Earlier, the Telegram co-founder announced that his platform had turned its first profit since monetization

SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk has offered some words of praise to Telegram co-founder and CEO Pavel Durov after the Russian-born entrepreneur’s company turned a profit for the first time in its three-year history of monetization.

Durov announced the news in an X post on Monday. Describing 2024 as a “very successful year,” he explained that the privacy-focused messaging app made more than $1 billion in revenue this year, and that “we are closing the year with more than $500 million in cash reserves, not including crypto assets.”

“Well done,” Musk responded under Durov’s post.

Despite his company’s achievements, Durov has faced serious legal challenges this year. In August, he was detained after landing at a Paris airport and released on bail several days later. He faces 12 criminal charges, including complicity in distributing child pornography, drug dealing, and money laundering.

French prosecutors claim that Telegram’s supposedly lax moderation rules have enabled rampant criminality to flourish on the platform.

Durov testified before a French court for the first time earlier this month. The Russian national, who is also a citizen of France, the UAE, and Saint Kitts and Nevis, refused to comment on the case to reporters. He has, however, denied any wrongdoing.

Commenting in August on Durov’s detention, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov highlighted the absurdity of holding the entrepreneur accountable for crimes committed using his network. Prosecuting Durov for these crimes would be the same as French authorities arresting the heads of Renault or Citroen because “terrorists also use cars,” Peskov argued.

The Israeli premier has vowed to hit the Yemeni militants “with full force”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to “destroy the infrastructure” of Yemen’s Houthi militants, he told parliament on Monday. The Houthis struck Tel Aviv with a ballistic missile on Friday.

”I have instructed our forces to destroy the infrastructure of the Houthis because anyone who tries to harm us will be struck with full force. We will continue to crush the forces of evil with strength and ingenuity, even if it takes time,” Netanyahu said in a speech to lawmakers.

Two days earlier, Yemen’s Houthi movement claimed responsibility for a ballistic missile attack on what they called a military target in the Jaffa area of Tel Aviv. The missile “struck its target accurately and the defenses and interception systems failed to intercept it,” the Houthis said in a statement.

The missile attack was the latest in a series of tit-for-tat exchanges between the militants and the IDF. Less than a day beforehand, Israeli warplanes attacked ports and power infrastructure in Yemen, in response to a Houthi missile attack that set off air raid sirens across Israel before the projectile was intercepted.

The IDF claimed that the infrastructure targeted was of military value to the Houthis, while the militants described it as civilian in nature. The Houthis claimed that nine people were killed in the Israeli airstrikes.

In the aftermath of Friday’s attack on Jaffa, American and British jets conducted a wave of bombing raids across Yemen. Amid the attacks, the US Navy inadvertently shot down one of its own F/A-18 fighter jets in a friendly-fire incident over the Red Sea, the Pentagon announced on Sunday.

The Houthis disputed the Pentagon’s story, claiming that one of their missiles downed the American jet.

Officially known as the Ansar Allah movement, the Houthis emerged as the dominant military faction in Yemen during the latter years of the country’s ongoing civil war. When Israel declared war on Hamas and began bombing Gaza last October, the Houthis began launching attacks on Israeli-linked shipping in the Red Sea, in a bid to enforce a naval blockade of the Jewish state.

The US and UK have been conducting airstrikes against the Houthis for months in an effort to break the blockade.

The operation was in the works for more than a decade, two former Israeli intelligence officials told CBS

The Israeli intelligence agency Mossad has spent more than a decade preparing to carry out an operation that resulted in pager and walkie-talkie explosions across Lebanon in September, CBS reported over the weekend, after interviewing two recently retired senior agents who allegedly spearheaded the effort.

Mossad first started to work with walkie-talkies, according to CBS sources. The intelligence agency designed a battery for them that had an explosive device within it and later infiltrated the supply chain through a string of shell companies to hide its traces.

“We create a pretend world. We are a global production company: We write the screenplay, we’re the directors, we’re the producers, we’re the main actors,” one of the former agents said. Eventually, the Israeli operatives reportedly managed to sell over 16,000 of the exploding walkie-talkies to the Lebanon-based militant group, Hezbollah, according to the report.

The Israeli intelligence services did not stop at that and aimed for the devices the Hezbollah members would have on them “at all times” next, CBS said. That is how pagers came into play in 2022. According to the two former agents, the agency had run numerous tests to determine the exact amount of explosives needed to injure a pager owner, with almost no collateral damage.

The devices designed by Mossad reportedly had no intelligence capabilities and could not be used for tracking or surveillance. “There’s almost no way how to tap it,” one of the former operatives said, adding that the pagers were essentially just small bombs.

Mossad found out that Hezbollah was buying such devices from a Taiwan-based company, Gold Apollo. It then set up more shell companies, including one in Hungary, to dupe Gold Apollo into cooperation, without sharing any of its plans with the Taiwan-based company. The spy agency fully manufactured the pagers that were then sold through its licensed partnership with Gold Apollo.

The intelligence service even hired the company’s saleswoman dealing with Hezbollah to promote their product. It also went on a massive fake ad campaign on YouTube and elsewhere on the net that even included fake online testimonials supposedly verifying their pagers’ quality.

“When [Hezbollah] are buying from us, they have zero clue that they are buying from the Mossad. We make like the ‘Truman Show,’ everything is controlled by us behind the scene,” one of the former agents said. By September 2024, the Lebanon-based movement had about 5,000 pagers on their hands, according to CBS.

All those efforts were aimed at just crippling and scaring their foes, the former agents admitted. “We want them to feel vulnerable, which they are,” a former Mossad operative said. Another one said that the intelligence agency wanted people caught up in that plot to literally serve as a living warning to Israel’s adversaries.

“Those people without hands and eyes are living proof, walking in Lebanon, of ‘don't mess with us’,” he told CBS. The September 17 attacks killed at least 42 people, including 12 civilians – and injured over 3,500, including women and children. West Jerusalem had denied any involvement in those incidents for months until Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed responsibility for the attacks in mid-November.

