Two More, Ashok Kumar And Vikas Kumar Convicted In Pakistan-Linked Navy Espionage Case As NIA Secures Progress
New Age Islam News Bureau
26 November 2025
Representational picture
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· 17 Years After 26/11, Maharashtra Plans Drone Policy To Counter New-Age Terror Threats
· Two More, Ashok Kumar And Vikas Kumar Convicted In Pakistan-Linked Navy Espionage Case As NIA Secures Progress
· Same-Sex Marriage Must Be Respected Throughout EU, Top Court Tells Poland
· How My People Killed 46 Christians In Plateau Community – Fulani Elder Narrates
· Pope Francis’ Popemobile Transformed Into Mobile Clinic For Gaza Children
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India
· Muslim Community Of Ayodhya Hail Ram Temple Completion
· Advocates, Civil Society Slam Alleged Intimidation And Humiliation Of Muslim Students At Kalyan College For Offering A Brief Namaz
· Row Over Muslim Students At Vaishno Devi Medical College Intensifies As Sangarsh Samiti Threatens Protests
· NIA Detains Faridabad Resident For Allegedly Sheltering Delhi Blast Bomber Umar Un Nabi
· Army officer sacked for refusing to attend Sarva Dharma Sthal upheld by Supreme Court
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Europe
· British Muslim Trust Launches Helpline Service
· CPS Appeals ‘Not Guilty’ Verdict Of Man, Hamit Coskun, Who Burned Quran Outside The Turkish Embassy
· Trump's envoy to have Ukraine peace plan talks at Kremlin next week
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Africa
· Terrorism Trial: Mamu Drags AGF To Court Over ‘Unlawful’ Label
· Amnesty: RSF Committed War Crimes In Sudan’s Darfur
· Come Out And Confess You Are Enabling Insecurity – Adebayo Blasts Tinubu’s Govt
· PDP Names Three Judges That Should Be Barred From Party Cases
· Police Implement Tinubu’s Directive To Withdraw Officers From VIPs
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Mideast
· Pope Leo XIV Visits Turkiye And Lebanon On First Foreign Trip
· Israeli army announces new operation in northern West Bank
· Why Syria’s uncertain new dawn is straining the hopes of those returning home
· ‘Everything is soaked’: Winter rains in Gaza bring new misery for Palestinians
· Jordanian forces evacuate sick kids from Gaza for medical treatment
· Palestinian killed by Israeli forces near Jenin
· UN seeks ‘impartial’ probe into Israeli strikes in Lebanon
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North America
· Muscatine County Settles With Jailer Who Made Anti-Gay, Muslim Posts
· ‘I Had No Idea’: Zohran Mamdani Recalls ‘Weirdest’ Moment At White House
· Muslim Groups, Other Leaders Demand Abbott Rescind CAIR's ‘Terrorist’ Designation: 'Defamatory'
· Democrats who told troops to disobey illegal orders push back on alleged FBI probe
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Arab World
· AlUla Festival Showcases 7,000 Years Of Heritage
· Islamic Coalition Organizes Media Training In Niger
· Saudi ambassador to India presents credentials to Indian president
· Delegation of Danish MPs visits Arab News headquarters
· Saudi FM receives Bahraini, Italian counterparts in Riyadh
· Yemeni residents in Riyadh praise efforts in promoting cultural ties
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South Asia
· Dr. Abdullah Condemns Pakistan’s Airstrikes on Eastern Afghanistan
· The Necessity of Media Literacy in an Al-Driven Era
· Nabil Says Possible Reopening of India’s Kandahar Consulate Could Be Major Shift in South Afghanistan
· Afghan Delegation Attends Dubai Forum 2025
· Afghanistan to Reactivate Joint Economic Commissions With Saudi Arabia, China
· New Qatari Ambassador Presents Credentials to IEA’s Foreign Minister
· IEA Denounces Pakistani Airstrikes as Violation of Airspace and International Norms
· BNP urges EC to extend registration deadline for overseas Bangladeshis
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Southeast Asia
· Anwar accepts Shamsul Iskandar’s resignation, says MACC free to probe hospital letter row ‘without external interference’
· MACC launches STRIKE programme to improve staff health and fitness
· Malaysia reviews Islamic Family Law Bill, considers parent maintenance rules
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/convicted-pakistan-linked-navy-nia-secures/d/137785
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Two More, Ashok Kumar And Vikas Kumar Convicted In Pakistan-Linked Navy Espionage Case As NIA Secures Progress
Imran Ahmed Siddiqui
26.11.25
Representational picture
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A special NIA court on Tuesday sentenced two more accused in the Pakistan-linked navy espionage case in Visakhapatnam to simple imprisonment along with a fine.
Ashok Kumar of Jhunjhunu and Vikas Kumar of Alwar in Rajasthan were sentenced to 5 years and 11 months under Section 18 of UAPA and Section 3 of the Official Secrets Act. The court also imposed a fine of ₹5,000 each.
With this, the NIA has secured the conviction of eight of the 15 accused arrested in the case to date. Ashok and Vikas were arrested in December 2019 in Mumbai and Karwar in Karnataka, respectively. The NIA had in June 2020 chargesheeted 14 accused persons and subsequently filed a supplementary chargesheet against one more accused in March 2021.
The case relates to espionage at vital installations and navy establishments by foreign spies and agents on orders from Pakistan intelligence agents with the intent to threaten India’s unity, integrity, security and sovereignty.
Sources said Ashok and Vikas had come in contact with the operatives through Facebook and received money for information.
The transactions were allegedly routed through intermediaries who were convicted earlier this year. They had allegedly received monetary benefits in lieu of classified information from Pakistani agents through accused Abdul Rehman, Haroon Lakdawala, Shaista Qaiser and Imran Giteli, all convicted earlier
Source: telegraphindia.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/nia-court-convicts-two-more-in-pakistan-linked-navy-espionage-case-in-visakhapatnam-prnt/cid/2134773
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17 years after 26/11, Maharashtra plans drone policy to counter new-age terror threats
26.11.25
A police constable walks past a mural depicting Nariman House, one of the sites of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, on the eve of the anniversary of the gruesome incident, in Mumbai, Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2024.
PTI
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The Maharashtra Police are preparing a comprehensive drone-use policy to bolster security and surveillance in major cities, including Mumbai, as part of efforts to counter emerging and unconventional terror threats, a senior official said on Wednesday.
As Mumbai observes the 17th anniversary of the 26/11 terror attacks, in which 10 Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists from Pakistan unleashed violence across the city, the police force has significantly upgraded its arsenal with modern technology and advanced equipment to tackle future challenges, the official told PTI.
He noted that earlier assessments had warned of potential attacks using unconventional tactics. In response, both city and state police have invested in enhanced training, improved capabilities, and modern weaponry to neutralise any such threats.
Alongside these technology upgrades, state police—working in coordination with central agencies—are finalising a drone-use policy specifically designed for security and surveillance in critical urban centres, including Mumbai, he added.
On 26 November, 2008, 10 Pakistani terrorists executed coordinated strikes at key locations such as the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and the Taj and Oberoi hotels in south Mumbai. The attacks, which lasted nearly 60 hours, claimed 166 lives and left many more injured.
"The Maharashtra government is working on a drone-use policy and its blueprint has been prepared by the state police's elite commando unit Force One with the help of the central agencies," the official said.
Once the force has fully developed its drone-handling capabilities, a dedicated drone unit will be established within the police, including in Mumbai, he said.
According to the official, deployment timings and locations under the new policy will be determined based on situational requirements. Drones are expected to strengthen surveillance not only in major metropolitan areas but also in Naxal-hit regions.
He said the government is simultaneously boosting coastal security. Existing patrol vessels and interceptor boats are being complemented by an additional order of 20 more interceptor boats for the state police.
Coordination among coastal security stakeholders—including the police, Coast Guard and Navy—remains strong, with regular meetings held to prevent incidents in the Arabian Sea, the official said.
He recalled that terrorists had entered Mumbai via the sea during the 2008 attacks, while explosives used in the 1993 serial blasts had also been smuggled in through the coastline. In response, all landing points in Mumbai and other coastal districts have now been secured by police.
"Our security agencies have modernised the radar system. We are also using drones for aerial surveillance," he said, adding that the government is meeting the requirements of the coastal police.
Mumbai’s extensive CCTV network now allows police to react quickly and prevent potential threats, he stated.
The government has approved the third phase of the city’s CCTV project, allocating ₹2,140 crore for its rollout. Under the initiative launched after the 2008 attacks, 5,442 cameras were installed in the first phase and 5,069 in the second. The third phase will add 866 more CCTVs, the official said.
In addition to expanding coverage, the surveillance capacity of existing cameras is being enhanced through the integration of facial recognition and AI-driven video analytics, he added.
"Mumbai will be one of the safest cities in the world in the next couple of years," the official assured.
Source: telegraphindia.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/17-years-after-26-11-maharashtra-plans-drone-policy-to-counter-new-age-terror-threats/cid/2134841
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Same-Sex Marriage Must Be Respected Throughout EU, Top Court Tells Poland
26 Nov, 2025
Paul Kirby
Poland is one of a number of EU countries that do not recognise same-sex unions
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Poland has been told to recognise same-sex marriages registered elsewhere in the European Union, in a ruling by the EU's top court.
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) said that EU member states were obliged to recognise a same-sex marriage between two EU citizens that had been "lawfully concluded in another member state".
The ruling covers the case of a Polish couple who married in Berlin in 2018. When they decided to move to Poland, authorities refused to accept their marriage certificate as Polish law does not recognise same-sex marriage.
The ECJ made clear that Polish domestic law would not have to be changed to recognise marriages between people of the same sex.
Since the Netherlands recognised same-sex unions in 2001, a number of other EU countries have followed suit, but others, such as Poland, Hungary and Slovakia, have not.
In September, Slovakia's populist-nationalist government changed its constitution to allow only heterosexual couples to adopt children.
In its ruling on Tuesday, the ECJ said that while marriage rules fell within each member state's competence, "countries were required to comply with EU law in exercising that competence".
As EU citizens, the Polish couple who married in Germany had the right to freedom of movement and the right to lead a family life, the court explained.
"In particular by virtue of marriage, they must have the certainty to be able to pursue that family life upon returning to their member state of origin," it added, so forcing them to live as an unmarried couple in Poland was contrary to EU law and infringed their rights.
Poland's pro-European coalition government has tried to advance the rights of same-sex couples, but its move could be vetoed by conservative President Karol Nawrocki.
The ECJ's ruling was welcomed by Katarzyna Kotula, a secretary of state and coalition ally of Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who said it was an important step on the path to marriage equality.
Meanwhile, centre-left member of the European Parliament Krzysztof Smiszek wrote on social media that "history is happening".
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckg979r7ny3o
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How My People Killed 46 Christians In Plateau Community – Fulani Elder Narrates
November 26, 2025
By George Oshogwe
A Fulani elder who has lived in Hurti community, Manguna District of Bokkos Local Government Area, Plateau State, for over three decades, has confirmed that the armed men who invaded the village and killed 46 people were members of his own tribe.
Daily Post reports that the revelation came through a video shared on Tuesday by journalist Masara Kim Usman, in which the respected community leader recounted how his pleas to stop the massacre were ignored by the attackers.
According to the elder, who is widely regarded as a peaceful figure in the community despite being Fulani and Muslim, the gunmen spoke the Fulani dialect fluently as they launched the attack on Christian residents.
He said he stepped forward to confront the invaders, speaking to them in their language and appealing for restraint.
The elder explained that terrified women and children ran to him for protection, hoping that his identity would persuade the attackers.
However, the gunmen allegedly rebuffed him. He recounted that they told him nothing would stop them from carrying out their mission.
He said the attackers forcefully shoved him aside before proceeding to unleash violence on the community, shooting indiscriminately and burning homes belonging to Christian residents.
The rampage, he said, left 46 people dead, with several houses razed.
The elder added that what pained him most was that the killers were his own tribesmen, refusing to heed his pleas to spare people he had lived with “as friends and family” for 32 years.
A notable detail from his account is that no Muslim or Fulani resident in Hurti was attacked during the invasion, a pattern that residents say reinforces the religious undertone of killings in parts of the Middle Belt.
This stands in contrast to the insurgency in the Northeast and banditry in the Northwest, which often target Muslims and non-Muslims alike.
Narrating further, the elder said: “Women were trooping to my place and begging me to rescue them. If I had the power to rescue them, I would have done so.
“I have been living with them for so many years and they have become my family. When they left, I went to the hills and watched the whole scenario.
