Today's Newsletter

• The Manchester Evening News reports that the jury in a trial of alleged Daesh members has been sent to consider their verdicts. 38-year-old Walid Saadaoui and 52-year-old Amar Hussein are accused of planning to murder Jewish people in the summer of 2024. Both deny terror charges.

• The Times reports that representatives of Palestine Action hunger strikers are pushing for the supply of supplements to prevent permanent brain damage. A doctor attending to the group said on Monday that their bodies would be "self-digesting their own organs", with brain damage also at risk. Two of the six prisoners have refused food for 51 days.

• Non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs) are due to be scrapped under plans that will be presented to the Home Secretary, it is widely reported. Police leaders have determined that NCHIs are no longer "fit for purpose", and will propose their replacement with a "common sense" focused approach. It is anticipated the change will result in a smaller number of alleged "hate" incidents recorded as anti-social behaviour.

• Sajid and Naveed Akram, the father and son accused of the deadly Bondi Beach attack on Hanukkah, spent 28 days in the Philippines prior to the incident, where they are understood to have met Muslim religious leaders on the island of Mindanao, the Daily Mail reports. While Philippine officials reject claims the pair received extremist training, investigators suspect their extended stay and secret meetings may have links to Islamist networks active in the region.

• Syrian government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces have agreed to a ceasefire in Aleppo, Reuters reports. The de-escalation follows deadly clashes that the Syrian health ministry said had left two dead and several others injured. It comes amid tensions over the SDF’s stalled integration into Syria’s army—a process seen as key to avoiding a wider conflict that could draw in Turkey.

• Turkey’s state-run news agency reported that authorities arrested a senior Daesh operative near the Afghanistan–Pakistan border, the Associated Press reports. The operation to detain Mehmet Goren, affiliated with the group’s Islamic State Khorasan branch, also revealed key intelligence about Daesh recruitment networks and plans for future attacks, according to Anadolu Agency.

Jury in trial of men accused of terror plot sent out to consider verdicts

Manchester Evening News, 22/12/2025

A jury in the trial of alleged Islamic State fanatics accused of plotting to murder Jews in Manchester has been sent out to consider their verdicts. Walid Saadaoui, 38, of Crankwood Road, Abram, Wigan, and his co-accused, Amar Hussein, 52, of no fixed abode, deny terror charges. Prosecutors allege they plotted to murder as many Jews as they could in the summer of 2024. Walid Saadaoui was unaware he had revealed details of the alleged plot to an undercover agent known as Farouk, the according to the prosecution. In the trial which started at Preston Crown Court on October 7, former restaurateur Mr Saadaoui told the jury he intended to sabotage the plot and call police. Walid Saadaoui was arrested on May 8, 2024, before the alleged summer 2024 plot to target a pro-Israel march in Manchester then Jewish communities in Prestwich, Higher Broughton and Cheetham Hill.

Also: ITV News

Palestine Action hunger strikers face brain damage, says their doctor

(£) The Times, 22/12/2025

Representatives of the Palestine Action hunger strikers are pushing for “vital” supplements to protect them from permanent brain damage, The Times has learnt. Two of the six prisoners have refused food for 51 days, while a third has not eaten for 50 days. On Monday, an accident and emergency doctor assisting the group said their bodies would be “self-digesting their own organs”, while they were also at risk of permanent brain damage. On Monday, lawyers for the hunger strikers took the first step towards legal action against the government with a pre-action letter against David Lammy, the justice secretary.

Also: GB News

Third Palestine Action hunger striker on remand ends protest

BBC News, 22/12/2025

A third remand detainee awaiting trial for alleged offences relating to the Palestine Action group has stopped a lengthy hunger strike, according to a letter sent to the government. The letter confirms that Qesser Zuhrah, the joint-first of eight to begin the hunger strike on 2 November, had ended her protest after 48 days. Lawyers for the group have given ministers until Tuesday afternoon to respond to a threat to go to the High Court over a refusal to hold talks. A Ministry of Justice (MoJ) spokesperson said: "We want these prisoners to accept support and get better, and we will not create perverse incentives that would encourage more people to put themselves at risk through hunger strikes." Three of the eight individuals participating in the protest have stopped while four are said to be still taking part.

