(2025-12-27). Putin hails surge in weapons production, cites twentyfold rise since 2022. hindustantimes.com Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia's defence industry has sharply increased weapons production since 2022, citing major growth across armoured vehicles, aviation, artillery, communications, and ammunition. Speaking at a meeting on new state arms programmes through 2036, Putin praised defence enterprises for supplying troops involved in the "special military operation" and said production of some key items has risen more than twentyfold. He stressed that experience gained in combat is shaping the future of Russia's armed forces, alongside expanded high-tech manufacturing, automation and artificial intell…
(2025-12-27). US naval forces still chasing Venezuela-linked tanker Bella 1. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Dec. 27 (MNA) — A Venezuela-linked tanker is still being chased by U.S. authorities in Caribbean waters, refusing to let Coast Guard crews board as specialized teams move into position for a possible forced seizure.
(2025-12-27). West Bank: Israeli occupation forces close the entrances to villages west of Ramallah. english.almanar.com.lb
(2025-12-27). 'Israel' Continues Attacks on Gaza with Shelling, Airstrikes, Demolitions. english.almanar.com.lb Israeli occupation forces committed ten new violations of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip since early Friday, local sources reported, further destabilizing the tenuous pause in the genocidal war. The violations included targeted demolitions and aerial attacks across the territory. In Gaza City, occupation forces demolished three civilian residential buildings in the eastern al-Tuffah …
(2025-12-27). China urges Japan to reflect on history of aggression. ecns.cn China urges Japan to face up to and do soul-searching on its history of aggression, and show repentance for militaristic crimes and respect for the victims through concrete actions, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Friday.
(2025-12-27). Joint international operations seize 952 suspects, demolish 494 scam-related buildings in Myanmar. ecns.cn China, Myanmar and Thailand have jointly launched a new round of crackdown on cross-border gambling and telecom fraud, repatriating 952 Chinese nationals suspected of telecom fraud back to China and demolishing 494 buildings linked to gambling and scam crimes in Myanmar's KK Park, authorities said.
(2025-12-27). Stronger RMB points to resilience. ecns.cn The recent strengthening of the renminbi against the US dollar reflects the resilience of China's economic fundamentals and the improving stability of its financial system, while a weaker dollar has also provided external support for the renminbi's gains, economists said.
(2025-12-27). China sets world record in maglev technology by reaching 700 km/h in 2 seconds. ecns.cn "By promoting deeper integration between industry, academia, research and application, we aim to support independent innovation in national defense science and technology.""ÄÄ"ÄÄThe vehicle reaches the end of the test track.
(2025-12-26). UN Renews Ceasefire Push In Sudan. eurasiareview.com By Vibhu Mishra | The UN has urged Sudan's warring parties to pursue compromise and an immediate ceasefire, even as drone attacks, displacement and the killing of peacekeepers underscore the growing risks to civilians and humanitarians. | The appeal follows a peace initiative presented by Sudan's Transitional Prime Minister during a Security Council meeting earlier this week. | UN Secretary-General António Guterres "takes note of the peace initiative", his spokesperson said on Friday, stressing that "the pursuit of lasting and inclusive peace is essential as the conflict enters a new year." | He called on the…
(2025-12-26). RSF says Sudan's army launches air strikes on paramilitary stronghold Nyala. aljazeera.com Drone attacks hit fuel market in city that serves as headquarters for RSF's alternative government.
(2025-12-26). Rights Group Warns Israel's Genocide Isn't Over in Gaza. truthout.org Human rights groups have reiterated that the "ceasefire" deal in Gaza hasn't stopped Israel from continuing its genocide of Palestinians, killing hundreds in the 12 weeks since the agreement began. Israeli human rights group B'Tselem said in a statement on Thursday that "the genocide in Gaza is not over." "Since the 'ceasefire' was declared on 10 October 2025, Israel has been continuing… |
(2025-12-26). Despite two years of Israel genocide, Christmas returns to Gaza. newarab.com 
In a small, This year's return to communal prayer was subdued. No Christmas trees lined the streets,…
(2025-12-26). Free UK Palestine Hunger Strikers! Rally at SF UK Consulate to Support Jailed Activists. indybay.org In solidarity with Palestinian activists who are on a hunger strike in the UK, a rally was held at the UK consulate in San Francisco to demand their freedom and the use of the Terrorism Act to target opponents of the genocide in Gaza.
