India-Pak Ceasefire: Our Fight Against Terrorists, Not Pakistani Military: Air Marshal AK Bharti
New Age Islam News Bureau
12 May 2025
ISRO Chairman Dr V Narayanan Photo | ANI
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· India-Pak Ceasefire: Our Fight Against Terrorists, Not Pakistani Military: Air Marshal AK Bharti
· ‘If Bullets Come from There, Shells Will Go from Here’: PM Narendra Modi Warns Pakistan
· Etidal, Telegram Remove 16m Extremist Content
· Perlis Ruler Urges Muslims to Reject Superstitions and Deviant Practices, Calls for Stronger Sunni Teachings
· Leader of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan Highlights Intelligence’s Role in Islamic System at Seminar
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India
· Days After Communal Speech by Karnataka BJP MLA, Temple Management Expresses Regret to Muslim Community
· After Pahalgam attack, India told many world capitals it will strike terror infra in Pakistan
· Last night remained peaceful in Jammu and Kashmir with no hostilities: Indian Army
· Put your money where drone is: India-Pakistan conflict reflects shift in modern warfare
· To deal with a 2.5-front war, India must tackle the half-front inside
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Arab World
· Endangered Vulture Spotted in Saudi Arabia’s Northern Borders
· Riyadh hospital performs first paediatric robotic liver transplant
· Saudi crown prince, Al-Sharaa discuss Syria’s stability and security
· Saudi Arabia invites leaders of GCC for Gulf-US summit in Riyadh
· Saudi Arabia and Bahrain sign agreement to complete medical city project
· Riyadh community reclaims power of writing
· Argentine officials praise Saudi Arabia’s tolerance message at Buenos Aires fair
· Dhahran’s Half Moon Bay revamp to boost tourism
· Saudi aid agency renovates health institute in Yemen
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Southeast Asia
· Anwar: Federal and state governments must work together to help Sabah grow
· ‘Harmony through understanding’: King, Queen urge unity in Wesak Day message to Malaysians
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South Asia
· Ensuring security, peace, IEA’s top responsibility, Hanafi
· IAU VC or Islamic education to build non-discriminatory moral society
· Yunus urges coordinated action for timely LDC graduation
· Accomplices of 1971 war crimes must apologise
· Police to take stern action against banned orgs
· Illegal sand extraction: 53 dredgers, 36 bulkheads seized from Meghna; 6 held
· Constituent assembly election essential for fundamental reforms: Nahid Islam
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Mideast
· Islamic Jihad: No Release of Zionist Captives Unless War Ends
· Mashhad Conference Highlights Cultural Diplomacy’s Role In Promoting Islamic Heritage Worldwide
· Israel Is Not Committed to Any Ceasefire or Prisoner Release with Hamas
· Israel’s blockade means Gaza’s hospitals cannot provide food to recovering patients
· Trump hails US-Israeli hostage release as ‘monumental news’
· Israel attacks Yemen’s Hodeidah after evacuation warnings, Houthis say
· Sheikh Hamoudi: Iraq's Presidency of the Arab Summit Gives It the Opportunity to Defend the Nation's Interests
· Palestinian vice president discusses Gaza, West Bank with Qatar’s prime minister
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Europe
· Hartlepool Mosque Open Day Aimed at Building Bridges in The Community Hailed a Success
· Ex-UK Special Forces break silence on 'war crimes' by colleagues
· Poland accuses Russia of arson over 2024 shopping centre fire
· Ukraine should agree to Putin’s proposal of talks ‘immediately’ – Trump
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North America
· Trump Heads to Saudi Arabia Eyeing More Investment In US
· DOJ Dives into Paxton, Abbott’s Probe Of Contentious Islamic Enclave
· Buffalo's Former Catholic Churches, Schools Are Full Again – Thanks To Area's Growing Muslim Population
· Texas Muslim Housing Project Under Lens
· US says 'deal' reached with China after trade talks
· Canada's Liberal Party one seat closer to majority after Quebec recount
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Africa
· Muslim Community Rejects Religious Politics, Backs APC Candidate
· Muslim Group Disburses N6.5m Zakat to Needy Muslims In Ibadan
· Tinubu’s Minister Backtracks, Endorses Senate Security Summit
· Protest Breaks Out In Lagos Mainland, Yaba Over APC Chairmanship Primaries
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/india-pak-ceasefire-pakistani-military/d/135509
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India-Pak Ceasefire: Our Fight Against Terrorists, Not Pakistani Military: Air Marshal AK Bharti
12 May 2025
ISRO Chairman Dr V Narayanan Photo | ANI
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Director General Air Operations Air Vice Marshal AK Bharti on Monday reiterated India's stance that the fight is against terrorists and not the Pakistani military.
Addressing a media briefing on Monday, he said, "Our fight is against terrorists, not with the Pakistani Military or Pakistani civilians. We are very clear in our targeting."
Air Marshal emphasised that the Indian Armed Forces showcased their effectiveness through precise strikes during Operation Sindoor.
"Our counter systems and trained air defence operators are fully capable, and our nation's indigenous capability has proven its effectiveness. It has been demonstrated that no matter what kind of technology emerges, we are prepared to counter it. There is no need for excessive words, you have seen with your own eyes the consequences we have delivered," he stated.
3:45 pm, 12 May 2025
India denies hitting Pakistan's nuclear facility at Kirana Hills
The Indian military on Monday rejected claims regarding the attack on Pakistan's nuclear facility at Kirana Hills. The military also said that it is unaware of Kirana Hills housing the neighbouring country's nuclear facility.
"Thank you for telling us that Kirana Hills houses some nuclear installation, we did not know about it," Air Marshal AK Bharti said while replying to a question during a key press briefing.
"We have not hit Kirana Hills, whatever is there," he stressed.
3:25 pm, 12 May 2025
'Every war is different, this will not be how another war would be fought': Air Marshal AK Bharti
Stating that certain factors related to the operational details of Operation Sindoor cannot be shared with the public, Air Marshal AK Bharti said that it was a different kind of warfare which is bound to happen.
"...This was a different kind of warfare and is bound to happen. God forbid, but if we fight another war, that would be completely different from this one. It is a cat-and-mouse game, and we need to be ahead of the curve to beat the adversary," Bharti said.
3:14 pm, 12 May 2025
DGMO's ViratKohli reference at media briefing
During the key media briefing ahead of his talks with Pakistani counterpart, DGMO Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai on Monday said that India's air defence system is "way too tough" to break.
"Targetting our airfields and logistics is way too tough... I saw that ViratKohli has just retired from test cricket; he is one of my favourites. In the 1970s, during the Ashes between Australia and England, two Australian bowlers destroyed the batting lineup of England, and then Australia gave a proverb - "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, if Thommo don't get ya, Lillee must". If you see the layers, you'll understand what I am trying to say. Even if you crossed all the layers, one of the layers of this grid system will hit you," he said.
3:10 pm, 12 May 2025
Military presents images of Pakistani drones shot down by India
The Indian military on Monday showed the debris of a likely PL-15 air-to-air missile, which is of Chinese origin and was used by Pakistan during the attack on India.
The wreckage of the Turkish-origin YIHA and Songar drones that were shot down by India has also been shown.
During a key press briefing, Director General Air Operations Air Vice Marshal AK Bharti said that the Indian military's battle-proven defence systems have stood the test of time and took the Pakistani missiles and drones "head-on."
"...Our battle-proven systems stood the test of time and took them head on. Another highlight has been the stellar performance of the indigenous air defence system, the Akash system. Putting together and operationalising the potent AD environment has been possible only because of budgetary and policy support from the government of India in the last decade," Bharti said.
3:06 pm, 12 May 2025
'All our military bases, all our systems continue to remain fully operational': Air Marshal AK Bharti
Air Marshal AK Bharti on Monday said that all the military bases and systems of the Indian forces remain fully operational and prepared for future missions.
"All our military bases, all our systems continue to remain fully operational and ready to undertake any future missions should the need so arise," Bharti said in a key media briefing on Monday.
2:58 pm, 12 May 2025
'It's a pity Pakistani army intervened for terrorists': Air Marshal AK Bharti
At a key DGMO briefing on Monday, Air Marshal AK Bharti said that the Indian forces were forced to respond as the Pakistani military chose to intervene for terrorists.
2:43 pm, 12 May 2025
The Director General Military Operations (DGMO) Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai, along with the chiefs of three forces, Director General Air Operations Air Vice Marshal AK Bharti, and Director General of Naval Operations Vice Admiral AN Pramod, commenced a key briefing on Operation Sindoor on Monday.
The press briefing comes ahead of talks between the DGMO and his Pakistani counterpart, which have been scheduled for later this evening.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier today chaired a high-level meeting which included Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, ahead of a scheduled talk between the DGMOs of India and Pakistan.
NSA AjitDoval, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan and all three service chiefs were among those who attended the meeting.
India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire on Saturday after talks between the DGMOs of both countries.
Tensions between the two countries had escalated sharply after the Indian Armed Forces conducted strikes on terror launchpads in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) last week in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 people, mostly tourists.
In the ensuing retaliation and cross-border exchanges that began on May 7, at least 27 people, including five security personnel, were killed and many others injured in intense shelling and drone attacks from the Pakistani side.
Despite the ceasefire agreement, dozens of drones were reportedly seen flying over the Kashmir Valley on Saturday evening, in violation of the accord. However, no drone activity was reported overnight.
In the days leading up to the ceasefire, a series of blasts had rocked Jammu city and other major towns, including areas near the International Border, adding to the region’s anxiety.
The understanding reached on May 10 to halt all hostilities brought a fragile but welcome calm after four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes.
Source: newindianexpress.com
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https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2025/May/12/10-satellites-working-continuously-to-ensure-safety-security-of-citizens-isro-chairman-3
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‘If Bullets Come from There, Shells Will Go from Here’: PM Narendra Modi Warns Pakistan
May 11, 2025
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
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India has firmly shifted its approach to cross-border terrorism with a bold message to Pakistan: terrorism will no longer go unanswered. Government sources revealed that Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, delivered a psychological and strategic jolt to Pakistan and its state-sponsored terror networks.
The operation, which involved precision strikes on nine major terrorist training camps and headquarters deep inside Pakistan, was a direct response to the Pahalgam terror attack and subsequent provocations. “We have hit the Markaz (nerve centres) and we will go after the rest,” said a senior source, indicating that the operation is far from over.
Sources said the message is clear: “No place in Pakistan is safe for terrorists anymore.” Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s directive to the armed forces, they added that Indian retaliation must be “bigger and stronger” in the face of Pakistani military actions. One official quoted PM Modi as saying, “Wahan se golichalegi, tohyahan se golachalega”—If bullets come from there, shells will go from here.
The strikes marked a significant evolution in India’s military doctrine, effectively setting a “new normal” in its relationship with Pakistan. The new stance dismisses the idea that nuclear deterrence offers Pakistan immunity for sponsoring terrorism. “We’ve called their nuclear bluff,” a source said. “We take the nuclear threat seriously, but it will no longer serve as cover for Pakistan’s terrorism.”
In the days following India’s strikes, Pakistan attempted retaliatory attacks on Indian military installations between May 8 and 10. However, these were met with swift and severe counterstrikes’ by India, resulting in the destruction of several key Pakistani military targets, including air bases, air defence systems, and radar stations.
The response was in line with PM Modi’s communication to US Vice President J D Vance, where he made it clear that India would respond “very, very strongly” to any further aggression from Pakistan. Sources also disclosed that after Pakistan’s air bases were hit, its tone changed dramatically. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly reached out to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar the next morning to convey that Pakistan had “understood the message.”
India’s position is now unequivocal: the Line of Control, the international border, and the threat of nuclear escalation will no longer shield those behind terror. “We have gone after the head of the snake, not just the foot soldiers,” a source said, emphasizing a new Indian strategy to target terror leadership and infrastructure inside Pakistan.
Following high-level talks between the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMO) of both nations on May 10, a mutual ceasefire was agreed upon. However, late-night airspace violations on May 10-11 prompted a decisive meeting led by Army Chief General UpendraDwivedi. He granted full authority to Western Command Army leaders to respond kinetically to any future breaches of the ceasefire.
In parallel, India also hardened its diplomatic posture. Officials reiterated that there will be no third-party mediation on Kashmir, and that dialogue with Pakistan can only happen after it vacates illegally occupied territories. Additionally, India signaled a freeze on the Indus Waters Treaty, directly linking it to Pakistan’s cessation of terror activities.
“This is the new normal,” a source concluded. “The world—and Pakistan—must now accept that India has had enough.” — With Agencies Inputs
Source: muslimmirror.com
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https://muslimmirror.com/wahan-se-goli-chalegi-toh-yahan-se-gola-chalega-pm-warns-pakistan/
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Etidal, Telegram remove 16m extremist content
May 11, 2025
Etidal has been working with Telegram to prevent and counter terrorism and violent extremism by monitoring Arabic language online content. (Etidal)
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RIYADH: The Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology, in cooperation with messaging platform Telegram, removed more than 16 million pieces of extremist material in the first quarter of 2025.
Additionally, 1,408 channels used by extremist groups were shut down as part of joint efforts to counter extremist propaganda, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.
The center, known as Etidal and based in Riyadh, has been working with Telegram to prevent and counter terrorism and violent extremism by monitoring Arabic language online content.
The removed propaganda included PDFs, video clips and audio recordings, the SPA reported.
Almost 177 million pieces of extremist material have been removed since the collaboration began in February 2022, and 16,201 channels shut down by the end of March 2025.
The ongoing partnership reflects a strong commitment to combating extremist rhetoric and promoting a safer digital environment, the SPA reported.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2600355/saudi-arabia
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Perlis Ruler urges Muslims to reject superstitions and deviant practices, calls for stronger Sunni teachings
12 May 2025
The Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail (second left), delivered a royal address at the Closing Ceremony of the 10th Series of the Sunnah Village Programme 2025 at Masjid Alwi, Kangar. — Bernama pic
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KANGAR, May 12 — The Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed SirajuddinJamalullail, has called on all quarters to continue strengthening the teachings of Ahli Sunnah WalJamaah in the state, which are firmly rooted in the Quran and Sunnah.
His Royal Highness said support must be given to the organisation of knowledge-based programmes and beneficial activities to uphold the true teachings of Islam, and at the same time reject superstitions and deviant practices that contradict the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
“Let us prosper this state by strengthening all that is good so more people may benefit,” said Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin when officiating the closing ceremony of the 10th edition of the “Perkampungan Sunnah” programme here last night.
Also in attendance were the Raja Perempuan of Perlis TuankuTengkuFauziahTengku Abdul Rashid, the Raja Muda of Perlis Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail and the Raja PuanMuda of Perlis Tuanku Dr HajahLailatulShahreenAkashah Khalil.
Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin also reaffirmed Perlis’ position as a stronghold of Ahli Sunnah WalJamaah teachings, which rejects the misuse of religious terms such as ‘seeking blessings’, ‘sacredness’ and dreams of seeing the Prophet.
The programme, themed “MengangkatKebijaksanaan, MeruntuhKedangkalan”, was held from May 9 until yesterday and featured nearly 60 speakers from Malaysia and abroad, including Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and Singapore. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/05/12/perlis-ruler-urges-rejection-of-superstition-and-deviants-teachings-calls-for-stronger-sunni-teachings/176476
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Leader of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan Highlights Intelligence’s Role in Islamic System at Seminar
2025-05-11
The Esteemed Amir-ul-Mu’minin stated in a one-day joint training and reform seminar held for officials of the General Directorate of Intelligence that the intelligence service of the Islamic system is obligated to neutralize all hidden and overt plots.
According to the Presidential Palace, the seminar was attended by the operational deputy and directors of the relevant departments of the General Directorate of Intelligence.
In his speech, the Amir-ul-Mu’minin delivered valuable remarks to the participants regarding the importance and necessity of intelligence within an Islamic system, describing the intelligence service as the backbone of governance.
He stated that since the Islamic system came into existence through jihad and sacrifices, the intelligence department is therefore responsible for thwarting all hidden and visible plans that the enemies of the Islamic system devise and aim to implement against it.
The Amir stressed that intelligence officials must not allow anyone, whether publicly or secretly, to insult or disrespect Islamic and religious values.
He emphasized that intelligence must work in cooperation with other departments to implement Sharia and help shape public awareness and understanding.
In conclusion, the Amir-ul-Mu’minin advised intelligence officials to show mercy to the people, behave well within society, avoid arresting individuals based on suspicion, refrain from mistreating detainees, uphold confidentiality, and remain steadfast in their commitment to Sharia.
Source: bakhtarnews.af
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https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/amir-ul-muminin-highlights-intelligences-role-in-islamic-system-at-seminar/
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India
Days After Communal Speech by Karnataka BJP MLA, Temple Management Expresses Regret to Muslim Community
May 11, 2025
A week after BJP MLA Harish Poonja delivered a provocative speech at an event held at a temple in Thekkaru in Karnataka’s communally sensitive Dakshina Kannada district, the temple management wrote to the members of the Muslim community in the village expressing regret about the remarks made by the legislator.
The management of Thekkaru Temple, under the GopalkrishnaBhatrabailDevaraguddeSeva Trust, held a meeting with Muslim leaders of the village recently. Following the meeting, representatives of the temple wrote to the Muslim Okkoota of the village, saying that words by the legislators had hurt some members of the village.
“The management committee of the temple regrets these words. Along with this, the committee welcomes the cooperation of your community. In the future too, we hope that all communities live by cooperating with each other,” the letter issued by the temple management, dated May 7, read.
The letter was in response to the Muslim Okkoota, which had written to the temple management about Poonja’s speech on May 3, following which a meeting was held between the leaders from both communities. During the meeting, it was noted that members of the Muslim community had offered donations and provided a parking facility for devotees taking part in the temple renovation event, apart from other assistance.
Poonja delivered the controversial speech on the evening of May 3, days after the coastal Dakshina Kannada district witnessed communal tensions following two murders in Mangaluru. While speaking at the temple event, the two-time MLA from Belthangady constituency in the district objected to the temple management inviting Muslim residents of the village to the event at the local mosque.
In a speech delivered in Tulu, a language spoken in a few coastal districts of Karnataka, he claimed they had broken tube lights and stolen diesel from generators meant for illumination during the event. In a clip of the speech, Poonja is heard saying, “Our biggest mistake is taking everyone together in harmony. What was the need for us to go to the mosque and give an invitation? Since you gave the invitation, they broke the tube lights … We should not do a balancing act. We are Hindus and should remain so.”
Source: indianexpress.com
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https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/bangalore/communal-speech-karnataka-bjp-mla-harish-poonja-temple-muslim-community-9996513/
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After Pahalgam attack, India told many world capitals it will strike terror infra in Pakistan
12.05.25
Following the Pahalgam attack, India conveyed to many world capitals, including the US, that there should be no doubts about its punitive strikes against terror camps operating from Pakistani soil, government sources said on Sunday.
After the launch of Operation Sindoor on May 7, India communicated to various countries that its response to every Pakistani military action would be more forceful and decisive, they said.
Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi told US Vice President JD Vance on May 9 that Indian response will be "more forceful, stronger, devastating" in response to Pakistani actions, the sources said.
Vance dialled Modi as the military confrontation between the two neighbours was significantly escalating.
"In all our messages after April 22, we said we will hit the terrorists, there will be consequences. We were very, very clear from day one," said a source.
"They fire, we fire. They stop, we stop. This was our message," the source said.
The sources said Modi listened to Vance and then told him, "If the Pakistanis do anything, please be assured that they will get a response more forceful, stronger, more devastating than anything they do. They need to understand this." India's precision strikes using an array of weapon systems and missiles on eight key installations ranging from air defence systems to radar sites and command centres of the Pakistani military forced Islamabad to urge New Delhi to end the hostilities, the sources said.
The Indian strikes came in response to Pakistan's attempts to attack 26 Indian targets, including air force stations in Udhampur, Pathankot and Adampur, on the intervening night of May 9 and 10, they said.
The Indian armed forces launched a fierce counter-attack on several Pakistani military installations, including Rafiqui, Murid, Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur and Chunian, on Saturday morning, the sources said.
Radar sites at Pasrur and Sialkot aviation base were also targeted using precision munitions, causing massive damage, they added.
Hours after the Indian strikes on Saturday, the Pakistani Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) reached out to his Indian counterpart to propose ending the hostilities.
Around two hours after the conversation between the two DGMOs, Foreign Secretary VikramMisri announced that India and Pakistan reached an understanding to stop all firings and military actions on land, air and sea with immediate effect.
The sources said the Pakistani side approached the US administration after India's massive military strikes on May 10.
In the midst of the escalating tensions, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio dialled Jaishankar and said Pakistan was willing to accept an off-ramp, the sources said.
They said the first contact between India and the US happened soon after the April 22 Pahalgam attack.
Modi was in Saudi Arabia and US President Donald Trump called the prime minister to convey his solidarity and support.
After the launch of Operation Sindoor, New Delhi told the US that it would only respond to Pakistan's military actions.
"The clear message that we gave to our interlocutors is that we cannot equate the victim and the perpetrator. This even-handedness is not going to be tolerated anymore," said a source.
Through Operation Sindoor, New Delhi wanted to send across the message to the terror groups that "no place is safe", and India's armed forces are capable of going deep into Pakistani territory in the mainland.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/after-pahalgam-attack-india-told-many-world-capitals-it-will-strike-terror-infra-in-pakistan/cid/2098784
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Last night remained peaceful in Jammu and Kashmir with no hostilities: Indian Army
12.05.25
Jammu and Kashmir was peaceful last night with no hostilities between the Indian and Pakistani militaries along the Line of Control and the International Border.
The Indian Army said this on Monday morning.
"The night remained largely peaceful across Jammu and Kashmir and other areas along the International border," it said in a brief statement.
"No incidents have been reported, marking the first calm night in recent days," it said.
India launched Operation Sindoor on early May 7 to destroy seven terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir in retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack.
All subsequent retaliations to Pakistani offensives were carried out under 'Operation Sindoor'.
India and Pakistan on Saturday announced reaching an understanding to stop all firings and military actions on land, air and sea, with effect from 5 pm that day.
There were some violations of the underlying by the Pakistani military on Saturday night.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/last-night-remained-peaceful-in-jammu-and-kashmir-with-no-hostilities-indian-army/cid/2098761
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Put your money where drone is: India-Pakistan conflict reflects shift in modern warfare
Imran Ahmed Siddiqui
12.05.25
The debut of attack drones in India-Pakistan military conflict reflects a broader shift in modern warfare methods, military veterans and security experts said, urging New Delhi to invest more in military technology to meet evolving demands.
The effectiveness of unmanned systems in real-time combat has already been underlined by the Russia-Ukraine war and Iran’s recent fusillade of drone attacks on Israel.
“But this (India-Pakistan) conflict marked the first drone warfare between recognised nuclear-armed states,” Captain Shashank, a former Indian Army officer, said.
He said unmanned systems were poised to dominate future battlefields.
“A big lesson for us from this pseudo-war remains: Adopt advanced technologies for modern warfare, especially drones and beyond-visual-range capabilities,” he said.
“(This conflict) highlights a shift towards long-range, technology-driven engagements, where stealth, electronic warfare and advanced avionics are critical.”
On May 9-10 night, Pakistan let loose 300 to 400 drones targeting 26 Indian locations from Leh to Sir Creek. India shot down most of them.
Sources said India did not use as many drones as Pakistan, relying mainly on air-to-surface missiles to hit terror camps and military installations in Pakistan.
Retired Lieutenant General H.S. Panag agreed that the Indian military needed to invest big money to bolster its technological capabilities, with armies set to rely more and more on attack drones for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance andprecision strikes.
“Our defence preparedness needs a complete transformation. It has to start with higher budgetary allocations to improve our air defence systems and electronic warfare capabilities,” he said.
Panag said the waves of drones unleashed by Pakistan was part of psychological warfare, intended to sow panic and uncertainty among citizens.
Shashank said that while India had made significant progress since 2019 with the induction of Rafale jets and the S-400 air defence system, major gaps remained.
“We must prioritise the indigenous development of a robust military-industrial complex to reduce our dependence on imports,” he said.
“This includes AI-driven warfare, cyber capabilities, and drone tech to counter the evolving threats while maintaining strategic autonomy.”
Sources in the security establishment said the drones used by Pakistan included Turkish-origin Songar drones and Chinese-manufactured Byker YIH and Kamikaze UAVs. Pakistan used loitering munitions, armed drones, and coordinated incursions across both the International Border and the Line of Control.
“Some of these were aimed at civilian areas like Amritsar. An initial analysis indicates that several drones carried explosive payloads, intended to inflict the maximum damage on innocent civilians,” a security official attached to the Union homeministry said.
But India’s S-400 and Akash missile systems intercepted most of the Pakistani drones.
India used the Israeli Harop drones to attack Pakistani military sites. These drones can loiter in the air close to the designated target and attack it by self-destructing into it when directed.
Drones used in warfare can operate in air, on land, at sea level, or underwater. They may be operated manually or through autopilot systems during missions.
“It appears that Pakistan used AI drones that can navigate on their own, detect targets, and even operate in swarm groups,” a security official said.
Ukraine has been using drones such as the DJI Matrice 300 AI to find and lock onto threats independent of human assistance.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/put-your-money-where-drone-is-india-pakistan-conflict-reflects-shift-in-modern-warfare-prnt/cid/2098730
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To deal with a 2.5-front war, India must tackle the half-front inside
R JAGANNATHAN
12 May, 2025
How do you solve a problem like Pakistan, a country born with a suicide vest strapped to it, and whose heart is filled with an all-consuming hatred for India? More so during a collapsing global order, where the world recognises what Pakistan really is, but is afraid to say so or do anything collectively to close down its terror factories. The collective global response to the Pahalgam outrage is lip service accompanied by an indirect message: it is for India to deal with this, but within a low limit for kinetic action.
This is the only reason why we may have accepted a tenuous ceasefire deal for now, for it will give us time to rearm, reform, and restrategise to deal with all the collective threats we face. We have to do this almost on our own, with most countries useful only as short-term tactical partners, and not reliable friends.
There is no single answer to how, for we need to do multiple things, all simultaneously—and all as of yesterday. As the late Chief of Defence Staff, Gen BipinRawat, pointed out, India has to be ready for a two-and-a-half front war, with the half referring to unnamed internal enemies, including insurgencies in some parts of the country. The other two are obvious, though one must ask whether two-and-a-half is now three-and-a-half, with an Islamist Bangladesh being added to it. An accelerated building up of our defences is a no-brainer, but ultimately it can be bankrolled only by an economy chugging along smartly—which implies aggressive reform and deregulation. Most importantly, we must invest the political capital needed to address the half front that constitutes internal threats.
This article will focus on the half threats, for it is only a united nation that can deal with its external enemies effectively. Gen Rawat did not clearly spell out who constituted the half, but here is my list. Terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir, often aided by some sleeper cells within Kashmir, is one. The potential for Sikh alienation, despite no support on the ground for Khalistan, is another. Various north-eastern states also face sporadic attacks from militant groups, and these must be tackled. Then there is the Maoist threat, which appears to be waning now. Also unstated is the worry that small groups of Muslims are being radicalised in various states, for which the BJP’s soft Hindutva is being blamed—often unfairly. Was it BJP’s Hindutva that made Kerala —where Muslims face no discrimination whatsoever and have better socio-economic scores—the largest exporter of recruits for the short-lived Islamic State?
Before we address the two or three external threats, we must first address the half front, both the obvious ones, and the ones lurking beneath the surface. It is precisely this half front that Pakistan is trying to turn into fifth columnists in India, with the hope that revived insurgencies on the western and northern fronts will weaken us. The attempts by Pakistan to target gurdwaras and temples in Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir, including possibly the Golden Temple, is a reminder that Pakistan is assiduously trying to turn Indians against Indians.
Pakistan is also using media and psy-ops to make Indians fearful and call for another bout of “amankiasha”, which has never led us anywhere in the past. It only gave Pakistan opportunities to infiltrate our society and create more confusion.
The fact that Bollywood didn’t react on social media or elsewhere when Operation Sindoor was launched tells us a story. Various media handles that demanded immediate de-escalation when the tide was turning in our favour are also part of this deliberately-created confusion by our enemies.
Work toward Hindu-Muslim unity
The only way of shrinking the half front, both the visible ones and the ones lurking beneath the surface, is to adopt the traditional carrot-and-stick approach, whichever works better in whichever case.
In Jammu & Kashmir, for example, we could clearly tell the political parties that their help in outing the sleeper cells will determine the pace at which they will be given back statehood. Jihadism is not in the economic interests of anyone in J&K.
In Punjab, the outreach to Sikh groups must start with the reassurance that the Sikh identity will never be diluted, and Sikh places of worship will always be protected. But this needs organisations like the Shiromani GurdwaraParbandhak Committee and political parties like the Akali Dal to work with the Indian state to isolate the small numbers of Khalistani sympathisers in their midst. An economic package to revive Punjabi entrepreneurship may help address the feeling that Sikhs have a future only in Canada and Australia. One of the big tragedies of the last few decades is the economic decline of Punjab, created by the even bigger decline of Punjabi entrepreneurship. Those left behind with large farms to manage wrongly believe that more MSP (minimum support prices) for farm produce is the answer, when the water table is falling, soil is getting degraded, and jobs outside agriculture are hard to find. Punjab has to be helped to rediscover its entrepreneurial DNA.
