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In a significant diplomatic engagement, His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, hosted a high-level delegation from Birzeit University at the Dr. Sultan Al Qasimi Centre on Saturday. The delegation was led by Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, Chairperson of the University’s Board of Trustees.

During the meeting, Sheikh Sultan commended the university leadership for their sustained efforts in maintaining academic excellence and administrative efficiency despite ongoing challenges. He specifically praised Birzeit University’s pivotal role in serving Palestinian society through education and research.

The Sharjah Ruler emphasized the critical need for concentrated international efforts to protect Palestinian students’ right to education, noting that current circumstances have created severe obstacles to academic continuity. He called for creating environments that enable Palestinian scholars to pursue their studies without disruption, affirming his personal commitment to supporting academic institutions requiring assistance.

Birzeit University, which enrolls over 13,000 students, has established itself as a premier institution known for pioneering scientific research and community engagement. The university maintains advanced rankings among Palestinian educational institutions and has built a respected academic reputation both regionally and internationally.

Sheikh Sultan’s statements highlight growing concerns about educational accessibility in conflict-affected regions and represent continued UAE engagement with Palestinian academic development. The meeting underscores the increasing importance of international educational cooperation during challenging geopolitical circumstances.

A devastating collision between a high-speed express train and a herd of wild Asian elephants resulted in seven fatalities, including multiple calves, in northeastern India’s Assam state. The tragic incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday in Hojai district, where railway officials and police subsequently examined the scene, including a covered elephant’s body lying beside the tracks.

According to Northeast Frontier Railway authorities, the train operator spotted dozens of elephants crossing the tracks and immediately engaged emergency braking systems. Despite these urgent measures, the train could not avoid striking several animals from the herd. The impact caused five carriages to derail, though remarkably no human casualties were reported among passengers or crew aboard the Delhi-bound express service.

The aftermath saw significant disruption to regional rail operations, with multiple train cancellations and route diversions implemented throughout the day. Veterinary professionals conducted thorough examinations of the deceased elephants before conducting burial procedures in accordance with wildlife protocols.

This tragedy highlights the ongoing conflict between infrastructure development and wildlife conservation in Assam, which hosts one of India’s largest elephant populations with approximately 6,000 recorded individuals. While elephant herds frequently traverse local railway corridors, officials noted this particular collision occurred outside designated elephant crossing zones, raising questions about preventive measures and habitat protection strategies.

The UAE’s pioneering regulated lottery program has unveiled its newest batch of major prize winners following its recently enhanced weekly drawing format. Three fortunate participants have each secured Dh100,000 prizes in the latest Lucky Chance raffle, part of the transformed UAE Lottery system that now offers a staggering Dh30 million grand prize.

The winning selection occurred during the 29th Lucky Day draw (number 251220) conducted on Saturday evening, December 20, 2025. The victorious identification numbers that claimed the third-tier prizes of Dh100,000 each were: CY7564934, DT9694029, and CE5556039.

This drawing marks another installment in the lottery’s revitalized structure, which has undergone significant modifications to commemorate its first anniversary. The reforms include doubled drawing frequency—now occurring every Saturday at 8:30 PM—and substantially enhanced prize allocations. The revamped prize structure now features a life-changing Dh30 million jackpot, a secondary prize of Dh5 million, followed by third prize (Dh100,000), fourth prize (Dh1,000), and fifth prize (Dh100).

To claim the ultimate jackpot, participants must match all seven numbers on their ticket—corresponding to the six Lucky Days numbers (15, 17, 24, 6, 27, 18 in the latest draw) and the single Lucky Month number (8).

The UAE Lottery, established as the nation’s first and exclusively regulated lottery platform, has expanded dramatically since its inception. Initially launching with a single drawing format, the organization now offers twenty distinct gaming experiences including daily Pick 3, Pick 4, and Color Prediction games, alongside an extensive assortment of scratch cards and e-instant games. Participation remains open to all UAE residents aged 18 years and above, providing weekly opportunities for substantial financial gains.

MELBOURNE, Australia — The nation of Australia will observe a poignant moment of unity on Sunday evening as citizens light candles at precisely 6:47 p.m. local time (7:47 GMT) to memorialize the victims of last week’s devastating attack at Sydney’s Bondi Beach during a Jewish festival. The coordinated tribute comes exactly one week after the horrific shooting that claimed 15 lives and represents Australia’s deadliest mass shooting incident since the 1996 Tasmania tragedy that left 35 dead.

The federal government alongside New South Wales state authorities has officially designated Sunday as a national Day of Reflection. Commemorative activities began Sunday morning with Indigenous leaders conducting a traditional smoking ceremony at the Bondi Pavilion waterfront, where an organic memorial of flowers and heartfelt messages has accumulated throughout the week. This temporary memorial is scheduled to be cleared on Monday.

Rabbi Levi Wolff anticipates thousands will gather at Bondi to honor the victims and demonstrate solidarity with the Jewish community. “Australians recognize this wasn’t merely an attack against Jewish people—we’re an accessible target—but rather an assault on Australian values,” Wolff told Nine Network television. “The community will stand shoulder-to-shoulder to declare that hatred and violence have no place in our nation.”

The tragedy unfolded last Sunday when two gunmen opened fire on a Hanukkah celebration marking the beginning of the eight-day Jewish holiday. According to health department authorities, 13 wounded individuals remain hospitalized in Sydney facilities, including the alleged primary gunman, 24-year-old Naveed Akram, who was shot by police and now faces 15 murder charges plus 40 counts of attempted murder. His father, 50-year-old Sajid Akram, was fatally shot by police at the scene.

National symbols of mourning include flags flying at half-staff on government buildings, with structures illuminated in yellow Sunday evening as a visual demonstration of solidarity. Television and radio networks have been requested to observe a minute’s silence at the commemorative hour.

Rabbi Eli Feldman extended an invitation for the broader Australian community to join Jewish observers at Bondi for the final day of Hanukkah, which concludes at sundown Monday. “We invite everyone to light the eighth candle together, demonstrating that light will always overcome darkness,” Feldman told Australian Broadcasting Corp.

However, the Executive Council of Australian Jewry expressed profound concerns regarding government responses to rising antisemitism. Co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin reported that victims’ families feel “tragically, unforgivably let down” by perceived governmental failures to address growing antisemitism since the Israel-Hamas conflict began in 2023. “The community cycles through various emotions—there’s shock, bewilderment, and considerable anger. We demand answers and substantive change,” Ryvchin stated.