The scheme drew international condemnation, with UN Human Rights Commissioner Volker Turk labeling it a “shocking” and “unacceptable” act that violates human rights laws. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at the UN General Assembly in September branded it a “glaring example of terrorist methods.”

The new countries will join the economic group as partner states from January 1, presidential aide Yuri Ushakov has said

Nine countries will officially join BRICS as partner states in January, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov has said, adding that the economic group is open to like-minded partners.

The new ‘partner country’ status was approved at the BRICS summit in October, hosted by Russia in Kazan, and is intended to serve as an alternative to membership after more than 30 nations applied to join the organization. The status provides for permanent participation in special sessions of BRICS summits and foreign ministers’ meetings, as well as other high-level events. Partners can also contribute to the group’s outcome documents.

Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, Ushakov emphasized the importance of the partner state status’ approval, saying that Belarus, Bolivia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Cuba, Uganda, Malaysia, and Uzbekistan will officially become BRICS partners from January 1. Confirmation is expected in the near future from four more countries, which were also invited to become partner states.

BRICS initially comprised Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, and was expanded earlier this year to include Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Saudi Arabia has paused its process of joining BRICS because the necessary “internal procedures” for becoming a full member have not yet been completed, according to Ushakov, citing representatives from Riyadh.

The Kremlin aide highlighted that 35 applications to join BRICS in one status or another were received ahead of the Kazan Summit. “Some countries wanted to immediately receive full-scale participation, while others wanted to participate in individual events as observers,” he explained.

At the moment, more than two dozen countries are showing interest in cooperation with BRICS, according to Ushakov. The countries are Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Burkina Faso, Venezuela, Honduras, Zimbabwe, Cambodia, Colombia, the Republic of Congo, Laos, Kuwait, Morocco, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Palestine, Senegal, Syria, Chad, Sri Lanka, Equatorial Guinea and South Sudan.

Ushakov pointed out that the role of BRICS in international politics is growing. The group has also enhanced its authority in the sphere of economics and finance, as well as in responding to climate challenges and strengthening global food and energy security.

The man has been charged with animal cruelty after dead marsupials were found in October, according to police

A man has been charged with animal cruelty after he allegedly shot and killed 98 kangaroos in Australia’s New South Wales, according to a police statement.

The bodies of the animals, along with boxes of ammunition and spent cartridges, were found near the town of Singleton in the Hunter Valley in October.

In a statement on Monday, New South Wales police said that a 43-year-old was arrested and charged with six offences, including committing an act of aggravated cruelty upon animals and harming a protected animal.

The man was granted strict conditional bail to appear in court on January 13. The statement did not elaborate on the possible motives of the suspect.

Kangaroos are among Australia's most recognisable animals. The world's largest marsupials are protected native wildlife under the Nature Conservation Act of 1992.

In 2021, two teenage boys pleaded guilty to deliberately killing 14 kangaroos in New South Wales.

The boys, both aged 17 at the time, drove their vehicles into the animals “without any real rationale other than a brain explosion,” ABC cited a magistrate as saying.

They each faced one count of recklessly beating and killing animals, a crime that carries a maximum penalty of three years in jail.

After pleading guilty, the two teens were referred to a young offenders’ conference, with the charges against them reportedly being dismissed afterwards.

Under New South Wales law, anyone convicted of animal cruelty faces up to five years in jail and a fine of A$22,000 ($15,000).

According to official statistics cited by the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper, over the past five years, only 4.2% of animal cruelty cases resulted in prison time.

The Cook Islands archipelago is reportedly looking to fully separate from New Zealand

The Cook Islands nation is on track to fully separate from New Zealand in the near future, an Auckland-based outlet has reported, citing declassified documents obtained from the government.

The 15-island archipelago has been a self-governing territory since 1965, with the government in Wellington handling Avarua’s defense and funding its budget. Both recognize Charles III of the UK as their head of state.

Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown has told New Zealand that the archipelago wants to establish a separate citizenship and to issue passports, 1News said on Monday, citing documents obtained from the government.

The government in Wellington has responded that this “would raise fundamental questions for our constitutional relationship and shared citizenship.”

New Zealand does not object to Cook Islands declaring full independence, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon reportedly told Brown during a meeting last month, also according to 1News. However, Wellington “would have a duty to ensure that Cook Islanders who are New Zealand citizens have an opportunity to express a view on the full implications of such a development,” according to documents seen by the outlet.

Any move towards full independence would require a referendum involving Cook Islanders, New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters has said in a letter, also seen by 1News.

The archipelago itself has a population of about 15,000, most of whom are citizens of New Zealand as well. Another 80,000 Cook Islanders live on the two islands of New Zealand, and about 85% were born there.

Cook Islands is about 1,900 miles away from New Zealand. First settled by Polynesians who sailed over from Tahiti, the islands had their first contact with European explorers in 1595. The archipelago was ultimately named after the British explorer Captain James Cook, who visited them in the 1770s.

During the 19th century, Cook Islands was a popular port of call for British, American and Australian whaling ships. In modern times, the nation’s economy is mainly based on tourists visiting its many beaches, lagoons, and coral reefs. Fishing, offshore banking and pearl exports help complement the islands’ budget, in addition to payments from New Zealand.

The US has already recognized Cook Islands as a sovereign nation, establishing diplomatic relations with Avarua in September 2023.

The messaging platform has surpassed $1bn in revenue this year, according to its co-founder

Popular messenger Telegram has achieved over $1 billion in revenue during 2024, marking its first profitable year since introducing monetization, company co-founder and CEO Pavel Durov announced on Monday on his Telegram channel.

The company’s financial growth has reportedly been driven by a surge in Telegram Premium subscribers and strong advertising performance.

“It has been a very successful year for Telegram. We have turned a profit for the first time in three years of being monetized,” Durov stated.

According to him, the number of premium subscribers tripled in 2024, exceeding 12 million, and advertising revenue grew significantly, contributing to the milestone. These gains helped Telegram close the year with over $500 million in cash reserves, excluding crypto assets, he added.