While the Maoist and Northeastern insurgencies have reduced, we must clearly keep one eye cocked to ensure that they don’t revive.
Our biggest challenge is our Muslims, who have been led to believe—both by our own “secular” media and foreign powers—that they are being reduced to second class citizens, when that is not the case. You cannot cite stray cases of lynchings, or the recently passed Waqf Amendment Act, as instances of this targeting. The Waqf law is itself problematic for a secular country. If that is not the case, why has no one ever suggested that all religions be given Waqf-like laws, with solid judicial powers, which no one can question in the lower courts? But will this really work or create more discord between communities? And can a handful of incidents involving lynchings, while entirely unacceptable, be converted into a narrative of an entire community of 200 million being targeted? These must be seen as localised incidents and dealt with locally and not treated as national calamities. And why is it that the killing of a Kamlesh Tiwari, UlhasKohle, Kanhaiyalal, or Ramalingan never registers as comparable crimes against Hindus?
Why is it that even feeble attempts to focus on the plight of Hindus in Pakistan and Bangladesh are seen as targeting Indian Muslims?
This is not to suggest that Muslims do not have genuine grievances and concerns, but any broader understanding between Muslims and Hindus must not start with the assumption that only one party is culpable. It cannot be anyone’s case that Hindus must bear the bulk of the burden of keeping this country united, while the minorities have only rights, no duties.
The assumption that the majority must make the biggest concessions is seriously flawed for Hinduism as a unitary thought process. It was not created top down with a clear founder and a widely accepted set of fundamentals. Hinduism grew from the ground up, diverse and different from birth, and it is often defined by practices, rituals, traditions and even dietary habits. There are many scriptures, but no unifying set of religious dogmas or values that all Hindu sampradayas accept. What we call Hinduism today is the result of thousands of years of interaction and communication among diverse communities to find common ground. Hindus are an artificial majority manufactured by counting those who are not Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists. NOTA is not the way to define any majority.
But the larger point is this. There has to be a Hindu-Muslim dialogue at multiple levels, national, regional and local, to understand each others’ red lines and settle differences on the basis of two-way compromises. Governments, at the centre and states, can facilitate this process, but without the two communities working out compromises they can live with, peace on this half front will always remain a work in progress.
Source: theprint.in
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Arab World
Endangered vulture spotted in Saudi Arabia’s Northern Borders
May 11, 2025
RIYADH: An endangered Eurasian black vulture was spotted near the village of Linah in Saudi Arabia’s Northern Borders region, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The sighting of the bird, which began its migration about 2,000 kilometers away in Armenia, underscores the reserve’s importance as a sanctuary for migratory species.
With a 3.1-meter wingspan and weighing up to 14 kilograms, the black vulture is one of the largest of the old world raptors. Its population numbers, however, have plummeted in the past two centuries because of habitat loss and human activity.
Nasser Al-Majlad, chairman of the Aman Environmental Association, said that the region’s location — bridging Asia, Africa and Europe — coupled with its diverse terrain and lush vegetation, attracts more than 300 bird species every year.
Al-Majlad said that the consistent passage of migratory birds reflects ecosystem stability and enriches the cultural landscape, adding that the phenomenon offers residents and researchers unique opportunities to study avian biodiversity.
Saudi Arabia’s Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve Development Authority and the Northern Borders region’s Aman Environmental Association marked World Migratory Bird Day 2025 on May 10-11 by advocating for the conservation of migratory birds under the theme “Shared Spaces: Creating Bird-Friendly Cities and Communities.”
The events highlighted the ecological significance of the reserve and the Northern Borders region more widely.
Saudi Arabia’s annual participation in World Migratory Bird Day aligns with global conservation goals.
This year’s theme emphasized integrating bird-friendly practices into urban development to mitigate challenges such as habitat fragmentation.
The Northern Borders region is a vital migratory corridor, its strategic geographical location bridging Europe, Africa and Asia.
Migratory birds play an important role in the ecosystem by dispersing seeds, controlling insect populations, and enhancing biodiversity, making them a vital element in sustaining the environmental life cycle.
Source: arabnews.com
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Riyadh hospital performs first pediatric robotic liver transplant
May 11, 2025
RIYADH: The King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Riyadh has performed a liver lobe transplant on an eight-year-old child using an advanced robotic surgical system, with the patient being discharged after just two weeks.
Although the procedure was complicated due to the child’s small size and limited space for surgical access, the center’s experience with robotic organ transplants in adults enabled the technology to be adapted.
A tailored surgical plan was developed, which involved repositioning the robotic entry points, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.
Prof. Dieter Broering, executive director of the Organ Transplant Centre of Excellence and lead surgeon, said: “Robotic surgical techniques have traditionally been limited to adults, but we succeeded in adapting them for children, offering exceptional precision and a marked reduction in complications.
“The transplant required redesigning the surgical approach to suit the child’s small body and confined space, which we addressed by meticulously adjusting the entry sites for the robotic tools to ensure maximum safety.”
The operation sets a groundbreaking example for expanding the use of robotic surgery in pediatric care. The technology offers precise control, reduces complications and enhances safety, paving the way for the future development of child-specific robotic surgical systems.
It is the latest milestone that positions King Faisal Centre as a global leader in robotic surgery. The hospital has previously carried out the world’s first fully robotic heart transplant and the first robotic liver transplant.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi crown prince, Al-Sharaa discuss Syria’s stability and security
May 11, 2025
RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Syria’s President Ahmed Al-Sharaa held a phone call on Sunday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
During the call, the crown prince and Al-Sharaa discussed the latest developments in the Syrian Arab Republic, and reviewed all efforts to support its security and stability, SPA added.
According to a Syrian Presidency statement, Prince Mohammed “reiterated the Kingdom’s commitment to supporting Syria’s security and stability, encouraging political solutions that preserve the country’s unity, and contributing to its reconstruction.”
He also emphasized Saudi Arabia’s keenness to expand economic and investment ties with Syria in the period ahead, the statement added.
Al-Sharaa thanked Saudi Arabia for its “continued support,” highlighting the Kingdom’s role in strengthening Syria’s territorial integrity and stability.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi Arabia invites leaders of GCC for Gulf-US summit in Riyadh
May 11, 2025
RIYADH: Saudi King Salman has extended invitations to leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to attend a Gulf-US summit in Riyadh, Al Arabiya News Channel reported Sunday.
The invitation comes as US President Donald Trump is set to visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates this week.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi Arabia and Bahrain sign agreement to complete medical city project
May 11, 2025
MANAMA: Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa met with Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Education, Yousef bin Abdullah Al-Bunyan, at Al-Sakhir Palace on Sunday during the latter’s visit to sign an agreement for the completion of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Medical City.
The project, being carried out by the Arabian Gulf University, marks a major collaboration between the two countries in the field of medical education and healthcare infrastructure, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
During the meeting, Al-Bunyan conveyed greetings from Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, along with their wishes for Bahrain’s continued development, SPA added.
He also underlined the importance Saudi Arabia places on strengthening its longstanding relationship with Bahrain, particularly in the education sector.
King Hamad welcomed the minister and reciprocated the well-wishes, reaffirming Bahrain’s appreciation for the strong ties between the two nations.
He expressed satisfaction with the progress of joint projects, particularly King Abdullah Medical City, which he said reflected the depth of cooperation between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
Source: arabnews.com
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Riyadh community reclaims power of writing
HAJAR ALQUSAYER
May 11, 2025
RIYADH: What would happen if you wrote every day for 100 days? In Riyadh, a growing Arabic writing community has taken on the challenge, inviting writers of all levels to rediscover the joy of writing one day at a time.
The “100 Days of Writing” initiative offers a space for reflection, consistency and expression, far from the pressures of social media.
“Writing is an essential tool for anyone who wants to think,” Mohammad Aldhabaa, founder of the community, told Arab news.
He said that writing can serve as a form of meditation and healing, helping individuals process emotions and better understand themselves.
“There are many things you can do with writing on a personal level, to reflect, to deconstruct identity, and to make sense of experiences, he said.
While the community grew, Aldhabaa saw firsthand the challenges Arab writers face online: “We don’t have the infrastructure to allow writers in Arabic to write and publish their work and to reach their audience using modern digital tools,” Aldhabaa explained.
Many writers are forced to rely on fragmented, English-oriented services like newsletter platforms and generic website builders. It is hard to expect consistent, high-quality content in Arabic without a proper system that incentivizes writers, he said.
Out of this need for better infrastructure, the community built its own solution: Kitabah, a publishing platform designed specifically for Arabic writers.
The platform allows users to publish work, create personal websites, and in future phases, monetize their writing.
Kitabah integrates social features to help writers grow their audience without having to independently market their work, similar to Substack or Medium which are useful for writers working in English.
“We didn’t want to create separated islands where each writer builds a blog and struggles to bring in traffic,” Aldhabaa said. “Everything is distributed through the Kitabah feed, and also you have your own website.”
He explained that writers can publish, connect their work to a newsletter, and link their personal site across social media. “There’s a traffic engine behind it, so writers don’t have to do all the heavy lifting.”
Initiatives like this can help shape the Kingdom’s literary and cultural landscape, he said, by empowering more writers to tell locally rooted stories.
“That is very important and crucial, playing into the soft power of Saudi Arabia the ability to have way more writers and creators be able to focus on telling stories about the communities we grew up in, the stories we come from. Because there is something that is very valuable and has very impactful results,” he said.
The community attracts experienced writers and absolute beginners. “We don’t want it to be only seasoned writers who already have a certain level of achievement because the idea of the community is to allow people to try and to learn, and not to create a status-based community.”
HanenShahin, a member of the community, said: “The writing community is an alternative environment to the forums we used to write in years ago. Social media came along and made it a competitive space driven by numbers and algorithms, an unhealthy environment for emerging writers, and sometimes even a damaging one.”
Shahin said that writing communities, by contrast, offer the guidance and perspective many writers need.
“You’re not just writing consistently but doing so while receiving feedback from people with refined taste and diverse backgrounds, which gives you a broader view of your work.”
Lana Elsafadi, another member, said: “Writing has helped me know myself better and get better at sorting out my feelings clearly. I feel really good when I can make a helpful comment that shows a deep idea or gives good advice, whether it’s about personal things or work.”
One hundred days may seem a big challenge, but for many writers in Riyadh, it is just the beginning.
Source: arabnews.com
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Argentine officials praise Saudi Arabia’s tolerance message at Buenos Aires fair
May 11, 2025
RIYADH: Jorge Macri, chief of government of the Argentine capital Buenos Aires, praised the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs’ pavilion at the Buenos Aires International Book Fair as a unique model.
He noted that it effectively expresses Islamic identity through a modern design reflecting the cultural renaissance underway in the Kingdom, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
During his visit to the pavilion, Macri emphasized that the ministry’s participation strengthened Saudi Arabia’s position as the fair’s main guest of honor.
He added that the cultural and educational events and initiatives offered by the King Fahd Cultural Center enhance social ties between Argentina and the Kingdom.
PilarBosca, director general for religious affairs in Buenos Aires, also expressed appreciation for Saudi Arabia’s efforts in promoting the values of tolerance and moderation, describing the Kingdom as a global model in this regard.
During her tour of the pavilion, Bosca expressed admiration for the diverse content presented, which reflects the true essence of Islam.
She added that this underscores Saudi Arabia’s noble message of promoting moderation, coexistence, and tolerance through modern technology and interactive digital tools that engage all segments of society.
The ministry’s booth drew wide attendance from fair visitors, who appreciated the rich content blending accurate information with a modern approach, the SPA reported.
They praised the message conveyed by Saudi Arabia through the ministry in serving the Holy Qur’an and spreading the call to Islam with wisdom and good counsel.
The 49th annual Buenos Aires International Book Fair, organized by the Book Foundation in Argentina, is being held from April 22 to May 12.
Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, is the guest of honor, showcasing the Kingdom’s growing prominence in Latin America.
Riyadh’s pavilion aims to strengthen Saudi cultural presence in the region and present the capital as a cultural model reflecting the Kingdom’s transformation under Vision 2030.
The pavilion features diverse literary and cultural content, including Spanish-translated publications that help build cultural bridges.
The Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission is leading Riyadh’s participation, joined by a Saudi cultural and literary delegation that includes representatives from the Theater and Performing Arts Commission, the Heritage Commission, and the Ministry of Islamic Affairs.
Also participating are the King Fahd Glorious Qur’an Printing Complex, King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives, King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language, King Abdulaziz Public Library, and King Fahd National Library.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2600320/saudi-arabia
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Dhahran’s Half Moon Bay revamp to boost tourism
ARAB NEWS
May 11, 2025
JEDDAH: A major investment project to develop Half Moon Bay in Dhahran has been launched by the Eastern Province municipality.
The initiative, spanning 290,000 sq. meters, will include the construction of a yacht marina, maritime academy, a range of recreational and tourism facilities, and educational, sports, and marine activities.
It is also expected to significantly improve the quality of life for both residents and visitors, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.
One of the Kingdom’s most scenic beaches, Half Moon Bay stretches more than 700 km, making it the longest shoreline in the Gulf region. It is especially popular for grouper fishing, sailing and various marine sports and competitions.
Its name comes from its crescent-shaped coastline, a striking natural formation that adds to its distinctive charm. The area also hosts several resorts, enhancing its appeal as a tourist hotspot.
This project is part of the municipality’s broader strategy to strengthen the Eastern Province’s competitive advantages and unlock its full tourism potential.
It also supports ongoing efforts to attract investors and entrepreneurs across various sectors, aligning with the goals of Vision 2030 to boost private sector participation, diversify the economy and create job opportunities.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi aid agency renovates health institute in Yemen
May 11, 2025
RIYADH: The Saudi aid agency KSrelief has helped to restore and re-equip the Higher Institute of Health Sciences in Yemen’s Lahij governorate.
The project included repairing and restoring six main buildings, furnishing 10 classrooms, and renovating 36 student dormitories, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
It also involved furnishing 38 bathrooms to ensure proper living conditions, and equipping four modern medical laboratories with advanced tools to help enhance health education.
KSrelief also provided the institute with more than 500 pieces of furniture and supplied the dormitories with an additional 414 items.
The agency delivered more than 800 medical devices across various departments — including nursing, surgery, reproductive health, and dentistry — in addition to five electronic devices to support teaching.
The project aims to improve the educational environment, provide better conditions for students and staff in Lahij, and serve students from neighboring governorates.
An estimated 1,850 people are direct beneficiaries, while the broader impact is expected to reach about 860,000 across Yemen, the SPA reported.