(2025-12-26). US bombs target ISIL in Nigeria: What's really going on? aljazeera.com Trump says strikes are related to 'Christian genocide' but attacks on Christian farmers happened in different area.
(2025-12-26). Martín Mosquera: The Meaning of Milei. newleftreview.org With Latin America in Trump's cross-hairs, a report from Buenos Aires on the social stalemate that allowed far-right firebrand Javier Milei to impose the harshest shock therapy in Argentina's history. Mosquera mobilizes the conceptual legacies of Gramsci, Trotsky, Otto Bauer and Angelo Tasca to identify the function of the region's highly successful new rights.
(2025-12-26). Amid Starvation and Mass Killings, This Gaza Baker Refused to Stop Her Work. truthout.org "The hardest part of working during the war was the endless search for the ingredients I needed to make cakes," 23-year-old Gaza baker Dema Al-Buhisi tells me. "For months, that struggle consumed me," she adds. "Finding flour alone took five full days — five days just to get clean, unspoiled flour that hadn't gone bad. And what about the famine we lived through? There was no meat… |
(2025-12-26). Lebanon's cabinet approves draft law on financial crisis losses. newarab.com 
(2025-12-26). What use is a mine ban treaty if signers at war change their minds? responsiblestatecraft.org Earlier this month in Geneva, delegates to the Antipersonnel Mine Ban Treaty's 22nd Meeting of States Parties confronted the most severe crisis in the convention's nearly three-decade history. That crisis was driven by an unprecedented convergence of coordinated withdrawals by five European states and Ukraine's attempt to "suspend" its treaty obligations amid an ongoing armed conflict.What unfolded was not only a test of the resilience of one of the world's most successful humanitarian disarmament treaties, but also a critical moment for the broader system of international norms designed to protect civilians…
(2025-12-26). Claim: Some Men Downplay Climate Concerns Because of Gender Insecurity. wattsupwiththat.com According to the study, some men are frightened of appearing weak and feminine if they admit they are worried about climate change.
(2025-12-26). Life under displacement in Gaza: A firsthand visual testimony from Rafah and Deir al-Balah. tehrantimes.com This photo report is compiled by Ezzedine Shallah, a Palestinian filmmaker and researcher displaced by Israel's war on Gaza. The images document two stages of forced displacement: his bombed home in Rafah (2024) and daily life inside a tent in Deir al-Balah (2025). Taken from within the Gaza Strip, these photographs bear witness to the destruction of civilian homes, the erosion of family life, and the ongoing reality of survival under bombardment, hunger, and uncertainty.
(2025-12-26). War-torn Gaza's Palestinians ring in solemn Christmas For 2nd year in a row amid fragile ceasefire. hindustantimes.com For the third consecutive year, Palestinian Christians in the Gaza Strip marked Christmas under the shadow of war, displacement and economic hardship. While a fragile ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict has allowed more aid and supplies to enter Gaza, many families continue to struggle. Fouad Nabil Ayad, whose home was destroyed and family displaced multiple times, says faith and hope remain central despite ongoing challenges. As Gaza's small Christian community observes Christmas across different denominations, many are praying for peace, stability and a better future for the next generation.
(2025-12-26). Israel attacks press as 'silencing' policy: Palestinian journalists union. aljazeera.com Syndicate report says Israeli forces have systematically targeted journalists to undermine Palestinian narrative.
(2025-12-26). Israeli artillery strikes southern Syria near Quneitra. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Dec. 26 (MNA) — Syrian media sources report that Israeli forces carried out artillery strikes in southern Syria, targeting areas near Quneitra.
(2025-12-26). Polish jets intercept Russian plane as tensions rise with Moscow, Belarus. hindustantimes.com Poland says its fighter jets intercepted and escorted a Russian reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea on December 25 after the plane approached the country's airspace during a night that also saw a wave of airspace incursions from Belarus. According to the Polish National Security Bureau and Armed Forces, Polish radar systems detected and tracked "dozens of unidentified objects," at least four of which were later confirmed as smuggling balloons that crossed into Polish airspace from Belarus. The latest tensions come as Warsaw and Moscow trade warnings over a seized consular building in Gdańsk.
