VHP's Devbhoomi Sangharsh Samiti warns of mass movement if Sanjauli mosque is not demolished in 15 days

New Age Islam News Bureau

20 February 2025

Protestors, who had gathered on the call of Hindu groups, remove a security barricade during a protest demanding the demolition of a mosque in the Sanjauli locality of Shimla. File Photo | PTI

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·         VHP's Devbhoomi Sangharsh Samiti warns of mass movement if Sanjauli mosque is not demolished in 15 days

·         Nawaz Sharif calls for exposing 'intentions of those fuelling unrest' in country

·         PM Anwar calls on Muslim world to unite, take concrete action for Palestine and Syria

·         Palestinian Chief Justice highlights importance of Intra-Islamic Dialogue Conference

·         Trump thanks Saudi crown prince for hosting Ukraine peace talks in Riyadh

·         Violence against Muslims in UK is not just in the streets—it's built into our politics

·         Trump calls Zelensky a 'dictator' as rift between two leaders deepens

·         Akpabio Reveals What Will Happen To USAID If Confirmed To Be Sponsoring Boko Haram In Nigeria

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India

·         The Gorakhpur Development Authority (GDA) orders demolition of mosque

·         Delhi Court stays FIR against police official accused of hate crime against Muslim youth in 2020 riots

·         Three granted bail in alleged Al-Qaeda-linked training module case as Delhi Police fail to file chargesheet

·         Uttar Pradesh: Muslim man burned alive for refusing to withdraw rape case against former village head

·         Hindi will destroy Tamil like it did with many north Indian languages, says Udhayanidhi Stalin

·         J&K police swoop on bookstores leads to seizure of hundreds of Jamaat-e-Islami books

·         First-time MLA Rekha Gupta is Delhi CM, party leadership hails Modi 'masterstroke'

·         BJP slams Mamata's 'Mrityu Kumbh' remark, Amit Malviya urges Hindus to 'fight back'

·         Andhra Relaxes Work Hours Of Muslims During Ramzan, BJP Welcomes Move

·         Fiction: Farook’s memories resurface as he prepares to bury his father behind a mosque

·         Muslim succession law: Activist Suhara to stage indefinite fast in Delhi alleging discrimination

·         'They are only making kids': Muslims should have left Bharat during Partition, says BJP's Prathap Simha

·         Eyes on polls: What’s behind Maharashtra’s push for love jihad law

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Pakistan

·         PM's aide says govt to hold repolling in any constituency if PTI proves rigging

·         Will take opposition's input for judicial reforms, CJP Afridi tells PM Shehbaz

·         Gunmen kill policeman guarding polio team in KP's Bajaur

·         SC constitutional bench asked to treat military trial appeals as a review

·         Stakeholders decide to put up united front against Peca amendment law

·         Govt asked to lift curbs on import of medical devices

·         PTI again seeks permission for holding rally at Minar-i-Pakistan

·         Over 50 GB teachers, officials face action for poor exam results

·         Meezan Bank signs MoU with TKBB to advance Islamic finance

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Southeast Asia

·         Almost 40% of near-divorce Muslim couples in 2019 to 2023 stayed together after counselling

·         Ready for ‘Madinah Ramadan’? Kelantan to welcome 100,000 visitors for fasting month fest in March

·         Home Ministry reveals 717 arrests in IC forgery crackdown since 2020

·         Foreign minister: Malaysia plans special Asean-US summit to reinforce neutrality

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Mideast

·         Israel says 3 Palestinian militants killed in West Bank

·         Palestinian Islamic Jihad discusses future with Iran’s security chief

·         Antiquities authority condemns burning of historic mosque in Taiz

·         Yemeni minister calls for arrest of Houthi officials attending Hezbollah chief Nasrallah’s funeral

·         Israel hostage forum says news of Bibas family deaths ‘heart-shattering’

·         How Beirut’s international airport became the latest flashpoint in Israel-Iran tensions

·         Iran lawmakers move to sack minister as rial plunges

·         Israel says it has received names of deceased hostages to be released from Gaza

·         Netanyahu appoints adviser with Trump ties to lead ceasefire talks

·         Thousands of Palestinian families flee West Bank homes as Israel confronts militants

·         Lebanese President Joseph Aoun pledges neutrality, calls for Arab unity

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Arab World

·         Artificial intelligence should be used ‘with intelligence,’ says Arab News deputy editor-in-chief

·         Geological wonders of Riyadh’s King Khalid Royal Reserve

·         Digital Cooperation Organization signs multiple memorandums of understanding as fourth general assembly ends

·         Saudi British Society honours cultural bridge-builders at London gala

·         Piece of Kaaba’s Kiswah gifted to Uzbekistan’s Centre of Islamic Civilization

·         Saudi visitors forecast to spend £940m in UK during 2025

·         Saudi Arabia to launch iftar program in 61 countries

·         Saudi Arabia’s Al-Moqbel appointed WTO General Council president for 2025–2026

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Europe

·         Men targeted offline more than women for first time amid record anti-Muslim hate

·         Giorgia Meloni visits Pope as lab tests indicate his condition improving

·         Zelensky says Trump living in Russian 'disinformation space'

·         Mystery over upturned campervan in Brittany

·         Russian mafia money-laundering ring broken up in Spain

·         Rosenberg: How Putin and Trump shook up the world in a week

·         Georgia's richest man said to be moving funds to avoid US sanctions

·         Fact-checking Trump claims about war in Ukraine

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North America

·         Muslims are prevented from practicing their religion at Rhode Island prison, suit says

·         CAIR-Colorado Welcomes Boulder Declaration Against Anti-Muslim Hate

·         ‘You should’ve never started’ this war – Trump to Zelensky

·         Trump echoes Russia as he upends US position on Ukraine

·         'Help us': Hundreds deported from US held in Panama hotel

·         US man dies awaiting sentencing for shooting teen Ralph Yarl

·         I'm not happy with Boeing, Trump says over Air Force One

·         Musk blames Zelensky for death of US journalist

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Africa

·         Sudan crisis could worsen if paramilitaries declare parallel govt: UN

·         FCT Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board To Distribute Travelling Materials During Second Phase Of Hajj Orientation

·         Islamic Cleric Allegedly Murders 24 Year old Hafsat Yetunde Lawal in Ilorin.

·         FG Files Fresh $81.5 Billion Lawsuit Against Binance

·         Mischief Makers Spreading Rumours of Meranda’s Resignation Are Working For Obasa – Aide

·         Lagos Assembly Clears Air on Alleged Mass Defection Of Lawmakers To Labour Party

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South Asia

·         Afghanistan Embassy Expresses Concern over Deportation of Refugees from Pakistan

·         Diabetes no bar for Ramadan fasting: doctors 

·         UNICEF distributes educational supplies to 3.5 million children in Afghanistan last year

·         Islamic Emirate Backs Industry, Addresses Environmental issues

·         Japan donates $500,000 to Afghanistan’s healthcare system

·         MoRRD Emphasizes Community Needs in Development Projects

·         Kabul Municipality Reclaims Seized Land in District 11

·         Islamic Emirate Congratulates Syria’s New Transitional Leader

·         Sri Lankan Muslims seek compensation for pandemic burial ground

Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau

URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/devbhoomi-sangharsh-samiti-sanjauli-mosque/d/134679

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VHP's Devbhoomi Sangharsh Samiti warns of mass movement if Sanjauli mosque is not demolished in 15 days

20 Feb 2025

Protestors, who had gathered on the call of Hindu groups, remove a security barricade during a protest demanding the demolition of a mosque in the Sanjauli locality of Shimla. File Photo | PTI

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SHIMLA: Members of Viswa Hindu Parishad (VHP)'s Devbhoomi Sangharsh Samiti and a civil society group have demanded that the civic body demolish a mosque in the Sanjauli locality here and warned of a 'mass movement' if it was not done within 15 days.

In December the municipal commissioner here granted the Sanjauli mosque committee three months to raze the 'unauthorised' floors of the five-storey mosque.

It had also directed the committee and Himachal Pradesh Waqf Board to file the next status report on March 15, after which the hearing of the remaining two floors of the mosque will take place.

On Wednesday, a delegation of Civil Society, Sanjauli, and Devbhoomi Sangharsh Samiti met the Municipal Commissioner of Shimla and submitted a memorandum over their demand.

They claimed that despite the municipal commissioner ordering the demolition of the structure, nothing has been done so far.

The groups have warned of a mass movement against the authorities if the mosque is not demolished within 15 days.

Source:newindianexpress.com

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https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2025/Feb/20/vhps-devbhoomi-sangharsh-samiti-warns-of-mass-movement-if-sanjauli-mosque-is-not-demolished-in-15-days

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Nawaz Sharif calls for exposing 'intentions of those fuelling unrest' in country

By Nausheen Yusuf

February 19, 2025

Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif addressing a public gathering in this file photo. — AFP

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LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday underscored the need for exposing intentions of those fueling unrest in the country amid Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) plans to launch another anti-government movement

"We will not allow any attempts aimed at creating an artificial political crisis in the country," the former three-time prime minister said during a meeting with PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui in Raiwind.

After talks between the government and the opposition collapsed, the PTI made another push to establish a grand alliance against the federal government with party founder Imran Khan ordering to expedite "contact with other opposition parties for protests after Eid".

In April last year, the PTI formed a multi-party opposition alliance named Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan, comprising Sunni Ittehad Council, Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, Balochistan National Party-Mengal, Jamaat-e-Islami, and Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen.

Now, the former ruling party has reportedly roped in former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to become part of its anti-government movement.

Unveiling the former ruling party's strategy, Imran's lawyer Faisal Chaudhry said that the PTI was working towards forming a grand opposition alliance, focused on certain objectives including restoration of the constitution and democracy.

During today's meeting, Nawaz expressed optimisim that the people of Pakistan would no longer allow anyone to obstruct the journey of development and progress

Furthermore, he said, a certain group is "incapable of holding serious negotiations and lacks political understanding" — referring to the former ruling party.

"Had the journey of development that began in 2013 continued, there would have been no need for the IMF or external assistance today," he added.

Lauding the performance of Prime Minister Shehabz Sharif-led government, the PML-N president said that the country was "once again standing on its feet".

He stressed the need to expose the intentions of those who want to spread chaos inside and outside the Parliament. He also asked the PML-N parliamentarians to play an effective role and maintain strong contact with the people.

Since Khan's ouster from power, the PTI organised a series of anti-government protests in the past, however, they ended up abruptly following violent clashes between the protesters and law enforcers.

Source:thenews.com.pk

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https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1284480-nawaz-sharif-calls-for-exposing-intentions-of-those-fueling-unrest-in-country

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PM Anwar calls on Muslim world to unite, take concrete action for Palestine and Syria

BERNAMA

19-02- 2025

Photo: Anwar Ibrahim/Facebook

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MANAMA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim urged scholars and intellectuals of the Muslim world to unite against sectarian divisions and take concrete action in support of Palestine and Syria.

Addressing an audience of 400 Islamic scholars, religious leaders and experts at the Intra-Islamic Dialogue Conference here on Wednesday, Anwar delivered a powerful condemnation of the exploitation of sectarian differences.

He cautioned that such divisions weaken political cohesion and obstruct necessary cooperation among Muslim nations.

“Even so, there are those who continue to see differences not as a source of richness but as fault lines to be manipulated for their own ends. Sectarianism has been weaponised to inflame tensions, divide communities, and weaken political cohesion.

“It has obstructed cooperation between nations that, by all logic and necessity, should stand together as allies,” he said, echoing the call by the Grand Imam of Al Azhar Al Sharif, Prof Dr Ahmed Al Tayyeb, for scholars and elites in the Muslim world to take the lead in fostering unity and to always act with the consciousness of a united ummah.

Anwar was the only Head of Government invited to speak at the conference, held under the patronage of Bahrain’s King, King Hamad Isa Al Khalifa, and attended by the Grand Imam of Al Azhar.

The event took place during Anwar’s first official visit to the Gulf nation at the invitation of Bahrain’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

In a forceful call to action, Anwar cited the Palestinian struggle as a direct consequence of the Muslim disunity, calling for more than just verbal condemnations.

“For decades, the Palestinian people have faced occupation, dispossession, and systematic injustice.

“Their struggle is a stark reminder of one of the consequences of division within our ummah. The Muslim world must show greater solidarity with the Palestinians – not through empty gestures but through collective action, diplomatic efforts, and economic support,” he urged.

The Prime Minister stressed that economic dependency, political fragmentation, and the failure to forge a unified front have left the Palestinian people exposed to relentless aggression.

“The genocide in Gaza, the expansion of illegal settlements, and the continued displacement of families demand more than mere words of condemnation. We must commit tangible resources to support Palestinian education, healthcare, and infrastructure. We must tirelessly champion the Palestinian cause in every international forum,” he declared.

Beyond Palestine, Anwar also highlighted Syria as a potential model for reconciliation and peace-building, urging the Muslim world to collectively reflect on its future.

“The emerging signs of reconciliation and peace-building in Syria offer not only hope for its people but also an opportunity for the entire ummah.

“Syria has the potential to become a model of reconciliation, one that transcends political and sectarian divides,” he said.

The conference, jointly organised by Al Azhar Al Sharif, the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (SCIA) in Bahrain, and the Muslim Council of Elders, is a continuation of efforts initiated during the Bahrain Dialogue Forum in November 2022.

According to the Bahrain News Agency, the initiative, spearheaded by the Grand Imam, aims to strengthen Islamic unity and deepen dialogue among Muslim scholars.

Source:thesun.my

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https://thesun.my/malaysia-news/pm-anwar-calls-on-muslim-world-to-unite-take-concrete-action-for-palestine-and-syria-OE13712158

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Palestinian Chief Justice highlights importance of Intra-Islamic Dialogue Conference

 20 Feb 2025

Manama, Feb. 19 (BNA): Shaikh Dr. Mahmoud Al Habbash, Supreme Judge of Palestine and Advisor to the Palestinian President for Religious Affairs and Islamic Relations, emphasised that the Intra-Islamic Dialogue Conference, held in Bahrain under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, serves as an important platform for strengthening Islamic cooperation and raising religious and social awareness.

He noted the importance of holding the conference at a time when the Islamic world faces major challenges, particularly concerning the Palestinian cause and the protection of holy sites.

Shaikh Dr. Al Habbash emphasised the urgent need for Islamic unity and highlighted that the divisions and challenges confronting the Islamic world call for greater solidarity and cohesion.

He underscored that strengthening cooperation among Muslims is essential for addressing regional threats and advancing the Palestinian cause, which remains central to the concerns of the Islamic world.

Source:bna.bh

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https://www.bna.bh/en/news?cms=q8FmFJgiscL2fwIzON1%2bDh%2f%2b%2fptZGSs8bKMnXqe7gmk%3d

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Trump thanks Saudi crown prince for hosting Ukraine peace talks in Riyadh

February 20, 2025

RIYADH: US President Donald Trump said Saudi Arabia did a “great job” in hosting talks aimed at moving toward a resolution of the Russian-Ukraine war, and thanked Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for facilitating the discussions in Riyadh.

Trump said on Wednesday that the conflict, which began three years ago this month, would have never started had he been president.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “talked the US into spending $350 billion to go into a war that that could not be won, that never had to start and never would have started if I was president,” said Trump, adding that Ukraine would never settle the war without US involvement.

Senior US and Russian officials attended a meeting in Riyadh on Tuesday to start working toward ending the war in Ukraine. The meeting was also attended by senior Saudis, but no Ukrainians.

Trump said that Zelenskyy could have attended the discussions in the Saudi capital had he wanted to.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the two sides agreed broadly to pursue three goals: to restore staffing at their respective embassies in Washington and Moscow, to create a high-level team to support Ukraine peace talks, and to explore closer relations and economic cooperation.

Trump, talking at the FII PRIORITY Miami event, which runs between Feb. 19-21, said he hopes that a ceasefire arrives soon.

The president’s speech was wide-ranging, touching on efforts to cut government waste, boosting energy production, and his foreign policy objectives.

Dignitaries included Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of the Saudi Public Investment Fund; Elon Musk, the head of a new US federal entity — called DOGE — meant to cut government waste; and Princess Reema bint Bandar, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the US.

Source:arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2590908/saudi-arabia

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Violence against Muslims in UK is not just in the streets—it's built into our politics

19 February 2025

Not austerity which has robbed communities of financial security, not disgraceful levels of child poverty, not increased wealth accumulation by those at the very top - but Muslims who make up 6.5% of the population and who are subject to the same economic hardships impacting others - we are the problem.

We are the problem when we join hundreds of thousands of others using the right to protest to peacefully challenge the Israeli government’s unconscionable assault on Gaza, we are the problem when we turn out to vote in elections, we are the problem when we try to access routes to asylum, we are the problem when we participate in the wider life of our schools.

We are a problem when we don’t participate and live in segregated communities - but we are also the problem when we engage in civic society and become a ‘threat from within’.

Muslim communities in the UK have been subjected to the most horrific and unabashed onslaught of political scapegoating, and in this context it is entirely predictable that we will continue to witness such disgraceful levels of Islamophobia. New figures today show that Islamophobic assaults surged by 73% in 2024.

This is the inevitable outcome of the hyper-normalisation of Islamophobia. Whether Lee Anderson or Suella Braverman claiming “Islamists” are taking control, former Prime Minister Boris Johnson referring to Muslim women as “letterboxes” and “bank robbers”, Muslim men demonised as the only men who commit sexual violence through the confection of ‘grooming gang’ moral panics, or Keir Starmer engaging in the the most heartless PMQs exchange, denying the rights of a Palestinian family seeking asylum in the UK; this normalised Islamophobia in our political conversation is absorbed by, and enables, the fists and fury that is expressed on the streets.

Mainstream politicians and media have encouraged and enabled hatred towards Muslims in openly racist and inflammatory ways, and it is a terrible indictment that our political system is complicit in creating the conditions for the violence which is erupting around us.

This violence is the tip of the iceberg - the structural racism Muslims face in the labour market and housing for example are not as easily tracked - but are no doubt also sites of intensifying racism.

The government must progress the work on defining Islamophobia, engage with Muslim communities, and get its own house rejecting Islamophobic policies and narratives in its own ranks.

I tremble as I write this, both with anger and fear for the future-  because the impacts of this violence will last well beyond the healing of the physical wounds counted in these statistics - this is catastrophic, generational harm being done and there is an urgent need for action.

Source:lbc.co.uk

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

https://www.lbc.co.uk/opinion/views/violence-against-muslims-not-just-in-streets-in-politics-islamaphobia-uk/

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Trump calls Zelensky a 'dictator' as rift between two leaders deepens

20 Feb 2025

President Trump has spent the day attacking Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, calling him a "dictator" and deepening the rift between the two leaders.

His attacks came after Zelensky, reacting to US-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia from which Kyiv was excluded, said the US president was "living in a disinformation space" governed by Moscow.

Speaking at a Saudi-backed investment meeting in Florida, Trump said the only thing Zelensky "was really good at was playing Joe Biden like a fiddle".

The "dictator" slur quickly prompted criticism from European leaders including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who said "it is simply wrong and dangerous to deny President Zelensky his democratic legitimacy".

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer made it clear he backed Zelensky in a phone call to the Ukrainian president.

A Downing Street spokesperson said Sir Keir "expressed his support for President Zelensky as Ukraine's democratically elected leader".

It was "perfectly reasonable to suspend elections during war time as the UK did during World War Two," the spokesperson added.

Zelensky is due to meet the American envoy for Russia and Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, on Thursday. He said it was crucial that the discussion - and overall co-operation with the US - remains constructive.

In a social media post, Zelensky said that peace could be more secure with the US and Europe.

Zelensky's five-year term of office was due to come to an end in May 2024. However, Ukraine has been under martial law since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022 and elections are suspended.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson also criticised Trump's use of the word "dictator" while German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called the comments "absurd".

"If you look at the real world instead of just firing off a tweet, then you know who in Europe has to live in the conditions of a dictatorship: people in Russia, people in Belarus," she told broadcaster ZDF.

Speaking in Florida, Trump called Zelensky a "dictator", just hours after using the same word in a Truth Social post about the Ukrainian president.

"He refuses to have elections. He's low in the real Ukrainian polls. How can you be high with every city being demolished?" Trump said.

He also referenced his attempt to get rare-earth minerals from Ukraine, accusing Zelensky's government of "breaking the deal".

His address echoed his wording of the Truth Social post where Trump said Zelensky "has done a terrible job, his country is shattered, and MILLIONS have unnecessarily died." In the meantime, the US was "successfully negotiating an end to the war with Russia," he said.

A White House official said Trump's post was in direct response to Zelensky's "disinformation" comments.

On Tuesday US and Russian officials held their first high-level, face-to-face talks since Russia's full-scale invasion.

The former prime minister of Ukraine, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, told the BBC that Russia was "popping champagne right now" in response to Trump's comments.

"Volodymyr Zelensky is a completely legitimate president," he said. "We cannot hold elections under martial law."

The war of words began with comments made by Trump on Tuesday at a news conference at Mar-a-Lago in Florida, when he blamed Ukraine for the war.

Trump was asked by BBC News what his message was to Ukrainians who might feel betrayed, to which he replied: "I hear that they're upset about not having a seat, well, they've had a seat for three years and a long time before that. This could have been settled very easily."

"You should have never started it. You could have made a deal," Trump added.

Trump did not mention that President Vladimir Putin took the decision to invade Ukraine in February 2022.

Then on Wednesday, Zelensky told reporters in Kyiv: "We are seeing a lot of disinformation and it's coming from Russia. With all due respect to President Donald Trump as a leader... he is living in this disinformation space."

He added that he believed "the United States helped Putin to break out of years of isolation".

Later in the day, the Ukrainian leader said the world faced the choice to be "with Putin or with peace" and announced he would be meeting Washington's Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, on Thursday.

Earlier, Zelensky also rejected Trump's attempts to access Ukraine's rare minerals, saying no security guarantees were offered in exchange.

Trump has attempted to make an issue out of Zelensky's popularity, claiming the Ukrainian president had only a 4% approval rating. But BBC Verify reports that polling conducted this month found 57% of Ukrainians said they trusted the president.

In Wednesday's explosive Truth Social post, Trump also took aim at Europe, saying the war in Ukraine is "far more important to Europe than it is to us".

"We have a big, beautiful ocean as a separation," he said.

Europe had "failed to bring peace" in the region, he added.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin also spoke to reporters, saying he would meet Trump "with pleasure".

For its part, the EU said it would place further sanctions on Russia.

The new sanctions target Russian aluminium and dozens of vessels suspected of illegally transporting oil. They would also disconnect more Russian banks from the global Swift payment system and ban more Russian media outlets from broadcasting in Europe.

Source:bbc.com

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

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjev2j70v19o

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Akpabio Reveals What Will Happen To USAID If Confirmed To Be Sponsoring Boko Haram In Nigeria

19 February 2025

By Oladipo Abiola

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has submitted that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) would no longer be allowed to operate in Nigeria if it is confirmed the organization is sponsoring Boko Haram as alleged.

Akpabio made the declaration during plenary on Wednesday while speaking on the allegation that USAID is sponsoring Boko Haram and other terrorist activities in Nigeria.

He emphasized the importance of investigating the allegation and taking appropriate action based on verified information.

“If it is true that USAID has been funding Boko Haram in Nigeria, we have no business allowing them to have offices in Nigeria. So, before we can take decisive steps and also ask for recompence, automatically we must go deeper into the issue,” the Senate President said.

As earlier reported by Naija News, the Nigerian Senate, on Wednesday, summoned the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, over the alleged sponsorship of Boko Haram activities in Nigeria by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The Senate also summoned the leadership of the Department of State Services (DSS), National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) and other security agencies concerned to a closed-door meeting for discussions on the matter.

The decision to summon the intelligence chiefs, followed an Order of Urgent National Security through Order 41 by the Senator representing Borno South Senatorial District, Ali Ndume, during plenary on Wednesday.

Naija News recalls a United States lawmaker, Scott Perry, had alleged the Boko Haram funding by USAID as part of his speech on the fraudulent use of American funds for grants.

According to the Republican lawmaker, USAID also funds Madrasas, ISIS, Al Qaeda, and provides terrorist training.