Saleh Al-Dhaibani, KSrelief’s office director in Aden, said the project seeks to strengthen the academic and professional capacities of health personnel by offering a conducive learning environment.
The initiative is part of a series of humanitarian projects by KSrelief to enhance Yemen’s education and health infrastructure, ultimately preparing skilled health professionals to meet the country’s needs.
Source: arabnews.com
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Southeast Asia
Anwar: Federal and state governments must work together to help Sabah grow
11 May 2025
TAWAU, May 11 — Sabah has the potential to become a developed state through close cooperation between the Federal and state governments in championing the people’s welfare, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
In line with this, he gave his assurance to make every effort to realise that aspiration and subsequently provide a better life for the people in the state.
Anwar said it was normal for any state to request allocations for development, and such matters could be discussed amicably and harmoniously between the Federal and state governments.
“This is normal, but not through hostility or condemnation. We negotiate and find good solutions, choose elected representatives who can voice our interests, not divide us.
“This is my message: if we love our country and love our state, we must strengthen our unity. We should also be thankful to Allah, grateful that we live in peace, without war or political conflict,” he said when officiating the closing ceremony of the Sabah Madani Rakyat Programme (PMR) 2025 at the Tawau Municipal Council Square here today.
Also present were Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk EwonBenedick, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk ArmizanMohd Ali, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri ShamsulAzri Abu Bakar, and Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain.
Meanwhile, Anwar rebuked leaders who had held high-ranking positions, including in Parliament, but often spoke of developing Sabah through confrontation with the Peninsula or the Federal government.
“The Peninsula will not progress, Sarawak will not progress, Sabah will not progress if we do not unite and work together to uplift this nation. We must truly understand this.
“Look at other countries — every day there is news of division between races, between regions, between religions. Why? Because leaders incite division, and when they have power, they do not think about the people,” he said.
He said these leaders, when entrusted with power and responsibility by the people to govern the country, Parliament and the government, failed to do what was necessary, and instead, after losing power, sought to divide the people.
Anwar also emphasised that all fellow leaders currently in power at both the Federal and state levels must do their utmost to safeguard the people’s welfare and resolve their problems, rather than follow in the footsteps of leaders who only know how to condemn others after losing power.
“When they lose power, they raise issues like defending the Malays, Islam being under threat, and the state being neglected. But you had power before — do what you can while you still have it. I challenge all my colleagues in power now, do your best for the people while you still have the mandate,” he said.
He said the people, especially in Sabah, were affected by many issues, including water and electricity supply, healthcare, roads, and education facilities for their children, which were crucial for their future.
Therefore, he said, facilities such as schools, clinics, and key projects like the Pan Borneo Highway in Sabah must be completed properly for the benefit of the people and not be allowed to face unnecessary delays.
“In the Madani Government, this is what we are doing. Some say it’s still not enough, and I agree — it is not yet enough. Sometimes the problems we carry are inherited and cannot be resolved overnight.
“How long has the Pan Borneo Highway (in Sabah) been stuck? It’s nearly completed in Sarawak, but in Sabah, it was severely delayed. Thankfully, we have Chief Minister Hajiji who said, ‘Just proceed, don’t worry about other problems,’” he said.
Anwar said he came to Sabah to serve its people as Prime Minister and hoped all fellow leaders understood their responsibility to defend the people’s welfare. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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‘Harmony through understanding’: King, Queen urge unity in Wesak Day message to Malaysians
12 May 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, May 12 — His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim and Her Majesty Raja ZarithSofiah, the King and Queen of Malaysia, have extended Wesak Day greetings to all Buddhists in the country.
Their Majesties emphasised that strong interracial ties not only form the foundation of the nation’s strength but also serve as a catalyst for unity.
“In our multiracial society, harmony is achieved when we show mutual respect and understanding toward one another.
“Together, let us build a more peaceful, united, prosperous future. Happy Wesak Day to all Buddhists in the country,” Their Majesties said in a post on Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar’s official Facebook page.
Wesak Day, observed today, commemorates three significant events in Gautama Buddha’s life, namely his birth, enlightenment and death. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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South Asia
Ensuring security, peace, IEA’s top responsibility, Hanafi
May 12, 2025
KABUL: Mawlavi Abdul Salam Hanafi, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Islamic Emirate for Administrative Affairs, in a meeting with Qari Mohammad Amin Tayeb, Deputy Governor of Badakhshan, said that ensuring security, peace, and the welfare of the people is one of the key responsibilities of the Islamic Emirate, according to a statement from Arg the other day.
QariTayeb provided information about the economic, social, security, and governance situation in Badakhshan province to Mawlavi Hanafi and assured that the local officials are continuously serving the people and striving to ensure peace and security.
He also asked the leadership of the Islamic Emirate to pay attention to the implementation of transportation infrastructure, development projects in the province. Meanwhile, Mawlavi Hanafi said that the IEA has been focusing on the implementation of development projects over the past years and will continue to prioritize these initiatives in the future to ensure sustainable growth and stability within the country, and relevant departments would take necessary steps within the possibility of available resources to address the issues in the province.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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IAU VC or Islamic education to build non-discriminatory moral society
11 May 2025
RANGPUR, May 11, 2025 (BSS) - Vice-chancellor of Islamic Arabic University (IAU) Professor Dr. Md. ShamsulAlam here today said there is no alternative to Islamic education in building a non-discriminatory moral society.
“The IAU is working to build an ideal society through contemporary Islamic and modern education to create skilled manpower for building a discrimination-free, prosperous moral society. For this, Madrasa education is very important,” he said.
He said Madrasa education simultaneously encompasses modern, contemporary and religious education.
The Vice-chancellor said this in his speech as the chief guest at the Rangpur divisional views-exchange meeting titled "Improving the Quality of Madrasa Education" organized by the university at the District Shilpokola Academy auditorium.
Principals and vice-principals of 178 madrasas from all eight districts in Rangpur division participated in the event.
IAU Pro Vice-chancellor Professor Dr. Mohammad Shahidul Islam and Treasurer ASM Mamunur Rahman Khalili were present as special guests.
Pro Vice-chancellor Professor Dr. M. Abu Jafor khan presided over the event moderated by Registrar Md. Ayub Hossain.
Dean of the University's Kamil (Postgraduate) Education, Training and Research Center Professor Dr. Mohammad Oli Ullah, Dean of the Curriculum Development and Evaluation Center Professor Dr. Muhammad ShazaatUllahFarooqui, Registrar Md. Ayub Hossain and Controller of Examinations Mohammad Ali participated in the discussion.
The Vice-chancellor said that religious education is of immense importance in building a corruption-free society. Therefore, for building a healthy society and the state, Madrasa students must be made capable citizens to run the society and the state.
He said, “We want the madrasas to produce qualified scholars and competent manpower. They should contribute to building a prosperous society and state free from injustice, irregularities and corruption.”
“The IAU will be free from session jams in a very short time. The university's course curriculum will be timely and of high quality. Opportunities for higher research are being created,” he said.
Pro Vice-chancellor Professor Dr. Mohammad Shahidul Islam said that Madrasa education can play a key role in building a nation without discrimination. In the Madrasa education system, worldly and afterlife issues are given equal priority.
Pro Vice-chancellor Professor Dr. M Abu Jafor Khan said that modern and contemporary education should be spread in madrasas. Madrasa students should be made worthy citizens.
The participating principals and vice-principals said that the government should increase the allocation to madrasas and teachers should be provided with training.
Source: bssnews.net
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https://www.bssnews.net/news/271886
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Yunus urges coordinated action for timely LDC graduation
May 12, 2025
Chief Adviser to the interim government Professor Muhammad Yunus yesterday called for urgent and coordinated action from all relevant agencies to ensure Bangladesh's smooth and timely graduation from the least developed country (LDC) status.
He made the remarks during a high-level meeting with an LDC Graduation Committee at State Guest House Jamuna, where progress on key deliverables was reviewed, according to a statement issued by the Chief Adviser's Press Wing.
"This whole thing is about coordination," said the chief adviser.
"We already have the attention and support of investors, funders, and development partners. Now, we must build on the efforts already underway and intensify our collective action to move forward with speed and purpose," he also added.
"We need a team that functions like firefighters. When the whistle blows, they must respond—fast, efficiently, and without delay and stay at the problem until it is solved," he said.
He further assured that the Chief Adviser's Office would take an active role in overseeing the process.
"The highest office of the government will personally monitor the implementation of all graduation-related initiatives," he added.
During the meeting, the LDC Graduation Committee identified five priority actions that must be completed on an urgent basis.
These include the full operationalisation of National Single Window with participation from all relevant agencies and implementation of National Tariff Policy 2023 through a clear action plan.
It also involves execution of key measures under National Logistics Policy 2024 including infrastructure projects, operational readiness of Savar Tannery Industrial Estate's central effluent treatment, and full-scale operation of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient Industrial Park in Gajaria, Munshiganj.
"These aren't just routine tasks—we need to see them as key steps, each one helps clear the way for our graduation and builds a stronger, fairer economy for everyone," the chief adviser added.
Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, Chief Adviser's Special Assistant Dr Anisuzzaman Chowdhury, and Chief Adviser's Special Envoy for International Affairs Lutfey Siddiqi attended the meeting.
Source: thedailystar.net
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Accomplices of 1971 war crimes must apologise
May 12, 2025
Information and Broadcasting Adviser MdMahfujAlam yesterday said that the issue of 1971 must be resolved, and the accomplices of war crimes must apologise.
"The Pakistani ideology will have to be ditched for participation in politics in Bangladesh," he said in Facebook.
He wrote the post titled "Two Words", whose first point was: "Pakistan has committed genocide in this country. (Even if Pakistan officially apologises, even if the country agrees to apologise again, accomplices of war crimes are yet to apologise). Making a narrative in favour of genocide for any excuse must be stopped. Sabotage of the July force, by infiltrating it, must be stopped. [You] have to come in with a clean heart."
In his second point, he wrote, "The pro-Mujib leftist forces will have no mercy. They are the brains behind the League's enforced disappearances and murders and massacres in the anti-Modi movement and at Shapla. They belong to the 36 Division."
The adviser also said, "They are still in their position, untouched despite their repulsive brokering during July. Till today, the pro-Mujib leftists are culturally and intellectually betraying July. They continue to plot against the forces of July staying in the country. All these B-teams of the League will soon be defeated. There is no use in relying on anyone else."
Earlier, in another post, he said, "The decision has been made to ban the activities of the Awami League. A provision has been added to the legal process to ban the party. The July Proclamation will be issued within the next 30 working days."
The government has decided to ban all activities of the Awami League until the trial of its leaders and activists is over at the International Crimes Tribunal.
This decision was taken in a special meeting of the advisory council Saturday night with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus in the chair.
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/accomplices-1971-war-crimes-must-apologise-3892221
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Police to take stern action against banned orgs
May 12, 2025
Police will take stern action against banned organisations if they attempt to disrupt public security, said Rezaul Karim Mallick, the newly appointed Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Dhaka Range, yesterday.
He made the statement while addressing a press conference at his office in the capital's Segunbagicha.
When asked which organisations are considered banned, he said, "You are surely aware that those who act against the government or work against the interests of the people -- they are the ones considered banned."
The DIG also warned of strict action if any police personnel are found involved in criminal activity.
The DIG also announced the launch of a new mobile application titled "Talk to DIG", which will enable citizens to report crimes or seek help directly from him using their mobile phones.
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/police-take-stern-action-against-banned-orgs-3892096
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Illegal sand extraction: 53 dredgers, 36 bulkheads seized from Meghna; 6 held
May 11, 2025
Coast Guard has detained six people and seized 53 dredgers and 36 bulkheads from Meghnariver near Hijla of Barishal during an anti-illegal sand extraction operation.
Acting on a tip-off, a team of Coast Guard members launched the drive in Saurarchar area of the Meghnariver from 9:00am yesterday to 1:00am today, said Lt Commander Harun-or-Rashid, media officer of the Coast Guard in a press release.
During the operation, the team also seized Tk 11,298,240 in cash, 20 grammes of cannabis, and a speedboat allegedly used for extortion.
Preliminary interrogation revealed that the detained individuals were also engaged in extortion in the area, the release stated.
Legal proceedings regarding the arrestees and the seized vessels are currently underway.
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/environment/news/illegal-sand-extraction-53-dredgers-36-bulkheads-seized-meghna-6-held-3892426
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Constituent assembly election essential for fundamental reforms: Nahid Islam
May 11, 2025
Nahid Islam, convener of the National Citizens' Party (NCP), has said that a constituent assembly is necessary for fundamental reforms of the constitution.
"If we truly want fundamental reforms, we must hold elections for a constituent assembly," he said.
He made the remarks today at a discussion held at the International Institute of Mother Language in the capital.
The event was organised to deliberate on seven proposals put forward by Citizen's Coalition for Constitutional Reform, aiming to restructure the democratic framework of the state.
Nahid said, "Unless there is consensus on fundamental issues like balance of power and decentralisation, democratic processes cannot function merely by agreeing on other matters."
He added, "The constitution has been amended according to the whims of individuals. Even after such a massive uprising, our failure to reach consensus on basic constitutional reforms is unfortunate."
He further said, "After 1975, we could have started a new journey by replacing the constitution of 1972, but that didn't happen. Without drafting a new constitution, we cannot claim to have built a new Bangladesh."
He further said, "To abolish the fascist system, not only the constitution but also economic, political, and cultural reforms are necessary. Moreover, the fundamental principles of the constitution must be separated from partisan ideologies."
"There is no connection between reform discussions and elections, and the NCP supports the statement of the chief adviser in this regard. However, before any election takes place, the trial of the Awami League and the implementation of fundamental reforms must be completed," he added.
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/politics/news/constituent-assembly-election-essential-fundamental-reforms-nahid-islam-3892211
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Mideast
Islamic Jihad: No release of zionist captives unless war ends
11 May 2025
Dr. Mohammed Al-Hindi, Deputy Secretary-General of the Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine, affirmed that the Palestinian resistance will not release Zionist captives unless the aggression stops and the war ends.
In press statements on Sunday, Al-Hindi said, "We are ready for a comprehensive deal under the title 'captives in exchange for ending the war and a complete withdrawal from Gaza.' He added, "Unless the enemy is forced to stop its aggression, there will be no talk of releasing any prisoners."
He pointed out that internal pressure within the occupied entity might lead to an agreement, "but we will not give up our cards for free." He noted that the resistance prefers an "all-for-all" deal but remains open to a phased implementation of a clear and comprehensive agreement that considers the tensions within "Yafa" (Tel Aviv).
Dr. Al-Hindi stated that the occupying entity has overwhelmed mediators with impossible demands, most notably disarming the resistance and expelling its leaders. He continued, "Disarming the resistance means the beginning of the forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza… and this will not happen."
