MOSCOW: Russia claimed on Saturday to have captured two more towns in eastern Ukraine, Myrnograd and Guliaipole, a day ahead of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky&#39;s meeting with US President Donald Trump.&nbsp;A Kremlin statement said Russian President Vladimir Putin had received a report from military command on &quot;the liberation of Dimitrov (the Russian name for Myrnograd) and of Guliaipole&quot;.&nbsp;Myrnograd is in the Donetsk region of Ukraine, near Pokrovsk, a key logistical hub that Russia claimed to have captured on December 1.&nbsp;Guliaipole is in the eastern part of Zaporizhzhia, where Russian advances have been more rare, but which have accelerated in recent months.&nbsp;Putin said the offensives on both areas of the front were &quot;intensifying the pressure&quot; on the Ukrainian army, in comments broadcast on television.&nbsp;Moscow&#39;s announcement of these latest advances comes a day before Zelensky is due in the United States for talks with Trump on the plan he had drawn up to stop the fighting.

Europe

Russia claimed to have captured two more towns in eastern Ukraine, Myrnograd and Guliaipole, a day ahead of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's meeting with US President Donald Trump.

Russia claims capture of two more eastern Ukraine towns

ISLAMABAD: The suspect in the stabbing of three women in the Paris metro has been released from custody and moved to a psychiatric hospital, prosecutors said Saturday. The man was arrested suspected of stabbing three women in the Paris metro on Friday as the capital&#39;s end-of-year festivities were in full swing. The three victims were attacked at three different locations along the Line 3 metro track that runs across central Paris. They were injured, but not critically. Continued police custody was not appropriate for the suspect because it is &quot;considered incompatible with the state of his health&quot;, the prosecutors&#39; office told AFP. Police had used surveillance-camera footage and mobile-tracking tools to locate the 25-year-old suspect in the Val d&#39;Oise region north of Paris. Transport police had opened an investigation into attempted homicide and assault with a weapon. The interior ministry said the man was a Malian citizen imprisoned in January 2024 for aggravated theft and sexual assault. He had been required to leave France after being released in July. The man had been placed in an administrative detention center but failure to obtain a consular travel document required for his deportation had meant he was released after 90 days, as required by law, the statement said. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez last week called for &quot;maximum vigilance&quot; during the festive season in a message to senior officials due to what he said was a &quot;very high level of the terrorist threat&quot; and &quot;the risk of public disorder&quot;. Nunez specifically asked for particular attention to be paid to security on public transport.

The man was arrested suspected of stabbing three women in the Paris metro on Friday as the capital's end-of-year festivities were in full swing.

Paris metro stabbings suspect moved to psychiatric hospital

ISLAMABAD: Israeli forces imposed a lockdown on a Palestinian village in the occupied West Bank on Saturday, their second day of operations there after a local resident killed two people in Israel. &quot;The IDF (Israeli army) is operating forcefully against terror hubs in the village of Qabatiya... accompanied by a lockdown and a complete cordon around the locality,&quot; Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a statement published by his office on Saturday. &quot;We will continue to pursue an uncompromising offensive policy against Palestinian terror,&quot; he added. Bilal Hunaisha, a resident of Qabatiya, south of Jenin in the northern West Bank, said the town &quot;is being subjected to collective punishment by the Israeli occupation&quot;. &quot;As you can see, they blocked the way to my house and I am no longer able to move around,&quot; he told AFP, pointing to a pile of rubble obstructing the road. In the attack on Friday a 34-year-old Palestinian man killed two people in northern Israel. The assailant, who had been working illegally in Israel, had used his employer&#39;s vehicle to ram into a 68-year-old man and then stabbed an 18-year-old girl to death, according to Israeli police. A few hours later, the Israeli army and the Shin Bet domestic security agency began operating in Qabatiya. They searched the perpetrator&#39;s house and questioned suspects, the army said. On Saturday, the army&#39;s Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir ordered the reinforcement of troops deployed in the area. &quot;This period is characterized by lone attackers and individuals staying illegally in (Israel). Enforcement against those who transport and employ them must be strengthened and improved,&quot; he said, according to an army statement. &quot;At the same time, we must continue to enhance our capabilities to identify and thwart these attackers.&quot; Qabatiya resident Muhannad Zakarneh told AFP that the army arrested him at home at 6 am &quot;for no obvious reasons&quot; and kept him handcuffed for hours. &quot;When I asked what my charge was, there was no response,&quot; he said. The official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that besides blocking entrances and conducting interrogations and home searches, Israeli forces also took over a school and used it as a &quot;detention and interrogation center&quot;. Since the start of the war ON Gaza, at least 38 people, including two foreigners, have been killed inside Israel, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. During the same period, violence has also surged in the West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967. Israeli troops and settlers have killed more than 1,000 Palestinians in the West Bank, according to an AFP tally based on figures from the Palestinian health ministry. According to official Israeli figures, at least 44 Israelis, both soldiers and civilians, have been killed in Palestinian attacks or Israeli military operations in the same period in the West Bank.

