Hindu Students Made To Recite Islamic Verse (Kalma) - An Islamic Declaration Of Faith - In Kota School
New Age Islam News Bureau
04 July 2025
A screengrab from the footage that went viral
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· Hindu Students Made To Recite Islamic Verse (Kalma) - An Islamic Declaration Of Faith - In Kota School
· Maintaining The Dignity Of Devbhoomi (Land of God), Uttarakhand Demolishes Five Illegal Mazars In Kundeshwari
· White Flag of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan Hoisted at Moscow Embassy
· Darfur Civilians ‘Face Mass Atrocities And Ethnic Violence’
· Saudi Arabia And Egypt Discuss Implementing Arab-Islamic Plan For Gaza Reconstruction
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India
· ‘Spit Jihad’ Must Not Recur: Uttarakhand CM Issues Strict Orders Ahead Of Kanwar Yatra
· Can They Ask Muslims To Speak Marathi? Minister's Dig Over Shopkeeper's Assault
· Social Media A/Cs Of Pakistani Celebs Stay Blocked
· Not Fighting Muslims, Plurality Must Be Saved, Says New Bengal BJP Prez Samik
· Partition survivor who was saved by a Muslim dies at 102
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South Asia
· Russia Officially Recognizes Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
· Forced Disappearance: Bangladesh Army To Take Legal Action If Any Member Found Complicit
· Amir al-Mu’mininAddresses Judicial Reform Seminar in Kandahar
· ICT to deliver indictment order in Chankharpul case on crimes against humanity on July 14
· Dhaka to continue efforts for Hasina’s extradition: Touhid
· Over 80,000 children returned from Iran to Afghanistan in one Month: Save the Children
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Africa
· Egypt on alert as giant dam in Ethiopia completed
· Zamfara Assembly Threatens To Impeach Governor Lawal, Give Reasons
· I Never Stole Anything In Politics, Anybody Who Says I Deceived Them Should Come Forward – Amaechi Throws Challenge
· Why Peter Obi Should Not Be A Vice Presidential Candidate In Opposition Coalition – Datti Baba-Ahmed
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Arab World
· How AI is Transforming Saudi Businesses, From Homegrown Startups To Global Creative Agencies
· Diriyah House Showroom Introduces Saudi Arabia’s ‘City Of Earth’ Jewel To London
· AI Training For 334,000 Saudi Citizens Completed
· Saudi crown prince receives UAE national security advisor
· Need for global collaboration to fight drought stressed
· Saudi Shoura Council members visit Turkish parliament
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Mideast
· Al-Din Al-Houthi:Yemeni People March In ‘Million-Man March In Jihad’ For Sake Of Allah, In Support Of Palestine
· Iran committed to Non-Proliferation Treaty, foreign minister says
· Kurdish fighters in northern Iraq to hand over weapons in first step toward disarmament
· Palestine: Occupier stormed Aqsa Mosque 25 times, prevented calls for prayers in Ibrahimi Mosque 89 times
· Trump expects Hamas decision in 24 hours on ‘final’ Gaza peace proposal
· Jordanian and Vatican officials discuss promotion of Petra as destination for Christian pilgrims
· Last lifelines in Gaza are being cut, UN chief warns
· US imposes fresh sanctions targeting Iran oil trade, Hezbollah
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Europe
· UN Expert Urges States To Cut Israel Trade Ties Over ‘Apocalyptic’ Gaza Situation
· Roadblocks replace rallies as Serbian protesters demand new elections
· Austria to change two streets named after Nazi supportersThe need to acknowledge Muslim antisemitism
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Pakistan
· 30 Indian-Sponsored Terrorists Killed In Foiled Border Infiltration: ISPR
· PPP Lauds Iran’s Resilience Against Israel
· Hanif Abbasi urges PTI to adopt flexible stance for dialogue
· In a country where alcohol is banned, Pakistan’s top brewery has to make changes
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Southeast Asia
· Prabowo to Form Special Team for Indonesian Village Project in Mecca
· JAKIM ready to assist Melaka in verifying calligraphy in mosques, surau
· IGP: Malaysia risks becoming terror transit hub as IS-linked Bangladeshis recruit migrant workers via social media
· Anwar eyes long-term benefits from stronger Malaysia-France relations ahead of Macron meeting
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North America
· Texas GOP Blasts Bo French for Antisemitism, Ignores His Muslim Hate
· CAIR Urges Congress to Reject ‘Sociopathic, Israel First’ Bunker Buster Act
· Kilmar Ábrego García alleges torture and abuse in El Salvador prison
· US still ‘giving weapons’ to Kiev – Trump
· Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ passes US House
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/hindu-students-islamic-kota-school/d/136081
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Hindu Students Made To Recite Islamic Verse (Kalma) - An Islamic Declaration Of Faith - In Kota School
Jul 3, 2025
A screengrab from the footage that went viral
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A controversy erupted in Rajasthan after a video surfaced on social media showing Hindu students being made to recite Islamic verses (Kalma) during a morning prayer session.
The incident, which occurred at Bakhshi Springdales School in Kota, has sparked outrage among Hindu outfits, who have warned of massive protests if action was not taken against the management.
At the centre of the row is a video showing students reciting the Kalma - an Islamic declaration of faith - during the school assembly. The school authorities, however, said the footage was several years old and was recorded during an annual function.
Amid the uproar, the school director said that for the past 30 years, the institution has followed a "Sarva Dharma Prarthana" tradition, where prayers of all faiths are recited.
The school director said he himself was a retired naval officer and his father also served in the Army and fought three wars. "Education has no religion. We do Sarva Dharma Prarthana while respecting all religions," he said.
An investigation has also been launched by the district education department. An inquiry team, led by the chief block education officer of Kota, visited the school and spoke with students.
HINDU OUTFITS WARN OF PROTESTS
However, it has done little to soothe matters. Several Hindu organisations alleged that religious views were being imposed on students and demanded immediate action. The outfits have also warned of larger protests.
District Education Officer Krishna Kumar Sharma said a thorough probe was being conducted, and appropriate action would be taken under departmental guidelines.
"Yesterday, we received a video that appeared to show a specific religious prayer being recited at a school. Upon receiving the video, we immediately formed an inquiry committee. Once we receive the report, appropriate action will be taken. As it is a CBSE-affiliated school, the report will also be forwarded to the board," Sharma said.
Source: indiatoday.in
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Maintaining The Dignity Of Devbhoomi (Land of God), Uttarakhand Demolishes Five Illegal Mazars In Kundeshwari
Narendra Sethi
03 Jul 2025
The demolition in Kundeshwari sends a clear message that the administration's resolve to curb illegal encroachments is not merely on paper but is being rigorously implemented on the ground. Photo | Special arrangement
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DEHRADUN: In a significant crackdown, the district administration on July 3 demolished five illegal 'Mazars' constructed on government land in the Kundeshwari area of Kashipur.
The action was taken pursuant to directives from Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, who has consistently warned that religious encroachments on State land will not be tolerated.
The structures had been illegally erected under the guise of religious activities on the government's Ambagh land, a government property in Kundeshwari.
Despite prior notices issued by the administration, no valid documents were presented within the stipulated timeframe. The demolition drive was then carried out under the supervision of Sub-Divisional Magistrate Abhay Pratap Singh.
This latest action is part of a broader, statewide drive led by Chief Minister Dhami, under which a total of 538 illegal mazars have been removed across Uttarakhand.
The government maintains that while faith will be respected, its misuse for illegal land occupation will not be tolerated at any cost.
The demolition in Kundeshwari sends a clear message that the administration's resolve to curb illegal encroachments is not merely on paper but is being rigorously implemented on the ground.
Chief Minister Dhami reiterated his government's commitment to preserving the state's sanctity. "Maintaining the dignity of Devbhoomi, the supremacy of law, and cultural sanctity is the government's top priority," he stated, vowing that similar stringent actions would continue against all illegal occupiers of government land.
Commenting on the ongoing drive against encroachments under the guise of religious structures, Uttarakhand BJP state spokesperson Honey Pathak told TNIE, "As a political party, the BJP does not oppose any religion. However, the government and the party will not tolerate such acts in Devbhoomi under the guise of religion, and campaigns against such illegal encroachments will continue in the future. This applies to encroachers regardless of their religion, caste, or community."
Source: newindianexpress.com
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https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2025/Jul/03/uttarakhand-government-demolishes-five-illegal-mazars-in-kundeshwari
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White Flag of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan Hoisted at Moscow Embassy
2025-07-04
KABUL (BNA): The white flag of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan was raised over the Afghan Embassy in Moscow for the first time on Thursday.
The move follows the official recognition of the Islamic Emirate by Russian President Vladimir Putin, a decision made in response to a proposal from Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. This recognition underscores Moscow’s intent to strengthen ties with Afghanistan amid ongoing geopolitical shifts in the region.
The raising of the flag symbolizes not only the formal acknowledgment of the Islamic Emirate’s governance but also reflects Russia’s strategic interest in enhancing its ties with Afghanistan.
Source: bakhtarnews.af
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https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/white-flag-of-the-islamic-emirate-of-afghanistan-hoisted-at-moscow-embassy/
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Darfur Civilians ‘Face Mass Atrocities And Ethnic Violence’
July 04, 2025
The paramilitaries have intensified attacks on El-Fasher. (AFP)
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KHARTOUM: Civilians in the Darfur region of Sudan face mass atrocities and ethnic violence in the civil war between the regular army and its paramilitary rivals, the charity Medecins Sans Frontieres warned on Thursday.
The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces have sought to consolidate their power in Darfur since losing control of the capital Khartoum in March. Their predecessor, the Janjaweed militia, was accused of genocide in Darfur two decades ago.
The paramilitaries have intensified attacks on El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state which they have besieged since May 2024 in an effort to push the army out of its final stronghold in the region.
“People are not only caught in indiscriminate heavy fighting ... but also actively targeted by the Rapid Support Forces and their allies, notably on the basis of their ethnicity,” said Michel-Olivier Lacharite, Medecins Sans Frontieres’ head of emergencies. There were “threats of a full-blown assault,” on El-Fasher, which is home to hundreds of thousands of people largely cut off from food and water supplies and deprived of access to medical care, he said.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original https://www.arabnews.com/node/2606840/middle-east
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Saudi Arabia and Egypt discuss implementing Arab-Islamic Plan for Gaza Reconstruction
July 03, 2025
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty during their recent meeting in Istanbul (File photo).
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RIYADH — Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty discussed the efforts to resume ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the necessary steps to implement the Arab-Islamic Plan for the Reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.
According to the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday, Minister Abdelatty discussed, in a phone call with Prince Faisal bin Farhan, the ongoing efforts to resume ceasefire in Gaza and the access of humanitarian aid to the besieged Strip, in light of the "deteriorating humanitarian conditions."
During the phone call on Wednesday evening, the ministers discussed the next steps to implement the Arab-Islamic Plan for Early Recovery and Reconstruction of Gaza. According to the statement, the two ministers also discussed the importance of compliance on the part of Israel and Iran with the ceasefire reached between them.
Cairo hosted an emergency Arab summit in early March, which adopted a comprehensive Arab plan for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, which subsequently received Islamic support.
As part of the efforts to reach a truce in Gaza, Minister Abdelatti also held phone talks with UN Secretary António Guterres, during which they discussed the latest developments in the region. On his part, Abdelatti reiterated Egypt's firm position calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages and prisoners. He also reviewed Egypt's intensive contacts with all parties to quickly reach a ceasefire.
In another call on Thursday, the Egyptian foreign minister stressed to his French counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot, the need to halt the Israeli aggression on Gaza and the West Bank, and to allow the entry of humanitarian and relief aid into the besieged Strip.
Abdelatty indicated that Egypt looks forward to hosting the international conference for early recovery and reconstruction in Gaza following a ceasefire. He called on the international community to assume its responsibilities to halt the Israeli aggression on Gaza and the West Bank.
Source: saudigazette.com.sa
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India
‘Spit Jihad’ Must Not Recur: Uttarakhand CM Issues Strict Orders Ahead Of Kanwar Yatra
Jul 3, 2025
NEW DELHI: Ahead of the annual Kanwar Yatra, Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Thursday reviewed preparations in Haridwar and directed officials to prevent any repeat of incidents labelled as "spit jihad", a term controversially used by BJP leaders to describe alleged instances of food tampering during previous yatras.
“Efforts are on to ensure that the Kanwariyas coming to Haridwar return with a good experience. Incidents of 'spit jihad' have happened during the Kanwar Yatra earlier. I have asked officials to ensure they are not repeated,” Dhami told reporters after a high-level review meeting with officials.
What is ‘Spit Jihad’?
The term gained traction after videos emerged in past years showing individuals allegedly spitting into food, one at a roadside dhaba while preparing rotis and another involving a fruit vendor reportedly spitting on apples. These videos triggered outrage and communal tensions, prompting crackdowns in several parts of the country.
To counter such incidents, the Uttarakhand government has directed all dhaba, restaurant, hotel, and roadside eatery owners along the Kanwar Yatra route to prominently display their food licenses, with the goal of ensuring hygienic practices and accountability.
Yatra guidelines and safety measures
The Kanwar Yatra, a two-week-long pilgrimage beginning next week, will see thousands of Shiva devotees from across the country arrive in Haridwar to collect holy Ganga water.
While extending a warm welcome to all Kanwariyas, CM Dhami also urged pilgrims to follow the yatra guidelines. “They shouldn’t cause sound pollution by playing loud DJs. They should also keep the Kanwar size within prescribed limits,” he added.
Source: indiatimes.com
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Can they ask Muslims to speak Marathi? Minister's dig over shopkeeper's assault
Jul 4, 2025
BJP leader and Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane gave a sharp warning to Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) amid furore over the recent assault on a shopkeeper, who refused to speak Marathi. Asking if the MNS workers have the courage to beat up Muslims who also cannot speak Marathi, Rane warned if Hindus are attacked, the Mahayuti government's "third eye" will be awakened.
