The govt of Israel had decided to close its embassy in Ireland, citing the “extreme anti-Israel policy of the Irish government.” Israeli foreign ministry announced the decision taken by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar on Sunday.
Foreign Minister Sa’ar said, “Ireland has crossed every red line in its relations with Israel. Israel will invest its resources in advancing bilateral relations with countries worldwide according to priorities that also take into account the attitudes and actions of these states toward Israel.”
He added, “The antisemitic actions and rhetoric that Ireland is taking against Israel are based on delegitimization and demonization of the Jewish state and on double standards.”
Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris called the decision “deeply regrettable”, and rejected the assertion that Ireland is anti-Israel. He tweeted, “This is a deeply regrettable decision from the Netanyahu government. I utterly reject the assertion that Ireland is anti-Israel. Ireland is pro-peace, pro-human rights and pro-International law.”
Harris further added, “Ireland wants a two state solution and for Israel and Palestine to live in peace and security. Ireland will always speak up for human rights and international law. Nothing will distract from that.”
Earlier in May this year, Israel recalled its ambassador to Ireland after the Irish govt announced that they would unilaterally recognize a Palestinian state. Ireland has not recalled its envoy to Israel yet.
Last week, Ireland joined South Africa in the case against Israel at the International Criminal Court in The Hague. South African govt has accused Israel of ‘genocide’ for its military action against Hamas in Gaza in retaliation to the 7 October 2023 terror attack.
Minister Sa’ar said that Israel will adjust its diplomatic network of missions to strengthen ties with countries that want to do the same with Israel, but do not yet have an Israeli embassy. As part of that, Israel has decided to open an embassy in Moldova, the small East European country landlocked between Ukraine and Romania. Moldova has an embassy in Israel.
The Janakpur Bolts, one of the teams in the Nepal Premier League (NPL), recently found itself at the centre of a controversy regarding its logo. The logo, which was revealed in November this year, is reportedly inspired by the iconic Janaki Mandir, dedicated to Mata Sita in Janakpur, Nepal. However, the logo sparked outrage among locals as they claimed it more closely resembles a mosque rather than the Hindu temple. Fans have alleged that by using such a logo, the team has disrespected the culture and religious sentiments of the devotees.
Understanding the issue
Since the launch of the Janakpur Bolts’ logo, the team has faced criticism for allegedly inaccurately depicting the Janaki Mandir. Notably, the temple is known as an emblem of Janakpur’s cultural identity and heritage. Social media users and critics have argued that the logo distorts the architectural beauty of the temple and thus undermines the pride of the Mithila region.
One of the social media users called the logo an insult to the cultural essence of Janakpur. He urged the organisers to rectify it at the earliest. Similarly, other social media users labelled the logo a “threat to the global reputation of the temple” and demanded immediate correction. On the other hand, some social media users called for restraint from making such comments, as it might harm the morale of the team.
What the franchise said
Following the controversy, the owner of the Janakpur Bolts franchise, Niroj Khatri, issued a statement and expressed regret over the confusion. He clarified that the logo was, in fact, designed using the front face of the Janaki Mandir. He further explained that they only used a partial depiction of the religious structure to ensure it complied with the rules and regulations set by the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding the usage of religious symbols.
He added that such partial depiction might have led to unintended resemblance to a mosque. He further stated that the franchise would soon launch a video to demonstrate the logo’s inspiration and assured that it would be redesigned in the future. However, he noted that making changes this year is logistically impossible. The video was released on 28th November explaining the logo and the inspiration taken from the iconic temple.
The white-coloured Janaki Mandir has several big and small round domes on its top, and the Janakpur Bolts team chose to use the top part of the temple as its logo. But, due to the chosen design, the logo looks like a mosque with domes and minarets. However, the logo incorporates flags atop the shikhars, a defining feature of temples not found in mosques.
Although round domes are commonly associated with mosques, they are also used in Hindu temples, although not commonly.
ICC rules on religious symbols
The ICC prohibits the display of religious symbols or messages on team clothing or equipment without prior approval from the council. According to the ICC, these guidelines are in place to maintain cricket as an inclusive and neutral platform, keeping it free of divisive religious, political, or racial connotations. This restriction likely influenced the partial depiction of the Janaki Mandir on the logo, inadvertently contributing to the controversy.
The temple, which had been hidden under encroachments for years, was rediscovered during a drive to remove illegal structures.
Earlier in the day, amid ongoing tensions, the regional administration launched an anti-encroachment drive to clear public spaces of unauthorised constructions.
According to Sambhal SDM Vandana Mishra, the operation targets public area encroachments and has been actively conducted in Chandauli for the past two months as well.
