BJP Leader In Maharashtra Demands Ban On Burqa In Upcoming Board Exam
New Age Islam News Bureau
31January 2025
Maharashtra minister and BJP leader Nitesh Rane.
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· BJP Leader In Maharashtra Demands Ban On Burqa In Upcoming Board Exam
· Islamabad Court Hands Death Sentence To Two Men For Posting Blasphemous Content On Social Media Platforms
· Syria’s Newly Appointed President, Ahmed Al-Sharaa Pledges To Form Inclusive Government
· Terrorist,Jason Savage, A Muslim Convert, Says 'Ain't Getting Out Of Here' In Chilling Video As He Plans Massacre At Birmingham Mosque
· Umno Ulama Council Tells Non-Muslim Govt Leaders To Tread Carefully
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India
· UCC, Waqf Bill Part Of Schemes To Spread Hatred: JK Cong Chief
· Not granted bail to attend Parliament session, J&K MP Rashid to go on hunger strike
· Sambhal Mosque Violence: UP Court Denies Bail To 15 Accused
· BJP membership drive: One lakh Muslims register with party in Maharashtra, 44 lakh across country
· Mahakumbh Stampede: Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, Shankaracharya of yotishPeeth Calls UP CM Yogi Adityanath ‘Liar’, Seeks His Resignation
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Pakistan
· Major among four personnel martyred in North Waziristan
· SC questions lack of legal challenges to military trial
· Automation crucial for transparency, export growth: PM
· Journalists to observe 'Black Day' against Peca tweaks today
· 150 Pakistani nationals stranded in violence-hit Goma: FO
· Malik Riaz's passport blocked in £190m case
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Mideast
· Ansar Allah: Blood Of Martyr Leaders Is Torch Of Resistance, That Will Not Stop Until Israel's Demise
· Islamic Jihad Movement: "Tamoun Massacre is Nazi Crime that Will Not Break Our People"
· Dozens of settlers storm al-Aqsa mosque
· US airstrike in Syria kills senior operative of Al-Qaeda affiliate
· Rebuilding Gaza could take 10-15 years, Trump envoy tells Axios
· UN says UNRWA aid agency will continue work in all Palestinian territories
· Hamas confirms death of its military chief Mohammed Deif
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Europe
· Sweden Points To ‘Foreign Power’ After Iraqi Refugee On Trial For Qur’an Burnings Shot Dead
· Swedish PM Says Shooting Of Anti-Islam Campaigner May Be Linked To Foreign Power
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Southeast Asia
· PM Anwar calls on people to prioritise national interest
· DPM Zahid rebuts Rafidah’s criticism of Gaza rebuilding efforts, defends Malaysia’s commitment
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North America
· 'I Lost Their Smiles': Quebec City Muslim Community Counters Hate 8 Years After Deadly Mosque Attack
· Al Rashid Mosque wants to rezone industrial land to accommodate growing Edmonton community
· Trump threatens ‘seemingly hostile’ BRICS
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South Asia
· Trial Of Hasina: Students End Hunger Strike After Eight Hours In Ctg
· Special Decree Leads to Release of 39 Prisoners in Ghor Province
· Ensure reforms in judiciary, law enforcement
· Dhaka must focus on people-centric foreign ties
· ‘No decision yet on us joining political party’
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Arab World
· How AI-Programmed Robotic Pets Could Transform Therapy And Mental Health Support
· Boomerang competition held after findings suggest Arabian invention
· Saudi Museums Commission launches transformational agenda
· Artificial intelligence is redefining human relationship to work, says Takamol CEO
· Muslim World League chief in talks with Italian leader
· Saudi FM receives phone call from Russian counterpart
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Africa
· Kebbigovt awards contract for renovation of 97 mosques
· Otti inaugurates Christian, Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards
· ‘With The Current Pace Of Arrest, Tinubu May Incarcerate Every One Of Us’ - Atiku
· I Am Happy That My Govt Ushered In This Era Of Democracy – AbdulsalamiAbubakar
· Uganda records first Ebola death since 2023 outbreak ended
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/maharashtra-ban-burqa-board-exam-bjp/d/134491
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BJP Leader In Maharashtra Demands Ban On Burqa In Upcoming Board Exam
January 30, 2025
Maharashtra minister and BJP leader Nitesh Rane.
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Maharashtra minister and BJP leader NiteshRane on Wednesday, January 29, demanded a ban on wearing the burqa during the upcoming Std 10th and 12th state board examinations, citing concerns over security and examination malpractices.
He also called for a broader ban on the burqa in educational institutions, asserting that religious attire should be limited to homes and places of worship.
In a letter to Maharashtra school education minister Dada Bhuse, Rane stated that students appearing for these crucial exams should not be allowed to wear burqas. He suggested that female police officers or staff could be deployed to conduct security checks if necessary.
Stressing the importance of fairness and transparency, he argued that allowing burqas could enable cheating through hidden electronic devices or paper chits. He further warned that any controversy over this issue could lead to law-and-order problems, affecting many students.
Speaking to reporters, Rane reiterated his stance, emphasizing that no religion should receive special treatment. He argued that if students from other communities do not wear religious attire in educational institutions, Muslims should not be an exception. “This is a Hindutva government, and there is no need to appease anyone,” he said.
He also raised security concerns, stating that burqas make it difficult to verify the identity of students. Referring to a previous government resolution that permitted burqas in exam halls, Rane urged officials to revoke such policies.
He also claimed that burqas had been misused in the past to facilitate cheating, stating that they were used to hide paper chits. “This is not Pakistan or Afghanistan,” he remarked, reinforcing his demand for a ban.
Rane, MLA from Kankavli, holds Fisheries and Ports Development portfolios.
The school education ministry was yet to respond to his demand, officials said.
Maharashtra Secondary School Certificate exam for Class 10 will be held from February 21. The Higher Secondary Certificate exam for Class 12 will start on February 11.
Rane called upon the government to ensure uniform rules for all students, stressing that security and transparency in examinations should be prioritized. He urged authorities to withdraw any previous orders that allowed burqas in educational institutions, emphasizing the need for a secular and fair approach to dress codes in schools and colleges.
Source:muslimmirror.com
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https://muslimmirror.com/maharashtra-bjp-leader-nitesh-rane-demands-ban-on-burqa-in-board-exam/
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Islamabad Court Hands Death Sentence To Two Men For Posting Blasphemous Content On Social Media Platforms
By Arfa Feroz Zake
January 30, 2025
A gavel and a block is pictured at the George Glazer Gallery antique store in this illustration picture taken in Manhattan, New York City. — Reuters/File
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ISLAMABAD: A district and sessions court in Islamabad on Thursday sent two convicts to the gallows besides imposing fines under various sections for posting blasphemous content on social media platforms.
The verdict was announced by Additional Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka after hearing a case related to the spread of blasphemous posts on social media platforms by the two men who "created, uploaded, and displayed" sacrilegious contents.
The Federal Investigation Agency's (FIA) Cyber Crime Wing had filed a First Information Report (FIA) following a complaint against the men in 2021.
The probe agency claimed that during an inquiry, it collected "sufficient incriminating evidence" against the accused for their involvement in the offences punishable under sections of Peca law, 10 & 11 of PECA-2016, 295-A, 295-B, 295-C, 298-A and 109 PPC.
The FIA had also accorded permission to the competent authority for registration of an FIR so the case was made out against them.
In today's verdict, the Islamabad court pronounced a death sentence and Rs500,000 fine to both convicts under section 295-C; life imprisonment under section 295-B, three-year jail and Rs100,000 fine under section 298-A.
Separately, the men have also been given seven years of rigorous imprisonment and Rs100,000 fine under section 11 of Peca 2016, as per the verdict obtained by Geo News.
"Convict shall be hanged by his neck till he is dead subject to confirmation of death punishment by Hon'ble Islamabad High Court, Islamabad on reference being sent under section 374 Cr.P.C," it stated.
The judge also directed the concerned superintendent to keep the convicts safe until receiving further warrants or orders from the court.
Last week, a Rawalpindi court sentenced four accused to death for blaspheming the holy figures and uploading sacrilegious content on social media.
Source:thenews.com.pk
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https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1277872-islamabad-court-hands-death-sentence-to-two-men-for-blasphemy
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Syria’s Newly Appointed President, Ahmed Al-Sharaa Pledges To Form Inclusive Government
January 30, 2025
Syria’s President Ahmed Al-Sharaa delivers a speech at the Presidential Palace in Damascus, Syria. (Reuters)
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DAMASCUS: Syria’s newly appointed president, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, said on Thursday he will form an inclusive transitional government representing diverse communities that will build institutions and run the country until it can hold free and fair elections.
Sharaa addressed the nation in his first speech since being appointed president for the transitional period on Wednesday by armed factions that ousted former Syrian President Bashar Assad in a lightning offensive last year.
The armed group that led the offensive, Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham, has since set up an interim government that has welcomed a steady stream of senior Western and Arab diplomatic delegations keen to help stabilize the country after 13 years of civil war.
Sharaa in his speech said he would form a small legislative body to fill the parliamentary void until new elections were held, after the Syrian parliament was dissolved on Wednesday.
He said he would also in the coming days announce the formation of a committee that would prepare to hold a national dialogue conference that would be a platform for Syrians to discuss the future political program of the nation.
That would be followed by a “constitutional declaration,” he said, in an apparent reference to the process of drafting a new Syrian constitution.
Sharaa has previously said the process of drafting a new constitution and holding elections may take up to four years.
Source:arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2588460/middle-east
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Terrorist,Jason Savage, A Muslim Convert, Says 'Ain't Getting Out Of Here' In Chilling Video As He Plans Massacre At Birmingham Mosque
30 JAN 2025
Jason Savage, 35, has been found guilty of planning a terrorist attack on a mosque and a bookshop in Birmingham (Image: WMP)
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A man who planned a terrorist attack on a Birmingham mosque and Islamic bookstore chillingly filmed himself saying "man ain't getting out of here". Jason Savage was found guilty of preparing for terrorist acts in the city between March 2022 and March 2024.
The 35-year-old - who converted to Islam in the 2010s and followed an extreme and violent interpretation of the 'Salafi movement' - was luckily stopped by anti-terrorism police before he could act. But before his arrest, Savage recorded himself planning out his evil plan which could have resulted in many lives lost.
Filming himself outside Salafi Bookstore and Islamic Centre in Coventry Road, Small Heath, Savage was heard saying: "No matter what time of the day, man ain't getting out of here, innit?"
Either speaking to himself or someone he believed was in on his wicked plan, Savage said: "There's a few ways bro...just need the means now."
Earlier on in the footage, described to a jury as a 'reconnaissance video' made by Savage three days before his arrest, he was heard mapping out the "best way" to escape police following his planned attack on the bookstore and nearby Salafi Mosque. While standing outside the Wright Street mosque, he calmly said he felt "sorry" for school children in a connecting building. "They've got a school here though bro, that's the only problem," he added.
"Feel sorry for them. You don't want people getting caught in the middle of it."
Observing the mosque's car park, he added: "That's their car park. Seems like the best bet still. Hope to catch them here, innit?"
Prosecutors told the court that Savage had targeted a Salafi cleric associated with the mosque and bookstore because the cleric 'was an outspoken critic of Islamist terrorism and extremism', contrary to Savage’s own twisted views.
Savage had downloaded and watched violent and extremist videos, researched how to kill with a knife, and how to make parts of a gun and ammunition as well as carrying out the reconnaissance of military buildings and police stations as potential locations.
Days before his arrest, Savage changed his WhatsApp profile to ‘Lone Wolf’ - indicating he was planning to carry out an incident on his own. On the day of his arrest on March 14 last year, Savage’s messaging and intentions increased.
In a voice note to his friend, he exclaimed he would “see him in paradise”. He believed the activity he was planning would result in him not surviving, police said.
But Savage was unaware that the ‘friend’ was actually an undercover police officer from Counter Terrorism Policing West Midlands. As a result of the concerning message, officers arrested Savage hours later in a Birmingham street.
Savage, of Fourth Avenue, Small Heath, was charged on March 21 with Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006, engaging in conduct in preparation for acts of terrorism. A knife was recovered from his address which he had adapted by removing the handle and wrapping the blade with cloth.