"Do those with beards and circular caps speak Marathi? Do they speak pure Marathi? They (MNS workers) don't have the courage to go to Muslim localities and thrash those people. Do Javed Akhtar and Aamir Khan speak Marathi? They don't have the courage to make them (Akhtar and Khan) speak Marathi. How dare you only attack poor Hindus. This government has been formed by the Hindus, and bears Hindutva mentality. Hence, if anyone attempts to attack the Hindus, our government's third eye will be awakened," Rane told reporters.
His remarks come days after a video of MNS workers confronting and then thrashing a shopkeeper inside his sweet shop on Mumbai's Mira Road went viral. The men allegedly took offence after the shopkeeper said he was not aware that knowing Marathi was compulsory. The men rained down slaps on the man and also abused him, especially after he responded that all languages are spoken in Maharashtra, which seemed to rile up the MNS workers even more.
An FIR was lodged against seven MNS workers under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including charges of spreading unrest. An investigation is underway.
Santosh Rane, MNS's Mira-Bhayander district president, defended the action, saying if anyone insults the Marathi language, "the MNS will respond in this manner".
Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray weighed in on the controversy, appearing to echo the MNS leader. "We want that our mother tongue Marathi is not insulted, and no language is forcefully imposed."
The MNS has been at the forefront of opposing the three-language policy by the BJP. Furthermore, such incidents of them assaulting people who don't know Marathi have come to the surface.
Source: indiatoday.in
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Storyhttps://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/nitesh-rane-maharashtra-language-row-marathi-shopkeeper-assault-video-viral-javed-akhtar-aamir-khan-muslims-2750677-2025-07-04
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Social media a/cs of Pakistani celebs stay blocked
Jul 4, 2025
NEW DELHI: The social media accounts of several Pakistani actors and cricketers remain blocked after it was reported that certain celeb accounts were now accessible to Indian users.
On Wednesday, Instagram accounts of certain Pakistan actors, including Mawra Hocane, Saba Qamar, Ahad Raza Mir, Yumna Zaidi, and Danish Taimoor, briefly appeared to be accessible to the Indian audience. This sparked outrage. However, as of Thursday morning these accounts continue to be withheld in country.
Upon searching for their accounts, users can see a message: "Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content." However, YouTube channels of Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Akhtar and entertainment channels like Green TV are still available for viewing in India.
However, prominent Pakistani actors, such as Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan, and Hania Aamir, are still not accessible to Indian users on Instagram, as their accounts remain blocked.
India had banned social media of several Pakistani actors and cricketers after they reportedly spewed anti-India content after Operation Sindoor, which was launched on May 7 in response to a terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives.
Earlier in April, India had announced a ban on 16 Pakistani YouTube channels for spreading provocative and communally sensitive content and misinformation against India, its Army and security agencies in the backdrop of Pahalgam attack.
The significant action followed recommendations of ministry of home affairs (MHA). These channels were found to be disseminating false and unverified information related to India's national security, foreign relations, and public order.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/social-media-a/cs-of-pakistani-celebs-stay-blocked/articleshow/122236272.cms
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Not fighting Muslims, plurality must be saved, says new Bengal BJP prez Samik
Jul 4, 2025
Kolkata: BJP "isn't fighting Muslims... and the state's plurality needs to be saved", Samik Bhattacharya said on Thursday after taking over as the party's new state president.
"There is a conscious effort to divide Bengal on basis of religion. The minority community should understand that we are not fighting against them. We are fighting against the forces that shove stones in their boys' hands. We want to replace stones with books. We want to replace the swords in their hands with pens," Bhattacharya said in his first speech after being unanimously elected state BJP's president.
Bhattacharya's line contrasts sharply with the shrill anti-Muslim pitch adopted by his BJP colleague and assembly opposition leader, Suvendu Adhikari, and comes after his party's abject defeat in the Kaliganj assembly bypoll. Kaliganj is a Muslim-majority constituency in Nadia. BJP was the only party that saw its vote share dip (from 31% in 2021 to 28.2% now), prompting Trinamool to emphasise how BJP had failed to hold on to even its majority-community votes.
It remains to be seen whether Bhattacharya's colleagues in the party keep up their anti-Muslim pitch even as he takes a conciliatory approach, which would indicate the party has hit on a good cop-bad cop strategy with Bengal's 2.5 crore-odd Muslim voters.
"Look at Bengal's villages. Morchhe Musalman, marchhe Musalman (Muslims are killing and Muslims are dying). Who is responsible for this situation? Those who do not like the BJP may not vote for us. But they should accept that 90% of the people killed in the last three years have been Muslims," he said.
"The BJP wants visarjan and Muharram processions to walk side by side without any malice against each other. We do not want riots. We want the minority youth to know Bengal through the eyes of Syed Mujtaba Ali and Kazi Nazrul Islam, not terrorists. We want to save Bengal's plurality," Bhattacharya said, harping on communal amity with the entire Bengal BJP leadership and former union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on the dais.
"Bengal's voters know that only the BJP can defeat the Trinamool. The binary, created in 2019 Lok Sabha, was intact even in Kaliganj. The Trinamool will have to go now," he said, adding: "People have rejected Mamata Banerjee and want investment and jobs. People will have the last word this time."
Source: indiatimes.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/not-fighting-muslims-plurality-must-be-saved-says-new-bengal-bjp-prez-samik/articleshow/122235519.cms
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Partition survivor who was saved by a Muslim dies at 102
Jul 4, 2025
PATIALA: One of the last survivors of the 1947 Partition died in Dhainthal village of Punjab's Patiala on Tuesday, aged 102. Ram Krishan Singh's life reflected the horrors of communal violence as well as the courage and compassion that shone through despite the bloodshed.
Ram Krishan was about 24-years-old during the division of India into two nations, which led to violent upheaval in Punjab. In Aug 1947, a mob murdered his father, Jeona Singh, a carpenter and bullockcart manufacturer, in Dhainthal after he refused to abandon their ancestral home.
"My father was killed during those days of hate. Before Partition, our village was largely Muslim, with a few Sikh and Hindu families. Children played in each other's homes. Then, suddenly everything changed," Ram Krishan Singh had recalled in an interview with a web channel, Azad Bol Punjabi, four years ago.
As communal tensions escalated, Ram Krishan and other family members temporarily fled to nearby Tullewal village. Jeona Singh stayed back to guard their home, along with an elderly Nihang. When Muslim families began migrating to Pakistan, a mob entered Dhainthal and killed Jeona in his home.
Ram Krishan's grandson, Hardeep Singh Gahir, a assistant public relations officer in Patiala, said his grandfather went back in search of his father, only to face a grim reality.
Gahir said, "The Nihang who survived told my grandfather that he had to cremate Jeona in a tandoor using cow-dung cakes because there was no safe way to arrange a funeral."
During the strife, Ram Krishan's life was spared by an unexpected act of humanity. When he and other family members were cornered by an armed group, a Muslim villager intervened to protect him. This stranger's bravery became a story Ram Krishan frequently recounted. Gahir shared, "Even in his last years, he would recall with gratitude how a Muslim man risked his own life to save him."
Following Partition, the family's life in Dhainthal changed permanently. Jeona's wife, who was pregnant at the time, gave birth to a daughter, Mohinder Kaur, two months after Partition. Ram Krishan delayed his own marriage until he was 30 as the family rebuilt their lives. He continued the carpentry tradition, and his son Balwinder Singh still practises the craft, using modern techniques. "Ram Krishan lived quietly, serving as a witness to history's cruellest chapter and exemplifying resilience. His life was a reminder that even in times of hatred, acts of kindness could echo across generations," said his family.
Source: indiatimes.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/partition-survivor-who-was-saved-by-a-muslim-dies-at-102/articleshow/122236338.cms
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South Asia
Russia Officially Recognizes Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
2025-07-04
KABUL(BNA): Russia has officially recognized the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, marking a pivotal moment in the diplomatic ties between the two countries.
The announcement was made during a meeting between Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Mawlavi Amir Khan Muttaqi and Russian Ambassador to Kabul Dmitry Zhirnov.
During the meeting, Ambassador Zhirnov described the recognition as a “historic step” aimed at strengthening ties between Russia and Afghanistan. He emphasized the potential for enhanced cooperation and dialogue in various sectors.
Foreign Minister Muttaqi welcomed the decision, expressing optimism about a new phase of positive ties characterized by mutual respect and constructive interaction. He highlighted the importance of this recognition in fostering stability and development in Afghanistan.
Source: bakhtarnews.af
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Forced Disappearance: Bangladesh Army To Take Legal Action If Any Member Found Complicit
Jul 4, 2025
The army yesterday said it would take legal action if any of its members are found to have been involved in enforced disappearances.
Colonel Shafiqul Islam, military operations directorate staff colonel of the Army Headquarters, said this at a press briefing at the Officers' Mess in Dhaka Cantonment.
"Some army members are deputed to various agencies that are not directly controlled by the army. Allegations have surfaced against some of them, and an investigation is currently underway. If any of them are found involved [in enforced disappearance], appropriate legal action will follow."
Col Shafiqul further said the army has been assisting the government in addressing enforced disappearances and related investigations, and will continue to do so. "We're willing to provide assistance and protection if the families [of enforced disappearance victims] request it."
His remarks came in the wake of a recent report by the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, which called on Bangladesh to end widespread impunity regarding enforced disappearances and to ensure accountability within its military, law enforcement, and intelligence agencies.
On the upcoming national election, Col Shafiqul said the army has not yet received formal instructions from the Election Commission. "However, we are fully prepared to assist, once directed, in ensuring a free and fair election."
Regarding law and order, he said that around 80 percent of the firearms looted following last year's uprising have been recovered, with efforts underway to recover the rest before the polls.
According to Police Headquarters, 5,753 firearms were reportedly looted from police stations across the country after the fall of the AL regime on August 5 last year.
Speaking on the issue of juvenile gangs ("kishore gang"), Col Shafiqul said over 400 gang members have been arrested so far. "We cannot be present in every alleyway, but we respond immediately when we receive information in this regard."
The army has also pledged firm action against mob violence and activities that may cause public sufferings or damage to lives and property, Col Shafiqul said.
Citing the mob attack on former Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda in Uttara on June 22, he said, "You already know we arrested one of the six suspects the very next day and produced him before a court as per legal procedure. After that, if they get bail, you know the army has nothing to do. But when it comes to any incident of mob violence or public suffering, we, the Bangladesh army, have been vigilant in the past, the present and will be in the future."
Earlier, reading out a press statement, Col Shafiqul said the army responded promptly to the widely circulated video of a brutal assault on a woman in Muradnagar.
"With the help of local authorities, the army brought the situation under control and arrested five people, including the prime accused … Efforts are ongoing to ensure the victim's and her family's safety and dignity."
He added that since August 2024, the army has detained at least 15,646 people, including listed criminals, teen gang members, drug dealers, and robbers.
It has also recovered 26 illegal firearms and 100 rounds of ammunition during this period -- bringing the total number of seized firearms to 9,692 and ammunition rounds to 286,854.
In the past two weeks alone, 562 individuals were arrested in joint drives across the country, including 45 drug dealers, bringing the total number of narcotics-related arrests to 5,521.
The army has also conducted raids to curb food adulteration and smuggling, seizing contraband worth crores of taka and shutting down illegal operations.
In the Chittagong Hill Tracts, 23 individuals were arrested, 13 firearms recovered, and a United People's Democratic Front camp dismantled, Col Shafiqul said. One soldier was injured in an operation in Rangamati.
Separately, two Kuki National Army operatives were killed in a recent gunfight, with arms and documents recovered. The operation is ongoing.
Additionally, the army treated 4,790 people injured in the July uprising, with 22 still under care. Troops also ensured security during Rath Yatra and continue to support communal harmony and the safety of foreign missions.
In Bandarban, the army is assisting displaced members of the Bawm community to safely return home amid improving conditions, he added.
Source: thedailystar.net
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/forced-disappearance-army-take-legal-action-if-any-member-found-complicit-3931701
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Amir al-Mu’mininAddresses Judicial Reform Seminar in Kandahar
2025-07-03
KABUL (BNA): The Supreme Leader, Amir al-Mu’minin (Hafizahullah) delivered a comprehensive address at a three-day judicial reform and training seminar in Kandahar, attended by senior officials including the Chief Justice, Supreme Court deputies, heads of military and appellate courts, provincial judges, and other judicial leaders.
According to a statement from the Presidential Palace, the Amir al-Mumineen provided essential guidance, praised the services of judicial officials, and gave a detailed talk on the wisdom, rulings, honor, and responsibility of the judiciary in light of the Qur’an and Sunnah. He noted that the Prophet Muhammad (ṣallallāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) personally administered justice, issued rulings, and implemented legal limits.
He emphasized, “The judiciary is a cornerstone of the Islamic system. Through courts, people’s lives, property, and dignity are protected. Sitting for justice with sincere intention brings the reward of a year’s worship. Justice eliminates chaos, preserves order, and ensures the survival of the Islamic system.”
Without a functioning judiciary, he warned, oppression spreads unchecked, and the voices of the oppressed go unheard.
He said, “Allah appoints judges to guide and reform society. A just judge is beloved to Allah and destined for Paradise. Judges serve as the representatives of the Imam and are entrusted with upholding justice, thereby earning public trust and safeguarding rights.”
He added, “It is a divine favor that the groundwork for implementing Sharia and Islamic law has been laid in our time. Reviving religion today requires patience and steadfastness. Scholars and judges must present Islam and Sharia through action.”
He further stressed the judiciary’s vital role in achieving the objectives of jihad, reviving Islamic values, and implementing justice, noting that the entire Islamic system supports the courts.
In closing, he urged judges to embody piety and humility, to make Allah’s pleasure their only goal in rulings, and to document their experiences to guide future judges. He advised them to nurture the younger generation, support inmates, ensure fairness between plaintiffs and defendants, and cooperate with all institutions.
