Acharya Satyendra Das death: Ayodhya chief priest was the ‘centre’ of the efforts on Hindu-Muslim amity

New Age Islam News Bureau

13 February 2025

Acharya Satyendra Das | ANI

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·         Acharya Satyendra Das death: Ayodhya chief priest was the ‘centre’ of the efforts on Hindu-Muslim amity

·         Islamic military coalition addresses extremism prevention at Riyadh forum

·         Religious Affairs Minister Reminds of Interfaith Tolerance As Ramadan Nears

·         Ayatollah Khamenei says Iranians sent ‘message of unity’ to world on Revolution anniversary

·         Ukraine war talks start now, Trump says after Putin call

·         FCANHPT Ibadan denies allegations of discrimination against Muslim students

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India

·         A Message for Communal Harmony From Ajmer Dargah Sharif

·         Disturbed Areas Act in Gujarat faces criticism for discrimination against Muslims

·         The debate on Caste Census heating up in Tamil Nadu

·         Waqf Amendment Bill likely to be tabled in Lok Sabha tomorrow, AIMPLB holds emergency meeting

·         Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind moves High Court against UCC in Uttarakhand

·         Will not accept Muslims in Backward Class list: Union Minister Sanjay Kumar

·         Over 10 Jamia students detained amid protest against disciplinary action, security stepped up

·         JPC report on Waqf (Amendment) Bill tabled in Rajya Sabha; Mallikarjun Kharge calls it condemnable, anti-democratic

·         Sarojini Naidu strived for Hindu-Muslim unity for developed India

·         Thrashed In Bhopal Court, Muslim Man Faces Case For Trying To Marry A Hindu

·         How climate influenced temple, mosque and church architecture

·         J&K: Pak troops suffer 'heavy casualties' after Indian Army retaliates to 'ceasefire violation'

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Arab World

·         Saudi Arabia assumes presidency of global anti-corruption network

·         Syrian prime minister lauds Saudi Arabia’s humanitarian program

·         Natural and historical allure of Al-Baha’s heritage villages

·         International padel stars predict bright future for the sport in Saudi Arabia and beyond

·         Saudi foreign minister discusses regional developments with French counterpart in Paris

·         Madinah governor receives Palestine envoy

·         Saudi Film Commission to host pavilion at Berlin Film Festival

·         Team behind Dammam’s doors exhibition highlights importance of traditional crafts

·         Saudi Arabia is evaluating BRICS membership, says economy minister

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Southeast Asia

·         Amir al-Mumineen Calls for Stronger Education at Kandahar University

·         UN Security Council condemns suicide attack in Kunduz, Afghanistan

·         Jamaat for reforms before elections

·         New Appointments Announced in the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan

·         PAS, Muslim lawyers group reject non-Muslim affairs minister idea

·         Unregistered Private Islamic Institutions In Johor Risk Action - Johor Govt

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South Asia

·         Student leaders demand ban on AL within 24 hrs

·         Protesting teacher candidates continue demo in Shahbagh

·         Tragic Methane Gas Explosion Claims Lives of Three Miners in Samangan

·         Three Miners killed in Coal Mine explosion in Samangan, Afghanistan

……

Mideast

·         Why is Gaza truce under threat?

·         Receiving Imam Hussein bin Ali School's building in Bani Matar

·         Educational meetings in Capital Sanaa to prepare for Ramadan program and summer courses

·         Bahrain to host Islamic Dialogue Conference under HM the King’s patronage

·         Sa'ada Public Prosecution issues decisions regarding 314 prisoners on occasion of Ramadan

·         Erbil to restore 18th-century Grand Mosque

·         Leader hails Monday rallies as ‘popular uprising’ in favor of Islamic Revolution

·         Syrian minister makes first trip to EU as powers look to aid transition

·         Wife of Colombian-Israeli hostage receives proof of life

·         Qatar says sending Gaza additional 15 million liters of fuel

·         Iraq’s top court throws out challenge to new laws, including one increasing Islamic courts authority

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Europe

·         Blackburn’s newest mosque and 'community hub' set to open

·         Dudley mosque extension granted approval

·         Half of French island in Indian Ocean burnt by wildfire

·         The twisted views of ex-soldier with BNP links who tried to blow up Hanley mosque

·         Mosque blast bid man jailed over summer riots

·         Austria's political crisis deepens as far right fails to form government

·         One killed in ballistic missile attack on Kyiv, Ukraine says

·         Kremlin says Russian citizen released in US after Trump greets freed teacher

·         Sicily's gangsters complain they can't get the staff

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Africa

·         Muslim group defends El-Rufai, cautions Tinubu’s govt against arresting ex-governor

·         Niger to subsidise food prices during Ramadan

·         Police Dismiss Reports Of 3,907 Missing Firearms, Calls Allegations Misleading

·         Court Orders Substituted Service In ₦500 Million Rights Abuse Suit Against Nigerian Army

·         Sudan's army rejects ceasefire call during the holy month of Ramadan

·         ‘You don’t have mandate over Yoruba muslims,’ Oduduwa Nation tells Sultan of Sokoto

·         ‘It Has Become Something Like A Cult’ – Arewa Consultative Forum Rejects Ganduje’s Call To Back Tinubu In 2027

·         Troops Kill Notorious Terrorist Commanders In Zamfara, Sokoto Operations

·         Tax Reform Bills: ‘The Bills Were Transmitted Despite Rejection’ – Lawmaker

·         People That Drafted Tinubu’s Tax Reform Bills Are Not Professionals – Lawmaker

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North America

·         Trump says Zelensky ready for peace

·         CAIR & CPHB Urge Parents, Educators to Attend Webinars on Supporting Muslim Students in Ramadan

·         Trump offers Putin a way back in from the cold

·         Fact-checking Elon Musk's claims in the Oval Office

·         Hegseth sets out hard line on European defence and Nato

·         'On a power trip' or 'obviously brilliant'? Americans weigh Musk's influence

·         US releases Russian Bitcoin fraud suspect as Belarus frees American

·         Fifty countries affected by USAID freeze, says WHO

·         Legal showdown looms as Trump tests limits of presidential power

·         Canada leaders take push against tariffs to White House

·         Trump ally promises info on Epstein’s ‘Lolita Express’

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Pakistan

·         US citizens advised to avoid Faisal Mosque area in view of TTP threats

·         Sanaullah warns 'prevailing situation' harmful to state, govt, judiciary

·         Governor, CM GB felicitate Ismaili Community over appointment of New Imam

·         Journalists stage hunger strike to protest amendments to Peca

·         Interior Minister Naqvi promises all-out efforts to restore peace in Sindh

·         Justice Dogar becomes acting IHC CJ after HCs' jurists elevated to SC

·         Khawaja Asif says CJP-IMF meeting 'not imposed'

·         PTI shares 'undeniable rigging' allegations with IMF in dossier

·         Military courts questioned over lack of transparency

·         Imran shook country’s foundations, says Nawaz

·         Defence minister defends IMF team’s meeting with CJP

Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau

URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/ayodhya-hindu-muslim-amity-islamic-military/d/134610

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Acharya Satyendra Das death: Ayodhya chief priest was the ‘centre’ of the efforts on Hindu-Muslim amity

February 12, 2025

By Piyush Srivastava

Acharya Satyendra Das | ANI

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Mahant Satyendra Das, the chief priest of the Ram temple for 39 years who never shied away from admitting that he was an eyewitness to the December 1949 “planting” of the Ram idol at the Babri Masjid and remained a lifelong critic of the Ram temple movement, passed away on Wednesday. He was 87.

Satyendra Das was under treatment at the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences in Lucknow since February 3 after suffering a stroke. The cause of death was stated to be multiple organ dysfunction syndrome.

As an 11-year-old, Satyendra Das had accompanied his would-be guru Abhiram Das when the latter allegedly barged into the Babri Masjid on the intervening night of December 22 and 23, 1949, to “plant” the Ram idol, thus sowing the seeds of the long-drawn Ram temple movement that culminated with the 2019 Supreme Court verdict handing over the disputed Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri land to the Hindus and the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. The movement catapulted the BJP to power and ended up sundering the secular fabric of the country.

Satyendra Das had for years been a vociferous critic of the Ram temple movement and later became reticent on the issue, but never supported the campaign.

While the Hindu Mahasabha, to which Abhiram Das belonged, and later the Vishwa Hindu Parishad always claimed that the idol had “miraculously emerged” as it was Lord Ram’s birthplace, Satyendra Das maintained that it had been planted by his spiritual master.

When a local court in 1986 ordered that Hindus be allowed to pray at the place inside the mosque where the Ram idol was situated, the then Rajiv Gandhi-led Congress government appointed Satyendra Das as the priest. He remained the chief priest of the makeshift Ram temple on the then-disputed land after a VHP-backed mob demolished the Babri Masjid in 1992.

Satyendra Das had told the news agency PTI in an interview in 2022: “I was there. It happened before me. I was witness to it. Of the three (Babri) domes, the north and south domes were demolished by kar sewaks. I carried Ram Lalla along with the throne to safety.”

His continuance as the chief priest of the Ram temple after the Babri fiasco, when the Congress was in power at the Centre, and his criticism of the BJP and the VHP for “politicising” Lord Ram created an impression among certain sections that he had the backing of the Grand Old Party.

However, his oneness with the Ram temple, his unquestioned devotion and the kindness he bestowed upon devotees ensured that he remained the chief priest after the regime change in 2014. When Prime Minister Narendra Modi consecrated the new Ram temple on January 22, 2024, Satyendra Das was appointed its chief priest despite opposition from the VHP.

He had said after the 2019 Supreme Court verdict: “It is good that Lord Ram will be in a temple now. But we love to live in peace and harmony. The court has asked the government to provide land to the Muslim side. We will help them in every possible manner in identifying land and building a mosque.”

Satyendra Das had retired for a few days to his ashram in Hanumangarhi when the government decided to inaugurate the newly built Ram temple. “The government developed cold feet and brought him back to the new temple as chief priest,” a disciple of Satyendra Das said on condition of anonymity.

The disciple added: “He had always chastised Hindutva groups because he believed that they had ditched his guru (Abhiram Das) after provoking him to put the idol in the mosque. However, he resolved in 2024 not to make any critical statement against any person or party.”

Satyendra Das, who took deeksha from Abhiram Das when he was 13, completed the Acharya course from Ayodhya’s Sanskrit College in 1975 and joined the same institute as an assistant teacher the next year.

Premchand Tripathi, one of his disciples, said: “The last rites of Acharya Satyendra Das will be performed in keeping with the tradition of sadhus on Thursday. They are not cremated, they are immersed in the Saryu after a series of rituals.”

Expressing his condolences, Modi wrote on X: “A scholar of religious ceremonies and shastras, the entire life of Mahant Ji was dedicated in the service of Lord Ram.”

Source: telegraphindia.com

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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/ram-temple-talisman-mahant-satyendra-das-passes-away-at-age-87/cid/2083187

 

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Islamic military coalition addresses extremism prevention at Riyadh forum

February 12, 2025

The Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition and the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism organized a symposium in Riyadh on Wednesday. (SPA)

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RIYADH: The Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition and the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism organized a symposium in Riyadh on Wednesday, commemorating the International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism.

The event was attended by the coalition’s assistant military commander, Air Force Maj. Gen. Abdullah Al-Qurashi, as well as member state representatives and coalition personnel, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Chaired by Abdullah Al-Dawah, director of monitoring and analysis at the Intellectual Affairs Department, the symposium emphasized the day’s role in enhancing global efforts to combat terrorism and extremist ideology while fostering peace and tolerance.

Al-Dawah explained that the symposium serves to address the complex drivers of extremism, explore preventive measures, and highlight the crucial roles of community awareness and global cooperation.

In the first session, Yahya Abu Maghayed, director of preventive programs at the Intellectual Affairs Department, examined extremism’s dynamic nature and stressed the need for increased public awareness.

He discussed factors driving its spread and indicators of violent radicalization, such as violence justification, conspiracy theory adoption, and participation in social unrest.

The second session featured Col. Malik Al-Farrayeh, Jordan’s representative to the Islamic coalition, who highlighted the importance of public education on extremist ideology risks.

He emphasized that prevention begins with promoting moderate religious values while rejecting hardline ideas. Al-Farrayeh also noted the critical role of educational and media institutions in promoting tolerance and moderation.

He stressed the need for regional and international cooperation to prevent extremism from evolving into a security threat.

The event concluded with recommendations to strengthen community oversight, reinforce moderate values, and address extremism’s root causes.

Participants underscored the need for coordinated international action to combat this phenomenon and protect communities from its impact.

Source:arabnews.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2589977/saudi-arabia

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Religious Affairs Minister Reminds of Interfaith Tolerance As Ramadan Nears

Alfida Rizky Febrianna

 February 13, 202

B-Universe's Executive Chairman Enggartiasto Lukita (left) and Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar take a photo in the brotherhood tunnel that connects the Istiqlal Mosque and the Cathedral in Jakarta on Feb. 12, 2025. (B1 Photo/Alfida Rizky Febrianna)

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Jakarta. Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar reminds Indonesians to uphold interfaith tolerance as the world's largest Muslim-majority country inches closer to Ramadan.

In about two weeks from now, Muslims around the world will enter the fasting month of Ramadan. Muslims will endure hunger and thirst by fasting from dawn until dusk. The populous Indonesia is a multifaith country that recognizes six religions, namely Islam, Catholicism, Protestantism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Confucianism with a large part of the population identifying as Muslims. Nasaruddin said that the upcoming Ramadan should be an opportunity to embrace interfaith tolerance.

"For Muslims, let's make this Ramadan the best one yet. We should make sure that the quality and quantity of our fasts are better than the previous Ramadan. To the people of other religions, we should show tolerance to those who fast by respecting their fasting," Nasaruddin told Beritasatu TV and BTV at the iconic Tunnel of Friendship in Jakarta on Wednesday.

He also told Muslims to be tolerant and not discriminate against other faith groups' religious holidays.

The Tunnel of Friendship is an underground tunnel that connects the Jakarta Cathedral and the Istiqlal Mosque. This tunnel is often seen as the epitome of Indonesia's religious tolerance. Nasaruddin said the beauty of tolerance was something that was rarely found in other countries.

"This is the beauty of Indonesia, maybe we can't find it anywhere else," he said.

The Tunnel of Friendship also becomes the setting for Nasaruddin's upcoming sermon show "The Power of Ramadan" which will exclusively air on BTV and Beritasatu TV for the entirety of this fasting month.

"This is something new. Kudos to Beritasatu for bringing something different to the table," Nasaruddin said.

B-Universe Media Holdings' executive chairman Enggartiasto Lukita said BTV and Beritasatu TV became the first stations to broadcast a sermon set in the Tunnel of Friendship.

"The religious affairs minister is indeed a big-hearted man. He has given us this opportunity and also invited people of other faiths to enter the holy month of Ramadan together. He also reminded us to become more tolerant than ever," Enggartiasto said.

B-Universe is a media holding that houses various publications, including BTV, Beritasatu TV, The Jakarta Globe, Beritasatu.com, Investor Daily, and Investor.id.

Source:jakartaglobe.id

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https://jakartaglobe.id/lifestyle/religious-affairs-minister-reminds-of-interfaith-tolerance-as-ramadan-nears

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Ayatollah Khamenei says Iranians sent ‘message of unity’ to world on Revolution anniversary

By IFP Media Wire

February 12, 2025

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has commended the Iranian nation for relaying its “message of unity” to the international community on the 46th anniversary of the country’s 1979 Islamic Revolution amid enemy’s threats.

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Ayatollah Khamenei made the remarks in Tehran on Wednesday, addressing a gathering of Defense Ministry officials, defense industry elites, the ministry’s experts and staff, and families of the martyrs hailing from the country’s defense industry.

The Leader described the day marking the Revolution’s victory as one of the most significant national events, showcasing the unity and strength of the Iranian people despite relentless external pressures.

Ayatollah Khamenei emphasized that the celebrations on this year’s anniversary were not just a commemoration, but a powerful act of resistance and national unity.

“This was a message of unity from the Iranian people. Despite the constant, idiotic threats against us, the people of Iran showed the world their identity, their strength, and their unwavering resolve.”

“This year’s February 22nd was one of the most outstanding celebrations of the Revolution,” the Leader stated.

“It was a popular uprising, a grand national movement. People took to the streets, raised their voices, and shared their views across the media, all over the country. This was a true popular uprising, a major national movement.”

Ayatollah Khamenei noted that, “Despite ongoing media bombardments, psychological warfare, and unfounded threats from adversaries against the historic development, the Iranian people stood strong in their commitment to the values of the Revolution with their indication of strong support for the event during this year’s marches and jubilations.”

Ayatollah Khamenei also made special reference to the presence of young people in the celebrations, their vibrant energy, which was visible across the country’s various cities, not just in Tehran and major urban centers, but in remote towns and villages.

Even in cities where the weather was harsh and conditions unfavorable, millions of Iranians participated, demonstrating their collective will, the Leader remarked.

According to observers, Ayatollah Khamenei’s comments reflect the broader sentiment in Iran, where the Revolution’s anniversary has become a symbol of resistance against foreign interference and a reaffirmation of Iran’s sovereignty.

The anniversary also serves as a reminder of the enduring influence of the Revolution, despite the ongoing political and economic challenges posed by the country’s adversaries, they note.

Ayatollah Khamenei added, “The issue of defending the nation, defending security, is not a small matter. Today, Iran’s defensive power is renowned and well-known. Iran’s friends take pride in this defensive power, and Iran’s enemies fear it. This is very important for a nation, for a country.”

Also on Wednesday, the Leader visited the Eqtedar (Strength) 1403 Exhibition, which showcased the latest achievements and capabilities of Iran’s defense industry.

The event displayed advanced equipment and new technologies used in areas such as air defense, ballistic and cruise missiles, smart munitions, space, drones, aviation, vessels, and energy.

Source:ifpnews.com

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https://ifpnews.com/ayatollah-khamenei-iranians-message-unity-world-revolution-anniversary/

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Ukraine war talks start now, Trump says after Putin call

13th February

US President Donald Trump has said he had a "lengthy and highly productive" phone call with Vladimir Putin on Wednesday in which the leaders agreed to begin negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said he and the Russian president had "agreed to have our respective teams start negotiations immediately".

Later, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had spoken with Trump about a "lasting, reliable peace".

The calls with the warring sides came as both Trump and his defence secretary said it was unlikely Ukraine would join Nato, which will come as a bitter disappointment to Kyiv.

Zelensky said he would meet Vice-President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a defence summit on Ukraine in Munich on Friday.

Trump wrote on social media: "It is time to stop this ridiculous War, where there has been massive, and totally unnecessary, DEATH and DESTRUCTION. God bless the people of Russia and Ukraine!"

He did not set a date for a face-to-face meeting with Putin, but later told reporters at the White House: "We'll meet in Saudi Arabia." He wrote on social media the pair had also invited each other to their respective capitals.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin supported Trump's idea that the time had come to work together.

The phone call between Putin and Trump lasted nearly an hour-and-a-half, during which the Russian president extended an invitation to visit Moscow, Peskov said.

Trump also told reporters at the White House that it was unlikely Ukraine would return to its pre-2014 borders but, in response to a question from the BBC, he said "some of that land will come back".

The president said he agreed with his Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who told a Nato summit earlier on Wednesday that there was no likelihood of Ukraine joining the military alliance.

Later on Wednesday, seven European countries including Britain, France and Germany insisted they be part of any future negotiations on Ukraine's fate.

"Our shared objectives should be to put Ukraine in a position of strength," read the joint statement released after a meeting of foreign ministers in Paris.

"Ukraine and Europe must be part of any negotiations."

They called for strong security guarantees for Ukraine and said they were looking forward to discussing the way forward with their American allies.

While it has long been known the new US administration would be less sympathetic to Ukraine than its predecessor, the words from Trump and his Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth will have only pleased Moscow.

Zelensky has repeatedly argued there "can be no talks on Ukraine without Ukraine" - but the Trump-Putin phone call proved otherwise.

Western help – and the Ukrainian forces who benefitted from it – are the reason Kyiv did not fall within days of Russia's invasion, as was expected by some.

But the road to a "just peace", as Zelensky puts it, is neither going to be straight nor smooth for Ukraine.

The Ukrainian president said his own call with Trump had been a "good and detailed discussion" about a variety of issues, and that he had also met US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who is visiting Kyiv.

"No one wants peace more than Ukraine. Together with the US, we are charting our next steps to stop Russian aggression and ensure a lasting, reliable peace," Zelensky wrote.

The Ukrainian leader added: "We agreed to maintain further contact and plan upcoming meetings."

The call between the US and Ukrainian leaders lasted an hour, according to AFP news agency.

In an interview with The Guardian published on Tuesday, Zelensky suggested that Russian-held territory in Ukraine could be swapped for Ukrainian-held territory in Russia's western Kursk region as part of a peace deal.

Putin's spokesman Peskov said this was "impossible".

"Russia has never discussed and will not discuss the exchange of its territory. Ukrainian units will be expelled from this territory. All who are not destroyed will be expelled."

Zelensky also insisted that the US, and not just European countries, would need to be part of any security package for his country.

"Security guarantees without America are not real security guarantees," he said.

Separately, Trump said that at "some point you're going to have an election" in Ukraine, in what was seen as a reference to the expiry of Zelensky's presidential term in May 2024.

Zelensky says the continuing Russian invasion and martial law in Ukraine make it impossible to hold a new presidential election.

Russia's Putin has repeatedly questioned Zelensky's legitimacy to hold any negotiations with Moscow.

Following the overthrow of Ukraine's pro-Russian president in 2014, Moscow annexed the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea and backed pro-Russian separatists in bloody fighting in eastern Ukraine.

The conflict burst into all-out war when Russia invaded Ukraine nearly three years ago.

Moscow's attempts to take control of the capital Kyiv were thwarted, but Russian forces have taken around one-fifth of Ukraine's territory in the east and south, and have carried out air strikes across the country.

Ukraine has retaliated with artillery and drone strikes, as well as a ground offensive against Russia's western Kursk region.

Accurate casualty counts are hard to come by due to secrecy by both the Russian and Ukrainian governments, but it is estimated that hundreds of thousands of people, most of them soldiers, have been killed or injured, and millions of Ukrainian civilians have fled as refugees.

Source:bbc.com

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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c04n622gzx7o

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FCANHPT Ibadan denies allegations of discrimination against Muslim students

February 13, 2025

The Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology (FCAHPT), Ibadan, has dismissed claims that it discriminates against Muslim students.

Provost of the college, Dr. Adekoya Olatunde Owosibo, made this clarification in a statement issued to journalists in Ibadan on Wednesday night.

The Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Oyo State Area Unit, had earlier alleged in a statement signed by Mallam Hussayn Adepoju (Amir) and Mallam AbdulRahman Elegbede (PRO) that the provost threatened to expel female Muslim students who wear the veil (Niqob).

However, Dr. Owosibo refuted the allegation, emphasizing that the institution upholds religious harmony and tolerance.

He affirmed that no student has been discriminated against or prevented from attending classes due to their religious beliefs.

He further stated that the Chief Imam of the IAR&T community and the President of the IAR&T Muslim community could confirm the college’s commitment to religious coexistence.

He also explained that the past leadership of MSSN of Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Ibadan, can also be contacted to testify to harmonious coexistence in the school.

He maintained that the institution is concerned about the safety of the students when they go for their hands on practical.

The provost said that the students were advised to go to their practicals with prescribed apparel for safety, which include Laboratory coat and Broiler suit as the case may be.

He added that it is not in his his habit to discriminate against anyone based on religious beliefs.

He said that he is concerned about the security and safety of the students, saying that he has better relationship with the Imam, Sheikh Elesinmeta.

“The above matter is a huge misconception. We are very concerned about the safety of our students when they go for their hands on practical.

“They were advised to go to their practicals with prescribed apparel for safety, which include Laboratory coat and Broiler suit as the case may be.

“No student has ever been sent out of the classroom or disenfranchised for any reason. Chief Imam of the IAR&T community and President of the IAR&T Muslim community can be contacted to buttress harmonious relationships.

“In fact, the past leadership of MSSN of Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology,Ibadan, can also be contacted to testify to harmonious coexistence.

“In a nutshell, there is no plan for any form of segregation or harassment as the case may be. We assure the general public that it is our duty as the college management to ensure peace and harmony, and that is what we will do.

“I am concerned about the security and safety of the students. In fact, I have better relationship with our imam, Sheikh Elesinmeta than some Muslim officers in the school”.

Source:thenationonlineng.net

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https://thenationonlineng.net/fcanhpt-ibadan-denies-allegations-of-discrimination-against-muslim-students/

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India

A Message for Communal Harmony From Ajmer Dargah Sharif

Harsh Mander

Seventy-seven years have passed since Gandhi was martyred in the inferno of India’s Partition. Pakistan had separated as a Muslim nation. In these months, Gandhi fought his life’s most agonised but morally significant battle, one that illuminated the way for his people as they set about building a free nation. This was his struggle to affirm that Muslim residents belonged equally and held equal rights in newly independent India. There was rage and anguish among the refugees teeming the capital who had been forever expelled from their homelands in what was now Pakistan. In their ranks were also large numbers of my own extended family.

The Hindu Mahasabha and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) had for decades battled not the British colonial masters for an India in which Muslims and Christians would only be allowed second class citizenship. As Gandhiji walked for his daily interfaith prayer meeting on the winter evening of January 30, 1948, a young man steeped in this ideology came forward. He touched Gandhi’s feet, then rose erect and pumped bullets into the Mahatma’s chest.

Why, 77 years later, did a group of us gather on Gandhi’s martyrdom day in Ajmer for an interfaith march to the iconic Moinuddin Chishti, a 13th-century Sufi saint and philosopher, also known as the Ajmer Dargah Shareef?

Behind this are three stories. These stories stretch across many centuries. The first relates the epic story of the establishment of this 13th century Sufi shrine, and its phenomenal growth over the centuries, as an exemplar of the unity of all faiths.

The second is the story of Gandhi’s last and life’s most momentous fast, in January 1948, barely two weeks before his assassination.

And third is the 21st-century claim, admitted in a local court, that the Ajmer Sharif Dargah, the mausoleum of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, was built over a pre-existing Hindu (Shiva) temple that was demolished, and that the temple should be restored at the site.

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For the first story, we go back to the year 1141, when in Iran’s Sijistan a young boy named Moinuddin was born. Orphaned at the age of 14, a chance encounter with a wandering mystic launched him on a spiritual quest for what lay beyond loneliness, death and destruction.

Historian Mehru Jaffer in The Book of Muinuddin Chishti describes how by the age of 20, he had studied theology, grammar, philosophy, ethics, and religion in the learned seminaries of Bukhara and Samarkand. During his wide travels, he met Khwaja Usman Harooni, a Sufi master of the Chishti order who he adopted as his mentor and spiritual teacher. Harooni initiated Moinuddin into the Chishti silsila (or Sufi lineage). Moinuddin Chishti then travelled to Multan, where he studied Sanskrit and Hindu texts. He journeyed to Lahore, Delhi and ended his travels in Ajmer in 1191. On the throne of Delhi sat emperor Sultan Iltutmish.

It was in Ajmer that Moinuddin met his wife Bibi Ummatullah, and with her he built a humble mud house. Jaffer describes how this home soon became a sanctuary for the homeless and the hungry, and for restless anguished souls in search of solace and peace. His extraordinary generosity and acts of selflessness became legendary, earning him the title of Gharib Nawaz, or friend of the poor, an honorific that stays with him to this day. His renown spread as a charismatic and compassionate spiritual preacher and teacher whose spiritual discourses attracted people from far and wide, of both Muslim and Hindu faiths. He preached the unity of all faiths and the love of the divine.

