Anti-Conversion Laws Framed By Various States: Freedom Of Religion & Right To Privacy Interlinked ": SC
New Age Islam News Bureau
25 October 2025
The Supreme Court.
File picture
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· Anti-Conversion Laws Framed By Various States: Freedom Of Religion & Right To Privacy Interlinked ": SC
· Supreme Court On Muslim Widows’ Inheritance: One-Eighth Of The Unwilled Property Left Behind By Her Dead Husband — One-Fourth If The Couple Were Childless
· Hefazat-e-Islam Holds Rally, Demands Ban On Iskcon (International Society for Krishna Consciousness)
· Zohran Mamdani Defends Muslim Identity Against Attacks
· Nigerian Army Kills Over 50 Boko Haram Militants As It Fights Off Drone Attacks
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India
· EAM Jaishankar slams UN for shielding terror group; says ‘all is not well’ with global body
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South Asia
· Minister urges prompt Muslim burial rites, calls for adherence to pre-COVID procedures
· Modern education key to strengthen the system: Chief justice
· UN must evolve to realise global aspirations for peace: Yunus
· We’ll respond to politics with politics, not with religion: Fakhrul
· Islamabad, Kabul to Hold Second Round of Talks in Istanbul Today
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North America
· Mamdani Claims He Never Supported 'Global Jihad' But He Praised Jihad Supporters And Sympathizers
· Police probe bomb threat against Wellington mosque
· CAIR-Alabama Calls on State to Drop Execution by Nitrogen Gas After Latest ‘Horrific’ Death
· CAIR Urges American Muslims to Vote in Upcoming State and Local Elections on November 4
· CAIR-NY Calls on 77 WABC to Drop ‘Deranged Racist’ Sid Rosenberg for 9/11 Remarks, History of Anti-Black Racism
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Africa
· Why I Rejected El-Rufai As My Successor – Obasanjo
· ‘Over 50 Police Officers Violently Attacked Sowore’ – Deji Adeyanju
· Polisario Front says Morocco's autonomy plan should go to referendum
· Outrage at Milnerton High as assault video sparks protests and olice response
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Mideast
· Palestinian Factions Agree To Hand Gaza To Technocrat Committee
· Rubio seeks quick deployment of international Gaza force
· WHO pleads for sick Gazans to be allowed to leave
· US names career diplomat for Gaza ceasefire monitor
· Vandalism and attacks: settler violence disrupts West Bank olive harvest
· Turkiye appoints ambassador to Syria
· US will end support for Israel if West Bank annexed: Trump
· Israeli man sentenced to 5 years for illegally selling Greek Cypriot land in breakaway north
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Arab World
· Saudi Film Confex Attracts Major Saudi Companies And Global Stars
· Fifth AlUla Wellness Festival Begins With Duathlon Race
· More than one million people attend Riyadh Season in two weeks
· The threads of life: Syrian artist Hayat Saker’s solo show opens in Dammam
· Zenos Health Summit debuts in Kingdom, helps spotlight Saudi initiatives
· ‘I want something authentic,’ says Zenos Health founder during company’s first summit
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Europe
· Britain To Allocate $13.3 Million For Mosque Security Amid Attacks
· Men charged over Peacehaven mosque attack appear in court
· Why the Putin-Trump summit cancelation is terrible news for Ukraine
· Here’s how Ukraine’s counteroffensive fantasy finally came to an end
· Ex-NATO commander claims united Ireland could aid Russia and China
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Southeast Asia
· Sixteen NGOs urge Anwar to speak up for Malaysia, Palestine at ASEAN Summit
· ‘Welcome to the ASEAN Family’: Timor-Leste takes final step toward full membership with document handover
· ‘Final stage’: Asean nears long-awaited extradition treaty to combat cross-border crime, says foreign minister
· Japan backs Malaysia’s push for Asean economic integration under RCEP, CPTPP, says envoy
· Fahmi: Cabinet keeps existing regulations on alcohol in school halls, Chinese schools have separate provisions
· Singapore eyes tri-nation collaboration with Malaysia, Indonesia to attract investors to JS-SEZ, BBK islands
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/anti-conversion-laws-freedom-religion/d/137388
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Anti-Conversion Laws Framed By Various States: Freedom Of Religion & Right To Privacy Interlinked ": SC
Oct 25, 2025
‘Individual’s Autonomy Supreme In Choices Of Faith And Belief’
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NEW DELHI: Anti-conversion laws framed by various states, validity of which are being examined by Supreme Court, will have to pass privacy test as the court in a recent verdict linked right to freedom of religion with right to privacy "in the sense of non-interference from State".
While quashing multiple FIRs filed under Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, a bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra had noted right to privacy & right to freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion - under Article 25 the Constitution - are interlinked and had to be examined.
Referring to a nine-judge SC bench's verdict on right to privacy, it said this court underlined that Article 25 encapsulates within it the ability to choose a faith and the subsequent freedom to express or not to express such a choice.
"In other words, Article 25 carries with it the facets of privacy rights, whereby a person has the intrinsic right to freedom of conscience and also the choice to express it to the world at large. This court highlighted that although Part III of the Constitution does not have a separate article declaring privacy as a fundamental right, yet the broader scheme of Part III portrays and contains in it the various aspects of privacy, Article 25 being one of them," it said.
The court categorically noted that "freedom of conscience as ensured under Article 25 falls within the zone of purely private thought process". It was also emphasised that privacy is a condition precedent for the rights under Article 25 to come into being. "This court also read privacy rights in other rights pertaining to religious belief under Articles 26 and 28, respectively," the bench said.
It also drew a similarity on how choosing one's partner is a legitimate constitutional right in which consent of family or community or clan is not necessary once two adults agree to enter into wedlock.
Referring to another SC verdict, the bench said, "It held that the right to marry a person of one's choice is integral to Article 21 of the Constitution as an expression of one's right to life. It categorically held that the intimacies of marriage, including the choices which individuals make on whether to marry, or whom to marry, form one of the rights from a bouquet of rights of right to privacy, and most importantly, transcend the control of the State."
"The court, while observing that the Constitution guarantees the right to practice, profess and propagate religion, held that an individual's autonomy is supreme in choices of faith and belief which are intrinsic in matters of marriage. The court prohibited the State as well as the law from controlling the choice of choosing a partner or even limiting or regulating the ability to decide on such matters," it said.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/freedom-of-religion-right-to-privacy-interlinked-sc/articleshow/124798188.cms
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Supreme Court On Muslim Widows’ Inheritance: One-Eighth Of The Unwilled Property Left Behind By Her Dead Husband — One-Fourth If The Couple Were Childless
25.10.25
The Supreme Court.
File picture
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A Muslim woman is entitled to only one-eighth of the unwilled property left behind by her dead husband — one-fourth if the couple were childless — the Supreme Court has ruled on the basis of Muslim personal law.
Passing the judgment, the bench of Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra rejected an appeal moved by a widow, Zoharbee, against the concurrent findings of a district court and Bombay High Court.
Both courts had ruled that Zoharbee was entitled to only one-fourth of the (intestate) property left behind by her husband, Chand Khan.
Zoharbee was fighting the case against her husband’s brother Imam Khan. She had argued that since Chand had died issueless, she was entitled to three-fourths of his property under Muslim inheritance law, with the remaining one-fourth going to Imam.
Justice Karol, who authored the judgment, said that under Muslim personal law, movable and immovable property left behind by a deceased person (called Matruka property) has to be shared solely under the prescribed procedures of inheritance.
He said the will was the first document to be satisfied, subject to the limits imposed by Muslim law. That is, not more than one-third of the estate can be willed in favour of an heir without the consent of the other prescribed heirs.
Whatever remains thereafter is to be distributed under the rules of intestate succession, as prescribed in Muslim law.
Under Muslim law, the court explained, the first thing to be done with the property of a deceased person is to pay for their death expenses, debts and legacies.
This is followed by allotments to first-preference relatives (sharers) who are each entitled to a prescribed share. If any part of the estate still remains, it’s divided among residuaries (second-preference relatives).
If there are no sharers, the residuaries receive the full inheritance. If there are neither sharers nor residuaries, “distant kindred” (third and last preference) are entitled to shares of the property.
“A perusal of the above extracted principles of Muslim law of inheritance depicts that the sharers are entitled to a prescribed share of the inheritance and wife being a sharer is entitled to 1/8th the share but where there is no child or child of a son how low so ever, the share to which the wife is entitled is 1/4th,” the judgment said.
The apex court, however, rejected the arguments of Imam and his legal heirs that since there was an “agreement for sale” for a part of the property, it had to be excluded from the ambit of the partition. The bench clarified that an “agreement for sale” did not confer any vested rights unless and until the property had been sold through a registered “sale deed”.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/muslim-widows-eligible-for-1-8th-of-husbands-property-1-4th-if-childless-supreme-court-prnt/cid/2129427
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Hefazat-e-Islam Holds Rally, Demands Ban On Iskcon (International Society for Krishna Consciousness)
Oct 24, 2025
Photo: Collected
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Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh staged a protest rally in Chattogram city today, demanding a ban on the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon).
The organisation also condemned the killing of lawyer Saiful Islam Alif in port city last year, as well as the recent attempted murder of a mosque khatib in Gazipur.
The rally was held after Juma prayers at the Anderkilla Shahi Jame Mosque premises.
Speakers at the rally said that when incidents occur in the hills or against minority communities, the chief adviser reacts promptly on social media, but when an imam or khatib is attacked, there is no response.
Speaking at the rally, Ashraf Bin Yakub called for ensuring the safety of women and urged Muslim parents to remain vigilant. "The government must immediately declare Iskcon banned in Bangladesh," he said.
Maulana Yakub also demanded the arrest and exemplary punishment of those involved in the murder of lawyer Alif, and the cancellation of bail for the accused.
The event was presided over by Hefazat's central Nayeb-e-Ameer, Maulana Ali Usman. Central Joint Secretary Generals Harun Izhar and Nasir Munir, among others, were present at the event.
After the rally, Hefazat activists brought out a procession from the mosque premises.
The procession moved through different parts of the city and ended in the Jamal Khan area, with participants chanting slogans demanding a ban on Iskcon.
On November 26 last year, 32-year-old Alif, a member of Chattogram District Bar Association, was killed during clashes between police and followers of former Iskcon leader Chinmoy Krishna Das in the Chattogram Court Building area.
Source: thedailystar.net
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/politics/news/hefazat-e-islam-holds-rally-chattogram-demands-ban-iskcon-4017921
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Zohran Mamdani defends Muslim identity against attacks
25 October, 2025
He recounted how, when he first entered politics, an uncle gently suggested he keep his faith to himself [TIMOTHY A.CLARY/AFP via Getty Images]
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Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor, pledged Friday to further embrace his Muslim identity in response to growing attacks by former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and his surrogates that he characterised as "racist and baseless."
Encircled by faith leaders outside a Bronx mosque, Mamdani spoke in emotional terms about the "indignities" long faced by the city's Muslim population, choking back tears as he described his aunt's decision not to ride the subway after the 11 September attacks because she didn't feel safe being seen in a religious head covering.
He recounted how, when he first entered politics, an uncle gently suggested he keep his faith to himself.
"These are lessons that so many Muslim New Yorkers have been taught," Mamdani said. "And over these last few days, these lessons have become the closing messages of Andrew Cuomo, Curtis Sliwa and Eric Adams."
At a news conference later Friday, Cuomo accused Mamdani of "playing the victim" for political purposes and denied that Islamophobia existed on a wide scale in New York.
Throughout the race, Mamdani, a democratic socialist, has been criticised by Cuomo and others over his criticism of Israel's government which he had accused of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
But the tone of those attacks have amped up in recent days, drawing allegations from some Democrats that Cuomo's campaign is leaning into Islamophobia in the final stretch of the campaign.
Appearing on a conservative radio station Thursday, Cuomo appeared to laugh along at host Sid Rosenberg's suggestion that Mamdani would "be cheering" another 9/11 attack. "That's another problem," Cuomo replied.
A Cuomo social media account posted, then removed, a video depicting Mamdani eating rice with his hands and describing his supporters as criminals. A campaign spokesperson said the video was posted in error.
At an event endorsing the former governor, Mayor Eric Adams invoked the possibility of terrorist attacks in New York City, seeming to suggest - without explanation - they would be more likely under a Mamdani administration.
"New York can't be Europe. I don't know what is wrong with people," Adams said, standing alongside Cuomo. "You see what's playing out in other countries because of Islamic extremism."
At a debate earlier this week, Sliwa, the Republican candidate, falsely smeared Mamdani as a supporter of "global jihad."
Asked about Rosenberg's comments, Cuomo said he "didn't take the remarks seriously at the time."
"Of course I think it's an offensive comment. But it did not come out of my mouth," he added.
Messages left with Adams' and Sliwa's campaign were not immediately returned.
In his speech Friday, Mamdani said he was aiming his remarks not at political opponents but at his fellow Muslim New Yorkers.
"The dream of every Muslim is simply to be treated the same as any other New Yorker," he said. "And yet for too long we have been told to ask for less than that, and to be satisfied with whatever little we receive."
"No more," he said.
To that end, Mamdani said he would further embrace his Muslim identity, a decision he said he consciously avoided at the start of his campaign.
"I thought that if I behaved well enough, or bit my tongue enough in the face of racist, baseless attacks, all while returning back to my central message, it would allow me to be more than just my faith," Mamdani said. "I was wrong. No amount of redirection is ever enough."
He continued: "I will not change who I am, how I eat, or the faith that I'm proud to call my own. But there is one thing that I will change. I will no longer look for myself in the shadows. I will find myself in the light."
Mamdani, who won the primary in stunning fashion, has faced skepticism from some in the Democratic establishment, particularly over his criticism of Israel. On Friday, Mamdani earned the endorsement of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
Source: newarab.com
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https://www.newarab.com/news/zohran-mamdani-defends-muslim-identity-against-attacks
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Nigerian army kills over 50 Boko Haram militants as it fights off drone attacks
October 24, 2025
Nigerian soldiers pass by the Kankara Government Science Secondary School in Nigeria on 16 December 2020.
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Copyright © africanews
Sunday Alamba/Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved
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Nigeria's military killed more than 50 Boko Haram militants in response to drone attacks on military bases in the country's northeast, the army said Thursday.
Army spokesperson Sani Uba said in a statement that militants launched simultaneous attacks on military bases in Borno and Yobe states early Thursday. It added that a combination of ground and air assaults enabled the military to defeat the militants who launched their attacks from northern Cameroon and Katarko, a village located in Yobe State.
The spokesperson said that ground troops, backed by the Air Component, are still pursuing more than 70 wounded militants “in close coordination.”
Last month, Boko Haram militants killed at least 60 people in a nighttime attack on Darul Jamal, a village in northeastern Nigeria.
Boko Haram, Nigeria’s homegrown jihadis, took up arms in 2009 to fight Western education and impose their radical version of Islamic law or Sharia.
The decade-long conflict has spilt into Nigeria’s northern neighbours, including Niger, and resulted in the death of around 35,000 civilians and the displacement of more than 2 million others, according to the United Nations.
The insurgent group split into two factions after the death of the group’s longtime leader, Abubakar Shekau, in 2021.
One faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province, is backed by the Islamic State group and has become notorious for targeting military positions.
Recently, the U.S. approved a potential $346 million weapons sale to improve security in Africa’s most populous country.
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.africanews.com/2025/10/24/nigerian-army-kills-over-50-boko-haram-militants-as-it-fights-off-drone-attacks/
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India
EAM Jaishankar slams UN for shielding terror group; says ‘all is not well’ with global body
Jayanth Jacob
24 Oct 2025
NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar on Friday said that “all is not well with the UN,” accusing a sitting member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) of shielding a terror organisation responsible for the recent Pahalgam attack.
Speaking at an event marking the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, where he unveiled a commemorative postage stamp, Jaishankar said, “Few examples are more telling about the challenges facing the UN than its response to terrorism.” He questioned the credibility of multilateral institutions, asking, “When a sitting Security Council member openly protects the very organisation that claims responsibility for barbaric terror attacks such as at Pahalgam, what does it do to the credibility of multilateralism?”
The remarks came in the aftermath of the April Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians. The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), had claimed responsibility. The group, which operates from Pakistani soil, was named in a July UNSC report for its role in the attack. However, diplomatic sources said Pakistan had lobbied to remove references to TRF from the Council’s press statement condemning the assault.