Non-crime hate incidents to be scrapped

(£) Daily Telegraph, 22/12/2025

Non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs) are to be scrapped under plans that police chiefs will present to the home secretary next month. Police leaders have decided that NCHIs are no longer “fit for purpose” after warnings that recording them undermines freedom of speech and diverts officers away from fighting crime. Under the plans, NCHIs will be replaced with a new “common sense” system, where only a fraction of such incidents will be recorded under the most serious category of anti-social behaviour. An NCHI falls short of being criminal but is perceived to be motivated by hostility or prejudice towards a person with a particular characteristic. They stay on police records indefinitely and can come up in background checks.

Also: Daily Mail, GB News, The Guardian, (£) The Independent

Ex-BNP leader Nick Griffin accused of stirring up racial hatred with cartoon

BBC News, 22/12/2025

Former leader of the British National Party Nick Griffin has appeared in court accused of stirring up racial hatred - for allegedly sharing a cartoon on social media that showed a giant spider with a Star of David on its head. Mr Griffin, 66, of Welshpool, Powys, is accused of sharing a "threatening, abusive or insulting" cartoon on X in 2021, in a private prosecution by the Campaign Against Antisemitism. He appeared at Southwark Crown Court via video link, alongside his solicitor Richard Derby and defence lawyer Tom Edwards. The court heard an application to dismiss the charges was submitted, to be heard at the same court on 13 April. A provisional date for a trial was set for 11 May. Mr Griffin faces two counts of stirring up racial hatred. Judge Christopher Hehir ordered the ex-Member of the European Parliament to return to the court to attend the next hearing in April.

Also: Daily Mail

Equalities chief is divorced from the realities of life in modern Britain

Daily Mail, 23/12/2025

The new EHRC chief's intervention isn’t just unhelpful, writes Rakib Ehsan. It’s tone-deaf, patronising and divorced from the realities of life in modern Britain.

This is comment or editorial reporting.

Terror-training for primary school children, synagogues turned into fortresses... and racist abuse in Tesco: Francine Wolfisz on life as a Jewish mother in Britain today

Daily Mail, 22/12/2025

My family fled their homes to come to Britain because of antisemitism, writes Francine Wolfisz. It should be a source of national shame that Jewish people would consider leaving Britain for the same reason decades later.

This is comment or editorial reporting.

Turkish agents capture an IS member on the Afghan-Pakistan border

Associated Press, 22/12/2025

Turkish intelligence agents have captured a senior member of the Daesh in an area along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, allegedly thwarting planned suicide attacks in Turkey and elsewhere, Turkey’s state-run news agency reported Monday. Anadolu Agency said the suspect was identified as Mehmet Goren and a member of the group’s Afghanistan-based Daesh-Khorasan branch. He was caught in a covert operation and transferred to Turkey. It was not clear when the operation took place or whether Afghan and Pakistani authorities were involved. The report said the Turkish citizen allegedly rose within the organization’s ranks and was given the task of carrying out suicide bombings in Turkey, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Europe.

Man charged with being member of Islamic State

BBC News, 22/12/2025

A 23-year-old man has been charged with being a member of the Daesh. Abdullah Yousef, of Galapagos Grove in Bletchley, Milton Keynes, was arrested on 16 December and charged with a string of terrorism offences on Monday. Mr Yousef was charged with one count of membership of a proscribed organisation, one count of possession of information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, and four counts of dissemination of a terrorist publication. He was charged by officers from Counter Terrorism Policing South East and has been remanded in custody to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.

Syrian government and SDF agree to de-escalate after Aleppo violence

(£) Reuters, 22/12/2025

Syrian government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces agreed to de-escalate on Monday evening in the northern city of Aleppo, after a wave of attacks that both sides blamed on each other left at least two civilians dead and several wounded. Syria's state news agency SANA, citing the defence ministry, said the army's general command issued an order to stop targeting the SDF's fire sources. The SDF said in a statement later that it had issued instructions to stop responding to attacks by Syrian government forces following de-escalation contacts.

