Turkey Excluded from Post-war Gaza Conference in Doha Due to Israeli Veto: Report

Tuesday, 16 December 2025 10:28 AM

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan (L) meets with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Doha, Qatar, on August 13, 2025. (Photo by Anadolu)

Turkey has reportedly been excluded from a US-led military conference on post-war Gaza in Qatar, a move widely attributed to Israeli opposition, despite Ankara’s declared readiness to participate and its strong ties with Washington and Doha.

Turkey was not invited to a US Central Command-organized conference in Doha on Tuesday focused on a proposed "international stabilization force" for the besieged Gaza Strip, reported the Israeli daily newspaper Haaretz, citing a Western diplomat and an Arab source close to Ankara.

The unnamed sources told the daily that Turkey's exclusion is linked to Israel's veto of its participation in the stabilization force.

“There is no other reason. Its relations with the US and Qatar are excellent,” said the Arab source, noting that Turkey was invited to the Sharm el-Sheikh peace summit in October.

“Turkey has signed the Sharm declaration and is ready to participate in the multinational force. The only party saying no is Israel,” the source stressed, adding that Doha and Ankara are currently exerting pressure on Washington to invite Turkey to the conference, which brings together representatives from more than 45 countries.

Western and Arab sources confirmed that Ankara was deliberately left out, even though Turkey has repeatedly been mentioned as a potential contributor to post-war arrangements in Gaza.

The exclusion comes amid intensive regional diplomacy, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with US Ambassador to Turkey and special envoy to Syria Tom Barrack in what an Israeli source described as a “good and productive” meeting.

At the same time, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al Thani is expected in Washington this week, while Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held phone talks with him focused on President Donald Trump’s Gaza plan, recent developments in the war-ravaged Palestinian territory, and the political implications of the US initiative.

The Doha meeting is described by Western diplomats as an interim, general-level conference with no binding decisions expected.

Turkey has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior Israeli officials over genocide in Gaza.

Washington is set to outline further details of the so-called stabilization force and gauge countries’ willingness to participate, following an earlier meeting in the US and ahead of a more decisive gathering of army chiefs in January.

Italy, according to Haaretz, is so far the only country to have clearly committed to participating in the force and even informed the US of the number of troops it can allocate.

Invitees include Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Italy, and dozens of others across Europe, Asia, and the Pacific, including Kosovo, underscoring the breadth of participation.

Meanwhile, senior American officials are in the Israeli-occupied territories and Egypt to advance plans for Gaza’s future governance, including a technocratic Palestinian administration and the deployment of the so-called stabilization force.

Supreme Court Will Hear Appeal of Black Death Row Inmate Over Racial Bias in Mississippi Jury Makeup

By MARK SHERMAN

10:11 AM EST, December 15, 2025

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear the appeal of a Black death row inmate from Mississippi whose case was handled by a prosecutor with a history of dismissing Black jurors for discriminatory reasons.

A federal judge had previously overturned the murder conviction of the inmate, Terry Pitchford, but an appeals court reversed that ruling.

The justices stepped into the case involving the same prosecutor, former District Attorney Doug Evans, who was at the center of a high court case that resulted in a 2019 decision that overturned the death sentence and conviction of Curtis Flowers.

The case will be argued in the spring.

U.S District Judge Michael P. Mills held that the judge who oversaw Pitchford’s trial didn’t give the man’s lawyer enough chance to argue that the prosecution was improperly dismissing Black jurors.

Mills wrote that his ruling was partially motivated by Evans’ actions in prior cases.

Pitchford was sentenced to death for his role in the 2004 killing of Reuben Britt, the owner of the Crossroads Grocery, just outside Grenada in northern Mississippi.

In Pitchford’s case, judges and lawyers whittled down the original jury pool of 61 white and 35 Black members to a pool with 36 white and five Black members, in part because so many Black jurors objected to sentencing Pitchford to death. Then prosecutors struck four more Black jurors, leaving only one Black person on the final jury.

The Supreme Court tried to stamp out discrimination in the composition of juries in Batson v. Kentucky in 1986. The court ruled then that jurors couldn’t be excused from service because of their race and set up a system by which trial judges could evaluate claims of discrimination and the race-neutral explanations by prosecutors.

When the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Flowers, Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote that Evans had engaged in a “relentless, determined effort to rid the jury of Black individuals.”

Flowers was tried six times in the shooting deaths of four people. He was released from prison in 2019 and the state dropped the charges against him the following year, after Evans turned the case over to state officials.

SPLM-N, RSF Pound South Kordofan Cities with Artillery, Drones

14 December 2025

UNISFA premises in Kaduglei burning after a drone attack on Dec 13, 2025

December 14, 2025 (KADUGLI) – The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched intensive artillery and drone strikes on the cities of Kadugli and Dilling on Sunday, causing civilian casualties, local sources said.

The escalation follows a series of recent RSF drone attacks in South Kordofan, including a strike on a hospital in Kalogi that killed dozens and an attack on a United Nations base in Kadugli on Saturday that left six Bangladeshi peacekeepers dead.

Sources told the Sudan Tribune that SPLM-N forces, led by Abdelaziz al-Hilu, shelled Kadugli from positions east of the city early Sunday. Projectiles hit the main market, western neighbourhoods, and the vicinity of the army’s 14th Infantry Division headquarters.

Authorities in Kadugli have tightened security, deploying heavy patrols and arresting activists and traders suspected of collaborating with the attacking forces.

Residents described a city under siege, with the SPLM-N blocking escape routes to the east. Those attempting to flee north toward Dilling and El-Obeid face perilous journeys through RSF-controlled territory, where reports of killing, looting, and detention are common.

The violence has deepened a humanitarian crisis in the state capital. Banks in Kadugli have been shuttered for three weeks, sparking a cash shortage and driving up prices. A blockade on supply routes by both the SPLM-N and RSF has severed access to food and medicine, exacerbating hunger after the SPLM-N seized the critical “Um Adara” area in June.

Drones target Dilling

In Dilling, the state’s second-largest city, drone strikes attributed to the RSF hit the military hospital, the 54th Brigade command, and civilian areas near the market.

In response, local authorities banned military personnel from markets, prohibited gunfire in residential areas, and restricted internet access. Satellite internet cafes were closed to prevent intelligence leaks, with only one monitored centre remaining open for financial transactions.

The air raids coincide with a buildup of RSF troops in the nearby areas of Dibebat, Al-Hammadi, and Habila, which military sources say signals an imminent ground offensive on the city.

Sudan’s Burhan Orders Oil Talks with Juba After Message from Kiir

14 December 2025

Sudan's Sovereign Council Chairman Abdel Fattah al-Burhan reads a letter from South Sudan's President Salva Kiir during a meeting with South Sudanese Presidential Advisor on Security Affairs Tut Gatluak and Foreign Minister Mandi Semaya in Port Sudan, Sudan December 14, 2025.

December 14, 2025 (PORT SUDAN) – Sudan’s Sovereign Council President Abdel Fattah al-Burhan ordered officials on Sunday to engage with South Sudan on oil and energy issues after receiving a letter from President Salva Kiir.

The diplomatic exchange follows the deployment of the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) to the Heglig oil field in West Kordofan on December 10. The move was part of a tripartite agreement between Burhan, Kiir, and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) Commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo to secure the vital infrastructure.

South Sudanese troops secured the field two days after the paramilitary RSF seized the area. The Sudanese army had evacuated its positions and withdrawn across the border into South Sudan, where soldiers were disarmed.

Tut Gatluak, South Sudan’s presidential security advisor, delivered Kiir’s letter to Burhan in Port Sudan.

Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Muawiya Osman said Burhan instructed ministries to initiate talks with their counterparts in Juba on energy, trade, and the economy, as well as on political relations.