Source:naijanews.com

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

https://www.naijanews.com/2025/02/19/akpabio-reveals-what-will-happen-to-usaid-if-confirmed-to-be-sponsoring-boko-haram-in-nigeria/

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India

 

The Gorakhpur Development Authority (GDA) orders demolition of mosque

Feb 20, 2025

Gorakhpur: The Gorakhpur Development Authority (GDA) has ordered the demolition of a three-storey mosque built illegally on 47 decimal municipal land near Ghosh Company Chauraha. The mosque, constructed without an approved map, must be removed within 15 days. If not, the GDA will proceed with bulldozing the structure and recover the costs from the builder.

On Feb 15, a notice was served to Shoaib Ahmad, son of the deceased mosque trustee, directing him to remove the structure voluntarily. Despite multiple notices, the builder failed to present an approved map. The land had been under encroachment for 50 years. In Jan, 2024, the municipal corporation removed 12 residential units and 31 commercial establishments. The mosque's ground floor was also partially demolished but faced resistance from the trustee and locals. Later, the municipal board approved a 60-square-meter plot in the southeast corner for mosque reconstruction. However, the GDA has maintained that the construction is illegal and must be demolished.

Challenging the GDA's order, the mosque trustee has appealed to the Commissioner's Court, with a hearing scheduled for today. GDA Vice Chairman Anand Vardhan affirmed that the construction was illegal, and no valid documents were provided despite repeated notices.

The dispute is set to be heard in court on Feb 25.

Source:indiatimes.com

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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/varanasi/gda-orders-demolition-of-mosque/articleshow/118397089.cms

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Delhi Court stays FIR against police official accused of hate crime against Muslim youth in 2020 riots

February 19, 2025

A Delhi court has placed an interim stay on an order directing the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against the station house officer (SHO) of Jyoti Nagar police station in North East Delhi.

The SHO, Salender Tomar, was accused of assaulting Muslim men and forcing them to sing the national anthem and Vande Mataram during the 2020 Delhi pogrom.

On February 1, Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai of the Karkardooma court stayed the January 18 order issued by Judicial Magistrate Udbhav Kumar Jain.

The magistrate had directed the police to file an FIR against Tomar under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including Section 295A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings), Section 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), Section 342 (wrongful confinement), and Section 506 (criminal intimidation). The court was hearing Tomar’s revision plea when it issued the stay order.

The order was passed without informing the complainant, Mohd Waseem, or his lawyer, Mehmood Pracha. Pracha discovered the development only on Monday evening while checking the case status online.

Expressing his shock, he told Scroll, “The order came as a great surprise to us. The court should have heard us before passing its order.”

Waseem, who was a minor at the time, had filed an application in 2020 seeking the registration of an FIR against Tomar. He was among a group of Muslim men who were detained and beaten by the police. The men were allegedly forced to sing the national anthem, Vande Mataram, and chant Jai Shri Ram.

Among those detained was 23-year-old Faizan, who died within 24 hours of his release from Jyoti Nagar police station due to custodial torture. Last month, the magistrate’s court noted that the action taken report (ATR) filed by the Delhi Police merely denied the allegations against the SHO and other officers without detailing any substantive steps taken for a preliminary inquiry.

The court observed that the SHO and other police officials were involved in hate crimes against Waseem and could not claim protection under the pretext of acting in the discharge of their official duties.

In August 2023, the Delhi High Court transferred the investigation into Faizan’s death to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). While doing so, it stated, “Faizan’s death is a hate crime, [the] unlawful actions of Delhi Police [were] driven by religious bigotry.” — With Agencies Inputs

Source:muslimmirror.com

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

https://muslimmirror.com/delhi-court-stays-fir-against-police-official-accused-of-hate-crime-against-muslim-youth-in-2020-riots/

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Three granted bail in alleged Al-Qaeda-linked training module case as Delhi Police fail to file chargesheet

February 19, 2025

Three Muslim men arrested in connection with an alleged Al-Qaeda training module have been granted bail after the Delhi Police failed to file a chargesheet within the stipulated time frame.

The case dates back to August 22, 2024, when the Delhi Police’s Special Cell, in collaboration with state police forces from Jharkhand, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, detained 14 individuals suspected of being part of an Al-Qaeda-inspired module. The group, reportedly led by Dr. Ishtiyaq from Ranchi, Jharkhand, aimed to establish a ‘khilafat’ and orchestrate significant terrorist activities within India.

During the operation, six individuals were apprehended in Bhiwadi, Rajasthan, while undergoing weapons training, and eight others were detained from Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh for questioning. The police recovered an AK-47 rifle, a .38 bore revolver, and various live cartridges during the raids.

As per legal provisions, the investigating agency is required to file a chargesheet within 90 days of an arrest. Failure to do so entitles the accused to statutory bail. In November 2024, Additional Sessions Judge Dr. Hardeep Kaur dismissed an application by the Delhi Police seeking an extension of the investigation period beyond the initial 90 days, citing insufficient grounds for the delay.

Subsequently, the Delhi High Court granted the police a 90-day extension on December 12, 2024, to complete their investigation. Despite this extension, the chargesheet was filed on February 17, 2025, against eight of the accused, including Dr. Ishtiyaq. Three individuals were not named in the chargesheet, leading to their release on bail due to the lapse in the filing deadline.

The chargesheet, submitted under sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), is scheduled for consideration by the Patiala House Court on February 24, 2025.

This development underscores the critical importance of adhering to procedural timelines in terrorism-related investigations to ensure that legal processes are upheld and justice is served.

Source:muslimmirror.com

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Uttar Pradesh: Muslim man burned alive for refusing to withdraw rape case against former village head

February 19, 2025

In a shocking incident in Uttar Pradesh’s Mainpuri district, 40-year-old Sajid was burned alive after refusing to withdraw an FIR against former village head Bhola Yadav.

The case, which involved charges of gangrape and abduction of Sajid’s wife, was set for a court hearing in two days.

On Tuesday, Sajid’s charred and unrecognizable body was found in a field. Reports indicate that he was burned alive after being doused in diesel. Allegedly, he was called to a location and assaulted by Yadav’s henchmen before being set on fire.

Sajid’s father, Ashiq Ali, directly accused Yadav of orchestrating the brutal murder. “What is left for me now? I want to die. My son has been killed,” he wailed in front of reporters. He further stated, “They burned his body to make identification difficult.

The case of my daughter-in-law’s gangrape is in court, and they pressured us to settle outside. Yadav even offered money, but we refused.”

Sajid’s wife recounted the horrifying details of the assault she suffered in June 2022. She said Yadav had called her to his house under the pretext of cooking a meal, where he and two associates raped her. When she attempted to file a complaint the next day, she was kidnapped and kept captive for over four months.

“The former village head and his men threatened us to settle the case. He even said he would kill my brother,” she told Times of India. She was eventually released after relentless pleas from her husband and family.

Ashiq Ali revealed that he had initially approached the local police regarding her abduction, but they ignored his complaint. It was only after he escalated the matter to the city police that she was freed.

Mahendra Bhardwaj, the legal counsel for Sajid’s wife, stated that while the original FIR included charges of rape and kidnapping, the rape charge was later removed.

However, after legal intervention, the court ordered the inclusion of gangrape charges. The case was ongoing when Sajid was murdered.

Regarding the murder, Mainpuri ASP Rahul Mithas confirmed that the body had been sent for autopsy and that a thorough investigation was underway. “Necessary action will be taken,” he assured.

This tragic incident underscores the deadly consequences of seeking justice against powerful individuals and raises concerns over the safety of victims and their families in such cases.

Source:muslimmirror.com

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Hindi will destroy Tamil like it did with many north Indian languages, says Udhayanidhi Stalin

February 19, 2025

In a recent address at the Art and Literature festival organized by the Manorama Daily group in Kozhikode, Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin expressed concerns over the potential erosion of regional identities due to the imposition of Hindi. He emphasized that while Tamil Nadu holds no animosity towards the Hindi language, it staunchly opposes its forced imposition. Stalin highlighted that many North Indian states lack their own film industries to preserve their unique cultural identities, contrasting this with South Indian states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala, which have successfully maintained their linguistic and cultural heritage. He warned that if states fail to protect their native languages, Hindi could dominate, leading to the erosion of their distinct identities.

Stalin further elaborated on the historical context, referencing the Dravidian movement’s efforts over the past century to defend Tamil from the encroachment of other languages. He asserted that Tamil Nadu and Kerala are among the most progressive states in India, having successfully kept fascist and communal influences at bay. He also criticized attempts to impose a singular vision of ‘one nation, one culture, one language,’ urging solidarity to protect regional languages, cultures, and literature from such agendas.

In a related event in Dindigul, Stalin addressed alleged attempts to impose Hindi through the new education policy. He urged Tamil Nadu residents to resist such efforts, emphasizing that the state would never accept the imposition of Hindi at the cost of its linguistic and cultural identity.

These statements underscore the ongoing debate in India regarding linguistic diversity and the preservation of regional languages amidst concerns over the central imposition of Hindi.

Source:muslimmirror.com

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J&K police swoop on bookstores leads to seizure of hundreds of Jamaat-e-Islami books

Muzaffar Raina

20.02.25

A Jammu and Kashmir police crackdown on bookstores is said to have led to the seizure of hundreds of books linked to the banned Jamaat-e-Islami, drawing condemnation from pro-India organisations as well as separatist groups.

Officials said a search was conducted on Friday following credible intelligence regarding “the clandestine sale and distribution of literature promoting the ideology of a banned organisation” in Srinagar. The raids led to the seizure of 668 books.

“Legal action has been initiated under Section 126 of the BNSS (Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita),” the Srinagar district police said in a post on X. The police, however, did not name the banned group.

Section 126 of the BNSS entitles an executive magistrate to issue a showcause notice to a person asking why “he should not be ordered to execute a bond or bail bond for keeping the peace for such period, not exceeding one year, as the magistrate thinks fit”.

Sources said most of the seized books, brought out by a Delhi-based publisher, were authored by Jamaat founder Abul Ala Maududi and his associate Amin Ahsan Islahi.

The Centre banned the Jamaat as part of a crackdown on separatists in the run-up to the scrapping of Article 370 on August 5, 2019.

The five-year ban was imposed a fortnight after the February 14, 2019, Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed.

Several leaders of the Jamaat were arrested but released ahead of the Assembly elections last year as part of a purported deal to encourage them to participate in the polls.

The group joined hands with jailed Baramulla MP Sheikh Abdul Rashid’s Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) for a “strategic alliance”. Both parties faced accusations that they were the Centre’s new proxies that had been allowed to contest the polls to ensure the defeat of the National Conference. They lost badly with the NC getting the majority.

The separatist Jamaat had played a key role in the formation of the Hizbul Mujahideen in 1990. In 2021, however, three former heads of the Jamaat — Sheikh Ghulam Hassan, Ghulam Mohammad Bhat and Mohammad Abdullah Wani — distanced the party from militancy and “agitational politics”, stopping short of disapproving of the methods that have defined the separatist and militant struggle over the last three decades and a half.

Among others who condemned the raids on the bookstores was the NC’s Srinagar MP, Aga Ruhullah Mehdi, saying it amounted to “meddling in the religious affairs” of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. “Will the state now dictate what Kashmiris read, learn and believe? This is an unacceptable overreach. If such an order exists, it must be revoked immediately,” Mehdi posted on X.

Opposition PDP leader Iltija Mufti called it an attack on people’s freedom to read. “The elephant in the room vis-a-vis these book raids is that all of the 600 books seized have been authored by Abul Ala Maududi, a renowned Islamic scholar and more importantly the founder of the Jamaat-e-Islami — a religious organisation that has done commendable social work in Kashmir and also participated in the recently held state elections,” she said.

A group of Jamaat leaders, some of who contested the recent polls, condemned the raids, asking how it was in sync with the government’s decision to allow them to contest the elections.

A leader told reporters on Tuesday that the raids were a provocation. “These books are published by registered publishers outside (Kashmir). The raids are illegal and unconstitutional…. These books are not banned anywhere (in India),” he said.

Source:telegraphindia.com

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First-time MLA Rekha Gupta is Delhi CM, party leadership hails Modi 'masterstroke'

J.P. Yadav

20.02.25

The BJP leadership on Wednesday picked first-time MLA Rekha Gupta as the chief minister of Delhi, sweeping aside the claims of seasoned party leaders in the capital and underscoring the high command culture.

The choice reflected a replay of what had happened in bigger states such as Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh in 2023 where low-profile leaders were elevated by sidelining stalwarts such as Vasundhara Raje Scindia and Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

The party leadership, however, maintained that picking Gupta was a “masterstroke” by Modi.

They said Gupta’s selection ticked two key political boxes — a woman chief minister and a leader hailing from the Bania (trader) community.

Party leaders justified the choice by claiming that AAP boss Arvind Kejriwal, a Bania, used to wean away the otherwise BJP-loyal community in large numbers in Assembly polls.

The BJP did not have any serving woman chief minister before Gupta’s selection. Party leaders said the BJP needed a woman to head a state at a time when the “mahila” vote bank was being touted as a big game changer and Modi had been claiming credit for the passage of the women’s reservation bill in Parliament.

BJP insiders said Gupta’s name was selected by Modi at the party’s parliamentary board meeting on Wednesday. The decision was endorsed at the meeting of the newly elected MLAs at the Delhi BJP office in the evening.

Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma, who defeated Kejriwal from the New Delhi seat and was considered the strongest claimant to the chief minister’s post, was made to propose Gupta’s name at the MLAs’ meeting. The name was seconded by another front-runner, Vijender Gupta, a seasoned Delhi BJP leader.

“It is a matter of happiness,” Verma told reporters after the MLAs’ meeting.

Gupta, who had lost the last municipal corporation elections, was elected as a first-time MLA from the Shalimar Bagh seat in north Delhi.

She is a former president of the Delhi University Students’ Union. The law graduate of Delhi University had entered politics as an Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) member in 1992.

The choice of a low-profile leader as the chief minister suits the Centre as Delhi lieutenant governor V.K. Saxena, who hails from Gujarat, is known to be close to both Modi and home minister Amit Shah.

The new BJP government led by Gupta will be sworn in at a grand ceremony at the Ramlila Maidan on Thursday in the presence of the Prime Minister and other dignitaries.

Apart from NDA chief ministers, filmstars, industrialists and religious heads, the list of invitees for the oath-taking ceremony also includes auto drivers, gig workers, farmers and slum dwellers to underline the BJP’s commitment to the “aam aadmi”.

Gupta will be the fourth woman chief minister of the capital after Sushma Swaraj, Sheila Dikshit and Atishi.

Source:telegraphindia.com

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BJP slams Mamata's 'Mrityu Kumbh' remark, Amit Malviya urges Hindus to 'fight back'

J.P. Yadav

20.02.25

BJP leaders on Wednesday sought to give a communal colour to Mamata Banerjee’s “Mrityu Kumbh” remark, said in the context of the January 29 stampede deaths and other casualties attributed to mismanagement of the Mahakumbh.

In a brazen attempt to further the BJP’s divisive agenda, Amit Malviya, the party’s social media head, accused the Bengal chief minister of trying to turn the state into an “Islamic Caliphate” and exhorted Hindus to “fight back”.

“Mamata Banerjee’s ‘Mrityu Kumbh’ remark is not just a casual, off-the-cuff comment but a calculated dog whistle aimed at her Muslim vote bank in West Bengal. The underlying message is clear: ‘Vote for me, and I will let you turn Bengal into an Islamic Caliphate’,” Malviya said in an X post.

He referred to the attack on Hindus in Bangladesh and exhorted the majority community to “rise” and defeat Mamata.

“Now it is up to the Hindus of Bengal to decide — do they want to meet the same fate as their brethren in Bangladesh, or will they rise, fight, and defeat Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, just as they obliterated Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, infamously known as the Butcher of Bengal, who orchestrated the Direct Action Day massacres?” Malviya said in the long post.

“Let the 2026 Assembly election be the ‘Mrityu Kumbh’ for Mamata Banerjee’s dark regressive politics,” Malviya added, attaching a video of Mamata’s remarks in the Bengal Assembly on Tuesday.

Bengal goes to polls next year and the BJP latched on to the Trinamool chief’s remark to derive maximum political mileage.

Hours after Malviya’s post, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath hit out at Mamata and Opposition leaders such as Congress’s Mallikarjun Kharge, RJD’s Lalu Prasad and Samajwadi Party’s Akhilesh Yadav, accusing them of playing with the faith of Hindus.

“Your (SP’s) ally Lalu Yadav is saying ‘Kumbh faltu hai’. So, for him this mega event of Sanatan Dharma is ‘faltu’. One more ally has said that the Mahakumbh has become ‘Mrityu Kumbh’. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has claimed thousands died in the stampede…,” Adityanath said, speaking in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly.

Adityanath, who is seen to be using the religious congregation to boost his brand as a Hindutva icon, asked if organising a Sanatan Dharma event on a grand scale was a “crime”.

“I want to ask the RJD and TMC leaders — is being a follower of Sanatan Dharma or organising a Sanatan Dharma event on a grand scale a crime? If it is a crime then our government is committing this crime and will continue to do so because we believe that Sanatan Dharma is the national religion of this country,” he said.

Adityanath claimed that more than 56.25 crore devotees had already taken the holy dip at the Mahakumbh so far and stressed that the remarks of the Opposition leaders were “like playing with the faith of these 56 crore people”.

The chief minister termed the Opposition’s allegations of mismanagement politically motivated and dismissed a report on water contamination at the Mahakumbh. He claimed in the Assembly that the river water was not only fit for bathing but also for performing “aachman (drinking)”.

A Central Pollution Control Board report had on Tuesday said that the river water at the Mahakumbh contained high levels of bacteria that indicated contamination with human or animal faecal waste, making it unsuitable for bathing.

Source:telegraphindia.com

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Andhra Relaxes Work Hours Of Muslims During Ramzan, BJP Welcomes Move

Feb 19, 2025

The TDP-led NDA government has permitted all Muslim employees in Andhra Pradesh to leave work an hour early from March 2 to March 30 in observance of Ramzan and the BJP's state unit welcomed the move, in stark contrast to the saffron party's stand on the same matter in neighbouring Congress-ruled Telangana.

BJP leader S Yamini Sharma said the saffron party, as part of the ruling coalition in the southern state, upholds the principles of 'Antyodaya' and 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' (development for all, together with all).

In its recent circular, the government said it "hereby permits all employees who profess Islam...to leave their offices/schools an hour early before closing time on all working days during the holy month of 'Ramzan'... from March 2 to March 30 to perform necessary rituals." The circular was issued by Mukesh Kumar Meena, Principal Secretary (Political).

This exemption has been granted to all Muslim contract and outsourced staff, including those working in ward and village secretariats. However, Meena noted that this permission would not be granted during exigencies requiring employees' presence in their respective departments.

The BJP in Andhra Pradesh welcomed the move.

"Our guiding principle is 'Antyodaya' and 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas.' That is the perspective we follow. The BJP always supports 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' regardless of caste, creed, or religion," Yamini Sharma told PTI on Wednesday.

However, she emphasised that the BJP has never supported appeasement politics.

"Be it Jan Sangh or the BJP, our party has never engaged in any form of minority appeasement politics since its inception-unlike the Congress, which has pursued it for over 66 years," she told PTI Videos.

The BJP always aims for equality, regardless of caste, creed, or religion, Ms Sharma asserted.

Earlier, in neighbouring Telangana, another Telugu speaking state, BJP leader and Union Minister B Sanjay Kumar had strongly criticised the Congress government for granting a similar exemption. Firebrand Hindutva leader and party MLA T Raja Singh had also lashed out at the Telangana government over the matter.

Mr Kumar had questioned why such allowances are not extended to Hindu devotees observing 'Ayyappa Deeksha,' a 41-day vow of devotion to Lord Ayyappa, and others.

While a controversy erupted in Telangana over the decision to allow Muslim employees to leave an hour early, a BJP leader in Andhra Pradesh said the state being governed by the NDA comprising of TDP, BJP, and Janasena, the ruling party leaders have been avoiding the topic, as they do not wish to strain the alliance.

Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Law and Minority Welfare Minister NMD Farook thanked Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu for releasing Rs 45 crore towards pending honoraria for 5,000 imams and muezzins.

Source:ndtv.com

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Fiction: Farook’s memories resurface as he prepares to bury his father behind a mosque

Sabin Iqbal

19 February 2025

“Another one goes to hell,” murmurs the young khattib, throwing a crumpled scrap of paper away. He has just done his duty of informing the people in the Jama’at about the death that had happened barely an hour ago. Though he does not know the deceased person, he knows he would not make it to heaven. Men who don’t come to mosques or respect the clergy won’t pass the Judgement test, and they won’t survive the narrow bridge either. These are certainties, and not lies like science, the khattib knows it for sure.

Turning the saliva-reeking mike away, he runs his slender fingers through his unhealthy beard, pondering for a minute over the dangers of science and logic, and how hundreds of men fall into that trap, like ephemera insects slamming into flames. Barefoot, with the white mundu tugging well above his ankles, he walks across the oval hall of the mosque, treading gently on the palm mats laid out for prayers. On reaching the door, he lets out a suppressed burp, loud and long, reliving the taste of the tuna curry and beans thoran he had for lunch.

The crumpled ball of paper falls on the grass outside the mosque, and an inquisitive crow darts down from a nearby mango tree and pecks at it. Having found out that a name scribbled on a piece of paper in nearly illegible handwriting is not as exciting as fish bones or crumbs of banana fry, it takes off, cawing, and settles back in the tree.

It’s afternoon – like every afternoon in the backwater village, slow and lethargic – and it’s time for the muezzin’s call. The khattib walks towards the ablution area and washes his hands and face with running water from a tap. He pokes his fingers into his ears, wipes the back of the earlobes, rinses the inside of his nostrils and mouth, and sprinkles water on the edge of his forehead where the hairline begins. He makes sure he doesn’t break wind, lest he has to repeat the entire ritual of cleansing.

By the time men emerge from the mosque after the Azh’ar prayers, the sky has become overcast, but the sun, without any sense of occasion, continues to shine through the slate-grey clouds. If it rains in sunlight, it is wedding time for foxes. That’s what everyone in the village tells the children. Over the years, across generations, children have imagined foxes walking happily, garlanded, rubbing their bushy tails in nuptial excitement. Wedding of foxes is a rare occasion, like the moon turns a valley into a breathtaking stretch of bluish-purple once in twelve years. Rare like rains in January, it catches people unaware. Like death in the family, it makes people stand in a corner, weighed down with memories.

It is raining in bright evening sunlight, etching an arc of rainbow across a surprised sky. But today no one in Kayaloram village thinks about foxes getting married since they have heard the thuds and grunts of the gravedigger heaving his hoe and pickaxe into the wet, red earth, and the khattib announcing the death through two loudspeakers fixed atop the minarets.

“Mohammed Jamal of Kayaloram House passed away at noon…” the khattib announced with sacerdotal indifference, reading from the scrap of paper the secretary of the Jama’at has tucked into his hands. It stopped many late-lunchers mid-meal to listen, causing red coconut fish curry to drip through their fingers. The khattib is new to the Kayaloram Jama’at – the Waqf Board transferred him last month from a small mohalla in the eastern upper parts of the district to the quaint, backwater village. So, he has never seen Mohammed Jamal, who had never been to the mosque; not even for Eid prayers, when every male in the village turned up, bathed and dressed in new clothes but with a conspicuous odour of raw mutton they had cut and chopped late the night before still emanating from their hands. When they placed their palms together to pray, they themselves breathed in the yucky smell of innards they had cleaned, and the gooey, thick odour of the curly fat they had plucked from the crevices in meat folds.

By the time the funeral procession reaches the mosque, the half-naked gravedigger, caked in mud, has finished digging, and is smoking a beedi sitting by the edge of the grave beside his hoe and pickaxe. A nostalgic whiff of first rain eddies up from the dark-brown mounds of soil around the grave.

The muezzin’s call begins on a low note but soon segues into a baritone with a nasal timbre. It sounds impersonal and irrelevant to me at the stroke of burying Pa, who has never been to a mosque. If he were alive, he would have pursed his lips and laughed away the ritualistic reverence of the religious.

