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Islamic World News ( 15 Feb 2025, NewAgeIslam.Com)

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Azerbaijan embraces diversity: First Muslim nation to define antisemitism in textbooks

New Age Islam News Bureau

15 February 2025

· Azerbaijan embraces diversity: First Muslim nation to define antisemitism in textbooks

· Hefazat-e-Islam calls for ban on AL following UN report

· Asaduddin Owaisi: ‘If Waqf Bill becomes a law, Muslims won’t forgive Nitish, Chandrababu and Chirag for betrayal’

· We Have No Plan To Discriminate Against Muslim Students’ Dressing – Provost

· Freedom of expression no excuse to insult religion, says unity minister

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Europe

· Muslim families say 'no respect' as burial rules 'overlooked' at Birmingham cemetery

· Christian school worker wins landmark trial for expressing religious beliefs

· JD Vance calls out UK authorities for targeting religious Britons and prosecuting ‘thought-crimes’

· Celebrating culture through space: the Ramadan Festival in Bradford

· Landmark step in educating for peace and tolerance

· Middlesbrough’s new mosque inauguration taking place without controversial speaker Mohamed Hoblos

· Vance's blast at Europe ignores Ukraine and defence agenda

· UK army too 'run down' to lead Ukraine peace mission: ex-chief

· Chernobyl radiation shield hit by Russian drone, Ukraine says

· Pope to be admitted to hospital for bronchitis

· Boss denies making soldier feel 'unsafe' at hotel

· Russell T Davies to bring new LGBT drama to TV

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South Asia

· Court imposes travel ban on Sirajganj AL president, family members

· Abbas calls out Jamaat's polls delaying tactics

· Nation doesn’t want a sham election: Jamaat ameer

· Ministry of Martyrs and Disabled Signs MoU to Support Orphans

· Commemoration of Soviet Withdrawal from Afghanistan

· Pakistan calls TTP sanctuaries in Afghanistan a barrier to Islamabad-Kabul cooperation

· Germany says Afghan refugee deportation unlikely before elections

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India

· Waqf bill: ‘Muslims should not worry, no threat to mosques & madrassas’

· Majid Hussain tops Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Mains in MP with 99.99 percentile

· Modi shared worries over Bangla in US; PM flagged threats to Hindus, rise of Islamists

· Now, Fadnavis govt moves to enact law against 'love jihad'

· ASP, chairperson of Shahi Jama Masjid committee argue over posters of Sambhal violence suspects on mosque wall

· SC to hear pleas on Places of Worship Act, 1991, on Feb 17; CJI Khanna-led bench to take up case

· HC suspends single judge order removing Waqf Board CEO Asadullah

· Srinagar’s Jama Masjid shut on Shab-e-Baraat for sixth year in a row

· Saffron policing at Tirupati Book Festival

· Pro-TMC platform slams UP govt over Kumbh stampede deaths, demands death certificates

· Police put up posters of 74 suspects involved in Sambhal violence on November 24

· Gogoi's wife supported ISI, Pakistan phrased his queries on maritime security: BJP

· Rai urges Guv to seek clarification from UP govt on mosque demolition

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Africa

· Niger PM meets with Organization of Islamic Cooperation over education, health

· Worship for Change donates N36.75m to six care homes

· Mike Bamiloye warns against spiritual dangers on Valentine’s Day

· Yoruba Muslims task Tinubu on fairness, inclusion in political appointments

· UN chief calls for end to flow of weapons into Sudan

· Pa Adebanjo Is An Example Of How To Live And Die – Atiku

· Visa Denial: We Might Do To Canada What We Did To South Africa – NIS Official Threatens Retaliation

· Nnamdi Kanu Recalls Parents Tragic Death, Blames Nigerian Army

· Nigerian lawmakers approve $200 million to offset shortfall from US health aid cuts

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Southeast Asia

· No need for non-Muslim affairs minister, just refer to Unity Ministry: Aaron

· PPj president: Putrajaya to host four Ramadan bazaars, adds new Precinct 16 spot

· Suspect in killing of Kuantan food vendor nabbed in Terengganu

· Police detain two traffickers with 19 illegal migrants in central KB Hotel

· Harmoni Madani PRR project set for completion by Q1 2027, says Nga

· PM Anwar: Harmoni Madani PRR to set benchmark for estate-govt housing partnerships

· MOH: All Haj pilgrims must get meningococcal jab, Covid-19 and flu shots for high-risk groups

· PKR elections: Anwar leaves presidential, deputy contests to party decision

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North America

· US senator hails Zelensky for proxy war effort

· Vance's blast at Europe ignores Ukraine and defence agenda

· Who is Danielle Sassoon, prosecutor who quit in protest from Trump justice department?

· Transgender references removed from Stonewall monument website

· Prosecutors ask to drop corruption case against NYC Mayor Eric Adams

· Man pleads guilty in shooting of US teen Ralph Yarl

· Accuser drops rape lawsuit against Jay-Z and Sean Combs

· What it means when Elon Musk brings his children to work

· US man held in Russia for carrying cannabis sweets - state media

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Pakistan

· TTP still gets financial, logistic support from Afghan Taliban

· Sindh CM criticises judge for 'inapt' remarks on police in Mustafa murder case

· Top IHC judges stay away from new boss’ oath

· New SC judges take oath as old guard vows to put up a fight

· Call for ending graft to attract investment

· Govt blocks Peca resolution amid nationwide protests by journalists

· Senate recognises parties’ right to peaceful assembly

· Four PTI leaders among 31 indicted for ‘torching PML-N office’ in Lahore

· FIA arrests 44 in crackdown on illegal UK SIMs

· Imran’s letter an ‘extreme supplication’: Punjab Assembly speaker

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Mideast

· Trump backs ‘hard stance’ on Gaza, says he does not know what Israel will do

· At UN, Arab nations say they want a ‘Gazan Riviera’ in an independent Palestinian state

· Hostages freed from Gaza painfully piece together a changed world

· Prosecution releases 28 conditional & indigent prisoners on Ramadan occasion

· Tens of thousands of Palestinians perform Friday prayers in courtyards of blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque

· Top commander with UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon is injured by protesters

· Syria receives local currency printed in Russia before Assad’s fall

· Gazans return to ruined homes and severe water shortage

· Hariri returns to politics, backs PM Salam, calls for unity

· Israel says received names of 3 hostages to be freed Saturday

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Arab World

· Saudi humanitarian aid convoy reaches Syria through Nasib Crossing

· How Saudi Arabia is leveraging regenerative tourism to blend luxury with sustainability

· The 11th Saudi Film Festival returns in April

· Jeddah celebrates global culinary extravaganza at Food Culture Festival

· Focus on creating books for young readers at Jazan Book Fair

· Saudi Arabia launches first recycling program for pilgrim garments

· Attempt to smuggle unlicensed medical pills thwarted in Asir

· KSRelief director meets with Azerbaijan’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia

· Saudi Arabia marks 80th anniversary of historic King Abdulaziz–Roosevelt meeting with special exhibition

· Next Hamza Arabic language test to take place on Sunday

· Riyadh Metro records more than 18 million passengers in just over two months

Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau

URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/azerbaijan-muslim-nation-anti-semitism/d/134633

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Azerbaijan embraces diversity: First Muslim nation to define antisemitism in textbooks LANDMARK STEP IN EDUCATING FOR PEACE AND TOLERANCE

14 February 2025

In a groundbreaking move, The Jerusalem Post has spotlighted Azerbaijan’s remarkable strides in education and its commitment to fostering tolerance. The article highlights a historic achievement: Azerbaijan has become the first Muslim-majority nation to officially define antisemitism in its textbooks. Caliber.Az is proud to present this insightful piece to our readers.

A new report from the Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education (IMPACT-se) has revealed that Azerbaijan has made significant progress in its educational curriculum, marking a historic achievement as the first Muslim-majority country to define antisemitism in its textbooks.

Published on Thursday, the report is part of a three-part series on Central Asian curricula, produced in collaboration with the Ruderman Family Foundation. It also examines the educational materials in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

The findings of the report showcase a positive representation of Jews and Israel, alongside a clear recognition of the Holocaust as the systematic genocide of six million Jews. A significant development in the 2024-25 school year saw the removal of anti-Israel narratives, providing a more balanced perspective on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. IMPACT-se also noted that there are no signs of radicalism or Islamist rhetoric in the textbooks. Instead, they emphasize secularism, diversity, and inclusivity.

However, the report points out that Azerbaijani Jewish history, along with broader Jewish historical narratives, is still largely absent, marking an area for future improvement.

The study reviewed 53 textbooks from Azerbaijan’s national curriculum, all of which demonstrated a notable shift in the portrayal of Israel. While earlier materials depicted Israel as aggressive and dismissive of peace, the revised curriculum attributes the roots of the conflict to the Arab rejection of the 1947 UN Partition Plan. The textbooks now criticize corruption and military failures in Arab states and use more neutral language—replacing terms like “occupied” with “taken over” or “captured.”

The updated curriculum also presents Israel as a hub for technological and agricultural innovation, with a Grade 11 Geography textbook highlighting Israeli irrigation systems as models for global sustainability. Israeli agriculture is portrayed as a solution to worldwide challenges, encouraging a narrative of international cooperation.

Additionally, Palestinian violence, which was previously described as "guerilla warfare," is now labelled as terrorism, and the global consequences of such actions are recognized. Maps in Geography textbooks now depict Israel as a Jewish state. The mention of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas as the sole pursuer of peace has been removed, reinforcing a more neutral stance.

Azerbaijani textbooks also show respect for Judaism and other minority religions, integrating them into the country's cultural fabric. Jewish symbols, places of worship, and beliefs are referenced, while negative historical stereotypes about Jews have been excluded. A Grade 1 Life Knowledge textbook teaches religious diversity and kindness, featuring images of both a synagogue and a church in Azerbaijan.

In Grade 3, a teacher’s guide suggests students create religious symbols, including the Star of David, and discuss their significance. A Grade 6 textbook presents both the Jewish and Muslim versions of the Biblical sacrifice story side by side.

One significant example of inclusivity is the recognition of Jewish Azerbaijani war hero Albert Agarunov as a national hero, though his Jewish heritage is not explicitly mentioned in the educational material.

The report also praised Azerbaijan for its direct and clear teaching of the Holocaust, describing it as the systematic genocide of six million Jews. Textbooks included images and first-hand accounts of Nazi atrocities, concentration camps, and antisemitic laws. Notably, a Grade 9 History textbook explicitly defined antisemitism, making Azerbaijan the first Muslim-majority country to include such a definition in its curriculum.

In addition to the Holocaust, the curriculum also covers the persecution of Jews in Tsarist Russia and the Dreyfus Affair, expanding students’ understanding of antisemitism beyond just the Holocaust.

Jay Ruderman, president of the Ruderman Family Foundation, praised the study as “a groundbreaking report that sheds light on the region’s commitment to tolerance and respect.”

Marcus Sheff, CEO of IMPACT-se, emphasized Azerbaijan’s unique geopolitical position, noting its status as a secular, ethnically Turkic, Muslim-majority country bordered by Iran, Russia, and Turkey. He remarked that Azerbaijan's rejection of the extreme Islamist values promoted by Iran in favour of tolerance and inclusivity serves as an important model for other Muslim nations.

Roman Gurevich, Honorary Ambassador of the Jewish Agency in Azerbaijan, added, “Azerbaijan can serve as a model for the world in tolerance and respect for all religions and citizens. The bond between Azerbaijan and the Jewish people is centuries old and continues to strengthen in the modern era.”

Source:caliber.az

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https://caliber.az/en/post/azerbaijan-embraces-diversity-first-muslim-nation-to-define-antisemitism-in-textbooks

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Hefazat-e-Islam calls for ban on AL following UN report

Feb 14, 2025

Hefazat-e-Islam today demanded that the interim government ban the Awami League following the release of a report by the United Nations fact-finding mission.

Hefazat Ameer Muhibbullah Babunagari and Secretary General Sajedur Rahman made this demand in a joint statement.

They claimed that the detailed investigative report by the United Nations Human Rights Office on last year's mass uprising revealed horrific crimes against humanity committed by the "fascist" Hasina and her accomplices, supported by substantial evidence.

Under Hasina's planning and directives, her loyal forces have gone to extreme lengths of brutality, including enforced disappearances, killings, and torture, they said.

The Hefazat leaders further stated that the Awami League must be banned at the state level for its involvement in the Pilkhana massacre, enforced disappearances, killings, and the May 5 and 24 massacres.

"Otherwise, Awami fascism will not allow the government and people of this country to live in peace for even a moment," the statement quoted them as saying.

They also accused the Awami League of actively spreading division and discord among the parties supporting the mass uprising.

The Hefazat leaders also asserted that India continues to behave like an enemy state, unable to accept the new Bangladesh that emerged after Hasina's fall. Instead, under India's shelter, Hasina is being given the opportunity to orchestrate one conspiracy after another. Therefore, they called for the swift trial of Hasina for enforced disappearances and massacres.

"At the same time, her identified loyalists within various forces must also be brought to justice quickly," the statement concluded.

Source:thedailystar.net

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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/politics/news/hefazat-e-islam-calls-ban-al-following-un-report-3824481

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Asaduddin Owaisi: ‘If Waqf Bill becomes a law, Muslims won’t forgive Nitish, Chandrababu and Chirag for betrayal’

by Asad Rehman

February 14, 2025

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president and Lok Sabha MP from Hyderabad, Asaduddin Owaisi (Express file photo)

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Both Houses of Parliament on Thursday saw uproar by the Opposition MPs over the tabling of the report of the Joint Committee of Parliament on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill. While the Opposition alleged that portions of their members’ dissent notes were deleted from the report, the BJP-led NDA government denied it.

The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president and Lok Sabha MP from Hyderabad, Asaduddin Owaisi, who was part of this Parliament committee, speaks to The Indian Express on the panel’s functioning, its report and the Opposition members’ dissent notes, among other issues. Excerpts:

What do you have to say about the Parliament Waqf committee’s functioning and its report?

The proceedings of the committee were held in a haphazard manner. The chairman (BJP MP Jagdambika Pal) used his prerogative in a wrong way for calling stakeholders. Some of their members have been involved in terror activities while a few are facing murder charges. What stake do they have on the Waqf Bill or the issue?

Secondly, many organisations that had nothing to do with the Waqf were called.

Thirdly, the tenure of the committee was supposed to be till the last day of the ongoing Budget session but was advanced. How is it possible for members to read the document within a few hours and give dissent notes? This tells you that they did not want our dissent notes which contradicted the unconstitutional Bill.

What is your take on the amendments proposed by the NDA members, which were approved by the committee?

Our amendments lost out as we did not have the numbers while the NDA and BJP had numerical strength. The amendments moved by the BJP members make the Bill worse. The worst part is that not only non-Muslims can be ex-officio members, non-Muslims can also be appointed to Waqf Boards on a nomination basis.

There is also a need to demonstrate that you are a Muslim. What is the meaning of demonstrate? How do you demonstrate you are a Muslim or you are not one? Is that legal language?

You say “Waqf by user” only if the property is not in dispute and it does not belong to the government. What is the legal definition of dispute? Anyone can create a dispute either verbally or by giving a representation. According to this Bill, if anyone complains to the Collector that a Waqf property is not a Waqf property and if an inquiry is ordered, the property will cease to be a Waqf property till the probe is completed. There is no time limit to it. The Collector is a part of the Executive. He is a government appointee. It is a grave violation of the theory of separation of power and an example of how this Waqf by user amendment will be used against the interest of Waqf.

For instance, the mosque in front of Parliament. The government as well as the Waqf claim it is theirs. Now, after the Bill becomes a law and the government decides it is their property, you will see a sticker pasted on the masjid which will read “this is government property and you cannot pray here”. In what way are all these amendments being brought to save Waqf properties? Instead, you want to snatch them away.

Also, once it becomes a law, the members (of the Waqf Board) will be appointed without an election, which is undemocratic. So, by appointing your members, you will take over Waqf property.

The Bill is in violation of Article 29 of the Constitution. These are fundamental rights which cannot be taken away.

When the Boards of other religions like Hindus, Christians and Sikhs do explicitly say those not practising the religion cannot be made members of their Boards and have their own tribunals to deal with disputes, something exactly opposite is being done (through the amendments to the Waqf Act,1995).

The amendments have been brought in from an ideological point of view. You just want to destroy the Waqf Board and nothing will remain.

Several Opposition members have alleged that parts of their dissent notes were not included in the report. Which parts have been removed?

When we met the Speaker today, he directed the Secretary-General to sit with the Lok Sabha members of the panel and ensure that the redacted version should be included in the final report if the provisions in the procedure adopted for the committee are not violated.

The report says there is a threat to Scheduled Tribes (STs) and their lands and has recommended the ministry to take appropriate legislative measures…

In my dissent note, I have written that you cannot do it. Legally, a Muslim can be a tribal. For instance, you have Lakshadweep MP (Mohammad Faizal) and Ladakh MP (Mohmad Haneefa) who are tribals but are Muslims. How can you curtail their freedom of religion?

We have been accused of criticising the working of the committee in our dissent notes and in this garb, portions of our dissent notes were redacted from the report.

How is that criticism of the committee? The parliamentary procedure says if the dissent note of a member is redacted, the chairman must inform. In this case, the chairman did not inform. This clearly shows that the chairman wanted to bulldoze what the government wanted. This is very unfortunate.

The NDA has the numbers to pass the Bill as we have seen their allies, JD(U), TDP and LJP (RV) are on the same page as the government. What is the Opposition’s roadmap?

The TDP, LJP(RV) and [JD(U) chief] Nitish Kumar must realise what they are doing is something unconstitutional.

They are going to destroy the Waqf and in the process, their shallow talk of upholding the interests of Muslim minorities and secularism is coming across as a farce. They will be exposed badly.

God forbid, if this Bill becomes a law, then Muslims will not forgive [TDP chief] Chandrababu Naidu, [LJP(RV) president] Chirag Pasawan and Nitish for their betrayal.

Have Opposition parties had a conversation about how they plan to stop the Bill from becoming a law?

Let us see what happens and what the government does. Whatever it is doing, it is carrying forward its ideology. What is the need to chant JSR (Jai Shree Ram) slogans when the report is being tabled in Parliament? What does this tell the nation? The government claims to be doing this (amending the Waqf Act, 1995) for poor Muslims. Is this the way to do it?

Source:indianexpress.com

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https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/asaduddin-owaisi-waqf-bill-law-muslim-wont-forgive-nitish-chandrababu-chirag-9835402/

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We Have No Plan To Discriminate Against Muslim Students’ Dressing – Provost

By Raji Adebayo

Feb 14, 2025

The Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology Ibadan, has declared that it has no plan whatsoever to discriminate against the Muslim students in the institution.

Provost of the college, Dr. Adekoya Olatunde Owosibo, made this declaration via a statement made available to journalists in Ibadan on Thursday.

It was gathered that the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Oyo State Area Unit in a statement signed by Mallam Hussayn Adepoju (Amir) and Mallam AbdulRahman Elegbede (PRO) alleged that the provost reportedly threatened to dismiss any female Muslim student wearing the veil (Niqob) from the institution.

But, the Provost of the college, Dr. Adekoya Olatunde Owosibo, while reacting, said that the institution has no plan to segregate or discriminate against any student based on their religious affiliations.

Owosibo in the statement he personally signed and made available to journalists, noted that the duty of the college is to ensure religious harmony and tolerance.

The provost while speaking further, maintained that no student has ever been sent out of the classroom or disenfranchised for any reason.

He added that the Chief Imam of the IAR&T community and President of the IAR&T Muslim community can be contacted to buttress harmonious relationships.

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:independent.ng

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https://independent.ng/we-have-no-plan-to-discriminate-against-muslim-students-dressing-provost/

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Freedom of expression no excuse to insult religion, says unity minister

15 Feb 2025

National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang attends the Jejak Harmoni Programme in conjunction with World Interfaith Harmony Week at Al-Hidayah Sentul Mosque in Kuala Lumpur February 15, 2025. — Bernama pic

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KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 15 — All parties are reminded to be careful in expressing their views on religion because freedom of expression is not a ticket or an excuse to insult or belittle the religious beliefs of others.

National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang, who stressed the matter, said that spreading fake news or provocative statements about religion can worsen the situation and create racial tension.

“As a country rich in diversity, we cannot deny that differences exist in various aspects of life.

“However, we must see these differences as strengths and not weaknesses. This diversity should not be a dividing line, but rather the basis for a society that is inclusive and respectful.”

He said this when launching the Jejak Harmoni Programme in conjunction with World Interfaith Harmony Week, organised by the Malaysian Consultative Council for Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) in collaboration with the Ministry of National Unity here today.

In this regard, Aaron also called on the people to adopt a mature attitude in every discussion related to religion and race and to use freedom of speech to build stronger harmony and unity.

“Social media is a major platform in disseminating information, but it must be used in a fully responsible manner,” he said.

The minister said the government is always committed to ensuring that the unity of the people continues to be strengthened through various initiatives and policies that promote interaction, harmony and mutual well-being.

As such, Aaron urged all parties, especially religious organisations, to participate in organising harmony-based activities by spreading the message of harmony to help achieve the goals of the MADANI Harmony Initiative.

Meanwhile, the Jejak Harmoni Programme involved a goodwill visit by the participants walking to places of worship starting from Masjid Al-Hidayah, Sentul Pasar and ending at Gurdwara Sahib, Sentul. — Bernama

Source:malaymail.com

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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/02/15/freedom-of-expression-no-excuse-to-insult-religion-says-unity-minister/166783

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Europe

Muslim families say 'no respect' as burial rules 'overlooked' at Birmingham cemetery

15 Feb 2025

Distraught Muslims have blasted Birmingham City Council amid fears that their burial wishes are being overlooked and their needs ignored at local cemeteries.

Long standing grievances about a lack of prayer and washing facilities at Sutton New Hall Cemetery have been magnified after gravediggers apparently ran out of the cement required at a Muslim burial to seal the shrouded body in after an interment.

One family said they were left distraught in front of hundreds of mourners by the 'shambolic' service they received. Rising burial fees, reduced opening hours and continued concerns about delays in burials are all adding to distress, said Councillor Zaker Choudhry (Lib Dems, South Yardley).

He raised one family's experience during a meeting of the city council, saying it was the latest indignity suffered by Muslims fretful about whether the city was committed to honouring their dead.

He said: "We have raised questions for several years about the basic facilities at Sutton New Hall Cemetery. I feel ashamed to stand here and ask the same questions.

"We are not giving basic services to families, who are not being shown respect."

Sutton New Hall Cemetery has no ablution facilities for wudu (washing before prayer) nor does it have a multi-faith prayer room, despite repeated requests.

"They have promised repeatedly to look into it but have achieved nothing," Cllr Choudhry added.

One family contacted Cllr Choudhry to raise their concerns after being left upset by the handling of the burial, while hundreds of mourners looked on.

In their letter to him, the family of one Small Heath elder described the 'shambolic' service.

It is the norm locally, in keeping with faith rituals and the health and safety requirements stipulated by the council, that a body interred in a shroud is topped with a thick plastic sheet and slabs, with cement filling the gaps to create a sealed finish. Soil is then heaped on top.

But instead of applying mixed cement, sand was instead raked over the slabs, and the job 'half done', said the family in their letter to Cllr Choudhry.

"When someone buries their loved ones in the grave, this is the last chance for them to send them in gracefully," said the letter.

"They were very small items that are needed once we put in the body of loved ones in the grave which the council provides....we were shocked to see the level of carelessness."

They added: "I think whoever is in charge of this department should be ashamed and should really consider their position and should go and see the utter disrespect to families."

Fellow Lib Dem councillors Baber Baz (Yardley West and Stechford) and Deborah Harries (Yardley East) say they have repeatedly raised concerns on behalf of local people about similar issues.

Rising burial fees is also causing consternation, amid claims that this affects some communities much more than others.

The cost of a standard grave in one of the city's cemeteries has gone up 10% this year, to £2,750, while the cost of interment has gone up 10% to £1,320. By contrast, a cremation now costs £880 (up 10%).

Cremation is not approved in the Muslim faith, nor is it advocated for followers of orthodox Judaism and Eastern Orthodox Christianity. It has only been permitted by the Roman Catholic church since 1963. With burial the only option for some faiths, any hike in fees is potentially discriminatory, said Cllr Choudhry.

He said: "We are taking the brunt of the increases in fees, yet our needs are not being met."

This is not the only gripe among advocates for Islamic families, who say they continue to press for investment locally in a non-invasive post mortem scanner. A similar device has operated in Sandwell since 2014. This matters to Muslim families and those of other faiths who harbour concerns about 'desecration' of the body.

There are also issues over the state of graveyards in the city, including Yardley and Handsworth. Fees have increased but the maintenance of the graveyards has gone down, claimed Cllr Harries, with overgrown and poorly maintained areas around graves.

"We were made a number of promises but nothing has been done. We see widows sitting on chairs by the graveside, surrounded by mud, communing with their loved one. Their mourning is not being respected," she said.

Cllr Choudhry raised the concerns at a meeting of Birmingham City Council. He said it was distressing that a cemetery which serves a large Muslim population could have run out of basics like sand and cement, required in every burial.

"It is distressing that they are not being given the services they have paid for." In response council leader Cllr John Cotton said he was concerned to learn of the circumstances and would address it 'as a matter of urgency'.

A council spokesperson said of the general concerns about price rises: “We are aware of concerns around this issue but would point out that our fees and charges are comparable with neighbouring authorities. All councils face the significant costs that come with providing the cemetery service, which not only encompasses the burial but also the ongoing maintenance of the cemetery for future years.

"However, while some authorities have already exhausted available burial grounds (or soon will), Birmingham City Council is committed to extending cemeteries to meet the needs of burial for future generations."

On the specifics of the Sutton New Hall Cemetery complaints, they said: “The council has been approached regarding prayer and ablution facilities and options are being considered, however it should be noted that comparison with neighbouring authorities shows that these facilities are not provided at most other cemeteries within the region.” They added the cemetery had not reported running out of cement but this was being looked into.

Source:birminghammail.co.uk

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https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/muslim-families-say-no-respect-30988524

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Christian school worker wins landmark trial for expressing religious beliefs

February 14, 2025

Judges have ruled that Kristie Higgs was wrongly sacked over social media posts that criticised the use of gender ideology in classrooms.

The school administrator won a six-year battle over the right to express Christian beliefs after senior judges said on 12 February that she was unfairly dismissed by the school where she worked over comments she had made in a private capacity on Facebook, reports The Times.

The case had been seen as a landmark freedom of conscience trial, and lawyers for Ms Higgs have predicted that the ruling in the Court of Appeal will have “significant ramifications for Christian freedom in the workplace”.

Her lawyers said the judgment would boost “the freedom of any employee to express biblical principles on marriage and family, some of which may express opposition to LGBTQI-plus ideology, in public or private, without the fear of losing their livelihoods”.

Higgs claimed that senior staff at Farmor’s School in Fairford, Gloucestershire, compared her views to those of “Nazi right-wing extremists” after the head teacher was passed a screenshot of one of her private Facebook posts, The Times reports.

It notes that the mother of two, who before she was sacked had spent seven years as a pastoral worker and administrator, sued the school at the Bristol employment tribunal for discrimination in a claim that sought more than £55,000 in damages.

In their ruling, three appeal judges said that Higgs’s sacking “was unquestionably a disproportionate response”, and that “even if the language of the re-posts passes the threshold of objectionability, it is not grossly offensive”.

The judges, led by Lord Justice Underhill, the vice-president of the Court of Appeal, added that “there was no evidence that the reputation of the school had thus far been damaged” and that “there was no possibility that, even if readers of the posts associated [Higgs] with the school, they would believe that [the posts] represented its own views”.

Speaking about the ruling on the steps of the Royal Courts of Justice in London, Higgs gave thanks to God for her free speech victory at the Court of Appeal and said that “expressing biblical Christian teaching on gender and sexuality may appear to be offensive to those who hold the opposite views, but as today’s judgment signals, Christians have a right to express their beliefs publicly”.

In 2019, Mrs Higgs was dismissed for alleged gross misconduct by Farmor’s School in Fairford, Gloucestershire, after sharing Facebook posts criticising plans to teach about LGBT-related relationships in primary schools.

Mrs Higgs specifically raised concerns about relationship education at her son’s Church of England primary school. Pupils there were to learn about the No Outsiders In Our School programme, which is a series of books that proclaims to deliver the objectives outlined in the Equality Act 2010 and to prepare “children for life in modern Britain”.

In 2018, Mrs Higgs, who at the time posted on Facebook under her maiden name, shared two posts in October of that year to about 100 friends.

One of the posts referred to “brainwashing our children”, and, referencing the No Outsiders In Our School classes, suggested: “Children will be taught that all relationships are equally valid and ‘normal’, so that same-sex marriage is exactly the same as traditional marriage, and gender is a matter of choice, not biology, so that it’s up to them what sex they are.”

She added: “We say again this is a vicious form of totalitarianism aimed at suppressing Christianity and removing it from the public arena.”

Subsequently, an anonymous complaint was made to the school and Mrs Higgs was suspended and, after a disciplinary hearing, dismissed for gross misconduct.

Following her dismissal, Mrs Higgs took the school to an employment tribunal, arguing she had been unlawfully discriminated against because of her Christian beliefs.

Source:thecatholicherald.com

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JD Vance calls out UK authorities for targeting religious Britons and prosecuting ‘thought-crimes’

February 14, 2025

The US vice president has publicly criticised the UK authorities’ use of so-called buffer zones legislation regarding abortion facilities and for overseeing a “backslide away from” freedom of conscience and religious liberties in the country.

His comments were made today ay the Munich Security Conference in Germany during a speech that addressed concerns around maintaining religious liberty, conscientious rights and free speech, and which made reference to the arrest and prosecution of Adam Smith-Connor, who in October 2024 was convicted for simply praying in his head near an abortion facility in England.

“Perhaps, most concerningly, I look to our very dear friends in the United Kingdom where the backslide away from conscience rights has placed the liberties of religious Britons, in particular, in the cross hairs,” the US vice president said on 14 February.

In October 2024, Adam Smith-Connor became the first Christian convicted for thought-crime in modern Britain.

Smith-Connor was found guilty at Bournemouth Magistrates’ Court of violating a so-called buffer zone around an abortion clinic.

Although he was praying silently, the court ruled that he had manifested “disapproval of abortion” by clasping his hands and bowing his head.