Source: bakhtarnews.af
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ICT to deliver indictment order in Chankharpul case on crimes against humanity on July 14
03 Jul 2025
DHAKA, July 3, 2025 (BSS) - The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 today has set July 14 next for passing order on charge framing in a case filed under crimes against humanity over the killings of six innocent people in the city's Chankharpul area on August 5, 2024.
The three-member panel of the ICT-1 led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder passed the order as the prosecution argued for framing charges and the defence, on the other hand, took part in the hearing on discharge petitions.
Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam, prosecutors Mizanul Islam, BM Sultan Mahmud and Gazi MH Tamim took part in the hearing and pleaded to frame charges.
Advocate Saddam Hossain Ovy argued for accused Inspector Arshad, Barrister Sifat Mahmud for constable Md Sujon, Advocate Shibli Sadekin for constable Imaj Hossain Emon, Advocate Abul Hasan for constable Nasirul Islam and state appointed counsel Advocate Md Kutubuddin defended four fugitive accused at the tribunal.
The ICT-1 on June 3 ordered authorities concerned to publish notice on two national dailies, asking four fugitive accused to appear before it. Four fugitives of the case are former Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Habibur Rahman, former DMP Joint Commissioner Sudip Kumar Chakraborty, former Additional Deputy Commissioner Shah Alam Mohammad Akhtarul Islam and former Assistant Commissioner of Ramna Zone of DMP Mohammad Imrul.
The notice was published on the next day. The four fugitives, however, remained absent, prompting the tribunal to appoint Advocate Md Kutubuddin as the state defence to defend the accused.
The prosecution on May 25 filed the formal charge against eight in the case. It was the maiden formal charge filed at the ICT in the cases lodged over July-August mass uprising.
Shahriar Khan Anas, Sheikh Mahdi Hasan Zunayed, Md Yakub, Md Rakib Hawlader, Md Ismamul Haque and Manik Miah were martyred in Chankharpul area on August 5.
The investigation agency of the tribunal filed the 90-page probe report on April 20 while the investigation agency prepared the probe report in six months and 13 days.
Testimonies of 79 witnesses have been recorded, 19 video footages, 11 news paper reports, two audio files, 11 books or reports and six death certificates were attached with the report, Muhammad Tajul Islam said earlier.
Source: bssnews.net
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Dhaka to continue efforts for Hasina’s extradition: Touhid
Jul 4, 2025
Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain yesterday said the government would continue to pursue the extradition of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who has reportedly been in India since August 5 last year.
"I don't know who regrets how much, but we see the matter this way -- if necessary, the matter will be followed up," he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs when asked whether there was any regret over the government's failure to bring Hasina back nearly a year after the formal request.
Bangladesh sent a diplomatic note (note verbale) to India in December last year, along with a set of supporting documents, formally requesting Hasina's extradition.
He also said Dhaka has sought detailed information from Kuala Lumpur authorities regarding the arrest of 36 Bangladeshi nationals in Malaysia on alleged militancy charges.
Hossain said Dhaka will verify the allegations against the arrested individuals to determine whether they were involved in militancy.
"If they are found to be involved, we will ensure their punishment," he added.
Responding to a question on whether the incident could negatively impact the issuance of Malaysian visas to Bangladeshi nationals in the future, the adviser said, "Any negative incident can affect visa issuance … we cannot say it will not have an impact."
However, he noted that it is important to take appropriate measures in such cases to minimise any potential impact. "If we take proper steps, the impact can be minimised," he added.
On the issue of water-sharing agreements, including the pending Teesta deal and the renewal of the 30-year-old Ganges Water Sharing Treaty -- set to expire next year -- Hossain stressed that such matters need to be resolved through bilateral discussions.
Regarding media reports suggesting that a recent meeting between Dhaka, Beijing, and Islamabad was intended as an alternative alliance to Saarc, Hossain clarified that this interpretation was inaccurate.
The meeting never seemed to be an alternative to Saarc, he said, adding that it was a meeting to discuss some areas of cooperation and was in no way an alliance.
Source: thedailystar.net
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Over 80,000 children returned from Iran to Afghanistan in one Month: Save the Children
By Fidel Rahmati
July 4, 2025
Over 80,000 children returned from Iran to Afghanistan in June, significantly increasing the strain on local services and exacerbating the crisis.
Save the Children has reported that over 80,000 Afghan children returned from Iran to Afghanistan in June 2025, marking a significant increase compared to the previous month. This surge in returnees is putting Afghanistan’s already fragile service structures under immense strain, raising concerns about the country’s ability to manage the influx.
The report, published on Wednesday, July 2nd, highlighted that among these children, 6,700 were unaccompanied. Furthermore, around 39% of these children were forcibly returned from Iran. This sharp rise in numbers is exacerbating the already precarious situation in Afghanistan.
Following the announcement of a ceasefire between Iran and Israel on 24th June, more than 36,000 individuals entered Afghanistan in a single day. This unprecedented flow of people has intensified the challenges facing Afghanistan’s already overwhelmed infrastructure and resources.
Samira Sayed Rahman, Advocacy Manager for Save the Children, noted that many families arriving in Afghanistan had only what they could carry. She described their conditions as exhausted, frightened, and anxious. She emphasized that the international community must not turn a blind eye to this crisis and must act urgently to help Afghan children and families.
In response to the growing crisis, Save the Children has established two child support centers in Herat. These centers provide psychological services and safe spaces where children can play, offering some relief amid the dire circumstances.
The sharp increase in returnees from Iran underscores the critical need for international support to address Afghanistan’s mounting humanitarian challenges. Immediate action is necessary to prevent the further deterioration of the situation.
With thousands of children continuing to enter Afghanistan every day, organizations like UNICEF are calling for urgent intervention. Without swift and coordinated efforts, the crisis risks escalating, with devastating consequences for Afghanistan’s children and families.
Source: khaama.com
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Africa
Egypt on alert as giant dam in Ethiopia completed
July 04, 2025
ADDIS ABABA: Ethiopia moved on Thursday to reassure Egypt about its water supply after completing work on a controversial giant $4 billion dam on the Blue Nile.
“To our neighbors downstream, our message is clear: the dam is not a threat, but a shared opportunity,” Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said.
“The energy and development it will generate stand to uplift not just Ethiopia. We believe in shared progress, shared energy, and shared water. Prosperity for one should mean prosperity for all.”
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is 1.8 km wide and 145 meters high, and is Africa's largest hydroelectric project. It can hold 74 billion cubic meters of water and generate more than 5,000 megawatts of power — more than double Ethiopia’s current output. It will begin full operations in September.
Egypt already suffers from severe water scarcity and sees the dam as an existential threat because the country relies on the Nile for 97 percent of its water. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Sudan’s leader Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan met last week and “stressed their rejection of any unilateral measures in the Blue Nile basin.” They were committed to safeguarding water security in the region, Sisi’s spokesman said.
Source: arabnews.com
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Zamfara Assembly Threatens To Impeach Governor Lawal, Give Reasons
July 3, 2025 at 8:42 PM
By Richard Ogunsile
A parallel session of the Zamfara State House of Assembly, led by Hon. Bashar Gummi, has accused Governor Dauda Lawal of gross financial mismanagement, faulting the alleged ₦9 billion earmarked for the renovation of the Yariman Bakura Teaching Hospital in Gusau.
The lawmakers, who sat in Gusau on Thursday, July 3, described the project cost as outrageous and wasteful, warning that it could trigger impeachment proceedings if clarifications are not provided within two weeks.
Naija News reports that during the plenary, members expressed outrage over what they called a questionable renovation figure.
The lawmakers argued that the teaching hospital, initially initiated by ex-Governor Aliyu Shinkafi and later completed by Governor Abdulaziz Yari at a cost of around ₦1bn, should not require nine times that amount for mere refurbishment.
“How does a project built for ₦1bn suddenly require ₦9bn just for painting?” one member queried during the heated session.
The lawmakers also raised serious concerns over the whereabouts of the ₦200 billion reportedly disbursed to the Zamfara State Government as part of the federal government’s palliatives after the removal of fuel subsidies.
They noted that ₦20bn was sent to each state monthly for 10 months, and Zamfara had received its full share.
Similarly, the Assembly questioned the handling of ₦49bn reportedly secured through the NG-CARES programme meant to support 250 youths per ward in all 147 political wards of the state, especially youths displaced by bandit attacks.
They noted that the programme funds were accessed due to a ₦2.6bn counterpart funding earlier paid by the immediate past administration under Governor Bello Matawalle.
“We demand a full financial breakdown. If we don’t receive satisfactory explanations in two weeks, we will have no choice but to initiate impeachment processes,” The PUNCH quoted a lawmaker as saying.
Beyond the financial queries, the lawmakers took turns decrying the worsening state of security in Zamfara.
Hon. Aliyu Kagara (Talata Mafara South) said the governor appears to have lost control, adding that criminals now operate brazenly across major roads.
“Travelling through the Gusau/Maru/Talata Mafara road is like walking into death. People are kidnapped, and the government is silent,” he said.
He narrated how bandits collected ₦17 million from Morai villagers for the release of their relatives, yet failed to release them even after receiving the ransom.
According to Kagara, the government’s silence has emboldened criminals and discouraged the public.
Adding to the criticism, Hon. Nasiru Maru (Maru North) urged the House to push for educational reforms, including free education and scholarships for indigenes.
On his part, Hon. Ibrahim Tudu Tukur (Bakura) called for a vote of no confidence on Governor Lawal, accusing him of dividing the state and marginalising Islamic leaders.
He said the governor’s actions had eroded public trust and destabilised the unity of the state.
“The governor has not only failed on security and governance, but he is also on a mission to destroy the religious institutions by tampering with the Ulama Council,” Tukur alleged.
The session ended with a strong resolution calling on the executive arm to address the issues raised or face dire legislative consequences urgently.
Source: naijanews.com
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I Never Stole Anything In Politics, Anybody Who Says I Deceived Them Should Come Forward – Amaechi Throws Challenge
July 4, 2025
By Justina Otio
Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has stated that his record in office remains untainted, adding that he never stole from the public purse.
He urged anyone who feels otherwise or believes he has deceived them to come forward and challenge him.
The ex-Rivers State governor made the remarks on Thursday while appearing as a guest on Channels Television’s prime programme, Politics Today.
“I never stole anything in politics. I don’t drive a Rolls-Royce. I’m not in opposition because Tinubu didn’t give me an appointment. I’m not interested in any appointment.
“If there’s anyone who says Amaechi deceived them, let them come forward. If there was corruption in my tenure, let them come forward. I’m waiting,” he said.
Speaking further, he dismissed claims that he is opposing the administration of President Bola Tinubu because he did not get a ministerial appointment.
Amaechi insisted that his criticism of the president is not personal, adding that he would have been the first to sing the President’s praises if he believed the administration was performing well.
He asserted that while former President Muhammadu Buhari did not achieve all his goals, he still performed better than the current administration led by President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Not everything was achieved. Buhari will tell you that he did not achieve all that he planned for. But then, he was better than the current government by all standards.
“If Tinubu was doing well, I’d be the first to sing his praises. I feel ashamed for a President commissioning 16 kilometres of road, that’s what a local government chairman should be doing,” he stated.
Speaking on his ability to lead Nigeria, Amaechi, who is part of the ongoing coalition talks, declared that he has what it takes to deliver results where the current government is failing.
“Of course, can I lead Nigeria? Yes. I have led as a Speaker, and I was one of the best Speakers in this country.
“Nigerians would not have been this hungry if I had become President. There is absolutely no way we would have this level of insecurity under me,” he said.
Source: naijanews.com
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Why Peter Obi Should Not Be A Vice Presidential Candidate In Opposition Coalition – Datti Baba-Ahmed
July 4, 2025
By Justina Otio
Former Labour Party (LP) vice presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, has stated that it would be undeserving for the former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, to be offered a vice presidential ticket in the newly formed African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition.
According to Baba-Ahmed, Obi should not run as a vice presidential candidate due to his performance in the 2023 election.
He stated this while speaking on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Thursday.
The former Vice Presidential candidate stated that the coalition’s presidential ticket is between the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and Obi.
He, however, insisted that Obi should not be a deputy to anyone for the 2027 election.
“The position of VP is very big. Anyway, I wanted to be, and I was rigged out. But I think Peter Obi should not be a VP, having gotten a disputed 10 million votes,” he said.
The Kaduna politician also disagreed with the narrative that only the coalition of opposition politicians can defeat President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Citing the 2023 election, he claimed that the Labour Party defeated Tinubu and Atiku without a coalition.
“It’s all about a narrative that was sold out to Nigeria very quickly, that to defeat Tinubu, it has to be a coalition. Coalition is good, but in 2023 we defeated APC, PDP. There was no coalition in Labor Party.”
Baba-Ahmed argued that Nigeria’s real coalition needs to be formed in the ballot boxes, not through the association of opposition politicians.
According to him, no law says coalition is the only means through which a ruling party can be defeated.
“The real coalition we need is in the ballot box. The real coalition is of votes at the ballot box. You protect them all the way to declaration,” he stated.
Source: naijanews.com
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Arab World
How AI is transforming Saudi businesses, from homegrown startups to global creative agencies
July 03, 2025
RIYADH: Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the landscape for small businesses, offering innovative solutions that enhance efficiency, creativity, and competitiveness. As technology evolves, many entrepreneurs are leveraging AI tools to streamline operations and drive growth.
One of the most significant advantages of AI is its ability to automate repetitive tasks. Tools like chatbots can handle customer inquiries around the clock, freeing up valuable time for business owners to focus on strategic initiatives.
This not only improves customer service but also enhances overall efficiency.
AI-powered analytics platforms can process vast amounts of data, providing actionable insights that help businesses make informed decisions based on market trends and consumer behavior.
In this dynamic environment, AI is transforming small business operations.
A notable example is Hams Nabeel, a working mother who founded her business, Thikra, to preserve cherished memories for families.