I don’t pray though I attend the prayers inside the mosque. I just sit there, thinking of the relief of death and the futility of praying beside a lifeless body, even if it is one’s own father’s. How can prayers help a dead body? Or, the soul that has left the body? When Pa was in the hospital – more correctly, when he was diagnosed with cancer and when the biopsy result said there was a malignant growth tucked somewhere in his lungs – we prayed. We prayed because we were afraid the disease would take him away. In the years preceding the four days when he was taken to a private hospital to wait for his death, Ma prayed, sitting in a cane chair next to his bed. In between, she would doze off but wake up with a start, making sure he was sleeping well. She would gently stroke his forehead, which had by then become soft like a piece of wet sponge, and then go back to praying. Soon she would doze off again. Neither trained nor conditioned to pray, I didn’t pray any religious prayer for Pa. I just closed my eyes and called out to God to relieve him of the unbearable pain, especially when we ran out of morphine tablets.

Source:scroll.in

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Muslim succession law: Activist Suhara to stage indefinite fast in Delhi alleging discrimination

19 February 2025

Thiruvananthapuram: At the age of 73 known Muslim women rights activist from Kerala V P Suhara will launch an indefinite fast in Delhi from February 23 asking the government to do away with the alleged discriminations towards women in the Muslim succession laws."I'm launching indefinite fasting unto death as a last resort. Over these years I had knocked at many doors against this discrimination. But there's no relief even as hundreds of women and children are suffering owing to it," said Suhara, who has been fighting against the discriminations against Muslim women, including triple talaq.

As per the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act daughters are entitled to only two-third of their father's wealth. To overcome this hurdle many couples are even getting remarried under the special marriage act to ensure that their daughters could inherit their wealth.Suhara, who is the president of Nisa, a progressive Muslim women's forum based in Kerala, said that it was unfortunate that the mainstream political parties were not showing interest to address the discrimination in the Muslim personal laws. Even Islamic countries like Saudi Arabia are taking progressive steps by doing away with discrimination towards women, she said."Many women and their daughters are literally thrown to the streets after the death of their husband as other male members of the family inherit a major chunk of the property. Though the male members who inherit the properties are supposed to protect the women dependents of the deceased, it is hardly done. The issue has to be seen as a human rights violation and not as a religious matter," Suhara urged.

Even as Uniform Civil Code could be a solution to this issue, there are serious apprehensions whether secularism and gender equalities will be protected by it, she said.

Source:deccanherald.com

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'They are only making kids': Muslims should have left Bharat during Partition, says BJP's Prathap Simha

19 February 2025

Mysuru: Former MP Prathap Simha and BJP member made a controversial statement against Muslims, in Mysuru, on Monday.While speaking to media persons on the Udayagiri Police Station attack case, Simha said, "Muslims should have left Bharat during the Partition itself. Those who have stayed back are only making children to increase their population,” he said.Replying to a question, Simha said, "Muslim rulers were not courageous, but barbaric. Muslims did not know, what bravery is. They were only violent and barbaric,” he said.

Pointing to the attack on the police station in Mysuru, Simha said, "The Congress government in Karnataka has given a free permit to Muslims, to pelt stones at Hindus. Who has the courage here to introduce ‘buldozer’ rule like Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath of Uttar Pradesh? Can we expect it from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah or Home Minister G Parameshwara?” he asked.

Source:deccanherald.com

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Eyes on polls: What’s behind Maharashtra’s push for love jihad law

20 February 2025

In line with the Hindutva ideology, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led MahaYuti-NDA government in Maharashtra has set the ball rolling toward enacting a law on love jihad.The term “love jihad” is often used by Hindu groups and the BJP to describe an alleged campaign by Muslim men to convert Hindu girls under the pretext of marriage.

For Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who leads the BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP alliance, getting such a law passed is unlikely to be a challenge, given the brute majority his government enjoys in the 288-member Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.

Last week, the  state government formed a seven-member committee headed by the Director General of Police to examine the legal and technical aspects of framing a law on love jihad.

If all proceeds as planned, the bill could be introduced during the monsoon session of the Maharashtra legislature in Mumbai.

This move follows long-standing demands from several BJP leaders and right-wing groups such as the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti and Sanatan Sanstha. It also comes ahead of local body elections in which voters in all 29 municipal corporations and a majority of the municipal councils—accounting for over 60 per cent of the state’s population—will exercise their franchise.With the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi-I.N.D.I.A bloc demoralised after humiliating defeats in Haryana, Maharashtra, and Delhi, and facing internal conflicts, the BJP sees an opportunity to advance its goal of “triple-engine sarkar” in the states.

The government-appointed committee will also review similar laws in other states and recommend legal provisions. The Uttar Pradesh model is surely before them.

A government resolution/notification on the issue states, “Elected representatives (sitting and former), various organisations, and citizens have made representations to the state government seeking enactment of legislation to curb ‘Love Jihad’ and forced conversions in the state. Some states have already enacted such laws. A special committee has been established to study the present situation and suggest measures to curb love jihad, forced conversions, and conversions done through cheating.”

However, opposition parties, including the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party, Asaduddin Owaisi’s All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), and even BJP’s ally Ramdas Athawale’s Republican Party of India (Athawale), have opposed the move.

In the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha and Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha elections, the Sakal Hindu Samaj—an umbrella organisation of Hindutva and right-wing organisations—organised Hindu Jan Akrosh Morcha rallies. These protests demanded laws against “love jihad” and “land jihad,” action against Bangladeshi infiltrators, and the realisation of a Hindu Rashtra. Several members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Bajrang Dal, and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) have also backed the rallies.

Reacting sharply to the government move, Owaisi said, “The Maharashtra government seems to have no other work except investigating interfaith marriages. It has now set up a panel to make a law against ‘love jihad.’ Even the Modi government has said there’s no definition of love jihad, and many investigative agencies have debunked this as a conspiracy theory. The BNS already criminalises promising to marry after hiding one’s religious identity. Forced religious conversion is also a crime.” According to him, this is just an attempt to create an “Uncle Sarkar.”

“The government interferes in who you marry, what you eat, which language you speak, where you live, and what religion you believe in,” the Hyderabad MP added.

Samajwadi Party’s Maharashtra President and MLA Abu Asim Azmi termed the decision arbitrary and restrictive. “We have no objections; they can make whatever law they want. Muslim boys are also converting to Hinduism, and Muslim girls are marrying Hindus. The Constitution grants this right. They are interfering as they please—what can we do about it?” he said.

Defending the move, Fadnavis said, “The Supreme Court and the Kerala High Court (in the past) have made observations about love jihad… It is a reality, and in Maharashtra, incidents of women being duped into marriage and then abandoned once children are born are on the rise.” He further added that there was no harm in interfaith marriages, but actions must be taken when a woman is degraded and abandoned after marriage.

Senior BJP leader and Maharashtra Minister for Skill, Employment, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation Mangal Prabhat Lodha termed love jihad a serious issue and justified the move. During the first term of the MahaYuti government, when Lodha was in charge of the Women and Child Development Department ministry, he had set up the Interfaith Marriage Coordination Committee, which played a significant role in highlighting such incidents.

Lodha also listed recent incidents in Mumbai and surrounding areas in recent times: “Shraddha Walkar was brutally murdered by Aftab Amin. Rupali Chandanshive was killed by Iqbal Sheikh. Poonam Kshirsagar was murdered by Nizam Khan. Yashashree Shinde from Uran was killed by Dawood Sheikh. Sonam Shukla from Malad tragically lost her life at the hands of Shahjib Ansari. How can one claim that love jihad is not happening when such incidents are evident before us?”

He added that the committee would study anti-love jihad and anti-conversion laws in other states before drafting Maharashtra’s version.

Political analyst and Urdu journalist Aijaz Ahmed Ansari, however, dismissed the term “love jihad” as misleading.  “The word ‘love jihad’ is confusing. It is difficult to understand. These marriages have happened because of love and relationships. The word jihad itself is being misinterpreted. In fact, there should be jihad to ensure that poverty is removed; there should be jihad to ensure that all get education,” he said.

Source:deccanherald.com

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Pakistan

 

PM's aide says govt to hold repolling in any constituency if PTI proves rigging

By Web Desk

February 19, 2025

Prime Minister's aide on Political and Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah said on Wednesday that the government would hold re-election in any constituency if the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) prove rigging.

"PTI has accepted the system...it should not create an artificial crisis in the country," Sanaullah said in a statement.

His remarks came as the former ruling party plans to launch another anti-government movement after Eid-ul-Fitr, with party founder Imran Khan ordering to expedite "contact with other opposition parties for protests after Eid".

In April last year, the PTI formed a multi-party opposition alliance named Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan, comprising Sunni Ittehad Council, Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, Balochistan National Party-Mengal, Jamaat-e-Islami, and Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen.

Now, the former ruling party has reportedly roped in former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to become part of its anti-government movement.

Unveiling the former ruling party's strategy, Imran's lawyer Faisal Chaudhry said that the PTI was working towards forming a grand opposition alliance, focused on certain objectives including restoration of the constitution and democracy.

In the statement today, Sanaullah further said that an attempt was made to create a crisis in the country on November 24, 2024 — the day PTI staged a "do-or-die" protest in Islamabad.

Islamabad witnessed pitched battles between law enforcement agencies and PTI supporters as the latter inched towards the D-Chowk for the party’s ‘final call’ power show amid intense teargas shelling.

However, a late-night crackdown by the government ended in a hasty retreat of the PTI’s top leadership and supporters, following which the party abruptly ended its protest.

The fierce clashes resulted in the martyrdom of at least four Rangers personnel along with two policemen with the former ruling party claiming that 12 of its protesters died. The protests led to arrests and multiple cases being registered against the party workers and supporters.

Accusing the former PTI government of corruption, Sanaullah said that appointments and transfers in Punjab were made by giving bribes.

Earlier in the day, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif vowed to block attempts aimed at creating an "artificial political crisis" in the country.

"[The] people of Pakistan will no longer allow anyone to obstruct the journey of development and progress," the former three-time prime minister said during a meeting with PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui in Raiwind.

Source:thenews.com.pk

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Will take opposition's input for judicial reforms, CJP Afridi tells PM Shehbaz

By Abdul Qayyum Siddiqui & Ayaz Akbar Yousafzai

February 19, 2025

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi on Wednesday met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and reaffirmed that opposition parties' input will be considered in the judicial reform programme.

According to a press release issued by the Supreme Court, the premier visited the chief justice's house at the invitation of the CJP Afridi.

He was accompanied by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Cheema and Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan. SC Registrar Muhammad Salim Khan and Secretary Law and Justice Commission Tanzeela Sabahat were also present on the occasion.

During the meeting, the chief justice shared the agenda of the upcoming meeting of the National Judicial Policy Making Committee (NJPMC) and sought the input of the government.

"The move is part of the chief justice's overall reform agenda intending reduction in the pendency and providing speedy justice to the people of Pakistan," it stated.

He informed PM Shehbaz that he would also be taking the opposition parties’ input and wishes that his reform programme should carry bi-partisan support so that the "reforms are consistent, sustainable and more impactful".

The prime minister appreciated the reform package and agreed the government would provide its input soon.

Separately, a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office stated PM Shehbaz appreciated the chief justice's initiative to visit remote areas of South Punjab, Interior Sindh, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and to consult with all stakeholders for effective and timely delivery of justice.

Apprising the chief justice of the long-pending tax disputes in various courts, he requested the top judge to ensure timely decisions on these cases based on merit. The premier also assured the top judge of accelerating effective measures regarding missing persons.

Earlier on Feb 11, CJP Afridi — during an informal conversation with journalists — said he had invited PM Shehbaz and Leader of the Opposition Omar Ayub Khan to propose improvements to the justice system, which will be taken up in the upcoming NJPMC meeting, expected at the end of February.

However, he clarified that the final decision rests with the NJPMC, and high courts, as independent entities, may reject certain suggestions.

The chief justice has undertaken transformative changes to modernise the judiciary to uphold fairness, transparency, and accessibility to meet standards for judicial excellence and ensuring that the justice system remains citizen-centric and responsive to the litigants needs, stated a press release by SC.

An official announcement said that advanced information technology systems have been integrated to enhance judicial efficiency, including the e-Affidavit system, which streamlines filing processes, reduces delays and ensures transparency, and a Case Management System enabling litigants and lawyers to instantly access certified case copies, eliminating traditional dispatch delays.

To promote transparency and public trust, feedback mechanisms involving legal practitioners, litigants, and civil society have been introduced, it said.

Recognising the vital role of the district judiciary, the CJP paid a visit to remote and underserved districts to assess grassroots challenges, enhance institutional capacity and address resource gaps, ensuring equitable access to justice and strengthening public confidence in the judicial system. 

Source:thenews.com.pk

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Gunmen kill policeman guarding polio team in KP's Bajaur

February 19, 2025

PESHAWAR: A policeman guarding a polio vaccination team were shot dead by militants in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bajaur district on Wednesday, the police said.

Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only countries where polio is endemic and militants have for decades targeted vaccination teams and their security escorts.

Polio has resurged in Pakistan, with two cases reported so far this year, and at least 74 polio infections last year, compared to six in 2023.

"Two motorcycle riders opened fire... as a result, the police officer died on the spot, but the polio team remained unharmed," Niaz Muhammad, a police officer in Bajaur district, told AFP.

Bajaur district shares a 52-kilometre border with Afghanistan.

The start of the polio campaign had been delayed in the district for security reasons, after a rise in militant attacks in the area, said Waqas Rafiq, a senior police official.

"Despite the attack, the campaign continues in all areas [of the district] except the site of the incident," he said.

Polio mostly affects children under five and sometimes causes lifelong paralysis but can easily be prevented by the oral administration of a few drops of vaccine.

Over the past decade, hundreds of police officers and health workers have been killed by militants waging an offensive against the Pakistani state.

Pakistan has witnessed a dramatic uptick in attacks, mostly in KP and Balochistan, since the return of the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2021, with Islamabad claiming hostile groups plan their attacks from Afghan soil.

Source:thenews.com.pk

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SC constitutional bench asked to treat military trial appeals as a review

Nasir Iqbal

February 20, 2025

• Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar asks about ‘parameters’ to modify earlier verdict

• Armed forces can’t exercise any judicial function with regard to civilians, Imran’s lawyer argues

• Justice Azhar wonders how frequently ICJ-member states witnessed terror incidents

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court’s Constitutional Bench (CB) has been requested to treat the intra-court appeals (ICAs) more like a review petition, instead of appeals against the October 2023 decision of a five-judge SC bench in civilians’ military trial, to determine the validity of Pakistan Army Act.

The scope of the ICAs has been “confined to a review” where the present bench can rectify errors, if any, but cannot take a different view already enunciated by the five-judge bench through its judgement, argued Advocate Uzair Karamat Bhandari representing PTI founder Imran Khan before the seven-member CB on Wednesday.

Headed by Justice Aminuddin Khan, the CB had taken up a set of ICAs against the October 2023 order by the apex court nullifying military trial of civilians involved in the May 9 violence.

Mr Bhandari also referred to the March 7, 2024 decision of Justice Mansoor Ali Shah in the SC (Practice and Procedure) Act 2023, the jurisprudence of which was also concurred by eight judges. “Today we have the benefit of seven judges on CB, sitting with fresh mind hearing the present appeals,” he said.

At this Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail asked the counsel to add another word “young” in addition to what the counsel said regarding judges sitting with fresh minds.

The counsel emphasised that the five-member bench decision was binding upon the present seven-judge bench. He argued that if the matter is treated as review hearing, it would not be possible for the CB to take a different view unless there were errors such as non-consideration of admitted facts by the earlier bench, error of law or any patent and substantial illegality or the judgment was per incuriam.

Then what should be the parameters to modify the earlier verdict, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar questioned. It was necessary to develop certain parameters as the earlier decisions could not be held wrong without reasons, rather they had to be treated with respect while maintaining certain norms and decorum, he observed.

Justice Aminuddin Khan wondered when even judges sitting on the CB had their own opinions, how the counsel could argue the present bench could not change the opinion rendered by the earlier bench in October 2023.

Referring to Article 245, Mr Khan’s counsel argued that the armed forces were part of the executive and therefore could not act in any manner or exercise any judicial function with regard to civilians. The armed forces cannot operate outside the ambit of Article 245, he insisted.

Judicial commission

Earlier, Sardar Latif Khosa while representing Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan requested the CB to order setting up of a judicial commission to ascertain why police did nothing to stop the May 9 violence that spanned over four to five hours. He argued that the commission would help ascertain if the events were “orchestrated” and why only 105 people out of 5,000 arrested were subjected to military trials.

At this, Justice Musarrat Hilali asked if the counsel wanted to see dead bodies on roads if the police had attempted to control the unruly mobs on May 9.

The counsel then questioned why the government was reluctant to ascertain real facts, saying that nobody could dare to enter the corps commander house, Lahore.

He cited a report of International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), stating 646 trials of civilians were conducted by the military courts. Of them, 641 civilians were convicted and 345 were awarded death sentences and in all such cases the primary source of evidence were “confessional statements” of the defendants.

At this, Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi remarked Pakistan remained a victim of terrorism much more than many other countries, wondering how many incidents of terrorism had been witnessed by ICJ member countries.

The counsel claimed that countries like Turkiye witnessed some terrorism incidents, but they had done away with military trial of civilians. He also cited the UN Committee against Torture, which took notice of civilians’ trial by the military courts in Pakistan.

Justice Mazhar, however, wondered whether parliament had taken any consideration of the reports the counsel referred to.

Justice Mandokhail asked the counsel not to cite ICJ report when the matter pertained to the constitutional amendment and the appeals of many convicts were pending before the apex court.

The counsel, however, said the establishment of military courts should be seen in historical context. He said Islam also emphasised on the “independence of the judiciary”.

Justice Mandokhail wondered what steps Sardar Latif Khosa took to abolish section 2(1)(d)(i) and (ii) of the Army Act as federal minister, senator, MNA, governor and attorney general and why no parliament ever abolished the section till date.

The counsel told the judges that people would become their fans if the CB ruled against civilians’ trial by military courts, recalling how the 26th Amendment was bulldozed through parliament by forcing lawmakers to vote for the amendment.

When Justice Hilali wondered which legislator resigned after the 26th Amendment, the counsel reminded her that Akhtar Mangal had resigned from the National Assembly.

At the outset, Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan disowned Advocate Salman Akram Raja’s reservations over certain parts of October 2023 judgement given by Justice Munib Akhtar. Barrister Aitzaz said Salman Akram Raja was his counsel, too, and he had never given any instructions to him in this regard, making it clear that he completely supported Justice Akhtar’s decision.

Salman Akram Raja, however, said he had advanced arguments on behalf of his client Arzam Junaid. He also explained that he disagreed to only one paragraph of Justice Akhtar’s decision.

Source:dawn.com

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Stakeholders decide to put up united front against Peca amendment law

February 20, 2025

KARACHI: Journalist bodies, legal fraternity and human rights organisations on Wednesday agreed to launch a “joint struggle” against the recently passed Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act 2025, also known as Peca, and announced that a convention would be held at the Karachi Press Club (KPC) against the “draconian law” on March 1.

A consultative meeting convened by the KPC also vowed to use every legal forum to raise their voice against the recently passed law and mobilise the civil society to play its role.

The meeting, co-chaired by KPC president Fazil Jamili and secretary Muhammad Sohail Afzal Khan, was attended by representatives of different journalist and media bodies, bar associations, rights groups, labour organisations, etc.

Participants of the meeting agreed that Peca was a black law that should be immediately annulled.

They said that the government through Peca had provided protection to “illegal and immoral actions” against freedom of expression.

Even before the approval of the law, authorities under the influence of power had already been targeting journalists, doctors, lawyers, students, teachers, and intellectuals for expressing their views.

The meeting participants decided to organise a convention on March 1 where all affected members of the society would be invited and a future course of action would be outlined.

Speaking on the occasion, former Sindh High Court Bar Association president Barrister Salahuddin Ahmed said that the newly-passed law not only threatened the free press, but also stifled the voice of dissent from every segment of society which believed in freedom of expression.

“I believe that in current situation, one should not pin their hopes on courts for any remedy,” he said. “It’s time to unite every aggrieved or affected stakeholder and launch a joint struggle. Whether they are students, teachers, journalists or labours. It’s everyone’s issue.”

In his opening remarks, the KPC secretary invited suggestions from all participants to devise a joint strategy.

The recently passed law reflected the rapidly diminishing space for democratic norms and debate in the country, he added.

He said that the journalists across the country had rejected the law at the outset and would continue their struggle till its complete withdrawal.

“We will take every step to block the draconian law. We will protest against it on the streets and challenge the ill-conceived law in court, knocking on every door for its withdrawal,” he added.

The KPC president said that the club decided to gather journalist bodies, legal fraternity, human rights activists and members of the civil society to unite under its platform for a joint struggle against the “black law”.

“Initially, the government had promised that our concerns would be heard and our input would be considered before the final draft. But unfortunately, none of those promises were fulfilled, and the bill was passed in haste. We believe that Peca 2025 will be used for arm-twisting against the media and journalists’ community. Now the only way forward is to plan a united struggle to push back this law.”

Other speakers included Karachi Bar Association General Secretary Abdul Rahman Korai, All Pakistan Newspapers Society’s Shahab Zuberi, Anwar Sajdi of the Council of Pakistan Newspapers Editors, leaders of various factions of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists and Karachi Union of Journalists — A. H. Khanzada, Aajiz Jamali, Hamid Rehman and Lubna Jarrar Naqvi — Malka Khan of Aurat Foundation, Home-Based Women Workers Federation Pakistan chairperson Zehra Khan, Nasir Mansoor of National Trade Union Federation, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan chairman Asad Iqbal Butt and former KPC president Saeed Sarbazi.

Source:dawn.com

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Govt asked to lift curbs on import of medical devices

Sumair Abdullah

February 20, 2025

KARACHI: The Healthcare Devices Association of Pakistan (HDAP) has urged the federal government to lift restrictions on medical equipment imports.

The appeal comes as the customs authorities continue to block shipments after the expiry of regulatory exemptions on Dec 31, 2024. The exe­m­ptions had allowed registered and unregistered importers to bring the medical devices — from ventilators to thermometers — to the country.

Talking to Dawn, HDA Chairman Syed Umer Ahmed said it is mandatory to register with the Drug Regul­atory Authority of Pakistan (Drap) to import and sell medical devices and surgical equipment in the country.

Drap is supposed to either issue a certificate or reject the application of an importer seeking to register himself with it. However, Mr Ahmed claimed that they have been facing delays at Drap.

“The problem is that although many applications have been submitted, certificates are not issued within the stipulated period. Instead, it often takes two to three years for the process to be completed,” he deplored.

Earlier, he pointed out, Drap had allowed both the registered and unregistered importers to bring medical devices to the country till Dec 31, 2024. He added that before the expiry of deadline, they reached out to Drap and the Ministry of Health to resolve the issue, as they had exte­nded the deadline earlier as well. After discussions, he said, Drap had recommended the matter to the health ministry to extend the deadline.

However, Mr Ahmed lamented, no decision regarding the extension or any alternative solution has been made as yet. On the other hand, he stated, owing to the expiry of the deadline, customs authorities across the country were refusing to clear their imports.

Legal recourse

The HDAP chief stated that before the expiry of the deadline, they had filed a petition before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) and cited Drap, the Ministry of Health, and the customs authorities as respondents.

He claimed that the IHC had directed the authorities concerned that “no coercive action should be taken” and allowed the status quo.

Mr Ahmed said that despite the court’s orders, the customs authorities were not clearing their shipments.

He added that when they appro­ached the customs authorities, they informed them that Drap had already been requested to clarify the matter.

However, since then the customs authorities have not responded to HDAP, he said.

Mr Ahmed regretted that the impasse had been keeping the matter unresolved as the customs authorities need fresh instructions that Drap has not been issuing to them.

When contacted, a Pakistan Cust­oms official told Dawn that in order to import any medical and surgical equipment, the importer needs to get a no-objection certificate from Drap.

“If a hospital imports something, its duty slab is different from that of an individual importing the same item,” he pointed out.

When asked whether the Islamabad High Court had restricted them from taking any action on this issue, he responded, “It is unclear whether the IHC issued directions for an individual specifically or for everyone in general. It is also possible that the direction has been challenged in the Supreme Court.”

A member of the Private Hospitals and Clinics Association, Dr Muhammad Qaisar Sajjad while talking to Dawn said the government should come forward to help out the unregistered importers to resolve the issue so that they can get registered themselves with Drap as soon as possible.

He further said that the government should allow the import of medical devices used for diagnostic purposes in order to facilitate the general public. He added that shortage of any medical item has not been reported yet, but problems would obviously surface if restrictions continued.

Dawn reached out to Drap CEO Asim Rauf for comment, but no response was received until the filing of this report.

