Bring Abu Azmi To UP. “Uttar Pradesh Knows Well How To Take Care Of Such People”: UP CM Yogi Adityanath
New Age Islam News Bureau
6 March2025
Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath (File)
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· Bring Abu Azmi To UP. “Uttar Pradesh Knows Well How To Take Care Of Such People”: UP CM Yogi Adityanath
· Pakistan Rises To Second in Global Terrorism Index 2025; Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan Emerged Fastest-Growing Terrorist Group
· Former Methodist Church Will Be Used By Blackpool’s Muslim Community
· Court Abolishes Libya’s 54-Year-Old Jihad Tax
· Baha’s Stone Building Craft Thriving As Local Artisans Embrace Heritage
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India
· Cow Vigilantes Attack Two Hindu Men; One Dies, Five Arrested in Haryana
· Karnataka Govt Revives Proposal For 4% Muslim Quota In Public Contracts
· 11 Madrasas Sealed In Dehradun, Muslim Bodies Say Drive Illegal
· Sambhal's Shahi Jama Masjid 'Cherry-Pick' Lens On ASI While Seeking Permission For Refurbishment
· BJP accuses Trinamool of caste survey bias: Diverting resources towards Muslims
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Pakistan
· PTI to move forward with 'wisdom, planning' to hold anti-govt protests
· No verdict mentions military courts as part of judiciary: Justice Mazhar
· Five killed, 10 injured in Khuzdar bazaar blast
· Pakistan reiterates resolve to strengthen US ties after Trump's praise
· Pakistan, UAE set to enhance cooperation across all sectors
· Centre hindered Sindh’s efforts towards sustainable energy: CM
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Europe
· Man in Belfast court facing 'Islamic terrorist' and murder charges
· Romanians on the march after arrest of far-right presidential favourite
· NZ fires envoy to UK who questioned Trump's grasp of history
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Africa
· UN report reveals brutal attacks targeting Muslims, refugees in CAR
· DSS hosts Muslim, Christian clerics to Iftar
· Sokoto civil servants to close early during Ramadan
· Rivers University VC Commends Fubara For Upholding Tenure Amid Political Climate
· Fresh NSCDC Recruitment About To Commence – FG Announces
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Arab World
· Obesity Prevention Begins At Home: Saudi Food And Drug Authority
· Homes, Businesses In Jeddah Compete To Capture Spirit Of Ramadan
· US-Saudi ties celebrated at 249th Independence Day event in Jeddah
· Saudi hospital climbs global rankings
· Tawakkalna offers a package of religious services during Ramadan
· Dubai Police Iftar Cannon supports Fathers’ Endowment Campaign throughout Ramadan
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North America
· Trump Issues ‘Last Warning’ To Hamas To Release All Remaining Hostages Held In Gaza
· US holds secret talks with Hamas on Gaza hostages, source says
· Trump says he 'appreciates' Zelensky message on Ukraine peace
· Pope well-rested after respiratory failure, Vatican says
· US Democrat Congressman reveals plan to impeach Trump
· US ‘reconsidering’ funding Ukraine – White House
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Mideast
· Ayatollah Khamenei Stresses Prevention of Deforestation
· Muslim World League welcomes decisions of extraordinary Arab Summit
· Syria monitor says security forces kill four in former Assad bastion
· 80,000 people perform Isha & Taraweeh prayers for fifth day at Al-Aqsa Mosque
· Dozens of settlers storm courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque
· Israel’s settler pressure on West Bank villages stirs annexation fears
· UK and EU members of UN Security Council urge Israel to allow aid into Gaza
· Doha rejects Israeli probe linking Qatari aid to Hamas attack
· Israel destroys West Bank homes of 2 alleged Palestinian attackers
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South Asia
· Amir al-Mu’minin Orders Free Electricity Supply to Mosques in Afghanistan
· Protesters besiege Shahbagh Police Station for hours early today
· 5 arrested AL men shifted to other prisons from Pabna Jail
· Ghor Province to Plant Two Million Seedlings in Nationwide Campaign
· Trump’s New Travel Ban May Soon Bar Afghans and Pakistanis: Reuters
· Mastermind of Kabul Airport attack transferred to the US
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Southeast Asia
· Lodges Police Report Over Social Media Post Mocking Islam, Calls For Firm Action
· Malaysia belongs to all, not just Malays and Muslims, says Nazri Aziz
· Housing and Local Government Ministry: 76,664 housing credit guarantee applications approved, RM17.86b secured since 2008
· MOT to introduce policy to encourage cargo companies to use ECRL
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/abu-azmi-uttar-pradesh-yogi-adityanath/d/134800
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Bring Abu Azmi To UP “Uttar Pradesh Knows Well How To Take Care Of Such People”: UP CM Yogi Adityanath
March 6, 2025
Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath (File)
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Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday hit out at Maharashtra Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA Abu Azmi over his remarks praising Mughal emperor Aurangzeb and issued a stern warning, saying that UP does not hesitate in dealing with such individuals.
Adityanath also asked the Samajwadi Party (SP) to bring Azmi to UP and said “Uttar Pradesh knows well how to take care of such people”.
Speaking at the State Legislative Council, during the budget debate, the CM demanded Azmi’s immediate suspension and urged Samajwadi Party to send him to UP.
The controversy erupted after Abu Azmi called Aurangzeb a “great administrator.”
In response, Adityanath lashed out at SP in Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council, accusing it of abandoning India’s cultural heritage and straying from the principles of its founding thinker, Dr Ram Manohar Lohia.
The CM highlighted that Dr Lohia had identified Shri Ram, Shri Krishna, and Lord Shiva as the pillars of India’s unity. Still, the SP, he claimed, was now idolising a tyrant like Aurangzeb.
Recalling historical events, Yogi narrated how Aurangzeb had imprisoned his father, Shah Jahan, in Agra Fort, leaving him suffering for every drop of water.
He urged SP leaders to read Shah Jahan’s biography, available in Patna’s library, mentioning that Shah Jahan himself had remarked that a Hindu, who serves his elderly parents and performs annual Shradh rituals is far nobler than Aurangzeb.
Adityanath, however, added that those who “behave like Aurangzeb may take pride in it.”
He accused Samajwadi Party (SP) of undermining India’s faith by glorifying the Mughal emperor, known for imposing the Jizya tax, destroying temples, and attempting to Islamise the country.
Yogi remarked that no civilised Muslim would name his son Aurangzeb, knowing his ruthless legacy of imprisoning his father and denying him even a drop of water.
He questioned SP’s “double standards”, pointing out how it criticises events like the Maha Kumbh while praising a “cruel and fanatic” ruler like Aurangzeb. Yogi further asked if those who disregard the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji and idolise Aurangzeb have any right to live in India. —WITH PTI
Source: indianexpress.com
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https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/lucknow/yogi-adityanath-on-abu-azmi-up-knows-to-take-care-of-such-people-9871020/
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Pakistan Rises To Second in Global Terrorism Index 2025; Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan Emerged Fastest-Growing Terrorist Group
Amin Ahmed
March 6, 2025
People walk amid the debris after a bomb blast at a railway station in Quetta on November 9, 2024. — Reuters/File
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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan ranked second in the Global Terrorism Index 2025, with the number of deaths in terrorist attacks rising by 45 per cent over the past year to 1,081.
The Global Terrorism Index 2025 published by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) provides a comprehensive summary of the key trends and patterns in terrorism over the last 17 years.
The report ranks 163 countries (99.7pc of the world’s population) according to the impact of terrorism. The indicators include the number of terrorist incidents, fatalities, injuries and hostages.
This is the fifth consecutive year in which an increase in terrorism-related deaths has been recorded and the largest year-on-year increase in the last decade for Pakistan. This trend is mirrored by a rise in the number of terror attacks, which more than doubled from 517 in 2023 to 1,099 in 2024. This is the first year that attacks have exceeded 1,000 since the inception of the Index.
The number of countries recording a terrorist attack increased from 58 to 66, according to the 12th annual Global Terrorism Index (GTI) released on Wednesday.
This reverses nearly a decade of improvements, with 45 countries deteriorating and 34 improving. The four deadliest terrorist groups intensified their violence in 2024, driving an 11 per cent rise in fatalities. In the West, lone wolf attacks now dominate, accounting for 93pc of fatal attacks over the past five years.
The Gaza conflict has intensified instability in the Middle East and is fueling hate crimes in the West, while terrorism deaths surged in Iran. Global terrorism deaths remained constant in 2024. The most deaths from terrorism were in Burkina Faso, Pakistan and Syria. Burkina Faso is responsible for one-fifth of all deaths globally.
The banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) emerged as the fastest-growing terrorist group, with 90pc increase in attributed deaths. The TTP remains the deadliest terrorist organisation in Pakistan for the second year. It was responsible for 52pc of deaths in Pakistan in 2024.
Last year, the TTP carried out 482 attacks, resulting in 558 deaths, an increase of 91pc from the 293 deaths in the preceding year.
The report says Pakistan has experienced a significant rise in terrorism since the Taliban’s rise to power in Afghanistan. Terrorist groups operating from Afghanistan have intensified their attacks, particularly along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. The provinces of Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa remain the most heavily affected regions, with these western border areas accounting for over 96pc of terrorist attacks and deaths in Pakistan in 2024.
Since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan, the TTP has capitalised on increased operational freedom and access to safe havens across the border. This has allowed the group to plan and execute attacks with greater impunity.
The TTP has continuously targeted security forces and infrastructure to undermine the state authority and disrupt military operations. In response, the Pakistan government has introduced counterterrorism initiatives, such as Operation Azm-i-Istehkam.
The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) was responsible for Pakistan’s deadliest terror attack of 2024, when a suicide bomber killed at least 25 civilians and soldiers at Quetta railway station in Balochistan.
Baloch militant groups such as the BLA and the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) continue to take advantage of ongoing instability within Pakistan. Attacks by these groups have increased significantly from 116 in 2023 to 504 in 2024. Deaths surged over fourfold to 388, from 88 in the previous year.
Additionally, the surge in Baloch militant groups’ activity has significantly contributed to the heightened levels of terrorism in Pakistan in 2024. The BLA has openly opposed the government’s policies on resource extraction, citing the exploitation of Balochistan’s natural resources without equitable development or compensation for the local population.
The group has also targeted foreign investments, particularly Chinese initiatives under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which it claims marginalise the Baloch people.
Source: dawn.com
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1896075/pakistan-rises-to-second-in-global-terrorism-index
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Former Methodist Church Will Be Used By Blackpool’s Muslim Community
ByShelagh Parkinson
5 MAR 2025
Independent Methodist Church in Blackpool has been stood empty and will now be used by the Muslim community
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A former church is set for a new lease of life after plans have been revealed for it to be used by Blackpool’s Muslim community. The former Independent Methodist Church on the corner of Central Drive and Palmer Avenue is set to be used for religious tuition in conjunction with the existing Blackpool Central Mosque and Islamic Centre on nearby Revoe Street.
Blackpool Council planners have given permission for the use by issuing a Certificate of Lawfulness which confirms the use of the building for the purpose proposed is legal. The church was built in 1925 but has been empty in recent years and was put up for sale due to a combination of falling congregations and the need for continued maintenance work and repairs.
It was bought by the Blackpool Central Mosque in order to use the space, which also includes a community hall accessed from Palmer Avenue, for education. Planning documents submitted to the council in support of the application say: “The church and community hall have been in continuous use as a place of worship since its construction in 1925 with the school section subsequently added in 1959.
“It has served the local community for prayer and community uses up until its sale in January 2024. The applicants wish to maintain its use for religious tuition and as a community room to serve their local community.”
Town hall planners, who made their decision using delegated powers, ruled the proposals did not constitute a change of use from the overall way the site had previously been used in planning terms. This meant a Certificate of Lawfulness could be issued and there was no requirement for a planning application.
A council report setting out the decision says the site “has been purchased by the Blackpool Central Mosque, who intend to utilise the church space to supplement the need for religious tuition classes.” It adds: “The present owners, Blackpool Central Mosque, wish to utilise the premises to supplement the need for tuition classes which presently operate at their Masjid on Revoe Street.”
The hall at the rear has previously been used as a dance school and is expected to remain available for community use.
Source: lancs.live
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https://www.lancs.live/news/lancashire-news/former-church-used-blackpools-muslim-31133192
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Court abolishes Libya’s 54-year-old Jihad tax
BY LIBYAN EXPRESS
MAR 06, 2025
Jihad Tax Falls After Half-Century in Landmark Libyan Court Ruling
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The Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court has declared Law No. 44 of 1970, which established the Jihad Tax, unconstitutional. Following this landmark ruling, the 3% tax deduction will be suspended from employees’ salaries.
The Jihad Tax had required the deduction of 3% from salaries exceeding 100 dinars, with proceeds directed to the Libyan Jihad Fund. This fund was reorganised under Law No. 59 of 1972, which specified that these deductions would support “the Jihad of the Islamic world against colonial powers.”
The court’s decision marks a significant change to a tax system that has been in place for over five decades. Employees earning more than the 100-dinar threshold will now see their take-home pay increase by 3% with immediate effect following the suspension of these deductions.
Source: libyanexpress.com
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https://www.libyanexpress.com/court-abolishes-libyas-54-year-old-jihad-tax/
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Baha’s stone building craft thriving as local artisans embrace heritage
March 06, 2025
The architectural similarities among buildings in Baha are notable. Dwellings are closely arranged, and villages feature narrow streets and a central square for social activities. (SPA)
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RIYADH: The natural environment profoundly shapes the architectural heritage of Saudi Arabia’s Baha region, where the traditional craft of stone building has thrived for generations, with local artisans skillfully utilizing the region’s abundant stones and trees.
Building using stone, a cornerstone of the region’s heritage, remains integral to Baha’s cultural fabric, with locals working to adapt the practice to meet contemporary demands, a Saudi Press Agency report highlighted.
Mohammed Al-Ghamdi, a seasoned builder in Baha, highlighted the labor-intensive nature of the building process, which lasts several months and involves using various types of stones, including cornerstones, long stones and the supporting Al-Mateen or Al-Dahr stones, which are essential for erecting a room.
Saleh Al-Zahrani, another local builder, highlighted the process of finishing a building with mud plastering, using juniper trees for doors and windows, and embellishing them with decorative carvings. The houses are further adorned with white quartz stones, creating a distinct look.
The architectural similarities among buildings in Baha are notable. Dwellings are closely arranged, and villages feature narrow streets and a central square for social activities.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2592571/saudi-arabia
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India
Cow Vigilantes Attack Two Hindu Men; One Dies, Five Arrested in Haryana
March 5, 2025
Haryana police on Tuesday said that five out of 11 accused have been arrested in connection with a mob attack on a truck driver and conductor over suspicion of cow smuggling in Palwal district.