“There was a clear need for my business idea,” she told Arab News. “Since I had my daughter, I wanted to preserve her hospital items — like her hat, blanket, and hand bracelet — all in one place.”
AI has become crucial in Nabeel’s entrepreneurial journey, streamlining various aspects of her operations. “ChatGPT helped me expand my business by crafting a clear structural plan,” she said.
What typically took weeks can now be accomplished in minutes, providing clarity when she faced uncertainties.
AI also assisted Nabeel in comparing 3D printers and defining her business’s vision. “AI guided me in crafting my mission and vision and even generated social media posts,” she said.
For financial management, she relies on QuickBooks, which automates tasks and offers valuable insights. Furthermore, Nabeel uses Salla, a website creation tool that simplifies online store management.
Creating a business is so easy with Salla,” she said, allowing her to focus on creativity rather than technical details.
In creative sectors, AI tools are essential for content creation and design. From generating social media posts to developing marketing materials, AI helps small business owners maintain a robust online presence without extensive resources.
“We have traditionally always been creatives before tech developers, but with AI it is now enabling us to combine both,” Denis Bodart, who operates a creative animation agency called Feed Me Light in London and Riyadh, told Arab News.
“We are now building more creative tools and AI products, including a new SaaS (Software as a Service) platform focused on the out-of-home advertising sector, which allows us to dynamically display content on various screens at once.
“Imagine walking through a city filled with screens that communicate and showcase engaging, interactive content. For example, the displays can respond to the latest football or esports results, presenting teams in an exciting manner.
“They can also adapt to weather conditions and customize their content based on audience presence in events, venues, and shops.”
Bodart highlighted how AI agents support his team. “By training AI agents to understand our business more, we can use these agents to help support our teams, providing a helping hand with more repetitive tasks such as receipts, bookings, data fetching, or even helping enhance our marketing and sales teams, amplifying our business’s online presence.”
He added: “For Saudi Arabia, the strategic integration of AI holds immense potential to create a truly transformative and positive impact on how they approach upcoming global events such as the Winter Olympics, Asian Cup, and World Cup events.
“This technology can significantly elevate fan engagement, optimize operations, and craft unparalleled experiences, setting new benchmarks for global sporting events hosted in the Kingdom.”
Integrating AI allows small businesses to provide seamless customer experiences. Automating processes like order management and payment processing enhances customer satisfaction and loyalty.
“AI has completely changed the game for small creators like me,” Salwa Beauty, a prominent social media influencer in Saudi Arabia, told Arab News. “It’s like having a full creative team in your pocket.”
Salwa utilizes AI to generate content ideas, animate scenes, write captions, and redesign photos — tasks that once required extensive time and resources.
For her fitness content, Salwa has eliminated the need for models or physical products. “I can animate people, create scenes, and even showcase products being used — all without hiring anyone or incurring upfront costs,” she said.
This capability allows her to build a complete brand presence independently, showcasing the democratizing power of AI.
The freedom AI provides is substantial for small businesses. By enabling entrepreneurs to launch ideas, test visuals, and create professional content quickly and affordably, AI empowers them to stand out in a crowded market.
“AI is literally my assistant now,” said Salwa.
AI also reduces costs associated with traditional modeling. Additionally, AI facilitates content creation and scheduling, allowing businesses to maintain a consistent online presence effortlessly.
Platforms like Salla and Zid are enhancing the landscape for small businesses in Saudi Arabia. These platforms leverage AI to optimize customer interactions, enabling efficient order scheduling, carrier connections, and targeted marketing messages based on customer data.
Such features not only save time but also enhance the overall customer experience.
AI has emerged as an invaluable asset for small businesses, offering innovative solutions that enhance productivity, creativity, and financial management. Integrating AI tools can significantly transform the entrepreneurial journey, enabling working mothers and small creators to thrive in today’s competitive market.
With AI as a partner, the possibilities for growth and success are limitless. As small businesses in Saudi Arabia continue to embrace these technologies, they open the door to a future where creativity and efficiency flourish, paving the way for new ideas and opportunities.
AI is a powerful ally for small businesses, empowering them to optimize operations, enhance marketing efforts, and improve customer experiences. As more entrepreneurs embrace these technologies, the potential for growth and innovation continues to expand. Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2606822/saudi-arabia
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Diriyah House showroom introduces Saudi Arabia’s ‘City of Earth’ jewel to London
MUSTAFA ABU SNEINEH
July 03, 2025
LONDON: The Diriyah Company launched an interactive pavilion this week in London’s Knightsbridge area to broaden the brand reach of one of Saudi Arabia’s ambitious real estate projects that combines tradition, sustainability and modern design.
The Diriyah House London, located at One Hyde Park, features interactive models that highlight the various components of Diriyah city’s master plan, including residential units, boulevards, squares, cultural venues, hotels, offices and nature parks.
The Diriyah Company, established in 2023, is also offering visitors to Harrods a pop-up showroom of the budding and historical districts of the town, following a successful month-long event held in London in July 2024.
Diriyah is a historic site situated a 15-minute drive away from downtown Riyadh and 25 minutes from King Khalid International Airport. It is renowned for its significant political and religious importance, as it is the birthplace of the Kingdom. The Al-Saud family lived there during the establishment of the first state in 1727.
It is also known as the City of Earth, due to its distinctive qualities, which include being built from bricks made from a mixture of mud, ash, sand and water. In 2010, the UNESCO designated the At-Turaif district in Diriyah as a World Heritage site, citing its Najdi architectural style.
Since 2017, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has initiated a new vision to develop Diriyah into a pedestrian-friendly city where residents can live, work and entertain, while preserving the city’s historical significance and incorporating Najdi architecture into the designs of the units for luxury brands, hotels and residential districts.
“Diriyah brings design and sustainability together. The whole vision is to unlock what it means to live and reside in a manner in which we were accustomed to doing hundreds of years ago,” Kiran Haslam, chief marketing officer for Diriyah Company, told Arab News.
“(At the same time), remain sympathetic to what you want the future urban environment to deliver — safety and community prosperity,” he said.
At least 3.5 million people have visited the At-Turaif historic district since it partially opened to the public in 2022, known for its mud exterior walls that are beautifully illuminated at night, creating an enchanting sight. Since then, the developed dining areas of Buajiri Terrace and Zallal have provided their 120,000 monthly visitors with a taste of what it is like to live in a city within a 15-minute drive of the Saudi metropolis.
Diriyeh is a $64 billion project covering 14 sq. km, or six and a half times the size of Monaco. Mohamed Saad, the president of the Diriyah Development Company, told Arab News that there are currently 45,000 workers on the site, along with 85 tower cranes. However, the project is expected to employ at least 60,000 workers and use 158 tower cranes next year when construction begins on the second phase of the project.
His team is currently completing a pedestrianized district in Diriyeh, which spans 3.5 km in length and 1.2 km in width. They have excavated 45 meters deep to create three underground levels that include parking and the essential infrastructure a city needs, such as water and electricity.
Saad said that the main challenge of building such a project was “trying to figure out how to build modern amenities of luxury offerings and experience, but keeping the true traditional architecture of Diriyah.”
There are no motorized vehicles allowed in the pedestrianized district of Diriyah. Residents, visitors and shoppers will park their cars in the underground facility before heading to the surface. It is a complicated task of engineering, logistics and meeting sustainability standards, Saad admits. During the construction of the subterranean levels, 12.3 million cubic meters of rock and rubble have been excavated.
In 2023, the US Green Building Council awarded the Diriyah Company an accolade for achieving leadership in energy and environmental design in the first phase of Diriyah’s plan.
The town was established in the mid-15th century in Wadi Hanifah, a floodplain that has historically provided a vital source of water for the residents of Diriyah. The valley is situated on a water reservoir, and the Diriyeh Company decided to preserve it, using Saudi Arabia’s desalination technology to supply water to the town instead.
On the completion of Diriyah, an estimated 100,000 residents will live there, and another 180,000 will commute to work.
Significant parts of Diriyah are set to be completed by 2030, a pivotal year for the Kingdom across multiple sectors, including tourism, technology, aviation, energy, health and sports, as outlined in its Vision 2030. Diriyah is set to fully open the gates of At-Turaif, making it a significant attraction for visitors during the Riyadh Expo 2030.
Haslam said that Diriyah “is not separate, far-flung, it is very much in the center of the capital city. It is a city within the city.
“Riyadh is an incredible bustling city now with global recognition and Diriyah is almost like this wonderful little jewel in the landscape of Riyadh,” he said.
Source: arabnews.com
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AI training for 334,000 Saudi citizens completed
July 04, 2025
RIYADH: A total of 334,000 Saudi Arabia citizens have benefitted from a government program aimed at empowering citizens with artificial intelligence skills, according to the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority.
The “One Million Saudis in AI” program was set up in partnership with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development in September 2024.
During the keynote session of the Non-Profit Sector Forum in Education and Training 2025 in Riyadh on July 2, SDAIA chief Abdullah Alghamdi highlighted key features of the program.
He said the partnerships the authority had forged with other government agencies have positioned the Kingdom globally in empowering women in AI, and community awareness, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.
Launched at the Global AI Summit, the SAMAI initiative targets citizens across all age groups and professional backgrounds.
Alghamdi also cited several national initiatives that resulted from this collaboration, including the National Olympiad for Programming and Artificial Intelligence, or ATHKA Competition.
More than 260,000 male and female students from intermediate and secondary schools participated, with 10,000 advancing to the final stage, he said.
One key initiative cited by the SDAIA chief was the “Road to ATHKA,” which trained more than 570,000 students on AI concepts.
Another was the “Future Intelligence Programmers” initiative, which trained over 10,000 teachers.
The SDAIA and Education Ministry had also established the Center for Excellence in Education.
This was “designed to institutionalize technological integration within the education sector, sustain future-oriented initiatives, and leverage AI to enhance learning outcomes.”
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi crown prince receives UAE national security advisor
July 04, 2025
RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received UAE National Security Advisor Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan at Salam Palace in Jeddah, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The crown prince and Shiekh Tahnoun, who is also the deputy ruler of Abu Dhabi, discussed relations between the Kingdom and the UAE and ways to enhance them.
Source: arabnews.com
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Need for global collaboration to fight drought stressed
HAIFA ALSHAMMARI
July 03, 2025
RIYADH: As part of the Kingdom’s efforts to mitigate the impacts of desertification, improve air quality and achieve its sustainable development goals, Saudi Arabia, along with partners, launched the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership on the first day of the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development.
Held in Seville, Spain, from June 30 to July 3, the four-day event saw the participation of 70 countries, including attendance by local and international ministers, environmental organizations and financial development entities.
Among the participants was Saudi Deputy Minister for Environment, Water and Agriculture Osama Faqeeha.
Faqeeha, who is also the adviser to the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties Presidency, emphasized the significance of collaborative efforts and innovation to address the escalating threat of climate change that resulted in complicated and devastating environmental issues such as drought.
Faqeeha said: “The Riyadh Drought Resilience Partnership will serve as a global facilitator, a ‘one-stop shop’ for drought resilience, promoting the shift from reactive relief response after drought hits to proactive preparedness.
“We also seek to amplify global resources to save lives and livelihoods around the world.”
The deputy minister said that solutions should be applied through strategies and mechanisms to ensure enhanced resilience in the areas that were mostly affected by drought and climate change globally.
He praised the partnership with the International Drought Resilience Alliance, a global coalition that aims to build resilience against droughts and climate change.
He said it was fundamental to bridging the gap between the political and financial aspects to ensure the achievement of long-term sustainable development objectives.
The discussion highlighted some of the national efforts and strategies for environmental sustainability, including efforts by the OPEC Fund for International Development, the Islamic Development Bank and the CAF Development Bank of Latin America.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi Shoura Council members visit Turkish parliament
July 03, 2025
ANKARA: Members of the Saudi-Turkish Parliamentary Friendship Committee of the Saudi Shoura Council met with their counterparts from Turkiye during a visit to the country.
During the meeting, held in Ankara, the two sides reviewed ways to further boost their relations and discussed other topics of common interest.
The Saudi delegation also met with Numan Kurtulmus, president of the Turkish Grand National Assembly.
Source: arabnews.com
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Mideast
Al-Din Al-Houthi:Yemeni People March In ‘Million-Man March In Jihad’ For Sake Of Allah, In Support Of Palestine
03 Jul 2025
Leader of the Revolution Sayyed Abdulmalik Badr al-Din al-Houthi called on Thursday the Yemeni people to march in a million-man march tomorrow in the capital Sana'a and other governorates in Jihad for the Sake of Allah and in Support of the Oppressed Palestinian People, and to affirm the continuity and steadfastness of their stance.
In his speech, the Leader of the Revolution noted that the million-man demonstrations marking the start of the new Hijri year last Friday were met with great momentum and a distinguished popular turnout.
The leader said, "It is a divine blessing for our dear people that our country, both officially and popularly, is aligned with this conscious, jihadi, and necessary stance. All the peoples of our nation need to align with our people's stance, because it is a necessity for them and because the battle is everyone's battle."
The Leader of the Revolution emphasized that the correct position for the nation is to follow the path Allah has drawn for it, shouldering its sacred responsibilities of jihad in the cause of Allah, enjoining what is right, and forbidding what is wrong.
Source: saba.ye
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Iran committed to Non-Proliferation Treaty, foreign minister says
July 03, 2025
Iran remains committed to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and its safeguards agreement, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Thursday, a day after Tehran enacted a law suspending cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog.
“Our cooperation with the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) will be channeled through Iran’s Supreme National Security Council for obvious safety and security reasons,” Araqchi wrote in a post on X.
President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday enacted the legislation passed by parliament last week to suspend cooperation with the IAEA, a move the US called “unacceptable.”
Araqchi’s comment on X was in response to a call from Germany’s Foreign Ministry urging Tehran to reverse its decision to shelve cooperation with the IAEA.
Araqchi accused Germany of “explicit support for Israel’s unlawful attack on Iran, including safeguarded nuclear sites.”