Source:dawn.com

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PTI again seeks permission for holding rally at Minar-i-Pakistan

Mansoor Malik

February 20, 2025

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI) Punjab chapter has submitted a fresh application seeking permission to hold a mass political gathering at Minar-i-Pakistan once the Champions Trophy cricket matches conclude, leaving “no excuse for the government to deny permission”.

Despite previous denials, PTI Punjab Senior Vice-President Akmal Khan Bari has formally applied for approval to stage a peaceful rally at the historic venue.

The government had earlier rejected a similar request by PTI Punjab Chief Organiser Aliya Hamza, citing security concerns due to the Tri-Nation Cricket Series, Champions Trophy and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Associa­tion (CPA) Regional Conference in Lahore.

When contacted, Ms Hamza said, “If the government allows the public meeting before the tournament concludes, we are ready to hold our political show on any given day.”

Meanwhile, PTI leaders in different districts have also submitted requests to hold political gatherings. PTI Mandi Bahauddin District President Tariq Mahmood Sahi has applied for permission to hold a political meeting within the premises of his residence in Dhok Kasib on Feb 26.

Similarly, an application has been filed with Deputy Commissioner Rawalpindi for a peaceful political gathering on Feb 23.

Despite the delays in securing major rally permissions, PTI Punjab has initiated smaller-scale political activities, opening offices across Central and South Punjab.

Ms Hamza said PTI ticket-holders in north Punjab have been instructed to set up small tents for political meetings in their respective constituencies

Additionally, political worker mobilisation efforts have also begun in Central Punjab.

She also revealed that PTI had planned to present a resolution in the Punjab Assembly against the denial of access to party founder Imran Khan. However, she claimed that the speaker prorogued the session to prevent debate on the matter.

“We had planned a series of speeches and activities around this resolution, but the speaker ended the session indefinitely,” she said.

Source:dawn.com

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Over 50 GB teachers, officials face action for poor exam results

Jamil Nagri

February 20, 2025

GILGIT: The Gilgit-Baltistan government has initiated action against over 50 teachers and education department officers for poor performance in the Secondary School Certificate (SSC-I) 2024 results.

These actions have been taken in response to the underperformance of government schools in the region.

According to a notification issued under the orders of the GB chief secretary, disciplinary measures have been carried out against 25 headmasters, principals, and teachers across government schools in Gilgit-Baltistan due to the poor results of the SSC-I 2024 exams. The actions were taken in accordance with Rule-6(3) of the Gilgit-Baltistan Civil Servants Efficiency and Disciplinary (E&D) Rules, 2011.

The penalties imposed include both major and minor sanctions. Major penalties involve demotions in grade, forced retirements, and a two-grade demotion for one officer. Minor penalties include suspension of increments, issuance of show-cause notices, and official reprimands.

According to sources, actions have been taken against over 50 individuals, ranging from grade 16 to grade 19. The results, announced in the first week of February, revealed that only 41 per cent of Grade 5 students passed the exam, while the passing rate for Grade 8 was 29pc. In contrast, the SSC-I result in 2024 had a passing rate of 61pc.

The poor performance has sparked protests across Gilgit-Baltistan.

In light of the disappointing results, a high-level delegation from the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training is conducting a comprehensive assessment of the education system in Gilgit-Baltistan.

The delegation includes subject experts, assessment specialists, and education professionals, tasked with evaluating the strengths of the system and identifying areas that need improvement, particularly in curriculum implementation, early childhood education, teacher training, and assessment methodologies.

As part of this evaluation, the delegation has conducted field visits to schools across the Gilgit division and Diamer district. They have engaged with students, teachers, and local communities to gather firsthand insights into the challenges facing the education sector.

Furthermore, experts from the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE), as part of the federal team, visited the Board of Elementary Examination Gilgit-Baltistan to review the current and past assessment practices in light of the recent examination results.

Source:dawn.com

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https://www.dawn.com/news/1893100/over-50-gb-teachers-officials-face-action-for-poor-exam-results

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Meezan Bank signs MoU with TKBB to advance Islamic finance

By Our Correspondent

February 20, 2025

KARACHI: Meezan Bank and the Participation Banks Association of Turkiye, or Turkiye Katilim Bankalari Birligi (TKBB), have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to drive innovation, knowledge sharing and capacity building in Islamic finance.

“The MoU was exchanged during the official state visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Pakistan in a high-level ceremony at the Prime Minister’s House”, Meezan Bank said in a statement on Wednesday.

This partnership seeks to boost cross-border cooperation in Islamic banking by focusing on three key areas: capacity building, knowledge exchange and operational excellence. The two organisations agreed to introduce joint training programmes related to Sharia governance, Sukuk structuring, regulatory compliance, collaborative platforms for sharing expertise in the fields of product development, digital transformation, fintech solutions and strategy exchanges to enhance talent and innovation.

Ismail Vural, secretary general of TKBB, said, “We are pleased to cooperate under this MoU with Meezan Bank, which has made significant contributions to the development of the Islamic finance industry on a local and international scale with its long-standing history and prior activities. Collaboration in the areas of training, capacity building and technical expertise is essential for ensuring the healthy and sustainable growth of the sector”.

Group Head of Sharia Compliance at Meezan Bank Ahmed Ali Siddiqui said, “By leveraging collective expertise, both institutions aim to promote ethical banking practices, drive financial inclusion, and support the global growth of Islamic finance”.

Source:thenews.com.pk

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https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1284550-meezan-bank-signs-mou-with-tkbb-to-advance-islamic-finance

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Southeast Asia

 

Almost 40% of near-divorce Muslim couples in 2019 to 2023 stayed together after counselling

FEB 20, 2025

SINGAPORE - Close to 40 per cent of more than 15,300 Muslim couples who were contemplating divorce in 2019 to 2023 decided to stay together after attending a mandatory marriage counselling programme.

And a study found that 80 per cent of people who attended the programme said they benefited from it and were more aware of their personal traits or behavioural traits that impacted their marriage.

These are among positive trends in the overall dissolution rates for Muslim marriages, which have been on the decline over the years, said Minister-in-charge for Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli on Feb 20.

A total of 1,200 Muslim couples divorced in 2023, down from 1,505 in 2022 and 1,767 in 2021.

These are significant developments, as keeping families intact will shield children from the long-term destabilising effect that divorce can have on them, Mr Masagos said.

He was speaking at an event organised by the Syariah Court of Singapore (SYC) to discuss best practices from the Marriage Counselling Programme (MCP).

The Syariah Court has been providing marriage counselling services since 1958, and the MCP was formalised in 2004 as an administrative pre-court programme.

In 2018, it became mandatory to attend the counselling programme for Muslims who wish to file for divorce. This has made a difference in saving marriages, Mr Masagos said.

From 2004 to 2024, 58,000 couples went through the MCP. Out of these, more than 15,300 referrals were for those contemplating divorce between 2019 and 2023.

Mr Masagos emphasised the vital role that the marriage counselling programme has played in nurturing resilient families.

Counselling is part of the Syariah Court’s divorce process, which include mediation and social support programmes.

“Collectively, these efforts serve to save marriages, settle divorces amicably, and deliver just outcomes,” Mr Masagos said.

“Ultimately, strong families are the foundation of what it means for us to be a community of success – one that can thrive in and contribute to our multi-racial and religious society in Singapore, and one that can continue to serve as an inspiration to others.”

The study on the programme, commissioned by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and the Syariah Court, also found that almost 70 per cent of those who attended counselling said they gained clarity on whether they should reconcile with their spouses.

If reconciliation is not possible, counsellors from the programme will support the couples to work through their divorce amicably.

Divorcing couples with minor children are also advised to consider their children’s needs and learn co-parenting skills to minimise the negative impact of divorce on the young ones.

According to a presentation at the Syariah Court event, one man who attended the MCP in the midst of divorce said that having someone to guide him and his wife was useful.

“I felt like things were going nowhere if we didn’t have a third party to assist us. In a conversation with my spouse, you throw bombs, I throw bombs and it’s just like that. And worse, in front of the kids,” said the man, who was among more than 300 respondents in the study.

“So when we sat for the counselling, I came to realise that someone’s help can go a long way.”

Source:straitstimes.com

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Ready for ‘Madinah Ramadan’? Kelantan to welcome 100,000 visitors for fasting month fest in March

19 Feb 2025

KOTA BARU, Feb 19 — The Kelantan government is expecting nearly 100,000 people to flock to Madinah Ramadan at the Dataran Warisan Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium, which will be operational throughout the upcoming Ramadan in March.

State Local Government, Housing, Health and Environment Committee chairman Hilmi Abdullah said that the activities will include breaking fast and special Tarawih prayers led by imams from Egypt, namely Sheikh Mohammed Sobhy Gomaa Elsheikh and Sheikh Ayman Adel Mostafa Abdelhafeez Mohamed, involving an allocation of RM1.8 million.

“This year, the Madinah Ramadan will be themed ‘Two Decades of Kota Bharu as an Islamic City’, with a concept inspired by a museum showcasing the history of the state to visitors. The area can accommodate 1,500 people at a time.

“Currently, the preparations for Madinah Ramadan are 70 per cent complete, including the readiness of the site, tent installation and more,” he said during a visit to the Madinah Ramadan site today.

When asked about possible rubbish overflows during Ramadan, Hilmi said that the state’s waste management unit will be working overtime to ensure cleanliness in the area.

“We hope that bazaar traders will always maintain cleanliness around their stalls and avoid reheating food to prevent any untoward incidents,” he added. — Bernama

Source:malaymail.com

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Foreign minister: Malaysia plans special Asean-US summit to reinforce neutrality

20 Feb 2025

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 20 — Malaysia is making efforts to hold a Special ASEAN-United States (US) Summit either in Malaysia or the US, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

He said this has been agreed upon at the ASEAN Foreign MInisters’ level to ensure ASEAN is not seen as leaning towards any particular country.

“We are trying to be balanced so that we don’t lean towards anyone because we already have the ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)-China Summit... so ASEAN will continue to drive the direction as an integrated ASEAN and continue to remain neutral and not take sides with anyone.

“At the special summit, we will present our wish list and listen to theirs because dealing with people like this (US President Donald Trump), they will want to listen to what we have,” he said in his winding-up debate on the motion of thanks for the royal address on behalf of his ministry at the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.

Mohamad said Malaysia must not only be careful in managing its foreign policy and bilateral relations but also be vigilant in managing trade relations so that the country’s economy is not affected.

As such, he said Malaysia cannot ignore the good relations it has with the US, which is the country’s largest investor cumulatively.

“This is being done by the Foreign Ministry to navigate in an orderly manner because the Malaysia-US trade volume is RM324 billion for 2024, which is a very large trade volume.

“In terms of who benefits from the RM324 billion, Malaysia exports RM198 billion to the US and we import RM126 billion, so there is a RM70 billion trade surplus in our favour,” he said.

However, Mohamad said that the country’s foreign policy is essentially principled, where Malaysia will not support but condemn countries that practice apartheid policies, engage in genocide and commit crimes against humanity.

The Dewan Rakyat sitting continues today. — Bernama

Source:malaymail.com

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Mideast

 

Israel says 3 Palestinian militants killed in West Bank

February 20, 2025

JERUSALEM: The Israeli military said it killed three “wanted terrorists” in the occupied West Bank Wednesday, and a Palestinian official reported that Israeli forces were holding the bodies of three people.

Soldiers “eliminated three wanted terrorists in the area of Al Faraa, who sold weapons for terror purposes,” the military said in a statement.

“Two additional wanted individuals were apprehended.”

A Palestinian official confirmed that three people had been killed by Israeli forces.

“Three people were assassinated, and their bodies are being held” by the Israeli forces, Tubas governor Ahmad Al-Asaad told AFP.

Violence in the West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967, has escalated since the October 2023 outbreak of war in the Gaza Strip.

At least 897 Palestinians including militants have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers in the West Bank since the Gaza war began, according to an AFP tally based on figures provided by the Palestinian health ministry in Ramallah.

At least 32 Israelis, including some soldiers, have been killed in Palestinian attacks or confrontations during Israeli operations in the West Bank over the same period, according to official Israeli figures.

Source:arabnews.com

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Palestinian Islamic Jihad discusses future with Iran’s security chief

February 19, 2025

During Wednesday’s meeting at the Secretariat of the Supreme National Security Council, al-Nakhala and Ahmadian discussed a range of critical issues, including regional security and the ongoing situation in Gaza. Nasser Abu Sharif, another key representative of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement, was also present at the discussions.

On Tuesday, al-Nakhala and his delegation had a significant meeting with the Leader of Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, where they received a warm reception.

During the meeting, Ayatollah Khamenei congratulated al-Nakhala and the resistance forces for their success in Gaza, praising the significant victory as a historic milestone in the ongoing resistance against occupation. The Leader highlighted that this victory had raised the bar for future Resistance efforts and would serve as a symbol of hope for other struggles in the region.

Al-Nakhala, in turn, briefed the Iranian leadership on the latest developments in Gaza and the West Bank, providing an update on the ongoing negotiations and recent agreements. He reaffirmed the commitment of his movement to the Resistance cause, stating: "We will never forget the path of Resistance, and as soldiers of the resistance, we will continue this path with resolve."

Source:tehrantimes.com

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Antiquities authority condemns burning of historic mosque in Taiz

19 Feb 2025

The General Authority for Antiquities and Museums on Wednesday strongly condemned the burning of the historic "Al-Arif Billah" Mosque in Jabal Habashi district in Taiz province.

The Authority accused elements of the Islah Party of perpetrating the act of arson, which destroyed the 600-year-old mosque located in al-Ghadf village.

The Authority denounced the burning of the mosque, a significant cultural and religious landmark, as a criminal act that contradicts religious and moral values. They emphasized the need to confront such attacks on Yemeni heritage.

The Authority called upon local communities and security authorities to apprehend those responsible and bring them to justice. They also urged international efforts to combat terrorism and protect cultural and religious heritage.

Source:saba.ye

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Yemeni minister calls for arrest of Houthi officials attending Hezbollah chief Nasrallah’s funeral

February 20, 2025

CAIRO: Yemeni Information Minister Moammar Al-Eryani called on Wednesday for the arrest of a group of leaders from Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis who he said will attend Lebanese Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah’s funeral in Beirut.

Nasrallah, who had served as Hezbollah’s secretary general for more than 30 years, was killed on September 27 as Israel ramped up its attacks on southern Lebanon. His funeral is scheduled for February 23.

Eryani demanded that the Lebanese government arrest the Houthi leaders and hand them over to the rival internationally recognized government in a post on X.

He did not name the Houthi officials.

Neither the Lebanese government nor Houthi leaders was immediately available for comment.

The Houthis did not officially announce a delegation was attending the funeral, but the Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV reported a delegation from Yemen would participate. “We affirm that the movement of these terrorist leaders... in this timing is not a mere participation in the funeral, which is being used as a cover, to gather all the leaders of the Iranian axis and assess the situation after the blows they received,” he added.

The Yemeni minister was referring to the recent Israeli attacks against Iran-backed groups in the region including Hezbollah and the Houthis.

Both groups launched parallel attacks against Israel during its war in Gaza to show support for Palestinians.

The Houthis, who control northern Yemen, also carried out more than 100 attacks on ships off the shores of Yemen since November 2023, disrupting global shipping and causing route changes and losses.

The Palestinian militant group Hamas’s attack on Israel in October 2023 killed about 1,200 people in southern Israel, according to Israeli tallies.

Israel’s retaliatory offensive on Gaza has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, according to Palestinian health officials, laid waste to much of the enclave, and displaced hundreds of thousands.

Source:arabnews.com

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Israel hostage forum says news of Bibas family deaths ‘heart-shattering’

February 19, 2025

JERUSALEM: An Israeli group campaigning for the release of hostages held in Gaza said it had received the “heart-shattering” news of the deaths of three members of the Bibas family whose bodies Hamas said it would hand over on Thursday.

“We received the heart-shattering news that Shiri Bibas, her children Ariel and Kfir, and Oded Lifshitz are no longer with us,” the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a statement Wednesday, also naming the fourth hostage declared dead.

“This news cuts like a knife through our hearts, the families’ hearts and the hearts of people all over the world.”

On Tuesday, Hamas said it would hand over the bodies of four hostages, including the three Bibas family members, as part of the ongoing first phase of a ceasefire deal in Gaza.

While their deaths are largely accepted as fact abroad after Hamas said they were killed in an Israeli air strike early in the war, Israel has never confirmed the claim.

Yarden Bibas, the boys’ father and Shiri’s husband, was abducted separately on October 7, 2023 and was released from Gaza in a previous hostage-prisoner exchange on February 1.

Israeli authorities have confirmed that the remains of four hostages are due to be returned Thursday, though they have not officially identified them.

Source:arabnews.com

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How Beirut’s international airport became the latest flashpoint in Israel-Iran tensions

ANAN TELLO

February 19, 2025

LONDON: Just weeks after Lebanon formed its first government in more than two years, offering the crisis-wracked country a glimmer of hope, a decision to block commercial flights between Beirut and Tehran threatens renewed instability.

On Feb. 13, Lebanon blocked an Iranian plane from landing at Rafic Hariri International Airport after Israel accused Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of using civilian commercial flights to smuggle funding to Hezbollah.

Tehran quickly retaliated by blocking Lebanese flights.

The timing of the spat makes it especially noxious. Lebanon is expected to receive tens of thousands of visitors on Sunday for the funeral of Hezbollah’s late chief, Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Sept. 27.

Lebanon’s ban on Iranian flights sparked protests among Hezbollah supporters, who blocked the road to the airport, clashed with the Lebanese army, and even attacked a convoy carrying UN peacekeepers, torching a vehicle and injuring two.

Makram Rabah, an assistant professor at the American University of Beirut, believes the new Lebanese government’s decision to block Iranian flights goes beyond efforts to combat the smuggling of illicit funds.

“I genuinely believe that this is not only a matter of smuggling money, which the Iranian Revolutionary Guard is trying to do — there are also weapons involved,” he told Arab News.

“The Lebanese authorities have been urged by the international community, particularly the US, to take a firm stand on this.”

Iranian flights landing in Beirut were already subject to strict inspections, which have also been extended to flights arriving from Iraq to help prevent illicit funds from reaching Hezbollah via Iran’s neighbor, the Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper reported.

Earlier this month, Iraqi Airways canceled a scheduled flight from Baghdad, with Beirut airport sources citing either a protest against the heightened security measures or logistical issues.

The decision came after an Iranian carrier underwent rigorous security checks at Beirut airport last month over suspicions it was transporting funds destined for Hezbollah.

The measures “are necessary given the recent war in Lebanon and Lebanon’s commitment to security protocols agreed upon with the US,” which helped broker the Nov. 27 ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, an airport security source told Asharq Al-Awsat.

These are “preventative measures” designed to stop Lebanon’s only international airport from becoming a potential target of Israeli attacks, the source added.

Measures such as these might also be a reflection of the new political realities in Lebanon since Hezbollah’s drubbing by Israel in their year-long conflict, which saw the militia’s leadership gutted and its once formidable arsenal greatly depleted.

Yeghia Tashjian, regional and international affairs cluster coordinator at the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs at the American University of Beirut, believes Lebanon has “entered a new era” since the ceasefire.

“Unfortunately, few people are aware of the consequences and the steps that would have come after the signing of the Nov. 27 ceasefire agreement,” Tashjian told Arab News.

“Lebanon has entered a new era where the government is under immense pressure from the US and Israel. There is a feeling that the reconstruction and the Western aid will be conditioned with reforms and the full implementation of Resolution 1701.”

The US-brokered ceasefire demanded the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which was adopted to end the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah. It called for Hezbollah to move north of the Litani River and for the Lebanese army and UN peacekeepers to deploy in the south.

The Nov. 27 deal also required Israeli troops to withdraw from Lebanon within 60 days. However, many remain in border towns. Moreover, the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project recorded 330 airstrikes and shelling incidents by Israel between Nov. 27 and Jan. 10.

Resolution 1701 had maintained relative peace in the region until the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel triggered the war in Gaza. In support of its Hamas allies, Hezbollah began firing rockets into northern Israel, igniting cross-border clashes that soon escalated.

Over the course of the conflict, Israel told Iranian and Iraqi airlines not to land in Beirut, as they were suspected of transporting funds and weapons to Hezbollah. These airlines initially compiled but resumed flights after the Nov. 27 ceasefire.

However, following a warning last week from the US that Israel might shoot down Iranian commercial carriers entering Lebanese airspace, Beirut banned two Mahan Air flights, Lebanese security officials told the AFP news agency.

Tehran condemned the Israeli threats as a “violation of international law” and on Feb. 14 called on the International Civil Aviation Organization to “stop Israel’s dangerous behavior against the safety and security of civil aviation.”

Despite calls from Hezbollah and Iran to reverse the ban, Lebanese authorities on Monday took the measures a step further, indefinitely extending the suspension of flights to and from Iran, which was originally set to be lifted on Feb. 18, citing Israeli threats to bomb Beirut airport.

Tashjian of the Issam Fares Institute believes the ban should be viewed in the broader context of the effort to dismantle Hezbollah and other non-state armed groups in Lebanon.

“The implementation of 1701 does not only address the area south of the Litani River as many think,” he said. “Reading the new agreement carefully, especially the first paragraph, it is clear that any kind of unauthorized force has to be dismantled.

“It is within this context that pressure on Hezbollah is growing. In the coming weeks, we may see additional pressure mainly on micro-finance enterprises affiliated with Hezbollah.”

Lebanese academic and analyst Rabah says the new government in Beirut “needs to clean up its act and be more aggressive in defending its sovereignty.

“The airport issue and its entanglement in the regional power struggle is just one phase,” he said, adding that “there will be other ways to challenge Hezbollah, and Hezbollah will definitely hit back by challenging the state.

“This is a matter of Hezbollah as well as (Parliament Speaker) Nabih Berri and Haraket Amal (the Amal Movement) recognizing that their weapons are no longer an option — and this is basically one of the most difficult challenges.”

However, this shift is unlikely to happen immediately, says Firas Modad, a Middle East analyst and founder of Modad Geopolitics.

“Hezbollah and its partners are seeking to show that they still retain significant domestic power and are acting to prevent any talk of the group disarming,” Modad told Arab News.

“They have used the Beirut airport, an international and very serious pressure point, to do so. Their excuse is that Lebanon has banned Iranian flights due to Israeli threats.

“However, it is worth noting that flights were banned even when Hezbollah itself controlled Lebanon’s Public Works and Transport Ministry.”

He added: “Iran and Hezbollah seem to have decided to pressure the new Lebanese authorities early on to ensure that the Shiites are not politically excluded.

“This is odd since the Shiite parties (Hezbollah and Amal) both got to choose ministers in the same way as all the other parties (were) represented in the new cabinet.”

While Lebanon’s new cabinet may appear to have sidelined Hezbollah, the group and its ally Amal, led by Berri, were allowed to name four of the 24 ministers, including Finance Minister Yassin Jaber — one of the government’s most coveted positions.

This came after Washington’s Deputy Middle East Envoy Morgan Ortagus said on Feb. 7, after meeting with President Joseph Aoun, that the US rejected the idea of Hezbollah participating in Lebanon’s government.

Modad believes “it is very likely that Lebanon will remain under severe international pressure and Israeli threats to stop Hezbollah from refinancing, funding reconstruction, and rearming.

“Hezbollah does not have the ability to confront Israel or the West in order to prevent this,” he added. “It is therefore targeting the weakest link, which is its domestic partners and rivals in Lebanon.”

Describing the tactic as “extremely reckless,” Modad said: “Hezbollah knows that it is risking a three-front war, against its domestic rivals, Israel, and Syrian jihadi militias.”

He added: “The rhetoric Hezbollah uses to justify its actions is that it is the state’s responsibility to both rebuild Lebanon and to confront Israel.

“Hezbollah knows full well that the Lebanese state has no such capability — neither to fund reconstruction nor to challenge Israel militarily. And if Israel attacks the airport, this could restart the war and lead to even greater damage.

“Simply, Hezbollah is risking an escalation that it cannot afford. It is wounded and therefore keen to show that it remains strong. This may bring about uncalculated conflicts that severely damage Lebanon — and Hezbollah.”

Echoing Modad’s view, Tashjian of the Issam Fares Institute said Lebanon is in no position to resist US demands.