The attack was carried out by a group of cow vigilantes on February 22 who suspected cow smuggling. The mob beat up the driver and conductor, and dumped them in a canal in Gurugram’s Sohna assuming that both were dead.
The victims are identified as Sandeep and Bal Kishan. Both were transporting two cows from Rajasthan to Lucknow when they lost their way and ran into the accused on motorbikes.
Days later, on March 2, the body of conductor Sandeep was recovered. However, Bal Kishan, the truck driver had managed to escape by swimming through the canal and filed a police complaint.
Following his complaint, police announced a reward of 5,000 rupees to anyone who knows about the whereabouts of the accused.
Many similar incidents of mob attacks over a mere suspicion of cow smuggling come into light.
These attacks have become increasingly common in highways of Haryana where cow vigilantes chase cattle and cow traders often resulting in deaths. In most cases, Muslims and Dalits become the main targets.
Source: muslimmirror.com
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https://muslimmirror.com/haryana-cow-vigilantes-attack-two-men-one-dies-five-arrested/
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Karnataka Govt Revives Proposal For 4% Muslim Quota In Public Contracts
Mar 6, 2025,
Bengaluru: The Karnataka govt is set to reintroduce a proposal granting 4% quota for Muslim contractors in public civil works, nearly a year after dropping the idea amid controversy and allegations of appeasement politics.
The govt is planning to amend Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements Act, 1999, in the current budget session to bring in the reservation. The finance department has prepared a blueprint, and law and parliamentary affairs minister HK Patil has reportedly given approval to the amendment.
The cabinet, at a meeting on Wednesday evening, is likely to discuss the proposal.
Currently, Karnataka reserves 24% of civil work contracts for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST), 4% for Other Backward Classes (OBC) Category-1, and 15% for OBCs in Category-2A. These reservations collectively account for 43% of the total contracts. If the proposed 4% Muslim quota is implemented under Category-2B, the overall reservation in govt contracts will increase to 47%, with the contract ceiling being doubled to Rs 2 crore.
The move is seen as an effort by CM Siddaramaiah to further consolidate support among Ahinda (a Kannada acronym for minorities, backward classes, and Dalits), a traditional vote base of the Congress.
During his first tenure as CM (2013-18), Siddaramaiah introduced reservation in govt contracts for SC/ST contractors. Earlier this year, two OBC categories were granted similar benefits. Communities like Besta, Uppara, and Dalit Christians fall under Category-1, while Kurubas, Idigas, and over 100 other communities, including Siddaramaiah's own Kuruba community, are part of Category-2A.
The govt's push to expand reservations in public contracts has reportedly irked contractors from Vokkaliga and Lingayat communities, who do not receive such benefits.
BJP has strongly opposed the move, calling it "unconstitutional" and an example of "appeasement politics". "We strongly oppose the Congress govt's policy of dividing society based on religion."
BJP state president BY Vijayendra said. "The Congress govt sees only Muslims as minorities, ignoring other genuinely marginalized communities. Muslims already have reservations in education and employment, which goes against the Constitution. Now, granting them 4% reservation in govt contracts is the peak of appeasement politics. If it was for all minorities, we have no objections," he said.
Earlier last year, a delegation of Muslim legislators and community leaders had submitted a memorandum to Siddaramaiah, demanding reservation in govt contracts.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/govt-revives-proposal-for-4-muslim-quota-in-public-contracts/articleshow/118743484.cms
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11 madrasas sealed in Dehradun, Muslim bodies say drive illegal
by Aiswarya Raj
March 6, 2025
Following an order by the district administration on February 28, authorities have sealed 11 madrasas in Dehradun, citing non-registration with the state madrasa board or the education department.
In January, before the local body elections, the state government ordered a verification drive and data from Dehradun was made public. The Dehradun District Magistrate, Savin Bansal, had stated that Sadar Dehradun tehsil had 16 unregistered and eight registered madrasas, Vikasnagar tehsil had 34 unregistered and 27 registered ones, Doiwala had one registered and six unregistered madrasas, and Kalsi had a single unregistered madrasa.
According to the Sub-District Magistrate of Vikasnagar tehsil, Vinod Kumar, nine madrasas have been sealed since March 3. The other two institutions are in Doiwala and Sadar. “Last November, I submitted a report to the district administration that madrasas were running without registering with the departments concerned. A team comprising the education, minority welfare, revenue departments and the police was formed for inspection. Following this, a report was submitted, and it was found that 20 madrasas in Vikasnagar were operating without registration,” he said.
“After the inspection, a few madrasas complied and registered with the departments. After raids were conducted following a DM order on February 28, we sealed nine madrasas after violations were found,” Kumar said.
After the Dehradun District Magistrate submitted a report stating that 57 madrasas in the district are running without registration, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that authorities would look into the “source of funding and the origins of such institutions”.
As the sealing exercise was being carried out, Muslim groups staged a protest in the city.
President of Muslim Sewa Sangathan, Naeem Qureshi, said, “No recognition is required to operate a madrasa. The sealing is illegal because no order or notice was given to the managers of the madrasas before they were sealed. They have not explained the grounds. We carried out a protest at the collectorate on Tuesday and one today at the Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority for illegally sealing a mosque. We submitted a memorandum as well. We said that if they do not stop this illegal sealing, we will protest outside the secretariat.”
Though a state-wide inspection was carried out by the DMs of all 13 districts, the findings are yet to be made public.
Recognised madrasas come under the state boards for madrasa education, while unrecognised ones follow the curriculum prescribed by the bigger seminaries such as the Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama and Darul Uloom Deoband.
The Uttar Pradesh government had initiated an inspection of madrasas in the state, which the Uttarakhand government had emulated.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Uttarakhand Madrasa Board chairman Mufti Shamoom Qasmi said the exercise is to merge these students with the “mainstream”. “Since February 28, we have approved ‘recognition’ to 51 madrasas out of 88 applications. The madrasas need to comply with norms, and the children should be allowed to follow modernity. We have initiated the NCERT curriculum so they can get mainstream education along with religious education. The madrasas need to register with either the madrasa board or the education department,” he said.
He said that Sanskrit will also soon be an option, and they have proposed it to the education department since it is the second language of the state. “As soon as the education department gets us teachers, we will kickstart this. Our aim is that the kids know the culture of others,” he said.
Source: indianexpress.com
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https://indianexpress.com/article/india/11-madrasas-sealed-in-dehradun-muslim-bodies-say-drive-illegal-9870931/
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Sambhal's Shahi Jama Masjid 'cherry-pick' lens on ASI while seeking permission for refurbishment
Piyush Srivastava
06.03.25
The management committee of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal has informed Allahabad High Court that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) didn’t inspect the areas on the mosque premises that needed whitewash and repair and mentioned only those spots in its report that were in good condition.
“They didn’t visit the areas of the mosque that need whitewash, painting and repair,” the committee told the high court on Tuesday while seeking permission to refurbish the structure.
While dealing with a petition filed by the mosque committee last week, the high court had directed the ASI to inspect the mosque site and submit a report on whether the shrine needed whitewashing. In its primary report, the ASI had informed the court that there was no such requirement as the walls of the shrine already had a thick coat of paint.
S.F.A. Naqvi, the counsel for the committee, on Tuesday submitted that the ASI skipped the spots that were in a state of disrepair and needed immediate attention.
“They (ASI) selectively surveyed the premises and their report was biased,”
he stated.
The ASI had told the court on Friday that the interiors of the mosque had “thick layers of enamel paint of sharp colours like golden, red, green and yellow concealing the original surface of the monument. According to the inspection, the modern enamel paint is still in good condition”.
Responding to the report, the high court had ordered the ASI to clean the mosque premises but refrained from passing an order for whitewashing the structure.
“The mosque committee has been painting the structure for the last 100 years, but the ASI has never objected to it before. They don’t want to let us do the repair and painting work now,” Naqvi alleged.
The high court has posted the matter to March 10.
The mosque found itself in the eye of a communal controversy when some Hindutva groups aligned with the ruling BJP moved a local court on November 19 last year claiming that it was built on the ruins of a Shiva temple destroyed by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. They had also claimed that the remains of the temple still existed on the mosque premises and that the structure should be handed over to the Hindus.
The court had appointed an advocate commissioner to survey the mosque and the exercise was conducted on the same day.
Large-scale violence erupted when the surveyors reached the site again on November 24 amid the chanting of “Jai Shri Ram” by some people. Four persons died in alleged police firing.
The Opposition parties accuse the BJP of using the Sambhal controversy as a political plank.
Speaking in the Assembly on Tuesday, chief minister Yogi Adityanath said: “We want back what belongs to us.”
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/sambhals-shahi-jama-masjid-cherry-pick-lens-on-archaeological-survey-of-india-while-seeking-permission-for-refurbishment-prnt/cid/2087287
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BJP accuses Trinamool of caste survey bias: Diverting resources towards Muslims
Suryagni Roy
Mar 5, 2025
The BJP has launched fresh allegations against the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government in West Bengal, accusing it of conducting a caste-based benchmark sample survey to benefit Muslim Other Backward Classes (OBCs) at the expense of Hindu OBCs.
The allegations come amid Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led party's counterclaims that BJP was adding fake names to the electoral rolls with the help of the Election Commission of India (ECI) for the 2026 Bengal Assembly polls.
Speaking to reporters, BJP General Secretary Jagannath Chatterjee claimed that the ruling party was using the survey as a tool for political appeasement. He alleged that the West Bengal government is seeking detailed financial data of Muslim communities to redistribute benefits in their favour while sidelining Hindu OBCs.
"The TMC government is conducting a benchmark sample survey on backward classes with the intention of diverting resources towards Muslim OBCs. This is a clear attempt at appeasement under the guise of welfare," Chatterjee stated.
He further argued that the nature of the survey questions was designed to foster division between communities, calling it "both communal and illegal". Referring to the survey documents shared by the BJP, Chatterjee highlighted certain questions, including whether respondents had access to water in their locality and whether they shared food with their neighbours.
"Never before in history have we encountered such questions. This is a deliberate attempt to create communal rifts. The High Court had struck down the OBC list, and now the matter is pending before the Supreme Court," he added.
Notably, the controversy stems from a 2024 Calcutta High Court ruling, which struck down the OBC status of several castes granted by the state government since 2010, deeming the reservations for public sector jobs and state-run educational institutions as illegal.
Following the ruling, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had vowed to challenge the decision in the Supreme Court, where the matter currently remains sub-judice.
The Trinamool supremo has called the duplication of EPIC (Electronic Electoral Photo Identity Card) numbers in West Bengal an "epic scam" and gave the poll panel a 24-hour deadline to "accept its mistake".
Meanwhile, the Election Commission said identical EPIC numbers or series were allotted to some electors from different states and Union territories due to a "decentralised and manual mechanism" being followed prior to shifting of the electoral roll database of all states to the ERONET (Electoral Roll Management) platform.
Source: indiatoday.in
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/bjp-trinamool-of-caste-survey-west-bengal-diverting-resources-towards-muslims-2689244-2025-03-05
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Pakistan
PTI to move forward with 'wisdom, planning' to hold anti-govt protests
By Web Desk
March 05, 2025
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary-General Salman Akram Raja said on Wednesday that his party would move forward with 'wisdom and planning' to hold peaceful anti-government protests and power shows without indulging into agitational politics.
"We will move forward with wisdom and planning," said Raja in a statement today. He added that they have no intentions to take the law into their hands.
Responding to criticism by some quarters on the PTI leadership, Raja termed the people "miscreants" who are questioning the top leaders for not establishing a protest camp outside Rawalpindi's Adiala jail for the release of the former premier Imran Khan.
The senior lawyer said that his party would not take any step that could backfire, adding that they were not planning to break the law.
He also clarified that the former ruling party would not act at anyone's behest or on someone else's order.
Ruling out possibilities of agitation, Raja said that the national politics was not some kind of "gorilla warfare". He added that his party would prepare a strategy for upcoming protests to protect workers' lives.
Since Khan's ouster from power, the PTI organised a series of anti-government protests in the past, however, they ended up abruptly following violent clashes between the protesters and law enforcers.
The party's protest after Khan's arrest in 2023 turned violent as several government and military installations were targeted by the protesters on May 9, leading to arrests and military trials of the accused.
The country once again witnessed fierce clashes between law enforcers and demonstrators when PTI held a protest rally on November 26, 2024, in Islamabad.
Raja went on to say that he was "very clear about what the PTI founder wants" after he held a separate meeting with the ex-premier in the Adiala jail in the presence of Bushra Bibi. However, he refused to disclose details of the meeting with the media.
The PTI secretary-general reiterated that they will not get the party founder out of jail via any type of deal only but through the law and Constitution.
He termed questions raised against the PTI leadership for the lack of efforts for Khan's release "provocative". However, he took back his statement following the journalists' protest for calling their questions "provocation".
He claimed that there was a fight going on in the country for democracy and human rights. Anyone who joins the struggle will not be doing a favour, said Raja, and invited the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and other opposition parties to join the PTI.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Imran Khan-founded party expedited efforts to form a grand opposition alliance to launch an anti-government movement after Eid ul Fitr following the incarcerated party founder's directives.
The coalition of several opposition parties, under the banner of the Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP), also held their two-day conference last month.
The opposition alliance stressed the need for a national dialogue to steer the country out of the economic and political crises amid the "worsening" situation.
The moot held the "rigged" February 8, 2024 general elections responsible for the ongoing economic, political and social crises facing the country.
The opposition’s moot demanded to abolish all amendments that contradict the spirit of the Constitution. The conference called the “rampant violation of constitutional and human rights” a complete negation of the rule of law in the country.
Source: thenews.com.pk
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https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1289017-pti-to-move-forward-with-wisdom-planning-to-hold-anti-govt-protests
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No verdict mentions military courts as part of judiciary: Justice Mazhar
By Abdul Qayyum Siddiqui
March 05, 2025
ISLAMABAD: Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar of the Supreme Court has highlighted objections raised over the military courts, while observing that they are not mentioned as part of the judiciary in any verdict.
During a hearing of the pleas against the military trial of civilians on Wednesday, the apex court judge said neither the armed forces nor the military court are part of the judiciary.
Seven-member constitutional bench of the apex court — headed by Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan — on heard the federal government and defence ministry’s pleas against the military trial of civilians as unconstitutional.
The other members of the bench were Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Justice Mazhar, Justice Syed Hassan Azhar Rizvi, Justice Musarrat Hilali, Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan.
Presenting his arguments on behalf of former officer bearers of the Supreme Court Bar Council, Advocate Abid Zuberi said FB Ali was a hero of the 1965 war, but he was accused of misusing his office after retirement. “How could a retired person use his office?” he wondered.
He went on to say that Gen Ziaul Haq conducted a military trial of FB Ali, but then he himself released him in 1978.
