Swords brandished, provocative slogans chanted outside Mosque in Hyderabad

New Age Islam News Bureau

21 February 2025

Swords waved, slogans raised in front of Mosque in Hyderabad.

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·         Swords brandished, provocative slogans chanted outside Mosque in Hyderabad

·         Syria’s Christians mark a decade since a horrific Daesh attack and worry about their future

·         Article 245 does not grant judicial powers to military, Supreme Court CB told

·         St Thomas’ United Reformed Church to be turned into mosque

·         Group condemns ritual killings by Islamic clerics in Yorubaland

·         Intra-Islamic Dialogue Conference Stresses Mutual Understanding For Stronger Ummah

·         Secretary-general of Etidal welcomes director of UN’s Counter-Terrorism Centre

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India

·         “Make gun license process for Hindus easier”: Yati Narsinghanand writes to CM Yogi

·         Doordarshan rejects telecast of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan’s biopic

·         Assam Congress MP Rakibul Hussain attacked in Nagaon; accuses CM Himanta Sarma

·         India and Pakistan hold flag meeting along Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch

·         Kerala Muslim cleric slams widow for travelling instead of staying home to pray

·         Congress leaders urge Karnataka govt to let Muslim employees leave offices after 4 pm during Ramzan

·         Pathaan writer Abbas Tyrewala finds it 'cliched to see another Muslim villain' in cinema, discusses Aurangzeb as bad guy

·         Muslim delegation withdraws objection to Maharana Pratap statue in Himachal

·         'Rice spilled on hostel floor': Bengaluru madrassa in-charge’s son thrashes, kicks 11-year-old girl

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Mideast

·         Al Azhar Official commends Bahrain’s role in fostering intra-Islamic dialogue

·         Israel says it has struck Lebanon-Syria border crossings used by Hezbollah

·         Israeli prime minister tells military to carry out West Bank operation after bus explosions

·         Pro-Hezbollah outburst at Beirut airport sparks tension

·         UN calls for rapid economic recovery in Syria to reverse losses from 14 years of conflict

·         Strike shuts Tunisia mining town over infrastructure woes

·         Seven civilians killed in Syria leftover munitions blast: monitor

·         UN denounces Hamas’s ‘abhorrent’ display of hostages’ coffins

·         Intra-Islamic Dialogue Conference concludes with a call for unity

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Pakistan

·         How Hindu dowry system denying Muslim girls’ inherited property?

·         Council of Islamic Ideology Chairman announces Sadqa-e-Fitr, Fidya rates

·         Badin father slays daughter for defying family’s 'marriage tradition'

·         Pakistan, EU reaffirm resolve to combat terror at 9th strategic dialogue

·         'Courts should stay out of politics,' PTI leader on PM-CJP meeting

·         At Oxford, Bilawal defends Pakistan’s N-programme

·         Ume Hassan, 12 others sent on four-day physical remand

·         CTD lodges case over Barkhan killings

·         KP govt to name Peshawar’s cricket stadium after Imran

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Europe

·         Blackburn's IMO charity to host landmark health event for 50 mosques

·         Imam quits Blackburn College post over Palestine event

·         Solihull Mosque allowed to keep temporary marquee as planners find 'very special circumstances'

·         Mosque offers sneak peak of rare artefacts at new museum

·         Anti-Muslim hate reports in UK reach record high in 2024, charity says

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Africa

·         Prophet declares national fast, urges repentance for Nigerians

·         Memorisers battle for final spot as MSSN hosts Qur’an boot camp

·         New UN envoy to Libya vows to pursue ‘peace and stability’

·         If Nigeria Has Conscience, IBB Would Not Show His Face In Public – Farotimi

·         I Am Glad About What Is Happening In America – Tinubu Asks Nigeria To Wake Up Amid USAID Shut Down

·         Court Clears IPOB’s Chika Edoziem Of Terrorism, Orders Public Apology

·         Army Chief Gives Troops One-Month Ultimatum To Eliminate Bello Turji, Others

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Southeast Asia

·         Man, 78, found dead in locked bathroom

·         Perak next to ban foreigners from setting up stalls, working at Ramadan bazaars

·         Four more suspects arrested over Simpang Renggam shooting

·         Malaysia to leverage ASEAN’s role in empowering rural development - Ahmad Zahid

·         PAC vows to scrutinise medical inflation, potential price rigging in healthcare amid monopoly concerns