Magistrates imposed a conditional discharge of two years and ordered Mr Smith-Connor to pay prosecution costs of £9,000.

The UK Government has decided to impose buffer zones around all abortion clinics in England and Wales, a move which the bishops of England and Wales have described as “unnecessary and disproportionate”.

The new legislation, contained in section 9 of the Public Order Act 2023, criminalises a range of activities within a 150-metre perimeter of an abortion facility.

Such activities potentially include prayer, thought, peaceful presence, consensual communication and offers of practical support to women in vulnerable situations, should any of these be deemed to influence or interfere with access to the clinic.

“I wish I could say this was a fluke, a one-off crazy example of a badly written law being enacted against a single person, but no,” Vance says, before citing – a full transcript of the speech is available here – similar legislation in Scotland around so-called safe access zones for abortion facilities, and moves made by authorities to encourage people “to report any fellow citizens suspected guilty of thought-crime”.

Most recently, a police officer in England ordered a Catholic woman to leave a public area because her views are “offensive”.

New video footage shows a police officer demanding the woman walk away from an abortion clinic simply because of what she is known to believe.

The officer of West Midlands Police is seen demanding that charitable volunteer Isabel Vaughan-Spruce leaves a public area where she was standing alone and praying silently.

In the footage, obtained by ADF UK, a Christian legal organisation, the police officer explained that he believes Miss Vaughan-Spruce’s “mere presence” may constitute “harassment, alarm and distress”.

He said he drew his conclusions because it was known that Miss Vaughan-Spruce held pro-life beliefs and belonged to a pro-life organisation.

He thus concluded that she was breaching the rules of the “buffer zone” – an area within 150m of an abortion facility.

But the buffer zone legislation is not meant to single out individuals and ban them from the respective area for their beliefs, but rather prohibits behaviours amounting to “intimidation”, “harassment” or “influencing a person’s decision to access” an abortion facility.

ADF International – of which ADF UK is a part– supported Smith-Connor’s legal defence and says it will be appealing the ruling in July 2025.

“In Briton, and across Europe, free speech, I fear, is in retreat,” the US vice president tells the audience.

Smith-Connor has responded to the comments from the vice president:

“I’m overwhelmingly thankful to Vice President Vance for raising my plight in front of world leaders,” he said in a post on social media platform X.

“Nobody should be criminalised for their prayers, their mere thoughts – this case has exposed the UK authorities in front of the world as they allow ‘thought police’ to prosecute peaceful, innocent people for what’s going on in their minds.

“With support from ADF International, I will be appealing my ruling in July and hope for justice to be restored. Silent prayers are not a crime – not here, not anywhere.”

Source:thecatholicherald.com

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Celebrating culture through space: the Ramadan Festival in Bradford

14-02-2025

A fusion of tradition and contemporary architecture in Centenary Square

At the heart of the festival is the return of the world’s first-ever Ramadan Pavilion, an installation first introduced in 2023. This year, the pavilion will be set up in Bradford’s Centenary Square, a striking visual and cultural landmark. Created by architectural designer Fatima Mejbil and artist Zarah Hussain, the double-arched structure, Infinite Light, integrates architectural motifs from various global traditions, symbolising both heritage and interconnection.

Fatima Mejbil, a Bradford-based architectural designer, brings extensive experience in community-led regeneration and culturally sensitive design. Her work, grounded in both Middle Eastern and British influences, highlights how architecture can serve as a bridge between past and present, tradition and modernity. As a mentor for Women in Architecture UK and a lecturer at the University of Bradford, she is a strong advocate for diversity in the built environment, continuously exploring how spaces can foster inclusivity and representation.

Zarah Hussain, known for her synthesis of traditional Islamic geometry and digital techniques, brings an artistic dimension to the pavilion. Her work, exhibited internationally at venues such as the Barbican Centre in London, and Sharjah Museum in the United Arab Emirates, explores the intersection of spirituality and technology. The pavilion’s intricate patterns and illuminated presence reflect her dedication to creating immersive experiences that blend art with architectural form.

Public spaces as platforms for cultural connection

Beyond the pavilion, the festival will extend its reach through Open Iftar, a community initiative that transforms public spaces into shared gathering places. People of all backgrounds are invited to participate in the breaking of the fast at One City Park on 21 and 22 March. This initiative not only emphasises the ritual significance of Ramadan but also highlights the role of public spaces in fostering interfaith dialogue and community cohesion.

St George’s Hall: an historic venue for contemporary discussion

Another key element of the festival will be the Welcome Ramadan Conference at St George’s Hall on 9.30am 15 February. The hall, a landmark of Victorian architecture, will host events on connection, space, and cultural identity. Panel talks and keynote speeches will explore how the built environment can serve as a medium for social inclusion and cultural expression, drawing on Bradford’s history as a city shaped by migration and diverse architectural influences.

Embracing diversity through design and experience

Shanaz Gulzar, Creative Director of Bradford 2025, highlights the significance of the festival’s integration with the city’s wider cultural landscape:

“Ramadan is a time of reflection, generosity, and togetherness – values that are deeply embedded in Bradford’s identity. The Ramadan Pavilion and Open Iftar events offer an opportunity for everyone, regardless of background, to engage with these traditions in a meaningful and immersive way.”

Omar Salha, Founder and CEO of the Ramadan Tent Project, underscores the festival’s broader mission:

“For over a decade, we have sought to create spaces where people can come together and share in the spirit of Ramadan. The partnership with Bradford 2025 is a natural extension of this vision, celebrating the power of architecture and urban spaces in shaping community engagement.”

As Bradford 2025 unfolds, the festival will not only mark Ramadan as a moment of spiritual significance but also emphasise how architecture and public spaces can shape cultural narratives, fostering a cityscape that reflects both history and contemporary inclusivity. In doing so, Bradford reaffirms its role as a meeting point of cultures, where tradition and modernity converge in a dynamic and evolving urban fabric.

Source:yorkshirebylines.co.uk

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LANDMARK STEP IN EDUCATING FOR PEACE AND TOLERANCE

14 February 2025

However, the report points out that Azerbaijani Jewish history, along with broader Jewish historical narratives, is still largely absent, marking an area for future improvement.

Jay Ruderman, president of the Ruderman Family Foundation, praised the study as “a groundbreaking report that sheds light on the region’s commitment to tolerance and respect.”

Source:caliber.az

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Middlesbrough’s new mosque inauguration taking place without controversial speaker Mohamed Hoblos

14 FEB 2025

Middlesbrough’s new mosque will have its opening and inauguration events without the appearance of a controversial preacher.

Masjid Maryam, located on Green Lane, Acklam, is due to open on February 23, following years of volunteer work. Mohamed Hoblos had been due to appear at the event, but this is no longer the case. Comments he has previously made caused uproar amongst politicians.

When speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, a spokesperson for the mosque explained that the wider community needed to be happy and that community cohesion was vital in their endeavours.

They added that there will be an open day, which was already being advertised before the controversy arose. It will take place on February 25, and people from across the town can ask questions, engage and find out how Masjid Maryam can be a community hub.

When Mr Hoblos was still scheduled to speak at the event, Tees Valley Conservative Mayor Ben Houchen sent a letter to the Home Secretary on Wednesday February 12, calling on her to act urgently and prevent the preacher from entering the country. The region’s mayor also called on local politicians to unite in order to stop Mr Hoblos from coming to Middlesbrough.

In the letter, he expressed his “deep concern”, adding: “Allowing Mr Hoblos to enter the country and speak in Middlesbrough… could pose a real risk to community cohesion”.

The matter made its way to the House of Commons, where on Thursday, February 13, Conservative MP Bob Blackman said: “On Sunday February 23, when we’re due to come back after recess, the renowned hate preacher Mohamed Hoblos is due to speak in this country.

“He’s been banned in Germany, banned in Holland and I know that the shadow Home Secretary has written to the Home Secretary already asking that he be banned from this country.”

Lord Houchen gave an example of past comments from Mr Hoblos, when the latter had said: “Any person who misses one Salah (prayer) for no reason - you are worse than a murderer, you are worse than a rapist, you are worse than a terrorist, you are worse than a paedophile in the eyes of Allah.”

Mr Hoblos is scheduled to speak at numerous UK events as part of the ‘Together as One’ pre-Ramadan conference tour. His previously scheduled appearance in Middlesbrough is not one of conference engagements.

There was cross-party concern surrounding Mr Hoblos’ attendance in the town. Speaking in the House of Commons on Wednesday February 12, Luke Myer, Labour MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, said: “I’m very concerned about the prospect of the preacher Mohamed Hoblos visiting Middlesbrough later this month. I wonder if the minister can set out the steps he will be taking with regards to this specific case and also the broader actions he will be taking to address hate preachers around the world.”

Dan Jarvis, the Security Minister, responded: “The United Kingdom has a range of disruptive immigration measures at our disposal, to refuse entry and cancel permission, if it is assessed that a foreign national’s presence in the UK is not conducive to the public good. But what I can do is give him an assurance today that we’ll look carefully at the circumstances that he has helpfully raised.”

Meanwhile, Middlesbrough’s Labour mayor Chris Cooke said: "I was made aware of the planned event at a private venue and have been working with council staff and partners to establish the facts around it. I have concerns about the potential impact on community cohesion and will do all I can to reach the best outcome for Middlesbrough.”

A spokesperson for Masjid Maryam said: “The vision for the mosque from its inception has been to embody community cohesion and unity. The very reason we retained the name "Maryam" (Mary) was to honour the legacy of St Mary’s Church and the cherished memories of the residents of Acklam.”

“We are aware of the recent concerns raised by some members of the wider community. Masjid Maryam had taken the opportunity to host a speaker during his visit to the UK. Over the past decade, this speaker has visited the UK, including Middlesbrough, several times without issue or controversy. Nevertheless, we have reached out to the speaker for further clarification of his statements.

“As a community-based centre, we must consider the wider sentiments in the decisions we make. It is truly disheartening that this situation has overshadowed years of tireless volunteer work and engagement, which culminated in the establishment of a hub intended to serve and uplift the community. As a result, we will proceed with the inauguration on February 23 without the speaker.”

On the national stage, the Conservatives have called for Mr Hoblos to be hit with a “lifetime ban” that would prevent him from ever entering the UK. The Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has written a letter to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper.

In his letter to Ms Cooper, Mr Philp said: “This social media ‘cleric’ has used his platform to spread hatred of Western values and, in a widely circulated video, told his followers that paedophiles, rapists and murderers who pray are better, in the eyes of Allah than non-paedophiles, non-rapists and non-murderers who do not pray… People expressing these vile views should not be allowed into the UK.”

Source:gazettelive.co.uk

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Vance's blast at Europe ignores Ukraine and defence agenda

15 February 2025

This year's Munich Security Conference (MSC) was supposed to be primarily about two things: how to end the war in Ukraine without giving in to Russia, and how Europe needed to boost its spending on defence.

But the most senior American present, US Vice President JD Vance, used his time at the podium to talk about neither.

Instead, he shocked delegates on Friday by roundly attacking Washington's allies, including Britain, in a blistering attack decrying misinformation, disinformation, and the rights of free speech.

It was a very weird 20 minutes - one met largely with silence from delegates in the hall.

Even a joke, "if American democracy can survive 10 years of [climate campaigner] Greta Thunberg scolding, you guys can survive a few months of Elon Musk", failed to raise a single laugh.

He accused European governments of retreating from their values, and ignoring voter concerns on migration and free speech.

Vance's speech went down very badly - unequivocally badly. It was extraordinarily poorly judged.

But who was it aimed at?

A US commentator said to me afterwards: "That was all for US domestic consumption."

The vice president did, however, go on to meet the embattled Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who did his best to sound positive.

The pair had "a good conversation", according to Zelensky, who said it marked "our first meeting, not last, I'm sure". The Ukrainian leader emphasised the need for Washington and Kyiv to speak more and work together "to prepare the plan [on] how to stop Putin and finish the war".

"We want, really, we want peace very much. But we need real security guarantees," Zelensky added.

According to US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin also wants peace, but that is peace on his terms. Unless those have secretly changed, they involve capitulation to Russia's demands and the permanent ceding of territory to Moscow.

Vance's speech came days after President Trump effectively pulled the rug out from Ukraine's negotiating position by conceding, via his Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, that restoring Ukraine's territory to where it was before the first Russian invasion in 2014 is simply "not realistic".

The US also dashed Kyiv's hopes of joining Nato, a key ambition of President Zelensky, and ruled out sending US troops to help protect Ukraine's borders from the next time Russia decides to invade.

Ahead of the Munich conference Europe was stunned by news that Trump had held an apparently cordial 90-minute phone call with Putin, thus abruptly ending the West's three-year freeze in talking to the Russian leader that has been in place since the time of the 2022 invasion.

The delegates in Munich are scheduled to focus on the war in Ukraine in a high-profile debate on Saturday.

The fear in Munich amongst European leaders and their delegations is that in Donald Trump's rush to secure a peace deal in Ukraine, Putin will emerge victorious, stronger and planning to seize more parcels of land in Europe.

Source:bbc.com

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UK army too 'run down' to lead Ukraine peace mission: ex-chief

15 February 2025

The UK military is "so run down" it could not lead a future peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, the former head of the army has said.

Lord Dannatt told the BBC that up to 40,000 UK troops would be needed for such a mission and "we just haven't got that number available".

It comes after Sir Keir Starmer said the UK would "play its part" in guaranteeing Ukraine's security after the prime minister was asked this week if he was open to sending British troops as peacekeepers.

A former Nato chief told the BBC that Britain and France should lead a force of up to 100,000 troops as part of a long-term peacekeeping effort should Russia's war with Ukraine end.

US President Donald Trump earlier this week announced he had had a lengthy conversation with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, and that negotiations to stop the "ridiculous war" in Ukraine would begin "immediately".

Trump then "informed" Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, of his plan.

Lord Dannatt - who was head of the Army from 2006 to 2009 - agreed that a force to keep the peace would require about 100,000 troops.

However he said the UK would have to supply "quite a proportion of that and we really couldn't do it".

"Our military is so run down at the present moment, numerically and as far as capability and equipment is concerned, it would potentially be quite embarrassing," he told BBC Radio 4's The Week in Westminster.

"I mean, if we were to deploy 10,000 troops, each rotation for six months, that would effectively tie up 30,000 or 40,000 troops and we just haven't got that number available.

"So there are some big issues here that today's politicians won't really have considered."

It comes as Britain's foreign and defence secretaries called on the UK and Europe to "do more" to "share the burden" of regional security in a joint article for the Daily Telegraph on Saturday.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who was Nato secretary-general from 2009 to 2014, said "a number of European countries need to step up to the plate" for any peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, adding that the UK and France should lead that coalition by putting boots on the ground.

"I would let military experts determine [the number] but my guess would be between 50,000 and 100,000 troops," he told BBC Newsnight.

As of October 2024, there were 74,612 members of the UK's regular Army forces (excluding Gurkhas and volunteers), according to the latest Ministry of Defence (MoD) figures.

The Army has targets on how many new recruits below the rank of officer it should take on every year, set out by the MoD. These targets have been missed in almost every single financial year since 2010-11, according to a written answer to Parliament last January.

Lord Dannatt said the Labour government would need to "look at their priorities", adding: "Yes, health, education, roads, infrastructure are important, but actually defence and the security of this nation are more important."

The crossbench peer said he believes the UK government needs to go further than its commitment of increasing defence spending to 2.5% of GDP - a pledge that they have yet to put a timeline on when it will be delivered.

Zelensky has previously asked for the UK and other European allies including France to send troops to Ukraine for a peacekeeping operation after the war.

Sir Keir last month signed a "landmark" 100-year pact with Ukraine, building on the £12.8bn the UK hass already sent to the country, with further commitments of £3bn every year for "as long as it takes".

The UK will also continue to train Ukrainian troops, 50,000 of whom have been trained on British soil so far.

David Lammy, the British foreign secretary, said he was "very encouraged" by his talks on Ukraine with US Vice-President JD Vance on Friday, on the first day of the Munich Security Conference.

"We share the view that there has to be an enduring peace," Lammy told Reuters news agency following the meeting.

"There was an agreement that Zelensky and the Ukrainians have to be part of that negotiated deal."

However, Lammy and his defence colleague John Healey said that Putin had for two decades sought "to recreate the Russian empire and suffocate the countries around its borders".

"Too often in the past, the West has let him," they said in the Daily Telegraph.

"We did too little in 2008 when he invaded Georgia, and in 2014 when he first went into Ukraine."

In response to Lord Dannatt's comments, an MoD spokesperson said Britain's armed forces were "respected worldwide for their professionalism and excellence".

"Right now, the Ukrainians are still fighting with huge courage. Our government is stepping up support for Ukraine's war fighters to put them in the best possible position for any talks.

The spokesperson cited a £150m "firepower package" announced this week "providing more drones, tanks and air defence systems".

Source:bbc.com

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Chernobyl radiation shield hit by Russian drone, Ukraine says

15 February 2025

A Russian drone has hit the protective shelter over Chernobyl's damaged nuclear reactor, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said.

The overnight strike at the site of the world's worst nuclear accident caused a fire that has since been extinguished, he added.

The UN's nuclear watchdog (the IAEA) said radiation levels inside and outside Chernobyl were normal and stable - but later the plant's chief engineer, Oleksandr Titarchuk, said the possibility of radioactive substances leaking "now exists".

Russia has denied any claims it attacked Chernobyl, stating its military does not strike Ukrainian nuclear infrastructure and "any claims that this was the case do not correspond to reality".

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which monitors nuclear safety around the world, said fire safety personnel and vehicles responded within minutes to an overnight explosion. No casualties were reported, the agency added.

The agency remains on "high alert" after the incident, with its director general Rafael Grossi saying there is "no room for complacency".

Mr Titarchuk told Ukraine's state news agency that "the situation is under control".

A catastrophic explosion at Chernobyl in 1986 sent a plume of radioactive material into the air, triggering a public health emergency across Europe.

While the immediate disaster was mitigated and an area where people were told not to live established, the incident saw a rise in cancer rates in the surrounding population.

The radiation shield is designed to prevent further radioactive material leaking out over the next century. It measures 275m (900ft) wide and 108m (354ft) tall and cost $1.6bn (£1.3bn) to construct.

Zelensky posted footage on X appearing to show damage to the giant shield, made of concrete and steel, which covers the remains of the reactor that lost its roof in the explosion.

"Another 15 metres [50ft] to the side and there would have been a radiation accident," Hryhoriy Ishchenko, chief of the agency that manages the exclusion zone around Chernobyl, told reporters, according to local media.

Since 1990, Prof Jim Smith from the UK's University of Portsmouth has studied the aftermath of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster and, while he admits the strike was a "horrendous attack on a very important structure", he is "not concerned" about the radiation risk.

Prof Smith told the BBC a thick concrete "sarcophagus" below the damaged outer shield covers radioactive particles and dust from the explosion.

Simon Evans from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) was head of the Chernobyl Shelter Fund, which oversaw the construction of the protective dome in the 2010s.

He described the apparent strike as "an incredibly reckless attack on a vulnerable nuclear facility".

The shield "was never built to withstand external drone attack", he told the BBC, but a "complex piece of decommissioning kit" built to contain the radioactive materials inside and to help safely deconstruct the broken reactor.

The strike appeared to hit the maintenance system of a crane designed to remotely take the reactor apart, he said.

There appears to be "pretty serious" damage to the outer and inner cladding, he added, but said a fuller assessment of the damage will be needed before the bank can determine its costs.

Mr Evans said the mission to build the shelter was the "world's largest ever collaboration on nuclear safety", with more than 40 counties working together on it.

"Ever since the start of the war, it's been tragic to see that international co-operation undermined by reckless acts," he added.

Zelensky claimed the attack showed Russian President Vladimir Putin was "definitely not preparing for negotiations", after US President Donald Trump said Putin had agreed to begin talks to end the war earlier this week.

The incident at Chernobyl comes after increased military activity around the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in southern Ukraine, the IAEA said.

In December, Ukraine and Russia accused each other of launching a drone attack on a convoy of vehicles transporting IAEA experts heading to the Zaporizhzhia plant, which is Europe's largest nuclear station.

The agency last year urged restraint when an attack on Zaporizhzhia raised the risk of a "major nuclear incident". Russia and Ukraine traded blame over the attack in August.

"I'm more concerned about Zaporizhzhia than Chernobyl," Prof Smith said.

"The reactors [at Zaporizhzhia] are currently shut down but there is more live fuel there. Chernobyl is still very radioactive, but it's not in a 'hot state' because of its age."

The number of people who died in the Chernobyl disaster remains disputed.

According to the official, internationally recognised death toll, just 31 people died as an immediate result of Chernobyl while the UN estimates that 50 deaths can be directly attributed to the disaster.

In 2005, it predicted a further 4,000 might eventually die as a result of the radiation exposure.

Source:bbc.com

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Pope to be admitted to hospital for bronchitis

14 FEB 2025

Pope Francis will be admitted to hospital in Rome to undergo treatment and tests for bronchitis, the Vatican has said.

The 88-year-old will arrive at the Gemelli hospital after his morning audiences on Friday, a short statement said.

The Pope has had bronchitis symptoms for several days and has delegated officials to read his prepared speeches at recent events.

"This morning, after his audiences, Pope Francis will be admitted to the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic for necessary diagnostic tests and to continue hospital treatment for his ongoing bronchitis," the statement said.

On Wednesday, the Pope asked a priest to read part of his speech because of his difficulties with the illness.

"Let me ask the priest to continue to read, because I cannot yet, with my bronchitis. I hope that next time I can," the 88-year-old said shortly after starting the speech.

He had also asked aides to read on his behalf at a mass on Sunday and at last Wednesday's general audience.

He held meetings at his Vatican residence last week in an attempt to rest and recover.

The Pope was treated for bronchitis at the same hospital in March 2023, spending three nights there.

In December the same year, he was forced to cancel his trip to the United Arab Emirates for the COP28 climate summit because of another bout of illness.

The Argentine pontiff has spent nearly 12 years as leader of the Roman Catholic Church.

He has suffered a number of health issues throughout his life, including having part of one of his lungs removed at age 21.

Source:bbc.com

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Boss denies making soldier feel 'unsafe' at hotel

14 FEB 2025

A Bombardier who left his post the day after a female soldier said his harassment had "gone too far" claims he has no knowledge of an alleged hotel incident between them, an inquest into her death has been told.

Royal Artillery Gunner Jaysley Beck, 19, was found dead in her barracks at Larkhill Camp, Wiltshire, on 15 December 2021.

She had been subjected to an "intense period of unwelcome behaviour" from Bombardier Ryan Mason, her line manager at the time, the inquest has heard.

Gunner Beck abandoned an overnight deployment in Newbury a week before her death because she felt "unsafe" in his company, but Mr Mason has denied knowing why.

The nine-day hearing, which began at Salisbury Coroner's Court on Monday, was shown a series of messages between Gunner Beck and Mr Mason.

Between October and December 2021, Mr Mason sent Gunner Beck more than 4,600 messages confessing his feelings for her.

The inquest has uncovered Gunner Beck felt "weighed down" by his declarations of love, which had "crossed the line" of both professionalism and friendship.

In a Whatsapp message, she said: "I genuinely feel trapped in this whole situation.

"I'm trying to be there for you as a friend but it completely crossed the line of that a long time ago. I feel so uncomfortable."

Mr Mason's behaviour intensified during the final weeks of Gunner Beck's life, and reached a climax point while on a training exercise in Newbury on 7 December.

Bombardier George Young previously told the hearing he received a phone call from Gunner Beck, who was "trembling, crying and in shock".

"She said that it had gone too far, that she could no longer deal with being around Ryan," he said.

"The intensity of the behaviour had really ramped up in terms of what was being said. I think he'd tried knocking on her hotel room door as well."

Bombardier Young picked her up from the hotel where she was staying and drove her back to Larkhill Camp.

In a text message to Mr Mason, Gunner Beck told him she was "going back to Larkhill tonight".

Mr Mason replied: "There is zero reason to feel unsafe Jaysley, there is nothing to worry about."

When asked what happened to make Gunner Beck "so frightened", Mr Mason responded "I don't know".

"There was no arguing, no anger, I didn't even see her the night she left," he claimed.

Gunner Sevanaia Nainima was the only other soldier deployed to the event.

He told the inquest on Thursday Mr Mason came knocking on his hotel room door to inform him Gunner Beck had left due to a "welfare issue".

"The way he was telling me, he was fuming, he was really upset," Gunner Nainmima recalled.

"It was anger, not concern for her wellbeing, it was anger."

The inquest was told Mr Mason failed to report Gunner Beck's sudden departure from the training exercise to senior officers, despite it being a requirement as her line manager.

When asked why he chose not to, he replied: "I decline to answer."

Gunner Beck's mother, Leighann McCready, refused to look at Mr Mason as he gave evidence in court.

Instead, she focused on her daughter's military uniform, which sat neatly folded on the desk in front of her.

The following day, Mr Mason texted Gunner Beck to inform her he was removing himself from his post.

He wrote: "After what you said, I'm only doing this to make sure you can continue as normal and keep on the upwards path you're on.

"Hopefully you can still talk because I'd hate to think that this is it. Again I'm sorry you feel like this, as you know, this is nothing I ever intended or thought would happen. Speak soon, maybe."

A few days later, Gunner Beck was found dead in her room.

'White as a ghost'

On Thursday, Lance Bombardier Jones told the inquest he was a close friend of Gunner Beck's, as they lived in the same accommodation block at Larkhill.

He confirmed he noticed "a change in her behaviour" after she returned from the Newbury event, and she was no longer her gregarious and outgoing self.

"After she came back there was something that didn't sit right with me. It felt like something had gone on," he said.

Gunner Beck also suffered a severe panic attack in the days following, and he said he "drew a connection between the two events".

He added it was not the first time he had felt concern for his friend.

During one evening of socialising at camp, there was a knock on the door of their accommodation block.

Intended as a joke, her friends told Gunner Beck that Mr Mason was waiting outside and wanted to see her.

Lance Bombardier Jones told the court that Gunner Beck "immediately jumped up", began trembling and turned "white as a ghost".

"It wasn't funny at all, it was quite sickening really," he said.

"There were four men in the room and she still felt she had to be scared. It was quite upsetting to see."

An Army service inquiry report published in October 2023 found "it is almost certain" Mr Mason's behaviour was "a causal factor in her death".

It added: "Whilst this behaviour ended the week before her death, it appears that it continued to affect her and had taken a significant toll on her mental resilience and wellbeing".

The inquiry report detailed three additional "contributory factors" to her death:

The "significant strain" of a sexual relationship with a married colleague in the last few weeks of her life.

A relationship that ended in November 2021 which involved "repeated allegations of unfaithfulness on the part of the boyfriend".

An "unhealthy approach to alcohol, with episodes of binge-drinking".

The hearing continues.

Source:bbc.com

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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn8ywdevq3no

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Russell T Davies to bring new LGBT drama to TV

14 FEB 2025

Russell T Davies will be bringing a new LGBT drama to TV screens following the success of It's A Sin.

The five-part Channel 4 series, Tip Toe, follows electrician Clive, who has two teenage sons, and Leo, who runs a bar on Canal Street in Manchester.

"This is a show I had to write because the world is getting stranger, tougher and darker, and frankly, the fight is on," said Davies.

It follows the success of award-winning series It's A Sin, which aired in 2021 and told the story of a group of young friends living in London during the HIV/Aids crisis in the 1980s.

The drama, starring pop star Olly Alexander, was a ratings success and sexual health charity, Terrence Higgins Trust also reported a surge in HIV testing after its launch.

It led to a record-breaking month for Channel 4, gaining 6.5 million views across its five episode in less than two weeks.

Davies said his script was turned down by ITV, the BBC and even Channel 4 the first time around.

Davies, 61, initially gained recognition for his Channel 4 series Queer As Folk, which first aired in 1999.

In 2023, he told BBC Wales he wanted to write a darker LGBTQ+ drama as he felt there was "a lot of hatred in the air".

"A lot of nonsense in the air, a lot of rhetoric, and a lot of hate-makers stoking up the fires, and I have things to say about that, so I'd be surprised if I don't say something about that," he said.

Nicola Shindler, executive producer of Tip Toe, said: "I am so pleased to be back working with Russell... and to be given the chance to tell such an important story."

She added it was "not just a timely drama, but a captivating story" which showcased "Russell's brilliant wit, warmth and devastating poignancy".

Casting for the show will be announced in due course.

The series will be produced by Quay Street Productions, which is part of ITV Studios, with Shindler, Davies and Peter Hoar as executive producers.

Source:bbc.com

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South Asia

Court imposes travel ban on Sirajganj AL president, family members

Feb 14, 2025

A Dhaka court has imposed a travel ban on Sirajganj District Awami League President Advocate K M Hossain Ali Hasan and his three family members.

The family members include his wife Begum Golnur, daughter Hasna Hena, general secretary of Sirajganj Mohila Awami League, and son-in-law Abdus Salam (Jahangir), deputy general manager of Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank.

Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Zakir Hossain Galib issued the order yesterday following a petition from Abu Sayeed, Deputy Director of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

The petition stated that an investigation is underway against Advocate Ali Hasan regarding allegations of acquiring wealth beyond known sources of income by exploiting political influence. It also mentioned that since August 5, 2024, after the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government, Hasan and his daughter Hasna Hena, a former Women Vice-Chairman of the Sadar Upazila, have gone into hiding.

"There is a possibility that they might flee the country at any time. Therefore, it is necessary to impose a travel ban on them," the petition read.

The petition further noted that Hasan is an accused in multiple cases filed against him.

Source:thedailystar.net

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Abbas calls out Jamaat's polls delaying tactics

Feb 14, 2025

BNP senior leader Mirza Abbas today alleged that a certain political party is trying to confuse the government through various contradictory statements only to delay the national election.

"They talk about the election... sometimes they say they won't participate, sometimes they say they will... sometimes they say they will join if certain conditions are met, sometimes they say they will if other conditions are met," he said referring to Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.

The BNP leader made the remarks while inaugurating the membership renewal programme for the party's Dhaka South City unit at the party's Nayapaltan central office.

Mirza Abbas said due to this party's wrong decisions in 2008, BNP and its alliance partners participated in the election.

"As a result, many prominent and well-known people in Bangladesh had to give up their lives at the gallows," he said referring to BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami leaders who were executed for crimes committed in 1971 at the International Crimes Tribunal.

Abbas, a BNP Standing Committee member, urged Jamaat not to repeat the same mistakes.

