Model Showing The Gyanvapi Mosque As A Temple: Kumbh Mela Exhibition Push For Hindutva Agenda
New Age Islam News Bureau
19 January 2025
Devotees carry a statue of Lord Shiva during the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025, at Sangam in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025.
PTI photo
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• Model Showing The Gyanvapi Mosque As A Temple: Kumbh Mela Exhibition Push For Hindutva Agenda
• Who Is Mohammad Shariful Islam Shahzad,A Bangladeshi National, Arrested By The Mumbai Police For Attacking Saif Ali Khan?
• A Long-Awaited Gaza Ceasefire Starts After An Almost Three-Hour Delay
• UK Parliament Committee Urges Government To Recognize Palestine
• Wigan Muslim Leader Voices Opposition On Banning Marriage Between Cousins in UK
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India
• UP’s most wanted Guddu Muslim suspected to have fled to Dubai
• Uttarakhand Again Mired In ‘Thook Jihad’, Video With Man Spitting On Chapati Goes Viral
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Mideast
• Palestine’s Islamic Jihad Group Urges Support For Gaza Following Genocidal War
• Iran unveils underground naval base as it seeks to counter Israeli threat
• Two Supreme Court judges shot dead in Tehran, Iranian judiciary says
• Islamic Jihad Praises Tel Aviv Operation
• Islamic Jihad Leader Thanks Iran For All-Out Support
• Loading, unloading of goods stand at 36m tons in Imam Khomeini port in 9 months
• Islamic Jihad’s military wing warns of risks to Israeli hostages amid continued bombing of Gaza
• VOA Persian: Israeli dance group debuts video in solidarity with Iran
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Europe
• The UK Still Hasn’t Come To Terms With The Muslim Brotherhood
• Patients dying in hospital corridors, say British nurses
• Child “Grooming” and Sexual Abuse: A British White Export?
• A ‘peculiar PR stunt’: how a fatwa on polygamy caused controversy and confusion in Russia
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Pakistan
• Pakistan Sees Gaza Ceasefire As First Step Towards Two-State Solution
• 21 Pakistanis among survivors in Moroccan boat tragedy: FO
• Police post attacked, set on fire in Turbat
• Shehbaz hails Digital FDI achievement
• New IHC judges to take oath tomorrow
• Assets worth $220,000 recovered in Karachi’s crypto trader kidnap case, ATC told
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Arab World
• Lebanon Higher Islamic Sharia Council Calls To 'Facilitate The Mission' Of Prime Minister-Designate
• Saudi official: 11 power supply sources for Grand Mosque in Mecca
• Awqaf to provide 300,000 Iftar meals at nine sites during Ramadan
• Haram Presidency Official: Never Used Backup Electricity At Grand Mosque Since 40 Years
• Around 5000 from Gulf countries to commemorate the visit of Imam Al-Kadhim
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Southeast Asia
• Muslims Encouraged To Seek Change And GrowthHighlighted In A Tazkirah Titled “Courage To Change”
• Simpler cross border travel policies, scam tourism solutions top agenda at Asean tourism meet
• Home Minister says healthy BMI rule for police promotions crucial to uphold discipline
• Govt ready to fund NGOs in BeST programme for a cleaner Federal Territories, says Dr Zaliha
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North America
• Shawn Mendes And Mustafa The Poet Spotted Together At The Islamic Centre NYU For Jummah Prayers, A Surprising Crossover
• Muslim Rights Group Urges Gov. Murphy to Pass Immigrant Trust Act to Counter Trump Deportations
• Southern California braces for worse wildfires as Santa Ana winds expected to intensify
• Chicago to see immigration raids next week
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Africa
• New Wave Of Boko Haram Killings
• Mohammed Abdul-Salam defends his appointment as Acting NLA CEO amid criticism from fellow Muslims
• More than 70 killed, dozens injured in Nigeria fuel tanker explosion
• Nigeria governor bans heavy-duty trucks as death toll from tanker explosion rises to 70
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South Asia
• Deputy PM Mullah Baradar Addresses Scholars at Jamia Mazhar-ul-Uloom Niazi Ceremony in Khost
• Inauguration of Martyrs’ Minaret, Mosque, and Gate in Balkh
• India Seeks to Bolster Ties with Afghanistan’s Islamic Emirate
• Border Clashes Highlight Persistent Challenges in Afghanistan-Pakistan Relations
• Afghanistan Central Bank to auction $18 million
• Pakistan replaces Bank Guarantee with Insurance for Afghanistan’s Transit Trade via Gwadar port
• Steelbird-TVS joint venture stalled amid Bangladesh’s political crisis
• Tripura Flags Bangladesh Embankment Plan, Warns Could Lead To Floods
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/model-gyanvapi-mosque-kumbh-mela-hindutva/d/134374
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Model Showing The Gyanvapi Mosque As A Temple: Kumbh Mela Exhibition Push For Hindutva Agenda
Piyush Srivastava
19.01.25
Devotees carry a statue of Lord Shiva during the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025, at Sangam in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025.
PTI photo
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A model showing the Gyanvapi mosque as a temple is on display at an exhibition at the Kumbh Mela in Allahabad, indicating Hinduism’s largest congregation is being used to publicise a Hindutva agenda.
The Gyanvapi, which abuts the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi, is among a dozen-odd Islamic structures that are the subject of court petitions claiming they were built over demolished temples and should be shifted, with their sites handed over to Hindus.
Swami Narendranand Saraswati, mahant of the Sumeru Mutt in Varanasi, unveiled the exhibition on Saturday. Apart from the Gyanvapi model, whose top half is designed like a temple, it displays 120 pictures — purportedly of various parts of the mosque that feature Hindu figurines and symbols.
Some sources claimed these pictures were taken during a survey of the mosque, carried out in 2023 on the orders of a local court in Varanasi. However, the court never disclosed what the pictures taken during the survey showed.
The survey pictures were placed before the court in a sealed envelope and were earmarked as confidential, so displaying them would invite contempt. Officially, the exhibition organisers said the displayed pictures had been snapped by photography enthusiasts and were not classified.
“We want to liberate the Gyanvapi by constitutional means. All the Sanatani people (Hindus) must come forward to take this mission forward,” the mahant said.
The exhibition is being held by the Sri Adimahadev Kashi DharmalayMuktiNyas, a Varanasi organisation dedicated to “liberating” temples allegedly controlledby non-Hindus.
Ram Prasad Singh, a trustee of the Nyas, said: “We began a Mahayagnya at the (Mela) camp on Saturday to publicise our mission. For this, we have put up banners and posters across the Mela area.”
He added: “The Gyanvapi issue is a mission of the entire Hindu community. Our idea behind the exhibition and Mahayagnya in the Mela area is to make people aware of it and mobilise them to the cause.”
The Gyanvapi case is being heard in the lower Varanasi court as well as Allahabad High Court. Hindu petitioners have claimed that Mughal emperor Aurangzeb demolished a part of the original Kashi Vishwanath temple and built the Gyanvapimosque over it.
After the 2023 survey, the Varanasi court had last year handed the basement of the mosque over to Hindus to pray before idols that had allegedly been locked up there for years.
The mosque committee has approached the high court challenging the Hindu petitioners’ plea on the ground that it runs counter to a 1991 law that forbids the conversion of any religious structure into that of another religion, barring the Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid.
The Supreme Court is currently hearing challenges to the constitutionality of this law, the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act 1991.
Source: Www.Telegraphindia.Com
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Who Is Mohammad Shariful Islam Shahzad,A Bangladeshi National, Arrested By The Mumbai Police For Attacking Saif Ali Khan?
January 19, 2025
Saif Ali Khan Attack News Live Updates: Mohammad Shariful Islam Shahzad, the prime accused in the Saif Ali Khan attack case being taken to Bandra court from Khar Police station on Sunday. (Express Photo: Ganesh Shirshekar)
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Mohammad Shariful Islam Shahzad, a 30-year-old man of Bangladeshi origin, was arrested by Mumbai Police on Saturday, almost 70 hours after the stabbing of Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan at his Bandra residence. Shahzad, who had changed his name to Vijay Das upon entering India, had been living in Mumbai for just six months. His alleged motive behind the crime, according to authorities, was robbery. Police say that Shahzad was unaware that he had entered Khan’s residence during his attempt to steal.
