
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South Asia
Turkey detains 152,000 undocumented refugees, including 42,000 Afghans
By Fidel Rahmati
December 25, 2025
Turkey detained over 152,000 undocumented refugees in the past year, with Afghans forming the largest group, amid tighter migration controls and growing human rights concerns.
More than 152,000 undocumented refugees were detained across Turkey over the past year, according to figures released by the Turkish Migration Authority. Afghan refugees made up the largest group, with over 42,000 detentions, placing them at the top of the list of migrants arrested by Turkish authorities.
After Afghans, the largest numbers of detainees came from Syria, followed by Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Iran, underscoring Turkey’s position as a key transit country for migrants seeking to reach Europe.
Official data also show a decline in overall refugee detentions in 2025 compared with the previous year. In 2024, Turkish authorities detained more than 225,000 undocumented migrants nationwide, indicating a notable reduction despite continued enforcement.
However, arrests of Afghan migrants remain disproportionately high. More than 65,000 Afghans were detained by Turkish police in cities across the country last year, reflecting ongoing pressure on this group.
Turkey’s geographic location, particularly its proximity to Greece, has made it one of the main smuggling routes for Afghan and Iranian refugees attempting to enter Europe, increasing security operations along migration corridors.
At the same time, European pressure on Ankara to curb irregular migration has intensified. In response, Turkish authorities have stepped up arrests and deportations, frequently returning Afghan refugees to Afghanistan.
Alongside these measures, concerns over human rights have mounted. Multiple investigations report that Afghan migrants face violence and mistreatment at Turkey’s borders and inside detention and deportation centers.
A joint investigation published last year by Politico, Der Spiegel, and other media outlets documented beatings, abuse, and prolonged confinement of Afghan and Syrian refugees, including being held for up to 12 hours in cold rooms, raising serious concerns about their treatment.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/turkey-detains-152000-undocumented-refugees-including-42000-afghans/
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BNP to hold nationwide special prayer after Juma today
Dec 26, 2025
The BNP will hold a special prayer after Juma today at mosques across the country.
The programme has been arranged to seek the recovery of party chairperson and former prime minister Khaleda Zia and to mark the homecoming of BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman, according to a party press release.
The press release, signed by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General RuhulKabir Rizvi, urged party leaders, activists and members of the public to take part in the prayers.
Source: thedailystar.net
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‘NCP leaning towards seat-sharing deal with Jamaat’
Dec 26, 2025
The National Citizen Party is increasingly tilting toward a seat-sharing arrangement with Jamaat-e-Islami, as party leaders fear that a deal with the BNP would yield too few seats and create cracks within their newly formed alliance.
Several senior NCP leaders, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Jamaat has so far agreed to give up 30 seats for NCP to contest in the February general election, substantially more than what the BNP is prepared to offer.
They said the BNP initially indicated it might concede six to seven seats, but in final negotiations, the offer would likely shrink to no more than three.
The BNP, they added, also imposed conditions requiring the NCP to dissolve itself or break the GonotantrikSongskarJote to join the party.
"We are holding discussions with both the BNP and Jamaat, but we are moving forward with the understanding with Jamaat," said a senior NCP leader.
However, he noted that further talks with the BNP could still take place as its acting chairman Tarique Rahman returned to the country yesterday after 17 years in exile.
Repeated attempts to reach NCP Convener Nahid Islam and Chief Coordinator NasiruddinPatwary by phone and message were unsuccessful.
NCP Joint Convener SarwarTushar told The Daily Star that no final decision had been made. "Nothing has been finalised for an official announcement. Details will be shared once discussions are over," he said.
Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar confirmed to BBC Bangla that discussions on seat-sharing between Jamaat and the NCP were under way.
When The Daily Star tried to contact Porwar by phone, his aide Foyez Uddin received the call and said the Jamaat leader was busy.
Two senior NCP leaders, requesting anonymity, said the proposed arrangement with Jamaat would not be a formal alliance but a seat-sharing deal, allowing the party to contest the election under its own symbol.
Jamaat has also agreed to a seat compromise while keeping the GonotantrikSongskarJote intact. "Overall, the talks are moving in a positive direction," one NCP leader said.