Turkey says Kurdish-led SDF does not intend to advance integration with Syrian state

(£) Reuters, 22/12/2025

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in Syria appear to have no intention of honouring a commitment to integrate into the state's armed forces by a year-end deadline, Turkey's foreign minister said on Monday. Turkey views the US-backed SDF, which controls swathes of northeastern Syria, as a terrorist organisation and has warned of military action if the group does not honour the agreement. Last week, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Turkey hoped to avoid resorting to military action against the SDF, but that its patience was running out.

Israeli foreign minister urges Jews to ‘come home’ after Bondi Beach massacre

(£) The Independent, 22/12/2025

Israel’s foreign minister has called on Jews living in Western countries to move to Israel, saying Jewish communities worldwide are no longer safe, days after 15 people were killed in an attack on a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney. Speaking at a candle-lighting ceremony marking the final day of Hanukkah, Gideon Saar said antisemitism had reached a point where Jews were being targeted across multiple countries. “Jews have the right to live in safety everywhere. But we see and fully understand what is happening, and we have a certain historical experience,” he said. “Today, Jews are being hunted across the world.” Addressing Jewish communities in specific countries by name, Mr Saar added: “Today I call on Jews in England, Jews in France, Jews in Australia, Jews in Canada, Jews in Belgium: come to the Land of Israel! Come home!”

Israeli military says it is examining killing of Palestinian teen in West Bank

(£) Reuters, 22/12/2025

The Israeli military said it was reviewing an incident in the occupied West Bank in which soldiers shot dead a 16-year-old Palestinian who they said had thrown a brick at them, after CCTV footage appeared to show he was not doing so when shot. Asked about the video, an Israeli military spokesperson said: "A Palestinian suspected of hurling a block at IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) soldiers was shot. The incident is under review." Palestinian officials said that Rayyan Mohammad Abu Mualla was shot and killed on Saturday in the northern West Bank town of Qabatiya, during a raid by the Israeli military. The Israeli military initially said on Saturday: "During IDF operational activity in the area of Qabatiya, a terrorist hurled a block toward the soldiers, who responded with fire and eliminated the terrorist." CCTV footage showed two Israeli soldiers - one crouching and one standing on a lit street corner at dark - and a third soldier appearing to take position in an adjacent street leading to the same corner.

NGOs fear Israel registration rules risk collapse of Gaza aid operations

BBC News, 22/12/2025

The UN and other aid agencies fear new Israeli registration rules for dozens of international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) risk the collapse of the humanitarian response in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip. INGOs not registered by 31 December face closure of their operations in Israel within 60 days, which the agencies say could severely disrupt healthcare and other life-saving services in Gaza. Save the Children said its application had not been approved and it was "pursuing all available avenues to have this decision reconsidered". Israel's ministry of diaspora affairs and combating antisemitism said the departure of "rogue organisations" would not affect the delivery of aid. Fourteen out of the approximately 100 applications have so far been rejected, 21 have been approved, and those remaining are still undergoing review, according to the ministry.

Netanyahu to discuss Iran, next phase of Gaza plan with Trump

(£) Reuters, 22/12/2025

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday he will discuss Iran's nuclear activities during his visit next week with U.S. President Donald Trump. Speaking at a joint press conference with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides in Jerusalem, Netanyahu said Israel was aware Iran had been conducting "exercises" recently, without elaborating. Earlier on Monday, Iranian state media reported Iran had held missile drills in various cities during the day, the second such reported exercise in a month. Western powers regard Iran's ballistic missile arsenal as both a conventional military threat to Middle East stability and a possible delivery mechanism for nuclear weapons should Tehran develop them. It denies any intent to build atomic bombs. Relations between eastern Mediterranean neighbours Israel, Greece and Cyprus have grown stronger over the past decade, with shared concerns over Turkey's influence in the region.