“The anti-encroachment drive is focused on clearing encroachments from public spaces. A similar drive has been running in Chandauli for the last two months. Additionally, a campaign against electricity theft is underway in Sambhal,” she said.
#WATCH | Uttar Pradesh: Sambhal SP Krishan Kumar and DM Dr Rajender Pensiya offer prayers at the Shiv-Hanuman Temple which was discovered in Sambhal during an anti-encroachment drive carried out by district police and administration, yesterday. pic.twitter.com/UMxZZVhP4n
On Saturday morning, an anti-encroachment operation was conducted in the Shahi Jama Masjid area. Speaking to ANI, DM Pensiya stated, “In the morning, we checked whether loudspeakers were contributing to unnecessary noise pollution. During the inspection, widespread electricity theft was discovered. Around 15 to 20 houses and religious places were found to be involved. At a mosque, we found 59 fans, a fridge, a washing machine, and approximately 25 to 30 light points, all with the meter switched off. An intensive checking campaign is ongoing.”
Meanwhile, the Shiv-Hanuman Temple in Sambhal, which had been closed since 1978, has been reopened. The temple premises were cleaned, and electricity connections were restored on Sunday. CCTV cameras have also been installed for security purposes. Vishnu Sharan Rastogi, patron of the Nagar Hindu Sabha, confirmed that the temple had been reopened after 46 years. He explained that the temple had remained closed due to the absence of a resident priest.
Sambhal Circle Officer (SO) Anuj Kumar Chaudhary, who was part of the inspection team, said, “We received information about encroachment in the area. Upon inspection, we discovered the temple.”
Police personnel have been deployed outside the Shiv-Hanuman Temple, which reopened after 46 years, and an aarti was conducted earlier today (Sunday) morning.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
On 11th December, 45 families comprising 150 individuals, including women and children, embraced Hinduism through a ceremonial Ganga ritual in the district of Hapur, Uttar Pradesh. The families conducted the cremation of an elderly member according to Hindu rites and immersed the ashes in the Ganga River. Speaking to the media, they revealed that their ancestors were originally Hindus who converted to Islam under Mughal oppression. They called their return to Hinduism a fulfilment of their ancestral legacy.
Resistance and perseverance
The families originally hail from Islamabad, Pakistan. They came to Delhi in 1947 following Partition. Four years ago, they decided to embrace Hinduism. However, they faced significant opposition from their community, which led to delays. The recent death of an elderly family member inspired them to proceed with the decision to embrace Hinduism, and they performed the required ceremonies at Brijghat.
New beginnings with new names
Sansar Singh, who was previously Salman Khan, led the prayers of all the families. They performed the required rituals, prayed to Bhagwan Shiv and Mata Parvati, and adopted the Gaurishankar Gotra. Several individuals embraced traditional Hindu names, including Sanju, Satish, Balwan, Rajesh, Sanjay, and Shashi. They all pledged to celebrate Hindu festivals and observe rituals and fasting according to tradition in the future.
Sansar Singh said in a statement that embracing Hinduism was like a dream come true and felt like returning to their roots. The families have also decided to register their lineage with a local priest at Brijghat, which will further solidify their ties to Sanatan Dharma.
Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Vijayendra Yediyurappa criticised the state government over the police lathi charge on the Lingayat Panchamasali community during their protest for reservation, calling it an example of the arrogance of the CM Siddaramaiah-led government.
“The arrogance of CM Siddaramaiah’s government is evident. Under his instructions, the police lathi-charged peaceful protestors from the Panchamasali community, as well as farmers and Hindus. This is the height of arrogance,” said Vijayendra.
He further criticised the government for failing to apologise in the legislature, stating that such actions could not have occurred without the explicit directions of the Chief Minister and the Home Minister.
“Without instructions from the CM and HM, I don’t think the police would have acted to this extent. The worst part is that neither the CM nor the HM apologised on the Floor of the House during the session. The BJP has discussed this issue in detail, but the state government remains adamant. We will raise this again in the legislature,” he added.
Members of the Lingayat Panchamasali community staged a protest march on Thursday in Kalaburagi, condemning the police lathi charge on December 10 in Belagavi. They had been demanding reservation under the 2A category.
Vijayendra also dismissed bribery allegations made against him by Siddaramaiah and other Congress leaders, calling them baseless.
“Today, Anwar Manippady (former Minority Commission Chairperson) clearly stated that it was not me but Congress leaders who approached him. Regarding the allegations by Priyank Kharge and Siddaramaiah that I offered Rs 150 crore to Anwar Manippady, it’s a big joke. When allegations are against Congress leaders for exploiting Waqf properties, where is the question of me offering help to Congress leaders? These claims are meaningless. We will address whatever issues the CM raised yesterday on the Floor of the House,” he said.