Source:birminghammail.co.uk
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https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/terrorist-says-aint-getting-out-30902837
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Umno ulama council tells non-Muslim govt leaders to tread carefully
Jan 31, 2025
The Umno ulama council has urged non-Muslim government leaders to exercise caution when commenting on matters related to Islam and Muslims.
This is to prevent a negative perception that leads to certain parties exploiting the issue and framing it as a threat against Islam.
Source:malaysiakini.com
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https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/733190#google_vignette
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India
UCC, Waqf Bill Part Of Schemes To Spread Hatred: JK Cong Chief
Jan 30, 2025,
JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress committee (JKPCC) president Tariq Hameed Karra on Thursday alleged that the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and Waqf (amendment) bill are part of schemes to spread hatred and divide people of the country. He also doubted that the forthcoming Union budget would provide any sort of relief to the people faced with growing unemployment and uncontrolled inflation over the past 10 years of the BJP-led government coming to power at the centre.
Talking to reporters after leading a prayer meeting to pay tributes to Mahatma Gandhi on his martyrdom anniversary at the party headquarters here, Karra said the time has come for the country to rise to get freedom from the rulers spreading hatred in the country to remain in power.
"In my opinion, the UCC and Waqf (amendment) bill are linked to the sustained hatred being spread in the country. Both the UCC and the waqf issue are the outcome of their agenda of hate to create anarchy in the country," Karra said, responding to the questions on the implementation of UCC in BJP-led Uttarakhand and the joint parliamentary committee negating every change moved by the opposition members.
He alleged that there is a sustained campaign going on against all the minorities, not only Muslims but also Dalits and Christian and others as well, to isolate them under the policy of hate.
"It is astonishing that they (BJP leadership) are saying Hindus are in danger in a country of 140 crore population where Muslims are only 17 crore. The notion of a minority posing a threat to the majority shows their weakness and exposes their nefarious designs. It is the same nefarious design which was drafted by their party founders 100 years ago," he said.
He claimed that their slogan 'Abhinahitohkabhinahi' (If not now then never) is to push hatred. "Earlier, it used to be Khelo (play) India but now they have turned it into Khodo (dig) India and they are doing everything to implement such things (to remain in power)."
The Congress leader said the people of the country have started understanding their game plan and are supportive of 'Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb'.
Asked about his views on the upcoming union budget, he said the previous budgets of the BJP-led NDA have so far proved a "flop show". Therefore, he said, there is no hope that there will be a miracle budget that will help control the GDP, inflation, unemployment and improve deteriorating education and health sectors.
Paying rich tributes to Gandhi, Karra said his assassination on this day in 1948 by Nathuram Godse was not a murder of an individual but of the entire humanity and Gandhian ideology followed by his supporters around the globe.
"We have to popularise the Gandhian and Nehruian philosophy and counter the ideology of people like M S Golwalkar, V D Savarkar and Godse. The country got freedom in 1947 but we have to work together again to get freedom from those spreading hatred," he said, adding the RSS and BJP have never condemned Godse for the murder of Gandhi and claimed that a temple was constructed in his name after the BJP came to power in the country.
Karra said the people spreading hatred are not the well-wishers of the country and they are doing this to remain in power as all their policies related to economy and foreign affairs are a "failure".
"Only making good roads will not help a country to get recognition. Donald Trump has made this thing clear," he said, alleging that the new US president did not invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi to his oath-taking ceremony recently.
Source:indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/ucc-waqf-bill-part-of-schemes-to-spread-hatred-no-hope-from-union-budget-jk-cong-chief/articleshow/117742901.cms
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Not granted bail to attend Parliament session, J&K MP Rashid to go on hunger strike
Jan 31, 2025
Not able to attend the upcoming Budget session of Parliament because of his incarceration, Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid Thursday announced that he will go on an indefinite hunger strike in Tihar jail from Friday, the date of commencement of Lok Sabha. Rashid, who won from prison, has not been given bail to attend Parliament since his election in June. Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) chief Rashid has written to LS Speaker Om Birla, informing him of his plan for hunger strike, stating that he was being denied his democratic right to represent his constituency in Parliament, despite being an elected representative. Rashid condemned the "systematic deprivation" of his parliamentary rights and described the authorities' actions as a "mockery of democracy".
He said his hunger strike is a reminder to govt to respect the voice and mandate of people of North Kashmir.
AIP spokesman Inam Un Nabi said party members too will hold a hunger strike at Srinagar's Press Colony Friday: "Rashid's decision to go on an indefinite hunger strike from jail is a desperate yet dignified response to the injustice he continues to face. We urge the authorities to respect democracy and allow him to fulfill his duties as an elected MP."
Source:indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/not-granted-bail-to-attend-parliament-session-jk-mp-rashid-to-go-on-hunger-strike/articleshow/117758473.cms
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Sambhal Mosque Violence: UP Court Denies Bail To 15 Accused
31 January 2025
A local court here on Thursday rejected the bail pleas of 15 accused in connection with the riots that erupted during a survey at the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal last year, officials said.
The violence on November 24 left four people dead and several injured. The survey was linked to a petition claiming that a Harihar temple once stood at the site of the mosque.
Additional District Judge (ADJ)-II, Nirbhay Narayan Singh, heard the bail petitions of the accused but denied bail citing strong evidence presented in court, Government counsel Hariom Prakash Saini told PTI.
"All the accused were identified in CCTV footage and were named in the FIR by the complainant. Despite prohibitory orders in place, they were part of the mob that was asked to disperse. However, they refused and instead attacked the police with stones and firearms," Saini said, quoting the judgment.
"Several civilians were killed, and about 25 policemen were injured in the incident. Government vehicles were torched and police equipment, including magazines and rubber bullets, was looted," Saini said.
The court reviewed the case records, including evidence from the case registered at Sambhal police station, involving 13 accused -- Amir, Sameer, Yaqub, Sajauddin, Mohammad Rehan, Mohammad Ali, Shariq, Naim, Mohammad Gulfam, Mohammad Salim, Tahzeeb, Mohammad Firoz, and Mohammad Shadab.
Bail applications for all of them were rejected.
Similarly, in a case registered at Nakhasa police station, the court denied bail to accused Rukayya and Farhana, officials said.
On November 19, the local court passed an ex-parte order for a survey of the mosque by an advocate commissioner after taking note of a plea of the Hindu side claiming the mosque was built by Mughal emperor Babur in 1526 after demolishing a temple.
On November 24, during a second round of survey, protesting locals clashed with security personnel, leading to the violence.
Source:outlookindia.com
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https://www.outlookindia.com/national/sambhal-mosque-violence-up-court-denies-bail-to-15-accused
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BJP membership drive: One lakh Muslims register with party in Maharashtra, 44 lakh across country
January 30, 2025
Nearly one lakh Muslims have enrolled with the BJP in Maharashtra out of the total one crore people who joined the party in the state. The membership drive ends in Maharashtra on Friday.
Nearly 44 lakh Muslims have also enrolled with BJP across the country where the party has set a target to issue 10 crore memberships.
All India BJP minorities cell chief Jamal Siddique said, “The response from the minority community was very satisfactory. The numbers itself are telling. In Uttar Pradesh, over six lakhs’ Muslims enrolled while 3 lakhs enrolled in Madhya Pradesh and one lakh in Maharashtra.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had given a clarion call for Viksit Bharat and had appealed to the minorities who also wanted to proactively become a part of the developmental agenda, he said. The perception that BJP was untouchable is giving way to acceptance as Muslims are beginning to realise that the welfare schemes are bringing benefits to their lives, he said.
Commenting on the campaign by BJP and its frontal organisations during polls in Maharashtra like ‘Batenge to katenge,’ ‘Ek hain to safe hain,’ Siddique asked, “Why should they be equated against minorities? Look at what happened in Pakistan. It is the result of the divide within their nation that has led to the pathetic condition at present. What UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and the PM said should be seen in a larger context. It is not against minorities.”
In a scathing attack on Congress, he said, “The minorities for the last several decades were always exploited as a lucrative vote bank. They were always held captive and made to believe that only Congress would ensure their safety. But what has the Congress done?”
Under the Modi regime, there is no place for appeasement politics which makes it easier for the minorities to bounce back to the mainstream. If Congress was so concerned, why Muslims never got adequate representation in Lok Sabha and Assembly polls, he asked.
Earlier, Mumbai minorities cell chief Washim Khan said, “In Mumbai alone we held 90 camps. We have enrolled 40,000 members across the city.”
Source:indianexpress.com
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https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/muslims-enrollment-bjp-maharashtra-membership-9808420/
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Mahakumbh Stampede: Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, Shankaracharya of yotishPeeth Calls UP CM Yogi Adityanath ‘Liar’, Seeks His Resignation
31.01.25
Piyush Srivastava
One of Hinduism’s tallest monks on Thursday called chief minister Yogi Adityanath a “liar” and sought his resignation, accusing him of hiding the fatalities in Wednesday’s stampede for several hours.
“We woke up and heard (on Wednesday) that 17 people were dead. Our bathing was cancelled. Around 10.30am, the chief minister said some people had suffered serious injuries and (asked people to) ignore rumours. He didn’t mention any deaths,” Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, Shankaracharya of JyotishPeeth, Uttarakhand, told reporters.
“So I went for a holy bath with other Shankaracharyas…. Later, he called the members of the akharas and told them all was well. The akharas had cancelled their bath but they went ahead after getting a positive message from him. Didn’t he keep us in the dark when he said there was no death?”
The Shankaracharya said that in the Hindu tradition, family members fast after such incidents.
“Couldn’t we have observed a fast for a day for those we lost? You (Adityanath) deprived us of that. You made us believe that everything was a rumour. Such a serious betrayal with the saints and Sanatanis?” he said.
“Why did you lie before the country... farzi (fake) chief minister? He admitted to the deaths in the evening. Didn’t he know about it the entire day? Our chief minister is jhootha (a liar). He is not qualified to be a chief minister and should resign.”
The pontiff also lambasted Adityanath’s “tall claims” about Mela management.
“The incident took place amid tall claims (from the government).... But did it happen amid every arrangement? You (Adityanath) said 40 crore devotees were arriving. Then why was there no arrangement for so many people? You invite only so many people to an event whom you can feed and seat.”
Source:telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/mahakumbh-stampede-pontiff-calls-uttar-pradesh-chief-minister-yogi-adityanath-liar-seeks-his-resignation/cid/2080625
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Pakistan
Major among four personnel martyred in North Waziristan
Pazir Gul
January 31, 2025
NORTH WAZIRISTAN: Four security personnel, including a major, were martyred and 13 terrorists were killed in two different encounters in North Waziristan district on Thursday, according to the military’s media wing and sources.
A statement issued by Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation in Mir Ali on the reported presence of terrorists in the area.
The forces “effectively engaged” the terrorists’ hideout and killed six of them during the crossfire.
During the operation, Major Hamza Israr, 29, embraced martyrdom while “leading his troops from the front”.
He was a native of Rawalpindi district.
Sepoy Muhammad Naeem, 26, from Naseerabad, Balochistan, “having fought gallantly” also embraced martyrdom.
The ISPR statement added that a sanitisation operation was being conducted to eliminate any remaining terrorists in the area.
Ambush In another shootout, two security personnel were martyred and seven terrorists were killed in North Waziristan, according to local sources.
The shootout took place after the terrorists ambushed a security forces’ convoy, which was going from Datta Khel camp to Ghundi post.
No official statement was issued by the ISPR about the attack till the filing of this report.
Since the start of this month, security forces have conducted numerous operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which has seen a sharp uptick in terror attacks in the past two years.
Around 30 terrorists, including two ringleaders, were killed and eight others injured in operations earlier this week.
According to ISPR, terrorists’ hideouts were targeted in LakkiMarwat, Karak and Khyber districts.
As per the military’s data, 2024 was the deadliest year in a decade in terms of civil and military casualties.
Most of the 444 terror attacks last year targeted KP.
According to the military, “more than 179 operations” were conducted per day by security forces in 2024.
During these operations, a number of “high-value targets and most-wanted terrorists” were killed.
Condolences
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have paid tribute to Major Israr and Sepoy Naeem, who were martyred in North Waziristan, according to APP.
In separate statements, their offices said they paused the bravery and patriotism of martyred soldiers and expressed heartfelt grief over their martyrdom.
President Zardari expressed sympathy with the martyrs’ families and prayed that they bear their loss with patience.