"A single wrong decision can cost the lives of lakhs of people... So, do not prolong the election issue... Various political parties are making contradictory statements about the election, confusing the government and placing it in an unstable position," he observed.

Abbas called upon the interim government to hold the national election by December this year, as per its previous announcement. "We are always ready for the elections, Insh'Allah."

He said those trying to disrupt the election process are, in effect, attempting to undermine the country's independence and sovereignty, depriving the people of their rights to free speech and vote. "Please, refrain from engaging in such activities."

Mirza Abbas also criticised the authorities for not arresting those involved in the Nabil Group's corruption, which resulted in the embezzlement of Tk 12,000 crore.

He pointed out that those associated with the Nabil Group seem untouchable due to their strong political connections with a particular political party.

The BNP leader alleged that a section of people are unfairly blaming BNP for various wrongdoings, while overlooking the party's efforts to maintain peace and tolerance.

He accused some political parties and politicians of supporting certain business groups that played a role in inciting violence during the July-August mass uprising, with promises to remain loyal to Sheikh Hasina until their deaths. "Despite their playing such role, they still did not face any consequences due to their political backing."

Abbas claimed that a political party, which is now quick to criticise BNP, had allied with these business groups.

"From now on, our task will be to expose such hypocritical political parties, which try to falsely blame others, and to reveal their true nature to the public," he stated.

Abbas cautioned BNP leaders and workers that those involved in anti-organisational activities or damaging the party's reputation should not be granted membership.

He also warned against opportunists, particularly from the Awami League, who might attempt to join BNP, asserting that such individuals would harm the party.

Abbas stressed the importance of quality over quantity, stating that the party values loyal and solid members over large numbers.

He voiced concern about rising commodity prices, noting that business syndicates are becoming more active as Ramadan approaches amid the government's inaction.

Source:thedailystar.net

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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/politics/news/abbas-calls-out-jamaats-polls-delaying-tactics-3824451

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Nation doesn’t want a sham election: Jamaat ameer

Feb 14, 2025

The people of Bangladesh are seeking a fair and impartial election, not one conducted merely for the sake of formality, said Shafiqur Rahman, ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.

He said the authorities must ensure a fair environment first, free from muscle power and black money, before holding the polls.

Shafiqur made these remarks as the chief guest at a mass gathering organised by Jamaat's Narsingdi district unit at the Satirpara Kalikumar Institute and College ground this afternoon.

He called for an urgent revision of the voter list, urging the removal of fake voters and the inclusion of new ones. Additionally, he stressed the importance of ensuring voting rights for expatriates.

Shafiqur also said that administrative officials who failed in their duties in the past or were involved in the repression of the people should not be assigned responsibilities in the upcoming elections. However, he added that honest and patriotic officials would have public support in carrying out their duties.

Claiming Jamaat to be the "most persecuted party in Bangladesh," he demanded the immediate restoration of the party's registration and its electoral symbol.

Furthermore, he called for the repatriation of laundered money, insisting that it be returned to the national treasury.

The programme was presided over by Maulana Mosleh Uddin, Ameer of Jamaat's Narsingdi district unit, while its Secretary General, Md. Amjad Hossain, conducted the event.

Source:thedailystar.net

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Ministry of Martyrs and Disabled Signs MoU to Support Orphans

2025-02-15

KABUL(BNA): The Ministry of Martyrs and Disabled has officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Islamic Welfare Organization, valued at $168,890, to enhance the economic self-sufficiency of orphans in Afghanistan.

The agreement was signed by Mullah Sadokhan Haqshenas, Head of Foreign Relations and Planning at the Ministry, and Mohammad Zolqarnain Abbas, Head of the International Islamic Welfare Organization. Under this initiative, services will be provided to 80 orphans in Kabul and Balkh provinces, focusing on job creation and promoting economic independence for their families.

During the signing ceremony, Mullah Sadokhan Haqshenas emphasized the need for improved services for the many orphans, widows, and individuals with disabilities who have been affected by decades of conflict and instability in the region. He stated, “The ongoing challenges necessitate targeted support in various aspects of life for these vulnerable groups.”

Mohammad Zulqarnain Abbas also committed to collaborating closely with the Ministry to ensure comprehensive assistance for the orphans and their families.

Source:bakhtarnews.af

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Commemoration of Soviet Withdrawal from Afghanistan

2025-02-14

KABUL(BNA): The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan marked the 36th anniversary of the withdrawal of the Soviet Union’s Red Army, declaring the day a significant moment of pride in Afghanistan’s history.

The leadership expressed gratitude to Allah Almighty and extended congratulations to the Afghan people and Mujahidin brothers on this important occasion.

In a formal declaration, officials emphasized that the struggles, sacrifices, and resilience of Afghans during the Soviet invasion were pivotal in achieving this historic victory.

The declaration reflected on Afghanistan’s repeated liberation from foreign occupation over the past century, reiterating the enduring desire for sovereignty among its citizens. It called for continued vigilance against external threats and conspiracies, urging the Afghan populace to maintain their commitment to Islam and national unity.

Source:bakhtarnews.af

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Pakistan calls TTP sanctuaries in Afghanistan a barrier to Islamabad-Kabul cooperation

ByFidel Rahmati

February 15, 2025

Shafqat Ali Khan, the spokesperson for Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that one of the key issues damaging the relationship between Islamabad and Kabul is the presence of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) safe havens in Afghanistan. He emphasized that Pakistan has raised this issue with the Taliban, and it must be resolved for bilateral cooperation to proceed.

Khan further stated that cooperation between the two countries cannot be achieved unless the issue of TTP sanctuaries is addressed. He underlined that Afghanistan’s proximity to Pakistan makes the situation even more critical, with the TTP operating from Afghanistan’s soil.

According to Khan, Pakistan has reminded the Taliban that regional cooperation, as well as the long-term potential benefits for both nations, will remain unfulfilled until this problem is resolved. The core of Pakistan’s discussions with the Taliban revolves around eliminating TTP sanctuaries in Afghanistan.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has previously emphasized that Pakistan expects the Taliban to cooperate in the fight against terrorism rather than supporting the spread of terrorism. However, Pakistan has consistently accused the Taliban of collaborating with groups hostile to Islamabad, particularly the TTP.

Tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban continue to escalate, largely due to the TTP’s presence in Afghanistan. Pakistan has repeatedly raised concerns with the Taliban over this issue, accusing them of harboring militants that target Pakistani interests. Despite these concerns, the Taliban has consistently denied these allegations, claiming they are baseless.

The continued presence of TTP militants in Afghanistan has fueled security concerns in Pakistan, especially as both nations struggle with maintaining peace and cooperation. The issue remains a major point of contention, with Pakistan demanding concrete action from the Taliban to prevent cross-border terrorism.

Along with the TTP, the growing presence of ISIS in Afghanistan adds another layer of complexity to the security situation. Both groups continue to pose significant threats to the stability of the region. The Taliban’s ability—or inability—to control these militant factions will be a key factor in determining the future of its relations with Pakistan and the international community.

Source:khaama.com

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Germany says Afghan refugee deportation unlikely before elections

By Fidel Rahmati

February 15, 2025

The German federal government has stated that deporting Afghan refugees back to Afghanistan before the upcoming parliamentary elections on February 23 is “unlikely” due to the “difficult agreement with the Taliban.” A government spokesperson clarified that Berlin is working on plans to address this issue.

Speaking on February 14, Stefan Hebstreit, the spokesperson for the German government, said he could not “raise undue expectations” regarding deportation flights before the elections. However, he emphasized that Germany continues to prepare for this process.

He also mentioned that Germany does not have a diplomatic presence in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, making deportations particularly challenging. He added that Berlin is engaging in discussions with international partners, although the timeline for deportations remains uncertain.

A German Foreign Ministry official also stressed that the government cannot predict the timing of deportations, as announcing such actions in advance could jeopardize their execution and potentially alert the individuals involved. Germany remains committed to facilitating deportations to Afghanistan, despite the ongoing difficulties.

The situation surrounding the deportation of Afghan refugees has become more complex following the recent car attack in Munich. The attack, committed by an Afghan refugee, has sparked renewed calls for stricter measures on Afghan deportations. German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser affirmed that deportations to Afghanistan would continue despite the growing concerns.

The car attack in Munich, which injured 36 people, has heightened tensions around immigration policies. The attack, carried out by an Afghan asylum seeker, has prompted political debates on the safety of allowing refugees from Afghanistan to remain in Germany. The incident has added fuel to the ongoing discussions about asylum and deportation.

As Germany faces increasing pressure to address security concerns, particularly after such violent acts, the issue of deporting Afghan refugees becomes even more urgent. While deportations are not expected to happen before the February elections, the tragic event in Munich may accelerate the conversation and decision-making surrounding refugee policies in the country.

Source:khaama.com

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India

Waqf bill: ‘Muslims should not worry, no threat to mosques & madrassas’

Feb 14, 2025,

Bareilly: A Bareilly-based cleric, who is also the national president of All India Muslim Jamaat, a non-govt organisation, said on Friday that the Waqf amendment bill tabled in Parliament is causing a lot of commotion, but it actually poses no threat to ordinary Muslims.

Addressing the media, Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi said, "I want to assure all Muslims in India that this Waqf bill poses no threat to ordinary people, and there is no danger to mosques, madrasas, or shrines. Therefore, Muslims should not fall for the scare tactics of those trying to frighten them."

He added: "The threat is to those who illegally occupied the land and properties endowed by our ancestors, to those who are misappropriating waqf lands, and the waqf land mafia..."

The cleric also claimed, "Those opposing the bill built lavish buildings on waqf lands, and the income from these is being spent on their own excesses, with not a single rupee being spent on poor Muslims. This is why a few people are opposing the bill."

Source:indiatimes.com

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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bareilly/waqf-bill-muslims-should-not-worryno-threat-to-mosques-madrassas/articleshow/118255412.cms

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Majid Hussain tops Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Mains in MP with 99.99 percentile

February 14, 2025

Seventeen-year-old Majid Mujahid Hussain from Burhanpur, Madhya Pradesh, has brought immense pride to his community by emerging as the state’s top scorer in the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Mains 2025. Securing an impressive 99.99 percentile, his remarkable achievement has sparked celebrations among his family, teachers, and well-wishers.

Majid’s journey to success began in Year 11 when he started preparing rigorously for the highly competitive exam. Enrolling in a coaching institute, he dedicated himself entirely to his studies, making significant sacrifices along the way.

Reflecting on his preparation, Majid shared, “For two years, I focused solely on my goal. I even refrained from attending weddings and festivals to make the best use of my time.” His unwavering dedication and discipline played a crucial role in his outstanding performance.

Expressing his gratitude, Majid acknowledged the support of his family, particularly his father, who provided him with invaluable guidance, and his teachers, whose unwavering encouragement helped him stay motivated. Speaking to news agency INS, he said, “My family has played a crucial role in my success.

He said, my father provided me with the best possible guidance, and my teachers offered their unwavering support. Now, my aim is to achieve a high rank in JEE Advanced and pursue engineering at a premier institute.”

Majid’s mother, Sakina Hussain, was overwhelmed with joy upon hearing about her son’s remarkable accomplishment. “I am extremely proud that my son has topped Madhya Pradesh with 99.99 percentile. His hard work has paid off, and this is just the beginning of his journey,” she said. Encouraging other students, she advised them to stay motivated and not lose hope despite challenges.

His success has been widely celebrated, not just by his family but also by his teachers and the local community. Many have lauded his commitment and perseverance, with his school principal calling him a “brilliant and dedicated student who always had his eyes set on his goals.”

The National Testing Agency (NTA) recently announced the JEE Mains 2025 results, and Majid’s achievement has set a new benchmark for students across Madhya Pradesh. His story serves as an inspiration to aspiring engineers, demonstrating that with perseverance, dedication, and a strong support system, success is within reach.

As Majid now sets his sights on JEE Advanced, his journey continues to motivate young minds striving to excel in engineering. His achievement is not just a personal triumph but a moment of collective pride for his family, teachers, and the entire Burhanpur community. — With Agencies Inputs

Source:muslimmirror.com

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Modi shared worries over Bangla in US; PM flagged threats to Hindus, rise of Islamists

Devadeep Purohit

15.02.25

Indian foreign secretary Vikram Misri said on Friday that Bangladesh came up for discussion between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump in Washington where the Indian Prime Minister shared his “concerns” about the recent developments in the neighbouring country.

“Just to share with you that this (Bangladesh) was a subject that was discussed between the two leaders. And the Prime Minister shared his views and, indeed, his concerns with regard to recent developments in Bangladesh and how India sees the situation,” he said during a briefing in Washington.

The Yunus government did not issue a formal reaction to Misri’s comments till late into the evening on Friday.

The fact that the two sides discussed developments along India’s eastern border is not a surprise as Misri, while responding to a question during a media briefing in New Delhi in the run-up to Modi’s US visit, had said that Bangladesh “might be one of the issues” that will come up during the discussions on “regional and international situation”.

Former Indian foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said that the two leaders taking up the issue of Bangladesh was very important. “I think it is important for India and the US to have convergence on issues related to India’s neighbourhood, especially Bangladesh,” he told this newspaper.

Though India has repeatedly conveyed its desire to work “closely with the interim government” headed by Yunus, the New Delhi-Dhaka relationship has remained strained since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 5, 2024. The two sides have not been on the same page on several issues — like the safety and welfare of minorities in Bangladesh, Hasina’s stay in India despite Dhaka’s demand for her extradition and matters related to fencing along the border — and the differences have kept tumbling out in the open in statements issued by the two countries on these issues.

The last two weeks, however, have witnessed more turbulence after MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal condemned the attack on the Bangladesh’s founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s residence, which was reduced to rubble after protesters brought bulldozers to demolish it, on February 5.

After holding Hasina’s virtual address to her supporters responsible for the attack at 32 Dhanmondi, the Bangladesh government called New Delhi’s comments on its internal affairs “uncalled for and unexpected” and urged India to ensure that the deposed Prime Minister refrains from making political comments. Last week, India retaliated by summoning the most senior Bangladeshi diplomat in New Delhi to protest the “persistent negativity” created by the statements of the leadership in Dhaka.

Multiple sources in the diplomatic circles told this newspaper that Misri’s comments made it clear that Modi presented a detailed picture on India’s concerns with the unfolding situation in Bangladesh.

“The rise of radical Islamist forces and their growing influence on the interim government pose a threat to the minorities, especially the Hindus... The Prime Minister must have flagged this concern, among other disturbing trends in Bangladesh, during his meeting with Trump,” said a source in the Indian foreign policy establishment.

According to him, India views early general elections and transition of power to an elected government as the way forward for Bangladesh, saddled with an “unprecedented political and economic crisis”.

“The Yunus government is not an elected government. It has been thrust on the people... A free and fair election in a conducive environment, in which all the political parties get a level playing field, is the way forward for the country,” said the source.

Last month, Indian Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi articulated this stand and stressed that the “overall relations” between the two countries would be normal when an elected government comes to power in Bangladesh.

Though Yunus recently told leaders of the BNP, the main Opposition force for about two decades, that the next election would be held this December, political observers do not consider it a possibility. The Jamaat-e-Islami and the student leaders, who led the anti-Hasina movement and put Yunus at the helm, are against holding elections before carrying out sweeping reforms in the country.

Misri did not share details on the Bangladesh-related issues that came up for discussion between Modi and Trump, but he expressed hope regarding a better future in bilateral ties.

“I think we hope that the situation in Bangladesh will also move forward in a direction where we can pursue relations in a constructive and stable way with them. But there are concerns about that situation. And the Prime Minister shared those views with President Trump,” he said.

Source:telegraphindia.com

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Now, Fadnavis govt moves to enact law against 'love jihad'

Feb 15, 2025

Maha panel to frame law on 'love jihad'MUMBAI: Maharashtra govt on Friday set up a special seven-member committee headed by the DGP to frame a law against 'love jihad.'A government resolution (GR) said that apart from the DGP, the panel would have six other members from various departments: one member each from the women and child development, minority development department, law and judiciary, social justice and special assistance department, and two home department representatives. The GR contained the term 'love jihad.'

CM Devendra Fadnavis had said in the past that Maharashtra was planning to introduce a law against forced religious conversions, particularly in cases of inter-faith marriages through conversion ('love jihad'), following similar legislations enacted in Uttar Pradesh and other states.

Samajwadi Party MLA Rais Shaikh has opposed this move. He said the state govt lacks statistical evidence for such cases and is politicising the issue of forced conversion by labelling it as 'jihad.'

The GR specified the committee's responsibilities: evaluating the current situation, handling complaints about 'love jihad' and forced religious conversions, examining other states' laws, establishing legal frameworks, and reviewing legal implications. The document mentioned requests from public representatives, organisations and citizens to prevent 'love jihad' and forced religious conversions.

The committee will analyse current circumstances and recommend measures regarding 'love jihad' complaints and forced conversions, whilst studying existing legal structures in other states to develop suitable legislation.

Shaikh said, "Earlier the govt came up with a proposal after stating that there were over one lakh cases of 'love jihad' in the state, but they were unable to find a single instance where they could file a police case. There is no data available to support any such claim, and I had raised this issue in the assembly. The govt is playing politics over the issue."

When Fadnavis was deputy chief minister in the Mahayuti government in 2023, he had said, "Many cases have come up of girls getting married and converting. There is demand from all corners to make a law against this. Earlier, I had made an announcement in the House also. Accordingly, study of laws in various states is on and then the decision about it in Maharashtra will be taken."

Source:indiatimes.com

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ASP, chairperson of Shahi Jama Masjid committee argue over posters of Sambhal violence suspects on mosque wall

by Amit Sharma

February 15, 2025

Heated arguments took place between a senior police officer in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal town and the chairperson of the Shahi Jama Masjid and others after the district police pasted posters of 74 suspects in the Sambhal violence case on the wall of the mosque Friday.

The police move came hours after posters of an accused that they had put up at several places in Sambhal were torn off by unidentified people on Friday afternoon. The posters announced a reward for those sharing information about the suspects.

Five people were killed and nearly 50 others, including a dozen policemen, were injured in the violence that broke out in Sambhal on November 24 last year in the wake of a court-ordered survey of the sixteenth-century mosque.

Jafar Ali, the chairperson of the Shahi Jama Masjid managing committee, and others accompanying him later told Shrish Chandra, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), Sambhal North, that posters cannot be pasted on the walls of any religious place and they should be removed immediately.

In a video of the incident, the ASP is seen saying, “Your people threw stones at the police…during last year’s violence and indulged in arson. The posters contain photographs of the people who were involved that day. You are motivating your youth to proceed on a path of destruction.”

He said that the steps taken by the district police were within the framework of existing laws. “We have identified nearly 74 suspects through various sources, which includes photographs taken by drone cameras that we used to monitor the crowd,” the ASP added.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Jafar Ali said, “I requested the officer that we have no objection in putting up posters of suspects but these should not appear at our religious place as it hurts our sentiments. I even suggested that if the police want such posters near the mosque, these should be put up on makeshift boards outside our place of worship.”

“This is not the way one requests by standing on the road. You can’t tell us what plan of action we should follow against the criminals. The poster has not only been put up here, but also in other parts of the town. Objections may be registered with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) as the mosque is a protected property,” the ASP stated.

On Friday, ASP Chandra told reporters, “The posters contain photographs of suspects carrying stone in their hands. The photos of suspects have been captured through CCTV footage from drone cameras, closed-circuit television (CCTV) and videos made on mobile phones were directly involved in the violence. Their identity is yet to be confirmed, so posters have been put up to seek public assistance in identifying them.”

The police were directed to ensure the posters were not removed.

Superintendent of Police Krishna Kant Bishnoi said on Friday that no innocent people will be persecuted but “those we identified through footage from CCTVs, drones and mobile phones will face strict punitive action.”

The police registered eight FIRs against 150 suspects in the Sambhal violence case who were identified through various means and against nearly 2,500 unidentified people after the violence. Seventy-six accused, including four women, have been arrested so far for allegedly pelting stones at the police from the rooftops of their houses. They are yet to get bail.

Source:indianexpress.com

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SC to hear pleas on Places of Worship Act, 1991, on Feb 17; CJI Khanna-led bench to take up case

15.02.25

The Supreme Court will hear a batch of pleas relating to the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, on February 17.

As per the causelist for February 17 uploaded on the apex court's website, a bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justices Sanjay Kumar and K V Viswanathan is slated to hear the matter.

The Act prohibits conversion of any place of worship and provides for the maintenance of the religious character of any place of worship as it existed on August 15, 1947.

However, the dispute relating to the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid issue in Ayodhya was kept out of its purview.

Some of the pleas filed in the apex court have challenged the validity of certain provisions of the 1991 law.

On January 2, the top court agreed to examine a plea filed by AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi seeking effective implementation of the places of worship law.

On December 12 last year, a bench headed by the chief justice, while acting on a batch of pleas relating to the 1991 law, restrained all courts from entertaining fresh suits and passing any effective interim or final orders in pending cases seeking to reclaim religious places, particularly mosques and dargahs.

The bench was hearing petitions, including the lead plea filed by lawyer Ashwini Upadhyay, challenging various provisions of the 1991 law.

The top court through its December 12 order effectively stalled proceedings in about 18 lawsuits filed by various Hindu parties seeking survey to ascertain original religious character of 10 mosques, including the Gyanvapi in Varanasi, Shahi Idgah Masjid in Mathura and Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, where four persons' lives were snuffed out in clashes last year.

"As the matter is sub judice before this court, we deem it appropriate to direct that, though fresh suits may be filed, no suits would be registered and no proceedings shall be undertaken therein till further orders of this court," it had said.

The top court also said the primary issue that arises for consideration was with regard to Sections 3 and 4 of the 1991 Act and its contours, as well as the width and expanse of the said provisions.

While Section 3 deals with barring conversion of places of worship, Section 4 pertains to declaration as to the religious character of certain places of worship and bar of jurisdiction of courts, etc.

There are several cross petitions which seek strict implementation of the 1991 law to maintain communal harmony and to preserve the present status of mosques, sought to be reclaimed by Hindus on the ground that they were temples before invaders razed them.

Various Muslim parties, including the Gyanvapi mosque management committee, moved the apex court to oppose several pending petitions that challenge the constitutional validity of the 1991 law.

The mosque committee listed a series of contentious claims made over the years concerning various mosques and dargahs (shrines), including the Shahi Idgah Masjid in Mathura, the Quwwat-ul-Islam Masjid near Delhi's Qutub Minar, and the Kamal Maula mosque in Madhya Pradesh, among others.

Source:telegraphindia.com

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HC suspends single judge order removing Waqf Board CEO Asadullah

Feb 15, 2025,

Hyderabad: Telangana Waqf Board chief executive officer (CEO) Md Asadullah has been allowed to continue in his post by a division bench of the Telangana high which has suspended the order of single judge directing his removal.

A couple of weeks ago, Justice Nagesh Bheemapaka had directed the govt to remove Asadullah, a special grade deputy collector, with immediate effect in a case filed by Mohd Akbar of Golconda who claimed he was not of deputy secretary cadre and has ineligible. Justice Bheemapaka also directed that Liyakhat Hussain be continued as in-charge CEO.

This order was challenged by the state govt which preferred to continue with Asadullah as it was of the opinion that the CEO had protected many Waqf land from encroachment. A division bench of Justice Abhinand Kumar Shavili and Justice Tirumala Devi Eada heard the state appeal on Wednesday.

The govt argued that with regard to equivalency of the posts of deputy secretary and special grade deputy collector (SGDC), the former performed functions of a ministerial nature, which is desk work of that department. The SGDC belonged to state civil services (SCS) and also performed executive work of joint collector (now additional collector) of a district, one level below the district collector. The next promotion of SGDC is confirmation to cadre post of IAS, whereas the deputy secretary will not be considered for confirmation to cadre post, the govt said.

The bench observed that the single judge order did not stand as no direction or observation can be passed in a contempt case. The only thing to be decided by the court in a contempt case is whether any wilful contempt of court occurred or not, and the court shall consider whether to punish the contemner or to close the contempt, the bench said and suspended the single judge's order.

Source:indiatimes.com

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Srinagar’s Jama Masjid shut on Shab-e-Baraat for sixth year in a row

February 15, 2025

The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Thursday barred congregational night prayers at Srinagar’s grand mosque on the occasion of Shab-e-Baraat for the sixth consecutive year, sparking outrage.

Following the Asr prayers, authorities abruptly closed the gates of the Jama Masjid and directed worshippers to vacate the premises. The Anjuman Auqaf, the mosque’s management body, was informed that night prayers would not be permitted.

Additionally, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the mosque’s chief cleric, was placed under house arrest ahead of his scheduled sermon for the occasion.

Expressing his anguish, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq called on authorities to cease infringing on his personal freedoms and allow him to attend Friday prayers at the mosque. “It is deeply painful for me and the thousands of worshippers who come to listen to the sermon, as well as for all Muslims in Jammu and Kashmir,” he stated.

He further urged authorities to stop sealing the Jama Masjid, which holds immense religious and spiritual significance for the people of the region.

Political leaders also condemned the decision, labeling it an unjustified suppression of religious freedom. Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah criticized the move, calling it “unfortunate” that prayers were barred on one of the holiest nights in the Islamic calendar.

He remarked that the decision reflected a lack of confidence in the people and law enforcement, asserting that extreme measures were unnecessary to maintain order. “The people of Srinagar deserved better,” he wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

Srinagar MP Syed Ruhullah Mehdi also decried the move, describing it as “blatant state oppression and intolerance.” His office issued a statement questioning the government’s increasing interference in religious matters, warning against further restrictions on Kashmiri religious and cultural practices.

“First, prayers at Jama Masjid are barred, then the mosque itself is sealed. Will the state now dictate what Kashmiris read, learn, and believe? This is an unacceptable overreach,” the statement read. He urged authorities to revoke the order immediately, warning that such actions would have serious consequences.

The continued closure of the 600-year-old mosque on special religious occasions is part of a broader clampdown that began in 2019 following the abrogation of Article 370. Authorities have repeatedly restricted religious gatherings at the Jama Masjid, citing security concerns.

However, critics argue that such measures only deepen resentment and curtail fundamental rights, further alienating the people of Kashmir. — With Agencies Inputs

Source:muslimmirror.com

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Saffron policing at Tirupati Book Festival

February 15, 2025

Hindutva extremists disrupted the Tirupati Book Festival on the evening of February 8, 2025, protesting against the book Quran Analysis by Hindu author Mr. Sharma. The book highlights similarities between Islamic and Hindu values, citing the Quran as a source.

Eyewitnesses reported that the extremists caused a commotion at the bookstall, tearing copies of the book and setting them on fire. Chanting “Jai Shri Ram,” they attempted to vandalize the Vishalandhra bookstall, which had exhibited the book. They also hurled false accusations, used abusive language, and created chaos.

Sakam Nagaraju, a visitor at the book fair, recounted: “Hearing loud noises, I rushed to the stall. A group of Hindutva supporters were tearing and burning a book written by Sharma. They were shouting slogans while attempting to set the book on fire.”

The mob further targeted the Vishalandhra bookstall, aggressively questioning, “Why are you selling books like Ramayana Visha Vriksham by Ranganayakamma?” They also objected to books by Tamil reformer Periyar, falsely claiming that his writings promote immoral ideas.

Vaka Prasad, convener of the Tirupati Book Lovers United Forum, condemned the attack, emphasizing that books represent freedom of thought and knowledge beyond regional or religious boundaries. He asserted that no group has the right to dictate what others should read and demanded the immediate arrest of the attackers.

This incident echoes a similar attack at the Hyderabad Book Fair on December 29, 2024, where Hindutva extremists targeted a Veekshanam bookstall.

Source:muslimmirror.com

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https://muslimmirror.com/saffron-policing-at-tirupati-book-fair/

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Pro-TMC platform slams UP govt over Kumbh stampede deaths, demands death certificates

14.02.25

Kolkata, Feb 14 (PTI) Desh Banchao Ganamanch on Friday urged the Uttar Pradesh government to issue death certificates to the families of six West Bengal citizens who died in the Kumbh stampede, criticising the Yogi Adityanath government for allegedly not showing concern and demanding a probe into the January 29 incident.

"According to the West Bengal government, six people from the state died and six others went missing in the stampede. But the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh has not given any update about the status of the six missing pilgrims, possibly to keep the death toll within 30 and to avoid giving compensation to the kin of victims," former West Bengal minister and Desh Banchao functionary Purnendu Basu told reporters.

At least 30 people were killed and 60 injured in a pre-dawn stampede at the Sangam area of Maha Kumbh on January 29 as millions of pilgrims jostled for space to take a holy dip on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya, one of the most auspicious days of the Hindu calendar.

"We demand the UP government issue death certificates for each of the stampede victims, give compensation to their families and revise the death toll. We demand a high-level probe into the incident," he said.

Asked if the forum has established any communication with the UP government , Basu said, "Despite repeated attempts by the state, the families and voluntary organisations, the UP government has not come up with any updates in the last fortnight." Desh Banchao Ganamanch is a platform of civil society members opposed to BJP-RSS policies. It actively campaigned for a 'no vote' to BJP in 2021 and 2023 and mostly includes pro-Trinamool figures, sympathisers, and individuals. The platform had also campaigned against the Centre's crackdown on farmers in Delhi and Haryana in 2022.

"When lakhs of devout Hindus visit a place driven by faith, it is the duty of the state concerned to make proper arrangements for them, but they are exposed to a situation having no arrangement to control such a huge crowd for days, especially during particular days. Everything is arranged for the VIPs, and the millions of devotees are pushed, shoved, trampled," he claimed.

One of the victim's families, Surajit Poddar from Netajinagar colony in Tollygunge, said, "My elderly mother, Basanti Poddar, was taken to a hospital one-and-a-half hours after being traced lying on the road on January 29, but my family members and I could manage to get only one chit with the mere information about her death scribbled on it." Her post-mortem was conducted at a Kolkata hospital on January 31, but without any proper death certificate from the UP administration, our family is faced with a piquant situation, Poddar added.

Narrating similar experiences, Sarmila Ruidas, wife of stampede victim Bisnu, said, "My husband, brother-in-law Binod, and sister-in-law went to Prayagraj in the last week of January to take the holy dip, but Bisnu Ruidas fell to the ground during the stampede and was found gasping after hours by those accompanying him." "Even though as he was taken to the hospital by his kin, he was declared dead. But despite much effort, neither a post mortem could be conducted on him, nor any death certificate issued." "Ruidas' body was escorted by a UP police constable to Jamuria and had to be cremated after a post mortem at a hospital in Paschim Bardhaman at the initiative of the Paschim Bardhaman administration, sans any proper death certificate," Sarmila added.