The Telegram CEO says the company has also worked to reduce its financial obligations.

“Over the past four years, Telegram has issued about $2 billion in debt. We repaid a meaningful share of it this Fall, taking advantage of favorable prices for the Telegram bonds,” Durov said, adding there is still substantial work to be done to sustain and build on this progress.

Despite these achievements, Telegram has faced legal challenges. In August 2024, Durov was detained after landing at a Paris airport and released on bail several days later. He faced 12 charges, including complicity in distributing child pornography, drug dealing, and money laundering. The allegations arise from claims that Telegram’s supposed lax moderation rules have enabled the rampant misuse of its messaging service.

Telegram’s popularity continues to grow as the app maintains free services for users. In July, Durov announced that the messenger had reached 950 million active users and aims to surpass one billion by the end of the year.

Stephen Cottrell twice reappointed a clergyman who allegedly assaulted at least five girls, the BBC has reported

The Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell is being urged to resign after a BBC investigation found that he twice signed off on a notorious child abuser keeping his position within the Church of England.

Cottrell, who will be the Church’s most senior figure when Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby steps down next month, reappointed David Tudor as area dean in Essex in 2013 and again in 2018, the British broadcaster reported on Sunday.

Cottrell did so knowing that Tudor had been barred from ministry for five years in 1988 for sexually assaulting three girls, and that he had paid £10,000 ($12,530) in 2012 to a woman who claimed to have been sexually abused by him when she was 11 years old. The Church of England made a six-figure payout to another of Tudor’s alleged victims in 2018, and the cleric was finally suspended a year later when police launched an investigation into yet another case of sex abuse with a minor that allegedly occurred in the 1980s.

Since rejoining the clergy in 1994, Tudor has been banned from being alone with children.

According to the BBC, Cottrell was told by Church authorities in 2018 that he could remove Tudor as area dean if he wished, but the Archbishop ultimately decided not to.

Additionally, Tudor was named honorary canon of Chelmsford Cathedral in 2015. Cottrell’s office told the BBC that the title was automatically bestowed on the disgraced rector, and that it was “not a promotion and not a personal reward.” However, a social media post from Tudor’s parish at the time described the title as a recognition of his “hard work, determination and commitment.”

“Even though David Tudor was already area dean when Stephen Cottrell arrived in the diocese in 2010, as the then diocesan bishop of Chelmsford he accepts responsibility for David Tudor remaining as area dean,” Cottrell’s office said in a statement. “On reflection, he acknowledges this could have been handled differently, and regrets that it wasn’t.”

Two prominent female bishops have called for an investigation into Cottrell’s handling of the Tudor scandal. The bishop of Gloucester, Rachel Treweek, told BBC Radio 4 that “there are big questions to be looked at,” while the bishop of Newcastle, Helen-Ann Hartley, declared on social media that Cottrell could no longer be considered a “credible voice as the leadership of the Church of England.”

An unidentified victim of Tudor told the BBC that Cottrell should “do the honorable thing for the sake of the Church and resign.”

Cottrell is considered a liberal within an already liberal church. Last February, he and Archbishop Welby announced that they would “publicly, unreservedly, and joyfully welcome same-sex couples in church,” and would allow clergy to bless same-sex couples who are already married or are in a civil union. Several months later, conservative British media ridiculed Cottrell as “woke,” after he referred to the first line of the Lord’s Prayer as “problematic” for describing God as “our father.”

The ‘DeepState’ platform has been confirming Russian advances in Donbass

Ukraine’s top military commander General Aleksandr Syrsky has reportedly sought to silence an open-source intelligence (OSINT) project tracking battlefield developments in the ongoing conflict with Russia, a Ukrainian MP has claimed. Mariana Bezuglaya, the deputy head of the National Security, Defense and Intelligence Committee, made the allegations on Monday via Telegram.

The project, known as ‘DeepState,’ gained recognition for its interactive map documenting frontline changes. Launched shortly after the Russian offensive began in February 2022, the map provides daily updates based on publicly available data, serving as a resource for military personnel and civilians alike. Updates have become less frequent recently, potentially reflecting the growing complexity of the conflict.

According to Bezuglaya, the Ukrainian General Staff views DeepState as a rival to its own official reports, which she criticized as unreliable. She alleged that officials are considering measures ranging from forcibly shutting down the platform to more extreme actions, such as sending its team to the frontlines as infantry or involving the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) to dismantle the project.

The MP described DeepState as “the last bastion” of credible frontline information and called on supporters to aid the project amid what she described as growing hostility from Ukraine’s high command. Bezuglaya attributed the military’s actions to a desire to maintain public perceptions of control over the battlefield.

Neither the Ukrainian military nor General Syrsky has commented on the claims.

This is not the first time Bezuglaya has clashed with Ukrainian military leadership. She has previously criticized high-ranking officials, including Syrsky’s predecessor Valery Zaluzhny, who was dismissed earlier this year.

Her outspoken comments have led to her being added to the notorious Mirotvorets website. The state-backed database was created to collect and track personal data of people whom anonymous moderators consider enemies of Ukraine. The website has also been dubbed “Kiev’s kill list” after several people were allegedly assassinated after their information was posted.

Over recent months, ‘DeepState’ regularly updated its map to show the rapid advances of Russian forces in Donbass, where they have been steadily moving westwards ever since they took control of the strategic town of Avdeevka in February. In October, Russian troops took another Ukrainian ‘stronghold’ in the region, the town of Ugledar, and are currently on the verge of fully seizing one of the major Ukrainian logistical hubs in the area – the town of Kurakhovo.

Sentences of up to eight years in prison were handed down to eight men who stormed an airport in Dagestan’s capital last year

Another eight men convicted of participating in last year’s anti-Jewish riot in the Muslim-majority Dagestan Republic in southern Russia received lengthy prison sentences on Monday.