He stressed that Netanyahu’s promises to eliminate Hamas and force the resistance to surrender are "pure fantasy," emphasizing that the enemy is no longer portrayed as a victim but as an oppressor in the eyes of the world.
He explained that the accumulated anger in Gaza, the West Bank, and the diaspora is immense and could erupt at any moment, spreading to the peoples of the region and freedom-loving people worldwide. "The Zionist enemy faces a dilemma: how to recover its captives without re-entering Gaza?"
The Deputy Secretary-General of Islamic Jihad noted that the enemy army understands that a large-scale ground operation in Gaza would incur heavy losses, which is why it resorts to airstrikes and artillery bombardments—without achieving results.
He added that the goals of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may clash with the agenda of Donald Trump, who seeks to present himself as a dealmaker in the war files left by former U.S. President Joe Biden.
Source: saba.ye
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https://www.saba.ye/en/news3479673.htm
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Mashhad conference highlights cultural diplomacy’s role in promoting Islamic heritage worldwide
May 11, 202
By SamanehAboutalebi
The conference was successfully held with the participation of key officials and experts, including representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Iran's Islamic Culture and Relations Organization (ICRO).
Building upon last year’s session, this event aimed to foster synergy among initiatives to elevate the global presence of Ahl al-Bayt and Razavi culture.
The conference featured 13 speeches that underscored the importance of expanding Iran’s soft power through cultural diplomacy. A prominent theme was the strategic role of the Razavi diplomatic sphere, emphasizing the global mission of promoting Islamic civilization and the teachings of Imam Reza (AS).
From Lebanon, Sheikh Jafar Al-Mohajer, a distinguished scholar, author, and researcher and the founder of the Baalbek-based Center for Bahauddin shared a comprehensive report on recent scholarly efforts.
“Our center has published 52 titles that provide a new, historically accurate narrative of Shia Islam, countering exaggerated and distant accounts. We aim to highlight the efforts and sacrifices of the Ahl al-Bayt, rewriting history to reflect their jihadist approach and strategic management, which transformed the course of Islamic history’” he noted.
“Amidst ongoing hardships and destruction in Lebanon, we seek international support to sustain our activities, as Hezbollah remains our primary supporter, and our center faces closure without external aid,” he explained.
For his part, Sheikh Zaid Alsalami from Australia, a member of the Ahl Al-Bayt World Assembly, addressed the challenges faced by Muslim communities in the West, particularly in Australia, where second and third-generation migrants struggle to preserve their Islamic identity amid cultural assimilation.
“Many young Muslims in Western countries are unaware of the significance of pilgrimage and the cultural heritage of Imam Reza (AS),” he explained.
“Despite numerous Islamic centers, Westernization and cultural invasion make it difficult to maintain our identity. I actively encourage youth to visit the holy sites and promote awareness through social media and translations into English,” he mentioned.
The quality of translations and the dissemination of accurate information are crucial, especially since reading habits have declined and social media dominates communication, he added.
In his remarks, HamidrezaArbabSoleimani, Deputy Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance highlighted Imam Reza’s wisdom, stating, “Meeting with fellow believers fosters growth and vitality, even if long intervals separate these encounters.”
“This conference serves as a valuable opportunity to develop cultural diplomacy, reminding us that our cultural mission extends beyond national borders. Islam, as a universal religion, mandates that our message benefits all humanity,” he added.
“Today, many people around the world are unfamiliar with the Quran and the Ahl al-Bayt. If Mashhad can fulfill its mission accurately and communicate this message effectively, it will serve humanity and help expand the Islamic civilization worldwide. Such gatherings play a vital role in this endeavor.”
Hassan-Ali Akhlaghi, a member of the Iranian Parliament, emphasized the spiritual importance of the Ahl al-Bayt.
Today, Iran’s Islamic Republic stands as a powerful entity on the international stage, embodying the Resistance Axis, he mentioned.
Mashhad, with the presence of Imam Reza (AS), has become a hub of social and spiritual vitality, capable of uniting the Islamic world, he said.
“We should transform Mashhad into the country’s first free scientific zone, leveraging its universities and research centers. Such academic and scientific development will bolster resistance against arrogance and imperialism.”
Also speaking at the event, Hossein Yekta, a well-known veteran of the Iran-Iraq War and public figure, underscored the centrality of martyrdom and sacrifice in the ongoing struggle between good and evil. “The international language is not just English, but the language of sacrifice and martyrdom,” he said.
“To communicate effectively with the new generation, we must adapt our methods, incorporating artificial intelligence and innovative storytelling to counter hostile narratives and promote our cause globally.”
For his part, HamidrezaMahdaviArfa, a Nahj al-Balagha expert discussed the nuances of cultural diplomacy, contrasting Iran’s approach with Western practices.
“In the West, cultural tools are often used for political purposes, whereas in Iran, culture itself is the goal,” he explained and added: “Imam Reza’s teachings should be recognized, particularly through pilgrimage, to be acknowledged as a civilization-builder worldwide.”
Hossein Divsalar, an official with ICRO emphasized that cultural diplomacy serves as a bridge among nations, advocating for a soft power approach rooted in peaceful coexistence. “The message of the Islamic Republic is one of civilization, peace, and intercultural dialogue,” he noted.
The conference concluded with a shared consensus on the necessity of innovative, language-sensitive outreach strategies and the importance of promoting Iran’s cultural and spiritual values on the global stage to foster unity, peace, and mutual understanding among nations.
The Imam Reza (AS) International Festival is held annually in various provinces of the country as well as in several other countries.
This festival encompasses various fields such as articles, plays or screenplays, produced shows, stories, visual arts, books, literary texts, poetry, press and digital works, and radio and television productions.
It aims at promoting artistic excellence rooted in spiritual and cultural values, inspiring artists and audiences alike.
Source: tehrantimes.com
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https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/512909/Mashhad-conference-highlights-cultural-diplomacy-s-role-in-promoting
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Israel is not committed to any ceasefire or prisoner release with Hamas
May 12, 2025
DUBAI: Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel did not commit to any ceasefire or prisoners’ release with Hamas in a statement early on Monday.
The agreement only stipulates a safe corridor that would allow Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander’s release he said.
Negotiations for a possible deal to secure the release of all hostages in Gaza would continue "under fire, during preparations for an intensification of the fighting", Netanyahu said in a statement released by his office.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2600382/middle-east
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Israel’s blockade means Gaza’s hospitals cannot provide food to recovering patients
May 12, 2025
KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip: It cost a fortune, she said, but Asmaa Fayez managed to buy a few zucchinis in a Gaza market. She cooked them with rice and brought it to her 4-year-old son, who has been in the hospital for the past week. The soup was his only meal of the day, and he asked for more.
“It’s all finished, darling,” Fayez replied softly. Still, it was an improvement from the canned beans and tuna she brings on other days, she said.
Hospital patients are among the most vulnerable as Palestinians across Gaza struggle to feed themselves, with Israel’s blockade on food and other supplies entering the territory now in its third month.
With hospitals unable to provide food, families must bring whatever they can find for loved ones.
“Most, if not all, wounded patients have lost weight, especially in the past two months,” Dr. Khaled Alserr, a general surgeon at Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis, told The Associated Press. Nutritional supplements for intensive care unit patients are lacking, he said.
“Our hands are tied when it comes to making the best choice for patients. Choices are limited,” he said.
Hunger worsens as supplies dwindle
Malnutrition is on the rise across Gaza, aid groups say. Thousands of children have been found with acute malnutrition in the past month, but adults as well are not getting proper nutrients, according to the UN It estimates that 16,000 pregnant women and new mothers this year face acute malnutrition.
Since Israel’s blockade began on March 2, food sources have been drying up. Aid groups have stopped food distribution. Bakeries have closed. Charity kitchens handing out bowls of pasta or lentils remain the last lifeline for most of the population, but they are rapidly closing for lack of supplies, the UN says.
Markets are empty of almost everything but canned goods and small amounts of vegetables, and prices have been rising. Local production of vegetables has plummeted because Israeli forces have damaged 80 percent of Gaza’s farmlands, the UN says, and much of the rest is inaccessible inside newly declared military zones.
Fayez’s son, Ali Al-Dbary, was admitted to Nasser Hospital because of a blocked intestine, suffering from severe cramps and unable to use the bathroom. Fayez believes it’s because he has been eating little but canned goods. She splurged on the zucchini, which now costs around $10 a kilogram (2.2 pounds). Before the war it was less than a dollar.
Doctors said the hospital doesn’t have a functioning scanner to diagnose her son and decide whether he needs surgery.
Israel says it imposed the blockade and resumed its military campaign in March to pressure Hamas to release its remaining hostages and disarm.
Hamas ignited the war with its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, in which militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 251 hostage, most of whom have been released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Israel’s offensive has killed over 52,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were civilians or combatants.
Concern over Israeli plans to control aid
Israeli officials have asserted that enough food entered Gaza during a two-month ceasefire earlier this year. Rights groups have disputed that and called the blockade a “starvation tactic” and a potential war crime.
Now Israeli plans to control aid distribution in Gaza, using private contractors to distribute supplies. The UN and aid groups have rejected the idea, saying it could restrict who is eligible to give and receive aid and could force large numbers of Palestinians to move — which would violate international law.
Those under care at hospitals, and their families who scrounge to feed them, would face further challenges under Israel’s proposal. Moving to reach aid could be out of the question.
Another patient at Nasser Hospital, 19-year-old AsmaaFaraj, had shrapnel in her chest from an airstrike that hit close to her tent and a nearby charity kitchen in camps for displaced people outside Khan Younis.
When the AP visited, the only food she had was a small bag of dates, a date cookie and some water bottles. Her sister brought her some pickles.
“People used to bring fruits as a gift when they visited sick people in hospitals,” said the sister, SalwaFaraj. “Today, we have bottles of water.”
She said her sister needs protein, fruits and vegetables but none are available.
Mohammed Al-Bursh managed to find a few cans of tuna and beans to bring for his 30-year-old son, Sobhi, who was wounded in an airstrike three months ago. Sobhi’s left foot was amputated, and he has two shattered vertebrae in his neck.
Al-Bursh gently gave his son spoonfuls of beans as he lay still in the hospital bed, a brace on his neck.
“Everything is expensive,” Sobhi Al-Bursh said, gritting with pain that he says is constant. He said he limits what he eats to help save his father money.
He believes that his body needs meat to heal. “It has been three months, and nothing heals,” he said.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2600372/middle-east
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Trump hails US-Israeli hostage release as ‘monumental news’
May 12, 2025
WASHINGTON: Donald Trump on Sunday celebrated an announcement by Hamas that it would release US-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander from Gaza, with the US president saying he hoped all hostages would be released and fighting ended.
“I am grateful to all those involved in making this monumental news happen,” Trump said in a post on social media, describing the release as a “good faith gesture,” adding: “Hopefully this is the first of those final steps necessary to end this brutal conflict.”
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2600367/middle-east
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Israel attacks Yemen’s Hodeidah after evacuation warnings, Houthis say
May 11, 2025
HODEIDAH: Israel attacked Hodeidah in Yemen after the Israeli army said it had warned residents of three ports under Houthi control to evacuate, the Houthi interior ministry said on Sunday.
The strikes came shortly after Israel warned residents of Ras Isa, Hodeidah and Salif to leave, saying the ports were being used by the Iranian-backed Houthis.
There was no immediate comment on the attack from Israel.
The strikes came a few days after a missile launched toward Israel by the Houthis was intercepted.
The attack came ahead of US President Donald Trump’s visit to the Middle East this week.
Trump, who had launched an intensified military campaign against Houthi strongholds in Yemen on March 15, agreed to an Oman-mediated ceasefire deal with the group, who said the accord did not include Israel.
The Houthis have been launching missiles and drones at Israel as well as attacking vessels in global shipping lanes, in a campaign that they say is aimed at showing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
Israel has carried out numerous retaliatory airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2600356/middle-east
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Sheikh Hamoudi: Iraq's Presidency of the Arab Summit Gives It the Opportunity to Defend the Nation's Interests
11 May 2025
Sheikh HumamHamoudi, President of the Supreme Islamic Council of Iraq (SICI), affirmed on Sunday that Iraq's presidency of the Arab Summit gives it the opportunity to courageously defend the nation's interests.
Sheikh Hamoudi's media office said in a statement received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA): that "The President of the Supreme Islamic Council of Iraq affirmed in a speech at the Dialogue Forum held in Victory Hall that Baghdad's hosting of the Arab Summit is evidence of its stability and the success of its Arab-Islamic democratic project."
According to the statement "Hosting the summit is an opportunity that opens broad prospects for Iraq to enhance its cooperation with many countries aspiring to strengthen their relations with Baghdad."
"Iraq seeks to leverage its position to address regional issues and build stability in a way that serves all its countries," noting that "Iraq's presidency of the Arab Summit gives it the opportunity to courageously defend the nation's interests and formulate new initiatives and visions to address the serious challenges it faces."
Source: ina.iq
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https://ina.iq/eng/39826-sheikh-hamoudi-iraqs-presidency-of-the-arab-summit-gives-it-the-opportunity-to-defend-the-nations-interests.html
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Palestinian vice president discusses Gaza, West Bank with Qatar’s prime minister
May 11, 2025
LONDON: Hussein Al-Sheikh, the vice president of Palestine, has discussed in Doha the latest developments in the Gaza Strip and West Bank with Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani.
Al-Sheikh spoke of the Palestinian stance on Gaza, calling for the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the enclave to allow the Palestinian Authority to take on civil and security responsibilities, the Palestine News Agency reported.
The officials looked at the preparations for the upcoming Arab League Summit in Baghdad and the anticipated visit of US President Donald Trump to the region this week.
Al-Sheikh also briefed the Qatari official on the latest developments in the West Bank, highlighting the urgent need for a ceasefire and the immediate delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Qatar’s prime minister reaffirmed his country’s strong support for the Palestinian cause, emphasizing the importance of international law and the establishment of a Palestinian state, the WAFA Agency added.
Al-Sheikh was appointed vice president by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas after being selected as the deputy chairman of the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization in April.
He met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Jeddah last week during his first regional visit following his appointment.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2600323/middle-east
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Europe
Hartlepool mosque open day aimed at building bridges in the community hailed a success
12 May 2025
An open day at Hartlepool’s Nasir mosque to promote a better understanding of Islam was hailed a success.
The mosque in Brougham Terrace welcomed people from the wider community for a day of exhibitions, talks and tasty snacks.
It included past and first time visitors to the event on Saturday, May 3.
The day included an exhibition about the teachings of Islam, numerous translations of the Holy Qur’an and women visitors were invited to meet Muslim women.