Middle East

Israeli forces imposed a lockdown on Qabatiya village in the West Bank after two Israelis were killed.

Israel seals off Palestinian village after deadly attack

TAIPEI: A 6.6-magnitude earthquake struck off Taiwan&#39;s northeastern coast on Saturday, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said, the second major tremor to hit the island within days.&nbsp;Taiwan&#39;s weather agency, which put the magnitude at 7.0, said the quake hit at 23:05 pm (1505 GMT) at a depth of 73 kilometres (45 miles) in the sea off Yilan county, southwest of Taipei.&nbsp;The Yilan County Fire Bureau told AFP there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.&nbsp;Local media said the quake caused buildings in the capital Taipei to sway and was felt across Taiwan.&nbsp;Taiwan is frequently hit by earthquakes due to its location on the edge of two tectonic plates near the Pacific Ring of Fire, which the USGS says is the most seismically active zone in the world.&nbsp;On Wednesday, a 6.0-magnitude tremor struck the island&#39;s southeast.&nbsp;In April 2024, a 7.4-magnitude earthquake killed 17 people as it triggered landslides and severely damaged buildings around Hualien city.&nbsp;Officials at the time said it was Taiwan&#39;s strongest quake in 25 years.&nbsp;It was the most serious in Taiwan since a 7.6-magnitude tremor struck in 1999 -- the deadliest natural disaster in the island&#39;s history.

Asia

A strong earthquake struck off northeastern Taiwan Saturday, swaying buildings in Taipei but causing no reported damage. Authorities cited magnitude 6.6–7.0, days after another quake, highlighting the island’s frequent seismic activity along the Pacific Ring.

6.6-magnitude earthquake hits off Taiwan: USGS

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan firmly rejected attempts to undermine Somalia&rsquo;s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, rejecting Israel&rsquo;s recognition of Somaliland as &ldquo;illegal and provocative&rdquo; and urging international action to protect peace and stability, the Foreign Office (FO) said on Saturday.&nbsp;In a statement, the foreign office said Pakistan fully supports the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia and backs all efforts to ensure enduring peace and stability in the country.&nbsp;It added that Pakistan also reiterated its &ldquo;unequivocal rejection&rdquo; of any steps aimed at the forced displacement of Palestinians from their land under any circumstances.&nbsp;Israel on Friday became the first country to formally recognize Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state, with Somaliland&rsquo;s president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, saying his state will join the Abraham Accords.&nbsp;Qatar condemns Israel&rsquo;s Somaliland recognitionThe Foreign Ministry of Qatar said on X, that it strongly rejects the announcement of mutual recognition between the Israeli occupation authorities and the Somaliland region, affirming that this action sets a dangerous precedent. &ldquo;The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasizes the State of Qatar&rsquo;s rejection of any attempts aimed at establishing or imposing parallel entities that would undermine the unity of Somalia and reaffirms its full support for the legitimate institutions of the Somali state,&rdquo; the statement added. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 849px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2004840194693042502&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=4846d8d03ce8d371378c2f97ef0222ae9ac8fbbc&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> Palestine authorities&#39; reactionThe Palestinian foreign ministry said on X that Israel had previously cited Somaliland as a potential destination for deporting Palestinians, particularly those from the Gaza Strip. &ldquo;The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates recalls that Israel had previously used the name Somaliland as a destination for the deportation of members of our Palestinian people, especially from the Gaza Strip,&rdquo; the statement added. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 1044px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2004710774569082898&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=4846d8d03ce8d371378c2f97ef0222ae9ac8fbbc&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>&nbsp;Pakistan reaffirmed its unwavering support for the Palestinian people in their just struggle for self-determination and for a sovereign, independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.&nbsp;US reactionUnited States President Donald Trump said he opposed US recognition of Somaliland in an interview with the New York Post published Friday, after Israeli Prime Minister and prominent Trump ally Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would become the first country to recognize it, reported AFP. &quot;No,&quot; the president told the Post when asked about US recognition of Somaliland, adding, &quot;Does anyone know what Somaliland is, really?&quot;

Foreign Affairs

Pakistan rejected Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, upholding Somalia’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, and reiterated support for Palestinian rights. Qatar and Palestine condemned the move, while US President Trump opposed recognizing Somaliland, questioning its status.

