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Preparations at Sydney Opera House on Tuesday ahead of New Year’s Eve celebrations. Photo: AAP / dpa
Australia

Increased police presence in Sydney for New Year’s Eve following Bondi attack

New South Wales’ premier Chris Minns urged people to ‘show defiance to these evil terrorists’ by celebrating the event at Sydney Harbour.

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Australia

Bondi Beach attack hero wanted to protect ‘innocent people’

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Syria

Sectarian tensions flare and turn deadly in Syria after mosque bombing

Wellness

Why young people are turning to Gen Z and millennial Christian influencers

Christian influencers in the US are galvanising young people looking for meaning in a culture that lacks it, say those of faith.

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Christian podcaster Megan Ashley films her show In Totality at her home. She is one of many Christian influencers rapidly gaining followers on social media. Photo: AP
Middle East

Blast in Syria kills 8 at mosque targeting Alawite minority in Homs

Authorities investigate explosive devices planted during Friday prayers, heightening sectarian tensions and fears among minorities.

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Malaysia

Malaysia’s Perlis state in turmoil after chief minister’s shock resignation

Mohd Shukri Ramli resigned due to health reasons amid a withdrawal of support from eight PN state assemblymen.

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Africa

US launches strike on Islamic State targets in Nigeria, Trump says

US strikes targeting militants were carried out in cooperation with the Nigerian government.

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A missile is launched from a military vessel at an unidentified location, in a screen grab obtained from a video released by the Department of War on December 25, 2025. Photo: US Department of War via Reuters
Indonesia

‘Starting anew’: Indonesians in flood-struck Sumatra hold Christmas mass

Many in the congregation are still sheltering at evacuation sites after the fatal disaster wreaked havoc on the island four weeks ago.

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Malaysia

Hair-raising: Malaysia arrests 2 over video of man in headscarf drinking alcohol

The pair are being investigated for causing religious disharmony and misusing social media.

Pope Leo XIV

Pope calls for end to all wars in first Christmas as pontiff

‘May the clamour of weapons cease … and may the parties involved find the courage to engage in sincere, direct and respectful dialogue’.

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A Palestinian man lifts a baby next to the rubble of destroyed buildings in Gaza on Christmas Eve. Photo: AFP
Israel-Gaza war

Bethlehem celebrates first festive Christmas since Gaza war

After two years of cancelled festivities, the ‘City of the Nativity’ revives its iconic parades and tree lighting as a fragile truce holds in Gaza.

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People celebrate in Manger Square in Bethlehem, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on December 24. Photo: AFP
South Korea

South Korean politicians agree to Unification Church special probe in rare move

The ruling DPK has accepted the opposition’s proposal to appoint special prosecutors to look into the church’s political meddling and bribes.

Africa

Nigeria says ‘spat’ with Trump over killing of Christians ‘largely resolved’

However, Nigeria remains on Washington’s list of countries of ‘particular concern’ regarding alleged religious freedom violations.

Australia

Australian PM Albanese booed as Bondi Beach attack victims honoured

Tens of thousands attended Sunday’s memorial. The Sydney event was heavily guarded by police, including snipers on rooftops and police boats.

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Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his wife are booed as they arrive at the Light Over Darkness vigil in Sydney, Australia on Sunday. Photo: Reuters
Israel

Jews worldwide urged to ‘come home’ to Israel after Bondi massacre

Gideon Saar says ‘Jews are being hunted across the world’ following the December 14 Isis-inspired shooting at a Hanukkah event in Australia.

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A person with Israel’s flag and other people attend a ceremony to mark the National Day of Reflection for victims and survivors, at Bondi Beach in Sydney on Sunday. Photo: AP
Africa

Nigeria secures release of 130 children abducted from Catholic school

Presidential spokesman confirms ‘none left in captivity’ after an operation frees students taken by gunmen in November.

Malaysia

Malaysia allows halal hotels, eateries to deck halls with boughs of holly

The multiracial country’s religious affairs minister says festive decorations or images are allowed where halal food is served.

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Singapore

Anwar’s coalition revives Chinese school certification debate, sparking row

The sensitive issue in the Malay-Muslim majority country has caused a row between Umno and DAP, an insider says.

Students create a long scroll in Kelang, Selangor state. A proposal for the Malaysian government’s recognition of school leaving certificates issued by private Chinese high schools has sparked a row in the ruling coalition. Photo: Xinhua
Malaysia

Paws for thought: Malaysian mall reverses pet-friendly policy after uproar

The reversal comes after videos of a dog being wheeled through the mall in a trolley stirred anger in the Muslim-majority country.

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Australia

Millions raised for ‘hero of Australia’ who stopped gunman at Bondi Beach

Over 40,000 people have donated about US$1.5 million to Ahmed al Ahmed, the Syrian-Australian Muslim hero who saved Jewish lives.

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Malaysia

Malaysian religious authorities clear woman of ‘2 husbands’ allegations

A Kelantan official said the woman divorced her first husband in 2022 before remarrying in Thailand.

Images shared online purporting to show a couple seated before religious officials, which were cited in a social media post alleging a woman had married a second man in Thailand. Malaysia’s religious authorities have confirmed that the woman was not a bigamist. Photo: Facebook/Ekin Derahim
India

Kick-off in Kolkata: how Lionel Messi was dragged into an Indian election battle

The BJP has latched on to the crowd chaos during Messi’s visit to West Bengal to demand the resignation of the state’s chief minister.

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A man ducks to avoid chairs being thrown by fans after Argentine football star Lionel Messi leaves the Salt Lake Stadium during his tour in Kolkata on Saturday. Photo: Reuters
Crime

Video | Mourners lay flowers for Bondi shooting victims

Hundreds of mourners gathered at Sydney’s Bondi Pavilion to pay tribute to the victims of Australia’s worst mass shooting in decades.

Australia

Isis-inspired Bondi gunmen visited Philippines before shooting: police

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Sajid Akram and his son Naveed had been radicalised by an ‘ideology of hate’.

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Malaysia

Malaysian religious authorities probe viral claim of woman having ‘2 husbands’

The allegation has renewed focus on cross-border marriages between Malaysia and southern Thailand that are used to bypass domestic approvals.

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Images shared on social media purporting to show a couple seated before religious officials, which were cited in a Facebook post alleging a woman had married a second man in Thailand. The claims are under investigation by Malaysian religious authorities. Photo: Facebook / Ekin Derahim
Australia

Video | Bystander tackles, disarms gunman in Australia

Shooting happened in the popular tourist area of Bondi Beach.

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Australia

World leaders express horror at Bondi Beach attack as vigils held for victims

Israel’s Herzog condemned the ‘cruel attack on Jews’ by ‘terrorists’; Trump branded the shooting that killed 15 people ‘purely antisemitic’.

Benjamin Netanyahu

Netanyahu accuses Australia’s PM of inaction in tackling antisemitism

After the Bondi Beach shooting, the Israeli PM said he warned Albanese months ago that Australia’s policy was ‘encouraging antisemitism’.

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