South Sudan’s Foreign Minister Mandi Semaya described the message as an expression of “brotherly relations.” He confirmed that the leaders agreed to hold technical meetings to address “issues of mutual concern,” including the oil industry and investment.

Drone Attack Kills Bangladeshi UN Peacekeepers in Sudan

15/12/2025 20:42 

KADUGLI / ABYEI / DHAKA / DELLING

UN peacekeepers patrol the Abyei area (File photo: Tim McKulka / UNMISS)

A drone strike hit a United Nations camp in Kadugli, the capital of South Kordofan, on Saturday, killing Bangladeshi peacekeepers and injuring eight others, the UN confirmed. The blast struck a fuel station inside the camp. Both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) traded accusations over responsibility for the attack.

A UN source said the mission evacuated the dead and wounded from Kadugli to Abyei and is considering a full evacuation of personnel from the targeted logistics base. The UN security unit instructed staff to avoid the area and urged the temporary relocation of more than 30 workers.

The six Bangladeshi peacekeepers who were killed were part of the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), deployed in 2011 to the disputed, oil-rich Abyei area claimed by Sudan and South Sudan. 

The mission’s mandate has been renewed twice, most recently last month until 2026, with any further extensions dependent on progress by both countries, including the creation of a joint police force and full demilitarisation, to be assessed by UN Secretary-General António Guterres in a report due in August 2026.

UNSG Guterres denounced the drone strikes on the UN logistics base in Kadugli, Sudan, which left members of the Bangladeshi peacekeeping contingent dead and wounded.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, he said, “I strongly condemn the horrific drone attacks that targeted the logistics base in Kadugli, Sudan, resulting in fatalities and injuries of members of the Bangladeshi U.N. Peacekeeping contingent.”

Guterres warned that such assaults could amount to grave violations of international law. He said, “Attacks against UN peacekeepers like this one are unjustifiable and may constitute war crimes. I remind everyone of their obligation to protect UN personnel and civilians. There will need to be accountability.” He also offered his condolences to the families of the six fallen peacekeepers.

Bangladesh’s interim head of government, Muhammad Yunus, also condemned Saturday’s attack in his statement posted on X, describing it as a serious crime against “international peace and humanity.” 

In an official statement, Yunus said six Bangladeshi peacekeepers were killed and eight others injured in “a drone attack by terrorists” on a UN base in Abyei, southern Sudan.

Expressing shock at the incident, Yunus said, “The United Nations has already been requested to take urgent measures to ensure the highest level of medical treatment and necessary assistance to the injured peacekeepers.”

African Union Commission Chairperson Mahamoud Ali Youssouf also denounced the attack as a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law, stressing that targeting peacekeepers undermines regional and international security.

South Kordofan

The attack came amid intensifying violence across South Kordofan. On Sunday, a drone strike hit a hospital in the besieged city of Delling, killing seven civilians and injuring 12 others, including patients and their companions, according to medical sources.

According to a report by the Sudan Doctors Network, further shelling that day, killing nine people and wounding 17, including a medic, and accused the RSF of deliberately targeting health facilities and civilian areas.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported a new wave of displacement driven by worsening insecurity.

IOM said more than 1,600 people were newly displaced from several areas, with families scattering to different parts of the country, including North Kordofan, White Nile state, and Khartoum, as insecurity deepened.

South Sudan Grounds UN Aircraft and Alleges Illegal Surveillance and Smuggling

By DENG MACHOL

1:57 PM EST, December 15, 2025

JUBA, South Sudan (AP) — South Sudan’s government has grounded four aircraft registered under the United Nations mission there, alleging that they were used for illegal surveillance and smuggling, which the U.N. denied.

South Sudan’s foreign minister, Monday Semaya Kumba, said a government committee was examining the aircraft after intelligence reports raised security concerns, and two were found with advanced surveillance and intelligence recording systems.

U.N. mission spokesperson Priyanka Chowdhury said Monday that all air assets are used “solely in support of our mandate to help protect civilians and support lasting peace in South Sudan.”

She said the U.N. mission has been talking with South Sudan’s government “for a while now to resolve this issue” and said the mission works transparently with it on U.N. operations.

South Sudan’s government in 2017 grounded U.N. aircraft after peacekeepers were deployed to guard the country’s main airport. The government said that was not part of their mandate.

More than 70% of South Sudan’s 11 million people rely on humanitarian assistance for food, healthcare and other basics, according to the U.N., whose mandate includes helping to deliver aid.

Former DR Congo Rebel Leader Lumbala Sentenced to 30 Years Over Wartime Atrocities

By MARK BANCHEREAU

3:30 PM EST, December 15, 2025

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Ex-Congolese rebel leader Roger Lumbala was sentenced Monday in France to 30 years in prison over atrocities committed two decades ago during the Second Congo War, in a verdict that rights groups hailed as overcoming long-standing impunity in the Congo.

Lumbala was found guilty in a Paris criminal court on charges of “complicity of crimes against humanity.” A lawyer for Lumbala, who has ten days to file an appeal, called the sentence excessive.

The 67-year-old led the Congolese Rally for National Democracy, a rebel group backed by neighboring Uganda and accused of atrocities against civilians, particularly targeting the Nande and Bambuti ethnic minorities in eastern Congo in 2002 and 2003.

The group committed widespread torture, executions, rape, forced labor and sexual slavery, according to U.N. reports.

Victims open up about abuses

David Karamay Kasereka, 41, one of the victims testifying at the trial said his father and several of his neighbors, all of the Nande ethnic group, were tortured and killed by Lumbala’s men.

The Congolese Rally for National Democracy specifically targeted the Nande people, which they suspected of supporting a rival militia.

Kasereka described how one of his neighbors had his ear cut and was forced to eat it. When he refused, they cut his right forearm before shooting him.

“I was just a teenager at the time,” Kasereka said. “The consequences still affect me to this day,” he added, describing regularly breaking down.

Pisco Sirikivuya Paluku, 50, another victim who testified, said the rebels stormed his uncle’s home, where he was staying, and looted all his belongings and cash. They then forced him, at gunpoint and under beatings, to perform hard labor for three weeks, including building huts, slaughtering others’ livestock, and carrying the stolen goods to the rebels base.

“These atrocities took place over 20 years ago and I had already lost hope, so I am happy that justice was finally served,” Paluku told the AP after the verdict.

Lumbala claimed the French court had no legitimacy to try him, and was absent for most of the proceedings. He was present only for trial’s first day and for the verdict, thus missing the victims’ testimonies.

A landmark trial

The trial was possible under a French law that recognizes universal jurisdiction for crimes against humanity. Lumbala’s case marks the first time a Congolese political or military leader has been sentenced for mass atrocities before a national court under the universal jurisdiction principle.

Leaders of armed groups that committed widespread atrocities during the Second Congo War have faced little accountability, some even later serving in high positions within the army or in government, a pattern that has fueled recurring violence and undermined trust in the state, according to analysts.

After the war, Lumbala served as minister of foreign trade in Congo’s transitional government from 2003 to 2005 and later as a member of parliament. The Congolese government issued an arrest warrant in 2011 over his alleged support of the M23 rebel group, prompting him to flee to France, where he had previously lived before the war.

“Today the court made one thing unmistakably clear: architects of mass violence will be held to account. Neither time nor political power will shield them,” Daniele Perissi, head of the Democratic Republic of Congo program at TRIAL International, one of the groups representing civil parties, said in a news release.

Several victims of sexual violence also testified during the trial.

“Their voices were central to the pursuit of accountability for sexual violence crimes, which remain widely under-prosecuted in conflict settings,” said Yasmine Chubin, Legal Director at the Clooney Foundation for Justice, another group representing the victims.

Phillipe Zeller, one of Lumbala’s lawyers, called the verdict excessively harsh and questioned the French court’s legitimacy.