Jaishankar, without directly naming Pakistan, made clear references to Islamabad, noting that certain states continue to block UN efforts to sanction known terror groups. “If victims and perpetrators of terrorism are equated in the name of global strategy, how much more cynical can the world get? When self-proclaimed terrorists are shielded from the sanctioning process, what does it say about the sincerity of those involved?” he said.
Pakistan currently holds a non-permanent seat on the 15-member Security Council, which includes five permanent members—China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States—and ten elected members serving two-year terms.
Reiterating his frustration with the inertia of global institutions, Jaishankar said, “All is not well with the UN. Its decisions no longer reflect the priorities of the world. In an era of conflict, there is a need for peace, and yet the very institution founded to preserve peace is struggling to act decisively.”
He also cautioned against the “politicisation of multilateralism,” where powerful nations exploit global platforms to advance narrow strategic agendas. The Minister reaffirmed India’s commitment to peacekeeping, counterterrorism, and equitable global governance but stressed that meaningful reform is vital if the UN is to restore its legitimacy.
Source: newindianexpress.com
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https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2025/Oct/24/eam-jaishankar-slams-un-for-shielding-terror-group-says-all-is-not-well-with-global-body
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South Asia
Minister urges prompt Muslim burial rites, calls for adherence to pre-COVID procedures
25 October 2025
Colombo, October 25 (Daily Mirror) - Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath has addressed concerns over delays in performing Muslim burial rites, said that final rites should be carried out promptly.
Civil society representatives noted that in some areas, lengthy certificate procedures introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic are still being followed, causing delays in burials.
In response, Minister Herath confirmed that a circular has already been issued to reinstate pre-pandemic procedures regarding deaths, and relevant officials have been instructed to comply. He also requested that any area still operating under outdated Covid-era procedures present the circular so that corrective action can be taken to prevent further delays.
The discussion was attended by 30 representatives from 15 organizations, including the All Ceylon Jamiatul Ulama Organization, representing Muslim civil society leaders.
Source: dailymirror.lk
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https://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking-news/Minister-urges-prompt-Muslim-burial-rites-calls-for-adherence-to-pre-COVID-procedures/108-323229
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Modern education key to strengthen the system: Chief justice
Hijratullah Kakar
24 Oct 2025
KABUL (Pajhwok): The Chief Justice of Afghanistan’s Supreme Court emphasized the need to prepare the educational curriculum in accordance with Islamic values, stating that “the system needs strength and this strength is achieved through modern education.”
The Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) said in a statement on Friday that a meeting was held to strengthen the educational system, during which the efforts of scholars and professors were recognized and appreciated.
The meeting was attended by the Chief Justice (Qazi al-Qudat), the Minister of Promotion of Virtue, Prevention of Vice and Complaints, the Minister of Higher Education and his deputies, the Deputy of the Ministry of Justice, representatives from the Academy of Sciences, leadership delegations from central universities and hundreds of scholars and professors.
During the meeting, Chief Justice Sheikh Mawlawi Abdul Hakim Haqqani said: “All our teachers in Afghanistan are Muslims, hardworking and good people. Those who did not align with Islam left the country or fled.”
He added that the stability and implementation of the Islamic system cannot be achieved without modern sciences, emphasizing that the system’s strength comes through modern education.
Referring to the strengthening of the educational system and the revision of academic materials, Haqqani said that preparing curricula in line with Islamic values and Afghan traditions plays a central role in reinforcing the Islamic system.
He praised all scholars, professors, and the Ministry of Higher Education for their efforts in strengthening higher education, noting that significant work has been done to improve Afghanistan’s educational system.
Minister of Promotion of Virtue, Prevention of Vice, and Complaints Sheikh Mohammad Khalid Hanafi said: “Occupiers, after every invasion, always first altered the educational curricula according to their own ideology.”
He added that the Islamic Emirate aims to graduate students from all universities and seminaries equipped with Islamic beliefs, thought and values.
The MoHE statement concluded that the ministry recognized and appreciated those scholars and professors who have played a constructive role in strengthening various aspects of the educational system.
Source: pajhwok.com
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https://pajhwok.com/2025/10/24/modern-education-key-to-strengthen-the-system-chief-justice/#google_vignette
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UN must evolve to realise global aspirations for peace: Yunus
Oct 25, 2025
Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus yesterday said the United Nations, which celebrated its 80th anniversary yesterday, must continue to evolve and adapt if it is to fulfill their collective aspiration for peace and multilateralism.
"We join the call for reforming the UN to make it more agile, integrated, and equipped to deliver the aspirations of all people in an evolving global landscape," he said in a message marking the United Nations Day that falls on October 24.
On this occasion, Prof Yunus said they pledge that Bangladesh will continue to do its part to ensure a stable and peaceful world, as envisioned in the UN Charter.
On this day, on behalf of the people of Bangladesh, Prof Yunus wished all Member States, Partners in the UN System, and other stakeholders a happy United Nations Day.
"This is an occasion for the international community to renew its pledge to build a world free from fear and want, and rejuvenate the spirit of multilateralism and consensus-building that the UN embodies," said Prof Yunus.
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/diplomacy/news/un-must-evolve-realise-global-aspirations-peace-yunus-4018181
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We’ll respond to politics with politics, not with religion: Fakhrul
Oct 24, 2025
BNP is unfazed by Jamaat-e-Islami's efforts to form an electoral alliance with several Islamist parties, but the party will respond politically if any group attempts to exploit religion in the upcoming national election, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said.
In an interview with the agency published today, Fakhrul also hinted at including the National Citizen Party (NCP) in BNP's electoral alliance, saying his party is open to forming coalitions with all democratic parties -- even with Jamaat -- as part of its plan to form a national government after the election.
He said BNP will be generous in sharing seats with its alliance partners if they have viable candidates.
The BNP leader also urged Jamaat to think twice about its recent position on proportional representation (PR) and the proposed referendum before the election for the sake of a peaceful democratic transition and a free and fair poll.
Fakhrul discussed a wide range of issues -- the political situation, democracy, BNP's preparation for the election, the party's manifesto, the economy, and ongoing instability.
"We are least bothered about the possible electoral alliance of Islamic parties. But we are against playing any kind of religious card in Bangladesh's politics or elections. If Jamaat or anyone else tries to do that, we will counter it politically. We will respond to politics with politics -- not with religion," Fakhrul said.
On reports that BNP is forming an alliance with NCP, Fakhrul said discussions are still informal.
He said, "We have not reached a final decision yet. So, it would not be right to say anything in advance. Please wait and see. Our party keeps its doors open to all political parties."
Asked whether this openness also applies to Jamaat, he replied, "If Jamaat wants to come with us, we will then think about it. But in politics, there must always be both a ruling party and an opposition -- these options have to be considered carefully."
Fakhrul said BNP has always had sympathy for NCP as its top leadership led the mass uprising. "We welcomed them when they formed their party. We like them and are always ready to cooperate. Though they have spoken against us in different ways at times, we didn't mind. If you notice, I never speak against NCP. I recognise them, I like and respect them, and I want them to do well."
"It is already in our declaration that we want to form a national government with all our partners from the simultaneous movement and other democratic forces to rebuild the nation," he said.
The BNP leader said their party has already started field-level surveys to identify suitable candidates across the country.
"We are assessing who can win and who has strong public support. We have not taken part in elections for 15–16 years, so both young and senior leaders are being considered. The final decision will be made by our parliamentary board," he said.
Fakhrul said BNP's alliance partners in the simultaneous movement have already been asked to submit their lists of potential candidates.
"We will consider their proposals seriously and finalise seat-sharing on the basis of field realities and viability. We will try to accommodate our allies as much as possible," the BNP leader said.
He said BNP has made significant progress in finalising its election manifesto, which will be based on the party's previously announced 31-point reform plan. "Our manifesto is almost ready. It will now be presented sector-wise at the Standing Committee meeting for approval."
The BNP leader said the manifesto would focus on creating jobs, reforming key state institutions, and ensuring democratic governance.
"Our chairman [acting chairman Tarique Rahman] has already announced plans to create one crore new jobs in the first 15 months, if we come to power. We have also worked out detailed plans to introduce family cards, farmers' cards, and other social protection measures," Fakhrul said.
He said their party's main policy priorities will include employment generation, education, health, and agricultural reform.
Fakhrul said the party's long-term vision is to build a liberal and democratic Bangladesh where institutions like the Election Commission, the judiciary, and the media can function independently.
He said the main crisis now is the absence of a democratic government and a fair election. "If we can ensure these two things, other debates can be settled in Parliament. But when politics moves to the streets, the country suffers greatly. So, I think they should think twice," he said.
Fakhrul said the economy is collapsing due to the lack of democracy, with investment, trade and exports all declining.
"You can talk to the finance advisers, and you will understand that Bangladesh is almost going bankrupt as everything is falling apart. I urge all political parties to rise above everything and go for elections. Whatever the result, we must accept it and work together to rebuild the nation," he said.
Source: thedailystar.net
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/politics/news/well-respond-politics-politics-not-religion-fakhrul-4017861
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Islamabad, Kabul to Hold Second Round of Talks in Istanbul Today
By Fidel Rahmati
October 25, 2025
Islamabad and Kabul officials will convene in Istanbul on Saturday to discuss unresolved border security issues as tensions rise and key crossings remain restricted.
Islamabad and Kabul authorities have resumed negotiations in Istanbul aimed at easing heightened tensions along their shared frontier and resolving outstanding security concerns. The discussions on Saturday mark the second round of talks, following earlier meetings that helped establish a temporary ceasefire.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said the priority for Islamabad is the creation of a verifiable monitoring mechanism to address what Pakistan describes as cross-border militant threats. He stressed that Pakistan does not seek further escalation and expects the Taliban to honour their counterterrorism commitments to the international community.
The border situation has deteriorated in recent weeks. Major transit routes remain shut because of security threats, severely disrupting the movement of goods. Pakistani officials argue that protecting civilian lives must take precedence over the commercial impact of the closures.
The humanitarian fallout continues to grow. Only tightly controlled routes for departing Afghan refugees remain open, leaving thousands of families on both sides of the border facing uncertainty over travel and livelihoods.
Deadly clashes have intensified concerns in both capitals, with dozens killed in some of the most serious incidents since the Taliban seized power in 2021. Diplomatic analysts say progress in Istanbul will be crucial to preventing another flare-up, stabilising trade, and establishing a more durable framework for cooperation.
Observed closely by regional stakeholders, the talks are viewed as a test of whether the neighbours can shift from crisis-driven responses to sustained coordination on security and border management. Whether these efforts deliver tangible change will likely shape the trajectory of Pakistan-Taliban relations in the months ahead.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/islamabad-kabul-to-hold-second-round-of-talks-in-istanbul-today/
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North America
Mamdani claims he never supported 'global jihad' but he praised jihad supporters and sympathizers
October 25, 2025
Democratic mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani has indignantly declared that he has never supported “global jihad” — but the self-described democratic socialist has praised Muslim radicals who themselves were provably jihad supporters or defenders.
In Wednesday’s mayoral debate against former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa, Mamdani declared that he was being accused of being a jihad supporter because of his Muslim faith. In fact, he has a history of meeting with and praising high-profile, often well-funded, highly controversial Islamic figures, including radical imam Siraj Wahhaj and controversial Palestinian-American activist Linda Sarsour.
He has himself sent his "love" to Muslim-Americans who were convicted of supporting Hamas.
“I think there is room for disagreement on many positions and many policies, but I want to correct the record. I have never, not once, spoken in support of global jihad,” Mamdani said on stage this week. “That is not something that I have said, and that continues to be ascribed to me, and frankly I think much of it has to do with the fact that I am the first Muslim candidate to be on the precipice of winning this election.”
Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., who is reportedly considering challenging Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, has repeatedly argued that Mamdani is indeed himself a jihadist.
“I call Zohran Mamdani a jihadist because he is,” Stefanik said on social media this month. “Zohran Mamdani is a raging antisemite. Mamdani is the definition of a jihadist as he supports Hamas terrorists which he did as recently as yesterday when he refused to call for Hamas terrorists to put down their arms — the same Hamas terrorist group that slaughtered civilians including New Yorkers on October 7, 2023.”
The mayoral candidate did not respond to a request from Just the News for comment.
Hundreds of Jewish rabbis signed a letter this week “to declare that we cannot remain silent in the face of rising anti-Zionism and its political normalization throughout our nation” and lamented that “public figures like New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani refuse to condemn violent slogans, deny Israel’s legitimacy, and accuse the Jewish state of genocide.”
Just the News previously reported on how Mamdani’s years-long rise to prominence was assisted by Sarsour, whose views on Israel have stirred years of controversy and accusations of anti-Semitism.
Mamdani’s own past rap lyrics also praised “the Holy Land Five” — convicted by the Justice Department for supporting the terrorist group Hamas. Mamdani has also repeatedly accused Israel of committing a genocide, tweeting out the allegation dozens of times. Mamdani began accusing Israel of a genocide two weeks after the Hamas terrorist attacks in October 2023.
Mamdani has also tweeted repeatedly about supporting the anti-Israel Boycott, Divest, and Sanction movement, and also said in 2020 it was the “framework” and "lens" of the Muslim holiday of Ramadan which “kind of in many ways drew me into socialism.”
Mamdani spoke at Wahhaj's Brooklyn mosque last Friday and praised him on X as “one of the nation’s foremost Muslim leaders and a pillar of the Bed-Stuy community for nearly half a century.” Wahhaj has been the center of controversy throughout his career, according to InfluenceWatch.
Wahhaj has a long history of incendiary commentary and appeared as a character witness on behalf of Egyptian Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman – commonly known as the “Blind Sheikh” – who was convicted of seditious conspiracy in 1995 for his involvement in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and other plots to bomb major NYC landmarks.
“The same imam met with Mayor Bloomberg, met with Mayor de Blasio, campaigned alongside Eric Adams, and the only time it became an issue of national attention was when I met with him,” Mamdani, himself a Muslim, said to reporters over the weekend. “That’s because of the fact of my faith and because I’m on the precipice of winning this election.”
Mayor Eric Adams and former Mayor Bill de Blasio indeed appear to have largely avoided criticism for meeting with Wahhaj, although Adams's mayoral office disputed that Adams had ever campaigned with Wahhaj.
However, in 2009, when Michael Bloomberg was mayor, his decision to meet with Wahhaj did, in fact, result in negative national attention, including stories by the Associated Press and Fox News, as well as articles written by local news outlets such as the New York Post and the New York Daily News.
Back in June, Wahhaj recommended that his followers vote for Mamdani, saying, “Allah has blessed us. We have a very, very good candidate. His name is Zohran Mamdani.” Wahhaj and Mamdani also praised each other during remarks last Friday at the Brooklyn mosque.
Wahhaj told Mamdani that “I love you more than you can ever imagine. Don’t ever stop doing what you’re doing. … I told some people I’m gonna try to change the law in America so you can run for president.”
Mamdani then took the microphone, saying, “It is such an honor to be here with you, imam. To be here at Masjid Al-Taqwa. And to be here the day after the first debate in the general election.”
Mamdani added: “Look at the history of this masjid. That is the history we are speaking of – of believing in a future that those around could not yet see. … We know there is more because we see glimpses of that city. We see it in this masjid. We see it in this imam.”
The chain: From Mandani to Wahhaj to the Blind Sheik
Then-U.S. Attorney Mary Jo White and then-Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew McCarthy had sent a February 1995 letter to the defense team providing a list of “unindicted persons who may be alleged as co-conspirators” in the case against Omar Abdel-Rahman, better known as "the Blind Sheikh." Wahhaj was on the potential list.
Wahhaj was a character witness for the Blind Sheikh in the World Trade Center bombing trial in July 1995, according to court transcripts. Wahhaj said of the Blind Sheikh that “I respect him” and admitted that Rahman had spoken at Wahhaj’s mosque. Wahhaj added: “He is a well known scholar, he is a respected scholar [...] “He memorized the entire Koran, 114 chapters. That is why I respect him. He has memorized the many statements of Prophet Mohammed, peace and blessings be upon him. And he is bold, as a strong preacher of Islam. So he is respected that way.” Wahhaj suggested in 1993 that the World Trade Center bombing may have been carried out by Israel’s Mossad rather than Islamic terrorists.