The issue entered the public domain yesterday morning after Abdul Kader, former coordinator of the anti-discrimination student movement and convener of the defunct Dhaka University Democratic Student Union, raised concerns in a Facebook post.
He wrote that the NCP was "finally forming an alliance with Jamaat," calling it a "suicidal decision" driven by the interests of a few leaders.
Kader claimed the NCP had initially demanded 50 seats from Jamaat but eventually settled for 30, under conditions that would prevent the party from fielding candidates in the remaining 270 constituencies.
He also claimed NCP's Patwary and Jamaat leader Abdullah Mohammad Taher would oversee the finalisation of candidates for those seats. Taher did not receive phone calls for comments.
Sources said talks between the BNP and NCP had been ongoing since the start of election preparations, with both sides initially exploring an alliance rooted in the legacy of the July mass uprising.
The NCP had sought 20 seats, and most of its leaders supported the move.
However, disagreements over seat distribution, the July charter and reform issues gradually widened, becoming public with the signing of the charter.
In early November, Nahid had announced his decision to contest separately. On December 7, the GonotantrikSongskarJote was launched, followed by the NCP's announcement of candidates for 125 seats on December 10.
As negotiations with the BNP stalled, NCP leaders said the party shifted its focus toward Jamaat-e-Islami to preserve its political relevance and organisational footing.
A senior NCP leader, speaking anonymously, said the BNP's stance had changed as its position strengthened. "During difficult times, the BNP needed us. Now they have taken a dismissive, almost despotic attitude," he said.
"They are offering only three seats, with the condition that we dissolve the party and our alliances to merge with them. Under these terms, the prospects of an alliance or seat-sharing with the BNP are extremely low," he added, noting that a final decision would follow talks with Tarique.
A BNP leader with knowledge of seat-sharing talks with other parties said it had held discussions with the NCP a long time ago. "There was no talks with the NCP recently," the leader added, requesting anonymity.
MIXED REACTIONS AMONG ALLIES
The developments have drawn mixed reactions within the GonotantrikSongskarJote. The Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party) has responded pragmatically, while the RastroSongskarAndolon has voiced sharp criticism.
"We will speak with our alliance partners soon. We want to move forward together," said a senior NCP leader.
An AB Party leader, requesting anonymity, said, "Without an agreement with a major party, our post-election existence would be uncertain. Since the BNP is unwilling to compromise, Jamaat has become our last option."
In contrast, RastroSongskarAndolon Chairman HasnatKaiyum said the NCP's engagement with Jamaat undermined the alliance's principles.
"Jamaat is an undemocratic party. By negotiating simultaneously with the BNP and Jamaat, the NCP has violated the core democratic conditions of the alliance. As a result, this alliance has effectively collapsed and no longer exists," he said.
Source: thedailystar.net
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Jamaatameer collects nomination form for Dhaka-15
Dec 25, 2025
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman has collected a nomination form for the Dhaka-15 constituency, to participate in the 13th national election scheduled for February 12.
On behalf of the Jamaatameer, a delegation led by the party's Assistant Secretary General EhsanulMahbubJubayer collected the nomination paper from the Returning Officer's office in Agargaon, Dhaka this morning.
MdYunus Ali, returning officer Dhaka-13 and Dhaka-15, confirmed the development to journalists.
He said a nomination form was collected today on behalf of Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur Rahman for the Dhaka-15 seat.
Other candidates who collected nomination forms for Dhaka-15 include AhammadSajedulHuqRubel (CPB), MdShafiqul Islam Khan (BNP), AlamgirFerdous (NCP), SM FazlulHaque (IslamiAndolan Bangladesh), and AKM Shafiqul Islam (Gono Forum.
On December 17, AhammadSajedulHuqRubel, general secretary of Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), collected his nomination for this seat.
When asked if he felt safe as a candidate in the city, Rubel said, "The national election is supposed to be held in February -- a long-awaited election. We regained this right to vote through much bloodshed. There is now a possibility of losing that right again."
The deadline for submitting nomination papers to the Returning Officer and Assistant Returning Officer is December 29.
Source: thedailystar.net
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'This country belongs to people of the hills and plains, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians'
Dec 25, 2025
"Agents of various dominant powers are still engaged in conspiracies. We must remain patient. We have to exercise caution," BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman told the massive crowd at a reception for him in Dhaka today.