“Lebanon’s resources, especially after the suicidal war, are limited,” he said. “Beirut therefore cannot resist any US pressure, especially given the regional changes and Iran’s reluctance to support its non-state allies.”

Lebanon, still suffering from a debilitating financial crisis that has gripped the country since 2019, was already crippled by years of economic decline, political paralysis, and other crises before Hezbollah’s war with Israel.

Moving forward, Tashjian believes “Lebanon needs proactive diplomacy.” This includes implementing Resolution 1701 and engaging with the US, while also working “with the Shiite leadership to ensure these policies do not isolate the community.”

Additionally, he suggests providing alternative solutions to address flight disruptions, such as engaging with Iran to operate flights by Lebanon’s national carrier — Middle East Airlines — or inspecting Iranian flights upon arrival in Beirut.

“A balanced foreign policy is needed to prevent any social and political explosion in Lebanon,” he said.

“Israeli military provocations and ceasefire violations continue, while Hezbollah struggles to grasp the postwar situation and convince its public that the country has entered a new era — one unlike the post-2006 war period.”

Source:arabnews.com

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Iran lawmakers move to sack minister as rial plunges

February 19, 2025

TEHRAN: Iran’s parliament on Wednesday received a motion from lawmakers seeking to dismiss Economy Minister Abdolnaser Hemmati amid a sharp decline in the national currency, the rial.

Under Iranian law, Hemmati must appear before the legislature within 10 days to defend his record in a session that could result in his removal.

Ahmad Naderi, a Tehran MP and member of the parliament’s presiding board, said 91 lawmakers had signed the motion.

The move follows closed-door talks between President Masoud Pezeshkian and Hemmati with MPs over the plunging rial, which has lost nearly half its value since Pezeshkian took office in July.

On the black market, the rial is now trading at more than 900,000 to the US dollar, compared with less than 600,000 in mid-2024.

The slide has accelerated since the fall of Syrian president Bashar Assad, a longtime Iranian ally, on Dec. 8.

Decades of US-led sanctions have battered Iran’s economy, with inflation worsening since Washington pulled out of a landmark 2015 nuclear deal in 2018.

US President Donald Trump, who returned to the White House in January, has revived his policy of “maximum pressure” on Iran, further tightening restrictions on the Islamic republic.

Pezeshkian has vowed to seek a return to the nuclear accord and the lifting of sanctions, but diplomatic efforts have so far to make any headway.

Source:arabnews.com

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Israel says it has received names of deceased hostages to be released from Gaza

February 19, 2025

JERUSALEM: Israel has received the list of the deceased hostages who will be released from Gaza on Thursday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said on Wednesday, without naming them, though their families have been informed.

In a separate video statement, Netanyahu said: “Tomorrow will be a very difficult day for the state of Israel. An upsetting day, a day of grief. We bring home four of our beloved hostages, deceased. We embrace the families, and the heart of an entire nation is torn. My heart is torn.”

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Netanyahu appoints adviser with Trump ties to lead ceasefire talks

February 19, 2025

JERUSALEM: An Israeli official said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has appointed a close confidant to lead negotiations for the second stage of the ceasefire with Hamas.

The US-born Ron Dermer is a Cabinet minister who’s widely seen as Netanyahu’s closest adviser. He previously served as Israel’s ambassador to the US and is a former Republican activist with strong ties to the Trump White House.

Israel and Hamas have yet to negotiate the second and more difficult phase of the ceasefire, and the first ends in early March. Previous talks have been led by the heads of the Mossad and Shin Bet security agencies.

Palestinians and Arab countries have universally rejected US President Donald Trump’s proposal to remove the Palestinian population from Gaza and take over the territory.

Since the war in Gaza was sparked by Hamas’ attack on Oct. 7, 2023, more than 50,000 people have died in Gaza and Lebanon and nearly 70 percent of the buildings in Gaza have been devastated, according to health ministries in Gaza and Lebanon. Around 1,200 people were killed in Israel during the Oct. 7 attack.

Source:arabnews.com

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Thousands of Palestinian families flee West Bank homes as Israel confronts militants

February 19, 2025

FAR’A REFUGEE CAMP, West Bank: By car and on foot, through muddy olive groves and snipers’ sight lines, tens of thousands of Palestinians in recent weeks have fled Israeli military operations across the northern West Bank — the largest displacement in the occupied territory since the 1967 Mideast war.

After announcing a widespread crackdown against West Bank militants on Jan. 21 — just two days after its ceasefire deal with Hamas in Gaza — Israeli forces descended on the restive city of Jenin, as they have dozens of times since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel.

But unlike past operations, Israeli forces then pushed deeper and more forcefully into several other nearby towns, including Tulkarem, Far’a and Nur Shams, scattering families and stirring bitter memories of the 1948 war over Israel’s creation.

During that war, 700,000 Palestinians fled or were forced from their homes in what is now Israel. That Nakba, or “catastrophe,” as Palestinians call it, gave rise to the crowded West Bank towns now under assault and still known as refugee camps.

“This is our nakba,” said Abed Sabagh, 53, who bundled his seven children into the car on Feb. 9 as sound bombs blared in Nur Shams camp, where he was born to parents who fled the 1948 war.

Tactics from Gaza

Humanitarian officials say they haven’t seen such displacement in the West Bank since the 1967 Mideast war, when Israel captured the territory west of the Jordan River, along with east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, displacing another 300,000 Palestinians.

“This is unprecedented. When you add to this the destruction of infrastructure, we’re reaching a point where the camps are becoming uninhabitable,” said Roland Friedrich, director of West Bank affairs for the UN Palestinian refugee agency. More than 40,100 Palestinians have fled their homes in the ongoing military operation, according to the agency.

Experts say that Israel’s tactics in the West Bank are becoming almost indistinguishable from those deployed in Gaza. Already, President Donald Trump’s plan for the mass transfer of Palestinians out of Gaza has emboldened Israel’s far-right to renew calls for annexation of the West Bank.

“The idea of ‘cleansing’ the land of Palestinians is more popular today than ever before,” said Yagil Levy, head of the Institute for the Study of Civil-Military Relations at Britain’s Open University.

The Israeli army denies issuing evacuation orders in the West Bank. It said troops secure passages for those wanting to leave on their own accord.

Seven minutes to leave home

Over a dozen displaced Palestinians interviewed in the last week said they did not flee their homes out of fear, but on the orders of Israeli security forces. Associated Press journalists in the Nur Shams camp also heard Israeli soldiers shouting through mosque megaphones, ordering people to leave.

Some displaced families said soldiers were polite, knocking on doors and assuring them they could return when the army left. Others said they were ruthless, ransacking rooms, waving rifles and hustling residents out of their homes despite pleas for more time.

“I was sobbing, asking them, ‘Why do you want me to leave my house?’ My baby is upstairs, just let me get my baby please,’” Ayat Abdullah, 30, recalled from a shelter for displaced people in the village of Kafr Al-Labd. “They gave us seven minutes. I brought my children, thank God. Nothing else.”

Told to make their own way, Abdullah trudged 10 kilometers (six miles) on a path lighted only by the glow from her phone as rain turned the ground to mud. She said she clutched her children tight, braving possible snipers that had killed a 23-year-old pregnant woman just hours earlier on Feb. 9.

Her 5-year-old son, Nidal, interrupted her story, pursing his lips together to make a loud buzzing sound.

“You’re right, my love,” she replied. “That’s the sound the drones made when we left home.”

Hospitality, for now

In the nearby town of Anabta, volunteers moved in and out of mosques and government buildings that have become makeshift shelters — delivering donated blankets, serving bitter coffee, distributing boiled eggs for breakfast and whipping up vats of rice and chicken for dinner.

Residents have opened their homes to families fleeing Nur Shams and Tulkarem.

“This is our duty in the current security situation,” said Thabet A’mar, the mayor of Anabta.

But he stressed that the town’s welcoming hand should not be mistaken for anything more.

“We insist that their displacement is temporary,” he said.

Staying put

When the invasion started on Feb. 2, Israeli bulldozers ruptured underground pipes. Taps ran dry. Sewage gushed. Internet service was shut off. Schools closed. Food supplies dwindled. Explosions echoed.

Ahmad Sobuh could understand how his neighbors chose to flee the Far’a refugee camp during Israel’s 10-day incursion. But he scavenged rainwater to drink and hunkered down in his home, swearing to himself, his family and the Israeli soldiers knocking at his door that he would stay.

The soldiers advised against that, informing Sobuh’s family on Feb. 11 that, because a room had raised suspicion for containing security cameras and an object resembling a weapon, they would blow up the second floor.

The surveillance cameras, which Israeli soldiers argued could be exploited by Palestinian militants, were not unusual in the volatile neighborhood, Sobuh said, as families can observe street battles and Israeli army operations from inside.

But the second claim sent him clambering upstairs, where he found his nephew’s water pipe, shaped like a rifle.

Hours later, the explosion left his nephew’s room naked to the wind and shattered most others. It was too dangerous to stay.

“They are doing everything they can to push us out,” he said of Israel’s military, which, according to the UN agency for refugees, has demolished hundreds of homes across the four camps this year.

The Israeli army has described its ongoing campaign as a crucial counterterrorism effort to prevent attacks like Oct. 7, and said steps were taken to mitigate the impact on civilians.

A chilling return

The first thing Doha Abu Dgheish noticed about her family’s five-story home 10 days after Israeli troops forced them to leave, she said, was the smell.

Venturing inside as Israeli troops withdrew from Far’a camp, she found rotten food and toilets piled with excrement. Pet parakeets had vanished from their cages. Pages of the Qur’an had been defaced with graphic drawings. Israeli forces had apparently used explosives to blow every door off its hinges, even though none had been locked.

Rama, her 11-year-old daughter with Down syndrome, screamed upon finding her doll’s skirt torn and its face covered with more graphic drawings.

AP journalists visited the Abu Dgheish home on Feb. 12, hours after their return.

Nearly two dozen Palestinians interviewed across the four West Bank refugee camps this month described army units taking over civilian homes to use as a dormitories, storerooms or lookout points. The Abu Dgheish family accused Israeli soldiers of vandalizing their home, as did multiple families in Far’a.

The Israeli army blamed militants for embedding themselves in civilian infrastructure. Soldiers may be “required to operate from civilian homes for varying periods,” it said, adding that the destruction of civilian property was a violation of the military’s rules and does not conform to its values.

It said “any exceptional incidents that raise concerns regarding a deviation from these orders” are “thoroughly addressed,” without elaborating.

For Abu Dgheish, the mess was emblematic of the emotional whiplash of return. No one knows when they’ll have to flee again.

“It’s like they want us to feel that we’re never safe,” she said. ”That we have no control.”

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Lebanese President Joseph Aoun pledges neutrality, calls for Arab unity

NAJIA HOUSSARI

February 19, 2025

BEIRUT: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Wednesday said that Lebanon would not become a launchpad for attacks against other countries, particularly Arab states.

During his address to a delegation of Arab diplomats, he said: “Regional developments do not only impact the Palestinian people but extend to all Arab countries, including Lebanon.” He emphasized that current challenges require a unified Arab response.

Invoking historical ties, Aoun referenced Saudi Arabia’s founder Abdulaziz bin Abdul Rahman’s description of Lebanon as “the Arabs’ balcony.”

Sources at the presidential palace indicate that Aoun’s first foreign visit as president will most likely be to Saudi Arabia, pending the new government’s confirmation by parliament next week.

Addressing recent domestic tensions, Aoun said that recent events have affected all Lebanese citizens and emphasized state supremacy in protecting all religious communities. “The state protects all sects, not vice versa,” he said.

Regarding Hezbollah’s protests on the airport road and the road blockages in protest against the banning of an Iranian plane from landing at Beirut International Airport last week against the backdrop of Israeli threats, Aoun said:  “We support the peaceful exercise of freedom of expression. However, the events we witnessed a few days ago, including road blockages and attacks on the army and citizens, are unacceptable and must not be repeated.

“The events in the south had a significant negative impact on all of Lebanon. We reject the claims of a siege on Lebanon’s Shiite community, as these allegations are baseless. We are an integral part of one body and one environment. We have all paid the price of the war and now face challenges together. Ensuring trust among all Lebanese citizens is the foundation of our work,” Aoun added.

The president also previously met with a delegation from the Press Club, where he expressed his refusal of any party attempting to “exploit foreign influence for political gain.”

The day after the incomplete Israeli withdrawal from the south, there were reports of incidents that led to casualties. In one, an Israeli warplane struck a car in the border town of Aita al-Shaab, killing Youssef Mohammed Srour, the son of the town’s mayor, and seriously injuring his wife.

Additionally, Israeli forces in positions overlooking the area opened fire on a man on the banks of the Wazzani river. According to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, the man and another person were injured in the attack.

The influx of residents into the villages from which Israeli forces have withdrawn continued, allowing them to inspect their properties under the watchful gaze of the Israeli troops still stationed on five commanding hills.

Al-Manar TV channel, which is affiliated with Hezbollah, reported “the discovery of camouflaged Israeli espionage devices that were planted by the Israeli army in the neighborhoods of border towns prior to their withdrawal.”

Returnees to their towns described the devastation as resembling “the scene in the Gaza Strip.”

As the search for the bodies of missing people continued in the rubble of homes and structures, estimated to number in the dozens, those who returned displayed photographs of loved ones who have yet to be found.

Um Mohammed, from the town of Mays al-Jabal, which lost 100 of its young men, said: “There is not a single stone left upon another in the town. Every neighborhood has been leveled to the ground, and the landmarks of the town have changed to the point where we can no longer recognize our homes or find our way back to them. It is impossible to remain in the town; I will return to the apartment I rented in Tyre. I had thought that living there would be temporary, but it seems that my stay will be much longer than anticipated.”

Other families preferred to remain close to their homes despite the damage.

One woman, while playing with her granddaughter, said: “Daddy has gone to heaven,” in response to persistent inquiries from the child, Tima, about her father and whether it was possible to “contact heaven so he could come and embrace her for a moment.”

“In every home there is tragedy, sadness and frustration,” said Fatima, who is from Shaqra and lives in the southern suburbs of Beirut. “Those who talk about victory and liberation try to convince themselves that the price they paid was worth the sacrifice. But all the people are hurt and frustrated. They got the land back but they lost their souls.”

Source:arabnews.com

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Arab World

 

Artificial intelligence should be used ‘with intelligence,’ says Arab News deputy editor-in-chief

LAMA ALHAMAWI

February 19, 2025

RIYADH: Artificial intelligence should be applied “intelligently,” Arab News Deputy Editor-in-Chief Noor Nugali told the Saudi Media Forum in Riyadh on Wednesday.

“In this era, AI must be used wisely — after all, artificial intelligence should be applied intelligently,” he said.

“We’re currently living in the age of the AI revolution, where artificial intelligence is being used across all fields, institutions, and even education.”

In a session tackling how new technologies and AI were shaping the news industry, Nugali underlined the importance of utilizing AI in a way that supported and encouraged human learning “rather than relying on it for simple copy-pasting.”

“This also applies to media,” she said. “Many people have concerns about AI tools like ChatGPT or other programs being used to write articles.”

Nugali stressed that while AI could help by providing background information or research, “it will never replace a human journalist in writing a fully developed article backed by evidence and facts.”

In education, Nugali said it was unfortunate that some children were using AI to write essays or research papers and emphasized it should never be used for actual intelligence.

Speaking alongside Nugali were Rashid Al-Hamer, editor of Bahrain’s leading newspaper Al-Ayam, and Hatem Abu Nassif, chairman of the Radio & Television Authority.

Afterwards, Essam Bukhary, CEO of Manga Productions, spoke on a panel tacking manga and Saudi-led content creation.

He said Saudis were not here to simply watch: “We are here to participate, compete, and excel with our content and culture.”

He added that some 2.88 billion people, around 36 percent of the world’s population, watched anime.

“For years, people assumed that Saudi Arabia was merely a consumer (of anime content). But that has changed,” he said.

“We no longer see manga and anime as something imported from Japan — we see them as an art form through which we create content, share our culture and tell our own stories to the world.”

Bukhary pointed out that Saudi anime series “Future’s Folktales” was broadcast in the Arab world, Japan, North America, Europe and India on eight platforms across five continents, garnering over 85 million views in just three months. An associated mobile game reached half a million downloads in three languages.

He said Saudi Arabia was taking the lead in anime content creation by producing animations, developing video games, and creating comics that shared Saudi stories with the world.

Also speaking on the panel were Yves Blehaut, business development manager for the Middle East and North Africa region at Media-Participations, and Kazuko Ishikawa, president of the Japanese production association that produced the “Sally” series.

The fourth Saudi Media Forum has the theme “Media in an Evolving World” and brings together 200 speakers including media professionals, academics, experts and specialists from local and international arenas.

Taking place from Feb. 19-21 it will feature 80 sessions comprising 40 panel discussions and 40 knowledge exchange sessions, serving as an international platform for forecasting and developing the future of media and exploring the latest technologies.

Source:arabnews.com

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Geological wonders of Riyadh’s King Khalid Royal Reserve

February 20, 2025

RIYADH: The King Khalid Royal Reserve is one of the nation’s most captivating areas with rock formations sculpted over thousands of years by natural erosion and fluctuating climatic conditions.

Formerly known as the Al-Thumamah Wildlife Park, the royal reserve is less than an hour’s drive from the city center.

Among the main geological features in the reserve are the Al-Urumah mountains, known for their striking natural caves, rock columns, and stone bridges.

Stretching over 700 km, the dramatic landscape provides an ideal destination for photography and adventure enthusiasts, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.

These landscapes hold a geological record that reveals the environmental and climatic changes the region has experienced over time.

In winter, the reserve becomes a perfect destination for ecotourism, the SPA reported.

Source:arabnews.com

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Digital Cooperation Organization signs multiple memorandums of understanding as fourth general assembly ends

February 20, 2025

AMMAN: The Digital Cooperation Organization signed numerous memorandums of understanding during its fourth general assembly in Amman, which concluded on Wednesday.

The memorandums were signed between the DCO and the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Foundation, Hewlett-Packard, the Agency for Economic Cooperation and Development, the Sultanate of Oman and 500 Global.

A statement of intent was also signed between the DCO and the UN Office for South-South Cooperation.

The signings came after a delegation from the DCO visited Jordan’s Prime Minister Jaafar Abdel Fattah Hassan.

Sami Smeirat, the Jordanian minister of digital economy and entrepreneurship, and the chairman of the DCO Council, said that Jordan’s presidency of the organization in 2024 had demonstrated the country’s ability to lead global efforts toward building an inclusive digital economy.

He said: “Throughout this year we have launched ambitious initiatives, strengthened public-private partnerships, and laid solid foundations to empower youth and women in the technology sector.”

Smeirat spoke of the 2025 presidency, which was handed to Kuwait.

He said: “We hand over the presidency to our brothers in the State of Kuwait. We reaffirm Jordan’s commitment to remaining an active partner in achieving the organization’s goals. We look forward to continuing our joint efforts to realize our shared vision: a digital world marked by prosperity and fairness for all.”

Deemah Al-Yahya, the secretary-general of the DCO, said that the general assembly marked four years of progress for the organization.

The secretary-general highlighted DCO’s upcoming ambitions, adding: “While we have achieved much over the past four years, there is still important work ahead to drive digital economic growth for all.”

Wednesday’s event featured panels and discussions with leading experts from across the world.

The DCO was founded in November 2020 and currently has 16 nations as members, including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Pakistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh and Oman. It also has 39 observer and partner organizations.

Source:arabnews.com

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Saudi British Society honours cultural bridge-builders at London gala

February 19, 2025

LONDON: The Saudi British Society honored four cultural bridge-builders at a gala ceremony in London on Tuesday.

The 2025 Rawabi Holding Awards were presented to Dr. Idries Trevathan, Dr. Sarah Al-Saif, Dr. Mohammed Al-Qahtani and Arab News Editor-in-Chief Faisal J. Abbas in recognition of their efforts to promote friendship, understanding and positive relations between the two nations.

“It’s a very special occasion … that has now developed over nearly 30 years and has become an award of national standing,” said Sir Alan Munro, former British ambassador to Saudi Arabia and a founding member of the Saudi British Society.

In his opening remarks, Sir Alan, who is stepping down as vice chairman of the society, reflected on its growth from what he once described as a “society in the sand” to a flourishing platform for cultural and academic exchange. Most recently, the society has expanded its focus to recognize achievements in academia and scientific research, with two of this year’s awards going to individuals for outstanding contributions in these fields.

Established in 2007, the Rawabi Holding Awards, sponsored by Saudi energy and industrial conglomerate Rawabi Holding, celebrate Saudis and Britons who have strengthened cultural ties between the two countries. This year’s awards were presented by Rawabi Holding Chairman Abdulaziz Al-Turki in the presence of Simon Collis, former British ambassador to the Kingdom and current chairman of the Saudi British Society.

Dr. Idries Trevathan, a British-born Islamic art specialist and chief curator at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, or Ithra, in Dhahran, was recognized for his efforts in building collaborations between museums in the UK and Saudi Arabia.

A leading curator in Islamic art across Europe, North Africa, Southeast Asia and the Middle East, Trevathan has worked to foster cultural exchange. His most recent project involved curating a retrospective on British photographer Peter Sanders, showcasing five decades of his work documenting the Muslim world.

“I’ve had the enormous benefit of being exposed to different faiths and cultures. And this exposure has ultimately allowed me a greater insight appreciation of different views and perspectives and cultures,” Trevathan said, describing his work as “building bridges of understanding, tolerance and mutual respect between the Muslim world and the West.”

Al-Saif and Al-Qahtani were recognized for their contribution to science and academia. Al-Saif’s research focuses on eco-friendly, biologically synthesized nanomaterials derived from marine sources to help address the World Health Organization’s call to combat multidrug-resistant bacteria. Al-Qahtani specializes in mechanical and manufacturing engineering, with expertise in additive manufacturing, biomedical devices, bio-manufacturing, tissue engineering and stress analysis optimization.

Arab News Editor-in-Chief Faisal J. Abbas was also honored for his contribution to the media industry and cross-cultural dialogue. Having spent part of his professional career in the UK, Abbas recently published his book, “Anecdotes of an Arab Anglophile,” which he describes as “a tale of two Kingdoms,” reflecting on his experiences and the enduring relationship between Saudi Arabia and Britain.

Source:arabnews.com

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Piece of Kaaba’s Kiswah gifted to Uzbekistan’s Centre of Islamic Civilization

February 19, 2025

RIYADH: A piece of the holy Kaaba’s Kiswa was gifted by the Kingdom to the Center of Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan, Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, currently on a visit to the Central Asian country, handed over the piece of cloth to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the directive of King Salman.

Mirziyoyev commended the Kingdom’s efforts to develop Hajj and Umrah experiences and facilitate the journeys of Uzbek pilgrims to the Kingdom, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said.

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Saudi visitors forecast to spend £940m in UK during 2025

JONATHAN LESSWARE

February 19, 2025

LONDON: Increasing numbers of Saudi visitors are expected to spend an extra £200 million in the UK this year, thanks to improved visa-free travel and more flight routes.

Tourism authority VisitBritain has forecast 320,000 visits from Saudi Arabia in 2025 — a 12 percent increase on the 286,000 visits in 2023.

Saudi Arabia became one of seven Middle Eastern countries to be included in the UK’s electronic travel authorization scheme when the Kingdom was added in February 2024.

Under the scheme, visitors to the UK can purchase a two-year permit allowing multiple journeys to the country. This replaces a more expensive, six-month electronic visa waiver.

The scheme is one of the reasons visitor numbers to the UK from Saudi Arabia and Gulf countries are set to increase again above pre-pandemic levels.

Meanwhile, spending by tourists is growing at an even faster rate, according to the VisitBritain figures compiled with Oxford Economics and published on Tuesday.

Saudi tourists are expected to spend £942 million in 2025 — 34 percent more than in 2023.

“Saudi Arabia is a very important inbound visitor market for the UK, and it is fantastic to see the continued growth forecast,” a VisitBritain spokesperson told Arab News.

“With the growing airline connectivity to the UK through regional gateways alongside the electronic travel authorization scheme, travel to the UK is now easier and more accessible for Saudi nationals.”

For the GCC countries overall, there are expected to be 1.4 million visits to the UK this year, up 8 percent on the 2024 estimate.

GCC visitors are set to spend £3.5 billion on their trips, another substantial increase on previous years.