“Security forces will continue their operations until terrorists are completely eliminated,” the president said, adding the nation’s resolve to eliminate terrorists “will remain unwavering”.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said: “We will not let the great sacrifices of the sons of the nation go in vain and will destroy the nefarious intentions of anti-state elements.” The government and security forces were mobilised to “completely eradicate terrorism”, he added.
The prime minister attended the funeral prayers of Major Israr at the Chaklala Garrison, Rawalpindi, APP reported.
Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Chief of Army Staff Gen Asim Munir also attended the funeral.
Following the funeral, the soldier’s body was transported to his native area for burial.
Source:dawn.com
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1888772/major-among-four-personnel-martyred-in-north-waziristan
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SC questions lack of legal challenges to military trials
Nasir Iqbal
January 31, 2025
• Justice Afghan asks why no May 9 accused assailed military courts’ ambit
• Justice Rizvi wonders whether culprits of attacks on military sites were tried under army law
• Former CJP’s counsel questions why Indian spy was granted right to appeal, but not citizens
ISLAMABAD: Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan on Thursday expressed surprise that none of the civilians tried by military courts for their alleged involvement in the May 9, 2023, attacks on military installations had challenged the jurisdiction of military courts in superior courts on grounds of mala fide intent, despite their cases being transferred from civilian courts.
“The right to institute a writ petition before the High Courtif due process is not adopted, cannot be denied despite a clear bar under Article 199(3) ofthe Constitution,” observed Justice Afghan, who is part of the seven-member Supreme Court bench hearing intra-court appeals (ICAs) against the Oct 23, 2023, ruling that nullified military trials for civilians involved in the May 9 violence.
While pointing towards senior counsel Khwaja Ahmad Hosain, representing former chief justice Jawwad S.
Khawaja, Justice Afghan observed that former CJP’s challenge to sections 2(1d)(i) and (ii) of the Army Act, which apparently makes civilians subject to the military courts, would survive if the court accepts his contention that the ouster clause provided in Article 8(3) of the Constitution was meant only for the military personnel, not civilians.
Justice Musarrat Hilali also questioned whether an accused could challenge the transfer of his case before the superior judiciary after his case was submitted before a military court.
On Thursday, senior counsel Khawaja Haris Ahmed, while representing the Ministry of Defence, concluded his arguments, whereas the court also allowed the Balochistan government to be represented through a private counsel, Sikander Bashir Mohmand,who simply adopted the arguments of Khawaja Haris.
Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, addressing the defence ministry’s counsel, recalled previous terrorist attacks on sensitive military installations, such as the General Headquarters (GHQ) and Mehran Air Base, which resulted in the martyrdom of personnel posted there.
In one incident, he said, surveillance aircraft were destroyed, causing a loss of billions of rupees to the national exchequer.
He questioned whether the intensity of these incidents was not high and whether the perpetrators of these incidents were tried in the military or anti-terrorism courts.
Khawaja Haris said the GHQ attack case was tried in a military court.
When Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail asked whether this trial took place before or after the 21st Amendment, Additional Attorney General Chaudhry Aamir Rehman clarified that the GHQ attackers were prosecuted under the 21st Amendment.
Meanwhile,the defence ministry’s counsel noted that the attackers of the Mehran Air Base were killed on the spot, eliminating the need for a trial.
He argued that the 21st Amendment was designed for crimes that did not fall under “interference in military affairs”.
Opposing the government’s stance, Khwaja Ahmad Hosain questioned why Pakistan had introduced a special law in 2021 to grant Indian spy Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav the right to appeal before the high court following a ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), while denying the same legal recourse to Pakistani citizens.
Mr Hosain asserted that the trial of civilians should align with fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution, arguing that military trial provisions ofthe Army Act went against the Constitution, particularly in light of Article 10A, which guarantees the right to a fair trial.
Mr Hosain contended that since civilian courts were fully operational, there was no justification for trying civilians in military courts.
He rejected the argument that past Supreme Court judgements, including F.B. Ali and Sheikh Liaquat Hussain, could be used as precedent for military trial of civilians.
“We are not demanding the release of those responsible for the May 9 attacks,” he clarified.
“Our argument is simply that they should be tried in civilian courts to uphold the rule of law.” The counsel also emphasised that a remedy in the shape of a writ petition before the high court was not a right of the accused, rather at the discretion of the court.
He said the fundamental right were well entrenched in the Constitution and could not be taken away. “But here in the present case, the minute a civilian was accused of the offence under sections 2(1d)(i) and (ii), the fundamental rights go away, and the mere accusation was enough to snatch these rights,” he contended.
He further argued that while members of the armed forces voluntarily give up certain rights under Article 8(3) of the Constitution, civilians do not, making the ouster clause inapplicable to them.
Source:dawn.com
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1888770/sc-questions-lack-of-legal-challenges-to-military-trials
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Automation crucial for transparency, export growth: PM
January 30, 2025
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said automated systems will soon be installed in all sectors on the pattern of the Faceless Customs Assessment System established in Karachi.
He was talking to a delegation of Pakistan Business Council-led by Chairman Shabbir Diwan in Islamabad today.
The Prime Minister said bringing transparency to the service delivery process is one of the top priorities of the government. He said the government aspires for export-based economic growth and measures are being taken to increase exports.
Shehbaz Sharif stressed for bringing the locally produced raw material and other items at par with the international standards to increase exports. He said the introduction of IT and technology in all sectors is essential for economic development.
The Prime Minister said national development and economic stability depend on cooperation between the government and the business community. He said increasing revenue and expanding the tax base are being given priority.
The delegation commended the Prime Minister for recent economic stability in the country. Members of the delegation opined that the gradual reduction in the policy interest rate to twelve percent will auger well for the business in the country. They also declared the recently installed Faceless Customs Assessment System in Karachi a success.
The delegation said that Faceless Customs Assessment System has facilitated the business community and brought transparency to the clearance system. It welcomed the significant improvement in the performance of the Federal Board of Revenue after digitization and other reforms.
Source:radio.gov.pk
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https://www.radio.gov.pk/30-01-2025/govt-prioritizes-transparency-growth-of-exports-pm
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Journalists to observe 'Black Day' against Peca tweaks today
By Web Desk
January 30, 2025
The journalist bodies announced observing a “Black Day” against the recent controversial amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) 2016 on Friday.
The development cam a day after President Asif Ali Zardari assented to the contentious Peca (Amendment) Bill 2025 amid uproar by the opposition and journalist fraternity.
Earlier, the controversial bill sailed through the Senate and the National Assembly amid protests by journalists and the opposition.
In a statement, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), said that black flags would be hoisted at press clubs across the county and in the union’s offices.
PFUJ President Afzal Butt and Secretary Arshad Ansari, in a joint statement, said that the journalists would hold rallies against the controversial amendments to the Peca Act today.
They said that the journalists would perform their professional responsibilities by wearing black armbands to record their protest, adding that the federal government and parliament did not consult the stakeholders on the bill.
Expressing their annoyance over the presidential nod to the contentious amendments, the PFUJ leaders said the president approved the bill without giving them an opportunity to clear their stance on the matter.
“A press freedom movement has been launched,” they said, adding that the PFUJ would issue a call for a sit-in outside the Parliament House against the “black law”.
Journalists’ Joint Action Committee (JAC) — comprising Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA), All Pakistan Newspapers Society, Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) and Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors (AEMEND) — endorsed the PFUJ’s call for the nationwide protest.
The JAC was of the view that the controversial bill was approved without listening to journalist organisations and the stakeholders.
In a declaration, the JAC categorically rejected the fresh contentious amendments to cybercrime laws and vowed to launch a vigorous public and legal struggle against the act.
It said that they were contacting civil societies, human rights organisations, lawyer bodies and other stakeholders. The JAC further said that it would move the court against the fresh amendments to Peca, adding that they were consulting with legal experts to file a petition in the court in this regard.
Source:thenews.com.pk
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150 Pakistani nationals stranded in violence-hit Goma: FO
January 30, 2025
ISLAMABAD: Around 150 Pakistani nationals were stranded in violence-hit Goma following the recent escalation of conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Foreign Office confirmed on Thursday.
In a statement, FO Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said that with the active engagement of Pakistan’s high commissioner in Kigali, the Rwandan authorities have allowed the entry of stranded Pakistanis into Rwanda.
“So far around 75 Pakistanis have moved to Rwanda,” he added.
M23 rebels captured Goma, a city of two million people and capital of North Kivu province, on Monday.
The rebels advanced south on Wednesday in an apparent attempt to expand their area of control. They marched along the western side of Lake Kivu and neared Kavumu, where Bukavu's airport is located.
In the statement, the spokesperson said that the high commission in Kigali arranged accommodation and food for the affected Pakistanis.
The high commission is also reaching out to the Pakistani community to identify and reach out to any other citizen in difficulty, Shafqat added.
“There is likelihood of more Pakistanis crossing over to Rwanda in the coming days,” he said, adding that the high commission staff was in contact with every individual who had asked for assistance and help. Furthermore, the diplomatic staff was also reaching out to Pakistanis in the border city of Bukavu, he added.
The group’s capture of most of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, is a dramatic escalation in a region that has seen decades of conflict involving multiple armed groups.
Rwanda says its primary interest is to eradicate fighters linked to the 1994 genocide but is accused of seeking to profit from the region’s reserves of minerals used in global electronics.
"We will continue the march of liberation all the way to Kinshasa," Corneille Nangaa, head of a coalition of groups including the M23, told reporters in Goma.
"We are in Goma and we will not leave... for as long as the questions for which we took up arms have not been answered," he said.
After days of intense clashes that left more than 100 dead and nearly 1,000 wounded, according to an AFP tally, some Goma residents on Thursday ventured out to take stock.
Source:thenews.com.pk
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https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1277880-150-pakistani-nationals-stranded-in-violence-hit-goma-fo
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Malik Riaz's passport blocked in £190m case
Iftikhar A. Khan
January 31, 2025
ISLAMABAD: Days after it began the process to extradite Bahria Town owner Malik Riaz from the United Arab Emirates, the government on Thursday blocked the passports of the property tycoon and other accused who have been declared absconders in the £190 million corruption case.
Earlier this month, former prime minister Imran Khan and his spouse Bushra Bibi were sentenced in the matter of the Al-Qadir Trust by an accountability court in Islamabad, after a lengthy trial.
Besides Malik Riaz, his son Ali Riaz, former accountability adviser Barrister Shahzad Akbar, and Farhat Shahzadi — a close friend of Bushra Bibi — have had their passports blocked.
An official of the interior ministry told Dawn that the step against the four key characters was taken at the request of the National Accountability Bureau.
All these individuals are not in Pakistan at the moment.
Malik Riaz, no stranger to Pakistan’s power corridors before his fall from grace, is currently in the UAE, where he plans to develop ‘Bahria Town Dubai’, a luxury housing project.
NAB has already warned citizens against investing in this project, saying it may be considered ‘money laundering’ by the government.
Farhat Shahzadi reportedly left for Dubai on April 5, 2022, days before Imran Khan was removed as the prime minister through a no-trust motion. Mirza Shahzad Akbar resigned in January 2022 as the former PM adviser and left for the United Kingdom before his name was placed on the Exit Control List.
‘Extortion’ case
Meanwhile, Islamabad police have registered a case regarding an attempt to extort 50 Bitcoin — worth around $5 million — from Malik Riaz, and threatening his family with dire consequences.
The case, registered under sections 506 ii of the Pakistan Penal Code and 25-D of the Telegraph Act, was lodged on the complaint of Bahria Town Vice Executive retired Col Khalil ur Rehman, who is responsible for security of the housing society and Malik Riaz’s family.
The complainant claimed that an email containing the extortion demands was received by Malik Riaz on Jan 12, while an unidentified individual conducted recce of his daughter’s residence in Sector G-6 on Jan 27.
Source:dawn.com
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Mideast
Ansar Allah: Blood Of Martyr Leaders Is Torch Of Resistance, That Will Not Stop Until Israel's Demise
30 Jan 2025
The Political Bureau of Ansar Allah extended its deepest condolences to the Islamic nation, the Palestinian people, Hamas, and all Palestinian resistance factions on the martyrdom of Commander Mohammed Deif and his fellow martyrs.
In a statement received by the Yemeni News Agency (SABA), the bureau emphasized that the martyrdom of this faithful group of fighters is a source of pride and honor. These leaders were at the forefront of the battle, demonstrating unwavering courage and determination as they engaged the enemy in close combat, writing new chapters of victory and resilience.