To this, Justice Mandokhail said Gen Zia did what FB Ali wanted to do.
Justice Mazhar said there were two objections raised over the military courts — military trials are not impartial, and those conducting military trials lack legal experience.
On the question of whether military courts are part of the judiciary, Advocate Zuberi said army courts are part of the executive.
“What do they have to do with the executive,” questioned Justice Mazhar. Advocate Zuberi replied that the army was supposed to fight on the frontiers.
Justice Mandokhail said the military’s job is to defend the country.
Justice Mazhar: “Do you accept the military courts. If so, then the results will be very different. Justice Muneeb Akhtar did not write military courts [in the verdict] as judiciary. There is no clarity about the military courts in any verdict of the court.”
Justice Mandokhail said the military court was not mentioned in section 2(d). However, it was written in the section that the trial of an offence would take place, but a forum is not mentioned explicitly. He said, adding that anti-terrorism courts pronounce sentences if evidence against the accused is available.
Justice Mazhar told the counsel to first accept that military courts are part of the judiciary before demanding to separate them from the judiciary. “The armed forces are not part of the judiciary; it is not written in any court decision that the military court is a judiciary,” the judge added.
Justice Mandokhel said that the word court martial has been used in the law but not in the military courts.
Lawyer Zuberi argued that only civilians who are part of the army can be tried in military courts.
In the presence of Article 10A and Article 4, a court martial of civilians is not possible. Under Section 2D, sub-clause 3A of Article 8 does not apply to the accused, he added.
After hearing the arguments, the hearing of the case was adjourned till tomorrow (Thursday).
Source: thenews.com.pk
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1289002-no-verdict-mentions-military-courts-as-part-of-judiciary-justice-mazhar
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Five killed, 10 injured in Khuzdar bazaar blast
Abdul Wahid Shahwani
March 6, 2025
KHUZDAR: At least five people were burnt to death and 10 others sustained serious injuries in an explosion in Naal town’s main bazaar in Khuzdar district on Wednesday.
According to police, the blast targeted the vehicle of pro-government tribal elder Abdul Samad Samalani. The explosive device, planted in the bazaar, was detonated remotely as his vehicle passed through the area.
While Mr Samalani survived with injuries, three of his companions were burnt to death on the spot as the vehicle caught fire following the explosion, whereas two later died of wounds.
Officials said the blast occurred near a welding shop in the busy marketplace. Police and security forces rushed to the scene, cordoning off the area and shifting the bodies and injured to Khuzdar District Hospital.
“A total of five people travelling in the vehicle were burnt alive as the fire spread rapidly. Tragically, there were no fire brigade services or rescue workers available in the municipal committee of Naal,” said a senior police officer from Bahawal Khan Police Station.
Deputy Commissioner Khuzdar Yasir Dashti confirmed that two critically injured victims succumbed to their wounds in the hospital, while three died on the spot in the vehicle fire.
Law enforcement agencies have collected evidence from the blast site. “We are investigating the nature of the explosion,” said a senior police official. However, another officer suggested that the explosion was likely caused by a bomb, intended to assassinate Abdul Samad Samalani, who is now under medical treatment.
Four of the five deceased have been identified as Munir Ahmed Samalani, Abdullah Sarmastani, Nadir Khan Garganari and Masood Ahmed.
The injured include Salal, Irfan, Abdul Samad Samalani, Arsalan, Muhammad Ashraf, Meharullah, Abdul Razzak Qambrani, Saadullah, Walid and Muhammad Ramzan.
Security forces are conducting further investigations, and no group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.
Source: dawn.com
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1896081/five-killed-10-injured-in-khuzdar-bazaar-blast
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Pakistan reiterates resolve to strengthen US ties after Trump's praise
By Azaz Syed
March 05, 2025
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has reiterated its resolve to build broad-based and longstanding relationship with the United States, hours after President Donald Trump hailed Islamabad’s role in arresting the Daesh operative involved in the 2021 deadly suicide bombing.
The statement comes as Deputy PM Dar received a call from US National Security Adviser Michael Waltz on March 4 (Tuesday) wherein he conveyed President Trump's appreciation and thanked the Pakistan government for efforts in countering terrorism, according to the Foreign Office.
President Trump on Tuesday announced that the Daesh operative, who allegedly planned the 2021 suicide bombing outside Kabul airport during the chaotic US military withdrawal, had been arrested.
The bomber detonated a device among packed crowds as they tried to flee Afghanistan, killing 170 Afghans and 13 US troops securing the perimeter, days after the Taliban seized control of the capital.
In his first address to Congress since returning to the White House, Trump announced on Tuesday that Pakistan had assisted in the arrest of "the top terrorist responsible for that atrocity".
The FO, in the statement, said FM Dar congratulated the NSA on his assumption of office and reiterated that Pakistan looked forward to building on its longstanding and broad-based relationship with the United States under President Trump and his administration.
He also reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to continue its cooperation with the US in the field of counterterrorism.
Dar also appreciated President Trump's announcement to withdraw the US military equipment left behind in Afghanistan.
The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to enhance cooperation in IT, energy and mineral sectors, as per the statement.
“They also agreed on the need to have continued dialogues on trade, investment, climate change and health as part of a broad-based agenda in the days to come,” it added.
Who is Mohammad Sharifullah?
Mohammad Sharifullah, also known as Jafar, Sharifullah, is a leader of the Daesh Khorasan branch in Afghanistan.
The US has charged him with "providing and conspiring to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organisation resulting in death."
The Justice Department said on Wednesday the operative admitted to FBI Special Agents "to helping prepare" for the attack, "including scouting a route near the airport for an attacker."
"This evil ISIS-K terrorist orchestrated the brutal murder of 13 heroic Marines," Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement.
Sharifullah also admitted to involvement in several other attacks, the Justice Department said, including the March 2024 Moscow Crocus City Hall attack in which he said "he had shared instructions on how to use AK-style rifles and other weapons to would-be attackers."
In Tuesday´s speech, Trump took a swipe at his predecessor Joe Biden’s oversight of the "disastrous and incompetent withdrawal from Afghanistan" and thanked Pakistan "for helping arrest this monster".
The United States withdrew its last troops from Afghanistan in August 2021, ending a chaotic evacuation of tens of thousands of Afghans who had rushed to Kabul’s airport in the hope of boarding a flight out of the country.
Images of crowds storming the airport, climbing atop aircraft — and some clinging to a departing US military cargo plane as it rolled down the runway — aired on news bulletins around the world.
In April 2023, the White House announced that a Daesh official involved in plotting the attack at the airport´s Abbey Gate had been killed in an operation by Afghanistan´s new Taliban government.
‘Leverage US concerns’
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked Trump for "acknowledging and appreciating Pakistan’s role and support" in counter-terrorism efforts in Afghanistan.
"We will continue to partner closely with the United States in securing regional peace and stability," he wrote on social media platform X.
Pakistan’s strategic importance has waned since the US and NATO withdrawal from Afghanistan, which has seen violence rebound in the border regions.
Tensions between the neighboring countries have soared, with Islamabad accusing Kabul of failing to root out militants sheltering on Afghan soil who launch attacks on Pakistan.
Daesh Kabul chapter, which has claimed several recent attacks in Afghanistan, has staged a growing number of bloody international assaults, including killing more than 90 in an Iranian bombing last year.
Michael Kugelman, South Asia Institute director at The Wilson Center, said on X that Pakistan was trying to "leverage US concerns about terror in Afghanistan and pitch a renewed security partnership."
"Pakistan’s help catching the Abbey Gate attack plotter should be seen in this context," he added.
Source: thenews.com.pk
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1289019-pakistan-reiterates-resolve-to-strengthen-us-ties-after-trumps-praise
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Pakistan, UAE set to enhance cooperation across all sectors
March 6, 2025
ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar and his UAE counterpart on Wednesday reaffirmed their commitment to enhance bilateral cooperation across all sectors.
Mr Dar received a phone call from UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who conveyed his heartfelt Ramazan greetings to Mr Dar as well as the leadership and citizens of Pakistan.
In return, Ishaq Dar extended warm Ramazan wishes to his UAE counterpart, his country’s leadership and people.
The two leaders also discussed results of the recent visit by the UAE crown prince to Pakistan.
Dar’s visit to Dhaka
Meanwhile, Pakistan and Bangladesh have begun preparations for the upcoming visit of Mr Dar to Dhaka, tentatively scheduled for next month, as both countries look to revitalise bilateral relations after a prolonged hiatus.
Additional Foreign Secretary (Asia & Pacific) Ambassador Imran Ahmed Siddiqui visited Bangladesh as part of the groundwork for Mr Dar’s visit.
During his meetings in Dhaka, Mr Siddiqui delivered a letter from the deputy prime minister for Bangladesh’s adviser on foreign relations, reaffirming Islamabad’s commitment to strengthening ties with Dhaka.
The letter was handed over to Bangladesh’s Foreign Secretary, Md. Jashim Uddin.
In his meeting with Uddin, both sides reviewed bilateral relations and agreed to convene bilateral consultations at the earliest. The secretary-level bilateral consultations were last held in 2010.
Bangladesh Secretary for Home Affairs, Dr Nasimul Gani, and Mr Siddiqui discussed the renewal of agreements on narcotics control and counterterrorism cooperation.
Source: dawn.com
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1896068
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Centre hindered Sindh’s efforts towards sustainable energy: CM
Tahir Siddiqui
March 6, 2025
• Says federal govt doesn’t want to build additional power plants
• Distributes solar panels in Karachi
KARACHI: Recounting the hurdles faced by the Sindh government in promoting renewable energy and developing the Thar coal project, Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Wednesday said that the federal government had continued to prioritise imported coal-based power plants and refused to grant approvals for additional power generation.
He said that when the PPP had initiated a solar energy project, restrictions were imposed on renewable sources such as wind and solar energy, hindering Sindh’s efforts toward sustainable energy solutions.
“In response, the Sindh government decided to establish imported-coal power plants to meet the province’s energy needs,” he added.
Speaking at the distribution of Solar Home Systems (SHS) among the vulnerable communities organised by Sindh Solar Energy Project (SSEP), the chief minister said that critics had also dismissed Thar coal as unsuitable for electricity production, creating further obstacles for Sindh’s energy plans.
“In 2013-14, then-prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf approved the Thar coal project, but securing loans for its execution remained difficult due to a lack of federal guarantees,” he said adding that doubts were raised about Thar coal’s feasibility even after the 2016 project agreement.
Mr Shah credited President Asif Ali Zardari for bringing then-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to Thar for the project’s inauguration, ensuring federal-level support.
“Despite financial constraints in 2015, the Sindh government worked tirelessly to secure loans under strict conditions,” he said adding that the federal government told the provincial government that if the project defaulted, they would deduct payments from Sindh’s NFC Award.
The chief minister said that the Thar coal project began yielding results in 2018 when Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari personally visited the mining site. “Today, Pakistan’s cheapest electricity is produced from Thar coal, marking a significant milestone for Sindh’s energy sector,” he said.
Despite initial scepticism, Mr Shah noted that those who once doubted Thar coal’s viability were now demanding its increased extraction to convert imported coal power plants to local coal usage.
“Additionally, there is growing interest in utilising Thar coal for country’s cement industry as an alternative to expensive imported fuel,” he added.
The chief minister said that the provincial government had initiated a renewed push for green energy, but the federal government continued to prioritise imported coal-based power plants, such as those in Sahiwal.
However, he lamented that despite these efforts, federal authorities refused to grant approvals for additional power generation, claiming that Pakistan already had sufficient electricity production. “If that is true,” the CM questioned, “then why does the entire Sindh, including Karachi, still suffer from severe loadshedding?” he asked and asserted that the issue was not a surplus of electricity but rather the federal government’s inability to produce power efficiently.
The CM said: “Recognising its potential, the Sindh government is now collaborating with the federal government to lay a dedicated railway line for Thar coal transportation, further strengthening the province’s energy independence.”
Mr Shah said that in 2014, the government had solarised 600 schools in Nagarparkar and launched two 25 megawatts solar power schemes in Sukkur.
He said that the provincial government had begun distributing Solar Home Systems (SHS) to 200,000 low-income households.
He said that Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto had instructed him to procure another 300,000 solar units for further distribution.
The chief minister said that the initiative was designed to provide affordable and sustainable electricity, helping families that were still recovering from the devastating floods of 2022. “We are installing 270 megawatts solar power plants, which will provide electricity at a rate of Rs9.80 per unit,” he stated.
Green Energy
He said that the 2022 floods served as a stark reminder of our vulnerability.
“The Sindh Solar project is a crucial step towards energy independence, enabling families to power their lives, children to study, and businesses to thrive, even in the face of adversity. We are building a more resilient and sustainable Sindh,” he added.
He said that the SSEP’s Component III would provide heavily subsidised SHS kits to eligible households for a nominal price of Rs6,000.
Each VeraSol-certified kit includes robust solar panel (80w solar panel, smart power management, and a charge control unit, a long-lasting battery, an 18Ah lithium-iron phosphate battery, efficient lighting (three led bulbs), essential connectivity (mobile charging facility, 18-inch DC pedestal fan and secure installation (solar mounting frame).
The CM said that the provincial government was actively forging partnerships with Chinese companies to develop wind-solar hybrid energy projects, including a 350MW and a 75MW initiative, which were finalised during President Asif Ali Zardari’s recent visit to China.
The chief minister reiterated the government’s commitment to providing 300 units of free electricity to low-income families, a main promise of the PPP manifesto and a step towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He said that the provincial government aimed to complete the distribution of all 200,000 SHS kits by July 2025, with a target of 400 kits per district each week.
“This ambitious timeline reflects the government’s urgency in delivering tangible benefits to communities in need,” he added.
Energy Minister Nasir Shah said that SHS distribution was being carried out equally across all 30 districts of the province, utilising the expertise of established NGOs like Hands, SRSO, and SAFCO to ensure efficient last-mile delivery.
He said that beneficiaries were carefully selected from the Benazir Income Support Program database, targeting families with a PMT score between 21 and 50, ensuring that the most vulnerable receive priority.
Source: dawn.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.dawn.com/news/1896033/centre-hindered-sindhs-efforts-towards-sustainable-energy-cm
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Europe
Man in Belfast court facing 'Islamic terrorist' and murder charges
ByJohn Cassidy
5 MAR 2025
A man is to stand trial for the murder of a woman in the Republic of Ireland and possessing information likely to be of use to terrorists.
Habib Shah Shamel, 28, formerly of Cecil Street in Limerick, was brought to Belfast Crown Court on Tuesday from Maghaberry Prison where he has been on remand for almost two years. He was originally charged with the murder of Geila Ibram on April 4, 2023.