Vijayendra’s response came after Siddaramaiah, in a post on X, alleged that the BJP leader tried to bribe Anwar Manippady with Rs 150 crore to suppress investigations into Waqf property encroachments.
In the post, Siddaramaiah also called for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the matter.
“Anwar Manippady publicly stated that Vijayendra visited his house during B.S. Yediyurappa’s tenure as CM and offered Rs 150 crore to suppress the Wakf property encroachment report. He further stated that Anwar sent Vijayendra out of his house and reported the incident to PM @narendramodi and the BJP President,” Siddaramaiah wrote.
The Chief Minister also questioned Prime Minister Modi’s silence on the issue, claiming it raised serious concerns. He accused the BJP of turning Karnataka into its “ATM.”
Meanwhile, Priyank Kharge accused PM Modi of selectively targeting the state government while ignoring allegations of corruption within his own party.
“PM @narendramodi makes speeches about a non-existent Excise Department transfer scam by the Karnataka government in Maharashtra but remains silent when his own party MLAs and spokespersons accuse their state BJP president BY Vijayendra of massive corruption, even officially writing to him,” Kharge said.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
A video has surfaced on social media wherein a diktat is being imposed in Shaikhpara town in the Murshidabad district of West Bengal.
An e-rickshaw, equipped with a large speaker, was seen playing a pre-recorded audio mandating the closure of all shops on each Friday barring a few exceptions.
“Please listen carefully. Shaikhpara Bazar committee wants to inform our shopkeeper friends that starting next Friday, all shops will remain closed throughout the day except hotels and the ones selling medicines, sweets, fish, meat, fruits and vegetables.”
“The shops selling tea and snacks can open after 5 pm on Friday. We are looking forward to your co-operation,” it further added.
For the unversed, Murshidabad district has a 66.27% Muslim population as per the 2011 census data. Friday is the day of Jumma Namaz.
As such, social media users are questioning whether the ‘diktat’ by the Shaikhpara Bazar committee is influenced by Islamic motivation and majoritarianism.
WB:- Murshidabad, Sheikh Para Market:- A fatwa-like announcement mandates shop closures on Fridays, except for medicine, food, and sweets. Tea stalls close until 5 PM. pic.twitter.com/ceECowfYem
It also implied that Hindu shopkeepers would also have to comply with this rule.
Previously, the schools in the Union territory of Lakshadweep also had their weekly off on Friday to appease the majority Muslim population (96%).
Raninagar police deny any communal angle
OpIndia had reached out to the Raninagar police station, given that Shaikhpara town falls under its jurisdiction.
On being asked about the viral video and the underlying communal overtones of the diktat, SI Bidyut Sarkar vehemently dismissed any ‘communal angle.’
“There is no communal angle. This is the decision of the bazaar committee,” he inadvertently confirmed that the viral video was indeed from Shaikhpara.
On 14th December, Iranian singer Parastoo Ahmadi was arrested for performing an online concert without wearing a hijab. Parastoo’s lawyer, Milad Panahipour, confirmed the reports to local media in Iran. Panahipour said in a statement, “As of noon today, we were unaware of the whereabouts of my client, Parastoo Ahmadi. Regrettably, we have learned that she was arrested today in Mazandaran province.” However, later the police released the singer.
Apart from Parastoo, two musicians who performed at the YouTube concert were also arrested. They have been identified as Ehsan Birghidar and Sohail Faqih Nasiri. The concert went live on YouTube on 11th December. Parastoo was seen in a gorgeous black dress. However, by not wearing a hijab, she defied Iran’s stringent morality laws governing women. According to Iranian laws, women are mandated to wear the hijab. Furthermore, they are also forbidden from singing in public places.
Before starting the concert, Parastoo stated, “I want to sing for the people I love. This is a right I could not forsake – singing for the land I hold dear.” Named the “Karvansara Concert,” it was performed without any live audience. Notably, there are strict restrictions on YouTube in Iran. However, despite these restrictions, her concert gained over 70,000 views within 12 hours of the broadcast. By the time this report was published, the video had gained over 16 lakh views in just three days.
Following the concert, security agents reportedly raided her house, and she was summoned by the Tehran Security Prosecutor’s Office for further questioning. Iranian authorities have already announced that Parastoo would face an immediate trial for the concert.