Congo has been wracked by deadly conflict in its mineral-rich east since the 1990s with more than 100 active armed groups. The conflict further escalated last week when the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group seized a key city in eastern Congo.

The rebels’ latest offensive came despite a U.S.-mediated peace agreement signed last week by the Congolese and Rwandan presidents in Washington.

—-

Jean-Yves Kamale in Kinshasa, Congo contributed to this report.

9 African Migrants Died in Freezing Temperatures Near Morocco-Algeria Border

A view of Algerian and Moroccan flags along the closed border with Morocco, in the town of Marsa Ben M'Hidi, Algeria, Aug. 11, 2023. (AP Photo, File)

By AKRAM OUBACHIR

4:08 PM EST, December 14, 2025

CASABLANCA, Morocco (AP) — Exposure to freezing temperatures near Morocco’s border with Algeria killed nine African migrants, a tragedy that rights groups in the North African country called deeply concerning and a violation of the right to freedom of movement.

The bodies of seven men and two women were found in Ras Asfour, a remote mountainous Moroccan area known for its plunging temperatures in winter, the Moroccan Association of Human Rights said Saturday in a statement.

“They died from extreme cold, which their exhausted bodies could not withstand,” it said.

One of the migrants was from Guinea, the group said. The rest were from various countries throughout sub-Saharan Africa, though specific information about their identities remains unknown. Morocco’s Interior Ministry did not immediately respond to questions about the individuals who died.

Every year, thousands of migrants seeking better living conditions attempt to crossing illegal from North Africa to Europe, including from Morocco to Spain. Some aim for Ceuta and Melilla – two tiny Spanish enclaves in North Africa – by scaling border fences or swimming. Others attempt to reach Spain’s Canary Islands, taking a longer route through the Atlantic Ocean.

The North African nation’s security forces regularly report blocking such attempts.

Throughout Europe and Africa, North Africa is known as a transit point for migrants en route to Europe’s southern border.

Security agreements with the European Union have strengthen authorities’ ability to deter migration in North Africa. Many who originally intended to migrate to Europe spend months or years working informally — doing construction, agriculture or domestic work. Others rely on aid while waiting for opportunities to cross the Mediterranean Sea or Atlantic Ocean.

The Moroccan Association of Human Rights statement said six of the bodies were buried last week and two were kept at the request of their relatives. “We will make sure that this case is followed up on,” it said.

The Moroccan Organization of Human Rights — a different association — earlier this week called for the humanization of borders, the decriminalization of illegal migration and residence, and the creation of a mechanism to track missing migrants to prevent tragedies like the one in Ras Asfour.

Death Toll Climbs to 5 in South African Temple Building Collapse

By MICHELLE GUMEDE

2:00 PM EST, December 15, 2025

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The death toll in last week’s building collapse at the site of a Hindu temple in South Africa has risen to five, and investigators have launched a probe into the cause of the disaster, authorities said Monday.

The multistory building was being constructed on top of the temple in the eastern town of Verulam, about 25 kilometers (15 miles) north of Durban, when it collapsed Friday, and authorities confirmed one person dead at the time.

Search teams pulled four more bodies from the rubble over the weekend, bringing the death toll to five, said KwaZulu Natal’s provincial police spokesperson, Col. Robert Netshiunda. Authorities did not disclose names of victims, nor say how many additional people are believed trapped in the collapse.

“Search and rescue teams remain on site to ensure that all people who were on site at the time of the incident have been accounted for,” Netshiunda told The Associated Press.

The regional government centered around Durban said preliminary reports indicate that the construction at the site was illegal because it had no approved building plans. Police in Verulam have opened an inquest into the collapse, Netshiunda said.

The temple complex, on a steep slope overlooking a ranch, had been undergoing expansion work when it abruptly fell just before noon on Friday. Images of the aftermath released by the municipality showed twisted metal, collapsed pillars and mounds of rubble.

The local government said clearing the site would take a long time because “debris must be carefully and systematically removed to ensure the safety of all involved.”

South Africa’s Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities, a constitutional body that protects and promotes the rights of diverse communities, said the collapse has traumatized worshippers, relatives, and the larger community.

“Places of worship are sacred spaces of refuge, prayer, and communal strength, and any tragedy within such a space touches us all profoundly,” the commission said in a statement.

Hinduism is practiced by less than 2% of South Africans nationwide, but it is most common in KwaZulu-Natal. The largest Hindu temple and cultural complex in the Southern Hemisphere opened in Johannesburg in February.

Torrential Rains and Flash Floods Kill 37 in Moroccan City of Safi

By AKRAM OUBACHIR

1:48 PM EST, December 15, 2025

CASABLANCA, Morocco (AP) — Floods triggered by torrential rains have killed at least 37 people in the Moroccan coastal city of Safi, the Interior Ministry said Monday.

Authorities said heavy rain and flash floods overnight inundated about 70 homes and businesses and swept away 10 vehicles. The Interior Ministry reported 14 people hospitalized.

Local outlets reported that schools announced three days of closures. Rains also caused flooding and damage elsewhere throughout Morocco, including the northern city of Tetouan and the mountain town of Tinghir.

Safi, a city on Morocco’s Atlantic shore more than 320 kilometers (200 miles) from the capital, Rabat, is a major hub for the country’s critical fishing and mining industries. Both employ thousands to catch, mine and process the commodities for export. The city, with a population of more than 300,000 people, is home to a major phosphate processing plant.

Videos shared on social media showed cars stranded and partially submerged as floodwaters surged through Safi’s streets.

Climate change has made weather patterns more unpredictable in Morocco. North Africa has been plagued by several years of drought, hardening soils and making mountains, deserts and plains more susceptible to flooding. Last year, floods in normally arid mountains and desert areas killed nearly two dozen people in Morocco and Algeria.

This week’s floods came after 22 people were killed in a two-building collapse in the Moroccan city of Fez. Morocco has invested in disaster risk initiatives although local governments often do not enforce building codes and drainage systems can be lacking in some cities. Infrastructural inequities were a focus of youth-led protests that swept the country earlier this year.

“This is a disaster, I have never seen anything like this in my lifetime,” Khalil Sidki, 67, a Safi resident and member of the local branch of the Moroccan Association of Human Rights, told The Associated Press.

He said the flooding caught people by surprise in a commercial area. In reaction, many shopkeepers locked themselves inside their stores, but as water levels climbed up to 4 meters (13 feet), shops were submerged, killing those trapped inside, he said. Another Safi resident described similar scenes.

Moroccan authorities launched an investigation into the cause of the flooding. Safi received 46 millimeters (less than 2 inches) of rainfall over 24 hours — a level Houcine Youabid from Morocco’s General Directorate of Meteorology described as “normal” for the region. He said infrastructure issues could have combined with the rainfall to contribute to the flooding.

Parts of the North African nation experienced heavy rain and snow over the weekend, and authorities issued alerts for similar conditions throughout the coming days.

__ Associated Press writer Sam Metz in Rabat, Morocco, contributed to this report. 

Al-Burhan Receives Letter from South Sudan President to Boost Cooperation

By Al Mayadeen English

14 Dec 2025 22:58

Sudan’s Sovereign Council chief, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, received a message from South Sudan’s president on boosting cooperation in oil, energy, and trade.

Chairman of Sudan’s Transitional Sovereign Council, Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, received a written message on Sunday from South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardit concerning bilateral relations and prospects for expanding cooperation between the two countries across various sectors.

The message was delivered during al-Burhan’s meeting with a high-level South Sudanese delegation headed by Salva Kiir’s security affairs adviser, Tut Kewlwak.

Sudan’s Foreign Ministry Undersecretary, Ambassador Muawiya Othman Khalid, said the meeting addressed the close ties linking the two nations, noting that al-Burhan directed all state institutions at ministerial and technical levels to engage with their South Sudanese counterparts on issues of mutual interest.