The statement expressed deep sorrow and grief over the martyrdom of Mohammed Deif, the Chief of Staff of the Al-Qassam Brigades, who fell alongside a group of Hamas and Al-Qassam commanders at the hands of the criminal Zionist enemy, amid the ongoing "Al-Aqsa Flood" battle, on the path to liberating Al-Quds.
It further emphasized that Commander Mohammed Deif and his fellow martyrs sacrificed their lives in the holiest of battles, defending the dignity of the Islamic nation and its sacred sites against the Zionist aggression backed by the U.S. and the West. Their pure blood and sacrifices have secured a historic victory for the resistance, Palestine, and all free people of the nation.
The Political Bureau of Ansar Allah affirmed that the blood of these martyr leaders is the torch that fuels the resistance and the ever-renewing flood that will not cease until the complete eradication of the Zionist entity and the full liberation of every inch of occupied Palestinian land.
The statement commended the Islamic Resistance in Palestine for its heroic sacrifices and steadfast patience, asserting that while this painful loss is great, it will only fortify the resistance, strengthen its resolve, and escalate the struggle until final victory and liberation.
Ansar Allah reaffirmed Yemen’s unwavering stance in supporting Hamas and all Palestinian resistance factions, standing shoulder to shoulder with the Palestinian people, and defending their just cause regardless of the circumstances, challenges, or sacrifices.
Source:.saba.ye
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https://www.saba.ye/en/news3431442.htm
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Islamic Jihad Movement: "Tamoun Massacre is Nazi Crime that Will Not Break Our People"
30 Jan 2025
The Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine said that what happened in the town of Tamoun, south of the city of Tubas, was a "brutal massacre and a Nazi crime"; it comes within the framework of the Zionist enemy's frenzied campaign against the Palestinian people, their land and their holy sites.
The Islamic Jihad movement confirmed in a statement today, Thursday, that the Tamoun massacre is "a new episode in a series of war crimes carried out by the occupation with the aim of forcibly displacing Palestinians from their lands and changing the demographic and historical facts in occupied Palestine."
It considered that "the open aggression in the occupied West Bank reflects a systematic strategy aimed at eliminating any Palestinian presence in the occupied territories."
It considered that the enemy's crimes in the West Bank, especially in the Jenin camp, "reflect the occupation's intention to establish its presence and impose its military control permanently."
Jihad stressed that the Zionist Knesset's approval, in a preliminary reading, of a new racist law that allows Jews to own lands in the West Bank, "heralds a new phase of Judaization and settlement within the framework of the annexation plan."
It added: "The entity's aggressive policies cannot be separated from the renewed American support under the Trump administration, which provided political and diplomatic cover for the settlement and aggressive policies of the extreme Zionist right."
The Islamic Jihad movement reiterated that "the Zionist crimes will not break the will of our people, who will continue to resist the occupation, and will not deter them from adhering to their land, rights and existence in our land and homeland."
Yesterday, Wednesday, ten Palestinians were martyred and others were injured, as a result of Zionist shelling that targeted a group of civilians in the town of Tamoun, southeast of the city of Tubas, in the northern West Bank.
Source:.saba.ye
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https://www.saba.ye/en/news3431380.htm
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Dozens of settlers storm al-Aqsa mosque
30 Jan 2025
Dozens of Zionist settlers stormed on Thursday the courtyards of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied al-Quds under the protection of the Zionist enemy army.
Al-Quds sources reported that about 431 settlers and 75 Zionist policemen stormed al-Aqsa Mosque from Mughrabi Gate, and carried out tours in its courtyards, and performed Talmudic rituals.
In conjunction with the settlers' storming of al-Aqsa Mosque, the Zionist enemy authorities are imposing security restrictions around it and at its gates, and are obstructing the entry of worshipers into it.
Calls were issued by clerics, Maqdeseyan bodies, and activists, for more mobilization and travel to the mosque, in light of the escalation of settler attacks and their storming of the mosque courtyards, and their performance of Talmudic prayers.
Source:.saba.ye
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https://www.saba.ye/en/news3431306.htm
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US airstrike in Syria kills senior operative of Al-Qaeda affiliate
January 31, 2025
The US military said it killed a senior operative of an Al-Qaeda-affiliated militant group in an airstrike in northwest Syria on Thursday.
The airstrike, part of an ongoing effort to disrupt and degrade militant groups in the region, resulted in the death of Muhammad Salah Al-Za’bir of the Hurras Al-Din group, the US Central Command said in a statement.
Source:arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2588476/middle-east
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Rebuilding Gaza could take 10-15 years, Trump envoy tells Axios
January 30, 2025
WASHINGTON: There is “almost nothing left” of Gaza and rebuilding the war-ravaged enclave could take 10 to 15 years, US President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff told Axios in an interview at the end of his trip to the region on Thursday.
“People are moving north to get back to their homes and see what happened and turn around and leave ... there is no water and no electricity. It is stunning just how much damage occurred there,” Witkoff told the news website after visiting Gaza.
Witkoff, a real estate investor and Trump campaign donor with business ties to Qatar and other states, was in the region to oversee implementation of a ceasefire deal between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
His assessment comes days after Trump floated the idea that some of Arab nations should get involved with and build “housing at a different location where they (Gazans) can maybe live in peace for a change.”
Any suggestion that Palestinians leave Gaza, territory they want to form part of an independent state, has been anathema to the Palestinian leadership for generations and repeatedly rejected by neighboring Arab states since the Gaza war began in October 2023.
Witkoff told Axios he had not discussed with Trump the idea of moving Palestinians from Gaza.
A UN damage assessment released this month showed that clearing over 50 million tons of rubble left in the aftermath of Israel’s bombardment could take 21 years and cost up to $1.2 billion.
The debris is believed to be contaminated with asbestos, with some refugee camps struck during the war known to have been built with the material. The rubble also likely holds human remains. The Palestinian Ministry of Health estimates that 10,000 bodies are missing under the debris.
“There has been this perception we can get to a solid plan for Gaza in five years. But it’s impossible. This is a 10 to 15 year rebuilding plan,” Witkoff told Axios.
“There is nothing left standing. Many unexploded ordnances. It is not safe to walk there. It is very dangerous. I wouldn’t have known this without going there and inspecting,” he said.
Source:arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2588447/middle-east
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UN says UNRWA aid agency will continue work in all Palestinian territories
January 30, 2025
UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations said Thursday its humanitarian relief agency UNRWA would continue working in all Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, despite Israeli legislation coming into force that cuts ties with the organization.
Israel decided to ban the UN agency for Palestinian refugees following accusations some of its staff belong to Hamas.
“UNRWA clinics across the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are open. Meanwhile, the humanitarian operations in Gaza continues, including with UNRWA work there,” said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN chief Antonio Guterres.
UNRWA has long been the lead agency in coordinating aid to Gaza.
A series of investigations found some “neutrality related issues” at UNRWA — but stressed Israel had not provided evidence that a significant number of its staff belonged to “terrorist” organizations.
“UNRWA will continue to deliver on its mandate... until they’re no longer able to do so,” Dujarric said.
However he clarified that no staff were present at the agency’s headquarters in East Jerusalem, which mainly deals with administration. Palestinian employees are however working from other locations, while foreign employees had to leave Israel.
“We had taken precautions,” Dujarric said. “All the equipment inside, files, computers, everything had been removed, our vehicles as well.”
Source:arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2588444/middle-east
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Hamas confirms death of its military chief Mohammed Deif
January 30, 2025
GAZA CITY: Hamas confirmed on Thursday the death of its military chief Mohammed Deif, accused by Israel of being one of the masterminds behind the October 7 attack and whose killing it announced last year.
“The Al-Qassam Brigades announce to our great people the martyrdom of a group of distinguished fighters and heroic commanders,” Abu Obeida, spokesman for Hamas’ armed wing, announced in a video statement, naming “commander Mohammed Deif, chief of staff of the Al-Qassam Brigades (and) commander Marwan Issa, deputy chief of staff” among them.
Israel had accused Deif of being one of the key architects of October 7, along with Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who was killed on October 16, 2024.
On August 1 last year, the Israeli military announced it had killed Deif in an air strike in Gaza the month before.
The military said fighter jets had struck Khan Yunis on July 13 and “following an intelligence assessment, it can be confirmed that Mohammed Deif was eliminated in the strike.”
He was killed along with one of his top commanders, Rafa Salama, the military said.
“Deif initiated, planned, and executed the October 7th massacre,” the military added.
Deif became head of Hamas’s armed wing, the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, in 2002.
He was among Israel’s most wanted men for nearly three decades and on a US list of “international terrorists” since 2015.
Deif, whose real name is Mohammed Diab Al-Masri, was born in the Khan Yunis refugee camp in 1965.
In videos, Deif had appeared masked or shown in silhouette, and photos of him were rare.
In January 2024, Israel released a picture of Deif showing him with one eye missing, without specifying when it was taken.
His enemies dubbed Deif the “cat with nine lives” after his many close calls with death.
In 2014, Israel launched an air strike on Gaza, killing Deif’s wife and a seven-month-old son.
Deif is said to have played a key role in the huge network of tunnels built beneath Gaza.
In May, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court requested a warrant for his arrest, along with Sinwar, for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Until Thursday, Hamas had not confirmed his death.
Source:arabnews.com
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Europe
Sweden points to ‘foreign power’ after Iraqi refugee on trial for Qur’an burnings shot dead
30 January 2025
Sweden’s prime minister has said a foreign power may have been involved in the fatal shooting of an anti-Islam campaigner just hours before a trial verdict over his burning of the Qur’an was due.
Police arrested five people over the killing of Salwan Momika, 38, who was shot late on Wednesday in a house in the town of Södertälje, near Stockholm. Authorities did not say whether the shooter was among those detained.
Momika, an Iraqi refugee with a chequered past, outraged many people in Sweden and around the world by burning copies of the Qur’an in public demonstrations.
A Stockholm court dismissed the case against Momika after his death. It said the verdict for another man in the same criminal trial over “offences of agitation against an ethnic or national group” would be postponed until Monday.
Ulf Kristersson, the Swedish prime minister, told reporters there were fears the killing could have been linked to another country. “I can assure you that the security services are deeply involved because there is obviously a risk that there is a connection to a foreign power,” he said.
The deputy prime minister, Ebba Busch, condemned the murder. “It is a threat to our free democracy. It must be met with the full force of our society,” she wrote on X.
The security service said police were leading the investigation but “we are following the development of events closely to see what impact this may have on Swedish security”.
Last year the service said the Iranian government had been using criminal networks within Sweden to carry out violent acts against other states, groups and individuals.
Swedish media reported Momika was streaming live on TikTok when he was shot. A video seen by Reuters showed police picking up a phone and ending a live stream that appeared to be from his TikTok account.
In 2023 Sweden raised its terrorism alert to the second highest level and warned of threats against Swedes at home and abroad after Qur’an burnings, many of them by Momika, angered many Muslims and prompted threats from jihadists.
On one occasion in June 2023, he stomped on the Islamic holy book and wrapped it in bacon before lighting a few pages on fire, slamming it shut and kicking it like a football.
Iraqi protesters stormed the Swedish embassy in Baghdad twice in July 2023, starting fires within the compound on the second occasion.
While the Swedish government condemned the wave of burnings, it was initially regarded as a protected form of free speech.
The burnings of the holy book, by Momika and others, complicated Sweden’s entry into Nato. Turkey suspended talks with Sweden on its Nato application in January 2023 after Rasmus Paludan, a Swedish-Danish activist who had been convicted for racist abuse, burned a copy of the Qur’an outside the Turkish embassy in Stockholm.
Sweden eventually joined Nato in March 2024, almost a year after Finland, despite the two Nordic countries submitting simultaneous applications.
Momika in April 2023 told the newspaper Aftonbladet he did not want to cause Sweden any trouble. “I don’t want to harm this country that received me and preserved my dignity,” he said.
His protests nevertheless caused a headache for the government.
While Momika had police protection during his protests and when attending court, his lawyer, Anna Roth, told the Swedish national news agency TT that as far as she knew he was not protected at home. “He was well aware that there was an extensive threat to him. There was a price on his head,” Roth said.