The 27-year-old victim’s mutilated body was discovered at an apartment block in the Dock Road area of Limerick. Ms Ibram, who was originally from Romania, died from multiple stab wounds inflicted to the neck, face and abdomen in a “vicious and frenzied attack”, according to police.
Shamel, an Afghani national, was later arrested in the Malone area of south Belfast. He has been charged with Ms Ibram’s murder under the Criminal Jurisdiction Act 1975, which allows the PSNI to prosecute in Northern Ireland if a suspect has travelled from another jurisdiction.
A previous court heard claims that he had arranged a “sexual exchange” with the victim on the day she died. CCTV footage allegedly showed him arriving at her property and then leaving again less than two minutes later.
Detectives claim he injured his hand during the alleged encounter and attended hospital in Limerick before travelling north by bus.
Shamel was subsequently charged under the Terrorism Act that on “April 6, 2023....he possessed a document or record containing information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism”.
During a review hearing into the case last December, a prosecutor told Belfast Crown Court that the fresh terrorism charge related to a USB stick found on Shame following his arrest by the PSNI for the murder of Ms Ibram.
“In his possession was a USB device and on that there was a great deal of material which is of an Islamic terrorist nature,” said the prosecutor.
“A report from an expert on Islamic extremism has now been served on the defence.”
At Belfast Crown Court today (Tuesday), defence counsel Niall Hunt KC asked for Shamel’s arraignment on the murder and terrorism charges to be adjourned as there was no interpreter present to translate the charges for the defendant as he has “very limited English”.
Prosecution counsel David McDowell KC told Mr Justice O’Hara that he was not opposing the adjournment application. He said it was the Crown’s intention to apply to the court to have the terrorism charge joined with the murder charge into “one Bill of Indictment”.
“We allege one (the terrorism charge) is the motive for the other (the murder charge),” said Mr McDowell.
Asked by Mr Justice O’Hara was there a direct relationship between both indictments, Mr McDowell replied: “Yes, motive.”
The senior judge said he would review the case on Friday, April 11, 2025, when Shamel will be formally arraigned on the two charges he faces.
After being told by the prosecution that the trial would last up to three weeks, Mr Justice O’Hara said he would list the trial for the week commencing Monday, September 8, 2025.
Source: belfastlive.co.uk
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https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/man-belfast-court-facing-islamic-31136725
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Romanians on the march after arrest of far-right presidential favourite
5 MAR 2025
Tens of thousands of Romanians marched on Bucharest's Victory Square, the seat of the Romanian government, at the weekend, after the presidential election favourite was taken in for questioning.
Calin Georgescu was picked up on his way to register as a candidate, and he was later charged with attempting to overthrow the constitutional order, as well as membership of a neo-fascist organisation.
"Georgescu's mentality is the same as the mentality of Trump," said Lavinia approvingly, as she steered her three-year-old daughter's pushchair through a sea of Romanian tricolour flags.
"He will listen to our opinion, just as we listen to him. We came here today for freedom, and democracy."
On the day of Georgescu's arrest came an unexpected twist.
Guns, grenade launchers, and gold bullion buried beneath the floorboards were found in raids on 47 properties by Romanian police targeting a network, allegedly run by a former French legionnaire and militia chief in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Horatiu Potra's current whereabouts are unknown, but his alleged links to Georgescu have only added to the intrigue.
While Horatiu Potra has admitted to illegal possession of weapons, Georgescu has denied all wrongdoing.
In just three months, Romania has gone from a stable and loyal member of the European Union and Nato, to a country where a far-right, pro-Russia figure has come from almost nowhere to become favourite for the presidency.
Georgescu led the first round of last December's election, but the run-off vote was then annulled after Romanian intelligence revealed Russia had been involved in 800 TikTok accounts backing him.
The election is being rerun on 4 and 18 May.
For Georgescu's critics, photographs of the weapons cache are the ultimate proof of his danger to the republic.
For his supporters, they're the latest bout of mud-slinging, the doomed attempt of a corrupt regime to resist inevitable, Trump-inspired change.
At the roadside, a lone busker played the same tune over and over again on an electric piano, as a sea of protesters passed by.
"We are talking about the freedom to choose our own president," said Oana Eftimie, vice-president of the Patriotic Party of Romanians, another right-wing grouping.
One of the peculiarities of the Calin Georgescu phenomenon, is that he seems to have reached beyond existing nationalist parties like AUR, the Alliance for the Union of Romanians, which won 18% and 63 seats in the House of Deputies in the Parliamentary elections on 1 December.
Some polls put him as high as 40%.
Georgescu has eclipsed both the firebrand AUR leader, George Simion, and the leader of SOS Romania, Diana Sosoaca.
Oana Eftimie dismisses the charges against Georgescu, and some of his backers, as reheated slanders:
"He was prosecuted for all that before, and the case was closed last year for lack of evidence. So he's not a fascist, we're not fascists, we're just normal people wanting to be able to choose our leader, and exhausted with those that are in power now."
In a quiet flat not far from the noisy marchers, Elena Calistru, president of Funky Citizens, a liberal-minded, non-governmental organisation, admits that the protesters' anguish about a corrupt, complacent elite, has some basis in fact.
"But if you have a house and the roof is leaking. You don't burn down the house. You fix the roof, right?
"Unfortunately for us though, the malaise that we see all over Europe, the lack of leadership, the lack of politicians capable of talking to the general public without trying to compete with the populists, is also present in Romania."
As a loyal US ally, Romanian military analysts are holding their breath over the fate of substantial US military infrastructure in Romania, which includes 4,500 US personnel. "Dacian Spring", a major Nato exercise scheduled for the spring, has been postponed until after the May elections.
Candidates have until 15 March to register their candidacy for the presidential elections. If the Romanian Constitutional Court rules that Georgescu cannot stand, because of the charges levelled against him, how will the Americans react?
US Vice-President JD Vance made an apparent criticism of Romania at the Munich Security Conference last month.
"If your democracy can be destroyed with a few hundred thousand dollars of digital advertising from a foreign country then it wasn't very strong to begin with."
"Now, the good news is that I happen to think your democracies are substantially less brittle than many people apparently fear", added Vance.
Romanians on both sides of the political spectrum seem unconvinced.
Source: bbc.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3d810xyvz9o
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NZ fires envoy to UK who questioned Trump's grasp of history
6 MAR 2025
New Zealand has fired its most senior envoy to the United Kingdom over remarks that questioned US President Donald Trump's grasp of history.
At an event in London on Tuesday, High Commissioner to the UK Phil Goff compared efforts to end the war between Russia and Ukraine to the Munich Agreement of 1938, which allowed Adolf Hitler to annex Czechoslovakia.
Goff recalled how Sir Winston Churchill had criticised the agreement, then said of the US leader: "President Trump has restored the bust of Churchill to the Oval Office. But do you think he really understands history?"
Goff's comments were "deeply disappointing" and made his position "untenable", New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters said.
Goff's comments came after Trump paused military aid to Kyiv following a heated exchange with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office last week.
He contrasted Trump with Churchill who, while estranged from the British government, spoke against the Munich Agreement as he saw it as a surrender to Nazi Germany's threats.
Goff quoted how Churchill had rebuked then UK Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain: "You had the choice between war and dishonour. You chose dishonour, yet you will have war."
Peters said Goff's views did not represent those of the New Zealand government.
"When you are in that position you represent the government and the policies of the day, you're not able to free think, you are the face of New Zealand," local media reported Peters saying.
"It's not the way you behave as the front face of a country, diplomatically," he said.
Goff had been high commissioner since January 2023. Before that, he served in several ministerial portfolios, including justice, foreign affairs and defence.
Former Prime Minister Helen Clark criticised Goff's sacking, saying it was backed by a "very thin excuse".
"I have been at Munich Security Conference recently where many draw parallels between Munich 1938 and US actions now," she wrote in a post on X.
Source: bbc.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp3yew446k5o
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Africa
UN report reveals brutal attacks targeting Muslims, refugees in CAR
By Agency Report
March 6, 2025
A UN report released on Wednesday has uncovered a pattern of grave human rights violations committed by armed groups in southeast Central African Republic (CAR), targeting Muslim communities and Sudanese refugees.
Investigations by the UN human rights office (OHCHR) and the UN peacekeeping mission in the country, MINUSCA, found evidence of summary executions, sexual violence and torture.
Other violations included cruel and degrading treatment, forced labour, and looting of homes and shops.
CAR has been plagued by decades of instability and communal violence along religious and ethnic lines. UN assessments suggest that one in five people are displaced internally or outside the country’s borders due to the conflict.
The fighting has also taken a terrible toll on vital infrastructure, including schools and hospitals.
The civil war in Sudan and tensions in southern Chad, have led to an influx of refugees, asylum seekers and returnees to already overwhelmed areas of CAR.
The report detailed two waves of attacks in the Mbomou and Haut-Mbomou prefectures, in October 2024 and January 2025, in which at least 24 people were killed, including victims who had been summarily executed.
The attacks were directed and coordinated by elements of Wagner Ti Azandé (WTA), an armed group with ties to the national army. WTA originally belonged to another armed group called Azandé Ani Kpi Gbé (Azanikpigbe), whose members were also involved in the attacks.
In early October, both groups attacked the towns of Dembia and Rafaï, in the Mbomou prefecture, mainly targeting the Fulani pastoral community and other Muslims, as well as a camp for Sudanese refugees and asylum-seekers.
In Dembia, WTA and Azanikpigbe fighters publicly executed a 36-year-old Fulani man, “creating a climate of terror among the population”, according to the report, while seven other Fulani men were tied up and thrown alive into the Ouara River.
Attackers also carried out widespread sexual violence, with at least 24 victims, including 14 women and seven girls who were raped.
On January 21, a separate attack on a Fulani camp near Mboki, in Haut-Mbomou, left at least 12 dead.
Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, underscored the need to bring perpetrators to justice.
“These horrible crimes must not go unpunished. Accountability is fundamental to ensuring such violations never happen again,” he said.
He, however, called for the ties between the WTA group and the national army to be clarified and for full transparency regarding the group’s actions and its lawfulness.
“If this is not possible, the group should be disarmed.”
According to the report, at least 14 WTA members were arrested in Mboki and Bangui after the attack on the Fulani camp near Mboki.
The report also highlighted the limited presence of State security forces in parts of the prefectures of Mbomou and Haut-Mbomou, fuelling the climate of impunity.
Valentine Rugwabiza, the head of MINUSCA, warned that despite continued efforts by the Government – with support from the Mission – the situation in the two regions remains deeply concerning.
“Failure to adequately respond to these crimes would undermine the hard-earned security gains and further erode social cohesion in areas where efforts have been made with communities to defuse tensions and promote peaceful coexistence,” she said
In response to the violence, MINUSCA has intensified efforts to protect civilians and support the restoration of State authority in the affected regions.
Since October 2024, the Mission has deployed forces to Dembia, setting up a temporary operational base. In January, it also advocated for more Central African armed forces (FACA) troops to reinforce security.
In addition, it facilitated a visit by the regional governor to Dembia in November, helping promote dialogue and reconciliation among the region’s communities.
The Central African Government has also taken steps to address the violence, including arresting some WTA members.
It has also announced plans to establish a Tribunal of Grande Instance in Zémio for affected communities to access justice and combat impunity.
Source: dailynigerian.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://dailynigerian.com/un-report-reveals-brutal-attacks-targeting-muslims-refugees-in-car/
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DSS hosts Muslim, Christian clerics to Iftar
March 6, 2025
The Director General, State Services (DGSS) Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, has called for greater religious harmony amongst Christians and Muslims in the country.
This was as he hosted Muslims and Christians for Iftar (the breaking of fast) at the weekend in Abuja
Ajayi described the event, which several less privileged persons and those with special needs in the city benefitted from, as a gesture of love and peace that comes with Ramadan.
Leading hundreds of Muslim faithful and scholars at the historic breaking of fast were Secretary General Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), Prof. Khalid Aliyu Abubakar, Senior Imams, National Mosque Abuja, Prof. Kabir Adam, Bar. Harun Muhammad Eze, Imam National Mosque.
Also present were Sheikh. Dr. Tajuddeen Adigun, the Chairman, committee of FCT Imams, Imam Fuad Adeyemi of Al-Habibiyyah Mosque and Dr. Bashir Abdullahi Ismail – Imam FOMWAN.
While speaking, Prof. Abubakar noted that Ajayi, despite being the son of a Christian cleric, thought it significant to assemble Muslims and Christians across the Federal Capital (FCT) to the break of the Muslim fast, stressing that the DSS boss “made history.”
He commended the DG for his pragmatic leadership style, bridge building, and the sense of unity with which he convened the event.
Abubakar prayed for Allah’s wisdom upon the DG to help overcome the challenges of securing Nigeria.
Also speaking at the event, notable Christian leaders, including, Rev. Fathers Peter B. Audu, Michael Banjo, and Boniface Idoko of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, as well as Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) officers in the FCT, lauded the DSS boss for his leadership style which they said has helped made Nigeria safer.
Other CAN officers included Reverend Canon Smart Simon, Reverends Saboyaro Adams, Nicodemus Izuchukwu, Timothy Amazon, and Ogbonife Nnamdi, as well as Snr. Special Apostle Beneni Iyaye lauded the DSS boss for promoting religious harmony.
Reverend Adams urged other security chiefs and heads of other national leaders to emulate Mr. Ajayi, whom he said has, by his actions in office, demonstrated true love for others as taught by Christ.
Responding, the DG said that, even though a Christian, it had become a tradition for him, to identify with Muslims during the holy month.
Source: thenationonlineng.net
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https://thenationonlineng.net/dss-hosts-muslim-christian-clerics-to-iftar/
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Sokoto civil servants to close early during Ramadan
5th March 2025
By Animashaun Salman
The Sokoto State Government has adjusted official working hours for civil servants in the state in observance of the holy month of Ramadan.
According to a circular issued by the Head of Civil Service, Sulaiman S/Fulani Ahmadu, dated March 3, 2025, all civil servants, including those in the Unified Local Government Service and the Local Government Education Authority, will close one and a half hours earlier than usual throughout the fasting period.
“Under the new schedule, government offices will close at 2:30 pm from Monday to Thursday and at 12:00 noon on Fridays,” the circular stated.
The adjustment, approved by Governor Ahmed Aliyu, aims to provide Muslim civil servants with more time for prayers, religious activities, and preparation for breaking their fast.
“This gesture is to enable civil servants to devote more time to the Almighty Allah during the period of Ramadan,” the statement added.
The move has been widely welcomed by civil servants, who described it as a thoughtful initiative that will help them balance work commitments with their religious obligations.
