Russia-Ukraine war live: One killed in Kyiv, dozens injured across Ukraine
blinking-dotLive updatesLive updates, The large-scale Russian attacks come two days after US-led peace talks end in Miami. Published On 23 Dec 202523 Dec 2025 Click here to share on social media share2 Share Adblock test (Why?)
Video: Maduro rejects Trump’s warning against ‘acting tough’
NewsFeed US President Donald Trump warned Nicolas Maduro to ‘not play tough’ and to step down on Monday, while the Venezuelan leader said Trump should focus on the issues in his own country. Trump told reporters the US will keep 1.9 million barrels of oil that were seized near Venezuela in December. Published On 23 Dec 202523 Dec 2025 Click here to share on social media share2 Share Adblock test (Why?)
FACTCHECK: Your social media accounts, email can be accessed by Income Tax dept from April 1? Here’s what you need to know
The government has refused a social media claim that the Income Tax Department will gain broad access to private digital data, including emails and social media accounts, starting April 1, 2026. The government labeled the information as “misleading.”
White House says no to Catholic bishops’ call for Christmas pause in immigration enforcement
Florida’s Catholic bishops made an appeal on Monday for a pause in immigration enforcement for the Christmas holidays, but the White House said operations will continue. The appeal to President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was issued by Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski and signed by seven other members of the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops. “The border has been secured,” Wenski wrote. “The initial work of identifying and removing dangerous criminals has been accomplished to a great degree. Over half a million people have been deported this year, and nearly two million more have voluntarily self-deported.” “At this point, the maximum enforcement approach of treating irregular immigrants en masse means that now many of these arrest operations inevitably sweep up numbers of people who are not criminals but just here to work,” he continued. “It should be noted that a significant majority of those detained in Alligator Alcatraz have no criminal background.” US CATHOLIC BISHOPS PRESIDENT SAYS DEPORTATIONS INSTILLING ‘FEAR’ IN ‘WIDESPREAD MANNER’: ‘CONCERNS US ALL’ He noted that migrant sweeps sometimes include people with legal authorization to be in the U.S. and that surveys show Americans believe immigration enforcement operations are going too far. “Eventually these cases may be resolved, but this takes many months causing great sorrow for their families … A climate of fear and anxiety is infecting not only the irregular migrant but also family members and neighbors who are legally in the country,” Wenski said. “Since these effects are part of enforcement operations, we request that the government pause apprehension and round-up activities during the Christmas season,” he said. “Such a pause would show a decent regard for the humanity of these families. Now is not the time to be callous toward the suffering caused by immigration enforcement.” The White House did not directly address the appeal for a holiday pause, but did say that enforcement activities would be business as usual. “President Trump was elected based on his promise to the American people to deport criminal illegal aliens. And he’s keeping that promise,” White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said in a statement to The Associated Press. Wenski, like many other Catholic leaders, has been an outspoken advocate for treating illegal immigrants humanely. DHS PACKAGES LATEST ICE ARRESTS AS ‘CHRISTMAS GIFT TO AMERICANS’ In September, he joined other Catholic leaders on a panel at Georgetown University criticizing the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration crackdown for splitting up families, inciting fear and upending church life. Wenski also cited the contributions illegal immigrants make to the U.S. economy. “If you ask people in agriculture, you ask in the service industry, you ask people in health care, you ask the people in the construction field, and they’ll tell you that some of their best workers are immigrants,” Wenski said. “Enforcement is always going to be part of any immigration policy, but we have to rationalize it and humanize it.” Wenski has joined the “Knights on Bikes” ministry, an initiative led by the Knights of Columbus that brings attention to the spiritual needs of migrants held at immigration detention centers, including “Alligator Alcatraz” in the Florida Everglades. He recalled praying a rosary in the scorching heat outside its walls before receiving permission just days later to celebrate Mass inside the facility. “The fact that we invite these detainees to pray, even in this very dehumanizing situation, is a way of emphasizing and invoking their dignity,” he said. Last month, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops adopted a “special message” in which they slammed Trump’s mass deportation agenda and the “vilification” of illegal immigrants, expressing concern over the fear and anxiety immigration raids are stoking