The ruling, reported on Telegram by the united press service of Krasnodar Region courts, is the latest in a string of criminal cases relating to the unrest, spurred by pro-Palestinian sentiment in the early days of Israel’s war on Hamas in Gaza.

According to the verdict by the Ust-Labinsky District Court, one of the mob’s participants got eight years in prison for rioting and for assaulting officials, while others were sentenced to seven years each.

The convicts will serve their sentences in general regime penal colonies, according to the report, which noted that the verdict has not entered into legal force.

In October 2023, a large mob chanting anti-Semitic slogans broke through the security perimeter of Makhachkala International Airport in the regional capital and ran onto the tarmac. Members of the mob filmed themselves searching the airport terminal and questioning arriving passengers to determine whether they were Jewish.

It was later determined that the rioters had believed rumors on Telegram and social media that a plane arriving from Israel was carrying “Jewish refugees.” The rioters clashed with security guards and police, paralyzed operations at the airport and caused extensive damage to the facility. However, they failed to board any aircraft or injure any passengers.

The Prosecutor General’s Office previously reported that a total of 28 criminal cases against 134 residents of Dagestan were received by the Krasnodar and Stavropol regional courts. The rioters destroyed and damaged airport property worth more than 24 million rubles (just over $237,000), and violated transport and aviation security requirements. Over 20 government officials were injured in clashes.

This month, a court in Stavropol sentenced seven men to between eight and nine years in prison while another local court imposed similar sentences on three more convicts. In August, a court in the city of Armavir sentenced five men to up to nine years in jail for participating in the riots.

Some officials suggested that the riot may have been incited from abroad. A month after the disturbance, Russian President Vladimir Putin said it had been inspired by Western intelligence services from the territory of Ukraine and was part of a broader effort to destabilize the world.

According to the head of the Republic of Dagestan, Sergey Melikov, the violence was sparked by fake news on the Utro Dagestan (‘Dagestan Morning’) Telegram channel, since exposed as a Ukrainian intelligence service project designed to stir ethnic and religious unrest in Russia.

The autonomous Danish Arctic island has announced it’s “not for sale”

Greenland has rejected any idea of selling out to Washington after US President-elect Donald Trump said control over the Arctic island would be in his country’s strategic and national interest.

The autonomous territory of Denmark is sparsely inhabited and mostly covered by snow and ice. Trump has raised the issue of buying the island in his first term at the White House.

“Greenland is ours,” the island’s prime minister Mute Egede said in a statement quoted by AFP on Monday. “We are not for sale and will never be for sale. We must not lose our long struggle for freedom.”

Announcing the nomination of the new US ambassador to Denmark on Sunday, Trump said that “ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity” for the US, “for purposes of national security and freedom throughout the world.”

Trump did not specifically mention an offer to buy Greenland and it was unclear whether his phrasing implied the willingness of his incoming government to seize the island by force from Denmark, a fellow NATO member.

In August 2019, one of Trump’s aides confirmed that the then-president wanted to “take a look at a potential Greenland purchase,” describing it as “a strategic place” with a lot of valuable minerals.

The island sits on top of several strategic trade routes in the Arctic Ocean, as well as significant deposits of uranium and precious metals. Control over the island would also allow the US to claim around 900,000 square kilometers of the adjacent continental shelf.

Though Greenland is over 2.1 million square kilometers in size, it has only around 55,000 residents, almost 90% of them Inuit. Greenland has been recognized as Danish territory since the 1814 Treaty of Kiel. It was administered as a colony until 1953 and has enjoyed home rule since 1979. Since 2009, the island has also had a parliament and a government managing internal affairs, law enforcement, and coast guard duties. Greenland has two deputies in the Danish parliament and relies on Copenhagen for its security, foreign and monetary policy, and more than half its budget.

The island formally left the EU’s economic precursor in 1985 due to a dispute over fishing rights, but remains tied to the bloc as part of Denmark.

Policy adviser nominee Elbridge Colby has been a fierce critic of military support for Kiev

US President-elect Donald Trump has announced his nominations for four senior Pentagon positions. One of the picks, Elbridge Colby, has been a vocal opponent of President Joe Biden’s military assistance to Ukraine.

In a post on his Truth Social platform on Sunday, Trump named Stephen Feinberg as his deputy secretary of defense, Colby as undersecretary for policy, Michael Duffey for undersecretary for acquisitions and sustainment, and Emil Michael as undersecretary for research and engineering.

Colby served in a senior Pentagon role during Trump’s first administration and helped draft the 2018 US National Defense Strategy, which identified China as the US’ leading “strategic competitor.” If confirmed as undersecretary for policy, he will advise Feinberg and prospective Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on all matters of defense and national security.

An anti-interventionist, Colby opposed the 2003 invasion of Iraq and every American overseas deployment since. While he supports economic sanctions on Russia, he has repeatedly warned that sending Ukraine tens of billions of dollars worth of military aid does not benefit the US, and risks sparking a third world war.

“I think [nuclear war] is close,” he told former Fox News host Tucker Carlson last month, adding that “the people who are blithe about it are incredibly irresponsible.”

“The Ukrainians are losing the war,” he said, before explaining that the US military needs to focus its manpower and resources on “defense of the homeland.”

Colby has also argued against Ukraine’s admission to NATO, and said that refusing to get involved in the ongoing conflict with Russia would not have damaged the US’ credibility as the bloc’s largest military power.

Duffey has also served under Trump before. In 2019, he ordered the suspension of military aid to Ukraine after a phone call between Trump and Zelensky. Democrat lawmakers impeached Trump over this call, claiming that Trump used the aid as leverage to pressure Zelensky into reopening a corruption investigation against then-candidate Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden. Trump and Zelensky both insisted that no such deal was arranged over the phone, and the US Senate voted to acquit Trump in 2020.

Feinberg is a hedge fund manager and major donor to Trump, while Michael was a senior executive at ride-sharing firm Uber.