Calling on supporters not to respond to any form of provocation, Tarique said that just as the nation achieved independence in 1971, people from all walks of life once again came together to protect Bangladesh's independence and sovereignty in 2024.
"Today, the people of Bangladesh want to regain their right to speak. They want to get back their democratic rights," he said. "The time has come for all of us to build the country together. This country belongs to people of the hills and the plains, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians. We want to build a safe Bangladesh, where every woman, man, and child can leave home and return safely."
Referring to the killing of Osman Hadi, Tarique said Hadi wanted people of the country to regain their economic rights. "If we are to repay the debt of the blood of those who were martyred in 1971 and 2024, we must build the Bangladesh we all dream of," he said.
The BNP leader said the young would lead the country in the future and stressed the need to ensure a democratic Bangladesh with a strong economic foundation.
Referring to Martin Luther King Jr's historic "I have a dream" speech, Tarique said, "I have a plan." He said he has plans to build the country and that cooperation from every citizen is necessary to implement those plans.
At the reception, he also asked everyone to pray for the recovery of his mother, BNP Chairperson and former prime minister Khaleda Zia.
"Together we will work and build our Bangladesh," he said, expressing gratitude to all present.
Source: thedailystar.net
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Afghanistan, India, and a New Chapter of Trade Prospects
By AkanshKhandelwal
December 26, 2025
The historic commercial relationship between Afghanistan and India is entering a renewed phase, where traditional ties are increasingly being translated into contemporary economic outcomes. Over recent months, both sides have intensified dialogue aimed at fostering trade and investment opportunities, signaling a pragmatic approach driven by economic deliverables rather than rhetoric alone.
Formal trade cooperation between the two nations saw a major push in 2003 through the signing of a bilateral Trade Agreement that reduced tariff barriers on several commodities. Momentum later accelerated, and by 2017–18 the value of Afghanistan-India trade reached USD 1.14 billion, with Afghan exports accounting for USD 709.75 million and imports valued at USD 433.78 million. Although this momentum slowed in the years that followed due to a range of internal and geopolitical disruptions, the latest figures indicate a gradual resurgence. In 2024, India’s exports to Afghanistan totaled USD 333.52 million, consisting primarily of pharmaceuticals, vehicles, apparel, and agricultural-allied products. Afghan saffron, dry fruits, nuts, and handicrafts continue to find strong demand within India, demonstrated vividly during the India International Trade Fair (IITF) in New Delhi in November 2025, where Afghan stalls attracted substantial consumer attention.
Beyond commercial exchange, recent diplomatic engagements have further shaped this emerging economic context. Kabul’s leadership has actively pursued conversations with New Delhi on reviving long-idle mining concessions, hoping to leverage Afghanistan’s mineral-rich geography—including coal, copper, iron ore, gold, lithium, gemstones, and natural gas—by attracting Indian investment and creating employment opportunities. Reports indicate that Afghanistan has also offered notable tax exemptions and incentives to encourage Indian participation in sectors such as gold mining and resource development.
Meanwhile, Indian business stakeholders have consistently emphasized their readiness to increase exports of rice, small manufactured goods, pharmaceuticals, and machinery to Afghanistan, along with interest in joint ventures in cement production, talc and lapis lazuli processing, and potential investment in solar-energy equipment assembly and hydroelectric projects. Afghan officials have also expressed hope that Indian support will assist in developing domestic value-addition capacity, particularly in packaging, processing, and branding of key Afghan export products such as saffron, nuts, and asafoetida. Discussions around training and technical skill-transfer are already underway, as Afghanistan seeks expertise that would help increase product competitiveness in regional markets.
Although commercial optimism is notable, several overarching factors are expected to determine whether current momentum becomes sustainable long-term growth. Smooth financial connectivity between the two economies remains a core requirement, as predictable banking channels, secure financial platforms, and business-to-business transfer systems are essential for private-sector confidence. In parallel, easing business processes, facilitating visas, restoring predictable air cargo services, and strengthening trade routes through the Chabahar port and Iran’s rail network are viewed as key enablers for a regular and scaled-up flow of goods.