In March 2024, Momika left Sweden to seek asylum in Norway, telling Agence France-Presse that Sweden’s freedom of expression and protection of human rights was “a big lie”. Norway deported him back to Sweden only weeks later.
Sweden’s migration agency wanted to deport Momika for giving false information on his residency application but could not as it was deemed he could face torture and inhumane treatment in Iraq.
Source:yahoo.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/sweden-points-foreign-power-iraqi-165000876.html
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Swedish PM says shooting of anti-Islam campaigner may be linked to foreign power
30 January 2025
By Johan Ahlander
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) -The Swedish prime minister said the shooting of an anti-Islam campaigner just hours before a trial verdict was due on Thursday over his burning the Koran might be linked to a foreign power, and police arrested five people over the killing.
Salwan Momika, 38, an Iraqi refugee, was shot in a house in Sodertalje town near Stockholm on Wednesday. A prosecutor ordered that the five people be detained, police said, without specifying if the gunman was among them.
Momika had burned and desecrated copies of the Koran, the Muslim holy book, either in public or in social media broadcasts in 2023.
"I can assure you that the security services are deeply involved because there is obviously a risk that there is a connection to a foreign power," Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said at a news conference on Thursday.
Vice Prime Minister Ebba Busch condemned the murder.
"It is a threat to our free democracy. It must be met with the full force of our society," she wrote on X.
A Stockholm court dismissed the case on Momika after his death. It said the verdict for another man in the same criminal trial over "offences of agitation against an ethnic or national group," in connection with Koran burnings would be postponed until Monday.
Sweden in 2023 raised its terrorism alert to the second-highest level and warned of threats against Swedes at home and abroad after the Koran burnings, most of them by Momika, outraged Muslims and triggered threats from jihadists.
Sweden's Security Service told Reuters it was assessing the potential impact of the shooting "on Swedish security."
Burning the Koran is seen by Muslims as a blasphemous act because they consider it the literal word of God.
While the Swedish government condemned the wave of Koran burnings in 2023, it is widely regarded as a protected form of free speech.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in 2023 that people who desecrate the Koran should face the "most severe punishment" and Sweden had "gone into battle-array for war on the Muslim world" by supporting those responsible.
Sweden's migration agency in 2023 wanted to deport Momika for giving false information on his residency application, but couldn't as he risked torture and inhumane treatment in Iraq.
(Reporting by Johan Ahlander and Isabelle YrCarlsson, editing by TerjeSolsvik and Bernadette Baum)
Source:yahoo.com
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https://uk.news.yahoo.com/man-shot-dead-sweden-ahead-091916083.html
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Southeast Asia
PM Anwar calls on people to prioritise national interest
BERNAMA
31-01- 2025
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called on all Malaysians to focus on the nation’s progress and interests rather than issues that could undermine unity.
He said Malaysia should also serve as a model for strong racial unity.
“This country has great potential. There is no need to stir conflicts; (instead), we should uphold the dignity of all communities,“ he said in his speech at the Chinese New Year Open House organised by the Perak Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCCI) in Ipoh today.
Also present were Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir; Housing and Local Government Development Minister NgaKor Ming; Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang; Perak MenteriBesar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad, and PCCCI president Datuk Liew Chee Meng.
Anwar also criticised the actions of certain parties who raised concerns about different ethnic groups in the country celebrating the festivals of other communities.
“...some have raised the issue of Malays celebrating Chinese New Year, Thaipusam – things that have never been a problem for decades are now being made into an issue.
“But do we want to entertain this, or focus on our unity? Do we choose to continue having differences of opinion, or do we strengthen unity? And why unity? To boost our economy,“ he said.
The Prime Minister said that Malaysia is among the countries providing significant contributions to its people to tackle the rising cost of living, demonstrating the government’s concern for this global issue.
“...for example, the STR (Rahmah Cash Aid) has increased to RM13 billion. That is why we have increased the STR, because we know the cost of living has gone up.
“This is a problem faced by the whole world, and I have also raised the salaries of civil servants as they have not been increased for 12 years,“ he said.
Source:thesun.my
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https://thesun.my/malaysia-news/pm-anwar-calls-on-people-to-prioritise-national-interest-OO13595812
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DPM Zahid rebuts Rafidah’s criticism of Gaza rebuilding efforts, defends Malaysia’s commitment
By Malay Mail
31 Jan 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 31 — Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has responded to former International Trade and Industry Minister Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz’s remarks urging the government to prioritise domestic issues over commitments to rebuild Gaza, Harian Metro reported,
Zahid asserted that the government consistently prioritises the welfare and needs of Malaysians while also extending support to Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.
”Of course, the Prime Minister’s commitment must be supported. For example, cooperation with Japan is strategic for redevelopment.
”As stated by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the focus is on building hospitals, schools, and mosques. If even that is questioned, I’m not sure what Tan Sri Rafidah means,” he said during a media visit to Media Prima Berhad.
Zahid also appeared as a guest on the Buletin TV3 podcast, set to air this Sunday.
Malay daily Harian Metro had earlier reported that Anwar had announced Malaysia’s plans to assist in Gaza by constructing a school, hospital, and mosque to alleviate the hardships of Palestinians.
Rafidah, however, reportedly suggested yesterday that the government should address pressing domestic issues before committing to Gaza’s redevelopment.
While acknowledging the importance of rebuilding Gaza, she highlighted unresolved issues within Malaysia, including the “deplorable” state of rural schools, often spotlighted in the media.
On a separate issue, Zahid commented on calls from the Malaysian Corruption Watch (MCW) for mandatory asset declarations by all government officials, emphasising that it is a legal obligation.
”Asset declaration is mandatory for all members of the administration, enforced under the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act,” he said, adding that compliance should not pose significant challenges.
Zahid’s remarks come amid ongoing debates surrounding the government’s priorities and the need for transparency.
Source:malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/01/31/dpm-zahid-rebuts-rafidahs-criticism-of-gaza-rebuilding-efforts-defends-malaysias-commitment/165080#google_vignette
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North America
'I lost their smiles': Quebec City Muslim community counters hate 8 years after deadly mosque attack
January 30, 2025
Images of the night of Jan. 29, 2017 still come back to BoufeldjaBenabdallah.
The call he received; pulling up to the mosque he co-founded; finding it completely surrounded by police.
"It was a panic," said Benabdallah. "All these images remind us of this sadness."
Six men died after a gunman opened fire in the Islamic Cultural Centre in the Sainte-Foy neighbourhood of Quebec City. It left 19 injured and 17 children fatherless.
Years later, Benabdallah says it's important to keep the memory of the victims alive.
He remembers AzzeddineSoufiane, a smiley man who would tip toe into the mosque to pray silently.
MamadouTanou Barry was "joyous." Ibrahima Barry was a serious yet friendly man who helped support immigrants in the community.
AbdelkrimHassane was the "footballer," who would talk at length about the championship, while AboubakerThabti loved volunteering for activities with kids. Khaled Belkacemi was a Laval University professor and Benabdallah's close friend.
Quebec mosque victims, clockwise from left: AzzeddineSoufiane, MamadouTanou Barry, Khaled Belkacemi, AboubakerThabti, Ibrahima Barry and AbdelkrimHassane. (CBC)
"I have good memories of them," said Benabdallah.
"In our philosophy, we say that after distress, something good always comes along. You mustn't despair. I'm in that stage."
Sitting just outside the entrance to the mosque's prayer room, Nesrine Adda and Sakina Ouchane wore dark green felt squares — a symbol of peace and the same colour as the prayer room's carpet eight years ago.
Adda says her dad came to the mosque on the night of the attack.
"I don't even know how to explain the feeling because it was … a moment that was very shocking," said Adda.
"It was very traumatic for him."
Mohamed Labidi, president of the Islamic centre, says the six men who died were his friends whom he would see regularly.
"They would offer me beautiful smiles every time," said Labidi, his voice cracking. "And I lost their smiles."
'A good future ahead of us'
Eight years later, on the National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action against Islamophobia, Labidi says they're highlighting the importance of combating hate.
"I'm an optimist," said Labidi. "You cannot just see the glass half empty ... There is a good future ahead of us."
Nesrine Adda and Sakina Ouchane greeted people to the mosque on the eighth anniversary of the attack. (Rachel Watts/CBC)
He says there's been progress to counter Islamophobia in Quebec, but that sometimes stereotypes and political rhetoric can bring them "back to the start."
Labidi referenced the idea of a prayer ban as a recent example. Last December, Quebec Premier François Legault indicated he wanted to ban praying in public, saying seeing people praying "in the streets, in public parks, is not something we want in Quebec."
Labidi says Muslims continue to be singled out.
For the first time this year, the mosque set up information sessions open to the public. Unfortunately, he says almost no Quebecers came to visit.
"Hardly anyone came. And to that, I ask myself, 'why?'" said Labidi.
Mohamed Labidi says harmful stereotypes can impact progress. (Rachel Watts/CBC)
"It's disappointing," said Arif Virani, the federal minister of justice, who spoke at the eighth anniversary commemoration.
"But I don't lose hope about the curiosity and the interest that exists. I've seen it in my own riding in Toronto. I know that curiosity exists all around the country … I think we just have to double down on our efforts."
He says there hasn't been enough progress in the fight against Islamophobia.
Including the men who died in the Quebec City attack, a total of 11 people have died as a result of Islamophobia in Canada since 2017, he said.
"That's a statistic that leads the G7. I don't want to lead the G7 in those kinds of statistics. So we've got a lot of work to do."
Benabdallah says it's critical to continue to form connections to foster unity.
"I always say that the majority of people love other people," said Benabdallah.
"But there's always a minority … They don't really want to understand. It's the people who shout the loudest."
Source:yahoo.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/lost-smiles-quebec-city-muslim-142857380.html
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Al Rashid Mosque wants to rezone industrial land to accommodate growing Edmonton community
Jan 30, 2025
Al Rashid Mosque is working with the City of Edmonton to rezone 34 acres of land in the city's northwest, to help pave way for future facilities to meet the local Muslim community's growing needs.
Rezoning the land near the Rampart Industrial area would allow Canada's oldest mosque to build a grand mosque, private high school, recreation centre and business complex.
"We are a community of pioneers," Noor Al-Henedy, chair of the Al Rashid Mosque board, told CBC News.
"Investing in community and growing is something that is a priority."
City administration presented a proposed rezoning bylaw amendment to councillors during a series of public hearings last week. Bylaw 21000 seeks to change the Northwest District Plan to facilitate the proposed rezoning.
Eins Development Consulting Ltd. submitted the rezoning application on behalf of the Arabian Muslim Association — the original name under which Al Rashid Mosque was registered and built in 1938.
In September 2021, Al Rashid signed a preliminary sales agreement for the land in question. Now, it's going through the requirements to fully acquire the parcel.
Its location — between Campbell Road, 142nd Street and 162nd Avenue — is ideal, because of its size and proximity to Anthony Henday Drive, Al-Henedy said.
"We do have a big population in the north side, so we were looking at lands where a lot of people can have access to very easily — especially in days like Eid, where we have very large celebrations and we have people that come from across the city," she said.
A growing population has made it more difficult to organize large community gatherings at the new Al Rashid Mosque, which was built in 1982.
Edmonton Islamic Academy, located on 127th Street in northwest Edmonton, aims to open a new campus for elementary students in the coming years. The new campus is proposed to be about three minutes away on 151st Avenue.
There are more than 1,500 kids on the school's waiting list, and every Eid, the facility exceeds capacity, Al-Henedy said.
"We hold at least two Eid prayers, and we see 15 to 18,000 people walk in for each one of the prayers," she said.
"We still have to host two [prayers] to be able to accommodate our community."
The future of industrial land in Edmonton
City council was divided during the public hearings, with multiple city councillors voicing support and concern over how the rezoning would impact the city's industrial investment action plan.
Ward O-day'minCoun. Anne Stevenson appreciated the "complexities of this application," but didn't feel she could support it.
"Fundamentally, it comes down for me, to the economical development of our city. Having a healthy mix of residential and non-residential is critically important," Stevenson said.
Ward papastewCoun. Michael Janz mulled over the future implications of rezoning.
"I can see why many other parcels or spaces would not be compatible uses," Janz said.
"This is very challenging, what could be a missed opportunity."
High schools are "messy" from a development standpoint, he said, noting that they require a large land parcel, have complex needs, need parking and have traffic.
He also feared that future councillors will be "scrambling to get any single industrial land parcel" they can, as the city grows.