After his passing in March 1236, Moinuddin came to be widely venerated as a great saint. Sultan Iltutmish visited his humble tomb to honour his memory. Other kings and emperors followed and slowly expanded the infrastructure of the complex. It was emperor Akbar who was especially drawn to this shrine, visiting it 14 times during his reign.

In 1566, he trudged to it barefoot, with his Hindu consort Maraim-uz-Zamani, in a pilgrimage seeking sons to be born to them. He constructed the sanctum sanctorum of the tomb. The shrine was extended further by later emperors Jahangir and Shah Jahan, queen Jahanara, and Mughal princes and rulers who came after them. Kumar Rao Scindia, who believed the Khwaja had blessed him with a son, Maharani Baiza Bai Scindia, Maharaja Ajit Singh of Jodhpur and the Maharaja of Baroda were among a legion of Hindu rulers who also added to the shrine complex. 

Akbar is also famed for donating in 1568, the largest degh or cauldron in the world to the dargah, with a diameter of 6 metres, made of an alloy of seven metals, in which the rim of the degh never heats up even while fires are lit at the base to cook food for the massive langar, even to this day.

Far now into the 21st century, this dargah remains one of the most popular shrines in South Asia, revered by tens of thousands of devotees – Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Christian, Parsi, Buddhist and Jain – from India and around the world.

At least 20,000 worshippers offer prayers here everyday, of which about a third are not Muslim. They offer rose petals, some seven tonnes a day, sourced mainly from Pushkar Temple to the Hindu god of creation Lord Brahma. They offer the traditional chadar, tie the traditional red and saffron strings with their prayers seeking a boon, and partake of the langar still cooked in the degh donated by Akbar and his son Jehangir.

It was here that a group of us gathered on January 30, 2025 for inter-faith prayers and a march past Hindu, Christian and Sikh temples, culminating at the famed Ajmer Dargah. In the ranks of those of us who gathered at Ajmer many were not even people of religious faith. I am a secular agnostic, respectful of religious faith among others but deriving my own ethics independently of any specific religious prescription.

***

For the second story of this tale, we leap eight centuries forward, after the passing of Khwaja Gareeb Nawaz Moinuddin Chisthi. This was January 1948, in the national capital of the newly independent India. Gandhi began his last fast a fortnight before he was assassinated.

They were turbulent early days of this fragile but bitterly riven free India. The capital city was teeming with thousands of refugees uprooted by brutal violence from their homelands. Slaughter persisted on both sides of the new border, and an uncounted number of women were abducted and raped. The refugees were resentful, angry and uncertain about their future.

Much of their wrath was directed at the Muslim residents of the city, whom they wrongly held responsible for the crimes of their co-religionists on the other side of the border. There was violence everywhere against Muslim lives and properties across the seething city. Refugee camps were filling with Muslims who felt they were left with no option except to migrate to Pakistan. Gandhi, Maulana Azad and Nehru tirelessly pleaded with the Muslims to stay in India, a country they pledged would continue to belong equally to them as to its Hindu majority.

It was in the midst of this smouldering mass rage and violence that Gandhi decided to begin his last fast. There are accounts that even Nehru, Patel and Azad cautioned Gandhi against it. “There is just too much public anger,” they said. “This is not the time.” Gandhiji’s gentle but firm response was, “This is the time.”

Germane to our story today is Gandhi’s second demand in his last fast. One central prong of retributive violence of the refugees, spurred by Hindutva organisations like the Hindu Mahasabha and the RSS, was to plant Hindu idols in Muslim shrines and dargahs, like the Connaught Place Masjid and the historic Mehrauli Dargah. Gandhi’s second demand was that we restore with full respect all Muslim shrines to our Muslim sisters and brothers. No true place of worship of any faith, Gandhi explained, can be founded on disrespect, humiliation and violence against any other faith.

Historian Irfan Habib was 19 years old at the time and describes, as an eyewitness, how much this last struggle by Gandhi brought solace and hope to people of Muslim identity like him during the Partition. On the first day of his fast, 10,000  people marched on the streets of Delhi in support of his demands. By the fifth day, the numbers swelled to 1,00,000. All his demands were accepted. Our Muslim sisters and brothers were given back their places of worship, with a guarantee that they would be free to worship in their chosen ways in free India.

***

Our third story brings us to present times. A law passed by the Indian parliament in 1991 buoyed the historic guarantee after Gandhi’s last fast, by prescribing that the status of no place of worship, as it stood in 1947, could be altered. But the Chief Justice of India’s highest court observed with puzzling reasoning that the law did not bar surveys and studies into what the religious character of these structures was going back even centuries. Hindutva organisations, on cue, began to raise claims that Hindu temples lay below an array of historic mosques and dargahs across the country. This spurred frightening prospects of the tearing apart of the country one more time.

Even among this multitude of claims of temples under mosques, one that particularly shook the public conscience was the claim that under the Moinuddin Chishti Dargah in Ajmer lay first a Jain and then a Shiv Temple.

Haji Syed Salman Chishty, a Khadim or Dargah caretaker spoke for so many Indians in an anguished article he wrote for the Financial Times. “Ajmer Dargah Sharif, the resting place of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishty”, he wrote, “is not only a sacred site but a symbol of India’s rich tradition of interfaith harmony. For centuries, (this)… revered and sacred spiritual centre has brought together people from all walks of life, irrespective of religion, caste, or creed… Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Jains and devotees, alongside Muslims and people of all faiths, have visited this shrine for centuries, seeking blessings and spiritual solace.”

“Ajmer Sharif”, he rightly observes, “has always been a symbol of India’s pluralistic heritage. Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti preached a message of love, inclusivity, and service to humanity. His teachings brought together people of different backgrounds, making Ajmer Sharif a centre of spiritual solace. Historical records, writings of the past eight centuries and the oral traditions of millions of devotees stand as sacred testament to Ajmer Dargah Sharif’s Chishty Sufi spiritual foundations and its unifying role.”

“Through acts of service, humility, and love, Sufi teachings have played a pivotal role in fostering harmony in India’s diverse society. Ajmer Dargah Sharif is a living example of these principles, serving as a sanctuary of peace and mutual respect.” “Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishty”, he recalls, “dedicated his life to serving humanity and spreading the message of love, compassion, and unity…These values are more relevant than ever in today’s world, where divisive forces seek to exploit historical inaccuracies for personal and political gain…The Dargah Sharif has always been a space where differences dissolve, and a shared humanity takes precedence.”

***

In September 2017, when a frightening battery of lynchings began sweeping India, a group of us decided to set out on a series of journeys of the Karwan e Mohabbat or Caravan of Love, reaching the homes of every family that had lost loved ones to lynching and violence, offering solidarity, atonement and care.

We first went to Assam and crossed over a month later to Porbandar, a coastal town on the Arabian Sea where Gandhi was born. We felt it was fitting that half-way through this journey, the Karwan should halt at the Ajmer Sharif Dargah. The Khadims of the dargah welcomed us with the honours they offer to visiting heads of government because they said our message of love and harmony so closely echoed the teachings of Khwaja Gharib Nawaz.

I thought the time had come for us to return to the dargah once more. I reached out to my dear comrade Kavita Shrivastava, National President of the People’s Union of Civil Liberties. She told me that a wonderful group of writers, journalists and educationists had come together three years earlier in Ajmer under the banner of the Gandhi Mohotsav Samiti. Troubled by rising religious hate among young people, they resolved to spread Gandhi’s teachings in schools and colleges. They would be perfect partners, I agreed, for our collective enterprise for harmony.

And so, I found myself in Ajmer on the morning of January 30, 2025. The sunshine was soft, the air crisp. Among those who had travelled from outside Ajmer were Aruna Roy, Kavita, Nikhil Dey, Shankar Singh and journalist Mandeep Punia. More importantly, there were 600 children from ten private schools, 25 law school interns, and over 700 Ajmer citizens from all walks of life.

Before the march started, prayers were recited by priests and nuns of diverse faiths – Hindu, Christian, Muslim, Sikh, Buddhist and Jain. Our march began after two minutes of silent tribute to Gandhiji. Our first halt was at Robert Memorial Church, established in 1863 at the Ajmer Gate. Here a group of priests and nuns led by Father Ashish George showered flowers at the marchers. Next came the Sikh Gurudwara at Ganj. Priests and worshippers offered us flowers. The same recurred outside the Hindu temples of Bateshwar Maharaj and the Shani Mandir at Delhi Gate.

The most uplifting part of this four-kilometre journey was the last one-kilometre stretch as we approached the Ajmer Sharif Dargah. Ordinary citizens lined up outside their shops spontaneously, each with their bags of flowers. They rained these flowers on us. From the names of the shops outside which they stood, I could estimate that the majority of them were Hindus.

At the entrance of the Ajmer Sharif Dargah, we were warmly welcomed by the Khadims, dressed in their formal finery. They tied turbans to the men and offered shawls to the women. They then led us into the sanctorum. Here, a Khadim tied the traditional red and saffron thread around my right wrist and asked me to seek a boon. My agnostic heart did not resist. I did as he instructed.

Weeks later, as I write this account, the red and saffron thread still hangs on my wrist. I look at it sometimes and wistful thoughts gather in my heart – thoughts I would not permit in normal times.

I allow myself to imagine that somewhere in the universe, Khwaja Gharib Nawaz Moinuddin Chisthi and Mahatma Gandhi would be looking down with love and compassion at our troubled land, and with them would be the likes of Gautama Buddha, Kabir and Nanak. I feel a sense of solace, an assurance that these times of hate will pass, that the boon that I sought inside the Ajmer Sharif Dargah will be realised. The boon I sought was that we will in the end claim the country that we had promised ourselves, a land that is ineffable in its kindness, equality and justice.

Source:thewire.in

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Disturbed Areas Act in Gujarat faces criticism for discrimination against Muslims

February 13, 2025

In Surat, Gujarat, a significant controversy erupted recently when authorities sealed an apartment purchased by a Muslim woman. The action followed complaints from Hindu residents in the housing society alleging a violation of the Disturbed Areas Act, raising questions about discrimination in property transactions influenced by communal tensions.

The controversy unfolded just days after the purchase was finalized between the Muslim buyer and a Hindu seller. Local residents expressed opposition, prompting formal complaints to the Surat district collectorate that led to the sealing of the flat. According to Urdu daily Inquilab, this sealing occurred despite the woman having already made a token payment, reflecting the rising hostility not only against her but also toward the Hindu seller in Salabatpura locality.

The authorities justified their actions by citing Sections 5(a) and 5(b) of the Disturbed Areas Act, which requires individuals wishing to sell property in designated “disturbed” areas to obtain prior approval from the district collector. This law was initially designed to prevent communal polarization following incidents of violence and to regulate property transactions in areas historically marked by communal strife.

However, the Disturbed Areas Act has faced increasing criticism for being disproportionately detrimental to Muslim property owners. Frequently, they find themselves obstructed from selling their properties due to local Hindu resident opposition or political pressures. The sealing of the Surat flat exemplified this systemic challenge, with complaints targeting the sale being framed around fears of community polarization. Amendments to the law have further empowered district collectors to halt sales based on concerns of community clustering and have intensified penalties for violations, including potential imprisonment.

Numerous property transfer cases related to the Act have reached the Gujarat High Court over the years. Notably, certain cases have resulted in rulings favoring the completion of sales despite local resistance. The court’s intervention reflects ongoing legal disputes regarding the Act’s constitutionality and its implications. This reveals a broader struggle regarding the balancing of property rights and community sentiments in Gujarat’s diverse sociopolitical landscape.

The law remains applicable across several major cities in Gujarat, including Ahmedabad, Vadodara, and Surat. For example, the 2019 sale of a bungalow from a Hindu businesswoman to a Muslim businessman in Vadodara’s Tandalja area ignited tensions as neighbors legally challenged the transaction. Claiming the need for unanimous neighbor consent, they voiced concerns over disturbances and alleged improper documentation. This dispute, which drew considerable political attention, spanned four years, culminating in a November 2023 ruling by the Gujarat High Court that upheld the sale, emphasizing the law’s focus on distress sales rather than neighborhood fears.

Despite its original intent to curtail distress sales post-communal riots, the Disturbed Areas Act has, over the years, evolved into a regulatory mechanism that significantly affects inter-religious property transactions. This evolution has entrenched a system that some argue fosters demographic segregation and reinforces existing societal divisions.

Discrimination against Muslims becomes increasingly evident in this BJP ruled state.

Source:muslimmirror.com

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The debate on Caste Census heating up in Tamil Nadu

February 12, 2025

Chennai – A consultative meeting of representatives of various social and caste organizations was held on February 10, 2025, to discuss the urgent need to conduct caste-wise enumeration in Tamil Nadu.

The meeting was held in the background of the Supreme Court’s public pronouncement that now when the Maratha [reservation] case is completed, it would take up the case of Tamil Nadu, which has given 69% reservations to the MBC, and SC/STs.

Raising the alarm bell was Anbumani Ramadoss, the President of the PMK party.  “In 2009, Supreme Court judge Justice Kapadia delivered a verdict saying caste census should be conducted within a year and data should be presented to justify the 69% reservation in Tamil Nadu.”

”So far the DMK government’s “inability” to present adequate data to justify the 69% reservations may result in the policy being scrapped and may lead to widespread violence in the state,” he said.

Mr. Anbumani’s remarks were made in the background of the DMK government not taking measures to ensure internal reservation for the Vanniyar community. This the PMK leader said is due to the failure of the DMK government to conduct a caste census.

The PMK just before the last assembly elections prevailed over the ruling AIADMK government to give 10.5% reservation to the Vanniyar community, who are 11.66% in the state.

The Madras High Court ruled against the AIADMK government’s decision, which the Supreme Court also upheld.

“The reservation to the Vanniyar community violates the fundamental rights of equality, non-discrimination, and equal opportunity of 115 other most backward communities (MBCs) and de-notified communities (DNCs) in Tamil Nadu,” the Supreme Court said.

“The allotment of 10.5% reservation to a single community from within the total MBC quota of 20% in the State, leaving only 9.5% to 115 other communities in the MBC category, was without “substantial basis” and “antiquated data,” the Supreme Court ruled.

Responding to PMK leader’s musings on caste census, the Tamil Nadu Transport Minister S.S. Sivasankar questioned whether the PMK dares to ask its alliance partner, the BJP to conduct a caste census in the entire country, if not, at least in the BJP-ruled states.

Joining the issues, Muslim leader and MLA, M.H. Jawahirullah, also made a pitch for the caste census to know the actual size of the Muslim castes eligible for reservation in Tamil Nadu. “Muslim castes are now getting 3.5 % reservation based on assumptions and not backed by any empirical data. This can be verified only through the caste census” the leader said.

“The number of Muslim OBC could be much higher and the correct figure could be arrived only through the caste census,” he added.

It appears after Bihar and Telangana, Tamil Nadu may be the next state to go for a caste census in India.

Source:muslimmirror.com

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Waqf Amendment Bill likely to be tabled in Lok Sabha tomorrow, AIMPLB holds emergency meeting

February 12, 2025

The Waqf Amendment Bill is set to be presented in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, with the government having completed all necessary groundwork. Sources indicate that the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) have agreed to support the bill, albeit with minor amendments. However, the government has reportedly decided to retain the controversial “Waqf by-user” clause for now.

In light of the bill’s potential implications, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) convened an emergency executive meeting on Wednesday at the Islamic Centre in New Delhi. The discussion focused on the possible consequences of the bill’s passage and strategies to counter it.

Sources reveal that only 35 of the 51 executive members attended the meeting. Several prominent members were absent, citing prior commitments to religious gatherings like the Khatm-e-Bukhari ceremony and other Islamic events. This absence has raised concerns about the board’s prioritization of critical issues such as Waqf matters and the Common Civil Code.

While the AIMPLB has yet to decide its course of action, internal deliberations suggest three possible approaches: launching a public movement, mobilizing protests, or pursuing legal action. However, the board appears uncertain about its next steps. Given the government’s firm stance, the bill is likely to pass without major hurdles.

A key question remains: Can the AIMPLB muster the strength for a mass movement similar to the farmers’ protest? With Ramadan approaching and leadership appearing unprepared for a sustained struggle, prospects for strong resistance seem dim. The board’s final decision is expected to emerge by late tonight.

Source:muslimmirror.com

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Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind moves High Court against UCC in Uttarakhand

February 12, 2025

Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind has filed a petition at the High Court in Nainital challenging the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Uttarakhand.

The UCC was implemented in Uttarakhand in January. In response, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, under the leadership of its president, Maulana Arshad Madani, submitted a petition and mentioned the matter before the Chief Justice of Uttarakhand. The case is expected to be heard later this week.

A senior Supreme Court advocate will represent Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind.

Maulana Madani stated that they approached the court with the hope of securing justice and upholding the Constitution, democracy, and the rule of law. He emphasised that courts remain their last resort.

“We will not accept any law that is against Sharia. Muslims can compromise on many things, but never on their Sharia and religion. This is not just about Muslim existence but also their Constitutional rights. The government is attempting to take away the rights granted to Muslims through the UCC,” he asserted.

He argued that the implementation of UCC conflicts with fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution. “The issue is not just about Muslim personal law, but about preserving the secular fabric of the country. India is a secular nation, meaning the government has no religion, and people are free to follow any faith,” he said.

Madani also contended that the UCC is detrimental to the country’s unity and integrity. He pointed out that while Article 44 is cited as the basis for UCC, it is only a directive principle and not a binding provision.

Meanwhile, Articles 25, 26, and 29, which guarantee religious freedom, are being ignored. The Shariat Application Act of 1937 also protects Muslim personal law.

“The government insists that one country should have one law, yet we already have variations in IPC, CrPC, and even cow slaughter laws across states. The idea that there cannot be two laws under one system is flawed,” he argued. — IANS

Source:muslimmirror.com

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Will not accept Muslims in Backward Class list: Union Minister Sanjay Kumar

February 13, 2025

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar on Thursday said Muslims in the Backward Class list will never be accepted and warned that if they are included entire Hindu society will revolt.

The BJP leader said that including Muslims in the list of Backward Classes (BCs) will deprive BCs of their rightful reservation.

He was reacting to the decision of the Congress government in Telangana to pass a bill in the Assembly for 42 per cent reservations to the BCs and send the same to the Centre for its approval in Parliament.

Bandi Sanjay reiterated that the BJP is unequivocally against religious-based reservations. “Despite being aware of this, Congress still trying to push it onto the Centre is sheer foolishness. One thing is clear, Congress lacks sincerity in implementing BC reservations.

Including Muslims in the BC category will deprive BCs of their rightful reservations. If Muslims are included in BCs, the entire Hindu society will revolt. Congress will face consequences in the MLC elections. If Congress is sincere, it must remove Muslims from the BC list,” he posted on ‘X’

Backward sections among Muslims currently enjoy four per cent reservation in Telangana in education and employment. They are categorized as BC E.

Bandi Sanjay demanded that Congress implement its promise of 42 per cent reservation to BCs. “ As per 420 promises, BCs must be given 42% reservations. Congress is backtracking on its promises and completely deceiving BCs. I urge all BCs to recognize Congress’ betrayal,” the BJP leader wrote.

He also slammed the Congress party for delaying local body elections saying it lacks the courage to contest the polls. “Doesn’t Congress realize Telangana will suffer if local elections are not held by March? Despite knowing that the 15th Finance Commission grants will be halted, they are delaying elections. Already, funds have been stalled twice,” he said.

“Congress government is violating the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments. The Constitution mandates holding local body elections every five years. Will you disrespect the very Constitution whose protector Rahul Gandhi claims to be.

Holding the Constitution in hand is not enough; it must be implemented. Without sarpanches, how will village assemblies and development programs be executed? Development activities in villages have come to a standstill – will you ignore this? Fear of defeat is the only reason Congress is not conducting local elections,” the MoS added.– IANS

Source:muslimmirror.com

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Over 10 Jamia students detained amid protest against disciplinary action, security stepped up

13.02.25

Over 10 Jamia Millia Islamia University students were detained by Delhi Police for protesting against the university's disciplinary action against two PhD scholars, who were served show-cause notices for allegedly organising a demonstration last year, an official said on Thursday.

The protest began on Monday, with students condemning what they termed as the administration’s "crackdown on student activism." The University claimed the protesting students vandalised university property, including the central canteen, and broke the gate of the security advisor's office, forcing the administration to take action.

According to police sources, the university requested police intervention to remove the students from the protest site to maintain law and order.

"We removed over 10 students at around 4 am after receiving a request from the university administration. Further, we have deployed heavy police security outside the campus to maintain law and order," a police source said.

Sharing a statement from the university, another police officer said that over 10 students had been detained and further investigation was underway.

In a statement, the university said a handful of students called for a protest, unlawfully gathering in the academic block since the evening of February 10.

"Since then, they have not only disturbed the peaceful conduct of classes but also prevented other students from accessing the Central Library and attending classes at a time when mid-semester exams are about to begin," the statement read.

It said protesting students vandalised university property, including the central canteen, and broke the gate of the security advisor's office, forcing the administration to take action.

"They have violated university rules and were found carrying objectionable contraband items. The university administration, taking a strong view of the damage to university property, defacement of walls, and obstruction of classes, has taken preventive measures to ensure academic activities continue as normal," it added.

Despite the university administration offering to discuss their demands through a committee, the students allegedly refused to engage with the administration, including the Supervisor, Head, and Dean, it said.

"Taking preventive measures, this morning the university administration and the Proctorial team removed the students from the protest site, evicting them from the campus.

"The police have been requested to maintain law and order," the statement added.

Student leader Sonakshi told PTI that the protesters have four key demands: revoking the show-cause notices issued to the two PhD students, repealing the 2022 Office Memorandum that restricts protests on campus, scrapping the Rs 50,000 fine for graffiti and posters, and ensuring no future disciplinary action against students for participating in protests.

The disciplinary committee is set to meet on February 25 to review the role of the two PhD students in organising "Jamia Resistance Day" on December 15, 2024, an annual event marking the 2019 anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests.

Source:telegraphindia.com

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JPC report on Waqf (Amendment) Bill tabled in Rajya Sabha; Mallikarjun Kharge calls it condemnable, anti-democratic

February 13, 2025

The Budget Session resumed in Rajya Sabha Thursday amid a ruckus by Opposition MPs over the joint parliamentary committee’s report on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill. As soon as Medha Vishram Kulkarni, the BJP MP from Maharashtra, laid the report of the committee on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in Rajya Sabha, there was commotion and the Upper House was adjourned for a while.

As soon as proceedings began, Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, claimed that the dissent remarks had been deleted from the JPC report on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill. Calling it condemnable, and anti-democratic, Kharge urged Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar to reject the report and send it back. Calling the report “farzi”, he claimed that statements of non-stakeholders are not included in the report.

However, the allegations drew a massive objection from the treasury bench. Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar questioned the behaviour of protesting MPs in the House. “You should learn some basic manners,” Dhankhar told MPs disrupting the Rajya Sabha proceedings.

Leader of the House, J P Nadda, added, “The government condemns the actions of the Opposition.”

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju defended the JPC report on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, responding to claims from the Opposition that the report contained altered or deleted comments. Rijiju rejected these allegations, calling them “false and misleading,” and accused the Opposition of attempting to mislead the House. He said that the report accurately reflected the discussions and amendments made during the committee’s deliberations.

As the disruptions continued, Dhankhar told the Opposition, “Will you keep it shut?” His remarks added to the growing tensions in the Upper House, as both sides of the aisle clashed over the contentious bill and the JPC report.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also weighed in on the controversy, accusing the Opposition of misleading the House. She criticised the Opposition MPs for their persistent attempts to derail the proceedings and create confusion.

Source:indianexpress.com

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Sarojini Naidu strived for Hindu-Muslim unity for developed India

 13-02-2025

Saquib Salim

“One morning, a little despondent and sick at heart about national affairs in general, (Gopal Krishna) Gokhale suddenly asked me, “What is your outlook for India?

 ‘One of hope’, I replied.

 ‘What is your vision of the immediate future?’

‘Hindu-Muslim unity in less than five years,’ I told him with joyous conviction.

‘Child’, he said, with a note of yearning sadness in his voice, ‘You are a poet, but you hope too much. It will not come in your lifetime or mine. But keep your faith and wish if you can.”

This is an excerpt of the conversation between Sarojini Naidu and Gopal Krishna Gokhale as she told the Bombay Chronicle in 1915. Like Gokhale's other famous disciple, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, Sarojini remained committed to the cause of Hindu-Muslim unity until the very end.

Padmini Sengupta, her biographer, noted, “Hindu-Moslem unity was a part of her very life and Sarojini was deeply troubled at the many evidences of disunity which occurred periodically in India.”

During the agitations against the Partition of Bengal in 1905, Sarojini started addressing public meetings to bridge the gap between Hindus and Muslims. Over the next few years, she wrote, spoke, and worked to achieve this goal. She was one of those few prominent Hindu leaders who attended or addressed the sessions of Muslim organizations, including the All India Muslim League.

In 1911, at Lucknow, Sarojini attended the Annual Session of the Muslim League where a major change in the constitution of the League was brought into force. She later wrote, “It was my unique privilege to attend and address the new historic sessions of the Muslim League which met in Lucknow on the 22nd March to adopt a new Constitution which sounded the keynote of loyal cooperation with the sister community in all matters of national welfare and progress. The unanimous acclamation with which it was carried by both the older and younger schools of Mussalman politicians marked a new era and inaugurated a new standard in the history of modern Indian affairs.”

Before leaving for England in 1913, Sarojini wrote to G. A. Natesan, the editor and proprietor of The Indian Review, “I feel we have come to a very critical time in our history and that a great responsibility lies with those who are in the position of our leaders. You have realised that the Mussalmans have definitely held out their hand to the Hindus. Be gracious, be wise, be brave, and make the Hindus hold out their hand to the Mussalmans at the next Congress.

"Do not analyse motives too closely, but take the proffered hand and hold it fast, and so represent truly the Indian world as far as your influence reaches — and, I believe, it reaches far, I am going away a very sick person — as I believe my illness is serious, and I may be away in Europe for a year — but this is the request I am making to all my friends who lead public opinion.”

This was not a one-sided love affair. Muslim leaders also adored her. At the 1916 session of the Muslim League, Sarojini was asked by the President of the League to address the delegates.

She spoke, “I do not know what claim I have to stand before you today except that I have been for many years a faithful comrade of the young generation of the Mussalmans and champion of the Women of the Muslim community and fought with their men-folk for the privilege that Islam gave long ago but which you denied to your women-folk.”

Sarojini said, “The Post-War Reforms would not have been possible but for the fact that we millions in India speak with one voice because we are one, undivided and indivisible whole. I am not a politician. I spoke to you as a lover of my country and I charge you, Mussulmans of India, to remember the high responsibilities of your desires. No one can give to you what you do not have the capacity to take.”

In one of her speeches at Patna, Sarojini, told the University Students, “After all what is this antagonism between creed and creed? Antagonism is merely the asset of the ignorant. They are not the weapons of the wise, who realise that after all, it is only the misunderstanding of the essential truth wherein lies the difficulty in launching across that golden bridge of sympathy that brings together the two great communities whose fundamental teaching is the love of God and the service of men. And then in this great country, the Moslems came to make their home not to carry spoils and to go back to their own home but to build permanently here their home and create a new generation for the enrichment of the Motherland.