Iran has accused the IAEA of siding with Western countries and providing a justification for Israel’sJune 13-24 airstrikes on Iranian nuclear installations, which began a day after the UN agency’s board of governors voted to declare Tehran in violation of its obligations under the NPT.
Western powers have long suspected that Iran has sought to develop the means to build atomic bombs through its declared civilian atomic energy program. Iran has repeatedly said it is enriching uranium only for peaceful nuclear ends.
IAEA inspectors are mandated to ensure compliance with the NPT by seeking to verify that nuclear programs in treaty countries are not diverted for military purposes.
The law that went into effect on Wednesday mandates that any future inspection of Iranian nuclear sites by the IAEA needs approval by Tehran’s Supreme National Security Council.
“We are aware of these reports. The IAEA is awaiting further official information from Iran,” the Vienna-based global nuclear watchdog said in a statement.
US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce told a regular briefing on Wednesday that Iran needed to cooperate fully with the IAEA without further delay.
Source: arabnews.com
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Kurdish fighters in northern Iraq to hand over weapons in first step toward disarmament
July 03, 2025
IRBIL, Iraq: A Kurdish militant group that has waged a long-running insurgency in Türkiye announced Thursday its fighters in northern Iraq will begin handing over their weapons, marking the first concrete step toward disarmament as part of a peace process.
The Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, announced in May it would disband and renounce armed conflict, ending four decades of hostilities. The move came after PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, who has been imprisoned on an island near Istanbul since 1999, urged his group in February to convene a congress and formally disband and disarm.
Ocalan, 76, continues to wield significant influence in the Kurdish movement despite his 25-year imprisonment. His call to end the fighting marked a pivotal step toward ending the decades-long conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives since the 1980s.
In the latest development, “a group of guerrilla fighters will come down from the mountains and will bid farewell to their arms in an effort to declare their good will for peace and democratic politics,” the PKK said in a statement Thursday.
The ceremony, which is expected to take place between July 10 and July 12 in the city of Sulaymaniyah in northern Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region, will be the first concrete move toward disarmament.
Zagros Hiwa, a PKK spokesperson, said the fighters will destroy their weapons “under the supervision of civil society institutions and interested parties.” The number of fighters who will take part has not yet been determined but might be between 20 and 30, he said.
For the PKK to take further steps toward disarmament, he said “the regime of isolation” imposed on Öcalan in prison “has to be abolished” and “constitutional, legal and political” must be taken to “ensure that the guerrilla who have abandoned the strategy of armed struggle could be reintegrated into democratic politics in Turkiye.”
An Iraqi Kurdish official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly, said the PKK members are expected to hand over their light weapons to the regional government.
The regional government is dominated by two parties, the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, with the KDP overseeing the regional capital, Irbil, and the city of Dohuk. The PUK governs Sulaymaniyah.
The KDP has good relations with Türkiye and has been at odds with the PKK, while the PUK is closer to the PKK.
In Türkiye on Monday, Omer Celik, a spokesperson for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party, or AKP, said the PKK could begin handing over arms “within days,” but did not provide details. Celik added that Erdogan would meet with members of the pro-Kurdish party next week to discuss the peace effort.
There was no immediate statement from Türkiye’s government on Thursday’s announcement.
The PKK has long maintained bases in the mountains of northern Iraq. Turkish forces have launched offensives and airstrikes against the PKK in Iraq and have set up bases in the area. Scores of villages have emptied as a result.
The Iraqi government in Baghdad last year announced an official ban on the separatist group, which has long been prohibited in Türkiye.
Source: arabnews.com
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Palestine: Occupier stormed Aqsa Mosque 25 times, prevented calls for prayers in Ibrahimi Mosque 89 times
03 Jul 2025
The Palestinian Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs announced in its monthly report that the Israeli enemy escalated its violations against Islamic and Christian holy sites during the month of June, most notably the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Ibrahimi Mosque.
The report, released on Thursday, indicated that the enemy and its settlers carried out more than 25 raids on the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, including the performance of Talmudic rituals. The mosque was also closed 11 times and worshippers were prevented from entering under the pretext of the "security situation." The number of worshippers inside the mosque was also limited, and dangerous Judaization measures were imposed on the Old City and the Dome of the Rock.
The report indicated that thousands of worshippers performed Eid al-Adha prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque amid severe restrictions, while occupation soldiers and settlers stormed the Dome of the Rock courtyards during the prayer, and settlers performed public rituals of singing, dancing, and clapping.
Regarding the Ibrahimi Mosque, Israeli authorities banned the call to prayer 89 times during June, closed it to worshippers and visitors for 12 consecutive days, and refused to hand it over on Eid al-Adha and the anniversary of the Prophet's migration.
The report also documented the installation of alarm devices in the mosque's corridors, the presence of a number of Israeli soldiers on its roof, the illumination of its walls with Israeli flags, the closing of its eastern gate, and the forcible lighting of the surrounding area.
The Palestinian Ministry of Endowments asserted that these measures constitute a blatant assault on its authority, an infringement on the sanctity of the Ibrahimi Mosque, a provocation of Muslim sentiments, and an attempt to impose a temporal and spatial division on it.
In the same context, the report documented Israeli forces closing the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Quds to Christian worshippers for 11 consecutive days, and storming the Great Salahi Mosque in Nablus and searching its entire facilities, including the rooms and the mosque's roof.
The Palestinian Ministry of Endowments called on the international community, human rights organizations, and religious institutions to take urgent action to stop these ongoing violations that violate freedom of worship and threaten the historical and legal status quo at holy sites.
Source: saba.ye
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Trump expects Hamas decision in 24 hours on ‘final’ Gaza peace proposal
July 04, 2025
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said on Friday it would probably be known in 24 hours whether the Palestinian militant group Hamas has agreed to accept what he has called a “final proposal” for an Israel-Hamas ceasefire in Gaza.
The president also said he had spoken to Saudi Arabia about expanding the Abraham Accords, the deal on normalization of ties that his administration negotiated between Israel and some Gulf countries during his first term.
Trump said on Tuesday Israel had accepted the conditions needed to finalize a 60-day ceasefire with Hamas, during which the parties will work to end the war.
He was asked on Friday if Hamas had agreed to the latest ceasefire deal framework, and said: “We’ll see what happens, we are going to know over the next 24 hours.”
A source close to Hamas said on Thursday the Islamist group sought guarantees that the new US-backed ceasefire proposal would lead to the end of Israel’s war in Gaza.
Two Israeli officials said those details were still being worked out. Dozens of Palestinians were killed on Thursday in Israeli strikes, according to Gaza authorities.
The latest bloodshed in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict was triggered in October 2023 when Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200 and taking about 250 hostages, Israeli tallies show.
Gaza’s health ministry says Israel’s subsequent military assault has killed over 56,000 Palestinians. It has also caused a hunger crisis, internally displaced Gaza’s entire population and prompted accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice and of war crimes at the International Criminal Court. Israel denies the accusations.
A previous two month ceasefire ended when Israeli strikes killed more than 400 Palestinians on March 18. Trump earlier this year proposed a US takeover of Gaza, which was condemned globally by rights experts, the UN and Palestinians as a proposal of “ethnic cleansing.”
Abraham Accords
Trump made the comments on the Abraham Accords when asked about US media reporting late on Thursday that he had met Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman at the White House.
“It’s one of the things we talked about,” Trump said. “I think a lot of people are going to be joining the Abraham accords,” he added, citing the predicted expansion to the damage faced by Iran from recent US and Israeli strikes.
Axios reported that after the meeting with Trump, the Saudi official spoke on the phone with Abdolrahim Mousavi, chief of Iran’s General Staff of the Armed Forces.
Trump’s meeting with the Saudi official came ahead of a visit to Washington next week by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Source: arabnews.com
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Jordanian and Vatican officials discuss promotion of Petra as destination for Christian pilgrims
July 03, 2025
LONDON: Officials from Jordan and the Vatican met on Thursday to discuss ways in which they can cooperate to advance religious tourism, including the promotion of the ancient city of Petra as a destination for Christian pilgrims.
Fares Braizat, who chairs the board of commissioners of the Petra Development and Tourism Regional Authority, said that highlighting the significance of the UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of Christian heritage itineraries could enhance Jordan’s position on the global religious tourism map.
The country has a number of important Christian sites, the most significant of which is the location on the eastern bank of the Jordan River where Jesus is said to have been baptized by John the Baptist. Several popes have visited it, including Francis and John Paul II.
Archbishop Giovanni Pietro Dal Toso, the Vatican’s ambassador to Jordan, confirmed the interest in collaborating with Jordanian authorities, and praised the nation’s stability and its rich historical and religious heritage.
Both officials acknowledged the strategic opportunity that exists to integrate Petra into pilgrimage routes for Christian travelers, the Jordan News Agency reported.
The Petra tourism authority recently lit up the Colosseum in Rome with the signature colors of the historic Jordanian site to celebrate a twinning agreement as part of a marketing strategy to attract European visitors, and to raise Petra’s profile globally as a premier cultural and spiritual tourism destination.
The Vatican itself is also a major tourism destination, for Christian pilgrims in particular. In 2025 it is expected to welcome between 30 and 35 million visitors during its latest Jubilee Year, a significant ecclesiastical event that takes place every 25 years.
Source: arabnews.com
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Last lifelines in Gaza are being cut, UN chief warns
EPHREM KOSSAIFY
July 03, 2025
NEW YORK CITY: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday said he was “appalled” by the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, condemned recent deadly strikes against displaced people, and warned that the enclave is on the brink of total collapse as fuel supplies run out.
He expressed grave concern over a series of attacks in recent days that hit locations in which Palestinians sought shelter or were trying to access food.
Guterres’ spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, read a statement that said: “Multiple attacks (have) killed and injured scores of Palestinians. The secretary-general strongly condemns the loss of civilian life.”
Civilians in Gaza are running out of safe areas in which to shelter as Israeli evacuation orders continue to expand, Dujarric added as he warned of a dire humanitarian crisis amid mounting restrictions on the delivery of aid and rising casualties among relief workers.
Israeli authorities issued a new displacement order on Thursday targeting parts of Gaza City, citing as a reason rocket fire from Palestinian groups. It affected an estimated 40,000 people, including those living in a displacement site, a medical facility, and a neighborhood previously spared evacuation orders since a temporary ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas ended in March.
“As of earlier today, about 900 families are estimated to have fled,” Dujarric said, adding that approximately 78 percent of the Gaza Strip has now been affected by the cumulative effects of more than 50 such orders. When combined with the effects on areas designated as Israeli militarized zones, the figure rises to 85 percent, leaving just 15 percent of the territory available for civilians to live.
“Those areas are, of course, overcrowded,” Dujarric said. “They also severely lack basic services or proper infrastructure.”
He described the remaining habitable zones as fragmented and unsafe, and compared the humanitarian conditions there to having more than 2 million crammed into Manhattan but
“instead of buildings, the area is strewn with the rubble of demolished and burnt-out structures without any infrastructure or basic support.”
The UN Population Fund has reported that an estimated 700,000 women and girls in Gaza are experiencing “a nightmare” situation as a result of lack of access to menstrual hygiene products, water and privacy. It said it has nearly 170 truckloads of supplies ready for delivery but they remain blocked from entering Gaza.
Meanwhile, the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that nine more aid workers from five organizations have died in Gaza since last Thursday, bringing the death toll among aid personnel to 107 in 2025, and 479 since the war began in October 2023; 326 members of UN staff are among the dead.
OCHA also highlighted the significant obstacles humanitarian operations faced in June. Out of nearly 400 attempts to coordinate with Israeli authorities, 44 percent were denied, and 10 percent were initially approved but later obstructed. Only a third of the missions were fully facilitated, while 12 percent were canceled due to logistical or security issues.
Four out of 16 humanitarian coordination efforts were denied on Thursday alone, Dujarric said, hindering efforts to relocate medical supplies and clear debris.
“The space left for civilians to stay is shrinking by the day,” he added.
In his statement, Guterres underscored the fact that international humanitarian law is “unambiguous” in its requirement for civilians to be protected and their basic needs met.
He warned that the continuing blockade on fuel deliveries, now entering an 18th week, threatens to bring remaining humanitarian operations to a halt.
“Without an urgent influx of fuel, incubators will shut down, ambulances will be unable to reach the injured and sick, and water cannot be purified,” he said, adding that the UN and its partners might soon be unable to deliver even the limited amount of aid that remains in Gaza.
Guterres repeated his call for “full, safe and sustained humanitarian access,” and said the UN has a ready, proven plan to deliver aid “safely and at scale” to civilians across the territory.
He also renewed his appeal for an “immediate, permanent ceasefire” and the “immediate and unconditional release of all hostages,” and stressed that all parties involved in the conflict must uphold their obligations under international law.
Source: arabnews.com
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US imposes fresh sanctions targeting Iran oil trade, Hezbollah
July 03, 2025
WASHINGTON: The US imposed sanctions on Thursday against a network that smuggles Iranian oil disguised as Iraqi oil, and on a Hezbollah-controlled financial institution, the Treasury Department said.
A network of companies run by Iraqi-British national Salim Ahmed Said has been buying and shipping billions of dollars worth of Iranian oil disguised as, or blended with, Iraqi oil since at least 2020, the department said.
“Treasury will continue to target Tehran’s revenue sources and intensify economic pressure to disrupt the regime’s access to the financial resources that fuel its destabilizing activities,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said.
The US has imposed waves of sanctions on Iran’s oil exports over its nuclear program and funding of militant groups across the Middle East.
Reuters reported late last year that a fuel oil smuggling network that generates at least $1 billion a year for Iran and its proxies has
flourished in Iraq since 2022.
Thursday’s sanctions came after the US carried out strikes on June 22 on three Iranian nuclear sites, including its most deeply buried enrichment plant Fordow. The Pentagon said on Wednesday the strikes had degraded Iran’s nuclear program by up to two years, despite a far more cautious initial assessment that had leaked to the public.