Bilal Atkinson, president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Hartlepool, said: “It was a very special and successful day.”
One visitor left a message saying he learned a lot and thanked the organisers for the day.
Tahir Selby, the Imam of the mosque, added: "I always look forward to these opportunities to build bridges and remove walls and promote peace and love and remove any misunderstandings people may have and build good relations with them.”
Source: hartlepoolmail.co.uk
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https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/people/hartlepool-mosque-open-day-aimed-at-building-bridges-in-the-community-hailed-a-success-5121505
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Ex-UK Special Forces break silence on 'war crimes' by colleagues
12 May 2025
Former members of UK Special Forces have broken years of silence to give BBC Panorama eyewitness accounts of alleged war crimes committed by colleagues in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Giving their accounts publicly for the first time, the veterans described seeing members of the SAS murder unarmed people in their sleep and execute handcuffed detainees, including children.
"They handcuffed a young boy and shot him," recalled one veteran who served with the SAS in Afghanistan. "He was clearly a child, not even close to fighting age."
Killing of detainees "became routine", the veteran said. "They'd search someone, handcuff them, then shoot them", before cutting off the plastic handcuffs used to restrain people and "planting a pistol" by the body, he said.
The new testimony includes allegations of war crimes stretching over more than a decade, far longer than the three years currently being examined by a judge-led public inquiry in the UK.
The SBS, the Royal Navy's elite special forces regiment, is also implicated for the first time in the most serious allegations - executions of unarmed and wounded people.
A veteran who served with the SBS said some troops had a "mob mentality", describing their behaviour on operations as "barbaric".
"I saw the quietest guys switch, show serious psychopathic traits," he said. "They were lawless. They felt untouchable."
Special Forces were deployed to Afghanistan to protect British troops from Taliban fighters and bombmakers. The conflict was a deadly one for members of the UK's armed forces – 457 lost their lives and thousands more were wounded.
Asked by the BBC about the new eyewitness testimony, the Ministry of Defence said that it was "fully committed" to supporting the ongoing public inquiry into the alleged war crimes and that it urged all veterans with relevant information to come forward. It said that it was "not appropriate for the MoD to comment on allegations" which may be in the inquiry's scope.
'Psychotic murderers' in the regiment
The eyewitness testimony offers the most detailed public account of the killings to date from former members of UK Special Forces (UKSF), the umbrella group which contains the SAS, SBS and several supporting regiments.
The testimony, from more than 30 people who served with or alongside UK Special Forces, builds on years of reporting by BBC Panorama into allegations of extrajudicial killings by the SAS.
Panorama can also reveal for the first time that then Prime Minister David Cameron was repeatedly warned during his tenure that UK Special Forces were killing civilians in Afghanistan.
Speaking on condition of anonymity because of a de facto code of silence around special forces operations, the eyewitnesses told the BBC that the laws of war were being regularly and intentionally broken by the country's most elite regiments during operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
Those laws state that on such operations people can be deliberately killed only when they pose a direct threat to the lives of British troops or others. But members of the SAS and SBS were making their own rules, the eyewitnesses said.
"If a target had popped up on the list two or three times before, then we'd go in with the intention of killing them, there was no attempt to capture them," said one veteran who served with the SAS, referring to people who had been previously captured, questioned and then released.
"Sometimes we'd check we'd identified the target, confirm their ID, then shoot them," he said. "Often the squadron would just go and kill all the men they found there."
One witness who served with the SAS said that killing could become "an addictive thing to do" and that some members of the elite regiment were "intoxicated by that feeling" in Afghanistan. There were "lots of psychotic murderers", he said.
"On some operations, the troop would go into guesthouse-type buildings and kill everyone there," he said. "They'd go in and shoot everyone sleeping there, on entry. It's not justified, killing people in their sleep."
A veteran who served with the SBS told the BBC that after bringing an area under control, several soldiers would sweep through the area shooting anyone on the ground, checking the bodies and killing anyone left alive. "It was expected, not hidden. Everyone knew," he said.
Intentionally killing wounded people who do not pose a threat would be a clear breach of international law. But the SBS veteran told Panorama that wounded people were routinely killed. He described one operation during which a medic was treating someone who had been shot but was still breathing. "Then one of our blokes came up to him. There was a bang. He'd been shot in the head at point-blank range," he said.
The killings were "completely unnecessary," he added. "These are not mercy killings. It's murder."
More junior members of assault teams were told by more senior SAS operators to kill male detainees, according to the testimony, using instructions such as "he's not coming back to base with us" or "this detainee, you make sure he doesn't come off target".
Detainees were people who had surrendered, been searched by special forces, and were typically handcuffed. British and international law forbid troops from deliberately killing unarmed civilians or prisoners of war.
A former SAS operator also described learning of an operation in Iraq during which someone was executed.
"It was pretty clear from what I could glean that he posed no threat, he wasn't armed. It's disgraceful. There's no professionalism in that," the former operator said. The killing was never properly investigated, he added. According to the SAS veteran, the problem started long before the regiment moved across to Afghanistan and "senior commanders were aware of that".
The testimony, as well as new video evidence obtained by the BBC from SAS operations in Iraq in 2006, also supports previous reporting by Panorama that SAS squadrons kept count of their kills to compete with one another.
Sources told the BBC that some members of the SAS kept their own individual counts, and that one operator personally killed dozens of people on one six-month tour of Afghanistan.
"It seemed like he was trying to get a kill on every operation, every night someone got killed," a former colleague said. The operator was "notorious in the squadron, he genuinely seemed like a psychopath," the former colleague added.
In one incident that sources say became infamous inside the SAS, the operator allegedly slit the throat of an injured Afghan man after telling an officer not to shoot the man again. It was "because he wanted to go and finish the wounded guy off with his knife," another former colleague said. "He wanted to, you know, blood his knife."
Knowledge of the alleged crimes was not confined to small teams or individual squadrons, according to the testimony. Within the UK Special Forces command structure, "everyone knew" what was happening, said one veteran.
"I'm not taking away from personal responsibility, but everyone knew," he said. "There was implicit approval for what was happening."
To avoid scrutiny of the killings, eyewitnesses said, members of the SAS and SBS would plant so-called "drop weapons" on the bodies of the dead, to make it look as though they had been armed in the photographs routinely taken by special forces teams at the scene.
"There was a fake grenade they'd take with them onto target, it couldn't detonate," said a former SAS operator. Another veteran said operators would carry AK-47 rifles which had a folding stock because they were easier to fit into their rucksacks and "easier to bring onto a target and plant by a body".
Reports were 'fiction'
fficers would then help to falsify post-operational reports in order to avoid scrutiny for the actions of assault teams on the ground, according to the testimony.
"We understood how to write up serious incident reviews so they wouldn't trigger a referral to the military police," one of the veterans said.
"If it looked like a shooting could represent a breach of the rules of conflict, you'd get a phone call from the legal adviser or one of the staff officers in HQ. They'd pick you up on it and help you to clarify the language. 'Do you remember someone making a sudden move?' 'Oh yeah, I do now.' That sort of thing. It was built into the way we operated."
The reports were "a fiction", another UKSF veteran said.
An intelligence officer who worked with the SBS described reports which said they had been caught in a firefight, while the photos showed bodies with "multiple clean headshots".
Falsified paperwork could help prevent an investigation by the Royal Military Police, but British special forces operations generated deep concern from Afghan commanders and Afghan government officials.
David Cameron - who made seven visits to Afghanistan as prime minister between June 2010 and November 2013, the period now under scrutiny by the SAS public inquiry, was repeatedly made aware of the concerns by Afghan President Hamid Karzai, according to multiple people who attended the meetings.
Mr Karzai "consistently, repeatedly mentioned this issue", former Afghan national security adviser Dr RanginDadfarSpanta told Panorama. He said Lord Cameron could have been left in no doubt that there were allegations of civilians, including children, being killed during operations carried out by UK Special Forces.
A head-and-shoulders portrait of Bruce Houlder, a white man with grey hair, wearing a navy suit, a pink shirt and a blue tie, looking to the side of the camera with the background out of focus
he Afghan president was "so consistent with his complaints about night raids, civilian casualties and detentions that there was no senior Western diplomat or military leader who would have missed the fact that this was a major irritant for him," said Gen Douglas Lute, a former US ambassador to Nato.
Gen Lute said it would have been "extraordinarily unusual if there were a claim against British forces that the British chain of command was not aware of".
A spokesperson for Lord Cameron told Panorama that "to the best of Lord Cameron's recollection" the issues raised by President Karzai were about Nato forces in general and that "specific incidents with respect to UK Special Forces were not raised".
The spokesperson also said that it was "right that we await the official findings of the Inquiry", adding that "any suggestion that Lord Cameron colluded in covering up allegations of serious criminal wrongdoing is total nonsense."
Unlike many other countries, including the US and France, the UK has no parliamentary oversight of its elite special forces regiments. Strategic responsibility for their actions falls ultimately to the prime minister, along with the defence secretary and head of special forces.
Bruce Houlder KC - a former director of service prosecutions, responsible for bringing charges and prosecuting those serving in the Armed Forces - told Panorama that he hoped the public inquiry would examine the extent of Lord Cameron's knowledge of alleged civilian casualties on British special forces operations.
"You need to know how far the rot went up," Mr Houlder said.
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Source: bbc.com
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Poland accuses Russia of arson over 2024 shopping centre fire
12 May 2025
Poland has accused Russian intelligence services of orchestrating a massive fire that nearly completely destroyed a shopping centre in the capital Warsaw last year.
In a post on X, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Poland knows "for sure" that the blaze at the Marywilska shopping centre was caused by arson ordered by the Russian special services.
Some of those responsible are already in custody, Tusk added, while all the others alleged to have been involved have been identified and are being searched for.
Moscow has not commented on the allegations, but has previously denied accusations of sabotage in Europe.
The fire in May 2024 destroyed 1,400 small businesses, with many of the staff there being members of Warsaw's Vietnamese community.
Poland carried out a year-long investigation into the incident, which has now concluded the fire was organised by an unnamed person in Russia.
A joint statement by Poland's justice and interior ministers said the actions of those in custody were "organised and directed by a specific person residing in the Russian Federation."
The two ministries added that they were co-operating with Lithuania "where some of the perpetrators also carried out acts of diversion".
Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Poland has detained and convicted several people accused of sabotage on behalf of Russian intelligence services.
Polish officials have said that these attacks have been part of a "hybrid war" waged by Moscow.
Hybrid warfare is when a hostile state carries out an anonymous, deniable attack, usually in highly suspicious circumstances. It will be enough to harm their opponent, especially their infrastructure assets, but stop short of being an attributable act of war.
Nato also believes Russia is waging "hybrid warfare" in Europe, with the aim of punishing or deterring Western nations from continuing their military support for Ukraine.
Russia has denied repeated allegations by Nato countries that its secret services are engaged in sabotage operations across Europe.
Back in March, Lithuanian prosecutors accused Russia's military intelligence service of being behind an arson attack on a branch of Ikea in the capital Vilnius last year.
At the time, Tusk said Lithuania had confirmed Warsaw's "suspicions that [those] responsible for setting fires to shopping centres in Vilnius and Warsaw are the Russian secret services."
Two Ukrainian suspects were arrested.
The Marywilska shopping centre opened in 2010 and in the fire many workers lost important documents and large sums of cash which were kept at the shopping centre due to fear of breaks ins at home.
Three months after the fire, a temporary shopping centre was opened by Marywilska's owners, where approximately 400 traders resumed operations.
An alternative shopping centre in Warsaw, Modlinska 6D, was opened in October 2024 with traders relocating their businesses to the new site.
Source: bbc.com
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Ukraine should agree to Putin’s proposal of talks ‘immediately’ – Trump
11 May, 2025
US President Donald Trump has urged Ukraine to “immediately” agree to the proposal of direct unconditional talks put forward by Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier on Sunday.
Writing on Truth Social, Trump suggested the proposed direct negotiations would, at least, help to clarify the positions of the sides of the conflict and show “whether or not a deal is possible.”
“President Putin of Russia doesn’t want to have a Cease Fire Agreement with Ukraine, but rather wants to meet on Thursday, in Turkey, to negotiate a possible end to the BLOODBATH. Ukraine should agree to this, IMMEDIATELY,” the US leader wrote.
If it becomes clear that reaching a deal is not possible “European leaders, and the US, will know where everything stands, and can proceed accordingly,” Trump stated.
“I’m starting to doubt that Ukraine will make a deal with Putin,” he added.
Earlier in the day, the Russian president proposed that “the Kiev authorities resume the negotiations they interrupted in 2022” without any preconditions on May 15 in Istanbul. The peace settlement process must start with talks, which could ultimately yield “some kind of new truce and a new ceasefire,” Putin added.
“We are set on serious negotiations with Ukraine. Their aim is to eliminate the root causes of the conflict and to achieve a long-term lasting peace for a historical perspective,” the president stressed.
The Russian offer has been criticized by Kiev and its Western backers, who demand the talks be preceded by the establishment of at least a 30-day truce. This stance was reiterated by Vladimir Zelensky minutes after Trump made his remarks. The Ukrainian leader demanded a truce be announced on Monday.
“We await a full and lasting ceasefire, starting from tomorrow, to provide the necessary basis for diplomacy. There is no point in prolonging the killings. And I will be waiting for Putin in Türkiye on Thursday. Personally. I hope that this time the Russians will not look for excuses,” Zelensky wrote on X.
In 2022, Zelensky explicitly prohibited engaging in any negotiations with Russia as long as Putin is in power. While the ban remains in place, Zelensky has somewhat softened his position as of late, claiming it actually applied to everyone in Ukraine except himself.
Source: rt.com
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North America
Trump heads to Saudi Arabia eyeing more investment in US
MAY 12, 2025
With US President Donald Trump due to visit Gulf states this week, a key focus will be securing significant new investment for the US economy.
"President Trump wants the announcement [of more Gulf money for the US]," says economist Karen Young, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute think tank.
"He wants to have a big poster in a meeting that describes where these investments might go. And some estimation of what they will do to the American economy in terms of job creation or his big push, of course, on domestic manufacturing."
Trump is due to arrive in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on Tuesday 13 May, to meet the country's de facto leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Trump is then expected to attend a summit of Gulf leaders in the city on 14 May, before travelling to Qatar that same day, and then ending his three-day trip in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on 15 May.
The economic importance of the region to Trump is highlighted by the fact that the visit to Saudi Arabia was due to be the first overseas trip of his second term in the White House. That was before the death of Pope Francis necessitated Trump attending his funeral in Rome towards the end of April.
Saudi Arabia was also the first country that Trump visited during his first term of office, going against the modern practise of US presidents to start with the UK, Canada or Mexico.