Saudi national Taleb al Abdulmohsen is accused of having driven a car into a crowd in Magdeburg, killing five and injuring 200

The primary suspect in last week’s Christmas market attack in Germany, Taleb al Abdulmohsen, was not a radical Islamist but was also “not well” and had a “twisted mind,” a journalist who interviewed the Accused has told RT.

Mustafa Fetouri, a reporter who is also the spokesperson for the Association for the Victims of NATO’s Intervention in Libya, claims he interviewed al-Abdulmohsen for an article several years ago and said it’s unclear what the suspect’s motive might have been, describing him as a “lost soul.”

Last Friday, al-Abdulmohsen allegedly drove his car into a crowd of revellers at the Magdeburg Christmas market, killing at least five people, including a nine-year-old boy, and injuring some 200 more. Arrested at the scene, he has been identified as the primary suspect in the attack.

”I talked to the man many times. I got the feeling that he’s a twisted mind if you will. I wouldn’t say he is crazy or something, but he’s not consistent in his discussions and debates,” Fetouri said.

The journalist said that when he spoke with al-Abdulmohsen in 2019, he said that he had previously been a Shia Muslim and came from a religious family. However, the man said that he disliked everything about it and abandoned the religion, moving to Germany. Since then, al-Abdulmohsen said that he had been helping other people, primarily women, to escape Saudi Arabia.

According to Fetouri, it is unlikely that al-Abdulmohsen carried out Friday’s attack over some religious beliefs because “he has no religion” and is “against all forms of religion, including Christianity, Judaism, you name it.”

According to media reports, al-Abdulmohsen is a 50-year-old Saudi national who has been living in the country for nearly 20 years and has been working as a psychiatrist. He is also said to have repeatedly expressed radical anti-Islamic views in posts on social media and has frequently criticized the German government over its migration policies.

Fetouri also expressed doubts that al-Abdulmohsen is a qualified psychiatrist as has been claimed in the media.

Some, however, have been skeptical of the media’s description of al-Abdulmohsen as an islamophobe, with billionaire Elon Musk accusing the “legacy media” of “lying again” about the suspect’s views and the possible motives for the attack.

German media outlets have also reported that Saudi Arabia had repeatedly warned the German authorities about al-Abdulmohsen, including one year ago. However, it is unclear what the nature of these warnings was and why Berlin did not address the threat ahead of Friday’s attack.

Dhaka has sent a diplomatic note to New Delhi to initiate former PM Sheikh Hasina’s return to the country to face trial

Bangladesh’s interim government has formally requested India to extradite former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled  to India on August 5 after being ousted from power during mass protests.

The request follows recent comments by Nobel laureate and interim leader Muhammad Yunus, who called Hasina’s presence in India “a problem” for Dhaka and pledged to address the issue with New Delhi.

The foreign-affairs adviser to the Bangladeshi interim government Touhid Hossain, told media on Monday that Dhaka has sent a ‘note verbale’ (diplomatic message) to the Indian government, requesting that it send Hasina back for “judicial process.” Earlier, Bangladeshi Home Advisor Jahangir Alam also indicated that a formal letter had been sent to India’s External Affairs Ministry seeking Hasina’s extradition, highlighting an existing treaty between the two countries that could facilitate her return.

According to reports in the Bangladeshi media, the Dhaka-based International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has issued arrest warrants for Hasina and several of her former ministers and advisers, accusing them of “crimes against humanity and genocide.”

New Delhi confirmed receiving the request but as yet has not offered comment, according to Times of India.

This diplomatic communication comes shortly after Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri’s visit to Bangladesh, where he held discussions with Yunus and other officials. Following their meeting, Misri characterized the talks as frank and constructive, addressing various issues within the crucial bilateral relationship, including the situation facing minorities in Bangladesh.

Sheikh Hasina has made several statements from India, accusing the interim government in Dhaka of orchestrating genocide against minorities in Muslim-majority Bangladesh. New Delhi, too, has been raising concern over the treatment of Hindus in the country after the regime change. 

Relations between Bangladesh and India have been strained following Hasina’s departure. Meanwhile, Yunus, whose transitional government has been tasked with restoring law and order as well as leading the country to new elections, has recently suggested that elections may not take place until late 2025 or the first half of 2026. This has raised concern within Bangladeshi political circles that have been pressing for elections and the restoration of democracy as soon as possible.

The new Damascus authorities can set their country on a path to peace – or plunge it deeper into turmoil

More than two weeks have passed since Bashar Assad left Syria, yet events surrounding his departure remain shrouded in mystery. Questions about why it happened, who stands to benefit, and what the future holds for Syria continue to captivate the global community.

The office of the former Syrian president, ousted during an offensive by opposition forces, released a statement in his name. According to the statement, Assad remained in Damascus until the early hours of December 8, departing the country later that evening. He emphasized that his departure was unplanned and did not occur in the final hours of the conflict. After rebel forces entered Damascus, Assad, “in coordination with Russian allies,” relocated to Latakia to oversee military operations. However, upon arriving at the Khmeimim airbase, it became evident that Syrian forces had fully retreated from all positions and that the last strongholds of the army had fallen. The statement revealed that, facing the impossibility of leaving the base, Moscow requested the immediate evacuation of the former president to Russia, which was carried out on the evening of December 8.

In his statement, Assad asserted that during these events, he never considered resignation or seeking asylum, nor did he receive any such offers. However, he acknowledged that remaining in office after the government was seized by “terrorists” had become futile. Assad reaffirmed his deep connection to Syria and its people, expressing hope that the country would one day regain its freedom and independence.

Reports of Assad and his family residing in Moscow were confirmed on December 8 by the TASS news agency, citing a Kremlin source. According to the source, the former president was granted asylum on “humanitarian grounds.” Assad is reportedly accompanied by his wife, Asma, and their three children: sons Hafez and Karim, and daughter Zein. Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on Assad’s whereabouts but noted that such a decision could not have been made without the involvement of the Russian president. Later, the Syrian Embassy in Moscow confirmed Assad’s presence in the Russian capital. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov clarified that the former Syrian leader had been transported to Russia by the safest means possible and is now under protection.