McCarthy later noted that “Rahman and 11 others were ultimately convicted of seditious conspiracy and other charges after a nine-month trial that ended in October 1995.”
Wahhaj also said in 1991 that “wherever you came from, you came to America, you came for one reason and one reason only, to establish Allah's deen [way of life], as a servant of Allah.” "As long as you remember, that if you get involved in politics, you have to be very careful, that your niyyah [intention] is for Allah,” Wahhaj said. “You don't get in politics because it's the American thing to do. You get involved in politics because politics can be a weapon to use in the cause of Islam."
Wahhaj said in 1995: "You wanna defend this country? You know what this country is? It's a garbage can. It's filthy — filthy and sick."
“I pray one day Allah will bless us to raise an army and I’m serious about this. We were very close, recently,” Wahhaj said in the early 2000s. “We had made intention to raise an army of 10,000 men in New York City. Muslim men to go fight in the way of subhanahu wa ta’ala [may Allah be praised and exalted]. And this is serious.”
Wahhaj added: “Are you ready? Some are not going to like it. Some Muslim’s heart going to be weak, and they’re not ready for what I’m going to say. And they may publicize it in the Times, you may see it tomorrow in the newspaper. But I’m telling you what I’m saying that we ought to do. We ought to declare jihad.”
Mamdani's mentor Sarsour called for “jihad” against Trump and more
During a 2017 speech before the Islamic Society of North America, Linda Sarsour reportedly referred to Wahhaj as "my favorite person in this room.”
She also said in a 2017 speech reported by Time, that it was important to wage “jihad” against the Trump White House. She soon backpedaled on the meaning of the word "jihad" by claiming that critics were taking her words out of context as she emphasized her commitment to nonviolence.
Sarsour infamously posted a tweet in 2011 which downplayed the concerns about the radical Muslim Brotherhood taking over Egypt, saying, “Yo the Muslim Brotherhood knows how to parrrttaaay! So much for radical islamists taking over!” She tweeted in 2012 that "nothing is creepier than Zionism.”
Zionism is generally defined as the belief that the Jewish people should be allowed to have a national home in the biblical land of Israel. Sarsour tweeted in 2015 that a photograph of a child apparently preparing to throw rocks at Israeli police was “the definition of courage.”
Sarsour also said in a 2018 speech that “I am an unapologetic pro-BDS, one-state solution supporting, resistance supporter here in the U.S.” A so-called “one-state solution” would likely result in the ending of the Jewish character of the nation of Israel.
As for “BDS,” then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in 2020 that “anti-Zionism is anti-Semitism” and so “the United States is, therefore, committed to countering the Global BDS Campaign as a manifestation of anti-Semitism.”
Mamdani the rapper's greatest jihadist hits
Before formally entering the political scene, Mamdani tried his hand at a rap music career, including a number of songs that praised known terrorists or their enablers.
He released a heavily auto-tuned electronic rap track titled “Salaam” in March 2017 which remains on his SoundCloud page. The song was first unearthed by social media poster Canary Mission, among others who have pointed out that Mamdani sang about the Holy Land Five — with praise — and that Mamdani sent his "love" to them.
Mamdani tweeted in March 2017 that the song was “about being Muslim in America today.”
“No ban, no wall, build it up, we’ll make it fall” his lyrics say in a clear reference to Trump’s immigration restrictions placed on a number of Muslim-majority countries in his first term and to Trump’s vow to build a wall along the U.S. southern border. The lyrics continue, “Me llamo [my name is] Zohran // My love to the Holy Land Five // You better look ‘em up.”
When one does indeed "look it up" as Mamdani suggests, it turns out the Justice Department announced an indictment in 2004 against the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development (HLF) and seven of its senior leaders “for providing and conspiring to provide material support to Hamas." In 2001, the U.S. government listed HLF as Designated Global Terrorists (SDGT). Five of the Holy Land Foundation’s leaders — later referred to as "The Holy Land Five" — were convicted in 2008, and sentenced to decades in prison in 2009.
The Democratic mayoral nominee’s own statement the day after the Oct. 7, 2023 terrorist attacks by Hamas made no mention of the terrorist group and included condemnation of Israel only. He lamented "Netanyahu's declaration of war" — but there was no condemnation of the Hamas-led terrorist attacks which had murdered hundreds of Israeli civilians attending a music festival as well as hundreds in kibbutzim near the Gaza border. Dozens of hostages had been taken just the day before, many of whom were then raped and murdered.
Accused of sanitizing the phrase "Globalize the Intifada" by reference to Arabic translation
“Peace can only begin by ending the occupation and dismantling apartheid,” Mamdani said of Israel the day after the terrorist attacks.
Mamdani also did his best to explain away his use of the phrase “globalizing the intifada” back in June. “To me, ultimately, what I hear in so many is a desperate desire for equality and equal rights in standing up for Palestinian human rights,” Mamdani said on The Bulwark podcast this summer.
“And I think what’s difficult also is that the very word has been used by the Holocaust Museum when translating the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising into Arabic, because it’s a word that means struggle,” Mamdani said, and added that “as a Muslim man who grew up post-9/11, I’m all too familiar in the way in which Arabic words can be twisted, can be distorted, can be used to justify any kind of meaning.”
The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum criticized Mamdani’s remarks. "Exploiting the Museum and the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising to sanitize 'globalize the intifada' is outrageous and especially offensive to survivors," the museum wrote in an X post. "Since 1987 Jews have been attacked and murdered under its banner. All leaders must condemn its use and the abuse of history."
Mamdani refused to condemn the phrase on Meet the Press, saying he did not want to "police speech." He later told an influential group of business leaders he would “discourage” the use of the phrase, according to The New York Times.
Mamdani has also repeatedly accused Israel of committing genocide, tweeting out the allegation dozens of times. Mamdani began accusing Israel of genocide two weeks after the Hamas terrorist attacks in October 2023. Mamdani also told former MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan in December 2024 that “as mayor, New York City would arrest Benjamin Netanyahu.”
The Democratic mayoral hopeful was asked on Fox News earlier this month if Hamas should lay down its arms and give up control of Gaza, and he dodged the question, saying, "I don't really have opinions about the future of Hamas and Israel beyond the question of justice and safety, and the fact that anything has to abide by international law,” Mamdani said.
Doing something of an about-face at a NYC mayoral debate earlier this month, Mamdani soon said that, “of course I believe that they should lay down their arms.”
Mamdani suggests FBI drove Anwar al-Awlaki to join al-Qaeda
Mamdani has also furthered an unproven conspiracy theory that American-Yemeni cleric and al-Qaeda propagandist Anwar al-Awlaki had been led to join al-Qaeda thanks to actions by the FBI.
Mamdani sent out multiple tweets about a New York Times article, seeming to critique the FBI and suggesting that the bureau bore responsibility for Awlaki joining al-Qaeda. “Why no proper interrogation of what it means for @FBI to have conducted extensive surv. [surveillance] into #Awlaki's private life?” Mamdani asked, adding, “How could #Awlaki have ever trusted @FBI to not release surveillance esp. [especially] if he continued to critique state?”
Awlaki was linked to multiple terrorist attacks, including the mass shooting terrorist attack by U.S. Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan, who shot and killed 13 members of the U.S. Army at Fort Hood, Texas in 2009. Hasan had communicated with Awlaki prior to the attack. Awlaki was targeted and killed by the U.S. in a drone strike in Yemen ordered by President Barack Obama in 2011.
Mamdani tweeted in 2015 about the “fascinating article … on #AnwarAwlaki” published by The New York Times, but he added that “I take issue w/ [with] a couple things.” The Times article detailed how multiple 9/11 hijackers had attended services at a mosque where Awlaki preached, and that the FBI began to surveil Awlaki after 9/11. The FBI surveillance revealed that Awlaki, while preaching piety to his followers, regularly paid escorts to have sex with him.
The piece said that a declassified document from the 9/11 Commission records showed that “the manager of an escort service called Awlaki to warn him that he had been interviewed by Wade Ammerman, an FBI agent, who had asked about the imam’s visits to prostitutes” and that “it was clear from Ammerman’s questions that the FBI knew everything.”
The New York-based Quran Academy for Young Scholars notes that Imams are not required to be celibate if they marry, but in most Islamic communities, Imams are expected to act as a role model for the wider community.
The Times article continued: “Awlaki’s panic, his sudden agitation about the course of his life, does not appear to have been triggered by American hostility to Muslims. Rather, he seems to have realized that his own un-Islamic behavior had put his career success and family comity at risk. If the bureau charged him, or leaked the files, he might instantly lose the moral authority he brought to public arguments over the war in Afghanistan or the dubious roundup of Muslim men. If the FBI chose instead to threaten exposure to coerce his cooperation, that might be even worse. Within a few days, he was gone, and he would never live in the United States again.”
The piece posited an "alternate history” which fueled the unproven theory about Awlaki as an FBI plant: “What if the FBI, recognizing Awlaki’s influence and value as a mediator with the Muslim community, had assured him that there was no plan to use the prostitution evidence to charge or embarrass him? What if he had resumed his life in Washington and continued to grow into an important public figure? Might he have become a responsible leader, a voice in the debates over the wars in Muslim countries, the wisdom of drone strikes, the fate of Guantánamo? Might he never have joined Al Qaeda? The contemporary history of terrorism, not to mention his playlist on YouTube, could have unspooled quite differently.”
Mamdani also asked: “Why no further discussion of how #Awlaki's knowledge of surv. eventually led him to #alqaeda? Or what that says about efficacy of surv.?”
Mamdani's crowd justifies 9/11 attacks
The future mayoral nominee met with popular far-left online Turkish streamer Hasan Piker during the campaign, joining his podcast. Piker had said in 2019 that "America deserved 9/11." Mamdani refused in May of that year to criticize Piker’s comments, with Mamdani insisting that his own “words speak for themselves.”
Forced into a corner under the public eye of a NYC mayoral debate earlier this month, Mamdani eventually said that “I find the comments that Hasan made on 9/11 to be objectionable and reprehensible.”
Mamdani wished his social media followers a “Happy 4th” on Independence Day in 2021, 2023, and 2024 in tweets accompanied by a picture from a music video of the two lead singers of the controversial rap group called The Diplomats (also known as Dipset), who were famous — and infamous — for some of their pro-terrorism-tinged lyrics.
Mamdani, a longtime rap aficionado who took a largely unsuccessful stab at being a rapper himself, has tweeted “Happy 4th” exactly four times — sharing the picture of the pro-terrorist Dipset rap group on the Fourth of July in 2021, 2023, and 2024 — and then, only after becoming the Democratic nominee, sent out a much more anodyne, standard-fare, politician-style tweet in 2025 wishing his followers “Happy 4th” featuring pictures from a Democratic Club BBQ held in Queens.
The Harlem-based rap group’s own lyrics from the 2003 album that Mamdani repeatedly promoted describe the hip-hop collective as the “Dipset Taliban”, “Harlem’s own Taliban”, and “Harlem’s Al-Qaeda” and described the group’s songs as “9/11 music” — while one of the group’s main singers compared himself favorably to Al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden and declared in a song that “I worship the prophet” Mohamed Atta, the ringleader of the 19 terrorist hijackers on 9/11 and who piloted American Airlines Flight 11 crashing into the North Tower of the World Trade Center.
Nearly 3,000 people were killed by the al-Qaeda terrorists on September 11, 2001, after Atta and his fellow hijackers crashed planes into the Twin Towers in New York City, the Pentagon, and a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, following a revolt by the passengers on American Flight 93. Historian James Reston said "the revolt of the passengers on Flight 93 resulting in the plane hijacked by al-Qaeda terrorists crashing in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, is rightly celebrated as one of the greatest heroic events in American history." That episode is etched in American memory with the words "OK, Let's Roll" as the passengers stormed the cockpit.
The attacks were carried out by the terrorists as bin Laden and al-Qaeda were shielded in Afghanistan by the Taliban, who, after two decades of war following the attack, took over Afghanistan again in 2021 following a chaotic and deadly U.S. withdrawal and evacuation.
The Dipset photo that Mamdani was long fond of sharing came from the music video for the group’s “Dipset Anthem” song, from the group’s highly-successful Diplomatic Immunity album released in March 2003. The group’s main members at the time were Cam'ron, Juelz Santana, Jim Jones, and Freekey Zekey.
Praises 9/11 "great" killer Atta for "his courage behind the wheel of the plane"
One of the album’s songs, I Love You, originally featured lyrics saying: "I worship the prophet / The great Mohamed Omar Atta / For his courage behind the wheel of the plane / Reminds me when I was dealin' the 'caine [cocaine]."
Dipset's Santana defended the original lyrics in an August 2002 interview with the New Musical Express, where he again praised Atta and implied that the U.S. was to blame for the 9/11 attacks. "I feel my Diplomats are my team and I'm going to do whatever it takes for them, for my people, the same way as he [Atta] did for his people,” Santana said. “Not that I support him or what he did, but in order for him to do that, it had to take courage and love for what he believed in. A lot of New York people don't have that. Maybe if they did, something like that wouldn't happen."
Santana insisted that "I never said I worshiped him, I said I worshiped his courage. It had nothing to do with 9/11 or me supporting them because I know people in the towers too. If you really listen to the song, it was talking about that and the whole situation. No matter what anybody says, that was courage right there. … I've looked in the dictionary and I've defined the word courage."
Santana then suggested that in any event, 9/11 may have been justified. "Why did that happen? Why did that happen on September 11, that is my question. If that had never happened, I would have never been able to sing that. It's because United States have been going over there trespassing, stealing their stuff... now they make it seem like they came over here and bombed us for nothing,” the rapper said.
Cuomo on the attack
Conservative radio show host Sid Rosenberg had Cuomo on as a guest on Thursday, and said "Any given morning there is a crisis [in NYC]. People’s lives are at stake. God forbid, another 9/11—can you imagine Mamdani in the seat?" Cuomo said.
"Yeah, I could. He'd be cheering," Rosenberg quipped.
Cuomo paused and laughed before saying: "That's another problem."
Mamdani soon responded with condemnation, blaming Cuomo's perspective as rooted in Islamophobia: “This is disgusting,” the democratic socialist said. “This is Andrew Cuomo’s final moments in public life, and he’s choosing to spend them making racist attacks on the person who would be the first Muslim to lead this city.”
Source: justthenews.com
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https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/elections/mamdani-says-he-never-supported-global-jihad-he-praised-jihad-supporters
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Police probe bomb threat against Wellington mosque
25 Oct 2025
Police are investigating a bomb threat against the Kilbirnie Masjid that was received on Thursday.
The mosque has suspended all activities while the investigation is carried out.
According to the Wellington Islamic Centre, the threat was based on an online platform “and had specified the exact address of the Kilbirnie Masjid”.
“All the other mosques and Islamic centres in Wellington have been advised of the threat.”
The Federation of the Islamic Associations of New Zealand (Fianz) advocacy chairman Abdur Razzaq told the Herald the mosque regularly receives threats.
Razzaq said the police response had been amazing.
Nureddin Abdurahman, a Southern Ward councillor for Wellington City Council, said he had received an email from FIANZ informing him of the threat.
“We are taking necessary precautions.”
Police told the Herald there is no immediate known threat to the community.
Source: newstalkzb.co.nz
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https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/national/police-probe-bomb-threat-against-wellington-mosque/
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CAIR-Alabama Calls on State to Drop Execution by Nitrogen Gas After Latest ‘Horrific’ Death
October 24, 2025
Muslim civil rights and advocacy group commends Supreme Court dissent and reiterates call for suspension of death penalty due to risk of wrongful convictions and evidence of racial disparities in application.
The Alabama office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-AL), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on the State of Alabama to drop the use of nitrogen gas as an execution method after incarcaree Anthony Boyd was reportedly conscious and visibly suffering for as long as 15 minutes.
CAIR also commended a Supreme Court dissent led by Associate Justice Sonya Sotomayor that noted such incidents have repeatedly occurred and argued that the Court should have approved Boyd’s request for execution by firing squad.
Anthony Boyd, who was on death row for murder and maintained his innocence in his final remarks, was executed with a nitrogen gas mask last night. According to witnesses, he thrashed against his restraints and convulsed during the execution, his eyes rolled back into his head, and he gasped for air for 15 minutes until he died.