Singer Saikat Mitra, who was present at the press meet, told PTI, "The experiences shared by these people are shocking. This should not happen in a country like India, where lakhs congregate at a place united by faith and spiritualism. But the authorities fail them in every way." PTI SUS MNB

Source:telegraphindia.com

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Police put up posters of 74 suspects involved in Sambhal violence on November 24

14.02.25

Police have put up posters of 74 suspects involved in the November 24 violence that erupted during the survey of Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, seeking help from locals in tracing them, officials said on Friday.

The images, captured through CCTV footage, have been displayed at various locations to help identify the accused, they said.

Speaking to reporters, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Shrish Chandra said, "The suspects captured on CCTV were directly involved in the violence. Their identities are yet to be confirmed, so posters have been put up to seek public assistance in identifying them." He added that informants providing credible evidence leading to the identification of these 74 miscreants will be rewarded with a cash prize.

The posters have been placed not only in urban areas of Sambhal but also at various public locations to maximize outreach, he added.

The violence led to several arrests, with 76 accused already sent to jail, according to the police.

The violence had broken out during a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid in the Kot Garvi area of the city. It resulted in the death of four civilians and injuries to many others, including security personnel.

Source:telegraphindia.com

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Gogoi's wife supported ISI, Pakistan phrased his queries on maritime security: BJP

14.02.25

The BJP Friday sharpened its attack on Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi, alleging that while his wife has links with ISI, the deputy leader of opposition in Lok Sabha asked questions in the House on maritime security at the behest of the Pakistan High Commission.

Gogoi, the MP from Assam's Jorhat, hit back at the BJP and threatened to take legal action against the party.

"The BJP has gone to extreme steps to defame me and my family. Their allegations are malicious and baseless. I will be taking the appropriate legal action," he said in a post on X.

Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters here, BJP national spokesperson Ajay Alok alleged that before marrying Gogoi in 2013, Elizabeth Colburn was an "ISI supporter" and had also worked with Pakistan Planning Commission vice chairman Ali Tauqeer Sheikh.

"Did he know about this before marrying her?... Was it a strategic marriage?" he asked. "The Congress will have to answer the question in this issue. It is because the Congress has had an anti-national stance since the beginning." Alok asked Congress president Mallikarjubn Kharge, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Gogoi to come out with a clarification on the matter.

The BJP national spokesperson alleged that Gogoi had visited the Pakistan High Commission after he was elected to Lok Sabha in the 2014 parliamentary elections without seeking permission from the Lok Sabha Speaker, Home Ministry and other related ministries.

After he visited the Pakistani High Commission, Gogoi's organisation 'Policy for Youth' wrote an article in a newspaper accusing BSF personnel of misbehaving with "illegal women Bangladeshi intruders".

Gogoi also asked questions in Lok Sabha such as 'what is the status of coastal maritime security? How many radars have been installed along the Indian coastline and how many more radars do we (the government) want to install there?' the BJP spokesperson said, adding that it is on record.

Other questions that Gogoi asked in the Lok Sabha included 'Is there any proposal that the national maritime authority will coordinate with stakeholders for synergy? What steps has the government taken for supervenience as well as upgrade and strengthening of the coastal security?' he charged.

"Asking these questions after getting them from the Pakistan embassy. What does it indicate? With whom was he sharing this information?" Alok asked.

Two days ago, the BJP accused Gogoi's wife of having links with Pakistan and the ISI, a charge rejected by the deputy opposition leader in the Lok Sabha as "laughable and entertaining".

The charge was reiterated by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma a day later, who also claimed that the Congress MP raised questions in Parliament on sensitive defence matters after his marriage to a British citizen.

Source:telegraphindia.com

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Rai urges Guv to seek clarification from UP govt on mosque demolition

Feb 15, 2025,

Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai, wrote a letter to Governor Anandiben Patel on Friday, urging her to seek clarification from the state govt regarding the demolition of the Kushinagar Madni Mosque and to inform the central govt about the communal policies being adopted by the state govt.

Expressing concern that the state's policies are endangering religious and social harmony, he said, "Before the action, barricades were placed around the mosque, and a 500-metre area was sealed. The demolition took place from 10am to 6 pm, with forces from 10 police stations deployed during this time. A battalion of the PAC was also present," Rai wrote in the letter.

He informed the Governor that the mosque had been built in 1999, with approval for the building plan duly obtained. After receiving a govt notice, the mosque's representatives challenged it in the high court and secured a stay order until Feb 8.

However, immediately after the stay order expired on Feb 9, part of the mosque was demolished. The case was still in court, and according to the Muslim party, the land on which the mosque stood was not disputed. Rai argued that it was the govt's duty to wait for the court's decision on the matter.

Source:indiatimes.com

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Africa

Niger PM meets with Organization of Islamic Cooperation over education, health

February 14, 2025

By Seun Opejobi

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Niger, Ali Mahamn Lamine Zeine, met with a delegation from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, OIC.

The meeting was held at Zeine’s office on Thursday, according to a statement issued by OIC and forwarded to DAILY POST.

OIC delegation was led by Aftab Ahmad Khokher, Assistant Secretary-General for Science and Technology.

According to the statement, “discussions focused on enhancing cooperation between Niger and the OIC, particularly in the field of higher education, including the role of the Islamic University in Niger, based in Niamey, as well as the health sector.”

Ambassador Khokher conveyed greetings from the OIC Secretary-General, Mr. Hissein Brahim Taha.

He also acknowledged the role of Niger in promoting and supporting the OIC Mission and Vision.

The ambassador underlined the importance of further strengthening collaboration and cooperation amongst the OIC Member States in the fields of education, science and technology, health, water, and climate change.

He also briefed about the scholarship opportunities offered by the OIC Member States.

On his part, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of Niger’s longstanding relationship with the OIC.

He also shared his vision and future programs aimed at serving Niger’s interests, supporting its stability, and advancing its development path.

Source:dailypost.ng

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https://dailypost.ng/2025/02/14/niger-pm-meets-with-organization-of-islamic-cooperation-over-education-health/

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Worship for Change donates N36.75m to six care homes

February 14, 2025

by Precious Igbonwelundu

Charity organization, Worship for Change, has donated ₦36.75 million to six care homes as part of its commitment to supporting orphans, vulnerable children, and those living with disabilities.

The group’s founder, Pastor Wale Adenugu, presented the donation in Lagos on Tuesday, urging the beneficiaries to continue their selfless service.

Each of the six homes—Agbedare Jesus Care Foundation (Oyo), Bethesda School for the Blind (Lagos), Gilead Initiatives (Ikorodu), Flora Trust Foundation, Jesus Orphanage (Rivers), and Gold Gate Michika (Adamawa)—received ₦6.125 million to enhance their care for vulnerable children.

Adenugu noted that the funds were raised during the Green Worship concert on October 1, adding that this year’s donation was 11% higher than last year’s ₦33 million, which was shared among four orphanages.

Highlighting the challenges faced by the receiving homes, Adenuga noted the rising cost of education and healthcare for children with disabilities. “Things have become more difficult, and people barely have enough to care for themselves, let alone others. The support we have raised is making a significant impact, not only financially but also by creating awareness about the amazing work these organizations are doing,” he said.

According to Adenuga, Worship for Change, has, since its creation in 2006, raised about N160m to support such causes, thanking all the donors and corporate sponsors of the fundraising concert.

“It is our collective responsibility to support these charities and make life easier for them. I am grateful to everyone who contributed to making this possible,” he told the beneficiaries.

Overwhelmed with joy, the receiving orphanages who said they never expected such huge amounts, thanked Adenuga and all board members of the group for making huge impacts in their lives.

For the founder of Gold Gate Mission, James Tumba, an Evangelist, the money came at the nick of time as the school fees burden for the over 50 children in his home was a source of worry.

Tumba who was born a Muslim but converted to Christianity in 1991, said he has dedicated his life since then to mission work in different states before returning to his hometown, Michika where he started ministering to people in neighbouring communities including Gworza and Mubi.

He said he was moved to start an orphanage when the Boko Haram insurgency started as each time he went out for missionary work, he saw a lot of helpless children whose mothers and fathers had been killed by the terrorists.

He recounted an experience where a week-old baby was found abandoned in the bush, covered in ants. “We rescued that child and to the glory of God, the child is now in Primary two in a private school thriving. All our kids are in private schools. Before I left for Lagos, the school called to remind me that I was yet to pay school fees for the kids. I pleaded with them for more time and I stayed faithful that God will make a way for us to raise the fees.

“When I started this mission, God instructed me not to send letters of appeal to any church or individual. So, what I did was to use the little resources I had to start a farm. We sell some of the proceeds to provide education and other needs for the children while we also feed from the proceeds too.

“Also, due to lack of space, some of our children have not been staying with us. They live outside of the home but we are providing for them as well. With this donation, I will be able to expand the accommodation so that our children outside can be inside with the others. I will also pay the school fees,” he said.

Tumba extended heartfelt thanks to all contributors, emphasizing the profound impact of their generosity on the lives of the children under his care. He prayed for abundant blessings upon everyone involved in this benevolent endeavor.

Mrs. Agbedare Beatrice Adenike, founder of Agbedare Jesus Care Foundation in Ibadan, described the donation as an answered prayer. “This money will be used to improve accommodation for children with special needs, ensuring separate spaces for boys and girls while also expanding our classrooms. It is a dream come true, and I pray that God continues to bless Worship for Change,” she said.

Similarly, Mrs. Bisola Olufolajimi Idowu of Gilead Initiatives in Ikorodu shared her heartfelt appreciation, revealing that the funds would be instrumental in providing therapy materials, medical care, and assistive devices for children with cerebral palsy, autism, and down syndrome. “Our goal is for these children to lead independent lives, and this support will help us equip them for a future where they can contribute meaningfully to society,” she said.

Mrs. Chika Ugochukwu of Flora Trust Foundation in Lagos, which caters to children with severe disabilities, highlighted the urgent need for expansion. “We started with four children and now have 20, but many more are on our waiting list. This fund will help us secure additional space and mobility aids, ensuring these children receive the care they deserve,” she said.

Source:thenationonlineng.net

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Mike Bamiloye warns against spiritual dangers on Valentine’s Day

February 14, 2025

by Yewande Fasan

As the world marks Valentine’s Day, renowned clergyman Evangelist Mike Bamiloye has issued a warning about the spiritual dangers associated with the celebrations.

In a post on his Instagram page, Bamiloye cautioned that many people would unknowingly enter spiritual covenants and vows with demonic forces, putting their destinies and fortunes at risk.

He further warned that blood and bodily fluids would be exchanged in “Covenant Beds” and used in shrines for money rituals, leading to the pollution of destinies.

Urging people to be cautious and vigilant, Evangelist Bamiloye stressed that many would wake up the next morning feeling empty and spiritually drained.

He wrote: “We will keep shouting. Many would sleep on the same bed tonight with ghosts and spirits from Demonic kingdoms who had come to make vows and covenants with the sons and daughters of men. Blood would flow tonight. Blood shall be exchanged tonight on Covenant Beds.

“Fluids of men shall be submitted tonight in the shrines of the evil kingdom. The fortunes and destinies of many young girls and Ladies would end up tonight in Shrines of Money Rituals.

“Destinies and fortunes and Meaningfulness of life shall be polluted this evening and by tomorrow morning, many shall wake up empty and Shallow and Light”.

Source:thenationonlineng.net

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Yoruba Muslims task Tinubu on fairness, inclusion in political appointments

By Sulaimon Salau

15 February 2025

• Shariah Panel Has Been With Us Since 2002, Say Groups

With the huge number of qualified Yoruba Muslims in the scene, the political arena seems not favourable to them this season as the marginalisation gap becomes widened.

Indeed, the Concerned Yoruba Muslim Scholars in Nigeria in affiliation with Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria, bemoaned the alleged unfair treatment melted out to Southern Muslims in all areas of public service.

The Concerned Yoruba Muslim Scholars in Nigeria is the umbrella body of Yoruba Muslim Scholars in Nigeria with the primary aim to cater to the interest of Yoruba Muslims in public/political affairs and protection of Sharia injunctions and spiritual matters.

The groups. during a world press conference held in Ibadan, alleged the apparent marginalisation and disregard for their constitutional rights, notwithstanding their efforts during the campaign that ushered in the present administration.

In a co-signed speech, President, Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria, Sheikh AbdurRasheedHadiyatullahi and the Chairman, Concerned Yoruba Muslim Scholars in Nigeria, Sheikh AbdurrasheedMayaleeke, said the needless uproar being orchestrated by mere inauguration of Sharia panels in some towns in recent times and the body language of the governors also call for concern.

Retracing the process of the elections saga, they recalled that during the campaign for the presidential election of Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu there was a very stiff and ferocious antagonism from the Nigerian Christians over the religious affiliation of the presidential candidate and even later that of the Vice presidential candidate. They rose in unison against what they tagged “Muslim/Muslim Ticket”.

“Let the whole world recall that the political conspiracy against the Muslims in the Southwest had all along precluded Muslims from emerging as president or vice president since Nigeria’s independence in 1960. Chief MKO Abiola that was poised to remove the jinx had his election annulled while Chief Ernest Shonekan and Chief Olusegun Obasanjo who are Christians became direct beneficiaries of his political sojourn. The attendant effect was continuous marginalization of the Southern Muslims.

“Thus, when Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu commenced his political journey into the Aso Rock in 2022, the Muslims came out with full enthusiasms not only on their belief of his competence and capability but also providing relief that as a Muslim, he would attend to the age-long marginalization against the Southern Muslims and which has effectively kept them in disadvantaged positions in all aspects of human endeavour, be it in political appointments, education, job opportunities and what have you.“The Southern Muslims Scholars/masses with the support of their Northern brothers did all they could to ensure President Bola Ahmed Tinubu won the election.

“Ironically, since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was sworn in on 29th May, 2023, the Southern Muslims especially South West Muslims despite being in majority in the region, are faced with another dimension or worst form of marginalization as succinctly predicted by Prof Is-haq Oloyede in his lecture presented at National mosque during the presidential inauguration lecture thus: ” When Muslims are in power, we are not in power. And when we are not in power, we are completely not in power”

“Or how will any reasonable person fairly explain the rationale behind more than 80 percent from the South West occupied by the Southern Christians including those who had fought tooth and nail against the so called Muslim/Muslim ticket! It is not only disappointing but also very annoying,” the group stated.

They presented the appointments from the South West so far together with the religious affiliations of the occupiers to defend the marginalisation allegation thus: In the ministerial position Muslims have four against seven positions held by their christian counterparts.

These are: Dele Alake – Christian – (Minister of Solid Minerals Development); Bosun Tijani – Christian – (Minister of Communication); Wale Edun – Christian – (Minister of Finance & Coordinating Minister of Economy); Lola Ade John – Christian – (Minister of Tourism); Olubunmi Tunji Ojo – Christian – (Minister of Interior); Jumoke Oduwole – Christian – (Minister of Trade and Investments); Ayodele Olawande – Christian – (Minister of Youths); Ishak Salako Adekunle – Muslim – (Minister of State for Health); WaheedAdelabu – Muslim – (Minister of Power); IsiakaOyetola – Muslim – (Minister of Marine and Blue Economy) and Tunji Alausa Morufu – Muslim – (Minister of Education).

Other top appointments include: Yemi Cardoso – Christian – (Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria); Femi Gbajabiamila (Muslim); Zaccheus A. Adedeji – Christian – (Executive Chairman, FIRS); Pius Akinyelure – Christian – (Chairman, NNPCL Board; not a single Southwestern Muslim in the entire Board); Gbenga Alade – Christian – (MD/CEO AMCON); Kayode Opeifa – Christian – (MD Nigeria Railway Corporation); Tope Fasua – Christian – (Special Adviser to the President on Economy).

Other key security appointments: Wale Egbetokun – Christian – (Inspector General of Police); Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi – Christian – (Director-General DSS); Olanipekun Olukayode – Christian – (Chairman, EFCC); Late Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja – Christian – (Chief of Army Staff); Lt. General Olufemi Oluyede – Christian – (New Chief of Army Staff).

They alleged that these appointments represent few of the level of unfair treatment melted out to Southern Muslims in all other areas of public service.

They further expressed concerns: “It was very disappointing to the Southwestern Muslims that in spite of vehement criticism against the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ticket as Muslim/Muslim, all that the Yoruba Muslims who supported the team and put enormous resources into the struggles got is this unfair representation in the government and a systemic denial of opportunities to participate in the development of the country.

“It will further shock anyone who has an iota of sense of justice and fairness to believe that, aside this treatment meted onto the Yoruba Muslims, not a singular Muslim from the Southeast and South-south was given such an appointment in the current federal Government formation.

“It behoves President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to explain that his sense of justice and fairness is not religiously selective when he also deemed it fit to appoint a Christian Chief of Defence Staff and Secretary to the Government of Federation from the muslim dominated northern Nigeria.

“It is certain and obvious beyond any peradventure that every village in Nigeria today can boast of having competent hands to become president of the country not to talk of holding a political appointment under a president.

“The implication of this is that competent and capable hands are not only existing among the Christians but also in all other religions and Islam of course has more than enough and cannot be an exemption,” the groups stated.

In Lagos state, they explained “the significant roles played by the Muslims when the storm against the Muslim/Muslim ticket garnered dust because the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) was seriously opposed to it and this was responsible for loss of Lagos state in the presidential election because the Christians gave their block vote to Peter Obi. The same CAN has now struck a muted tone when providence suddenly brought before its doorstep proceeds of the “accursed Muslim/Muslim Ticket”.

“It was a series of these ugly happenings that left the Southwestern Muslims with no option other than to be suspicious of a subtle political annihilation being executed against us and unfortunately, using one of us. Presently we cannot boldly say we have a single governor throughout the South west, the only one being rubbed on our face says he is half Muslim, half Christian and every conscious Muslims knew that kind of person as Christian. The case of Ekiti and Ondo States with a sizeable muslim population is worrisome and pretty disturbing. In these states, Muslims are not even considered for a deputy governor compared with Kwara State dominated by the muslim population but always concedes the position of the deputy governor to the Christians. Who is fair and who is unfair ?” They stated.

The Concerned Yoruba Muslim Scholars in Nigeria in Affiliation with Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria, also condemned the needless uproar being orchestrated by mere inauguration of Sharia panels in some towns in recent times and the body language of the governors in that regard.

Noting that there are over 16,000 Central Mosques in Yorubaland and over 300,000 Ward/Compound Mosques, they asserted that the Independence Constitution of 1960, the 1963 Republican Constitution, both entrenched the establishment of Sharia Court of Appeal, just as the 1979 Constitution in S. 240-244 and S. 259(1) of the 1989 Constitution did as well.

Tracing the origin of Shariah in Lagos, they explained: “That the genesis for this legitimate agitation for a Shari’ah judiciary in Yorubaland has started in Lagos as far back as 1894 when Muslims in Lagos requested the implementation of Sharia on them from the then colonial Governor of Lagos, although the request was not granted.

“Muslims in Lagos repeatedly submitted another petition on the Sharia issue to the British imperialists in 1923.

“Timi of Ede, Habeeb Olagunju (d. 1900) and Oluwo Muhammad Lamuye (d.1906) applied Islamic injunctions in the administration of customary matters in their palaces during their reign. A Native Sharia Court was opened at Agbeni area in Ede in 1913, although it was later abrogated in 1918.

“In 1948, the demand for Sharia Courts was made by Ibadan Muslims from the then colonial administration. In their petition, it was said, the Muslim petitioners confirmed that more than four thousand divorce cases involving Muslims were arbitrarily handled, while the Muslim couples were ‘separated like dogs’ (in their words).

“In the same 1948, the Muslim Congress of Nigeria with its headquarters in Ijebu-Ode submitted a memorandum to the Brooke’s Commission of Inquiry. The memorandum was said to have called for the establishment of Muslim Courts in the South.

“It is on record that Sharia Courts were in operation before independence in the Southern cities of Iwo, Ede, Epe, Ikirun, Ibadan, Iseyin, Auchi, Agbede and Lagos. Although they were not reported to have gained the Government’s support.

“On September 12, 1992. Hon. Justice Abdul Kadir Orire (rtd), the then Grand Kadi of Kwara State Sharia Court of Appeal visited the newly created Osun State in a tour to enlighten the Osun State Muslim Community on Sharia, and their constitutional right to implement it in the state.

“In December 1999, a memorandum was sent to Osun State House of Assembly by the League of Imams and Alfas on behalf of the Muslim Community of Osun State requesting for the establishment of Sharia Courts in the State for the Muslims, being their constitutional right.

“A memorandum was submitted to the then President-Elect General Olusegun Obasanjo on the non-negotiable demands of Southern Muslims in the 4th Republic the memorandum underscored the issue of Sharia Courts establishment and it was published by New Nigerian newspaper on April 8, 1999. Pg. 20”

The group however, noted that, “The Yoruba Muslim demand has always been that it is the mandatory duty of S/W states to establish a Sharia Court of Appeal and subordinate Courts of first instance for their citizens who are Muslims, considering their substantial number in the population of their various states. This, they demand, in line with the constitutional provision, and against the backdrop of their belief that doing so will further assert accepting the reality of what made up Nigeria since they believe that Nigeria is not a secular state but a multi-religious sovereign nation under God.

“They demand this be done the same way the authority established Muslim and Christian Pilgrim Boards and just as some states have done in the case of Customary Courts of Appeal, as done in states like Plateau, Edo, Delta among others,”

They insisted that the common law court jurisdictions should not be forced on the S/W Muslims as the only alternative left with them whenever they need to seek a legitimate legal redress in their issues of personal law, since the Marriage Act Cap. 218 of the Laws of Federation and Lagos 1958, the Will Law and Law of Administration of Estate are all extant Christian family laws in operation in our courts, and since arguably, the common law is deemed a Christian Law as proven with history and espoused by eminent English Jurists, like Lord Denning, Lord Finely and Lord Summer.

Precisely in the latter’s popular submission in the case of Bowman V. Secular Society ltd.

According to the group, Nigeria is not the only country in Africa South of Sahara to accommodate Sharia, since the same is found in Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Uganda, Gambia and even in Sri Lanka there are Sharia Courts, even though the Muslim population of that country constitute only about 8% of the population!.

They explained that the establishment of Sharia Courts is exclusively meant for the Muslims and parties who wish to be adjudicated according to the Sharia principles, and its establishment should not be misconstrued as a prejudice to the rights of non-Muslims or an agenda to Islamize Nigeria. “After all, the Coptic Christians of Egypt who accounted for less than 7% of the Egyptian population enjoy the facilities of Coptic Communal Courts, and a Coptic Communal Court of Appeal. Yet, Egypt is not a Coptic state,” the groups stated.

The groups further explained that that the Sharī’ah arbitration being exercised by the existing Independent Sharī’ah Panels in Yorubaland is undoubtedly one of the recognised alternative dispute resolution methods in Nigeria. The Supreme Court of Nigeria in Agu v. Ikewibe has upheld the validity of such informal arbitrations. Also, S. 277 of the constitution recognises the jurisdiction of Sharī’ah as a source of law.

“It was after all attempts to convince the Southwestern states to establish Sharī’ah Courts of Appeal has failed that the Muslim Community of each state started to launch ADR platforms named “Independent Sharī’ah Panel” in order to adjudicate on Muslim disputes according to the Sharī’ah, and to fill the lacuna in the judiciary of their various states, as there are no courts of competent jurisdiction to handle matters related disputes related to Islamic personal law in these states, neither the High Court nor the Customary Court. (the Supreme Court has ousted the jurisdiction of both courts on civil matters of Islamic personal law in Alkamawa v. Bello and Usman v. Umaru).

“Already, there are Shari’ah panels sitting at the Central Mosque, Oja Oba, Ibadan, Oyo State (since 1st May, 2002); Abesan Central Mosque, Ipaja, Lagos State & 1004 Estate Central Mosque, Victoria Island, Lagos State (since 2003); Egba Muslims Central Mosque, Kobiti, Abeokuta, Ogun State (since 17th January 2018); Osun State Muslim Community Secretariat, Ring Road, Oshogbo (since 2005); Oja-Oba Central Mosque, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State (held its first sitting in January 2025).

“Meanwhile in the latest development, the Customary Law of Lagos State in its S. 22 provides for that the Lagos State Judicial Service Commission may designate a court to adjudicate on Islamic Law and Matters in relation to marriage, divorce, custody, and inheritanyas it seems fit. This was effected in 2022 when the CJ of Lagos State designated the Ifako/Ijaye Customary Court to sit on matters of Islamic personal law. While this unprecedented move by the Lagos State government is commendable, it raises substantial questions of conflict of jurisdiction that could not be overlooked. Hence, effecting the provision of S. 275 (1) of the 1999 CFRN remains the only plausible way towards filling the judicial lacuna of Muslims’ personal law adjudication in the Southwest”.

The group stated that Yoruba Muslims bear no grudge for any, and have always been tolerant of adherents of other faiths. For this, they should be allowed to implement their God-given and constitutional right to adjudicate with laws of their religion, the Sharia.

“Failure of State governors in South West Nigeria to formally establish Sharia courts of appeal actually led to the setting up of independent Sharia panels across various Muslim Communities. This does not violate any law; rather it helps to resolve many disputes that could have to queue at our already congested, unaffordable and strenuous time consuming bureaucratic process of conventional court processes.

“All the examples of happenings in the South west in the past was as a result of tolerance of the Yoruba Muslims who have Sharia laws replaced with Christian law dubiously called common law by the colonial masters and local politicians that took over from them, conversion of innocent Muslim youths in the name of seeking western education and allowing interreligious marriages with its attendant loss of members or children to Christianity.

“The dominance of political terrain in South West Nigeria by non Muslims was due to religious sensitivity to corrupt and immoral practices that always characterise the political circle, it was this apathy that usually led to political situation where Christians found it easy to become Governors in Muslims dominating states of Oyo, Osun, Lagos and Ogun states whereas Muslims have never found it easy to become governor in Ondo and Ekiti where Christians are the majority.

“The genuine Yoruba Muslims mostly populated in South West Nigeria therefore demand for the establishment of Sharia Courts as it is being operated constitutionally in some other states, we see Sharia courts as complementary to Christian courts as well as Customary courts which is the position of law and constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, anything contrary does not represent the opinion of Yoruba Muslims.

“We are not unaware of a comedian impostor claiming to be Imam of Yorubaland and his co-horts laying claim to islamic scholarship while working against Sharia, all these elements constitute crude distraction to our demands and should be consigned to where they belong,” the Concerned Yoruba Muslim Scholars in Nigeria and the Supreme Council for

Source:guardian.ng

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https://guardian.ng/politics/yoruba-muslims-task-tinubu-on-fairness-inclusion-in-political-appointments/

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UN chief calls for end to flow of weapons into Sudan

EPHREM KOSSAIFY

February 14, 2025

NEW YORK: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday called for an end to the external flow of weapons into Sudan, which is “enabling the continuation of tremendous civilian destruction and bloodshed.”

He also called for the protection of civilians, including humanitarian workers, and for unrestricted access to aid in areas of need.

“Let’s (be) clear about basic principles,” said Guterres. “Civilians, including humanitarian workers, must be protected.

“Rapid, safe, unhindered and sustained humanitarian access must be facilitated in all areas of need.

“The external support and flow of weapons must end. This flow is enabling the continuation of tremendous civilian destruction and bloodshed.”

Guterres was speaking in Addis Ababa at a high-level meeting on Sudan, where he emphasized that the country’s crisis, which has displaced millions and caused widespread suffering, requires an unprecedented response.

Next week the UN, along with national and international partners, will launch two major humanitarian plans to assist those affected by the conflict: the 2025 Sudan Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, and the 2025 Sudan Refugee Response Plan.

They collectively aim to raise $6 billion to support an estimated 21 million people in Sudan and up to 5 million refugees in neighboring countries.

Guterres called for urgent international action to alleviate the deepening humanitarian crisis in the war-ravaged country.

“Now the international community must show the same level of support to the Sudanese people in their moment of despair as the Sudanese people once showed to their neighbors in distress. “Your pledges today, in this room, will be the expression of that support,” he told donors.

Having served as the UN high commissioner for refugees, Guterres shared his personal experiences of working in Sudan, where he witnessed the hospitality of Sudanese people toward internally displaced populations as well as refugees from countries such as Eritrea, Chad, South Sudan and Ethiopia.

He also praised the efforts of countries hosting Sudanese refugees, noting that 3.3 million Sudanese have sought refuge in these nations despite their own challenges.

War has been raging for 19 months between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

A report by the Sudan Research Group at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine puts the number of deaths in Khartoum state alone at 61,000.

Of these, 26,000 were directly caused by violence, while the leading cause of death across Sudan was preventable disease and starvation.

The death toll is even higher in other parts of the country, particularly in Darfur, where reports of atrocities and ethnic cleansing have been widespread.

Aid workers have warned that the conflict in Sudan has resulted in the worst humanitarian crisis in the world, with thousands more at risk of famine.

The UN and other aid organizations have cited 20,000 confirmed deaths, but due to the ongoing fighting and disorder there has been no consistent tracking of casualties.

Last May, US Special Envoy for Sudan Tom Perriello said some estimates suggested as many as 150,000 people may have been killed.

Guterres warned that Sudan’s crisis continues to be “of staggering scale and brutality” and is worsening by the day, with violence spilling over into neighboring regions and humanitarian access remaining a major obstacle.

The Sudanese people “are crying out for an immediate ceasefire” and protection from further harm, he said.

Guterres assured attendees that the UN special envoy for Sudan is actively engaged with the warring parties to implement measures that could help achieve these objectives, including through the full execution of the Jeddah Declaration, which was signed by the US, Saudi Arabia, and representatives of both warring sides on May 20, 2023.

It was intended to facilitate a week-long ceasefire and the distribution of humanitarian aid in Sudan, but a day after it came into effect, clashes erupted again.

With Ramadan fast approaching, Guterres appealed to the international community to take decisive action, invoking the holy month’s spirit of peace, compassion and solidarity.

He urged leaders to provide generous support to the humanitarian response, advocate for respect of international law, and push for an immediate cessation of hostilities to help bring peace to Sudan.

“We must do more — and do more now — to help the people of Sudan out of this nightmare,” he said.

Source:arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2590233/middle-east

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Pa Adebanjo Is An Example Of How To Live And Die – Atiku

15 February 2025

By Udeze Ekene

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has described the late Pa Ayo Adebanjo as a patriotic Nigerian who fought tirelessly for the country.