After crossing into the country “illegally”, Shahzad settled in Mumbai and found work at a bar in Thane, a satellite city on the outskirts of Mumbai. However, he left his job just a week before the attack, hoping to find better employment. According to the police, Shahzad also did not have any valid Indian identification documents.
According to police reports, Shahzad allegedly entered Khan’s Bandra residence with the intention to rob, but the encounter turned violent, leading to the actor being stabbed six times. After the attack, Shahzad fled, taking a train from Bandra to Dadar and then heading to his temporary residence in Worli. When he saw his image being circulated across news channels and social media platforms, fear took over, and he decided to go into hiding.
Shahzad’s escape led him to the dense mangroves near a labour camp in Kasarwadavli, Thane, where he managed to avoid capture for nearly three days. The Mumbai Police, led by Deputy Commissioner NavnathDhawale, launched an intensive manhunt involving nearly 20 police teams in pursuit of the suspect.
During his interrogation, Shahzad revealed that after fleeing to Thane, he had tried to keep a low profile, moving from one temporary hideout to another.
The breakthrough in the investigation came through a series of digital clues that pieced together Shahzad’s movements. First, a CCTV camera in a mobile phone shop captured Shahzad on video. However, it was his own UPI (Unified Payments Interface) transaction that helped the police close in on him. Shahzad had purchased a mobile cover using Google Pay, leaving behind a digital trail that allowed the authorities to trace his movements post-attack.
Using mobile records, the police tracked Shahzad’s last-known location, eventually narrowing their search to a labour camp where he had stayed. With the help of his former employer, a contractor named Pandey, the police were able to locate the exact spot where Shahzad was hiding.
Source: Indianexpress.Com
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A Long-Awaited Gaza Ceasefire Starts After An Almost Three-Hour Delay
Associated Press
19 Jan 2025
Displaced Palestinians leave parts of Khan Younis as they go back to their homes in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Sunday, Jan. 19,Associated Press
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A ceasefire in the Gaza Strip took effect on Sunday following an almost three-hour delay after Hamas was late to name the three hostage it plans to release.
The announcement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the ceasefire began at 11:15 a.m. local time (0915 GMT). Israel said earlier it would keep fighting until the names were handed over in accordance with the agreement.
Hamas blamed the delay in handing over the names on “technical field reasons.” It said in a statement that it is committed to the ceasefire deal announced last week.
The ceasefire is set to pause the fighting after 15 months of war and see the release of dozens of hostages held by the militants in the Gaza Strip and hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Israel's Cabinet approved the deal early on Saturday.
Brokered by mediators the United States, Qatar and Egypt in months of indirect talks between the warring sides, the ceasefire is the second truce achieved in the devastating conflict.
The Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel killed some 1,200 people and left some 250 others captive. Nearly 100 hostages remain in Gaza.
Israel responded with an offensive that has killed more than 46,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, who do not distinguish between civilians and militants but say women and children make up more than half the dead.
An Israeli airstrike killed at least eight people in the Gaza Strip after the ceasefire was delayed, Palestinian medical officials said.
Nasser Hospital in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis confirmed the casualties from Sunday’s strike, which it said had occurred around two hours after the truce was supposed to take effect.
Israel said Hamas delayed the start of the truce by not naming the hostages it was supposed to release later on Sunday. Hamas publicized the names around two hours after the ceasefire had been due to begin.
The Hamas militant group has named the three hostages it plans to release on Sunday, potentially clearing the way for the start of a Gaza ceasefire after a delay.
Israel had earlier said it would continue fighting in Gaza until the names were handed over in accordance with the agreement. The start of the ceasefire has been delayed by more than two hours.
The party of Israel’s hard-line National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir says its Cabinet ministers submitted their resignations from the government on Sunday in opposition to the Gaza ceasefire deal.
The departure of the Jewish Power party from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government does not bring down the coalition or affect the ceasefire. But Ben-Gvir’s departure destabilizes the coalition.
An Israeli official said Sunday that the Gaza ceasefire deal is expected to go forward despite a delay over a list of hostages meant to be handed over by Hamas to Israel.
The official said the timing of the deal’s progress remained in question. But the official said mediators had provided assurances that Hamas would deliver the list.
Israel announced Sunday the ceasefire would not come into effect as planned until Hamas hands over the list of hostages set to be freed later in the day as part of its commitments under the deal.
Israeli authorities said Sunday that forces had recovered and returned the body of a soldier killed in the 2014 Israel-Hamas war, whose remains were held by the Palestinian militant group in Gaza.
Israeli military spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said a complicated operation involving elite commando forces returned the body of OronShaul overnight Saturday.
Shaul, 21 at the time of his death, was killed in battle in the war a decade ago. His body was snatched by Hamas and held since.
The bodies were expected to be returned as part of a fragile ceasefire deal with Hamas in exchange for the hostages and bodies it holds.
The U.N.’s humanitarian affairs agency says it has ratcheted up its preparations for providing aid to Gaza after the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas takes effect.
Muhannad Hadi, the agency’s humanitarian coordinator for the territory, said Saturday the United Nations and its partners are ready to leverage the opportunity for large-scale relief.
Hadi referenced in a statement the agreements reached on implementing humanitarian components in the first phase of the ceasefire, including the provision of supplies “including water, food, health and shelter to people across Gaza and the long-awaited release of hostages.”
The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas it set to go into effect at 8:30 a.m. local time (0630 GMT) on Sunday, mediator Qatar said. It will pause the fighting after 15 months of war and see the release of dozens of hostages held by the militants in the Gaza Strip and hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.
Dozens of Israelis protested the ceasefire deal in Jerusalem on Saturday night, briefly blocking a main road as they shouted for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resign and the war to continue.
Many carried faux coffins draped in the Israeli flag as well as banners calling the ceasefire a “betrayal” of Israeli soldiers killed in the war.
Yehoshua Shin, whose son was killed fighting Hamas militants on Oct. 7, criticized the deal for releasing Palestinians from prison and called on American president- elect Donald Trump to scrap the deal until there is “total victory” over the Hamas militant group.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday that Israel is treating the ceasefire with Hamas as temporary and retains the right to continue fighting if necessary.
Speaking to the nation just 12 hours before the ceasefire is to start, he claimed that he had the support of President-elect Donald Trump, who he said he spoke with on Wednesday.
Netanyahu also touted Israel’s military successes in Lebanon and Syria as the reason Hamas agreed to a ceasefire. “We have changed the face of the Middle East,” Netanyahu said.
Netanyahu stressed that he was able to negotiate the best deal possible even as Israel’s far-right Public Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said Saturday he and most of his party would resign from the government in opposition.
Source: Www.Newindianexpress.Com
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UK parliament committee urges government to recognize Palestine
January 18, 2025
The UK Parliament International Development Committee urged the government on Friday to recognize a Palestinian state, including the necessary conditions to be fulfilled and a timeline outlining planned actions.
The committee issued a report on the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, developments in the West Bank and displaced Palestinians.
“The Government must set out the steps it will take to recognise the state of Palestine, including conditions that need to be met and a timeline of planned actions,” it said.
The report said Israel’s response to Hamas’ attacks on Oct. 7, 2023, resulted in significant civilian casualties and the destruction of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure.
Pointing out that the decisions by international courts pointing to the risk of violations of international law in Gaza, the report said: “We believe that there is a plausible risk that Israel’s military campaign in Gaza may have included grave violations of international humanitarian law, which has given rise to accusations of genocide.”
The report noted that 500 aid trucks are needed daily to meet Gaza’s humanitarian needs but the number has dropped to an average of 25.
Addressing Israeli actions in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, it stated that between Oct. 7, 2023, and Oct. 31, 2024, Israel demolished 1,800 structures belonging to Palestinians and killed 736 Palestinians in the same period.