(2025-12-26). Explosion at Alawite mosque in Syria's Homs kills eight. tribune.com.pk 
Eight people were killed in an explosion at a mosque belonging to the Alawite minority sect in the Syrian city of Homs on Friday, Syrian state news agency SANA said. | SANA cited Syrian Health Ministry official Najib al-Naasan as saying 21 others were wounded and that the figures were preliminary, indicating they could rise. | Homs city's press office said an explosive device had detonated inside the Imam Ali bin Abi Talib mosque and that security forces had cordoned off the area. | Local official Issam Naameh told Reuters the blast took place during Friday noon prayers, typically the busiest time for mosques.
(2025-12-26). S. Arabia accused of striking UAE-backed STC forces in Yemen. tehrantimes.com TEHRAN — UAE-backed separatists in southern Yemen accused Saudi Arabia on Friday of launching airstrikes against their forces in Hadramout province, allegations Riyadh has not confirmed amid rising tensions over recent territorial gains.
(2025-12-26). Israel strikes Khan Younis, kills Palestinians near Yellow Line. newarab.com 
Israeli forces on Friday carried out several air strikes on areas At least four air strikes were carried out, amid heavy gunfire from Israeli warplanes and military vehicles. | In
(2025-12-26). Putin's Christmas revenge on Ukraine for Zelensky's 'death wish'? Russia attacks markets, homes. hindustantimes.com On Christmas Day, Russia struck a crowded market in Kherson and an apartment block in Chernihiv, killing two and wounding nine amid global appeals for peace. Germany's proposed Christmas truce was swiftly rejected by Moscow, as Putin's forces pummeled residential areas, energy sites and civilians even during Ukraine's holiest season.
(2025-12-26). The brutal life of child recruits under a shadowy African rebel group. scmp.com Forcibly recruited into a rebel militia affiliated with Islamic State, two boys have revealed the "torment" of living in its camps as members committed massacres in the Democratic Republic of Congo's northeast. | The two minors freed from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) gave Agence France-Presse an unprecedented account of the shadowy group, notorious for its extreme brutality.
(2025-12-26). Israel destroys 8,000+ West Bank olive trees amid escalating attacks. tehrantimes.com Attacks by Israeli forces and illegal settlers destroyed more than 8,000 olive trees across the occupied West Bank in one week, causing losses of nearly $7 million, Al Mayadeen reported Friday, citing the Palestinian Agriculture Ministry.
(2025-12-26). Pakistan summons British envoy, issues demarche on 'provocative' PTI protest in Bradford. tribune.com.pk 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday summoned the British Deputy Head of the Mission and lodged a formal protest regarding recent anti-government demonstrations in Bradford. The protests, held near the Pakistani consulate, involved provocative rhetoric and violent threats against Pakistani leadership. | According to sources, the political account of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in the UK was used to mobilise protesters. During the demonstration, inflammatory language was used against Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir. Pakistan has taken serious note of these threats, demanding the UK prevent it…
(2025-12-26). Katz: Israel will build settlements in Gaza and 'never leave'. newarab.com 
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz on Thursday vowed that Israeli forces would "never leave" Gaza, adding that they would establish a military buffer zone around the enclave and build The minister's latest statement, reported by Haaretz, comes a day after an apparent retraction of similar comments made on Tuesday, which unsettled Israel's allies in the US. | Speaking at an educational conference in Israel, Katz rejected reports that he had retracted the pledge on settlements, sayi…
(2025-12-26). US launches 'deadly' strike against ISIS terrorists in Nigeria for slaughtering Christians, says Trump. ptcnews.tv PTC News Desk: US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that American forces had carried out multiple deadly airstrikes against ISIS fighters in Nigeria, accusing the group of attacking and killing Christians in the region. | Posting on Truth Social, Trump said the strikes were launched on his orders and targeted ISIS militants operating in northwest Nigeria. He claimed the group had been "brutally killing innocent Christians" and that the violence had reached extreme levels. Trump said he had earlier warned the terrorists to stop the attacks, adding that they now faced serious consequences. | According to Tru…
(2025-12-26). Concept of Small Boats: Sri Lanka's Contribution to Naval Battles. fairobserver.com When Sri Lankan armed forces fought with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) for 30 years, they confronted the biggest threat they had faced in the country's history. This threat came from the asymmetrical advancements of LTTE guerrillas, which challenged the conventional military strategies of Sri Lankan forces. With time, and at a heavy…
(2025-12-26). Shortcut To Zaporizhzhya: Russian Forces Creep Across Drained Reservoir After Dam Breach Analysis. eurasiareview.com By Yevhenia Nazarova | Before a massive dam on the Dnieper River burst in what Ukraine says was an act of sabotage by Russian forces, the Kakhovka Reservoir was big and broad and reached a depth of up 26 meters ⚪ a body of water so large that people living on its shores sometimes called it a "sea." | The breach in June 2023, about 16 months into Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, sent water levels plunging and drained much of the reservoir, which is part of the Dnieper and the front line in the war, exposing its bed in many areas and leaving it covered by shallow water in others. | Downstream from the r…
(2025-12-26). Afula operation a natural response to ongoing Israeli crimes: Hamas. tehrantimes.com TEHRAN — Hamas declared Friday's Afula operation an "expression of accumulated popular anger" resulting from the Israeli occupation regime's daily crimes.