The circumstances of Assad’s departure and its implications for Syria’s future remain unclear. As the nation grapples with the aftermath of his exit, the world watches closely, pondering whether this marks the beginning of a new chapter of peace or a deeper descent into uncertainty.

What does the Kremlin think?

On September 30, 2015, in response to an official request from Assad, Russia made the decision to provide military assistance to Syria, deploying its air force and a limited military contingent to combat terrorist organizations. Moscow’s primary objective was to restore peace and stability in Syria, paving the way for the country’s return to normalcy. The Russian intervention became a pivotal moment in the Syrian conflict, underscoring the Kremlin’s commitment not only to supporting military efforts but also to initiating a political process aimed at resolving the crisis.

Russia emerged as a key driving force behind the Syrian peace process in Astana, offering its resources to facilitate intra-Syrian negotiations. Additionally, Moscow played a crucial role in improving Syria’s relations with Arab countries, contributing to its reintegration into the Arab League. Russian diplomacy also sought to foster dialogue between Damascus and Ankara; however, Assad’s inflexibility and lack of commitment to compromise hindered the success of these efforts.

From Russia’s perspective, stabilizing the situation in Syria held immense strategic importance. Syria was seen as a cornerstone for bolstering Russia’s influence in the Middle East, which enabled the establishment and expansion of Russian military bases in Tartus and Latakia. These bases not only ensured Russia’s military presence but also symbolized its determination to remain a significant player in the region.

A statement by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on May 4, 2016, encapsulated the essence of Russia’s policy: “Assad is not our ally, by the way. We support him in the fight against terrorism and in preserving the Syrian state, but he is not an ally in the same sense that Türkiye is for the United States.” Lavrov clarified that Russia’s priority was the preservation of Syria’s state institutions rather than supporting Assad as an individual. This stance was echoed in a Russian diplomatic statement on March 27, 2016, which warned that Assad’s departure could lead to a collapse of governance in Syria, reminiscent of the Libyan scenario.

By late 2024, the situation took a dramatic turn when Assad announced his intention to step down as part of a negotiated process involving conflict stakeholders. On December 8, 2024, Russia’s Foreign Ministry stated that Moscow had not participated in these negotiations but urged all parties to seek a peaceful resolution and avoid violence, supporting an inclusive political process in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2254.

Assad’s resignation and the formation of a new government marked a significant chapter in Syria’s history. Representatives of the new leadership expressed a desire to strengthen relations with Russia based on mutual interests. Anas al-Abdah, a member of the political committee of the National Coalition of Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, voiced hope that cooperation with Moscow would lay the groundwork for rebuilding Syria’s economy, education system, and healthcare sector.

President Vladimir Putin, in a speech on December 19, outlined Russia’s position with clarity. He emphasized that Russia had achieved its primary objective in Syria: preventing the establishment of a terrorist enclave within the Arab Republic. Putin reiterated that Russia’s military presence in Syria began in 2015 at the official request of Damascus and was aimed at combating terrorist groups. Despite attempts to frame the situation as a failure for Russia, the president stressed that the mission succeeded in stabilizing the region and curbing the spread of terrorism both within the Middle East and beyond.

Putin also remarked that many groups previously engaged in combat against Syrian government forces have undergone significant changes. Notably, several European countries and the US have begun expressing interest in normalizing relations with these groups. The Russian president emphasized that if these organizations had remained purely terrorist in nature, they would not have attracted the attention of external players. This, he noted, indicates substantial shifts in their ideology and structure.

Putin further highlighted that Russia’s bases in Syria could continue operating, including facilitating humanitarian aid delivery to Syrian citizens. However, the decision to maintain these military bases would depend on the political situation in the country, particularly the stance of the new Syrian leadership regarding Russia’s presence.

The president also discussed the process of evacuating Russian military personnel from remote deployment points the day after Assad’s regime fell. According to media reports, Russian authorities reached out to their Turkish counterparts to secure safe passage for troops through areas controlled by Türkiye. This step, Putin explained, was part of a broader strategy to ensure the safety of Russian personnel and mitigate potential threats.

Additionally, Putin provided details about the fall of Aleppo, where, according to him, armed opposition forces took the city without resistance. This was followed by the rapid advance of Syrian militants toward Damascus. During this period, Russia’s support focused on evacuating approximately 4,000 fighters from pro-Iranian groups from the Khmeimim airbase to Tehran. Putin underlined that Russia did not deploy ground troops during the conflict, leaving all ground operations to Syrian government forces and their pro-Iranian allies.

Indeed, if Russia retains its military bases in Syria, it will find itself in an advantageous position. The interest shown by Syria’s new leadership underscores Moscow’s continued role, not only in resolving the Syrian conflict but also in shaping Middle Eastern regional politics. This reaffirms Russia’s capacity to remain a key player on the international stage.

What lies ahead for Syria?

Following Assad’s resignation, the leader of the coalition that ousted him, Abu Mohammed al-Julani of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, designated as a terrorist organization and banned in Russia and other countries), announced his intention to unify the country. However, it remains unclear whether he can achieve this ambitious goal.

The UN special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, has called on all Syrian factions and groups to cooperate, noting that their recent statements offer a glimmer of hope. At the same time, he acknowledged the serious challenges in establishing “law and order” within the country. Syria’s situation is evolving rapidly, making it exceedingly difficult to predict its future.

One pressing question is whether HTS can achieve broader unity with other Syrian opposition forces. Deep ideological divisions between this radical group and other opposition movements remain a major obstacle to consolidation.

Recently, the Syrian armed opposition tasked Mohammed al-Bashir with forming a new transitional government. However, this appointment has already sparked disagreements within the opposition, as many factions claim the decision was made without their input. Such unilateral actions deepen divisions and threaten the fragile prospects of political transition.

Despite HTS’s recent declarations of willingness to cooperate, its radical Islamist ideology remains a significant barrier to collaboration with more moderate groups such as the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and Western-backed political structures. While the common enemy in Assad had once united opposition forces, the prospect of power and resource distribution following Damascus’s fall has intensified internal contradictions.