“Then they regrouped and started shooting. There was shooting all over the town. We all hid in one room while the shooting continued for a long time, killing plenty of people.”
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/11/26/how-my-kinsmen-killed-46-christians-in-plateau-community-fulani-elder-narrates/
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Pope Francis’ popemobile transformed into mobile clinic for Gaza children
November 25, 2025
The Bishop of Stockholm blesses the “Vehicle of Hope,” the popemobile used by pope Francis during his 2014 visit to Bethlehem, in the city in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on November 25, 2025. (AFP)
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BETHLEHEM: A vehicle used by the late Pope Francis during a visit to Bethlehem more than a decade ago has been transformed into a mobile health clinic that Christian leaders hope will soon be used to provide care to Palestinian children in Gaza.
The initiative was blessed by Francis before he died in April and was entrusted to the Catholic organization Caritas, which oversaw the project to convert the vehicle unveiled on Tuesday.
“We’re pleased that we have here a serious contribution toward the health care of children in Gaza,” Caritas Secretary-General Alistair Dutton told a press conference in Bethlehem.
Francis had used the vehicle, a converted Mitsubishi pick-up that was donated by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, during his visit to Bethlehem in 2014.
Not clear when mobile clinic can enter Gaza
The open platform at the back of the vehicle, where the pope once stood as he traveled through Bethlehem, has now been enclosed and converted into the children’s treatment area.
“This vehicle stands as a testimony that the world has not forgotten the children of Gaza,” said Cardinal Anders Arborelius of Stockholm, who had approached Francis before his death about Caritas’ idea of converting the former popemobile into a mobile paediatric clinic.
Caritas Sweden Secretary-General Peter Brune said that the mobile clinic was capable of treating around 200 children a day.
But it was unclear when the vehicle would enter Gaza, where a ceasefire still formally holds despite frequent Israeli airstrikes on the territory battered by two years of war.
“As soon as we possibly can,” Dutton said, declining to comment further. COGAT, the Israeli government agency responsible for coordinating the entry of aid into the enclave, declined to comment when asked about the request.
Father Ibrahim Faltas said he hoped the vehicle would be moved to Gaza in the “near future,” telling Reuters the popemobile-turned-clinic was ready to help children in Gaza.
At least 67 children killed since ceasefire
The United Nations children’s agency UNICEF said on Friday that at least 67 children have been killed in what it called conflict-related incidents since the ceasefire went into effect.
The Israeli military has said that it was targeting militants who have posed a threat to its soldiers occupying half of Gaza.
Francis frequently spoke out about the war in Gaza and in January called the humanitarian situation there “shameful.” He also called for the release of the hostages taken captive by Palestinian militants, met their relatives and condemned the Hamas attack on Israel that ignited the war.
He was also known to speak by phone with Gaza’s small Christian community every evening during the war.
“We know how much Pope Francis loved the people of the Holy Land, the people of Bethlehem and especially the people of Gaza,” said Father Faltas, representative of the Franciscan Friars to the State of Palestine.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2623928/middle-east
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India
Muslim Community Of Ayodhya Hail Ram Temple Completion
Nov 26, 2025
Ayodhya: The Muslim community of Ayodhya hailed the completion of Ram temple after the final ceremony of flag hoisting was done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday.
Iqbal Ansari, the son of the first litigant in Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi title suit Hashim Ansari, said: Ayodhya is the city of religion. Gods and goddesses of all religions reside here. There are saints and sages in Ayodhya. The land of Ayodhya is considered pure. Now, the temple of Lord Ram has been built, and the flag hoisting has taken place at the hands of the Prime Minister. This is a good thing. People from all over the country and the world are coming here, and there is a wave of joy in Ayodhya."
"It was almost a 175 years old legal battle that ended with the Supreme Court's verdict, we were committed to obey the apex court decision," he added.
Liyaqat Ali Khan, a local cleric said , "We extend our congratulations to our Hindu brothers on the event. We hope harmony and peace will prevail and no dispute will be raised now that may disturb the communal harmony."
"We have been living in Ayodhya for ages and our bond with Hindu community is unbreakable, we are happy in their happiness and joy, we hail the King Ram of Ayodhya and give the believers of Ram our best wishes." said Kashif Kidwai, an advocate.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/muslims-hailram-temple-completion/articleshow/125573630.cms
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Advocates, Civil Society Slam Alleged Intimidation And Humiliation Of Muslim Students At Kalyan College For Offering A Brief Namaz
November 26, 2025
PURNIMA SAH
A group of practicing advocates, civil society organisations, and political representatives have condemned the November 21 incident at Ideal College of Arts, Science & Commerce and Pharmacy Department in Kalyan, where Muslim students were allegedly humiliated for offering a brief Namaz (prayer) inside a classroom.
The letter addressed to the principal of the college said that the videos circulating online show the students being compelled to hold their ears and apologise before a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
According to the legal notice issued on Tuesday (November 25, 2025), members of Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad unlawfully entered the campus and confronted the students, turning an internal matter into a public spectacle.
The notice, signed by advocate Faiyaz Alam Shaikh, a practicing advocate at the Bombay High Court, along with advocate Ateeque Ahmed Khan, General Secretary of AIMIM Maharashtra, and advocate Nafees Khan, called the incident “a direct violation of constitutional rights and an attack on religious freedom.”
Other signatories include Engineer Tanveer Usmani, Dr. Kashif, Ashna Shaikh (law student and teacher), and organisations such as Govandi New Sangam Welfare Society and Govandi Citizens Welfare Forum.
The demands include a full inquiry to identify all external persons, accountability for security lapses, and a written assurance that no student will be subjected to humiliation or forced religious gestures in the future. The legal notice also called for preventive measures such as stricter gate-entry protocols and preservation of CCTV footage.
Advocate Faiyaz Alam Shaikh said, “Compelling students to apologise publicly, hold their ears, or touch the feet of a religious or cultural statue against their free will violates their human dignity, emotional safety, freedom of conscience, and personal liberty.”
Advocate Ateeque Ahmed Khan added, “Turning an internal matter into a public religious issue creates fear, emotional distress, and potential communal tension, undermining the institution’s duty to provide a safe and discrimination-free environment.”
The legal notice further stated that any disciplinary action for internal rule violations can only be taken by authorised college authorities. “No private organisation or external group has any lawful authority to enter the premises or discipline students.”
It also warned of legal escalation, “If the above demands are not addressed within seven days, the undersigned will proceed to approach the Hon’ble Bombay High Court through a writ petition.”
The signatories have also indicated they will approach the Maharashtra State Minority Commission and the National Human Rights Commission if corrective action is not taken.
Civil society groups have urged students to uphold harmony and reject attempts to inject communal hatred into academic spaces.
Source: telegraphindia.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/advocates-civil-society-slam-alleged-intimidation-of-muslim-students-at-kalyan-college/article70323237.ece
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Row over Muslim students at Vaishno Devi medical college intensifies as Sangarsh Samiti threatens protests
Fayaz Wani
26 Nov 2025
SRINAGAR: The controversy over MBBS admissions at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district intensified on Wednesday, with the Vaishno Devi Sangarsh Samiti (VDSS) threatening large-scale protests if the newly released admission list is not withdrawn.
VDSS convenor Colonel (Retd) Sukhbir Singh Mankotia told TNIE that the group, which comprises around 60 organisations, is demanding immediate cancellation of the 2025–26 MBBS selection list. SMVDIME, located at Kakryal, was allotted 50 MBBS seats for the upcoming academic year, of which 42 have been secured by Muslim students, triggering protests from several right-wing Hindu groups and the BJP.
Mankotia alleged that the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board “did not follow due procedure” and claimed there was “some hanky-panky” as the admission process was “kept secret.” He argued that the institute was built using donations and offerings made by Hindu devotees and that the selection of Muslim candidates had “hurt sentiments of the community.”
Opposing the admission of Muslim students, he claimed: “Muslims don’t believe in idol worship and hence it would not be feasible for them to undergo education in an institute which has been set up by the money of idol worshippers.”
The VDSS plans to write to President Droupadi Murmu, J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and the Union Health Minister seeking immediate cancellation of the admission list. “If the list is not cancelled, then we will be compelled to take to the roads and stage forceful protests. The government should respect the sentiments of Hindus,” Mankotia warned.
Several right-wing groups, including the Bajrang Dal, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Yuva Rajput Sabha and Movement Kalki, have also opposed the admissions, arguing that institutions funded through shrine donations should prioritise Hindu students.
A BJP delegation led by Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma met Lt Governor Manoj Sinha seeking a review of the admission criteria, enhanced transparency, and consideration of devotees’ sentiments. “Only those who have faith in Vaishno Devi should get admission there,” Sharma said.
In sharp contrast, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah rejected the demand to cancel the admissions, asserting that the selected students had qualified through NEET and could not be denied seats on religious grounds. “Students were seeking medical education and had no objection to the institute's religious affiliation. Now you want to deny admission on the basis of religion,” he said, warning that excluding meritorious students could have wider social consequences.
Abdullah added that if the intention was to restrict admissions to a particular community, the college should have been granted minority status at the time of its establishment. “Don’t push Muslim students like this, then if something happens you blame the entire community, If you don’t want Muslim students to study in this college, then give it minority status and our children will go somewhere else. They will go to Turkey or Bangladesh” he said.
The VDSS has said it will escalate its agitation if the admission list is not cancelled, insisting that “the government should respect the sentiments of Hindus.”
Source: telegraphindia.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2025/Nov/26/row-over-muslim-students-at-vaishno-devi-medical-college-intensifies-as-sangarsh-samiti-threatens-protests
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NIA detains Faridabad resident for allegedly sheltering Delhi blast bomber Umar Un Nabi
26 Nov 2025
NEW DELHI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a Faridabad resident for harbouring Umar Un Nabi, the suicide bomber who carried out the Delhi car blast near the Red Fort.
The accused, Soyab, a resident of Dhauj in Faridabad, is the seventh person to be arrested in connection with the case. According to the NIA, he provided Umar with logistical support immediately before the November 10 suicide bombing, which killed several people and left many others injured.
The agency has so far arrested six other aides of the bomber during its probe into case RC-21/2025/NIA/DLI.
NIA teams are continuing searches across multiple states, in coordination with state police, to identify and track additional suspects linked to the attack. The agency said efforts to uncover the full conspiracy behind the blast are underway.
Source: telegraphindia.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2025/Nov/26/nia-detains-faridabad-resident-for-allegedly-sheltering-delhi-blast-bomber-umar-un-nabi
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Army officer sacked for refusing to attend Sarva Dharma Sthal upheld by Supreme Court
26.11.25
The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the sacking of an army officer, saying he is “misfit for the Indian Army”, after he refused to enter the army's all-faith place of worship along with his regimental colleagues by citing his belief in Christianity and monotheism.
“You are a complete misfit for the army. The army has a completely secular approach…. You have hurt the feelings of other soldiers,” a bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi told senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, who defended Samuel Kamlesan on the ground that there was no Sarva Dharma Sthal, according to the officer, where he was posted in Punjab as a lieutenant in Squadron B that mostly has Sikh personnel.
The court was dealing with an appeal filed by Kamlesan challenging a Delhi High Court judgment that had earlier upheld his termination from the army for gross insubordination vis-à-vis failure to attend regimental parades and enter the Sarva Dharma Sthal, a place of worship in the army for all religions
and faiths, with his regiment colleagues.
Sankaranarayanan submitted that the place had a gurdwara and a temple but no church, and Kamlesan refrained from entering the Sthal because of his religious beliefs, which he claimed were protected under Article 25 of the Constitution.
Kamlesan was sacked by the authorities following his repeated defiance of the commanding officers and other superiors to attend the regimental parades and also enter the Sthal.
CJI Kant pointed out that the officer was merely asked to be present at the Sarva Dharma Sthal in a spirit of fraternal bonhomie and there was no imposition of any rituals or ceremonies on him. “If somebody asks you to perform rituals then it is fine, we can understand, but you are aware that there are no rituals in the gurdwara,” the CJI said.
The bench noted that even after counselling from a local Christian pastor that entering the Sthal would not go against the tenets of Christianity, the officer chose
to defy the directives from his superiors.
“If this is the attitude of an army officer then what to say? If there is a Sarva Dharma Sthal, how does it violate his religious rights or beliefs?” the bench asked the senior counsel.
The senior counsel said Kamlesan cannot be forced to follow the rituals of other communities, prompting the bench to remind him that no rituals were performed.
“You refuse to go just because there is a temple and a gurdwara there. Does it not amount to hurting the feelings of your soldiers?” the bench asked.