Trapped under Israeli bombardment, Gazans fear the 'new border'

AFP, 23/12/2025

When her children, trembling with fear, ask where the family can go to escape Israel's continued bombardment in southern Gaza's Khan Yunis area, Umm Ahmed has no answer. In her small, devastated village near Khan Yunis city, recent Israeli strikes shattered the tenuous sense of peace delivered by a ceasefire that has largely held since 10 October. Residents say the attacks have targeted neighbourhoods east of the so-called Israeli-controlled Yellow Line—a demarcation established under the truce between Israel and Hamas. More than two years after a devastating war, tens of thousands of Gazans still live in tents or damaged homes in these areas, where the Israeli army maintains control and operates checkpoints.

Neo-Nazi terror group steps up US operations as FBI pulls back

The Guardian, 22/12/2025

Amid high-profile arrests in its Spanish cell, the American-born and designated neo-Nazi terrorist group the Base – once a major preoccupation of FBI counter-terrorism efforts – has all but faded from US headlines. But a flurry of online activities shows the group is still active stateside and considers the US an operational nerve center. Headed by Rinaldo Nazzaro, an ex-Pentagon contractor turned alleged Russian intelligence asset, the Base has been busy of late pursuing European expansion: besides its heavily armed members in Spain, its Ukrainian wing is linked to multiple acts of terrorism inside of the country and claimed the high-profile July assassination of an intelligence officer in Kyiv. But the Base’s online footprint also paints a picture of a more careful, yet active, American presence: videos from November show masked men shooting military-style rifles and pistols in what they claim is an Appalachian forest.

US Heritage Foundation thinktank staff quit amid antisemitism controversy

(£) Reuters, 23/12/2025

Over a dozen employees have left jobs at the Heritage Foundation or were fired in recent days, according to the influential right-wing US thinktank, as it grapples with allegations from former supporters that it has aligned itself with those accused of antisemitism. In a statement about the resignations and firings on Monday, Heritage Foundation chief advancement officer Andy Olivastro said a handful of staff had chosen "disruption" and "disloyalty". He said the think tank "has always welcomed debate, but alignment on mission and loyalty to the institution are non-negotiable."

JD Vance tries to have it both ways on Nick Fuentes and antisemitism

CNN, 22/12/2025

Vance seems to be gambling that this whole internal feud will go away eventually, and that he can get through it without totally alienating anyone, writes Aaron Blake.

This is comment or editorial reporting.

Inside Bondi terror suspects' lost month on 'ISIS island' in the Philippines where they held secret meetings with Muslim leaders before beach massacre

Daily Mail, 23/12/2025

The Bondi Beach suspects had a secret meeting with Muslim religious leaders during their mysterious 28-day trip to the Philippines, a month prior to the horrific attack, sources have revealed to the Daily Mail. In the aftermath of the Hanukkah attack, security experts claimed that Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed Akram, 24, had travelled to the south-east Asian country to receive military-style training from Islamist extremists. Their presence on the island of Mindanao—the most notorious area in all of Southeast Asia for Islamist extremists—has inevitably caused speculation that they were there to meet others sympathetic to such a cause. Investigators in the Philippines are still trying to piece together the pair's detailed movements and contacts there—but the Daily Mail has established that they met at a number of Islamic leaders during the trip.

The most troubling mystery from the Bondi massacre: What happened to the other two Aussies who visited 'ISIS island'?

Daily Mail, 23/12/2025

Two Australian men are under investigation amid claims they crossed paths with the alleged Bondi gunmen during a trip to the Philippines. Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed, 24, travelled to Davao City for a four-week stay, a month before they allegedly killed 15 people at the Chanukkah by the Sea event at Bondi Beach on 14 December. Local police probing whether the Akrams visited the region's notorious terror training camps also discovered two other Sydney men had been in the city.

The words that shut down racist preacher's prayer hall

Australian Associated Press, 23/12/2025

A prayer hall where a controversial Islamic preacher held "fundamentally racist, anti-Semitic and devastatingly offensive and insulting" lectures has been closed. Wissam Haddad had delivered numerous hardline sermons to scores of Muslim men in the Al Madina Dawah Centre in southwestern Sydney since April 2021. The sermons have come under attack from Jewish groups while Liberal senator James Patterson last week described the centre as "a factory of hate". Other preachers have warned followers the government was "pushing Muslims into a corner" and "jihad is the solution".