In a minority opinion dissenting from the Supreme Court’s decision to let the execution move forward, Supreme Court Justices Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Katanji Brown Jackson wrote that “allowing the nitrogen hypoxia experiment to continue despite mounting and unbroken evidence that it violates the Constitution by inflicting unnecessary suffering fails to ‘protec[t] [the] dignity’ of ‘the Nation we have been, the Nation we are, and the Nation we aspire to be.’” Boyd was the eighth person to be executed by nitrogen gas.
In a statement, CAIR-Alabama Staff Attorney Britton O’Shields said:
“We call on the State of Alabama to stop using nitrogen gas to carry out the death penalty in the wake of this latest horrific, botched execution. Nitrogen gas has clearly and repeatedly resulted in cruel executions that needlessly prolong the person’s suffering. The fact that American states continue to use this nitrogen to slowly suffocate people to death is unconscionable. Alabama should lead the way in discontinuing this barbaric form of execution.”
In a statement, CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell said:
“We welcome the Supreme Court minority’s prescient and moving dissenting opinion in this case, which powerfully recounted botched executions using nitrogen gas and correctly predicted the horror that would unfold during this latest execution. We also again call on states and courts to suspend the use of the death penalty nationwide as long as racial disparities continue to exist in its application and a substantial risk of wrongful convictions persists. As the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said long ago in a universal maxim, ‘It is better to make making a mistake in forgiving than in punishing.'”
Source: cair.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-alabama-calls-on-state-to-drop-execution-by-nitrogen-gas-after-latest-horrific-death/
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CAIR Urges American Muslims to Vote in Upcoming State and Local Elections on November 4
October 24, 2025
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today urged American Muslims and all citizens to participate in the upcoming state and local elections on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, which will feature major contests across Virginia, New Jersey, and municipalities nationwide.
In Virginia, the general and special election will be for the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General races. Virginians will also elect members to the House of Delegates, where all 100 seats are up for re-election, along with other state and local offices. (Official Website)
Virgina Deadlines:
Register to vote or update your registration online: by Friday, October 24, 2025. Virginia Elections
Early in-person voting period: Friday, September 19, 2025, through Saturday, November 1, 2025. Virginia Elections
Apply for a ballot to be mailed to you (absentee/mail-in request): by 5:00 p.m., Friday, October 24, 2025 – your request must be received by your local registrar’s office by that time. Virginia Elections
Additional Voting Information in Virginia
When voting in person, you will be required to present an acceptable form of identification at the polls. For more details on voting in person, voting absentee, military and overseas voting, accessible voting, and candidate information, please visit VDE’s website.
When voting in-person, you will be asked to provide an acceptable form of identification at the polls.
More details on voting in-person
More details on voting absentee
More details on military and overseas voting
More details on accessible voting
More details on candidates in election
The New Jersey General Election will take place on Tuesday, November 4, 2025. Voters will elect the next governor, all 80 members of the General Assembly, and various county and local officials.
(Official Source: New Jersey Voter Information Portal)
Key Election Deadlines
October 22, 2025: Sample ballots begin mailing.
October 25 – November 2, 2025: Early voting period.
Monday–Saturday: 10:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.
Sunday: 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
October 28, 2025: Deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot by mail.
October 31, 2025: Deadline for overseas civilian and military voters to apply electronically.
November 3, 2025 (by 3:00 p.m.): Deadline to apply in person for a mail-in ballot.
November 4, 2025: Election Day. Polls open from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
November 4, 2025 (by 8:00 p.m.): Deadline to return mail-in ballots to a drop box or county Board of Elections.
November 6, 2025: County Boards must receive non-postmarked mail-in ballots.
November 10, 2025: Deadline for timely postmarked mail-in ballots to arrive.
November 15, 2025: Deadline to “cure” mail-in ballot issues.
December 4, 2025: Certification of election results by the Board of State Canvassers.
Voting Resources
Check voter registration status
Find polling and early voting locations
Vote-by-Mail information
Secure drop box locations
Military and overseas voter information
Voter rights and accessibility details
County election official contacts
For more details, visit the New Jersey Division of Elections Official Website.
Beyond these two states, local elections across the country will determine leadership in key cities, including:
New York City, N.Y. – Mayoral election.
October 25, 2025, is the deadline to register to vote in advance of the 2025 General Election. Check your registration status and learn about voter registration options.
October 25, 2025, is also the deadline to request an Early Mail or Absentee ballot for the voter to receive the ballot by mail for the 2025 General Election. View the Request a Ballot page to apply to receive a ballot by mail.
San Antonio, Texas – Voters will choose the city’s first new mayor since 2009 in one of the year’s most crowded and expensive municipal contests.
Important Dates for Texas
Deadline to register to vote or update your registration: Monday, October 6, 2025
Early voting period begins: Monday, October 20, 2025
Deadline to apply for a ballot by mail (Application for Ballot by Mail): Friday, October 24, 2025
Early voting ends: Friday, October 31, 2025
Election Day: Tuesday, November 4, 2025
CAIR encourages all eligible voters to verify their registration status, learn about their local races, and make a plan to vote on or before November 4
NOTE (2): As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, CAIR is legally prohibited from endorsing or opposing any candidates for public office. Our voter education materials, guides, and resources are provided solely for informational and educational purposes to help community members make informed decisions and participate fully in the democratic process. CAIR encourages all eligible voters to register, stay informed, and cast their ballots in every election.
Source: cair.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-urges-american-muslims-to-vote-in-upcoming-state-and-local-elections-on-november-4/
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CAIR-NY Calls on 77 WABC to Drop ‘Deranged Racist’ Sid Rosenberg for 9/11 Remarks, History of Anti-Black Racism
October 24, 2025
The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY), a chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on 77 WABC to drop “deranged racist” Sid Rosenberg for hateful remarks on the 9/11 terror attacks and said that Rosenberg never should have been hired due to his past racist remarks about Black women.
Yesterday, during a segment on his morning show, Rosenberg made a series of inflammatory comments with former Governor Andrew Cuomo referencing the September 11th attacks while discussing New York State Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani. Rosenberg implied that Mamdani “would probably cheer” if another 9/11-style terrorist attack occurred, with Cuomo seemingly agreeing.
In a statement, CAIR-NY Executive Director Afaf Nasher, Esq. said:
“Conservative radio stations are an important part of New York City’s political landscape, but even the most conservative station should not platform deranged racists and open bigots.
“WABC should have never hired Sid Rosenberg in the first place given his racist history of comparing Black female athletes to animals. Mr. Rosenberg’s similarly bigoted remarks about 9/11 and Zohran Mamdani should lead to his immediate, long overdue termination.
“These false claims of an American Muslim politician celebrating another 9/11 attack may be expected on the comments section of a hate site, but WABC should not provide it a platform on a radio program accessible to thousands of New Yorkers.”
Source: cair.com
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Africa
Why I Rejected El-Rufai As My Successor – Obasanjo
October 25, 2025
By Enioluwa Adeniyi
Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has disclosed that he once turned down a proposal to support former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, as his successor at the end of his tenure in 2007.
Obasanjo, speaking on Friday during the second edition of the Ajibosin Platform Annual Symposium in Abeokuta, Ogun State, said he believed El-Rufai was not yet mature enough to lead the country at the time.
El-Rufai served under Obasanjo between 1999 and 2007, first as Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises and later as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
The revelation came after former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, who delivered the keynote address, recalled how El-Rufai introduced him to Obasanjo at the age of 34, a meeting that led to his appointment as Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps.
Interrupting Chidoka’s presentation, Obasanjo said, “Let him tell you. He didn’t mention that. He was pushing when I was leaving government that his friend, El-Rufai, should be brought in as my successor.”
Turning to Chidoka, he asked jokingly: “No be so (Is that not true)?” Chidoka nodded in agreement.
Obasanjo explained that he rejected the idea because El-Rufai still needed time to grow politically and personally.
“I did not yield to the pressure. Later, he said, ‘I suggested this person, why didn’t you agree?’ I said El-Rufai needs to mature. You remember?
“When I left government and, many years later, he saw the performances of El-Rufai, he came back to me and said, ‘You’re absolutely correct. El-Rufai needed to mature,’” Obasanjo recalled.
The ex-president went on to commend Chidoka, El-Rufai, and other members of his cabinet, describing them as individuals with “special attributes” that strengthened his administration.
Speaking on leadership, Obasanjo stressed the importance of training and character. He said, “It’s only in politics that I found out there is no training for leadership. Even among armed robbers, I was told there is an apprenticeship. But it’s only in politics that there is no training in leadership. That’s not good enough.”
Chidoka Speaks On Nigeria’s Governance Challenges
In his address, Chidoka said Nigeria’s persistent problems were not due to a lack of ideas but to failure in building lasting systems and institutions.
“Leadership finds its true measure not in speeches or charisma but in the systems it leaves behind.
“Moral conviction must translate into the everyday machinery of governance, rules, routines, and institutions that make competence predictable and corruption difficult,” he said.
Chidoka called for stronger accountability frameworks, adding, “We must therefore make leadership accountable not to rhetoric but to results: measure by building national dashboards and accountability systems that track every promise, every budget, every outcome. Monitor by strengthening the institutions that evaluate government performance and expose complacency.”
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/10/25/why-i-rejected-el-rufai-as-my-successor-obasanjo/
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‘Over 50 Police Officers Violently Attacked Sowore’ – Deji Adeyanju
October 24, 2025
By Rachel Okporu Fadoju
Human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, has claimed that over 50 police officers violently attacked his client, Omoyele Sowore, during his rearrest by officers of the Nigeria Police.
Naija News reports that Sowore, the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), who was arrested over a recent protest organised to advocate the release of detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, was rearrested on Friday.
The police immediately arrested the human rights activist after he was granted bail at the Kuje Magistrates’ Court.
Addressing journalists at the court premises shortly after the rearrest, Deji said the police officers vowed to deal with Sowore for calling the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, useless.
He said, “He was violently attacked by more than 50 police officers. They took him away by force and we do not know where they are taking him to.
“The officer, who initiated the arrest, claimed that they had gotten a remand order but he refused to let us see it.
“We asked where they were taking him to, they said they were taking him to Kuje prison.
“An argument ensued and the officer said because Sowore called the IGP useless that they must deal with him and all of them started attacking him. That is the update currently, we are trying to perfect the condition for his bail”.
Source: naijanews.com
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Polisario Front says Morocco's autonomy plan should go to referendum
October 24, 2025
Western Sahara independence movement, the Polisario Front, said on Thursday it would potentially be ready to accept an autonomy plan proposed by Morocco.
The big catch is that it would only do so if the Sahrawi population validates it in a referendum, that included independence as one of the options.
Polisario’s chief diplomat, Mohamed Yeslem Beissat, said it presented an “expanded proposal” the United Nations on Monday.
This includes three options as provided for by international law: independence, integration, and a pact of free association, which it said could resemble Morocco’s proposal.
Beissat said that while the movement was taking a step towards the Moroccans, discussing its autonomy proposal outside the framework of a referendum was not conceivable.
The Security Council is set to review a new resolution on the fate of the region on 31 October, amid pressure to reach a solution to end the 50 year conflict.
A growing number of African, Arab, and Western nations have tilted towards backing Rabat’s plan for autonomy of the disputed region, under the kingdom’s sovereignty.
Western Sahara was a Spanish colony until 1975, and has since been largely run by Rabat which considers it an integral part of Morocco.
The Algeria-back Polisario Front, which controls land along the territory's eastern border, believes the Sahrawi people have the right to self-determination.
Source: africanews.com
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https://www.africanews.com/2025/10/24/polisario-front-says-moroccos-autonomy-plan-should-go-to-referendum/
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Outrage at Milnerton High as assault video sparks protests and olice response
October 24, 2025
Tensions flared outside Milnerton High School in Cape Town on Thursday after a video allegedly showing a student being beaten by classmates circulated widely on social media, prompting anger from parents and community members.
Dozens of parents gathered at the school gates demanding accountability and swift action from school authorities. Police were deployed to manage the crowd and used stun grenades to disperse protesters after the situation grew tense.
Eight students, aged between 17 and 18, have been arrested and released on bail of R2,000 each (about $115). Authorities say both criminal and disciplinary proceedings are underway.
Khomotjo Joy Maimela, Portfolio Committee on Basic Education Chairperson: “A criminal case has been laid and the perpetrators were in court today. The school is proceeding with the disciplinary hearing this Saturday, and they will send a comprehensive report to us on the outcomes. But we also questioned how the school took time to place the learners on precautionary suspension.”
Western Cape Education Department spokesperson Bronagh Hammond confirmed that officials had met with the victim’s family and that further investigations were being launched into related incidents.
Bronagh Hammond, Western Cape Education Department Spokesperson: “It was a difficult meeting for sure. It’s very hard to see the victims and their parents — your heart goes out to them. What we have to realize is that there’s a process in place, and if we don’t follow those processes, we can thwart the whole investigation. The school is following due process.”
The Portfolio Committee on Basic Education has called for greater oversight and faster responses to violence in schools, emphasizing the need to ensure safety and accountability across the education system.
The school is expected to release an official statement following the disciplinary hearing scheduled for the weekend.
Source: africanews.com
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https://www.africanews.com/2025/10/24/outrage-at-milnerton-high-as-assault-video-sparks-protests-and-olice-response/
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Mideast
Palestinian factions agree to hand Gaza to technocrat committee
October 24, 2025
CAIRO: The main Palestinian political factions, including Hamas, said Friday they had agreed that an independent committee of technocrats would take over the running of post-war Gaza.
During a meeting in Cairo, according to a joint statement published on the Hamas website, the groups agreed to hand “over the administration of the Gaza Strip to a temporary Palestinian committee composed of independent technocrats.”
It said the committee would “manage the affairs of life and basic services in cooperation with Arab brothers and international institutions.”
The statement also said the factions had agreed to work on unifying a common position “to confront the challenges facing the Palestinian cause.”
It called for a meeting of all forces and factions to “agree on a national strategy and to revitalize the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people.”
Hamas is not part of the PLO, which is dominated by its longtime rival Fatah.
An informed source told AFP on Thursday that delegations from Hamas and Fatah met in Cairo to discuss the second phase of a US-backed ceasefire plan in Gaza.
The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that both sides agreed to “continue meetings in the coming period and to work on organizing the Palestinian internal front in the face of the challenges posed by the Israeli government.”
Alongside the Hamas-Fatah talks, Egypt’s intelligence chief Hassan Rashad met senior officials from key Palestinian factions.
They included Islamic Jihad, an ally of Hamas, as well as the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine — both factions within the PLO.
Hamas and Fatah have a history of deep political rivalry, which flared into fighting for a time after a 2006 election, and which has hindered efforts at Palestinian national unity.
In December 2024, they agreed to create a committee to jointly administer post-war Gaza. The agreement was criticized, particularly by members of Fatah.
Hamas, which seized power in the territory in 2007, has already made it clear that it does not wish to govern the post-war territory, but has pushed back against the insistence that it disarm its fighters.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2620123/middle-east
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Rubio seeks quick deployment of international Gaza force
October 25, 2025
TEL AVIV: Top US diplomat Marco Rubio voiced hope on Friday of soon putting together an international force to police the ceasefire in Gaza, as Palestinian factions agreed that a committee of technocrats would run the post-war territory.
The secretary of state visited Israel on the heels of Vice President J.D. Vance as part of an all-out effort by the US to persuade both Hamas and Israel to respect the truce.
Rubio said it was critical for the deal to create “the conditions for the stabilization force to come in as soon as it possibly can be put together.”
During a meeting in Cairo, according to a joint statement published on the Hamas website, the Palestinian groups agreed to hand “over the administration of the Gaza Strip to a temporary Palestinian committee composed of independent ‘technocrats’, which will manage the affairs of life and basic services in cooperation with Arab brothers and international institutions.”
In Gaza on Friday, families were still trying to find their way back to their ruined homes — in many cases only to find they lie in areas controlled by Israeli forces beyond the so-called “Yellow Line.”
The US is considering a proposal for humanitarian aid delivery in Gaza that would replace the controversial US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. It is one of several concepts being explored, said two US officials and a humanitarian official familiar with the plan, as Washington seeks to facilitate increased deliveries of assistance to the Palestinian enclave after two years of war.
“Multiple approaches are being considered to effectively get aid to the people of Gaza — nothing is finalized,” said a senior US administration official.