(2025-12-26). "Anti-Indian sentiment being pushed by different factors" : Journalist Daniel Bordman on two Indian students killed in Canada. devdiscourse.com Canadian journalist Daniel Bordman on Friday highlighted concerns over a growing culture of anti-Indian sentiment in the country following the deaths of two Indian students in Canada within a span of one week. Speaking to ANI on the murders, Broadman criticised the handling of such cases by local authorities, expressing scepticism about the police investigation and accusing Canadian law enforcement of incompetence in serious crimes while being overly aggressive in other matters.
(2025-12-26). Authentic Iranian clothing exhibition held at Cultural Heritage Ministry. tehrantimes.com TEHRAN ⚪ An exhibition of authentic, royal, ethnic Iranian clothing and, for the first time, sustainable clothing produced from recycled materials was recently held in the vestibule of the Cultural Heritage Ministry recently.
(2025-12-26). Why the MAGA Base Is Triggered by Somalis. muslimskeptic.com Islam, as it is practiced around the world, claims a universal mission. One of the manifestations of this universality is the inclusion of people from widely diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds. Among these, African societies have played a particularly important role; and within this broad category, the Somali people stand out for their historical, …
(2025-12-26). Malaysia ex-PM Najib Razak jailed for 15 more years in 1MDB saga's biggest trial. geo.tv 
Prison officers escort former Malaysian PM Najib Razak, as the jailed politician leaves the court during a break in proceedings, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. — Reuters/FileNajib fined $2.8bn, to serve sentences concurrently.Judge says Najib had clear link with fugitive financier.Funds…
(2025-12-26). UPDATE 3-Malaysia court convicts ex-PM Najib Razak of power abuse, money laundering in biggest 1MDB trial. devdiscourse.com Jailed former Malaysian premier Najib Razak was convicted on Friday on all charges of abuse of power and money laundering in the biggest trial yet in the multibillion-dollar…
(2025-12-26). Two people dead in stabbing, car-ramming attack in Israel. aljazeera.com Attack comes a day after Israeli army reservist in civilian clothes rammed into Palestinian man praying on roadside.
(2025-12-26). Resumen 2025: Programa Nacional para el Adelanto de las Mujeres. radiohc.cu 
Aprobado mediante el Decreto Presidencial 198 en 2021, el Programa Nacional para el Adelanto de las Mujeres (PAM) tiene como objetivo esencial fomentar la igualdad de derechos y oportunidades para las mujeres en Cuba. Este programa se enmarca dentro de un contexto institucional que busca no solo reconocer, sino también abordar las desigualdades de género que persisten en la sociedad cubana. | Desde su implementación, la Federación de Mujeres Cubanas ha actuado como el Mecanismo para el Adelanto de la Mujer en el país, un rol que fue reafirmado por el PAM. Este avance institucional refleja una madurez política que…
(2025-12-26). Why Myanmar's Military Is Pushing Ahead With Elections Amid War. moderndiplomacy.eu Myanmar's ruling junta is proceeding with a general election despite an ongoing civil war, widespread displacement, and the exclusion of major political actors raising questions about the true purpose of the vote. From Coup to Controlled Polls Myanmar's military seized power in February 2021, overthrowing the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi just months …
(2025-12-26). In Gaza's Makeshift Camps, Women Hold the Families Together. passblue.com 
I am writing from a small displacement tent in Al-Zawaida, central Gaza, where my family of nine lives day by day. Over a million people now inhabit such makeshift camps across Gaza, and women bear the heaviest burden. While the world sees the destruction from afar, the personal realities of women's survival inside these tents …
(2025-12-26). UN Experts Express Alarm Over UK Neglect of Pro-Palestine Hunger Strikers. truthout.org UN experts have expressed "grave concern" for the lives of imprisoned pro-Palestine activists on hunger strike in the U.K., reminding U.K. authorities of their responsibility to protect the health of the activists after reports of neglect. The experts emphasized that the state has a "heightened, not diminished" responsibility to take care of people when they are on hunger strike. |