Reacting to her arrest, Iranian activist Masih Alinejad wrote on X, “Arrested for Singing: The Islamic Republic’s War on Women According to media reports: The Islamic Republic has arrested Parastoo Ahmadi and her bandmates for the “crime” of singing and showing her hair in public. In Iran, women are banned from singing, and even a few strands of uncovered hair are enough to justify an arrest. This cruel crackdown shows just how desperate the regime is to hold on to power. While the people of Iran suffer from poverty, power outages, and a collapsing economy, the regime focuses its energy on silencing women and artists. Khamenei’s terrorist proxies are being dismantled across the region, yet his regime turns its brutality inward, targeting innocent people instead of addressing the country’s real crises. but Iranians are using social media to echo her voice. Only our unity can help us to get free from this regime. Please join our fight.”
Arrested for Singing: The Islamic Republic’s War on Women
According to media reports: The Islamic Republic has arrested Parastoo Ahmadi and her bandmates for the “crime” of singing and showing her hair in public. In Iran, women are banned from singing, and even a few strands of… https://t.co/I25810vX4jpic.twitter.com/urQjFwMKOi
Later the singer’s lawyer Milad Panahipour confirmed on Facebook that Parastoo Ahmadi had been released. As per reports, Ahmadi was summoned by the Public Security Police due to her video without a hijab. After a brief session at the police station, she was let go.
The Iranian judiciary said that the video by Ahmadi violated Iranian legal and cultural rules, and it was released without authorisation.
Who is Parastoo Ahmadi?
Parastoo Ahmadi is a 27-year-old singer from Nowshahr in northern Iran. She was born in 1997. Parastoo graduated in directing from Soore University in Tehran. This was not the first time Parastoo had defied laws in Iran. In 2022, she performed a rendition of Az Khoon-e Javanan-e Vatan (From the Blood of the Youth of the Nation) during anti-veil protests following the death of Mahsa Amini.
The case of Ahoo Daryaei
In November 2024, a woman identified as Ahoo Daryaei was arrested for stripping down to her underwear in protest against “abusive” dress code policing at a university in Tehran. Videos of her in underwear went viral on social media. Following the incident, she was bundled into a car by men in plain clothes and taken to an unknown location. Local reports suggested that she was admitted to a mental health facility.
The case of Mahsa Amini
In September 2022, a 22-year-old Iranian woman named Mahsa Amini fell into a coma after being beaten by the ‘Morality Police’ for wearing an ‘improper hijab’. She later succumbed to her injuries while receiving treatment at a hospital. Her death sparked protests across Iran against moral policing. Women in Iran continue to protest against repressive gendered morality laws.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday questioned the 46-year closure of a historic temple in Sambhal and the lack of justice for victims of alleged violence during that time, accusing previous governments of neglecting faith and heritage.
Referring to Sambhal, he asked, “Did the administration suddenly build such an ancient temple overnight in Sambhal? Did Lord Hanuman’s centuries-old idol appear overnight? Did the ancient jyotirlinga just emerge out of nowhere? Was this not a matter of faith? Why have the culprits responsible for the massacre in Sambhal 46 years ago not been punished to date? Why is there no discussion about the innocent lives lost back then? What was the fault of those who were brutally killed in Sambhal 46 years ago?”
Adityanath further questioned, “What if the Ayodhya verdict on the Ram temple had not been delivered? What if the Ram temple had not been built? Would an international airport have been established in Ayodhya? Would the streets of Ayodhya have been developed into four-lane roads? Would Ayodhya have been connected with a double railway line? Would Ayodhya have achieved such excellent connectivity?”
The Chief Minister added that Ayodhya’s residents and visiting devotees are now happy and grateful for the transformation. However, he accused certain groups of mourning these changes. According to him, these groups had inserted the word “secular” into the Constitution, undermining its essence.
“They are troubled by the transformation of the Kashi Vishwanath Dham, the construction of the Ram temple, and the divine grandeur of Ayodhya. Their grievance is that despite ruling for decades, they accomplished nothing. Instead of introspecting, they blame our success for their own failures,” he remarked.
The comments followed the discovery and reopening of a 400-year-old Lord Shiva and Hanuman temple in Sambhal, which had been closed since 1978. The temple was uncovered during an inspection related to encroachment and electricity theft. Officials have announced plans to restore the temple to its original structure.
The Chief Minister’s remarks sparked strong reactions from opposition leaders.
Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Zia Ur Rehman Barq criticised the statement, saying, “These kinds of remarks are being made to divert attention from issues like unemployment and inflation… The public wants development, and the Samajwadi Party government will be formed in the state.”
RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha also condemned the remarks, stating, “UP CM Yogi Adityanath is in a very tough competition. There is a very tough competition going on with ‘Gujarat wale bhaiya’… Either you are with the Constitution or with this kind of hate-mongering language.”