Source: punchng.com
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https://punchng.com/sokoto-civil-servants-to-close-early-during-ramadan/
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Rivers University VC Commends Fubara For Upholding Tenure Amid Political Climate
6 March 2025
By Enioluwa Adeniyi
The outgoing Vice-Chancellor of Rivers State University (RSU), Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, Prof. Nlerum Okogbule, has commended Governor Siminalayi Fubara for allowing him to complete his tenure without political interference.
Prof. Okogbule made this remark during a special end-of-tenure lecture tagged ‘Starting Strong and Finishing Well’, held in his honour at the university’s Senate Chamber.
Reflecting on his five-year tenure, he expressed gratitude to both former Governor Nyesom Wike, who appointed him, and Governor Fubara, who upheld his position despite political changes.
“Let me specially acknowledge and appreciate the former and present visitors of our great university—former governor, Nyesom Wike, for finding me worthy of appointment as Vice-Chancellor and supporting me throughout his tenure, and Governor Siminalayi Fubara for keeping faith with me upon his assumption of office,” he stated.
He further described Fubara’s decision as uncommon in Nigerian politics, saying, “The governor did not allow political sentiments to influence him to act differently. I therefore owe him a debt of gratitude for this rare action.”
Milestones Achieved Under His Leadership
Prof. Okogbule highlighted some of the university’s key achievements during his tenure, including:
– Graduating and inducting the first set of medical doctors in the university’s history.
– Producing the first set of trained nurses from the institution.
– Expanding satellite campuses to increase accessibility to education.
– Demolishing the ‘security village’, which had become a hideout for criminals on campus.
‘A Worthy Leader’ – Justice Odili
In her remarks, Justice Mary Odili, Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the university’s Governing Council, emphasized the importance of valedictory ceremonies in celebrating leadership transitions.
She praised Prof. Okogbule’s contributions, particularly in advancing RSU’s Faculty of Law, and acknowledged his cordial relationship with the governing councils.
“He is patient and focused. He has contributed tremendously to making the Faculty of Law one of the best in the country. Through his service as Head of Department, Dean of the Faculty of Law, Dean of Postgraduate School, and now Vice-Chancellor, he has strengthened this university’s standing.
“On behalf of the 13th and now the 14th governing councils, I thank Prof. Okogbule for his dedication to fulfilling the vision of the university’s founding fathers and the present administration under Governor Fubara,” Odili said.
Guest Lecturer Calls For Ethical Leadership
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Abdulwahab Egbewole, delivered a lecture on leadership success and ethical reforms in institutions.
He commended Prof. Okogbule for effectively steering RSU in a challenging academic environment and urged leaders to instill values of integrity, accountability, and excellence in their workplaces.
“Nigeria’s poor work ethic is a major obstacle to development. National re-orientation programmes have yielded little success, so it is time to advocate for ethical reforms at the institutional level.
“Leaders must take responsibility for creating an inspiring ecosystem that promotes productivity and high standards,” Prof. Egbewole said.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/03/06/rivers-university-vc-commends-fubara-for-upholding-tenure-amid-political-climate/
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Fresh NSCDC Recruitment About To Commence – FG Announces
5 March 2025
By Richard Ogunsile
The Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ahmed Audi, has announced that the Federal Government is set to initiate a new recruitment process for qualified Nigerians to join the Corps.
Naija News reports that this announcement was made during the inauguration of the NSCDC Bwari Divisional office on Wednesday in Abuja.
Audi indicated that the Corps has received the necessary approval to begin the recruitment exercise, although the specific date for its commencement will be communicated at a later time.
“We are preparing to recruit officially, we appreciate Mr President for the approval to recruit well behaved Nigerians into the service,” Audi said.
He praised the Bwari Area Council for establishing the divisional office, noting that this development would enhance security in the region.
In his address, the FCT Commandant of the Corps, Olusola Odumosu, expressed gratitude to Bwari Chairman, Dr. John Gabaya, for the initiative in building a suitable office for the command’s personnel.
He further mentioned that a significant challenge encountered by the division’s operatives was the upkeep and fueling of operational vehicles, thus requesting additional support.
“I would like to assure you that now that the division has a better facility to operate from, we will deploy more personnel and working tools.
“Since assumption of office we have created two more divisions, two area commands and several observation posts.
“These are moves to get closer to the people, to have better assessment and understanding of the peculiar security situation at the local levels and for more results oriented operational planning,” Odumosu said.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/03/05/fresh-nscdc-recruitment-about-to-commence-fg-announces/
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Arab World
Obesity prevention begins at home: Saudi Food and Drug Authority
March 06, 2025
RIYADH: Parents should be mindful at all times of the food that they give to their children, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has said as it emphasized the critical role of families in safeguarding children's health.
In a statement carried on the occasion of World Obesity Day on March 4, the SFDA urged parents "to encourage children to replace sugary drinks, such as soft drinks, with water and natural fruit juices."
Families should also "significantly reduce fast-food consumption, a key contributor to weight gain and related health issues," said the statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency, or SPA.
SFDA further advocated healthier cooking methods, such as grilling and roasting, over frying.
"Recognizing the alarming global rise in obesity rates, the authority emphasizes the necessity of higher community awareness to address this growing challenge.
Obesity is a complex disease that has reached pandemic proportions worldwide, tripling in prevalence since 1975. This surge is widely attributed to the adoption of increasingly sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy diets.
In response to the health and social implications of the obesity problem, the Saudi government has implemented a wide range of policies under its Vision 2030 plan, aiming to create a healthier population and improve quality of life.
A study published in 2022 by the Global Obesity Observatory revealed that approximately 60 percent of Saudi Arabia’s adult population is overweight, with 20 percent classified as obese.
Among children, 10.5 percent are overweight and 4.1 percent are obese. Recent data from the Kingdom’s leading health bodies indicate an increase in childhood obesity, while the number of obese adults has decreased compared to a decade ago.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2592596/saudi-arabia
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Homes, businesses in Jeddah compete to capture spirit of Ramadan
SALEH FAREED
March 06, 2025
JEDDAH: Homes and businesses in Jeddah will capture the festive spirit of Ramadan as part of a decoration competition launched by the city’s municipality.
The scheme to decorate the facades of homes and shops was launched in cooperation with the Saudi Tourism Authority.
It invites the public to create a memorable Ramadan experience, sparking creativity with diverse decorations — from colorful lanterns and Islamic designs to twinkling lights — and adding unique charm to the festive atmosphere.
Mohammed Al-Bugami, the spokesperson of Jeddah Municipality, told Arab News that the competition will recognize the efforts that residents, restaurants, cafes and shops put into their festive lights and ornaments.
“The Ramadan Home and Shop Decoration Competition is a great opportunity to showcase the spirit of the holy month and bring joy and happiness to the community,” he said.
“Ramadan has a special place in the hearts of Muslims and is a time for reflection, worship and social interaction,” he added. “By decorating homes and shops, everyone can participate in creating a festive environment that expresses the values of generosity and hospitality.”
The scheme is a celebration of the holy month and reflects Jeddah’s commitment to its society, Al-Bugami said.
The competition invites Jeddah residents to decorate their homes and highlight the Ramadan atmosphere through creative designs that reflect the spirit of the holy month.
Entries will be evaluated based on creativity, the use of heritage elements, lighting and environmental sustainability.
Winners of the competition will be announced after Ramadan.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2592579/saudi-arabia
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US-Saudi ties celebrated at 249th Independence Day event in Jeddah
March 05, 2025
JEDDAH: The US Consulate General in Jeddah marked the 249th US Independence Day with its annual celebration, themed “Celebrating 80 Years of the Vision of President Roosevelt and King Abdulaziz: Shaping the Future Together.”
The event highlighted the long-standing US-Saudi partnership, focusing on business, innovation, and future collaboration.
Charge d’Affaires ad interim to Saudi Arabia Alison Dilworth and Consul General Ali Lejlic welcomed Jeddah Gov. Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Jalawi as the guest of honor.
It was attended by Fareed Al-Shehri, director general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs branch in Makkah region, members of the diplomatic corps, and distinguished guests from various regions of the Kingdom.
Dilworth emphasized that the historic 1945 meeting between President Roosevelt and King Abdulaziz established a deep and lasting friendship that continues to strengthen US-Saudi relations today.
The event featured an American Business Expo, showcasing US companies’ contributions to Saudi Arabia’s economic development, particularly in healthcare and infrastructure, aligned with Vision 2030.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2592520/saudi-arabia
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Saudi hospital climbs global rankings
RASHID HASSAN
March 05, 2025
RIYADH: King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre Riyadh has secured the top spot among hospitals in Arab and African countries.
The hospital confirmed its position as the top hospital in Saudi Arabia for the fourth consecutive year, according to Newsweek’s 2025 ranking of the world’s best hospitals.
KFSHRC jumped 20 places from last year’s list, a 9 percent improvement in the prestigious ranking, according to the hospital’s statement to Arab News.
The Saudi hospital is ranked 209th in the global ranking and is the only health facility from Arab and African countries on the list.
More than 2,400 hospitals were ranked this year, with an annual list of the top 250 hospitals published by Newsweek.
According to global data platform Statista, the number of hospitals worldwide is projected to reach 215,977 by 2026.
“With an overwhelming number of hospitals to choose from to close the gap and help prospective patients find the best care possible, Newsweek and Statista are proud to present the World’s Best Hospitals 2025, which shares the top hospitals worldwide,” Newsweek’s World's Best Hospitals 2025 reported on its website.
This year’s ranking lists the best hospitals in 30 countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, the UAE, the United Kingdom and the United States. These countries were selected based on numerous comparability factors, such as standard of living, life expectancy, population size, number of hospitals and data availability.
The ranking is based on an extensive evaluation process, including an online survey of thousands of medical experts (doctors, hospital managers and healthcare professionals), patient experience data, hospital quality metrics and a Patient-Reported Outcome Measures implementation survey.
KFSHRC’s excellence is demonstrated through groundbreaking achievements such as the world’s first fully robotic heart transplant and the first fully robotic implantation of an artificial heart pump.
In 2024, KFSHRC set a record with 1,111 organ transplants in a year, including 500 successful kidney transplants through the paired exchange program, reinforcing its status as a global leader in complex surgeries and organ transplantation.
The hospital also provided advanced medical care to patients from 17 countries, solidifying Saudi Arabia’s position as a premier destination for healthcare.
Notably, KFSHRC was ranked first in the Middle East and North Africa and 15th globally in the list of the world’s top 250 Academic Medical Centers for the second consecutive year and has been recognized as the most valuable healthcare brand in the Kingdom and the Middle East, according to the 2025 Brand Finance rankings, the hospital said.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2592503/saudi-arabia
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Tawakkalna offers a package of religious services during Ramadan
March 06, 2025
RIYADH — The Tawakkalna application has introduced a package of religious services so as to enable the faithful to perform their worship in an easier way and meet their diverse religious requirements in the holy month of Ramadan.
The application provides a service to determine the direction of the Qibla with high accuracy, and provides a service to know the imams of the Two Holy Mosques who lead night special prayers in the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah.
The religious services package includes the Holy Qur’an service that allows users to read the Holy Qur’an; the service to know prayer times in various regions of the Kingdom, which allows users to know the times of the calls to prayer (adhan and iqamah) and the time of stop eating and drinking at dawn (imsak) to mark the beginning of fasting. The services also include a package of Ihsan services that facilitates the application users to make their charitable donations through the application with easy and simple steps, as well as to sponsor orphans and extend them with donations.
The Manasik portal provided by the application allows viewing and issuing permits to perform Umrah and pray at the Rawdah Sharif in the Prophet’s Mosque. The comprehensive national application Tawakkalna continues to provide services through digital integration and cooperation with various government agencies, and more than 650 government services in one secure and reliable application, thus contributing to improving the quality of life for citizens, residents and visitors to the Kingdom, in accordance with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
Source: saudigazette.com.sa
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https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/649889/SAUDI-ARABIA/Tawakkalna-offers-a-package-of-religious-services-during-Ramadan-nbsp-nbsp
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Dubai Police Iftar Cannon supports Fathers’ Endowment Campaign throughout Ramadan
March 06, 2025
The Dubai Police Iftar Cannon, organised annually throughout the Holy Month of Ramadan, will this year celebrate contributors towards the Fathers’ Endowment campaign, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to honour fathers by establishing a Dhs1 billion endowment fund to provide sustainable healthcare for the poor and needy.
Celebrating contributors to the campaign aligns with Dubai Police commitment to support humanitarian and charity initiatives in the UAE, particularly previous Ramadan campaigns.
During its daily live broadcast on Sama Dubai TV, the Dubai Police Iftar Cannon segment will announce the name of one of the contributors of Dhs1 million or more, to encourage more individuals and institutions to join the Fathers’ Endowment campaign.
Lieutenant-General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, said: "The Fathers' Endowment campaign, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum during Ramadan, embodies the UAE's deeply ingrained values of supporting those in need. This act of profound generosity reflects a strong sense of social responsibility and offers hope to many patients requiring assistance.”
Al Marri further emphasised Dubai Police's commitment to fostering a culture of giving by recognising contributors to the Fathers' Endowment and highlighting their role in fostering community solidarity. He noted that supporting the campaign as a continuation of Dubai Police's successful involvement in initiatives like the "Mothers' Endowment," "One Billion Meals Endowment," "One Billion Meals," and "100 Million Meals."
Operating under the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), the Fathers’ Endowment campaign aims to honour fathers by allowing individuals to donate in their name. The campaign seeks to reinforce values of honuring parents, compassion, and solidarity, while strengthening the UAE's position as a leader in charitable and humanitarian work.
It also promotes the noble values for which the UAE community is known, particularly generosity and a deep sense of global humanitarian solidarity, and further establishes the concept of charitable endowments.
The Fathers’ Endowment campaign continues to welcome donations and contributions to the endowment fund from institutions and individuals across six main channels including the campaign’s website (Fathersfund.ae), as well as a dedicated call center via the toll-free number (800 4999).
Donations are also possible via bank transfers in the UAE dirham to the campaign bank account number with Emirates Islamic Bank (IBAN: AE020340003518492868201). Donations via SMS are possible by sending the word "Father” to the following numbers (1034 to donate Dhs10, 1035 to donate Dhs50, 1036 to donate Dhs100 and 1038 to donate Dhs500) for Etisalat by e& and du users.
Other possible platforms for donating to the campaign are the DubaiNow app by clicking the "Donations” tab, and Dubai’s community contributions platform Jood (Jood.ae).
Source: gulftoday.ae
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https://www.gulftoday.ae/news/2025/03/05/dubai-police-iftar-cannon-supports-fathers-endowment-campaign-throughout-ramadan
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North America
Trump issues ‘last warning’ to Hamas to release all remaining hostages held in Gaza
March 06, 2025
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump on Wednesday issued what he called a “last warning” to Hamas to release all remaining hostages held in Gaza, directing a sharply worded message after the White House confirmed that he had recently dispatched an envoy for unprecedented direct talks with the militant group.