Pakistan rejects Israel’s Somaliland recognition, upholds Somalia’s sovereignty

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Federal Minister for Industries and Production, Rana Tanveer Hussain on Friday stated that a strong export-oriented economy is the foundation of national economic stability, while the government is committed to promoting exports and resolving issues faced by exporters, said a statement by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MOIB). The federal minister expressed these views while addressing a ceremony at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on Friday as the chief guest. President of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry Fahim ur Rehman Saigol, chamber members, and other personalities were also present on the occasion, the statement said. Highlighting collaboration, Hussain emphasized that the government and the business community need to sit together and formulate a comprehensive strategy for promoting national exports, as export-led growth is key to economic stability. &ldquo;He stressed that exports must be increased, as higher exports would help reduce the current account deficit,&rdquo; the statement said. Despite challenges, the minister stated that the government has provided various facilities and reduced taxes on export-oriented cotton and that further reductions will be made in the future. He said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has held more meetings with the business community over the past two years to promote a business-friendly environment. &ldquo;The government seeks to promote a business-friendly environment and increase GDP growth,&rdquo; the statement said. Describing exports as the backbone of the economy, the federal minister stressed the need to expand access to global markets. He also emphasized strengthening local industry and farmers to improve quality and productivity in order to compete internationally. Tanveer said that livestock accounts for 60 percent of agriculture and exports are already taking place, but there is scope for further growth through quality improvement. He highlighted that the global halal food market is very large, and even non-Muslim countries are exporting halal food in significant quantities. Minister Hussain said special attention is being given to seed quality, and certified seeds will be provided to farmers. &ldquo;Fertilizer prices have been kept uniform, and supply remains uninterrupted,&rdquo; he added. He said overseas Pakistanis play a vital role in improving the national economy. &quot;The government is working day and night to promote exports, with efforts underway to increase exports of edible items, meat, livestock, rice, and other commodities that have strong demand in international markets&quot;, the statement said. The federal minister noted that concrete steps are being taken to enhance trade with Iran, including the export of 300,000 tonnes of rice. Highlighting the efforts of PM Sharif and Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir, he stated that Pakistan has achieved significant diplomatic successes and will continue to progress in the coming days.

Economy

Rana Tanveer Hussain says export-led growth is key to Pakistan’s economic stability as the government pledges tax relief, market access, and support for exporters to boost GDP and reduce the current account deficit

Pakistan committed to promoting exports, business-friendly environment: federal minister

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday said country diplomacy in 2025 delivered key military, economic, and strategic outcomes, including the resolution of a brief military conflict with India during his news briefing at the foreign office.&nbsp;Speaking at his annual news briefing at the foreign office in Islamabad, the foreign minister said a four-day conflict with India in May marked a turning point for regional security, asserting that Pakistan&rsquo;s military performance disproved India&rsquo;s claim of regional dominance.&nbsp;&ldquo;Allah granted Pakistan a major success during the four-day conflict between May 6 and 10,&rdquo; Dar said. &ldquo;Seven Indian aircraft were downed, and 79 out of 80 drones were neutralized.&rdquo;&nbsp;The minister rejected Indian claims that Pakistan had attacked 15 Indian military installations, saying international verification confirmed no such strikes occurred.&nbsp;&ldquo;In a digital world, such attacks leave traces,&rdquo; he said, adding that Pakistan&rsquo;s position was later confirmed by global powers.&nbsp;Dar explained he received a call from &ldquo;US Secretary of State Marco Rubio informing him that India was ready for a ceasefire&rdquo;, followed by confirmation from Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan.&nbsp;&nbsp;Pakistan acted under Article 51 of the UN Charter, he said.&nbsp;Dar confirmed that Pakistan later nominated US President Donald Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for his &ldquo;role in facilitating the ceasefire&rdquo;.&nbsp;Turning to the economy, Dar said Pakistan secured significant foreign financial support during the year, including $4 billion from Saudi Arabia, $4 billion in state-to-state deposits from China, and $3 billion from the United States.&nbsp;He said Pakistan is engaged with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on a $1 billion rollover expected by March, involving UAE investment in Fauji Foundation Group companies.&nbsp;&nbsp;Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also secured approval for a separate $2 billion rollover due in January, he added.&nbsp;&ldquo;Our result-oriented diplomacy has ended Pakistan&rsquo;s isolation,&rdquo; Dar said.&nbsp;&lsquo;Economic power&rsquo;On future priorities, Dar said Pakistan aims to become an &ldquo;economic power&rdquo; by tapping its mineral, gas, and hydrocarbon resources.&nbsp;&nbsp;&ldquo;Allah made [Pakistan] a nuclear power and a missile power. What you need now is economic power,&rdquo; he stressed, highlighting that the country possessed great natural resources, such as mines and minerals, gas, and hydrocarbons.&nbsp;He stressed that now they had focused on turning the country into an economic power, and once they acquired such status, they would be able to lead the entire Ummah (nation).&nbsp; Offshore and onshore exploration blocks have already attracted interest from Saudi Arabia, China, and the US, he said.&nbsp;Dar reiterated that &quot;permanent peace&quot; in South Asia depends on resolving the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir dispute (IIOJK) and said Pakistan has revived the issue at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Breakthrough visit to BangladeshHe also described his recent visit to Bangladesh as a breakthrough after years of stalled relations and said Pakistan plans closer engagement after Dhaka&rsquo;s February elections.&nbsp;US relationsRelations with the US are improving, Dar said, noting &quot;bilateral trade of $13.28 billion, a $7 billion surplus for Pakistan in the last fiscal year,&quot; and enhanced counter-terrorism cooperation.&nbsp;&ldquo;Our relationship is now on a positive trajectory,&rdquo; he said.