(2025-12-26). Saudi Arabia Rejects Israel's Recognition Of Somaliland. eurasiareview.com Saudi Arabia on Friday expressed full support for the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of Somalia, and expressed its rejection of the declaration of mutual recognition between Israel and Somaliland. | Israel on Friday formally recognized Somaliland as an "independent and sovereign state" and signed an agreement to establish diplomatic ties, as the region's leader hailed its first-ever official recognition. | The Kingdom affirmed its rejection of any attempts to impose parallel entities that conflict with the unity of Somalia, the Saudi Press Agency reported. | It also affirmed its support for the…
(2025-12-26). Holiday Offer: Become Member, Get 4 Bob Parry Books! consortiumnews.com Happy Holidays from Consortium News. Become a member of the first U.S. independent news site on the Web, founded by legendary investigative journalist Bob Parry 30 years ago in 1995. To show your support for Consortium News and help it…
(2025-12-26). Bangladesh: Tarique Rahman's message to Hindus, Christians, Buddhists amid communal violence | Zia. hindustantimes.com Bangladesh Nationalist Party acting chairman Tarique Rahman returned to Bangladesh after nearly 17 years in exile, receiving a rousing welcome from supporters. Positioning himself as a leading contender for prime minister ahead of the February elections, Rahman pledged to unite people of all faiths and build a democratic, economically strong nation. His return comes during a fragile political transition under an interim government, with the upcoming vote seen as critical for restoring stability after years of unrest.
(2025-12-26). Corrupt Corporate City Officials Privatizing GG Botanical Gardens For Disney Aesthetic. indybay.org The corrupt CEO of Golden Gate Park Stephanie Linder without public comment or debate has wrecked the Botanical gardens for a Disney style light show for people who can pay $28 to $48 a ticket. They have blighted the park for more privatization and their commercialization of Golden Gate Park shutting off more and more of the park for months for concerts that cost hundreds of dollars for tickets. | Billionaire SF Mayor Daniel Lurie has also given away Kezar stadium to his cronies and financial supporters as the park is sold off to the highest bidder.
(2025-12-26). Monday 12/22: If We Act, They Die! Rally at UK Consulate to Demand Release of Political Prisoners. indybay.org UK British Consulate In San Francisco | 1 Sansome St. San Francisco…
(2025-12-26). North Korea's Strategic Bet: Why Pyongyang Chose to Side With Russia in the Ukraine Conflict. moderndiplomacy.eu The active military support of North Korea for Russia in the Ukrainian War has been a major shift in the foreign policy strategy of Pyongyang. It has long been recognized for its reluctance in participating in any international conflict through more than mere rhetorical support. North Korea has now leveraged beyond its fanfare support for …
(2025-12-26). The three elections observers are concerned about. aljazeera.com Three countries go to the polls on December 28, and observers say there is a chance for protest, even violence.
(2025-12-26). On cam: Israeli soldier hits praying Palestinian with ATV in West Bank; this happens next… hindustantimes.com An IDF reservist allegedly rammed a Palestinian man with an all‚Äëterrain vehicle on December 25, in an incident that has renewed tensions in the occupied West Bank. The confrontation reportedly took place near the village of Deir Jarir, which lies north of Ramallah and has often been a flashpoint for settler violence. Footage published by Palestinian media outlets appeared to show the ATV being driven directly into a man who was kneeling on the ground, moments before being knocked over. The disturbing video showed the Palestinian man, who appeared to be praying at the time, falling face first to…
(2025-12-26). Language, Bias, and Violence: Why We Must Name Terrorism Fairly. ummid.com Defending Islam requires more than citing scripture. It demands consistent, visible rejection of violence from within Muslim communities, while the global community must judge acts of terror by what they are—not by who commits them.