The expected growth in travel numbers comes as two airlines prepare to launch new routes between the UK and Saudi Arabia next month.

UK airline Virgin Atlantic will run daily flights between Riyadh and Heathrow, while budget carrier Wizz Air will connect Jeddah and Gatwick.

As the UK seeks to boost tourism from the Gulf to help its economy, Saudi Arabia has in recent years opened up to global tourism, welcoming visitors to important historical areas such as AlUla.

VisitBritain and the Saudi Tourism Authority signed an agreement in May setting out areas to develop and expand tourism.

VisitBritain recently rolled out a new campaign in Saudi Arabia called “Starring GREAT Britain” that uses famous locations from films and TV to attract visitors.

Overall, tourism to the UK is forecast to increase this year on 2024 levels with a record 43.4 million visits from all countries, spending £33.7 billion.

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Saudi Arabia to launch iftar program in 61 countries

February 19, 2025

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia will launch an iftar program in 61 countries during the holy month of Ramadan, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, through religious attaches at the Kingdom’s embassies abroad, is implementing the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Program for Iftar (breaking of the fast) this year.

The program aims to provide iftar to more than 1 million people, the SPA reported.

Minister of Islamic Affairs Sheikh Abdullatif Al-Asheikh expressed gratitude to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their continued support of global aid and their efforts to serve Islam and Muslims, especially during Ramadan.

He added that the ministry, in coordination with religious attaches and cultural centers, has disbursed the necessary funds for the Ramadan iftar program.

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Saudi Arabia’s Al-Moqbel appointed WTO General Council president for 2025–2026

February 19, 2025

RIYADH: The General Council of the World Trade Organization unanimously appointed Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Representative to the WTO Saqer bin Abdullah Al-Moqbel as its president for the 2025–2026 term on Wednesday.

His appointment marks a milestone for the region, as he becomes the first Arab and Middle Eastern delegate to hold the position, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The WTO General Council plays a role in overseeing the organization’s operations between its biennial ministerial conferences.

Under Al-Moqbel’s presidency, the council is expected to address a range of critical global trade issues, with preparations for the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference, set to take place in Cameroon in March 2026, high on the agenda.

Other priorities will include advancing essential WTO reforms, particularly concerning its dispute settlement mechanism, and progressing negotiations on the second phase of the Fisheries Subsidy Agreement.

Additionally, discussions will focus on key areas such as agriculture, food security and development concerns, while efforts will also be made to integrate multilateral agreements, including the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement and the E-Commerce Agreement, into the WTO framework, SPA added.

Commenting on his appointment, Al-Moqbel hailed the significance of Saudi Arabia’s leadership within the WTO, stating that it reflected the Kingdom’s growing role in the international economic landscape.

He emphasized that the Kingdom would leverage its global economic influence to strengthen multilateral trade cooperation and drive meaningful reforms within the WTO.

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Europe

 

Men targeted offline more than women for first time amid record anti-Muslim hate

19 Feb 2025

An organisation monitoring anti-Muslim hate in the UK had a record high number of reports last year, with men targeted more than women in 2024 for the first time since it was founded.

A total of 6,313 reports were made to Tell Mama (measuring anti-Muslim attacks), up from 4,406 in 2023 and 2,651 in 2022.

After reports were checked by Tell Mama and verified as being “anti-Muslim” in nature, the figures were 5,837 for last year, compared with 3,767 in 2023 and 2,201 in 2022.

Of last year’s total, 3,680 reports were of offline or in-person hate, up by almost three quarters (72%) since 2022, the organisation said.

Its latest report noted that “for the first time since Tell Mama’s inception, offline cases of anti-Muslim hatred and Islamophobia in 2024 have targeted men more than women”.

Rhetoric

The organisation said there had been a “surge in rhetoric that falsely portrays Muslims as terrorists or terrorist sympathisers” since both the October 7 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel and the 2024 summer unrest in parts of the UK, sparked after the Southport murders.

The report added: “The shift towards Muslim men being targeted more than women reflects the deepening impact of harmful stereotypes that fuel societal divisions and reinforces false notions about Muslim identities.”

Tell Mama said more than 51,000 British Muslims and others have used its services since it was set up in 2012.

In terms of types of hate, abusive behaviour remained the most common form of offline hate, accounting for just over six in 10 (62%) of cases in 2024.

Other forms included assault, which made up 171 cases last year; discrimination which accounted for 183 cases, and vandalism which formed 209 cases.

Threatening behaviour

Threatening behaviour increased more than any other incident, up from 121 cases in 2023 to 518 in 2024.

The most common locations for offline hate last year were public areas such as streets or parks, making up four in 10 of all incidents, while one in 10 were reported as having occurred in workplaces.

There were 2,307 online cases of anti-Muslim hate last year, more than half of which (57%) took place after the Southport murders in July.

X, formerly Twitter, was the main social media platform where anti-Muslim hate was reported to have taken place, with 991 cases verified by Tell Mama.

This was followed by TikTok (317), Facebook (201), Instagram (131), Snapchat (57), WhatsApp (41), and Telegram (10).

Iman Atta, the organisation’s director, said: “We have had the largest volume of cases reported to us in Tell Mama in 2024 and since we started our work in 2012.

“As anti-Muslim hate continues to be felt by a greater number of British Muslims, both at a street and online level, our work and support for victims of anti-Muslim hate is needed now more than ever.

“We are at a nexus point where it is clear that anti-Muslim hate needs a coordinated action by His Majesty’s Government.”

She added that the public must “stand together against hatred and extremism” and urged “those in positions of influence and public authority to consider how their language risks stereotyping communities and how it unduly influences discussions online and offline”.

The Government has been contacted for comment.

Source:nation.cymru

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Giorgia Meloni visits Pope as lab tests indicate his condition improving

February 19, 2025

Laboratory tests performed today indicate that there has been a slight improvement in Pope Francis’s overall condition.

The news follows his being diagnosed yesterday with the onset of pneumonia during his ongoing hospital stay.

“The clinical conditions of the Holy Father are stable. The blood tests, evaluated by medical staff, show a slight betterment, particularly of the inflammatory indices,” said a Vatican statement released 19 February.

It added that after having breakfast earlier that morning, the Pope read some newspapers and dedicated himself to some work activities with “his closest collaborators”, though it did not provide names.

Pope Francis received the Eucharist after lunch, and in the afternoon he had a private, 20-minute meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who visited him at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital.

A statement from Meloni’s office said the Italian prime minister wished the Pope a speedy recovery on behalf of the government and the entire nation.

“I am very happy to have found him alert and responsive,” Meloni said, adding: “We joked as always. He has not lost his proverbial sense of humour.”

Francis was admitted to the Gemelli Hospital on Friday, 14 February, for treatment of bronchitis, after struggling with the condition for nearly two weeks.

On Monday he was diagnosed with a polymicrobial respiratory infection, and on Tuesday a chest-scan revealed that he had begun to develop pneumonia in both lungs, resulting in what doctors described as a “complex” clinical situation requiring a shift in treatment.

It is unclear how long Pope Francis will remain in the hospital; his activities and appointments have been cancelled through this weekend, and it is expected there will be further cancellations next week.

Sources close to the Pope, including papal aides, have said that despite the seriousness of his condition, the Pope is not in immediate danger and is slowing getting better.

Source:thecatholicherald.com

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Zelensky says Trump living in Russian 'disinformation space'

19 Feb 2025

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has responded to criticism of Kyiv by Donald Trump, by saying his US counterpart is "living in a disinformation space" created by Russia.

On Tuesday, President Trump appeared to blame Ukraine for the war and suggested the Ukrainian leader's popularity rating was as low as 4%. Trump was speaking after US-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia that left out Ukraine.

In his first comments after the talks, Russia's Vladimir Putin said he rated the talks in Riyadh "very highly" and that Trump had told him that Ukraine would be part of any future talks process.

Zelensky said it was America's right to discuss bilateral issues, but that the US had helped Putin "to break out of years of isolation".

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who took part in the talks, praised President Trump for accepting Moscow's repeated claim that "one of the root causes" of the war was the Biden administration's "pushy line of dragging Ukraine into Nato".

Trump's Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, arrived in Kyiv on Wednesday on a mission to "sit and listen" to Ukraine's position. Kellogg was not part of the US team that met Russian officials in Riyadh.

Almost three years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, European nations have been scrambling to respond to this week's developments.

French President Emmanuel Macron was holding informal talks on Ukraine on Wednesday with leaders from a number of European states as well as Canada.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Zelensky accused Russia of lying during Tuesday's "notorious meeting" in the Saudi capital, where the US and Russia agreed to start negotiating an end to the war.

"With all due respect to President Donald Trump as a leader... he is living in this disinformation space," he said.

He added that Ukraine had "evidence" that Russia was spreading disinformation about his approval rating, and "these numbers are being discussed between America and Russia".

Zelensky won a five-year term in 2019, and has remained in office because elections have been suspended since martial law was declared after Russia's full-scale invasion.

When asked about the claims made on his popularity, Zelensky said that while he never commented on popularity ratings, one opinion poll put him at 58%.

He said he wanted Trump's Ukraine envoy to "walk Kyiv's streets" and "see everything for himself".

Zelensky also made clear he would not sell his country in return for future security guarantees that gave the US a big stake in Ukraine's mineral resources.

He said the war has so far cost $320bn (£254bn), around $200bn (£159bn) of which had come from the US and EU.

He said the US had alleged that 90% of Ukraine's support had come from them, and while he was grateful for American support, "the truth is somewhere else".

In a later post on X, he wrote: "We must never forget that Russia is ruled by pathological liars - they cannot be trusted and must be pressured."

On Tuesday, Trump spoke to journalists at his Mar-a-Lago residence. "I hear that they're upset about not having a seat," he said.

"Well, they've had a seat for three years and a long time before that. This could have been settled very easily. You should have never started it. You could have made a deal."

European allies have also started weighing in on Trump's comments.

"No-one but Putin started or wanted this war in the heart of Europe," said German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. "We are at an existential waypoint for security and peace in Europe."

French government spokeswoman Sophie Primas, said: "We struggle to understand the American logic", while reiterating her country's support for Ukraine.

On Monday, the leaders of several European member states of Nato gathered in Paris to talk about what could be done to help Ukraine.

One idea proposed was sending peacekeepers to Ukraine, although Sergei Lavrov rejected that as unacceptable.

Trump, on the other hand, called it "great", saying that he was all for it if that was what they wanted to do, but that US troops would not be deployed as the US was "very far away".

Source:bbc.com

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Mystery over upturned campervan in Brittany

19 Feb 2025

Police in western France are investigating how a campervan ended up in an unusual position by the side of a road.

Officers were shocked to find the abandoned vehicle with the bonnet in a ditch and the back against overhead power lines near the city of Saint-Malo on Saturday.

In Facebook post later that day, they said they "sincerely hope [the driver and any passengers] are OK". Ouest-France newspaper quoted eyewitnesses as saying the driver and two other people left the scene after the accident.

On Sunday, the driver reported to police and was unhurt, the report adds. Officers told the BBC that prosecutors had launched an inquiry.

On the day of the accident, the driver of the tow truck that was called in to remove the campervan told the Ici news website: "I've never seen anything like it in my 22-year career."

The BBC has approached Saint-Malo prosecutor's office for comment.

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Russian mafia money-laundering ring broken up in Spain

20 Feb 2025

Fourteen people have been arrested in Spain and Portugal in a series of raids targeting a €1tn (£828bn) criminal, money-laundering network working with gangs across Europe.

Most of the suspects, detained last month, are Russian nationals, according to EU law enforcement agency Europol.

The ring mainly laundered money originating from illegal drug trafficking and charged 2-3% commission per transfer as part of "a genuine multinational money laundering company", according to Spain's National Police.

Nine properties were raided in cities across Spain, as well as the Portuguese capital Lisbon, and more than €1m in cash and cryptocurrencies were seized.

The gang operated in cities across Spain with each office processing as much as €300,000 a day for Albanian, Serbian, Armenian, Chinese, Ukrainian and Colombian mafias based within the EU and elsewhere.

The investigation began in 2023 when police noticed that several known members of the Russian mafia were systematically transferring money belonging to foreign nationals in and out of Spain on a daily basis.

Europol said the scheme used the "Hawala" method which involves customers in one location approaching a broker who then contacts a colleague in another location who transfers the desired amount to the recipient.

This allowed gangs to transfer money across countries without moving it either physically or digitally between bank accounts.

The gang also looked into expanding its business to Cuba with the aim of installing solar panels to provide energy to the Cuban government in exchange for minerals.

During phone-calls with Cuban officials, gang members claimed to have close links to Spanish political leaders.

Each of the raided properties in Madrid, Málaga, Marbella, Torremolinos, Coín, Ayamonte and Lisbon contained a high-security safe and a money-counting machine stored in a sound-proof cabinet used to obscure the recognisable noise of the money counters.

Gang members avoided detection by regularly changing location and vehicles and using encrypted mobile phones.

The phones were linked in such a way that should a member of the group be arrested, the mobile phones of the entire ring would be simultaneously locked down.

Police say the three ringleaders remain in custody and say other arrests are possible.

Source:bbc.com

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Rosenberg: How Putin and Trump shook up the world in a week

19 Feb 2025

When he penned his eyewitness account of the 1917 Russian Revolution, American journalist John Reed famously titled it Ten Days That Shook The World.

But 10 days is too long for Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. They've shaken things up in a week.

It began with the Putin-Trump telephone conversation on 12 February and their presidential pledges to kickstart relations.

It continued with the Munich Security Conference and a schism between Europe and America.

Next stop Saudi Arabia for the Russia-US talks: the first high-level in-person contacts between the two countries since the Kremlin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

It is a week that has upended traditional alliances, left Europe and Ukraine scrambling to respond, raised fears for European security and put Russia where it wants to be: at the top table of global politics, without having made any concessions to get there.

One image dominates Wednesday morning's Russian newspapers: senior Russian and American officials at the negotiating table in Riyadh.

The Kremlin wants the Russian public and the international community to see that Western efforts to isolate Russia over the war in Ukraine have failed.

Russian media are welcoming the prospect of warmer ties with Washington and pouring scorn on European leaders and Kyiv.

"Trump knows he will have to make concessions [to Russia] because he is negotiating with the side that's winning in Ukraine," writes pro-Kremlin tabloid Moskovsky Komsomolets. "He will make concessions. Not at America's expense, but at the expense of Europe and Ukraine.

"For so long Europe had gone around all puffed up, thinking of itself as the civilised world and as a Garden of Eden. It failed to notice it had lost its trousers… now its old comrade across the Atlantic has pointed that out…"

On the streets of Moscow I don't detect that level of gloating.

Instead, people are watching and waiting to see whether Trump will really turn out to be Russia's new best friend and whether he can bring an end to the war in Ukraine.

"Trump is a businessman. He's only interested in making money," Nadezhda tells me. "I don't think things will be any different. There's too much that needs to be done to change the situation."

"Perhaps those talks [in Saudi Arabia] will help," says Giorgi. "It's high time we stopped being enemies."

"Trump is active. He's energetic. But will he do anything?" wonders Irina.

"We dream that these negotiations will bring peace. It's a first step. And maybe this will help our economy. Food and other goods keep going up in price here. That's partly because of the special military operation [the war in Ukraine] and the general international situation."

Putin and Trump have spoken on the phone; their two teams have met in Saudi Arabia; a presidential summit is expected soon.

But a few days ago the newspaper Moskovsky Komsomolets tried to imagine what the two leaders had said to each other during last week's phone call.

They came up with this rendition:

"Trump called Putin.

'Vladimir! You've got a cool country and I've got a cool country. Shall we go and divide up the world?'

'What have I been saying all along? Let's do it!…."

Make-believe? We'll see.

Source:bbc.com

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Georgia's richest man said to be moving funds to avoid US sanctions

20 Feb 2025

Last spring, when tens of thousands of Georgians were protesting against what they saw as a clear sign of Russian influence on the country's politics, Georgia's parliament rushed through amendments to the nation's tax code.

Transparency International (TI) Georgia, the anti-corruption watchdog, wrote at the time that the change – which allows tax-free transfer of assets from offshore accounts to Georgia – may have been introduced to serve the interests of the country's richest person and former prime minister, Bidzina Ivanishvili.

He is the founder and honorary chairman of the country's ruling party, Georgian Dream.

"Now it is clear, those changes were made for him," says senior economics analyst at TI Georgia, Beso Namchavadze.

With an estimated wealth of $4.9bn (£3.9bn), Mr Ivanishvili made his money in 1990s Russia, in computing, metals and banking. Most of his wealth is believed to be tucked away in offshore companies.

Georgia was plunged into political crisis and daily street protests last May when the country's MPs passed the contentious "transparency on foreign influence bill", often dubbed the "foreign agents law".

Under this legislation, media and non-governmental organisations that receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad have to register as "organisations acting in the interest of a foreign power", submit themselves to stringent audits, or face punitive fines. It was widely seen as a move to prevent US and other Western influence on the country.

Protests then continued when the Georgian Dream-led government won disputed parliamentary elections in October. Protests were spurred again at the start of December when it said it would be putting EU accession talks on hold.

Hundreds of peaceful protests were arrested and severely beaten up by the police.

In response to this crackdown, the US government announced sanctions against Mr Ivanishvili at the end of last year.

There is also the possibility of sanctions from the UK. Last month James MacClearly, a Liberal Democrat MP, introduced an Early Day Motion in the UK parliament calling on the government to impose sanctions on Mr Ivanishvili.

The motion expressed "deep concern at the suspension of Georgia's EU accession process and the increasing use of excessive force against peaceful protesters".

TI Georgia estimates that if the UK imposed sanctions on Mr Ivanishvili his entire business empire would be affected, because he has holding companies registered in two British Overseas Territories - British Virgin Islands and Cayman Islands.

"All his big business, which he has in Georgia, in the hospitality sector, in the energy sector, all the parent companies of these Georgian companies, the last beneficiaries are registered in these so-called offshore territories," says Beso Namchavadze.

He adds that TI Georgia believes that Mr Ivanishvili and other family members are continuing to transfer ownership of companies they previously controlled through offshore entities to newly established firms in Georgia.

In January of this year, paintings and other artwork worth nearly $500m were imported into Georgia, according to data published by the Ministry of Finance.

Many believe the artwork was from Mr Ivanishvili's valuable collection.

"For everybody who knows him it's pretty clear that this is something that he values the most out of all the assets, and all the wealth, that he has," says Tina Khidasheli, Georgia's ex-defence minister and the head of the non-governmental organisation Civic Idea.

"He is going to bring paintings back and he does not want to pay tax on it."

The head of Georgia's parliamentary committee on finance and budget, Paata Kvijinadze, recently defended the tax-free transfer of assets from offshore accounts to Georgia.

"If anyone benefited from this law, I am happy about it," he said in a post on social media. "This is exactly what the law was meant to be: to bring companies from offshore zones and attract more investments into the country".

In response to the proposed UK sanctions, Georgia's ruling party issued a statement defending Mr Ivanishvili, saying that a threat of sanctions was "without any foundation" against the party founder who brought "democratic breakthrough to the country".

Separately, Mr Ivanishvili's lawyer announced last month that his client is suing Swiss bank Julius Baer for, among other reasons, misinterpreting "the so-called" American sanctions, which the lawyer described as "political blackmail".

The US sanctions on Mr Ivanishvili call for his assets to be frozen, and place restrictions on US citizens and companies from doing business personally with him, but they do not affect his companies or family members.

For more than a decade Mr Ivanishvili has been involved in legal battles with another Swiss bank, Credit Suisse, over fraud and mismanagement of his money.

Some believe that the billionaire's mistrust of the West and increased use of conspiracy theories at home, such as accusing adversaries of being part of the "global war party", or "deep state", originate in his long-standing financial grievances.

Ever since he became convinced that Credit Suisse was part of a grand conspiracy against him, says Tina Khdasheli. "Bidzina Ivanishvili held Georgia hostage to his personal financial issues."

Experts say that even though Mr Ivanishvili's current official position is the honorary chairman of the ruling party, there is a clear understanding that he remains the number one person in Georgian politics. Sanctions against him are therefore seen as sanctions against the entire government.

Nika Gilauri was prime minister of Georgia from 2009 to 2012. He now leads a private company called Reformatics, which advises governments around the world on economic reform.

Mr Gilauri says that Georgia's continuing political instability and international isolation is negatively impacting the economy. "We are seeing a very negative effect on FDI, foreign direct investment, if you take nine months of 2024 compared to nine months of 2023, we have a 40% drop. So going forward this is going to continue to get worse."

But the Georgian government paints a different picture.

Last month Georgia's Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze signed a $6bn inward investment agreement with UAE property group Emaar.

Levan Davitashvili, the Minister of Economy described it as the "largest foreign investment deal" in decades, which was expected to contribute 1.5% growth to the economy.

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has even suggested that 10% growth was now "absolutely realistic" for the Georgian economy.

But recently published research by Policy and Management Consulting Group (PMCG), a Georgian research firm, said that the prospect for the next six months was "extremely negative".

It highlighted the impact of the continuing political turmoil, and said that the suspension of EU membership talks "was negatively viewed by all surveyed economists".

Mr Gilauri of Reformatics says their own analysis shows that Georgia's economic growth this year will be zero.

"Going forward, we will have a budgetary problem, a currency exchange problem. We will have an inflation problem. We will have a jobs problem, a job creation problem, and we will have economic decline problem.

"Having new elections is the only way forward for the country as well as for Bidzina Ivanishvili personally."

Source:bbc.com

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Fact-checking Trump claims about war in Ukraine

20 Feb 2025

US President Donald Trump has appeared to accuse Ukraine of being responsible for the war with Russia, in a flurry of claims from his Mar-a-Lago mansion in Florida.

Speaking to reporters, Trump also made claims about President Volodymyr Zelensky's popularity and observed that Ukraine had yet to hold scheduled elections due to martial law. He later doubled down on those comments in a fiery Truth Social post on Wednesday.

Trump's accusations - some of which appeared to mirror common Russian talking points about the war - came just hours after US officials met a Russian delegation in Riyadh to open talks to end the conflict, which has raged for almost three years.

Zelensky later accused Trump of "living in a disinformation space" created by Russia.

BBC Verify has fact-checked Trump's claims.

Claim: Zelensky is a 'dictator without elections'

Trump initially drew attention to the fact that Ukraine has not held a presidential election since 2019, when Zelensky - previously a comedian with no political base - swept to power.

He repeated the claims in a Truth Social post in which he accused the Ukrainian leader of being a "dictator without elections".

Zelensky's first five-year term of office was due to come to an end in May 2024. However, Ukraine has been under martial law since the Russian invasion in February 2022, which means elections are suspended.

Ukraine's martial laws were drafted in 2015 - shortly after Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula and years before Zelensky and his Servant of the People party came to power.

Independent observers from the OSCE said the 2019 election had been "competitive and fundamental freedoms were generally respected".

Zelensky won 73% of the vote in the second-round run-off.

Zelensky has vowed to hold a new election once the conflict ends and has yet to confirm that he intends to stand. Some experts have observed that holding elections in Ukraine before the conflict ends would be practically impossible, as Russian attacks on many cities persist and millions of citizens are displaced abroad or living under Russian occupation.

Trump's intervention on the subject came just hours after the Kremlin questioned Zelensky's legitimacy as his term in office has ended, a claim Moscow has repeatedly made in the past months. On 28 January, Russia's President Vladimir Putin called Zelensky "illegitimate" in an interview with Russian media.

Referring to the electoral situation, Trump appeared aware that it had been a frequent Russian allegation used to undermine Zelensky, saying in his news conference: "That's not a Russian thing, that's something coming from me, from other countries."

For his part, Zelensky has previously said it would be "absolutely irresponsible to throw the topic of elections" in the middle of the conflict.

Claim: 'I hate to say it, but he's down at 4% approval rating'

President Trump also claimed that Zelensky's approval rating has fallen to 4%.

It's unclear what source the president was citing as he didn't provide evidence. We have asked the White House to clarify this.

Official polling is limited and it is extremely difficult to carry out accurate surveys during a time of war. Millions of Ukrainians have fled and Russia has occupied around a fifth of the country.

However, some polling has been possible to carry out by telephone. A survey conducted this month found that 57% of Ukrainians said they trusted the president, according to the Ukraine-based Kyiv International Institute of Sociology.

However, that was down from 77% at the end of 2023, and 90% in May 2022 - suggesting that the president has suffered a drop-off in his popularity.