It urged the UK government to do everything in its power to “ensure that Israel is held accountable for any ongoing breaches of international humanitarian law.”
Source: Muslimmirror.Com
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https://muslimmirror.com/uk-parliament-committee-urges-government-to-recognize-palestine/
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Wigan Muslim Leader Voices Opposition On Banning Marriage Between Cousins in UK
By Gaynor Clarke
19th Jan 2025
The second reading of the bill will be held in the Houses of Parliament on Friday
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The leader of a Muslim organisation in Wigan has spoken out against proposals to ban marriage between cousins.
A bill by Conservative former minister Richard Holden, entitled Marriage (Prohibited Degrees of Relationship) Bill, was considered at a second reading on Friday (January 17).
Existing legislation states the prohibited degrees of relationship for marriage include those to a sibling, parent or child, but not marriages between first cousins.
Source: Www.Wigantoday.Net
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India
UP’s most wanted Guddu Muslim suspected to have fled to Dubai
Jan 19, 2025
Guddu Muslim, wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case, is suspected to have escaped to Dubai on a fake passport after evading arrest for nearly two years.
After evading arrest for nearly two years, Guddu Muslim, slain gangster Atiq Ahmad’s close aide wanted in the February 2023 Umesh Pal murder case of Prayagraj, is suspected to have escaped from India to Dubai on a fake passport in December 2024, said senior police and intelligence officials on Saturday.
An intelligence official said Guddu Muslim, 52, who also carries a reward of ₹5 lakh on his arrest, is suspected to have fled via Kolkata airport using a fake passport.
He said a person having a passport in the name of Syed Wasimuddin, who boarded the flight to Dubai on December 6, 2024, is suspected to be a Guddu Muslim who escaped after remaining elusive while staying in the country for over 21 months.
Source: Www.Hindustantimes.Com
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Uttarakhand again mired in ‘Thook Jihad’, video with man spitting on chapati goes viral
PR Singh
January 18, 2025
Uttarakhand is once again mired in the controversy of alleged ‘Thook (spit) Jihad’ as a video showing a chef spitting on chapati went viral in social media leading to stir in the Bageshwar town. Incident took place near Municipal Council building.
It’s seen in the video that a man was spitting on the chapatis before placing them in the tandoor. As the video went viral local right wing organisations vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal activists created bedlam in the town.
Bajrang Dal’s district president Vijay Parihar and his supporters protested in front of the hotel alleging that it’s an attempt to play the sentiments of the Hindus at the time when locals are taking part in the annual Uttarayan fair.
Parihar alleged “Hindus abstain consuming non vegeterian and other spicy food items in the holy month of Magh as we observe Uttarayan. Hindus perform one of most pious ritual upanayan ceremony of their children after taking holy dip and praying at the Saryu river bank. Besides this people prefer and look for having pure food but video is an evidence that the hotel in question and its staff have least regard for religious feelings and rituals of the local public.”
As the situation turned seriously Bageshwar City Kotwali Police swung into action and took to the hotel owner and the accused man in the custody. The arrested men have been identified as Aamir and Firasat.
Source: Www.Thestatesman.Com
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Mideast
Palestine’s Islamic Jihad group urges support for Gaza following genocidal war
Mohamed Majed
19.01.2025
The head of the Palestinian resistance group, Islamic Jihad, urged Arab and Islamic nations to stand by the Gaza Strip on Saturday following a 15-month Israeli genocidal war.
He emphasized during a televised speech the importance of achieving Palestinian unity, solidarity and cooperation to meet the needs of Gaza's residents in light of the destruction and suffering caused by the war.
Regarding the ceasefire agreement, al-Nakhala explained that the "Palestinian resistance succeeded in imposing its terms on Israel.”
"We forced the enemy to agree to a ceasefire, withdraw from Gaza, and conduct a prisoner exchange operation that ensures the release of a large number of our prisoners in the first phase," he said. "We will continue our efforts in the second phase to liberate the rest of our prisoners, and the enemy will withdraw from the areas it entered in the Gaza Strip."
Source: Www.aa.Com
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Iran unveils underground naval base as it seeks to counter Israeli threat
19 January 2025
Iran has unveiled an underground naval base capable of taking on "enemies big and small".
Footage broadcast on state TV shows a large number of speedboats lined up in what appears to be an underground tunnel.
State TV showed Revolutionary Guards chief General Hossein Salami visiting the base with naval arm commander Rear Admiral AlirezaTangsiri.
It comes as Iranian leaders fear US president-elect Donald Trump, who will take over from Joe Biden following his inauguration in Washington later today, might empower Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to strike Iran's nuclear sites.
Source: News.sky.Com
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Two Supreme Court judges shot dead in Tehran, Iranian judiciary says
January 18, 2025
Jan 18 (Reuters) - Two senior Iranian Supreme Court judges involved in handling espionage and terrorism cases were shot dead in the capital Tehran on Saturday, Iran's judiciary said.
It said the attacker killed himself after opening fire at the judges inside the Supreme Court, and that a bodyguard of one of the judges was wounded.
While the motive for the assassination was still unclear, judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir told state television that the two judges had long been involved in "national security cases, including espionage and terrorism".
Source: Www.Reuters.Com
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Islamic Jihad Praises Tel Aviv Operation
19 Jan 2025
Gaza-Saba: The Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine praised the heroic operation carried out by the martyr Salah Yahya (from Tulkarm) in Tel Aviv, which resulted in the wounding of a number of settlers.
The Islamic Jihad Movement stresses that this operation comes as a natural response to the crimes of the enemy, and the adherence of our people to resisting the occupation by all means and methods.
Source: Www.Saba.Ye
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https://www.saba.ye/en/news3425796.htm
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Islamic Jihad leader thanks Iran for all-out support
Jan 18, 2025
TEHRAN, Jan. 18 (MNA) – The Palestinian Islamic Jihad secretary general thanked Iran for its all-out support for Palestine, adding that the resistance of the Palestinian people forced the Zionist enemy to accept a ceasefire in Gaza.
According to Al-Mayadeen, Ziad Al-Nakhalah, Secretary General of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, considered the resistance of the Palestinian people to be the most important reason for the Zionist regime’s acceptance of the ceasefire.
In a speech on Saturday, he added, “Iran has fully supported us over the past few decades and continues to support us. Iran was with us in Operation True Promise (against Israeli regime).”
The Secretary General of the Islamic Jihad continued to say that the Palestinian people stood with unparalleled courage against the oppression and crimes of the Zionist regime and emerged from the battlefield proudly with their resistance.
Source: En.Mehrnews.Com
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https://en.mehrnews.com/news/227099/Islamic-Jihad-leader-thanks-Iran-for-all-out-support
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Loading, unloading of goods stand at 36m tons in Imam Khomeini port in 9 months
January 18, 2025
AboutalebGeraylou, the director-general of the Ports and Maritime Department of Khuzestan province, said that Imam Khomeini port, as the largest commercial port in the province, accepted 1,112 vessels in the nine-month period.
As previously announced by Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organization (PMO), the country’s ports handled nearly 175 million tons of cargo in the first nine months of the present year.
During this period, 20.83 million tons of oil goods and 39.55 million tons of non-oil goods were unloaded, bringing total unloading operations to 60.38 million tons. Cargo loading operations included 58.84 million tons of oil goods and 55.77 million tons of non-oil goods, totaling 114.61 million tons, IRNA reported.
Combined loading and unloading operations amounted to 174.99 million tons, with 79.67 million tons of oil goods and 95.32 million tons of non-oil goods.
Source: En.Tehrantimes.Com
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Islamic Jihad’s military wing warns of risks to Israeli hostages amid continued bombing of Gaza
Mohammed Ragawi
18.01.2025
The Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Jihad movement, warned on Saturday that ongoing Israeli airstrikes in Gaza could result in the deaths of Israeli hostages held in the enclave.
In a statement, the Palestinian group urged the families of the hostages to demand that the Israeli army halt its bombardment emphasizing the risk to the hostages during the final stages of preparations for their release under a prisoner exchange agreement.