After two years of war, Gaza is buried under more than 61 million tonnes of debris and three quarters of buildings have been destroyed, a UN data analysis shows.
As of July 8, 2025, the Israeli army had damaged or destroyed nearly 193,000 buildings in the densely populated territory, representing about 78 percent of existing structures before the conflict began on Oct. 7, 2023, according to satellite analysis by the UN’s UNOSAT programme.
In an assessment of images from Sept. 22-23 of Gaza City, the UN agency estimated that an even higher proportion — 83 percent — of buildings there had been damaged or destroyed.
The total 61.5 million tonnes of debris is nearly 170 times the weight of New York’s Empire State Building and is equivalent to over 169 kg of debris for each square metre of Gaza’s small territory.
Source: arabnews.com
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WHO pleads for sick Gazans to be allowed to leave
October 24, 2025
GENEVA: The UN’s health agency pleaded Friday for thousands of people in desperate need of medical care to be allowed to leave Gaza, in what it said would be a “game-changer.”
The World Health Organization has supported the medical evacuation of nearly 7,800 patients out of the Gaza Strip since the war with Israel began two years ago — and estimates there are 15,000 people currently needing treatment outside the Palestinian territory.
But a US-brokered ceasefire that came into effect on October 10 has not sped up the process — the WHO has been able to evacuate only 41 critical patients since then.
Rik Peeperkorn, the WHO’s representative in the Palestinian territories, called for all crossings out of Gaza into Israel and Egypt to be opened up during the ceasefire — not only for the entry of aid but for medical evacuations too.
“All medical corridors need to be opened,” he said, particularly to hospitals in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, as happened routinely before the war.
“It is vital and is the most cost-effective route. If that route opened, it would really be a... game-changer.”
Speaking via video link from Jerusalem, he told journalists in Geneva that two evacuations were planned for next week, but he wanted them every day and said the WHO was ready to take “a minimum of 50 patients per day.”
At the current rate, he said evacuating the 15,000 people needing treatment — including 4,000 children — would drag on for a decade or so.
The WHO says more than 700 people have died waiting for medical evacuation since the war began.
The UN health agency has called for more countries to step up and accept Gazan patients. While over 20 countries have taken patients, only a handful have done so in large numbers.
Peeperkorn said only a fraction of Gaza’s health system remained in service — just 14 of 36 hospitals are even partially functional for a population topping two million.
Source: arabnews.com
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US names career diplomat for Gaza ceasefire monitor
October 24, 2025
KIRYAT GAT, Israel: The United States named a veteran diplomat on Friday as the civilian lead in a body monitoring the Gaza ceasefire, seeking to push forward a durable end to the war.
The State Department said that Steve Fagin, a career diplomat, will work alongside US Army Lt. Gen. Patrick Frank, the military head already appointed to the hub set up after the October 10 ceasefire.
The Civil-Military Coordination Center was set up in southern Israel on October 17 to observe the ceasefire for any violations and handle logistics including aid delivery into war-ravaged Gaza.
Some 200 US troops were sent to the center, set up in a rented warehouse, where they work with soldiers from Israel and European countries, representatives of the United Arab Emirates and Jordan, and personnel from the United Nations and aid groups.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited the site, which is a short drive from Gaza, on Friday and called it a “historic” undertaking.
“There’s going to be ups and downs and twists and turns, but I think we have a lot of reason for healthy optimism about the progress that’s being made,” Rubio said.
Fagin has long experience in the Middle East.
He has served since 2022 as ambassador to Yemen, managing relations at a turbulent time as the United States bombed Houthi rebels that have lobbed missiles at Israel in professed solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
And it is just the latest time Fagin has taken a major concurrent position.
He served for three months until recently as the top US diplomat in Baghdad while remaining ambassador to Yemen, a job in which he has been based primarily in Saudi Arabia.
Source: arabnews.com
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Vandalism and attacks: settler violence disrupts West Bank olive harvest
October 25, 2025
TURMUS AYYA, Palestinian Territories: The scene shocked many and highlighted the violence of this year’s olive harvest in the Israeli-occupied West Bank: a young masked man clubs an older Palestinian woman picking olives, who then collapses on the ground.
The incident during an attack by Israeli settlers, filmed by an American journalist, took place in the town of Turmus Ayya near Ramallah, a hotspot of violence this year.
“Everybody was fleeing because the settlers attacked suddenly, maybe 100 of them,” witness Yasser Alkam said, adding that one Swedish activist also had his arm and leg broken by settlers.
Alkam, a Turmus Ayya city official, said that the woman, 55-year-old Um Saleh Abu Aliya, was struck as she was waiting for her son to drive her away from a mob of settlers.
“Fighting back would only bring more violence, sometimes with the army’s backing,” lamented Nael Al-Qouq, a Turmus Ayya farmer who was prevented from reaching his olive trees that same day.
Expanded settlements
Not far from the scene, an Israeli flag flapped in the wind at a settlement outpost, illegal even under Israeli law.
The army eventually arrived in Turmus Ayya and dispersed the crowd with tear gas, an AFP journalist witnessed.
But not before the youths who descended on the village burned at least two cars.
The head of the West Bank’s Israeli police, Moshe Pinchi, told his district commanders to find the man who attacked Abu Aliya, according to a leaked WhatsApp message reported by Israeli media.
The Israeli army said that it “works in coordination with the Israel Police to enforce the law concerning Israelis involved in such incidents.”
But Turmus Ayya is far from an isolated case, and AFP journalists have witnessed at least six different instances of Palestinians being denied access to their land, attacked by settlers, or being victims of vandalism during the 2025 olive harvest.
Clashes in rural areas reached new heights this year, prompted by ever-expanding Israeli settlements and a growing number of settlers – not all of whom engage in violence against Palestinians.
More than 500,000 Israelis live in settlements in the West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967.
All settlements in the West Bank are illegal under international law.
‘Uprooted’
Near Turmus Ayya, in the village of Al-Mughayyir, one villager was prevented from harvesting altogether.
“I own ten dunams (one hectare) of olives. All I have left are the olive trees in the garden of the house ... They uprooted it all,” Abdul Latif Abu Aliya, 55, said.
Abu Aliya’s land borders a road on the other side of which three trailers make up a recently-installed settlement outpost.
After a settler was injured during an altercation near Abu Aliya’s house, an army order called for the trees his father and grandfather planted to be uprooted.
Bulldozers then pushed mounds of soil and roots halfway up the field and 100 meters from the family house, making a barrier that Abu Aliya and his family do not cross for fear of being attacked by settlers.
Faced with unprecedented violence during this year’s olive season, the Palestinian Authority’s agriculture minister called for the international community to protect farmers and pickers.
“It’s the worst season in the last 60 years,” Agriculture Minister Rizq Salimia told journalists, adding that this year’s crop was already bad due to poor climate.
Ajith Sunghay, head of the UN’s Human Rights Office in the Palestinian territories, condemned “severe attacks” during this year’s harvest and deplored “dangerous levels of impunity” for perpetrators.
The annual harvest, once a peaceful gathering for the occupied West Bank’s families, has in recent years turned into a series of increasingly violent confrontations involving Israeli settlers, troops, Palestinian harvesters and foreign activists.
Identity marker
The season began in October and will last until mid-November, as Palestinians across the West Bank harvest olives from trees they see as deeply connected to their national identity.
The West Bank boasts over eight million olive trees for three million Palestinians, according to the agriculture ministry’s 2021 census.
Every autumn, Palestinians farmers, but also city folk whose families own a few trees, head out into the fields to pick olives, mostly by hand.
The UN’s humanitarian agency, OCHA, said that 27 West Bank villages were affected by harvest-related attacks in the week of October 7 to 13 alone.
“The incidents included attacks on harvesters, theft of crops and harvesting equipment, and vandalism of olive trees, resulting in casualties, property damage, or both,” OCHA said.
Source: arabnews.com
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Turkiye appoints ambassador to Syria
October 24, 2025
ISTANBUL: Turkiye on Friday appointed an ambassador to Syria, whose new rulers it has supported since they came to power in December, a diplomatic source told AFP.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan named his deputy, Nuh Yilmaz, as Turkiye’s ambassador to Damascus, the source said.
Until now, Turkiye had been represented in its southern neighbor by a charge d’affaires.
The appointment of a close associate of the foreign minister is being interpreted as an important diplomatic signal.
Yilmaz has served as deputy foreign minister since May 2024, said the ministry.
Like Fidan, Yilmaz hails from the National Intelligence Organization and is fluent in English, having held several posts in Washington and taught in the United States.
Ankara and Damascus had severed diplomatic ties under Syria’s toppled ruler Bashar Assad
Since December, the two countries have been strengthening their ties and cooperation, both economically and militarily.
Source: arabnews.com
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US will end support for Israel if West Bank annexed: Trump
October 24, 2025
LONDON: The US will end its support for Israel if its parliament votes to pass a bill giving it sovereignty over the West Bank, President Donald Trump has said.
The bill refers to the region in its Biblical terms, imposing “Israeli sovereignty across Judea and Samaria.”
A preliminary reading — the first of four stages — passed in favor of the legislation on Wednesday with 25 votes for and 24 against.
Trump is adamant that the bill will not pass into law. “It won’t happen because I gave my word to the Arab countries,” he told Time magazine. “Israel would lose all of its support from the United States if that happened.”
He told reporters on Thursday: “Don’t worry about the West Bank. Israel’s not going to do anything with the West Bank.”
On Wednesday, Israel’s parliament also voted to apply Israeli law to an illegal settlement near Jerusalem, Maale Adumim, in legislation put forward by an ultraconservative parliamentarian, Avi Maoz.
It came despite a decision by the parliament’s legislation committee to postpone all coalition votes while US Vice President JD Vance is in Israel on an official visit.
Vance hit out at the decision to press on with the votes, telling reporters that they were “stupid” and that “the policy of the Trump administration is that the West Bank will not be annexed by Israel.”
Source: arabnews.com
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Israeli man sentenced to 5 years for illegally selling Greek Cypriot land in breakaway north
October 24, 2025
NICOSIA: A court in Cyprus on Friday sentenced an Israeli businessman to five years for developing and selling luxury apartment complexes in the breakaway northern part of the divided island without permission of the Greek Cypriots owners of the land.
The case is one of several where Cypriot authorities seek to bust developers and realtors who illegally make money off Greek Cypriot properties in the breakaway north — lands that their rightful owners cannot access because they are located in the Turkiye-backed region.
The criminal case also underscores the deeply contentious property rights in Cyprus, which was split in 1974 when Turkiye invaded in the wake of an Athens junta-backed coup aiming at uniting the island with Greece.
Some 160,000 Greek Cypriots subsequently fled the north where Turkish Cypriots declared independence that only Turkiye recognizes. At the time, around 45,000 Turkish Cypriots living in the south, where the internationally recognized government is seated, moved to the north.
Cyprus’ internationally recognized government in the south has no control over affairs in the breakaway north. Decades later, Greek Cypriots that left the north are demanding that their right to their property are respected in numerous rounds of United Nations-mediated talks that have failed to heal the rifts.
The Aykout case
Israeli businessman Shimon Mistriel Aykout, 75, who also holds Portuguese and Turkish citizenship, was arrested in June 2024 as he crossed from the north into the Greek Cypriot part of the island. Last week, he pleaded guilty to 40 counts of building and selling apartments in the north.
The three-judge panel said it was compelled to hand down a tough sentence because of the seriousness of the crime.
Between 2014 and 2024, Aykout headed the Afik Group of Companies that developed some 400,000 square meters (4.3 million square feet) of Greek Cypriot-owned properties in four villages in the north. Cypriot authorities estimate the combined value of the development exceeds 38 million euros ($44 million.)
Aykout’s supporters have campaigned for his release both in Israel and the United States on health grounds, saying he suffered from prostate cancer. The court rejected arguments for him to be released for medical examination abroad, saying Cypriot medical facilities are more than adequate.
The court said the sentence takes into account time that Aykout had served in police custody.
A ‘clear message’ to all
After the sentencing, prosecuting attorney Andreas Aristides told reporters that Cyprus’ ethnic division does not diminish the rights of the lawful owners of property in the north.
The court’s decision sends “a clear message ... that if you buy, build or otherwise use land in the occupied areas that belongs to Greek Cypriots, you’re committing serious criminal acts,” he said.
Simos Angelides, a lawyer in Nicosia, Cyprus’ capital, said Friday’s ruling and similar cases have “triggered panic” in the north’s booming real estate and construction industry and “shattered the illusion of legal impunity.”
The message is simple: “Do not exploit stolen property, as you may soon have an arrest warrant in your name,” Angelides, who was not involved in the Aykout case, told The Associated Press.
The EU’s top court and the European Court of Human Rights have affirmed Greek Cypriots’ rights to property ownership in the north. But the ECHR has also backed the establishment of a Turkish Cypriot property commission to which Greek Cypriots can apply to either be compensated for their property or reclaim it.
Other cases
Over the last year, Cyprus has prosecuted another Israeli, a Ukrainian, a German and two Hungarians in similar cases. Of them, two Hungarian women who earned commissions as real estate agents in the north were sentenced in May to 36 months and 15 months, respectively. The other cases are still pending.
Turkish Cypriot authorities have reacted angrily to the prosecutions. Tufan Erhurman, a center-left politician elected as Turkish Cypriot leader this week, has said that the issue of Greek Cypriot property in the north can only be resolved through negotiations.
Cafer Gurcafer, head of the Turkish Cypriot Contractors’ Association, warned that investors could scatter since as much as 85 percent of privately owned property in the north could become entangled in similar prosecutions.
The case of five Greek Cypriots arrested on spying charges after crossing into the north in July is widely seen as retaliation for the prosecutions.
A month before their arrest, Turkish Vice President Cevded Yilmaz said attempts to harm the Turkish Cypriot economy through politically motivated legal means would “not be tolerated.”
Greek Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides stresses that the judiciary is independent but that Aykout’s guilty plea vindicates his government’s policy to shine a light on illicit property exploitation in the north.
Source: arabnews.com
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Arab World
Saudi Film Confex attracts major Saudi companies and global stars
RAHAF JAMBI
October 24, 2025
RIYADH: The Saudi Film Confex, which took place in Riyadh from Oct. 22 to 25, attracted major Saudi companies and global stars, highlighting the Kingdom’s rising influence in the filmmaking industry, as well as its growing creative economy.
Hollywood star Johnny Depp took center stage to deliver a masterclass titled “The Genius of Embodying Different Roles.” Hosted by Saudi actress and filmmaker Fatima Al-Banawi, the session provided attendees with a rare look into Depp’s artistic process, his approach to character building, and the lessons he has learned over his four-decade career.
Now in its third year, the Saudi Film Confex has become a key platform for the Kingdom’s creative industries, uniting local talent, international studios, and investors under one roof. This year’s event featured an expansive exhibition, workshops, panel discussions, and networking opportunities.
Film AlUla’s acting executive director Zaid Shaker described the Kingdom’s filmmaking progress as “nothing short of transformative.”
He said: “Saudi filmmaking is not just advancing but experiencing transformative acceleration. In a few short years, the industry has gone from nascent to dynamic. Storytelling has always been part of Saudi culture — from poetry to oral histories — and film has become the newest chapter of that tradition, especially among the younger generation.”
Film AlUla has emerged as one of the driving forces behind this transformation, providing infrastructure, incentives, and natural backdrops that attract both local and international productions. The destination has hosted several global projects, including “Kandahar” starring Gerard Butler, and is one of the most visually striking filming locations in the Middle East.
Shaker emphasized that the Saudi film industry’s growth is powered by two essential elements: organic creative momentum and strategic national investment.
“The sector has naturally leaned toward quality over quantity, which has ensured its early success,” he said. “Saudi-born auteurs like Shahad Ameen and Tawfik Alzaidi are earning global recognition — “Norah” was selected for the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes, and “Hijra” is the Kingdom’s official submission for the 2026 Academy Awards. These filmmakers are defining a new cinematic identity for Saudi Arabia.”
He also credited the government’s deliberate approach to building an integrated ecosystem that nurtures both creativity and professionalism.
“In AlUla alone, we have established world-class infrastructure through partnerships with industry leaders such as MBStudios,” he said. “We offer a competitive 40-percent cash rebate and provide upskilling programs with international partners to cultivate Saudi talent.”