He added that discussions focused in particular on cooperation in the energy and oil sectors, as well as trade, the economy, and political relations between Sudan and South Sudan.

South Sudan’s Foreign Minister, Monday Semaya, said President Salva Kiir’s message was sent within the framework of fraternal relations, stressing the strength and durability of ties between the two countries.

Semaya said the talks included an exchange of views on economic and investment issues, including the oil industry and trade, adding that both sides agreed on the need to hold bilateral and technical meetings to address shared concerns and enhance cooperation.

Sudan facing worst humanitarian crisis

This comes after the World Food Programme (WFP) warned on Friday that conditions in Sudan’s besieged city of El Fasher have deteriorated to levels “beyond horrific,” with between 70,000 and 100,000 people believed to remain trapped amid mass killings, famine, and the collapse of basic services.

Speaking to journalists in Geneva, Ross Smith, WFP’s director of emergency preparedness and response, said widespread network outages have largely cut off communications with the North Darfur city, leaving humanitarian agencies with only limited information about the situation on the ground.

Smith said satellite imagery and survivor testimonies describe El Fasher as “a crime scene,” citing reports of mass killings, burned bodies, abandoned markets, and the complete absence of commercial activity. He added that there are no signs of trade routes reopening or supplies reaching the city, and confirmed that the WFP no longer has humanitarian partners operating inside El Fasher.

“There are no confirmed reports of any community kitchens functioning,” Smith said, underscoring the scale of food insecurity facing civilians still trapped in the city.

Aid access blocked as food supplies run out

The WFP renewed calls for unrestricted humanitarian access to El Fasher in order to assess urgent needs. Smith said Rapid Support Forces authorities have given preliminary approval to minimum UN conditions for entry, stressing that the agency is ready to move immediately if a safe corridor is secured.

“Food supplies and trucks are available to reach all civilians without delay if safe passage is guaranteed,” he said.

Smith also highlighted the situation in Tawila, where more than 650,000 displaced people are living in overcrowded, temporary conditions amid a cholera outbreak and severe shortages of basic services. He warned that without urgent funding, the WFP will be forced to reduce food rations in 2026, further worsening the humanitarian crisis.

To maintain current assistance levels, Smith said the agency has already begun rationing supplies. Starting in January, food rations will be reduced to 70% for communities experiencing famine and 50% for those at risk, which he described as “the absolute minimum needed to survive.”

Even with these measures, Smith warned that WFP resources are sufficient to sustain current operations for only four months. “If another mass displacement occurs, the WFP will have no choice but to cut assistance elsewhere in Sudan,” he said, calling the situation “catastrophic” as the agency struggles to respond to what it describes as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. 

Six UN Peacekeepers Killed in Drone Attack in South Kordofan

By Al Mayadeen English

14 Dec 2025 00:04

A drone strike on a UN camp in Sudan’s South Kordofan killed six Bangladeshi peacekeepers, highlighting the escalating conflict, expanding RSF advances, and deepening humanitarian crisis as diplomatic efforts remain stalled.

Six United Nations peacekeepers from Bangladesh were killed on Saturday after a drone strike hit a UN camp in the city of Kadugli, the capital of Sudan’s South Kordofan state, according to the United Nations mission operating in the area. The attack comes amid an intensifying phase of the war, marked by expanding drone warfare, territorial advances by paramilitary forces, and mounting international pressure.

The United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) said in a statement that "six troops were killed and six injured", including four critically, when a drone struck their camp. The mission confirmed that all those killed were Bangladeshi nationals serving as peacekeepers.

Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus said he was "deeply saddened" by the incident, putting the toll at six dead and eight wounded. He urged the United Nations to ensure that Bangladeshi personnel receive "any necessary emergency support".

"The government of Bangladesh will stand by the families in this difficult moment," Yunus said.

Dhaka’s foreign ministry said it "strongly condemned" the attack.

A medical source in Kadugli earlier told AFP that at least six people were killed when a United Nations facility was struck, with witnesses reporting that those inside the building were UN employees. "Six people were killed in a bombing of the UN headquarters while they were inside the building," the source said. Eyewitnesses added that the strike was carried out by a drone.

Sudan’s army-aligned authorities, based in Port Sudan, accused the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of carrying out the attack. In a statement, the Sovereignty Council headed by army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan described the incident as a "dangerous escalation".

Siege Deepens

Kadugli has been besieged by the RSF for around a year and a half, and famine was declared in the area in early November. The city lies in South Kordofan, a region that has become a focal point of the conflict as the RSF pushes eastward following its late-October capture of El-Fasher, the Sudanese army’s last major stronghold in Darfur.

The broader Kordofan region occupies a strategic position between RSF-controlled Darfur in the west and army-held territory across northern, eastern, and central Sudan. Analysts say control of the area is crucial for maintaining supply routes and troop movements, and that recent RSF advances are aimed at breaching army defenses in central Sudan as part of a longer-term effort to retake Khartoum.

The attack on UN peacekeepers comes as drone strikes increasingly shape the conflict. In recent weeks, multiple strikes have hit civilian infrastructure in South Kordofan, including a kindergarten and a hospital in the town of Kalogi. According to the World Health Organization, those attacks killed 114 people, including 63 children, underscoring the growing toll on civilians.

International pressure on the RSF has also intensified. The United States recently imposed sanctions on networks it says are financing and recruiting fighters for the paramilitary group, while Britain sanctioned senior RSF commanders over alleged links to mass killings, sexual violence, and attacks on civilians. Despite these measures, fighting has continued to spread across central Sudan.

Mass Displacement

The UN refugee agency has warned that the RSF’s advances in Kordofan and Darfur could trigger a new wave of displacement, compounding what is already one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises. Tens of thousands have been killed since the war erupted in April 2023, millions have been forced from their homes, and large parts of the country face acute food insecurity.

Diplomatic efforts to halt the fighting remain stalled. While US President Donald Trump said last month that he would move to end the conflict following talks in Washington with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, no concrete ceasefire or political breakthrough has so far emerged.

Far-right Jose Antonio Kast Elected Chile’s Next President

By Al Mayadeen English

Ultra-conservative Jose Antonio Kast wins Chile’s presidential runoff with 58.16% of the vote, pledging hardline security and migration policies.

Ultra-conservative former congressman Jose Antonio Kast has been elected Chile’s next president after securing a decisive victory in Sunday’s runoff election.

With more than 99% of polling stations counted, Kast won 58.16% of the vote, defeating leftist candidate Jeannette Jara, a former labor minister under outgoing President Gabriel Boric, who garnered 41.84%, according to official results.

Kast’s victory marks a significant rightward turn in Chilean politics and follows years of mounting public concern over security, crime, and migration, despite Chile remaining among the safest countries in Latin America.

Campaign centred on security and migration

The president-elect, a staunch social conservative and vocal admirer of former dictator Augusto Pinochet, built his campaign around promises to restore order and expel undocumented migrants. The son of a former Nazi party member, Kast is also known for his opposition to abortion, even in rape cases, and same-sex marriage.

Addressing supporters after a lengthy wait on election night, Kast declared, "Here, no individual won, no party won – Chile won, and hope won."

"The hope of living without fear, that fear that torments families," he explained.

Over the past decade, Chile’s migrant population has doubled, driven largely by an influx of around 700,000 Venezuelans. Kast repeatedly framed migration as the main driver of rising insecurity, issuing an ultimatum during the campaign to roughly 330,000 undocumented migrants to leave the country before he takes office on March 11, or face expulsion “with only the clothes on their backs.”

In his victory speech, Kast vowed his government would show “great firmness” in confronting crime and disorder. “When we tell an irregular migrant that they are breaking the law and must leave our country if they ever want the chance to return, we mean it,” he stated.