For other councillors, the decision to approve the bylaw amendments was more clearcut.
Coun. Erin Rutherford, who represents Ward Anirniq, which includes the land Al Rashid wants to rezone, recognized the potential to reinvigorate the industrial tax base long-term.
"Does it actually make some of those other vacant parcels surrounding this even more enticing and viable, if there's increased traffic to this industrial area?" Rutherford said.
Ward NakotaIsgaCoun. Andrew Knack suggested the city will have enough industrial land supply for decades, pointing to sluggish interest and land use in the Winterburn Industrial area.
"If we had only 20 years of land supply of industrial land in the city of Edmonton, I might be worried," said Knack.
"We don't. We have 100 years."
Ward Dene Coun. Aaron Paquette agreed with Knack, saying the city has enough industrial land to "last for generations."
He also stressed that council should move quickly on the rezoning decision, given the lengthy timeline to build a school.
"A kid could be born today, grow up and graduate before this land gets developed," Paquette said.
"Our city urgently needs schools, homes, community spaces."
Source:cbc.ca
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/al-rashid-mosque-wants-to-rezone-industrial-land-to-accommodate-growing-edmonton-community-1.7444773
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Trump threatens ‘seemingly hostile’ BRICS
31 Jan, 2025
The BRICS nations will face 100% tariffs on their goods if they dare to challenge the dominance of the “mighty US dollar,” President Donald Trump warned on Thursday, in his latest threat to use American economic power to achieve geopolitical goals.
Members of the BRICS economic bloc have accelerated efforts to reduce reliance on third-party currencies in bilateral trade in recent years, especially after Western sanctions led to the freezing of Russia's reserves held in dollars and euros, following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022.
“The idea that the BRICS countries are trying to move away from the dollar while we stand by and watch is OVER,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on Thursday, echoing past threats.
“They can go find another sucker nation,” he fumed. “We are going to require a commitment from these seemingly hostile countries that they will neither create a new BRICS currency nor back any other currency to replace the mighty US dollar.”
“There is no chance that BRICS will replace the US dollar in international trade or anywhere else, and any country that tries should say hello to tariffs and goodbye to America!” Trump added.
Following a similar threat in November, the Kremlin stressed that American pressure would only accelerate a growing global trend toward using national currencies in trade, diminishing the greenback’s role as a reserve currency. Russian President Vladimir Putin stated during the BRICS summit in Kazan in October that while it was too early to discuss a common BRICS currency and “reject” the dollar, Moscow has had to find alternative financial systems to circumvent Western financial infrastructure.
Beijing responded to Trump’s threat by promising to continue expanding cooperation among fellow members of the economic bloc. Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian called BRICS an important platform for cooperation among emerging markets, emphasizing its aim to achieve comprehensive development and prosperity, not to engage in “bloc confrontation” or “target any third party.”
India stated that while the group regularly discusses bilateral financial transactions, it has “no interest” in weakening the dollar. “India has never been for de-dollarization,” Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said in December.
South Africa similarly denied that the bloc was planning to create a new currency.
However, in 2023, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva expressed support for creating “a trading currency” within the bloc, “just like the Europeans created the euro.”
BRICS comprises founding members Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, along with Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates. Indonesia was accepted as a full member earlier this month.
Trump mistakenly included Spain as a member of BRICS during a White House press briefing shortly after his inauguration. “They’re a BRICS nation, Spain. You know what a BRICS nation is? You’ll figure it out,” he said, adding he would impose “at least 100% tariff on the business they do with the United States.”
Source:rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/business/611957-trump-brics-tariffs-dollar/
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South Asia
Trial of Hasina: Students end hunger strike after eight hours in Ctg
Jan 30, 2025
Activists of Anti-Discrimination Student Movement in Chattogram city ended their hunger strike tonight after eight hours.
The students started the hunger strike in front of Chattogram Press Club around 12:30pm, demanding trial of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and other accused who were involved in the attack and killing of students in the mass uprising.
Talking to the correspondent, Chattogram Deputy Commissioner Farida Khanom said the students broke their hunger strike around 9:00pm.
They also threatened to announce tougher programme if the interim government does not start the process of trial within next three days, said the DC.
However, the correspondent could not reach any protester for comments in this regard.
Over 30 leaders and activists of the platform led by Russell Ahmed, executive member of the central committee of Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, started the hunger strike.
Earlier, the platform held a protest rally in front of Chattogram Press Club at 11:30am.
Addressing the rally, Russel said they are still forced to take to the streets even six months after the uprising demanding trial of the culprits.
They did not see any visible steps from the interim government regarding the trial of Awami League members including Sheikh Hasina, he alleged.
At one stage of his speech Russel announced to start the hunger strike demanding trial of Hasina and others.
Following his announcement at least 25 activists of the platform started hunger strike on the footpath in front of the press club. Later, they sat on the street blocking vehicular movement on one side of the two-lane road.
DC Farida Khanom met with the protesters in the evening when Home Affairs Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury and Liberation War Affairs Adviser Farooq-e-Azam talked with Russel on the DC's cellphone.
The two advisers requested him to stop their strike but Russel asked for specific timeframe to start the trial and vowed to continue hunger strike.
Source:thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/trial-hasina-students-end-hunger-strike-after-eight-hours-ctg-3812486
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Special Decree Leads to Release of 39 Prisoners in Ghor Province
2025-01-30
GHOR(BNA): A decree from the the Supreme Leader, has resulted in the release of 39 prisoners from the central prison in Ghor province. Among those freed are 36 men and three women, with several other inmates also benefiting from commuted sentences.
Officials responsible for prison affairs in Ghor confirmed to the Bakhtar News Agency that the Supreme Leader’s directive facilitated these releases and sentence reductions.
The decision has sparked a wave of relief and appreciation among the freed prisoners, many of whom had been incarcerated for various offenses, including moral crimes, robbery, and drug trafficking.
Source:bakhtarnews.af
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https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/special-decree-leads-to-release-of-39-prisoners-in-ghor-province/
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Ensure reforms in judiciary, law enforcement
Jan 31, 2025
Speakers at a dialogue yesterday condemned the recent attack on indigenous students, saying they see no rule of law under the interim government.
The national flag was used in the attack, yet no sedition case was filed. There is no rule of law, they said.
The dialogue, titled "Democratic Reconstructions on Constitutional Bodies," was organised by the Centre for Governance Studies at the Bangladesh Institute of Strategy Studies in the capital.
Advocate Subrata Chowdhury, general secretary of Gono Forum, stressed the need for reforms in the judiciary and police.
"A BNP-leaning attorney general has been appointed, although this is not a BNP government," he said.
"Even in the ICT Tribunal, a member of the AB Party was made the chief prosecutor. These decisions raise questions. Two parties have their share in everything -- Jamaat is receiving more, while BNP is receiving slightly less. Naturally, BNP is somewhat disappointed," he added.
He called for a shift in mindset, noting that political appointments have long been the norm in Bangladesh.
He also stressed the need for a National Minority Commission.
BNP leader Zahir Uddin Swapan questioned whether the interim government could implement democratic reconstruction. "Without a clear framework and stakeholder consensus, discussions may not yield concrete results," he said.
Badiul Alam Majumdar, chief of the election reform commission, proposed reserving 100 parliamentary seats for women to reduce discrimination.
"A flawed appointment system has weakened constitutional institutions. The Election Commission should be independent but follows executive directives," he said.
To ensure democratic reconstruction, he stressed the need for transparent appointments, legal updates, and accountability for past wrongdoings.
Former NBR chairman Mohammad Abdul Mazid stressed transparency in constitutional appointments.
Retired diplomat M Shafiullah called for the direct election of the president.
"If the people elect the president, the position will be free from political control. No political party currently holds a strong mandate. Credible elections are necessary for Bangladesh's global reputation," he said.
CPD Executive Director Fahmida Khatun highlighted the need for strong constitutional institutions to support democracy and economic stability.
"The recent protests were about economic issues and employment. Immediate actions are needed to provide relief to the people. Reforms alone cannot sustain progress without foreign investment and economic stability," she added.
Senior journalist Abu Saeed Khan criticised the Constitution Reform Commission for keeping Islam as the state religion while removing secularism and socialism from the preamble.
CGS Executive Director Zillur Rahman moderated the event, while Munira Khan, chair of CGS, presided over it.
Source:thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/ensure-reforms-judiciary-law-enforcement-3812721
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Dhaka must focus on people-centric foreign ties
Jan 31, 2025
Foreign policy and trade experts have stressed that Bangladesh must address its economic and political governance issues to maintain foreign relations based on mutual respect and benefits.
They pointed out that the July uprising reflected the people's desire for equality and dignity, urging that it is time to correct past mistakes when relations with some countries served the interests of cronies instead of being people-centric.
The observations were made at a panel discussion titled "Bangladesh at Geopolitical Crossroads," organised by The Daily Star at its Dhaka office yesterday.
Speakers noted that while geopolitical conflicts are rising globally, the interim government, which is working on reforms, must reassess its foreign policy and recognise the ministries responsible for efficiently handling Bangladesh's bilateral relations.
Former Ambassador Farooq Sobhan said, "I think the most important issue at the moment is fixing the economy. That's of fundamental importance and it feeds into foreign policy and foreign relations."
He added that foreign investors typically prefer governments with a four to five-year-long tenure. "Since there is an interim government now, most foreign investors may feel 'shy'.... Therefore, we need to reach out to the Bangladeshi diaspora in terms of remittance."
Sobhan also emphasised the need for careful management of Bangladesh's relationships with key countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Malaysia, and others in the Gulf.
He also noted the importance of safeguarding export markets in the US and European Union. "We need to also be more proactive with Washington. We need to leverage the Bangladeshi diaspora, which I feel has the capacity to play a much bigger role there."
Professor Selim Raihan, of Dhaka University's economics department and executive director of the South Asian Network on Economic Modelling, said the world has become highly unpredictable, especially under the Trump administration, which has significant implications for Bangladesh.
"From an economist's perspective, it's very concerning as the global rules-based trade architecture may be seriously affected. LDCs like Bangladesh benefited a lot from the rules-based system built 50-60 years ago.
"There comes a question of whether the country is strong enough internally, both in the economic and political perspectives, to deal with this very adverse global situation."
Selim also criticised the lack of a coherent foreign policy in the past, when crony capitalism took hold in Bangladesh. "Cronies don't really need a foreign policy because they need to serve their own interests. They can have relations with any foreign partners.
"So, unless there is a significant change in domestic politics, we won't see significant improvement in our foreign policy."
He further noted that some countries have benefitted from adverse global situations, pointing to opportunities Bangladesh missed during Trump's first term when the US-China trade war began.
"Opportunities actually emerged for countries like Bangladesh, but we could not reap the benefits because we were not prepared. And I can tell you that we are still not prepared."
Shafqat Munir, senior research fellow at the Bangladesh Institute for Peace and Security Studies, recommended that the interim government establish a commission to oversee Bangladesh's foreign policy and international relations.
He stressed that alongside reforms in state institutions and the economy, it is crucial to review and reassess the country's foreign policy. "We need to identify our problems -- what kind of a foreign policy do we need, and is our existing structure equipped to embark on that kind of issue?"
Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, former foreign adviser to a caretaker government, said he supports the notion of a commission to oversee structural issues of the foreign ministry. "But it also needs to see how the foreign policy can be better managed.
He said a very important element that needs to be discussed is the strategic relationship among the countries and the nuclear capabilities of many of the states who are at odds with one another.
"We know that Pakistan and India have at least 125-134 pieces of nuclear warheads in their command," he said. He said South Asia should have some kind of a mechanism comprised of countries which are peaceful and don't have those capabilities so that so that they have a say in those issues.
Former ambassador Tariq Karim said, "Relationships have to be based on mutual trust and accommodation of each other's interests…. One side will not hand it to the other on the silver platter... and I think that is where we have failed in the immediate past.
He said an internal consensus is needed on foreign policy and, without it, India will play with different sides while "we will not get anywhere".
Tariq added, "The sooner we stabilise, the better it will be for us to be able to engage with India...."
Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center in Washington, DC; former ambassador Munshi Faiz Ahmad; and Dr Marufa Akhter, professor at Independent University, Bangladesh, also spoke at the event.
The Daily Star Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam delivered the welcome address, while Ramisa Rob, editor of the newspaper's Geopolitical Insights, moderated the discussion.