in communities, as well as the denial of pastoral care in detention centers. CHARLOTTE CHURCH DEPICTS ICE ARRESTING HOLY FAMILY IN TRUMP-ERA NATIVITY SCENE The special message was endorsed by Pope Leo XIV and Bishop Ronald Hicks, who the pontiff recently named as the next archbishop of New York, replacing conservative Cardinal Timothy Dolan as the leader of the country’s second-largest Catholic diocese. Dolan announced earlier this year he would resign upon turning 75, which is required by Catholic law. “I think we have to look for ways of treating people humanely, treating people with the dignity that they have,” Leo said last month. “If people are in the United States illegally, there are ways to treat that. There are courts, there’s a system of justice.” The pope has previously urged local bishops to speak out on social justice concerns and has suggested that people who support the “inhuman treatment of immigrants in the United States” may not be pro-life. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
FCC announces ban on new Chinese-made drones over national security concerns
The Federal Communications Commission announced on Monday that it would ban new foreign-made drones, citing national security concerns. The FCC said it was adding uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) and their critical components made in China and other foreign countries to its “covered list” that features equipment that has been determined to pose an “unacceptable risk” to U.S. national security and the safety of Americans. Specific drones or components would be exempt if the Pentagon or Department of Homeland Security determined they did not pose such risks. The distinction prohibits the products from being sold or imported in the U.S. The order does not apply to technology that has already been sold in the U.S. The agency said that allowing foreign-made UAS and component parts to be sold in the U.S. “undermines the resiliency of our UAS industrial base, increases the risk to our national airspace, and creates a potential for large-scale attacks during large gatherings,” citing upcoming events such as the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. FLORIDA TO USE HUNDREDS OF CONFISCATED CHINESE-MANUFACTURED DRONES AS TARGET PRACTICE FOR US MILITARY “Criminals, terrorists, and hostile foreign actors have intensified their weaponization of these technologies, creating new and serious threats to our homeland,” the FCC said in its notice. The announcement comes a year after a defense bill was adopted that raised national security concerns about Chinese-made drones, which have been used in farming, mapping, law enforcement and filmmaking. The bill called for stopping two Chinese companies — DJI and Autel — from selling new drones in the U.S. if a review found they posed a risk to U.S. national security. A spokesperson for DJI said in a statement that it is “disappointed” by the FCC’s decision and that “no information has been released regarding what information was used” in the government’s determination to add its drones and component parts to the covered list. “Concerns about DJI’s data security have not been grounded in evidence and instead reflect protectionism, contrary to the principles of an open market,” the statement said. The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party praised the FCC’s move, saying it “strongly supports” the decision. HEGSETH TEARS UP RED TAPE, ORDERS PENTAGON TO BEGIN DRONE SURGE AT TRUMP’S COMMAND “It will help safeguard our national security, protect the American people, and wind down the unacceptable national security threat posed by DJI and other Chinese drones,” the committee wrote on X. “Taken together with the Administration’s recent executive actions to accelerate domestic drone commercialization, this sends an unmistakable signal to American industry: The U.S. is open for drone innovation—and American manufacturing will be rewarded,” it added. Arthur Erickson, chief executive officer and co-founder of the Texas-based drone-making company Hylio, told The Associated Press that the departure of DJI would provide more opportunity for American companies like his to grow. He said new investments are coming in to help him boost production of spray drones, which farmers use to fertilize their fields, and it will bring down prices. But Erickson also called it “crazy” and “unexpected” that the FCC would expand the restrictions to all foreign-made drones and their components. “The way it’s written is a blanket statement,” Erickson said. “There’s a global-allied supply chain. I hope they will clarify that.” The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Good News for Uttar Pradesh and Haryana residents: Construction of THIS bridge to cut short travel time between Aligarh-Palwal by…, here’s all you need to know
Residents of Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh and Palwal in Haryana are in for a treat as a new bridge is set to reduce the distance between the two cities by approximately 35 kilometers. The proposed bridge, which will connect Aligarh’s Hasanpur area to Palwal’s Malv village, is expected to make travel easier and save time and fuel for commuters.