Trump, in a statement on his Truth Social platform soon after meeting at the White House with eight former hostages, added that he was “sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job.”
“Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you,” Trump said. “Only sick and twisted people keep bodies, and you are sick and twisted!”
The pointed language from Trump came after the White House said Wednesday that US officials have engaged in “ongoing talks and discussions” with Hamas officials, stepping away from a long-held US policy of not directly engaging in the militant group.
Confirmation of the talks in the Qatari capital of Doha come as the Israel-Hamas ceasefire remains in the balance. It’s the first known direct engagement between the US and Hamas since the State Department designated the group a foreign terrorist organization in 1997.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt declined to provide detail on the the substance of talks, but said President Donald Trump has authorized his envoys to “talk to anyone.” Egyptian and Qatari intermediaries have served as mediators with Hamas for the US and Israel since the group launched its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel that sparked the war.
“Look, dialogue and talking to people around the world to do what’s in the best interest of the American people is something that the president ... believes is a good-faith effort to do what’s right for the American people,” she said.
Leavitt added that Israel has been consulted about the direct engagement with Hamas officials, and noted that there are “American lives at stake.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office offered a terse acknowledgement of the US-Hamas talks. “Israel has expressed to the United States its position regarding direct talks with Hamas,” the prime minister’s office said.
Israeli officials say about 24 living hostages — including Edan Alexander, an American citizen — as well as the bodies of at least 35 others are believed to still be held in Gaza.
Adam Boehler, Trump’s nominee to be special envoy for hostage affairs, led the direct talks with Hamas. Boehler, founder and CEO of Rubicon Founders, a health care investment firm, was a lead negotiator on the Abraham Accords team during Trump’s first term that strove to win broader recognition of Israel in the Arab world.
The talks, which took place last month, focused mainly on the release of American hostages, and a potential end of the war without Hamas in power in Gaza, according to a Hamas official who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.
The official added that no progress was made but “the step itself is promising” and more talks are expected. Egyptian and Qatari mediators helped arrange the talks.
The direct engagement comes as continuation of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire remains uncertain. Trump has signaled that he has no intentions of pushing Netanyahu away from a return to combat if Hamas doesn’t agree to terms of a new ceasefire proposal, which the Israelis have billed as being drafted by US envoy Steve Witkoff.
The new plan would require Hamas to release half its remaining hostages — the militant group’s main bargaining chip — in exchange for a ceasefire extension and a promise to negotiate a lasting truce. Israel made no mention of releasing more Palestinian prisoners, a key component of the first phase.
Trump on Wednesday welcomed eight former hostages — Iair Horn, Omer Shem Tov, Eli Sharabi, Keith Siegel, Aviva Siegel, Naama Levy, Doron Steinbrecher and Noa Argamani — to the White House.
“The President listened intently to their heartbreaking stories,” Leavitt said. “The hostages thanked President Trump for his steadfast efforts to bring all of the hostages home.”
The talks between US and Hamas officials were first reported earlier Wednesday by the news site Axios.
Leavitt, the White House press secretary, is one of three administration officials who face a lawsuit from The Associated Press on First- and Fifth-Amendment grounds. The AP says the three are punishing the news agency for editorial decisions they oppose. The White House says the AP is not following an executive order to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2592583/middle-east
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US holds secret talks with Hamas on Gaza hostages, source says
March 05, 2025
WASHINGTON: The Trump administration has been conducting secret talks with Hamas on the possibility of releasing US hostages being held in Gaza, a source briefed on the conversations told Reuters.
US special envoy for hostage affairs Adam Boehler has been holding the direct talks with Hamas in recent weeks in Doha, the source said, confirming a report by Axios.
Until recently the United States had avoided direct discussions with the militant group. The US State Department designated Hamas as a foreign terrorist organization in 1997.
The Israeli embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Boehler’s office declined to comment. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The source said the talks have focused on gaining the release of American hostages still held in Gaza, but also have included discussions about a broader deal to release all remaining hostages and how to reach a long-term truce.
US President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff plans to return to the region in coming days to work out a way to either extend the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal or advance to the second phase, a State Department spokesperson said on Monday.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2592547/middle-east
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Trump says he 'appreciates' Zelensky message on Ukraine peace
5 MAR 2025
US President Donald Trump says he's received a letter from Volodymyr Zelensky agreeing to "come to the negotiating table" to strike a peace deal in Ukraine.
"I appreciate that he sent this letter," Trump said as he addressed a joint session of Congress in Washington.
It came after Zelensky said in a social media post that he was ready to work under Trump's "strong leadership" to achieve a lasting peace.
The statements indicate a cooling of tensions between the leaders following their fiery meeting in the Oval Office last week.
In his address to Congress, Trump said he received an "important letter" from Zelensky on Tuesday, before reading what he said were excerpts from it.
Parts of what he read used precisely the same language as the statement posted by Zelensky earlier on Tuesday.
"The letter reads Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than the Ukrainians," Trump said.
Continuing to read from what he said was Zelensky's letter, Trump said: "My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump's strong leadership to get a peace that lasts."
Trump also said Zelensky told him he was ready to sign a rare earth minerals deal with the US.
Ukraine is yet to comment on the letter.
The US president also said there had been "serious discussions" with Russia, and he'd "received strong signals that they are ready for peace".
Trump did not indicate when the talks took place, or whether he was personally involved in them.
"It's time to end this senseless war. If you want to end wars, you have to talk to both sides," he added.
Earlier on Tuesday, Zelensky described the White House showdown with Trump as "regrettable" in the wake of the US announcing a pause in military aid to Kyiv.
Zelensky said "it was time to make things right", after Trump had accused him of not being ready to come to the negotiating table.
The Ukrainian leader also outlined the first stages of how the war could be ended.
The Oval Office meeting between Zelensky and US officials last week was due to conclude with the two parties signing a deal that would grant the US access to rare earth minerals in Ukraine.
After the clash, which saw Trump accuse Zelensky of "gambling with World War Three", the Ukrainian delegation left without signing the deal. Trump told Zelensky: "Come back when you're ready for peace."
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm2jzpn5j8do
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Pope well-rested after respiratory failure, Vatican says
6 Mar, 2025
Pope Francis was well-rested and woke up just after 08:00 local time (07:00 GMT) on Wednesday, the Vatican said.
The Vatican said the Pontiff - who has been in hospital since February to receive treatment for pneumonia - spent the night on "non-invasive mechanical ventilation" and is now back on a high-flow oxygen mask.
He is free from fever, "always alert, co-operative with therapies and well-oriented", the Vatican said in a statement. On Tuesday evening, they had said the Pope was stable after suffering two episodes of respiratory failure the day before.
Meanwhile, the Pope's traditional Wednesday audience with Catholics has been cancelled for the third week.
The Vatican has published a text instead, but it contains no current references and appears to have been written some time ago.
The Pope will also be unable to participate in events planned to mark Ash Wednesday which is the first day of Lent, the six-week period that leads up to Easter.
In Rome, Catholics will take part in a procession to the Santa Sabina Basilica where the Pope would normally attend and say mass. This year the service will be taken instead by one of the Cardinals.
He does not have any planned visitors and there is no mention of him doing any work in hospital, even reading, as there was previously.
After Monday's episodes, the Pope had begun using an oxygen mask and ventilator to assist his breathing.
It was the second time the mechanical intervention had been used, after spending two days on the ventilator following an "isolated" breathing crisis involving vomiting on Friday, the Vatican said.
In Tuesday's update, the Holy See said Pope Francis had switched back to high-flow oxygen therapy.
During the day, he alternated prayer and rest. On Tuesday morning, he received the Eucharist, it added.
He has been unable to deliver his traditional Angelus prayer in person on each of the last three Sundays.
The 88-year-old was admitted to hospital on 14 February after experiencing breathing difficulties for several days.
He was first treated for bronchitis before being diagnosed with pneumonia in both lungs.
The pontiff is particularly susceptible to pneumonia, an infection of the lungs that can be caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi, after he contracted pleurisy – an inflammation of the lungs – as a young man and had a partial lung removal.
Vatican sources stress, as they have all along, that the Pope's condition remains complex – his doctors remain cautious - and he is not out of danger.
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly28dj107qo
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US Democrat Congressman reveals plan to impeach Trump
5 Mar, 2025
US Democratic Congressman Al Green of Texas has declared that he’s working on new articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump. The representative was one of the first to formally try to impeach the president during his first term.
Green said that to the press on Tuesday, right after he was kicked out of the House chamber for heckling Trump during his speech to Congress.
“I was making it clear to the president that he has no mandate to cut Medicaid,” he explained to reporters when asked what he was shouting before being ejected.
He added that his constituents are worried that Trump’s budget cuts will cut into their health care coverage.
“I’m also working on my articles of impeachment,” he added.
“This president is unfit. He should not hold the office. Thirty-four felony convictions, two times impeached,” the congressman said.
Last year, Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to hide “hush money” payments to a porn star. He was impeached twice by the House of Representatives during his first presidential term, in 2019 and in 2021, but was acquitted both times by the Senate.
Green introduced some of the first articles of impeachment against Trump in 2017, before the rest of the Democratic Party pushed for the measure.
“I want him to know that his budget calls for deep cuts in Medicaid,” Green said on Tuesday.
Last month, Republicans pushed through spending plans for massive, trillion-dollar budget cuts over the next ten years. Some $880 billion of planned cuts were slated for the Energy and Commerce Committee, the agency that oversees Medicaid, but did not mention downsizing the health coverage program specifically. While the GOP has repeatedly stressed that it's not planning to slash Medicaid funding, officials have raised concerns about its future.
Earlier in February, Trump said that the program would not be affected by his plans to trim the fat from the federal budget.
Social security, “Medicaid, none of that stuff is going to be touched,” Trump told Fox News in an interview alongside his new government efficiency czar, Elon Musk.
Source: rt.com
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US ‘reconsidering’ funding Ukraine – White House
5 Mar, 2025
Washington has paused US aid to Ukraine to review whether or not to continue, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt has said.
She made the statement in a press conference on Wednesday when asked by a journalist if the aid freeze is permanent.
“The National Security Council told me… they paused or they are reconsidering the funding for Ukraine,” Leavitt replied. “It's a pause for a review.”
Military assistance to Kiev was suspended after a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky last week culminated in a shouting match. Trump later accused Zelensky of not being truly interested in making peace with Russia, but of attempting to get Washington “signed up and keep fighting.”
US intelligence sharing with Ukraine has similarly been brought to a stop, CIA Director John Ratcliffe confirmed to Fox Business on Wednesday when asked whether Washington “cut off” cooperation with Kiev. Trump had “asked for a pause” to see if Ukraine is ready to work towards peace, he added.
“President Trump had a real question whether… Zelensky was committed to a peace process,” Ratcliffe explained.
Asked about the military aid freeze to Kiev, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz told Fox News on Wednesday that Trump would examine lifting the pause “if we can nail down these negotiations.”
The day before, Zelensky backtracked on his policy of not negotiating with Russia and declared that he is ready for an immediate ceasefire, in a lengthy post on X.
Kiev is ready to move to end the conflict through an immediate release of prisoners, a temporary ceasefire, and a ban on long-range strikes on energy and civilian infrastructure, he wrote.
Moscow has said it has always been ready to return to the negotiating table, while noting that Zelensky signed a decree banning talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin soon after the escalation of the conflict in 2022.
However, Russia has stressed that it wants a permanent, stable peace and considers a temporary ceasefire unacceptable, arguing that the time would simply be used to rearm Ukraine for further hostilities.
Source: rt.com
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Mideast
Ayatollah Khamenei Stresses Prevention of Deforestation
March, 05, 2025
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei called for the protection of farmlands and prohibition of damage to the forests across Iran.
Ayatollah Khamenei planted three saplings in his office premises on March 5, 2025, on the occasion of Iran’s National Tree Planting Day.
Following the planting of the saplings, Ayatollah Khamenei described tree planting as a beneficial act, a forward-looking endeavor, and a means of wealth creation.
The Leader underscored the importance of giving serious attention to the national tree-planting movement initiated last year under the administration of martyred President Ebrahim Raisi.
"Everyone should participate in tree planting as a righteous and virtuous act, so that with an increase in trees, our living environment will gain freshness and vitality," he remarked.
The Leader described his yearly tradition of planting saplings as a symbolic gesture to remind people that tree planting transcends the bounds of youth. He emphasized that individuals of all ages should be inspired and driven to engage in this important, significant, essential, and beautiful endeavor.
Ayatollah Khamenei asserted that tree planting is a profitable investment from multiple angles and a means of generating wealth. "Planting trees, regardless of the motivation behind it – whether driven by the desire to harvest fruit from productive trees or to harness the value of timber from certain species – is an entirely profitable measure in which there is no loss," he stated.
The Leader explained that trees and agricultural fields play a vital role in maintaining clean air. Emphasizing the significance of the environment, he remarked, "In addition to enhancing air quality, trees and cultivated plants refresh our living spaces and environment, uplifting the human spirit as they are aesthetically pleasing and comforting to the soul."
The Leader highlighted the importance of seriously committing to the national tree-planting initiative that was launched during Martyr Raisi's administration. He pointed out that this campaign, which commenced last year and continues to progress, shows that planting one billion trees within four years is achievable, and he urged government institutions to support the public in this effort.
Ayatollah Khamenei cautioned against tree removal and the alteration of agricultural land use, asserting that cutting down trees, except in technical and necessary cases, constitutes a loss and poses a risk. He emphasized that the destruction of forests and the conversion of agricultural lands must be prevented. The Leader also acknowledged the positive progress made in this area in Tehran and other cities, urging that these efforts should be sustained.
Source: tasnimnews.com
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https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2025/03/05/3269946/ayatollah-khamenei-stresses-prevention-of-deforestation
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Muslim World League welcomes decisions of extraordinary Arab Summit
MARCH 05, 2025
Muslim World League welcomed the decisions made during the Extraordinary Arab Summit, on the Developments of Palestinian Cause, which was held in Cairo on Tuesday.
In a statement, the League expressed its full support for the resolutions issued by the summit, which uphold the Palestinian people's right to freedom, dignity, and independence while deterring the Israeli occupation government from its brutal practices and ongoing violations of relevant international legitimacy resolutions.
The League emphasized the statements firm rejection of the displacement of the Palestinian people from their land, under any name, circumstance, justification, or pretext, as well as any attempts to annex any part of the occupied Palestinian territories. It reaffirmed the importance of fully implementing the ceasefire agreements second and third phases and supporting international coalition efforts to achieve the two-state solution.
Additionally, the League highlighted the statements emphasis on the necessity of enforcing the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon and condemning Israeli attacks on Syria.