"How can they live separate from the people of the soil? Does history say that in the past they have so lived separately? Or rather it says that once having chosen to take up their abode in this land they became the children of the soil, the very flesh of our flesh and blood of our blood. Gentlemen, history has said that the foreign emperors sought not to divide and rule, but to unite the people and so build an imperishable guarantee of their power and administration.”

Sarojini believed that India needed mutual cooperation between Hindus and Muslims. In her view both the religious faiths complemented each other. In her view, democracy was the way ahead for the country.

She said, “Now it is this principle of Democracy that implies certain mental qualities that are inseparable from Democracy. It implies a certain inviolable sense of justice that gives every man his equal chance in the evolution of national life and these we want imported into our national life, assimilated into our national, life which the Hindu community cannot with its system of exclusion that have been the misinterpreted characteristic of a system that made it merely a true division of responsibility. I say the Hindu community by itself cannot evolve because, Hindu as I am, I stand here to confess the limitations of my community. We have not mastered that fundamental equality that is the privilege of Islam.”

In the India of her dreams, Muslims and Hindus played distinct roles to help India reach greatness. She compared the Indian example with that of Italy saying, “It used to be said concerning Italian Liberty, that Mazzini by himself was merely a dreamer and that Garibaldi was by himself merely a soldier and either of them separately could not have built what is the great Liberated Italy of today. But it was the genius of Mazzini the dreamer, Mazzini that became the deed of Garibaldi that made Italy free. And so in the evolution of our national history, the Hindus are the Mazzini and the Mussalmans the Garibaldi. A combination of the visionary, the dreamer with the statesman, the soldier, the mystic genius with the virility of manhood — that is what we want today in this great India of ours.”

Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb (the civilization of Ganges and Yamuna) as the Hindu Muslim syncretic culture has evolved over the centuries and used to be one of her important examples to teach people about secularism. In the words of Sarojini, “when this great river (Ganges) arrives where it meets another river, in sacred Prayag, there is the Union with mystic music, soul to soul and heart to heart, of the two great rivers, the Ganga and the Jumna — a Sangum (confluence) of two rivers each without losing its own characteristics and qualities. And yet it is a perfect union. And that should be the symbol of the Hindu and Muslim Unity, each keeping its own culture, its own individual characteristics, its own purity, its own special colour of its own waters, the music of its own deed even at that point of Union.That is the meaning of the Sangum of the national life. That is, gentlemen, the true meaning of the Hindu-Muslim Unity.”

Sarojini did not attend the First Round Table Conference in 1930 because the British Government would not include Mukhtar Ahmad Ansari, a Muslim leader, in the delegation. The reason given was, ““Besides being a Congressman, he represented a great Party in India; the Nationalist Mussalman Party. The Mussalmans were not all reactionary. There was a distinct group which was nationalist in mind and plumbed for Purna Swaraj — Mukammil Azzadi. But it is an open secret that Lord Irwin had made a distinct Promise at the instance of Gandhi to nominate three individuals, namely Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, Mrs. Sarojini Naidu, and Doctor Ansari. While the former two were appointed, Doctor Ansari was cut out. It suited Britain’s interests to make it appear at the R.T.C. that Mussalman India was against Swaraj.”

Her mission was the unity of Indians. In 1947, at Varanasi, she asked a gathering of writers, “Have we been true to our mission in India? Trying to become leaders, have we not been too busy discussing academics or trying to find out why people are so busy hating one another? Had we been true to our mission, would the difference between Hindu and Muslim be so acute?”

Source:awazthevoice.in

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Thrashed In Bhopal Court, Muslim Man Faces Case For Trying To Marry A Hindu

Feb 12, 2025

A young man who came to register his marriage under the Special Marriage Act in the district court of Bhopal was brutally assaulted-not once, but multiple times. He was first attacked in the court canteen, then outside the police post, and even inside a police vehicle. The police, however, instead of taking action against the attackers, registered a case against the victim.

Video footage clearly shows the assailants kicking and punching the young man in broad daylight. While the crowd watched as mute spectators, no one stepped in to help.

Police officers were present at the scene, yet they did nothing to intervene. Instead, the victim was humiliated, forced to perform sit-ups as a form of punishment, and ultimately had a case filed against him.

Lawyer Accused of Fraud

The victim, Syed Khan, alleged that the lawyer he trusted took Rs. 40,000 but failed to conduct the marriage and even called the attackers.

"We came to the court for marriage under the Special Marriage Act. The lawyer asked for a copy of our Aadhaar cards, took our signatures, and charged Rs. 35,000. But before the marriage could be registered, other people arrived and started attacking me. They accused me of forced conversion and 'Love Jihad,' even though my fiancée denied any such thing. The lawyer was the one who had called them. My fiancée had contacted the lawyer herself, who told us the marriage would cost around Rs. 50,000-60,000. I paid Rs. 40,000, but we neither got married nor got our money back. The lawyers even snatched my phone and assaulted me. I demand justice," Khan said.

Lawyer Denies Allegations, Blames Right-Wing Groups

Advocate Akshay Karan denied taking any money and claimed he had no involvement with the attackers.

"I did not take any money from them. They came to inquire about court marriage. Both claimed to be Hindus, but when I checked their documents, I refused to proceed. Why would I call any right-wing group? Speaking as a lawyer, what happened in court was right. The assault is secondary; such incidents will always attract the attention of Hindu organisations, which are very active and well-informed," he said.

Police Register FIR Against Victim

The police said they have filed a First Information Report against the young man based on the woman's complaint. However, in front of cameras, the woman clearly said she had come willingly for the marriage.

Despite clear video evidence of the assault, the police took action only against the victim, treating his complaint as a non-cognizable offense, which essentially reduces it to a mere paper record.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Akshay Chaudhary said, "The police received information from the court about the assault. Both parties were called to the station. The woman alleged that the man pressured her to convert, and based on her complaint, an FIR was registered under the Religious Freedom Act, Sections 3 and 5. As for the assault in court, it has been classified as a non-cognizable offense."

What Does the Constitution Say?

Article 25 of the Indian Constitution guarantees every individual the right to religious freedom. The Special Marriage Act, 1954, allows people from different religions to marry without converting.

Source:ndtv.com

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How climate influenced temple, mosque and church architecture

February 12, 2025

Domes are usually associated with mosques, shikhara of temples and steeple towers of churches. But is architecture really tied to religion? Not quite, says Sohail Hashmi, a writer, filmmaker and a “heritage enthusiast”. 

“Architecture is a human response to one’s surroundings; what is built is determined by the area’s climatic conditions, and the material and technology available for construction,” Hashmi remarks.

“There is no such thing as Hindu or Muslim architecture. But, there is an Iranian, Afghan, Jaisalmer or Tamil architecture (which is primarily influenced by the region).”

The differences are clear when comparing “the temples built in the higher reaches of the Himalayas to those in deserts of Rajasthan”. Sloping roofs and precisely carved stone and wood characterise Himalayan temples. They are sturdy and withstand earthquakes, extreme snowfall or rainfall.

Whereas, the Rajasthani temples—built of sandstone, marble, and other rocks—comprise open spaces or courtyards with perforated windows and jharokhas, to endure heat.

Hashmi further focuses on the architectural contrast among mosques in China, Malaysia, Indonesia and Kashmir in India. Unlike in most parts of India, mosques in Kashmir do not have domes—except for the Hazratbal mosque.

Domes, usually linked to Islamic architecture, actually predate Islam. The first such structure was established in pre-Christian Rome and the arch, usually counted among elements of 'Islamic architecture' was introduced by the Sumerians, “probably around 2000 BC”, long before the rise of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. 

The arch was later discovered by the Romans in Sumerian ruins who brought it over ground and made aqueducts, says Hashmi. “From aqueducts evolved the vaulted roof, which later evolved into the dome.”

Originally constructed for the senate and sports arenas, the first people to use domes for worship were the Jews, followed by Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholics, and then the Muslims, he says.

Laying out a similar example on churches across the globe, he says, “Churches in Kerala in India, or across the arctic belt, or the ones near the equator are designed entirely differently”. St. Francis Church in Kerala, Norwegian stave churches and Filipino baroque churches are some examples.

Source:theweek.in

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J&K: Pak troops suffer 'heavy casualties' after Indian Army retaliates to 'ceasefire violation'

13.02.25

Pakistani troops on Wednesday violated ceasefire by resorting to unprovoked firing on Indian posts along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, prompting a befitting response by the Indian Army, security officials said.

The extent of damage on the Pakistan side was not known immediately but the officials said the enemy forces suffered “heavy casualties”. The Indian Army neither confirmed nor denied the information.

The ceasefire violation by Pakistan in the Krishna Ghati sector came a day after two Indian Army personnel including a captain were killed in an improvised explosive device (IED) explosion triggered by suspected terrorists near the LoC in the Akhnoor sector of Jammu district.

The ceasefire violation along the LoC is very rare ever since India and Pakistan renewed the ceasefire agreement on February 25, 2021.

The officials said Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked firing on a forward post in the Tarkundi area along the LoC, prompting a strong retaliation by the Indian Army which resulted in "heavy casualties" among the enemy forces.

An undated video of a Pakistani army officer is making rounds on social media paying last respects to killed soldiers.

Meanwhile, the officials said a junior commissioned officer (JCO) of the Indian Army sustained minor injuries when he accidentally stepped over a landmine in the same sector this evening.

The JCO, who is a resident of Mendhar, was part of a patrolling party keeping a close vigil on the LoC to prevent infiltration of terrorists, they said, adding the injured officer was evacuated to the military hospital.

The situation along the LoC is tense following a spurt in hostile activities from across the border over the past week, the officials said.

This was the first ceasefire violation this year and a fourth cross-border incident in five days.

On Monday, a soldier was hit by a bullet from across the border while manning a forward post in the Kalal area of the Nowshera sector in Rajouri district while an Army patrol came under terrorist fire from a forest across the LoC in Rajouri's Keri sector on February 8. The terrorists were apparently waiting for an opportunity to sneak into the Indian side.

During the intervening night of February 4 and 5, a land mine explosion reportedly resulted in some casualties to terrorists attempting to infiltrate into the Indian side from across the LoC in the Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch district.

On February 10, General Officer Commanding of the Jammu-based White Knight Corps, Lieutenant General Navin Sachdeva, reviewed "hostile activities" along the LoC in Rajouri district.

"GOC White Knight Corps, along with GOC Ace of Spades and GOC Crossed Swords divisions, visited forward areas of the Rajouri sector for an operational update on the prevailing security situation and the hostile activities," the Army had said in a post on X.

The post, shared by the White Knight Corps on its official social media handles, said the corps commander complimented all ranks for their vigil and relentless operational focus.

He also urged them to remain prepared for all contingencies, the Army said.

Source:telegraphindia.com

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Arab World

 

Saudi Arabia assumes presidency of global anti-corruption network

February 13, 2025

VIENNA: Saudi Arabia, through its Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority, or Nazaha, has assumed the presidency of the Global Operational Network of Anti-Corruption Law Enforcement Authorities.

Spain handed over the leadership of the GlobE Network during a ceremony at the UN Office on Drugs and Crime’s headquarters in Vienna, Austria, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

Nasser Abaalkhail, Nazaha’s deputy for international collaboration, was installed as chairman of the committee, with Boni de Moraes Soares, Brazil’s national solicitor for international affairs, as vice chair.

Saudi Arabia was unanimously elected to chair the GlobE Network’s steering committee for the 2025 to 2027 term during a high-level meeting last year in Beijing, China.

Its election to lead the international network underscores member states’ recognition of the Kingdom’s commitment to fighting corruption, the SPA reported.

Established in 2021, the GlobE Network includes more than 229 law-enforcement agencies from over 124 countries, as well as numerous international organizations.

Abaalkhail said that Saudi Arabia aims to enhance collaboration among member states to combat corruption in alignment with the UN Convention Against Corruption.

As chair of the network, Saudi Arabia “seeks to create new strategies for asset recovery and initiate a secure communication platform to facilitate quicker and more efficient information exchange among member states,” Abaalkhail said in a statement carried by the SPA.

“This will enhance international cooperation and empower governments to tackle emerging challenges in combating corruption, refine asset recovery processes, and more effectively trace illicit funds across borders,” he said.

Since its creation, the network has had a positive impact on the efforts of members to combat cross-border corruption.

During a recent meeting of the network, representatives from Azerbaijan, Brazil, Chile, China, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, and Indonesia shared insights on various cross-border investigations.

This included joint efforts to uncover embezzlement of EU grant funds, the use of the network’s Secure Communication Platform to advance investigations, as well as operations targeting large-scale fraud involving value-added tax.

The participants also highlighted examples of swift action in asset recovery, successful extraditions, and effective collaboration between agencies to track and freeze offshore assets obtained through corruption, according to the network’s website.

Nazaha has taken considerable strides in combatting corruption in the Kingdom since its creation in 2016.

During December 2024, the authority arrested 145 citizens and residents — among them government employees — accused of various crimes including bribery and abuse of authority.

Source:arabnews.com

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Syrian prime minister lauds Saudi Arabia’s humanitarian program

February 12, 2025

RIYADH: Syrian Arab Republic Prime Minister Mohammed Al-Bashir met a volunteer team from Saudi aid agency KSrelief led by Volunteer Programs Director Dr. Ali bin Saad Al-Qarni.

During the meeting in Damascus, they discussed developments in the Saudi Amal Volunteer Program, which supports Syrians through 104 campaigns in medical and surgical specialties, training and education, and economic empowerment, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The Syrian prime minister expressed his gratitude to Saudi Arabia, led by King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, for KSrelief’s generous humanitarian aid.

Al-Bashir also praised the Saudi Amal Volunteer Program’s effective role in assisting the Syrian people, the SPA reported.

The KSrelief team, in turn, thanked the Syrian government for facilitating the program’s work, highlighting the Kingdom’s commitment to supporting Syrians through a range of humanitarian and relief initiatives.

Meanwhile, a convoy of 60 aid trucks, part of the Saudi humanitarian operation by KSrelief, passed through the Jouf region on Tuesday en route to Syria through the Al-Haditha border crossing, the SPA reported.

Loaded with food, relief supplies and shelter materials, the convoy was warmly received by locals in Jouf, who provided support under the guidance of Jouf Gov. Prince Faisal bin Nawaf.

The KSrelief team expressed gratitude to the governor and the people of Jouf for their hospitality, the SPA said.

The humanitarian operation reflects Saudi Arabia’s efforts to assist people in times of crisis.

Source:arabnews.com

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Natural and historical allure of Al-Baha’s heritage villages

February 13, 2025

AL-BAHA: The Al-Baha Region is a unique tourist destination with its rich and diverse cultural heritage, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.

Home to centuries-old monuments, the villages have buildings constructed with stone and clay in traditional architectural styles.

Two of the most notable heritage villages are Thee Ain and Al-Mousa that are favored by local and international visitors.

During the Al-Baha Winter Festival, the village of Thee Ain comes alive with cultural events that reflect the local heritage.

The village provides comprehensive information on its history and the Al-Baha region.

The region’s intangible heritage includes traditional foods, crafts and performing arts.

For children there are murals and displays offered to provide an engaging learning experience.

Source:arabnews.com

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International padel stars predict bright future for the sport in Saudi Arabia and beyond

SULAFA ALKHUNAIZI

February 13, 2025

RIYADH: As the round of 16 in the Premier Padel Riyadh Season P1 tournament concluded on Wednesday, the winning players predicted a bright future for a relatively new sport that is growing in popularity around the world.

The competition at the Padel Rush Arena in Boulevard City, which features separate men’s and women’s doubles events, began on Saturday with two days of preliminary qualifiers, followed by the opening rounds of the contest proper on Monday and Tuesday.

Today’s winners progress to the quarterfinals on Thursday, with the semifinals on Friday and the tournament reaching its climax on Saturday. All in all the event will feature 71 matches in the men’s competition and 43 in the women’s.

Among those in action on Wednesday were the Spanish duo of Paula Martin and Ariana Fallada, who are joint top of the International Padel Federation women’s rankings. They enjoyed a comfortable 6-1, 6-0 victory over French player Alix Collombon and Spaniard Araceli Martinez.

Martin told Arab News that playing in Riyadh felt like home and she has noticed increased interest in the sport in the Kingdom.

“I was very surprised because there are so many people here … I can say there is an increase and (it is) growing, and that is the reason we are here,” she said.

Argentinian player Delfina Senesi highlighted the importance of advocating for the participation of women in sports.

“I think it’s fundamental for everyone, (for) every woman to see that they can play, that they can do anything that we want,” she said. “It’s very important for us to be here, to be in Saudi Arabia. We’re really happy to start the year here.”

Senesi and her Spanish playing player, Gemma Pons, who were playing together competitively for the first time, secured a hard-fought 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 victory over Spanish players Andrea Prieto and Alejandra De Villa on Wednesday.

“It was a long match, a really difficult one. The girls are playing really good. Everyone is getting better year by year, so we’re really happy,” said Senesi.

Asked what is the secret to success in the sport, she said: “The secret is working, working hard, every day; work on your mental health, work on your body is the key.”

Pons said that the match was difficult and she and Senesi struggled a little in the middle, but it came together in the end.

“We started the match really well and then they played, really good,” she said. “But this is really nice for us — 6-4 in the third set is great and, well, now we have to rest and prepare for the next match.”

In the men’s competition, Spaniard Javier Garrido and his Argentinian partner Martin Di Nenno defeated Javier Leal and Carlos Gutierrez 6-4, 6-2. Garrido said everyone who plays padel falls in love with the sport.

“I think for the players it’s really, really good because our sport is pretty new and we are trying to expand our sport all over the world,” he added. “Here in Riyadh, a lot of people like the sport and I think it’s super good for us.

“I’m sure that (padel) is going to explode, I don’t know, this year or next year but … when you play padel, when you try padel, you are going to love it.”

Among the spectators on Wednesday was Portuguese football legend Cristiano Ronaldo. The tournament is the first stop on this year’s Premier Padel World Tour and forms part of the Riyadh Season of events. The 2024 campaign tour featured 24 tournaments in 16 countries.

Padel is a racket sport most often played in doubles on a court that is slightly smaller than a tennis court, which has walls and the ball can be played off them.

Source:arabnews.com

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Saudi foreign minister discusses regional developments with French counterpart in Paris

February 13, 2025

RIYADH: The Saudi minister of foreign affairs, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, held talks in Paris on Wednesday with his French counterpart, Jean-Noel Barrot.

They discussed recent developments in the Middle East and efforts to achieve security and peace in the region, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Fahd Al-Ruwaili, the Saudi ambassador to France, and Prince Musab bin Mohammed Al-Farhan, political advisor to the foreign minister, also attended the meeting.

Prince Faisal headed the Kingdom’s delegation at the AI Action Summit in the French capital on Monday and Tuesday. More than a thousand representatives of the private sector and civil society from nearly 100 countries attended the event.

Source:arabnews.com

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Madinah governor receives Palestine envoy

February 12, 2025

Madinah Gov. Prince Salman bin Sultan met with Palestine’s Ambassador to the Kingdom Mazen Ghoneim on Wednesday.

During the meeting in Madinah, the two officials discussed topics of mutual interest, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Mauritius Fayez Altemyat met with the nation’s Health and Wellness Minister Anil Kumar Bachoo in Port Louis.

They discussed ways to boost ties and topics of common interest.

Source:arabnews.com

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Saudi Film Commission to host pavilion at Berlin Film Festival

February 12, 2025

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Film Commission is to participate in the 75th Berlin International Film Festival, which takes place from Feb. 13 to 23.

The body is hosting a Saudi pavilion with key partners to showcase the Kingdom’s growing influence in the global film industry and its strategy to become a top destination for filmmakers and producers.

It is organizing a roundtable session at the festival called “Will 2025 be the Year of Independent Films at the Global Box Office?” This will bring together film industry leaders to discuss future challenges and opportunities, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The commission also aims to enhance cultural exchange, empower Saudi talents, and develop the skills of emerging filmmakers in the Kingdom.

An official delegation from the commission — accompanied by a group of filmmakers — is set to attend the Berlin festival, one of Europe’s top film events, which is known for presenting the prestigious Golden Bear award for best film.

The festival, which was established in 1951, features a variety of films, including documentaries, experimental works, and feature films.

Source:arabnews.com

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Team behind Dammam’s doors exhibition highlights importance of traditional crafts

February 12, 2025

DAMMAM: The team behind a public exhibition showcasing the artistry of eastern Arabia’s carved wooden doors has spoken of their cultural significance.

Abwab Al-Sharqiya (The Doors of the Eastern Province), was installed in late 2024 along Dammam’s corniche, and the exhibition’s creators are highlighting the importance of preserving and promoting traditional Saudi craftsmanship.

Sculptor Hassan Al-Hussain, who carved the doors, emphasized their significance: “Each door carries engravings and motifs that reflect the ancestors’ stories, traditions and deep cultural ties.”

Engineer Ayat Al-Herz, who designed the doors, added: “Creating these traditional doors required a balance between cultural authenticity and modern design standards, ensuring both heritage preservation and high-quality craftsmanship.”

Among the experts behind this initiative is Saeed Alwayel, an Al-Ahsa-based artist, researcher and academic specializing in the architectural heritage of the Arabian Gulf.

With a PhD in interior architecture, and during more than four decades of research, Alwayel has extensively documented traditional crafts, particularly wooden and plaster ornamentation. He describes door-making as “one of the deeply rooted professions in Saudi society, particularly in Al-Ahsa and the Eastern Province.”

His research involved fieldwork, interviews and material analysis. His first study on wooden decorations in Al-Ahsa’s traditional architecture was published in 1998, and he later expanded his research to cover the entire Eastern Province, culminating in a book published by the King Abdulaziz Foundation in 2011.

Reflecting on his efforts, he said: “Despite the extensive work involved, this project remains one of my most rewarding contributions.”

In recognition of Saudi Arabia’s rich cultural heritage, the Ministry of Culture has designated 2025 as the Year of Handicrafts, an initiative celebrating traditional craftsmanship and its artistic and historical significance.

This installation was gifted to the people of the Eastern Province in celebration of the fifth anniversary of Ithra’s “Al-Sharqiya Gets Creative” initiative, which launched in 2020 and has become an annual tradition. The project visually connects the region’s creative history with its promising future.

The installation features five traditional door styles historically prevalent in the Eastern Province, while the sixth door symbolizes the region’s creative diversity.

Source:arabnews.com

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Saudi Arabia is evaluating BRICS membership, says economy minister

SARA AL-SHURAFA

February 12, 2025

DUBAI: Saudi Arabia is evaluating the benefits of joining the BRICS economic bloc, Faisal Alibrahim, the Kingdom’s minister of economy and planning, said at the World Governments Summit on Wednesday.

Speaking during a session titled “The Emergence of Multiple Economic Blocs,” Alibrahim highlighted Saudi Arabia’s commitment to fostering global dialogue while navigating an increasingly fragmented economic landscape.

The BRICS bloc was formed in 2009 and initially named after its original founders Brazil, Russia, India and China, while South Africa joined a year later. It now has 10 full members including Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, the UAE and Indonesia.

Alibrahim said economic blocs such as BRICS were not an end in themselves but tools to promote stability and integration. “Dialogue is important. It’s important for the Kingdom and for the world today.”

He said Saudi Arabia viewed such platforms as opportunities to build, protect, and expand common ground.

Since the launch of Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia has demonstrated an increased openness to global dialogue, aiming to enhance regulatory alignment and market integration.

The minister emphasized that while regional proximity and cultural ties were vital, meaningful economic cooperation also required open, transparent discussions on trade policies and regulatory frameworks.

“During hyperinflation days, like what happened in the 70s, we will be operating less than our potential and less than our optimal output,” he said.

“Which means we will be operating at a loss, and the global economy can’t afford this especially since it is projected to grow at 3.3 percent in 2025. We can’t afford not to continue to engage.”

Alibrahim also addressed the evolving economic dynamics within the GCC. “In the case of the GCC, we’re looking at a common market and a customs union.”

“To be very transparent, we were considering a currency union, but effectively, because of our collective peg, we are more or less pegged to the dollar. This peg has created a form of economic unity.”

The minister said GCC countries were taking a step back to reassess what Gulf economic unity and integration should look like in the future.

“We’re having very open, transparent discussions among all six countries about trade policy and many other topics,” he added.

Addressing Saudi Arabia’s potential BRICS membership, Alibrahim said the Kingdom was undergoing a “rigorous process” to evaluate the pros and cons of joining the bloc.

“Like any multilateral platform, we carefully assess the benefits and challenges,” he explained.

When asked whether BRICS membership might undermine the petrodollar system, Alibrahim dismissed such concerns, stressing that continued dialogue remained essential, even amid policy differences.

“Engagement does not mean endorsement. It’s about sharing perspectives to address global challenges,” he said.

Alibrahim reflected on the current global economic climate marked by rising protectionism and trade disruptions.

He warned that the fading era of hyper-globalization necessitated a shift from merely seeking consensus to fostering meaningful, solution-oriented discussions.

“Hyper globalization is fading. You said it. Protectionism is increasing. Trade disruptions, we don’t want to say specifically, trade wars, trade disruptions are increasing.

“This means that companies and countries are now solving for more stability, not necessarily for efficiency. We can’t afford not to engage.

The minister advocated for robust multilateralism.

“The solution is being honest with each other. We are in the Saudi government, and ministers among themselves are very candid and very respectful.

“But we critique each other, and I think governments bilaterally should develop that strong relationship to be able to comment and support and give each other feedback. And I think that will create the shift needed in global data.”

Source:arabnews.com

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Southeast Asia

 

Amir al-Mumineen Calls for Stronger Education at Kandahar University

2025-02-13

KANDAHAR (BNA): Amir al-Mumineen Sheikh Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, visited Kandahar University on Wednesday, where he met with university officials, faculty members, and students.

In his address, the Supreme Leader stressed the importance of both religious and modern education, urging students to pursue knowledge with sincerity and use it for the benefit of society and the nation.

His Excellency also highlighted the need to preserve Afghanistan’s history, calling for greater recognition of the country’s historical figures on the international stage.

The Supreme Leader noted that Afghanistan is progressing under its current governance system and encouraged students to contribute to the country’s development through academic excellence.

Furthermore, he emphasized that all policy decisions within the Islamic Emirate are made in consultation with religious scholars and in accordance with Islamic teachings.

The gathering took place at Kandahar University’s central mosque and was attended by a large gathering of students, faculty, and staff members.

Source:bakhtarnews.af

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UN Security Council condemns suicide attack in Kunduz, Afghanistan

By Fidel Rahmati

February 13, 2025

The United Nations Security Council has condemned the suicide attack in Kunduz, stating that terrorism in all its forms is one of the most serious threats to peace and security, both in Afghanistan and globally.

In a statement released on Wednesday, February 12, the Security Council expressed that the attack resulted in multiple casualties, both dead and wounded.

The Security Council emphasized that terrorism is one of the most serious threats to peace and security, not only in Afghanistan but globally, and it must be confronted.

Members of the Security Council stressed the importance of prosecuting the perpetrators, organizers, and supporters of such attacks, urging all countries to cooperate in the fight against terrorism under international law.

The statement also highlighted that all acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable and must be dealt with under any circumstances.

This follows a suicide bombing on Tuesday at a Kabul Bank branch in Kunduz city, which resulted in the deaths and injuries of several Taliban fighters and civilians.