Source: telegraphindia.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/supreme-court-upholds-sacking-of-army-officer-refusing-to-enter-all-faith-place-of-worship-prnt/cid/2134774
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Europe
British Muslim Trust launches helpline service
25 November 2025
The British Muslim Trust (BMT) has launched a new helpline service in the wake of increased anti-Muslim hate in the UK.
The British Muslim Trust provides confidential support and safe reporting for victims of anti-Muslim hate across the UK.
The helpline will be used to support victims to help them report their experiences in a safe environment and can be accessed via multiple channels:
Phone 0808 172 3524 - free of charge from any phone, operating between 10am and 3pm
Website form – designed with three steps and mostly non-required fields for easy completion
Email, SMS, WhatsApp and live chat (victims can use these services at any time, and a member of the team will provide follow-up on the following day)
All calls are handled by Muslim staff to ensure there is a cultural and religious understanding of the context of these incidents.
BMT has already started to support victims, ranging from women and girls being targeted, to attacks on mosques.
Source: elmbridge.gov.uk
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.elmbridge.gov.uk/news/2025/british-muslim-trust-launches-helpline-service
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CPS Appeals ‘Not Guilty’ Verdict Of Man, Hamit Coskun, Who Burned Quran Outside The Turkish Embassy
25 November, 2025
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is to appeal the decision by the Crown Court to find Hamit Coskun not guilty of religiously motivated harassment, alarm, or distress after he burned a Quran outside the Turkish Embassy. Humanists UK has expressed its alarm at the CPS’s move, which risks reintroducing a blasphemy law in England and Wales by the back door.
In June, Hamit, a half-Kurdish and half-Armenian man from Turkey, was convicted by Westminster Magistrates Court for burning a copy of the Quran while shouting disparaging remarks about Islam within hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm, or distress. The judge stated that the burning of a religious book was not in and of itself unlawful, even if it is offensive to some. But the location of the burning, outside the Turkish Embassy, and Coskun’s associated actions, made his behaviour disorderly.
His actions were found to be motivated at least in part by hostility to Muslims due to comments he made in his police interview that were prejudicial towards Muslims. As a result, the judge found that the defendant had a ‘deep-seated’ hatred of not just Islam but also its followers, and that it was not possible to separate the two.
But in October, the Crown Court overturned this judgment on appeal. The judge affirmed that the burning of a Quran is not a crime in and of itself as there is no actual victim of hostility on a racial or religious basis. In this case, Coskun’s conduct was found not to be aimed at a specific person or specific people. The Turkish Embassy is a known political building and is therefore a reasonable place to protest. The defendant was by himself so could not be said to be intimidating. No passersby were scared into running away. Further, after Coskun burned the Quran he was attacked by a man who took offence to his actions. The criminal behaviour of that man was found not to make Coskun’s actions criminal.
But now the CPS is appealing the judgment. The Times reports that the CPS says ‘Coskun’s use of the words “f*** Islam” and “Islam is the religion of terrorism” were an “attack against a religious group, linking the group as a whole with terrorism”, and could not be dismissed as “intemperate criticism or protest against the tenets of the Muslim religion”.’
A Humanists UK spokesperson said:
‘We are deeply disappointed to see an appeal in this case. The Crown Court was right to overturn Hamit Coskun’s conviction. Why is the CPS so determined to see him convicted?’
Source: humanists.uk
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https://humanists.uk/2025/11/25/cps-appeals-not-guilty-verdict-of-man-who-burned-quran/
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Trump's envoy to have Ukraine peace plan talks at Kremlin next week
26 Nov, 2025
Laura Gozzi
Donald Trump's overseas envoy Steve Witkoff will hold talks at the Kremlin next week as the US continues to push for a deal to end the war in Ukraine.
The visit, which was confirmed by Vladimir Putin's close foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov on Wednesday, comes after Ukraine said it had reached a "common understanding" with the White House on the outline of a potential peace deal.
On Tuesday, Trump said he had tasked Witkoff to meet the Russian president, while the US Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll was being sent to Ukraine.
It follows the emergence last week of a 28-point draft plan, which the US president said had since been "fine-tuned, with additional input from both sides".
Speaking to reporters before the Kremlin confirmed the visit, Trump said his son-in-law Jared Kushner - who has acted as an adviser to the White House during previous diplomatic talks - may also attend the Kremlin meeting.
He said an agreement would involve land concessions "both ways" and "trying to clean up the border".
The president, who has made securing a deal to end the conflict a key foreign policy goal, said he had not given either side a date to agree a deal by, saying "the deadline for me is when it's over".
The Kremlin previously said that Russia had not yet been consulted on the new draft deal, warning it may not accept amendments to last week's plan.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that while Moscow had been in favour of the initial US framework, the situation would be "fundamentally different" if it had undergone substantial changes.
As of Tuesday morning the Kremlin had not received a copy of the new plan, Lavrov said, accusing Europe of undermining US peace efforts.
American officials did not publicly address Russia's concerns, although Driscoll and Russian representatives held meetings on Monday and Tuesday in Abu Dhabi.
Some of the issues which Russia and Ukraine are still deeply at odds over have reportedly remained unaddressed so far, including security guarantees for Kyiv and control of several regions in Ukraine's east where fighting is taking place.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday that he was ready to meet Trump to discuss outstanding "sensitive points", with his administration aiming for a meeting before the end of the month.
"I am counting on further active cooperation with the American side and with President (Donald) Trump. Much depends on America, because Russia pays the greatest attention to American strength," he said.
A day earlier, Zelensky said the 28-point plan had been slimmed down, with some provisions removed.
Trump wrote on social media that he looked forward to meeting with presidents Zelensky and Putin "soon, but ONLY when the deal to end this War is FINAL or, in its final stages".
Despite the White House's relative optimism, European leaders seemed doubtful that, after almost four years of war, peace could be within reach. French President Emmanuel Macron said he saw "no Russian will for a ceasefire", while Downing Street warned there was "a long way to go – a tough road ahead."
On Tuesday, Macron and UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer chaired a meeting of the so-called coalition of the willing, a loose grouping of Ukraine's allies in Europe and beyond who have pledged continued defence support in the event of a ceasefire, including tentative talks on a potential peacekeeping force.
During the call – which was also joined by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio – the leaders agreed to set up a task force with the US to "accelerate" work on the security guarantees that could be offered to Ukraine.
The issue of security guarantees is only one of the areas on which Moscow and Kyiv are at odds. On Monday, Zelensky said the "main problem" blocking peace was Putin's demand for legal recognition of the territory Russia had seized.
Moscow has consistently demanded full Ukrainian withdrawal from the whole of the eastern Donbas, made up of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Russian forces also control the Crimean peninsula - which Russia annexed in 2014 - and large parts of two other regions, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.
After weeks in which diplomacy appeared to have stalled, there has been a flurry of activity since the US-backed plan was leaked.
The original draft included Ukraine agreeing to cede areas it continues to control, pledging not to join Nato and significantly cutting the size of its armed forces - elements which seemed to reflect key Kremlin demands.
While Putin said the original draft could form the "basis" for a deal, Zelensky responded by saying Ukraine faced a choice between retaining the US as a partner and its "dignity". European leaders pushed back on several elements.
On the eve of talks over the plan in Geneva on Sunday between American, European and Ukrainian officials, Rubio was forced to publicly insist it was "authored by the US" after a group of senators claimed he had told them it was effectively a Russian draft, not the White House's position.
Since then, both the US and Ukraine have hailed progress on the draft, with Zelensky saying it represented "the right approach" after securing changes.
While Trump had originally pushed for Ukraine to accept the plan swiftly, the president told reporters on Tuesday that the original version "was just a map", adding: "That was not a plan, it was a concept."
Also on Tuesday, Bloomberg published a transcript of what it said was a call on 14 October between Trump's diplomatic envoy Steve Witkoff and Yuri Ushakov, Putin's foreign policy aide.
Asked about the transcript - in which Witkoff reportedly discussed how the Kremlin should approach Trump, and said Ukraine would have to give up land to secure a peace deal - Trump told reporters it represented a "very standard form of negotiations". BBC News has not independently verified the reported leaked call.
Meanwhile, the fighting continues. Both Russia and Ukraine said strikes had been carried out on Tuesday night in Zaporizhzhia.
Ukraine's regional head there, Ivan Federov, said at least seven people had been injured, while Yevgeny Balitsky, the Kremlin-installed governor, reported that Kyiv had hit energy grids in areas it controls, leaving up to 40,000 people without electricity.
Tens of thousands of soldiers and thousands of civilians have been killed or injured, and millions of people have fled their homes since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy95jvw57v2o
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Africa
Terrorism Trial: Mamu Drags AGF To Court Over ‘Unlawful’ Label
November 26, 2025
By George Oshogwe
Alleged terrorist negotiator, Tukur Mamu, has filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit challenging the Federal Government’s decision to designate him as a terrorist while his criminal trial is still ongoing.
Mamu’s counsel, Johnson Usman (SAN), told Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja, that the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) acted in violation of Section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution, which presumes an accused person innocent until proven guilty.
Usman informed the court that media publications referring to Mamu as a terrorist were attached as exhibits, describing them as unlawful and prejudicial.
He urged the court to enforce his client’s rights and grant the reliefs sought.
According to the senior lawyer, although the Federal Government has arraigned Mamu on terrorism charges, it was wrong for the AGF to independently designate him a terrorist while the court has not delivered judgment.
“We have written to the AGF to reverse the designation, but they refused,” Usman said.
He argued that the counter-affidavit filed by the FG was “an admission” that the designation was made while Mamu’s trial was active.
Usman maintained that it was “legally, morally, and religiously wrong” to designate a defendant on trial as a terrorist.
“It is the court that has the power to designate him a terrorist after conviction. Not the respondent,” he said.
He argued that the action entitles Mamu to damages, insisting it was necessary to “teach them a lesson.”
However, counsel to the AGF, David Kaswe, opposed the application and defended the government’s action.
Kaswe told the court that the AGF acted fully within the provisions of Sections 49 and 50 of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022, which empower the Sanction Committee to recommend individuals for terrorist designation.
“So the respondent acted within the provisions of the law,” he said.
Justice Umar pressed the AGF’s counsel to explain whether the law allows the government to label a defendant a terrorist before conclusion of trial.
“If at the end of the day, the court does not find him guilty, what happens to the designation?” the judge asked.
Kaswe responded that the Sanction Committee, which meets quarterly, can review and withdraw such designations.
He also distinguished “designated terrorist” from “convicted terrorist.”
Usman countered that the Terrorism Act cannot override Section 36 of the Constitution, stressing that the charge against Mamu was filed in 2023, long before the 2024 designation.
“By virtue of Section 36(5), he is innocent until proven guilty. Their reliance on Section 49 is an injury to them,” Usman argued.
Justice Umar directed both parties to file additional written addresses, specifically comparing: Section 36 of the Constitution, and Section 49 of the Terrorism Prevention Act.
He adjourned the matter to February 23, 2026 for the adoption of final written addresses.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/11/26/terrorism-trial-mamu-drags-agf-to-court-over-unlawful-label/
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Amnesty: RSF committed war crimes in Sudan’s Darfur
Nov 26, 2025
Amnesty International said on Tuesday that atrocities committed by a Sudanese paramilitary group in a Darfur town constituted war crimes, the latest accusation in the devastating war ravaging the country.
In a report, the international human rights organization indicated that it had collected testimonies describing the barbarities perpetrated by the Rapid Support Forces , or RSF, when their fighters took control of el-Fasher , the capital of North Darfur State , from the army at the end of last month.
The organization stated that the atrocities included the execution of dozens of unarmed men and the rape of women and girls. Amnesty added that others had been taken hostage by RSF fighters for ransom, and that witnesses reported seeing "hundreds of abandoned corpses" in the city streets and on the main roads leading out of el-Fasher.
"This persistent and widespread violence against civilians constitutes war crimes and may also constitute other crimes under international law ," said Agnès Callamard , Amnesty's Secretary General.
The FSR did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The group acknowledged that some of its fighters had committed violations in the city and promised to investigate.
Sexual assaults
The FSR, at war with the Sudanese army for more than two and a half years, captured el-Fasher at the end of October after a siege of more than 18 months. The city was the last military stronghold in the vast Darfur region .
Witnesses told the Associated Press last month that FSR fighters were going from house to house, killing civilians and committing sexual assaults . The World Health Organization reported that gunmen had killed at least 460 people at a hospital and abducted doctors and nurses.