“The intensity of Israeli bombing may leave families receiving their loved ones in coffins,” the group said, asserting that “the fate of the captives now lies solely in the hands of the Israeli army.”
This warning came hours before the anticipated implementation of a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, which is set to take effect at 8.30 a.m. local time (0630GMT) on Sunday.
Source: Www.aa.Com
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VOA Persian: Israeli dance group debuts video in solidarity with Iran
January 18, 2025
Natalie Sanandaji, an Iranian Israeli survivor of Hamas' October 7, 2023, terrorist attack and the public relations officer for the organization "Combat Antisemitism Movement," recently participated in a group dance video designed to demonstrate "solidarity with the courageous Iranian women resisting the oppression of the Islamic Republic."
Source: News.sky.Com
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Europe
The UK still hasn’t come to terms with the Muslim Brotherhood
John Jenkins
19 January 2025
Earlier this month, the UAE announced it was sanctioning 11 individuals and eight rather obscure organisations for alleged connections to the Muslim Brotherhood (MB). The UAE proscribed the MB as a terrorist group in 2014, so you might be forgiven for thinking this was routine. But it wasn’t. All eight organisations were based in the UK. Normally this works the other way round: the UK bans or sanctions entities elsewhere. Having an Arab country – especially one we claim as a friend – do that in reverse should set alarm bells ringing. There was a brief flurry of press interest, then silence.
In early 2014 David Cameron commissioned me to deliver a policy review of the Muslim Brotherhood. There was an outpouring of scorn on social media and in the press. Academics, self-designated experts and (so it seemed) the entire liberal commentariat agreed that the idea was absurd.
Source: Www.Spectator.Co.Uk
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https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-uk-still-hasnt-come-to-terms-with-the-muslim-brotherhood/
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Patients dying in hospital corridors, say British nurses
Jan 19, 2025
LONDON: Patients are dying in the corridors of Britain’s hospitals. Pregnant women are receiving miscarriage treatments in semipublic places. Incontinent patients are cleaned next to vending machines. Those are just some of the shocking revelations in a report published Thursday by the Royal College of Nursing, a British nursing union. In the report, nurses described an overcrowding crisis that they said has led to a collapse in care, confidentiality and dignity across the country’s National Health Service.
“Vulnerable people are being stripped of their dignity and nursing staff are being denied access to vital lifesaving equipment,” Nicola Ranger, the general secretary and CEO of the union, said in a statement. The nation’s healthcare staff had reached a “breaking point,” she added in the report.
The 460-page report, which features anonymised testimony from over 5,400 nurses surveyed from Dec 18, 2024 to Jan 11, is the latest mayday from British medical professionals. The union granted its members anonymity in order to speak freely, preventing repercussions from employers and protecting patient confidentiality, a spokesperson said.
Doctors and nurses have struggled to care for the nearly 70 million people in the UK after years of challenges, including chronic underinvestment in the NHS under Conservative-led govts that held power from 2010 to 2024.
Source: Www.Timesofindia.Com
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Child “Grooming” and Sexual Abuse: A British White Export?
January 18, 2025
This article was initially compiled as an ‘X’ thread to expose the fallacy of the culturalist argument that Pakistanis, due to their culture, specifically target white girls for abuse. The ‘X’ thread can be viewed here.
Let’s talk about child sex tourism, where white British people (and Western Europeans) disproportionately travel to Eastern Europe and Asian countries to sexually abuse little black and brown boys and girls.
Countries have been categorised as source and destination countries. “Source” refers to the country from which people travel to engage in child sexual abuse, and “destination” refers to the country to which people travel to for their depravities.
During the 90s, British-based tourist agents would organise child sex tours. The government even resisted legislation enabling the prosecution of British child abusers for offences against children abroad.
In 1995, four young Filipino men gave Home Office officials first-hand accounts of the actions of Britons who go abroad to prey on children sexually:
“Hundreds of thousands of children were lured into child sexual slavery in the Philippines to satisfy the requirements of Western tourists, many of them British.”
According to End Child Prostitution in Asian Tourism (ECPAT) at the time (1995), “one in every eight abusers was from the UK,” making UK the “fourth in the offender league table after Germany, America and Australia” – white people raping Asian children.
“Unfortunately the UK has an appalling record in prosecuting British citizens for child sexual abuse overseas and successful cases like this are extremely rare.”
In 2019, ECPAT told the national inquiry into child abuse, IICSA, that Brits were repeatedly traveling to countries and abusing vulnerable children abroad and that this issue was a “blindspot”:
“Despite existing legislation in the UK, children abroad are still being abused by UK nationals. For many years, we have seen a clear pattern of repeat offenders travelling from county to country to avoid sex offender management mechanisms in the UK. For too long, this issue has been neglected and offenders allowed to commit this form of child exploitation with impunity. There continues to be a real lack of awareness, almost like a blind spot, to recognise that citizens from a rich country like Britain are abusers of very vulnerable children abroad.”
According to the 2022 IICSA report, the true scale of child sexual abuse by British individuals in countries like Kenya, Uganda, Malaysia, India, the Philippines, Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand and Myanmar is unknown.
NCA’s Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command estimates that around 80,000 Brits present some kind of sexual threat online to children both in England and Wales and abroad.
A key hotspot for transnational child abuse is Cambodia. According to Action Pour Les Enfants (APLE), Britain was one of the countries disproportionately highly represented. British offenders amounted to 6.3 percent of those on the database, the fourth largest group by nationality.
Source: Muslimskeptic.Com
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A ‘peculiar PR stunt’: how a fatwa on polygamy caused controversy and confusion in Russia
by Elizaveta Chukharova
19 January 2025
On 18 December, the Council of Islamic Clerics of Russia’s Spiritual Administration of Muslims (DUM) issued a fatwa allowing Islamic men to enter into up to four religious marriages. The document was approved by the Ulema Council, an advisory body established to resolve scientific and theological issues, on the eve of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s live annual broadcast — during which he called on Russians to increase the population — and was announced immediately following his speech.
‘Not only theologians but also jurists took part in the development of this fatwa. The theological opinion will include recommendations for the imam, newlyweds, as well as the form of a marriage contract,’ read a press release published on the DUM’s website.
On 21 December, the chair of the Moscow DUM, Mufti IldarAlyautdinov, told Russian state news agency RIA Novosti that such a marriage was allowed if a wife could not or did not want to bear a child, as well as in the case of the ‘sexual incompatibility’ of the spouses.
He noted that the fatwa clarifies the rights and obligations of spouses in a religious marriage, and does not replace Russian family law, which recognises only one marriage concluded in state registry offices with the issuance of a marriage certificate. However, since polygamous families in a religious marriage exist, he said the rights of women in them must be stipulated.
‘The rights of a woman who is only in a religious marriage are not legally secured. Our theological opinion will help her take the necessary steps to preserve her rights’, Alyautdinov said.
That day, Moscow-based Mufti Sheikh RavilGainutdin reportedly said the fatwa protected widows and orphans of those killed in Ukraine and did not violate the law.
Following this, the DUM recalled the fatwa, with Alyautdinov reportedly stating that this was due to the reaction of both the authorities and the public.
According to AkhmetYarlykapov, an Islamic scholar and leading researcher at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, polygamy has existed in the North Caucasus for many centuries, and does not contradict Sharia nor the traditional system of customary laws in the region known as adat.
‘Polygamy did not cease in the North Caucasus even in Soviet times. All the more so before the revolution, because the empire allowed local governments to operate with their own laws. And, in fact, it was recognised by the state in the sense that one could take a second, third, or fourth wife’, Yarlykapov tells OC Media.
According to Yarlykapov, when Soviet laws came into force in the Caucasus, people simply stopped flaunting polygamy. The practice continued underground, and communities were aware of who had second or third wives.
‘They caught the mood of the state, which is taking measures to increase the birth rate, and decided to come out with an initiative in support of this, and at the official level. They expected the state to pat them on the head. Unfortunately, or fortunately, it didn’t,’ Yarlykapov says.
