2025

Dec 26 (Reuters) – Myanmar will hold a third phase of voting in its general election on January 25, according to an announcement in state media on Friday. 

The first two phases of voting take place on December 28 and January 11. 

(Reporting by Shoon Naing; Writing by Martin Petty)

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Bahrain Crown Prince Hosts Israel’s Ambassador for Talks on Shoring Up Bilateral Ties   

The crown prince and prime minister of Bahrain, Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, welcomed Israel’s ambassador to the Gulf nation, Shmuel (Sammy) Revel, to a high-level meeting in Manama on Thursday. The purpose of the talks was to reinforce diplomatic ties and discuss expanding economic cooperation between the two countries. It was framed as a continuation of bilateral engagement following the normalization of relations between the two countries under the Abraham Accords in 2020.   

According to the Israeli Embassy, the talks focused on the value of maintaining open and direct communication channels, particularly amid regional uncertainty. Both sides emphasized the importance of steady coordination and mutual consultation as a foundation for the relationship.   

Al Khalifa and Revel reviewed opportunities to deepen economic collaboration across trade, investment, and innovation, with an emphasis on leveraging Israel’s technology sector and Bahrain’s role as a regional financial and business hub. Officials said there was shared interest in advancing partnerships that could deliver tangible benefits to both economies.   

The meeting also reflected a broader commitment by both governments to maintain active and visible diplomatic engagement. Israeli officials have repeatedly highlighted Bahrain as a key partner in the Gulf, citing its openness to cooperation across economic and strategic domains.   

No formal agreements were announced following the talks, but officials described the exchange as constructive and forward-looking. The meeting was presented as another step in strengthening bilateral ties and translating diplomatic relations into practical collaboration.   

Revel assumed the position of ambassador to Bahrain in August 2025, after serving as ambassador to Cyprus from 2017 to 2021. Former Ambassador to Bahrain Eitan Na’eh was the first Israeli envoy in the Gulf nation following the establishment of the Abraham Accords.    

Photo: Courtesy Israeli ambassador Shmuel Revel and crown prince and prime minister of Bahrain, Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa meet in Manama, December 25, 2025. (Courtesy Crown Prince’s Court) 

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By Simon Lewis

WASHINGTON, Dec 25 (Reuters) – A U.S. judge on Thursday temporarily blocked the Trump administration from detaining British anti-disinformation campaigner Imran Ahmed, after the U.S. permanent resident sued officials over an entry ban for his role in what Washington argues is online censorship.

Washington imposed visa bans on Tuesday on Ahmed and four Europeans, including French former EU commissioner Thierry Breton. It accuses them of working to censor freedom of speech or unfairly target U.S. tech giants with burdensome regulation. Ahmed lives in New York and is believed to be the only of the five currently in the country.

The move sparked an outcry from European governments who argue regulations and the work of monitoring groups made the internet safer by highlighting false information and compelling tech giants to do more to tackle illegal content, including hate speech and child sexual abuse material.

For Ahmed, the 47-year-old CEO of the U.S.-based Center for Countering Digital Hate, it also sparked fears of imminent deportation that would separate him from his wife and child, both U.S. citizens, according to a lawsuit he filed on Wednesday in the Southern District of New York.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, when announcing the visa restrictions, said he had determined the presence of the five in the United States had potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States and they could therefore be deported.

Ahmed named Rubio, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and other Trump officials in his lawsuit, arguing officials were violating his rights to free speech and due process with the threat of deportation.

U.S. District Judge Vernon Broderick issued a temporary restraining order on Thursday, which enjoined officials from arresting, detaining or transferring Ahmed before he has an opportunity for his case to be heard, and scheduled a conference between the parties for December 29.

Ahmed, in a statement provided by a representative, praised the U.S. legal system’s checks and balances and said he was proud to call the country his home. “I will not be bullied away from my life’s work of fighting to keep children safe from social media’s harm and stopping antisemitism online,” he said.

In response to questions about the case, a State Department spokesperson said: “The Supreme Court and Congress have repeatedly made clear: the United States is under no obligation to allow foreign aliens to come to our country or reside here.”

The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to a request for comment.

Legal permanent residents, known as green card holders, do not need a visa to remain in the U.S., but the Trump administration has attempted to deport at least one already this year.

Mahmoud Khalil, detained in March after his prominent involvement in pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University, was released by a judge who argued punishing someone over a civil immigration matter was unconstitutional.

A U.S. immigration judge in September ordered Khalil to be deported over claims he omitted information from his green card application, but he appealed that ruling and separate orders blocking his deportation remain in place. 

(Reporting by Simon Lewis; Editing by Chris Reese)

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