Atiku said Pa Adebanjo was an example of how to live and die for the good of the country. He recalled that the late leader of the Afenifere from his youthful days was steadfast in the fight against oppression.

Naija News reported that Pa Adebanjo died at the age of 96 years, on Friday, at his residence in Lekki, Lagos State.

In his condolence message on Friday, the former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) prayed to God to console his family and grant him eternal rest.

It read: “I am saddened by the news of the passing away of Chief Ayo Adebanjo, a foremost elder statesman and one of the few remaining nationalists of our country.

“The late Afenifere leader was a formidable force and a fearless fighter for justice, equity, and an egalitarian society.

“I can vividly recall the heroic role that Pa Adebanjo played in wresting power from the military and enthroning democratic governance in Nigeria. He was at the forefront of the fight against military dictatorship.

“It is on record that Pa Adebanjo spent his entire youthful days fighting against colonial rule; spent his middle age to fight against military dictatorship and his latter days to ensure that good governance, rule of law and democracy took firm roots in Nigeria.

“I wish to state without equivocation that Pa Adebanjo was a golden example of how to live and die for the good of the country.

“Apart from mentoring many generations of civil rights activists across different generations, Pa Adebanjo was an activist extraordinaire and bridge builder who led the battle against injustice and oppression from the trenches

“Undoubtedly, the life and times of Adebanjo remain a priceless map for contemporary and upcoming activists, who advocate for good governance to learn and take a cue from.

“He taught all of us how to be statesmen of distinction.

“My profound condolences go to the Adebanjo family. I admonish them to take solace in the fact that the patriarch who they mourn was a father to the whole country and a pride to the Black race. I also commiserate with the people and government of Ogun State.”

Source:naijanews.com

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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/02/15/pa-adebanjo-is-an-example-of-how-to-live-and-die-atiku/

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Visa Denial: We Might Do To Canada What We Did To South Africa – NIS Official Threatens Retaliation

15 February 202

By Justina Otio

A senior official in the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has warned that if Canada does not address the matter of denying visa to some senior military officials, including the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, it might take some necessary actions.

Recall that the military officials had been invited to an event honouring war veterans in Canada. But while some members of the delegation received visas, others were denied entry, causing disappointment and frustration.

However, the Canadian High Commission on Friday acknowledged media reports on the visa denials but explained that it could not comment on the issue for privacy reasons.

Speaking with Punch on the matter, a senior official in the NIS who spoke on the condition of anonymity warned that if the Canadian embassy does not address the matter appropriately, Nigeria might take action by turning away Canadian nationals at its borders.

He said, “It was a minor issue before, but it has now become a major one. When high-ranking officials like the CDS need to travel, their protocol officers typically obtain a Note Verbale and submit it to the embassy along with their passports. However, certain individuals in urgent situations may not require it.

“For someone of the calibre of the Chief of Defence Staff to apply for a visa without a Note Verbale, the appropriate action for the Canadian embassy should have been to verify his identity with the relevant authorities. Denying the CDS a visa is insulting.”

The source likened the potential response to a similar action taken earlier this year when Nigeria retaliated against South Africa by turning back a South African airline that was carrying dignitaries.

The official said, “If the Canadian embassy does not handle this situation properly, the response will be significant. Nigeria may also start turning back Canadian nationals entering the country. This is similar to what we did with South Africa a few months ago when they turned back a large number of Nigerians.

“In response, a South African airline carrying dignitaries was turned back at the Lagos airport, prompting the immediate intervention of the South African president. The Canadian embassy should be cautious.”

Source:naijanews.com

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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/02/15/visa-denial-we-might-do-to-canada-what-we-did-to-south-africa-nis-official-threatens-retaliation/

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Nnamdi Kanu Recalls Parents Tragic Death, Blames Nigerian Army

14 February 2025

By Justina Otio

The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu has accused the Nigerian army of being responsible for the death of his parents.

He recounted how his late parents suffered severe trauma after the Nigerian Army attempted to kill him at his home in Afaraukwu, Abia State.

Kanu lamented that the 2017 attack led to the deaths of his parents, Eze Israel Okwu Kanu and Lolo Ugoeze Sally Nmeme Okwu Kanu, five years ago.

Naija News reports that in September 2017, soldiers under Operation Python Dance invaded Kanu’s residence in Afaraukwu, but the IPOB leader escaped and fled to Europe.

However, remembering his parents, Kanu lamented that those responsible for their deaths are still walking free.

The agitator shared his grievances during his routine meeting with his legal team at the Department of State Services, DSS facility in Abuja.

A statement issued by Kanu’s lead counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, read: “Rising from today’s routine visitation with Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, he instructed his legal team to issue the following statement:

“Five years ago today, I lost my precious parents (their Royal Majesties, Eze Sir Israel Okwu Kanu (JP) and Lolo Ugoeze Sally Nmeme Okwu Kanu). They suffered severe trauma from which they never recovered, while 28 other innocent souls were killed, simply because the Nigerian Army, without provocation, launched a deadly assault on our royal home with the sole intention of killing me.

“Because I survived, they quickly tagged IPOB a terrorist group to cover up their horrendous crime and mislead the gullible, a deception that persists to this day.

“The best tribute is to never forget what happened to them and all who fell in defence of freedom at our home.

“The Abuja-based murderers and their accomplices in Igboland who ordered this heinous, cold-blooded massacre of these innocent souls are still peddling their lies against my legitimate right to freely agitate for Biafra, as recognised by the laws of Nigeria.”

Source:naijanews.com

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

https://www.naijanews.com/2025/02/14/nnamdi-kanu-recalls-parents-tragic-death-blames-nigerian-army/

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Nigerian lawmakers approve $200 million to offset shortfall from US health aid cuts

14 February 2025

Nigerian lawmakers have approved an additional $200 million for the health sector as part of its 2025 spending plan to offset the shortfall from U.S. aid cuts.

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country with more than 200 million people, was among the top ten recipients of aid from the U.S. Agency for International Development in 2023. USAID's funding has been frozen for 90 days by the Trump administration.

The Nigerian senate appropriations chair Sen. Adeola Olamilekan said during the parliament's budget session on Thursday that the country could suffer “adverse effects” from the U.S. foreign aid cuts, especially affecting disease control efforts.

The $200 million spending plan, part of the $36.6 billion federal budget, will “fill the gap created by the U.S. Government’s suspension of intervention to the health sector," according to the bill approved on Thursday. Much of the money is intended to supply vaccines and treatment for epidemic diseases.

The U.S. invested over $600 million in health assistance in Nigeria in 2023 alone, according to the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria, mostly to support efforts to prevent malaria, end HIV and deliver vaccines.

The funding freeze from the U.S. could also affect the country on other fronts, including humanitarian assistance in the northeast where Islamic extremists have waged an insurgency against the government since 2009, resulting in a deadly war that has spilt over to Nigeria’s northern neighbours Chad, Niger and Cameroon.

USAID, for instance, partnered with the U.N. migration agency in Nigeria in its Rapid Response Fund project that addresses emergencies such as shelter, sanitation and protection in the conflict-hit region.

Source:africanews.com

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https://www.africanews.com/2025/02/14/nigerian-lawmakers-approve-200-million-to-offset-shortfall-from-us-health-aid-cuts/

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Southeast Asia

No need for non-Muslim affairs minister, just refer to Unity Ministry: Aaron

Feb 15, 2025

National Unity Minister Aaron Ago Dagang has reaffirmed that there is no need to appoint a separate minister in charge of non-Muslim affairs under the Prime Minister’s Department.

Instead, Aaron told reporters in Kuala Lumpur that all issues related to non-Muslim affairs could be brought to the Interfaith Harmony Division under his ministry.

Source:malaysiakini.com

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https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/734629

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PPj president: Putrajaya to host four Ramadan bazaars, adds new Precinct 16 spot

15 Feb 2025

PUTRAJAYA, Feb 15 — Four Ramadan bazaars will be opened in Putrajaya throughout the fasting month this year for the convenience of local residents.

Putrajaya Corporation (PPj) president Datuk Fadlun Mak Ujud said that in addition to the usual Ramadan bazaars at Precincts 3, 11, and 14, a smaller-scale bazaar will be opened at the Agricultural Heritage Park (Precinct 16).

“Almost 800 lots are being made available for the sellers at the bazaars this year,” he told reporters when asked after the launch of the Sports Carnival in conjunction with the Federal Territories’ Day 2025 celebration by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa here today.

He said strict monitoring would be carried out with a focus on the quality of food on sale.

“As such, sellers would only be allowed to start selling after 3 pm,” he said.

Fadlun also reminded all traders to maintain cleanliness and food quality and not to raise the prices at their whims and fancy.

PPj will also collaborate with other agencies, including the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living, the Ministry of Health and the Department of Social Welfare, to prevent street begging activity, especially involving foreigners, he added.

This year, Ramadan is expected to start on March 2. — Bernama

Source:malaymail.com

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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/02/15/ppj-president-putrajaya-to-host-four-ramadan-bazaars-adds-new-precinct-16-spot/166765

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Suspect in killing of Kuantan food vendor nabbed in Terengganu

BERNAMA

15-02- 2025

KUANTAN: Police arrested a man in Kuala Terengganu this morning on suspicion of being involved in the murder of a female food vendor whose body was found by the riverbank near the Tanjung Lumpur Bridge here.

Kuantan District Police Chief ACP Wan Mohd Zahari Wan Busu said the 53-year-old suspect, who is unemployed, was apprehended by a police team at a residential area in Wakaf Tembesu Gong Badak, Kuala Terengganu, at 5.30am.

He said the police also seized a ring, cash, clothing, and documents to assist in the investigation.

He added that a remand application for the suspect would be submitted to the Kuantan Magistrate’s Court today to facilitate further investigations under Section 302 of the Penal Code.

“With the arrest of this suspect, police have solved the murder case involving the food vendor,“ he said in a statement here.

Meanwhile, Pahang Police Chief Datuk Seri Yahaya Othman expressed gratitude to Terengganu police for assisting in locating and apprehending the suspect.

The media had reported that the body of food vendor, Norshamira Zainal, 37, was discovered on Feb 13 by the riverbank near the Tanjung Lumpur Bridge. Further investigations revealed foul play.

Yesterday, Yahaya stated that there were injury marks on the victim’s body and that her jewellery was missing.

The incident, involving the mother of one, also caught the attention of the Sultan of Pahang, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, who called for the suspect to be swiftly arrested and appropriately punished if found guilty of murder.

Al-Sultan Abdullah, his consort Tengku Ampuan Pahang Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, and their son, Tengku Mahkota Pahang Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah, visited the victim’s family at the Forensic Medical Department of Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital (HTAA) yesterday.

Source:thesun.my

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https://thesun.my/malaysia-news/suspect-in-killing-of-kuantan-food-vendor-nabbed-in-terengganu-CM13681838

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Police detain two traffickers with 19 illegal migrants in central KB Hotel

BERNAMA

14-02- 2025

KOTA BHARU: Two local men and 19 undocumented migrants were arrested for alleged involvement in human trafficking activities during a raid on a hotel in Jalan Tok Guru which is in the heart of town here yesterday.

Southeast Brigade Commander of the General Operations Force (GOF) Datuk Nik Ros Azhan Nik Ab Hamid said the raid was carried out at 4 am after a tip-off received under the anti-migrant smuggling operation dubbed, Op Taring Wawasan Kelantan.

He said the raid rounded up the illegal foreign nationals comprising eight men and seven women from Indonesia, two men and one woman from Myanmar and one man from India, along with the two local men, aged 54 and 36.

“All the suspects failed to show valid identification documents and are believed to have been smuggled into Malaysia through ungazetted routes,” he said in a statement today.

Nik Ros Azhan said police also seized two vehicles along with two mobile phones worth RM98,000 that were used for smuggling activities.

According to him, all the immigrants aged between 20 and 40 were arrested under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 and were taken to the Kota Bharu district police headquarters for further action.

Source:thesun.my

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https://thesun.my/malaysia-news/police-detain-two-traffickers-with-19-illegal-migrants-in-central-kb-hotel-JD13676807

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Harmoni Madani PRR project set for completion by Q1 2027, says Nga

15 Feb 2025

KUALA SELANGOR, Feb 15 — The Harmoni MADANI People’s Residency Programme (PRR) project in Bestari Jaya here is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2027, said Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming.

“I hope we can celebrate Deepavali 2027 in these new homes. This project will feature various facilities, including a community park, jogging track, surau and a kindergarten.

“This reflects the Housing and Local Government Ministry’s commitment to ensuring the people’s well-being under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Housing is a fundamental right and essential need,” he said during his speech at the groundbreaking ceremony officiated by Anwar today.

Also present was Berjaya Corporation Berhad founder Tan Sri Vincent Tan.

Nga said the project is a collaboration between the federal government, the Selangor government, Perbadanan PR1MA Malaysia and Berjaya Corporation Berhad, with a total development cost of RM75 million, of which RM40 million is funded by the federal government.

“The Selangor government has contributed RM35 million, while Berjaya Corporation Berhad has provided an 8.09-hectare site free of charge.

“This PRR project reflects the MADANI government’s dedication to helping workers from five plantation estates, namely Ladang Mary, Ladang Nigel Garder, Ladang Bukit Tagar, Ladang Sungai Tinggi and Ladang Minyak, to own homes,” he said.

Each PRR unit, valued at RM300,000, will be sold at RM45,000, with the government subsidising RM58.8 million.

Meanwhile, Amnah Mat Asin, 64, a future homeowner, said the groundbreaking ceremony marked the end of a 30-year wait.

“I’m thrilled to finally have my own house. My family and I have been renting in Kuala Kubu Baharu after being evicted by the previous estate management. I hope to live long enough to move into my own home when it is completed in 2027,” she told reporters.

For S. Rajeena, 58, a worker at Ladang Minyak, the home is a special gift as she celebrates her 40th wedding anniversary.

“The construction of these homes will also end a three-generation wait that began with my grandfather in 1998,” she said.

Prior to this, Selangor Housing and Culture Committee chairman Datuk Borhan Aman Shah told the State Legislative Assembly that construction work for the PRR project is expected to begin in early 2025, with a two-year completion period.

On May 3, 2024, Nga said the government had devised a solution for 245 families from the five estates who had been evicted without homes. — Bernama

Source:malaymail.com

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PM Anwar: Harmoni Madani PRR to set benchmark for estate-govt housing partnerships

15 Feb 2025

KUALA SELANGOR, Feb 15 — Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has proposed that the Residensi Rakyat (PRR) Harmoni MADANI Bestari Jaya programme be used as a model for estate-government collaboration in developing workers’ housing.

The prime minister said that such cooperation could be realised by having estate management provide land, thus allowing the government, through the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT), to plan housing developments for the well-being of plantation workers.

He highlighted that the PRR Harmoni MADANI Bestari Jaya initiative, developed through this collaborative model — where Berjaya Corporation Berhad handed over estate land to the government — successfully addressed the long-standing housing issue affecting plantation workers there for the past 27 years.

“This project took quite some time to materialise until Nga Kor Ming (Minister of Housing and Local Government) successfully negotiated with Tan Sri Vincent Tan (the landowner), who agreed to hand over part of the land for this project.

“Kor Ming took the initiative to negotiate with the estate management, municipal council, and state government before bringing the matter to the Cabinet, where we decided to allocate funds for the PRR development,” he said during the groundbreaking ceremony for PRR Harmoni MADANI Bestari Jaya here today, which was also attended by Nga.

The PPR Harmoni MADANI Bestari Jaya project involves the construction of 1,200-square-foot terrace houses, each equipped with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The development, spanning 8.09 hectares of land owned by Berjaya Corporation Berhad at Ladang Sungai Tinggi, is being carried out by PR1MA Corporation Malaysia, the appointed implementing agency.

The RM75 million project, expected to be completed within two years, is set to benefit 1,250 residents, including 245 rubber estate settlers from five different estates in the Bestari Jaya area.

Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, emphasised that the MADANI government is committed to ensuring that estate workers, particularly from predominantly Indian communities, are not left out of development plans, especially in housing initiatives.

He urged relevant agencies and officials to provide accurate information to the government so that development plans can be effectively executed without delay.

“Local authorities must collaborate and provide information on how we can help... The workers here need proper housing, complete with facilities that allow their children to live and study in a conducive environment,” he said.

To accelerate the development of people-centric projects, Anwar called on local authorities (PBT) to expedite the approval process for Planning Permissions (KM) to avoid cost escalations due to delays.

He commended the proactive approach taken by the Kuala Selangor Municipal Council (MPKS) in fast-tracking the KM process for the PRR Harmoni MADANI project and urged other local councils to adopt a similar approach for development approvals that benefit the people.

“Thank you, MPKS, for expediting the KM process. When everything is in order and all parties have agreed, why delay? If everything is properly arranged, don’t stall because delays will lead to additional costs, which will ultimately burden both the people and the government,” he said.

The Prime Minister also underscored the importance of negotiations as a key approach to resolving issues related to public welfare.

Anwar pointed out that PRR Harmoni MADANI is a prime example of how successful negotiations between various stakeholders can lead to the undertaking of a project that previous administrations had failed to implement.

“When we negotiate properly, we can solve the people’s problems, instead of stirring up sentiments and questioning what the government is doing—especially when, during their own tenure, they failed to address these very issues,” he added. — Bernama

Source:malaymail.com

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MOH: All Haj pilgrims must get meningococcal jab, Covid-19 and flu shots for high-risk groups

15 Feb 2025

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 15 — All prospective Haj pilgrims are required to obtain the meningococcal vaccine, while the Covid-19 and influenza vaccines are mandatory for those in high-risk groups.

The Health Ministry (MOH), citing a press release issued by Tabung Haji (TH) yesterday, said Covid-19 and influenza vaccination is required for pilgrims aged 65 and above and individuals classified as high-risk during health screenings.

Eligible Haj pilgrims can obtain the Covid-19 vaccine free of charge at 247 selected health clinics nationwide, with appointments to be scheduled via the MySejahtera application or TH’s official website at www.tabunghaji.gov.my.

“Covid-19 vaccination appointments can be arranged through MySejahtera from Feb 14, with vaccinations set to begin on Feb 17.

“Appointment reminder notifications will also be sent via MySejahtera a day before the scheduled date,” MOH said in a statement today.

According to MOH, pilgrims who do not fall under the mandatory category may opt for voluntary Covid-19 vaccination at designated healthcare facilities after consultation with a medical officer.

Meanwhile, those aged 65 and above and individuals classified as high-risk during health screenings must obtain the influenza vaccine at private healthcare facilities listed on MySejahtera or those authorised to upload the Digital Vaccination Certificate to the application.

“In line with the recently announced National Influenza Immunisation Programme, Malaysian Haj pilgrims aged 60 and above with at least one chronic illness can receive the influenza vaccine for free at selected government health facilities.

“Appointments can be made via MySejahtera from Feb 14, with vaccination slots available from Feb 18,” MOH added.

The public may contact MOH or TH for further inquiries regarding the latest vaccination guidelines for Haj pilgrims. — Bernama

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PKR elections: Anwar leaves presidential, deputy contests to party decision

By Malay Mail

15 Feb 2025

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 15 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim says PKR’s leadership will decide on contests for the party’s top two positions.

Anwar said he would not interfere and respected the democratic process, Buletin TV3 reported today.

“Let them decide... I won’t get involved.

“Let democracy take its course; whether there’s a contest or not is up to the party,” he was quoted as saying.

Anwar, who is also PKR president, was speaking after attending the groundbreaking ceremony for the Harmoni Madani Bestari Jaya People’s Housing Programme (PPR) in Tanjung Karang, Selangor, today.

Earlier, PKR International Bureau chairman Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin suggested the party might not open contests for the president and deputy president positions, currently held by Anwar and Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli.

PKR has set May 24 for elections to its Central Leadership Council (MPP), Women’s Leadership Council (MPWP), and Youth Leadership Council (MPAMKP).

Party secretary-general Fuziah Salleh previously announced that elections for division-level positions, including the Women’s and Youth wings, will be held from April 11 to 20.

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North America

US senator hails Zelensky for proxy war effort

14 Feb, 2025

Republican US Senator Lindsey Graham showered praise on Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky at this year’s annual Munich Security Conference, declaring him to be the ally he had always dreamed of and lauding that the fight with Russia had not cost American lives.

The war-hawk senator made the remarks on Friday during a panel discussion at the Munich Security Conference. Speaking alongside Zelensky, Graham admitted the conflict between Moscow and Kiev was a proxy war fought by Kiev on Washington’s behalf, and praised Zelensky’s role in the continuing bloodshed.

“I want to tell you and your people you’re the ally I've been hoping for all my life. Not one American has died defending Ukraine,” Graham proclaimed, adding that Kiev had taken “our weapons” and purportedly “kicked [Russia’s] ass.”

“I’m very proud to have you as our ally,” he stressed.

However, Graham’s claim of zero American casualties in the conflict appears not to be entirely true, given that mercenaries and “volunteers” from the US have been repeatedly reported killed during the hostilities. Last year, the Russian military said the US had provided at least some 1,113 mercenaries to fight on Kiev’s behalf. According to Moscow’s estimates, nearly half of them – some 491 – had been killed.

The senator has been very open about Washington’s true goals in the conflict between Moscow and Kiev, describing the deaths of Russians in the hostilities as “the best money we ever spent” and an all-round good investment for Washington. He also touted plans to take control of the country’s “trillions worth” of natural resources, describing Ukraine as a “gold mine” full to the brim with “critical resources.”

The idea of seizing Ukraine’s minerals for the US has been floated since US President Donald Trump’s return to office, who recently demanded the “equivalent of $500 billion worth of rare earths” from Kiev in exchange for “more than $300 billion” his predecessor Joe Biden sent to Ukraine over the past three years. Zelensky has signaled readiness for such a “partnership” with Washington, yet admitted that the greater part of the resources Trump wants are under Moscow’s control already. He urged his Western backers to help him push Russian forces out of those resource-rich territories.

Moscow has long suggested that grabbing Ukrainian minerals was one of Washington’s true goals in the conflict. Ex-Russian president and deputy head of the Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, suggested that was the case back in August.

“To get access to the coveted minerals, the Western parasites shamelessly demand that their wards wage war to the last Ukrainian. They are already directly voicing such intent without hesitation,” Russia’s former leader wrote on his Telegram channel.

“According to open-source data, the total value of Ukraine’s former mineral resource base is estimated at almost $14.8 trillion, but $7.3 trillion of this is now in the Lugansk and Donetsk People’s Republics. That means almost half of the former Ukraine’s national wealth is in Donbass,” he explained.

Source:rt.com

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Vance's blast at Europe ignores Ukraine and defence agenda

14 Feb, 2025

But the most senior American present, US Vice President JD Vance, used his time at the podium to talk about neither.

Instead, he shocked delegates on Friday by roundly attacking Washington's allies, including Britain, in a blistering attack decrying misinformation, disinformation, and the rights of free speech.

It was a very weird 20 minutes - one met largely with silence from delegates in the hall.

Even a joke, "if American democracy can survive 10 years of [climate campaigner] Greta Thunberg scolding, you guys can survive a few months of Elon Musk", failed to raise a single laugh.

He accused European governments of retreating from their values, and ignoring voter concerns on migration and free speech.

Vance's speech went down very badly - unequivocally badly. It was extraordinarily poorly judged.

But who was it aimed at?

A US commentator said to me afterwards: "That was all for US domestic consumption."

The vice president did, however, go on to meet the embattled Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who did his best to sound positive.

"We want, really, we want peace very much. But we need real security guarantees," Zelensky added.

The US also dashed Kyiv's hopes of joining Nato, a key ambition of President Zelensky, and ruled out sending US troops to help protect Ukraine's borders from the next time Russia decides to invade.

The delegates in Munich are scheduled to focus on the war in Ukraine in a high-profile debate on Saturday.

Source:bbc.com

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Who is Danielle Sassoon, prosecutor who quit in protest from Trump justice department?

15 Feb, 2025

Ordered by the Trump administration to drop a corruption case against New York's mayor, a top federal prosecutor instead resigned in protest.

Danielle Sassoon is known as a tough but fair conservative attorney, according to former colleagues and courtroom rivals alike.

In 2016, Danielle Sassoon wrote a tribute to a former boss, the late US Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. She praised the conservative jurist's character, and his legal approach. Such qualities were not universal, she told readers.

"Sometimes, when you peek behind the curtain of power, you suffer a rude awakening," she wrote. "What you find is corruption, ego, or a lack of ideals and intellectual heft."

On Thursday, Sassoon, who had served just three weeks as the interim head of the Southern District of New York offered the country a peek behind that curtain of power.

The 38-year-old federal prosecutor resigned on Thursday, after refusing to comply with the Justice Department's order to drop the corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

She did not go quietly. In a letter to US Attorney General Pam Bondi, which quickly became public, Sassoon said there was no legal justification for dismissing the case.

She made explosive allegations of a quid-pro-quo proposed by Adams' attorneys to the justice department, and said that the top official who ordered them to stop, acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, had not provided sufficient legal justification for his actions.

Adams and his attorney, Alex Spiro, have denied Sassoon's allegation. Trump himself has denied political meddling in the criminal case.

In her resignation letter, Sassoon wrote: "Because the law does not support a dismissal, and because I am confident that Adams has committed the crimes with which he is charged, I cannot agree to seek a dismissal driven by improper considerations."

Sassoon's resignation has sparked the most public upheaval of the criminal justice system since Donald Trump took office in January.

Six prosecutors at the justice department's criminal and public integrity unit, including its interim leaders Kevin Driscoll and John Keller, resigned as well, CBS News, BBC News' US media partner, reported.

Hagan Scotten, another federal prosecutor, wrote in his own resignation letter that he was "entirely in agreement" with Sassoon's decision not to drop the Adams case.

Those who worked with Sassoon say they are not surprised she took this extraordinary stance.

Carrie Cohen, a former colleague at the Southern District of New York, described her as "an excellent, diligent, tough, but fair prosecutor, exactly the type of prosecutor that people should want serving their country".

On Friday, New York Attorney General Letitia James lauded Sassoon as a "profile in courage".

Even those who worked against Sassoon's team of prosecutors in court praised her decision.

Sassoon and her team were "fierce advocates for the office", said criminal defence lawyer Jeffrey Lichtman.

"While I didn't always see eye to eye with them, they were fair and just," he said.

In a Fox News appearance on Friday morning, Mayor Adams called Sassoon's allegations "silly" and said she was accusing him of "a crime".

Mr Spiro called her accusations a "lie".

"We were asked if the case had any bearing on national security and immigration enforcement and we truthfully answered it did," he told CBS News.

Sassoon began her legal career at Yale Law School, where she served as a features editor for the prestigious Yale Law Journal.

In 2013, she went to London on a Temple Bar Scholarship, where she shadowed barristers and learned the differences between the US and UK justice systems, according to an essay she wrote about her experience abroad.

She also served as a foreign law clerk to Justice Hanan Melcer of the Israel Supreme Court in 2009.

Sassoon won prestigious clerkships with well known conservative jurists: Judge J Harvie Wilkinson III of the fourth circuit court of appeals, and later Scalia, perhaps the most high-profile member of the US Supreme Court at the time.

Scalia "taught me how to fire a pistol and a rifle, and made me feel like I had grit", Sassoon wrote in her 2016 memorial for Scotus blog. "He thickened my skin, which was the best preparation for a career in a male-dominated field."

In her letter to the US attorney general this week, Sassoon highlighted her work for these conservatives, potentially heading off allegations that she defied the justice department for partisan reasons.

"Both men instilled in me a sense of duty to contribute to the public good and up hold the rule of law, and a commitment to reasoned and thorough analysis," she wrote to Bondi.

Sassoon joined the Southern District of New York in 2016 after stints at a white collar firm and on the faculty at New York University Law School. She is a member of the Federalist Society, a professional group of conservative lawyers and scholars.

She prosecuted the fraud case against crypto entrepreneur Sam Bankman-Fried, which resulted in a guilty verdict and a sentence of 25 years in prison.

"There was an abundance of evidence in that case and the outcome was expected by all, but it was complex and the prosecutors were very professional, organized and cogent," said John Coffee, a professor at Columbia University Law School who followed the case closely.

Despite her work on such high profile cases, Sassoon kept a low profile, as is typical for federal prosecutors.

She was temporarily leading the Southern District of New York, while Trump's choice for the top job, Jay Clayton, awaited US Senate confirmation.

With her conservative bona fides, she could have potentially found work in the new Republican administration.

But then came Bove's instruction to drop the corruption case against Adams, who was accused of accepting bribes and improper campaign contributions from foreign nationals.

Adams has denied the claims and pleaded not guilty. His trial was set for April.

Sassoon's decision to defy orders, and reveal secretive justice department discussions on her way out the door, was extremely unusual, Manhattan attorneys said.

"This is the stuff you never see," said Arthur Aidala, a criminal defence attorney.

The justice department could still take retaliatory measures.

In his response to Sassoon, Bove wrote that he was putting assistant US attorneys involved in the Adams case on leave pending an investigation. He also said the justice department would "evaluate your conduct".

But New York lawyers say that Sassoon's act of defiance may have sprung from necessity as much as conviction.

"Both from a moral perspective and a practical perspective she had no choice," said Mark Zauderer, a high-profile appellate attorney. "The office would have been in shambles."

To comply with Bove could have prompted a staff exodus and put the office's reputation at risk, he said.

Ms Cohen, who still considered Sassoon a friend, said she recalled the prosecutor as a staunch advocate for her colleagues.

"You can see that support in her decision to put the office, and her oath of office, at the forefront of her decision to resign," Ms Cohen said.

Source:bbc.com

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Transgender references removed from Stonewall monument website

15 Feb, 2025

The Trump administration has erased references to transgender people from New York's Stonewall National Monument website.

On the National Park Service website, the acronym LGBTQ+ has been shortened to LGB, standing for lesbian, gay and bisexual.

Other government websites have also been changed after President Donald Trump signed an order recognising two sexes only - male and female – on his first day in office.

Activists denounced the move on Friday and held a protest at the site, which is the country's first national monument dedicated to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history.

"There is no Pride without Trans folks leading that fight!," Stacy Lentz, the co-owner of The Stonewall Inn and CEO of The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative, wrote on Instagram in a post announcing the protest.

"Trying to erase them from the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement will not happen!"

The National Park Service's public affairs department said the agency had taken the actions to comply with the executive order signed by President Trump which described "restoring biological truth to the federal government", according to a statement sent to the New York Times.