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Arab World

·         Putin thanks Saudi crown prince for hosting US-Russia talks during phone call

·         Senior Muslim scholars express appreciation for King Salman’s patronage of MWL Islamic conference

·         Saudi Arabia expresses solidarity with Kuwait after military accident

·         UK and Saudi Arabia ‘natural partners’ in innovation and tech

·         Saudi FM meets with counterparts on sidelines of G20 meeting in Johannesburg

·         How AI is transforming education — but potentially impacting child development

·         Saudi artist’s ‘Tafawut’ exhibition showcases harmony between art and architecture

·         Japan Embassy in Riyadh celebrates Emperor Naruhito’s 65th birthday

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North America

·         Boulder City Council postpones declaration condemning Muslim hate

·         Kash Patel vows to 'rebuild' FBI after Senate confirms him

·         North Carolina’s Summit Church claims religious discrimination in zoning lawsuit

·         CAIR-CA Releases Guidance for Muslim Employees, Students, and Community Members on Navigating Religious Accommodations During Ramadan

·         Trump 'very frustrated' and Zelensky must strike minerals deal, says adviser

·         Nicolas Cage's ex sues him over their son's alleged attack

·         Canada beats US in revenge hockey rematch played on political thin ice

·         Mitch McConnell announces he will not run for re-election

·         Zizians: What we know about the vegan 'cult' linked to six deaths

·         Governor Hochul will not remove NYC Mayor Adams from office

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South Asia

·         BDR Massacre: Commission records 37 testimonies

·         5 Bangladeshis return after Mediterranean ordeal

·         Devil Hunt: 492 more held across the country

·         Islamic Emirate Declares Stance on ICC

·         ANDMA Urges Aid Organizations to Prioritize Preventive Measures in Disaster Management

·         Major Energy Projects Inaugurated in Jawzjan to Improve Power Access

·         Afghanistan is the most landmine and explosive affected country: ICRC

·         Islamic scholars for upholding spirit of Language Movement, July uprising

·         Ctg commodity market looks vibrant with Ramadan goods, sees price fall

Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau

URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/mosque-hyderabad-slogans-swords-christians/d/134690

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Swords brandished, provocative slogans chanted outside Mosque in Hyderabad

February 20, 2025

Swords waved, slogans raised in front of Mosque in Hyderabad.

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A tense situation unfolded in Nacharam Mallapur, Hyderabad, on Wednesday night when a group of individuals participating in a procession waved swords and raised slogans in front of a mosque.

The incident occurred near Masjid-e-Aashraf in Chankyapuri Colony, within the Nacharam police station limits.

A video circulating on social media shows around 10 to 12 people, two of whom were carrying swords, holding saffron flags and chanting slogans in front of the mosque.

The group was reportedly returning from a Chhatrapati Shivaji Jayanti procession when they stopped near the mosque, where worshippers were engaged in prayers.

Eyewitnesses allege that the act was a deliberate attempt to incite communal tensions in the city. Some individuals captured the incident on video and shared it on social media, urging the police to take action against those involved.

The footage quickly gained traction online, drawing concerns over the potential for unrest. Many social media users condemned the act and called for immediate intervention by law enforcement authorities to prevent further escalation.

Local residents expressed fear and frustration over the incident, emphasizing the need for strict measures to curb such provocative acts. Authorities have been urged to identify the individuals responsible and take legal action to maintain peace in the area.

As the video continues to spread, police officials are expected to launch an investigation and ensure that communal harmony is preserved. — With Agencies Inputs

Source:muslimmirror.com

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https://muslimmirror.com/swords-brandished-provocative-slogans-chanted-outside-mosque-in-hyderabad/

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Syria’s Christians mark a decade since a horrific Daesh attack and worry about their future

February 21, 2025

Children play in the ruins of the Church of Virgin Mary, which was destroyed by the Daesh group in 2015, in the northeastern Syrian village of Tel Nasri, which is currently controlled by the US-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, Monday, Jan. 27, 2025. (AP)

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TEL TAL: It was a mournful moment for Christians in Syria. A bell that once summoned residents to worship rang out, but the church was no longer there.

The Saint Odisho church was blown up by the Daesh group a decade ago, leaving Tel Tal village almost empty of residents.

A local Christian who fled the attack, Ishaq Nissan, walked the streets and pointed to uninhabited homes, explaining where families had gone: US, Australia, Canada or Europe.