Amnesty International stated in its report that its researchers interviewed 28 survivors who had managed to escape el-Fasher. The witnesses described "groups of men being shot or beaten" and hostage-taking for ransom.
The organization stated that FSR fighters had sexually assaulted women and girls. It cited a woman who claimed that she and her 14-year-old daughter were raped by FSR fighters on October 27 while trying to flee the city.
The woman indicated that her daughter's health had deteriorated and that she had died in a clinic in Tawila, a town located about 60 km west of el-Fasher, which has become a refuge for those fleeing the atrocities of the RSF, according to Amnesty.
Power struggle
Another 29-year-old woman said she was among 11 women abducted by RSF fighters and raped while trying to flee the city on October 26. She said she was raped three times by one fighter, while another watched.
"The world must not look away as more and more details emerge about the RSF's brutal attack on el-Fasher ," Callamard said, calling for all those who committed atrocities to be held accountable.
She criticized the United Arab Emirates for its alleged support of the RSF, support which she said fuels a relentless cycle of violence against civilians in Sudan. "These atrocities have been facilitated by the support provided by the United Arab Emirates to the RSF ," she added.
The United Arab Emirates have always denied this accusation.
The war in Sudan began in April 2023 due to a power struggle between the army and the FSR. The conflict has killed more than 40,000 people — a figure that human rights organizations believe is a significant underestimate — and caused a severe humanitarian crisis , with more than 14 million displaced people.
The FSR is largely composed of fighters from the Arab Janjaweed militia , accused of carrying out a government-backed genocidal campaign in Darfur in the 2000s, during which approximately 300,000 people were killed.
The group has been accused of a series of atrocities during the current war, and the Biden administration, in one of its last decisions, declared that the RSF had committed genocide in Darfur. The army has also been accused of atrocities—though not to the same extent as the paramilitary force.
Source: africanews.com
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https://www.africanews.com/2025/11/25/amnesty-rsf-committed-war-crimes-in-sudans-darfur/
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Come Out And Confess You Are Enabling Insecurity – Adebayo Blasts Tinubu’s Govt
November 26, 2025
By Justina Otio
Former Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate, Adewole Adebayo, has claimed that the Federal Government is responsible for the insecurity plaguing the nation.
Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television, he lamented that President Bola Tinubu has lost control of his administration.
He urged the government to confess that they are responsible for the security situation.
Adebayo argued that Nigeria cannot pretend to lack the tools to fight violent crime and tackle rising insecurity.
According to him, “The government needs to come out and confess the truth that they are enabling this insecurity, and they cannot pretend that they don’t have all the tools that it takes (to tackle insecurity).
“The first enemy of government is government. The first enemy of the people is the government. You cannot commit a crime and last one week, or one month, if you don’t have government people cooperating with you.”
He questioned how ransom money moves freely through the system, urging President Tinubu to urgently reorganise the security architecture.
According to the SDP stalwart, every local government already has at least one police division that should be ready to respond quickly to threats.
Adebayo also questioned the government’s operational priorities and wondered how armed groups execute mass abductions with such ease.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/11/26/come-out-and-confess-you-are-enabling-insecurity-adebayo-blasts-tinubus-govt/
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PDP Names Three Judges That Should Be Barred From Party Cases
November 26, 2025
By George Oshogwe Ogbolu
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has raised concerns over what it described as a “pattern” in the assignment of its legal matters at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Naija News gathered that the opposition party urged the Chief Judge, Justice John Terhemba Tsoho, to halt the practice.
In a letter dated November 19, 2025 and signed by the party’s National Secretary, Amb. Taofeek Arapaja, the PDP noted that for several years, virtually all cases filed by or against the party had been continually assigned to three judges – Justice James Omotosho, Justice Peter Odo Lifu and Justice Abdulmalik.
The party said the development had alarmed its members, stressing that the Abuja Division has 12 judges, yet only the three identified courts repeatedly receive PDP-related cases.
“Several of our party members have recently complained bitterly… Indeed, all these three Courts are viewed by party members and the public as ‘courts of particular concern’ with matters affecting the interest of the Peoples Democratic Party,” the letter stated.
While insisting it does not doubt the competence or integrity of the judges, the PDP argued that equitable case distribution is essential to maintaining public confidence in the judiciary.
The party added that justice “must not only be done but must be seen to be done”, urging Justice Tsoho to ensure that future matters involving the PDP are assigned to other judges within the Abuja Division.
With more politically sensitive cases expected ahead of the 2026–2027 election cycle, the PDP asked the Chief Judge to ensure none of its future matters are assigned to the three judges in question.
The party, however, praised the Federal High Court under Justice Tsoho for upholding fairness, saying its request was aimed at strengthening trust and transparency in the judicial process.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/11/26/pdp-names-three-judges-that-should-be-barred-from-party-cases/
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Police Implement Tinubu’s Directive To Withdraw Officers From VIPs
November 25, 2025
By Enioluwa Adeniyi
The Special Protection Unit of the Nigeria Police Force has directed all its personnel attached to Very Important Persons (VIPs) and special beats across the country to immediately return to their bases, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s recent order withdrawing police escorts from private individuals.
In a memo signed by the Commanding Officer of SPU Base 16, Lagos, Neji Veronica, and circulated on 𝕏 by the Presidency, affected officers were told to report back before the close of work on Monday, November 24, 2025.
The statement reads, “In sequel to the directive of Mr President and C-in-C of the armed forces on the withdrawal of Police personnel attached to VIPs, the Commanding Officer directs with immediate effect the withdrawal of all personnel of SPU Base 16 attached to VIPs/Beats across the federation back to Base.
“You are all warned to report back before the end of today, Monday, 24/11/2025 and all to attend the Lecture Parade tomorrow. Attendance shall be taken from the nominal roll.
“This is for your information and strict compliance.”
President Tinubu had, on November 23, ordered the immediate withdrawal of police escorts from VIPs, insisting that the police must refocus on community policing and frontline security duties.
Under the new arrangement, VIPs requiring armed protection must now apply to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) instead of the police.
A statement from the Presidency explained that the move was to address the acute shortage of police personnel in remote and high-risk communities.
It states, “Many parts of Nigeria, especially remote areas, have few policemen at the stations, thus making the task of protecting and defending the people difficult.”
The Presidency said Tinubu wants officers to return to “their core police duties.”
To reinforce the shift, the President has approved the recruitment of 30,000 additional police officers nationwide, with plans to upgrade training facilities in collaboration with state governments.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/11/25/breaking-police-implement-tinubus-directive-to-withdraw-officers-from-vips/
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Mideast
Pope Leo XIV visits Turkiye and Lebanon on first foreign trip
November 26, 2025
VATICAN CITY: Pope Leo XIV is embarking on his first foreign trip, a pilgrimage to Turkiye and Lebanon that would be delicate under any circumstances but is even more fraught given Mideast tensions and the media glare that will document history’s first American pope on the road.
Leo is fulfilling a trip Pope Francis planned to make, to mark an important anniversary with the Orthodox church in Turkiye. In Lebanon, he’ll try to boost a long-suffering Christian community as well as Lebanese of all faiths who are still demanding justice over the 2020 Beirut port blast.
Leo, who spent 12 years as superior of his Augustinian religious order and two decades as a missionary in Peru, says he loves to travel. And in recent weeks, he has shown both diplomatic and linguistic dexterity in answering questions on the fly from reporters.
The trip is being covered closely by US media, with all major US networks — ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox as well as CNN and the BBC — inside Leo’s traveling pool, following his speeches, homilies and prayers at a crucial moment in negotiations to end Russia’s war in Ukraine and maintain a ceasefire in Gaza.
Vatican correspondents plus Lebanese and Turkish media round out the papal press corps of about 80 journalists, with an ample waitlist of journalists who applied to be on the papal plane but were denied a seat because of limited space.
“Anytime the pope travels, it’s a big deal,” said Natalia Imperatori-Lee, associate professor of theology at Fordham University in New York.
But an American pope on his first foreign trip is an even bigger deal, she said, especially in the saturated American media ecosystem where Leo has emerged as something of a foil to the Trump administration and its crackdown on immigrants.
“He is still driving coverage here because of his engagement with one of the most important issues we’re facing, which is migration,” said Kim Daniels, director of the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life at Georgetown University. Because of that, “I think this trip will drive attention again to the peripheries and to the vulnerable.”
Significantly, Leo plans to deliver all his remarks in Turkiye in English and English and French in Lebanon, casting aside the Italian lingua franca of the Vatican in favor of languages that are more widely understood.
All eyes will be on Leo’s in-flight press conference Dec. 2 returning to Rome. Such impromptu encounters provided many of Francis’ headline-grabbing quips during his 12-year papacy, starting with his first in 2013 when he famously said “Who am I to judge” about a purportedly gay priest.
Leo has shown himself to be far more prudent and diplomatic than his predecessor. But “maybe he’ll do something crazy like a ‘Who am I to judge?’” said Imperatori-Lee.
An important moment in Catholic-Orthodox relations
The main impetus for traveling to Turkiye, the first stop in the Nov. 27-Dec. 2 trip, is to mark the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, Christianity’s first ecumenical council.
Leo will pray with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians, at the site of the 325 AD gathering — today’s Iznik — and sign a joint declaration in a visible sign of Christian unity.
Eastern and Western churches were united until the Great Schism of 1054, a divide precipitated largely by disagreements over the primacy of the pope.
“We all understand that 1,000 years of division has inflicted a deep wound that cannot be healed easily,” Bartholomew told the respected Greek daily Kathimerini recently. “We have an obligation, however, to strive to heal that wound, mend the injuries, bridge the distances and restore unity.”
A chance to speak about Mideast peace
The visit will also offer Leo several occasions to speak about regional tensions overall, Catholic-Muslim relations and Christians’ dwindling presence in the Middle East.
Clergy in the region say the Vatican’s strong support for Palestinians in Gaza during Israel’s war, first under Francis and now Leo, has bolstered the church’s credibility among ordinary Muslims.
“In a moment when many Western powers hesitated on the question of Gaza, Francis — and then Leo — was very strong. He didn’t go to Gaza but everything he could have said it seems he said,” said the Rev. Paolo Pugliese, superior of the Capuchin friars in Turkiye.
The regional conflicts have not abated, however: Israel fired an airstrike on Lebanon’s capital on Sunday that killed Hezbollah’s chief of staff and four others.
Security expected to be tight
The strike only reinforced security concerns that often accompany pope trips. But organizers insisted Leo would be safe.
“It happened, but it doesn’t affect the places or where the pope is going,” said Bishop George Bacouni, archbishop of the Melkite Greek Catholic Archeparchy of Beirut.
The Vatican said no extra security measures had been taken, though spokesman Matteo Bruni declined to say whether Leo’s cars and popemobiles were bullet-proofed.
Significantly, Leo will not visit Lebanon’s south, battered by last year’s war between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and the site of intensified Israeli strikes in recent weeks. Christians groups in southern Lebanon had lobbied for the pope to visit the area and circulated a new petition just this week.
At most Leo might be bothered in Beirut by Israeli drones that fly overhead, organizers said.
A prayer at the port blast site
The highlight of the Lebanese visit comes on Leo’s last day, Dec. 2, when he spends time in silent prayer at the site of the Aug. 4, 2020, Beirut port blast.
The explosion tore through the Lebanese capital, killing at least 218 people, wounding more than 6,000 and devastating large swaths of Beirut. Sparked when hundreds of tons of ammonium nitrate detonated in a warehouse, the blast caused billions of dollars in damage.
Lebanese citizens were enraged by the blast, which appeared to be the result of government negligence, coming on top of an economic crisis spurred by decades of corruption and financial crimes. But an investigation has repeatedly stalled, and five years on, no official has been convicted.
There are hopes among Lebanese that Leo will demand accountability from Lebanon’s political class, and insist that there can be no peace without truth and justice.
Such an appeal “could shake up our various political leaders, because we continue to live under the pressure of a social crisis, an economic crisis, in a country where the various leaders hear neither the cry of the poor, nor the cry of the unfortunate, nor the cry of citizens,” said Monsignor Cesar Essayan, apostolic vicar of Beirut for Latin rite Catholics.
Another important moment will come when Leo meets with young Lebanese. He is expected to give them words of encouragement, amid the decades-long flight of Lebanese abroad, while also acknowledging their disillusionment over the failures of adults.
“Many families feel that they are surviving the day by day with really very little visibility on the future,” said Marielle Boutros, project coordinator in Lebanon for Aid to the Church in Need, the Catholic charity. “So this visit of His Holiness, it’s not simply symbolic. It is a really concrete sign that Lebanon is not forgotten.”