The terrorist group ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack. The ISIS suicide attack in Kunduz took place just one day after the United Nations Security Council discussed the threat posed by the ISIS-Khorasan branch from Afghanistan and the region.

The international community continues to express deep concern over the rise of terrorism in Afghanistan, with the Security Council calling for a united global effort to address and eradicate these threats. The situation remains critical, and continued support for Afghanistan’s security and stability is crucial in combating these ongoing challenges.

Source:khaama.com

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Jamaat for reforms before elections

Feb 13, 2025

Jamaat-e-Islami has strongly advocated for reforms before elections after a meeting between the party's delegation with the Election Commission.

The party's secretary general, Miah Golam Parwar, told the press after the meeting today, said, "No election without reforms."

He said at least the state organs relevant to elections will have to be reformed before national election.

He said the people want a functioning local government. "We also want local government elections before the national election."

Source:thedailystar.net

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New Appointments Announced in the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan

2025-02-12

KABUL(BNA): In a statement, Mawlavi Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, announced a series of new appointments made under the decree of His Excellency the Supreme Leader.

The following officials have been appointed to significant positions within the government:

1.Mawlavi Obaidullah Aminzada has been appointed as the Deputy Minister of Social Affairs within the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. He previously served as the governor of Takhar.

2.Sheikh Zia-ur-Rahman Aryubi, who formerly held the position of Deputy Minister of Planning and Policy at the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum, has been named the new Deputy Minister of Higher Education.

3.Sheikh Abdul Rahman Qant, a former Central Bank Supervisory Officer, will now serve as the Deputy Minister of Planning and Policy at the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum.

4.Mawlavi Samiullah Hezbullah, previously the police chief in Kandahar, has been appointed as the governor of Takhar.

5.Mawlavi Abdul Ahad Talib, the former governor of Helmand, will take on the role of Kandahar police chief.

6.Lutfullah Khairkhwa, who previously served as the Deputy Minister of Higher Education, has been appointed as a Supervisory Officer of the Central Bank.

These appointments reflect the ongoing restructuring of the Islamic Emirate’s administration, aiming to enhance governance and service delivery across various sectors.

Source:bakhtarnews.af

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PAS, Muslim lawyers group reject non-Muslim affairs minister idea

Feb 13, 2025

An MP’s proposal for a minister in charge of non-Muslim affairs has raised the ire of PAS and Muslim lawyers.

PAS Ulama Council condemned the proposal, calling it an ill-conceived and irrational suggestion.

Its chief Ahmad Yahaya argued that the

Source:malaysiakini.com

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Unregistered Private Islamic Institutions In Johor Risk Action - Johor Govt

12/02/2025

JOHOR BAHRU, Feb 12 (Bernama) -- The Johor state government has issued a stern reminder to unregistered Private Islamic Educational Institutions (IPIS) including kindergartens, that operating without registration is an offence and action can be taken. Johor Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman Mohd Fared Mohd Khalid said Johor, through the Johor Islamic Religious Council (MAINJ), places great emphasis on the development of Islamic teachings, particularly in Islamic education, which has been implemented for over 100 years. “The government acknowledges and appreciates the role played by individuals and non-governmental organisations in contributing to the growth of Islamic education. However, any established institution must be registered in accordance with the Control of Islamic Religious Schools Enactment (EPSAI) 1991,” he said in a statement today. He said all IPIS are urged to register as required by the enactment, and registration can be done through any District Islamic Education Office (PPID). This includes any Islamic religious school in Johor or any place including mosques, madrasah, and kindergartens, where five or more individuals are learning or will be taught subjects, including subjects related to Islam, excluding Islamic schools under the Ministry of Education and the Johor state government. Mohd Fared said the registration is to regulate and ensure these institutions are managed properly, to safeguard the welfare of the students, ensure the teachings are based on ‘Ahli Sunnah wal Jamaah’, and to protect the welfare of the employees at these Islamic educational institutions.“To date, a total of 229 IPIS have been registered with MAINJ, comprising 40 private Islamic primary schools, 10 private Islamic secondary schools, 149 private tahfiz centres, 22 private madrasah, and eight Johor Malabar madrasah. Another 25 IPIS are in the process of completing their registration, while 247 are known to be operating without having started the registration process,” he added. -- BERNAMA Source:bernama.com

 

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South Asia

 

Student leaders demand ban on AL within 24 hrs

Feb 13, 2025

Student leaders attended the namaz-e-janaza of Kashem Khan in Gazipur today called for a ban on the Awami League within 24 hours.

Kashem, who was injured in an attack near the house of former Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque, passed away yesterday while undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

His namaz-e-janaza was held around 11:35am at Rajbari ground in Gazipur today.

Before the janaza, Fariduzzaman Zahid, district general secretary of the Student Rights Council, said, "I demand a ban on the Awami League within 24 hours."

Naser, general secretary of the Student Against Discrimination, described Kashem as "the first martyr after the revolution in Bangladesh."

"The condition of others injured in the same incident remains critical. They could die at any time. We have heard that many of those involved in this killing are in hiding. I demand their immediate arrest," he added.

Hossain Ali, central majlis-e-shura member of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, alleged, "Those arrested are being treated leniently, while in the past, our leaders were handcuffed and mistreated."

Imtiaz Ahmed Tanvir, central member of the Student Against Discrimination, said, "There has been no action from the Gazipur administration after this incident. We demand results. The Awami League must be banned, and all of its members must be removed from Gazipur. Those who opened fire in front of the DC office must be arrested."

Niaz Uddin, a neighbour of the deceased, said, "They not only attacked but also opened fire."

Bashir Ahmed, president of Jubo Dal Tongi West Police Station, declared that BNP and Jamaat would unite in protest, criticising the authorities for allowing Awami League supporters to remain active in the area without arrest.

Source:thedailystar.net

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Protesting teacher candidates continue demo in Shahbagh

Feb 13, 2025

Protesters are continuing their sit-in in Shahbagh area for the eighth consecutive day today demanding the reinstatement of 6,531 assistant teacher appointments in government primary schools.

Prabir Das, senior photographer of The Daily Star, who was on the scene said that more than 300 candidates took position in front of National Musium at Shahbagh.

Holding placards in their hands, the protesters were seen chanting various slogans in favour of their demands.

The protesters have come from different parts of the country and some even brought children with them.

The photojournalist also said that some of the protesters were also wearing shrouds.

Source:thedailystar.net

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Tragic Methane Gas Explosion Claims Lives of Three Miners in Samangan

2025-02-13

SAMANGAN(BNA): A devastating methane gas explosion at a coal mine has resulted in the tragic loss of three miners’ lives. The incident occurred in Lailah village, as confirmed by Hashmatullah Rahmani, spokesperson for the Samangan police headquarters.

According to Rahmani, the explosion took place on Wednesday prompted immediate action from local security forces.

Rescue teams worked diligently to recover the bodies of the miners from beneath the debris, which were subsequently returned to their grieving families.

Source:bakhtarnews.af

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Three Miners killed in Coal Mine explosion in Samangan, Afghanistan

By Fidel Rahmati

February 13, 2025

Local authorities in Samangan province report that three workers lost their lives in a methane gas explosion at a coal mine in the Dara-e-Souf Bala district.

Hashmatullah Rahmani, spokesperson for the interim government’s police in Samangan, stated that the incident occurred in the Leileh village of Dara-e-Souf Bala on Wednesday, February 12.

The spokesperson confirmed that the bodies of the three workers, who were from Daikundi province, were retrieved from under the rubble by security forces and returned to their families.

The workers were killed as a result of the methane gas explosion, and similar incidents of mine collapses and explosions have occurred in Samangan’s coal mines in the past.

On Monday, February 10, a mine collapse in the Dara-e-Souf district also claimed the lives of two miners.

The lack of proper mining practices and insufficient equipment are cited as major causes of these deadly incidents. Samangan is a key province in northern Afghanistan, rich in natural resources, with hundreds of workers engaged in mining operations.

Despite the province’s wealth in natural resources, the continued lack of safety measures and proper infrastructure poses significant risks to workers’ lives.

There is an urgent need for better mining regulations and equipment to prevent such tragic accidents and protect the lives of miners in Samangan and across the country.

Source:khaama.com

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Mideast

 

Why is Gaza truce under threat?

February 13, 2025

JERUSALEM: A little over three weeks since it came into effect, a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas that halted the Gaza war has become increasingly fragile.

Under the truce, the warring parties have already completed five exchanges of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, but have in recent days have entered into a blame game over the implementation of the deal.

US President Donald Trump’s forceful backing of ally Israel has put the ceasefire under strain, and particularly his proposal to take over the Gaza Strip and remove its Palestinian inhabitants.

The truce is currently in its first phase. The next ones have not yet been finalized.

Here are the positions of the key actors who could decide the future of the truce:

For days now, Hamas has accused Israel of not respecting the agreement, saying that the amount and type of aid entering Gaza was insufficent.

Israeli authorities have denied the claims.

In several statements, the Palestinian militants have said they had not received machinery requested to clear the rubble in Gaza, and complained about obstacles to evacuating wounded people to Egypt under the terms of the agreement.

On Wednesday, Hamas said that as a result of the Israeli violations it would postpone indefinitely the next hostage release, which was due to take place on February 15.

Hugh Lovatt, a researcher at the European Council on Foreign Relations, told AFP that the announcement from Hamas may be an attempt to force a decision on the next phases of the truce.

“Hamas’s aim is to break the deadlock in the negotiations on the second phase of the agreement,” he said, adding that the Palestinian movement has been trying to obtain guarantees that the ceasefire will hold and the war will come of a permanent end.

It’s a “Hail Mary pass,” said Lovatt, “because they fear that Israel will take advantage of Trump’s support to impose new conditions and delay the implementation of the agreement.”

The ongoing first phase of the ceasefire is for 42 days. During this period, negotiations for the second phase were meant to start but that has not happened yet.

On Wednesday, a Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo to discuss the disputes over the agreement with Egyptian negotiators.

But a Hamas spokesman warned that the group would not bow down to the “language of threats” from the United States and Israel.

Trump on Monday said “all hell” would break out in Gaza if Hamas did not free all Israeli hostages held in the territory by Saturday noon.

Under the terms of the truce, not all hostages were meant to be freed during the first phase.

The president’s threat came soon after he announced a plan for the United States to take control of the Gaza Strip and move its almost 2.4 million residents to Jordan or Egypt.

The proposal has provoked widespread international condemnation, and experts have said it would violate international law.

Yonatan Freeman, an international relations expert at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, said that Trump’s statements had “underscored the US backing of Israel.”

“Trump and Netanyahu have both emphasized the importance of releasing hostages,” Freeman said.

He said that despite making threats, he did not believe that either Trump of Israel’s leaders wanted the war to resume.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said Hamas cannot be allowed to use the ceasefire to “rebuild itself and recover strength.”

Echoing statements from the US president, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that Israel would resume “intense fighting” in Gaza if Hamas did not return hostages by Saturday.

Netanyahu did not specify whether he expected all the hostages to be freed, or a smaller batch due for release under the terms of the deal.

“It’s in his best interest to do it gradually,” said Mairav Zonszein, a senior analyst with the International Crisis Group.

According to her, Netanyahu was deliberately being ambiguous and was “buying time” to extend the first stage of the truce and delay talks about the post-war future of the Gaza Strip.

But Netanyahu also faces domestic “public pressure” to secure the release of the remaining hostages, including through indirect negotiations with Hamas, said Zonszein.

“It could be a determining factor that when the three hostages came out last Saturday, they looked really, really bad,” she said of the three Israelis freed on Saturday.

They appeared emaciated, spurring concern among Israelis for the fate of those still in captivity.

Despite their disputes, Zonszein said that the sides have not “given up on anything yet.”

“They’re just playing power games.”

Source:arabnews.com

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Receiving Imam Hussein bin Ali School's building in Bani Matar

12 Feb 202

The local authority and the educational sector in Sana'a province received on Wednesday from the Yemen Red Crescent Society branch the building of Imam Hussein bin Ali School in Matna area, Bani Matar district, after its completion, at a total cost of 210 thousand dollars.

The building includes two floors with 9 urban classrooms with a capacity of 726 students, administrative , service facilities, and a guard room.

He emphasized that the project will contribute to the development of the educational process by providing a school environment that stimulates creativity and normal development for male and female students.

The Undersecretary of the Ministry of for the Projects and Equipment Sector, Adel Hajar, and the head of the educational sector in the province, Talib Dahan, pointed out that the educational sector in Yemen needs more such projects, which support the educational process and contribute to the development of education in all parts of the country.

The head of the Yemen Red Crescent Society branch in the province, Hussein Al-Tawil, explained that the building of Imam Hussein bin Ali School is part of the activities and programs of the risk reduction and education rescue project "Building and rehabilitating schools in Sana'a province", supported by humanitarian partners from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development through the German Red Cross.

He pointed out that the school will be provided with school benches, office furniture, blackboards and supplies, hygiene bags, in addition to distributing bags for students and teachers, and training them on many skills, in order to provide an attractive school environment capable of retaining male and female students.

Source:saba.ye

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Educational meetings in Capital Sanaa to prepare for Ramadan program and summer courses

12 Feb 2025

Today, the educational zones in the directorates of the Capital Sanaa organized extensive preparatory meetings for the principals of public and private schools, as part of the preparation plan for the activities of the Ramadan program and summer courses for the year 1446 AH.

The meetings, which were attended by educational leaders and cadres and officials of educational activities and guidance, focused on the general guidelines and plans for the summer courses, and the importance of early preparation for them, based on the directives of the Leader of the Revolution on building generations, rooting the faith identity, and correcting false cultures.

The meetings also discussed preparations for the Ramadan program, and the importance of using the holy month to strengthen the spirit of faith by reciting the Holy Qur'an and contemplating its meanings, and benefiting from awareness lectures.

The participants stressed the importance of wide interaction with the Ramadan program and summer courses, because of their role in immunizing young people from destructive cultures, stressing the need to work in a team spirit to make these activities successful and achieve their educational and faith goals.

Source:saba.ye

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Bahrain to host Islamic Dialogue Conference under HM the King’s patronage

 12 Feb 2025

Manama, Feb. 12 (BNA): Under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Bahrain will host the Islamic Dialogue Conference on February 19-20, themed “One Nation, A Shared Destiny.”

The conference will be attended by His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al Azhar Al Sharif and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, alongside over 400 Islamic scholars, religious leaders, intellectuals, and experts from across the Islamic world.

The event is organised by Al Azhar Al Sharif, the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (SCIA) in Bahrain, and the Muslim Council of Elders.

The initiative follows the Grand Imam’s call during the Bahrain Dialogue Forum in November 2022 to strengthen Islamic unity and reinforce dialogue among Muslim scholars.

The conference aims to transition from discussions on rapprochement to a structured dialogue on shared principles and challenges.

It seeks to establish a permanent platform for scholarly engagement, emphasising areas of consensus among Muslim communities and the role of religious leadership in bridging sectarian divides, countering hate speech, and fostering mutual respect.

Shaikh Abdulrahman bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Khalifa, SCIA President and Chairman of the Conference’s High Committee, underscored that HM the King’s patronage reflects Bahrain’s deep commitment to Islamic unity and dialogue.

He reaffirmed the Kingdom’s ongoing efforts to promote coexistence, dialogue, and solidarity while supporting initiatives that strengthen Islamic cohesion.

He also commended the government, led by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for its continued support in ensuring the success of the event.

Shaikh Abdulrahman bin Mohammed highlighted that the conference will serve as a global platform for scholars, policymakers, and thought leaders to engage in constructive dialogue, unify perspectives on key issues, and reinforce intra-Islamic solidarity.

Dr. Mohamed Al Duwaini, Deputy of Al Azhar Al Sharif, stated that the conference presents a critical opportunity to address historical divisions and sectarian tensions through meaningful engagement and dialogue.

He emphasised that Al Azhar Al Sharif, under the leadership of the Grand Imam, remains committed to fostering unity, rejecting division, and establishing a lasting framework for intra-Islamic cooperation.

Mohamed Abdel Salam, Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Elders, affirmed that the conference is a moral and religious imperative, given the challenges facing the Muslim world.

He reiterated the Council’s firm belief in dialogue as the most effective tool for achieving unity and expressed hope that the event would pave the way for new partnerships among Islamic institutions, reinforcing the values of fraternity, cooperation, and peaceful coexistence.

He also expressed appreciation to the Kingdom of Bahrain for hosting the conference and responding to the Grand Imam’s call for an inclusive Islamic dialogue that prioritises shared values while rejecting division and discord.

Source:bna.bh

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Sa'ada Public Prosecution issues decisions regarding 314 prisoners on occasion of Ramadan

 12 Feb 2025

The Public Prosecution in Sa'ada Governorate approved the release of 154 prisoners, the transfer of 129 other prisoners to central prisons in their governorates to serve their sentences, and the deportation of 31 foreign prisoners convicted to their countries.

The head of the Saada Governorate Appeal Prosecution, Judge Ibrahim Jahez, explained to the Yemeni News Agency (Saba) that these decisions were made during a field visit to the central and reserve correctional facilities in the governorate, which lasted ten days to follow up on cases and inspect the conditions of prisoners eligible for release on the occasion of the advent of Ramadan and to raise the insolvent to address their conditions.

He pointed out that the field visit, in which the head of the Court of Appeal in the governorate, Judge Suleiman Al-Shamiri, the director of the branch of the Grievances Lifting Authority, Abdullah Al-Ghalbi, and the public funds, investigation and prisons, Sa'ada and Sahar prosecutors participated, included reviewing data with the prosecution and prisons, and interviewing prisoners.

He pointed out that the release directives, which included 104 prisoners from the pretrial detention center and 50 prisoners from the central correctional facility, also included directing the public prosecutors to continue to go down and follow up on the cases and quickly act and report on them, especially those with prisoners on their account, to grant everyone who deserves release who has served three-quarters of the sentence and has no special rights to others, and with guarantees in cases under investigation that do not pose a danger to society.

Source:saba.ye

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Erbil to restore 18th-century Grand Mosque

2025-02-12

Shafaq News/ On Wednesday, Erbil Governor, Omed Khoshnaw, headed a special meeting at the province headquarters, attended by experts, specialists, and university professors, to discuss the Grand Mosque (Haji Dawood Mosque) renovation project.

Khoshnaw announced in a statement that the restoration will preserve the mosque’s cultural and historical identity. Emphasizing the mosque’s historical significance, he said, “The Grand Mosque has hosted prominent religious figures who contributed to spreading values of peace, coexistence, and tolerance among the city’s diverse communities.”

Erbil’s governor further believed that restoring the mosque and preserving its role as a place of worship is "a fundamental duty and a service to the people of Erbil," affirming the provincial administration’s full support for the project.

The meeting concluded with expert discussions on the mosque’s architectural style, restoration challenges, and the steps needed to complete the project.

Source:shafaq.com

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Leader hails Monday rallies as ‘popular uprising’ in favor of Islamic Revolution

Feb 12, 2025,

Tehran, IRNA – Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has hailed the participation of people in Monday rallies across the country on the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, saying President Masoud Pezeshkian’s “clear and decisive” speech complemented the great popular movement.

The Leader made the remarks during a Wednesday meeting with scientists, specialists, and officials from Iran’s defense industry, as well as several families of martyrs from the country’s defense sector.

“This recent Bahman 22 (February 10) was one of the most outstanding celebrations of the [Islamic] Revolution – one of the most significant ones,” Ayatollah Khamenei said, describing the rallies as a “popular uprising” in the face of the enemy’s massive propaganda campaign against the Islamic Revolution.

“The people indeed rose up on Monday; they took to the streets, chanted slogans, expressed their views in the media, and this happened across the entire country. It was a popular uprising, a great national movement,” he said.

‘Rallies conveyed message of unity’

The Leader further said the participation of young people and the broad turnout across the country, including in villages despite bitterly cold and highly unfavorable weather, conveyed a “message of unity” from the Iranian nation.

Emphasizing the significance of the huge turnout, Ayatollah Khamenei noted that Iranians had done something “extraordinary” by showcasing their “identity, dignity, strength, and resilience” in the face of “foolish threats” repeatedly made against them.

“Complementing this great popular movement on Bahman 22 were the clear and decisive remarks of the esteemed president, who voiced the people’s concerns and articulated what needed to be said,” he said.

“I always reiterate to my audience, to the dear young people to whom I am deeply attached and devoted, that actions must be taken at the right time. The Iranian nation acted at the right time on Monday; they did what needed to be done exactly when it needed to be done. They showed themselves at the right moment.”

Prior to the meeting, Ayatollah Khamenei visited the Eghtedar-1403 exhibition for an hour, which showcased the latest achievements and capabilities of the country’s defense industry scientists and specialists.

The exhibition featured advanced equipment and new technologies used in air defense, ballistic and cruise missiles, smart munitions, space technology, drones and aviation, naval vessels, and energy systems.

Iran’s defensive power admired by friends, feared by foes

Referring to the exhibition, the Leader described the issue of defending the nation and ensuring the country’s security as extremely important, stating that Iran’s defensive power is now widely recognized – admired by the “friends of the Revolution” and feared by its enemies – making it a significant asset for the country.

Ayatollah Khamenei recalled a time when global bullies refused to sell Iran essential defense equipment, even at heavy prices.

He noted that those same powers now demand that Iran refrain from selling military equipment to others, emphasizing the vast gap between their past stance of “we won’t sell to you” and their current plea of “don’t sell to others,” a gap that has been bridged through the “efforts of Iranian scientists and the sharp minds of young specialists.”

Highlighting Iran’s remarkable defense advancements despite ongoing sanctions, the Leader said that the country’s defense industry has reached a point where if any part or equipment is withheld, Iranian youth produce an even better version domestically.

Source:irna.ir

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Syrian minister makes first trip to EU as powers look to aid transition

February 13, 2025

PARIS: Syria’s foreign minister will attend an international conference in Paris on Thursday as regional and Western powers seek to shield the country during its fragile transition amid ongoing instability across the region.

Asaad Hassan Al-Shibani is leading a delegation for a first trip to the European Union since the overthrow of Bashar Assad and days after President Emmanuel Macron invited Syria’s UN-sanctioned President Ahmed Al-Sharaa to France.

“This Paris meeting in a way is to help create a protective bubble around the Syria crisis to give them time to resolve it by dissuading the bad losers from destabilising the country,” a French official said.

Regional ministers, including from Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Lebanon, will be joined with Western partners, although the United States will only have a low level diplomatic presence.

The meeting aims to coordinate efforts to bring a peaceful transition ensuring the country’s sovereignty and security, mobilize Syria’s main neighbors and partners to coordinate aid and economic support, the French foreign ministry said.

It will also discuss transitional justice and the fight against impunity.

The conference does not aim to raise funds, which will be left to an annual pledging conference in Brussels in March, but issues such as the lifting of sanctions would be discussed.

The EU has moved forward in lifting some sanctions, although that still remains blocked amid opposition from Cyprus and Greece amid concerns over maritime delimitation talks between Syria and Turkiye and assurances that sanctions could be restored quickly, two diplomats said.

They said they were hopeful a compromise could be reached this month.

Ahead of the meeting, main international donors will also take stock of the humanitarian situation, notably in northeastern Syria, where the impact of US aid cuts has had a “terrifying” impact, according to a European official.

Officials also said the subject of Western-backed Kurdish Syrian forces, the central government and Turkiye, which deems part of those forces as terrorist groups, would also be discussed.

A Turkish diplomatic source said Deputy Foreign Minister Nuh Yilmaz, who will attend the meeting, would “draw attention to the threats Syria is facing, namely the separatist terrorist organization and emphasize our country’s determination regarding the total clearance of the country from terror elements.”

Source:arabnews.com

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Wife of Colombian-Israeli hostage receives proof of life

February 13, 2025

BOGOTA: The wife of Elkana Bohbot, a Colombian-Israeli man being held hostage by Hamas, said Wednesday she had received proof he was alive and denounced the “terrible” conditions in which he was being held.

In an interview with Colombia’s Blu Radio, Rebecca Gonzalez said that she received news of her husband from Ohad Ben Ami, one of the three hostages released by Hamas last weekend.

The three, whose emaciated appearance caused widespread shock, were released under the fifth exchange of prisoners since Israel and Hamas agreed a truce in their 15-month war on January 19.

“He (Ben Ami) brought me proof of life from my husband. I received a message, I even received a song in which he asks me to be strong,” Gonzalez, who is Colombian, said.

“He is alive, and we need to get him out of there immediately,” she pleaded.

Relating Ben Ami’s account of his captivity, which left him in a “severe nutritional state” according to doctors, Gonzalez said: “They are in tunnels, they are not allowed to see the light, they are not allowed to go out for air.”

She said her husband was living on a piece of bread a day, “very little water” and was “mistreated physically and psychologically.”

Bohbot, who hails from the town of Mevasseret Tzion near Jerusalem and has a young son, was one of the producers of the Supernova music festival, which Hamas gunmen stormed during their October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.

His childhood friends and fellow rave organizers Michael and Osher Vaknin were killed in the attack.

A Hamas video from October 7 posted online showed Bohbot, now aged 36, bound and injured in the face, being held by the Palestinian armed group.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro gave him Colombian nationality a month after the attacks.

The Hamas attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,211 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official Israeli figures.

The group also took 251 hostages, of whom 73 remain in Gaza, including 35 the Israeli military says are dead.

Israel’s retaliatory campaign has reduced most of Gaza to rubble and killed at least 48,222 people, the majority of them civilians, according to figures from the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.

The United Nations considers the ministry’s figures reliable.

Source:arabnews.com

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Qatar says sending Gaza additional 15 million liters of fuel

February 12, 2025

DOHA: Qatar announced on Wednesday it would send an additional 15 million liters of fuel to the war-battered Gaza Strip, where a fragile ceasefire has halted the Israel-Hamas war.

The small energy-rich Gulf country would be “supplying the Gaza Strip with 15 million liters of fuel, bringing total Qatari fuel support to 30 million liters,” the official Qatar News Agency said.

A truce agreement brokered by Qatari, US and Egyptian mediators came into force on January 19, pausing fighting in the 15-month war that has devastated the Palestinian territory.

As the guns fell silent, humanitarian aid began pouring into Gaza, home to more than two million people, the vast majority of them displaced at least once by the war.

On January 20, Qatar said it would send 1.25 million liters of fuel per day to Gaza for 10 days.

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, estimated in November that it needed some 160,000 liters of fuel per day for its basic humanitarian operations in Gaza.

The Israeli war on Gaza has caused a dire humanitarian crisis and the collapse of the already fragile health system in the besieged Palestinian territory.

The World Health Organization (WHO) warned in late December that restoring Gaza’s health system would be “a complex and difficult task.”

Hospitals in particular are short of fuel.

“Without fuel there are no humanitarian operations at all,” Rik Peeperkorn, the WHO’s representative in the Palestinian Territories, said in late November.

Israel controls everything that enters or leaves the Gaza Strip, and has imposed restrictions on goods that it considers could be used for military purposes, including fuel.

The UN and aid groups have criticized the restrictions applied to humanitarian aid.

Source:arabnews.com

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Iraq’s top court throws out challenge to new laws, including one increasing Islamic courts authority

February 12, 2025

BAGHDAD: Iraq’s top court on Tuesday threw out a legal challenge that had temporarily halted three controversial laws passed last month by the country’s parliament.

The measures — each supported by different blocs — include an amendment to the country’s personal status law to give Islamic courts increased authority over family matters, including marriage, divorce and inheritance, which critics have said would erode women’s rights.