Security

Pakistan’s foreign minister says 2025 diplomacy delivered military success against India, secured major foreign financial support, improved US ties, revived Kashmir advocacy, and set Pakistan’s goal of becoming an economic power

Pakistan 2025 diplomacy yields strategic, military gains: foreign minister

ISLAMABAD: A deadly confrontation along the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border this week has left at least five people dead, including two Tajik border guards, after armed militants crossed into Tajik territory and exchanged fire with security forces, Tajikistan&rsquo;s State Committee for National Security (GKNB) said in an official statement on Friday. According to Tajikistan&#39;s border protection agency, heavily armed men infiltrated the village of Kavo in the Shamsiddin Shokhin district on Tuesday. When security forces tracked them down the next day, the intruders opened fire on a guard post, killing two Tajik personnel before three of the attackers were killed in the return fire.&nbsp; The weapons cache recovered from the scene included three M-16 rifles, a Kalashnikov assault rifle, three foreign-made pistols with silencers, 10 hand grenades, a night-vision scope, and explosives. Afghanistan has not yet commented on the incident.&nbsp; A pattern of escalating violence<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;" id="isPasted">This firefight is just the most recent flashpoint in what has become an increasingly volatile situation along the 1,340-kilometer frontier separating the two countries. The Tajik Border Troops said the latest clash was part of a series of security incidents along the Afghan frontier in recent weeks that have claimed more than a dozen lives this month, adding that Tajik forces have been placed on heightened alert amid repeated attempts by armed groups to cross the border. The violence has also increasingly targeted Chinese interests in the region. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan, a drone armed with grenades struck employees of a Chinese gold-mining operation in November, killing three and wounding one. Within days, another attack saw gunfire from Afghan territory kill two Chinese construction workers and injure two more.&nbsp; Following the attack, the Chinese Embassy in Dushanbe in November&nbsp;urged its citizens to leave the region and pressed both Tajikistan and Afghanistan to address the security breakdown.&nbsp; Why the hostility?Tajikistan has steadfastly refused to recognize the Taliban government that took control of Afghanistan in August 2021, with Dushanbe repeatedly expressing concern over the presence of armed groups near its frontier. President Emomali Rahmon has been outspoken in his criticism, accusing the Taliban of mistreating ethnic Tajiks and providing sanctuary to groups that threaten Tajikistan&#39;s stability. The geographic and political realities make the frontier remote, difficult to patrol, and serve as a corridor for drug trafficking and militant movements. Tajikistan has urged Afghanistan to ensure tighter control of border areas to prevent cross-border movement of militants, while Afghan officials maintain that they are committed to preventing their territory from being used to threaten neighboring states. Who&rsquo;s behind the attacks?While Tajik officials describe the attackers as &quot;terrorists,&quot; no group has claimed responsibility for the recent violence. Analysts from the Oxus Society and BBC Monitoring point to several possible culprits, naming Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) as the primary suspect for the November drone strike. The ISKP has conducted attacks on foreign nationals in Afghanistan as part of its strategy to undermine the Taliban&#39;s credibility as a security provider. Additionally, Tajikistan&#39;s Ministry of Foreign Affairs accuses the Taliban of sheltering Jamaat Ansarullah, an Islamist militant group composed mainly of Tajik citizens that seeks to overthrow Tajikistan&#39;s secular government.&nbsp;

Afghan security personnel stand guard last July in Kabul. [Wakil Kohsar / AFP]

Central Asia

A deadly confrontation along the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border this week has left at least five people dead, including two Tajik border guards, after armed militants crossed into Tajik territory and exchanged fire with security forces, Tajikistan’s State Committee for National Security (GKNB) said in an official statement on Friday.