Source: Moc-Media.Org
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Pakistan
Pakistan sees Gaza ceasefire as first step towards two-state solution
January 19, 2025
UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan has hoped that the Gaza ceasefire, which begins on Sunday (today) morning, will serve as the first step towards a comprehensive solution, including a two-state solution and the establishment of an independent, sovereign Palestinian state.
Pakistan also called on Israel to withdraw from Lebanese and Syrian territories, including Golan Heights, and allow UN peacekeepers to operate without obstruction to ensure compliance with international agreements for advancing sustainable peace and stability in the Middle East.
Speaking in the United Nations Security Council on Friday, Ambassador Munir Akram, permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN, voiced deep concern over the increasing threats faced by peacekeepers from the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the UN Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO).
The Pakistani envoy spoke after two senior UN peacekeeping officials briefed the 15-member council on recent developments in Lebanon and the occupied Syrian Golan, and the challenges facing blue helmets serving there.
UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix was joined by Major General Patrick Gauchat, head of UNTSO who is temporarily in charge of the UN force in the Golan, UNDOF.
Source: Www.Dawn.Com
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21 Pakistanis among survivors in Moroccan boat tragedy: FO
Abdullah Momand
January 19, 2025
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Sunday that 21 Pakistani nationals have been identified among the survivors of the Moroccan boat tragedy.
The Atlantic Ocean migrant boat tragedy occurred in the waters between Mauritania and Morocco earlier this month. As per media reports, 44 out of a total of 65 Pakistani immigrants on board the ship either drowned or died after alleged torture, while 10 bodies have been recovered.
A high-ranking government team was set to be dispatched to Morocco on Saturday to assess the situation and ascertain the loss of Pakistani lives in the boat tragedy.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar directed the foreign and interior ministries to provide efficient and timely assistance to the Pakistani victims.
Source: Www.Dawn.Com
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Police post attacked, set on fire in Turbat
Behram Baloch
January 19, 2025
GWADAR: Armed militants attacked a police post in the Turbat area of Kech district on Saturday, according to officials.
The militants riding motorcycles reached the police check post on the outskirts of Turbat city and carried out the attack. The assailants took the policemen stationed at the post hostage at gunpoint.
After seizing official weapons, radios and other equipment from the police officers, the militants set the check post on fire following a ransacking.
“The check post was completely gutted,” police officials said. They added that soon after receiving information about the attack, police and Frontier Corps personnel rushed to the site, but the attackers had managed to escape.
Earlier in the first week of January, four people were killed and 32 injured in a blast targeting a bus in the suburban area of Turbat, according to the police.
Source: Www.Dawn.Com
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Shehbaz hails Digital FDI achievement
January 19, 2025
LAHORE: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that adopting digital infrastructure, embracing digitisation, and promoting new digital activities and exports of digital services can create a framework to attract foreign direct investment (FDI).
In a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, PM Shehbaz welcomed Pakistan’s inclusion in the World Economic Forum (WEF) and Digital Cooperation Organisation’s (DCO) joint Digital Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Initiative.
The initiative’s first digital FDI project aims to identify key targets and advance digital growth, the premier said, adding that it includes a framework focusing on digital infrastructure, digitisation, and the export of digital services. These efforts, he stressed, can incentivise direct foreign investment.
“Pakistan is moving towards a comprehensive digital economy, which is a step towards sustainable development and prosperity. This initiative reflects the Government of Pakistan’s commitment to fostering economic growth,” PM Shehbaz remarked.
The initiative will also contribute to developing an investor-friendly environment in Pakistan, he added, highlighting its importance in achieving long-term economic objectives.
Source: Www.Dawn.Com
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New IHC judges to take oath tomorrow
Malik Asad
January 19, 2025
ISLAMABAD: Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Aamer Farooq will administer oath to the newly-appointed additional judges of the court on Monday.
The notification issued by the law ministry says, “In exercise of the powers conferred by Article 197 read with Clause (8) of Article 175-A of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is pleased to appoint following persons as Additional Judges of the Islamabad High Court for a period of one year with effect from the date they take oath of their office.”
InaamMinhas, a prominent lawyer, played a key role in enhancing the vacancies of IHC judges when he was president of the Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHCBA). He was also part of the Senate Committee on Legal Reforms at that time.
Source: Www.Dawn.Com
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Assets worth $220,000 recovered in Karachi’s crypto trader kidnap case, ATC told
Sumair Abdullah
January 19, 2025
KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court on Saturday was informed that investigators had recovered digital assets of a crypto trader equivalent to $220,000 in the form of digital coins, Pakistani currency, bonds and a luxury sedan from the alleged kidnappers.
The investigating officer of the case, Makhdoom Moinuddin, brought the eight suspects — Counter Terrorism Department constables Ali Sajad and Muhammad Umer, along with Haris Ashar, Mohammed Rizwan Shah, Noman Riffat, Tariq Hasan Shah, Muzamil Raza and UmerJilani — before the ATC in Clifton, seeking to extend their police custody as he claimed they were willing to pay the recovery amount.
At the outset of the hearing, the counsel for crypto trader, Barrister UzairGhouri, informed the court that out of $340,000 paid by his client to his kidnappers to earn freedom, $220,000 had been recovered in the form of digital coins USDT — a stable coin equivalent to a dollar — Pakistani currency, prize bonds and a Mercedes-Benz.
He requested the court to extend their police remand as the investigators have yet to recover the remaining USDT coins worth $120,000.
Barrister Ghouri contended that digital assets are not declared illegal in Pakistan, and that all over the world digital currencies are used and even in some countries they are used for transaction purposes.
Source: Www.Dawn.Com
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Arab World
Lebanon Higher Islamic Sharia Council Calls To 'Facilitate The Mission' Of Prime Minister-Designate
18 January 2025
The Higher Islamic Sharia Council, the highest authority of the Sunni community in Lebanon, called on Saturday to "facilitate the mission of Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam for forming the new government," which is expected to take place in the coming days.
"Forming a patriotic government, bringing together specialists and effective people, is a national duty," it said, chaired by Grand Mufti Abdel Latif Derian at Dar al-Fatwa, in a statement. Sunni dignitaries urged Lebanese political forces "to cooperate with the head of state and the designated Prime Minister to save the country and revive it," while praising the work and efforts of the caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati.
Non-binding consultations took place last week on Wednesday and Thursday at Parliament, where Salam met with all parliamentary groups except from Hezbollah. and the Amal Movement, which boycotted the meetings. The next day, Salam met with the leader of the Amal Movement and Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, who called their meeting "promising," suggesting that a government could soon be formed with the participation of the Shiite parties.
Source: Today.Lorientlejour.Com
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Saudi official: 11 power supply sources for Grand Mosque in Mecca
Ramadan Al Sherbini
January 19, 2025
Cairo: The Grand Mosque, Islam’s holiest place in Mecca, has 11 main and backup sources of electricity supply, and there has been no need to use any of the external backup stations over the past 40 years, a Saudi official has said.
Ghazi Al Shahrani, the CEO of the General Authority for Care of the Two Holy Mosques, added at a recent forum in the Saudi port city of Jeddah focusing on the annual Islamic pilgrimage Hajj that the Grand Mosque is unique from other sites because it is the largest facility in the world, the most active around the clock and year-round, and the most visited in the world.
“This makes the issue of sustainability inevitable and fateful for us,” the official added at a panel session entitled “Sustainability and Quality of Facilities and Services in the Two Holy Mosques” held as part of the Hajj Conference and Exhibition last week.
Source: Gulfnews.Com
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Awqaf to provide 300,000 Iftar meals at nine sites during Ramadan
January 18, 2025
The Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs will provide 300,000 Iftar meals for fasting persons during Ramadan at nine sites across Qatar through its ‘Iftar Al Saem’ scheme.
This was announced during a press conference, held at Awqaf’s headquarters Saturday. The ministry said the number of sites may go up.