They also include a general amnesty law that opponents say allows the release of people involved in public corruption and embezzlement as well as militants who committed war crimes. The third bill aimed to return lands confiscated from the Kurds under the rule of Saddam Hussein, which some fear could lead to the displacement of Arab residents.

Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court decided on Tuesday to revoke its previous judicial injunction that had suspended the implementation of the three laws after a lawsuit was filed by a number of lawmakers attempting to halt them. The ruling also noted that all laws must comply with the country’s constitution.

The lawmakers in suit had claimed that the voting process was illegal because all three bills were voted on last month together rather than each one being voted on separately. The Federal Supreme Court issued an order last month to suspend their implementation until the case was adjudicated.

Parliament Speaker Mahmoud Al-Mashhadani in a statement praised the passage of the amnesty law in particular.

“As we promised the mothers of the innocent, after we received the cries of those in prisons, we worked within Parliament to obtain political consensus to pass the general amnesty law,” he said.

“And thank God we succeeded where others failed, and achieved the desired goal by voting on it and then implementing it.”

Source:arabnews.com

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Europe

 

Blackburn’s newest mosque and 'community hub' set to open

February 13, 2025

By Shuiab Khan

A new mosque and community hub hosting a dedicated museum, nikah (wedding) service and a women’s section, is set to open to the public.

Al-Buraq Masjid, located off Devonport Road, has been made possible through a ‘monumental’ fundraising effort.

Volunteers took part in sponsored cycle rides and treks across northern England, while donations from families and mosque members contributed to what the mosque said was ‘a wholly community-led' initiative.

The new building will replace the Islamic Education Centre on the corner of Addison Street as the community’s focal point for prayers and religious activities.

The majority of worshippers live in the surrounding area.

Built on spare land behind Devonport Road, the mosque has been designed to maximise space while incorporating elements of modern Islamic architecture.

The main prayer hall, illuminated by chandeliers, offers a panoramic view of the town.

The mosque said with its ‘modern facilities and strong community focus’, the building is set to become ‘a vital hub for worship, education, and charitable outreach’.

A key addition is the funeral facility and ghusl area, which will be open to families for the ritual washing of the deceased before funeral prayers and burial.

The mosque also plans to establish the region’s first Islamic Museum, featuring rare artefacts from the Ottoman era, including an original key to the Kaaba in Makkah dating back more than 100 years.

The museum aims to attract schools, community groups, and the wider public, promoting education and cultural appreciation.

A ‘space for everyone’

The mosque includes a dedicated women’s prayer area and entrance, providing a comfortable and accessible space for female worshippers.

Women will also be encouraged to organize their own events within the building.

Additionally, the mosque is hoping to launch a new food bank, the ‘Blackburn community fridge’, which will collect donations from local businesses.

The mosque said it is planning in the future to collaborate with established charities to support people of all faiths and backgrounds.

A mosque spokesperson said: “This has been an incredible journey for our small community.

"From the very beginning, it was a grassroots effort, with people of all ages coming together to make this dream a reality. We cannot thank our donors and volunteers enough.”

For the past seven years, volunteers from ‘Team Buraq’ have organised numerous fundraising events, braving difficult conditions on bike rides and treks to help fund the project.

The mosque spokesperson added:  “Our volunteers have worked tirelessly, even in challenging weather. We hope the final result will make all their efforts worthwhile.”

The mosque will host two open days next weekend, ahead of the start of Ramadan at the end of February.

The first Friday prayers at Al-Buraq Masjid will take place on Friday, February 28.

Source:lancashiretelegraph.co.uk

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Dudley mosque extension granted approval

By Mark Andrews

February 13, 2025

Queen's Cross Mosque and Community Centre in Dudley has been granted permission to build a two-storey rear at the rear.

The proposed extension will create a third prayer room, and extra meeting space.

The building, on the corner of Queen's Cross and Aston Road, had previously been used as a clothing factory, and is thought to date back to the early 20th century.

Planning officer Samuel Everton said a single, anonymous objection had been received from a nearby occupier, expressing concerns about parking.

The plans include three extra car parking spaces at the rear, and Mr Everton said highway engineers raised no cpmcerms.

The scheme will see a disused single-storey workshop at the back of the building converted to a meeting room, with a second storey being added above it to create an extra prayer room.

Mr Everton said building was surrounded by houses to the side and rear, with commercial use, including a gym opposite.

He said the buildings were of little architectural merit, having been subject to modifications and alterations over the years. The mosque said it was not anticipating a rise in visitor numbers, but rather wanted to provide additional facilities and prayer space to existing users.

Similar articles to this

There are no recommendation for the moment

Primarily the proposed development would accommodate religious educational classes between the hours of 16.30 and - 18.30 on weekdays only," said Mr Everton.

"It is not expected that trip generation will intensify as a result of the development."

Source:expressandstar.com

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Half of French island in Indian Ocean burnt by wildfire

12th February

For nearly a month the French territory of Amsterdam Island in the southern Indian Ocean has been engulfed in flames.

Located about halfway between Australia, Antarctica and Madagascar, the island has seen burning across more than 55% of its 54 sq km area.

Amsterdam Island doesn't have a permanent population but researchers have been stationed there since the 1980s.

Since the fires broke out, 31 people have been evacuated to Réunion Island, closer to Madagascar. And last week French authorities launched a mission to control the wildfires and assess their impact.

The most recent blaze was discovered on15 January by a scientist researching the atmosphere.

According to a report from the Laboratory for Climate and Environmental Sciences (LCES), it broke out near the Pointe Bénédicte observatory which monitors greenhouse gases, mercury, and aerosols in the atmosphere.

Despite residents' best efforts, the fire spread towards the research base at Martin-de-Viviès. They were evacuated early the following day by a lobster fishing boat, the Austral, which was cruising nearby.

Rémi Chazot, a computer scientist who was based on the island, told Le Monde newspaper the group was "incredibly lucky" that the boat was in the area.

"This boat should have left a week earlier, but it had not caught its lobster quota. Otherwise, things would have gotten complicated."

The evacuees have since been transferred to Reunion, another French territory.

The fire spread across Amsterdam Island due to dry conditions and strong winds. The island does not have a river and winds can reach up to 40 km/h (24 mph). It is thought to have partly spread via the island's network of peat bogs.

Although the full scale of the damage has not yet been assessed, satellite imagery has shown the island's solar panels have been affected by the fire as well as its food and communication lines.

Conservationists have also expressed concern about the impact on wildlife.

Due to its unusual climate, the island is rich in biodiversity, serving as a breeding site for southern elephant and sub- Antarctic fur seals.

It is home to several albatross species including the Amsterdam Albatross, which breed exclusively on the island, and 84% of the world's yellow-nosed albatross population. A colony of Southern rockhopper penguin also live on the island.

Due to its remoteness and subsequent lack of pollution, the island is also used to research changes in the atmosphere and how this affects climate.

The evacuation is the first time atmospheric research has been suspended on the island for 45 years.

"It will take time and money to return to normal and this pause will mean quite a lack of data acquisition for our research", said Marc Delotte, the director of the LCES's mission to the Amsterdam Islands.

"This is, of course, not a good news for such a unique location."

On the 7 February a reconnaissance mission set sail aboard a French navy vessel.

According to France's Southern and Antarctic Territories department, the mission is made up of four firefighters from Reunion and seven technical staff, one of whom is a doctor.

Rather than putting out the fire entirely, the mission intends to secure the settlement. They'll also aim to uncover the cause of the fire and how it spread, as well as re-establish the island's energy and water mains.

Source:bbc.com

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The twisted views of ex-soldier with BNP links who tried to blow up Hanley mosque

ByHayley Parker

12 FEB 2025

Simon Beech was once a squaddie, prepared to put his life on the line to protect Queen and country. But at the same time, the soldier, serving with the 2nd Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment, harboured racist views.

His hate-filled mindset saw him join both the British National Party and English Defence League and drove him to carry out a despicable crime. A tragedy was only narrowly averted because Beech - and accomplice Garreth Foster - were 'amateurish' on the night they targeted Hanley Mosque in Regent Road in 2010.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard Beech - aged just 23 at the time - hatched the plot after being angered by extremist Muslims burning poppies. In one Facebook comment posted on Armistice Day, Beech, wrote: “The time has come. We burn their place, burn the lot of them.” And before that Beech sent a text message to Foster asking him if he was “up for blowing that hole up”.

Other Facebook posts included: “Let’s start bashing skulls, dirty, rotten rodents, they breed like rats here, they need to die like rats” and “Get as many heads as we can, go and smash some skull and take over Shelton”.

Paul Spratt, prosecuting, told the jury: “Beech plainly felt very strongly about Muslims. He found people on Facebook who had like-minded views. He expressed support for those views. One of the observations he agreed with was ‘Nuke all mosques’." The court also heard that there had been a search on Beech’s computer on how to make a bomb.

Beech and Foster carried out the attack in the early hours of December 3, 2010 when they connected a pipe to a live gas main and fed it 163ft into the first floor of the mosque. They then lit a fire on the ground floor. But firefighters put out the fire before it took hold but it still caused £57,626 of damage.

Beech - who quit the Army following his arrest - and Foster were both convicted of arson at a trial in December 2011 and were jailed for 10 years.

Sentencing them, Judge Mark Eades said: “This is a profoundly disturbing case. It seems to me your purpose was not to get at extremists, but to get at Muslims in general and your purpose can only have been to destabilise community relationships.

“Your intent was to light a fire on the ground floor and then accumulate gas on the first floor, so it would go off in violent fashion, causing extreme damage to the mosque.”

Beech’s barrister, Hugh McKee, said the attack was pre-planned. “It was ill thought out, amateurish,” he added.

Now 13 years after that conviction, Beech is once again behind his bars for his part in the Hanley riots. The same court where he was previously convicted heard Beech repeatedly ignored police in the city centre on August 3 when he was asked to move back. He threw a missile at police and repeatedly challenged public order officers.

Now aged 37 and a dad-of-four, Beech, of Chell Heath Lane, Chell Heath, has today been jailed for 27 months after admitting violent disorder.

Prosecutor David Bennett said: "He was at the frontline of the protest remonstrating with police, while making comments such as, 'This is our country'."

Jailing Beech, Judge Graeme Smith told him: "All participants of a violent disorder have to be sentenced. It was aggravated by the demonstration of religious hostility, namely towards Muslims. I have watched the footage. You were at the frontline of the protest, remonstrating with police and shouting."

Beech must serve 40 per cent of his sentence, which equates to about 10 months. The time he has spent on remand will count towards the term.

Source:stokesentinel.co.uk

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Mosque blast bid man jailed over summer riots

12 FEB 2025

A man who was previously jailed for trying to blow up a mosque has been sentenced to more than two years in prison for involvement in last summer's riots.

Ex-soldier Simon Beech, 36, of Stoke-on-Trent, pleaded guilty in November to violent disorder after being captured on CCTV throwing a missile at police officers.

He was sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court to two years and three months in prison for his part in the riots, sparked after the killing of three girls in Southport, for which Axel Rudakubana was jailed last month for a minimum of 52 years.

In 2011 Beech, of Chell Heath, attempted to blow up a mosque in Stoke, for which he was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

He was arrested last August after disturbances broke out in in Hanley.

In 2011, Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard Beech and another man - Garreth Foster - ran a pipe into the mosque from a nearby gas meter in a bid to spark an explosion.

The building sustained damage put at £50,000 as a result of a fire that broke out.

Beech told the court during his 2011 trial he had been a member of the English Defence League and the British National Party, but said he was not racist and did not believe his views to be extreme.

Commenting on his guilty plea after the riots, chairman of City Central Mosque Amjid Wazir said Beech did not seem to have learned any lessons.

Disorder spread across England last summer partly due to false claims online about Rudakubana.

Mr Wazir praised the actions by police and the legal system to bring those responsible to justice.

"When the riots were happening in Stoke, and elsewhere in the country, people were so scared of going out," he said.

"They were worried, they were nervous."

Source:bbc.com

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Austria's political crisis deepens as far right fails to form government

13th February

Austria's far-right populist Freedom Party says it has ended its attempts to form a coalition government with the conservative People's Party, ÖVP.

The announcement follows several weeks of heated negotiations and marks the second time coalition talks have failed since September's election.

The ÖVP first attempted to form a three-party coalition with the Social Democrats and the liberal NEOS, then a two-party coalition with the Social Democrats - but both efforts collapsed.

With the Freedom Party (FPÖ) unable to form a government, Austria is now in an unclear political situation.

The leader of the Freedom Party, Herbert Kickl, has called for swift new elections and blamed ÖVP for the collapse, accusing the party of being unwilling to make compromises and playing "power games".

"Although we made concessions to the ÖVP on many points, they were not prepared to make decisive compromises. The ÖVP was concerned with power games and posturing - we, the Freedom Party, were concerned with security, prosperity and honesty."

Earlier, Kickl told President Alexander Van der Bellen that he was giving up the mandate to form what would have been Austria's first far-right-led government since the FPÖ was founded by former Nazis in the 1950s.

The Russia-friendly and Eurosceptic Freedom Party made history in September's general election when it topped the polls for the first time with 28.8% of the vote, narrowly beating Chancellor Karl Nehammer's ÖVP, which got 26.3%.

Despite this, in October, President Van der Bellen first gave Nehammer the mandate to form a government. However, those negotiations collapsed in early January, leading Nehammer to resign and paving the way for interim Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg.

On 6 January, Van der Bellen gave Kickl the mandate to form a government after other parties' efforts to create a coalition without the Freedom Party failed.

Coalition negotiations in Austria usually remain secret, until a decision is reached. But over recent days, both parties issued statements about their demands, suggesting that the talks were in trouble.

The Freedom Party wanted both the powerful finance ministry and the interior ministry, which was a major obstacle for the ÖVP. For its part, the ÖVP wanted confirmation of "the absence of Russian influence in Austria," and Vienna remaining "a reliable partner to the European Union".

Kickl said on Wednesday that he was giving up the mandate, writing in a statement that he did "not take this step without regret".

He continued: "The ÖVP insisted on clarifying the allocation of portfolios at the beginning of February. Although we made concessions to the ÖVP on many points in the subsequent talks, the negotiations were ultimately unsuccessful, much to our regret."

The General Secretary of the ÖVP, Alexander Pröll, said the talks had failed because Kickl was on a "power trip" and had refused to compromise.

"Herbert Kickl himself was hardly involved in the government negotiations. In five weeks, Kickl sat at the negotiating table for a total of seven hours," he said.

"He did not fulfil his mandate to form… a centre-right government. Instead, he insisted on all his demands, developed fantasies of total power and ended the talks."

Political analyst Thomas Hofer told the BBC that there was "no base of trust" between the two parties.

"Kickl tried to adopt Trump's playbook of 'promises kept' but that's hard in a coalition environment.

"The ÖVP decided in the end that losing the two major ministries with a Chancellor Kickl who can't be controlled, and no base of trust was too risky," he said.

The ÖVP was the only party that had been willing to negotiate with the Freedom Party.

President Alexander Van der Bellen said Austria now had four options after the collapse of the coalition talks.

These were new elections, a minority government, a government of experts or another attempt to form a government by the parliamentary parties, he said.

He said he would hold talks with the political parties in Austria over the next few days to see which option was realistic.

"Liberal democracy lives from compromise," he said.

Source:bbc.com

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One killed in ballistic missile attack on Kyiv, Ukraine says

12th February

One person has been killed and four injured in a Russian missile attack on Ukraine's capital overnight.

Kyiv's mayor said a nine-year-old girl was among the injured in the strikes which took place early on Wednesday.

The Ukrainian military said it had shot down six of seven ballistic missiles and 71 drones launched by Russia, which sparked several fires throughout the city.

It comes after President Volodymyr Zelensky suggested Ukraine would be prepared to swap land with Russia in potential peace negotiations.

The strikes had caused damage in Kyiv's Holosiivskyi, Podilskyi, Sviatoshynskyi and Obolonskyi districts, mayor Vitali Klitschko said.

Meanwhile, officials in the city of Kryvyi Rih also reported damage to residential buildings and infrastructure after the city was also targeted in Russian strikes on Tuesday night, the Dnipropetrovsk regional governor said on Telegram.

On the Russian side, the governor of Belgorod said on Wednesday a woman had been killed in a Ukrainian drone strike on the region.

"There are no words that could console the family and friends in such grief," Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Telegram.

Reacting to Russia's attack on Ukraine, Zelensky said Russian president Vladimir Putin was "not preparing for peace".

"He continues to kill Ukrainians and destroy cities.

"Right now, we need unity and support from all our partners in the fight for a just end to this war," he wrote on Telegram.

In an interview with the Guardian newspaper published on Tuesday, the Ukrainian president said he would be prepared to swap land with Russia in a future peace negotiation.

He said parts of Russia's Kursk region - which Ukraine has held since an offensive six months ago - could be returned in exchange for Ukrainian territory currently occupied by Moscow.

Ukraine has never said it wanted to permanently occupy the hundreds of square kilometres it seized in Russia's Kursk region, but the goal has appeared to become clearer.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Zelensky's suggestion was "impossible," and Russia would never discuss the topic of exchanging territory.

Earlier, Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chairman of Russia's powerful Security Council, had also dismissed Zelensky's suggestion as "nonsense".

"Peace through strength, you say?" he said, mocking a phrase used by Zelensky in international addresses. Medvedev appeared to suggest the overnight attack was how Russia could achieve that goal.

For Ukraine, it was initially hoped the Kursk operation would relieve pressure on overstretched troops on other parts of the front line. However with continued Russian battlefield dominance, President Zelensky appears to be looking to use it as political leverage.

He has admitted Ukraine can't enjoy any security guarantees without its biggest ally, the US.

US President Donald Trump has been pushing for a swift end to the Ukraine conflict.

During election campaigning last year, Trump claimed he would negotiate a settlement to Russia's full-scale invasion in a single day.

And last month, on social media, he warned Putin that he would impose high tariffs and further sanctions on Russia if he failed to end the war in Ukraine.

Putin has said repeatedly he is prepared to negotiate an end to the war, but that Ukraine would have to accept the reality of Russian territorial gains, currently about 20% of its land.

Zelensky has previously conceded he may have to cede some land currently occupied by Russia temporarily, but the comments made to the Guardian mark the first time he has suggested permanent concessions.

Putin also refuses to accept Ukraine joining Nato, the military alliance of Western countries.

On Friday, Zelensky will meet US Vice President JD Vance, who has been a critic of American military support for Kyiv.

Trump earlier suggested he could meet Ukraine's president too following the Munich Security Conference over the weekend. The White House has indicated interest in Ukraine's natural resources in exchange for continued aid.

Source:bbc.com

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Kremlin says Russian citizen released in US after Trump greets freed teacher

12th February

A Russian national imprisoned in a US jail on money laundering charges will be freed in exchange for the release of American schoolteacher Marc Fogel from prison in Russia, authorities have confirmed.

Mr Fogel, a 63-year-old former diplomat, landed at Joint Base Andrews just outside Washington, DC late on Tuesday evening, before he was welcomed home by President Donald Trump at the White House.

Trump, standing alongside Mr Fogel in the White House, said: "To me he looks damned good."

The president said that another detainee would be freed on Wednesday without giving their name.

Mr Fogel, from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, had been working as a teacher at the Anglo-American School of Moscow. He had previously worked as a diplomat at the US embassy there.

While in prison, he reportedly taught English to fellow inmates.

Mr Fogel flew back to the US with Steve Witkoff, Trump's special envoy to the Middle East.

After landing on US soil, the White House posted on X: "PROMISES MADE, PROMISES KEPT!" along with a picture of Mr Fogel.

President Trump told reporters the release was a "show of good faith" from the Russians and that it "could be a big important part" of ending Russia's war in Ukraine.

"We were treated very nicely by Russia," he said. "Actually, I hope that's the beginning of a relationship where we can end that war and millions of people can stop being killed."

Trump's Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, told US network NewsNation that while the deal to get Mr Fogel released was a "good sign", he cautioned against "linking" it to the war in Ukraine.

Hundreds of thousands of people, the majority of them soldiers, are believed to have been killed since Russia invaded Ukraine nearly three years ago.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Wednesday that while such agreements build trust between countries, they were unlikely to be a "turning point" in a relationship.

Peskov said he would not name the Russian who was being released as part of the exchange until they had returned home.

But US officials have identified the man as Alexander Vinnik, who was arrested in 2017 and extradited to the US.

Vinnik, who operated cryptocurrency exchange BTC-e, pleaded guilty to money laundering charges in 2024.

Trump said earlier that the prisoner deal with Russia was "very fair, very reasonable", and that "somebody else is being released tomorrow that you will know of".

Speaking to reporters at the White House on Wednesday, special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, who flew back from Russia with Mr Fogel, disclosed that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was "instrumental" in the release and a "cheerleader" for the deal.

"Behind the scenes, he was encouraging, pushing and looking for the right result," he said. "He was helpful, he really was."

Speaking to Reuters news agency, sources familiar with the negotiations confirmed that Salman was involved, along with Kirill Dmitriev, the head of Russia's sovereign wealth fund.

"I feel like the luckiest man on Earth right now," said Mr Fogel. "I'm a middle-class school teacher who's now in a dream world."

Mr Fogel's sister, Anne Fogel, told the BBC that her brother, who was detained in Russia in 2021, was moved last Wednesday from a penal colony in Rybinsk. She said the family had known his release was a possibility but also that the negotiations were "very tenuous".

In a statement obtained by CBS News, the BBC's US news partner, his wife Jane and sons Ethan and Sam said: "This has been the darkest and most painful period of our lives, but today, we begin to heal."

Mr Fogel was arrested at an airport for illegal possession of cannabis in 2021.

He was charged with carrying a small amount of medical marijuana, which had been prescribed in the US, and given a 14-year prison sentence.

Mr Fogel's legal team thanked Trump for his role in the negotiation and criticised what they called the "bureaucratic inaction" of the Biden administration.

"President Trump secured Marc's release in just a few weeks, wasting no time in taking decisive action to bring Marc home," a statement from his lawyers, also sent to CBS, said.

Mr Fogel was not classed by the US government as wrongfully detained until December 2024, despite beginning his sentence in 2022.

His family had tried to push former President Joe Biden to secure his release, and were left disappointed when he was left out of prisoner exchanges in 2022 and 2024.

US basketball star Brittney Griner, who was arrested in Russia on a similar charge of cannabis possession in 2022, was freed in an exchange for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout 10 months later.

Subsequently, the Biden administration secured the release of three more Americans last year as part of the biggest prisoner exchange between Russia and the West since the Cold War. The Americans freed were Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, US Marine veteran Paul Whelan, and Russian-American radio journalist Alsu Kurmasheva.

Anne Fogel told the BBC at the time of feeling "betrayal" when she learnt that her brother was not included in the prisoner exchange - which Biden had lauded as a "feat of diplomacy".

At least 10 Americans remain in prison in Russia. They include Gordon Black - a US army staff sergeant who flew to Vladivostok to see his girlfriend and was then accused of stealing from her - and Robert Woodland, who was adopted from Russia as a child and was working as an English teacher when he was convicted of drugs offences.

Witkoff's trip to Russia is the first by a senior US official to the country in a number of years. Most contact between the nations was shut off following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Waltz said Mr Fogel's release was a "sign we are moving in the right direction to end the brutal and terrible war in Ukraine". He did not provide further details.

Trump announced earlier on Tuesday that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent would travel to Ukraine later this week.

During his presidential campaign, Trump promised to end the war in Ukraine in 24 hours.

But in an interview with Fox News on Monday, he said: "They [Ukraine] may make a deal, they may not make a deal. They may be Russian some day or they may not be Russian some day."

Asked by the BBC about the link made by officials between the release and the conflict in Ukraine, Anne Fogel said: "These are the giant machinations of world politics at play. It's going to be interesting to look back at this and to see how this all fits in and… how history plays out."

Source:bbc.com

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Sicily's gangsters complain they can't get the staff

12th February

When anti-mafia police swooped on the Sicilian mob on Tuesday, their main aim was to stop them regrouping and creating a new governing body or cupola.

But what has emerged from their wide-ranging investigation is an organised crime group having to adapt to modern realities and displaying a nostalgia for the loftier ambitions of the past.

They don't produce mobsters like they used to, Giancarlo Romano told an associate in a wiretapped conversation before he was shot dead a year ago.

Despite its evident yearning for crimes of the past, the Mafia in Sicily is still a force to be reckoned with, warns anti-mafia prosecutor Maurizio de Lucia: "Cosa nostra is alive and present."

Investigators have revealed that the new generation of gang bosses have taken to using encrypted mobile phones and thousands of short-life micro-sim cards smuggled into prisons.

This way they sought to avoid being eavesdropped as they focused their activities on drug crime, money-laundering and online gambling.

Sicily's Cosa Nostra has even started working with other gangs, including the notorious and far larger 'Ndrangheta in mainland Italy.

Of the 181 arrest warrants served on suspected Sicilian gangsters across four districts of the capital Palermo, 33 were for convicted figures already in jail.

National anti-mafia prosecutor Giovanni Melillo said that, despite all the crackdowns, the high-security prison system was at the mercy of the mob.

The inquiry revealed that one gangster had been able to watch a beating he had ordered from inside jail in real time via video-link.

The Mafia became supremely confident about the encrypted messaging platform it was using, which featured text-messages, voice notes and images.

But a year ago a bug installed in the home of one gangster recorded him and another man complaining about the connection going down on an encrypted chat. As they tried to restore the link, the names of several Mafia figures were mentioned out loud.

Sicily's authorities heard every word.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni praised the operation by Italy's Carabinieri military police and promised that the fight against the Mafia "has not stopped and will not stop".

Half of those arrested are in their 20s and 30s.

In late 2023, Giancarlo Romano, considered an up-and-coming Mafia figure in the Brancaccio area in the heart of Sicily's capital, Palermo, was recorded complaining about the decline of the mob and poor quality of new recruits.

"The level is low, today they arrest someone and if he becomes a turncoat they arrest another... wretched low-level," he was quoted as saying over his wiretapped phone.

He was overheard telling an aspiring mafioso to go to school, meet doctors and lawyers, and learn lessons from watching The Godfather trilogy of films about the fictional Corleone gangster family.

Today's Mafia was satisfied with selling small bars of hashish while others were now moving in, he complained: "Back in the day, those people who unfortunately ended up in jail for life... they did it because a shipload of hash was supposed to arrive."

Romano was killed and his associate wounded in February 2024, in an attack apparently linked to online gambling extortion. That murder led authorities to make further arrests within Romano's branch of the Mafia.

Cosa nostra is a shadow of the notorious organised crime mob it once was, brought down by a wave of campaigns by authorities in the past 30 years.

But despite the drive for a more modernised mob, many of the old practices and codes remain.

"Cosa nostra is like marriage. You are married to this wife and you stay with her all your life," one mafioso was overheard saying.

The clear implication was there was no leaving the Cosa nostra.

Source:bbc.com

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Africa

 

Muslim group defends El-Rufai, cautions Tinubu’s govt against arresting ex-governor

Jerry Wright-Ukwu

February 13, 2025

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has issued a strong warning to the Federal Government, urging it to refrain from intimidating former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.

The call comes amidst rising concerns about potential political persecution due to El-Rufai’s recent criticisms of the current administration.

MURIC’s Founder and Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, released a statement stating that any attempt to intimidate El-Rufai would severely damage President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration’s image as a democratic and tolerant government.

El-Rufai recently alluded to a potential plan to arrest him, which he believes is connected to his vocal criticisms of the APC-led government and his alleged connections with opposition figures in preparation for the 2027 general elections.