Source:thedailystar.net
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/dhaka-must-focus-people-centric-foreign-ties-3812566
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‘No decision yet on us joining political party’
Jan 31, 2025
Information Adviser Nahid Islam said yesterday that there has been no decision about student representatives resigning from the interim government to join a political party.
"No such decision [to resign] has been made yet. If and when it happens, we will announce it ourselves. If we decide to join a political party or quit the government, we will announce it officially."
Nahid, also the posts and telecommunications adviser, made the remarks while speaking to journalists at the ministry.
"No such decision has been made from my end or Asif's [Asif Mahmud ShojibBhuiyan] end. We're carrying out our roles within the government."
A Bangla daily newspaper reported yesterday that advisers Nahid Islam and Asif Mahmud were set to resign from the cabinet and join a political party likely to be floated by the July uprising leaders in February.
Asked about the report, Nahid said, "I have seen the report. The newspaper did not clarify its source. They should have been more responsible in their reporting.
"I had previously mentioned that we will not join any political party while still being part of the interim government."
Asked whether the Awami League would be banned, Nahid said the government has yet to reach a decision.
"Since the judicial process is ongoing, we want to see how far the legal proceedings go and what the court rules."
He further said the matter needs to be discussed with political parties, as it is both a legal and a political decision.
"Personally, and from the perspective of student leaders, we believe that after what the Awami League has done over the past 15 years, including the massacre in July, they should no longer be allowed to do politics under the name and banner of Awami League," said Nahid.
He, however, said they do not want to begin a cycle of political vengeance.
"We want justice, and reconciliation as well," said Nahid.
Source:thedailystar.net
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/politics/news/no-decision-yet-us-joining-political-party-3812411
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Arab World
How AI-programmed robotic pets could transform therapy and mental health support
WAAD HUSSAIN
January 30, 2025
RIYADH: Pet ownership has long been associated with positive mental well-being, from the company and affection animals provide their owners to the health and social benefits offered by regular walks and interactions.
Domesticated animals like cats and dogs are routinely used to comfort people in distressing situations, including those being treated in hospital or suffering anxiety on commercial flights.
In fact, pet ownership and interactions with animals are regularly touted by doctors to help address a range of mental health issues and improve a patient’s social, emotional, or cognitive function.
A 2024 review in the Journal of Medical Internet Research highlighted animal-assisted therapy’s measurable impact on reducing stress and promoting good mental health across diverse demographics and settings.
However, for those who suffer from allergies or who for whatever reason are unable to keep a pet at home, this may not be an option.
Now, thanks to new advances in robotics and artificial intelligence, a synthetic form of animal-assisted therapy has emerged with the potential to transform the healthcare landscape.
“The future of using pet-like AI-driven robots for therapy has great potential,” ImedGallouzi, chair of the Center of Excellence for Smart Health at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, told Arab News.
“For individuals dealing with mental health issues, AI therapy pets could provide privacy, immediate reactions to crises, and even companionship to alleviate loneliness.”
AI therapy pets could also be integrated with other smart health solutions. “These devices could link with wearable technology and remote monitoring tools to offer personalized treatment plans,” said Gallouzi.
For example, an AI pet could sync with a wearable device to monitor a patient’s heart rate and alert healthcare providers to any irregularities.
Such AI advancements in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of mental health conditions have come at a critical time.
The World Health Organization recently warned that mental health disorders are a major contributor to the global disease burden, with depression being the leading cause of disability worldwide.
Mental health issues among young people are a growing concern in Saudi Arabia. A 2023 study based on the Saudi National Mental Health Survey revealed that at least 40.1 percent of young Saudis had experienced a mental health condition at some point in their life.
Despite the prevalence of these issues, the study, published in the Scientific Reports journal, found that just 14.47 percent of young people with mental health issues had received treatment for their condition.
The Kingdom has sought to prioritize the well-being of its citizens as part of the Vision 2030 reform agenda. In 2022, it allocated 4 percent of its healthcare budget to mental health issues — far above the global average.
But for AI-programmed robotic pets to catch on as an effective therapy tool, Noor Al-Faraj, a data AI and automation expert at IBM, says the technology must exhibit sufficient emotional intelligence and offer the right response.
“For these pets to really work, they need to understand human emotions on a deeper level,” Al-Faraj told Arab News.
“Imagine an AI pet that notices your heart rate increasing and reacts with a calming purring sound or a soft nudge. It’s about combining emotional intelligence with physical presence to feel real.”
Despite their potential, the adoption of AI therapy pets faces significant challenges, particularly in the Middle East.
One of the main hurdles is cultural perceptions. Indeed, the very concept of pet ownership — particularly of dogs — differs significantly in Arab cultures compared to Western norms.
“In our Arab culture, imagining that pets — let alone robotic pets — could contribute to health is a relatively new idea,” said Gallouzi.
Another challenge to the adoption of AI pet therapy is technical infrastructure, as their effectiveness will likely depend on a reliable cloud-driven system or one that requires advanced internet connectivity.
Cost and accessibility also pose significant barriers. The technology would likely be prohibitively expensive for the average user. Indeed, research published in Emerging Technologies Quarterly in 2021 highlighted the high cost of advanced AI solutions in emerging markets.
Data privacy is also a critical issue, as AI therapy pets require the collection of sensitive personal information to function effectively.
Al-Faraj says strict privacy measures are needed to ensure public trust, as concerns over data protection could hinder the technology’s uptake.
Similarly, ethical concerns surrounding AI therapy pets require attention. “If someone starts relying on an AI pet too much, it could make them pull away from real relationships, which would defeat the purpose of emotional support,” said Al-Faraj.
Given these drawbacks, it seems unlikely these AI companions will replace human therapists altogether — at least not any time soon. But mental health practitioners would be wise to keep up with developments.
“AI will never replace doctors, but professionals who don’t understand AI might find themselves out of work in the future,” said Gallouzi.
Creating a market for AI therapy pets in Saudi Arabia will require significant investments in education and infrastructure.
“We need to train professionals in AI and smart health technologies to prepare the next generation of experts,” Gallouzi added.
Although impressed by these developments, Al-Faraj is not yet convinced that real animals can be substituted by AI therapy pets, no matter their sophistication.
She said: “They’re unpredictable, warm, and have this way of connecting with us that feels almost magical.”
Source:arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2588469/saudi-arabia
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Boomerang competition held after findings suggest Arabian invention
HEBSHI ALSHAMMARI
January 30, 2025
RIYADH: An international boomerang tournament is being held in Hail in commemoration of a recent discovery of evidence showing that the hunting implement may have been invented in Arabia.
“The Prince Abdulaziz bin Saad International Boomerang Tournament” begun on Thursday and brings together competitors from the US, Europe and Brazil, as well as Saudi Arabia’s Boomerang Club.
Saudi researcher Mishari Al-Nashmi recently published findings of rock engravings in the mountains of Al-Masma, Joba and Arnan, depicting hunting scenes from the Neolithic era using curved tools resembling the Australian boomerang.
In collaboration with Professor Qusay Al-Turkiye, a Saudi archaeologist based in Australia, it was confirmed that these engravings date them as older than the Australian boomerang models, which were previously believed to be the original source.
Al-Nashmi said: “Together with Professor Qusay Al-Turkiye, we successfully gathered comprehensive insights into the Australian boomerang.
“Our extensive research led to a groundbreaking discovery: This tool was not exclusive to Australia, but was, in fact, known in the Hail region for millennia.
“The rock engravings, which depict various forms of the boomerang, serve as undeniable evidence that the inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula possessed knowledge of this tool long ago.”
“The repeated discovery of boomerang models in various regions such as Europe, Australia and Saudi Arabia indicates that this tool was used for multiple purposes in ancient cultures.
“It is clear that the diverse uses of the boomerang required the development of different shapes, designs and sizes, suited to specific purposes such as hunting, games, music and digging,” Al-Nashmi said.
Al-Nashmi, who also vice president of the Boomerang Club in Hail, added: “It is also likely that these designs did not transfer between different peoples but were locally crafted within each region, maintaining similar goals.”
“We are confident that this discovery underscores the profound depth of civilization and the storied history of the Hail region,” Al-Nashmi said.
Professor Al-Turkiye added: “The rock engravings portray skilled hunters wearing masks shaped like birds or ibexes, using hunting tools that flew with remarkable precision to capture deer, birds, and even wild cattle.
“These details underscore that the Arabian boomerang was not just a hunting instrument, but a significant component of a highly developed culture.”
The tool is globally known as the “boomerang,” a term derived from the Dharuk language of one of the Australian indigenous tribes, the Turuwal people.
However, Saudi researchers revealed that its linguistic roots trace back to the Akkadian word “taqntu/taqttu,” meaning to kill or hunt, which appears in cuneiform inscriptions dating to the fourth millennium BCE.
The Arabic name “Al-Arjoon” refers to the tool’s curved shape, reminiscent of the frond of a palm tree, giving it a local identity that has redefined its global recognition.
The event unfolds over four days under the patronage of the governor of Hail, Prince Abdulaziz bin Saad, and includes tests of accuracy, distance and technique.
Athletes challenge one another to throw the boomerang in a way that ensures it returns with a precise curve, drawing inspiration from the techniques of ancient hunters.
The championship also coincides with a rock art exhibition at Rata, one of the archaeological sites in the Hail region, featuring rare specimens of a range of ancient boomerangs.
In his speech at the opening ceremony, Prince Abdulaziz bin Saad said that the event was “a tribute to a profound human legacy.”
“Hail once again confirms its status as the cradle of civilizations, demonstrating its ability to revive its heritage in a manner that resonates globally.”
The prince embraced the idea of turning the discovery into a living heritage, establishing the Hail Boomerang Club, led by Nasser Al-Shammari, who designed a boomerang specifically for the championship.
In collaboration with the International Federation of Boomerang Associations, the event was co-organized by world champion Logan Broadbent from the US and Roger Perry, president of the Boomerang Association of Australia.
Perry said: “The world will discover that this sport is not just a game, but a story of humanity using nature to craft its tools, and Hail has written a new chapter in this story.”
Source:arabnews.com
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Saudi Museums Commission launches transformational agenda
SULAFA ALKHUNAIZI
January 30, 2025
RIYADH: The first “Open Talk” of the year saw the Saudi Museums Commission launch its agenda for transforming the Kingdom’s museums sector.
The virtual event, held via Webex, also highlighted the commission’s roles, responsibilities, achievements and future prospects.
Mona Khazindar, adviser to Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture, underlined the commission’s pivotal role in documenting and preserving the nation’s cultural heritage for future generations, and its commitment to creating impactful museum experiences that educate and inspire.
Khazindar also emphasized the commission's dedication to supporting local artists and placing Saudi art on the global stage.
The talk was facilitated by Jana Jabbour, communication and media director at the Museums Commission, and included key presentations detailing the organization’s strategic initiatives.
Ibrahim Al-Sanousi, general manager of the Museums and Cultural Assets Development Department, unveiled the roadmap for museum development, featuring five operational museums and 19 currently under construction across the Kingdom.
Khaled Baassiri, general manager of the Partnerships and Business Development Department, presented innovative strategies for public-private and nonprofit partnerships to enhance visitor experiences and foster sustainable growth within the sector.
PerihanKutbi, manager of the Licensing Department, clarified the procedures and requirements for licensing private museums, paving the way for increased private sector engagement in the cultural landscape.
Taghreed Al-Saraj, director of the Education and Talent Development Department, highlighted comprehensive education and talent development programs, ensuring the future of the museum sector was secured by skilled and enthusiastic professionals.
Established in 2020 and operating under the Ministry of Culture, the Museum Commission aims to cultivate a vibrant and evolving cultural landscape.
Source:arabnews.com
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Artificial intelligence is redefining human relationship to work, says Takamol CEO
HEBSHI ALSHAMMARI
January 30, 2025
RIYADH: Technology has fundamentally redefined the relationship between humans and work over the past two decades, presenting both immense opportunities and unprecedented challenges, Ahmad Al-Yamani, CEO of Takamol, told Arab News.
Al-Yamani said: “Technology should complement our intelligence, not replace it,” emphasizing the urgency of preparing the workforce for this transformation.
He cited research from the Global Labor Market Conference, which found that employees worried that technological advances were disrupting the job market: “More than 50 percent of workers surveyed across 14 countries fear their skills could become partially or fully obsolete within the next five years.”