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2623965/middle-east
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Israeli army announces new operation in northern West Bank
November 26, 2025
JERUSALEM: The Israeli military on Wednesday announced a new “counterterrorism” operation in the north of the occupied West Bank.
The military and internal security service said in a joint statement that they “began operating as part of a broad counterterrorism operation in the area of northern Samaria,” using the Israeli biblical term for part of the West Bank.
In response to a question from AFP, the Israeli army said the operation was new and not part of its counterterrorism operation launched in January 2024, which primarily targets Palestinian refugee camps.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2623971/middle-east
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Why Syria’s uncertain new dawn is straining the hopes of those returning home
ANAN TELLO
November 25, 2025
LONDON: Maher thought he would never set foot in his Damascus neighborhood again after he fled 13 years ago. But when a rebel offensive toppled the Bashar Assad regime a year ago, he seized the opportunity to return to his home in the Yarmouk camp.
Four months ago, the Syrian-Palestinian father of two returned to the capital to see whether he could move his family back to their former home. However, hopes of rebuilding his past life there were quickly dashed when he saw the extent of the damage.
“The neighborhood is now in ruins, and our home is nothing but a pile of gray rubble,” Maher told Arab News. “It was painful, sad, hard to see.”
Thirteen years earlier, Maher — whose name has been changed to protect his identity — was forced to flee when regime forces besieged Yarmouk to root out rebel fighters it claimed were hiding in the Palestinian camp.
As the civil war engulfed the country, Maher decided to leave Syria altogether, joining the millions who paid smugglers to take them on the perilous sea crossing to Europe.
With Assad gone, Maher allowed himself to dream of returning to his city of birth. But that dream was soon deferred. “Is Syria stable? Not yet,” he said. “Is it safe? Too early to tell. Syria’s recovery will need a long, long time, it seems.”
On Dec. 8, 2024, Damascus awoke to news that many once thought impossible — the end of 54 years of Assad family rule. Within nine months, more than 1 million refugees and 1.8 million internally displaced people returned to their hometowns, according to UN figures.
However, a November survey by the International Rescue Committee in Jordan and Lebanon found that 46 percent of respondents cited safety concerns and limited access to services, housing and livelihoods as obstacles to their return.
The World Bank estimates that reconstruction will cost $216 billion, noting that the conflict destroyed nearly one-third of Syria’s prewar capital stock and caused $108 billion in direct physical damage.
Despite stabilization measures put in place by the interim authorities, led by President Ahmad Al-Sharaa, whose group Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham spearheaded the 2024 offensive, obstacles to safe and sustainable returns remain.
Security is foremost among them. Violence has flared in multiple regions in recent months, underscoring the fragility of the transition. Humanitarian groups also warn that damaged infrastructure and failing public services remain serious barriers.
“Although a quarter of refugees interviewed recently by the IRC in neighboring countries have expressed a desire to return, the reality on the ground remains deeply challenging,” Juan Gabriel Wells, IRC’s country director for Syria, said on Nov. 17.
“For too many … returning under current conditions is simply not the same as returning safely, with dignity, or with any guarantee of permanence.”
Pressure is rising in many host countries for Syrians to return home.
Harout Ekmanian, a New York-based attorney specializing in public international law at Foley Hoag LLP, told Arab News that a voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return must be “free, informed, and uncoerced,” based on “accurate, up to date information on conditions, viable alternatives to return, and no direct or indirect pressure.”
This, he said, is rooted in the non-refoulement obligation of the 1951 Refugee Convention and UNHCR guidelines.
Ekmanian said returns must also be physically, legally and materially safe, with “an effective end to persecution or generalized violence and credible guarantees of non-discrimination, liberty and security of person, and freedom of movement, supported by functioning rule of law institutions, removal of arbitrary detention risks, clearance of mines and unexploded ordnance, and access to civil documentation.”
Sustainability demands long-term access to housing, livelihoods, services, remedies for past violations and safeguards against renewed displacement, he added.
Even with the easing of Western sanctions on Syria, the country’s road to recovery will be long.
Social and economic indicators paint a difficult picture, with 66 percent of the population living in extreme poverty, 89 percent facing food insecurity, youth unemployment standing at 60 percent, and 3.5 million children out of school, according to UN agencies.
These metrics may soon improve, however. The US has significantly shifted its approach to Syria following a historic meeting between Al-Sharaa and President Donald Trump at the White House in early November, opening up new avenues for recovery.
The US Treasury issued a general license to permit previously prohibited transactions with the new Syrian government and its central bank, stepping back from the rigid regime maintained under the Assad era.
This move is intended to encourage reconstruction, attract foreign investment, and facilitate Syria’s reintegration into the international economy.
It marks the most sweeping US sanctions relief for Syria in decades, promising economic revitalization if reforms and cooperation continue. The benefits, however, may not be felt immediately.
“Economically, the country is in a bad condition, and that’s nothing to do with the government — they inherited a bad system,” Fadi Al-Dairi, co-founder and regional director of the Syrian-British charity Hand in Hand for Aid and Development, told Arab News.
“Everyone who speaks to me and to my other colleagues just needs a job to earn a living. However, with the high cost of living in Syria, it just makes it not worth it to work these days.
“For example, if they come to work and earn $200, they would be spending about $100 on transportation if they live in Damascus. That would leave them with just $100 to live on. That’s not enough.
“The cost of living varies from one city to another, and even within the same governorate. For example, the cost of living inside Damascus is different from the suburbs.”
The World Food Programme says food insecurity has deepened since Assad’s fall, with nearly 3 million people projected to face severe hunger.
The UN Development Programme warns that recovery must move beyond rebuilding infrastructure to restoring governance, reconciliation and social cohesion.
“As humanitarians, we’ve tried our best,” Al-Dairi said. “We’ve been providing a life-saving response, and at the same time, we keep demanding from donors and partners that the response becomes more sustainable.”
Meanwhile, the interim government has tried to attract foreign investment. But the impact on daily life has so far been minimal.
“We’re seeing so many businesspeople and companies rushing in, thinking Syria is simply the next place to invest,” Al-Dairi said, warning that the rapid influx is only contributing to the soaring cost of living.
“As an investor myself, of course I want to earn a good living, but things need to happen step by step,” he said.
“Take the electricity issue. They’re rehabilitating the infrastructure and the network, but this has come at a cost — a 900 percent increase in electricity prices — because investors want to get their money back almost immediately.”
Indeed, a projected spike in electricity bills has angered many residents. A recent investigation by the Syrian news website Enab Baladi found that 83 percent of Syrians cannot afford the new bills.
“We don’t want to repeat these problems,” said Al-Dairi.
For example, “if our road networks are in poor condition, we need to fix them responsibly. We shouldn’t immediately privatize the roads and force people to either use expensive motorways or go through B-roads via the countryside.”
Still, some see opportunity in Syria’s vast diaspora. The World Bank says returning refugees could help drive a medium-term economic revival if trade and investment resume.
Of the 7 million Syrians living abroad, Al-Dairi estimates roughly half have the financial capacity to invest. “If Syrians themselves are investing, then others might invest too,” he said. “One of my recommendations to the Syrian government is to look seriously at the diaspora.”
Mohamed Ghazal, managing director of Startup Syria, a community-led initiative supporting Syrian entrepreneurs, says small-scale investments are already emerging from Syrians abroad who understand local risks and conditions.
“These investors possess deep familiarity with the local market, culture, and operational environment, allowing them to accurately assess risks and opportunities,” he told Arab News, adding that “the capital brought in tends to be modest, reflecting the high-risk environment.”
In contrast, medium and large investments “remain largely on hold” until sanctions are fully lifted and regulations stabilize, Ghazal added.
“Major investors are concerned about the current economic and regulatory uncertainty, which is not conducive to establishing sustainable, long-term cash flow,” he said.
“These entities are largely waiting for the full lifting of sanctions to gain a clearer picture of the regulatory landscape and mitigate geopolitical risk before committing large funds.”
Ghazal said the interim government must create incentives that ensure physical and economic security for Syrian investors and provide clear, reliable legal frameworks.
Al-Dairi suggested that Syrians could also support one another through Islamic-inspired “qard hassan,” or benevolent loans, offering culturally acceptable financing for rebuilding without burdening borrowers with high interest.
But despite the many challenges, he remains convinced that Syrians themselves will play a central role in reconstruction.
“I’ll put this diplomatically,” he said. “We’ve seen many warlords and many who benefited from the conflict. But overall, Syrians will have an important part to play.”
Source: arabnews.com
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‘Everything is soaked’: Winter rains in Gaza bring new misery for Palestinians
November 25, 2025
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip: Children and families in Gaza scooped muddy water from their tents on Tuesday, trying to protect the few belongings that remain after two years of war.
Winter’s heavy rains have left displaced Palestinians splashing in water that reaches their ankles, and blaming both Israel and Hamas for the misery that remains despite a ceasefire.
“All tents were destroyed,” said Assmaa Fayad in Deir Al-Balah in central Gaza, whose shelter was damaged in Tuesday’s latest downpour. “Where is Hamas? Where are the people to see this rain and how our children are drowning?“
A Hamas spokesperson, Hazem Qassem, lashed out in a message on Telegram: “All the world’s efforts to alleviate the disaster have failed because of the Israeli siege.”
Aid organizations worry that the rainy winter months will make the stark situation worse, with ongoing shortages of humanitarian supplies. They are scrambling to mitigate the flooding and restore infrastructure devastated by the fighting.
Nearly all of Gaza’s over 2 million people were forced from their homes during the war. Most have been living in tents or shelters, some of them built over destroyed homes, with no proper sewage facilities. For toilets, they depend on cesspits dug near tents that overflow in heavy rainfall.
Rain-soaked mattresses
Reham Al-Hilu was among those assessing the damage in Deir Al-Balah, one of the areas hardest hit by the rains. Her wood and metal shelter collapsed overnight, and she said her head was injured.
“Rainwater flooded the mattresses,” she said. “As you can see, everything is soaked — the clothes, everything — and my children are all soaked.”
The United Nations humanitarian office last week said the downpours have damaged at least 13,000 tents like Al-Hilu’s, and “destroyed what little shelter and belongings thousands of Palestinians in Gaza had left.”
The office said aid organizations had begun preparing for winter in October, when the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect, transporting materials like winterized tents into Gaza. Aid groups were able to distribute over 3,600 tents, 129,000 tarpaulins and 87,000 blankets earlier this month, the UN office said.
But the office said efforts have been hampered by the slow entry of aid. It said deliveries into the territory continue to be “severely constrained by Israeli authorities’ restrictions on the entry of shelter supplies.”
“Lifesaving humanitarian aid must enter Gaza without obstruction and at scale,” UN Secretary General António Guterres said on Tuesday.
The Israeli defense body responsible for the entry of aid, COGAT, said it worked on “a dedicated response to the winter.”
“The effort is ongoing — additional winter-related requests by international organizations have already been approved, and entry will take place in the coming days,” the agency wrote Tuesday on X.
Roads become rivers
Roadways in Deir Al-Balah turned into shallow rivers of murky water. One man waded across carrying a young daughter in each arm.
Some families knelt on the ground, trying to soak up the water with pieces of cloth.
While daily fighting has stopped in Gaza, Israel continues to strike parts of the territory in response to what it says are violations by Hamas. Both sides have accused each other of violating ceasefire conditions.
And many displaced Palestinians remain crowded into the rough half of Gaza’s territory that Israeli forces don’t control.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2623922/middle-east
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Jordanian forces evacuate sick kids from Gaza for medical treatment
November 25, 2025
LONDON: The Jordanian Armed Forces on Tuesday transported 20 sick children, accompanied by 58 family members, from Gaza for medical treatment.
It was the 17th group of children evacuated from the war-torn territory as part of the humanitarian “Jordanian Medical Corridor” initiative, which was launched in March by royal directive to support the Palestinian people and ease their suffering, the Jordan News Agency reported.
The children will receive treatment in Jordanian hospitals, with support from the country’s Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization.
Since October 2023, Jordanian authorities have also sent more than 181 aid convoys, 7,932 trucks in all, to Gaza in coordination with the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization, the World Food Programme and World Central Kitchen.
In addition, the Jordanian Armed Forces has conducted 421 airdrops of aid since the war in the territory began, including 284 in cooperation with other countries.
Source: arabnews.com
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Palestinian killed by Israeli forces near Jenin
November 25, 2025
LONDON: Israeli forces shot and killed a 22-year-old Palestinian man south of Jenin in the occupied West Bank, the Ministry of Health confirmed on Tuesday.