In response, MURIC argued that El-Rufai played a pivotal role in securing victory for the ruling party in the 2023 general elections and was instrumental in Tinubu’s ascension to the presidency.

“Considering the immense contribution of former Governor El-Rufai to the victory of the ruling party at the 2023 general elections as well as the big role played by him in the emergence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the indisputable occupant of Aso Rock today in spite of all odds, we would like to advise the federal government against intimidating the former governor if the rumour is true,” the statement read.

MURIC warned that targeting El-Rufai would create the impression that the government is suppressing dissent.

The group added that allowing El-Rufai the freedom to travel and express his opinions would enhance the Federal Government’s reputation on the international stage.

“On the contrary, with the realization that we now live in a global village, allowing El-Rufai to move freely in and out of the country will continue to earn FG humongous modicum of respect from the rest of the world,” MURIC said.

Source:politicsnigeria.com

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Niger to subsidise food prices during Ramadan

12th February 2025

The Niger State Government says it will provide incentives that will crash prices of food items during the Ramadan season.

The Governor, Niger state, Mohammed Umaru-Bago disclosed this on Wednesday when he received a delegation from the Gates Foundation on a courtesy visit to the Government House. Minna.

The governor said the move is to ensure that foodstuffs are made available and affordable to the people.

He disclosed that the state had harvested more than one million metric tons of maize, adding that through Niger Foods, the state government had stabilised the price of food items.

Umaru-Bago reassured the Gates Foundation of his administration’s continued partnership.

He called on the Foundation to strengthen its relationship with the state on crops, livestock production, aquaculture, and housing.

The governor, who disclosed that the state planned to move from one cropping season to three cropping seasons annually, said the partnership with the foundation would change the fortunes of the people.

He also emphasised the need to have a collaborative venture in irrigation to boost crop production and address climate change.

The leader of agricultural development work in the Gates Foundation, Obai Khalifa, said since the inception of the foundation 25 years ago, it has been committed to the mission of adding value to lives.

He described agriculture as vital, not just from the security point of view, but also from the nutritional value.

Khalifa identified the challenges of underfunding and climate change as major factors affecting agriculture in Africa.

He pointed out that the Foundation was out to address those challenges and be part of Nigeria’s drive in agriculture transformation.

Also speaking, the Senior Programme Officer, Agric Development, Gates Foundation in Africa, Mr Audu Grema, applauded the governor for his investment in the agricultural sector.

Chairman, Niger Foods, Sammy Adigun, in his remarks, described the partnership with Gates Foundation as a key factor in the agricultural transformation of the state.

Source:punchng.com

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Police Dismiss Reports Of 3,907 Missing Firearms, Calls Allegations Misleading

13 February 2025

By Enioluwa Adeniyi

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has refuted claims that 3,907 firearms are missing from its armouries, describing the allegations as misleading and inaccurate.

In a statement on Thursday, the Force Headquarters explained that the figures referenced in recent reports stem from an audit assessment conducted in 2019, before the tenure of the current Inspector-General of Police (IGP).

According to Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, the purported number of missing firearms is a misrepresentation, as many of the arms in question had been issued to officers for operational duties and subsequently recovered.

Audit Report Misconstrued

Naija News reports that the police clarified that the report by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation (AuGF) was misinterpreted.

“These allegations are misleading and inaccurate. The report from the AuGF does not indicate that 3,907 arms were missing, but rather unaccounted for at the time of the audit. This means that auditors could not physically verify all arms, as some had been deployed for operations,” the statement read.

The police further noted that law enforcement agencies often face logistical challenges, particularly during periods of civil unrest, where officers have been attacked and arms looted. However, significant efforts have been made to recover such weapons.

The Force also addressed concerns raised by the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, which had scheduled a hearing on the matter.

“The Nigeria Police Force has earlier defended the audit queries, which were meant to reconcile discrepancies in the report. However, the hearing session has now been postponed to Monday, February 17, 2025, for further analysis,” the statement added.

Clarifying the presence of the IGP at the hearing, the police stated that IGP Kayode Egbetokun had briefly appeared before the committee to explain his absence at prior sittings before being excused.

The Assistant Inspector-General in charge of Police Accounts and Budget stayed behind to respond to the committee’s inquiries.

Public Confidence And Misinformation

The NPF lamented what it described as a growing trend of misinformation targeted at law enforcement agencies.

“The Nigeria Police Force has made notable strides in stabilizing internal security, but malicious actors are seeking to erode public confidence through the spread of misinformation.

“The proliferation of misleading reports against the police compromises public safety and undermines the NPF’s ability to maintain law and order,” Adejobi stated.

He assured the public that the police remain committed to accountability and transparency, pledging continued efforts to maintain security and properly manage all operational materials.

Source:naijanews.com

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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/02/13/police-dismiss-reports-of-3907-missing-firearms-calls-allegations-misleading/

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Court Orders Substituted Service In ₦500 Million Rights Abuse Suit Against Nigerian Army

13 February 2025

By Enioluwa Adeniyi

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered substituted service in a fundamental rights abuse case against the Nigerian Army and seven others, directing that court documents be published in a national newspaper.

Presiding over the matter, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ruled on an ex-parte application filed by the plaintiff’s counsel, Ambrose Akhigbe, an Assistant Director at Command Secondary School, Ipaja, Lagos.

The judge noted that since the Nigerian Army officials were not staff of the Federal High Court, they were unlikely to receive documents served on the court’s notice board.

Instead, she ordered the publication of the documents in widely circulated newspapers.

The hearing of the case was adjourned to May 5, 2025, with the judge directing that hearing notices be served on all respondents.

Allegations Against The Army

Naija News gathered that the plaintiff had accused the Nigerian Army, the Chief of Army Staff, and senior officers of the 81 Division, along with Lieutenant Akabor, Private Sani, Private Ahmed, and Private Montero, of assault, battery, maltreatment, and threats to life.

According to the plaintiff, he was brutally beaten by Private Sani, Private Ahmed, and Private Montero on orders of Lieutenant Akabor after he allegedly filmed inhumane punishments being inflicted on SSS3 female students, who were forced to roll in muddy water.

He said, “The 5th respondent suggested we report to the commandant’s office. While walking to the Admin Block, the 6th, 7th, and 8th respondents battered me from behind, attempting to kill me, repeatedly saying, ‘We will kill you today, you bastard,’ while assaulting me with planks, koboko, sticks, pipe canes, irons, and fists.”

Evidence And Injuries

The plaintiff provided video evidence of the alleged brutality and said the assault led to excessive bleeding from his skull, causing an uproar that halted academic activities as civilian staff staged a protest in solidarity.

He further claimed that the Commandant (4th respondent) took responsibility for his medical bills, amounting to ₦65,000 and an additional ₦115,000, and detained the implicated officers pending an investigation.

The plaintiff, through his lawyer, is seeking ₦500 million in compensation for the violation of his fundamental rights and ₦50 million to cover the cost of the lawsuit.

Source:naijanews.com

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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/02/13/court-orders-substituted-service-in-%e2%82%a6500-million-rights-abuse-suit-against-nigerian-army/

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Sudan's army rejects ceasefire call during the holy month of Ramadan

12th February 2025

The Sudanese army has rejected a ceasefire call by the United Arab Emirates during the coming holy month of Ramadan.

This comes as the army makes major advancements in the capital, and seized control of a key stronghold previously held by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in northern Khartoum.

Sudan's army considers the EU as an aggressor of the war and has on many occasions linked it to the RSF accusing it as its main financier and supplier of weapons. The UAE refutes the claims.

In a statement the UAE said, "As we approach the holy month of Ramadan, a time of mercy and compassion, the UAE calls on all parties to honor this sacred period with a humanitarian ceasefire. We do not accept a Ramadan ceasefire until the siege is broken on all cities and areas that are besieged," the UAE official said.

The conflict in Sudan started in April 2023 when tensions between the leaders of the military and the RSF exploded into open fighting in the capital, Khartoum, and other cities across the African country.

The conflict has killed more than 28,000 people, forced millions to flee their homes and left some families eating grass in an attempt to survive as famine sweeps parts of the country. Aid groups say they struggle to reach the most vulnerable as warring parties limit access, especially in Darfur.

Famine has been detected in at least five areas, including three camps for displaced people in Darfur, according to the Integrated Food Security Classification. In its December report, the IPC warned that famine was spreading, and five other areas in Darfur have been projected to experience famine in coming months.

The war has created the world’s largest displacement crisis, driving over 14 million people — about 30% of the population — from their homes, according to the U.N. Of them, an estimated 3.2 million have crossed into neighboring countries including Chad, Egypt and South Sudan.--

Source:africanews.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.africanews.com/2025/02/12/sudans-army-rejects-ceasefire-call-during-the-holy-month-of-ramadan/

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‘You don’t have mandate over Yoruba muslims,’ Oduduwa Nation tells Sultan of Sokoto

February 13, 2025

By Dachen Isaac

The Yoruba Nation Self-Determination Movement, otherwise known as the Oduduwa Nation, has told the Sultan of Sokoto and President of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar II, that the Islam religion has not given him a mandate over Yoruba muslims.

The group made its position known following a recent statement by the Sultan where he gave his support for the establishment of Independent Shariah Panels in the South-West region.

In a statement signed by the National Coordinator of the Oduduwa Nation on Tuesday, Professor Banji Akintoye, the group described the Sultan’s call for the imposition of Sharia law in Yorubaland as disrespectful to the Yoruba people, as no Islamic provisions mandated Yoruba Muslims to accept the Sultan as their leader.

The self-determination group argued that the Sultan’s message which alleged that Yoruba people are denying Yoruba Muslims their religious rights was falsehood.

The statement which was addressed to the Sultan directly reads:

“We Yoruba people have read your statement that was sent to the public through the Deputy National Adviser of the Nigeria Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, Imam Haroun Eze, following the failed attempt to impose Sharia Courts on the Oyo and Ekiti States of the Yoruba people of the Nigerian Southwest.

“Since your spokesperson, Imam Haroun Eze, made your statement to the public, we also hereby make our response public.

“The Sultan’s spokesman chose to couch the Sultan’s statement to the Yoruba people as if the Sultan were an overlord of the Yoruba people.

“The statement said in effect that Yoruba people must accept Sharia as dictated by the Sultan. We have great respect for the Sultan as a traditional ruler, since our own traditional rulers, our Obas, are mightily important to our Yoruba nation.

“But because of the Sultan’s chosen approach in his message, we are reluctantly compelled to spell out our response in ways that truthfully uphold our Yoruba nation’s independence, integrity and dignity, leaving no doubt about what is our nation’s relationship with the Sultan.

“The Sultan’s message claims that the Sultan is the head of the Islamic religion in Nigeria. Well, while our Yoruba Muslims faithfully surrender their lives to the Almighty God Allah and fully exalt Allah’s great Prophet Mohammed, most do not know the Sultan as their leader.

“There is no provision in the tenets of Islam that lays the duty on our Yoruba Muslims to accept the Sultan of Sokoto as their leader.

“All Yoruba people of all religions have our own traditional rulers, which traditional rulers are among the most revered on the African continent, and of whom the Ooni of Ife and the Alaafin of Oyo are the foremost and topmost royal fathers of all Yoruba people.

“Therefore, it is important to get rid of the presumption that the Sultan is the leader of Yoruba Muslims. That the Sultan is not leader or father of Yoruba Muslims is clearly borne out by the fact that while, during the past ten years, the Sultan’s Fulani people have killed countless thousands of Yoruba Muslims in all parts of Yorubaland, have destroyed the farms, villages and other assets of Yoruba Muslim farmers, have raped and killed countless Yoruba Muslim women, and have kidnapped, and extorted millions of Naira as ransom for countless kidnapped Yoruba Muslim men, women and children, the Sultan of Sokoto has not, at any time, raised his influential voice against these heinous crimes by his Fulani people against Yoruba people – or even, at least, against Yoruba Muslims.

“Therefore, the Sultan should not find it difficult to understand that Yoruba Muslims cannot see him as their leader. These facts are very important. The Sultan and Imam Haroun Eze must have noticed that in the enormous mass of hostile responses among Yoruba people against the Sultan’s message, there are as many Muslim as non-Muslim voices – in fact, probably more Muslim than non-Muslim voices.

“Furthermore, we are shocked that Fulani people find it impossible to respect other people. The Sultan’s statement through Imam Haroun Eze is a very disrespectful statement concerning the Yoruba people.

“It shows that you think you are the dominant people in every aspect of life in Nigeria. Yes, our Yoruba political leaders and the other political leaders of the rest of Nigeria have made the mistake of giving reality to the British attempts to impose the Fulani on Nigeria.”

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Source:ripplesnigeria.com

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‘It Has Become Something Like A Cult’ – Arewa Consultative Forum Rejects Ganduje’s Call To Back Tinubu In 2027

13 February 2025

By Enioluwa Adeniyi

Prominent northern leaders, including the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), have dismissed calls by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, that the North should wait until 2031 before seeking the presidency.

The ACF and other northern voices insisted that the region cannot be forced to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, stressing that no single individual could dictate the political direction of the North.

Naija News reports that their reaction follows Ganduje’s statement on Tuesday, where he warned northern politicians nursing presidential ambitions for 2027 to drop the idea, emphasizing that Tinubu must complete two terms in office.

Ganduje made the remarks while receiving a delegation from the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Media Centre and the Tinubu Northern Youth Forum at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja.

Ganduje: “Tinubu Will Serve Two Terms”

Defending his stance, Ganduje argued that equity and fairness demand that Tinubu be allowed to complete his tenure, just as former President Muhammadu Buhari, a northerner, completed eight years in office.

He said, “When a leader from the northern part of this country was in office for eight years, we advocated that the next president in our party should come from the South.

“Luckily enough, we worked very hard with the cooperation of Nigerians. Our president has come from the South and is going, Insha Allah, for a second term come 2027.

“And after that, it will be the turn of the northern part of this country.”

El-Rufai Warns Against Imposing Tinubu On The North

However, former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai appeared to question Ganduje’s position, sharing a post on his verified X handle titled: “2027: South West, Tinubu’s supporters playing with fire – Part 1.”

The post suggested that the North’s relationship with Tinubu has deteriorated within two years, and if care is not taken, Tinubu may suffer the same fate as former President Goodluck Jonathan, who lost re-election in 2015 due to dwindling support from key political blocs.

ACF Rejects Ganduje’s Call

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) also rejected Ganduje’s call, stating that the North cannot be coerced into supporting Tinubu in 2027.

Speaking to Punch, ACF National Publicity Secretary, Tukur Muhammad-Baba, dismissed Ganduje’s position, stating that it reflects the cult-like allegiance to the presidency rather than a democratic choice.

“Given the nature of the Presidency, it has become something like a cult; a personality cult and allegiance to the president because it looks like the president wants total allegiance and nothing else.

“We are in the season of politics and you should expect that those who are near the corridors of power should express those things. But it’s not constitutional,” Muhammad-Baba said.

He emphasised that voters cannot be influenced by force, saying it is up to them to endorse, reject, or modify Ganduje’s opinion.

“There’s nothing new in what Ganduje said. So many people have said so before. Not too long ago, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume said the same thing that northerners should forget about it until 2031.

“He or she or party members cannot influence voters by force. So, what he said was an opinion and his personal opinion and it’s up to the voters to endorse, reject or modify what he said. I think voters are becoming wise as to where the president comes from. In 2015, we were sold a dummy of anti-corruption.

“We were sold a dummy of many things and people have realized that it wasn’t true. Then, of course, the Renewed Hope came in 2023 and the hope is turning into a nightmare. What will sell President Bola Tinubu, I think and I hope, is not whether he will contest or not, it will be his policies and their impact on the people. If they buy it, fine,” he noted.

Lukman Supports El-Rufai’s Stand

A former APC National Vice Chairman (North-West), Salihu Lukman, in an interview with Punch, threw his weight behind the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

He said, “El-Rufai is not saying anything different from what I have been saying all these while. The only difference is that he is talking for the North while I talk for the whole country.”

Source:naijanews.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.naijanews.com/2025/02/13/it-has-become-something-like-a-cult-arewa-consultative-forum-rejects-gandujes-call-to-back-tinubu-in-2027/

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Troops Kill Notorious Terrorist Commanders In Zamfara, Sokoto Operations

13 February 2025

By Enioluwa Adeniyi

Troops of Operation Fansan Yamma, in a major breakthrough against terrorism in the North-West, have eliminated several high-profile terrorist commanders and dismantled multiple hideouts in Zamfara and Sokoto states.

The intense military offensive, conducted between February 1 and 10, 2025, has delivered a significant blow to criminal networks terrorizing the region, restoring a sense of security to affected communities.

Announcing the development in a statement on Wednesday, Lt. Col. Abubakar Abdullahi, Coordinator of the Joint Media Coordination Centre, Operation Fansan Yamma, confirmed the successful neutralization of four key terrorist leaders.

Top Terror Commanders Eliminated

Abdullahi revealed that among those killed were Kachalla Na Faransa, Dogon Bakkwalo, Auta Gobaje, and Dan Mai Dutsi—all notorious for orchestrating kidnappings, cattle rustling, and violent attacks in the North-West.

“The fierce battles took place in Shinkafi and Zurmi Local Government Areas of Zamfara State, as well as Isa LGA of Sokoto State. The military operations successfully targeted and dismantled over 40 terrorist hideouts, including those in Tungar Fulani, Unguwar Goga, Gangara Hill, and Gidan Maji,” Abdullahi stated.

Arms Recovered, Kidnapped Victims Rescued

Naija News noted that the successful offensive also led to the recovery of a large cache of arms and ammunition, preventing further attacks on innocent civilians.

In addition to neutralizing key terrorist leaders, troops rescued dozens of kidnapped victims, providing relief to families that had been living in fear.

“The swift military action has not only disrupted terrorist activities but also restored confidence among the local population,” Abdullahi added.

Public Urged To Assist In Tracking Fleeing Terrorists

Abdullahi reaffirmed the military’s commitment to sustaining the offensive against terrorism across the North-West and parts of Niger State.

He urged the public to provide intelligence on fleeing terrorists, particularly the notorious Bello Turji and his associates, assuring that all information would be treated with strict confidentiality.

“With this latest success, Operation Fansan Yamma has dealt a serious blow to terrorist operations in the region, bolstering ongoing efforts to restore peace and security in northwest Nigeria,” he concluded.

Source:naijanews.com

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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/02/13/troops-kill-notorious-terrorist-commanders-in-zamfara-sokoto-operations/

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Tax Reform Bills: ‘The Bills Were Transmitted Despite Rejection’ – Lawmaker

13 February 2025

By Enioluwa Adeniyi

A member of the House of Representatives from Borno State, Ahmed Jaha, has raised concerns over procedural breaches in the passage of the tax reform bills, stating that more clarity was needed on certain provisions.

Speaking to journalists after the bill scaled second reading in the House of Representatives, Jaha, who represents Chibok/Damboa/Gwoza Federal Constituency, questioned the manner in which the bills were transmitted to the National Assembly.

“First of all, the bills were transmitted despite rejection by the members of the National Economic Council, rejection by elders across the country, and rejection by the Governors’ Forum, particularly the Northern Governors’ Forum,” he said.

Naija News reports that Jaha also noted that some provisions of the bill required revisitation for fairness and good governance.

He admitted that the bill sparked significant controversy in the House of Representatives, as members were divided over its contents.

Support For Certain Provisions

Despite his reservations, Jaha expressed agreement with some aspects of the tax reforms. He proposed maintaining the status quo, but noted that he would support ceding 20 per cent of VAT revenue based on generation derivation rather than headquarters location.

“My position as a person is to maintain the status quo. The highest I can concede as far as my opinion and that of my constituents is to cede 20 per cent based on derivation or based on generation derivation. Wherever these companies have their headquarters, 20 per cent can be given to them,” he stated.

He also supported the retention of key agencies, stating, “There is a consensus among all the honourable members that NITDA, NASENI, and TETFUND are not going to be terminated, bearing in mind their importance to national development.”

Opposition To CEO Dual Role In Nigerian Revenue Service

Jaha criticized a provision in the bill that allows the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Revenue Service to simultaneously serve as Chairman of the Board.

“You cannot be a judge in your own case. As the saying goes, power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely,” he argued.

He further pointed out that Section 141 (1) of the bill appears to elevate the tax law above the Constitution of Nigeria, which he believes is legally problematic.

Jaha also strongly opposed the introduction of inheritance tax, stating that it is against the provisions of Islam, Christianity, and traditional religions.

“In Islam, you are not even allowed to take even a packet of pure water out of inheritance and give it to somebody that is not the heir or entitled to that particular inheritance,” he said.

He maintained that imposing a tax on a deceased person’s estate was contrary to Islamic principles and also disrespected the beliefs of other faiths.

Next Steps For The Tax Reform Bill

With the second reading concluded, the tax reform bill will now proceed to committee review, where lawmakers are expected to deliberate on the raised concerns and consider possible amendments before final passage.

Source:naijanews.com

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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/02/13/tax-reform-bills-the-bills-were-transmitted-despite-rejection-lawmaker/

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People That Drafted Tinubu’s Tax Reform Bills Are Not Professionals – Lawmaker

 13 February 2025

By Justina Otio

A member representing Jibia/Kaita Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Sada Soli, has stated that President Bola Tinubu’s tax reform bills was not drafted by professionals.

Speaking during an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today on Wednesday, the lawmaker opined that Tinubu was poorly advised on the tax reform bills.

He insisted that the bills did not follow the due drafting process.

The lawmaker claimed that the North acted on the bill in the interest of Nigeria.

He said, “Let us be fair to Mr President. For a President to take a decision, he has to rely on certain advice. I think the president was poorly advised. People that drafted these bills in the first place, the draft was poorly done because they were referring to the bills as acts. When I read these bills I know that they were poorly drafted and were not subjected to professional drafters.

“We have to be fair to the President. He is an individual. He was advised by his consultants. And the bill did not go through the normal process it should have followed. Bola Tinubu, anybody that knows him knows his political sagacity.

“He is an inclusive politician. I have to be fair to him. When he realizes that the bills are capable of causing some problems, he subjected them to all scrutiny. Governors looked at them. He said that the Senate should go and sit down with the Attorney General of the Federation. He discussed with the Speaker and members of the House of Representatives to widely look at them, before he tried to consider the bills.”

Source:naijanews.com

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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/02/13/people-that-drafted-tinubus-tax-reform-bills-are-not-professionals-lawmaker/

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North America

 

Trump says Zelensky ready for peace

12 Feb, 2025

Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky is eager to put an end to the hostilities with Russia, US President Donald Trump has stated. He added that Russian President Vladimir Putin would also like to resolve the conflict.

In recent months, Trump has on multiple occasions pledged to bring the two belligerents to the negotiating table to secure a peace deal.

In a post on his Truth Social platform on Wednesday, Trump said that he “just spoke” to Zelensky, adding that “he, like President Putin, wants to make PEACE.” The US head of state said that a meeting was “being set up on Friday in Munich,” with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio leading the US delegation. He expressed hope that the negotiations would yield “positive” results.

“God bless the people of Russia and Ukraine!” Trump concluded.

Earlier in the day, Putin and Trump held a phone call, which the US president described as “lengthy and highly productive.” The two leaders touched on the “great benefit that we will someday have in working together.”

“We have also agreed to have our respective teams start negotiations immediately,” Trump concluded.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the conversation lasted nearly 90 minutes, adding that the two presidents agreed that the time had come for Moscow and Washington to work together.

Back in 2022, Zelensky issued a decree banning negotiations with Putin. However, earlier this month, the Ukrainian leader appeared to flip-flop on the issue, telling British journalist Piers Morgan that he “will go… for this meeting” if that proves to be the “only setup in which we can bring peace to the citizens of Ukraine.”

Putin argued late last month that Zelensky does not have the legitimacy to cancel his earlier decree because his presidential term expired last May. The Kremlin no longer considers him the legitimate head of state. Zelensky has refused to hold elections, citing martial law.

“It’s possible to negotiate with anyone. However, due to his illegitimacy, [Zelensky] has no right to sign anything,” the Russian president said. He pointed out that any potential agreement between Moscow and Kiev must be legally impeccable.

Earlier this month, Peskov confirmed that the “Russian side remains open to negotiations” with Ukraine despite Zelensky’s dubious legal status.

Source:rt.com

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CAIR & CPHB Urge Parents, Educators to Attend Webinars on Supporting Muslim Students in Ramadan

February 12, 2025

As Ramadan approaches, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, in collaboration with the Center for the Prevention of Hate and Bullying (CPHB), encourage parents and educators to attend two upcoming webinars focused on supporting Muslim students during the holy month.

These free, 30-minute sessions will provide valuable insights on best practices for creating an inclusive and accommodating environment for Muslim students observing Ramadan. The webinars will equip parents and teachers with practical tools to ensure students feel supported in their academic settings.

Empowering Parents Webinar Details:

📅 Date: Tuesday, February 18th

⏰ Time: 6 pm PST/9 pm EST

📍 Location: Online Registration link at action.cair.com/a/empoweringparents

Educator Strategies Webinar Details:

📅 Date: Thursday, February 20th

⏰ Time: 4 pm PST/7 pm EST

📍 Location: Online Registration link at https://bit.ly/educatorstrategies

For more information visit: https://www.instagram.com/p/DF8z7ksS50m/

CAIR also encourages parents and educators to review its Ramadan Accommodation Toolkit, which provides essential guidance for schools on ensuring Muslim students can observe Ramadan comfortably and without barriers. The toolkit can be accessed here: https://www.cair.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Ramadan-Toolkit.pdf.

CAIR urges all parents, teachers, and school administrators to attend these webinars and take proactive steps to support Muslim students during Ramadan.

CAIR’s mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims. 

Source:.cair.com

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Trump offers Putin a way back in from the cold

February 13, 2025

A single phone call will not magically end the war in Ukraine.

Talks may now get under way. Exactly when and how they will conclude isn't clear.

But President Vladimir Putin has already scored something of a diplomatic victory simply by holding this telephone conversation.

After all, three years ago he was out in the political wilderness.

Putin's decision to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine had turned him into a pariah.

The United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly adopted a resolution condemning Russia for its "unlawful use of force against Ukraine."

Russia was hit by thousands of international sanctions. The following year the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for the Kremlin leader.

As for the President of the United States – then Joe Biden – he left no doubt of what he thought of his Russian counterpart, condemning Putin as a "murderous dictator" and a "pure thug".

After Russia launched its large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, there were no more telephone calls between Putin and Biden.

Fast forward to 2025.

A change of president has brought a change of style, a change of language – and a totally different US approach to Russia.

Trump says he wants to "work together, very closely" with Putin to end the war in Ukraine. He hopes they will be "visiting each other's nations".

Clearly, so does Vladimir Putin, who invited Trump to Moscow.

If that visit goes ahead, it will signify a major shift in US-Russian relations. An American president has not visited Russia for more than a decade.

In many ways Putin has already got what he wants - the chance to negotiate directly with the United States on Ukraine, possibly over the heads of Kyiv and Europe - as well as the opportunity to put himself at the top table of international politics.

It remains unclear, though, how far Putin will be willing to compromise.

Russian officials claim Moscow is ready for talks but always refer back to Putin's so-called peace proposal of June 2024, which reads more like an ultimatum.

Under that plan Russia would get to keep all the Ukrainian territory it has seized, plus some more land still under Ukrainian control.

On top of that, Ukraine would not be allowed to join Nato and western sanctions against Russia would be scrapped.