Film AlUla’s collaborations extend across the Kingdom’s creative ecosystem. Shaker highlighted its ongoing partnership with the Red Sea Fund, which supported the co-production of “Hijra,” filmed entirely in AlUla.
“These collaborations are setting the foundations for a new generation of filmmakers who are rooted in the region and inspired by it,” he said. “We are building not only an industry, but also a cultural legacy that reflects Saudi Arabia’s landscapes, people, and stories.”
Beyond production, Film AlUla’s vision also encompasses tourism, education, and heritage preservation, positioning AlUla as both a cultural destination and a creative laboratory for the Kingdom’s future storytellers.
“We are seeing a vibrant creative community forming around this ecosystem,” Shaker said. “Film Confex gives us a chance to connect with emerging filmmakers, offer training through workshops, and inspire new storylines. When young Saudis see AlUla’s landscapes on screen, it ignites ideas — they want to tell stories that belong to this land.”
Arabia Pictures, a creative boutique dedicated to transforming ideas into intellectual properties, was participating for the third year in succession. Abdulaziz Nayta, project management and business development lead, described the company as “a one-stop shop for bringing creative visions to life.”
Nayta said: “We offer a unique blend of services — from ideation and concept development to project management and commercial guidance. Our core focus is on content creation, IP ownership, and monetization.”
Arabia Pictures provides both financial backing and industry expertise. The company’s portfolio spans films, series, gaming, and events — adapting Arabic stories for global audiences while also working on international brand collaborations.
“Events like Saudi Film Confex empower the industry’s infrastructure and open new business lines in production and distribution,” Nayta added. “It’s an excellent initiative by the Saudi Film Commission, and we’re confident it will continue to yield great results for the future.”
Making its debut appearance at the event, the Saudi Entertainment Academy — the first accredited entertainment academy in the Middle East — attracted significant interest from visitors and industry professionals alike.
Founded in 2019, SEA provides training programs that lead directly to employment in the entertainment and event management sectors. CEO Eihab AbouRukbah said the event offered valuable opportunities for engagement and collaboration.
“This was our first time participating, and it was amazing,” he said. “So many people came to ask about our programs — how we discover talents, what we teach, and how we can partner with companies to build the sector together.”
He said the academy continues to expand its curriculum to match the rapid growth of Saudi Arabia’s entertainment landscape.
“We are still growing, and so is the market,” he said. “There’s a lot of potential for cooperation, innovation, and development within the community.”
The Saudi Film Confex has become a dynamic engine for industry growth — connecting filmmakers, producers, and investors while highlighting Saudi Arabia’s potential as a regional hub for cinema. The event’s success reflects the nation’s broader cultural transformation under Vision 2030, in which film and entertainment are central to diversifying the economy and telling authentic Saudi stories to the world.
By fostering collaboration, nurturing local talent, and attracting global expertise, the Saudi Film Confex continues to solidify its place as the Kingdom’s premier film industry event — one that mirrors the ambition and creative energy driving Saudi Arabia’s new cultural era.
Source: arabnews.com
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Fifth AlUla Wellness Festival begins with duathlon race
RASHID HASSAN
October 24, 2025
RIYADH: The fifth AlUla Wellness Festival began on Friday with a duathlon and will continue until Nov. 1.
Various sporting competitions will be held throughout the festival in the stunning natural surroundings of AlUla, including running, endurance sports, and cycling, in addition to “adventure activities” for all age groups.
“The energy, the movement, the vibe — it’s all happening at the AlUla Wellness Festival,” AlUla Moments, the official account of AlUla festivals and events posted on X.
Events will be held daily at AlUla’s iconic landmarks including Elephant Rock, Hegra, the Old Town Amphitheatre, Harrat Viewpoint, Heart of the Oasis, and Maraya.
The Team Jayco AlUla Cycling Camp will be held on Oct. 29 and 30, offering participants guided tours through AlUla’s rugged terrain, along with specialized workshops on riding techniques and training.
The AlUla Half Marathon – a race through AlUla’s iconic scenery - will take place Oct. 25, featuring five race categories catering to various age groups and fitness levels.
Mughayra Heritage Sports Village will host the AlUla 24-Hour Endurance Race on October 31, challenging athletes to complete as many laps as possible within a full day, individually or in teams, while Ashar Valley will host a triathlon on Nov. 1 at the Winter Park.
The festival also includes culture- and heritage-themed events, including exclusive culinary sessions in historic settings such as Jabal Ikmah, an open-air museum that tells the stories of ancient civilizations through its inscriptions.
The festival is “a celebration of personal growth, fitness and holistic wellbeing, set in one of the world’s most naturally energizing landscapes,” according to the Experience AlUla website.
“From athletic events to mindfulness and movement, music, and nourishment, the festival invites guests of all levels to reset, recharge, reconnect and strive - physically, emotionally, and spiritually,” the site continues. “The festival offers intense challenges, curated moments of calm for everyone, and fosters both personal transformation and a powerful sense of community, all grounded in the beauty and authenticity of AlUla.”
Source: arabnews.com
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More than one million people attend Riyadh Season in two weeks
October 24, 2025
RIYADH: This year’s Riyadh Season has attracted more than one million visitors in the two weeks since it began, General Entertainment Authority Chairman Turki Alalshikh said.
Alalshikh said that this milestone reaffirmed the event’s status as a leading entertainment destination globally, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Since it opened, the sixth Riyadh Season has featured major events that have drawn attention from audiences locally and around the world.
It began with a spectacular global parade organized in collaboration with US department store chain Macy’s.
The lineup also included the Joy Forum 2025, which brought together some of the world’s most prominent entertainment leaders and creators, as well as the Six Kings Slam tennis tournament, featuring top stars from the sport.
Riyadh Season 2025 is an integral part of the Kingdom’s wider cultural and economic evolution, driving investment into entertainment infrastructure while cultivating homegrown Saudi talent.
Among the highlights are new international zones at Boulevard World offering immersive cultural experiences inspired by Kuwait, South Korea and Indonesia.
The new additions reflect Riyadh Season’s growing global scope and commitment to fostering international cultural exchange.
One of the most highly anticipated new attractions is Beast Land, developed in collaboration with global influencer MrBeast, one of the world’s leading content creators.
The zone will include more than 40 retail and dining outlets, adventure gardens and daily competitions.
The zone is expected to open on Nov. 13 as one of the season’s major draws, with MrBeast set to attend the zone’s grand opening.
Source: arabnews.com
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The threads of life: Syrian artist Hayat Saker’s solo show opens in Dammam
JASMINE BAGER
October 24, 2025
DAMMAM: There is something deeply personal and poetic about Syrian artist Hayat Saker’s work: threads stitched into fabric, narratives woven and embedded into memory on acrylic paintings. Each piece has order and balance, yet stray strands burst out like colorful plumes of calm chaos.
Her second solo show, “Untitled,” which is at the Saudi Arabian Society for Culture and Arts in Dammam, collects 41 works that were created in two countries over a period of several years.
Saker’s art is not only handmade, it’s “heart-made.”
“I feel like it is my country — I belong here,” she told Arab News. “Saudi Arabia is very similar to Syria in that I have peace of mind.
“Some of these works were made in Damascus and I shipped them over for this show. However, the majority of them were made in Saudi during my time here over the last two years.
“The technique is something that has been in our tradition for a long time — my sisters and family members use it — but I like to offer my own signature, my own slice of life, deep in nature, and emote feelings and characters that resonate with me. I consider my works to be my friends.”
Saker’s latest exhibition has been a family affair. Her husband, Nedal Al-Hmeidi, was by her side on opening night, as were their three children: twin daughters Sewar and Emar, who have also exhibited at the space, and son Rami.
Sharing her thoughts about her mother’s work, Sewar, who is a pianist, told Arab News: “The threads, though neatly stitched in parts, poke out seemingly at random, like life itself: a little messy, unexpected, yet still following a certain pattern and path.
“They hold their place, reflecting the beauty and complexity within us. It stirs something deep within me, and it’s very important to me. None of these works have titles; she deliberately leaves them open for each person to find their own meaning.”
Son Rami has vivid memories of the creative energy that goes into the works.
“My mother was an artist long before we came into the picture,” he told Arab News. “When she was still living at her family home in Syria, whenever she spotted an empty space on the wall, she would draw on it. She had this passion from the very beginning.
“After she got married, she began teaching art in schools, so it became part of her daily life. Later, she became an art therapist.”
Rami explained that his mother has an interesting relationship with the concept of eyes.
“Usually, eyes are seen as symbols of beauty — windows to the soul — but in her work, they represent surveillance and a cautious, watchful eye. In Syria, we grew up fearing the gaze, the eyes.”
His favorite work by his mother features a scarecrow.
“There’s a lot of symbolism and playfulness in her art,” Rami said. “The scarecrow, for example, is something that frightens birds but a mature viewer could recognize its sense of play.”
Growing up surrounded by his mother’s creativity left its mark on him.
“She tried to teach us that every child is capable of creating art, but one becomes an artist only after working on their craft,” he said.
“I leaned more toward music, like one of my sisters; I played the violin and the viola, elegant and professional instruments. I also explored sound and movement as part of my art, along with tennis and filmmaking.”
Emar highlighted two works, featuring roosters, among the 41 on display that are her favorites. “These roosters stand out,” she said.
The run-up to the exhibition was not easy for Saker. Just five months ago, she was in a horrific car accident that left both of her hands broken.
“Everything she was finishing came to a sudden, brutal halt,” Emar said.
The exhibition had been scheduled to open just days later but had to be delayed as Saker slowly recovered and found her way back to the canvas and threads.
“After the car accident, I was forced to postpone the show to give me time to heal,” she said.
Her resilience and personality shines through in every stitch.
Emar said: “Through these works, you see the true nature and life of the artist, Hayat. Most of the works were created before the accident.”
Each mixed-media piece, made with acrylic paint and thread, also reflects her signature spontaneity.
“She doesn’t sketch,” Emar explained. “She does it directly into the piece and lets the thread decide how it wants to move within the space. Only three women in the world are currently using this technique as their art form; it’s also very contemporary.”
“Untitled” is more than simply an exhibition, according to Emar, it is also an educational experience.
“It’s very important, especially for the children, so they can train their eyes from youth,” she said.
Saker created some of the works on display in just two or three days. Others took as long as three months.
“It looks like a regular, pretty painting but once you move your face closer, you can see the true details,” Emar said. “We are not used to seeing this in Saudi, especially. I am so glad that we have this space in Dammam that supports different ways of creating art.”
She emphasized the value of that support and thanked Yousef Al-Harbi, the director of the Saudi Arabian Society for Culture and Arts in Dammam, for providing a space that “allows students and visitors to witness mom’s work, to study it, to let themselves be moved by it, and to carry that vision forward in ways they might never forget.”
Saker’s husband, Nedal, mingled with the guests who stopped by to gaze and reflect on his wife’s works, pausing by one of his favorite pieces, which was also the one used for the event poster.
“These palm trees with their circular blue shapes, it’s familiar but my wife did it with her own twist,” he said with a smile.
“Untitled” is at the Arabian Society for Culture and Arts in Dammam until Oct. 29.
Source: arabnews.com
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Zenos Health Summit debuts in Kingdom, helps spotlight Saudi initiatives
JASMINE BAGER
October 24, 2025
DIRIYAH: The Zenos Health Summit began in historic Diriyah this week, the first event of its kind in the Kingdom.
The event, which ends on Oct. 25, has welcomed more than 50 experts in biohacking, integrative medicine and performance wellness at Bab Samhan Hotel to help explore the cutting edge of human longevity and peak performance.
In alignment with the Health Sector Transformation Program and in partnership with the Quality of Life Program, Shift Clinics, and Karama, the summit has explored how medtech and biotech are creating new opportunities.
One of the summit’s keynote speakers was Gary Brecka, founder of “The Ultimate Human” podcast, who spoke to Arab News.
He said: “This is my first immersive experience in Saudi Arabia and it’s been an absolutely unforgettable experience. I feel like there’s a true interest in having their people heal, and not just heal, but thrive.”
He added that the Kingdom has embraced the concept of longevity and bio-optimization, creating a unique environment in which wellness is prioritized over merely managing disease.
Zenos Health, founded in 2024 by brothers Mazen and Marwan Karnaby, grew out of a deeply personal journey.
Mazen’s melanoma diagnosis in 2023 became the spark that ignited their mission: To challenge conventional ideas about aging, experiment with science-backed approaches, and empower individuals to take control of their health.
Both brothers attended the summit and explained that the name Zenos came from the word “zen,” reflecting focus on balance, wellness and mindful living.
Zenos Health Summit also featured booths, with local and international vendors offering insights, products, and samples.
Jeddah-based Saudi entrepreneur Marriam Mossalli, the co-founder of Powder Beauty, said she was keen to bring a Saudi perspective to the summit.
She told Arab News: “I’m the co-founder of Powder Beauty, Saudi’s first dedicated clean beauty and wellness platform, and I’m super excited to be here in Diriyah for the Zenos Health Summit.
“I think what is really exciting about this sector is the fact that we have so much knowledge here that is based on our tradition and our heritage.
“I think we naturally go into wellness — whether it’s grounding ourselves when we pray or by meditating. I think there are a lot of synergies there we could share with the outside world so it’s not just about us importing their knowledge but exporting ours.”
The summit featured a distinguished lineup of international experts in wellness, longevity, and integrative medicine.
Among the speakers was Dr. Mark Hyman, founder of the Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine, and author of 15 bestsellers. Harvard-trained Saudi physician Dr. Walid Fitaihi, founder of the International Medical Center in Jeddah, was also present.
Other participants included Dr. Vonda Wright, orthopedic surgeon and longevity researcher; Dr. Amy Shah, double board-certified physician and nutrition specialist; and Ben Azadi, wellness coach and advocate for metabolic health.
Nutrition and women’s wellness experts Cynthia Thurlow and Courtney Swan highlighted the role of food and lifestyle in long-term vitality at the event.
The panelists reflected a growing global movement toward holistic, personalized, and preventive health.
Source: arabnews.com
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‘I want something authentic,’ says Zenos Health founder during company’s first summit
JASMINE BAGER
October 24, 2025
DIRIYAH: “If the Kingdom started here in Diriyah, I want Zenos to be launched here — I want something authentic,” Zenos Health founder Mazen Karnaby told Arab News on Friday during the inaugural three-day Zenos Health Summit.
With the Diriyah district as the backdrop at the luxurious Bab Samhan Hotel, each of the three days was curated with a specific theme in mind. On the first day, it was “From Saudi,” on the second day, “To the World,” and on the final day, “To the Future.”
“The name Zenos (comes) from Zen: to bring back the balance of the body to a state of zen,” said Karnaby, who is originally from Lebanon. “I put an ‘os’ at the end just to make it look fancy, but it does not have any correlation with any Greek God, or Greek mythology… none of that.”
The Zenos Health Summit brought more than 55 speakers and wellness experts to the Saudi capital to ignite conversations and facilitate knowledge-exchange.
Founded in 2024, Zenos Health grew out of a deeply personal journey: Karnaby’s melanoma diagnosis in 2023.
“I’m in the medical field — a doctor of pharmacy for 25 years — so I was always on the other side,” he said. “So when I got diagnosed with melanoma, I was, like, ‘What’s going on?’ Like, ‘I don’t want to die.’ Because a woman that worked for me, her son, when I was diagnosed, was undergoing treatment for melanoma, and the poor guy ended up dying. So it hit more personal because I lived it through someone that I deeply care for.
“It activated something. I thought I was invincible before. Now I need to optimize my body and that made me get into (longevity),” he continued. “It started as just a personal thing for me but then it turned into an awakening and it turned into a mission. So now I want to (make it into) a movement.”
Regarding his choice of Saudi Arabia as the location for the first Zenos Health Summit, Karnaby said: “I came here in June for the first time and I fell in love with it. It was just the vision in my head and what I wanted to do with this summit. Recently, the country’s going through changes. We know that, before, it was very hard to get in. To get visas, we needed an invitation. So there’s a lot of curiosity about coming to Saudi. Saudi right now is the new golden child on the street. And (Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman) is doing amazing stuff. Everyone is trying to come here.”
Did he feel the summit was a success?
““I wanted to bring the biggest minds from the West to really match them up with people that are here — the great minds from the East — and let them mingle,” he said. “From my perspective, I feel that we can always do better. We’re coming back to Riyadh, 100 percent. Most likely to Diriyah — we are in talks. We really want to do something bigger next year, way bigger, because we saw the appetite that’s here.