The BBC has contacted the National Park Service for comment.

On an older version of the park service website, saved by the digital web archive Wayback Machine, the monument's main page read: "Before the 1960s, almost everything about living openly as a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ+) person was illegal."

The updated webpage now reads: "Before the 1960s, almost everything about living openly as a lesbian, gay, bisexual (LGB) person was illegal."

Some other references to transgender people remain on the website, including the founding document for the Stonewall National Monument.

A 1969 police raid at the Stonewall Inn gay bar in New York led to riots, which marked a major turning point in the push for gay equality.

Former President Barack Obama designated it a US national monument in 2016. The monument covers 7.7 acres of land, including nearby Christopher Park.

In a statement on Thursday, the Stonewall Inn and the Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative said it was "outraged" at the changes.

"This blatant act of erasure not only distorts the truth of our history, but it also dishonours the immense contributions of transgender individual," the statement said.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul called the change "cruel and petty".

A protest against the website changes took place next to the Stonewall monument on Friday. Posters with signs such as "national park service you can't spell history without a T" were held up by demonstrators.

Source:bbc.com

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Prosecutors ask to drop corruption case against NYC Mayor Eric Adams

15 Feb, 2025

The Department of Justice has filed a motion to dismiss its corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, the latest move in a row between the Trump administration and career US attorneys.

Seven justice department lawyers, including the top US prosecutor in Manhattan, resigned over an order to drop the case.

US Attorney General Pam Bondi told Fox News on Friday that it was her understanding that the case against Adams would be "dismissed today".

Adams was indicted last year on fraud and bribery charges. He denies any wrongdoing.

The request to drop the charges will require approval by a judge.

Earlier in the week, acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove - Bondi's second-in-command - ordered the Manhattan federal prosecutor's office to end the case.

Bove argued that the case against Adams had "restricted" the mayor's ability to address "illegal immigration and violent crime" - two of President Donald Trump's key priorities.

The motion to dismiss the case, signed by Bove and two justice department lawyers, said that pursuing the case "would interfere with the defendant's ability to govern in New York City, which poses unacceptable threats to public safety, national security, and related federal immigration initiatives and policies".

But several Department of Justice employees, including the top prosecutor in Manhattan, Danielle Sassoon, viewed the order to drop the case as politically motivated interference in the independent judicial system.

Sassoon resigned from her post on Thursday and was followed by six of her colleagues.

She said dropping the case would set a "breathtaking and dangerous precedent".

The latest prosecutor to resign in protest at being ordered to drop the charges, Hagan Scotten, wrote in his resignation letter on Friday that US laws and traditions do not allow for "using prosecutorial power" to influence elected officials.

"If no lawyer within earshot of the President is willing to give him that advice, then I expect you will eventually find someone who is enough of a fool, or enough of a coward, to file your motion," Scotten wrote in the letter addressed to Bove. "But it was never going to be me."

In a letter accepting Sassoon's resignation, Bove said his office would be investigating the attorney, claiming she had "lost sight of the oath that you took when you started at the Department of Justice".

In a statement, Bondi's chief of staff Chad Mizelle defended the decision to dismiss the charges, saying it showed "that this DOJ will return to its core function of prosecuting dangerous criminals, not pursuing politically motivated witch hunts".

Mr Mizelle said that prosecutors who refuse direct orders "have no place" in the department.

Adams was indicted last year for allegedly accepting gifts totalling more than $100,000 (£75,000) from Turkish citizens in exchange for favours.

In Sassoon's resignation letter, she also said Adams' lawyers had met justice department officials and asked for a "quid pro quo", saying the New York City mayor could help enforce Trump's immigration policies if the case against him was dismissed.

But Adams denied that was the case.

"I want to be crystal clear with New Yorkers: I never offered - nor did anyone offer on my behalf - any trade of my authority as your mayor for an end to my case. Never," he said in a statement on Friday.

Adams, a Democrat, has accused investigators of pursuing a politically motivated case against him because of his criticism of former President Joe Biden's immigration policies.

The New York mayor has also expressed a willingness to work with Trump since he won the White House. He flew to meet Trump at his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida days before the Republican president took office.

After a meeting with US border tsar Tom Homan on Thursday, Adams said he would agree to allow Immigrations and Customs Enforcement to re-establish an office at the city's Rikers Island jail.

Trump has denied that he had any involvement in asking prosecutors to dismiss the case against Adams.

But Bove's letter described his instructions to drop the case as "direct orders implementing the policy of a duly elected President".

The governor of New York state, Kathy Hochul, has the power to remove Adams from office.

While she has not said she would take such action, she also indicated she hasn't entirely ruled it out, telling MSNBC that she was "consulting with other leaders in government at this time".

"The allegations are extremely concerning and serious," she said. "But I cannot, as the governor of this state, have a knee-jerk, politically motivated reaction."

Source:bbc.com

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Man pleads guilty in shooting of US teen Ralph Yarl

15 Feb, 2025

An 86-year-old man in Kansas City, Missouri, has pleaded guilty to second-degree assault in the shooting of Ralph Yarl, a teen who accidentally visited the wrong address.

Andrew Lester on Friday agreed the lesser charge as part of a plea deal, according to US media. His trial was due to begin next week.

In April 2023, Ralph Yarl, 16, rang Lester's doorbell as he went to pick up his younger brothers. Prosecutors say Lester shot the teen without speaking to him. The boy survived.

His was one of several cases at the time of unarmed people being shot after confusing addresses, which launched debate over stand your ground laws in some US states that allows use of deadly force to prevent death or great bodily harm.

The case prompted protests and attracted attention from civil rights and racial justice advocates, who argued that Ralph Yarl's race was a factor in the shooting. Ralph is black and Lester is white.

Police initially said there was a "racial component" to the shooting, but authorities ultimately opted not to charge Lester with a hate crime.

Lester and his lawyers said that he was acting in self-defence and thought the teenager was trying to break into his home.

In a 2023 court appearance, he initially pleaded not guilty to the assault and armed criminal action charges. He faced life in prison if convicted at trial.

He will be sentenced 7 March for the lesser charge. He faces up to seven years behind bars.

"We remain hopeful that his sentencing will not be merely a slap on the wrist but a decision that upholds the seriousness of his crime." the Yarl family said in a statement to local media.

Ralph Yarl told authorities that his mother sent him to pick up his siblings around 22:00 local time that night. He mixed up similar street names - Northeast 115 Street and Northeast 115th Terrace - which put him on Lester's doorstep and about a block away from the house he was trying to visit.

After he rang the doorbell, Lester shot him twice - once in the forehead and once in the arm. Prosecutors have said that he "did not cross the threshold" of Lester's home and survived after fleeing to neighbouring homes for help.

Police initially detained Lester for questioning and released him without charges, sparking protests in Kansas City. Lester later turned himself in after an arrest warrant was issued.

Ralph Yarl, who has since graduated from high school, is expected to deliver a victim impact statement at a sentencing hearing next month.

The protests, which drew support from celebrities including Halle Berry, Kerry Washington and Jennifer Hudson, called for racial justice and drew attention to stand your ground laws. Critics argued they contributed to gun violence against black people in the US.

The case was also one of several in the spring of 2023 in which Americans - many of them children and teens - were injured after minor mistakes were met with gun violence.

Source:bbc.com

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Accuser drops rape lawsuit against Jay-Z and Sean Combs

15 Feb, 2025

A lawsuit against Sean "Diddy" Combs and Jay-Z, which alleged the rape of a 13-year-old girl in 2000, has been dismissed, according to a legal filing submitted on Friday in New York.

The attorney representing the anonymous plaintiff, referred to as Jane Doe, voluntarily withdrew the case, court records show.

The filing was submitted by lawyer Tony Buzbee, who is representing dozens of plaintiffs in lawsuits alleging sexual misconduct against Mr Combs.

The filings states that the plaintiff "hereby gives notice that the... action is voluntarily dismissed, with prejudice".

Because the dismissal is with prejudice, the lawsuit cannot again be refiled in its current form.

Roc Nation, the entertainment company founded by Jay-Z, whose legal name is Shawn Carter, issued a statement signed by him, referring to the dismissal as a "victory".

"The frivolous, fictitious and appalling allegations have been dismissed," he wrote.

"This civil suit was without merit and never going anywhere. The fictional tale they created was laughable, if not for the seriousness of the claims."

"The trauma that my wife, my children, loved ones and I have endured can never be dismissed," said the rapper, who is married to singer Beyoncé.

He continued: "The courts must protect the innocent from being accused without a shred of evidence. May the truth prevail for all victims and those falsely accused equally."

Jay-Z's attorney, Alex Spiro, emphasised in a separate statement that the case "never should have been brought".

"By standing up in the face of heinous and false allegations, Jay has done what few can – he pushed back, he never settled, he never paid 1 red penny, he triumphed and cleared his name," he said in a statement to the BBC.

Jane Doe initially filed the lawsuit against Mr Combs in October before adding Jay-Z's name in December. She alleged that both men assaulted her in 2000 after an MTV Video Music Awards afterparty.

Jay-Z strongly denied the allegations, claiming that his attorney had been sent "blackmail" in an attempt to force a settlement. He said the attempt had the "opposite effect" and instead motivated him to publicly challenge the accusations.

In December, Jane Doe gave an interview that raised questions about her credibility. She admitted that "not all the facts are clear" and stated, "I have made some mistakes. I may have made a mistake in identifying."

Last month, Jay-Z formally requested the court to dismiss the lawsuit, citing inconsistencies in the accuser's account. The request was approved by United States District Judge Analisa Torres, leading to the lawsuit's dismissal.

While Jay-Z is no longer facing legal action in this case, Mr Combs continues to battle over three dozen civil suits.

In response to Friday's dismissal, Mr Combs' legal team issued a statement declaring his innocence.

"For months, we have seen case after case filed by individuals hiding behind anonymity, pushed forward by an attorney more focused on media headlines than legal merit. Just like this claim, the others will fall apart because there is no truth to them," the statement says.

It added: "This is just the first of many that will not hold up in a court of law."

Mr Combs has been held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, since September 2024 on federal criminal charges related to racketeering and sex trafficking.

He's been denied bail three times, and will remain in custody until his trial on 5 May 2025.

Source:bbc.com

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What it means when Elon Musk brings his children to work

15 Feb, 2025

Elon Musk's children have been to places many will never see.

From meetings with foreign leaders to the control room of a SpaceX launch, Musk's children have debuted as constant sidekicks to their father's endeavors in tech, business and now, politics.

They have made frequent appearances in the nation's capital since President Donald Trump tapped the tech billionaire and Tesla co-founder to lead the newly-formed Department of Government Efficiency.

Musk's four-year-old, "Lil X", hung on the corner of the Resolute desk in the Oval Office on Wednesday sporting a tan pea coat and a collared shirt.

On Thursday, X and two of his siblings exchanged gifts with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi while their father discussed technology and innovation with the foreign leader.

Musk has frequently been seen with his children even before coming to Washington - at a meeting with the president of Turkey, a memorial service at Auschwitz concentration camp, and a Time magazine ceremony where he was named the 2021 person of the year.

But why do Musk's children tag along?

"The inclusion of the kids in many public appearances is very much a politician move or a political move to make him seem a bit more personable (and) take a human approach to how the public views him," says Kurt Braddock, an American University professor of public communication.

Why bring the kids?

Still, Mr Braddock thought the decision to bring Musk's preschooler to the Oval Office was unusual.

X appeared bored during the 30-minute press briefing as he mimicked his father, sat on the floor and received the occasional side glance and smile from the leader of the free world. At one point, it appeared he told someone in the room to "shush" their mouth.

Mr Braddock said he believes their inclusion is intentional - a distraction that benefits both Musk and Trump.

"I do think that there is a bit of a strategy here trying to draw attention to some things while diverting attention to other things," he said.

Jon Haber, a strategic communication consultant who has worked with five presidential campaigns and teaches at Harvard, said Musk's children making frequent appearances - and creating viral moments - is beneficial for Trump.

"For Trump, the more chaos, the more he floods the zone, the less anybody can really focus on. Chaos works for him," Mr Haber said.

Grimes, Musk's ex-girlfriend and the mother of X, criticised her son's appearance in the Oval Office.

"He should not be in public like this," she wrote in a post on X. "I did not see this… but I'm glad he was polite. Sigh."

In a 2022 Vanity Fair article, she said that she wasn't a fan of her son being in the spotlight.

"Whatever is going on with family stuff, I just feel like kids need to stay out of it, and X is just out there. I mean, I think E is really seeing him as a protégé and bringing him to everything and stuff.… X is out there. His situation is like that. But, yeah, I don't know."

Musk and his children

Long before politics, Musk allowed his children to tag along.

A decade ago, when he was still building his profile and eager to draw attention to his electric-vehicle maker Tesla, it wasn't unusual to see them at events.

As analysts and reporters waited for one unveiling to begin at a Tesla facility in Silicon Valley in 2015, his five children could be seen running through the hallways chasing after each other and shrieking with laughter.

Despite being forced to wait for hours for attendees, the presence of Musk's children created an atmosphere that felt relaxed and even joyous.

It was a departure from the stiff, far more formal events held by other companies for which the prospect of seeing an executive's very young children would have come across as odd.

Musk has had 12 children with three different women.

His most-recognised son, X Æ A-12?, goes by "Lil X", the same letter Musk used to re-name Twitter when he purchased the social media company.

The four-year-old has been dubbed an "emotional support human" by Musk himself.

Walter Isaacson, the author of Musk's biography, said on The Diary of a CEO podcast that Musk is "deeply committed" to his children and is "almost obsessed by them".

"With his own children, his lovers, his wives, there is the same intensity that is baked into everything he does," Mr Isaacson said.

"He always likes having some of his children around him. He always likes having a companion, but that doesn't mean that he likes calmness."

Source:bbc.com

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US man held in Russia for carrying cannabis sweets - state media

15 Feb, 2025

An American man is being held in Russia after airport security discovered cannabis-laced sweets in his luggage, according to Russian state media.

The 28-year-old man, who is not named in the reports, is facing drugs charges after he was arrested at Moscow's Vnukovo International Airport last week.

According to Russian state news agency Tass, a drug-sniffing dog alerted security to one of his bags which was then found to contain two jars and a plastic bag of cannabis products.

The US State Department told the BBC it was aware of the reports and was monitoring the case closely.

The Tass report said the man arrived in Moscow from Istanbul on 7 February, and later explained to airport security that the items had been prescribed by an American doctor.

He is facing a potential prison term of 5-10 years on drug smuggling charges as well as a fine of one million roubles ($10,880; £8,600), state media reports.

In recent years, Russia has detained a number of US citizens on drugs charges with some Western officials suggesting the Kremlin is "hoarding" Americans to trade for allies and operatives imprisoned abroad.

Prisoner exchanges occurred as recently as this week, when a Russian national jailed in the US on money laundering charges was freed in exchange for American Marc Fogel, who was arrested for cannabis possession in 2021.

Mr Fogel, who was also arrested at a Russian airport, was charged with carrying a small amount of medical marijuana and given a 14-year prison sentence.

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 in perhaps the most high-profile case.

Lat year also saw the biggest prisoner exchange between Russia and the West since the Cold War, with 24 people released in total including the Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich.

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.

Source:bbc.com

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Pakistan

TTP still gets financial, logistic support from Afghan Taliban

Baqir Sajjad Syed

February 15, 2025

ISLAMABAD: A United Nations report has revealed that Afghan Taliban’s continued support for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), despite Islamabad’s increasing pressure to cease backing the outfit, was fuelling the group’s escalating attacks in Pakistan.

This was stated in the 35th report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team submitted to the UN Security Council.

The Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team is a panel of independent experts established by the UN Security Council to support sanctions implementation against individuals and entities linked to Al Qaeda, Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Daesh) and associated groups.

The team submits biannual reports assessing the threat landscape posed by these organisations to form international policy and security strategies.

The report, covering the period from July 1 to Dec 13, 2024, states the “status and strength of TTP in Afghanistan had not changed”, while the group intensified its assaults on Pakistan, conducting over 600 attacks during the reporting period, many launched from Afghan territory.

Financial, operational backing

It underscored that the Taliban continued to provide the outlawed TTP with logistical and operational space and financial support, bolstering the group’s capacity to sustain its activities.

The report revealed that the family of TTP leader Noor Wali Masoud receives around $43,000 per month from the Afghan Taliban, reflecting a significant level of financial backing for the terrorist group.

The TTP has also “established new training centres in Kunar, Nangarhar, Khost, and Paktika (Barmal) provinces” while enhancing recruitment, including from within the Afghan Taliban’s ranks.

This expansion has contributed to TTP’s continued status as the largest Afghanistan-based terrorist organisation, with an estimated 6,000 to 6,500 fighters. The group’s growing influence is linked to the Afghan Taliban’s continued ideological and historical ties with TTP.

Amid escalating attacks, Pakistan has intensified military operations under “Azm-i-Istehkam”, targeting TTP hideouts across the Afghan border, particularly in Paktika and Khost. These military measures include cross-border raids and retaliatory strikes.

Simultaneously, Pakistan pursued diplomatic engagements, sending delegations to Kabul to urge the Afghan Taliban to take action against TTP sanctuaries. However, the Afghan authorities remained reluctant, proposing mediation rather than decisive measures, leading to a diplomatic impasse.

The UN report corroborates these developments, highlighting that the Taliban’s support has enabled TTP to escalate its offensive strategy against Pakistan. The report stated, “The ambition and scale of its (TTP) attacks on Pakistan… had significantly increased.”

TTP’s operational capabilities have been further strengthened by increased collaboration with Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) and other terrorist groups. The report indicates that these organisations are “conducting attacks under the banner of Tehrik-i-Jihad Pakistan (TJP)”.

The report warned that enhanced cooperation among these terrorist groups, including “provision of suicide bombers and fighters and ideological guidance”, could transform TTP into an “extra-regional threat” and potentially an umbrella organisation for other terrorist factions operating in South Asia.

The proscribed Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), through its Majeed Brigade, executed several high-casualty attacks across south-western Pakistan, including in Awaran, Panjgur, and Dalbandin, during the reporting period, according to the report. Notably, the Majeed Brigade has incorporated women into its ranks.

The report observed that the Majeed Brigade maintains connections with the banned TTP, Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K), and ETIM/TIP, collaborating with these groups in its operational bases in Afghanistan. This emerging nexus between the BLA, which traditionally pursues ethno-nationalist objectives, and religiously inspired terrorist groups like TTP, indicates a strategic convergence of interests.

High-profile operatives

Pakistani security forces, according to the report, dealt a significant setback to IS-K efforts to establish its network in Pakistan by arresting three high-profile operatives.

The IS-K leaders identified as Adil Panjsheri, an Afghan national, Abu Munzir, a Tajik, and Kaka Younis, an Uzbek, were said to be central figures in recruitment, travel and funding of fighters and suicide bombers, including those involved in attacks in Kerman and Moscow.

Their arrest was previously not announced by Pakistani security forces, which regularly publicise their counter-terrorism operations.

The report described Panjsheri as a coordinator of travel and logistics for IS-K, while Munzir managed recruitment networks across Central Asia. Younis was identified as a key financier of terrorist activities.

Despite these arrests, Tariq Tajiki, believed to be the mastermind behind the Kerman attack, remains at large in Afghanistan, the report noted.

To avoid detection and minimise further arrests, IS-K, according to the report, has switched from electronic communications to traditional courier networks for delivering instructions and holding meetings.

Source:dawn.com

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Sindh CM criticises judge for 'inapt' remarks on police in Mustafa murder case

By Web Desk

February 15, 2025

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has questioned the "inappropriate" remarks regarding the police conduct by a judge dealing with the notorious Mustafa Amir murder case.

Mustafa, a BBA student who went missing on January 6, was found dead in a burnt car near Hub checkpost on Friday night, after prolonged disappearance and investigations into the matter.

Speaking at the inauguration of the newly modernised Model Police Station on Sharea Faisal, Sindh CM raised questions about the judiciary's handling of the case.

The chief minister criticised the court's decision to deny police custody of the suspect for physical remand. He questioned why the judge had made remarks that he deemed inappropriate about the police.

"I was surprised to know that the suspect was immediately remanded into judicial custody and not sent for physical remand. I have heard that the honourable judge remarked something like ‘has any DSP died [in the raid]'. I don't know if it is true or not. If it is wrong then I apologise," he said.

The CM further expressed dissatisfaction over courts remanding suspects in theft and robbery cases into police custody but not in a case like this.

Shah insisted that if any police officer was negligent in the investigation, they should be dismissed from service. However, he also stressed that the judiciary should take action against the judge for their remarks about the police.

The alleged abduction for ransom case came to light after prime accused Armughan opened fire at a raiding team of Anti-Violent Crime Cell (AVCC), a specialised unit of the Karachi police responsible for tackling cases related to murder and extortion, last week.

The case made headlines as the unit faced multiple challenges in recovering the youngster before finally making progress last night.

Mustafa's charred mortal remains were found in a car, which had been set on fire along with the body. According to the investigation officers, the suspects allegedly murdered Mustafa and burned his body.

"Mustafa was taken in the [same] car to Hub Chowki where Armughan along with his friend torched it," they added.

In a press conference following the discovery, Crime Investigation Agency Deputy Inspector General (CIA-DIG) Muqaddas Haider said that the recovery of Mustafa's mobile phone and other evidence from the suspect, Armughan's house was a turning point in the investigation.

The raid at the suspect's house resulted in a standoff between the suspect inside the bungalow and police outside, which lasted for hours and left two cops, including a deputy superintendent of police (DSP) wounded. However, in the end, police successfully arrested the suspect, Armughan.

Since then, police had continued searching for Mustafa's whereabouts but failed to make any headway except for claiming to collect some evidence from the bungalow including the missing young man's mobile phone and blood stains.

During interrogation, Armughan initially admitted to the murder but later denied it.

The investigation also faced significant obstacles as the court did not grant police remand for Armughan, making it much harder for the AVCC to take the investigation forward.

Source:thenews.com.pk

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Top IHC judges stay away from new boss’ oath

Malik Asad

February 15, 2025

ISLAMABAD: The acting chief justice of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), Justice Sardar Mohammad Sarfraz Dogar, took oath in a ceremony boycotted by his fellow judges on Friday.

The lawyer bodies of the federal capital also “rejected” Justice Dogar’s appointment as the acting chief justice.

President Asif Ali Zardari administered oath to Justice Dogar at the Presidency.

All IHC judges were invited, but five of them, justices Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, Babar Sattar, Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan and Saman Rafat Imtiaz, did not attend the ceremony.

Interestingly, Justice Kayani attended the oath-taking ceremony of new Supreme Court judges held on the same day at the top court’s building a few blocks from the Presidency.

When a reporter asked Justice Kayani whether he would attend the oath-taking ceremony of his acting chief justice, he replied: “I am comfortable here”.

Justice Jahangiri, who also opted out of the oath-taking ceremony, later attended an event organised by the Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHCBA) to distribute certificates among lawyers.

As the senior puisne judge of the IHC, Justice Kayani was in line to become the chief justice after the elevation of Justice Aamer Farooq to the Supreme Court.

However, the transfer of Justice Dogar from Lahore High Court rejigged the court’s seniority list, as he became the senior puisne judge, pushing Justice Kayani to No 3.

Justice Kayani also lost his position in the court’s Departmental Promotion Committee and the Administration Committee and was removed as the inspection judge of Special Courts.

On Tuesday, these judges sent a representation to the chief justice of the IHC and CJP Afridi against placing them down on the seniority list.

A central concern raised by the judges was that a transferred judge would be required to take a fresh oath under Article 194, which would place them at the bottom of the seniority list within the IHC.

Justice Kayani was among the five IHC judges who opposed the new seniority list and filed a complaint with Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi and then IHC chief justice Aamer Farooq.

They claimed that a transferred judge has to take fresh oath under Article 194, which would place them at the bottom of the seniority list.

The representation was rejected by Justice Farooq, keeping the new seniority list intact.

Lawyers reject appointment

The lawyer bodies of Islamabad have rejected Justice Dogar’s appointment and warned of initiating a movement against the government for “installing hand-picked judges”.

The representatives of IHCBA, Islamabad Bar Council (IBC) and District Bar Association Islamabad (DBAI) termed the appointment “an intrusion”.

In the IHCBA event, Justice Jahangiri emphasised the importance of hard work and merit-based success in the legal profession.

He claimed to have never sought recommendations for any position.

The judge shared his personal journey in the field of law, underscoring the need for dedication and professionalism.

He remarked that he started practising law from scratch and gradually progressed to become a high court judge through “dedication and legal acumen”.

He advised young lawyers to work hard and prepare their cases thoroughly to ensure they present their arguments effectively in court.

IBC member Raja Aleem Abbasi also addressed the gathering and voiced his opposition to the transfer of Justice Dogar.

He affirmed that the five judges who opposed the transfer were “on the right side of history”.

He criticised the 26th constitutional amendment, stating that it “was manipulated for vested interests” and predicted that the Supreme Court’s larger bench would review it in future.

Mr Abbasi pointed out that lawyers have boycotted the oath-taking ceremony of new Supreme Court judges as a mark of protest.

IHCBA President Riasat Ali Azad said Justice Dogar was “not a judge of the IHC”, as he was transferred from the LHC and was rendering his service on deputation.

He said the appointment of Justice Dogar “not only disturbed the seniority of IHC judges but also usurped the rights of 15 senior judges”.

According to him, the acting CJ has been “installed under a plan” to block the promotion of Justice Kayani.

While talking to Dawn, Mr Azad said that lawyers would start a movement similar to the one that ousted chief justice Abdul Hameed Dogar.

The ex-CJP took oath as the top judge under the Provisional Constitutional Order issued after then president Gen Pervez Musharraf proclaimed the state of emergency in 2007.

Source:dawn.com

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New SC judges take oath as old guard vows to put up a fight

Nasir Iqbal

February 15, 2025

ISLAMABAD: Seven new judges of the Supreme Court and the acting chief justice of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) took oaths on Friday.

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi administered the oath to the newly appointed judges at a ceremony held on the Supreme Court’s compound, with the iconic white marble building as the backdrop.

The ceremony was a deviation from past practices where the oath-taking of new judges was held inside the court’s Ceremonial Hall.

The judges who were administered the oath were justices Muhammad Hashim Khan Kakar, Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui, Salahuddin Panhwar, Shakeel Ahmad, Aamer Farooq and Ishtiaq Ibrahim.

Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, who was appointed as the acting judge, was sworn in separately by the CJP.

The ceremony was attended by Supreme Court judges, Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan, senior lawyers, and law officers.

Justice Aminud Din Khan, who was unwell and justices Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, who had gone to Karachi, didn’t attend the ceremony.

With new inductions, the total strength of the Supreme Court is now 25, including two ad hoc judges — Justice Sardar Tariq Mahmood and Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel.

Soon after taking the oath, the judges joined a nine-member bench headed by the CJP, which heard around 10 cases in Courtroom No 1 of the apex court.

‘Put up a fight’

Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, the senior puisne judge of the Supreme Court, has vowed to “put up a befitting fight” amid reports of a possible complaint by the government against two judges of the top court.

After the oath-taking ceremony on Friday, reporters asked Justice Shah about the remarks of PM’s aide Rana Sanaullah, who, without naming anyone, hinted at a possible “reference against two Supreme Court judges”.

“The conduct of two senior judges of the Supreme Court … is such that a reference can be [filed] against them,” Mr Sanaullah had said.

Justice Shah said the matter would be considered if any reference was filed. “We will not accept any defeat”.

Complaints against top court judges are filed in the Supreme Judicial Council.

Justice Shah is a member of the SJC, which is headed by the Supreme Court chief justice and includes the two senior-most judges of the apex court and chief justices of two high courts.

During the media interaction, Justice Shah observed that “Allah Almighty is with us”.

“We had done nothing wrong. Why should we be afraid of anything?” he said, adding that he had no personal grudge or difference against anyone.

In the face of serious differences among the top court judges, Justice Shah made some sarcastic remarks to make light of the situation.

The second senior-most judge of the Supreme Court said judges come to the court “only to sip tea”.

This was an apparent reference to a recent grievance by the CJP that some judges hearing corporate and tax matters were not working these days.

However, after his jibe, Justice Shah hastened to add that the Supreme Court website will tell how many reported cases he has to his credit.

When asked about the CJP’s statement that his fellow judges panic sometimes, Justice Shah laughed and said: “Look, our hands are trembling”.

Another Supreme Court judge, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, was asked whether he had seen the letter written by PTI founder Imran Khan to the CJP.

He denied receiving any letter, which the CJP said he had forwarded to the court’s Constitutional Committee, which fixes cases before judges.

Justice Mandokhail is also a member of that committee.

Imran Khan wrote to the CJP over the delay in taking up petitions filed by his party under Article 184(3) of the Constitution.

Source:dawn.com

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Call for ending graft to attract investment

Nasir Iqbal

February 15, 2025

ISLAMABAD: A visiting IMF mission on Friday called on the president of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and chairman of the Pakistan Bar Council’s (PBC) special committee on judicial reforms, and discussed with them a wide range of topics with primary focus on eradicating corrupt practices to create an inclusive environment for attracting foreign investment to Pakistan.

The meeting between the IMF’s Governance and Corruption Diagnostic Assessment team and SCBA President Mian Muhammad Rauf Atta and PBC committee’s chairman Hassan Raza Pasha lasted over an hour.

According to an SCBA announcement, Mr Atta spoke about shortcomings in the judicial system such as the backlog of cases in lower and district courts, the insufficient number of judges, inefficiencies within departments, and potential measures like Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) system to alleviate the burden on courts and enhance public access to justice.

Various strategies were discussed to combat corruption in government departments, promote good governance, and implement legal reforms that would benefit the judicial hierarchy, it said, terming the proposed strategies essential for fostering a stronger and more vibrant economy as well as an efficient judicial system.

The SCBA president emphasised the need for measures to eradicating financial crimes to boost the economy. He noted that a system of punishment and reward was already in place within the judiciary, where the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC)addresses complaints against the judges of higher judiciary while respective high courts handle issues related to district judges.

Mr Atta cited the example of a Supreme Court judge who was removed over a complaint filed with the SJC last year.

He described the rule of law as the cornerstone of a democratic society and reaffirmed his commitment to uphold it, along with the SCBA’s dedication to the Constitution, the supremacy of institutions, and the independence of judiciary.

The meeting concluded with both sides expressing gratitude and a desire for more such meetings in the future.