Meanwhile, the reopening of the temple has drawn significant attention, with authorities now prioritising its restoration and security. UP Police personnel have reportedly been deployed outside the temple. Sources said the temple premises have been cleaned, and electricity arrangements have been made.
Additionally, CCTV cameras have been installed on the premises.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
On Saturday (14th December), the Uttar Pradesh police arrested a man named Mohammed Mehtab for assaulting a minor girl and forcing her to remove her hijab. The incident occurred in Deoband in Saharanpur district of the State.
Mehtab was part of a violent mob that attacked a 17-year-old Muslim girl on Wednesday (11th December) for ‘speaking’ to a Hindu man.
On the fateful day, the victim was heading home from her relative’s house. She was accompanied by her younger sister, who is about 16 years old.
हिजाब उतरवाकर पिटाई की और वीडियो बनाकर वायरल कर दिया।
सहारनपुर में हिंदू लड़कों के साथ घूमने के शक में मुस्लिम कट्टरपंथियों ने नाबालिग युवतियों का बुर्का हटवाया फिर पिटाई की।
The duo was interrupted by a bike-borne man, asking for directions. While the minor girls were explaining the route, two men stopped them alleging that they were speaking to a Hindu man.
Soon after, other Muslims joined in the public harassment. One Muslim man could be seen holding the girl by her hijab and recording her on his phone.
Another man was seen slapping the underage girl multiple times. One man took away her phone while she tried to call her brother. A third Muslim man alleged that the victim bought a ‘gift’ for the ‘Hindu man’.
The ordeal only came to an end when it transpired that the man who sought directions from the victim and her sister was not Hindu.
On being released, they approached the police and filed a complaint. “They started gathering more people, claiming that we were speaking to a Hindu man. Soon, we were surrounded by over a dozen men. I was also slapped,” the victim said.
A case was registered by the police under Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita Sections 115-2 (voluntarily causing hurt), Sections 352 (intentional insult), and Section 67 of the Information Technology Act.
SP (rural) Sagar Jain informed, “We have lodged an FIR…We have arrested Mehtab and are identifying the remaining men with the help of the video which was circulated online.”
Father of deceased Bengaluru techie Atul Subhash on Sunday, pleaded for custody of his grandson. Subhash’s father, Pawan Kumar Modi, has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and others to ensure the custody of his grandson.
Although Pawan Kumar expressed gratitude towards the police for arresting the accused, he asserted that he still has not received justice as a new case has been filed against him in the name of his grandson for maintenance.
“We don’t know where she has kept our grandson. Has he been killed or is he alive? We don’t know anything about him. I want my grandson to be with us…I thank the police for arresting the accused…I still haven’t got justice as a case has been filed against me. A new case has been filed against me in the name of my grandson for maintenance. We appeal to PM Modi, UP CM Yogi Adityanath, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and other leaders to ensure that my grandson comes to me…For a grandfather, his grandson means more than his son…The whole society, people are standing in my support…” Pawan Kumar told ANI.
Bikas Kumar Modi, the brother of the deceased man has also expressed concerns regarding the whereabouts of his nephew. He said that two arrests in the case were yet to be done.
“Our biggest concern right now is that we don’t know where my nephew (Atul Subhash’s son) is. We couldn’t find him in the photograph circulated by the police. We want to know where he is. I thank the Karnataka Police for arresting these three… Two other arrests are pending. I hope they will also be arrested soon…” Bikas Kumar Modi told ANI.
Three people have been arrested in connection with the death case of Atul Subhash, who committed suicide by hanging alleging harassment by his wife, Nikita Singhania, Karnataka police said, adding that she has been arrested from Haryana’s Gurugram.
According to the police, the other two accused, identified as Nisha Singhania, mother of Nikita Singhania and her brother, Anurag Singhania, were arrested from Uttar Pradesh’s Allahabad. All the three accused in this case were sent to judicial custody as per the order of the court, police said.
“Accused A1 Nikita Singhania has been arrested from Gurugram, Haryana. Accused A2 Nisha Singhania and Accused A3 Anurag Singhania were arrested from Allahabad and were produced before the court and given to judicial custody,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) White Field Division, Bengaluru, Shivakumar said in a release.
Atul Subhash, the 34-year-old deputy general manager of a private firm, died by suicide on Monday in his Bengaluru apartment, leaving behind a 24-page suicide note, accusing his wife and her relatives of harassment. In his suicide note, he also alleged that a judge had demanded Rs 5 lakh to “settle” the case.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