Five killed in Afghanistan-Tajikistan border clash

ISLAMABAD: An Israeli reservist soldier ran over a Palestinian man while he was praying by the roadside, according to footage broadcast by CNN.&nbsp;The incident, which has been widely reported by international media citing Reuters, shows the man being struck as he prayed, sparking condemnation and raising questions over the conduct of Israeli security personnel in the occupied territories.&nbsp;In a statement, the Israeli military said it had received footage showing an armed individual running over a Palestinian man, adding that the driver was a reservist whose military service had since been terminated.&nbsp;The military said the reservist acted in severe violation of his authority and that his weapon had been confiscated.&nbsp;Israeli media reported that the reservist was placed under house arrest following the incident.&nbsp;The Palestinian man was taken to hospital for medical checks after the incident, as per media reports.&nbsp;In a separate incident, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that Israeli forces on Friday fatally shot a Palestinian man east of Gaza City. The victim, identified as Uday al-Maqadma, was reportedly sitting near the entrance of a school when Israeli forces opened fire. He was taken to hospital in critical condition and later died of his injuries.&nbsp;Wafa said the killing comes amid continued Israeli military operations in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where Israeli forces have carried out near-daily raids, arrests and use of live fire since the start of the war.&nbsp;Palestinian health officials say dozens of Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank during these operations, which Israeli authorities describe as security measures targeting militants.&nbsp;The agency also reported that two Palestinians were shot dead earlier this week in Gaza City&rsquo;s Shujaiya neighborhood during Israeli military activity in the area.

The footage, shared by CNN, shows the man being struck as he prayed, sparking condemnation and raising questions over the conduct of Israeli security personnel in the occupied territories.

Israeli reservist rams vehicle into praying Palestinian man

ISLAMABAD: Chief Minister of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan has condemned the uprooting of Muslim families in two localities in the Indian city of Bengaluru, Karnataka, terming it &ldquo;bulldozer raj&rdquo;.&nbsp;Vijayan, who belongs to the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI), in a post on X on Friday (December 26) stated: &ldquo;The bulldozing of Faqir Colony and Waseem Layout in Bengaluru, uprooting Muslim families who have lived there for years, exposes the brutal normalization of &ldquo;bulldozer raj&rdquo;.&rdquo;&nbsp; &lsquo;Anti-minority politics&rsquo;Lamenting the situation, he stated, &ldquo;Sadly, the Sangh Parivar&rsquo;s anti-minority politics is now being executed under a Congress Government in Karnataka.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;When a regime rules through fear and brute force, constitutional values and human dignity become the first casualties.&rdquo;&nbsp; Vijayan stressed, &ldquo;All secular and democratic forces must rally together to resist and defeat this insidious trend.&rdquo;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-3" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 345px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-3&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2004545028744692212&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fsections%2F&sessionId=5157be1bb5ef009d41645d0ce50a08cf30f5b118&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2004545028744692212">&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>According to an Indian media report, a demolition drive at Yelahanka last week pulled down more than 200 houses in Waseem Layout and Fakir Colony.&nbsp; The operation was reportedly carried out by Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited.&nbsp; The report said the houses were removed to clear what were described as &quot;encroachments&quot; on land marked for a proposed waste processing unit. &lsquo;Bulldozer justice&rsquo;In a Facebook post, Vijayan referred to the reported bulldozing of Fakir Colony and Waseem Layout, where Muslim families had been living for many years.<img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/22de3f69-0b66-4464-9455-07520bf3a67a.jpeg" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-fil"> He said the incident reflected a form of minority-targeting politics seen earlier in north India and warned that such practices were now spreading to the south of the country. The chief minister alleged that entire families were forced out of their homes in harsh winter conditions and pushed onto the streets, leaving them with no choice but to flee. He expressed surprise that what he described as &ldquo;bulldozer justice&rdquo; was carried out under a Congress-led government in Karnataka. Social justice&nbsp;The chief minister questioned how such forced evictions could be justified by a party that claims to stand for social justice.&nbsp; He added that governments should take responsibility for protecting the poor, ensuring housing, and preventing people from being driven out of their homes through the use of force.

India

According to an Indian media report, a demolition drive at Yelahanka last week pulled down more than 200 houses in Waseem Layout and Fakir Colony; the operation was reportedly carried out by Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited. 

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