SCBA’s Additional Secretary Mohammad Aurangzeb Khan and Balochistan High Court Bar Association President Mir Attaullah Langove also attended the meeting.

The discussion also revolved around legal matters and backlog of cases in superior courts and the implementation of legal reforms for an efficient working of the judicial system.

The IMF mission expressed its concerns that business matters, particularly relating to investments, remain pending for a long time as decisions are not made timely, which ultimately affects the country’s economy.

Mr Pasha informed the visiting team that cases, including the business matters, would be resolved through mediation and ADR, under which the parties may resolve their matters without delay.

Both the government and superior courts had supported it, he said and expressed the hope that it would improve the efficiency of courts, reduce the backlog of cases and help the economy to grow.

The PBC committee’s president suggested that the strength of judges at the lower judiciary should be enhanced to finish the backlog of cases.

Mr Pasha urged the IMF officials to soften the conditions imposed upon Pakistan under which the government has imposed heavy taxes so that the latter could reduce the taxes for the ultimate benefit of people. Due to heavy taxes, he added, the common man is facing difficulties in the shape of price hike.

Source:dawn.com

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Govt blocks Peca resolution amid nationwide protests by journalists

Kalbe Ali

February 15, 2025

• Law minister uses quorum tactic to stall PTI-proposed resolution

• Aon Buppi says govt panicked due to opposition’s numerical advantage

• PFUJ protests against Peca tweaks, threatens indefinite sit-in outside parliament, forms committee to conduct clause-by-clause review of amended law

ISLAMABAD: The government successfully blocked a resolution against the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) 2025 amendments in the Senate on Friday by pointing out the quorum at the last moment.

Senator Aon Abbas Buppi had tabled the resolution opposing Peca amendments, urging the government to review the law and remove provisions that contradict fundamental human rights. However, just before the resolution could be debated, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar drew the attention of the chair to the lack of quorum in the House.

Responding to the minister’s request, Acting Chairperson Senator Sherry Rehman ordered a headcount and later adjourned the session upon confirming that the quorum was incomplete.

The resolution called for the government to engage journalists’ unions, media organisations and relevant stakeholders in the amendment process to ensure a balanced, fair and democratic legal framework.

“The House calls upon the government to immediately amend Peca 2025 to align it with constitutional rights and international standards, ensuring a balanced approach between digital governance and press freedom in Pakistan,” the resolution stated.

Following the adjournment, a delegation of opposition senators, led by Leader of the Opposition Shibli Faraz, visited the Media Press Gallery in Parliament. Other members included Senators Barrister Ali Zafar, Aon Abbas Buppi, Alama Raja Nasir Abbas, Falak Naz Chitrali, Saifullah Niazi, Gurdeep Singh and Humayun Mohmand.

The delegation met representatives of the Parliamentary Reporters Association and expressed solidarity with the media, assuring them that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf would play an active role in every parliamentary forum to restore democracy, the rule of law and freedom of expression.

During the visit, Senator Ali Zafar read out the full text of the resolution, while Senator Aon Abbas Buppi insisted that the opposition had a numerical advantage in the House, which led the government “to panic” and raise the quorum issue.

Mr Buppi stressed that if the resolution had been tabled, it would have been passed by a majority. He announced that the resolution would be presented again in the next Senate session scheduled for Monday.

Journalists’ rallies

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) staged rallies across the country on Friday, protesting against the Peca amendments.

In Islamabad, a rally marched from the National Press Club to the entrance of the Red Zone, where PFUJ leaders addressed demonstrators.

Speaking at the protest, PFUJ and Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) leaders warned authorities that journalists would breach all barriers and march to parliament if a sit-in was announced.

The rallies marked the conclusion of the third phase of PFUJ’s protest campaign against the Peca amendments. Addressing the gathering, PFUJ President Afzal Butt declared that the three-day token hunger strike was a final warning to the government.

“Our next step is an indefinite sit-in outside parliament. But I warn the government — do not force us into this because when we come, your rule might end,” he said.

As announced earlier, the PFUJ started a mass contact drive by inviting civil society and trade unions to the sit-in being held opposite parliament.

At the hunger strike camp, veteran journalist Nasir Zaidi, who was among those flogged during Gen Zia’s martial law, denounced the government’s attempts to curtail media freedom.

He recalled that the previous PTI-led government tried to suppress the press through Pakistan Media Development Authority, but they failed. “This government is (also) trying to please the establishment — but I tell you that they will fall victim to this draconian law,” Mr Zaidi added.

PFUJ forms committee

Later, the PFUJ constituted a seven-member committee to conduct a clause-by-clause review of Peca 2025 and draft proposed amendments.

The committee members include Mubarak Zeb Khan, Matiullah Jan, Nayer Ali, Myra Imran, Shehryar Khan, Sehrish Qureshi, and M.B. Somroo.

The committee will also engage with civil society representatives, legal experts, press freedom advocates and human rights organisations to ensure a comprehensive and inclusive review process.

Source:dawn.com

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Senate recognises parties’ right to peaceful assembly

Iftikhar A. Khan

February 15, 2025\

ISLAMABAD: A day after the Punjab government denied permission to the Awami National Party (ANP) to hold a rally at Rawalpindi’s Liaquat Bagh, the Senate, in a rare show of unity, unanimously passed a resolution recognising the right of political parties to hold peaceful gatherings and rallies across the country.

The resolution was initially moved by Leader of the Opposition Shibli Faraz, who had already secured the suspension of rules to table it. However, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar objected to its wording and proposed a revised version, omitting the specific mention of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI).

The original draft read, “It is the democratic right of all political parties, including PTI, to hold peaceful political gatherings, jalsas and rallies in the territory of Pakistan as enshrined in the constitution. However, this right … is being denied by provincial administrations selectively across the country. This House unanimously demands that the provincial abide by the constitutional right and allow peaceful gatherings and rallies across Pakistan without any restrictions.”

However, Mr Tarar argued that provincial governments could not be dictated to and insisted on modifying the language. “Yes, we can urge provincial administrations to act within constitutional and legal bounds, but we cannot ignore legal provisions,” he said, noting that Section 144 had long been part of the legal framework governing public gatherings.

The law minister also insisted that the wording of the resolution should be general and not specific to a party.

Shibli Faraz pushed for a vote on the original resolution. The parliamentary leader of PTI, Barrister Syed Ali Zafar, also insisted on the passage of the original resolution, saying that it was a well-thought-out draft. He said that under the current situation, the parties within the ruling coalition were free to hold rallies, but there were restrictions on PTI.

However, PPP Senator Sherry Rehman suggested that a joint resolution would enhance the dignity of the House and asked the two sides to prepare a mutually agreeable draft.

Mr Tarar then proposed a draft excluding the mention of PTI and replacing the words “without any restriction” with “as per law and Constitution”.

Anti-human smuggling bills

The Senate also passed three bills aimed at curbing human trafficking and organised beggary, particularly in Gulf countries.

The Prevention of Trafficking in Persons (Amendment) Bill, the Prevention of Smuggling of Migrants (Amendment) Bill, and the Emigration (Amendment) Bill were introduced by Law Minister Tarar on behalf of Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.

The law minister informed the house that recent boat tragedies, leading to the deaths of several illegal immigrant Pakistanis, have served as a wake-up call to stop this menace. He said the Ministry of Interior, in consultation with stakeholders, has proposed certain amendments to the laws to stop human trafficking and smuggling of girls and beggars from Pakistan abroad.

The statement of objects and reasons of the bill pointed out that the diplomatic missions of Pakistan in Gulf countries, Iraq and Malaysia have highlighted that some Pakistanis who come to these countries for Haj, Umrah, Ziarat and personal visits were involved in beggary. They have urged Pakistani authorities to take stern action against those involved in begging and the gangs behind them.

“The agents and gangs who are involved in this practice easily dodge prosecution as beggary is not a crime in any law entrusted to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). The sensitivity of the issue demands the urgent need of making beggary a crime,” the statement said.

Marwat’s query

Meanwhile, Friday’s National Assembly session was also hit by quorum syndrome.

The lack of quorum in the lower house was pointed out just after Question Hour, leading to the house being adjourned until Monday.

A light-hearted moment came when Sher Afzal Marwat, the erstwhile PTI lawmaker who has fallen on hard times within his party of late, posed a pointed question.

During Question Hour, instead of posing a supplementary question on an IT-related matter, he said he wanted to ask his friends, “Mujhe kyun nikala?” (Why was I expelled?). The reference to the slogan formerly used by Nawaz Sharif prompted peals of laughter among those in attendance.

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Four PTI leaders among 31 indicted for ‘torching PML-N office’ in Lahore

Wajih Ahmed Sheikh

February 15, 2025

LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court on Friday indicted 31 suspects, including four PTI leaders, in two cases related to the burning of the PML-N office in Model Town during May 9 riots.

Judge Arshad Javed of the ATC-III presided over the hearings of the cases, wherein ex-governor Umar Sarfraz Cheema, ex-minister Dr Yasmin Rashid, Senator Ejaz Chaudhry, former minister Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed and 27 other accused were charged.

The PTI leaders and workers pleaded not guilty to the charges and the judge summoned prosecution witnesses for Feb 20.

The judge ordered that further trial proceedings will be held inside Kot Lakhpat jail.

These PTI leaders have already been indicted in several cases of May 9 riots including attacks on Shadman police station and Askari Tower, Gulberg.

Separately, ATC-I Judge Manzer Ali Gill granted more time to the lawyer of PTI vice chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi to present arguments in bail petitions in six cases related to May 9 riots.

A lawyer of Mr Qureshi appeared before the court and sought more time for the arguments, citing the unavailability of the lead counsel.

The judge accepted the request and directed him that arguments be presented at the next hearing.

Mr Qureshi filed bail petitions in six cases including those related to torching of police vehicles near Jinnah House and attacking Shadman police station.

Judge Gill also extended pre-arrest bail of PTI leaders Musarrat Jamshed Cheema and her husband Jamshed Iqbal Cheema till March 4 in Jinnah House and Askari Tower attacks related to May 9 violence.

The couple appeared before the court on the expiry of their bail period.

A police official informed the court that the investigation had been completed and that both suspects were still wanted for arrest.

The defence lawyers sought more time to present arguments, which the judge accepted and adjourned the hearing.

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FIA arrests 44 in crackdown on illegal UK SIMs

Mohammad Asghar

February 15, 2025

RAWALPINDI: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has disclosed that illegal international SIMs, particularly those from the United Kingdom, are being widely used in Pakistan for serious crimes, including child pornography, kidnapping for ransom and online financial fraud.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, FIA (cybercrime wing) Additional DG Waqaruddin Syed termed cybercrime “a complex issue” and said illegal international SIMs were being sold in the Pakistani market.

He said the FIA cybercrime wing had launched, for the first time, a crackdown on the unauthorised trade of these illegal SIMs and as many as 44 suspects were arrested from Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Peshawar, Sukkur and Abbottabad.

He said that a total of 8,363 international SIMs from the UK had been recovered, including those involved in their sale and purchase, adding that 21 cases had been registered across the country.

ADG Waqaruddin explained that UK-based SIMs were particularly popular in Pakistan due to their ease of availability and pre-activation.

“These pre-activated SIMs can be easily ordered through social media platforms,” he said, adding that they were also being used for crimes like child pornography and financial fraud.

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Imran’s letter an ‘extreme supplication’: Punjab Assembly speaker

Mansoor Malik | Amjad Mahmood

February 15, 2025

LAHORE: Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan has said the letter written by PTI founder Imran Khan to the army chief represents the height of supplication, emphasising that, in local terms, it conveys an extreme plea for reconciliation.

Referring to the army chief’s response to a query about the letter, the Punjab Assembly speaker said a detailed reply had come from the intended recipient. Speaking to journalists at the assembly premises on Friday, he said the COAS made it clear that he would not read the letter even if received and would instead forward it to the prime minister.

“If the recipient does not read the letter, then the prime minister will not read it either,” said Malik Muhammad, who had served as Shehbaz Sharif’s adviser in his previous 16-month term as prime minister.

Referring to the letter sent to the IMF by PTI secretary general Omar Ayub Khan, he said it was linked to earlier communiqués from when the PTI was in power in the provinces, recalling that former finance minister Shaukat Tareen had actively sought to push the country towards default by urging the global lending agency not to grant Pakistan a loan.

“The PTI’s only agenda seems to be driving the country into default on its foreign payment commitments. It aims to create political and economic instability and sow division within the judiciary.”

The speaker regretted that the judiciary had removed a former prime minister using Article 184(3), likening it to the repealed Article 58-2(b), which had previously plunged the country into political and economic instability. Praising the current parliament for objecting to certain remarks made by a judge against it, he said that whenever a dictator distorts the Constitution, the Supreme Court provides it with legal cover.

‘True representation of society’

Meanwhile, terming Imran Khan’s third letter to the army chief a true representation of society, Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar said that the establishment’s wrong policies have ruptured the harmony between Pakistan Army and the masses.

Refuting the propaganda that Imran Khan was attempting to meet the army chief through letters, he said the incarcerated former prime minister was trying to awaken the nation and address the misalignment of the country’s priorities.

Mr Bhachar said the establishment imposed the ‘rejected figures’ to rule the nation through rigged election results, damaging the country’s interests. He emphasised that a non-representative government cannot bring about reforms in the state structure for the well-being of the people.

He added that the PTI founder had exposed the ‘dons’ of the country, chosen by the establishment to rule the nation, and that the NAB amendments forced the country to bear a loss of Rs1100 billion.

“Democracy has been eroded from the country as it flourishes on fair play and civility,” he said, adding that the PATTAN report identified 64 additional tactics used to rig the Feb 8, 2023 elections.

The opposition leader also accused the establishment of snatching PTI’s election symbol through former Supreme Court chief justice Qazi Faez Isa and using the Punjab police to harass party leaders, candidates and workers.

He said Imran Khan was rightly concerned that this “non-representative government” had unleashed torture on unarmed, innocent workers on May 9, 2023, and Nov 26 last year.

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Mideast

Trump backs ‘hard stance’ on Gaza, says he does not know what Israel will do

February 15, 2025

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump on Friday advocated taking a “hard stance” on Gaza, the Palestinian enclave for which he has proposed a US takeover and where a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian Hamas militants is in place.

Trump had said this week that Hamas should release all Israeli hostages in Gaza by Saturday midday or “let hell break out.”

“I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow (Saturday) at 12’o clock. If it was up to me, I would take a very hard stance but I can’t tell you what Israel is going to do,” Trump told reporters on Friday.

A ceasefire went into effect just before Trump returned to the presidency on January 20.Some Israeli hostages have been released by Hamas and Palestinian prisoners have been released by Israel since then.

The UN human rights office has described images of both emaciated Israeli hostages and Palestinian detainees released as distressing, saying they reflected the dire conditions in which they were held.

Trump on Friday reiterated his concerns about the appearances of released Israeli hostages without commenting on the state of the Palestinians.

Israel’s military assault on Gaza has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians since October 2023, according to the Gaza health ministry, and led to accusations of genocide and war crimes that Israel denies.

The assault internally displaced nearly Gaza’s entire population and caused a hunger crisis.

The latest bloodshed in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict was triggered on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking some 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

Trump has faced international condemnation for his proposal to take over Gaza and permanently displace Palestinians there. Rights experts and the United Nations have called it a proposal for ethnic cleansing.

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At UN, Arab nations say they want a ‘Gazan Riviera’ in an independent Palestinian state

EPHREM KOSSAIFY

February 14, 2025

NEW YORK: Arab countries do want to see a Riviera in Gaza, but “a Palestinian Gazan Riviera in the independent and internationally recognized state of Palestine,” Kuwait’s permanent representative to the UN said on Friday.

Reflecting on the historical resilience of places destroyed by war, Tarek AlBanai emphasized that Gaza, with international support, could rebuild and flourish.

“Like any other country that has been devastated by war, like London in World War II, or Dresden, Warsaw, Stalingrad, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, everybody got together, built their cities back, and today they’re some of the most amazing cities around the world,” he said. “So like any other place in the world, this is how Gaza will be rebuilt.”

Speaking on behalf of the UN group of Arab countries, AlBanai condemned any actions aimed at displacing Palestinians from Gaza, which he said would be a violation of Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits the forcible transfer of civilians from occupied territories.

US President Donald Trump has vowed to empty Gaza of its more than 2 million Palestinians and turn it into a “Riviera of the Middle East.”

At a press conference in New York, AlBanai was joined by a united front of ambassadors from across the Arab world, as well as the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, all of whom categorically rejected any mass transfer of Palestinians.

“We commend the international community’s firm stance in rejecting these proposals and reaffirming their illegality under international law,” AlBanai stated.

“The Arab Group is unwavering in its call for an immediate ceasefire, a return of Palestinian civilians to their homes, and the cessation of Israeli aggression in both Gaza and the West Bank.”

AlBanai, whose country holds the presidency of the Arab Group for February, called for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2735, adopted with broad support, which calls for a complete ceasefire, the restoration of Palestinian homes and neighborhoods, and the delivery of humanitarian assistance on a large scale.

He also reiterated the international community’s commitment to a two-state solution, consistent with international law.

Palestinian Ambassador Riad Mansour stressed the importance of the international community's support for his people’s right to self-determination, and urged the UN to hold Israel accountable for its actions in the Occupied Territories.

“We’re united behind the full implementation of Resolution 2735, which the Security Council must uphold,” Mansour declared.

“The Palestinian people are resilient and we’ll rebuild Gaza, but we need the world’s support to stop the aggression and prevent further crimes against humanity.”

He also called on the international community to stop the forced displacement of Palestinians and respect their desire to return to their ancestral lands.

“Why is it so surprising that we, the Palestinian people, should be allowed to return to the places where we have memories, where we have stories, where we have connections?” Mansour asked passionately.

AlBanai and Mansour praised the efforts of Qatar, Egypt and the US, noting their critical roles in navigating the obstacles to achieving a ceasefire in Gaza.

They said the international community’s support for the ceasefire is essential for lasting peace in the region.

Mansour also outlined several key steps that the UNSC and the UN General Assembly must take in the coming weeks to move forward with the implementation of a permanent ceasefire and the rebuilding of Gaza.

These steps include continued support for the Palestinian government and a commitment to ending the illegal occupation of Palestinian territories.

“We’re not asking for anything beyond the right to live in peace in our own land,” Mansour said. “We want a just and lasting peace, and the path forward is clear: the establishment of a two-state solution, the end of the occupation, and the recognition of Palestine as a sovereign state.

“The international community has the opportunity now to pave the way for peace and support the creation of an independent Palestinian state.”

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Hostages freed from Gaza painfully piece together a changed world

February 14, 2025

RAMAT GAN, Israel: After 484 days of captivity in Gaza, Keith Siegel had many questions. Was his 97-year-old mother still alive? Which of his neighbors was killed in Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack? Why did it take so long to free him?

With minimal access to media, the dual American-Israeli citizen only learned months after he was captured that his son had survived the attack that launched the war in Gaza. He had heard that his family and others’ were advocating for hostages’ freedom. But beyond that, he knew very little about life outside his confines in Gaza.

“He really wanted to know everything as soon as possible, just to put all the question marks away and to know what happened,” said his daughter, Elan Siegel.

Hostages freed as part of a tenuous ceasefire in Gaza are confronting a flood of information about loved ones and destroyed communities, and are still figuring out their place in a changed world. Their families are grappling with how to fill them in on what they missed without potentially deepening their trauma.

Experts say it is important to be cautious.

“The information is definitely traumatic so you have to really be sensitive, careful and monitor the pace in which you expose the information,” said Einat Yehene, who heads the rehabilitation division at the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.

Paraded by Hamas, then by shattered reality

For many freed captives, catching up has been excruciating.

Eli Sharabi, 52, had no exposure to media during his 16-month ordeal, according to his brother, Sharon Sharabi.

Forced to speak at a staged Hamas ceremony before his release, a gaunt Sharabi told a crowd of masked militants and journalists that he was looking forward to seeing his wife and two teenage daughters back in Israel.

Then he learned the crushing reality shortly after his arrival in Israel: all three had been killed at home during the Oct. 7 attack.

“Beyond the emotional burden and difficult experiences he faced in captivity, he had to bear this horrible loss on the first day that he left from there,” his brother told Israeli Army Radio.

Or Levy, 34, was dealt a similar blow upon being freed. That is when he learned that his wife, Einav, was killed on Oct. 7.

“For 491 days, he held onto hope that he would return to her,” his brother, Michael Levy, told reporters.

Levy was reunited with his young son, who hit key developmental milestones, like being potty trained, while his father was in captivity. “It took you a long time to come back,” the 3-year-old told his father, according to Israeli media.

Facing uncertainty even after being freed

The first person Keith Siegel asked about upon returning home was his mother, Gladys. When his wife’s eyes welled up, he immediately understood she had died, his daughter recounted.

Siegel picked up some information about his family while in captivity. Months into the war, he heard his daughter on the radio, speaking about how his son had survived Hamas’ attack. Other freed hostages have also reported hearing messages from their families through the news media.

Yarden Bibas, who was freed earlier this month, was told by his captors that his wife, Shiri, and their two young sons, Ariel and Kfir, were dead. But he was also told they were spotted in Tel Aviv, according to Israeli media.

Now that he is out, he still lacks clarity. They remain in Gaza, and the Israeli government has said it has “serious concern” for their lives.

A relentless need to know more

Beyond their personal lives, freed hostages are also taking in more than a year’s worth of world events: President Donald Trump is back in the White House; Israel and Iran engaged in their first direct attacks; Israel killed the longtime chief of the militant group Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah.

Keith Siegel’s family is sharing information sparingly, as one might with a child. “You answer only what he asks and not more than that,” his daughter, Elan, said.

But the questions are relentless.

Siegel wanted to know what happened to his community of Kfar Aza. Was anyone watering the plants? Who was killed in Hamas’ attack?

“We asked him if he’s sure that he’s ready. And he said ‘yes,’ that he just wants to know. So I read him the list of 64 people” who were killed, his daughter said. She said his reaction to the news has been muted because “it’s almost like he forgot how to feel” while in captivity.

Siegel’s photo has been a mainstay at protests and on banners highlighting the plight of hostages, making him recognizable across Israel. Ahead of his release, dozens of Israelis posted videos of themselves on social media making his favorite pancake recipe.

Siegel’s wife, Aviva, who was freed from captivity in the early weeks of the war, prepared a book for him that includes notes from the important figures she had lobbied on his behalf — from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to former US President Joe Biden.

Siegel was especially befuddled by the revelation that world leaders knew about his captivity.

His daughter, Elan, recalled him saying: “If they knew, how can it be that I was there for so long?”

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Prosecution releases 28 conditional & indigent prisoners on Ramadan occasion

14 Feb 2025

The Public Prosecution in Abs and Haradh in Hajjah province approved the release of 28 prisoners who meet the conditions, and those who are indigent, on the occasion of the arrival of the month of Ramadan.

The Deputy Prosecutor of Abs and Haradh, Judge Ali al-Habashi, told the Yemeni News Agency (Saba) that these measures came during a field visit last week to the remand prison to inspect the conditions of prisoners and release the deserving ones, in implementation of the Attorney General directives .

He pointed out that the conditionally released are convicts who have served three-quarters of the sentence , half of the sentence, have no special rights for others, their cases do not pose a danger to society, while the insolvent are those who have served the sentence and remain in prison due to special rights for others, which were paid by benefactors through the "Mercy" program.

Judge Al-Habashi pointed out that these procedures will continue in the coming days in implementation of the directives to quickly dispose of cases and release all those who deserve to be released from prison on condition or with guarantees and everything that would achieve justice.

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Tens of thousands of Palestinians perform Friday prayers in courtyards of blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque

14 Feb 2025

Tens of thousands of Palestinians performed Friday prayers today in the courtyards of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, despite the Zionist enemy forces tightening their measures at the gates of the mosque and the entrances to the Old City, in the occupied city of Quds.

The Islamic Endowments Department in Quds stated that 40 thousand worshipers performed Friday prayers in the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and the absent souls of the martyrs of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

Local sources reported to the Palestinian News Agency that the enemy forces obstructed the arrival of worshipers to the Al-Aqsa Mosque to perform prayers through the Damascus and Asbat Gates, checked their identities, and stopped a number of young men and prevented them from entering the mosque.

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Top commander with UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon is injured by protesters

February 14, 2025

BEIRUT: The outgoing deputy commander of the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon was injured Friday when protesters attacked a convoy taking peacekeepers to the Beirut airport, the force known as UNIFIL said in a statement.

“We are shocked by this outrageous attack on peacekeepers who have been serving to restore security and stability to south Lebanon during a difficult time,” it said.

The Lebanese army intervened to disperse the protesters. The army said in a statement that acting commander Maj. Gen. Hassan Odeh had contacted UNIFIL and promised to “work to arrest the citizens who attacked its members and bring them to justice.”

Demonstrators have been blocking the road to the airport and other roads in the capital to protest a decision by Lebanese authorities to revoke permission for a passenger plane from Iran to fly to Beirut on Thursday, leaving dozens of Lebanese passengers stranded.

The decision to ban the Iranian plane came after the Israeli army issued a statement claiming that Iran was smuggling cash to the militant group Hezbollah via civilian flights.

Lebanon’s civil aviation agency said Thursday that “additional security measures” meant some flights were temporarily rescheduled until Feb. 18 — the same day as a deadline for Israel and Hezbollah to fully implement their ceasefire agreement, including a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon.

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Syria receives local currency printed in Russia before Assad’s fall

February 14, 2025

DAMASCUS: Syria’s central bank said a batch of Syrian currency had arrived at Damascus airport from Russia, where banknotes were printed under the rule of toppled President Bashar Assad, Syria’s state news agency SANA reported on Friday.

The central bank did not specify the amount of currency that had arrived, but a source with knowledge of the matter said it was in the “hundreds of billions of Syrian pounds,” equivalent to tens of millions of US dollars.

The source said the cash had been printed in Russia under Assad’s rule but had not been shipped to Syria by the time he was toppled in early December 2024.

Syria’s new leadership ordered the Russian company printing the currency to stop after Assad fled to Moscow, the source said, without providing details on what prompted Friday’s delivery of the previously printed cash.

Syria has been facing a liquidity crunch since Assad’s ouster, with Syria’s new central bank governor, Maysaa Sabreen, saying in January that she wanted to avoid printing Syrian pounds to guard against a surge in inflation.

Syria’s pound has strengthened on the black market since the new leadership took over, helped by an influx of Syrians from abroad and an end to strict controls on trade in foreign currencies.

It traded 9,850 pounds to the US dollar on Thursday, according to exchange houses closed on Friday.

According to statements by the central bank, the official foreign exchange rate has stayed around 13,000 pounds to the US dollar.

But that has sparked concerns about liquidity in Syrian pounds.

The central bank only has foreign exchange reserves of around $200 million in cash, sources said, a considerable drop from the $18.5 billion that the International Monetary Fund estimated Syria had in 2010, a year before civil war erupted.

Russia is hoping to retain the use of naval and air bases in Syria under its new leaders.

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin held a phone call with Syria’s President Ahmad Al-Sharaa on Wednesday, the first call between the two leaders since Assad’s ouster.

The Syrian presidency said Putin had invited Syria’s new foreign minister to visit Moscow.

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Gazans return to ruined homes and severe water shortage

February 14, 2025

BEIT LAHIYA: A ceasefire has enabled some Gazans to go back to their ruined homes without fear of Israeli airstrikes, but they have returned to a severe water crisis.

“We returned here and found no pumps, no wells. We did not find buildings or houses,” said 50-year-old farmer Bassel Rajab, a resident of the northern town of Beit Lahiya.

“We came and set up tents to shelter in, but there is no water. We don’t have water. We are suffering.”

Drinking, cooking, and washing are a luxury in Gaza, 16 months after the start of the war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Rajab said he sometimes walks 16 km, hoping to shower in Gaza City. Some Palestinians have dug wells in areas near the sea or rely on salty tap water from Gaza’s only aquifer, contaminated with seawater and sewage.

The Palestinian Water Authority estimates it will cost $2.7 billion to repair the water and sanitation sectors. Palestinians were already facing a severe water crisis as well as shortages of food, fuel, and medicine before the wells were destroyed in the war.

The Palestinian Water Authority said in a statement on its website that 208 out of 306 wells had been knocked out of service during the war, and a further 39 were partially out of service.

“There is a big shortage as the occupation (Israel) is preventing the entrance (into Gaza) of drills, excavators, machines, equipment, and generators that are needed to operate wells and to dig them,” said Beit Lahiya Mayor Alaa Al-Attar.

Attar said small companies were trying to fix the wells but had minimal equipment.

He added: “We are trying to establish new wells to mitigate the severity of the water crisis at this stage.”

COGAT, the branch of the Israeli military that manages humanitarian activities, has said it has coordinated water line repairs with international organizations, including one to the northern Gaza Strip.

The Hamas-Israel ceasefire has been in force since Jan. 19.

Gazans hoping to one day rebuild are squeezed by shortages of water, food, medicines, and fuel in Gaza, which was grappling with poverty and high unemployment even before the war erupted.

Youssef Kallab, 35, says he has to carry heavy water containers to the roof of his home using a rope. The municipality supplies water every three days.

“We do not have the strength to carry it up and down the stairs. We have children, we have elderly. They all want water,” Kallab said as he lifted water containers.

Twelve-year-old Mohammed Al-Khatib says he has to drag a cart for 3-4 km to get water.

Mohammed Nassar, a 47-year-old Palestinian supermarket owner, said he has to walk for miles to fill buckets from a water pipe despite health problems and cartilage damage.

“We turn a blind eye to the pain because we have to,” he said.

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Hariri returns to politics, backs PM Salam, calls for unity

NAJIA HOUSSARI

February 14, 2025

BEIRUT: Former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri announced on Friday, the 20th anniversary of the assassination of his father Rafic Hariri, also a former PM, the “return of the Future Movement to political activity in all upcoming milestones and events.”

This comes after a three-year suspension of his political engagement and that of his party.

Hariri affirmed that the party, founded by his late father, “will continue, rooted in adherence to the Taif Constitution, state-building, reconstruction, and institutional development. We ask for nothing but a normal state where no weapons exist outside the authority of the state.”

Speaking before crowds that had gathered since the morning from Beirut, Bekaa, and the north, waving Lebanese flags in Martyrs’ Square in downtown Beirut and chanting his name, Hariri stated: “The supporters of Rafic Hariri remain here, and your voices will be heard in every upcoming national milestone. Everything comes in its own time.”