For instance, the Moscow Platform of the Syrian opposition stated that monopolizing decisions and ignoring legal frameworks, including UN Security Council Resolution 2254 and the current Syrian constitution, could severely undermine the goals of the revolution. According to them, the Syrian people do not wish to transition from one dictatorship to another.

Meanwhile, HTS continues to assert its claim to leadership within the opposition and is unlikely to share power with other factions. Its leader, al-Julani, is expected to suppress any attempts at competition, which could lead to further conflicts within the opposition.

Adding to the complexity are regional and ethnic dynamics. In southern Syria, tribal armed groups have historically rejected the authority of the Assad clan and are unlikely to submit to a new government in Damascus. In the east, remnants of the terrorist organization Islamic State continue to operate and pose a threat, with the US conducting regular military strikes against them.

In the northeast, Kurdish forces, supported by the US, control large swaths of territory. These forces have frequently clashed with Turkish-backed Syrian factions, and fighting in this region has once again flared up in recent days.

Beyond domestic players, opposition organizations and alliances that have formed outside Syria during the years of war could also play a significant role. However, whether these entities will return to Syria and participate in the political transition remains uncertain. This intricate web of interests and contradictions leaves Syria’s future precarious and fraught with challenges.

If the new Syrian authorities can overcome internal divisions and achieve consensus, this could mark the beginning of a profound transformation for the country. Restoring political stability would open the door to improved relations with the West and key global players such as Russia and China. Such progress could lead to the gradual lifting of international sanctions, allowing Syria to attract substantial financial resources to rebuild its infrastructure, economy, and social institutions.

Syria’s integration into regional political processes could strengthen ties with Arab countries, including the Gulf states, which have the financial capacity and experience to invest in challenging conditions. Nations like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE could play a pivotal role in long-term investments, particularly in the energy sector, agriculture, and infrastructure – key drivers of economic growth. Strengthened political and economic ties with neighboring countries would enhance regional security and create favorable conditions for the return of refugees.

Equally important would be fostering relations with ethno-religious groups within the country, such as the Druze, whose support is crucial for maintaining stability in southern regions. Traditionally neutral in conflicts, the Druze wield significant influence in Syria’s political landscape, particularly in light of potential negotiations with Israel. If Syria manages to establish even minimal dialogue with Israel aimed at de-escalating tensions, it could further contribute to regional stability. Despite the complex history between the two nations, Israel may have an interest in reducing threats from radical groups operating in Syria. Moreover, the Druze, residing in both the Israel-occupied Golan Heights and elsewhere in Syria, could serve as a vital bridge in this process.

However, if Syrian authorities fail to achieve unity and consensus among various factions, the country risks a darker scenario. Persistent internal conflicts could plunge Syria back into civil war, leading to the further collapse of state institutions and social order. This scenario could result in the fragmentation of Syria into several parts. In the south, tribal groups and Druze communities may assert greater autonomy and pursue independent political agendas. The eastern regions, with remnants of Islamic State and US-backed Kurdish forces, could evolve into autonomous territories. Meanwhile, the north might remain under the influence of Türkiye and its allied opposition factions.

A fragmented Syria would severely complicate efforts at reconstruction, leading to more humanitarian crises. The economy would collapse further, and the country would lose opportunities for substantial international aid and investment. Moreover, a destabilized Syria could prompt Israel to strengthen its military presence in the Golan Heights, fearing threats from radical groups, further exacerbating regional tensions.

Thus, political unity and a willingness to engage in dialogue – both within Syria and with external actors, including the Druze and Israel – are critical to the country’s future. Only through internal consensus and balanced foreign policy can Syria seize the unique opportunity to rebuild and reintegrate into the international community. Otherwise, it risks sinking deeper into crisis, with far-reaching consequences for its people and the broader region.

Slovakia is doing Russia’s bidding, the Ukrainian leader has claimed

Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has criticized the surprise visit to Moscow taken by Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico on Sunday, alleging “murky schemes” between Bratislava and Moscow.

Zelensky claimed on social media that Russia was offering Fico substantial discounts on gas supplies and that Fico will pay for any benefits with his nation’s “sovereignty.”   

“This should be a matter of concern for Slovakia’s law enforcement and special services,” he added.

Bratislava’s engagement with Moscow presents “a big security issue” for the whole of Europe and raises questions as to “what is being paid to” Fico and what he provides in return, Zelensky complained.

Neither Moscow nor Bratislava has mentioned any discounts relating to the gas supply contracts that are endangered by Kiev's decision to halt transit of Russian gas to Slovakia. On Sunday, Slovak Deputy Prime Minister Tomas Taraba said Fico’s visit to Moscow was about getting gas at “normal prices.”

“It’s funny how the opposition cries out for the government to stop raising gas prices, but when the government goes to negotiate a cheap source of gas, they consider it a betrayal of the allies,” he wrote on Facebook, referring to several opposition politicians, who had criticized the visit. He argued that those insisting on alternative supply sources eventually just offer “repackaged Russian gas with… overpriced transaction costs.” 

“Their approach is a betrayal of Slovaks,” he said.

Zelensky also claimed in his post that the Slovak government did not want to “seek replacement for Russian gas,” and was therefore assisting Moscow in “pushing American gas and energy resources of other partners away from Europe.” He stated that Kiev considers “such assistance” to Moscow “immoral.”

Zelensky admitted that Fico had “refused compensation” offered by Kiev to make Slovakia “get rid of dependence” on the Russian gas, adding that “the matter’s worth is 500 million US dollars per year.”

Last week, Fico accused Zelensky of offering him a bribe amounting to €500 million ($521 million) in exchange for Bratislava supporting Kiev’s NATO bid. He said his visit to Moscow came in response to Zelensky’s intention to stop transit of Russian gas through Ukraine, much of which goes to Slovakia. According to Fico, he had raised the issue with Zelensky before but received “absurd” proposals to resolve the issue.