Source: gulf-times.com
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https://www.gulf-times.com/article/701423/region/muslim-world-league-welcomes-decisions-of-extraordinary-arab-summit
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Syria monitor says security forces kill four in former Assad bastion
March 05, 2025
BEIRUT: A Syrian Arab Republic war monitor said Wednesday that four civilians have been killed in a security operation in the coastal city of Latakia that was launched after a deadly attack on security services.
Latakia province is a former stronghold of the government of ousted president Bashar Assad and the heartland of his family’s Alawite minority.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the operation in the city’s Daatur district killed “four civilians,” including two “guards at a local school” on Tuesday and two construction workers on Wednesday.
State media had said that forces launched the campaign after “militia remnants” supporting Assad killed two personnel in an ambush.
Mustafa Kneifati, a security official in Latakia province, said that “during the operation, the criminal cell threw bombs at the security patrols, wounding a number of personnel.”
“Our forces responded immediately to the sources of fire and managed to arrest a number of people involved in these criminal acts, and neutralized a number of others,” Kneifati added in a statement on the interior ministry’s Telegram channel.
The Observatory said “a cautious calm” returned to Daatur “after the arrest of a number of residents and wanted persons.”
Restoring and maintaining security across Syria remains one of the most pressing challenges for the new authorities after Islamist-led rebels overthrew Assad on December 8.
In Sanamayn, in the Daraa province in the south, the Observatory said security forces carried out a “large-scale campaign... searching for wanted men and weapons.”
The operation came a day after clashes in the city between security forces and a group linked to the ousted government’s military security killed three fighters and wounded “three civilians including a child,” the Britain-based Observatory said.
Daraa province’s Telegram channel reported ongoing “military operations to purge the area of armed elements.”
A local security official, Abdul-Razzaq Al-Khatib, was quoted as saying that “military reinforcements” reached the city in the morning, with clashes ongoing in buildings in the southwest.
He said Tuesday’s clashes resulted in an unspecified number of casualties, while gunfire also wounded a member of the security forces at a checkpoint.
Daraa province, the cradle of the 2011 uprising which led to Syria’s civil war, returned to government control in 2018 but has been plagued by unrest in recent years.
Syria has seen clashes and shootings in a number of areas, often blamed on Assad supporters, with the new authorities announcing campaigns targeting “regime remnants” and making arrests.
Latakia initially saw heightened tensions and violence, including reprisals against people seen as linked to the former government, though incidents have decreased somewhat despite occasional attacks on checkpoints, according to the Observatory.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2592530/middle-east
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80,000 people perform Isha & Taraweeh prayers for fifth day at Al-Aqsa Mosque
05 Mar 2025
80 thousand worshippers performed the Isha and Taraweeh prayers on the fifth day of the holy month of Ramadan in the neighborhoods of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The Department of Islamic Endowments in Al-Quds said that more than 80 thousand worshippers performed the Isha and taraweeh prayers in the mosque, most of them from the holy city and from inside the 1948 territories
Local sources said that the occupation forces imposed strict measures on access to Al-Aqsa Mosque, as it prevents thousands of citizens from the West Bank governorates from reaching Al-Quds to perform prayers in it
The occupation police deployed additional forces in the city of occupied Al-Quds and the vicinity of Al-Aqsa Mosque, coinciding with the advent of Ramadan, to hinder and restrict the access of worshipers to Al-Aqsa.
Source: saba.ye
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https://www.saba.ye/en/news3446812.htm
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Dozens of settlers storm courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque
05 Mar 2025
Dozens of Zionist settlers stormed the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque this morning, Wednesday, from the Moroccan Gate, under heavy guard from the Zionist enemy forces.
The Islamic Endowments Department in occupied Quds reported, according to the Palestinian Safa Agency, that dozens of settlers stormed Al-Aqsa, toured its courtyards, and performed Talmudic rituals.
The occupation forces impose strict measures on the entry of worshipers to the mosque, and have intensified their military presence around Al-Aqsa and the Old City, in an attempt to restrict those coming to it during the month of Ramadan.
Calls continue to intensify the tightening of the travel and the garrison in Al-Aqsa Mosque, throughout Ramadan, to confront the occupation's attacks and settler incursions.
Al-Aqsa Mosque is subjected to a series of raids and violations of its sanctity every day, except Friday and Saturday, during the holy month, in an attempt to impose new Judaization facts on it.
Source: saba.ye
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Israel’s settler pressure on West Bank villages stirs annexation fears
March 05, 2025
BARDALA, West Bank: Just meters from the last houses in Bardala, a Palestinian village at the northern end of the occupied West Bank, Israel’s army has been bulldozing a dirt road and ditch between the community and open grazing land on the hills behind it.
Israel’s military said the works were for security and to allow it to patrol the area following the killing of an Israeli civilian in August near the village by a man from another town. It did not detail what it was building there.
Farmers from the fertile Jordan Valley village fear the army patrols and Israeli settlers moving in will exclude them from pastures that feed around 10,000 sheep and goats, as has happened in other parts of the West Bank, undercutting their livelihoods and eventually driving them from the village.
Israeli settler outposts have appeared around the village since last year, with clusters of blue and white Israeli flags fluttering from nearby hilltops.
The settlers intimidated semi-nomadic Bedouin shepherds to abandon their camps in the area last year, four Bedouin families and Israeli human rights NGOs said.
The tighter military control in the Jordan Valley and the arrival of settler outposts in the area over the past months are new developments in a part of the West Bank that had mostly avoided the build-up of Israel’s presence on the ground in central areas of the Palestinian territory.
With each advance of Israeli settlements and roads, the territory becomes more fractured, further undermining prospects for a contiguous land on which Palestinians could build a sovereign state. Most countries consider Israel’s settlements in the occupied West Bank to be illegal.
Over recent weeks, caravans and shelters have begun appearing on the scrub-covered hills a few hundred meters west of Bardala, on land behind the new track, Reuters reporters saw. Such temporary shelters have been the first signs of new outposts being built.
Ibrahim Sawafta, a member of the Bardala village council, said two dozen farmers would be prevented from reaching grazing land if soldiers and settler outposts obstruct their free movement. Unable to keep their large flocks in pens within the village itself, they would be forced to sell.
“Bardala would be a small prison,” he said, sitting on a bench outside his house in the village. He said the overall goal was “to restrict people, to force them to leave the Jordan Valley.”
The army said the area behind the dirt road outside Bardala was designated as a live fire zone but included “a passage” manned by Israeli soldiers, suggesting limitations on free movement in the area.
It said the passage would allow for “the continuation of daily life and the fulfillment of residents’ needs,” without giving further details.
The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as well as the Yesha Council and the Jordan Valley Council, that represent settlers in the West Bank did not reply to requests for comment for this story.
Sawafta said gunmen had been known to come into the area from towns to the west and the barrier appeared intended to make access more difficult and force traffic through main roads with security checkpoints under Israeli control.
But he said the effect of the move would be to obstruct access to the land, which in some cases was owned by villagers. The activity around Bardala is part of a wider Israeli effort to reshape the West Bank.
Over the year and a half since war broke out in Gaza, settlement activity has accelerated in areas seen as the core of a future Palestinian state.
Meanwhile, Israel’s pro-settler politicians have been emboldened by the return to the White House of Donald Trump who has already proposed that Palestinians leave Gaza, a suggestion widely condemned across the Middle East and beyond as an attempt to ethnically cleanse Palestinian territories.
In recent weeks, army raids in refugee camps near volatile West Bank cities, including Jenin, Tulkarm and Tubas, near Bardala, have sent tens of thousands of people fleeing their homes, fueling fears of permanent displacement.
The raids come amid a renewed push to formally absorb the West Bank as part of Israel, a proposal supported by some of US President Donald Trump’s aides. Israel’s military has occupied the West Bank since the 1967 Middle East war.
Bardala, with a population of about 3,000, lies a few meters from the pre-1967 line separating the West Bank from Israel. It prospered quietly over the past 30 years as Israel’s settlement movement swallowed up thousands of hectares of land in other parts of the West Bank.
Source: arabnews.com
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UK and EU members of UN Security Council urge Israel to allow aid into Gaza
EPHREM KOSSAIFY
March 05, 2025
NEW YORK CITY: The UK and the four EU countries that are members of the UN Security Council (France, Greece, Denmark and Slovenia) on Wednesday urged Israeli authorities to immediately allow the safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Their plea echoed an appeal by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the Arab summit in Cairo on Monday.
Speaking on behalf of the five nations, Jay Dharmadhikari, the charge d’affaires at the French mission to the UN said: “We call on Israel to abide by its obligations under international law and to allow and facilitate the safe, unconditional, massive and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid at scale, as well as to ensure the protection of civilians and other protected persons, including humanitarian workers, in line with international humanitarian law.”
The diplomats also called for progress in the next phases of the ceasefire agreement and hostage-release deal between Israel and Hamas, and commended the efforts by Egypt, Qatar and the US to facilitate negotiations.
The joint statement followed a Security Council consultation session on Resolution 2720, which included a briefing by Sigrid Kaag, the UN’s senior humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator for Gaza. Adopted by the Security Council in December 2023, Resolution 2720 calls for increased aid to address the crisis in Gaza, including the provisioning of fuel, food and medical supplies.
The five nations condemned Hamas for continuing to hold and mistreat hostages, and called for their immediate release.
“We need a permanent ceasefire that can pave the way for the release of all remaining hostages and for the reconstruction of Gaza,” Dharmadhikari added.
The countries denounced terrorism and reaffirmed that the delivery of humanitarian aid must be nonnegotiable principle under international humanitarian law.
They also welcomed regional efforts to form a cohesive plan for the future of Gaza, emphasizing that any plans must exclude Hamas, ensure the security of Israel, and avoid the displacement of Palestinians.
It must also align with Resolution 2735 and support the unity of the West Bank and Gaza under the mandate of the Palestinian Authority, they added. US-drafted Resolution 2735, which was adopted by the Security Council in June last year, represents a proposal for a three-phase ceasefire agreement to end the war.
“We stand ready to support and develop these ideas further,” Dharmadhikari said.
The diplomats also reiterated their unwavering, long-term commitment to the vision of a two-state solution, consistent with international law and UN resolutions, in which Israel and Palestine can live peacefully side by side with secure, recognized borders.
Source: arabnews.com
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Doha rejects Israeli probe linking Qatari aid to Hamas attack
March 05, 2025
DOHA: Qatar on Wednesday rebuffed what it said were “false accusations” by Israel’s domestic security agency attributing funds from the Gulf state to an increase in Hamas’s military strength before its unprecedented October 7 2023 attack.
“False accusations made by the Shin Bet security agency linking Qatari aid to the October 7 attack are yet another example of deflection driven by self-interest and self-preservation in Israeli politics,” Qatar’s International Media Office said in a statement.
The security agency published findings from an internal probe on Tuesday acknowledging its own failings in preventing the over-border attack from Gaza on southern Israel which sparked 15 months of war in the Palestinian territory.
The Shin Bet report also said “the influx of Qatari funds and their transfer to the military wing” was one of the “main reasons for the strengthening of Hamas that allowed it to launch the attack,” according to its executive summary.
“It is well known within Israel and internationally that all aid sent from Qatar to Gaza was transferred with the full knowledge, support, and supervision of the current and previous Israeli administrations and their security agencies — including the Shin Bet,” the Qatari statement said.
“No aid has ever been delivered to Hamas’s political or military wing,” it added.
Qatar has hosted Hamas’s political office since 2012, with the blessing of the United States, but also fueling accusations that it supports the Palestinian militants, which Doha has always denied.
The gas-rich Gulf state played a key role in securing a fragile truce in Gaza, mediating between Hamas and Israel alongside the United States and Egypt.
Since the deal’s first phase ended at the weekend, after six weeks of relative calm that included exchanges of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, the parties have hit an impasse over the truce’s continuation.
“At this critical juncture, the Shin Bet and other Israeli security agencies should focus on saving the remaining hostages and finding a solution that ensures long-term regional security, rather than resorting to diversionary tactics,” the Qatari statement said.
“Claims that Qatari aid went to Hamas are entirely false and serve as evidence that the accusers are intent on prolonging the war,” it added.
Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, most of them civilians, while Israel’s military retaliation in Gaza has killed at least 48,405 people, also mostly civilians, data from both sides show.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2592532/middle-east
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Israel destroys West Bank homes of 2 alleged Palestinian attackers
March 05, 2025
HEBRON: The Israeli military said it demolished two homes on Wednesday in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron belonging to Palestinians accused of carrying out a deadly attack in Tel Aviv in October of 2024.
In a statement, the military said its forces “destroyed in Hebron the homes of the two terrorists who carried out the attack at the Jaffa light rail station in which seven Israelis and foreign residents were murdered and 15 additional civilians were injured.”
The attack took place on October 1 last year, just as Iran was launching a wave of around 200 missiles at Israel in support of its allies Hamas and Hezbollah.
Hamas, which had been at war with Israel since its October 7, 2023 attack, claimed responsibility for the Tel Aviv shootings, and said they “coincided with the painful strikes... executed by Iran.”
The assailants, armed with “an M-16 automatic rifle, several magazines, and a knife,” according to Israeli police, had opened fire on tram passengers and pedestrians.
One of the attackers, 19-year-old Muhammad Misk, was shot dead in the street, while the other, Ahmad Al-Haimoni, was wounded and arrested, police said.
Haimoni had lived on the second story of a three-story house. The middle floor of the structure was demolished with explosives, according to an AFP photographer at the scene.
Israel, whose army has occupied the West Bank since 1967, regularly destroys the homes of Palestinians accused of carrying out attacks against Israelis.
The government argues that these demolitions serve as a deterrent, but critics denounce them as collective punishment that leaves families homeless.
Violence has soared throughout the West Bank since the war between Hamas and Israel broke out in Gaza.
Israeli troops or settlers have killed at least 905 Palestinians, including many militants, in the West Bank since the start of the Gaza war, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
At least 32 Israelis, including soldiers, have been killed in Palestinian attacks or Israeli military operations, according to official Israeli figures.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2592527/middle-east
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South Asia
Amir al-Mu’minin Orders Free Electricity Supply to Mosques in Afghanistan
2025-03-05
KABUL(BNA): In a recent decree issued by His Excellency Amir al-Mu’minin, the cost of electricity for mosques has been waived.
Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, announced on his social media platform that, “In accordance with this decree, the electricity expenses for mosques are now exempt. Relevant government agencies have been instructed not to request payment for these costs in the future.”
Mujahid further emphasized that strict monitoring will be implemented to ensure that the electricity provided to mosques is not misused elsewhere.
This decision reflects the leadership’s commitment to supporting religious institutions and ensuring their operational needs are met without financial burden.