In what politicians have described as a “responsible, non-provocative, and unifying speech,” Hariri emphasized: “We now have a president, a government, and new hope, which was expressed in the inaugural speech and the statement of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. This is a golden opportunity, and our decision is to support it and reject any attempt to circumvent it.”

Addressing the residents of the south, Bekaa, and Beirut’s southern suburbs — who suffered the brunt of the Israeli war against Hezbollah — Hariri said: “You are partners in this opportunity, and without you, it cannot be realized. You must break the previous impression that you are a force of obstruction, domination, and arms. You are partners in building bridges with Arab brothers and in reconstruction. You are key partners in restoring the legitimacy of the state, which alone — through its army, security forces, and institutions — can protect all Lebanese citizens.”

Hariri added: “Demanding a normal state means a state where weapons are exclusively in the hands of the national army and legitimate security forces, where the economy is free, productive, and provides jobs and a dignified life for all Lebanese. It means a state where the judiciary is independent, laws are upheld, freedoms are protected, and justice is served for the martyrs, the wounded, and those affected by the Beirut port explosion.”

He praised citizens who opened their homes to those forced to flee their communities.

“From the south to the Bekaa, from Beirut to its southern suburbs, we honor all those we have lost. The same unity that carried us through conflict must now heal the unified Lebanese body and drive our reconstruction,” he said, calling for a coordinated effort to rebuild affected areas.

“We fully back the presidency and government in their efforts to build a functioning state,” Hariri said, emphasizing the importance of restoring Lebanon’s regional role and maintaining healthy relationships with both Arab nations and the international community.

Hariri expressed strong support for state institutions and the Lebanese army, particularly in their efforts to implement UN Resolution 1701 and ensure complete Israeli withdrawal from occupied villages.

“Twenty years ago, you demanded justice and, through your determination, removed Bashar Assad’s criminal regime from Lebanon. Now after 20 years, and before that, 30 years of sectarian rule, suffering, injustice, murder, imprisonment, torture, and brutality, the heroic Syrian people have risen and expelled this criminal from Syria. Perhaps this marks not just the beginning of justice, but its ultimate triumph.”

Hariri stressed: “We stand firmly with the Syrian people’s aspirations and their right to self-determination. Our vision is clear: a stable, rebuilt Syria engaging with Lebanon as an equal partner, where both nations’ sovereignty and independence are fully respected.”

Addressing regional issues, Hariri reaffirmed his commitment to Palestinian rights and the two-state solution.

He criticized Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s approach saying that “the problem with Netanyahu is his evasion of responsibility and peace in favor of war.”

He warned against attempts to resolve the conflict at the expense of neighboring Arab states including Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia.

President Joseph Aoun paid tribute to Rafic Hariri, calling him “a statesman par excellence.” He highlighted that “his political stance played a crucial role in strengthening national unity, safeguarding civil peace, and implementing the National Reconciliation Document endorsed by the Taif Conference.”

The ceremony, held near Hariri’s tomb, drew tens of thousands of Lebanese, including supporters of the Future Movement.

The event coincided with Israeli warplanes flying over Beirut and its southern suburbs.

Meanwhile, the Lebanese and Iranian foreign ministries worked to facilitate the return of Lebanese passengers from Tehran after Lebanese authorities denied a plane from the Iranian capital permission to land at Beirut airport under Israeli pressure.

Youssef Rajji, Lebanon’s foreign minister, said on Friday that “the Lebanese and Iranian ministries are in communication through the Lebanese ambassador in Tehran to ensure the return of the Lebanese citizens to Beirut.”

On the same day, all roads leading to Beirut airport were reopened following the army’s intervention, ending hours of protests on Thursday night.

Hundreds of Hezbollah supporters had taken to the streets, setting tires ablaze in protest and accusing “the Lebanese state of yielding to Israeli and American demands.”

Avichai Adraee, spokesperson for the Israeli army, posted a claim alleging that “the Quds Force and Hezbollah are using Beirut airport to smuggle funds intended for arming Hezbollah on civilian planes.”

Following a directive from the Ministry of Transport and Public Works, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation at Beirut airport informed Tehran airport that it would temporarily refrain from receiving the Iranian aircraft.

In a statement, the directorate explained that additional security measures would be implemented to ensure the safety of Beirut airport, Lebanese airspace, and passengers, in coordination with airport security authorities.

These measures align with international aviation standards, but their full implementation would require additional time for certain airlines to comply.

Consequently, flight schedules — including those from Iran — have been temporarily adjusted until Feb. 18.

A political source linked the incident to intelligence suggesting that the plane was carrying funds for Hezbollah, raising security concerns.

Given the airport’s heightened surveillance, authorities have taken precautionary measures to mitigate any potential risks.

Hezbollah, through its deputy Ibrahim Al-Moussawi, accused Israel of repeatedly violating Lebanese sovereignty with US complicity.

He urged the state to stand firm against Israeli threats, regardless of the circumstances.

On Jan. 3, an Iranian plane was searched after an Iranian diplomat on board refused to comply with security procedures.

However, the Iranian Embassy later clarified that the funds in the diplomat’s possession were intended for the embassy’s operational expenses.

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Israel says received names of 3 hostages to be freed Saturday

February 14, 2025

JERUSALEM: Israel said Friday it had received the names of three hostages to be freed by militants this weekend, after a crisis in the ceasefire threatened to plunge Gaza back into war.

The hostages due for release Saturday are Israeli-Russian Sasha Trupanov, Israeli-American Sagui Dekel-Chen and Israeli-Argentinian Yair Horn, the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement.

One of them is being held by Hamas’s militant ally Islamic Jihad, which participated in the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel that sparked the war in Gaza.

Israel had warned Hamas that it must free three living hostages this weekend or face a resumption of the war, after the group said it would pause releases over what it described as Israeli violations of the Gaza truce.

The January 19 ceasefire has been under massive strain since President Donald Trump proposed a US takeover of the territory, under which Gaza’s population of more than two million would be moved to Egypt or Jordan.

Arab countries have come together to reject the plan, and Saudi Arabia will on February 20 host the leaders of Egypt, Jordan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates for a summit on the issue.

The releases of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, as agreed under the terms of the truce, have brought much-needed relief to families on both sides of the war, but the emaciated state of the Israeli captives freed last week sparked anger in Israel and beyond.

“The latest release operations reinforce the urgent need for ICRC access to those held hostage,” the International Committee of the Red Cross, which has facilitated the exchanges, said in a statement Friday.

“We remain very concerned about the conditions of the hostages.”

Following Hamas’s handover ceremony last week, during which the captives were forced to speak, the ICRC appealed for future handovers to be more private and dignified.

Israeli-American hostage Keith Siegel, who was released in a previous exchange nearly two weeks ago, described mistreatment during his captivity in a video message.

“I am a survivor. I was held for 484 days in unimaginable conditions, every single day felt like it could be my last,” he said.

“I was starved and I was tortured, both physically and emotionally.”

Trump, whose proposal to take over Gaza and move its 2.4 million residents to Egypt or Jordan sparked global outcry, warned this week that “hell” would break loose if Hamas failed to release “all” remaining hostages by noon on Saturday.

Israel later insisted Hamas release “three living hostages” on Saturday.

“If those three are not released, if Hamas does not return our hostages, by Saturday noon, the ceasefire will end,” said government spokesman David Mencer.

If fighting resumes, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said it would not just lead to the “defeat of Hamas and the release of all the hostages,” but also “allow the realization of US President Trump’s vision for Gaza.”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was due in Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to discuss the ceasefire after attending the Munich Security Conference, where he will hold talks on Ukraine.

Katz last week ordered the Israeli army to prepare for “voluntary” departures from Gaza, and the military said it had already begun reinforcing its troops around the territory.

Mairav Zonszein of the International Crisis Group said despite their public disputes, Israel and Hamas were still interested in maintaining the truce and have not “given up on anything yet.”

“They’re just playing power games,” she said.

Arab countries have put on a rare show of unity in their rejection of Trump’s proposal for Gaza.

After the Riyadh summit, the Arab League will convene in Cairo on February 27 to discuss the same issue.

Trump has threatened to cut off a vital aid lifeline to long-standing allies Jordan and Egypt should they refuse to come on board.

Jordan is already home to more than two million Palestinian refugees. More than half of the country’s population of 11 million is of Palestinian origin.

Egypt put forward its own proposal for the reconstruction of Gaza under a framework that would allow for the Palestinians to remain in the territory.

Palestinians in Gaza have also voiced opposition to the plan.

For Palestinians, any forced displacement evokes memories of the “Nakba,” or catastrophe — the mass displacement of their ancestors during Israel’s creation in 1948.

“Who is Trump? Is he God almighty? The land of Jordan is for Jordanians, and the land of Egypt belongs to Egyptians,” said Gaza City resident Abu Mohamed Al-Husari.

“We are here, deeply rooted in Gaza — the resilient, besieged and unbreakable Gaza.”

Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,211 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official Israeli figures.

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

Israel’s retaliatory campaign has killed at least 48,239 people in Gaza, the majority of them civilians, according to figures from the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory that the UN considers reliable.

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Arab World

Saudi humanitarian aid convoy reaches Syria through Nasib Crossing

February 15, 2025

NASIB BORDER CROSSING: Sixty relief trucks carrying food, shelter, and medical supplies has crossed into Syria on Friday via the Nasib crossing on the Jordan-Syria border, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The shipment is part of the Saudi humanitarian aid in support of efforts by Syria's new leadership to rebuild the country after years of civil war.

Organized by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), this delivery brings the total number of trucks to 174, the report said.

Sixteen relief airplanes have also arrived at Damascus International Airport as part of the Saudi air relief bridge, carrying similar supplies and a KSrelief team.

KSrelief Supervisor General Abdullah Al-Rabeeah launched the air bridge last month and said "it will be followed by a land bridge in the coming days to provide urgent relief to the Syrian people.”

In a statement, he highlighted Saudi Arabia’s consistent support since the Syrian crisis began in 2011, with KSrelief continuously providing aid to internally displaced Syrians, refugees in neighboring countries, and victims of the northern Syrian earthquake in February 2023.

KSrelief has said the Kingdom’s total aid to the Syrian people from 2011 to the end of 2024 exceeds $856 million.

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How Saudi Arabia is leveraging regenerative tourism to blend luxury with sustainability

SULAFA ALKHUNAIZI

February 14, 2025

RIYADH: At the heart of Saudi Arabia’s environmental strategy is regenerative tourism, which aims to protect natural habitats through science-led approaches and sustainable practices.

Unlike sustainable tourism, which aims to minimize harm, regenerative tourism strives to improve destinations through conservation, community engagement and science-led initiatives.

This includes implementing eco-friendly infrastructure, protecting biodiversity, and involving local communities in conservation efforts to ensure long-term environmental and economic benefits.

Raed Albasseet, group chief environment and sustainability officer at Red Sea Global, says the real estate company practices “regenerative tourism” with a commitment to operate on renewable energy alone.

“This commitment is not just a tagline; it’s woven into the very infrastructure of our destinations ... integrating sustainability into every phase of design and construction,” he told Arab News.

“Visitors can already experience this firsthand at The Red Sea, where eco-conscious designs are effortlessly integrated into every aspect of their stay.”

The Red Sea, a luxury regenerative tourism destination on Saudi Arabia’s west coast, features world-class resorts. By 2030, it will include 50 hotels, 8,000 rooms and more than 1,000 residences, while capping visitors at 1 million annually to help protect local ecosystems.

As part of this plan, Red Sea Global has developed the Desert Rock Resort, a newly opened retreat that blends seamlessly with its natural surroundings. Designed to reduce energy use and maximize natural light, its elevated rooms feature large openings that mimic cave mouths, allowing ample daylight to filter in.

Before construction began at the Desert Rock Resort, Red Sea Global partnered with the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology to conduct a comprehensive marine spatial planning simulation.

“This was the largest study of its kind ever undertaken in Saudi Arabia, and it provided crucial data to inform our master plan and minimize our impact on the delicate marine ecosystem,” Albasseet said, adding: “As a result, we limited development to only 22 of the more than 90 islands at The Red Sea destination.”

The Desert Rock Resort even repurposed excavated materials, meaning no additional materials were brought in for the main infrastructure.

“We used the mountains’ natural stone for interior and exterior walls and concrete was mixed using local sources of sand and stone,” said Albasseet. “To further reduce on-site disruption and waste, we emphasize pre-fabrication and off-site manufacturing.”

Moreover, Red Sea Global’s hotels and resorts are powered by solar energy, allowing guests to enjoy an eco-friendly destination with a zero carbon footprint.

Albasseet said the backbone of the company’s renewable energy strategy was Red Sea’s vast solar farms, which include hundreds of thousands of photovoltaic panels — more than 750,000 are currently in place.

“These farms generate clean electricity, significantly reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and minimizing our carbon footprint,” he said.

“To ensure a consistent and reliable power supply, even when the sun isn’t shining, we’ve also built one of the world’s largest battery storage facilities at The Red Sea. This … allows us to store excess solar energy generated during the day and use it to power our resorts at night.”

This reliance on solar power extends beyond Red Sea Global’s resorts and hotels.

“It also powers Red Sea International Airport, putting it on track to become the region’s first airport powered entirely by renewable energy,” Albasseet said. “Even our 5G network, a crucial component of modern connectivity, runs on solar energy, making it the world’s first sunlight-powered network.”

Shebara and Desert Rock, which opened to guests last year, have integrated advanced water systems and water-saving strategies through smart irrigation systems that optimize water use.

“A key element of our water conservation efforts is the implementation of closed-loop systems. Notably, at Desert Rock we have advanced water retention and distribution systems that capture rainwater,” Albasseet said.

“This captured rainwater is being used to sustain the surrounding wadi, revitalizing the local ecosystem and minimizing reliance on external water sources.

“The resort’s design also incorporates water-efficient fixtures and landscaping, further reducing water usage in day-to-day operations. This integration of natural water systems into the resort’s design demonstrates our commitment to working with, rather than against, the natural environment.”

The consequences of unsustainable tourism are far-reaching, ranging from the degradation of delicate ecosystems and biodiversity loss to the exploitation of local communities and cultural commodification. “The current trajectory is simply not viable,” Albasseet said.

“Encouraging sustainable tourism practices is no longer a choice but a necessity for the future of our planet and the travel industry itself … The industry’s contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, estimated at 8 percent globally, underscores the urgent need for transformative change.

“This is not simply about minimizing negative impacts; it’s about actively restoring and regenerating the destinations we cherish.”

Furthermore, he added: “These practices undermine the very foundation of the tourism industry, jeopardizing the natural and cultural assets that attract visitors in the first place.

“The increasing awareness of these issues among travelers, coupled with global commitments like the Paris Climate Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, further reinforces the need for the industry to embrace sustainability.”

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The 11th Saudi Film Festival returns in April

February 14, 2025

DHAHRAN: The 11th Saudi Film Festival will take place from April 17 to 24 at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, also known as Ithra, in Dhahran.

Organized by the Cinema Association, in partnership with Ithra and supported by the Film Commission of the Ministry of Culture, this year’s festival includes screenings, educational events and networking opportunities.

The theme for this edition is “Cinema of Identity,” exploring how film reflects and shapes individual, national and cultural identity.

The program will feature a mix of local and international films, with a particular focus on how these works navigate the complexities of identity in a globalized world.

The films selected for this program will examine how identity is influenced by heritage, cities and personal experiences, and highlight the challenges and transformations that individuals and societies undergo in response to these influences.

This year’s festival will honor Ibrahim Al-Hasawi, one of Saudi Arabia’s most renowned actors, whose legacy spans over three decades.

Al-Hasawi has been an influential figure in Saudi entertainment, contributing to numerous theatrical productions, TV shows like “Tash Ma Tash” and “Bayni Wa Baynak,” and films such as “Hajjan,” “Zero Distance,” and the recent “Hobal.”

The festival will celebrate his immense contributions to the arts and his significant role in shaping Saudi cinema.

In addition to the spotlight on Saudi cinema, the 11th Saudi Film Festival will feature a special program focused on Japanese cinema.

This segment will showcase a selection of independent Japanese films, offering audiences a chance to experience Japan’s unique cinematic traditions and cultural identity.

The Japanese program will further enhance the festival’s mission to foster cross-cultural dialogue and broaden the perspectives of Saudi audiences.

Throughout the festival, attendees will have the chance to immerse themselves in a wide range of activities beyond just screenings.

There will be panel discussions with industry experts, offering insights into the future of Saudi cinema and the evolving role of identity in filmmaking.

Masterclasses will be conducted by seasoned filmmakers and industry professionals, covering key aspects of the filmmaking process such as directing, cinematography and scriptwriting.

The festival will also provide opportunities for one-on-one meetings with experts, where filmmakers can receive personalized feedback and advice on their projects.

For those looking to take their work further, private pitching sessions will be available, giving filmmakers the chance to present their ideas to potential investors and distributors.

Additionally, book signings will give audiences the chance to meet authors and filmmakers who have contributed to the festival, deepening their understanding of the creative processes behind the films.

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Jeddah celebrates global culinary extravaganza at Food Culture Festival

AFSHAN AZIZ

February 14, 2025

JEDDAH: After successful events in Alkhobar and Riyadh, the much-anticipated Food Culture Festival is taking place at Jeddah’s Wonder District from Feb. 12 to 16.

Organized by the Culinary Arts Commission in partnership with the Quality of Life Program, the event showcases a rich blend of local and international culinary experiences.

The festival in Jeddah features four zones, each offering a different aspect of the culinary world.

In the food exhibitors’ area, attendees can savor various cuisines, from traditional Saudi dishes to international delicacies, allowing them to embark on a gastronomic journey around the world without leaving the city.

Leo Wen, CEO and co-founder of Whoa Tea, which offers authentic Chinese drinks and sweets like Tang Hu Lu (candied fruit snack) and coconut cubes, said: “It’s exciting to introduce these unique flavors through this festival, and the response has been overwhelming.

“Our goal is not only to provide a delicious experience but also to share the rich heritage behind these drinks and desserts, showcasing the diversity of Chinese culinary traditions.”

Noura Abdullah, founder of Soma, a Saudi brand known for its signature grape leaves, as well as dishes like grape leaves fatteh, musakhan, kibbeh, and fresh juices made from carefully selected ingredients, said: “Everything we serve is homemade, with our signature dish, the grape leaves, being particularly popular.

“I started in Alkhobar, then expanded to Riyadh, and now, by participating in this festival in Jeddah, I’m exploring the possibility of franchising Soma.

“The positive feedback from visitors has been incredible, especially (for) the grape leaves. Their response has been very encouraging and motivates me to bring Soma to even more people.”

Ahmed Imran, owner of My Makan, the only Malaysian restaurant in Jeddah, told Arab News: “Festivals like this bring together diverse cultures, and food is the perfect medium to unite people from all walks of life.

“It’s truly amazing to see such a celebration of global cuisines, and I’m excited to introduce authentic Malaysian dishes to the visitors. It’s also heartwarming to witness the positive response from the community towards Malaysian cuisine.”

The festival also welcomes food truck owners, offering them an opportunity to showcase their food and attract new customers.

Al-Baraa Yahy, who owns Protein Dose, a food truck based in Al-Safa district, said the festival has given her the opportunity to introduce her products to a wider audience.

“I’m grateful for the chance to showcase my offerings through such a fantastic platform,” she said.

For those eager to enhance their culinary skills, the workshops area offers hands-on experiences with activities such as sushi making, food decoration, pasta crafting, and even food photography, with a special focus on the flavors of Singapore.

Live cooking demonstrations will also allow guests to witness the magic of food preparation firsthand.

Sadellah Zakaria, an Italian chef, and Mokhtar Mahdy, an Egyptian chef, teach festivalgoers how to make pasta like fettuccine and ravioli from scratch with their workshop.

“These workshops are a great way for attendees to not only learn valuable culinary skills but also connect with the craft of making fresh pasta. Even children can join and enjoy this immersive experience,” Zakaria said.

The festival’s theater area features live performances, from guitar and vocal acts to Arabic music bands and Indian Bharatanatyam dancers.

Additionally, roaming performances like living statues, an interactive parade, and a Chinese dragon dance add to the event’s festive atmosphere.

The kids’ area offers a chance for children to get involved in cooking workshops and farm activities, participate in friendly competitions, and unleash their creativity in a safe and educational environment.

Mohammed Hussein, who came along with his family said: “It’s great that the workshops let kids get involved and try things out for themselves. Plus, the festival has this cool passport challenge where you get a stamp every time you visit a different zone.”

Ghadeer Abdullah, a visitor from Makkah, said: “The best part of the festival is definitely the weather. It’s so pleasant that we’re enjoying all the zones. The kids’ zone is especially engaging. My children spent almost an hour completing the workshop, and they loved every minute of it.”

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Focus on creating books for young readers at Jazan Book Fair

February 14, 2025

JAZAN: The cultural program accompanying activities at Jazan Book Fair 2025, organized by the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission, featured a special workshop titled “Writing Short Stories for Young Adults,” presented by Noura Abiri.

The aim of the workshop was to introduce the concept of short stories for young adults, what attracts them, and how their needs vary based on their age, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The workshop explored methods for writing short stories for young adults, emphasizing the need for an engaging and fluid style that balances simplicity with depth, and touches on topics close to their interests, such as selecting an appealing and impactful idea relevant to youth, including themes such as friendship, courage, achieving dreams, self-acceptance, adventures, science fiction, or even social issues such as bullying or academic pressure.

It also highlighted the importance of creating a protagonist close to the reader’s world in age or experience.

The Jazan Book Fair 2025 is at the Prince Sultan Cultural Center until Feb. 17 and provides a rich cultural program featuring poetry evenings and literary discussions.

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Saudi Arabia launches first recycling program for pilgrim garments

February 14, 2025

JEDDAH: The Saudi Fashion Commission launched its innovative “Sustainable Ihram” initiative at the Islamic Arts Biennale on Friday.

The scheme is a move toward sustainable religious practices and marks a new approach to handling pilgrim garments. It aims to transform discarded Ihram clothing into new, sustainable items by collecting and sorting textile waste from Hajj pilgrims.

The project is a partnership with the Saudi Investment Recycling Co., a leading waste management and circular economy company, and Tadweem, a pioneer in sustainable fashion.

Technical support comes from textile specialist Sanko Group, working in conjunction with Re&Up, which will provide innovative recycling technology to process the garments.

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Attempt to smuggle unlicensed medical pills thwarted in Asir

February 14, 2025

ABHA: Saudi Border Guard land patrols in the Al-Rabou’a sector of the Asir region have arrested an Ethiopian national for violating border security regulations by smuggling 49,350 unlicensed medical pills. Legal procedures have been initiated, and both the suspect and the seized contraband handed over to the relevant authorities.

Meanwhile, authorities in Jeddah have arrested a citizen for trafficking hashish and unlicensed medical pills. Legal procedures were again initiated, and the suspect referred to the competent authorities.

Security agencies have called on the public to report any information concerning drug smuggling or promotion by calling 911 in the regions of Makkah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province, and 999 in the rest of the Kingdom’s regions. Members of the public can also contact the General Directorate of Narcotics Control on 995 or by emailing 995@gdnc.gov.sa.

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KSRelief director meets with Azerbaijan’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia

February 14, 2025

RIYADH: Dr. Hana Omar, director of partnerships and international relations and adviser to the general supervisor of the Saudi aid agency KSrelief, met yesterday in Riyadh with Shahin bin Shaker Abdullayev, ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Discussions focused on topics of mutual interest, including humanitarian and relief efforts, as well as the latest developments in humanitarian initiatives in Azerbaijan.

The Azerbaijani ambassador commended the Kingdom’s extensive humanitarian contributions in various countries and praised the effective and professional approach adopted by KSRelief in fulfilling its mission.

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Saudi Arabia marks 80th anniversary of historic King Abdulaziz–Roosevelt meeting with special exhibition

February 14, 2025

RIYADH: A special exhibition commemorating the 80th anniversary of the landmark meeting between King Abdulaziz and US President Franklin D. Roosevelt has opened in Riyadh, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday.

The historic encounter, which took place on Feb. 14, 1945 aboard the USS Quincy in the Bitter Lakes of the Suez Canal, laid the foundation for the long-standing strategic partnership between Saudi Arabia and the US.

The exhibition was inaugurated by the King Abdulaziz Foundation, in collaboration with the US Embassy in Riyadh.

The event, hosted at the stone building of the King Abdulaziz Historical Center in Riyadh, will be open to visitors until Feb. 17.

It features a collection of rare documents and archival photographs that detail the meeting’s significance — not merely as a diplomatic exchange but as a turning point in international relations.

The event marked the beginning of formal diplomatic ties between the two nations, leading to the establishment of embassies, diplomatic representation and a bilateral relationship grounded in shared interests.

Over the past eight decades, Saudi-US relations have expanded across various sectors, including politics, economics, culture and technology. This enduring partnership has played a crucial role in regional and global stability.

Through this exhibition, the King Abdulaziz Foundation aims to educate new generations about the impact of the meeting.

Visitors will have the opportunity to engage with an immersive display that explores the diplomatic, political and cultural dimensions of the meeting and how the alliance forged that day continues to shape global affairs and remains a cornerstone of strategic cooperation between the two nations.

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Next Hamza Arabic language test to take place on Sunday

HEBSHI ALSHAMMARI

February 14, 2025

RIYADH: The second Saudi Arabian Arabic language proficiency test for non-native speakers — Hamza — will be held on Sunday.

It will be administered by the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language, or KSGAAL, in collaboration with a number of Saudi universities in-person.

The inaugural Hamza test in September was intended as a step toward creating a standardized Arabic proficiency test.

Building on this, the second event is set to broaden its reach both locally and internationally, offering in-person and remote testing in collaboration with the Education and Training Evaluation Commission, or Qiyas.

Dr. Abdullah Al-Washmi, secretary-general of KSGAAL, spoke about how the Hamza test serves as a benchmark assessment accredited by the academy.

“The test evaluates four key language skills — listening comprehension, reading comprehension, writing and speaking — over 155 minutes, comprising 75 questions. Designed to meet the highest international standards, it aligns with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages,” Al-Washmi said.

The test fulfilled the requirements of certain employers that mandate language proficiency assessments for job applicants, he said.

Through the “Hamza” test, KSGAAL aims to strengthen the academic prominence of the Arabic language regionally and globally.

By offering a precise and reliable assessment of linguistic competence, the test enables educational institutions to effectively evaluate Arabic learners and non-native Arabic instructors, ensuring accurate placement and skill development.

The test has now been administered in person to more than 2,000 candidates across Saudi Arabia and multiple other countries, encompassing more than 60 nationalities.

As part of its commitment to advancing the Arabic language, KSGAAL continues to refine and expand the test, leveraging educational and technological resources to enhance accessibility for non-native speakers both within the Kingdom and beyond.

Mansoor Almalki, director of Linguistic Testing at KSGAAL, told Arab News that collaborating with 19 Saudi universities to administer the Hamza test marked a significant step in expanding its adoption and solidifying its status as a trusted benchmark for Arabic language proficiency in academic institutions.

“This partnership ensures the test meets the evolving needs of educational institutions while reinforcing its role as a standardized assessment tool for non-native Arabic speakers,” he said.

“The integration between higher education institutions and KSGAAL, as the primary authority for Arabic language learning, teaching and assessment in the Kingdom, plays a crucial role in developing Arabic language curricula based on rigorous scientific standards.”

Almalki said that partnering with universities expanded the research database on Arabic as a second language assessment, paving the way for more effective educational strategies.

On international expansion, he revealed a strategic plan to strengthen partnerships with global universities and educational institutions, particularly in countries witnessing a growing interest in learning Arabic.

These efforts aimed to enhance the test’s international recognition and ensure its broader adoption worldwide.

“The standardized assessment model plays a crucial role in advancing research on Arabic language education. Test results provide analytical data that drive the development of more effective teaching methods,” Almalki said.

He said that the diverse nationalities of test-takers served as a strong indicator of the global success of Hamza as an international test.

“Such diversity underscores the trust that learners and academic institutions place in KSGAAL, as well as the test’s reliability as a precise standardized measure of linguistic competence,” Almalki said.

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Riyadh Metro records more than 18 million passengers in just over two months

February 14, 2025

RIYADH: More than 18 million passengers have used the Riyadh Metro since its launch on Dec. 1, 2024, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday.

The metro has now completed more than 162,000 trips across its six-line network, covering about 4.5 million km.

The Royal Commission for Riyadh City revealed that the Blue Line running north-south parallel to Olaya street has been the most popular, serving nearly 10 million passengers in only two months.

This line runs through some of Riyadh’s most commercially active and densely populated areas, making it popular with commuters.

The King Abdullah Financial District station recorded the highest number of users, exceeding three million passengers.

The Riyadh Metro was designed to address the capital’s rapid expansion and increasing traffic congestion.

The system spans 176 km and is equipped with driverless trains, air-conditioned cabins, designated seating for different passenger groups and state-of-the-art automation.

The metro is integrated with the Riyadh Bus network, forming a comprehensive public transport system that can be accessed with wireless card payments or tickets that can be purchased at stations or through the Darb application.

The Riyadh Metro is a key component of the broader King Abdulaziz Project for Riyadh Public Transport and plays a crucial role in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

The system is designed to have a maximum capacity of 3.6 million passengers a day.

As well as the north-south Blue Line, the system has an Orange Line that stretches for 41 km, connecting Jeddah Road in the west to the Second Eastern Ring Road in the east, running parallel to Khashm Al-Aan in the east.

The Red Line runs 25.1 km east to west along King Abdullah Road, connecting King Fahd Sports City, King Saud University and the Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center.

The 13.3 km Green Line runs from King Abdullah Road near the Ministry of Education to the National Museum, serving the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Finance, and Ministry of Commerce.

The Violet Line runs between Abdurrahman bin Awf Road and Sheikh Hassan bin Hussain bin Ali Road, at a length of 29.7 km, and the Yellow Line connects the KAFD Station with King Khalid International Airport Road.

The project aims to reduce congestion, lower carbon emissions and promote environment-friendly transportation.

With 85 stations spread strategically across the city, the metro contributes significantly to Riyadh’s urban landscape.

Some stations stand out as architectural landmarks, including the King Abdullah Financial District Metro Station, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, and STC Station, designed by Germany’s Gerber Architekten.

The rapid success of the Riyadh Metro, as reported by SPA, highlights a fundamental shift in how residents and visitors move around the city.

Source:arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2590210/saudi-arabia

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