Securing new investments in the US from Gulf states, and particularly from their state-backed sovereign wealth funds, will help Trump to signal back home that his "America First" agenda is delivering results.
The presidential visit is drawing top Wall Street and Silicon Valley leaders to Saudi Arabia. A Saudi-US investment forum on 13 May in Riyadh will feature CEOs from BlackRock, Palantir, Citigroup, IBM, Qualcomm, Alphabet, and Franklin Templeton.
The push comes amid economic headwinds, as President Trump's new import tariffs have significantly disrupted global trade, confidence, and the US economy itself. US economic output fell in the first three months of this year, its first fall in three years.
Back in January, Prince Mohammed said that Saudi Arabia would invest $600bn (£450bn) in the US over the next years. However, Trump has already said that he'd like that to rise to $1tn, including purchases of more US military equipment.
According to Ali Shihabi – a Saudi commentator and author, with close ties to the Saudi government – a number of economic agreements will be signed during the trip.
"These deals will further integrate the Saudi and US economies together, joint ventures in the kingdom, in the United States, procurements of American weapons and goods," says Mr Shihabi.
Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment fund (PIF), which controls assets worth $925bn, already has numerous investments in the US. These include Uber, gaming firm Electronic Arts, and electric car firm Lucid.
Meanwhile, the UAE has already committed to investing $1.4tn in the US over the next 10 years, in sectors such as AI, semiconductors, energy and manufacturing. This was announced by the White House in March after the UAE's national security advisor, Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, met President Trump in Washington.
Yet Ms Young from the Middle East Institute says that the scale of these investments is not realistic in the short term. She instead says that they are long-term strategic moves, and that the figures should be taken "with a little bit of a grain of salt".
Regarding specific deals that could be announced during Trump's visit, it is widely reported that Saudi Arabia will agree to buy more than $100bn of US arms and other military items.
These are said to include missiles, radar systems and transport aircraft.
The US has been a longstanding arms supplier to Saudi Arabia, but in 2021 the then Biden administration stopped selling Riyadh offensive weapons, citing concerns about the country's role in the war in neighbouring Yemen.
The 2018 killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was also widely reported to be a factor. A US report said that Prince Mohammed had approved the murder.
The Biden White House resumed the sale of these weapons last year. While it cited that the Saudis had stopped bombing Yemen, some commentators said that the US was seeking Saudi assistance to help end the conflict in Gaza and aid its future reconstruction.
Mr Shihabi says Saudi Arabia will be seeking assurances from the White House that the US will implement a "more efficient procurement system", enabling the Gulf state to access ammunition and military equipment far more quickly and easily.
"The Trump administration is initiating procedures to facilitate those deals. So, it's expected that this process will improve immediately," he adds.
Artificial intelligence is the other topic that will dominate the agenda during Mr Trump's visit. Talks are expected to centre on attracting greater Gulf investment into US tech firms, and boosting the region's access to cutting-edge American semiconductors.
The UAE and Saudi Arabia have been investing billions of dollars into tech and AI sectors as try to diversify their economies away from oil.
The Emiratis, in particular, are keen to establish themselves as a global AI hub.
Last week, the Trump administration scrapped the Biden-era chip regulations that placed restrictions on exports of advanced US chips to more than 120 countries including the Gulf states.
The White House is expected to draft new rules that would potentially involve direct negotiations with countries like the UAE.
"For the UAE, this is absolutely essential," says Ms Young. "They are aggressively building out their AI capacity. So, for them getting access to US technology is imperative to be the best."
While much attention will be on Trump courting Gulf capital for the US, Saudi Arabia is equally focused on drawing American investment into its ambitious Vision 2030 program.
Led by giant construction projects, such as the building of a linear city called The Line, Vision 2030 is central to the Saudi government's continuing efforts to diversify the country's economy away from oil.
It also involves pouring resources into entertainment, tourism, mining and sports.
However, foreign direct investment into Saudi Arabia declined for a third straight year in 2024, reflecting persistent challenges in attracting overseas capital.
The fall in global oil prices since the start of the year has further strained Riyadh's finances, increasing pressure to either raise debt or cut spending to sustain its development goals.
Oil prices tumbled to a four-year low amid growing concerns that a trade war could dampen global economic growth.
The decline was further fuelled by the group of oil producing nations, Opec+, announcing plans to increase output.
Saudi Arabia is part of that group, and some commentators said that the rise was in part a desire to please Trump, who has called for lower oil prices.
Other analysts said the reason was more that Opec+ remains confident that the global economy is growing.
The US-Saudi Business Council, is an organisation that aims to boost trade ties between the two countries.
It is hoping that Trump's visit will push American businesses to explore more opportunities in Saudi Arabia, especially in sectors like AI, healthcare and education.
"The Saudi government is looking heavily to invest in these sectors. There is a very big appetite for Saudi companies to collaborate with American companies," Hutham Al Jalal, who heads the Riyadh office for the organisation, tells the BBC.
Saudi officials are said to be confident that some deals in these sectors will be secured during Trump's visit.
For Saudi Arabia, Trump's visit is about strengthening ties with their longest-standing Western ally - a relationship that grew strained during the Biden years. For President Trump, it is about landing investment deals that can be framed as a win for his economic agenda.
"President Trump is looking for a headline of big investments in America, and he will get that from this trip," adds Mr Shihabi.
Source: bbc.com
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DOJ Dives Into Paxton, Abbott’s Probe Of Contentious Islamic Enclave
MAY 11, 2025
(Texas Scorecard) – U.S. Sen. John Cornyn announced that the U.S. Department of Justice has launched a federal investigation into the East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC) and its proposed 402-acre Muslim development, EPIC City, in Josephine, Texas.
The move comes after Cornyn sent a letter last month to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights HarmeetDhillon, urging federal authorities to review the project amid concerns about religious discrimination, the potential application of sharia law, and possible violations of federal law.
“I am grateful to Attorney General Bondi and the Department of Justice for hearing my concerns and opening an investigation into the proposed EPIC City development in North Texas,” said Cornyn. “Religious discrimination and Sharia Law have no place in the Lone Star State. Any violations of federal law must be swiftly prosecuted, and I know under the Trump administration, they will be.”
The federal investigation comes as the state of Texas, under Gov. Greg Abbott, is already conducting a sweeping multi-agency probe into EPIC’s operations. The project, centeredaround a mosque, Islamic school, and residential community, has been the subject of investigations related to unlicensed construction and funeral services, housing discrimination, and financial compliance.
Separately, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has also been investigating EPIC for potential violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act and has issued civil investigative demands to EPIC’s development arm, Community Capital Partners, as well as documents requests to local cities and school districts.
Abbott, meanwhile, has maintained that sharia law is not recognized in Texas and that any development operating outside of Texas and U.S. law will be held accountable.
Source: dallasexpress.com
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Buffalo's former Catholic churches, schools are full again – thanks to area's growing Muslim population
MAY 12, 2025
Stunning frescoes of Catholic saints have been painted over. An exquisite marble altar and sturdy oak pews were shipped off to a church in Georgia. Glass block fills the spaces once decorated by handcrafted stained-glass windows.
The former St. Gerard Church no longer contains any of the abundant ecclesiastical artwork that had adorned nearly every nook and cranny of the sanctuary since it was built in 1911.
Worshippers walk through Masjid Al Salam, formerly St. Gerard Church, on May 2. “The environment here is beautiful,” one worshipper said after a recent prayer service.
Joshua Bessex photos, Buffalo News
What it does have once again is an abundance of people, the key ingredient that the hulking space was lacking during its final years as a Catholic house of worship.
On a typical Friday, 750 to 1,000 Muslims gather shoulder to shoulder for prayer inside the sanctuary that was converted in 2017 to a mosque, Masjid Al Salam. The numbers are even larger during Muslim holidays.
“The environment here is beautiful,” AnisSheibi said after a recent prayer service. “It’s just peaceful being here.”
St. Gerard Church was closed in 2008 as a part of a Buffalo Diocese parish restructuring that shuttered nearly 100 worship sites across eight counties. The diocese is currently undergoing another large parish downsizing that will close an additional 70 churches to address clergy shortages, dwindling Mass attendance and shrinking finances.
Meanwhile, the Muslim population in the Buffalo Niagara region continues to grow – some estimates peg it at more than 100,000 people – and seeks additional space for worship, human services work and schools.
Over the past 30 years, at least nine formerly Catholic properties in Buffalo have been sold for new uses by Muslims, who have also purchased former Protestant churches.
Men attend Jumu’ah prayer at Masjid Al Salam, formerly St. Gerard Church, earlier this month. The church was closed in 2008 as a part of a Buffalo Diocese parish restructuring.
Joshua Bessex, Buffalo News
One of the most recent sales is still pending court approval. DarulIhsan Cultural Center USA agreed last summer to pay $975,000 for St. Lawrence Church, just a half mile east of Masjid Al Salam on East Delavan Avenue. The nonprofit organization plans to run a Muslim school in the former Catholic school building and use the rest of the property for community services, such as a food pantry and youth activity center, according to Abdullah Rahman. The church hosted a final Mass last August.
Rahman said his organization needs a large campus to accommodate a variety of projects, but he said the details won’t be worked out until the group gets ownership.
“The amount of space was the biggest concern. Considering the amount of projects we have in hand, we need space,” said Rahman, DarulIhsan’s director. “Location-wise, we feel the area best fits the people we want to help.”
A separate Muslim school also is slated for the former St. Bernard Church property in Kaisertown, after a state court judge in April approved the $815,000 sale of the church, school, rectory and convent to MadinatulUloom.
MadinatulUloom currently has about 200 students from Buffalo, Lackawanna, Orchard Park, West Seneca and Cheektowaga in rented space on Fillmore Avenue. School Board Member Mohammad Jobayer Hossain said he expects that number to grow, and the former St. Bernard school can accommodate at least 500 students. The church likely would be used as a cultural center, said Hossain, who wasn’t sure when the buildings would be ready to be occupied again.
Other examples include the 2022 sale of the former St. Ann Church on Broadway for $250,000 to Buffalo Crescent Holdings, affiliated with a Muslim group called Downtown Islamic Center, and the 2020 sale of a former school building, convent and rectory of St. John Gualbert Church in Cheektowaga. HilfulFuzul Community Services paid $645,000 for the property.
At a 2023 grand opening event for Basic Islamic Center in South Buffalo, members talked about how they had tried to build a mosque in New York City, but simply couldn’t find affordable property to do it.
So they moved to Buffalo and bought a former United Methodist church on South Park Avenue for $310,000 to convert into a mosque and community center − a “dream come true,” said one member.
Getting an accurate count of Muslims who live in the Buffalo Niagara region is difficult because U.S. census data don’t track religious preference, and unlike Catholic and many Protestant churches and Jewish synagogues, mosques don’t have a broader association or governance structure to which to report membership numbers.
Men attend Jumu’ah prayer at Masjid Al Salam, formerly the St. Gerard Church, on May 2. On a typical Friday, 750 to 1,000 Muslims gather shoulder to shoulder for prayer inside the sanctuary.
The 2020 U.S. Religion Census by the Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies identified 30,636 Muslim adherents in 15 mosques in the Buffalo metropolitan area, up from 18,483 Muslims in the 2010 religion census. Google Maps currently lists 34 separate mosques in Erie County, mostly in Buffalo, but also in Cheektowaga, West Seneca and Amherst.
But several leaders in the Muslim community said those estimates are low.
The Muslim Public Affairs Council of WNY tracks attendance at area mosques and estimated that 95,000 Muslims reside in the region, up from about 40,000 in 1999.
That growth is due far more to families migrating from the New York City area than it is to refugee resettlement or direct immigration to Buffalo, said Dr. Khalid J. Qazi, MPAC president.
“It has been a major, major internal migration,” said Qazi.
Most of the transplants are Bangladeshi, but families from Northern Africa, Pakistan, India and Afghanistan also have settled here, in part to be close to extended family in Toronto, a city with a large international population, said Faizan M. Haq, a business owner who also teaches at SUNY Buffalo State University and founded the website WNYMuslims.org.
And Yemenis, historically concentrated in Lackawanna, have expanded and fanned out to other local communities.
Perhaps the most visible indicator of the Muslim community’s growth may be in the transformation of former church properties into mosques, schools and other institutions – at considerable cost.
“They are becoming institutional oriented,” said Haq. “They have created their own business base. There’s an economy that is providing them the confidence in their financial future, so they’re making such huge commitments to this place. That means they intend to be around.”
Haq is in some ways part of the trend. In December, he purchased the former Young Tabernacle Holiness Church at 623 Best St., although he doesn’t intend for it to be a place of worship. He wants to create a museum of Muslim heritage and a multifaith, multicultural event hall at the site.
“I know eventually that Muslims or any ethnic or religious groups are going to start integrating, and once they integrate, they’re going to look for places which exist on the cultural borders,” he said.
Men in robes and prayer caps began congregating on the mosque steps facing Bailey Avenue shortly before 1 p.m. on a recent Friday, and within a half-hour, a handful swells to hundreds streaming barefoot onto the Turkish carpet covering the original marble floor, which rumbles slightly as the worshippers kneel and prostrate in unison during prayers.
Mosque members have invested hundreds of thousands of dollars, including the purchase of a new roof and boiler, since three Muslim businessmen purchased the former St. Gerard Church and rectory for $120,000. Sheibi said those men weren’t searching for space to create a mosque, but they were familiar with the neighborhood and saw an opportunity to preserve a landmark building, while creating a house of prayer that would allow more Muslims in the area to gather on Fridays.
“It’s changed the lives of a lot of people, especially Yemeni people, in the community to have a mosque where they can go and pray and spend time with other people from Yemen or other Muslim people from all over the world,” said Sheibi.
Men read before prayer at Masjid Al Salam on May 2. An estimated 100,000 Muslims now live in the Buffalo Niagara region, many having moved from downstate.
Joshua Bessex photos, Buffalo News
The Rev. Francis A. Mazur said the mosque brought stability to the surrounding neighborhood.
At the time of its closing, St. Gerard attracted just a few dozen worshippers for weekend Masses, and a Catholic parish in Georgia proposed an ambitious plan to deconstruct the church stone by stone and ship it 900 miles south to be rebuilt for use by a thriving Catholic congregation outside of Atlanta. The parish ended up abandoning the idea as too costly, although it did incorporate many interior elements of St. Gerard’s − including the altar, statues, pews and confessionals – into a new church in Peachtree Corners, Ga., that opened in 2019.
St. Gerard Church remained vacant for almost a decade. Some Catholics protested the church’s sale in State Supreme Court, arguing that the diocese didn’t do enough to find a buyer who would keep it as is. But Mazur said Muslims have taken good care of the former Catholic properties they have purchased.
