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The Take: Inside Israel’s Plan to Turn West Bank Land into ‘State Property’

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  A renewed focus on land designation policies in the occupied West Bank has brought attention to Israel’s long-standing mechanism of declaring certain areas as “state land.” The policy, rooted in a complex mix of Ottoman-era laws, British Mandate regulations, and Israeli military orders, has become central to debates over settlement expansion, Palestinian land rights, and the future of a two-state solution. As tensions persist across the territory, the issue of land classification is once again at the forefront of political discussion, drawing scrutiny from legal experts, human rights groups, and international actors. What Does “State Property” Mean? Under Israeli administration, land in the West Bank can be designated as “state land” if it is determined not to be privately owned or continuously cultivated according to specific legal criteria. Israeli authorities argue that such declarations are conducted through formal review processes based on historical land laws, particul...

Israeli Police Arrest Imam of Al-Aqsa Mosque Ahead of Ramadan

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  Tensions have escalated in Jerusalem after Israeli police detained the imam of Al-Aqsa Mosque just days before the start of Ramadan, a period of heightened religious activity and sensitivity in the holy city. The arrest, which took place in the occupied eastern part of Jerusalem , has drawn widespread attention from religious leaders, political officials, and international observers. According to local sources, Israeli authorities detained the imam for questioning over statements allegedly made during recent sermons. Police officials said the arrest was part of what they described as “preventive security measures” ahead of Ramadan, when tens of thousands of Muslim worshippers are expected to gather at the compound daily. Police Cite Security Concerns In a brief statement, Israel Police confirmed the detention, saying that the cleric was questioned regarding remarks that could “incite unrest or disturb public order.” Authorities did not immediately provide detailed evidence bu...

BYD Atto 2 and Sealion 7 Prices in Pakistan Revealed

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  BYD Pakistan has officially launched two new electric vehicles in the local market, expanding its lineup with the debut of the BYD Sealion 7 and the BYD Atto 2. According to the company, the BYD Sealion 7 has entered the Pakistani market at an ex-showroom price of Rs. 15,490,000. The electric SUV has generated strong interest ahead of its launch due to its design, performance features, and positioning in the premium EV segment. BYD Pakistan has set the booking amount for the Sealion 7 at Rs. 3,000,000. The company has not yet shared delivery timelines. Alongside the Sealion 7, BYD Pakistan also introduced the BYD Atto 2 to the local market. The Atto 2 has been launched at an ex-showroom price of Rs. 7,290,000. The booking amount for the Atto 2 has been fixed at Rs. 1,400,000.

A year on from the ousting of Assad

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  Damascus, Syria — “Hold your head high, you’re a free Syrian.” The refrain of this Arabic song—now widely embraced as the unofficial anthem of a new Syria—echoes throughout Damascus. It blares from market loudspeakers, rings out during celebrations in the central square, and is even sung by the man offering traditional coffee to new arrivals at the airport. For decades, many Syrians lived with lowered gazes under the authoritarian rule of the Al-Assad family. The regime maintained an expansive surveillance system in which the feared Mukhabarat , the intelligence network, kept the population in check. Remaining silent was often the safest choice—until the Arab Spring ignited an uprising, and Assad’s fierce response plunged the nation into a ten-year civil war. Today, Syrians are openly and energetically marking the first anniversary of what they regard as their liberation from Assad’s government. The celebration follows a rapid rebel offensive on December 8 last year, led by fo...

Japan tells residents to evacuate as powerful earthquake strikes north-east

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  Here is a fully rewritten (spun) version of your article while keeping the original meaning intact and avoiding added facts: A powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck north-eastern Japan, triggering evacuation orders for roughly 90,000 people and prompting tsunami warnings that were later reduced to lower-level advisories. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) initially warned that waves up to 3 metres (10ft) could reach the region’s coastline after the quake hit offshore at 11:15pm (2:15pm GMT) . Tsunami warnings were put in place for Hokkaido, Aomori, and Iwate , and waves measuring 20–70cm (7–27in) were recorded at several ports, according to the JMA. By early Tuesday morning, however, the agency downgraded those warnings to advisories , indicating that expected wave heights had decreased and the risk of coastal flooding had diminished. Here is a fully rewritten (spun) version of your text, keeping all the original facts but expressing them in new wording and st...

Apple Music Replay 2025 Rolls Out With New Listening Stats and Global Charts

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  December 2025 — Apple Music has officially released Apple Music Replay 2025 , giving subscribers a full breakdown of their year in music with expanded analytics, a redesigned visual experience, and new listening categories that reflect how users discovered and revisited music throughout the year. The annual recap, which began rolling out to users this week, highlights each listener’s most-streamed songs, artists, albums, genres, and total minutes listened. This year’s update builds on the company’s push to make Replay a more dynamic and social feature, rivaling Spotify Wrapped with deeper insights and a smoother in-app experience. A More Seamless, In-App Experience With iOS 26, Apple Music Replay is now fully native inside the Apple Music app , eliminating the web-based interface previously required for the visual recap. Users can access it directly from the Home tab, where Apple has added a “Replay: Your Top Music” section that opens an interactive highlight reel. The new ...