Sultan Nedal Abdul Aziz was killed after Israeli forces surrounded a house in the village of Merka, showering it with gunfire and grenades. The Israeli military took his body after the offensive, the Palestinian Civil Affairs Authority confirmed.
At least 1,013 Palestinians were killed by Israeli settlers and soldiers in the West Bank between October 2023 and August this year, according to official Palestinian figures. During the same period, 43 Israelis, including soldiers, have been killed in Palestinian attacks in the West Bank, according to official Israeli figures.
Israeli raids on West Bank villages have escalated since the start of the war in Gaza in late 2023, accompanied by settler assaults including arson attacks on commercial property, the destruction of crops, assaults on homes, and stone-throwing.
Source: arabnews.com
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UN seeks ‘impartial’ probe into Israeli strikes in Lebanon
November 25, 2025
GENEVA: The United Nations called Tuesday for swift and impartial investigations into Israeli strikes in Lebanon, including a deadly attack on a Palestinian refugee camp last week.
The UN rights office decried that nearly a year since the ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel was agreed, “we continue to witness increasing attacks by the Israeli military.”
Lebanon has accused Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement reached in November 2024 — which sought to halt more than a year of hostilities with Hezbollah — by continuing its strikes and maintaining forces inside its territory.
Israel has said Hezbollah is working to rebuild its military capabilities, accusing the Iran-backed group of breaking the ceasefire terms.
According to the health ministry, more than 330 people have been killed in Lebanon and 945 wounded since the ceasefire took effect on November 27 last year.
UN rights office spokesman Thameen Al-Kheetan said the rights office had verified that at least 127 civilians were among those killed in that period.
He highlighted in particular last week’s Israeli strike on Ain Al-Hilweh camp for Palestinian refugees in southern Lebanon, which killed 13 people — 11 of them children.
On Friday, Israel said it had targeted “terrorists” from the Palestinian militant group Hamas, allied with Hezbollah, in that strike.
‘Serious concerns’
But Kheetan told reporters in Geneva “all the fatalities we have documented as a result of this strike were civilians, raising serious concerns that the Israeli military’s attack may have violated international humanitarian law principles on the conduct of hostilities.”
“There must be prompt and impartial investigations into the Ain El-Hilweh strike, as well as all other incidents involving possible violations of international humanitarian law by all parties, both before and after the ceasefire,” he insisted.
“Those responsible must be brought to justice.”
Asked who should carry out the investigations, he said: “When we’re talking about strikes conducted by the Israeli military, the Israeli military should investigate its own actions.
“Of course, the Lebanese state has the responsibility to investigate similar violations that can occur from its side.”
Kheetan highlighted that continuing Israeli attacks in Lebanon had also destroyed and damaged civilian infrastructure.
“They have also severely hampered reconstruction efforts and attempts by internally displaced people to go back to their homes in southern Lebanon,” he said.
The rights office said that more than 64,000 people, mainly from southern Lebanon, remained displaced in other parts of the country after last year’s war.
And “Israel started constructing a wall crossing into Lebanese territory that makes 4,000 square meters inaccessible to the population, thus affecting people’s right to return to their lands,” Kheetan pointed out.
“All those internally displaced must be able to go back to their homes, and reconstruction should be supported, not hampered,” he said urging all parties to comply with the ceasefire “in good faith.”
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said earlier this month the Israeli army had built walls in south Lebanon near the UN-demarcated Blue Line, the de facto border.
However, asked by AFP about the accusation, the Israeli military said “the wall does not cross the Blue Line.”
Source: arabnews.com
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North America
Muscatine County settles with jailer who made anti-gay, Muslim posts
Nov. 24, 2025
By Matt Christensen
MUSCATINE, Iowa (KWQC) - A former jailer in Muscatine County will receive nearly $87,000 from the county to settle a lawsuit.
Dean Naylor was fired by the county over online posts he made about Muslims and LGBTQ people.
Naylor, a jail administrator and captain in the sheriff’s department, sued, seeking $1.5 million.
An attorney for the county told supervisors on Monday that the much smaller settlement will save the county the costs of prolonged litigation.
Naylor had argued his firing violated his First Amendment rights. His posts involved several videos on YouTube where he talked about Muslims as “pawns of the devil” and “the gay agenda.”
Naylor said he’s a devout born-again Christian.
In exchange for the money, Naylor promises not to sue the county again.
Source: kcrg.com
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https://www.kcrg.com/2025/11/24/muscatine-county-settles-with-jailer-who-made-anti-gay-muslim-posts/
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‘I Had No Idea’: Zohran Mamdani Recalls ‘Weirdest’ Moment At White House
Nov 26, 2025
New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has described the “weirdest” thing he saw during his visit to the White House to meet president Donald Trump.
Speaking on The Adam Friedland Show on Monday, Mamdani said he noticed a stack of coffee-table books on a table, including one titled UFC at the White House. “I had no idea, and I was just flippin’, flippin’ through that,” he said. UFC White House is an upcoming mixed martial arts event that will take place in June 2026, on the South Lawn of the White House.
Asked if he planned to attend the White House UFC event scheduled for June, Mamdani simply said, “No,” prompting laughter from the host and himself.
Friedland also asked how Mamdani stayed composed during the White House news conference, where observers were surprised by his calm demeanour. Mamdani said he focused on his priorities for the city. “Honestly, I was just thinking about New York City,” he said.
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The recent meeting between Mamdani and Trump marked a sharp contrast to their contentious relationship during the mayoral campaign. Mamdani defeated former governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary and then beat him again in the general election, after Cuomo launched an independent bid alongside Republican Curtis Sliwa. Mamdani won the November 4 vote with a clear majority.
Throughout the race, Trump repeatedly criticised Mamdani, calling him a “communist lunatic” and questioning his fitness for office, while also threatening to withhold federal funding from New York if Mamdani won.
However, at the White House meeting last week, Trump appeared to reverse his stance, praising Mamdani and saying he would feel comfortable living in New York City.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/i-had-no-idea-zohran-mamdani-recalls-weirdest-moment-at-white-house-watch/articleshow/125577751.cms
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Muslim groups, other leaders demand Abbott rescind CAIR's ‘terrorist’ designation: 'Defamatory'
November 25, 2025
A group of Muslim and interfaith leaders are urging Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, to reverse his proclamation designating the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as a "foreign terrorist organization."
Texas’s designation is state-level only. It does not carry the legal force of a federal Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) listing, which only the U.S. State Department can issue. Abbott’s proclamation, therefore, does not trigger federal terrorism penalties or authorities.
The leaders of several Muslim groups held a news conference on Tuesday to denounce the governor’s proclamation, which also labeled CAIR as a "a transnational criminal organization."
The groups called on the governor to retract his labeling of the civil rights group, calling it defamatory, destructive and dangerous, according to Fox 4.
This comes after CAIR filed a lawsuit against Texas over the governor's declaration, arguing that it violates both the U.S. Constitution and state law.
CAIR argues the order violates its First Amendment rights and due-process protections, and that Texas overstepped its authority because terrorism designations fall under federal, not state, jurisdiction.
"The governor is attempting to punish the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization simply because he disagrees with its protected First Amendment rights to criticize a foreign state that is conducting genocide. This is not only contrary to the United States Constitution, but finds no support in any Texas law," Mustaffa Carroll, the executive director for CAIR Dallas Fort Worth, said at the news conference on Tuesday.
"You know that CAIR has condemned Hamas attacks. You know that CAIR has spent 31 years fighting terrorism and bigotry. You know that the terrorism boogeyman you invoke is nothing more than a tired, formulated playbook to stoke fear of Muslims," Marium Uddin of the Muslim Legal Defense Fund said on Tuesday.
Leaders from other faiths, including Jewish voices, also spoke out against Abbott's label.
"We stand steadfast in solidarity with our comrades in CAIR and in unwavering support in their lawsuit against Abbott’s false and unconstitutional proclamation," Jewish Voice for Peace's Deborah Armintor said.
State Rep. Terry Meza, a Democrat, added that the governor's words "are not just wrong, they’re dangerous. Making comments like this is dangerous to our Muslim community."
The lawsuit is ongoing, and it remains unclear whether a court will uphold Abbott’s order or strike it down as exceeding state authority.
The governor’s decree bars CAIR from buying land in the Lone Star State under a new statute aimed at curbing purchases tied to "foreign adversaries."
Abbott’s order also extended the "terrorist" label to the Muslim Brotherhood, despite the federal government never classifying either group that way.
Source: foxnews.com
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https://www.foxnews.com/politics/muslim-groups-other-leaders-demand-abbott-rescind-cairs-terrorist-designation-defamatory
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Democrats who told troops to disobey illegal orders push back on alleged FBI probe
November 26, 2025
Nardine Saad
The Democrat lawmakers who encouraged US troops to disobey illegal orders are pushing back on an alleged federal inquiry into their actions.
Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan said the FBI on Monday notified the six lawmakers who appeared in last week's video of the investigation.
"No amount of intimidation or harassment will ever stop us from doing our jobs and honoring our Constitution," four US House members said.
Their message to troops prompted US President Trump to accuse the Democrats of "seditious behavior, punishable by death" and a Pentagon review of "serious allegations of misconduct" against Democratic Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, who also appeared in the video.
The Department of Justice and declined to comment on the alleged investigation.
Reuters reported on Tuesday that a Justice Department official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the FBI has requested interviews with six Democratic politicians to determine "if there's any wrongdoing, and then go from there".
The video by Democrats, all of whom have served in the military or intelligence community, was shared last week by Slotkin and features Kelly and US Representatives Chris Deluzio, Maggie Goodlander, Chrissy Houlahan and Jason Crow.
The message came amid escalating tensions between the Trump administration and the Venezuelan government, as well as Democrat-led cities opposing Trump's deployment of National Guard troops there.
Slotkin said on Tuesday that the FBI's counterterrorism unit sent a note to the Congress members to notify them of an alleged inquiry into the lawmakers.
"The President's reaction and the use of the FBI against us is exactly why we made the video," she said at an event in Michigan.
"He believes in using the federal government against his perceived adversaries, and he's not afraid to use the arms of the government against people he disagrees with," she said, describing Trump's actions as "a scare tactic".
Likewise, US representatives Deluzio, Goodlander, Houlahan and Crow said that Trump is using the FBI as "tool to intimidate and harass" members of Congress, confirming that the FBI contacted the House and Senate Sergeants at Arms to request interviews.
"We swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. That oath lasts a lifetime, and we intend to keep it. We will not be bullied. We will never give up the ship," they said.
The video - in which Kelly accused the administration of "pitting our uniformed military and intelligence community professionals against American citizens" - drew Trump's ire and he suggested on social media that they be arrested, locked up and hanged.
His words drew bipartisan condemnation and the president ultimately walked back his remarks in a Fox News interview, clarifying that he was "not threatening death".
On Monday, the Pentagon accused Senator Kelly, a former captain in the US Navy and astronaut, of breaching military law. The defence department said it would conduct a review to determine whether the Arizona lawmaker should be recalled to active duty to face court-martial proceedings.
Even though Kelly retired from the military, he is still subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) - a federal law enacted by Congress in 1951 that subjects members of the military to a special set of rules.
Defence secretary Pete Hegseth accused Kelly of violating the UCMJ and of using his rank and service affiliation as a way to lend "the appearance of authority to his words" in the video.
He added that Kelly's conduct "brings discredit upon the armed forces and will be addressed appropriately".
But Kelly also pushed back, saying that he has "given too much to this country to be silenced by bullies who care more about their own power than protecting the Constitution".
On Tuesday, the Department of Defense appeared to formalise its review of Kelly's conduct.
The department posted an image on social media showing a signed memo from Hegseth to the secretary of the US Navy regarding Kelly's "potentially unlawful comments" in the 18 November video, referring the matter to the Navy for review.
While the intelligence community does not have a code comparable to the UCMJ, Liz Lyons, a spokeswoman for the Central Intelligence Agency, on Tuesday reminded former officers of the oath they took and commitment they made while serving in the intelligence community.
Former officers should "conduct themselves accordingly - even long after they leave", she wrote on X.
Lyons said the assertion by Slotkin - a former CIA analyst - that CIA officers are receiving illegal orders and should therefore refuse to follow them "is now, by her own admission, without basis and recklessly false".
Fox News reported on Tuesday that the FBI and Department of Justice contacted Capitol Police to schedule interviews with the six members of Congress.
The FBI declined to comment on Tuesday when contacted by the BBC.