The US and Iran are expected to hold talks about its nuclear program next week in Oslo, Axios reported.
The Treasury Department also issued sanctions against several senior officials and one entity associated with the Hezbollah-controlled financial institution Al-Qard Al-Hassan.
The officials, the department said, conducted millions of dollars in transactions that ultimately benefited, but obscured, Hezbollah.
Source: arabnews.com
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Europe
UN expert urges states to cut Israel trade ties over ‘apocalyptic’ Gaza situation
July 03, 2025
GENEVA: A UN expert on Thursday called on states to impose an arms embargo and cut off trade and financial ties with Israel, which she alleged is waging a “genocidal campaign” in Gaza.
In a speech to the UN Human Rights Council, UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories Francesca Albanese said: “The situation in the occupied Palestinian territory is apocalyptic.”
“Israel is responsible for one of the cruellest genocides in modern history,” she added, in a speech that was met with a burst of applause from the Geneva council.
Israel’s diplomatic mission in Geneva did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Albanese’s speech.
Israel has rejected accusations of genocide in Gaza, citing its right to self-defense following the deadly October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. Its delegate was not present in the room in line with a new policy to disengage with the council which Israel says has an antisemitic bias.
Albanese, one of dozens of independent UN-mandated experts to document abuses around the world, was presenting her latest report which named over 60 companies she said were involved in supporting Israeli settlements and military actions in Gaza.
“What I expose is not a list, it is a system, and that is to be addressed,” she told the council.
“We must reverse the tide,” she added, calling for states to impose a full arms embargo, suspend all trade agreements and ensure companies face legal consequences for their involvement in violations of international law.
Israel’s diplomatic mission in Geneva earlier this week said Albanese’s latest report was “legally groundless, defamatory and a flagrant abuse of her office.”
Source: arabnews.com
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Roadblocks replace rallies as Serbian protesters demand new elections
4 July 2025
As Serbia's anti-corruption protests enter their ninth month, they show no sign of abating – and are instead changing in their leadership, composition and tactics.
At the climax of last weekend's 140,000-strong protest in Belgrade's Slavija Square the students who led the protests since November declared that they would no longer spearhead the rallies.
They had set a deadline of Saturday for the government to call for fresh elections.
When that was not met, they invited other groups to take on the protest mantle - and called for a campaign of "civil disobedience" from anyone opposed to the leadership of President Aleksandar Vucic and his long-governing Progressive Party (SNS).
Since then roadblocks have been popping up in cities across Serbia this week and people have been deploying dustbins, chairs and other improvised barriers to block junctions in major cities including Belgrade, Novi Sad and Nis. Local residents' associations - known as "citizens' assemblies" - have been heavily involved.
As soon as the police dismantle one blockade, another one pops up somewhere else.
Police crackdown triggers backlash
In recent days there have been dozens of arrests – along with complaints of excessive police force. A number of students were treated in hospital – one with a broken collarbone – after Gendarmerie members entered Belgrade University's Law Faculty on Wednesday.
Officers also arrested high school students, triggering a protest by parents in front of a central Belgrade police station until their children were released.
A striking range of voices have condemned the police conduct. Complaints by the journalists' association and the opposition Centre Party were matched by statements from the Bar Association and even Serbian Orthodox Church Archbishop Grigorije Duric. The EU, for its part, decried the "acts of hatred and violence" and called for calm.
Meanwhile, in Belgrade, the pop-up roadblocks continue – and so does the ensuing travel chaos for commuters.
One resident, while ruefully noting that she had to walk 5km (3 miles) to and from work, described the mood as more like a series of street parties than a protest.
But many observers doubt whether this approach will be any more effective than the months of rallies, faculty blockades and half-hearted general strikes.
The 2024 Novi Sad railway disaster
The protest movement started with a relatively simple purpose: to ensure accountability for last November's disaster at Novi Sad railway station, when a concrete canopy at the recently renovated facility in Serbia's second city collapsed, killing 16 people who were standing beneath it.
The outpouring of grief was instant – and the outrage swiftly followed.
Much of it has been directed at President Vucic.
A large section of Serbians have long been uneasy with his "strongman" style of leadership, since he came to power in 2012. But others have accepted his party's firm grip on state institutions and much of the media as a trade-off for strong economic growth and improvements in infrastructure.
The station disaster shattered that tacit agreement.
"We are all under the canopy" was one slogan frequently seen on banners in the early days of the protests. Others included "blood on your hands" and "corruption kills".
University students took leadership of the movement, demanding full transparency about the railway station project and the prosecution of those responsible for the disaster.
Months of protests eventually forced the resignation of Milos Vucevic as prime minister. But he was simply replaced by another Vucic appointee, Djuro Macut – and the protest movement has otherwise achieved little in terms of concrete results.
No end in sight for protest movement
Still, the protests have now brought hundreds of thousands out into the streets and are galvanising large sections of society.
One opposition leader, Srdjan Milivojevic of the centre-left Democratic Party, compared the moment to the early 2000s, when the student-led protests against the notorious President Slobodan Milosevic "became a people's movement".
Then, a coalition of interest groups stood firm against Milosevic's attempts to manipulate the result of the September 2000 presidential election. Mass protests forced the president's resignation the following month and ushered in democracy in Serbia for the first time.
But despite efforts to invoke the "spirit of 5 October", the current situation is different. President Vucic and his party remain in a relatively comfortable position, with polls indicating that the SNS remains the most popular party.
In the aftermath of the last, big student-led rally, Mr Vucic declared that "Serbia won" in the face of an attempt to "overthrow the state".
The people blocking the roads in Serbia's cities view it differently. They are asking for change through the ballot box – even if it is far from clear who would run against the SNS. And the president insists there will be no elections before December next year.
So now it is perhaps a question of which side blinks first. And with temperatures already pushing towards 40C, it could be a simmering summer in more ways than one.
Source: bbc.com
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Austria to change two streets named after Nazi supporters
4 July 2025
Two streets in Adolf Hitler's hometown in Austria are to be renamed following longstanding complaints that they commemorate Nazis, officials say.
The council of Braunau am Inn made the decision on Wednesday after a "secret vote", according to local media. It followed a report, commissioned by the local government, which concluded that keeping the names was unconstitutional.
The streets are named after composer Josef Reiter and entertainer Franz Resl, both of whom were members of the Nazi party.
About 200 households will get a new address after the names are changed.
The Austrian government has long been criticised by historians for the way it has acknowledged its part in World War Two, and in particular for positioning itself as a victim rather than a participant.
The move to rename the streets has been welcomed as a "decision with symbolic significance" by the Mauthausen Committee. At least 90,000 prisoners were killed by the Nazis at Mauthausen concentration camp in northern Austria between 1938–1945.
Committee chairman Willi Mernyi told local media that they had "worked hard for this", and thanked all who supported them.
Robert Eiter, a committee member, added that they had suggested the names be changed to honour Austrians who actively opposed the Nazis - former deputy mayor Lea Olczak, whose father died in Mauthausen, and Maria Stromberger, who joined the resistance while working as the head nurse at Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland.
Many streets in Austria have already been renamed due to their Nazi associations, including one honouring Ferdinand Porsche, founder of the luxury car company, in the city of Linz - but 80 years on since the end of the war, others still remain.
Around 65,000 Austrian Jews were killed in the Holocaust during World War Two, when the Nazi party, led by Adolf Hitler, worked to eradicate Europe's Jewish population, as well as the Slavic and Roma population.
During the war, the Nazi regime systematically murdered more than six million Jewish people.
Source: bbc.com
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Pakistan
30 Indian-Sponsored Terrorists Killed In Foiled Border Infiltration: ISPR
July 04, 2025
Pakistani security forces successfully thwarted a major infiltration attempt along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, eliminating 30 Indian-sponsored terrorists in the Hassan Khel area of North Waziristan, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed on Thursday.
According to ISPR, the movement of the militants was detected during the nights of July 1–2 and July 2–3, 2025. The terrorists were attempting to infiltrate into Pakistan from Afghanistan. In a swift and skillful response, Pakistani troops engaged the group, neutralizing all 30 militants and recovering a large cache of weapons, ammunition, and explosives.
“The security forces demonstrated exceptional professionalism, vigilance, and preparedness, successfully preventing a potential catastrophe,” ISPR said.
The statement further emphasized the need for the Interim Afghan Government to prevent the use of its soil by foreign proxies for launching terror attacks against Pakistan.
ISPR reaffirmed that the Pakistani security forces remain resolute in their mission to defend national borders and eradicate Indian-sponsored terrorism.
Leaders hail armed forces’ successful operation
President Asif Ali Zardari praised the armed forces for their decisive action, describing the elimination of the terrorists as a critical step toward dismantling the Fitna al-Khawarij network. He reaffirmed the nation's resolve to root out all elements of terrorism from Pakistani soil.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also commended the operation, calling it a significant blow to the Fitna al-Hindustan network. He vowed that neither the terrorists nor their facilitators would be spared.
Naqvi hailed the bravery and professionalism of the security forces, adding that the nation stands shoulder to shoulder with them in the ongoing fight against terrorism.
Source: nation.com.pk
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PPP lauds Iran’s resilience against Israel
July 04, 2025
ISLAMABAD - Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) yesterday lauded Iran’s resilience against Israel after the unprovoked aggression.
Secretary General of the Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) Syed Nayyar Hussain Bukhari and other party delegation members including Central PPP Information Secretary Nadeem Afzal Chan and senior party leader Murtaza Satti, visited the Embassy of Iran in Islamabad to offer condolences over the recent Israeli aggression that resulted in the martyrdom of Iranian military personnel and civilians.
Bukhari recorded his sympathies in the visitors’ book, expressing deep sorrow over the lives lost due to the Israeli attacks and conveying solidarity with the Iranian leadership and people. During his visit, he also met with Iranian Ambassador Reza Amiri Moghadam. In the meeting, both sides discussed bilateral relations, regional peace and stability, and the evolving geopolitical situation. Bukhari condemned the Israeli strikes on Iran in strong terms and lauded the courage and resilience of the Iranian government and people in responding decisively to the aggression.
“Iran is a brotherly Islamic neighbour of Pakistan, bound by deep religious and cultural ties,” Bukhari stated. He added, “The bravery and steadfastness demonstrated by the Iranian leadership in the face of Israeli aggression is a source of pride for the entire Muslim Ummah.”
He also asserted that “Israel is the enemy of peace in the region,” and praised Iran’s strong defensive response to the attacks, calling it a just and commendable action.
Bukhari expressed heartfelt condolences over the martyrdom of Iranian soldiers and civilians and conveyed the PPP’s unwavering support for the Iranian nation.
On the occasion, the Iranian Ambassador thanked the government and people of Pakistan for their diplomatic support during the crisis. “We are deeply grateful for the love and solidarity shown by the brotherly nation of Pakistan,” he said.
On this occasion, Chan reiterated PPP’s stance, saying, “The PPP leadership and the people of Pakistan stand firmly with Iran.” He praised the Iranian leadership’s firm and legitimate use of the right to self-defense against Israeli aggression.
Source: nation.com.pk
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Hanif Abbasi urges PTI to adopt flexible stance for dialogue
July 04, 2025
Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi on Thursday urged the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to abandon its rigid approach and engage in meaningful dialogue with the government.
Speaking to the media, Abbasi said the current leadership has extended several invitations to PTI for talks, but these were repeatedly declined due to what he described as the party’s “stubborn attitude.”
He also commented on the legal challenges facing PTI leadership, stating that their involvement in various cases is a matter for the courts to decide. “The judiciary will determine the fate of the PTI founder in accordance with the law,” he added.
In a separate remark, Abbasi highlighted international recognition of Pakistan’s military leadership, claiming that former U.S. President Donald Trump had acknowledged the role of Field Marshal General Asim Munir. He praised the armed forces, stating they had achieved success on all fronts.
Source: nation.com.pk
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In a country where alcohol is banned, Pakistan’s top brewery has to make changes
04 July 2025
A pungent fug of malt and yeastiness hangs over Murree Brewery, Pakistan ’s biggest and oldest producer of alcoholic drinks.
The company is an outlier in a country where alcohol is outlawed for everyone except non-Muslims, who make up some 9 million people out of 241 million. Pakistan, an Islamic republic, banned booze for Muslims in the 1970s.
Murree Brewery has strong financials despite the prohibition, thanks to its history, scant competition and a small, thirsty and predominantly elite consumer base.
But the government exerts significant control over the sale and marketing of alcoholic beverages through red tape and high taxes, pushing brewery chairman Isphanyar Bandhara to expand the company's footprint in Pakistan's non-alcoholic drinks industry, which, although bigger, is more crowded and less lucrative.
“Even I tell my staff of about 2,200 that we cannot sit on our laurels by selling alcohol,” said Bandhara, the third generation of his family to run the 165-year-old business that was founded by the British. “It’s a restricted market, so we have to rely and focus more on the non-alcoholic side. That’s where I think I would like to flex my muscles and take credit, rather than being a liquor baron.”
The brewery already manufactures energy drinks, juices and malted beverages, but they are not as well known as products from big international brands. However, this part of the business is registering double-digit growth, and Bandhara wants to cash in on the country's youth bulge. Around 64% of the population is under 30.
Pakistan’s government determines the brewery’s alcohol prices, points of sale and customer base. Last year it took $35 million from the brewery's revenue in taxes. The company cannot advertise its alcoholic beverages or expand that part of the business inside Pakistan. Online shopping is unavailable.
The brewery is permitted to export beer to countries outside the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, a 57-member bloc, even though there is a “big demand for liquor and beer” in Muslim-majority countries, Bandhara said.
Meanwhile, more Pakistanis drink far more sodas and juices, with billions of dollars in sales every year. PepsiCo and Coca-Cola dominate, but there are also homegrown brands.
“The multinationals are thriving in Pakistan,” Bandhara said. “It’s a rewarding market. There might be less money (in non-alcoholic drinks), but it’s more secure.”