Some other polls suggest Zelensky trailing his nearest rival, former army chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi, in the first round of any future election, indicating the two would face each other in a run-off.

In the wake of Trump's comments, some major Russian media outlets seized on the claim and cited a poll carried out by Ukrainian MP and Zelensky critic, Oleksandr Dubinsky, on Telegram which they claimed backed up Trump's assessment.

Dubinsky has been charged with treason in Ukraine, and accused of "operating at the behest of Russian intelligence" - which he denies.

Claim: 'You should have never started it'

Ukrainian authorities expressed dissatisfaction over not being part of Tuesday's talks in Riyadh. But Trump dismissed these concerns, telling reporters that Ukraine had had three years to end the war, before appearing to blame Kyiv for starting the conflict.

"You should have never started it," he said. The Kremlin has previously accused Ukraine of starting the war against Russia.

"It was they who started the war in 2014. Our goal is to stop this war. And we did not start this war in 2022," Russian President Vladimir Putin told US talk show host Tucker Carlson in February 2024.

Ukraine didn't start the war. Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, having annexed Crimea in 2014.

The annexation came after Ukraine's pro-Russian president was ousted by popular demonstrations.

Russia also backed proxy forces who seized areas of eastern Ukraine, and it accused the new government in Kyiv of discrimination and genocide against Russian speakers. The International Court of Justice has rejected Moscow's claims.

After the failure of agreements which aimed to end the post-2014 conflict - Russia began a massive build-up of troops on its border with Ukraine in late 2021.

Putin launched the invasion on 24 February 2022, stating that the aim of the operation was to "demilitarise and denazify" the pro-Western government of Volodymyr Zelensky and prevent the country from joining Nato.

In Ukraine's last parliamentary elections, support for far-right candidates was 2%. It should also be noted that Zelensky is Jewish and that his party has been regarded as centrist.

And while Nato officials said in 2021 that Ukraine was a candidate to join the Western alliance in the future, it was not part of any formal process.

Source:bbc.com

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North America

 

Muslims are prevented from practicing their religion at Rhode Island prison, suit says

 By Natalie Demaree

 February 19, 2025

Muslim inmates at a Rhode Island prison are accusing facility leadership of religious discrimination by withholding access to some of their religious practices, according to a lawsuit. The complaint filed Feb. 13 on behalf of Diamond Wilson, Karlton Brockman, Nathan Cooper and Lorenzo Hicks — four Muslim inmates at the Rhode Island Department of Corrections High Security Center — comes just two weeks before Ramadan, a holy month of prayer and fasting for Muslims.  “Despite repeated requests by plaintiffs, RIDOC and RIDOC officials have prevented plaintiffs from practicing their religion, including the ability to observe Ramadan, to engage in communal prayer, to meet with an imam, and to obtain needed religious items,” attorneys said in the complaint. The complaint states that the prison’s denials to Muslim inmates “are not the least restrictive means to achieve a compelling governmental interest,” violating the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act and the 14th Amendment. “As a department we acknowledge and respect the constitutional rights of everyone under our care,” J.R. Ventura, RIDOC public information officer, told McClatchy News in a Feb. 19 email, adding that he could not further comment on pending litigation. In January 2024, the American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island filed a similar lawsuit against the prison, saying it denied accommodation for religious Religious discrimination against Muslim inmates According to the complaint, RIDOC officials discriminate against Muslim inmates  by allowing certain religious practices — including communal gatherings and meetings with clergy — to Christians and not Muslims. Despite multiple requests for communal Muslim prayer and its salient role in religious practices, officials have not allowed Muslims in the High Security Center (HSC) to hold any communal prayer services, attorneys said. Christians, however, gather for services weekly, and announcements about the gatherings are heard over the intercom, attorneys said. Muslim inmates also feel discriminated against when it comes to meeting with an imam, according to the complaint. While Christian inmates are given permission to meet with chaplains weekly  without submitting requests to do so, Muslim inmates have less access to an imam — and no access in some cases, attorneys said. “Although the imam visits HSC, his visits are infrequent and sporadic, and RIDOC only allows him to visit inmates in certain cell blocks,” attorneys said.  According to the complaint, Muslim inmates are also denied access to prayer rugs and prayer cloths. Ramadan disruptions The complaint lists three ways RIDOC officials restricted Ramadan observances in 2024: by reducing Muslim inmates’ caloric intake, requiring inmates to extend their fast by several hours and prohibiting them from breaking their fast  together. According to attorneys, other prisons have policies that accommodate Ramadan observances, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons has certain requirements to ensure practicing Muslims are able to get proper nutrition during this time.However, the RIDOC only provides Muslims observing Ramadan two meals a day at times that lengthen the duration of their fast. “Because of both the extension of the fast and lack of adequate nutrition,  Plaintiffs lost weight, experienced hunger pains, and were pressured to break their religious obligations,” attorneys said. RIDOC officials also do not allow Muslim inmates to come together to celebrate iftar, the communal fast-breaking meal during Ramadan, attorneys said. In March 2024, when one of the inmates gave a piece of candy to another to break the fast together, they were both punished with 20 days of disciplinary confinement, the complaint said.With Ramadan coming up in March, the complaint asks for a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction so inmates can partake in religious practices surrounding the holiday. The complaint also asks for a permanent injunction ordering the prison to make certain policy changes, including allowing the inmates to observe Ramadan, engage in weekly communal prayer, meet regularly with an imam and access religious items. The Rhode Island Department of Corrections High Security Center is located in Cranston, a 5-mile drive south from Providence. Source:charlotteobserver.com

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CAIR-Colorado Welcomes Boulder Declaration Against Anti-Muslim Hate

February 19, 2025

The Colorado chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CO), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed a planned declaration by the city council in Boulder, Colorado, condemning anti-Muslim hate.

The “Declaration Condemning Muslim Hate and Recognizing the Contributions, Rights, and Safety of Muslim Communities in Boulder” is scheduled to be presented at the Jan. 20 city council meeting.

“We welcome this recognition of the contributions of the Muslim community to our society and the acknowledgement of growing anti-Muslim hate that often leads to acts of discrimination and even violence targeting Muslims, Arab-Americans and anyone perceived to be members of those communities,” said CAIR-CO Board Chair Krista Cole. “We urge cities nationwide to adopt similar declarations of solidarity with the Muslim and other minority communities.”

Cole added that just this week, CAIR’s Florida chapter condemned a “Death to the Arabs” post by an Israeli tourist in Florida who was reportedly shot in Miami Beach because the alleged pro-Israel attacker thought he was “Palestinian.”

She noted that between January to June 2024, CAIR documented 4,951 incoming bias complaints nationwide, a 69 percent increase over the same period in 2023.

Last year, CAIR’s national office released its 2024 civil rights report, which revealed the highest number of complaints it has ever received in its 30-year history. Titled “Fatal: The Resurgence of Anti-Muslim Hate,” the report documented 8,061 complaints. Nearly half of all complaints received in 2023 were reported in the final three months of the year.

CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.      

La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.           

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Do you like reading CAIR press releases and taking part in our action alerts? You can help contribute to CAIR’s work of defending civil rights and empowering American Muslims across the country by making a one-time contribution or becoming a monthly donor. Supporters like you make CAIR’s advocacy work possible and defeating Islamophobia an achievable goal. Click here to donate to CAIR.          

Source:.cair.com

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‘You should’ve never started’ this war – Trump to Zelensky

19 Feb, 2025

US President Donald Trump criticized Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky on Tuesday following complaints from Kiev about being sidelined in the US-Russia peace talks in Saudi Arabia. Speaking to reporters at his Mar-a-Largo residence Trump said he is “very disappointed” with Zelensky over his failure to resolve a conflict that he “should’ve never started.”

Trump’s remarks followed Tuesday’s high-level meeting in Riyadh, which outraged both the EU and Ukraine, who were not invited to the discussions. Zelensky described the meeting as “disreputable,” rebuking the US for “helping Putin get out of years of isolation” and treating Russia as “a victim.” He also insisted that his country would reject any terms that might result from negotiations in Saudi Arabia.

The US president responded that Zelensky and other Ukrainian officials are in no position to complain about not being invited to the talks. He further blamed Zelensky for failing to resolve the conflict despite having years to do so.

The US president pointed out that negotiations with Russia were going “very well,” expressing confidence that he has “the power to end this war” in order “to save lives.”

Both Moscow and Washington have praised the talks as highly productive, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stating that the delegations worked “quite successfully” on improving relations.

The sides “not only listened, but also heard each other,” Lavrov said, adding that the US was beginning to better understand Russia’s position.

As a result of the talks, the sides agreed that the way should be paved to restoring US-Russian bilateral ties and working towards a resolution to the Ukraine conflict. The delegations also agreed to arrange a summit between the two countries’ leaders.

Russian President Vladimir Putin also hailed the results of the Riyadh talks. Resolving the Ukraine conflict will be impossible without normalizing relations between Moscow and Washington, he stated on Wednesday.

Moscow has never shut the door on peace negotiations, Putin added, noting it was the EU and Kiev that broke off all contact with Russia.

According to the Russian president, no one is excluding Kiev from the negotiation process, and both Moscow and Washington expect Ukraine to participate. He pointed out that it was Kiev that banned officials from engaging in any talks with Moscow. It “withdrew from the Istanbul negotiations and publicly announced it,” Putin stressed.

Source:rt.com

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https://www.rt.com/news/613023-trump-zelensky-criticism-ukraine/

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Trump echoes Russia as he upends US position on Ukraine

20 Feb 2025

If there were any lingering doubts about Donald Trump's view of the Ukraine war and America's support of Kyiv's fight against Russia, he put them to rest in stark terms on Wednesday.

Lashing out at Volodymyr Zelensky, who less than three years ago received a standing ovation in Congress for his efforts to resist Russia's invasion, the US president labelled Ukraine's leader a "dictator" and accused him of corruption.

He said Zelensky wanted to "keep the gravy train" of foreign aid running, a day after he appeared to blame Ukraine - not Russia - for starting the war.

"Zelensky better move fast, or he is not going to have a country left," Trump wrote.

It's been just under a week since Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin had a lengthy phone conversation. Now Trump is echoing Russia's talking points about the war and the Ukrainian president.

Russia's ambassador to the UK Andrei Kelin praised the Trump administration's approach.

"For the first time we have noticed that they [the US] are not simply saying that this is Russian propaganda and disinformation. They have listened and they hear what we're saying," he told BBC Newsnight.

This sudden change in US foreign policy is indeed dramatic, but it should not be surprising. Trump has been charting this course for years.

His latest comments reflect an American president who is wielding total authority over his party and the full power of government to turn a transactional "America First" foreign policy view into reality.

Trump's latest broadside against Zelensky came after the Ukrainian leader publicly rejected an American bid to gain access to – and profits from - Ukrainian minerals.

"That's not a serious conversation," Zelensky said. "I can't sell our state."

The US president seems serious, however, about reducing American military commitments to Europe and pivoting resources instead toward containing China.

And before his decisive election win in November, he frequently criticised the scale of US military aid being sent to Ukraine, describing Zelensky as "the greatest salesman of all time".

While the voters who elected Trump may not have thought much about the Ukraine war - or foreign policy - in the election, Trump's position on the issue wasn't a political liability even as his opponents hammered him on it.

His willingness to now upend international norms and push the limits of US power on the global stage parallel his domestic efforts to slash the federal government and expand presidential authority. And, at least for the moment, there seems to be little interest among Trump's own party in opposing him.

After his Wednesday social media posts, a few Senate Republicans expressed dismay.

"I certainly would not call President Zelensky a dictator," Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski said.

Susan Collins of Maine, another regular Republican dissenter, said she disagreed with Trump, as did John Kennedy of Louisiana, who added that Putin was a "gangster".

Fresh off a trip to Kyiv, Thom Tillis of North Carolina said the Ukraine war was "the responsibility of one human being on the face of the planet: Vladimir Putin".

If the past is a guide, however, those words within his own party will not translate into any tangible attempt to redirect Trump's foreign policy. Presidents have broad powers in international relations, and Trump has been clear about his views on Ukraine for years.

He has consistently blamed the Ukraine war on Biden administration weakness, and promised that ending it would be easy.

And while his earlier criticisms of Zelensky were not as sharp as this week, he regularly claimed that the Ukrainian president was adept at convincing Congress to send his country money.

Trump has a long, uneven history with Zelensky, having been impeached in 2019 for withholding arms shipments to Ukraine in an attempt to pressure the Ukrainian leader to open an investigation into his Democratic rival, Joe Biden.

Zelensky's aggressive pitches for foreign aid, the way the American left has celebrated him as a hero, and his sometimes blunt, confrontational style will all not have helped his case with the US leader.

"The idea that Zelensky is going to change the president's mind by badmouthing him in public media, everyone who knows the president will tell you that is an atrocious way to deal with this administration," Vice-President JD Vance said in a recent interview.

Trump has also been consistent in his solicitous views toward Putin and the Russian perspective. He said Putin was a "genius" just days after he launched his invasion of Ukraine. At a July 2018 US-Russia summit in Helsinki, Trump said he had no reason to doubt Putin's insistence, counter to US intelligence findings, that Russia did not meddle in the 2016 US election.

In Trump's first term, his foreign policy team included some senior officials more sceptical of Russian intentions - like John Bolton, Mike Pompeo and John Kelly - who were able to moderate the president's foreign policy impulses. This time around, Trump is surrounded by many like-minded advisers - and those who might disagree are unwilling or unable to change Trump's mind.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, once viewed as a foreign policy hawk, has been careful to follow Trump's lead. Keith Kellogg, a Russia critic who Trump picked as his Ukraine envoy, has been sidelined from negotiations with Moscow, while Steve Witkoff – Trump's Middle East representative and trusted friend – is directly involved.

Trump also has a base of Republican support that agrees with him – further shoring up his political position.

A February Pew survey indicated only 30% of Republicans believed the current level of US support for Ukraine is "not enough" or "just right". When the war began, 72% felt that way.

Forty percent of Republicans said they believed supporting Ukraine "hurts" US national security, versus only 27% who said it helps.

The Biden White House had argued that standing up to Russia in Ukraine was essential to US national security, but that is a far cry from how Trump and his closest advisers see the world – not in ideological clashes, but in transactions and relations that either benefit or harm American interests.

His Truth Social post, for instance, lamented that the US "will get nothing back" for the support it has given to Ukraine. His focus on the nation's rare minerals tracks with his Middle East peace plan that involves the US redeveloping Gaza's waterfront real estate into a resort, or his interest in maintaining control of - and profiting from - Syrian oil fields in his first presidential term.

Trump's "America First" priorities do not involve committing US resources to spread democracy or getting involved in far-away conflicts across a "big, big beautiful ocean", as he wrote on Wednesday.

The Ukraine war, he said, is "far more important to Europe than it is to us".

This is a sharp change from the interventionist conservatism of George W Bush, the most recent Republican president before Trump. But with Trump as the face of the Republican Party since 2016, the changes over the past few weeks have been sudden – but they have also been a long time coming.

Source:bbc.com

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'Help us': Hundreds deported from US held in Panama hotel

20 Feb 2025

In a room at the luxury Decápolis Hotel in Panama City, two girls hold a piece of paper to the window with a written message. "Please help us," it reads.

The hotel offers its clients rooms with sea views, has two exclusive restaurants, a swimming pool, a spa and private transportation. But it has now become a "temporary custody" centre housing 299 undocumented migrants deported from the US, the Panamanian government said on Tuesday.

Some migrants raise their arms and cross them at the wrists to indicate that they are deprived of their freedom. Others hang small signs with other messages such as: "We are not safe in our country."

The Trump administration has pledged to deport millions of people who crossed illegally into the US. Those in the Panama City hotel arrived on three flights last week, after President José Raúl Mulino agreed that Panama would become a "bridge" country for deportees.

However, of the 299 undocumented migrants - from India, China, Uzbekistan, Iran, Vietnam, Turkey, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka - only 171 have agreed to return to their countries of origin.

The remainder now face an uncertain future, and it is the Panamanian authorities who are in control of what happens next.

According to the government, this group will be transferred to a camp in the province of Darién, which has temporarily housed migrants crossing the jungle en route to the US.

On a normal day, tourists can enter and leave the Decápolis Hotel with ease, but now heavily armed members of the Panamanian National Aeronaval Service enforce strict security measures inside and outside of the building.

From the street, laundry can be seen hanging in a window. One of the items is a yellow Los Angeles Lakers basketball jersey with the number 24, worn by the legendary player Kobe Bryant.

In another window, a group of adults and three children raise their arms with their thumbs in their palms - the international symbol for those needing assistance. "Help us," is written in red letters on the glass.

And two children with their faces covered hold up sheets of paper against the glass with the message: "Please save the Afghan girls."

An Iranian woman who has lived in Panama for a number of years told the BBC she was in contact with one of the migrants inside the hotel. She said they were "terrified" of the possibility of being returned to Iran.

The woman, who asked not to be named, said she went to the hotel to offer her help as a Farsi translator but was told they already had one.

She added, however, that people inside the hotel said that was not true.

Using a hidden mobile phone, since contact with those outside of the Decápolis Hotel is reportedly not allowed, the Iranian woman said the migrant told her there were several children in the hotel, that they have been denied a lawyer and that they are not allowed to leave their rooms even to eat.

After the story of the deportees being held at the hotel was first reported on Tuesday, the security measures put in place were tightened and migrants' access to the internet was cut off, the woman said.

The BBC contacted both the Decápolis Hotel and the Panamanian government to ask about the conditions inside the building, but did not receive a response.

However, Panama's Minister of Public Security Frank Ábrego said migrants are not allowed to leave the hotel because his government must guarantee the safety and peace of Panamanians.

A video posted on social media on the weekend showed one of the migrants describing in Farsi how they had been detained after crossing the border to the US and told that they would be taken to Texas, but ended up in Panama.

The woman in the video said her life would be in danger if she returned to Iran because of possible reprisals of the government.

Her intention, she said, is to ask for political asylum.

Analysts say this is difficult to obtain without access to a lawyer - even more so when the Panamanian government announced that this access would not be offered to deportees.

Minister Ábrego said on Tuesday that the migrants would remain temporarily in Panama under the protection of the country's authorities.

"What we agreed with the US government is that they are here and will remain in our temporary custody for their protection," he said.

He also warned that those migrants who did not wish to return to their country of origin would have to choose a third country.

In that case, he said, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) would be responsible for their repatriation.

An IOM spokesperson told the BBC that the organisation is in charge of "providing essential support" to people deported from the US.

"We are working with local officials to help those affected, supporting the voluntary return of those who request it and identifying safe alternatives for others," he said.

"While we have no direct involvement in the detention or restriction of movement of persons, we are committed to ensuring that all migrants are treated with dignity and in accordance with international standards," he said.

Ábrego also said the migrants were being housed in the Decápolis Hotel because of its capacity to receive them.

Another senior official said "the arrival of more migrants is not expected" because no more flights of this type have been agreed with the US.

Panama agreed to be a "bridge" country for deportations after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited the country as tensions simmered over Trump's threats to "recover" sovereignty of the Panama Canal.

Muzaffar Chishti, a senior researcher at the Migration Policy Institute - a think tank in the US - said many of the deportees come from nations not open to accepting the return of nationals deported from the US.

"That implies constant diplomatic negotiations with those governments," he told the BBC.

"By sending them to Panama, the US is out of the picture," he added. "It is a headache for Panama to take charge of those negotiations and see how to get those countries to agree to receive them again."

This week, a flight carrying deportees from the US is expected to arrive in Costa Rica, another Central American country that has agreed with Washington to become a "bridge" nation for deportees.

Source:bbc.com

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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3rndygqll7o

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US man dies awaiting sentencing for shooting teen Ralph Yarl

20 Feb 2025

A Missouri man has died weeks before his sentencing for shooting a 16-year-old boy who accidentally went to the wrong address.

Andrew Lester, 86, pleaded guilty last week to second-degree assault after opening fire on Ralph Yarl in Kansas City on 13 April 2023.

Lester was scheduled for sentencing on 7 March and was facing seven years in prison. In a statement, the Yarl family expressed frustration that "justice was never truly served".

Ralph Yarl rang Lester's doorbell while going to pick up his younger brothers. Prosecutors said Lester shot the teen without speaking to him. The boy survived and has since graduated from high school.

The Clay County prosecutor's office said in a statement on Wednesday: "We have learned of the passing of Andrew Lester and extend our sincere condolences to his family during this difficult time.

"While the legal proceedings have now concluded, we acknowledge that Mr Lester did take responsibility for his actions by pleading guilty in this case.

"Our thoughts remain with both families affected by this tragic incident as they continue their healing process."

But in a statement to the Kansas City Star, the Yarl family expressed dissatisfaction that "the man responsible escaped sentencing".

They added: "One of the reasons we pushed for a speedy trial was to ensure the public would see that our society does not condone shooting an unarmed, innocent child simply for ringing the wrong doorbell - especially when that child was targeted because of the color of his skin."

Police initially said there was a "racial component" to the shooting, but authorities ultimately did not charge Lester with a hate crime.

Lester and his lawyers said he was acting in self-defence and thought the teenager was trying to break into his home.

Ralph Yarl told authorities his mother sent him to pick up his siblings from a playdate at 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 find.

After he rang the doorbell, Lester shot him twice - once in the forehead and once in the arm.

Prosecutors have said the boy "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.

The demonstrations drew support from celebrities including actresses Halle Berry, Kerry Washington and Jennifer Hudson.

Lester turned himself in after an arrest warrant was issued.

The case was one of several in spring 2023 in which Americans were injured after minor mistakes resulted in gun violence.

One of the victims, 20-year-old Kaylin Gillis, was fatally shot after a car she was in pulled into the wrong driveway in upstate New York.

Source:bbc.com

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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c04z90607v4o

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I'm not happy with Boeing, Trump says over Air Force One

20 Feb 2025

The US President Donald Trump has said he is not happy with Boeing over a contract to build two new Air Force One planes that is running behind schedule.

Speaking on board one of the 35-year-old presidential planes that are currently in use, Trump also said he is looking for alternatives because it is taking Boeing too long to build the planes.

The contract for two updated versions of the presidential plane based on the modern Boeing 747-8 were negotiated during Trump's first term in office.

Boeing did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BBC News.

"No, I'm not happy with Boeing. It takes them a long time to do, you know, Air Force One, we gave that contract out a long time ago," Trump said.

"We may buy a plane or get a plane, or something."

When asked whether he would consider buying new planes from Boeing's European rival, Airbus, Trump said "No, I would not consider Airbus over Boeing, but I could buy one that was used and convert it."

It comes days after Trump visited a 13-year-old Boeing 747-800 that had been owned by the Qatari royal family while it was parked at Palm Beach International Airport.

The new aircraft from Boeing were set for delivery in 2024 but the plane maker has pushed the delivery back to 2027 or 2028.

During his first term as president, Trump forced the plane maker to renegotiate its contract, calling the initial deal too expensive.

That contract has already cost Boeing billions of dollars.

Kitting out the planes for presidential use is extremely costly. It requires installing highly-classified and complex communications, safety and accessibility features.

Last year was dreadful for Boeing. The aerospace giant lost $11.8bn (£9.4bn) across the whole of 2024, its worst result since 2020, when the aviation industry was grounded by the Covid pandemic.

In the three months to the end of December, when strikes were affecting the business, it lost $3.8bn.

As well as suffering from well-publicised problems at its commercial aircraft unit, Boeing also faced issues with number of defence programmes.

Source:bbc.com

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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgkm71xme3xo

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Musk blames Zelensky for death of US journalist

20 Feb, 2025

Billionaire Elon Musk, a major ally of US President Donald Trump, has blamed Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky for the death of an American national who criticized his government.

Chilean-American filmmaker and blogger Gonzalo Lira died in a Ukrainian jail in January 2024 while awaiting trial for “systematically justifying the Russian aggression.”

“Zelensky killed an American journalist!” Musk wrote on his social media platform X on Wednesday.

“Zelensky cannot claim to represent the will of the people of Ukraine unless he restores freedom of the press and stops canceling elections!” he added.

Lira, who moved to Ukraine in 2010, was covering the conflict with Russia on YouTube. The Security Service of Ukraine arrested him in 2023 after he jumped bail and attempted to seek asylum in Hungary. Lira claimed that he was tortured in custody. His family accused Kiev of being complicit in his death. The Ukrainian authorities denied any wrongdoing.