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cze832dr2n0o
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Arab World
AlUla festival showcases 7,000 years of heritage
November 25, 2025
The festival, themed “Journeys Through Time,” spans the Dadan, Lihyan and Nabataeans civilizations, and includes the modern era, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.
Running until Dec. 6, the festival offers immersive experiences, historical performances, interactive programs, and education tours.
Abdulrahman Alsuhaibani, vice president of culture at the Royal Commission for AlUla, said the region is now considered one of the world’s most prominent archeological locations.
Alsuhaibani added that the festival underscores the rich cultural legacy of the northwestern Arabian Peninsula.
A special celebration will be held at the Hegra archeological site, a UNESCO World Heritage location, featuring visual and audio presentations that recount the area’s rich history.
The experience includes horse-drawn carriage tours, illuminated tomb facades, and the fragrance of incense.
At night there will be a “Stories from the Sky — The Drone Show” portraying the region’s ancient civilizations in engaging visual narratives for all ages.
These experiences reflect AlUla’s vision of showcasing its heritage through modern artistry, offering visitors a journey that blends authenticity with innovation.
Source: arabnews.com
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Islamic coalition organizes media training in Niger
November 25, 2025
RIYADH: Specialized media programs organized by the Saudi-backed Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition kicked off in Niamey, Niger.
The initiative focuses on developing media and TV messaging to strengthen the role of security and traditional media in combating terrorism as part of the coalition’s efforts in the Sahel region.
Running until Dec. 2, the programs include a three-day training course on media and TV messaging to counter extremism and terrorism.
A workshop on the role of traditional and modern media in raising public awareness about preventing terrorism will be organized, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.
Another workshop on the role of security media in countering societal despair will also be held, with more than 40 trainees from the security, military, and media sectors participating.
These initiatives align with the coalition’s vision to build national capacities — especially in the media field — capable of using modern communication tools to expose extremist narratives and support efforts to promote stability in the region.
Last week, the coalition organized an advanced program on combating terrorism financing and money laundering in Niamey with specialized personnel from Niger’s security and financial sectors.
The five-day program featured lectures and workshops on terrorism financing, money laundering stages, early-detection methods, and financial data analysis using modern tools.
Training emphasized cross-sector collaboration, national and international coordination, and practical exercises for tracking financing networks.
It also highlighted the need to strengthen regulatory and legislative frameworks to combat financial crimes linked to terrorism.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2623878/saudi-arabia
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Saudi ambassador to India presents credentials to Indian president
November 25, 2025
LONDON: Haytham bin Hassan Al-Malki, the ambassador of Saudi Arabia to India, presented his credentials to President Droupadi Murmu in New Delhi on Tuesday.
Al-Malki was appointed as ambassador in September after previously serving as Saudi ambassador to Mexico and non-resident ambassador to Honduras.
Al-Malki and Murmu acknowledged the strong relations between the two countries and said they were experiencing growth across various sectors, reported the Saudi Press Agency.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2623918/saudi-arabia
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Delegation of Danish MPs visits Arab News headquarters
November 25, 2025
RIYADH: A delegation of MPs from Denmark visited the Arab News headquarters in Riyadh on Tuesday to meet with Noor Nugali, deputy editor-in-chief and the team.
The delegation included Liberal Party MP Peter Juel-Jensen; Peter Skaarup, MP for the Denmark Democrats; Carsten Bach, MP for the Liberal Alliance; Flemming Kordt Wessel, delegation secretary; and Claudius Larson, delegation secretary.
The discussion focused on the evolving media landscape in Saudi Arabia, as the Kingdom continues to progress under Vision 2030.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2623905/saudi-arabia
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Saudi FM receives Bahraini, Italian counterparts in Riyadh
November 25, 2025
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received his Bahraini counterpart Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani in Riyadh on Tuesday, Saudi Press Agency reported.
During the meeting, Saudi-Bahraini relations and the latest regional and international developments were reviewed. Issues of common interest were also discussed.
Earlier on Tuesday, Prince Faisal received his Italian counterpart Antonio Tajani.
They reviewed relations between their countries and opportunities to enhance and expand cooperation. The latest regional and international developments were also discussed.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2623896/saudi-arabia
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Yemeni residents in Riyadh praise efforts in promoting cultural ties
November 25, 2025
RIYADH: Yemeni residents participating in the Global Harmony 2 initiative in Riyadh have praised the events as a unique platform for cultural and human exchange.
The initiative offers a chance to explore the cultural diversity of participating countries and highlights Saudi Arabia’s commitment to supporting arts, heritage, and fostering fraternal bonds.
Yemen Culture Week, which is part of the initiative, continues until Nov. 28 and hosts artistic performances, folk displays, and interactive sessions that showcase Yemeni culture.
Visitor Faisal Al-Khalidi noted that the Kingdom provides a stable environment for Yemenis and other expatriates, and praised coordination among authorities to serve residents. He added that he visited with his children to introduce them to their cultural roots while broadening their horizons.
Ali Faris, who has lived in Saudi Arabia for 48 years, described the visit as joyful and expressed surprise at the scale and the spacious layout, reflecting the Kingdom’s appreciation of resident communities.
Said Baswidan, who had traveled from Jeddah with his family, said the visit was enjoyable as he emphasized the role it played as a cultural platform connecting communities. He said the visit had provided a bridge for his children, who had never visited Yemen, to learn about their culture and identity.
The culture week helps to reflect the richness and diversity of Yemeni traditions while attracting families and visitors of various nationalities to explore the country’s heritage, traditional lifestyles, and local attire.
Organized by the Ministry of Media and the General Entertainment Authority as part of the Quality of Life Program, the initiative supports Vision 2030’s goals.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2623895/saudi-arabia
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South Asia
Dr. Abdullah Condemns Pakistan’s Airstrikes on Eastern Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati
November 25, 2025
Abdullah Abdullah condemned Pakistan’s latest airstrikes in eastern Afghanistan, calling the raids a violation of Afghanistan sovereignty and urging both sides to resolve tensions through dialogue.
Former reconciliation council chairman Dr. Abdullah Abdullah has condemned Pakistan’s overnight airstrikes on Afghanistan’s Khost, Kunar and Paktika provinces, calling them a violation of Afghanistan airspace and an attack on civilians.
Dr. Abdullah wrote on X that military operations will not resolve tensions and stressed that disputes between Islamabad and Kabul should be addressed through dialogue and negotiations.
Taliban officials said Pakistan conducted the strikes late Monday night, targeting several residential houses across the eastern border provinces.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid stated that nine children and one woman were killed when a “civilian home” was hit in Khost and confirmed further casualties in other areas.
Local sources reported that a house in central Kunar was bombed, leaving five people injured, including women and children.
In their response, the Taliban said they will retaliate at an “appropriate time,” without offering further details.
The renewed tensions come amid a sharp escalation in cross-border hostilities, adding to concerns of a wider confrontation between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Analysts warn that continued strikes and retaliatory threats risk undermining regional security, and call on both sides to prevent further civilian harm and return to diplomatic channels.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/dr-abdullah-condemns-pakistans-airstrikes-on-eastern-afghanistan/
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The Necessity of Media Literacy in an Al-Driven Era
By Razuddin Barlas
November 26, 2025
The digital age has created a village where information empowers audiences, yet growing misinformation makes media literacy essential to distinguish truth from misleading narratives.
The 21st century is often described as the era of the “Digital Information Revolution”, as the rapid rise of traditional mass media, the internet, and new social media have transformed the world into a global village. This dramatic shift has given people unprecedented access to news and information whenever they need it. In the main time, the types of data and information released by media organizations and news agencies have become a crucial issue, because such content may contain accurate facts or misleading and false information. In other words, media can serve as a powerful tool for opportunity and awareness, but it can also become a means of threat and harm.
Currently, alongside traditional mass media, the internet, and modern social media, a new player “Artificial Intelligence” has entered the media world, transforming the flow of information across the globe. Today, with AI playing an increasingly prominent role in content creation by both media employees and social media users, access to information has become faster, easier, and more abundant than ever before. However, it is important to remember that this phenomenon has also made distinguishing between true and false information more complex and challenging that without Media Literacy, understanding and analyzing this vast flow of information can seem almost impossible for media audiences.
What is Media Literacy and Why is it Important for Media Audiences?
In today’s world, Media or Information Literacy is considered one of the most essential skills for individuals in society. When reading a topic in mass media, whether traditional, modern or searching for information on the internet, we are confronted with an overwhelming volume of diverse content. The question then arises: are these sources accurate, documented, and reliable? This is precisely where the importance of Media Literacy becomes clear, as it equips us with the ability to identify, evaluate, and use accurate, useful, and credible information from a vast sea of data.
According to Eastern theorist Younes Shokrkhah, Media Literacy is a skill-based understanding that enables one to differentiate, categorize, and identify various media and media products. In other words, Shokrkhah emphasizes the skill of recognizing media outputs. Similarly, Western theorist Woody Horton argues that Media Literacy encompasses a set of skills and knowledge that teaches individuals how to interact with media consciously, critically, and intelligently, while maintaining an analytical perspective toward the messages conveyed.
Every day, media organizations publish numerous news and informational content in audio, video, and written formats from around the world. These contents are often influenced by the policies and editorial perspectives of each media organization. Whether we are listeners of a radio program, watchers of a TV program, readers of a newspaper, or users of social media, it is our responsibility as the primary audience to analyze, evaluate, and critically interpret the messages we receive. Neglecting this responsibility could even affect our values and perspectives.
Theorists emphasize that the significance of Media Literacy lies in its ability to transform individuals from passive consumers into active, aware, and analytical audiences. The main goal of Media Literacy is to raise awareness, empower individuals, and free audiences from media control and manipulation. This knowledge and skill allow us to approach media content more carefully, deeply, and critically, enabling the detection of hidden intentions behind every media message.
Media Literacy is not limited to a specific group; it can encompass all members of society, from children to adults. In many developed countries, recognizing the significant role of media in the lives of children and adolescents, Media Literacy has become an important topic within educational institutions and has been incorporated into school curricula. In contrast, in undeveloping countries such as Afghanistan, Media Literacy has yet to gain substantial attention, and even many journalism students have limited awareness of the topic in this kind of countries—a matter that requires serious attention from responsible institutions.
Artificial Intelligence, Content Creation, and Media Literacy
Artificial intelligence is one of the most advanced and influential technologies of the current century, and its role in various sectors of society continues to expand rapidly. Focusing specifically on the media, major media organizations have not lagged behind in adopting this technology.
Before the advent of AI in media, content was primarily produced by humans, as the process of creating and disseminating content involved teams of journalists, reporters, analysts, photographers, editors, and chief editors—all working based on objective facts. Today, however, this process has changed, as many media organizations—particularly social media users—utilize advanced AI models to produce news, analytical, interpretive, and literary content.
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States have stated that AI is capable of lying and deceiving humans. Peter S. Park, the lead author of this research, remarked: “We found that AI from Meta has learned to be highly proficient at deception.” This group of researchers has called for stricter regulations to limit AI’s capabilities, simultaneously warning that society currently lacks adequate measures to combat AI-driven deception.
The entry of AI into the media sector has dramatically increased the speed of content production, editing, and dissemination. However, it has also made verifying information accuracy more challenging. AI can generate news and information that appear highly accurate and realistic, even if they are not based on journalistic principles, professional ethics, or objective reality. This phenomenon not only undermines the credibility of media organizations but has also, in some cases, contributed to political crises and character defamation.
For instance, fake news, images, and videos generated by AI regarding the recent conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan have circulated widely online. During this conflict, some social media users in Afghanistan posted videos and images of Taliban forces, which were later revealed to be AI-generated. Such incidents highlight that with the expansion of advanced technologies like AI, the risk of media deception has increased significantly, making enhancing Media Literacy an essential necessity. By developing these skills, individuals can critically evaluate received information and make informed decisions.
References:
1- Shokrkhah, Y (2007). “Media Literacy.” Faslnameh-e- Rasaneh , Issue 68.
2- Salehi, S.R & Rajabi, S.M (2008). “The Necessity of Media Literacy.” Pajouheshnameh, 22.
3- Mohammadi Estani, M & Hosseinzadeh, A (2011). “Media Literacy: A Necessity in Today’s- World.” Ketab-Mah.
4- Horton, F. W (2007). Understanding Information Literacy: A Primer. UNESCO: Paris.
Source: khaama.com
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Nabil Says Possible Reopening of India’s Kandahar Consulate Could Be Major Shift in South Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati
November 26, 2025
Rahmatullah Nabil said the potential reopening of India’s consulate in Kandahar could mark a major strategic shift in southern Afghanistan, reshaping regional political and security dynamics.