Also: Daily Mail

The Bondi Beach massacre proved Islamic terror never went away in Australia. Here's how young men are being recruited in your suburb

Daily Mail, 22/12/2025

Until last week, horrific acts of violence perpetrated by Daesh extremists had seemingly faded out of Australian public consciousness after years elapsed - fortunately - without any major events.  That was until December 14, when 15 innocent people were allegedly shot dead and dozens more were wounded at Sydney's iconic Bondi Beach. Daesh is a transnational militant organisation that represents one of the most radical applications of Salafi Jihadism - an ideology that seeks to establish a global caliphate through armed struggle. Authorities have declared the incident as a terror attack and will allege two IS flags were located at the scene. A propaganda video was later recovered during a raid of a property rented out by the alleged gunmen- father and son duo Sajid, 50, and Naveed Akram, 24, in the lead-up to the attack. Detectives are now investigating whether the father and son engaged in Daesh military training during a four-week trip to the Philippines in November, while they stayed in Mindanao, an island in the country's south with a long history of Islamist insurgency.

The huge red flag that should have rung alarm bells about Bondi Beach massacre gunman...but was ignored

Daily Mail, 22/12/2025

Alleged Bondi Beach terrorist Sajid Akram spent three years waiting for his firearm licence to be approved and as soon as his 'cool-down' period ended he bought three guns. Independent NSW MP Phil Donato, a former police prosecutor and licensed firearms holder, raised questions about the unusually long waiting period Sajid faced for his gun licence. 'I've never in my experience heard of someone waiting three years for an approval to be granted by the firearms registry,' he told The Australian on Monday. 'It begs the question – what was the reason for the delay? I don't accept it was a backlog of applications or being understaffed at the registry.' Sajid Akram and his son Naveed allegedly killed 15 people during an alleged terrorist attack at Bondi Beach on Sunday, December 14.

Australian state set to pass tougher gun laws after Bondi attack

(£) Reuters, 22/12/2025

Australia's most populous state is set to pass tougher gun laws, ban the display of terrorist symbols and curb protests after the state parliament's lower house cleared a bill late on Monday in an emergency sitting following the Bondi mass shooting. The terrorism and other legislation amendment bill won support from the opposition Liberal Party in New South Wales, and is expected to clear the upper house on Tuesday. The ruling centre-left Labor government has proposed capping most individual gun licences at four firearms and allowing up to ten for farmers.

Also: AFP

Activist groups to challenge NSW protest laws on right to free speech grounds

The Guardian, 23/12/2025

Three groups who regularly organise protests in Sydney will launch a constitutional challenge against the Minns Labor government’s new laws to ban protests for up to three months. The groups—the Palestine Action Group Sydney, Jews Against the Occupation 48 and the Blak Caucus—said they intend to launch legal action as soon as the laws are passed, although none have plans for any immediate protests. The groups said they will have standing for the Supreme Court challenge without having a Form 1 permit for a protest rejected, because it is a constitutional challenge that will allege the legislation is an infringement of the implied right of free speech. The legislation was on Tuesday morning before the New South Wales upper house. It was expected to pass parliament late Tuesday night.

Dramatic update on sacked university staff member who allegedly branded Jewish students 'parasites' and 'filthy Zionists' in outrageous rant

Daily Mail, 23/12/2025

A University of Sydney staff member has been charged after she allegedly intimidated Jewish students in a furious tirade on campus. Rose Nakad, 53, was sacked by the university last week after she was filmed confronting students and calling them 'parasites' and 'filthy Zionists' as they celebrated Sukkot, a Jewish holiday, on 9 October this year. Her sacking came a day after the Bondi Beach massacre, where suspected Daesh terrorists allegedly opened fire at a Jewish Hanukkah event, killing 15 and injuring dozens more. Police say Nakad now faces charges of offensive conduct and two counts of stalking or intimidation with intent to cause fear over the incident two months ago.