Lira’s father, Gonzalo Lira Sr., suggested in December 2023 that the Biden administration gave “at least tacit approval of Gonzalo’s arrest.”

Musk has attacked Zelensky in the middle of a public feud between the Ukrainian leader and Trump, which erupted when multiple Ukrainian and EU officials criticized the US president for launching direct negotiations with Russia without their approval.

Trump branded Zelensky a “dictator without elections” and claimed that he is deeply unpopular at home. Zelensky has suggested that the US president is trafficking in ‘Russian disinformation’.

Zelensky’s five-year presidential term expired in May 2024, and no new elections were called due to martial law. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that he no longer considers Zelensky a legitimate leader. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed recently that Moscow wants the issue of Zelensky’s legitimacy to be addressed during future peace talks.

Source:rt.com

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https://www.rt.com/news/613039-musk-zelensky-gonzalo-lira/

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Africa

 

Sudan crisis could worsen if paramilitaries declare parallel govt: UN

February 20, 2025

UNITED NATIONS: The crisis in Sudan could worsen if paramilitary forces fighting the army go ahead with plans to declare a parallel government, the United Nations warned Wednesday.

“For us, preserving the unity of Sudan, the sovereignty and the territorial integrity, remains a key ingredient for a sustainable resolution of the conflict,” the UN secretary-general’s spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

At a high-profile event in Nairobi this week, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, at war with the Sudanese army for nearly two years, said they would sign a founding charter that would lead to the formation of a “peace and unity government” in Sudan.

Initially scheduled for Tuesday at Nairobi’s state-owned Kenyatta International Convention Center, the signing was postponed to Friday.

“We’re very deeply concerned about any further escalation of the Sudanese conflict, and any steps like this one, which would increase the fragmentation of the country and risk making this crisis even worse,” Dujarric said of the planned proclamation.

Sudan’s foreign ministry, loyal to army chief Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, criticized Kenya for allowing the event.

Since April 2023, the war between the army and RSF has killed tens of thousands of people, uprooted more than 12 million and created the world’s largest hunger and displacement crises.

Source:arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2590905/middle-east

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FCT Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board To Distribute Travelling Materials During Second Phase Of Hajj Orientation

By Toyin Adebayo

Feb 19, 2025

ABUJA: The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Abuja, has announced plans to distribute travelling materials to its intending pilgrims during the forthcoming second phase of education and orientation exercise.

The event is scheduled to take place at the permanent Hajj camp, Bassan Jiwa, near the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, on Saturday, 22nd, and Sunday, 23rd February 2025.

In a statement, the Board’s Public Relations Officer, Muhammad Lawal Aliyu, disclosed that the Board has secured the necessary materials to help intending pilgrims prepare adequately for the spiritual journey.

Items to be distributed include uniforms, literature, and audio materials designed to engage pilgrims in continuous learning of Hajj rites during the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan.

Aliyu noted that activities for the intending pilgrims would be suspended during the fasting period, allowing them ample time to participate in Ramadan activities in their respective communities.

Preparations for the Hajj would resume after Ramadan to ensure that the pilgrims are well-prepared for the journey to Saudi Arabia.

“The Board is committed to ensuring that intending pilgrims grasp the essentials of performing Hajj to gain value for their hard-earned money spent on fulfilling this religious obligation,” Aliyu stated.

He further explained that, as part of the second phase of the orientation exercise, Islamic scholars would conduct sessions in seven languages. This approach considers the FCT’s diverse population. The sessions are set to begin at 8 a.m. each day.

The orientation exercise aims to enlighten intending pilgrims about the Hajj rites and to update them on new guidelines and policies introduced for this year’s Hajj by the Saudi authorities and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).

Aliyu urged intending pilgrims who have yet to return their completed application forms or submit their international passports to do so promptly. This, he said, would enable the Board to fast-track the process of obtaining travel documents ahead of the commencement of airlifts to Saudi Arabia.

Source:independent.ng

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https://independent.ng/fct-muslim-pilgrims-welfare-board-to-distribute-travelling-materials-during-second-phase-of-hajj-orientation/

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Islamic Cleric Allegedly Murders 24 Year old Hafsat Yetunde Lawal in Ilorin.

February 19, 2025

Murder is not just taking a life illegally; it is a theft of dreams, silencing of laughter, and the ruination of a future.

This is what happened recently in Ilorin with the horrifying tragedy involving Yetunde Lawal, a 24-year-old final-year student at the Kwara State College of Education Ilorin who was gruesomely murdered by a man she is said to have met on social media.

After allegedly killing this young lady, the suspect went further to dismember her body for suspected spiritual purposes.

Aisha Abubakar-Yahaya reports that the police are yet to recover the other parts of the body except the hands.

Source:nta.ng

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https://nta.ng/2025/02/19/islamic-cleric-allegedly-murders-24-year-old-hafsat-yetunde-lawal-in-ilorin/

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FG Files Fresh $81.5 Billion Lawsuit Against Binance

19 February 2025

By Ikenna Ngere

The Federal Government of Nigeria has initiated a new lawsuit against cryptocurrency exchange, Binance, demanding payment of ₦79.51 billion and ₦231 million—equivalent to $81.5 billion—for alleged economic losses linked to its operations in the country.

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), acting as the plaintiff, filed the lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Abuja under case number FHC/ABJ/CS/1444/2024.

The agency is also seeking $2.001 billion in unpaid income taxes for 2022 and 2023.

Binance and two of its executives, Tigran Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwalla, are accused of violating Nigerian laws by failing to register with FIRS for tax compliance and allegedly contributing to economic instability during the review period.

This latest lawsuit marks the third legal action currently pending against Binance in Nigeria, with both the FIRS and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) previously charging the company with tax evasion, money laundering, and forex violations.

These cases are being heard by Justice Emeka Nwite at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

As part of the monetary claims, the government is seeking a 10 percent penalty on unpaid taxes for 2022 and 2023, along with a 26.75 percent annual interest rate—based on the prevailing Central Bank of Nigeria lending rate—from January 1, 2023, and January 1, 2024, respectively.

Allegations Against Binance

The FIRS contends that Binance deliberately concealed its business activities in Nigeria despite maintaining a strong economic presence.

The cryptocurrency exchange is accused of breaching several regulations, including the Companies Income Tax Act, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act 2007, and the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Regulatory Framework for Mobile Money Services.

Additionally, Binance is alleged to have violated the Significant Economic Presence (SEP) Order, signed in May 2020 by former Finance Minister Zainab Ahmed.

The SEP Order stipulates that foreign companies earning at least ₦25 million annually from digital services in Nigeria must pay taxes.

An affidavit submitted by Jimada Yusuf, a member of the Special Investigation Team from the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), states that Binance has been operating in Nigeria for over six years without proper registration.

Yusuf revealed that during a 2024 meeting with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Binance executives admitted to having 386,256 active Nigerian users, generating a trading volume of $21.6 billion and a net revenue of $35.4 million in 2023.

Furthermore, the affidavit accuses Binance of providing financial services without the necessary licenses, violating the Money Laundering Act, and engaging in unauthorized currency speculation.

The NSA also alleges that Binance continued listing and trading the Nigerian Naira on its platform despite claims that it had delisted the currency following regulatory scrutiny.

In addition, Binance is accused of refusing to provide six years’ worth of business records to Nigerian authorities, despite a Federal High Court order mandating the disclosure to FIRS through the EFCC.

Legal Proceedings

The case was brought before Justice Inyang Ekwo on February 11, 2025, with FIRS lead counsel, Kanu Agabi (SAN), present. However, Binance’s legal representatives were absent.

Agabi informed the court that previous attempts to serve Binance directly had been unsuccessful, prompting him to file a motion for substituted service.

Justice Ekwo approved the motion and ordered that Binance be served within seven days. The hearing was adjourned to March 3, 2025.

The FIRS is seeking the following reliefs:

– “A declaration that Binance is liable to pay annual corporate income tax for having a significant economic presence in Nigeria.

– “A declaration that Binance and its executives must file income tax returns for 2022 and 2023.

– “An order compelling Binance to pay $2.001 billion in taxes for 2022 and 2023.

– “Penalties, including 10 percent annual interest and a 26.75 percent CBN lending rate, until the taxes are fully paid.

– “Compensation of $79.51 billion and ₦231 million for economic losses.”

Government’s Response to Binance Executive’s Allegations

This lawsuit comes shortly after Tigran Gambaryan, a Binance executive, made allegations of bribery and corruption against the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and members of the House of Representatives.

Gambaryan shared his claims in a statement posted on his 𝕏 account.

However, the Nigerian government swiftly dismissed the accusations, labeling them as misinformation and defamatory.

It is worth noting that in October 2024, the Nigerian government had dropped money laundering charges against Gambaryan, who was previously facing legal action related to Binance’s operations in the country.

Source:naijanews.com

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

https://www.naijanews.com/2025/02/19/fg-files-fresh-81-5-billion-lawsuit-against-binance/

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Mischief Makers Spreading Rumours Of Meranda’s Resignation Are Working For Obasa – Aide

19 February 2025

By Justina Otio

An aide to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mojisola Meranda, has claimed that those alleging that she has resigned are mischief makers loyal to former Speaker, Musashiru Obasa.

The aide who spoke to Vanguard on the condition of anonymity dismissed fresh reports of Meranda’s resignation, describing it as fake news.

The source further explained that the latest resignation rumor stems from a “fake resignation letter” originally circulated on Monday by “paid bloggers.”

The aide said, “This is the handiwork of mischief makers working for the impeached Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, who have been commissioned to spread fake news on social media to mislead the public and maintain pressure on the current leadership of the House. We are aware of this, and it will not succeed.

“I urge members of the public to ignore such reports, as they are fake, unfounded, and without any iota of truth.”

He reassured that Speaker Meranda remains in “high spirits” and fully in charge of the House’s affairs.

“The substantive speaker is doing fine, in high spirit, and on top of the game as we speak. Don’t forget, the Assembly has adjourned sitting indefinitely,” the aide added.

Source:naijanews.com

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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/02/19/mischief-makers-spreading-rumours-of-merandas-resignation-are-working-for-obasa-aide/

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Lagos Assembly Clears Air On Alleged Mass Defection Of Lawmakers To Labour Party

 19 February 2025

By Richard Ogunsile

The Lagos State House of Assembly has refuted claims suggesting that 27 members intend to switch allegiance from the ruling party to the opposition Labour Party (LP), labelling these allegations as both malicious and baseless.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Strategy, and Security, Ogundipe Stephen, issued a statement rejecting the report, characterizing it as “completely false, misleading, and a calculated effort to mislead the public.”

Stephen expressed that the assembly finds the report not only offensive but also filled with inaccuracies and blatant falsehoods, serving no purpose other than to create division and confusion within the Assembly and among the citizens of Lagos State.

In light of recent events within the House, including the removal of former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa and the subsequent election of Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, as the new Speaker, the Assembly reiterated that these developments were internal affairs conducted under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

“These events in no way suggest any intention by members to leave the party. We emphasize, without any ambiguity, that no member of the Assembly is contemplating defection,” the statement added.

The Assembly reaffirmed its unity and commitment to delivering on its mandate under the ruling party’s leadership, describing the defection rumours as “falsehoods spread by agents of destabilization seeking to create unnecessary tension and division.”

“To our party leaders and supporters across the state, we assure you that all members remain committed to the party. Any internal disagreements within the House will be resolved amicably through peaceful and democratic means. There is no crisis warranting defection,” the statement stressed.

The Assembly also called on the media to uphold journalistic ethics by verifying facts before publication and urged the public to disregard the unfounded reports.

Source:naijanews.com

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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/02/19/lagos-assembly-clears-air-on-alleged-mass-defection-of-lawmakers-to-labour-party/

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South Asia

 

Afghanistan Embassy Expresses Concern Over Deportation of Refugees from Pakistan

2025-02-19

KABUL(BNA): The Embassy of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Islamabad issued a statement today, Wednesday addressing the recent deportation of Afghan refugees from Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

Reports indicate that Afghan citizens have been arrested, searched, and forced to leave these cities without prior notice.

The Afghanistan Embassy clarified that it has not received any official or written communication regarding this sudden process. In response, embassy officials have held multiple meetings with relevant Pakistani authorities to seek clarification on the situation.

Discussions with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) revealed that the agency was also unaware of the ongoing situation. However, officials from Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that a definitive plan to deport all Afghan refugees from Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and other regions of Pakistan is in place. Only Afghan nationals with legal visas will be allowed to remain in these areas.

Pakistani officials announced that the government has decided to expel all Afghan refugees, including those holding ACC and Poor cards, immediately from Islamabad and Rawalpindi, with plans for broader deportations throughout Pakistan in the near future.

The Afghanistan Embassy expressed serious concern over the rapid deportation of refugees and Pakistan’s unilateral decision regarding their status. Embassy officials are engaging with authorities in Kabul to ensure the dignified return of Afghan citizens and to address the challenges associated with this process.

Source:bakhtarnews.af

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https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/afghanistan-embassy-expresses-concern-over-deportation-of-refugees-from-pakistan/

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Diabetes no bar for Ramadan fasting: doctors 

19 Feb 2025,

DHAKA, Feb 19, 2025 (BSS) - Physicians today encouraged diabetic patients to perform fasting during the holy month of Ramadan, saying they have no bar to practice the fasting. 

The experts said, in the fast, they discouraged the diabetic patients to perform fasting but now encourage them to do so according to the findings of research.

To this end, they said, the patients must follow the doctor's advice and break the fast if they face any problem.

The speakers made the observations while speaking at a seminar titled 'Diabetes Update in Ramadan' organised by jointly the Department of Endocrinology and the Teachers' Association of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) at Milan Auditorium on the campus.

Chaired by Professor Dr Indrajit Prasad, Head of the Department of Endocrinology at DMCH, the seminar was addressed by DMCH Principal Professor Dr Kamrul Alam as the chief guest.

DMCH Vice-Principal Professor Dr Faruk Ahmed, Director Brigadier General Md Asaduzzaman, Associate Professor Dr M Saifuddin and Dr Md Mainul Islam were present.

Dr Afsar Ahmed Miraj, Assistant Professor of the Department of Endocrinology, presented a keynote paper.

Doctors from other departments of the medical college were informed of the rules and regulations for treating diabetic patients.

The speakers told the doctors that all those who are treating diabetic patients should download and use the app called 'Diabetes Ramadan Score' from Google's Play Store.

Through this app, it is possible to easily keep track of all types of management, including keeping track of the blood sugar levels of diabetic patients, and providing treatment.

Source:bssnews.net

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

https://www.bssnews.net/news/247943

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UNICEF distributes educational supplies to 3.5 million children in Afghanistan last year

By Fidel Rahmati

February 20, 2025

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Afghanistan has reported that, last year, it distributed educational materials to 3.5 million Afghan schoolchildren across the country.

In a report released on Wednesday, February 19, UNICEF stated that the materials included pens, notebooks, textbooks, school bags, and other educational supplies.

UNICEF has consistently worked to assist the people of Afghanistan, implementing humanitarian programs to support orphaned children, provide food, and ensure education, all in an effort to improve their living conditions.

Earlier, UNICEF had also announced its support for 18,000 classrooms for both girls and boys across Afghanistan in the past year.

According to the organization, in many remote areas of Afghanistan, both girls and boys are deprived of education due to schools being far away or classrooms being overcrowded.

These actions demonstrate UNICEF’s commitment to improving the educational conditions for Afghanistan children and its ongoing efforts to create equal educational opportunities for all children, particularly in remote and crisis-affected areas.

This effort comes at a time when the Taliban has banned girls’ education beyond sixth grade in Afghanistan, severely limiting their access to higher education and opportunities for growth.

Source:khaama.com

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https://www.khaama.com/unicef-distributes-educational-supplies-to-3-5-million-children-in-afghanistan-last-year/

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Islamic Emirate Backs Industry, Addresses Environmental issues

2025-02-19

KABUL(BNA): During his visit to Herat, the Director-General of the National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA), Mawlawi Matiul Haq Khalis, met with local industrialists to address environmental challenges and the enforcement of regulations.

According to Bakhtar News Agency, the discussions focused on tackling pollution, ensuring factories comply with environmental guidelines, and preventing air and water contamination in the region.

Hamidullah Khadem, head of the Herat Chamber of Commerce and Industries, stated that the city’s industrial zone hosts approximately 1,500 factories, providing employment to thousands of workers.

Industrial representatives expressed their appreciation for NEPA’s engagement and reaffirmed their commitment to reducing pollution. They pledged to implement necessary measures to minimize the environmental impact of their operations.

Mawlawi Khalis emphasized the importance of responsible industrial practices, urging factory owners to follow environmental standards and ensure their activities do not harm the ecosystem. He reassured them that the Islamic Emirate remains committed to supporting private sector growth while ensuring sustainable development.

The meeting highlights the government’s continued efforts to balance industrial progress with environmental protection in one of Afghanistan’s key economic hubs.

Source:bakhtarnews.af

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https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/islamic-emirate-backs-industry-addresses-environmental-issues/

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Japan donates $500,000 to Afghanistan’s healthcare system

By Fidel Rahmati

February 20, 2025

The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced Japan’s donation of 500,000 dollars to provide health services to vulnerable Afghans, particularly women and children in Afghanistan.

On Wednesday, February 19, the organization welcomed Japan’s contributions in a statement. The statement highlighted that, with Japan’s support, the WHO will launch a 12-month project in March this year to deliver healthcare services.

The WHO emphasized that the funds will specifically be directed toward providing medical assistance for vulnerable Afghanistan populations, especially women and children.

According to the statement, the project will focus on strengthening the monitoring of contagious diseases, increasing trauma care services, and improving access to primary healthcare services in remote and disaster-affected areas.

Additionally, Edwin Salvador, WHO’s representative in Afghanistan, stated that Japan’s timely and generous assistance is crucial in addressing the urgent healthcare needs in Afghanistan.

Japan’s Ambassador to Afghanistan, Takayoshi Kuromiya, also mentioned that these donations aim to support the Afghanistan people, particularly women and children, in tackling challenges and accessing primary healthcare services.

Previously, Japan had also announced a significant contribution in millions of dollars to provide humanitarian aid, address healthcare challenges, and fund development projects in Afghanistan.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has expressed concerns over raised concerns over the Taliban’s ban on women and girls’ education in medical sciences in Afghanistan. OCHA warns that this decision could lead to a long-term crisis in the country’s healthcare sector.

A report released by OCHA on February 18, 2025, revealed that Afghanistan’s maternal mortality rate is three times higher than the global average. The report also highlighted the Taliban’s December 2024 decision to close all medical institutes for women and girls, including higher education and semi-professional programs, further jeopardizing the future of healthcare in the country.

Source:khaama.com

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https://www.khaama.com/japan-donates-500000-to-afghanistans-healthcare-system/

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MoRRD Emphasizes Community Needs in Development Projects

2025-02-20

KABUL(BNA): Mullah Mohammad Yunus Akhundzada, the Acting Minister of Rural Rehabilitation and Development, underscored the necessity of aligning development projects with the needs of the local population.

The Ministry’s Press Office reported that Minister Akhundzada highlighted the gathering’s significance, stating, “Our responsibility is to implement projects in areas where the pain of our oppressed and suffering people can be alleviated.” He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to ensuring that essential services and projects reach those who most require them.

Minister Akhundzada stressed the importance of addressing the pressing issues faced by rural residents, insisting that development initiatives must be tailored to meet their specific needs. He stated, “We strive to deliver our projects and public services to the deserving people,” emphasizing the Ministry’s dedication to timely responses to rural challenges.

Source:bakhtarnews.af

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https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/morrd-emphasizes-community-needs-in-development-projects/

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Kabul Municipality Reclaims Seized Land in District 11

2025-02-20

KABUL(BNA): Kabul Municipality officials reclaimed 5.5 jeribs of land in the Labjar area of District 11. The announcement was made by Mawlawi Zabiullah Nabi Khail, the head of District 11, who emphasized that this land had been illegally seized by usurpers who constructed unauthorized structures over the years.

Speaking to the media, Nabi Khail highlighted the municipality’s commitment to addressing land misuse. “These structures were identified and removed, ensuring that the land is now under the control of Kabul Municipality,” he stated. The reclaimed area is set to be utilized for upcoming development plans aimed at benefiting the community.

The municipality’s efforts do not stop here; Nabi Khail revealed plans to reclaim additional seized lands across various locations in District 11 in the near future. “We are determined to eliminate opportunistic and lawless activities that exploit government properties,” he added, assuring the public that the municipality will not tolerate further illegal encroachments.

Kabul Municipality is actively working to safeguard public land and implement development initiatives that will enhance the quality of life for residents.

Source:bakhtarnews.af

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https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/kabul-municipality-reclaims-seized-land-in-district-11/

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Islamic Emirate Congratulates Syria’s New Transitional Leader

2025-02-19

KABUL(BNA): Afghanistan’s Prime Minister, Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, has extended his congratulations to Ahmad Al-Shara on his appointment as the head of Syria’s transitional government, expressing hope for stability and progress under his leadership.

In an official message, Akhund conveyed his best wishes to Al-Shara, emphasizing the challenges ahead and the importance of strong leadership in guiding Syria through this critical period.

Islamic Emirate Deputy Spokesperson, Mullah Hamdullah Fitrat, said the message not only offered congratulations but also included prayers for success in governance and efforts to bring peace and stability to Syria.

Fitrat added that Prime Minister Akhund reaffirmed Afghanistan’s commitment to strengthening ties with Syria, highlighting the need for deeper cooperation between the two brotherly nations.

This statement reflects the Islamic Emirate’s ongoing diplomatic engagement as regional dynamics continue to shift in the Middle East.

Source:bakhtarnews.af

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https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/islamic-emirate-congratulates-syrias-new-transitional-leader/

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Sri Lankan Muslims seek compensation for pandemic burial ground

February 19, 2025

Sri Lankan parliamentarians and social activists have called on the government to pay compensation or ensure replacement land for Muslims who were forced to give away land to be used as burial ground for Covid-19 victims.

Lawmaker Mohamed Sali Naleem from Sri Lanka Muslim Congress said the government has yet to compensate Muslims in the Eastern Province who had to relinquish 17 acres (6.87 hectares) of arable land for the burial of the victims during the pandemic.

"While searching for a burial site for COVID victims, the people of Majma Nagar, Oddamavadi in Batticaloa offered 17 acres of land, providing a burial ground not just for Muslims, but for all Sri Lankans," Naleem said on Feb. 17.

He said the burial ground has been used for burying over 3,600 people who died from the coronavirus including Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and Christians.

Various efforts including parliamentary debates, letters, public meetings, and social media campaigns failed to bring relief for the Muslims who lost their land.

"These people are in a difficult situation as they used the land for farming, but neither the previous nor current government has provided any relief,” he said.

As the pandemic swept through the island nation, the government faced difficulties in burying the dead. Hundreds of people took to the streets to oppose the burial as experts warned about possible groundwater contamination.

Initially, the government made cremation for people of all faiths mandatory, triggering protests from Muslims who argued that Islamic tradition forbids cremation. The plan was shelved after it sparked strong international condemnation following cremation of some Muslim victims.

After the land was acquired about 3,634 victims were buried from 2021 to March 2022, including 2,992 Muslims, 287 Buddhists, 270 Hindus, and 85 Christians, according to a report from the Ministry of Health.

Ameer Ali, an activist from Batticaloa, a major city in the Eastern Province, said that if the government provided an alternative plot of land, Muslims would accept it to continue their cultivation.

Ali said some people gave away land willingly, but others were forced to relinquish, while adjacent plots were seized without consent.

“The government officials promised that alternative land would be provided within a few days of ours being taken, but we still haven't received anything,” he told UCA News on Feb. 18.

Earlier on Feb. 7, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress leader Rauff Hakeem submitted a motion in the parliament, urging the formation of a select committee to investigate former government’s wrongdoings, including the forced cremation of Covid-19 victims against relatives' objections

About 70 percent of Sri Lanka’s estimated 21 million people are Buddhists, 13 percent Hindus, 10 percent Muslims and 7 percent are Christians, according to official data.

Rights groups reported a rise in hate speeches and hate crimes against minority Muslims by Buddhist hardline groups in the past two decades.

Source:ucanews.com

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https://www.ucanews.com/news/sri-lankan-muslims-seek-compensation-for-pandemic-burial-ground/107926

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