Source: bakhtarnews.af
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https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/amir-al-muminin-orders-free-electricity-supply-to-mosques/
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Protesters besiege Shahbagh Police Station for hours early today
Mar 6, 2025
A group of people, identifying themselves as "Tawhidi Janata", besieged the capital's Shahbagh Police Station for hours late last night, demanding the release of a man arrested for harassing a female student of Dhaka University.
However, they left the area around 9:30am today.
The arrestee, Mostafa Asif Arnob, 25, was sent to court, Khalid Mansur, officer-in-charge of the police station, said in the morning.
According to police, Arnob, who works as a bookbinder at the DU library, was handed over to Shahbagh police by the university authorities yesterday evening after he allegedly harassed the student verbally for not having her "scarf" in the right place.
The student detailed the incident in a Facebook post, sharing a photo of a man and writing, "This man harassed me today [yesterday] on my way from Shahbagh. He suddenly stopped me on the road and told me my clothing was 'inappropriate,' among other things… When I said I would call the proctor, he ran away."
Later, DU Proctor Saifuddin Ahmed told The Daily Star, "Around 4:30pm (yesterday), we received a complaint that one of our students was harassed by our library's assistant bookbinder, Arnob. Later, some students brought him to my office. When we questioned him, he admitted to the harassment. We then handed him over to the police.
Around 1:30am, the agitators stormed into the police station, questioning why Arnob had been arrested and insisting on his release.
Some live-streamed the incident from inside the duty officer's room. At one point, they approached the lock-up and broadcast a live interview with Arnob.
One of the agitators said they learned about the arrest after Taraweeh prayers and arrived at the station around midnight. He claimed Arnob had been arrested "unjustly" and vowed to stay until his release.
Another man alleged that police had forcibly taken Arnob's statement. "He must be released. Otherwise, we will not leave," he said.
Additional police were deployed near the station in the morning.
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/crime-justice/news/protesters-besiege-shahbagh-police-station-hours-early-today-3840856
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5 arrested AL men shifted to other prisons from Pabna Jail
Mar 5, 2025
The authorities of Pabna Jail have shifted several arrested Awami League men to other prisons after they allegedly locked in a clash over establishing supremacy in Pabna jail, compromising security inside the prison.
Md Omor Faruk, superintendent of Pabna Jail, said several activists of AL and its wing organisations were sent to the prison after their arrests following the AL government's ouster on August 5 last year.
Kept in different wards in the jail along with other prisoners, the AL men tried to exert influence over the others, brewing conflicts as a result.
"In this connection, the AL men locked in a clash with general prisoners inside jail on Monday. Later, five imprisoned AL men were shifted to other jails to ensure security of other prisoners inside the jail," Faruk also said.
Among them, Advocate Toufique Hasan, Sheikh Lalu and Asaduzzaman Tipu were sent in Rajshahi Jail while Motahar Hossain Mutai and Dulal were sent in Naogaon Jail, according to prison sources.
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/crime-justice/news/5-arrested-al-men-shifted-other-prisons-pabna-jail-3840476
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Ghor Province to Plant Two Million Seedlings in Nationwide Campaign
2025-03-05
GHOR(BNA): Mawlavi Mohammad Fada Ammar, the head of the Ghor Environmental Protection Department, announced that the province will participate in a nationwide seedling campaign by planting two million seedlings.
This initiative will include a mix of fruitful, non-fruitful, and ornamental plants across the province’s center and districts.
Ammar highlighted the establishment of a dedicated greenery and seedling committee, which is currently preparing the seedlings and organizing the logistics for planting. The campaign aims to enhance the province’s greenery and contribute to a healthier environment.
The nationwide seedling campaign kicks off every spring, promoting environmental awareness and the importance of planting trees across the country.
Source: bakhtarnews.af
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https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/ghor-province-to-plant-two-million-seedlings-in-nationwide-campaign/
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Trump’s New Travel Ban May Soon Bar Afghans and Pakistanis: Reuters
By Fidel Rahmati
March 6, 2025
Reuters, citing its sources, reported that a new directive from U.S. President Donald Trump may prevent Afghan and Pakistani nationals from entering the United States. The news agency stated on Thursday, March 6, that the restriction could come into effect as early as next week, barring Afghan citizens from traveling to the U.S.
The restriction is expected to target countries with majority Muslim populations, and other nations may also be added to the list. During Trump’s first term as president, he implemented a similar travel ban targeting citizens from Muslim-majority countries, which was later overturned by President Joe Biden.
The new ban could affect tens of thousands of Afghans who have been approved for resettlement or granted special immigrant visas. This move will particularly impact those who have been waiting for resettlement and are hoping to reunite with their families in the U.S.
Trump has instructed two of his cabinet ministers to present a list of countries that could face partial or full travel suspensions to the U.S. by March 12. Afghanistan is expected to be included in this list, facing a complete travel ban for its citizens.
The U.S. Department of State, which handles the resettlement of Afghan nationals, is reportedly working to ensure that those who have already been approved for special immigration visas (SIV) are exempted from this travel ban. Currently, around 200,000 Afghan nationals with approved visas or applications are stranded in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The new policy raises concerns for thousands of vulnerable Afghan refugees and immigrants who are at risk of being unable to escape the volatile situation in their home country. As the political and humanitarian situation continues to evolve, both Afghan citizens and the international community are watching closely for any updates regarding this new travel restriction.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/trumps-new-travel-ban-may-soon-bar-afghans-and-pakistanis-reuters/
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Mastermind of Kabul Airport attack transferred to the US
By Fidel Rahmati
March 6, 2025
U.S. officials have confirmed that Mohammad Sharifullah, the individual accused of masterminding the suicide attack at Kabul Airport in August 2021, has been transferred to the United States.
On Wednesday, March 5, U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director, Kash Patel, announced via X that Sharifullah was handed over to U.S. authorities at Dallas Air Base on Tuesday night. The transfer involved collaboration between the FBI, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and the U.S. Department of Justice.
Sharifullah’s arrest came to light after U.S. President Donald Trump praised Pakistan’s cooperation in the operation. In his speech to Congress, Trump mentioned that the operation was conducted with coordination between U.S. and Pakistani intelligence agencies.
Meanwhile, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that Mohammad Sharifullah is an Afghan national who was captured during a special operation near the border between the two countries.
In response to Sharifullah’s arrest and transfer, Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesperson for the Taliban, accused Pakistan of being a “main sanctuary for ISIS.”
Meanwhile, Hamidullah Fetrat, the deputy spokesperson of the Taliban government, responded to the remarks of the Prime Minister of Pakistan regarding the arrest of Sharifullah, stating that these remarks themselves indicate that ISIS has sanctuaries and training centers in Pakistan.
The suicide bombing, which took place on August 26, 2021, near the Abbey Gate at Kabul Airport, resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. servicemen and over 170 Afghan civilians. The ISIS-Khorasan group claimed responsibility for the attack.
The coordination between U.S. and Pakistani intelligence are important. Nevertheless, the accusations from the Taliban reflect the complex dynamics and strained relations between the involved parties. The broader implications of these actions on Afghanistan’s stability and security remain to be seen.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/mastermind-of-kabul-airport-attack-transferred-to-the-us/
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Southeast Asia
Jakim lodges police report over social media post mocking Islam, calls for firm action
By malay mail
06 Mar 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, March 6 — The Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) has condemned an individual’s actions for uploading social media content that allegedly mocked Islamic teachings, describing it as highly provocative and offensive.
In a statement, Jakim director-general Datuk Dr Sirajuddin Suhaimee said the content, which has since gone viral, had sparked outrage among Muslims and threatened social harmony.
“Jakim has lodged an official complaint with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) for further action regarding the content, which touches on Islamic sensitivities.
“A police report has also been filed to ensure firm legal action can be taken against the individual in accordance with existing laws,” he said.
Jakim urged authorities to act decisively to address the issue, stressing that such provocative acts have the potential to create tension between religious and ethnic communities in Malaysia.
“This social media post clearly disrupts harmony within society and risks fuelling interfaith and interethnic discord. All parties must cease any actions that provoke, incite anger, or create tension within the community,” he said.
The statement also called on Malaysians to embrace mutual respect, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan.
“In this sacred month, we advise everyone to uphold respect and maintain proper conduct. Peace and harmony can only be preserved through mutual understanding and respect among communities,” Sirajuddin added.
Jakim’s statement follows heightened concerns about religious sensitivities and societal unity in Malaysia.
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/03/06/jakim-lodges-police-report-over-social-media-post-mocking-islam-calls-for-firm-action/168742
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Malaysia belongs to all, not just Malays and Muslims, says Nazri Aziz
By Malay Mail
06 Mar 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, March 6 — Former Malaysian ambassador to the US, Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz, has praised the people of Sabah and Sarawak for embodying the true spirit of a multiracial Malaysia and urged Malays in the peninsula to follow their example.
“This country is not just for Malays and Muslims. It is multiracial and multireligious. We cannot speak as if we only represent the Malays and Muslims,” Nazri was quoted as saying in a report published by Free Malaysia Today.
He made these remarks when asked about Malaysia’s political direction and the growing influence of political Islam.
According to Nazri, Sabahans and Sarawakians have a stronger sense of national identity, running their states as Malaysians regardless of racial or religious background.
“In Sabah and Sarawak, they run their states as Malaysians. They remain Malaysian regardless of their background and can live together. We should follow them,” he said.
In contrast, he criticised many Malays in the peninsula for prioritising race over nationality, only calling themselves Malaysians when politically convenient, particularly during elections to attract non-Malay votes.
These individuals, he said, are “fake Malaysians.”
“I do not agree that this country is a Malay country. (National sports icons) (Datuk) Nicol David and (Datuk) Lee Chong Wei did not compete internationally as Chinese or Indian. They played for Malaysia,” he added.
Nazri also voiced strong opposition to the continued presence of fugitive Indian preacher and televangelist Zakir Naik in Malaysia.
“He had problems in India and came here. And he wants to tell us how to be Muslims and how we should interact with non-Muslims.
“Don’t tell me (how to be a Malay-Muslim). I was born here. The reality has always been that we are multiracial and multireligious,” he said, noting that he has a good relationship with non-Muslim Malaysians.
On February 21, the Home Ministry confirmed that there was no ban preventing Naik from delivering public sermons in Malaysia.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said a previous ban imposed in 2019 had since been lifted.
Naik has been evading Indian authorities since 2016 after being accused of making hate speeches and laundering money.
Indian authorities linked his speeches to a 2016 attack in Dhaka, Bangladesh, that left 29 dead.
In June 2019, India’s external affairs ministry confirmed that a formal request for Naik’s extradition had been made to Malaysia, with legal proceedings still ongoing.
That same month, an Indian court ordered Naik to appear in person for a case.
Naik is believed to be residing in Putrajaya after being granted asylum in Malaysia in 2018.
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/03/06/malaysia-belongs-to-all-not-just-malays-and-muslims-says-nazri-aziz/168735
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Housing and Local Government Ministry: 76,664 housing credit guarantee applications approved, RM17.86b secured since 2008
06 Mar 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, March 6 — A total of 76,664 applications involving RM17.86 billion under the Housing Credit Guarantee Scheme (SJKP) were approved from its implementation in 2008 until December 31 last year, the Dewan Negara was told today.
Deputy Minister of Housing and Local Government Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu said that of this total, 68,594 applications were from youths aged 40 and below.
“The impact of the SJKP initiative can also be seen through the trend in approved loans. In 2019, only 6,054 applications worth RM329.5 million were approved, but as of December 31 last year, this figure had increased by more than 92 per cent, reaching 76,664 applications valued at RM17.86 billion.
“In addition, SJKP has expanded access to housing financing, particularly for first-time homebuyers who typically face difficulties in securing loans, such as those without fixed income or salary slips, including gig economy workers and those in the informal sector,” she said during a question-and-answer session.
She was responding to a supplementary question from Senator Datuk Nelson W. Angang, who asked about the impact of the SJKP initiative and whether it has improved homeownership rates, especially among marginalised groups with limited access to housing loans.
Aiman Athirah said SJKP has benefited young people and those in the low- and middle-income groups while reflecting the government’s commitment, particularly through the ministry, to ensuring that every citizen has access to housing, either through ownership or rental. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/03/06/housing-and-local-government-ministry-76664-housing-credit-guarantee-applications-approved-rm1786b-secured-since-2008/168786
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MOT to introduce policy to encourage cargo companies to use ECRL
BERNAMA
06-03- 2025
KUALA LUMPUR: The Transport Ministry (MOT) will introduce a policy to encourage cargo and transport companies to utilise the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) service as an alternative to heavy vehicles on roads.
Its minister Anthony Loke said the policy would include providing incentives to industry players to promote the shift to ECRL services once the rail project is completed.
He said the use of ECRL is seen as an effective solution to reduce the number of heavy vehicles on roads, which could help ease traffic congestion and minimise accident risks.
“We see this as a viable alternative, especially for routes involving heavy vehicles to the East Coast. This policy will be introduced when the ECRL becomes operational,“ he said during the question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Loke was responding to a supplementary question from Khairil Nizam Khirudin (PN-Jerantut) on whether the ministry plans to implement new policies or laws to curb the rising number of heavy vehicles during peak hours and reduce accident risks.
On Feb 4, Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said the overall progress of the ECRL project, spanning Pahang, Kelantan, Terengganu, and Selangor, had reached 78.5 per cent as of January.
The ECRL service is expected to commence operations in early 2027.
Replying to Khairil’s original question regarding the investigation into the fatal accident that claimed seven lives at Kilometre (KM) 204 of the North-South Expressway near Ayer Keroh on Dec 23, Loke said the vehicle permit of Yinson Transport (M) Sdn Bhd, whose lorry tyre detached during the incident, was revoked effective Feb 11 due to repeated speeding violations.
“Meanwhile, V Travel Sdn Bhd’s vehicle licences were suspended from Feb 18 to March 19 for failing to comply with the Land Public Transport Agency’s (APAD) Industrial Code of Practice (ICOP) – Safety requirements.
“S&C Maju Enterprise’s operator licence was suspended for 30 days for failing to meet ICOP Safety standards, and its vehicle permit was revoked due to speeding violations,“ he said, adding that the decision was made by the Licence Cancellation and Suspension Committee (JPPL) on Monday.
Loke also revealed that the Road Transport Department’s (JPJ) Inspection & Safety Audit (JISA) found two out of three commercial vehicles involved in the accident, belonging to V Travel Sdn Bhd and S&C Maju Enterprise, had failed the inspection.
Source: thesun.my
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://thesun.my/malaysia-news/mot-to-introduce-policy-to-encourage-cargo-companies-to-use-ecrl-PD13768979
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/abu-azmi-uttar-pradesh-yogi-adityanath/d/134800