For Saudi workers, 23 percent expressed concerns that computers and robots might replace their jobs. However, Al-Yamani claimed that this evolution provided a pivotal opportunity to adapt and innovate alongside advanced technologies.
He spoke about how the use of technology was spreading and “taking over various aspects of our lives.”
Al-Yamani called for a comprehensive overhaul of skills and education systems, warning that the current workforce was ill-prepared for the pace of technological change.
“We must reprioritize education to prepare for an economy that will eventually no longer exist,” he said, advocating for proactive policies to prevent economic instability and ensure inclusivity.
The CEO highlighted the pressing need to embrace the discomfort of change brought about by rapid technological advancement, while posing a critical question: “Are we going to allow AI to amplify inequality, or will we utilize it to level the playing field?”
Al-Yamani said that the answer depended on the boldness of actions taken today: “Those who adapt will ultimately thrive.”
On the rise of generative AI, he said that this technology had shifted from being a supportive tool to becoming a creator. “With generative AI, machines are producing works such as movies, books and paintings that feel almost human.”
Despite AI’s capabilities, Al-Yamani stressed the irreplaceable value of genuine human connection.
“We need to invest in relationships and a healthier, more interactive society,” he said, suggesting initiatives such as reducing the work week to four days to strengthen social bonds.
He warned: “Without strong social connections, we risk isolation, subordination to machines and losing what truly makes life meaningful.”
Al-Yamani addressed the uncertainty surrounding the pace of AI’s transformation: “AI might reshape everything in five years, or several decades, we aren’t exactly sure.” Despite this unpredictability, he emphasized a clear path forward; investing in humanity.
Looking ahead, Al-Yamani emphasized the importance of collaboration among global labor stakeholders to address these challenges. Platforms such as the GLMC provided critical spaces where governments, employers and workers could align their priorities.
“Workers want fair opportunities and security, governments seek stability, and businesses strive for innovation and growth. These priorities are interconnected,” he said, calling for unified efforts to craft meaningful solutions.
Al-Yamani said that in a time of rapid technological change, “collaboration remains our most powerful tool to secure a better, more equitable future.”
Source:arabnews.com
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Muslim World League chief in talks with Italian leader
January 30, 2025
RIYADH: Secretary-General of the Muslim World League Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa met with Italian President Sergio Mattarella at the Presidential Palace in Rome.
During the meeting, the contributions of religion to global peace efforts and enhancing friendship between people were discussed.
Al-Issa said that Islam called for mutual understanding between nations and people, respect for human dignity, and peaceful coexistence, according to a statement.
He thanked the president for his position on Palestinian rights, especially his support for the two-state solution.
The Italian leader voiced his appreciation for the MWL’s efforts to promote religious and cultural peace, praising the values of Islam in this regard.
Mattarella said that extremism, whatever its source, represents only itself, and does not represent the cultural values called for by religions.
Source:arabnews.com
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Saudi FM receives phone call from Russian counterpart
January 30, 2025
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received a phone call from his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on Thursday, Saudi Press Agency reported.
During the call, the two officials reviewed relations between their countries. They also discussed regional developments and exchanged views on them.
Source:arabnews.com
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Africa
Kebbigovt awards contract for renovation of 97 mosques
ByNews Desk
January 30, 2025
The Kebbi Government on Thursday says it has awarded contract for the repairs and renovation of 97 mosques across the 21 Local Government Areas of the state.
The State Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Dr Sani Aliyu, made this known while hosting leaders of Islamic groups in BirninKebbi on Thursday.
“The contract has specifications for execution of the repairs and renovations, and each local government is expected to repair and renovate at least three mosques.
“Additionally, one mosque will be allocated to each Islamic group for renovation, aside from the three Jumu’ah mosques,” he said.
Mr Aliyu cautioned the leaders to be honest and transparent in executing the contract, saying it was a test of their integrity.
“The sum of each contract varies based on the bill of quantity, and you should be wary of going contrary to the contractual specifications.
“The contract must adhere to due process guidelines, and each mosque selected has been inspected by the due process office,” the commissioner said.
On his part, the Special Adviser to Governor Nasir Idris on Religious Affairs, Imran Bin-Usman, said that all benefiting mosques must install solar lights with three panels of 100w each among other specification.
Mr Bin-Usman noted that the contract was the first phase, adding that a second phase would follow upon successful completion of the first phase.
He expressed the governor’s confidence in the leaders and urged them to ensure quality and standard repairs and renovation.
“A team of consultants, engineers, and media personnel will inspect the projects to ensure compliance.
“The contract has a two-week execution period, and leaders are expected to study the contractual agreement form before signing.
“The agreement form considers two key issues: the contract amount and the items to be purchased and renovation specifications,” the aide said.
Source:dailynigerian.com
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Otti inaugurates Christian, Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards
By Favour Lashem -
January 30, 2025
Alex Otti of Abia on Thursday inaugurated the members of Abia State Christian and Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards, charging them to live up to expectations.
Gov. Alex Otti of Abia on Thursday inaugurated the members of Abia State Christian and Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards, charging them to live up to expectations.
Speaking during the ceremony in Umuahia, Otti said that the members of the board were appointed strictly by merit.
He said that his administration upheld the principle of diligence and commitment to duty.
The governor urged the members of the boards to deploy their wealth of experience in delivering the objectives for setting up the boards.
“Anyone on the board is deserving of the appointment and all of you have distinguished yourselves in the service of God and humanity.
”In the new Abia, when you get an appointment, it is all about work and performance. We have no doubt that you will not disappoint us,” he said.
Responding, the Chairman, Abia State Christian Pilgrims Welfare, Dr Emmanuel Agomuo, thanked the government for the opportunity to serve the people of Abia.
“I thank the government for finding us fit to serve and I want to promise you that we will not disappoint you,” Agomuo said.
Also, the Chairman of Abia State Muslim Pilgrims Board, Sheik Ali Ukiwo, thanked the government and prayed Allah to grant the governor good health and prosperity.
The members of the State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board included Dr ChimezieElekwa, Prof. MosyMadugba; Mr OjoUduma; Mr ManassesOkere; Dr Udo Nmeregini and Dr Uma Onwunta.
Others are Mr UcheNwokeohuru, Mr Gabriel Kalu, Mr UgochukwuChimereze and Dr ChiomaIbezim.
The members of the State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board are Mr Musa Iro, Mr Yusuf Ukaegbu; Mr NwakanmaIgwe; Mr Bashir Idris; Mr UsmarTukur and Mr Adamu Audi.
Others are Mr Okikiade Yusuf, Mr Said Umar, Mrs AzeezatJimoh and Mrs Hadiza Pepe. (NAN)
Source:newsdiaryonline.com
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‘With The Current Pace Of Arrest, Tinubu May Incarcerate Every One Of Us’ - Atiku
30 January 2025
By Rachel OkporuFadoju
Former Vice President, AtikuAbubakar, has lashed out at President Bola Tinubu’s administration over the prosecution of former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore and the arrest of a former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Usman Yusuf.
Naija News reports that Atiku, in a post via his X handle on Thursday, asserted that Sowore’s prosecution and detention of Yusuf amount to systematic harassment and intimidation aimed at dismantling the opposition parties to establish a one-party system.
Describing Sowore’s prosecution as baseless, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general election said Tinubu’s government may soon imprison everyone criticising his administration.
He wrote, “When I made the clarion call that Tinubu and the APC were devoting their energies to the systematic harassment, intimidation, and dismantling of the opposition, all in service of their grand design for a one-party autocracy, I became the target of vicious attacks.
“The arrest and baseless prosecution of @YeleSowore is the latest chapter in this unrelenting campaign. Now, they have seen fit to add Professor Usman Yusuf — an outspoken critic of this administration — into their grim roster. At the pace they are going, it seems they may soon find themselves contending with the incarceration of every one of us.”
Source:naijanews.com
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I Am Happy That My Govt Ushered In This Era Of Democracy – AbdulsalamiAbubakar
30 January 2025
By Justina Otio
Former Head of State, Gen. Abdul Salami Abubakar, has urged Nigerians to keep nurturing democracy, adding that there is no alternative to civil rule.
He noted that the fact that democracy has survived in Nigeria for the past 26 years is a testament to citizen’s belief and resilience in representative governance.
Abubakar, said this on Thursday at a book launch on 100 years kg political party evolution in Nigeria.
The former Head of State, who was represented by Gen. AbdulrasheedAliyu said the current democratic rule in the country has been tested and shaken by reactionary forces and survived.
The former Head of State, who handed over power to a democratically elected government in May 1999, said he was very proud of being the one who handed over power, saying, “I laid a solid foundation for democracy.”
He said: “Despite military interventions, democracy has come to stay in Nigeria. There is no substitute for the government of the people, by the people, and for the people, which democracy represents as sovereignty resides with the people.
“This year will also make it 26 years of unbroken democracy in Nigeria, the longest period of constitutional governance since 1st October 1960, when the country got Independence from the British colonial masters.
“I am happy that my government, as the then military Head of State ushered in this era of democracy when I handed over power to the elected President on 29th May 1999. My government laid this solid foundation for democratic governance.
“It also shows that when leaders are patriotic, passionate, resolute, and unwavering in building strong democratic structures and institutions, democracy could flourish and yield its dividends to citizens.
“We should therefore keep watering and nurturing the tree of democracy as there is no alternative to civil rule. Our democracy has been tested and shaken by reactionary forces and survived. It is a testament to citizen’s belief and resilience in representative governance.
“It has become expedient to explore political parties’ development priorities to consolidate the nation’s democracy and ensure an environment conducive to successful elections and political stability which is in tandem with the IPAC mandate.
“We have all learned a lot in this longest period of democracy in Nigeria, as we continue the ongoing Constitution and Electoral Act Amendments to correct obvious flaws in the electoral process and imbibe democratic ideals, ethics, and values, the nation will yet again witness sustainable democracy and development.
“Since knowledge is power, I have no doubt that we will all be enriched with this book and deliberations on it and chart the way forward in our political process”.
He called for the reconsideration of past practices in party democracy, which are currently being downplayed by political players, including the supremacy of the party leadership, adherence to party manifestoes, and formation of party and membership based on ideology.
Source:naijanews.com
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Uganda records first Ebola death since 2023 outbreak ended
30 January 2025
A nurse in Uganda has died of Ebola, a health official said Thursday, in the first recorded fatality since the last outbreak ended in 2023.
The 32-year-old male nurse was an employee of Mulago Hospital, the main referral facility in the capital, Kampala, Diana Atwine, permanent secretary of the health ministry, told reporters Thursday.
After developing a fever, he was treated at several locations in Uganda before multiple lab tests confirmed he had been suffering from Ebola. The man died on Wednesday and the Sudan strain of Ebola was confirmed following postmortem tests, Atwine said.
At least 44 contacts of the victim have been identified, including 30 health workers and patients at Mulago Hospital, according to Uganda’s Ministry of Health.
The health authorities are “in full control of the situation,” Atwine said, urging Ugandans to report suspected cases.
Tracing contacts is key to stemming the spread of Ebola, and there are no approved vaccines for the Sudan strain of Ebola.
Uganda's last outbreak, discovered in September 2022, killed at least 55 people before it was declared over in January 2023.
Confirmation of Ebola in Uganda is the latest in a trend of outbreaks of viral hemorrhagic fevers in the East African region. Tanzania declared an outbreak of the Ebola-like Marburg disease earlier this month, and in December Rwanda announced that its own outbreak of Marburg was over. The ongoing Marburg outbreak in northern Tanzania's Kagera region has killed at least two people, according to local health authorities.
Ebola, which is spread by contact with bodily fluids of an infected person or contaminated materials, manifests as a deadly hemorrhagic fever. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle pain and at times internal and external bleeding.
Scientists don’t know the natural reservoir of Ebola, but they suspect the first person infected in an outbreak acquired the virus through contact with an infected animal or eating its raw meat. Ugandan officials are still investigating the source of the current outbreak.
Uganda has had multiple Ebola outbreaks, including one in 2000 that killed hundreds. The 2014-16 Ebola outbreak in West Africa killed more than 11,000 people, the disease’s largest death toll.
Ebola was discovered in 1976 in two simultaneous outbreaks in South Sudan and Congo, where it occurred in a village near the Ebola River, after which the disease is named.
Source:africanews.com
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