Delhi-NCR AQI: Thick smog engulfs National Capital as air quality deteriorates to ‘severe’ category; Flight operations affected
The lowest AQI levels, still in the “very poor” range, were recorded at Shadipur (309), IHBAS-Dilshad Garden (336), Aya Nagar (367), Lodhi Road-IITM (368), Lodhi Road-IMD (374), and IGI Airport-T3 (379). Read here to know area-wise pollution levels
BIG UPDATE! Kalaburagi-Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express timings revised, to start from THIS date; Check new schedule, route, stoppages, fare
Indian Railways has revised the Kalaburagi-SMVT Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express schedule from January 2026. The train gets a new stoppage at Sri Sathya Sai Prasanthi Nilayam, updated timings, earlier arrival at Kalaburagi, and improved connectivity across Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
Texas comptroller questions whether some Islamic schools can be excluded from voucher program
Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock suggested schools that hosted events for the Council on American-Islamic Relations or are linked to China could be disqualified from the new program.
20% of NYC mayor-elect Mamdani transition appointees have anti-Zionist ties: ADL
At least 20 percent of New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s administrative appointees are connected to groups characterized as anti-Zionist, according to a Monday report by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). The report found that more than 80 individuals among Mamdani’s 400-plus transition and administrative appointees either have ties to such groups or a “documented history of making anti-Israel statements.” The organization said Mamdani’s Transition Committee appointees have been linked to groups including Students for Justice in Palestine, a pro-Palestinian college activism network; Jewish Voice for Peace, an American Jewish anti-Zionist organization; and Within Our Lifetime, a New York City-based anti-Zionist group “known for leading protests outside synagogues.” For example, the ADL said at least four appointees have ties to Louis Farrakhan, the antisemitic leader of the Nation of Islam. One appointee, Jacques Léandre, was cited for reportedly attending a conference at which Farrakhan denounced “the Jews and their power.” ADL CHIEF WARNS NYC MAYOR-ELECT ZOHRAN MAMDANI POSES A ‘CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER’ TO JEWISH COMMUNITY Several other appointees were also cited for statements that appear to support or justify violence against Israel and the Oct. 7 attacks. According to the ADL, Kazi Fouzia posted on Facebook hours after the attacks that “Resistance are [sic] Justified when people are occupied” with video footage from an anti-Israel protest happening that day in Manhattan. The report continued to identify other appointees who publicly expressed hostility toward Zionism. Examples included Fahd Ahmed, who allegedly stated “Zionism is racism“; Ruha Benjamin, who reportedly signed a statement saying Israel was “ideologically founded on Jewish supremacy”; Lisa Ohta, who was accused of referring to “Zionism’s genocidal ideology”; and Mohammed Karim Chowdhury, who shared a post allegedly claiming “Zionists are worse than … Nazis.” MAMDANI’S FATHER SAYS COLUMBIA ‘TARGETED’ ANTI-ISRAEL STUDENTS WITH ANTISEMITISM CRACKDOWN The organization also identified Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari, who was cited for allegedly posting a photo of herself at an encampment in front of a banner displaying an inverted red triangle, a symbol associated with Hamas, alongside the text “LONG LIVE THE RESISTANCE.” The report also states that at least 12 appointees publicly expressed support for anti-Israel campus encampments during the spring of 2024, with at least five attending the protests in person. The ADL highlighted Gianpaolo Baiocchi, who was reportedly arrested at the NYU encampment and later asserted that no hate speech was present. The ADL disputes that claim, citing flyers distributed at the encampment that called for “Death to Israeli Real Estate” and “Death to America.” Mamdani, who takes office on Jan. 1, has previously and repeatedly emphasized that he stands against antisemitism. The ADL noted that many appointees did not raise concerns and emphasized that at least 25 individuals expressed support for the Jewish community, including Rabbi Joe Potasnik, Félix Matos Rodríguez, Wayne Ho, John King, and Jerry Goldfeder. However, the organization said it remains concerned about Mamdani’s team overall. “Many of Mayor-elect Mamdani’s Transition Committee appointments are inconsistent with his campaign commitments to prioritize the safety of New York’s Jewish community,” the ADL wrote in the report. Fox News Digital reached out to Mamdani for more comment.