“The future of Zenos is going to be a 360-degree ecosystem, where we can take care of you mentally, physically, spiritually, and guide you to live a much better life, with quality, with meaning, with purpose,” he continued. “It comes with data, it comes with testing, it comes with clinics, it comes with supplementation, it comes with information.
“I’m super-happy that I’m here. I’m very proud that I picked Saudi. The level of kindness and support that I’ve been getting, and affection, and love, and acceptance that I’ve been getting, is making me feel like I’m at home. Yes, I’m Lebanese, but I feel at home in Saudi.”
And Saudis seem to have taken to Karnaby too. At the summit he was constantly surrounded by people wanting to exchange hugs or to take a selfie.
“Before Zenos, I didn’t even have an Instagram account, I lived a very quiet life,” he said. “Obviously things are different now, but I’m really humbled by this experience.”
Source: arabnews.com
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Europe
Britain to allocate $13.3 million for mosque security amid attacks
24.10.2025
The UK government plans to allocate £10 million (around $13.3 million) to expand security measures in mosques and Muslim centers to protect them from attacks, the government’s press service announced.
“Prime Minister [Keir Starmer] has announced that mosques and Muslim religious centers across the United Kingdom will receive an additional £10 million in funding for security to protect against hate crimes and attacks,” the statement said.
The publication notes that the funds will be used to install CCTV and alarm systems, build fences, and pay for security services. This will supplement the £29.4 million (around $39.2 million) that the government allocated last year for mosque security.
The Prime Minister announced the funding following a visit to a mosque in the town of Peacehaven in southern England, which was set on fire by unknown individuals in early October. No one was injured in the incident.
According to government data, between March 2024 and March 2025, the number of hate crimes against Muslims increased by 19%. Among all religion-based hate crimes, 44% were committed against Muslims.
Source: news.am
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Men charged over Peacehaven mosque attack appear in court
24TH OCTOBER
By Savannah Nicholson
Two men charged with arson after an attack at a mosque earlier this month have appeared in court.
Two people were inside the mosque in Peacehaven when the incident occurred on October 4, which damaged the front entrance of the mosque and two cars.
Sussex Police had released images of two people wearing balaclavas spraying a liquid on the entrance to the mosque in Phyllis Avenue and setting it alight.
Ricky Ryder, 38, of Richington Way in Seaford, and Jack Slowey, 34, of Mayfield Avenue in Peacehaven, have both been charged with arson with intent to endanger life.
Both men appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday (October 24) wearing grey tracksuits and spoke to confirm their names, addresses and dates of birth.
David Burns, prosecuting, said: “Both of the gentlemen who were inside the mosque were able to smell smoke and get out in time.”
Ryder and Slowey were remanded in custody ahead of their next hearing at the Old Bailey on November 14.
Sussex Police have said a 42-year-old man from Peacehaven, who was arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life, has been released on conditional bail.
Almost £50,000 has been raised on GoFundMe from the community for the mosque to help rebuild and repair the damage.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced an additional £10 million in security funding to protect Muslim communities from hate crimes and attacks following a visit with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to Peacehaven Mosque.
The investment for mosques and Muslim faith centres will provide security measures including CCTV, alarm systems, secure fencing and security staff, the government said.
Sir Keir said: “Britain is a proud and tolerant country.
“Attacks on any community are attacks on our entire nation and our values.
“This funding will provide Muslim communities with the protection they need and deserve, allowing them to live in peace and safety.
“I want a Britain built for all and my government is committed to delivering safer streets for everyone – and that means protecting places of worship from those who seek to divide us through hate and violence.”
Source: theargus.co.uk
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Why the Putin-Trump summit cancelation is terrible news for Ukraine
24 Oct, 2025
There was – or seemed to be – hope for peace for a brief moment. And how deceptive it turned out to be. I was among those cautiously optimistic when we were told just over a week ago that the presidents of Russia and the US, Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, had a long and useful phone conversation and were planning to meet in person again.
The ‘Alaska 2.0 summit’, to take place in the Hungarian capital, Budapest, has been called off before it was even properly scheduled, and Russia-US relations have taken further severe hits. Washington has initiated unprecedented sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil companies, which had not been sanctioned before, and dozens of their subsidiaries. All of this accompanied by what seems to be deliberately condescending and offensive rhetoric blaming Russia and its president – and them alone – for the persistent impasse in finding a negotiated solution to the Ukraine conflict – that is, the Western proxy war against Russia.
In reality, of course, it is Washington that can’t stop making U-turns that mess up what could have been a rational if difficult process of making peace. Witness the rather silly way in which Trump and his team have just oscillated between demanding that Ukraine surrender territory not yet taken by Russia and reverting to the pre-Alaska-summit dead-end position that a ceasefire must precede a full peace.
In addition, the Trump administration has been ambiguous at best about another escalation: Trump has denied it rather implausibly, but in reality, Washington seems to have permitted Kiev to carry out long-range strikes with European missiles – in particular, the British Storm Shadow – which include US parts and involve American targeting data: Another serious and provocative escalation.
The one piece of reasonable restraint still in place in Washington at this point is the refusal to transfer Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine (via an eagerly paying NATO-EU Europe, of course). Again, given the second Trump administration’s short but disappointing history, there is no reason to consider this refusal dependable and permanent. Ukraine’s dated leader, Vladimir Zelensky, has already boasted that he has “not yet” got his hands on the Tomahawks. It’s as if Trump enjoys being paraded as fickle and playable by the same man he regularly humiliates in public. What an odd relationship.
The NATO-EU Europeans, meanwhile, have stalled on their much-vaunted plan for an interest-free ‘loan’ – not really the right term for money that will never be paid back – of yet another €140 billion, using frozen Russian assets as pseudo-collateral.
‘Pseudo’, because the dirty little not-quite-secret of the scheme is that in the end, it will be EU taxpayers once again who will really foot the bill. Indeed, for those with eyes to see, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has long admitted as much, if in a venue most of his voters do not read and in terms clearly chosen to obfuscate: “budgetary guarantees from member states... [to] be replaced by collateralization under the EU’s long-term budget.” Translation: You, EU citizens, will pay, but in a way we make obscure enough for you to miss.
For now, the fortuitous inability of the EU to agree on how to spread the rather insane financial and political risks of this double-steal move – from Russia and from EU taxpayers – and ultra-corrupt Ukraine’s brazen demand to get this money in no-questions-asked-just-trust-us mode have delayed the realization of the scheme. That, too, like the US refusal to deliver Tomahawks to Kiev, is a tiny remnant of reason that may not last long. The new deadline set for a decision is December. If Eastern European hardliners and Russophobes, such as Poland’s Donald ‘I love terrorist attacks on vital infrastructure as long as they hit Germany’ Tusk, keep setting the tone, the loan operation to bury the euro’s credibility is likely to go ahead soon.
The EU has certainly not lost its appetite for measures that prolong a meat-grinder war for Ukrainians and damage the economy and general well-being of the inhabitants of NATO-EU-land. The 19th sanctions packet has been launched and hardball methods have been used to cajole resisters inside the EU – Hungary and Slovakia – to submit to a total cut-off of Russian gas and oil. These methods may very well already include more Nord Stream-style terrorist attacks, with refineries processing Russian oil blowing up at an astonishing pace now.
In sum, while official Kiev may celebrate, the news for ordinary Ukrainians is horrible: With the US fully reverting to a proxy-war course and the EU never even thinking about abandoning it, the war is now set to continue into next year. Unless there are further major reversals, Ukraine faces a terrible winter, and after that, a spring that will see renewed Russian ground offensives (at the latest).
Meanwhile, NATO figurehead and professional Trump sycophant Mark Rutte, comfortably seated next to his US boss, has said, in essence, that he does not give a damn about the fact that less than a quarter of Ukrainians want this war to continue. Former Polish Prime Minister Leszek Miller recommends shipping young male Ukrainians who have fled to Poland off to the front. In short, the cannon fodder must flow.
The West started its systematic and reckless policy of exposing Ukraine at the Bucharest summit in 2008, almost 20 years ago. What we see now is that it will not change course even in the face of the horrendous fiasco that policy has already predictably incurred. The mad and vicious strategy of sacrificing Ukraine to damage Russia continues. Worse, the more it fails, the more it is being escalated, in the manner of compulsive gamblers who cannot stop until they have lost absolutely everything. Ukraine’s tragedy is that it is its land and its people they are betting.
Source: rt.com
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Here’s how Ukraine’s counteroffensive fantasy finally came to an end
24 Oct, 2025
The past month has seen an intensification of fighting along several key sectors of the front – from Kupiansk and Liman in the north to Pokrovsk and Gulaipole in the south. Yet, beneath local advances and positional shifts, broader structural trends are shaping the balance of forces on both sides. The following overview examines these dynamics before turning to detailed assessments of each direction.
The state of the forces
The gradual deterioration of the Ukrainian army continues. As has been the case throughout the year, desertion remains the main source of manpower losses within the Armed Forces of Ukraine. During the first nine months of this year, Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office opened more than 160,000 cases of desertion – a third more than during the entire previous period, starting in February 2022.
This is not traditional desertion – the case of a conscript sneaking away for cigarettes – but large-scale abandonment of posts. According to available data, despite a partial amnesty that lasted until late summer, only about seven to eight percent of those who deserted have returned. Most simply go home, bribe a local police officer, and disappear from view. With a shortage of both police and prison space, this tactic largely succeeds.
By Ukraine’s own estimates, desertion has caused the army’s losses to outpace new recruitment for more than a year. Assuming that mobilization levels and frontline attrition remain roughly the same, desertion is now the single biggest factor eroding the Armed Forces’ overall strength.
Ukrainian sources estimate a monthly decline of 10,000 to 15,000 personnel as of the summer – most of them experienced, regular soldiers. No comparable replacements are arriving at the front in terms of motivation or fitness, and as experience shows, the higher the desertion rate, the greater the combat losses.
Efforts to compensate for personnel shortages with unmanned systems have also failed. The much-publicized “wall of drones” has not provided an impenetrable defense, and with manpower running low, drones alone cannot sustain a stable defensive network.
The Russian army faces its own difficulties – exhaustion, high costs of assault operations, and no excess of manpower – yet the system of contract recruitment has largely neutralized the problem of desertion. According to official data, over 350,000 volunteers have signed contracts since the beginning of the year, averaging nearly 40,000 per month.
The biggest crisis for Ukraine’s military since 2022 unfolded in August near Pokrovsk, where Russian forces breached defenses to a depth of around 15 kilometers along a 4–5 kilometer front. Although that advance later slowed, it forced the Ukrainian command to withdraw reserves from other key directions – notably Kupiansk, Liman, and Zaporizhzhia – exacerbating existing defense crises there.
This summer and autumn marked the first time in four years that Ukraine’s Armed Forces have not launched a major offensive. By contrast, previous seasons saw large-scale campaigns: the Kharkov and Kherson operations in 2022, the summer counteroffensive in 2023, and last year’s cross-border raid into the Kursk region, which extended into spring 2024.
At present, Ukraine’s army remains on the defensive, conducting only occasional counterattacks. Judging by the scale of desertion and the depletion of reserves, there is little indication that new large-scale offensives are possible. While isolated operations similar to the one in Kursk cannot be ruled out, they are unlikely to succeed.
Against this backdrop, the situation on the ground is evolving unevenly. While some sectors remain locked in positional fighting, others have seen clear shifts in control and momentum. The following overview examines the key directions where the dynamics have been most pronounced over the past month.
Kupiansk
Kupiansk remains the only active front line in the Kharkov region worth highlighting in this month’s overview. The Russian army pulled out of the city in September–October 2022, and since then, the area has seen mostly positional fighting with occasional flare-ups. Kupiansk has served as Ukraine’s main stronghold in this sector, and its capture would open the way for a potential advance toward Kharkov.
Fighting continues inside the city itself. Over the past month, Russian troops have taken control of the city center, the railway station, and most of the Yubileyny district in the south. The rest of Kupiansk remains a gray zone, with little sign of organized Ukrainian resistance. At this point, it appears to be only a matter of time before Russian forces establish full control over the city.
The fall of Kupiansk would secure Russia’s bridgehead in the Kharkov region and expose the northern flank of Ukraine’s defenses, potentially forcing Kiev to redeploy reserves from other critical sectors.
Liman
Like Kupiansk, Liman was lost by Russian forces in the fall of 2022. It is the last major city in the Donetsk People’s Republic north of the Seversky Donets River. Strategically, retaking Liman and Sviatogorsk to the west would complete a northern arc around the Slaviansk–Kramatorsk urban cluster – a pre-war industrial hub of roughly 400,000 people and the largest population center still held by Ukraine in Donbass.
Russian troops are steadily tightening their hold around Liman. As seen elsewhere, a semi-encirclement often signals that a direct assault is near. To the north, Russian units have advanced 7–8 kilometers along a 35-kilometer front, crossed the Nitrius River, and secured sections of the Kharkov–Liman–Artemovsk railway at two points. Among the settlements captured are Derilovo, Novoselovka, Zarechnoye (now under full control), and Yampol.
The buildup around Liman indicates that Russian forces are shaping the battlefield for a larger offensive. Success here would bring them within striking distance of the Slaviansk–Kramatorsk line – the central axis of Ukraine’s defense in Donbass.
Seversk
Seversk is another key position on the approach to the Slaviansk–Kramatorsk line. The offensive here is synchronized with the battles for Liman, as Seversk provides the only direct route to Slaviansk from the front. This area had been relatively quiet since 2023, but active fighting has now resumed.
At present, Seversk is under partial encirclement by Russian forces. Over the past month, the front has drawn closer from the north and west, while the southern outskirts – including Zvanovka and Sviato-Pokrovskoye – remain under Ukrainian control. The Russian army appears set to apply its established tactics: flanking maneuvers from the north, through Dronovka toward the Liman road, and from the south toward Reznikovka, likely to precede a full-scale assault. With primary supply routes already under observation by FPV drones, the Ukrainian garrison in Seversk faces a progressively worsening situation in the coming weeks.
The tightening ring around Seversk suggests that Russian forces are preparing for a coordinated northern push toward Slaviansk. If Seversk falls, the entire northern line of Ukraine’s Donbass defenses could begin to unravel.
Chasov Yar – Konstantinovka
Konstantinovka stands among the main objectives of this year’s offensive campaign. As a major logistical hub with modern infrastructure – high-rise residential districts, active industry, and a network of underground facilities – it offers ideal conditions for a prolonged defense.
Heavy fighting continues around the city. North of Chasov Yar, Russian forces have extended their control along the key line of the Seversky Donets–Donbass canal, advancing up to four kilometers along a front roughly 10 to 11 kilometers wide. The settlements of Pleshcheevka and Kleban-Byk on the southeastern approaches to Konstantinovka have been fully secured, breaching the city’s outer defensive belt and setting the stage for a possible encirclement. For now, however, a direct assault appears premature: the Ukrainian garrison remains well supplied via urban routes and the railway link from Druzhkovka, which connects further to the Slaviansk–Kramatorsk stronghold – Ukraine’s central logistical base in Donbass.
The breach of Konstantinovka’s outer defenses marks a critical step in Russia’s southern advance. Sustained pressure here could force Ukraine to commit reserves from the Slaviansk–Kramatorsk line, gradually weakening its overall defensive posture in Donbass.
Pokrovsk and the Dobropolye Bulge
The decisive battles of this autumn are expected to unfold around Pokrovsk and the Dobropolye bulge to its north. Following an unexpected Russian breakthrough in August, Ukrainian command redeployed reserves from other sectors – notably from Kupiansk and Gulaipole (more on that below) — in an effort to cut off the salient at its base along the Nikanorovka–Novotoretskoye–Shakhovo line.
Russia, in turn, reinforced its grouping to widen and secure the breach. Over the past month, the front line has largely stabilized, which is now clearly reflected on operational maps. Key developments include the Russian assault on Vladimirovka – a critical stronghold on the northeastern flank – and a reported, though still unconfirmed, Ukrainian push toward Novotoretskoye from the southwest.
Fighting around Pokrovsk itself has also intensified. After a brief operational pause in September, hostilities resumed in October, with combat now reported inside the city center. Visible progress suggests that this front, too, is approaching a decisive stage.