The potential reopening of India’s consulate in Kandahar could represent one of the most significant political and security shifts in southern Afghanistan, former intelligence chief Rahmatullah Nabil said on Wednesday.
Nabil wrote on X that restoring the mission would not only deepen emerging trade and diplomatic pathways between India and the Taliban but also sharply heighten Islamabad’s concerns over regional influence.
He said increased Indian activity in Kandahar could prompt regional players to strengthen their political and intelligence footholds in Afghanistan, reshaping long-standing power dynamics.
The former intelligence chief noted that India’s potential return comes despite Pakistan’s earlier pressure on the previous Afghanistan government to scale back New Delhi’s diplomatic and intelligence presence, which Islamabad viewed as a threat to its security interests.
Nabil also linked recent remarks by India’s defense minister about reclaiming Sindh to rising anxieties in Islamabad, saying such statements could compound Pakistan’s strategic vulnerabilities.
He wrote that Pakistan fears the possible opening of another pressure point in Sindh, in addition to long-running unrest in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, pushing the country to reassess its security calculations.
The comments come as tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban continue to escalate. Late Monday, Pakistani airstrikes hit several areas in eastern Afghanistan, killing at least 10 people, including nine children and a woman, according to local officials.
Several others were reported wounded in the strikes, further straining relations between the two countries as Kabul condemned the attacks as a violation of Afghanistan airspace and vowed response at a proper time.
Meanwhile, tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban are intensifying, even as India expands its diplomatic engagement with Kabul after years of limited contact.
Nabil added that Taliban-India relations appear to be warming, while Pakistan faces growing uncertainty over how shifting regional alignments may affect its influence in Afghanistan.
Source: khaama.com
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Afghan Delegation Attends Dubai Forum 2025
November 26, 2025
KABUL :A delegation from the Ministry of Public Health participated in the Second International Pharmaceutical Inspections Forum, held in Dubai on Tuesday.
The delegation was led by Mawlawi Hamdullah Zahed, Deputy Minister for Food and Medicine, accompanied by Pharmacist Noor Ahmad Hanafi, Director of Drug and Health Products Registration and Evaluation, the ministry said in a statement.
The International Pharmaceutical Inspections Forum serves as a major global platform for professional dialogue, experience exchange, and shaping the future of the pharmaceutical industry. The event aims to strengthen cooperation among regulatory authorities from various countries, particularly in the fields of drug regulation and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) inspections.
This year’s forum brought together regulators, experts, and representatives from leading pharmaceutical companies across more than 60 countries, including key stakeholders from Asia, Europe, and the Global South. Discussions focused on enhancing pharmaceutical oversight, improving production standards, and expanding international coordination to ensure drug safety and quality.
The Ministry of Public Health highlighted Afghanistan’s recent progress in developing its national pharmaceutical sector. Officials noted that four domestic pharmaceutical factories have successfully obtained GMP certification through the Ministry’s Directorate of Food and Medicine — a significant step toward elevating local production to internationally recognized standards. Efforts are underway to prepare additional factories across the country to qualify for this certification in the near future.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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Afghanistan to Reactivate Joint Economic Commissions With Saudi Arabia, China
November 26, 2025
KABUL: The meeting of the Economic Commission was held with the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Mullah Abdul Ghani Beradar, on the chair, to discuss key economic initiatives, including the reactivation of Afghanistan’s joint economic commissions with Saudi Arabia and China.
Following comprehensive discussions, the commission approved the reactivation of both bodies and endorsed the inclusion of new members, Beradar’s office said in a statement on Tuesday.
The joint commissions are expected to enhance coordination on bilateral trade, investment opportunities, and broader economic cooperation with the two partner countries.
The session also reviewed the report of a designated committee regarding the allocation of industrial plots in the Hairatan Industrial Township in Balkh Province.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing was instructed to prepare a revised developmental plan for the township, considering the existing infrastructure.
Several additional projects were approved, including the granting of a contract for nephrite extraction in the Iskandara area of Sarkano District, Kunar Province, and the proposal to construct a five-story commercial market in Mazar-e-Sharif, Balkh Province.
All decisions adopted during the session have been forwarded to the Office of the Supreme Leader for final approval.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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New Qatari Ambassador Presents Credentials to IEA’s Foreign Minister
November 26, 2025
KABUL: Mirdif Al-Qasouti, formerly serving as Chargé d’Affaires of the State of Qatar, presented a copy of his credentials as Qatar’s new ambassador to Mawlavi Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Emirate, the ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.
Muttaqi welcomed the ambassador and wished him success in his new diplomatic mission and emphasized the importance of utilizing existing opportunities to further strengthen relations between the two nations.
He described Afghanistan–Qatar relations as historically deep and called for the expansion of cooperation, particularly in trade, economic development, and the acceleration of Afghan skilled workers’ deployment to Qatar.
Ambassador Al-Qasouti likewise highlighted the historic ties between the governments and peoples of both countries and reaffirmed his commitment to enhancing bilateral relations.
He stated that Qatar would continue its role as a mediator and work to bring Afghanistan and the international community closer together through dialogue and constructive engagement.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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IEA Denounces Pakistani Airstrikes as Violation of Airspace and International Norms
November 26, 2025
KABUL: The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) strongly condemned Monday night’s airstrikes by Pakistani forces on Paktika, Khost, and Kunar provinces, calling the attacks a violation of Afghanistan’s airspace and a breach of internationally accepted norms.
Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesman for the Islamic Emirate, stated on Tuesday that Afghanistan considers the protection of its airspace a legitimate right and reiterated that the IEA will respond appropriately at the right time.
He described the action of the Pakistani Military Regime as a clear violation of international standards that will only escalate tensions and further damage the reputation of the Pakistani military.
The spokesperson also added that 10 civilians were killed and four others injured in the Pakistani airstrikes.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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BNP urges EC to extend registration deadline for overseas Bangladeshis
Nov 25, 2025
BNP has urged the Election Commission to extend the deadline for voter registration for Bangladeshis living abroad, enabling them to cast their votes through postal voting.
During a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin at his office today, a party delegation led by standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan also proposed that Bangladeshis living abroad be allowed to register using either their passports or National ID cards.
Speaking to reporters, Nazrul said that in countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the number of Bangladeshis is very high, with many residing in remote areas where registration is difficult.
"Therefore, on behalf of our party, we requested that in countries with large populations of Bangladeshis and transportation challenges, the registration period be extended," he said.
The EC assured BNP that even after the main schedule ends, those left out will be given a few additional days.
Nazrul said very few Bangladeshis living abroad have National ID (NID) cards.
"Therefore, we proposed that alongside NIDs, Bangladeshi passports be accepted as identification for inclusion in the voter list," he said.
He added that during the previous government, many people obtained passports illegally or through corruption, and even Rohingyas received them. "We do not want them to become voters," he said.
"That is why we suggested that photos of passports be sent to Bangladesh for verification, and only if they are found to be genuine should they be accepted for voter registration. And the commission assured us that they would consider the matter," Nazrul said.
For the first time, the EC has launched the "Postal Vote BD" app, marking a pioneering step to ensure the voting rights of Bangladeshis living abroad.
Bangladeshis living in about 140 countries will be able to cast their ballots in the upcoming polls.
The registration process, divided into seven regions, started on November 19 and will run until December 23, with each region allotted five days.
Bangladeshis living in East Asia, South America, and Africa must register between November 19 and 23; those in North America and Oceania between November 24 and 28; and in Europe from November 29 to December 3. Registration for the Middle East (Saudi Arabia) will take place from December 4 to 8, South and Southeast Asia from December 9 to 13, and the Middle East (excluding Saudi Arabia) from December 14 to 18.
After registration, voters will receive ballot papers bearing candidate symbols once nominations are finalised. These ballots must be filled out and returned to the returning officer within 16 to 28 days.
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/politics/news/bnp-urges-ec-extend-registration-deadline-overseas-bangladeshis-4043291
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Southeast Asia
Anwar accepts Shamsul Iskandar’s resignation, says MACC free to probe hospital letter row ‘without external interference’
By Malay Mail
26 Nov 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 26 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has accepted the resignation of his senior political secretary Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin.
In a statement issued today, Anwar also expressed his gratitude to Shamsul for his service, saying the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) was free to “to carry out an immediate investigation, without any external interference.”
He stressed that the unity government remained committed to transparency and integrity.
Shamsul announced his resignation a day earlier in a statement on X, saying he had become aware of attempts to exploit a controversy to tarnish the image of the Madani government.
“I have been made aware of attempts to attack me with matters that could tarnish the image of the Madani government. Therefore, I have decided to defend myself against these attacks,” he said, adding that he had submitted his resignation letter to the Prime Minister that morning.
He explained that he stepped down to protect himself from such attacks and thanked Anwar for the trust placed in him during his tenure.
His resignation followed criticism over the issuance of a letter of support for contractors involved in a hospital project.
The issue prompted calls for his dismissal, with former economy minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli urging Anwar to take stronger action to demonstrate the government’s commitment to fighting corruption.
Source: malaymail.com
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MACC launches STRIKE programme to improve staff health and fitness
25 Nov 2025
MACC’s STRIKE weight management programme aims to enhance officer fitness and work efficiency through health activities and lifestyle changes.
PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has launched the Weight Management Awareness Programme to improve employee health, fitness, and weight management.
MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said the initiative ensures personnel remain fit, healthy, and well-presented for enforcement duties.
“I want to see MACC officers project an image that reflects the organisation’s integrity,” he stated after opening the ‘One Strike! Towards a Healthy Lifestyle’ seminar.
Azam noted that participant commitment requires strengthening, with less than 50% attending scheduled sessions since the July launch.
Several improvements have been introduced, including healthier meeting menus and calorie information displays at cafeterias.
Calorie markers on staircases, optimised gym use, and Friday afternoon fitness sessions with certified instructors reinforce healthy culture.
“Lifestyle transformation cannot depend solely on programmes but requires self-discipline and continuous awareness,” he emphasised.
The programme aims to produce officers who are both efficient in duties and physically and mentally strong.
Healthy living must become a work culture rather than a temporary episode, according to Azam.
Universiti Putra Malaysia and the Malaysian Obesity Society will use programme findings for academic publication.
Implementation includes both in-person and online activities through various engagement methods.
These comprise lifestyle monitoring logbooks, nutrition counselling, and health assessments.
Expert sharing sessions, healthy cooking demonstrations, and professional fitness training complete the programme.
The STRIKE programme is scheduled to conclude in January 2026.
Source: thesun.my
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https://thesun.my/news/malaysia-news/macc-launches-strike-programme-to-improve-staff-health-and-fitness/
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Malaysia reviews Islamic Family Law Bill, considers parent maintenance rules
25 Nov 2025
JAKIM reviews Islamic Family Law Bill with focus on maintenance for infirm parents, expected to be tabled in Parliament in March next year.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) is conducting an in-depth review of the draft Islamic Family Law (Federal Territories) Bill, which includes assessing whether the provisions on the maintenance (nafkah) of infirm parents should be refined.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar said the bill is expected to be tabled in Parliament in March next year.
He said the comprehensive review was being undertaken to ensure the provisions are in line with the principles of Islamic law and responsive to the current realities of the Muslim community in the country.
“The review allows the government to take a more comprehensive look at whether the existing provisions are sufficient or require further scrutiny.
“The preparation of the draft laws is currently being carried out actively through legal scrutiny, stakeholder engagement and technical review to ensure they truly meet the needs of the community and (align with) the principles of Islamic law,” he said during the Minister’s Question Time at the Dewan Rakyat today.
He said this in response to a question from Aminolhuda Hassan (PH-Sri Gading) on measures taken by the government to improve existing provisions in Islamic family law, making it mandatory for children to support their parents, particularly when they are infirm, without income, or unable to support themselves.
Mohd Na’im also said that the government, through the Department of Syariah Judiciary Malaysia, was working on the Syariah Court Bill, which would include clearer and more specific provisions on parental care and maintenance.
“This effort aims to ensure that the Syariah court has the jurisdiction to handle claims relating to the welfare of parents who are infirm or incapacitated in a more effective manner,” he said.
Mohd Na’im said engagement sessions were held with stakeholders to obtain detailed information, discuss practical issues in the field, and ensure that the model provisions being drafted were more practical and implementable.
“Through this mechanism, Jakim can evaluate, coordinate and draft a model law that can serve as a reference for the states, ensuring greater uniformity in the implementation, interpretation and practice of the Syariah courts nationwide,” he said. – Bernama
Source: thesun.my
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