Murree Brewery's malted drinks line is packaged in a way that strongly resembles its beery counterparts. The taste, while not unpleasant, is distinctive, sweet and slightly yeasty.
How to drink in Pakistan
Alcohol is a niche item in Pakistan. Even cooking ingredients like red wine vinegar, and buying essentials like cough medicine, is hard because of their alcohol content, however minuscule.
Five-star hotels slip a drinks list into the in-room dining menu or decant alcohol into a more discreet vessel, like a teapot. Some restaurants, usually upscale, allow diners to bring a bottle but seat them away from others or shield the pour from prying eyes. There is often a windowless, joyless bar in major Pakistani cities.
Non-Muslims — nationals and foreigners — can get a liquor permit allowing them to buy limited amounts of alcohol. Diplomats and the elite are a rich source of booze, with well-stocked cabinets and sometimes entire rooms dedicated to drinks.
There are also wine shops, but only in some provinces and run by non-Muslims. Some wine shops deliver to customers waiting in their cars, for discretion. Home delivery is also available.
“It’s not expensive to buy beer,” said Faisal, a Pakistani Muslim drinker who is in his 30s and lives in the province of Sindh. He only gave his first name because he is breaking the law. “A local beer will cost 500 rupees ($1.76), but you can save 50 rupees if you don’t want it chilled."
He added: “Beer is cheaper than coffee in Pakistan, but you only need one coffee whereas you need a lot of beer."
Non-sanctioned alcohol drinking in Pakistan is punishable by 80 lashes of a whip, although the Federal Shariat Court deemed the penalty un-Islamic in a 2009 ruling.
Alcohol is considered haram, or forbidden, in Islam. Although a sin and not a crime, scholars and religious authorities typically point to a verse in the Quran that calls intoxicants “the work of Satan” and tells believers to avoid them. They also cite sayings of the Prophet Muhammad and the effects of alcohol.
Nonetheless, stacked on pallets at Murree Brewery on a recent day were boxes of booze. The beer was heading to government-authorized retailer Pearl Continental Hotel in the eastern city of Lahore. The whiskey was going to Sindh, home to religious minorities including Hindus and Parsis.
Bandhara, who is Parsi, is one of the brewery’s leading tasters. Only non-Muslims can sample the company’s alcoholic products.
“We can’t just force someone to drink an inferior drink, so it has to be quality,” Bandhara said. “If the German Embassy, the Chinese Embassy and a lot of European embassies are my customers for beer, I’m comfortable on my quality.”
Hundreds of Pakistani distilleries produce the intoxicating agent ethanol, which is mostly exported. Home brewers are another source of alcoholic beverages. But homemade liquor containing poisonous methanol has proved fatal, and dozens of people have died over the years.
Murree Brewery’s closest competition for alcohol is the Chinese-run Hui Coastal Brewery and Distillery Limited, which began making beer in southwestern Balochistan in 2021, largely for the thousands of Chinese workers there.
Nobody from Hui was available to comment.
The granting of a licence to Hui in conservative Balochistan took Bandhara aback. He said he was unafraid of competition but wanted a level playing field.
Decades ago, his family wanted to set up a brewery in Punjab, Pakistan's most populous province. Bandhara said authorities told the family to keep their heads down because they were in a Muslim country.
“If the Islamic lecture is for me, why was the license given to the Chinese brewery?" he asked. "We are a liquor company, and we are the easiest to throw stones at and to criticize.”
Source: independent.co.uk
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Southeast Asia
Prabowo to Form Special Team for Indonesian Village Project in Mecca
Hendrik Yaputra
July 4, 2025
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Prabowo Subianto plans to establish a special team to explore the development of an Indonesian Hajj village in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. This initiative aims to enhance services for the large number of Indonesian pilgrims traveling for Hajj and Umrah.
Mochamad Irfan Yusuf, Head of the Hajj Organizer Body (BP), confirmed the plan on Thursday, July 3, 2025, in Jeddah. "Regarding the plan for the Hajj Village, a team will be formed to explore possibilities for cooperation between the Saudi and Indonesian governments," he said.
On another occasion, Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar elaborated that forming a joint study team is the first step to developing technical cooperation models and necessary regulatory frameworks. "In accordance with the President's directive, we are collaborating with the Hajj Management Agency (BPH) to promptly draft legislation that will govern this matter," he added.
Minister of Agriculture Zulkifli Hasan reported that the Indonesian and Saudi Arabian governments have convened to discuss the establishment of the Hajj Village. Beyond this specific project, the bilateral discussions encompassed a wide array of cooperative ventures, ranging from expediting free trade agreements to strategic investment plans within the energy sector.
"Thus far, our cooperation has largely focused on Umrah, Hajj, and labor affairs. However, both nations now seek to expand this collaboration into wider sectors," he explained.
He also highlighted the need to address technical barriers hindering Indonesian product exports to Saudi Arabia, requesting direct intervention from the Crown Prince for swift resolution due to his authority in the matter.
Previously, Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Romo H.R. Muhammad Syafi'i indicated that the large number of Indonesian Umrah and Hajj pilgrims has inspired President Prabowo's desire to construct a Hajj village in the Holy Land.
The Deputy Minister emphasized Indonesia's considerable contribution to Saudi Arabia in the organization of the Hajj pilgrimage. "Due to this circumstance, President Prabowo Subianto aspires to construct a Hajj village in the city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, to facilitate Indonesian Hajj pilgrims," said the Deputy Minister, affectionately known as Romo, as quoted from the Ministry of Religious Affairs website on Sunday, November 3, 2024.
Romo also conveyed that the concept of establishing an Indonesian Hajj village in Mecca has received a positive response from the Saudi Arabian government, particularly from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS).
However, Romo cautioned that the construction of the Hajj village might not commence this year. Consequently, for the upcoming Hajj pilgrimage, the government may consider leasing hotel accommodations as a provisional alternative to the Hajj village.
Source: tempo.co
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JAKIM ready to assist Melaka in verifying calligraphy in mosques, surau
Bernama
2025-07-03
KUALA LUMPUR: The Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) is ready to work with the Islamic religious authorities in Melaka to assist in reviewing and verifying calligraphy in mosques and surau in the state, following claims of spelling errors in the Kufic script for the word ‘Allah’.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Mohd Na’im Mokhtar said the move was aimed at ensuring that every calligraphy bearing the holy word displayed in mosques and surau was accurate and in line with Islamic teachings.
“I was made to understand that State Education, Higher Education and Religious Affairs Committee chairman Datuk Rahmad Mariman has instructed all mosques and surau in the state to review their existing calligraphy.
“We are ready to cooperate with the Melaka Islamic Religious Department and the Melaka Islamic Religious Council in this matter,” he told reporters after officiating the Layar Dakwah programme organised by Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia (YADIM) here today.
At the same time, he advised all mosque and surau committees nationwide to carefully review any calligraphy intended for decoration to ensure it complies with syariah requirements.
Mohd Na’im also welcomed the community’s concern regarding the issue but hoped that any reprimand would be made in a prudent and constructive manner.
“Do not use words that insult or belittle others. I would like to thank the community for their concern in pointing out the matter. If the khat or calligraphy is inaccurate, we will rectify it,” he said.
Yesterday, Rahmad was reported to have said that the Melaka government was investigating allegations of errors in the Kufic script for the word ‘Allah’ at a mosque in the state.
Earlier, a social media influencer had claimed there was an error in the Kufic script at a mosque in Melaka, sparking various reactions from netizens.
Source: thesun.my
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https://thesun.my/malaysia-news/jakim-ready-to-assist-melaka-in-verifying-calligraphy-in-mosques-surau-NB14402078
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IGP: Malaysia risks becoming terror transit hub as IS-linked Bangladeshis recruit migrant workers via social media
By Muhammad Yusry
04 Jul 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, July 4 — A group of Bangladeshi nationals linked to the Islamic State (IS) terror group used social media platforms to spread propaganda and recruit members from within Malaysia’s migrant worker community, said the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail today.
He said the police’s special branch first detected the group through a number of Facebook accounts actively sharing IS-related content, all traced back to internet protocol (IP) addresses originating in Malaysia.
“Based on intelligence, the group’s modus operandi involved several strategic approaches. First, they recruited members through labour sectors, including factories, construction sites, and petrol stations, targeting the Bangladeshi community working in Malaysia.
“Second, they used social media platforms such as Facebook as a medium to spread radical and extremist ideologies, in turn attracting more supporters.
“Third, messaging applications such as WhatsApp and Telegram were widely used to circulate propaganda, coordinate processes, and organise activities in secret, including ta’lim sessions (religious instruction) and member meetings,” he said in a press conference at Bukit Aman here.
The aim of the recruitment, Khalid said, was to enlist members to fight in Syria or for the IS, and to raise funds to be channelled to Syria, IS networks, and Bangladesh.
“The group also raised funds to support militant activities using mobile payment applications such as Touch ‘n Go and bKash, as well as international money transfer services,” he said.
Khalid said members paid RM500 annually to the Bangladesh “radical militant movement” in membership fees.
The police also have detected between 100 and 150 individuals who are involved in the WhatsApp group.
“As for those with minimal involvement, we will take appropriate action and repatriate them to their home country. For those deeply involved, we will take legal action and charge them under our national laws,” he added.
He said individuals who pledged the “baiah”, or oath of allegiance, online were then made responsible for leading new cells established in certain areas, with the aim of expanding the group’s influence and operations.
“In addition, recruitment was carried out in phases, beginning with a vetting process and progressing towards the formation of more elite members,” he added.
Khalid said the security implication for Malaysia is that the country was at risk of becoming a logistics and transit hub for foreign militants, which could tarnish the country’s image by associating it with radical elements.
“This is our main concern. The infiltration of extremist ideologies within migrant communities, which are difficult to detect, could lead to subversive activities carried out covertly.
“If left unaddressed, this issue may affect Malaysia’s international standing and diplomatic relations in the region. Therefore, the police would like to emphasise that national security is our highest priority and will not be compromised under any circumstances,” he said.
Last week, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the police arrested 36 Bangladesh citizens this week, who were found to be directly involved in a “radical militant movement” centred on extremist beliefs and terrorism ideology.
Saifuddin said the police’s planned security operations had started from April 24 with three phases of arrests in Selangor and Johor.
Source: malaymail.com
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Anwar eyes long-term benefits from stronger Malaysia-France relations ahead of Macron meeting
04 Jul 2025
PARIS, July 4 — Malaysia hopes its continuous engagement with France will benefit the country in the long run.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the matter would be discussed during his meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron tomorrow.
“We will find ways to explore this. In fact, we have expanded our ties over the years, from not just buying products such as planes but also supplying parts for their manufacturing,” he said on Thursday.
Speaking at the gathering with the Malaysian diaspora here in conjunction with his two-day visit to France, Anwar said Malaysia continues to be a top destination for high-tech industries such as electrical and electronics (E&E).
“In the past, we bought a lot of planes from Airbus and Boeing. Now we have companies producing parts for these plane manufacturers in Malaysia,” he added.
Also present were Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Transport Minister Anthony Loke, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Investment, Trade, and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
The Prime Minister said Malaysian students studying in France should also take advantage of the growing high-tech industries back home and come back after completing their studies here.
Anwar is undertaking an official visit to France at the invitation of Macron.
He is scheduled to hold a one-on-one meeting with Macron at the Élysée Palace, with key agenda items including trade, investment, renewable energy, semiconductors, defence, education, digital economy, and artificial intelligence (AI).
France remains one of Malaysia’s top five trading partners within the European Union.
In 2024, bilateral trade totalled RM15.95 billion (US$3.63 billion), with RM6.26 billion (US$1.49 billion) recorded between January and May this year. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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North America
Texas GOP Blasts Bo French for Antisemitism, Ignores His Muslim Hate
By Emma Ruby
July 3, 2025
Tarrant County GOP Chairman Bo French is notorious for his social media hate speech geysering, but last week, many Texas Republicans finally decided he crossed the line.
In response to Zohran Mamdani, a Muslim, winning the Democratic primary in the New York City mayor’s race, French tweeted a poll to X that asked, “Who is a bigger threat to America?” The options listed were “Jews” and “Muslims.” The poll has since been deleted.
It took a few days for French’s comments to receive a response, but eventually, Lt. Gov, Dan Patrick took to his own social media account to condemn the rhetoric.
“Bo French’s words do not reflect my values nor the values of the Republican Party. Antisemitism and religious bigotry have no place in Texas,” Patrick said before calling for French’s resignation as county chairman.
Patrick’s acknowledgment of French’s X poll opened the floodgates for Texas Republicans to denounce the far-right party leader. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, state Sen. Tan Parker, U.S. Rep. Craig Goldman, Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker and Dallas City Council member Cara Mendelsohn were among the elected officials who joined the rebuking.
Parker referred to French’s post as “bigoted and antisemitic.” Goldman said, “As a 5th generation Jewish American, I know what anti-semitism looks like,” in response to the poll. Tarrant County Commissioner Manny Ramirez called the poll question “hateful” and “antisemitic.” State Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, who represents parts of Grapevine, Keller and Southlake, referred to the chairman as “Bo ‘all I do is tweet and hate’ French.”
While many of the officials called attention to the antisemitic nature of French’s tweet, the Observer was unable to find an example of a Republican elected official directly acknowledging the other group French targeted.
“They didn’t really condemn the Islamophobic nature of the poll,” Shaimaa Zayan, operations manager for the Austin branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), said. “That was kind of expected at this point, though.”
The response to French’s tweet left Zayan with “mixed feelings.” While she was glad to see a figure who has repeatedly targeted her community called out, the lack of acknowledgement for the Muslim community harmed by French’s rhetoric left her feeling as if CAIR is the only voice advocating for Muslim Texans.
A Line Drawn Between Conservatives and Muslims
At least 420,000 Muslims are living in Texas today, slightly more than 1% of the state’s population, according to the Texas Almanac. It’s a group that makes up a small percentage of the state’s constituency, and Zayan feels the recent actions of Republican leaders across the state make it clear that the interests of Muslims are not being taken into account by the conservative party.