Australia’s gun laws have long been the envy of the world. They must remain so, especially after Bondi

The Guardian, 22/12/2025

As a public health expert and Jewish Australian, I urge our leaders to ensure gun legislation matches the world we live in, writes Gideon Meyerowitz–Katz.

This is comment or editorial reporting.

Sudan’s prime minister takes his peace plan to the UN, but US urges humanitarian truce now

Associated Press, 23/12/2025

Sudan’s prime minister on Monday proposed a wide-ranging peace initiative to end a nearly 1,000-day war with a rival paramilitary force, but the US urged both sides to accept the Trump administration’s call for an immediate humanitarian truce. Kamil Idris, who heads Sudan’s transitional civilian government, told the Security Council his plan calls for a ceasefire monitored by the UN, African Union and Arab League, and the withdrawal of paramilitary forces from all areas they occupy, their placement in supervised camps and their disarmament.

US conducting surveillance flights over Nigeria after Trump intervention threat

(£) Reuters, 22/12/2025

The US has been conducting intelligence-gathering flights over large parts of Nigeria since late November, according to flight tracking data and current and former US officials, in a sign of increased security cooperation between the countries. Reuters could not determine what information the flights are meant to obtain. But the flights in West Africa follow US president Donald Trump's threats in November to militarily intervene in Nigeria over what he says is its failure to stop violence targeting Christian communities. The flights also are occurring just months after a US pilot working for a missionary agency was kidnapped in neighbouring Niger.

US drops plan to deport Chinese national who exposed Xinjiang abuses, rights activists say

Associated Press, 23/12/2025

The Department of Homeland Security has dropped its plan to deport a Chinese national who entered the US illegally, two rights activists said Monday, after his plight raised public concerns that the man, if deported, would be punished by Beijing for helping expose human rights abuses in China’s Xinjiang region. Rayhan Asat, a human rights lawyer who assisted in the case, said Guan Heng’s lawyer received a letter from DHS stating its decision to withdraw its request to send Guan to Uganda. Asat said she now expects Guan’s asylum case to “proceed smoothly and favorably.” Zhou Fengsuo, executive director of the advocacy group Human Rights in China, also confirmed the administration’s decision not to deport Guan. “We’re really happy,” Zhou said.

South African police arrest suspect in mass shooting that killed 12, including 3 children

Associated Press, 22/12/2025

A 32-year-old suspect has been arrested in connection with a mass shooting which claimed the lives of 12 people including three children at an unlicensed pub earlier this month, South African police said on MondayThe man is suspected of being one of the three people who opened fire on patrons in a pub at Saulsville township, west of South Africa’s capital Pretoria, killing 12 people including three children aged 3, 12 and 16. At least 13 people were also injured during the attack, whose motive remains unknown. According to the police, the suspect was arrested on Sunday while traveling to Botlokwa in Limpopo province, more than 340 kilometers (210 miles) from where the mass shooting took place on Dec. 6. An unlicensed firearm believed to have been used during the attack was recovered from the suspect’s vehicle.

The carnage in Yemen deserves the world’s full attention

(£) Daily Telegraph, 22/12/2025

The UAE-Saudi Arabia rivalry strains an alliance that is critical to the containment of Iran, writes Samuel Ramani.

This is comment or editorial reporting.

This summary is not a statement of Home Office policy or opinion. Note that these outlets have a local or regional UK focus and/or a daily reach of less than 100k, and a minority may be funded by foreign governments.

Palestine Action hunger strikers to take legal action against UK Government

(£) The National, 22/12/2025

Palestine Action hunger strikers have taken the first step in beginning legal action against the UK Government.

'It's a sea change': Police to stop recording non-crime hate incidents with new 'common sense' approach

LBC News, 22/12/2025

Non-crime hate incidents are set to be scrapped under plans backed by police chiefs.