Hardline policies and regional reactions

Kast’s platform includes Trump-inspired proposals to construct detention centres, fortified border barriers, and expanded military deployments along Chile’s northern borders with Peru and Bolivia.

This was Kast’s third presidential bid, after losing to Boric in the 2021 runoff. In a televised phone call, Boric congratulated Kast on "a clear victory" and invited him to La Moneda Palace to begin the transition. Boric remarked that Kast would come to understand "the loneliness of power" and the difficulty of governing.

Jara conceded the race, pledging to lead a "constructive" opposition while condemning "any hint of violence, wherever it comes from."

International reactions were swift. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio congratulated Kast, saying Washington was confident Chile would advance shared priorities, including "strengthening public security" and "ending illegal immigration."

Argentina’s far-right President Javier Milei hailed Kast as a “friend,” celebrating the result as a victory against “21st-century socialism.” Additionally, Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva offered congratulations, emphasizing cooperation and Latin America’s status as a “zone of peace.”

Challenges ahead in Congress

Despite his sweeping presidential win, Kast will not command an outright majority in either chamber of Congress, even with support from all rightwing parties, potentially complicating his legislative agenda.

He has pledged to cut $6 billion in public spending within 18 months, though details remain unclear. Political scientist Rossana Castiglioni of Universidad Diego Portales said uncertainty surrounds Kast’s economic plans, while his security agenda is far more defined.

“Where there is far less uncertainty is on security policy, because that has been his workhorse throughout the campaign,” she noted.

Israeli Forces Kill Palestinian Youth Near West Bank's al-Khalil

By Al Mayadeen English

14 Dec 2025 21:28

A 23-year-old Palestinian was killed by Israeli occupation forces near al-Khalil, as raids, clashes, and demolition orders escalate across the West Bank.

A Palestinian youth was killed on Sunday evening after being shot by Israeli occupation forces north of the city of al-Khalil of the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

The ministry said Mohammad Wael al-Sharouf, 23, succumbed to a gunshot wound to the head after Israeli soldiers opened fire on him at the northern entrance of al-Khalil. Witnesses said the soldiers left him bleeding at the scene, prevented ambulance crews from reaching him, and later withheld his body, while occupation forces sealed all main entrances to the city.

Israeli forces also raided the home of the slain youth in the town of Nuba, west of al-Khalil, amid heightened military deployment in the area.

In parallel incidents, confrontations erupted between Palestinian residents and Israeli occupation forces in the village of Aboud, northwest of Ramallah, without reports of injuries or arrests. Occupation forces also stormed the village of Deir Jarir, northeast of Ramallah, though no arrests or home raids were reported.

Separately, an Israeli military order was issued for the demolition of 25 residential buildings in Nur Shams refugee camp, east of the city of Tulkarm in the northern occupied West Bank, marking another escalation in ongoing Israeli measures across the territory.

Israeli forces kill teen in Jenin

Since dawn on Sunday, Israeli occupation forces have carried out extensive raids and arrests across various areas of the West Bank, raiding Palestinian homes and assaulting residents.

In al-Khalil, the IOF arrested several former detainees and university students, turning the home of detainee Mazen al-Natsheh into a field investigation site. Some of those detained were released after interrogation.

Additionally, three brothers from Halhul were briefly detained following a home raid in which their belongings were destroyed before being released later.

In Nablus, Israeli forces arrested Mohammad Ramadan after raiding his home in Tal village, southwest of the city, and detained several youths in the town of al-Zawiya, west of Salfit.

In Tulkarm, former detainee Saad Qasim and several other young men were detained during a raid on Yamon village, west of Jenin.

Israeli occupation forces also raided al-Mughayir village, northeast of Ramallah, closing the entrances of Attara and Ruwabi, while setting up a checkpoint near Nabi Saleh, north of Ramallah. Raids and detentions continued in Salem village, east of Nablus, and in the Umm al-Sharayet neighborhood in al-Bireh.

Administrative detainee killed in custody

Moreover, Administrative detainee Sakhr Ahmad Khalil Zaoul, 26, from the town of Husan, west of Beit Lahm, was killed while in Israeli custody.

The Prisoners’ Media Office mourned the death of Zaoul, which was announced on Sunday by the Civil Affairs Authority, the Commission of Detainees’ Affairs, and the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society.

Zaoul had been held in administrative detention since June 11, 2025, in Ofer Prison. According to his family, he did not suffer from any chronic illnesses. His brother, Khalil Zaoul, remains imprisoned in Israeli detention facilities.

The Prisoners’ Media Office attributed Zaoul’s death to what it described as the occupation’s ongoing policy of “slow execution” against Palestinian detainees. It said detainees are subjected to harsh conditions, deprived of the most basic necessities of life, and exposed to torture, starvation, medical neglect, and physical and psychological abuse, leading to an increasing number of deaths inside Israeli prisons.

‘Al-Aqsa Flood a Milestone’: Hamas Marks 38 Years of Resistance

By Al Mayadeen English`

14 Dec 2025 12:30

On its 38th anniversary, Hamas hails the Al-Aqsa Flood as a milestone in the struggle for Palestinian freedom amid the ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza.

The Islamic Resistance group, Hamas, has priorities that include ending the war, completing the delivery of aid, implementing the ceasefire, and upholding the right to Resistance for liberation, Khalil al-Hayya, head of the Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip, stated.

In a speech commemorating the 38th anniversary of the founding of Hamas, al-Hayya highlighted that Hamas’ focus in the coming period is to address the challenges and risks the Palestinian cause is facing. He emphasized the importance of continuing efforts to halt hostilities, particularly by completing the delivery of humanitarian aid and reopening the Rafah crossing.

He also stressed the need to implement the ceasefire agreement, calling on the US administration, and specifically President Donald Trump, to pressure the occupation into compliance.

Al-Hayya invoked the memory of those martyred during Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, foremost among them the martyred leader of Hezbollah, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, and the martyred commander Saeed Izadi, "Hajj Ramadan", the commander of the Palestine Corps of the IRGC’s Quds Force.

Al-Hayya noted that the anniversary comes amid a different reality for the Palestinian cause, as the Palestinian people endure difficult days and severe suffering due to Israeli aggression and a campaign of collective extermination.

He praised the freedom-fighting leader Raed Saad, “Abu Muadh,” "who dedicated his life to his religion and homeland, fought in the path of God, and lived pursued by the occupation." Al-Hayya also emphasized the suffering of Palestinians in the West Bank, who face a systematic campaign of terror, and those in the territories occupied in 1948, who endure occupation and racism under ongoing oppression and land grabs.

He also confirmed that Palestinians in exile and the diaspora continue to face hardships and deprivation, along with attempts to erase their identity.

Despite these challenges, the Resistance leader maintained, the longstanding Israeli narrative has collapsed, new convictions have emerged among rising Palestinian elites, and the Palestinian people and Resistance have achieved a series of strategic victories, such as breaking the myth of strategic deterrence, exposing Israeli claims, taking its leaders and soldiers to international courts, and revealing its grim image to the world.

Resistance, weapons are a legally recognized right

Al-Hayya noted that the Resistance has succeeded in restoring the natural status of the Palestinian cause, which had declined over the past decades, and in raising the project of resistance as a hope for Arab and Islamic peoples on the path to liberation and return.

He confirmed that the Resistance and its weapons are a legitimate right guaranteed under international law, pointing out that the movement is open to considering any proposals that preserve this right while ensuring the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

In his closing remarks, al-Hayya stressed the importance of strengthening national unity, restoring the Palestinian Liberation Organization’s standing, and pursuing legal accountability against the occupation and politically isolating it. He called for action at the regional and international levels to expand support for the Palestinian cause.

He also expressed gratitude to all who have supported the Palestinian people and stood with their cause, especially mediators in Egypt, Qatar, and Türkiye, affirming that Hamas “will remain loyal to its goals of liberating Palestine.”