Muhammad Yaqoub al-Ali, chairman of the Iftar Al-Saem Committee at Awqaf, said that the scheme is one of the most important community initiatives undertaken by Awqaf during Ramadan with the aim of spreading the spirit of solidarity and co-operation among members of society.
“Providing Iftar for the fasting person has the same reward as the fasting person without detracting from the reward of the fasting person in any way. Fasting has a great reward as mentioned in the Holy Hadith,” he said.
Al-Ali thanked the benefactors who supported the Iftar project and the great turnout to support the project to gain reward and recompense. Two benefactors supported the Iftar project by covering the full cost of the Iftar site located at Al Muraikh and the Eid Prayer Ground Street 23 at Al Attiyah of the Industrial Area. Each of these costs QR 700,000. Each of the sites provide 30,000 meals during the holy month.
Source: Www.Gulf-Times.Com
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Haram Presidency official: Never used backup electricity at Grand Mosque since 40 years
January 18, 2025
MAKKAH — Ghazi Al-Shahrani, CEO of the General Presidency for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque, revealed that the Grand Mosque in Makkah has more than 11 sources of main and backup electricity supply, and there was never happened any urgency that necessitated the use of external backup stations throughout the past 40 years.
Attending a dialogue session titled “Sustainability and quality of facilities and services in the Two Holy Mosques” at the recently concluded Hajj Conference and Exhibition, Al-Shahrani underlined the importance of sustainability and quality of facilities and services in the Two Holy Mosques.
Al-Shahrani stressed that the Grand Mosque is unique from others as it is the largest facility in the world and the most active around the clock and year around, apart from the most visited place in the world. He explained that the authority is currently working with partners to adopt smart asset and facility management applications and high-tech sensors to raise the level of service provision and excellence. This is in addition to adopting the concept of comprehensive access to provide easy services for people with disabilities besides making available an integrated transportation system.
Source: Saudigazette.Com.Sa
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Around 5000 from Gulf countries to commemorate the visit of Imam Al-Kadhim
18-01-2025
The Ministry of Interior confirmed on Saturday that there is a high flow in the process of entry of visitors to Imam Al-Kadhim (peace be upon him) to commemorate the anniversary of his martyrdom through the Safwan border crossing with Kuwait, noting that 5000 visitors from the Gulf countries entered in the last two days.
"The past two days witnessed the arrival of large numbers of visitors to Imam Al-Kadhim (peace be upon him) from the Safwan border crossing with Kuwait. A special plan was prepared by the Minister of Interior, Abdul Amir Al-Shammari, to accommodate the increasing numbers of arrivals, as all staff of the directorate in Basra Governorate were mobilized," said the Director General of Passports, Civil Status and Residency at the Ministry, Major General Nashat al-Khafaji, to the Iraqi News Agency - INA.
He added, "More than 5000 visitors from Kuwait, Bahrain and other Gulf countries have entered Iraq so far through the port. The process of receiving visitors is proceeding smoothly, with the continued efforts of the working staff to ensure the entry of the last visitor."
"There is full cooperation between all concerned parties to complete the entry of visitors smoothly and in an organized manner," he noted.
Source: Ina.Iq/Eng
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Southeast Asia
Muslims Encouraged To Seek Change And GrowthHighlighted In A Tazkirah Titled “Courage To Change”
January 19, 2025
Change often requires sacrifice and courage to overcome fear, including the fear of failure, societal judgment, and the inability to remain steadfast. However, Muslims are encouraged to overcome these fears in seeking the pleasure of Allah.
This was highlighted in a Tazkirah titled “BeraniuntukBerubah” (Courage to Change) delivered by Muhammad Safwan bin MohdSuffian, Assistant Religious Development Officer at the Islamic Da’wah Centre, during the 169th Munajat Night organised by the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA).
Minister of Religious Affairs PehinUdana Khatib DatoPaduka Seri SetiaUstaz Haji AwangBadaruddin bin PengarahDatoPaduka Haji Awang Othman was among those in attendance.
The event was attended by special guest Haji Mohamad Samari bin Haji Mohamad Noh, Deputy Registrar (Administration, Human Resources, and Estate) at Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA), who led the recitation of Sayyidul Istighfar and Al-Fatihah from Surau As-Syafi’i, UNISSA.
Source: Borneobulletin.Com
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Simpler cross border travel policies, scam tourism solutions top agenda at Asean tourism meet
19 Jan 2025
JOHOR BAHRU, Jan 19 — ASEAN tourism ministers met this morning to discuss strategies for boosting regional tourism with a strong emphasis on simplifying cross-border travel processes to allow for easier movement between member countries.
Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said tourism is a vital pillar of economic growth in the region, thus improving cross-border collaboration is essential for creating a competitive and accessible tourism environment.
“As I previously stated, we must simplify policies that will increase the number of tourists coming in. Of course, we cannot be tolerant on the security front but I believe this issue should be discussed further within our respective countries,” he said after chairing the 28th ASEAN tourism ministers’ meeting here today.
Source: Www.Malaymail.Com
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Home Minister says healthy BMI rule for police promotions crucial to uphold discipline
By YiswareePalansamy
19 Jan 2025
PUTRAJAYA, Jan 19 — Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has stressed the importance of maintaining a healthy Body Mass Index (BMI) as a criterion for police promotions, saying it reflects the discipline expected within the force.
“As the chairman of the Police Force Commission, we understand the fitness issues within the police force. The police force is the largest law enforcement agency in the country. BMI is not just a reflection of fitness — more than that, it is a reflection of the discipline demanded of every officer,” Saifuddin said.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of the Asia International Security Summit & Expo 2025 (AISSE’25), he said that for acting promotions — where an officer is provisionally appointed to a higher position — any BMI is permitted as long as other qualifications are met.
“However, when it comes to the confirmation of that promotion — acting promotions is one thing, but for confirmation of those positions — we will consider a BMI between 28 and 30,” he said.
Source: Www.Malaymail.Com
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Govt ready to fund NGOs in BeST programme for a cleaner Federal Territories, says Dr Zaliha
19 Jan 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 19 — The government is prepared to allocate funds to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and associations interested in organising activities under the “BersihSemuaTempat” (BeST) programme in the Federal Territories.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa said the initiative aims to promote cleanliness and incorporate a clean environment into the daily lives of Federal Territory residents.
“We have provisions at the Federal Territories level to support this initiative. Our goal is to implement it at the community level, and we encourage NGOs to collaborate with us as strategic partners. A budget has been allocated to facilitate their involvement,” she said.
She told this to reporters after launching the BeST programme simultaneously for the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan here, today.
Source: Www.Malaymail.Com
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North America
Shawn Mendes And Mustafa The Poet Surprise Fan With Warm Visit To Jummah At NYU; Fans Comment ‘Cooler Than Timmy Or Harry Styles’
By AadrikaSominder
Jan 18, 2025
Shawn Mendes and Mustafa the Poet were spotted together at the Islamic Centre at NYU for Jummah prayers, a surprising crossover that quickly went viral; read
Shawn Mendes and Mustafa the Poet were recently spotted together at a surprising location in New York, sparking curiosity and excitement among fans. A fan by the username @myeshachou took to X to share a selfie with the two musicians at the Islamic Center at NYU. While Mendes is not Muslim, Mustafa is, leading many to believe they were there for Jummah, the weekly Friday noon prayer that holds significant importance in Islamic tradition. According to people who were present, the duo was incredibly gracious, taking the time to greet attendees, even snapping selfies after the prayer.
Jummah is a communal prayer held on a Friday just after noon at the mosque. The sighting quickly went viral, with fans praising Mendes for his openness to other cultures and religions. “Shawn Mendes turning out to be cooler than Timmy Chalamet and Harry Styles,” commented one happy user on social media. Another said, “You guys are surprised but Shawn's always been like this lol he likes every culture and religion and he always respects his friend's culture or beliefs.” One more fan shared their excitement about the heartfelt moment, saying, “Lined up for prayer (as a Muslim girlie, I'm just excited for the Islam x pop culture crossover here).” Another fan was rather surprised, “Shawn Mendes at a Jummah prayer was not in my 2025 bingo card.” Given their friendship, fans are speculating that Mendes may have simply been there to support Mustafa.