“At least our churches are being used by another group of people who are worshipping there,” said Mazur, a hospital chaplain who has been active in interfaith work for many years. “It’s the same god that we all believe in, and I’m happy it’s used for sacred worship.”
Sheibi said mosque members take seriously their role as stewards of the structure.
They have a lot more work to do on the building, including adding new gutters, repairs to ceiling and wall plaster, and removing a large bell in a bell tower. Mosque leaders also want to transform the roof of the bell tower into a dome shape, capped with a crescent, a symbol of Islam, to help give the building a more Islamic look, said Sheibi.
“There is always something going on with old buildings,” he said.
Source: buffalonews.com
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Texas Muslim housing project under lens
May 11, 2025
The US justice department has opened an investigation into a planned housing development outside Dallas that would have a mosque at its centre, Senator John Cornyn said Friday. Cornyn, who will face Texas' hard-right attorney general, Ken Paxton, next year in what could be a heated Republican primary contest for his own Senate seat, is the latest Texas Republican to challenge the development in the rural town of Josephine, Texas.
The project is backed by members of the East Plano Islamic Center, a mosque in Plano, and has drawn intense scrutiny from Republicans, including Gov Greg Abbott, who have accused the planners of seeking to create an exclusively Muslim community and to impose Islamic law on residents. In recent months, Abbott has directed several state agencies to investigate the development, known as EPIC City, suggesting it may have violated fair housing and financial laws.
Source: indiatimes.com
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US says 'deal' reached with China after trade talks
MAY 12, 2025
Both China and the United States have said that they've made progress at trade talks between the two countries in Switzerland.
The US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described the discussions as "productive and constructive," while China's Vice Premier He Lifeng said the talks were "in-depth" and "candid".
The White House called it a "trade deal" but gave no further details. A joint statement with full details is expected on Monday.
The pair were engaged in secretive closed-door discussions all weekend, in the first meeting since US President Donald Trump levied steep tariffs against China in January.
The talks were the first face-to-face meetings between the two countries since President Trump imposed a 145% tariff on Chinese imports, with Beijing responding with a 125% levy some US goods.
The huge tariffs caused turmoil in the financial markets and sparked fears of a global recession.
Stocks in mainland China and Hong Kong were making gains on Monday morning. The Shanghai Composite Index was around 0.4% higher, while the Hang Seng was up by almost 0.7%.
US stock futures were sharply higher. Futures are contracts to buy or sell an underlying asset at a future date and are an indication of how markets will trade when they open.
The Chinese currency, the yuan, also strengthened against the US dollar.
One trade expert told the BBC's Business Today programme that the announcement may include cuts to their tariffs.
Frank Lavin, former undersecretary for international trade at the US Department of Commerce, said he expects the two countries to cut tariffs although they would remain "way above historical norms".
But Deborah Elms, Head of Trade Policy at the Hinrich Foundation, was less optimistic.
The so-called reciprocal tariffs "could be addressed, but probably not. I think mostly what I expect is an agreement to keep talking," she said on the BBC's Newsday programme.
Following the conclusion of the two-day talks in Geneva, US trade representative ambassador Jamieson Greer said "the deal we struck with our Chinese partners" would help reduce the US's $1.2tn (£901bn) trade deficit.
Bessent said the US and China have made "substantial progress" on de-escalating the trade war, while Vice Premier He said the talks were "of great significance to the two countries but also have an important impact on the stability and development of the global economy".
Vice Premier He said the two sides have reached a series of major consensuses, and had also agreed to establish an economic and trade consultation mechanism.
NgoziOkonjo-Iweala, inspector general of the World Trade Organization, called the talks "a significant step forward."
"I urge both nations to build on this momentum by continuing to develop practical solutions that mitigate tensions, restore predictability, and strengthen confidence in the multilateral trading system," she said in a statement.
On Saturday, following the first day of talks Trump praised the "total reset" on the relationship between the two countries.
In a social media post, the US president described the talks as being "very good" and said change had been "negotiated in a friendly, but constructive, manner".
"We want to see, for the good of both China and the U.S., an opening up of China to American business. GREAT PROGRESS MADE!!!" Trump added.
An escalating trade war between Washington and Beijing has seen the US president hit Chinese imports to the US with tariffs of 145%. China retaliated with levies of 125% on some US goods.
On Friday, before the talks began, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Washington would not lower tariffs unilaterally, and China would need to make its own concessions.
Both sides issued various other warnings ahead of the meeting, with Beijing saying the US must ease tariffs while Bessent stressed that the focus was on "de-escalation" and this was not a "big trade deal".
Chinese state media reported that Beijing had decided to engage with the US after fully considering global expectations, the country's interests and appeals from American businesses.
Last month, the BBC found that Chinese exporters were struggling with the US's tariffs - one company, Sorbo Technology, reported that half of its products were normally sold to the US and were now sat in boxes in a warehouse in China.
Meanwhile, the US economy was found to have shrunk in the first three months of the year - contracting at an annual rate of 0.3% - as firms raced to get goods into the country.
The trade war between China and the US intensified last month after President Trump announced a universal baseline tariff on all imports to the United States, on what he called "Liberation Day".
Around 60 trading partners, which the White House described as the "worst offenders", were subjected to higher rates than others. The list included China and the European Union.
Trump said this was payback for years worth of unfair trade policies for the US.
He also separately announced a 25% import tax on all steel and aluminium coming into the US, and a further 25% tariff on all cars and car parts.
It was announced last week that the US and UK had agreed a deal, in which the 25% will be cut to 10% for a maximum of 100,000 UK cars - matching the number of cars the UK exported last year.
Cars are the UK's biggest export to the US, worth about £9bn last year.
Source: bbc.com
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Canada's Liberal Party one seat closer to majority after Quebec recount
MAY 12, 2025
A single vote in a Quebec riding has brought Canada's Liberal Party one seat closer to holding a majority in parliament.
A judicial recount in the Terrebonne riding declared Liberal candidate Tatiana Auguste the victor with 23,352 votes, ahead of Bloc Québécois incumbent Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné, who received 23,351.
The result gives the Liberal Party 170 seats in the House of Commons, two seats shy of the 172 required for a majority.
In a statement on social media, Auguste thanked the citizens of Terrebonne for their trust and promised to "get to work".
Canada's election rules require a recount if a candidates wins by less than 0.1% of the votes cast.
Officials had initially called Terrebonne for Auguste the day after the election, but during the validation process - which is when Election Canada confirms numbers but does not recount votes - Sinclair-Desgagné had taken the lead.
Superior Court of Quebec Justice Danielle Turcotte oversaw the recount.
Recounts are underway in three other ridings, according to the CBC.
The Terrebonne result adds to the political comeback for the Liberal Party in Canada, which earlier this year seemed destined for an electoral drubbing.
However, Donald Trump's return to the White House and the subsequent trade war he sparked with Canada turned the country's 28 April election into a referendum on how its leadership would deal with the United States.
Prime Minister Mark Carney's Liberal Party won enough seats to form a government, but was three seats shy of an outright majority.
As results stand, the Conservative Party has 143 seats, the Bloc Québécois has 22, the NDP has seven, and the Green Party holds one seat.
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd62vyyx05qo
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Africa
Muslim community rejects religious politics, backs APC candidate
byAdekunle Yusuf
May 12, 2025
The Muslim community in Somolu Local Government of Lagos State has disowned a controversial letter rejecting All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmanship candidate over his Christian faith. The letter, which circulated on social media, had sparked outrage and fears of religious tension in the cosmopolitan Lagos suburb.
In a swift response, Muslim leaders in Somolu gathered at the Central Mosque, clarifying that the purported rejection does not reflect their sentiments. The community affirmed its support for APC candidate, regardless of his religious background. “We have not come for a fight. We are for peace,” the leaders said. “We support the choice of the party for the chairmanship candidate.”
Rejecting attempts to stoke division along religious lines, the leaders stressed that leadership should be based on competence, record, and commitment to the people—not faith. They accused those who allegedly authored the letter of politicising religion. “These individuals surface during elections, using religion as a political weapon,” one elder said. “They are not speaking for us.”
Instead, the community praised Christian aspirants supporting the Muslim population in Somolu through mosque renovations, education scholarships, and healthcare interventions. “We judge people by their actions, not just their religion,” an elder commented. “The strength of Somolu lies in our unity, and we will not allow anyone to destroy that.”
In a resounding message to political actors, the group urged all stakeholders to focus on development, youth empowerment, and social welfare, rather than sowing seeds of division. “Somolu Muslims are for peace,” the leaders reiterated. “We will continue to support policies and candidates that promote progress, regardless of religious background.”
Source: thenationonlineng.net
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https://thenationonlineng.net/muslim-community-rejects-religious-politics-backs-apc-candidate/
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Muslim Group Disburses N6.5m Zakat To Needy Muslims In Ibadan
By ShojobiAbisola
May 11, 2025
IBADAN: A Muslim Group known as The Companion, on Sunday disbursed M6.5 million as Zakat to less privileged Muslims in Ibadan, the Capital City of Oyo State
The Companion, is an Association of Muslim Men in Business and Profession formed with the aim of helping the less privileged in the society.
Zakat is the fourth pillar of Islam obligatory on Wealthy Muslims to remove a specified percentage of their wealth once in a year and give to the poor in the society.
Speaking during the distribution on Sunday, the Amir of the Companion,Oyo District, AlhajiNurainZakariyah said the distribution was to assist the needy Muslims in the society.
According to Zakariyah, the association was established to promote Islam and one of its objectives is Zakat distribution.
Zakariyah said that the association had branches in Abuja, Oyo State, KwaraState,Osun State, Lagos State and Cross River State.
He said the distribution of Zakat was simultaneously being carried out in other branches of the association and a total sum of N114 million would be distributed as Zakat in all the branches of the association.
The Amir said that a sum of N6.5 million Zakat would be distributed to less privileged Muslims in Oyo State while the amount given to each of the beneficiaries ranges between N100,000 to N300,000.
He said the distribution, which was the 5th edition, had impacted positively on the lives of the beneficiaries, and urged wealthy Muslims in the society to ensure they pay Zakat in order to reduce poverty among Muslims.
In his remarks, the Association’s Chairman Organising Committee, AlhajiAbdulwakeelOlaniyi, said that a total of 77 applications were received by the committee but 48 of them were eventually selected to be given the Zakat.
Olaniyi said that the beneficiaries comprised of 29 females and 19 males.
Earlier in his lecture, the Missioner of the association, Dr Mubasir Yusuf said that it was obligatory on wealthy Muslims to obey the commandment of God and pay Zakat.
Yusuf said that many wealthy Muslims neglected the payment of Zakat because they are very weak in faith and ignorance of its consequences.
He said that Zakat, if rightly adhere to by wealthy Muslims would purify their wealth and as well reduce hardship in the society, especially among Muslims.
Also speaking, the association former Amir, Dr Bashir Olanrewaju, called on the beneficiaries to make judiciously use of the fund in order for them to be giver of Zakat in future.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr KazeemAkindele and Mrs TaiwoBadmus commended the association for their assistant and promised to utilize the money well.
Source: independent.ng
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https://independent.ng/muslim-group-disburses-n6-5m-zakat-to-needy-muslims-in-ibadan/
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Tinubu’s Minister Backtracks, Endorses Senate Security Summit
May 12, 2025
By George OshogweOgbolu
The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, has reversed his earlier opposition and declared full support for the upcoming national security summit being organised by the National Assembly.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Sunday, Badaru described the summit as “a timely initiative to tackle Nigeria’s growing security concerns” and pledged active participation in the two-day event.
He also assured that the outcomes would be translated into tangible reforms.
Naija News reports that the minister’s latest stance contrasts with his remarks last Wednesday during an inter-ministerial briefing, where he argued that developing a comprehensive security strategy was more effective than convening a summit. He had also disputed claims by the House of Representatives that insurgents possessed superior weaponry compared to the Nigerian military.
His comments drew criticism from the Senate, which on Thursday cautioned him against making statements that could stoke tensions between the executive and legislative branches of government.
Addressing the reversal, Badaru acknowledged the value of dialogue in shaping effective policies.
“When you hold a summit, you hear people speak, gather perspectives, and take those insights back to review and strengthen our strategy, which is translated into action. That’s how change happens,” he said.
He also praised the National Assembly for the initiative and committed to championing the implementation of the summit’s recommendations.
“It is a commendable move towards inclusive policy-making,” Badaru added.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/05/12/tinubus-minister-backtracks-endorses-senate-security-summit/
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Protest Breaks Out In Lagos Mainland, Yaba Over APC Chairmanship Primaries
May 11, 2025
By IkennaNgere
Some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos state took to the streets on Sunday to express frustration over what they claimed was the imposition of chairmanship candidates in Lagos Mainland Local Government and Yaba Local Council Development Area (LCDA).
The protest was triggered by the outcome of the APC’s chairmanship primary held at the party’s state secretariat on Acme Road, Ikeja.
While most of the 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) had candidates emerge through consensus or indirect voting, the process reportedly broke down in the Lagos Mainland and Yaba areas.
Demonstrators gathered on Apapa Road in Ebute Metta and later moved their protest to Arise TV’s office in Victoria Island, accusing local APC leaders of sidelining other aspirants in favour of handpicked candidates.
Speaking on behalf of the group, TaoridOwolabi insisted that a true consensus was never achieved and demanded that the primaries in both councils be rescheduled.
He warned that any move to force candidates on party members without broad agreement would be challenged in court.
Owolabi said, “Despite extensive consultations among aspirants within both LGAs, no consensus had been reached. This further underscore the need for a transparent and inclusive process.
“We respectfully call on the State Working Committee to reschedule the primary for a later date and select a suitable venue.
“We also urge the adoption of revised guidelines that reflect the peculiar circumstances in our LG and LCDA, in full compliance with the provisions of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission, the Electoral Act, and the 1999 Constitution (as amended).”
Another party member, SodeeqOlawepo, echoed similar concerns, warning that the situation could spiral into legal conflicts and weaken the APC’s electoral chances.
He said, “We are fully aware of the ongoing intra-party crisis affecting our local party structure in both Lagos Mainland LG and Yaba LCDA.
“This has led to a legal suit (Suit No. ID/8948GCM/2025) currently pending before the Lagos State High Court.
“We call on well-meaning stakeholders of our great party to intervene and help restore peace and fairness to our LG and LCDA. Failure to do so could have grave consequences on the APC’s performance in the upcoming Local Government elections and even the 2027 general election.”
As of Saturday evening, over 50 chairmanship candidates had been selected across the state through the APC primary process. However, the unresolved issues in Lagos Mainland and Yaba continue to stir unrest within the party’s local ranks.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/05/11/protest-breaks-out-in-lagos-mainland-yaba-over-apc-chairmanship-primaries/
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