The Pokrovsk–Dobropolye axis is shaping up as the central theater of this campaign season. Control over Pokrovsk would not only collapse Ukraine’s western Donbass defense but also open a direct path toward the Dnieper line.
Gulaipole
Gulaipole, the birthplace of Nestor Makhno – revered in Ukraine as the father of practical anarchism – holds a symbolic place in the country’s history. A century ago, during the Russian Civil War, this area was home to a short-lived peasant republic with Gulaipole as its capital.
Today, the surrounding steppe offers little in the way of natural defenses. Over the past three months, Ukrainian forces here have faced growing difficulties as manpower shortages and the transfer of reserves to the Dobropolye bulge have weakened their positions.
Since September 20, troops from Russia’s Eastern Military District have advanced 6 to 12 kilometers along a 26-kilometer front, capturing ten settlements and crossing the Yanchur River in the south. The next operational goal is to extend control along the entire river and secure the Pokrovsk–Gulaipole road – a move that would effectively place Gulaipole in a semi-encirclement and set the stage for an eventual assault.
Continued Russian progress in the Gulaipole sector could transform a localized advance into a broader southern envelopment, threatening Ukraine’s remaining defensive depth in Zaporizhzhia region.
Orekhov
The Orekhov front has emerged as the second main axis of Ukrainian offensive activity, following the Dobropolye bulge. Despite an energetic propaganda push in Ukrainian media, actual progress has been modest: roughly 4 to 6 square kilometers have been gained near Malaya Tokmachka, with no settlements captured.
This direction offers little potential for a breakthrough. Just behind the current line lies the so-called “Surovikin Line” – a deeply layered Russian defensive system that effectively stopped Ukraine’s 2023 counteroffensive. Given this, it is reasonable to assume that the recent actions near Orekhov serve mainly as a diversion, aimed at forcing the Russian command to shift part of its forces from the Gulaipole sector and ease the mounting pressure there.
The Orekhov push appears less an attempt to achieve operational success and more a tactical distraction. With defenses intact and Ukrainian gains minimal, momentum in this sector remains firmly with Russia.
Overall assessment
As October draws to a close, the front remains active along nearly its entire length, yet the overall dynamics are now clearly defined. Russia has maintained steady tactical momentum – particularly around Kupiansk, Liman, and Pokrovsk – while Ukraine’s ability to counterattack or reinforce has visibly weakened. Desertion, exhaustion, and a shrinking pool of trained personnel have turned what was once a temporary manpower issue into a structural crisis for Kiev’s armed forces.
Russia’s advances remain methodical rather than spectacular, reflecting a long-term strategy of attrition. The consistent application of pressure – simultaneous offensives across several axes combined with precision strikes on logistics – has forced Ukraine into a reactive posture. In effect, the Ukrainian army is no longer dictating the tempo of the war but struggling to hold its existing lines.
The coming winter will likely bring an operational pause in some sectors but continued pressure in others, especially where Russian forces have already established tactical advantages. With manpower disparities widening and no sign of renewed Western aid on the scale of 2023, Ukraine’s options are narrowing.
Unless Kiev manages to stabilize recruitment and restore rotation capacity, the balance of initiative will remain firmly with Moscow. The next phase of the conflict – whether in late winter or early spring – may determine not only the fate of Ukraine’s front lines, but the overall course of the war.
Source: rt.com
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Ex-NATO commander claims united Ireland could aid Russia and China
25 Oct, 2025
The potential unification of Ireland would be a major blow to the West’s security as it could allow Russia and China to expand their reach in the North Atlantic, a former NATO commander has warned.
Speaking at a briefing for members of Parliament and the House of Lords on Wednesday, retired British Rear Admiral Chris Parry argued that if the UK were to lose its foothold in Northern Ireland, it would present a major opportunity for Moscow and Beijing.
He noted that the waters between Northern Ireland and Scotland are essential for Britain’s nuclear-armed submarines, describing it as “critical to our strategic deterrent.”
“With a united Ireland, there is no guarantee we could deploy our ballistic missiles,” Parry said.
He also suggested that Irish unification would enable NATO adversaries to threaten critical undersea cables.
“The UK needs to calibrate the threat to itself of a supine Republic of Ireland. My view is that the best way to help Ireland now is to increase NATO and Allied activity in Ireland’s economic zone waters,” he said.
Parry even suggested that NATO should hold exercises in Irish-controlled waters “whether Dublin agreed or not,” saying the bloc must be prepared to “fish in Irish waters for our potential opponents.” He added that the republic should move toward closer military cooperation with NATO and renounce neutrality.
“If anyone attacks Britain, they will attack Ireland… Neutrality cannot be seen as conscientious objection any more. If you are part of the free world, you have to be prepared to defend it. The Republic needs to reduce its vulnerabilities,” he stated.
Moscow has dismissed claims that it plans to attack NATO as “nonsense.”
Ireland has been militarily neutral since gaining independence in 1921, and is not a NATO member but cooperates with the bloc.
The idea of Irish reunification – merging the Republic of Ireland with Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK – is permitted under the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. The accord ended a three-decade standoff between Irish nationalists and pro-British unionists by establishing a power-sharing government in Belfast and confirming that Northern Ireland’s status can only be changed if a majority there votes for it.
Source: rt.com
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Southeast Asia
Sixteen NGOs urge Anwar to speak up for Malaysia, Palestine at Asean Summit
24 Oct 2025
PUTRAJAYA, Oct 24 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today received a memorandum from a coalition of 16 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) expressing their support for his leadership, including his efforts to amplify Malaysia’s voice during a meeting with United States President Donald Trump at the 47th Asean Summit, scheduled to take place from the 26th to 28th of this month.
Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (Abim) president Ahmad Fahmi Mohd Samsudin presented the memorandum to Anwar after Friday prayers at Surau Al-Quddus in Presint 16 here today.
The NGOs expressing their support include the Malaysian Consultative Council of Islamic Organisations (Mapim), Pertubuhan Ikram Malaysia (Ikram), Wadah Pencerdasan Umat Malaysia (Wadah) and the National Union of Malaysian Muslim Students (PKPIM).
Speaking to reporters, Ahmad Fahmi said the memorandum has five key points, including support for the prime minister’s leadership and his efforts to drive the nation’s economic recovery.
Other points include leveraging the US–Asean Summit to reinforce Malaysia’s role as a regional centre for peace, while also supporting the prime minister’s steadfast commitment to defending the rights of the Palestinian people and elevating Malaysia’s voice on global humanitarian causes.
“We must reinforce our role as a key global player by capitalising on our Asean chairmanship, and with President Trump’s presence, it is crucial that we assert our position clearly,” he said. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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‘Welcome to the Asean Family’: Timor-Leste takes final step toward full membership with document handover
By Muhammad Yusry
25 Oct 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 25 — Timor-Leste today took a major step toward joining Asean as its 11th member after officially handing over its membership documents at a ceremony here this morning.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said the event, known as the Ceremony of Depositing of the Instrument of Accession, effectively marks Timor-Leste’s full admission as the eleventh member of Asean.
“Today, we celebrate you, a nation built on courage, perseverance, and unyielding hope, as you join a family that has long awaited your full inclusion,” he said in his closing remarks after the document handover ceremony.
“Welcome to the Asean Family, and to our venerated Charter,” he added.
Mohamad said Timor-Leste will bring new energy, fresh perspectives, and a youthful population ready to contribute to the region once officially accepted.
“Your presence will enrich Asean’s collective identity. Not only in demography, but politically, culturally, and economically,” he said.
During the ceremony, Timor-Leste Foreign Minister Bendito dos Santos Freitas officially deposited his country’s Instruments of Accession to the Asean Charter and the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone, handing them over to Asean Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn.
Timor-Leste’s full membership is expected to be confirmed tomorrow, in conjunction with the 47th Asean Summit, during the signing of the Declaration on the Admission of Timor-Leste into Asean, where regional leaders will formally endorse the accession documents.
Its official membership announcement is slated for Monday morning.
Timor-Leste first formally applied for Asean membership in March 2011, nearly a decade after gaining independence in 2002.
It was later granted observer status in 2022, allowing it to take part in several Asean meetings and activities.
That same year, during the 40th and 41st Asean Summits in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, the bloc agreed in principle to admit Timor-Leste as its 11th member.
The following year, at the 2023 summit in Indonesia, Asean leaders adopted a roadmap outlining the steps toward the country’s full membership in the regional grouping.
Source: malaymail.com
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‘Final stage’: Asean nears long-awaited extradition treaty to combat cross-border crime, says foreign minister
By Ida Lim
25 Oct 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 25 — Asean is expected to soon have a treaty that enables extradition among its member states, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan indicated today.
In his opening remarks at the 30th Asean Political-Security Community (APSC) Council Meeting, Mohamad said South-east Asian countries were working together to tackle crimes that occur across their borders.
“Meanwhile, the long-awaited Asean Extradition Treaty is also at its final stage of completion, and is expected to be signed next month,” he said in his speech here.
In May 2024, the Asean website reported that senior law officials had discussed the extradition treaty, noting that it would “further enhance Asean’s capacity to combat transnational crimes” once concluded.
Mohamad said Malaysia remains deeply concerned over the far-reaching implications of complex security issues that affect citizens’ safety in Asean member countries and pose direct threats to the region’s economic resilience and national security.
He said Asean must strengthen cooperation and coordination among defence, law enforcement, and legal institutions to counter transnational crime.
Mohamad added that Asean had taken innovative steps to tackle links between transnational crime, money laundering, and sophisticated cyber-enabled crimes such as online scams.
These efforts include the establishment of the Asean Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC) Working Group on Money Laundering, an initiative led by Malaysia.
He said Asean law ministers have also committed to promoting arbitration and mediation mechanisms to support regional economic integration.
Mohamad said the recently established Asean Prosecutors/Attorneys-General Meeting (APAGM) will further strengthen regional collaboration in the prosecution of transnational crimes.
Other measures in the defence sector include multiple exercises and new initiatives in cyber, maritime, and health security.
He added that Asean’s defence ministers have committed to raising awareness on the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) in defence and ensuring its responsible use in the military domain.
Mohamad also noted that the Asean Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) continues to champion issues such as the right to a safe, clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, as well as the right to peace.
He said AICHR had advanced an Asean guideline on the protection of human-trafficking victims, reaffirming Asean’s collective commitment to uphold human dignity and ensure justice and protection for victims.
The guideline will also realign Asean’s practices with international human rights and anti-trafficking standards, he said.
At the 19th Asean Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC) in Melaka on September 10, regional leaders welcomed the establishment of the SOMTC Working Group on Money Laundering, which will meet for the first time next year.
Among other things, the 19th AMMTC adopted declarations on combatting money laundering, cybercrime, and online scams in the region.
Source: malaymail.com
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Japan backs Malaysia’s push for Asean economic integration under RCEP, CPTPP, says envoy
25 Oct 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 25 — Japan has voiced strong support for Malaysia’s leadership in accelerating Asean’s regional economic integration, saying that deeper cooperation under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) will help harmonise standards, ease cross-border trade and strengthen supply-chain resilience across the region.
Japan’s Ambassador to Malaysia Noriyuki Shikata said Tokyo views RCEP and CPTPP as the main pillars of a free and open Indo-Pacific trade platform and will continue to work closely with Malaysia to advance regional market integration.
Both frameworks remain critical to ensuring supply-chain connectivity and rules-based trade in the region, he said.
“Under Malaysia’s chairmanship, we are moving in the same direction towards a more connected and innovative regional economy.
“Between Japan and Malaysia, we are both free-trade-orientated nations, and we are both members of those free-trade agreements,” he told Bernama, adding that Tokyo will continue to promote high-standard trade rules that encourage innovation, investment and inclusive growth.
He was speaking in an exclusive interview ahead of the 47th Asean Summit and Related Summits hosted by Malaysia, which holds the Asean chairmanship this year under the theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability.”
The summits, to be held in the next three days (October 26-28), would see the participation of top leaders from the 10 Asean member states as well as key dialogue partners including the United States (US), China and Japan.
Newly elected Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who took office on Oct 21, 2025, will leave for Kuala Lumpur on Saturday (today) to attend the Asean Summit and meet her Malaysian counterpart and Asean chair, Malaysia’s Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, in bilateral talks.
CPTPP is a free trade agreement signed by 12 countries, comprising Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and Vietnam, with a combined gross domestic product (GDP) of about US$15.8 trillion (US$1 = RM4.22), accounting for 14.4 per cent of the world’s total GDP.
Meanwhile, RCEP, the world’s largest free trade zone that comprises the Asean member states as well as Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea, accounts for 30 per cent of the world’s GDP.
According to Shikata, many Japanese companies in Asean still face fragmented regulations and country-specific investment rules, limiting cross-border efficiency within regional value chains.
“Harmonised regulations and greater connectivity would enhance regional value chains and help prevent future disruptions.
“At this point of time, my impression is the Asean market is somewhat compartmentalised. (For example,) auto companies producing parts in Cambodia are suffering from disruption of cross-border trade (due to the Thailand-Cambodia border dispute),” he said.
He said Japan welcomes efforts by Malaysia and Asean to reduce such barriers through greater regulatory alignment and digitalisation initiatives, as this would encourage more cross-border investments under both RCEP and CPTPP.
Touching on the broader trade landscape, Shikata said Japan remains open to US re-engagement in the CPTPP framework but acknowledged that the decision rests with Washington.
The ambassador said peace and stability remain the foundation of regional trade, citing the situations in Myanmar and the South China Sea as potential risks to supply chains and energy security.
“Peace is fundamental. (For example,) if Petronas explores energy resources and is disrupted, that is bad news from the energy security standpoint,” he added. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Fahmi: Cabinet keeps existing regulations on alcohol in school halls, Chinese schools have separate provisions
By Muhammad Yusry
24 Oct 2025
PUTRAJAYA, Oct 24 — The Cabinet today decided that the rules on serving and consuming alcohol at certain school premises will remain unchanged under existing regulations.
During his weekly post-Cabinet press conference here, Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said further details on the matter can be obtained from the Education Ministry.
“The Cabinet was informed that some Chinese schools receive full government assistance, while in others, certain facilities are developed and maintained by the school boards or by private entities.
“Therefore, certain provisions apply specifically to Chinese schools. However, further details can be referred to the Education Ministry,” he said.
He said that even when a school hall is rented by external parties such as alumni associations, its use should remain in line with the nation’s educational philosophy and guidelines.
Anwar added that the government was reviewing the need for clearer procedures to ensure consistency in future.
In response, Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng appealed to Transport Minister Anthony Loke to convey the Chinese community's concerns to the prime minister on the issue.
Lim said Loke would seeka a balanced approach that would allow cultural and community traditions to continue.
To note, Chinese school halls are often rented by external groups for community events such as weddings, cultural celebrations, and fundraisers, held after school hours.
Source: malaymail.com
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Singapore eyes tri-nation collaboration with Malaysia, Indonesia to attract investors to JS-SEZ, BBK islands
24 Oct 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 24 — Singapore is exploring a tripartite collaboration with Malaysia and Indonesia to attract investors and businesses to the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) as well as Batam, Bintan and Karimun (BBK) Islands.
Singapore Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong said he held discussions with Malaysia’s Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Aziz and Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto to see the areas in which the three countries could collaborate in the special economic zones.
“We are starting to explore the areas in which we can work together. If you remember, we had the idea of the Sijori (Singapore, Johor, and Riau) concept to explore opportunities for collaboration.
“Now we are thinking of how we can work together as three parties. When we go out for investment promotions to attract investments to this region, it is no longer about coming to Singapore and Johor but also coming to BBK,” he told reporters after attending the 26th Asean Economic Community Council Meeting here today.
The JS-SEZ is a collaborative initiative between Malaysia and Singapore to boost cross-border economic growth, while the BBK in Indonesia is a special economic region where Singapore is a major investor.
The special economic zone covers major development zones such as Iskandar Malaysia, Forest City, the Pengerang Integrated Petroleum Complex, and Desaru, with a total land area of approximately 357,128 hectares.
The Iskandar Malaysia region also includes strategic areas such as Johor Bahru City Centre, Iskandar Puteri, Tanjung Pelepas-Tanjung Bin, Pasir Gudang, Senai-Skudai, and Sedenak.
Known as flagship zones, each area will champion projects from different vital sectors of the economy. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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