Diplomacy has played a critical role in shaping this warming trade environment. Frequent meetings between officials on both sides have revived direct communication and expanded the space for practical coordination. The recent visit of Afghanistan’s Acting Minister of Industry and Commerce, NooruddinAzizi, underscored Kabul’s intent to deepen economic partnerships with India and signaled a desire to convert diplomatic engagement into measurable commercial outcomes.
Regional connectivity considerations also underpin the strategic importance of Afghanistan-India economic relations. With Afghanistan historically positioned as a natural transit hub between South and Central Asia, trade partnerships that extend beyond bilateral borders hold broader potential. The International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC)—linking India to Europe through Iran and Central Asia—carries particular relevance. If Afghanistan further integrates into this route, it stands to benefit through transit-fee revenue, job creation, and the strengthening of internal stability along key trade corridors, while India would gain diversification of mineral and energy-supply channels.
In essence, the unfolding chapter in Afghanistan-India economic relations is anchored in historical familiarity yet shaped by modern-day pragmatism. While various uncertainties persist—from investment security considerations to logistical shortcomings—the tone of current political and commercial exchanges reflects mutual recognition that bilateral trade can deliver real economic benefit. Should progress continue through incremental improvements in financial systems, connectivity, and investment frameworks, Kabul and New Delhi could enter a new era of economic partnership—one that strengthens bilateral prosperity and contributes meaningfully to wider regional economic cooperation across South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East.
Disclaimer: The views and prospects expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position or editorial policy of Khaama Press.
Source: khaama.com
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RahmanullahLakanwal, Afghan Asylum Seeker, Faces Possible Death Penalty in U.S. Capital Shooting Case
By Fidel Rahmati
December 25, 2025
RahmanullahLakanwal, an Afghan asylum seeker accused of a deadly shooting near the White House, now faces federal charges that could result in the death penalty.
The case of RahmanullahLakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan asylum seeker accused of a deadly shooting near the White House, has reached a critical stage as U.S. prosecutors pursue federal charges that could lead to the death penalty. The case has been transferred from a local Washington, D.C. court to a federal court, since capital punishment is not permitted under the district’s local jurisdiction but can be considered at the federal level.
The shooting took place on November 26, just steps from the White House. Twenty-year-old National Guard soldier Sarah Beckstrom later died from her injuries, while 24-year-old Air Force sergeant Andrew Wolf survived but suffered severe wounds and remains under medical care. Security camera footage shows the suspect opening fire and then pursuing another service member before shooting again.
According to court records, Lakanwal obtained a handgun stolen in Washington state approximately two weeks before the attack and transported it across state lines to the U.S. capital. He now faces multiple federal charges, including interstate transportation of a stolen firearm, acquiring a weapon with intent to commit a crime, and using a firearm during a violent offense.
Prosecutors are expected to clarify at the next court hearing, scheduled for the second of next month, whether they will formally seek the death penalty. Legal experts say the decision could set a significant precedent due to the suspect’s asylum status and the location of the attack.
Beyond the legal proceedings, the case has had far-reaching political and social consequences. In the aftermath of the shooting, the U.S. government paused the processing of many asylum and visa applications from Afghanistan, leaving thousands of Afghans awaiting family reunification, residency, or refugee resettlement in prolonged uncertainty.
Afghan communities in states such as Virginia, Maryland, Washington, and California, where large numbers of Afghans have settled since 2021, report rising fear, discrimination, and mistrust. Migrant rights organizations warn that attributing an individual crime to an entire community risks serious social and psychological harm.
The case has also become a flashpoint in U.S. political debates, particularly during election campaigns. Critics of immigration policies argue the shooting exposes weaknesses in refugee screening systems, while refugee advocates counter that politicizing the incident unfairly punishes innocent families and fuels anti-immigrant sentiment.
As the court prepares for its next steps, Lakanwal’s case stands at the intersection of security, justice, and immigration policy. It may result in the first death sentence sought against an Afghan asylum seeker in the United States, while also shaping Washington’s future approach toward Afghan migrants. For many families in both the U.S. and Afghanistan, the outcome will carry lasting consequences well beyond the courtroom.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/rahmanullah-lakanwal-afghan-asylum-seeker-faces-possible-death-penalty-in-u-s-capital-shooting-case/
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