Natural gas is mainly delivered to Slovakia through the Soviet-era Druzhba pipeline, which runs from Russia through Ukraine. Now, Slovakia’s energy security has been jeopardized by Kiev’s plans not to extend the transit agreement beyond its expiration date on December 31.

Fico, who has been critical of Western support for Ukraine, has halted state military aid to Kiev and has repeatedly called for EU sanctions on Russia to be lifted. He survived an assassination attempt in May by an activist opposing his views on Ukraine. In October, he revealed a second potential threat to his life over his stance on the conflict.

Americans in Belarus should log out of their social media and avoid political protests, Washington has said

No American should travel to Belarus and those already there should leave at first opportunity, the US State Department has advised.

Washington sanctioned Minsk in 2020, alleging election irregularities, and went on to close its embassy and consulates in the country after the Russia-Ukraine conflict began in February 2022.

“US citizens in Belarus should depart immediately,” said the advisory, which drew public notice on Monday although it was originally dated December 18.

The State Department urged Americans not to travel to Belarus due to its government’s alleged “arbitrary enforcement of local laws and the risk of detention” and “potential of civil unrest.”

Washington also cited “heightened volatility and the unpredictable nature of the regional security environment,” including Minsk’s aid to Moscow in the conflict with Kiev.

“Reconsider bringing electronic devices into Belarus,” the advisory added, urging Americans to assume that all communications inside the country are “monitored by Belarusian security services” and noting that individuals have been arrested based on information found on their phones or computers that was “created, transmitted, or stored while in another country.”

Americans who decide to travel to Belarus anyway should not use their social media and log out of accounts, the State Department said. They were also advised to “avoid public demonstrations” because they might face the possibility of arrest or detention and would not be able to receive diplomatic assistance.

As there have been no public protests in Belarus in several months, the US government’s advisory prompted speculation online that Western-backed unrest might be forthcoming. However, a note on the advisory said it was “reissued after periodic review without changes” and the example cited for irregular arrest was the May 2021 detention of opposition activist Roman Protasevich.

Suspects allegedly hired by a fugitive lawmaker were found with charms, including a live chameleon, police say

Two men have been arrested in the Zambian capital, Lusaka, for allegedly attempting to bewitch President Hakainde Hichilema, police said on Friday, as quoted by AP.

Jasten Mabulesse Candunde, a 42-year-old Mozambican national, and Leonard Phiri, a 43-year-old village chief, were reportedly caught with “assorted charms,” including a live chameleon, and are alleged to be “practicing witchdoctors.”

The suspects were charged under Zambia’s Witchcraft Act for “possession of charms,” “professing knowledge of witchcraft,” and “cruelty to wild animals,” police said, as cited by the news agency.

According to police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga, the purported mission of the suspects “was to use charms to harm the head of state, His Excellency President Hakainde Hichilema.”

Law enforcement also said that the arrested men were hired by Nelson Banda, the younger brother of fugitive lawmaker Emmanuel “Jay Jay” Banda. The suspects reportedly confessed that they were promised a $7,400 reward upon completing the mission.

Emmanuel Banda escaped from police custody last year while facing charges of aggravated robbery, AP noted, adding that his whereabouts are unknown. Banda has been an independent member of the National Assembly of Zambia for Petauke Central since 2021, and was previously associated with former President Edgar Lungu.

Donald Trump’s insistence on peace has forced Vladimir Zelensky to consider negotiations with Russia, an official has told the outlet

Ukrainian officials are “starting to believe” that the conflict with Russia will be resolved next year, a senior member of Vladimir Zelensky’s government has reportedly told the Washington Post. The shift in attitude is a direct result of US President-elect Donald Trump’s public talk of a settlement, the official added.

Trump promised on the campaign trail to end the conflict within a day of taking office, although he has since admitted that doing so may take longer. The US president-elect has revealed few details about how he plans to achieve this, but media leaks and comments from his closest advisers suggest that he will push to freeze the fighting along the current line of contact, using the leverage of US military aid to Ukraine to force Zelensky into talks with Putin.

“I wouldn’t believe we’re anywhere close to negotiations” were it not for Trump’s repeated comments on peace talks, the official continued, adding: “I just don’t think it’s possible to come to any agreement with [Russian President Vladimir] Putin.”

Since 2022 Zelensky has maintained that no compromise is possible with Russia: first by insisting on restoring Ukraine’s 1991 borders by force, which would place Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson and Zaporozhye regions as well as Crimea under Kiev’s control; and by pushing a punitive ‘peace formula’ that would involve Russia agreeing to such a territorial change, paying reparations, and handing its officials over to face war crimes tribunals. Moscow has rejected outright all of Zelensky’s proposals. 

However, the Ukrainian leader has recently abandoned his talk of “victory,” claiming instead that he wants a “just peace” coupled with security guarantees from the West in the form of NATO membership, with the status of the former Ukrainian regions undetermined.

Moscow maintains that any settlement must begin with Ukraine ceasing military operations and acknowledging the “territorial reality” that it will never regain control of its former regions. In addition, the Kremlin insists that the goals of its military operation – which include Ukrainian neutrality, demilitarization, and denazification – will be achieved.

After meeting Zelensky in Paris earlier this month, Trump claimed that the Ukrainian leader “would like to make a deal and stop the madness.” Zelensky immediately denied seeking a settlement, declaring that the conflict “cannot simply end with a piece of paper and a few signatures,” and that Putin “can only be stopped by strength.”

Trump has since confirmed that he may cut military aid to Kiev once he takes office in January.

“We’ve seen everybody’s narrative go from ‘As long as it [takes], blank check, don't dare say anything else, or you’re somehow pro-Russian’ to ‘How do we get this to a deal?’” Trump’s nominee for national security adviser, Mike Waltz, said in an interview on Sunday. Expecting “every Russian off of every inch of Ukraine, including Crimea?” might not be a “realistic goal at this point,” he added.