Mendes, who has been on a hiatus from performing since his October concert at Red Rocks, has continued to make headlines for his authenticity. As for Mustafa, his artistry has long been celebrated for its emotional depth and exploration of time, spirituality, and longing. His latest record Dunya just came out in October following his acclaimed 2021 debut When Smoke Rises.
Source: Www.Hindustantimes.Com
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Muslim Rights Group Urges Gov. Murphy to Pass Immigrant Trust Act to Counter Trump Deportations
19-01-2025
TRENTON, NJ — The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) is calling on Governor Phil Murphy to urgently pass the Immigrant Trust Act to protect the state’s immigrant communities from potential federal crackdowns.
CAIR-NJ raised concerns about the incoming Trump administration’s stated intentions to implement mass deportations and detainments, warning that immigrant families across New Jersey are at significant risk.
“Protecting immigrants is not just an act of justice—but a necessity for preserving the diverse fabric of our communities,” said Nancy Elbassiouny, Government Affairs Manager at CAIR-NJ. “Gov. Murphy has the opportunity to lead by example and protect those most vulnerable to these harmful policies.”
Source: Www.Shorenewsnetwork.Com
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Southern California braces for worse wildfires as Santa Ana winds expected to intensify
Jan 19, 2025
The wildfire is expected to become more worse for Southern California as strong Santa Ana winds are expected to become stronger in Monday and Tuesday.
Th devastating wildfire, which has been raging for more than a week in Southern California, has destroyed thousands of homes this month and had killed 27 people. The firefighters are struggling to fully contain wildfires as the landscape remains dangerously starved of rain, as per New York Times.
Although an offshore wind pattern is expected across Los Angeles and Ventura counties from Monday through Friday, the winds are predicted to pose the highest danger Monday night into Tuesday morning.
These winds could potentially reach intensities comparable to the previous gusts that exceeded 90 mph, which were responsible for the catastrophic fires in Altadena and Pacific Palisades.
The recent Los Angeles wildfires, namely the Eaton and Palisades fires, have affected more urban territory than any other California fire since the 1980s, according to an Associated Press study. These fires, which began last week, have devastated nearly 4 square miles of densely populated Los Angeles areas, surpassing the urban impact of the 2018 Woolsey Fire by more than twofold, based on data from the University of Wisconsin's Silvis Lab in Madison, AP reported.
The increasing occurrence of wildfires in urban settings can be attributed to multiple factors. Urban expansion continues to encroach upon wilderness areas, whilst climate change intensifies global temperatures, resulting in more extreme weather conditions, particularly droughts in the western United States.
Franz Schug, who studies wildland-urban interfaces at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, states: "If these conditions get worse or more frequent in the future, it wouldn't be surprising, in my opinion, if there were more events that threaten densely populated places."
Between 1990 and 2020, California experienced a 40% growth in residential construction within areas where housing meets vegetation, totalling approximately 1.4 million homes, according to the Silvis Lab's research.
When fires occur near populated regions, they are typically human-induced but are also swiftly controlled. As per David Helmers, a Silvis Lab data scientist and geographer, "Humans tend to ignite fires, but they also fight fires."
Similarly, the Tubbs Fire of 2017 in northern California's wine region faced intense wind conditions. This fire, which originated from a residential electrical system, devastated Santa Rosa's suburban areas, claiming 22 lives and destroying over 5,600 structures, including homes and businesses. The destruction of Coffey Park neighbourhood demonstrated how rapidly wildfires can impact residential zones.
Source: Timesofindia.Com
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Chicago to see immigration raids next week
Jan 19, 2025
WASHINGTON: The incoming Trump administration intends to carry out “post-inauguration” immigration raids in Chicago next week, according to two people familiar with the planning and correspondence reviewed by The New York Times, an opening step in Trump’s goal to oversee the largest deportation operation in American history.
The plan, called “Operation Safeguard” by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, would start Tuesday, the day after Trump is inaugurated, and last until the following Monday, according to the people familiar with it and the correspondence. The dates were still being finalized, however, and could change.
The size of the planned operation was unclear. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) routinely conducts deportations in cities throughout the US. But the agency was taking additional steps to ramp up enforcement for the operation and tied it to Trump’s inauguration in a message sent to personnel throughout the agency.
Source: Timesofindia.Com
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Africa
NEW WAVE OF BOKO HARAM KILLINGS
19-01-2024
The horrific killing of about 40 farmers and fishermen at a settlement in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State by the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram insurgents is disturbing. Also worrying was the attack on the military base in Damboa local government which led to the death of about six soldiers and scores of vigilantes. Many have rightly expressed outrage about the killings, including the UN Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohammed Fall who said that the perpetrators must be identified and brought to account. “This recent attack is yet another grim reminder of the profound dangers that civilians in conflict-affected parts of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (BAY) states continue to face in their struggle to survive,” he said.
These incidents clearly indicate that pressure from the military has made the insurgents to shift tactics to what is now a hit-and-run tactics. But it is also obvious that they still have active guerrilla cells and staging posts in the Northeast from where they launch these attacks. While the authorities admit that the terrorists have returned fully to the asymmetrical warfare that was once their hallmark, the resurgence of violence is stoking unease in many communities, and indeed hampering the return of some of the millions of internally displaced persons living in the
For sure, military authorities have whittled down the striking powers of the insurgent groups responsible for the death of thousands of innocent Nigerians. The military has also recaptured much of the territory Boko Haram once controlled, and the insurgents no longer operate as freely as they used to. But in as much as we appreciate the efforts to contain the terrorists, Nigerians are also concerned about their increasing capacity to inflict harm on the people. In these circumstances, the military must reappraise its strategies and rise to the occasion as we can no longer continue to lose innocent lives and valuable property to these senseless terrorist activities.
Source: Www.Thisdaylive.Com
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Mohammed Abdul-Salam defends his appointment as Acting NLA CEO amid criticism from fellow Muslims
Kweku Zurek
Jan - 18 - 2025
Newly appointed Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Lottery Authority (NLA), Mohammed Abdul-Salam, has responded to criticism from members of the Muslim community who question his decision to accept the role, considering that lottery is deemed haram in Islamic faith.
In an interview with Citi FM, Mr. Abdul-Salam, who officially assumed office on Friday, described his appointment as “very exciting news” and addressed concerns about the compatibility of his new role with his faith.
“I am a practising Muslim. I’m not just a Muslim; I am a practising Muslim, but I’m not a fanatic leader. Neither am I an extremist,” he said, adding that his appointment reflects Ghana’s secular governance structure.
"My predecessor (SammiAwuku) is a Christian, I don't know which part of Christianity, allows for a Christian to assume that office.
Source: Www.Graphic.Com
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More than 70 killed, dozens injured in Nigeria fuel tanker explosion
By Don Jacobson
19-01-2024
Jan. 18 (UPI) -- More than 70 were killed and dozens more were injured in a fuel tanker fire and explosion along a highway in central Nigeria, authorities said Saturday.
The deadly accident happened in early hours of Saturday at Dikko Junction along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway in Niger State, about 420 miles northeast of Lagos, the Nigerian National Emergency Management Agency said in a statement.
The incident came just three months after a crashed fuel tanker exploded in northern Nigeria, killing 147 people and injuring many others who had gathered around the overturned vehicle to gather leaking gasoline.
Source: Www.Upi.Com
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https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2025/01/18/1331737244072/
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Nigeria governor bans heavy-duty trucks as death toll from tanker explosion rises to 70
Kabir Adeniyi
19.01.2025
At least 70 people were killed and scores injured when an oil tanker exploded Saturday in a northcentral Nigerian state, according to senior officials.
Kumar Tsukwam, the commander of Niger State's Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), said scores were injured while attempting to scoop fuel from a petrol tanker that had spilled on the road in the Suleja Local Government Area.