Pro-Israel groups target Miss Palestine Nadeen Ayoub after MEE interview

[Counter-Terrorism%20and%20Counter%20Extremism%20Media%20Summary%20-%2001%20December%202025.docx]Middle East Eye, 22/12/2025

Pro-Israel groups have targeted Nadeen Ayoub, the first Miss Palestine to compete at the Miss Universe contest, after she appeared on Middle East Eye to discuss her historic participation at this year's iconic beauty pageant.

Dave Chappelle draws online praise for saying 'I stand with Israel' is code for 'they got me'

Middle East Eye, 22/12/2025

American stand-up comedian Dave Chappelle has received widespread praise after revealing a "code" in his surprise Netflix special, telling viewers that if he ever says "I stand with Israel", it means he has been "co-opted" and "they got me".

Some Afghans told to attend government check-ins on Christmas, New Year's Day

Middle East Eye, 22/12/2025

At least two Afghans who had arrived in the US because of their assistance to American personnel during the two-decade war have now been notified that they must appear in-person at an immigration office with their documents on Christmas Day (25 December) and New Year's Day (1 January), an advocate group revealed on Monday.

Tucker Carlson named ‘Antisemite of the Year’ for opposing Israel’s genocide in Gaza

Middle East Eye, 22/12/2025

A US pro-Israel advocacy group has named political commentator and journalist Tucker Carlson as its “Antisemite of the Year”, citing his opposition to Israel’s genocide in Gaza.

In this season of goodwill, Israeli settlers have made Bethlehem a 'no-go zone'

Middle East Eye, 22/12/2025

Israel's ideology of political Zionism is tearing up the common values of peace that are at the core of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, writes Jonathan Purcell.

This is comment or editorial reporting.

This summary is not a statement of Home Office policy or opinion. Note that some of these outlets have lower reach with UK audiences and/or may be state/government funded. Please also note that foreign media outlets may not have equivalent editorial standards to UK-based outlets.

US envoy says disarming Iraqi militias must involve binding national framework

The National Newspaper, 22/12/2025

Mark Savaya, US special envoy to Iraq, said on Monday that the disarmament of Iran-backed militias in Iraq must be comprehensive and involve a national framework, saying that the country is at a crossroads.

Illegal settlement expansion: How Israel is redrawing occupied West Bank

Al Jazeera, 22/12/2025

Israel’s approval of 19 new settlements stands to redraw the occupied West Bank, undermining prospect of two-state solution.

Israel kills two Palestinians in Gaza City as ceasefire violations mount

Al Jazeera, 22/12/2025

Israeli forces have killed at least two Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

Israeli drone strike kills three near Lebanese city of Sidon

The National Newspaper, 22/12/2025

An Israeli drone strike killed three people travelling in a car near Lebanon's southern port city of Sidon on Monday, Lebanese state media said.

Also: Al Jazeera

Islamic State Isn’t Back in Asia, But Its Ideas Endure

(£) Bloomberg, 22/12/2025

Karishma Vaswani writes: "The deadliest domestic terror attack in Australia’s history is raising an uncomfortable question: Is there an Islamic State revival in Asia?"

This is comment or editorial reporting.

Al Jazeera (Middle East, Arabic Language)

• Syrian army, Kurdish-led SDF agree to stop deadly fighting in Aleppo; Israel kills two Palestinians in Gaza City as ceasefire violations mount; Trump warns Maduro not to ‘play tough’ as Russia, China back Venezuela; ‘We have nothing’: Endless pain for displaced civilians fleeing Sudan war

Al Arabiya (Middle East, Arabic Language)

• Trump announces plans for new navy ‘Battleship’ as part of ‘Golden Fleet’; Sudan PM calls on UN to back peace plan; One killed as US strikes another alleged drug-smuggling boat in eastern Pacific; Trump says it would be ‘smart’ for Venezuela’s Maduro to leave power; Syrian government, SDF order their troops to halt deadly clashes

Geo TV (Pakistan, Urdu and English)

• Government to hold open bidding for 75% PIA stake today; 'Highly respected': Trump again heaps praise on Field Marshal Munir; Updates: Hamas-Israel ceasefire holds; US president unveils plan for 'Trump-class' battleships to boost American sea power