Hamas affirms its adherence to ceasefire, while 'Israel' violates it

Meanwhile, the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, on the 38th anniversary of its founding, described the Al-Aqsa Flood as a “prominent milestone in the Palestinian people’s journey toward freedom and independence, leaving the occupation unable to achieve its goals despite its war machinery.”

Hamas commemorated its anniversary amid the ongoing aggression on the Gaza Strip, which has affected more than two million Palestinians, and continues alongside Israeli crimes in the occupied West Bank and occupied al-Quds.

The movement emphasized that it has adhered to all the terms of the ceasefire agreement, while the occupation continues to violate it daily, highlighting "Israel's" failure to respect ceasefire agreements. Hamas called on mediators and the US administration to pressure the occupation into implementing the agreement and to condemn its ongoing systematic breaches.

It also stressed its categorical rejection of any form of trusteeship or mandate over the Gaza Strip or any part of the occupied Palestinian territories, warning against acquiescing to attempts at displacement or the restructuring of the sector according to enemy plans.

The movement affirmed that the Palestinian people decide their own leadership, are capable of managing their affairs independently, and have the legitimate right to defend themselves, liberate their land, and establish their fully sovereign state with al-Quds as its capital.

Hamas calls on Arab, Islamic nations to pressure 'Israel'

Hamas called on the Arab and Islamic nations, including leaders, governments, peoples, and organizations, to take urgent action and exert all possible efforts to pressure the occupation to end its aggression, reopen crossings, deliver aid, and immediately implement relief, shelter, and reconstruction plans to provide natural living needs for more than two million Palestinians.

The movement pointed out that Israeli crimes during the two years of extermination and starvation in Gaza, the West Bank, and al-Quds are systematic and documented, and they do not lapse with time. Hamas urged the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court to continue pursuing and prosecuting the occupation and its criminal leaders, so as to prevent them from evading accountability.

Hamas affirmed that it will remain steadfast in its principles, loyal to the blood and sacrifices of its people and prisoners, maintaining its values and identity, and defending the aspirations of the Palestinian people across all areas of the homeland and in refugee camps and the diaspora, until liberation and return are achieved.

The rights of Palestinian detainees

Regarding Israeli plans targeting al-Quds and the al-Aqsa Mosque, Hamas described them as “illegitimate", asserting that they “will not succeed in imposing Judaization, settlement expansion, or erasing the city and mosque’s features, as al-Quds will remain the eternal capital of Palestine, and the al-Aqsa Mosque will remain purely Islamic.”

Hamas also highlighted the rights of Palestinian detainees, stating that the occupation government’s crimes against them constitute a "sadistic and systematic policy of revenge, turning prisons into direct killing fields." The movement stressed that the liberation of Palestinian detainees remains a top national priority and expressed concern over the international silence on their just cause, calling on the international community and human rights organizations to pressure the occupation to stop its crimes against them.

Regarding Palestinian national unity, Hamas called for a reorganization of the Palestinian house under a unified strategy of resistance, as it is the only way to confront occupation schemes and their supporters.

'Israel' poses a threat to regional stability

Hamas noted that the ongoing war of extermination, starvation, and sovereignty violations by the Israeli occupation in Palestine and some Arab countries demonstrates that the Israeli entity has become a "rogue state", posing a real threat to the security and stability of the region and international peace, necessitating international action to curb its actions, stop its terrorism, isolate it, and end its occupation.

The movement praised the efforts and sacrifices of all Resistance forces and free peoples worldwide who supported the Palestinian people and Resistance. Hamas called for unifying the nation’s efforts and resources in all fields toward liberating Palestine and ending the occupation.

Hamas also welcomed the global grassroots solidarity movement with Palestine and appreciated all official and popular positions supporting the Palestinian cause, calling for the escalation of popular and solidarity campaigns against the occupation until achieving legitimate rights to freedom and independence.

Hamas Says Reserves Right to Retaliate for Commander Assassination, Blames Israel for Sabotaging Ceasefire

Monday, 15 December 2025 1:06 AM 

Hamas official Osama Hamdan

Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan says the movement reserves the right to respond to the Zionist occupation’s violations of the ceasefire agreement, notably the assassination of commander Raed Saad.

Speaking to Al Jazeera on Sunday, the Hamas leader paid tribute to the martyred commander, stating that he “dedicated himself to the Palestinian cause and the defense of his land and homeland.”

Hamdan accused the occupation forces of actively attempting to derail ongoing negotiations for the second phase of the truce.

He confirmed that intensive talks are underway with regional mediators, including Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, regarding the next stages of the ceasefire agreement.

However, he warned that the occupation’s actions are creating insurmountable obstacles.

“We are speaking with our brothers in Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey regarding negotiations for the second phase of the ceasefire agreement, but the occupation insists on sabotaging the agreement,” Hamdan said.

The Palestinian group has strongly condemned an Israeli plan on legalizing at least 19 Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.

He asserted the movement’s stance on its military capabilities and mandate.

“We adhere to our right to resistance, especially armed resistance.”

Hamdan stressed the need for any international force monitoring the second phase of the ceasefire to respect Palestinian sovereignty.

“Palestinian factions see an international force as a guarantor for implementing the ceasefire agreement, without powers or interaction with the Palestinian people in Gaza.”

‘Resistance decision of all Palestinians’

He emphasized that the decision to resist is a unified Palestinian stance, not solely a factional one.

“Resistance is a purely popular Palestinian decision, not a decision of the Hamas movement.”

Hamdan reiterated that Hamas is an extension of a century‑long struggle, noting that the movement “came as an extension of a long history of Palestinian struggle and has maintained the path of resistance against the occupation for four decades.”

He defended the decision to launch the Al‑Aqsa Flood in 2023, stating that “there is not a single leader from the Hamas movement against the October 7 decision.”

He pointed out that “international recognition of the Palestinian state is one of the fruits of Al‑Aqsa Flood.”

Hamdan asserted that the Palestinian resistance values life, despite the occupation’s campaign of destruction.

“We value the sanctity of blood and do not dare to shed it, no matter who it belongs to.”

He then called for global redress for the atrocities committed by the occupation.

“The world must apologize to the Palestinian people for the crimes of genocide that Israel has committed against them.”

The official acknowledged the losses suffered by the movement but affirmed its resilience.

“We are rearranging our affairs and reorganizing our ranks after the martyrdom of many of the movement’s leaders, and the world will see the cohesion of our movement.”

Civilizations Must Unite Against Unilateralism, Warmongering: Iran’s Deputy FM

Sunday, 14 December 2025 11:58 PM 

Iran’s Deputy FM Kazem Gharibabadi attends the UN Alliance of Civilizations Forum in Riyadh, December 14, 2025. (Photo: Tasnim)

Iran’s deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs says unity among civilizations should be embraced as a strategic principle to address global crises, stressing that an alliance of civilizations must stand as a bulwark against warmongering.

Speaking at the 11th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) in Riyadh, Kazem Gharibabadi emphasized the critical need for cohesion in confronting global issues, including counter‑terrorism, establishing sustainable peace and security, promoting social and economic justice, and advancing shared science and technology.

He identified the primary culprits behind international instability, pointing to Western hegemonic policies.

“The formation of domineering coalitions, recourse to force and illegal actions, instrumental exploitation of multilateral mechanisms, and the promotion of the logic of supremacy, exceptionalism, and interventionism are among the common roots of the current global crises,” he said.

Gharibabadi reaffirmed Iran’s foundational role as the originator of the “Dialogue Among Civilizations” initiative in 2001 and pledged the nation’s full commitment to cooperation.

“We believe that civilizations must interact with each other, not confront each other. Only through dialogue and the exchange of experiences can we find common solutions to global challenges,” he said. “Iran has always taken steps toward promoting global peace, security, and solidarity, and is ready to cooperate with all countries of the world in this path.”