Source: Www.Aa.Com.Tr
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South Asia
Deputy PM Mullah Baradar Addresses Scholars at Jamia Mazhar-ul-Uloom Niazi Ceremony in Khost
2025-01-18
KHOST(BNA): Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund, the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, delivered a significant speech today, Saturday at the Jamia Mazhar-ul-Uloom Niazi ceremony in Khost, where scholarly titles were conferred to graduates.
In his address, Deputy PM Mullah Baradar emphasized the historical role of educational institutions in promoting religious knowledge, jihad, and ethical conduct. He stated, “Throughout Islamic history, schools have remained active centers.He pointed out that the tradition of holy jihad in Afghanistan originated from madrassas, evolving into a widespread movement that successfully resisted formidable foreign armies.
The Deputy PM Mullah urged religious leaders and madrassa graduates to enhance their sermons, focusing on the values of prophetic ethics and the importance of protecting the Islamic system and national interests.
Source: Www.Bakhtarnews.Af
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Inauguration of Martyrs’ Minaret, Mosque, and Gate in Balkh
2025-01-18
BALKH(BNA): A ceremony was held to inaugurate the Martyrs’ Minaret, a mosque, and a gate named after the martyr Amir-ul-Momineen Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansoor. The event took place on the route to Hairatan and was attended by local officials and community leaders.
Mawlavi Noor Hadi Abu Idris, the deputy governor of Balkh province, emphasized the importance of the sacrifices made by Mujahideen in establishing the current Islamic system and ensuring nationwide security. He called for stronger cooperation between the people and the Islamic Emirate in various fields.
Sheikh Abdul Jalil Shahid Khel, head of the Balkh Ulema Council, praised the unprecedented sacrifices of the Mujahideen, stating that these efforts have eliminated various prejudices, allowing the community to unite under a single system.
Source: Www.Bakhtarnews.Af
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https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/inauguration-of-martyrs-minaret-mosque-and-gate-in-balkh/
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India Seeks to Bolster Ties with Afghanistan’s Islamic Emirate
2025-01-18
KABUL(BNA): India has announced its intention to enhance ties with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. This was conveyed by Randhir Jaiswal, the spokesperson for India’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during a press briefing yesterday.
India’s commitment includes contributing to Afghanistan’s developmental and infrastructure projects, expanding trade ties through the strategic Chabahar Port, and fostering cultural exchanges, mainly in sports like cricket.
Jaiswal highlighted that trade relations between Kabul and New Delhi could be significantly bolstered through Chabahar, creating better market opportunities for Afghanistan’s products and ensuring access to affordable, high-quality goods for the Afghan populace.
The announcement follows a high-level meeting between Vikram Misri, India’s Deputy Foreign Minister, and Mawlavi Amir Khan Muttaqi, Afghanistan’s Acting Foreign Minister, held in Dubai. Jaiswal described this interaction as the most significant engagement between the two nations in recent times.
Source: Www.Bakhtarnews.Af
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https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/india-seeks-to-bolster-ties-with-afghanistans-islamic-emirate/
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Border Clashes Highlight Persistent Challenges in Afghanistan-Pakistan Relations
By Ankit Kumar
January 19, 2025
Recent border clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan underscore ongoing tensions and challenges in managing bilateral relations. The incidents, including violent exchanges along the Durand Line in early 2025, threaten regional stability and raise questions about the approaches both countries are taking to address security and diplomatic concerns.
The most recent clashes in the Nawa Pass area of Afghanistan’s Kunar province resulted in casualties and reflect a pattern of recurring tensions along the border. Reports indicate that there were over 400 cross-border incidents attributed to Pakistan in the past year. These incidents have been criticized for undermining trust and violating international norms. The situation remains complex, as both sides assert their positions on border security and sovereignty.
A particularly significant event occurred in December 2024, when airstrikes in Paktika province’s Barmal district reportedly led to civilian casualties. These airstrikes coincided with diplomatic engagements in Kabul, where high-level discussions aimed to foster bilateral cooperation. The timing of these military actions raised concerns about their impact on peace-building efforts and highlighted challenges in aligning diplomatic initiatives with military operations.
Pakistan has cited concerns over threats from the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as a primary reason for its cross-border actions. However, incidents involving civilian casualties, including damage to infrastructure such as mosques, have drawn criticism. Such incidents have prompted calls for a more comprehensive approach to addressing security concerns while protecting civilian lives.
Source: Www.khaama.Com
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Afghanistan Central Bank to auction $18 million
By Fidel Rahmati
January 18, 2025
The Taliban-led Afghanistan Central Bank announced plans to auction $18 million into the market. This move was stated in a statement released on Saturday, January 18.
According to the statement, the Central Bank will release the $18 million for bidding on Sunday. The bank has invited private banks and financial companies to participate in the auction.
The auction aims to curb the rising value of the U.S. dollar against the Afghanistan’s currency. This measure is part of the bank’s efforts to stabilize the economy amid ongoing challenges.
Source: Www.khaama.Com
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https://www.khaama.com/afghanistan-central-bank-to-auction-18-million/
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Pakistan replaces Bank Guarantee with Insurance for Afghanistan’s Transit Trade via Gwadar port
By Fidel Rahmati
January 18, 2025
Pakistani media outlets reported on Saturday, January 18, that the government has replaced the bank guarantee system with an insurance guarantee to facilitate transit trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan, particularly for goods passing through Gwadar Port.
This initiative is part of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA) of 2010. The bank guarantee requirement had posed challenges for bulk cargo imports such as wheat, sugar, and fertilizers, which the new insurance guarantee aimed to resolve.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Sadiq, Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, stated on his social media platform X on January 18: “Pakistan has decided to replace the requirement of a bank guarantee with an insurance guarantee for the bulk cargo of Afghan transit trade through Gwadar Port. This change will specifically facilitate the import of Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) and other bulk cargoes such as wheat, sugar, and fertilizers. This measure will support the Afghan business community and consumers and is a step toward enhancing ease of doing business through Pakistan.”
The recent decision to waive bank guarantees applies exclusively to urea imports, a vital agricultural input for Afghanistan, which relies on importing approximately 900,000 tons annually. This measure is expected to ease trade restrictions and support Afghanistan agriculture.
Source: Www.khaama.Com
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Steelbird-TVS joint venture stalled amid Bangladesh’s political crisis
By Kiran Murali
19 Jan 2025
The ongoing political disruption in Bangladesh has disrupted the launch of Steelbird Auto Bangladesh, a joint venture between Steelbird International and TVS Bangladesh.
The plant, intended to manufacture automotive filters, was slated for inauguration on September 14, 2024. But plans unraveled due to civil unrest that forced the then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to flee to India and left the political and business environment in disarray.
Steelbird’s executive director, ManavKapur, described the sudden turn of events: "So, we had the inauguration date on 14th September. And, 10 days before that, all this happened."
Source: Www.Autocarpro.In
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Tripura Flags Bangladesh Embankment Plan, Warns Could Lead To Floods
by: Ratnadip Choudhury
Jan 18, 2025
Guwahati: Authorities in Tripura's Unakoti district have raised concerns over the Bangladesh government's alleged move to increase the height of an embankment near the international border with the state, saying such constructions could lead to massive floods in the Indian territory.
Some reports have claimed that Bangladesh has been building the massive embankment, along the Manu River that divides the two countries, opposite to Kailashahar sub-division of Unakoti district. The work is taking place in Alinagar area in Bangladesh's Moulvibazar district. There is an embankment on the Indian side, constructed several decades ago, but its height is very low.
On Wednesday, Chief Minister ManikSaha had assured the state assembly that he would discuss the alleged construction by Bangladesh with the Centre, after Congress legislator Birajit Sinha drew attention to the matter.
Speaking to reporters, District Magistrate Dilip Kumar Chakma on Friday said: "It is a highly raised and permanent type of embankment, right on the zero line of the border. This is for flood management but on our side, the embankment is about 350 yards away from zero line and much shorter. This needs to be taken up with higher authorities and India also needs to take it up with Bangladesh."
Source: Www.Ndtv.Com
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