As one Russian newspaper put it earlier this week: "Russia is ready for talks. But on its terms.

"If you drop the diplomatic language, essentially that is called an ultimatum."

Source:bbc.com

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Fact-checking Elon Musk's claims in the Oval Office

February 13, 2025

Elon Musk has made a number of exaggerated or unevidenced claims during an Oval Office event alongside President Donald Trump.

The billionaire, who was making his first major media appearance since beginning his role as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), said his team was seeking to improve transparency in government.

But he provided no evidence when making sweeping statements about corruption in government agencies and also defended false allegations he had spread about US funds being used to send condoms to Gaza.

BBC Verify has examined these claims made by Musk.

Sending condoms to Gaza?

Musk was challenged by a reporter about a recent White House claim, which he has repeated, that it had stopped $50m (£40.2m) worth of condoms being sent to the Gaza Strip.

The reporter asked whether the condoms were actually due to be sent to Gaza Province in Mozambique.

Musk appeared to concede that could be the case, and responded: "I'm not sure we should be sending $50m dollars on condoms anywhere… if it went to Mozambique instead of Gaza, I'm like, OK that's not as bad, but still you know why are we doing that?"

Several posts on X have highlighted a US commitment to fund an HIV-prevention programme in Gaza, Mozambique.

US government records show that an American-funded scheme for Gaza, Mozambique was awarded $83.5m for "prevention, care, support and treatment interventions within HIV and TB facilities and communities" for a programme running until September 2026.

BBC Verify contacted the aid agency that granted the funding - the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) - who told us that no money has been used to procure condoms.

The US State Department told us two $50m donations due to be sent to the Gaza Strip via the International Medical Corps had been stopped, which it claimed included contraceptives such as condoms.

But responding to the claims, the charity said it wasn't aware of any future US funding for condoms or any other contraceptives for Gaza.

They also said none of the funds they'd received from the US government since October 2023 had been used to procure or distribute condoms within the Gaza Strip.

The US has, in the past, provided contraceptives to countries around the world as part of family planning programmes.

In 2023 fiscal year (1 October - 30 September) $60.8m was sent abroad for contraceptives - with about $7m of that for condoms - according to a USAID report. None of this was listed for Gaza in the Middle East. $5.4m of contraceptives were listed for Mozambique, but none of this was for condoms.

These contraceptive programmes existed under Trump's previous administration as well. During the 2019 fiscal year, for example, about $40m was spent sending contraceptives abroad, according to another USAID report.

'The woman that walked away with $30m'?

Although he did not mention her by name, Elon Musk appeared to reference former USAID administrator Samantha Power's alleged net worth.

President Trump asked Musk to "mention some of the things that your team has found some of the crazy numbers, including the woman that walked away with about 30 million."

There have been claims on social media about Power's net worth increasing to this amount during her time at USAID.

One post claims: "Ex-USAID chief Samantha Power's net worth skyrockets - from $6.7m to $30m on a $180k salary… Where did the extra $23.3m come from? And all of this in just 3 years!"

Musk responded to another post on X about Power's work at USAID, asking "how did she accumulate wealth that is 100 times her after tax salary?"

Musk responded to Trump's prompt in the Oval Office by saying: "There are quite a few people in the bureaucracy who have ostensibly a salary of a few hundred thousand dollars but somehow managed to accrue tens of millions of dollars in net worth while they are in that position, which is, you know what happened to USAID.

"Maybe they're very good at investing… I think the reality is that they're getting wealthy at the taxpayer expense."

Power's detractors have not provided any evidence whatsoever of a sudden increase in her wealth or that she benefited from her role at USAID beyond her salary.

The claim appears to come from a website called Inside Biden's Basement, which estimated that Samantha Power was worth between $10m and $30m.

There is no breakdown of the figure or methodology but it does include three of Power's government ethics disclosure forms from 2021-22.

These forms show Power's income from various sources, including her teaching salary, investments, payments for speaking engagements and book royalties.

Most of those figures are published in a range, such as shares in a particular company being worth between $15,000 and $50,000 or a bank account containing between $1m and $5m. As such, the range of results returned when estimating Power's wealth are wide.

BBC Verify added up the income and investments from the form that Power submitted before she was sworn in as administrator in 2021, in which her wealth and income come out at between about $9m and $22m.

The most recent disclosure form available on the government website gives her accounts for 2023 and is problematic because it gives one account containing "over $1m" without stating an upper limit. If you take that as being between $1m and $5m in line with her other entries, you get an overall range of $9m to $25m.

In line with the filing rules, the 2021 figure does include her $461,167 salary from her previous job at Harvard, while the latest figures do not include her $183,100 salary from USAID.

So from her published accounts, it seems that she was pretty wealthy before she started working at USAID and that has not changed a great deal, although that is working within very broad ranges.

BBC Verify approached Samantha Power for comment via her official website.

Social security payments for 150-year-olds?

Social security provides a base income for people in the US who are either retired or can't work because of a disability. It covers about 67 million Americans.

Regarding the programme, Musk said: "There's crazy things… cross re-examination of Social Security, and we've got people in there that are 150 years old." He did not provide evidence of this.

BBC Verify has been unable to find specific evidence for the claim - although we don't have access to all the US social security data that Musk has been granted.

"I think they're probably dead… and then there's a whole bunch of social security payments where there's no identifying information," Musk added.

There have been previous reports which have identified tens of billions of dollars of fraud in social security payments - but we have found no specific evidence of 150-year-olds claiming benefits.

There is a 2023 report by the social security inspector general which identified about 19 million people born in 1920 or earlier who didn't have any death data on file - 44,000 of whom were still receiving social security benefits.

The report was triggered by calls to better maintain claimant records, after the Social Security Administration in 2021 estimated some 24,000 people received payments by the agency after death, amounting to almost $300m.

There were an estimated 101,000 people over 100 years old in 2024 across the US, according to the Pew Research Center, most of whom you would expect to be receiving social security, considering it covers retired people.

Paperwork stored down an old mine shaft?

Speaking about government inefficiencies Musk claimed only 10,000 federal employees could retire per month because the paperwork is written down manually and kept in a mine.

He said: "The limiting factor is the speed at which the mine shaft elevator can move determines how many people can retire from the federal government, and the elevator breaks down sometimes, and then nobody can retire."

That same day, Musk's department posted about the mine on X.

"Federal employee retirements are processed using paper, by hand, in an old limestone mine in Pennsylvania. 700+ mine workers operate 230 feet underground to process ~10,000 applications per month, which are stored in manila envelopes and cardboard boxes. The retirement process takes multiple months."

Musk is referring to Iron Mountain, a high security storage facility in Pennsylvania which holds government documents in a former limestone mine.

A 2014 article by The Washington Post reported that the retirement paperwork at the facility was processed "entirely by hand, and almost entirely on paper".

More recently, a 2019 audit report found that between 2014 and 2017, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) - which manages the federal retirement program - did not meet its goal of processing most retirement applications within 60 days.

The report said that one of the reasons for this was OPM's "continued reliance on paper applications and manual processing". Insufficient staffing and incomplete applications were the other reasons provided for processing delays.

It did not mention problems with the storage facility or its elevators.

The number of claims processed for civil service and federal employee retirements rarely exceed 10,000 per month, according to US government data. These figures also show that cases can take multiple months to process.

Source:bbc.com

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Hegseth sets out hard line on European defence and Nato

February 13, 2025

European nations must provide the "overwhelming" share of funding for Ukraine, the new US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has said, as he signalled a drastic shift in Washington's position on the war.

Speaking at a defence summit in Brussels, Hegseth said the US would no longer "tolerate an imbalanced relationship" with its allies and called on Nato members to spend much more on defence.

He also said it was "unrealistic" to expect Ukraine to return to its pre-2014 borders and downplayed the prospect of Ukraine joining Nato.

The comments came as Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin held a "lengthy" phone call in which they agreed to begin negotiations to end the war.

The new US defence secretary's remarks are the clearest indication yet of the Trump administration's position on the Ukraine war and what a peace plan to end the conflict could involve.

The positions set out by Hegseth will be met with dismay in Ukraine - which has repeatedly called for Nato membership and has rejected ceding territory as part of any peace deal - and will be welcomed by Moscow.

There will also be nervousness across the continent after Hegseth suggested the US would significantly scale back its support for Ukraine, insisting that European nations would now need to provide the "overwhelming share" of aid to Kyiv.

Hegseth, who was appointed defence secretary after Trump returned to the US presidency in January, was speaking at the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, a meeting of more than 40 countries allied to Ukraine.

He said: "We want, like you, a sovereign and prosperous Ukraine.

"But we must start by recognising that returning to Ukraine's pre-2014 borders is an unrealistic objective.

"Chasing this illusionary goal will only prolong the war and cause more suffering."

Russia annexed the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea from Ukraine in March 2014 and then backed pro-Russian separatists in an armed insurgency against Kyiv's forces in eastern Ukraine.

Moscow currently controls around a fifth of Ukraine's territory, mainly in the east and south.

Hegseth said any durable peace must include "robust security guarantees to ensure that the war will not begin again".

However, he said "the United States does not believe that Nato membership for Ukraine is a realistic outcome of a negotiated settlement".

Instead, security guarantees should be backed by "capable European and non-European troops".

"If these troops are deployed as peacekeepers to Ukraine at any point, they should be deployed as part of a non-Nato mission and they should not be covered under Article 5," he said, referring to the alliance's mutual defence clause.

Hegseth also told Nato's European members that they would need to provide the lion's share of future aid for Kyiv, warning that Washington "will no longer tolerate an imbalanced relationship" with its allies.

"Safeguarding European security must be an imperative for European members of Nato," Hegseth said. "Europe must provide the overwhelming share of future lethal and non-lethal aid to Ukraine."

The US has been Ukraine's biggest financial and military backer but Trump has been repeatedly critical of US aid spending and has said his priority is to end the war, which escalated in February 2022 after Russia's full-scale invasion.

Hegseth echoed calls by Trump for Nato allies to increase their defence spending to 5% of their GDP, instead of the current 2% target - saying the latter is "not enough".

The US currently spends roughly 3.4% of its GDP on defence, while the UK spends about 2.3%. Countries closer to Russia, like Poland and the Baltic states, spend the most proportionately at around 4%.

It will be difficult for Ukraine to hold back Russia's advances without the same scale of support provided by Washington during Joe Biden's administration.

While Russia is losing large numbers of troops in the conflict, the country's commanders are prepared to throw everything at Ukrainian front lines.

Russia is also now spending more on defence than the whole of Europe combined, according to figures from The Military Balance, an annual comparison of the strengths of armed forces around the world.

Earlier this week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was ready to negotiate a peace deal with Russia but wanted his country to do so from a "position of strength".

Speaking to the Guardian, Zelensky said if Trump was able to get Ukraine and Russia to the negotiating table, the Ukrainian president planned to offer Russia a straight territory exchange, giving up land Kyiv has held in Russia's Kursk region since the launch of a surprise offensive six months ago.

"We will swap one territory for another," he said, but added that he did not know which part of Russian-occupied land Ukraine would ask for in return.

Zelensky also said he would offer US firms lucrative contracts to rebuild Ukraine, in an apparent attempt to get Trump onside.

In November last year, he and the US president spoke following Trump's election victory.

Zelensky said he had a "constructive exchange" with the then president-elect and that he was certain the war with Russia would "end sooner" than it otherwise would have once Trump became president.

But Trump's Democratic opponents have accused him of being too close to Russian President Vladimir Putin and say his approach to the war amounts to surrender for Ukraine, which would in turn endanger all of Europe.

It also remains unclear whether a diplomatic solution to the war could be reached anytime soon that would be acceptable to both sides.

Source:bbc.com

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'On a power trip' or 'obviously brilliant'? Americans weigh Musk's influence

February 13, 2025

Seated around a breakfast table in Erie, Pennsylvania, four veterans in their mid-80s - John, Jack, Bob and Don - gather to reminisce about their decades of friendship.

But it is another Don, this one in his late 70s, who keeps creeping into their conversation: President Donald Trump.

Of the four, only Bob voted for Trump. But after seeing Elon Musk standing next to the Republican president in the Oval Office this week, defending his efforts to slash the size and spending of the federal government, he is already doubting his decision.

"I'm afraid of him," Bob says of Musk. "I think he's trying to be president."

Erie County was one of the key battlegrounds that helped swing the 2024 presidential election in Trump's favour. The Republican won 50.1% of the vote here just four years after his Democratic rival Joe Biden narrowly took the county.

And part of Trump's winning platform was a clear promise to overhaul and upend the federal government, pledging on the campaign trail to deliver "trillions" in cuts if elected. Polls indicated that was popular with Republican voters, and that remains the case now.

What was less clear to voters before the election was just how much of a frontline role Musk would play in this administration. The 53-year-old owner of Tesla, SpaceX and X now leads the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) which is dedicated to shrinking government and is routinely pictured alongside the president.

Members of his team have entered various departments to monitor spending and offered millions of workers an exit route. They have moved to freeze federal funding as well as the work of agencies such as the US Agency for International Development (USAID) in a blizzard of activity in recent weeks.

But given the scale of Musk's influence in the nascent Trump administration, Democrats are concerned about conflicts of interest as well as Musk, whose companies have billions in federal government contracts, potentially taking actions to benefit himself.

"This is dangerous. This is against America's interests," Senior Democrat Chuck Schumer said. "And President Trump needs to show some leadership and reign in Doge before it inflicts more harm."

That concern was shared by John Pelinsky, a lifelong Democrat who in November's election cast his ballot for Donald Trump. He said Democrats had swung too far to the left and he wanted four years of Trump to help "centre the country".

While he does not regret his vote, he says Musk makes him feel uneasy.

"He had his little kid there with him in the Oval Office," he said. "I'm not quite comfortable with that."

"I think Musk's influence might be a little too much on the president," he added. "I'm seeing too much of him. He should just stick with his SpaceX and his electric cars."

Musk, meanwhile, has been clear that he believes he is working to enact the wishes of Trump's voters.

"The people voted for major government reform and that's what the people are going to get," he told reporters during a surprise White House appearance this week. "That's what democracy is all about."

A recent poll by the BBC's US partner CBS News suggested a majority of Americans were in favour of Musk's work but disagreed over how much influence he should have.

In Erie, plenty of supporters were thrilled to see not one billionaire businessman, but two, running the show in Washington.

Christine Barber shrugged off concerns and said the American people had elected Trump to run the country and he had appointed Musk to help him do that.

"Personally, I love him," she said of Musk.

"Financially, and from a business perspective, we need somebody who knows what the heck they're doing. And if anybody does, it's Donald Trump and Elon Musk."

Patrick Laughlan had a similar view. He said he trusted Trump and Musk "to the extent you can trust anybody you don't know".

"The guy's obviously brilliant," Laughlan said of Musk. "He's doing a good job trying to get rid of waste. Both of those gentlemen are trying to get money back to Americans."

Evan Lagace, a restaurant manager here, embraces Musk's cuts to a system he views as bloated and inefficient. He said he appreciated that the tech billionaire was "donating his time to the country to help fix a major problem".

"Like he did in a micro aspect with Twitter, he could hopefully do the same thing with our country," Lagace said, referring to the mass layoffs and spending cuts Musk implemented after buying the social media company.

As for the accusations that Musk had grown too powerful in this White House, Lagace said it did not bother him.

"He's already extremely powerful," he said. "It makes no difference."

Source:bbc.com

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US releases Russian Bitcoin fraud suspect as Belarus frees American

February 13, 2025

The US will release a Russian national as part of a prisoner exchange that brought home American schoolteacher Marc Fogel.

Alexander Vinnik was arrested in 2017 on charges related to the laundering of billions of dollars using virtual currency Bitcoin. A US grand jury charged Vinnik on 21 counts related to the laundering of stolen funds.

The White House confirmed to the BBC Vinnik's identity and impending release.

President Donald Trump also indicated earlier that another detainee would be freed in the exchange for Fogel after he was released from a prison in Russia and returned to the US Tuesday night.

Vinnik, the Russian national, operated cryptocurrency exchange BTC-e. He was arrested in Greece at the request of US authorities who believed he was responsible for laundering as much as $4bn (£3.22bn) through the exchange.

He pleaded guilty to the charges in May of last year and was facing as many as 20 years in prison when sentenced.

According to the US Justice Department, BTC-e was used by cyber criminals around the world to transfer, launder and store the proceeds of illegal crimes including hacking incidents, ransomware attacks, identity theft schemes, corrupt public officials and drug sales.

Vinnik allegedly used BTC-e to promote these activities and US authorities said at the time he was responsible for the loss of about $121m.

The justice department said that the firm had no anti-money laundering or KYC - "Know Your Customer" - processes in place, as required by US federal law. It collected no customer data, which investigators said made it attractive to criminals.

Separately on Wednesday, the White House announced that Belarus had freed three detainees after a US representative travelled to Minsk to negotiate their release.

US Envoy for Hostages Adam Boehler said in a CNN interview that one American was among the three detainees. He said that Belarus had released an additional detainee last week, who is now in Texas.

Boehler said that the US secured a "deal", but that Belarus received nothing in exchange. He added that Trump was "deeply involved" in negotiations.

Boehler told reporters that Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko agreed to the release "to curry favour" with Trump. He also called on the leaders of Venezuela, Iran and Gaza to release Americans that he said they are holding prisoner.

Belarus is a strong ally of Russia, but it remains unclear if the deal was connected to the US-Russia prisoner swap.

Journalist Andrey Kuznechyk, a father of two, was among those freed, his employer Radio Liberty said in a statement.

Radio Liberty, also known as Radio Free Europe, is a US government-funded organisation which broadcasts news in areas of the world where free press may be restricted or not yet established.

Its president, Stephen Capus, told the BBC it was a "joyous" day.

"I was told was that this was not an exchange, that this was simply, if you will, a goodwill gesture by the Lukashenko government, and that there are ongoing conversations with the hopes of bringing home others, including our other colleague, who is in prison," he said.

Kuznechyk was arrested in November 2021 on charges of hooliganism and sentenced to 10 days, according to Radio Liberty. Before he was released, he was charged with creating an extremist group and sentenced to six years.

Source:bbc.com

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Fifty countries affected by USAID freeze, says WHO

February 13, 2025

Programmes to tackle HIV, polio, mpox and bird flu have been affected by the freeze on tens of billions of dollars of overseas aid from the US, says the head of the World Health Organization (WHO).

US President Donald Trump has taken steps to close the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), arguing that its spending is "totally unexplainable".

However, WHO chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has urged the Trump administration to consider resuming aid funding until other solutions can be found.

HIV treatments and other services have been disrupted in 50 countries, he said at a briefing on Wednesday.

Speaking publicly for the first time about the freeze on US aid funding, at a virtual press conference in Geneva, Dr Tedros said: "There are actions that the US government is taking... which we're concerned are having a serious impact on global health."

In particular he pointed to the suspension of PEPFAR, the President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief, which he said had halted HIV treatment, testing and prevention services in 50 countries.

He added that a reprieve for life-saving services had not stopped the disruption.

"Clinics are shuttered and health workers have been put on leave," Dr Tedros said.

Experts in global health have warned of the spread of disease, as well as delays to the development of vaccines and new treatments as a result of the cuts.

Trump has argued that USAID is "incompetent and corrupt".

He recently announced huge cuts to the agency's 10,000-strong workforce and the immediate suspension of almost all of its aid programmes.

The agency spends about $40bn (£32bn) - about 0.6% of total US yearly government spending - on humanitarian aid, much of which goes towards health programmes.

The vast majority of USAID money is spent in Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and Europe, where it is primarily used for humanitarian efforts in Ukraine.

Elon Musk, the tech billionaire who is working on the White House's effort to shrink the size of the federal government, has previously claimed that the aid agency is "a criminal organisation".

Neither Trump nor Musk have provided clear evidence to support their claims.

As well as the freeze on USAID, President Trump has taken steps to withdraw the United States from the WHO.

Under the Biden administration the US was the largest funder of the UN's health agency and in 2023 it contributed almost one-fifth of the agency's budget.

Dr Tedros said Trump's decision was affecting collaboration between countries on global health threats. He also said the US had reduced its reporting of bird flu cases in humans.

The WHO says it has employed emergency measures similar to those used during the Covid pandemic to fill the gaps where there are shortages - in life-saving antiretroviral medication, for example, which is used to treat people living with HIV.

Meg Doherty, director of global HIV, hepatitis and sexually-transmitted infection (STI) programmes at the WHO, said efforts were being made to co-ordinate the sharing of vital supplies of medicines between countries.

However, she said a better, long-term solution was needed: "We have been seeking support from country to country for sharing, but this is a short-term approach."

Source:bbc.com

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Legal showdown looms as Trump tests limits of presidential power

February 13, 2025

In the first weeks of his second term, President Donald Trump has wasted no time in flexing his political muscle. That much is clear.

Since taking office in January, he has ordered the suspension of all new asylum claims, cancelled refugee resettlement, frozen government hiring and spending, gutted agencies established by Congress, moved to ban gender transition care for teenagers and offered a buyout deal for hundreds of thousands of federal workers.

The whirlwind of unilateral action on his campaign promises has pushed the limits of presidential power – and prompted legal challenges from Democrats, unions and legal groups.

So far the federal courts have been the only substantive roadblocks to Trump's agenda, as judges have temporarily suspended some of his most contentious actions, including a bid to end automatic citizenship for anyone born on US soil - a right established from the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution.

But Trump is pressing on - and seems headed for a showdown with the judiciary that could eventually end in the highest court in the land. This week, a Rhode Island judge said the Trump administration was clearly and openly defying his court order to unfreeze billions in federal funds. The White House responded by saying that "every action" the president took was "completely lawful".

If Trump's orders do reach the US Supreme Court, six of the nine justices there - including three appointed by Trump in his first term - are conservative. Just last term, the court issued a decision holding Trump, and all future presidents, largely immune from prosecution for official actions while in office.

At the time, it was a landmark expansion of presidential authority. But some observers have suggested that Trump's latest moves could be part of a strategy to expand his powers even further.

Trump's move to freeze hundreds of billions of dollars in federal grants and dismantle the United States Agency for International Aid (USAID), on their face, run afoul of the checks-and-balances system of US government.

Congress, rather than the White House, holds the authority to control federal spending and taxation - what's known as "the power of the purse". Legislators also established USAID and lawsuits have been filed arguing that Trump has no legal authority to dismantle it and refuse to spend funds allocated by Congress.

But if the high courts agree to uphold some of his sweeping executive actions, it could strengthen his ability to transform the government and enact policy changes without the help of Congress.

And even if the courts rule against the president, says Ilya Shapiro, a constitutional expert at the Manhattan Institute, those legal defeats might be politically advantageous.

"There could be political benefits to being challenged in court and then even losing in court because then you can run against judges and make political hay of it."

There is another scenario, however. Trump could simply refuse to comply with any court that tries to stop his exercise of unfettered presidential power.

In Oval Office comments on Tuesday, the president hinted that this might be an option, in his typically oblique way.

"We want to weed out the corruption," Trump said. "And it seems hard to believe that a judge could say we don't want you to do that."

"Maybe we have to look at the judges," he continued. "I think it's a very serious violation."

On Sunday, Trump's vice-president, JD Vance, was even more blunt.

"Judges aren't allowed to control the executive's legitimate power," he posted on the social media site X. That view was similar to one Vance expressed in a 2021 podcast, when he said that if Trump returned to power he should refuse to comply with any court order that prevented him from firing federal workers.

Directly defying a court ruling, however, would cut against centuries of US history and amount to the opening skirmishes in a constitutional crisis that pits the president against the branch of government designed to establish and interpret the law of the land.

"My read is that President Trump is testing the outer boundaries of what he might be able to get away with, doing a lot of things that are blatantly against the law and maybe some things that are closer to the line," said Fred Smith, a professor at the Emory University School of Law.

"They are breaking a lot of norms," Mr Smith added of the nascent Trump administration. "Why he is doing that, only he knows fully. But he is doing it."

So far, Trump and his allies have made aggressive comments about unfavourable court decisions in the public and in legal filings, but have yet to be sanctioned for disobeying a court. When Trump was the target of multiple prosecutions over the past four years, he frequently questioned the legitimacy of the presiding judges, but his courtroom lawyers adhered to the law and legal procedures.

The federal judge in Rhode Island, who had placed a temporary hold on another Trump order to freeze some federal spending, did warn in court filings Monday that the administration was violating his temporary restraining order but stopped short of finding them in contempt.

Conservative legal scholar Ed Whelan wrote on X that it would be "extremely grave" for the Trump administration to defy a federal court order.

"I'm open to the argument that truly extraordinary circumstances (the makings of a wild hypothetical) might justify defiance," Mr Whelan wrote. "But in our constitutional system there should be an overwhelming presumption in favour of executive-branch compliance with federal court orders."

Should Trump disobey, and therefore delegitimise, the courts, the decision could come back to bite him when the time comes for the president to see his own lawful agenda enforced, some legal experts say. Democratic states like California, for instance, might be inclined to ignore White House directives and federal laws they don't like - and Trump would be hard pressed to use the courts to bring them to heel.

"If the executive decides it will obey some court orders but not others, it will find it won't get any court orders that it wishes to obey," said Philip Bobbitt, a constitutional scholar at Columbia University Law School. "I just don't think they thought that through."

When Donald Trump redecorated the Oval Office to his liking in January, he reinstalled a portrait of President Andrew Jackson that had hung on the wall across from the Resolute Desk in his first term.

The seventh US president is remembered for a critical moment of defiance against the United States Supreme Court. When the justices decided a dispute between the state of Georgia and Cherokee Indian governments in 1832, Jackson did not seem interested in following its direction.

Jackson allegedly said of the Chief Justice's ruling, "John Marshall has made his decision; now let him enforce it!"

Nearly 200 years later, Trump himself has found himself on his own collision course with America's judiciary.

Source:bbc.com

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Canada leaders take push against tariffs to White House

February 13, 2025

Canada's provincial and territorial leaders say they had a "constructive" meeting at the White House as they sought to make their case against the tariffs the US president has threatened to impose on the country.

It is the first time all 13 premiers have visited the US capital together, illustrating how seriously a potential trade war is viewed by Canada.

President Donald Trump's threat to impose 25% import taxes on all goods from Canada, and 10% on energy, was paused for 30 days earlier this month after Canada adopted new border measures.

On Monday, Trump added another threat, saying he planned to add a 25% tax on all global steel and aluminium imports to the US beginning 12 March.

On Wednesday afternoon, the premiers secured a last-minute meeting with senior Trump advisers after spending the day sitting down with US lawmakers.

"We had a very constructive conversation," Ontario Premier Doug Ford told reporters as the premiers who attended the meeting left the White House.

British Columbia Premier David Eby said White House advisers "urged us to take the president at his word" on Trump's stated reasons for the tariffs, such as border security and ensuring the US is not taken advantage of in trade relationships.

"There were some very frank moments across the table," he said.

The premiers' overall message is that the two countries are better as economic allies, and that Canada is a secure partner for commodities like energy, metals and critical minerals.

More than 75% of Canada's exports go to the US and the two economies are highly integrated.

If the steel and aluminium tariffs go ahead it will particularly affect Canada, which supplies the US with more of the products than any other country.

If both the metals and blanket tariffs come into force they would stack, essentially doubling the steel and aluminium tariffs on Canada.

Also on Wednesday, Canada's Finance Minister Dominic Leblanc met Howard Lutnick, Trump's pick to lead the commerce department, and Kevin Hassett, the director of the National Economic Council.