Call for Israel, U.S. accountability

Gharibabadi addressed the aggressions orchestrated by the United States and the Zionist regime, describing them as one of the most serious threats to global peace.

He noted that recent years have witnessed an “escalation of crises and military aggressions in some regions of the world, especially in the West Asia region.”

He condemned the Zionist regime for its repeated attacks against the Palestinian people and regional countries, including Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Iran, and Qatar, with the “full support of the United States.”

“These actions, especially in the context of the widespread violation of human rights and international laws, are a clear example of warmongering and unilateralist policies that oppose not only the oppressed nations of the region but also regional and global peace and stability.”

Iran’s foreign minister has hailed the country’s resilience in the face of recent 12-day US-Israeli aggression, saying this resilience forced an enemy who demanded unconditional surrender to plead for an unconditional ceasefire.

Gharibabadi declared that in the face of this reality, the alliance of civilizations must function as a bulwark of defiance.

“We believe that the alliance of civilizations should be a resistance against warmongering and hegemony.”

He called for immediate global accountability, urging nations and the UN to act decisively.

“We call on all countries of the world and the United Nations to react firmly to the aggressions of the Israeli regime and the unreserved support of the United States for this regime, and to take greater responsibility for human rights and world peace.”

Gharibabadi concluded with a message of national resolve.

“The people of Iran will never surrender to threats and aggression and will stand united and coherent against the aggressor.”

15 Dead, Dozens Injured in Mass Shooting at Jewish Event in Australia

Monday, 15 December 2025 12:30 AM 

At least 15 people have been killed and dozens of others injured when two gunmen opened fire at a Jewish event in the Australian city of Sydney on Sunday.

Authorities said police fatally shot one gunman, and the second was arrested and is in critical condition.

At least 29 people were confirmed wounded, including two police officers, said Mal Lanyon, the police commissioner for New South Wales state, to which Sydney is the capital.

Lanyon said police had found what they believed to be several improvised explosive devices in a nearby vehicle linked to the suspect who was killed.

He said police are continuing to investigate the shooting, while emergency services remain on high alert in the area.

Witnesses to the shooting described scenes of chaos as the gunmen opened fire on crowds gathered at Bondi Beach. One witness said he heard 40 to 50 shots.

The mass shooting came as hundreds of people had gathered at Sydney’s Bondi Beach for an event called Chanukah by the Sea, celebrating the start of the Jewish festival.

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the scenes at Bondi “shocking and distressing,” adding, “There is no place for this hate, violence, and terrorism in our nation.”

He said authorities were working to identify everyone involved in the attack.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the attack on social media, calling it “heinous” and expressing solidarity with the Jewish community.

“My heart is with the Jewish community worldwide on this first day of Hanukkah,” he wrote.

Israeli leaders “loudly blamed” the Australian government for ignoring warnings of what they called antisemitic threats.

In a speech at an event in al-Quds, Israeli President Isaac Herzog described the shooting as a “very cruel attack on Jews who went to light the first candle of Hanukkah on Bondi Beach.”

Emergency services workers gather at the scene after a shooting incident at Bondi Beach in Sydney on December 14, 2025. (AFP)

He called on Australia to “fight against the enormous wave of antisemitism which is plaguing Australian society.”

Tel Aviv, however, has offered little condolence to Australia’s Jewish community.

Australia, a country of 28 million people, is home to about 117,000 Jews, according to official figures.

French President Emmanuel Macron also condemned the shooting in an English message on X, saying that France “extends its thoughts to the victims, the injured and their loved ones.”

Australia has seen widespread outrage over Israel’s two-year genocide against the Palestinian people, with major protests in cities across the country since October 2023.

Demonstrators have voiced anger over civilian casualties, destruction of homes, and the regime’s ongoing war crimes in the Gaza Strip.

Social media and local reports indicate that public sentiment has increasingly reflected outrage over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with protesters demanding that the Australian government condemn the Israeli regime’s genocide and halt arms sales to Tel Aviv.

Australia Hails Muslim ‘Hero’ Ahmed al Ahmed Who Disarmed Gunman in Sydney Attack

Monday, 15 December 2025 6:16 AM 

Video footage shows a Muslim bystander, identified as Ahmed al-Ahmed, tackling a shooter on Bondi Beach Hanukkah attack on Dec. 14, 2025, in Sydney. (Screenshot)

Australian authorities and media have praised a Muslim bystander who intervened during a deadly shooting at a Jewish holiday event in Sydney, disarming one of the attackers and potentially saving numerous lives.

Australian media have identified the man as Ahmed al Ahmed, a 43-year-old Sydney local and father of two who owns a fruit shop in the suburb of Sutherland.

Video footage widely circulated on social media shows a man approaching an armed attacker from behind in a car park, tackling him, wrestling a rifle or shotgun from his hands, and neutralizing the threat.

The footage later shows the disarmed assailant retreating while the bystander places the weapon on the ground.

The shooting occurred during a Jewish holiday event on Sunday and resulted in at least 15 fatalities, according to initial reports.

One suspected attacker was killed at the scene, while another was left in critical condition. Police said they were investigating whether a third gunman may have been involved.

According to Ahmed’s cousin, Mustafa, who spoke to 7News from the hospital, Ahmed was shot twice during the incident and was scheduled to undergo surgery on Sunday night.

Mustafa said Ahmed had no experience with firearms and described his condition as stable.

“He’s in hospital, and we don’t know exactly what’s going on inside,” Mustafa said. “We do hope he will be fine. He’s a hero 100 percent.”

Mustafa also confirmed to Al Araby TV that Ahmed is a Muslim of Syrian origin from the city of Idlib. He said that he spoke to Ahmed after the incident, who told him, “Allah Almighty gave me the courage."

The mass shooting came as hundreds of people had gathered at Sydney’s Bondi Beach for a Jewish event on Sunday.

Australian leaders from across the political spectrum commended the bystander’s actions. 

“It’s the most unbelievable scene I’ve ever seen,” Chris Minns, the premier of New South Wales state, said. “A man walking up to a gunman who had fired on the community and single-handedly disarming him, putting his own life at risk to save the lives of countless other people.”

“That man is a genuine hero, and I’ve got no doubt that there are many, many people alive tonight as a result of his bravery,” he added.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also praised the civilian response during the attack.

“These Australians are heroes and their bravery has saved lives,” Albanese said, noting that some people had “run towards danger in order to help others.”

The Sydney Morning Herald referred to Ahmed as “a hero who saved many lives,” while social media users echoed similar sentiments, with many describing his actions as selfless and courageous.

Al-Ahmed’s actions have even gained international plaudits.

New York City comptroller Brad Lander praised al-Ahmed’s “extraordinary courage.”

“A Muslim, 43-year-old father of two, who bravely risked his life to save his neighbors celebrating Hanukkah,” Lander wrote on social media. “Praying for his full and speedy recovery. And so deeply inspired by his example.”

At Least 3 Killed in New Israeli Strikes Across South Lebanon Amid Ceasefire Violations

Sunday, 14 December 2025 6:29 PM

Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the southern Lebanese village of El Mahmoudiyeh on November 27, 2025. (Photo by AFP)

The Israeli military has killed at least three people in southern Lebanon during separate airstrikes after threatening to resume “wide-scale” aggression against the country.

In a statement released on Sunday,  the Lebanese health ministry said that an "Israeli enemy strike" on a motorcycle in Yater, south Lebanon, killed one person and wounded another.

Separately, an Israeli attack targeting a car also killed another person between the towns of Safad al-Batikh and Barashit.

At the same time, a member of the municipal council in Jouaya, Tyre, was killed after an Israeli strike targeted the town.