Take the targeted investigations launched by state leaders into the Collin County EPIC City development, which could offer homes, schools and worship centers to Muslims. State leaders like Sen. Cornyn have accused the development of operating under “sharia law,” and even as the Department of Justice opened and then closed an investigation into the development in late June, five state investigations launched by Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton remain pending.
Then there are French’s repeated attacks on the Muslim community that have been more or less allowed to fly unchecked.
For months, French has peddled an unfounded conspiracy that “radical Islamists" are invading Tarrant County. The chairman has shared racist caricature images of Salman Bhojani, a Muslim state representative from Euless; French has called the Islamic faith “antithetical” to American values and encouraged Republican leaders to pass a ban on the religion; on June 25, responding to a comment about white women supporting Mamdani in the New York City mayoral race, French replied that “some” women “fantasize about the Muslim rape gangs.”
After Patrick’s initial call for French to resign from his seat, French posted an apology in which he claimed members of the Jewish religion were not the real target of his poll. Muslims were.
“When your own people are asking you to step down, it means you’ve been so radicalized you don’t represent the mainstream opinion anymore,” Zayan said. “[That apology] was a pathetic attempt by Bo French to keep his seat.”
But it may have worked.
The Tarrant County GOP Executive Committee has yet to comment on French’s rhetoric, and it is that committee that would have to vote on a resolution ruling that French is no longer eligible for office, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports. While state leaders can do their best to call attention to French’s offensive language, his removal, unless he decides to step down, is up to leaders within the local party.
Speaking Out Against Hate
In Dallas, one of the most outspoken leaders against French was Mendelsohn, who is Jewish. As the denunciations of French began to roll in last weekend, Mendelsohn responded to several elected leaders to thank them for standing up to the antisemitism French displayed.
“The answer to [Bo French’s] question is clear — he and his disgusting Jew-hatred are the biggest threat to the Republican Party,” Mendelsohn posted several times. “Thank you for standing up to this bully. It is past time for new leadership in the Tarrant County GOP.”
In later tweets, Mendelsohn also pointed out that Muslims were a target of the poll. Still, her concerns largely revolved around French’s labeling of Jewish people as a “threat” at a time when antisemitism in the United States is growing. According to the Anti-Defamation League, incidents of antisemitic harassment, vandalism and assault in the United States have skyrocketed in the years since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, rising 893% compared with a decade ago. In 2024, 9,354 incidents of antisemitism were recorded by the organization nationally.
According to CAIR, anti-Muslim discrimination is also on the rise. In 2024, 8,658 complaints of discrimination were filed with CAIR, the highest number since the organization began recording complaints for an annual civil rights report in 1996. Zayan noted that Iranian, Palestinian and Muslim refugee communities have experienced an especially “heightened sense of fear” in recent months as cultural perceptions of those groups shift in response to politics and events in the Middle East.
The Observer asked Mendelsohn whether or not she believes Republican officials should have more directly condemned the Islamophobic component of French’s tweet, but she did not respond to our request for comment. Mendelsohn also did not respond to a request to clarify the meaning behind her June 28 tweet that reads “[New York] isn’t what it used to be,” in response to a Dallas Express story about Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson’s reaction to Mamdani winning the New York City primary.
CAIR has joined the calls for French’s removal, fully condemning both the antisemitic and Islamophobic nature of the post. The organization has accused the chairman of sowing division between Muslim and Jewish Texans at a time when both groups “are facing heightened threats across the country.”
For Zayan, French’s tweet was an opportunity for Republican state leaders to make a gesture of support toward Muslims across Texas. Now, the opportunity may be passed.
“We are not a threat. We are not here to take over,” said Zayan. “I invite [Texas Republican leaders] to meet me personally. I invite them to share a meal, and I invite them to visit my mosque. I think they’d find many more commonalities than differences.”
Source: dallasobserver.com
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CAIR Urges Congress to Reject ‘Sociopathic, Israel First’ Bunker Buster Act
July 3, 2025
Muslim civil rights and advocacy group also condemns Trump administration’s recent sale of $510 million in weapons to Israel, including 500 and 2,000 lb. bombs used to massacre civilians
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today urged members of Congress to oppose the so-called “Bunker Buster Act,” legislation reintroduced by Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) that would hand over the authority to President Trump to the transfer of U.S. B-2 bombers and massive bunker-buster bombs to the Israeli government despite its warmongering across the region and genocide in Gaza.
Rep. Gottheimer has repeatedly failed to advance this legislation since he first introduced H.R. 7148, the original Bunker Buster Act, in 2022. Now, following the conclusion of Israel’s unprovoked 12-day war against Iran, CAIR warns that the bill represents a reckless, destabilizing escalation that could further drag the United States into a catastrophic regional conflict.
Relatedly, CAIR separately condemned the Trump administration’s recent $510 million weapons sale to Israel, which includes more than 7,000 U.S.-made 500-pound and 2,000-pound bombs. The arms sale, previously paused by the Biden administration, comes as Israel ramps up its genocide in Gaza and openly prepares for another war with Iran.
This week, the Israeli military dropped a 500-pound U.S.-made MK-82 bomb on a crowded beachfront café in Gaza where a child’s birthday party was taking place. More than 40 Palestinians were killed, including women and children, and dozens more were wounded.
Independent analysis by The Guardian confirmed the use of the MK-82, a general-purpose bomb that causes massive blast damage and spreads lethal shrapnel indiscriminately. International legal experts have warned that the strike would constitute a war crime.
In a statement, CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert S. McCaw said:
“The Bunker Buster Act is a sociopathic, Israel First bill that would enable the Israeli government to unilaterally unleash even more death and destruction across the Middle East without any U.S. oversight or control. Giving the Israeli government new weapons capable of destruction on a massive scale risks more regional chaos and death. No responsible lawmaker should hand the Netanyahu government the means to instantly kill even more people or launch another unprovoked war in the Middle East.
“The U.S. should be investigating how a 500-pound American-made bomb was used to massacre children at a café in Gaza—not rushing to approve the sales of thousands more. Congress would reject this arms sale and end Israel’s campaign of genocide.
“It is time to end all U.S. weapons transfers to Israel and stop fueling a genocide that shames our nation and violates the most basic principles of international law and human decency.”
CAIR condemned President Trump’s recent attack on Iran as an “illegal and unjustified act of war” that “prioritizes the wishes of Benjamin Netanyahu over the American people and threatens to drag our nation into a wider war in the region.”
CAIR also warned that another Israeli strike on Iran could ignite a regional war involving multiple nations that have pledged support for Tehran if it is attacked again. The organization has consistently opposed efforts to manipulate U.S. foreign policy to serve the war aims of the Netanyahu government at the expense of American lives, security, and global credibility.
Source: cair.com
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Kilmar Ábrego García alleges torture and abuse in El Salvador prison
July 4, 2025
Bernd Debusmann Jr
A Maryland man who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador and detained in one of that country's most notorious prisons was subjected to "severe beatings" and "torture", new court documents allege.
Lawyers for Kilmar Ábrego García, 29, alleged that assaults from guards within a day of his arrival at the CECOT prison left him with visible injuries.
The Trump administration had previously alleged Mr Ábrego García was a member of the Salvadorian gang, MS-13, which his lawyers and family have strongly denied.
While officials initially said Mr Ábrego García could never return to the US, in June he was extradited to Tennessee to face human trafficking charges - to which he has pleaded not guilty.
According to new court documents filed on Wednesday as part of a lawsuit his wife brought against the Trump administration, Mr Ábrego García and 20 other detainees were repeatedly beaten when they arrived at El Salvador's Terrorism Confinement Centre, or Cecot.
Once there, according to the documents, Mr Ábrego García and 20 other deported inmates "were confined to metal bunks with no mattresses in an overcrowded cell with no windows, bright lights that remained on 24 hours a day, and minimal access to sanitation".
Mr Ábrego García has also alleged that he and the other prisoners were "forced to kneel" from 9 PM to 6 AM, "with guards striking anyone who fell from exhaustion".
At one point, guards allegedly threatened to confine him with gang members who would "tear" him apart.
His mistreatment led to him losing 30lbs (14kg) within the first two weeks of his incarceration in El Salvador, according to the complaint.
El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele has previously said his country's prisons are "clean, orderly, free from abuses, unsanitary conditions, beatings, or murders".
During a visit to the White House earlier this year, he expressed support for the Trump administration's deportation agenda.
The Trump administration has asked the federal judge in Maryland overseeing the case to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that it was overtaken by events after Mr Ábrego García was returned to the US. The lawsuit was filed by Mr Ábrego García's wife after his deportation.
Mr Ábrego García first entered the US illegally in 2011 and was granted protection from deportation by an immigration judge in 2019 because it was determined he might face danger from gangs if returned to his native El Salvador.
But in March 2025 the Maryland resident was deported and initially held in El Salvador's Cecot mega-prison, in what Trump administration officials later admitted was a mistake. A judge ordered the government to "facilitate" his return, but White House officials initially refused to bring him back.
Following his return to face charges in June, Attorney General Pam Bondi said that "this is what American justice looks like".
He has denied any wrongdoing, and his attorneys have called the trafficking charges "preposterous".
In late June, a federal judge in Tennessee ruled that Mr Ábrego García is eligible for release, but he has remained in jail over fears from his own legal team that he could be swiftly deported again if he leaves the facility.
Source: bbc.com
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US still ‘giving weapons’ to Kiev – Trump
3 Jul, 2025
US President Donald Trump has denied media speculation that Washington has suspended all military equipment and ammunition deliveries to Ukraine, insisting that lethal aid is still being sent while America ensures that it retains enough stockpiles to defend itself and its allies.
Several reports earlier this week indicated that the US had paused deliveries of various critical munitions to Ukraine, including Patriot and Hellfire missiles, GMLRS rockets, and thousands of 155mm artillery shells. The Economist even suggested that Washington could be gradually winding down its military support for Kiev altogether.
Trump rejected claims of a complete halt of military aid to Kiev, echoing previous statements by the Pentagon and the White House that a decision had been made to prioritize US national interests.
“We’re giving weapons, but we’ve given so many weapons,” Trump told reporters before boarding Air Force One on Thursday. “You know, Biden emptied out our whole country giving them weapons. And we have to make sure that we have enough for ourselves.”
“But we are giving weapons, and we’re working with them and trying to help them,” Trump added, without providing specifics about the weapons being withheld and those still being supplied.
Trump has been critical of providing aid to Ukraine without reciprocal benefits, and his administration has not approved any new assistance packages since he took office. According to Germany’s Kiel Institute, the US has sent nearly $115 billion in military and financial aid to Kiev since the conflict escalated in 2022, though Trump has claimed that the actual total is “hundreds of billions.”
Washington recently signed an agreement granting the US priority access to Ukraine’s mineral resources – an effort the White House said would help recoup some of the taxpayer money spent under Biden.
News of the aid suspension drew sharp reactions in Kiev, with Ukrainian officials summoning US Chargé d’Affaires John Ginkel to lecture him about “the critical importance of continuing the deliveries of previously allocated defense packages.” Ukrainian MP Mariana Bezuglaya even declared that “the US is no longer our ally,” even though the two countries never signed any deals to that effect.
Russia has condemned Western arms shipments to Ukraine, arguing that they only prolong the conflict and risk escalation. Kremlin officials have also accused Western countries of encouraging their proxies in Kiev to fight to the last Ukrainian in the hope of inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia.
“The fewer the missiles that arrive in Ukraine from abroad, the closer the end of the special military operation,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday. He added, however, that the freeze could be temporary, and could be the result of weapons being redirected to support Israel in the stand-off with Iran.
President Vladimir Putin reiterated that Russia remains open to peace talks, in a phone call with Trump on Thursday. He added that Russia will not back down until the “well-known root causes” of the Ukraine conflict are eliminated, according to presidential aide Yury Ushakov.
Source: rt.com
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Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ passes US House
3 Jul, 2025
The US House of Representatives passed a sweeping multitrillion-dollar tax and spending package on Thursday, dubbed by President Donald Trump as “one big, beautiful bill.”
In a narrow 218-214 vote, the Republican-led House approved the 887-page measure before the July 4 deadline. The vote followed a tense 24 hours of internal GOP negotiations and pressure from House leadership and the Trump White House. Only two Republicans – Representatives Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania – broke ranks to vote against the legislation.
The package now heads to Trump’s desk, where he is expected to sign it into law on Independence Day. The bill represents the most significant policy achievement for Republicans since reclaiming full control of Congress and the White House in January.
The legislation extends the 2017 Trump-era tax cuts and temporarily lowers taxes on tips and overtime pay. It also includes hundreds of billions in new spending to expand military funding and support Trump’s planned mass deportation operations. To partially offset the costs, the bill imposes deep cuts to Medicaid, food assistance, and clean energy subsidies. An estimated $930 billion will be slashed from Medicaid alone, despite Trump’s previous pledges to protect the program.
According to the Congressional Budget Office, the bill will increase the national debt by $3.3 trillion over the next decade, with $4.5 trillion in revenue losses outweighing $1.2 trillion in spending cuts. It also raises the federal debt ceiling by $5 trillion.
The bill’s passage followed an overnight standoff triggered by GOP holdouts who had initially blocked a procedural vote on Wednesday. Speaker Mike Johnson and Trump led a concerted effort to win over dissenting Republicans, with Trump personally calling lawmakers into the early hours of Thursday. Vice President J.D. Vance was also heavily involved in the legislative push.
“Republicans in Congress have succeeded in our mission to enact President Trump’s America First agenda,” Johnson said in a joint statement with House GOP leaders.
Despite policy concessions and growing concerns over the national debt and healthcare coverage losses, most Republicans ultimately supported the bill, with critics citing fear of Trump’s political backlash as a decisive factor.
Source: rt.com
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