He said they discussed how deeply integrated the steel and aluminium sectors are between the two countries.

"I'm confident we have their attention," he said.

Trump has said the metals tariffs would boost domestic US production.

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt on Wednesday said: "This administration believes these tariffs will protect our national security and put American workers first."

On the wider 25% tariffs on all Canadian imports, Trump has cited concerns over illegal immigration and the flow of drugs into the US from its neighbours.

Canada has vowed swift retaliation to Trump's tariffs though it has said the ultimate goal is to avoid any levies.

On Tuesday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appointed a new fentanyl tsar as part of his country's efforts seeks to address border concerns.

Kevin Brosseau, a former member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and intelligence adviser to Trudeau, will take on the role immediately.

He is expected to be in Washington DC in the coming days.

Speaking at a news conference near the Ontario-New York border, he said he will focus on joint US-Canada efforts to target fentanyl trade.

Less than 1% of fentanyl intercepted at the US border comes from Canada, according to figures from Ottawa.

"Getting the number to zero is in fact a goal, and should be our goal," Mr Brosseau said.

Canada is implementing a $1.3bn (£1bn) border plan that includes nearly 10,000 frontline workers and more resources to halt the flow of fentanyl, a synthetic drug 50 times stronger than heroin. Much of it was announced before Canada and the US hammered out the tariff pause.

There are also new Black Hawk helicopters and drones to monitor the 8,890km (5,525 mile) boundary.

Since returning to the White House last month, Trump has been in one trade standoff with Canada and America's other neighbour, Mexico.

He agreed on 4 February to delay for 30 days his threat of 25% tariffs on all goods arriving from both countries.

Trump has framed tariffs as a tool for growing the US economy, protecting jobs and raising tax revenue.

Economists, however, have warned that tit-for-tat tariffs could raise prices for a wide range of products, including cars, lumber, steel, food and alcohol.

Canada and Mexico are the top US trade partners, along with China.

Trump moved forward with a 10% tariff on all goods entering the US from China, which as retaliated with countermeasures against US goods.

Source:bbc.com

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Trump ally promises info on Epstein’s ‘Lolita Express’

13 Feb, 2025

A so-called “black book” containing the list of contacts and alleged clients of deceased sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein is set to be released to the public as part of a new declassification campaign, the newly appointed head of a specialized US task force has announced.

The Republican-led congressional task force was created to oversee the release of government files linked to a wide range of high-profile topics, including the 9/11 attacks, the origins of Covid-19, UFOs, and the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, his brother and political ally Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and civil rights campaigner Reverend Martin Luther King Jr.

Epstein worked as a financier and socialized with the rich and famous for years, introducing them to dozens of young women – some of whom were underage at the time – and flying them to his private island in the Caribbean on a jet dubbed the “Lolita Express.”

He was arrested in 2019 and died in his Manhattan cell later that year, officially ruled a suicide. Evidence related to his case remained classified even after his death, with media reports claiming that the FBI had found videos potentially containing compromising material on his “guests” during searches of his New York residence and Caribbean island.

The newly appointed head of the Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), has vowed to bring some of this information to light, along with other previously classified materials.

“The federal government has been hiding information from Americans for decades,” Luna said in a statement on Tuesday, adding that “it is time to give Americans the answers they deserve.”

A GOP congresswoman and supporter of US President Donald Trump, Luna has repeatedly demanded “transparency” in the federal government. The 35-year-old lawmaker was elected to the House of Representatives in 2022 after serving in the military for six years.

The establishment of the task force was announced by the chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, James Comer (R-Ky.), who said it would “build on the Trump administration’s efforts to declassify records of national importance.” Trump signed an executive order to release federal records linked to the assassinations of the two Kennedys and King soon after his inauguration in January.

The publicly known list of Epstein’s friends and acquaintances includes former US President Bill Clinton and Britain’s Prince Andrew. Trump also personally knew Epstein since the 1980s and reportedly flew on his “Lolita Express” private jet.

The US president has denied ever visiting Epstein’s private island and maintains that he cut ties with him in the 1990s, years before Epstein’s first arrest for soliciting prostitution in 2006. Trump hinted at the possibility of releasing Epstein’s files in a September 2024 interview on the Lex Fridman Podcast.

Source:rt.com

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Pakistan

 

US citizens advised to avoid Faisal Mosque area in view of TTP threats

2025-02-13

ISLAMABAD: The banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants have issued threats against Faisal Mosque in the federal capital, prompting the US Embassy in Islamabad to prohibit its employees from travelling to the Faisal Mosque area until further notice.

A security alert issued by the US Mission has advised American citizens to avoid the mosque area located at the foothills of Margallas.

They are being further directed to exercise maximum caution, and leave immediately if they face any unpleasant situation.

They should also review their personal security plans, monitor local media for updates, maintain a low profile, and remain aware of their surroundings, said the mission’s security alert.

The Mission Security and Protocol Office recommends the US citizens to carry identification cards and cooperate with the authorities, along with following the Country Security Report for Pakistan.

Source:brecorder.com

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Sanaullah warns 'prevailing situation' harmful to state, govt, judiciary

By Web Desk

February 12, 2025

Prime Minister's aide on Political and Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah on Wednesday expressed concern over the prevailing situation in the country, saying that it was harmful not only for the government but also for the judiciary and the state.

"Such a situation should not be allowed to continue," the PML-N leader said while responding to a question about the government's plans to file a reference against two senior judges of the Supreme Court during Geo News' programme 'Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath'.

A day earlier, Sanaullah hinted that a reference could be filed against two senior apex court judges "over their conduct in certain matters".

"Their [two SC judges] general attitude is to write letters on every issue...the letters make headlines first and later reach the addressee," he said while speaking to a private news channel a day earlier.

His remarks came amid strong opposition over the nomination of six judges to the Supreme Court by the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) meeting, which was boycotted by PTI lawmakers and two senior SC judges. The chief justices of all high courts, except the Lahore High Court (LHC) were among the six judges nominated.

Earlier, three judges — from Sindh, Balochistan, and Lahore — were transferred to the IHC, drawing severe criticism from the legal fraternity, including the IHC judges.

The five justices, contesting the seniority criteria, were of the view that the judges transferred from other high courts should take oath anew to reset their seniority.

Nevertheless, their representation was rejected by IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq, saying the new oath was not required as their seniority was calculated from the time they took oath in their respective high court and not from the date of their transfer.

Meanwhile, PTI Senator Hamid Khan said that the lawyer community would challenge the nominations of the six judges in the top court and vowed to continue the "protest movement".

Separately, all three representative bar councils of the federal capital — Islamabad Bar Council (IBC), Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHCBA), and Islamabad District Bar Association (IDBA) — announced launching a long march during the hearing of 26th amendment-related petitions.

Speaking during today's programme, Sanaullah clarified that his remarks of filing a reference against the judges were neither an announcement nor a threat, emphasising that the matter is a cause for concern for everyone, including himself.

He pointed out that the chief justice of Pakistan has never been part of any grouping or confrontation.

He said despite having their offices close to each other, the senior judges wrote letters containing critical remarks against each other, giving the impression that a major disagreement was present among them.

"Judges speak through verdicts. Speaking via letters and writing letters in such a manner, that they are leaked to the media before even reaching thr addressee...if this is not misconduct then what is," he asked.

Similar to the apex court, Sanaullah said, discord was now spreading to the high courts and bar councils — apparently referring to the criticism of judges' transfer to the IHC.

Citing Article 200 of the Constitution, the premier's aide addressed the controversy surrounding the transfer of high court judges.

He stated that the transfer did not happen due to an executive order but through the agreement of three high court judges which is required for transferring a high court judge.

Source:thenews.com.pk

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Governor, CM GB felicitate Ismaili Community over appointment of New Imam

February 12, 2025

Governor Gilgit-Baltistan Syed Mehdi Shah and Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan have extended heartfelt congratulations to the Ismailis of the world and especially the Ismaili community of Gilgit-Baltistan on the Takht-nashini of Prince Shah Rahim Agha Khan, as 50th Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims.

In the special messages the both leaders expressed hope that Prince Rahim Aga Khan will carry forward the mission of development and the welfare of humanity in accordance with the mission and vision of His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan (deceased).

In his message, Governor Gilgit-Baltistan said that the leadership of His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan is the beginning of a new era for the Ismaili community and Muslims worldwide, which will further promote progress, peace and interfaith harmony.

In his message Chief Minister also said that the educational, health and social development projects under the Aga Khan Development Network has great importance for the people of Gilgit-Baltistan and hoped that these initiatives will expand further.

Source:radio.gov.pk

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Journalists stage hunger strike to protest amendments to Peca

Kalbe Ali

February 13, 2025

ISLAMABAD: Hunger stri­­ke camps were set up ac­­ross the country on Wedne­sday in response to a call of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) against controversial amendments recently added to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca).

The PFUJ said the changes were tantamount to silencing free voice. The camps were set up in Isla­mabad, Lahore, Karachi, Sukkur, Peshawar, Hyderabad and Quetta, etc.

While journalists observed symbolic hunger strike, people belonging to different walks of life visited the camps to express solidarity with the protesters.

PFUJ President Afzal Butt while speaking at the camp outside the National Press Club in Islamabad slammed politicians for turning the amendments into a law at a fast pace.

“We have given the call for token hunger strike in the first phase and it is visible that human rights activists and people from all walks of life are with us,” he said, adding “…if the government does not pay heed to our concerns we will give a date for a sit-in in front of Parliament House, and that will be an indefinite sit-in.”

“The hunger strike camp will continue for two more days and after it, there will be a rally and the future plan will be announced on Friday.” Mr Butt said.

RIUJ General Secretary Asif Bashir Chaudhry said media personnel wanted to have consultations with the authorities, but Peca was passed by parliament in a speedy manner. “No one listened to us,” he deplored, adding: “Now our demand is clear…the government will have to withdraw the law before initiating negotiations with us.”

He said it’s a pity that while murder is a bailable crime in Pakistan, giving an opinion and raising a free voice has become a non-bailable offence.

The protesters declared that journalists will not stop their protest against the ‘black law’ until it is withdrawn.

The speakers pointed out that only three countries in the world had enacted such laws, adding that the other two were located in Africa.

In the capital of Sindh, the Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) set up the hunger strike camp.

Addressing the camp at the Karachi Press Club, KUJ President Tahir Hasan Khan said that the new law reflects the rapidly diminishing space for democratic norms and deba­­te. “We will take every step to block the draconian law. We will protest against it on the streets and challenge the ill-conceived law in court, kn­­ocking on every door for its withdrawal,” he announced.

KPC President Fazil Jamili said he would soon gather the journalist fraternity, human rights activists and members of civil society to unite under its platform for a joint struggle against the “Black Law”.

“Initially, the government promised that our concerns would be heard and our input considered before the final draft,” he said. “Unfortu­na­tely, none of those promises were fulfilled, and the bill was passed in haste. We believe Peca will be used as a tool for arm-twisting the media and journalist community.”

In Hyderabad, the protest was led by PFUJ leader Kha­lid Khokhar, HUJ President Wasim Khan and General Secretary Fareed Lakho.

In this phase, the hunger strike would be observed for two more days — Thursday and Friday.

Protesters termed Peca an attack on the freedom of me­­dia, adding that through this the government had tried to cover up its own “misdeeds”.

They recalled that when it was brought during the previous PTI government then opposition leaders Shehbaz Sharif and Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari had expressed solidarity with journalists and also joined their protests.

However, they regretted these parties now played the role of “dictator in the garb of democracy”.

The protest camp in Peshawar was presided over by Nasir Hussain, executive member of PFUJ, while Arshad Ansari, President of the Lahore Press Club, and Qamar Bhatti, President of the Punjab Union of Journalists, led the protest in Lahore.

In Quetta, senior journalists led by Khalil Ahmed of the Balochistan Union of Journalists and General Secretary Ghani Kakar along with other media workers observed hunger strike from 11am to 6pm.

Political leaders, lawyers, civil society representatives, hawkers, trade union leaders, and people from minority communities visited the camp and expressed solidarity with the journalist community.

Speaking at the camp set up outside the Quetta Press Club, the BUJ leaders and senior journalists declared that they would not allow any attempt to curtail their freedom to succeed.

Source:dawn.com

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Interior Minister Naqvi promises all-out efforts to restore peace in Sindh

Dawn Report

February 13, 2025

KARACHI: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Wednesday said that the government would take all-out measures to restore peace in Sindh, particularly Karachi.

Mr Naqvi said this during a visit to the headquarters of Pakistan Rangers, Sindh in Karachi, where he held a meeting with Director General of Rangers Major General Muhammad Shamraiz.

He was given a detailed briefing on the Rangers’ operational preparedness, the eastern borders, operations against dacoits in the Katcha (riverine) areas, prevention of smuggling and water theft and the overall law and order situation in Karachi.

The interior minister appreciated the role of the paramilitary force and said that every possible step would be taken to restore peace in Sindh, particularly Karachi, said a Rangers spokesperson in a statement.

Upgrade of Niaz Stadium

The minister also held separate meetings with Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori and Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah.

They discussed matters of mutual interest, including the security situation and the promotion of cricket in the province.

The chief minister’s discussion particularly focussed on promoting cricket in the province and upgrading Niaz Stadium in Hyderabad to meet international standards, enabling it to host international cricket matches in the future.

According to a press statement issued by the CM House, both leaders agreed on the necessity of implementing measures to equip the stadium with modern facilities.

Mr Shah emphasised that talented young cricketers, including those from rural areas, should be given opportunities to excel.

At the Governor House, Mr Tessori lauded the role of law enforcement agencies in maintaining peace and security, stating that their efforts were commendable.

He further emphasised that the renovation of National Bank Stadium would significantly contribute to the promotion of cricket.

The interior minister praised the ongoing initiatives under the governor’s leadership, describing them as exemplary.

Source:dawn.com

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Justice Dogar becomes acting IHC CJ after HCs' jurists elevated to SC

By Awais Yousafzai

February 13, 2025

ISLAMABAD: Following the elevation of the high courts judges to the Supreme Court, Justice Sarfraz Dogar was late Wednesday appointed as the acting chief justice of the Islamabad High Court.

A notification issued by the law ministry late Wednesday said President Asif Ali Zardari appointed Justice Dogar under Article 196 of the Constitution “with effect from the date of he makes oath of his office, till appointment of regular Chief Justice”.

The development came two days after the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) approved on Monday the appointment of six new judges to the Supreme Court amid a boycott by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers and two senior SC judges.

According to a press release issued by the JCP, a meeting was held under the chairmanship of Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi to consider the nominations for appointment of high court judges in the SC and, by a majority of its total membership, nominated six judges.

The chief justices of all high courts, except the Lahore High Court (LHC) were among the six judges nominated. These included Justice Muhammad Hashim Khan Kakar, Justice Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui, Justice Salahuddin Panhwar, Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim, Justice Shakeel Ahmad and Justice Aamer Farooq.

The Commission, also by majority of its total membership, nominated IHC's Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb for appointment as the Acting Judge of the Supreme Court.

Earlier, three judges — from Sindh, Balochistan, and Lahore — were transferred to the IHC, drawing severe criticism from the legal fraternity, including the IHC judges.

Then IHJ CJ Justice Farooq made various changes at administrative level after the addition of three new judges. He had appointed Justice Dogar as the administrative judge for the anti-terrorism courts and the accountability courts. Previously, Justice Kayani was the administrative judge of these courts.

The five justices, contesting the seniority criteria, were of the view that the judges transferred from other high courts should take oath anew to reset their seniority.

Nevertheless, their representation was rejected by IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq, saying the new oath was not required as their seniority was calculated from the time they took oath in their respective high court and not from the date of their transfer.

Source:thenews.com.pk

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Khawaja Asif says CJP-IMF meeting 'not imposed'

February 12, 2025

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif clarified on Wednesday that the meeting between the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi was held with mutual agreement of both parties, rejecting notion that the engagement result of any "imposed" decision.

Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly, Asif clarified that no one had imposed any decision for a meeting between the IMF delegation and the top court's jurist. He said that the meeting was held with mutual consensus between the two parties.

"It [judiciary] could have refused the meeting, however, the judiciary held the meeting [with the IMF delegation] on its own."

He went on to say that the government and the global lender were always engaged in discussions related to financial matters and budgets.

"Our government is trying to enforce financial discipline in the country which is also an IMF condition. The judiciary has a major role in this regard. The judiciary should assist us as the country is going through a difficult situation."

Pointing towards the meeting, the defence czar was of the view that the IMF has no role other than seeking support from the judiciary to support ongoing efforts for implementing financial discipline.

"This is our compulsion, not our choice," said Asif, adding that the entire financial discipline of the country was based on the IMF programme following the fiscal assistance granted by the global lender.

A day ago, an IMF delegation, currently in Pakistan to review the judicial framework as part of the ongoing $7 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF), met CJP Afridi and hailed the ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening governance and accountability.

The IMF's technical mission team is visiting the country to conduct a governance and corruption diagnostic assessment (GCDA), the Ministry of Finance said in a statement. It will examine six key governance-related sectors and institutions, the statement added.

The GCDA report would recommend actions for addressing corruption vulnerabilities and strengthening integrity and governance, which will assist the government in bringing about reforms for promoting transparency, strengthening institutional capacities and achieving inclusive and sustainable economic growth, the ministry had said.

According to a press release issued by the Supreme Court, the chief justice provided an overview of "the ongoing efforts to enhance judicial performance".

He informed the delegation, led by Joel Turkewitz, that the judiciary in Pakistan is independent, and being head of the institution, it is his responsibility to protect the independence.

Furthermore, the statement said, CJP Afridi highlighted key constitutional developments concerning the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) and reforms, including senior-level judicial appointments, judicial accountability, and the restructuring of the JCP.

Justice Afiridi also informed that the Supreme Court "is in the process of finalising a critical agenda for the upcoming National Judicial Policy-Making Committee (NJPMC) meeting expected in the last week of February".

Meanwhile, the IMF delegation acknowledged the judiciary’s role in maintaining legal and institutional stability and expressed its appreciation for ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening governance and accountability.

"The discussion reaffirmed a shared commitment to enhancing judicial efficiency and upholding the rule of law as a cornerstone of economic and social progress," it stated.

Source:thenews.com.pk

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PTI shares 'undeniable rigging' allegations with IMF in dossier

By Web Desk

February 12, 2025

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) shared what it called "undeniable evidence of electoral rigging in general elections 2024" in a dossier with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Wednesday.

"Letter and dossiers delivered to the IMF mission in Islamabad," Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Omar Ayub wrote on X.

A copy of the letter and dossier, and the Pattan report on general elections 2024 were also forwarded to Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi, he added.

The IMF's technical mission team is visiting the country to conduct a governance and corruption diagnostic assessment (GCDA), the Ministry of Finance said in a statement. It will examine six key governance-related sectors and institutions, the statement added.

In the letter addressed to Mahir Binici, IMF's country head for Pakistan, Ayub cited former prime minister Imran Khan's meeting with the IMF delegation on July 7, 2023, in which the PTI founder stressed the need for free and fair elections for the rule of law.

"He further stressed that economic prosperity and growth in a country could only take place when there was rule of law and adherence to the constitution," the letter stated.

The dossier, he said, contains "substantial facts and proofs of how state institutions, including the Election Commission of Pakistan, suppressed PTI, forcefully snatching its public mandate, and engineering the electoral outcome".

"The systematic manipulation of the democratic process is evident across the country, undermining the very principles of justice, free will, and constitutional governance," he added.

Given the significance of transparency in economic and political stability, Ayub said his party believes it is imperative that these grave concerns "are brought to the attention of all relevant stakeholders, including international institutions monitoring governance in Pakistan."

Meanwhile, the opposition leader said that his party was ready to meet the visiting IMF delegation for "any further information or clarification".

"We trust that upholding the rule of law and democratic integrity will remain a priority in all engagements concerning Pakistan's future," he concluded.

The letter came a day after the IMF's technical mission met Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi to review the judicial framework as part of the ongoing $7 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF).

According to a press release issued by the Supreme Court on Tuesday, the chief justice provided an overview of "the ongoing efforts to enhance judicial performance".

He informed the delegation, led by Joel Turkewitz, that the judiciary in Pakistan is independent, and being head of the institution, it is his responsibility to protect the independence.

The CJP further said that the judiciary is not used to direct interaction with such missions but since the Finance Division requested, this interaction is taking place. He also said he would be "quite guarded to his comments and views".

Meanwhile, the IMF delegation acknowledged the judiciary’s role in maintaining legal and institutional stability and expressed its appreciation for ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening governance and accountability.

"The discussion reaffirmed a shared commitment to enhancing judicial efficiency and upholding the rule of law as a cornerstone of economic and social progress," it stated.

'Pakistan election audit'

This is not the first time the embattled former ruling party has penned a letter to the global lender.

Last year in Feb, the PTI said it had sent a letter on the matter to the IMF's Pakistan representative to ensure an audit of the February 8 elections before any more bailout talks with Islamabad.

"We have today sent this letter to IMF," party's chairman Barrister Gohar Khan told a news conference in Islamabad.

The letter called on the IMF to honour its commitment to demanding free and fair elections.

In the last interaction between Imran Khan and IMF representatives in 2023, it said, the PTI had agreed to support the lender's financing facility for Pakistan on condition that free and fair elections be held in the country.

The IMF had sought support from all political parties, including Khan's, shortly after agreeing with Islamabad on the $3 billion standby arrangement, which the lender said was in the lead-up to national elections.

"An audit of at least 30% of the national and provincial assemblies' seats should be ensured," the PTI said in its letter.

However, it was made clear that the PTI and its founding chairman never wanted to create any obstacle to hurt the country’s economy in any way.

Source:thenews.com.pk

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Military courts questioned over lack of transparency

Nasir Iqbal

February 13, 2025

ISLAMABAD: Senior counsel Salman Akram Raja on Wednes­day compared court-martial procedures in various countries with those applied in Pakistan, emphasising that the 19th-century principles of military trials cannot be enforced in 2025.

“The court-martial is a burning issue in the world for the last many years,” argued Salman Akram Raja, who was representing the father of Arzam Junaid, who was sentenced to six years by a military court in connection with the May 9 violence.

A seven-judge constitutional bench, headed by Justice Amin­uddin Khan, was hearing intra-court appeals (ICAs) against a October 2023 ruling by a five-judge bench that nullified the trial of civilians by military courts for their involvement in the violence.

“Today, no one can fathom the reality that the military court never provides written reasons for awarding a death sentence,” the counsel regretted, citing a study conducted by the International Commission of Jurists. The study noted that Pakistan’s court-martial system had a 93 per cent conviction rate over the last 20 years, with nearly all convictions based solely on confessions.

Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, also a petitioner, referred to a judgement by late Peshawar High Court chief justice Waqar Seth, which found that 159 individuals convicted under the 21st Amendment had given nearly identical confessions.

Analyst Hafeezullah Niazi also alleged that accused individuals were coerced into making confessions under the false assurance of acquittal.

When Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan suggested that high conviction rates could be due to strong prosecution, Mr Raja countered that “fear”, rather than fair legal proceedings, was the primary factor in military court trials. In a light-hearted remark, Justice Afghan asked whether Mr Raja had political affiliations with a party that had previously amended the Pakistan Army Act (PAA).

Mr Raja clarified that he was not a part of the PTI government at the time, stating, “I have always been on the opposition side.”

Comparing Pakistan’s system with India’s and UK’s, Mr Raja said Pakistan’s system lacks transparency, with 105 individuals tried in military courts over the past two years without any external oversight.

“There is no opportunity in Pakistan to approach the high courts in the middle of the court martial proceedings,” the counsel regretted, whereas both in India and the UK, the entire concept of court-martial proceedings has been opened up and changed entirely.

Source:dawn.com

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Imran shook country’s foundations, says Nawaz

Zulqernain Tahir

February 13, 2025

LAHORE: In a meeting with party legislators from Punjab, PML-N president Nawaz Sharif lashed out at incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan, saying that he had shaken the foundations of the country after coming to power in 2018.

“A person (Imran Khan) who came to power with fraudulent means shook the foundation of the country,” Mr Sharif said while talking to the Punjab Assembly lawmakers from Nankana Sahib, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Okara and Pakpattan, here on Wednesday.

The three-time former PM and his daughter, Pun­jab Chief Minister Mary­­am Nawaz, have started meeting party lawmakers in order to listen to problems and issues related to their constituencies.

“We happily made sacrifices for the sake of Pakistan in the past and we will not hesitate in the future as well,” he said.

The ex-premier boasted that economic decline had turned to progress under the leadership of PM Shehbaz Sharif. He said the IMF ack­n­o­wledged the economic turnover and progress of Pakistan.

“Pakistan is coming out of economic quagmire and other difficulties. PML-N has once again has proved that it not only serves the country but also provides relief to the masses.”

Source:dawn.com

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Defence minister defends IMF team’s meeting with CJP

Iftikhar A. Khan

February 13, 2025

ISLAMABAD: After a JUI-F lawmaker raised questions over the meeting of International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation with the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP), Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said the judiciary’s help in financial discipline was vital and the meeting was in this context.

“We got the breathing space because of the IMF. We have compulsions, not a choice,” the defence minister said.

“Within our compulsions, we are trying to survive financially,” he remarked, adding that the meeting took place with the consent of both the parties.

He said discussions keep on taking place with the IMF over monetary and fiscal issues. He said the government was making efforts to impose financial discipline, which was also a conditionality of IMF. The judiciary has a big role to play in this regard, he said.

Stressing that the country is facing economic difficulties, he said the judiciary should support efforts for financial discipline.

Earlier, Noor Alam Khan of JUI-F raised alarm over the meeting of IMF delegation with the CJP and sought to know under which capacity and under whose permission the IMF team met the chief justice.

He also asked the government to tell the House to what was discussed during the meeting. “Will you roll back the nuclear programme, if it is demanded by IMF?” he questioned.

According to a press release issued by the Supreme Court a day earlier, the meeting took place on the request of the finance division.

After Naveed Qamar’s protest over the absence of the minister concerned to respond to his calling-attention notice, Khawaja Asif said he could not defend their absence. “There are some ministers I’ve never seen in the House. I can also name them,” he said.

PPP leader Raja Parvaiz Ashraf expressed concern over reports of closure of Utility Stores in the country and called for transparency in this matter.

“There is a need for transparency in the government’s assurances given on the floor of the House on the issue of Utility Stores,” he said.

Mr Ashraf recalled that Minister for Production Rana Tanvir Hussain had given assurance in the National Assembly that Utility Stores would not be shut down in the country.

“Utility Stores should not be closed as the issue concerns employment of 15,000 employees and 7,000 outlets,” he said.

Mr Hussain said the government did not intend to shut down Utility Stores; instead, the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) is being restructured.

He said the government would not wind up the Utility Stores Corporation and the future of its employees will be safeguarded.

Amid concerns expressed by both sides of the aisle in the House over slow internet speed affecting business and studies, the National Assembly was informed that the government will introduce 5G services to provide fast and reliable internet to users by the mid of this year.

Responding to a question during the Question Hour in the House, parliamentary secretary on information technology and telecommunication Sabheen Ghoury said four new cables will be laid to improve infrastructure.

She disclosed that two international companies, Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology Ltd, a Chinese space technology company, and Starlink, the satellite internet service owned by Elon Musk, have approached Pakistan for providing satellite internet services in the country.

Source:dawn.com

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https://www.dawn.com/news/1891534/defence-minister-defends-imf-teams-meeting-with-cjp

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