Israel’s war minister, Israel Katz, late last month, warned that Tel Aviv is prepared to launch a new war on Lebanon if the Hezbollah resistance movement does not surrender its weapons by the end of 2025.

Lebanon has received warnings from Arab and international parties that Israel is preparing to launch a wide-scale attack against the country, Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi said Friday.

Raggi said Beirut had intensified its diplomatic contacts with regional countries to “protect Lebanon and its facilities from any potential strike.”

Beirut is intensifying its diplomatic contacts “to protect Lebanon and its facilities from any potential strike,” Raggi said in statements carried by Lebanon’s National News Agency NNA.

The continued bombardment has drawn sharp criticism from the United Nations, which reported in November that at least 127 civilians, including children, have been killed in Lebanon since the ceasefire took effect in late 2024. UN officials have warned that the attacks amount to “war crimes.”

In light of the substantial losses during months of war and the inability to fulfil its military objectives in the aggression against Lebanon, Israel had no choice but to accept a ceasefire with Hezbollah, which came into effect on November 27, 2024.

Ever since the agreement was enacted, the occupying forces have conducted numerous assaults on Lebanon, including airstrikes throughout the Arab country, in blatant disregard of the ceasefire.

Israel remains in control of five important regions in southern Lebanon, which include Labbouneh, Mount Blat, Owayda Hill, Aaziyyeh, and Hammamis Hill, all located close to the border.

Lebanon has denounced the ongoing presence of Israeli military personnel, perceiving it as a breach of the ceasefire agreement and the predetermined schedule for withdrawal.

Hezbollah’s Secretary General, Sheikh Naim Qassem, in a recent address, vowed the resistance movement will never lay down its weapons, criticising the Lebanese government’s plan to establish a state monopoly on arms and arguing that the issue is exploited by the United States and Israel to press for the group’s disarmament.

Israel Lebanon escalation

This episode centers on whether Israeli violations represent a breakdown of international commitments, how they impact the security decisions of Lebanese actors, and whether guarantors of the ceasefire can still be trusted to uphold peace.

He added that Hezbollah will not budge from such a position, as it is the most honourable national stance, requiring no validation from those with a dark and criminal background, and a history of sedition and corruption.

The Hezbollah leader said the plan is within the context of the Tel Aviv regime’s “Greater Israel” project, warning that surrender would lead to Lebanon ceasing to exist.

He also called on the Beirut government to “reconsider its positions and recalculate, and not make any further concessions.”

Abayomi Azikiwe, PANW Editor, Featured on 1+1 with Youri Smouter Discussing the History and Contemporary Affairs of Tunisia

Well hello everyone. Welcome to another edition of 1+1, your place for inconvenient truth telling and myth busting. 

To watch this entire episode go to the following link: 1+1 E355 Youri speaks to Abayomi Azikiwe of Pan-African Newswire & Black Agenda Report on Tunisia

This is another one of our all-things Africa editions. We continue our series looking at the history of the continent and its regions. 

We are still exploring North Africa, and we now turn our attention to Tunisia. And who better to teach us about this country and or any African country than our returning champion and tour guide, Abayomi Azikiwe of Pan-African News Wire. 

Abayomi Azikiwe is a historian, journalist, longtime leftist activist and more.  

And as always before we start a reminder to our audience to please share widely all of 1+1’s content, past and present episodes, our playlists and help us overcome the far-right algorithms and the dominant monopoly Western corporate/state media and pseudo-Leftists websites have in the social media by sharing our content. 

Share us across social media and e-mail, and please donate if you can to 1+1 at our PayPal and if people are having trouble and would prefer an alternative form to donate then do please get in touch with me at yourismouter@gmail.com.

Abayomi Azikiwe, PANW Editor, on Coup Attempt in Benin and Neo-Colonialism in West Africa

Abayomi Azikiwe, Editor of Pan-African News Wire, joins us from Detroit to discuss the recent coup attempt in the West African nation of Benin. 

To listen to this segment just click on the following URL: Coup Attempt in Benin and Neo-Colonialism in West Africa by Black Agenda Radio

The coup ended with assistance from neighboring Nigeria and from France. 

Abayomi Azikiwe provides analysis on events in Benin, Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria, the Alliance of Sahel States, other West African nations and on the enduring impact of colonialism and neo-colonialism in the region.

Ethiopia Advances AI, Telehealth Initiatives to Enhance Health Care Quality – Ministry of Health

Addis Ababa, December 12, 2025 (ENA) — Ethiopia is rapidly advancing its digital health transformation, with the Ministry of Health announcing significant nationwide progress in the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and telehealth technologies.

The Ministry of Health convened stakeholders to discuss the future role of artificial intelligence and telehealth technology in the health sector.

On the occasion, State Minister of Health Seharela Abdulahi highlighted that strong legal and policy frameworks are being put in place to ensure that AI-driven health services remain secure, private, and high-quality. 

Already, AI is showing promising results—enhancing data accuracy, supporting better clinical decisions, and improving early disease detection and health forecasting.

Reports show that telehealth coverage is growing at an accelerated pace across the Ethiopia recently.

Ethio telecom has connected more than 60 hospitals and is preparing 200 additional facilities to join integrated digital health networks and cloud platforms, marking a major leap in healthcare accessibility.

The state minister emphasized that the revised national health policy recognizes AI and telehealth as central pillars of future healthcare improvement. 

She noted, however, that continued progress will require ongoing investment in infrastructure, governance, and capacity-building for health workers.

Digital Ethiopia 2025 remains a key driver of youth empowerment and innovation, supported by global partners such as the World Health Organization, which actively encourages the use of AI for early warning systems and emergency health detection.

Health Innovation and Quality Lead Executive Officer Dr. Abas Hassen confirmed the nationwide rollout of telehealth to address growing healthcare demands driven by urbanization, lifestyle changes, and rising non-communicable diseases. He called for strengthened collaboration among public institutions, private sector partners, academia, and development organizations.

Ethio telecom’s Enterprise Solutions Chief Officer Yohannes Getahun reaffirmed the company’s commitment to accelerating digital healthcare through expanded connectivity and advanced technologies, noting that AI is emerging as a powerful engine for Ethiopia’s broader development goals.

Officials added that efforts to enhance data privacy, security, and public trust are progressing in tandem with the country’s expanding digital health systems.

Ethiopia, Congo Sign Military Cooperation Agreement to Tackle Regional Security Threats

Addis Ababa, December 13, 2025 (ENA)— Ethiopia and the Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on military cooperation, marking a significant step toward strengthening joint efforts to address regional security challenges, including cross-border crime and terrorism.

The agreement was signed in Addis Ababa following high-level talks between Ethiopia’s Minister of Defense, Engineer Aisha Mohammed, and Congo’s Minister of National Defense, Lieutenant General Charles Richard Monjo.

​​​​​​Speaking at the signing ceremony, Minister Aisha underscored the importance of the MoU in enhancing collaboration amid an increasingly complex global and regional security environment. 

She stressed that closer defense cooperation is essential for effectively responding to shared security threats.

Under the agreement, both countries committed to cooperation in military industrial production, weapons maintenance, education and training, and peacekeeping operations. 

The MoU is also expected to enable the joint utilization of military capabilities, strengthening operational effectiveness.

Minister Aisha highlighted the long-standing diplomatic relations between Ethiopia and Congo, dating back to the early 1960s, noting that bilateral ties have been reinforced through multilateral engagement within the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and the African Union (AU), headquartered in Addis Ababa.

Lt. Gen. Monjo described the agreement as a key milestone for advancing peace and security between the two nations, stating that practical implementation of the MoU would begin in the near future. 

He also extended an invitation to Minister Aisha Mohammed to visit Congo-Brazzaville.

Ethiopia reaffirmed its commitment to deepening diplomatic and defense partnerships with African countries in support of regional stability.