This month, northeast Syria’s remaining Christians will mark the 10th anniversary of the Daesh attack on over 30 villages along the Khabur river. On Feb. 23, 2015, dozens of Christians were killed or wounded and over 200 were taken hostage. Churches were blown up, and thousands of people fled.

The anniversary comes as Christians worry about the future of Syria following the ouster of longtime president Bashar Assad in December by insurgents led by the Islamist Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham group. HTS leader Ahmad Al-Sharaa is now interim president, and most government members come from Islamic factions.

Al-Sharaa has repeatedly said religious rights will be protected in post-Assad Syria. Though HTS had been an Al-Qaeda affiliate, it is opposed to IS and fought deadly battles with it over the years. IS was defeated in Syria in 2019, but sleeper cells still carry out attacks.

Since Assad’s fall, there have been some attacks by others targeting Christians. In December, a Christmas tree was set on fire in Suqailabiyah village. Authorities called it an isolated incident.

“We hope as Christians that there will be cooperation between all parties of Syria in what gives everyone their rights,” Syriac Orthodox Archbishop Maurice Amsih, who leads the church in the northeast, told The Associated Press.

Amsih said Christians in Syria are opposed to Islamic rule: “We want them to treat us in a civil way.”

Western countries have pressed Syria’s new authorities to guarantee the rights of religious and ethnic minorities, as well as those of women. The vast majority of Syrians are Sunni Muslims, while about a quarter of the population is Christian, Druze or Alawite.

Christians made up about 10 percent of Syria’s prewar population of 23 million, co-existing with the Muslim majority and enjoying freedom of worship under the Assad government. The last parliament speaker under Assad was Christian.

But since civil war began in 2011 with a popular uprising against Assad and a government crackdown, hundreds of thousands of Christians have left the country. The rise of IS, and its attack 10 years ago, helped to drive them out.

“We were living in peace and never expected this dark day to happen in our modern history,” said Elias Antar Elias, a Tel Tal resident who represents the villages of the Khabur river region in the Kurdish-led administration in northeast Syria.

The 78-year-old and his family fled in the middle of the night as the extremists stormed one Christian village after another, horrifying the population that had lived in relative peace for decades.

Elias, a retired teacher, fled with his family to the northeastern city of Hassakeh and stayed until Kurdish and Christian fighters regained control of their hometown months later.

“We saw the beheaded bodies of Christians on the side of the road as dogs were eating them,” Elias said, calling it “an image that pains our hearts.”

Elias said Tel Tal had about 400 residents before the IS attack. Today, there are about 30.

At the spot where the Saint Odisho church once stood, Elias recalled its importance: “This is where we baptized our children. This is where I got married.”

Asked why his family didn’t leave for good like many others, he replied: “I’m in love with this place. Our graves and martyrs are here. This is our land.”

The archbishop said 34 Christian villages along the Khabur river were home to 45,000 Assyrians before the 2015 attack.

Amsih said about 2.2 million Christians were in Syria before the civil war, and he estimated that two-thirds of them have left the country.

In nearby Tel Nasri, Christian residents have left and the village is full of displaced people from other regions. The Church of Virgin Mary still stands but is badly damaged after being blown up in 2015.

Some Christians who witnessed the violence say they have no plans to leave Syria, even with uncertainty ahead under new leaders.

Janet Chamoun was praying in a church in Qamishli in 2015 when a car bomb exploded outside, throwing her and her daughter to the floor. Glass shattered and some people were injured.

“Despite the fear we decided to stay,” Chamoun said outside the repaired Virgin Mary Syriac church, where she still comes every day to pray.

“Our home and roots are here,” she said.

Source: arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2591057/middle-east

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Article 245 does not grant judicial powers to military, Supreme Court CB told

Nasir Iqbal

February 21, 2025

• Imran’s lawyer says army needs to specify which constitutional provision allows it to try civilians

• Says National Assembly resolution not binding; law has to operate on its own terms

• Justice Hilali wonders why only 105, out of some 5,000 May 9 suspects, were handed over to military

ISLAMABAD: The Constitutional Bench hearing cases against the military trials of civilians was told on Thursday that Article 245 of the Constitution, which allows the armed forces to aid civil authorities, does not grant the military judicial powers by replacing civil courts.

“There is nothing stated in Article 245 of the Constitution that the armed forces can exercise judicial powers,” senior counsel Uzair Karamat Bhandari, representing PTI founder Imran Khan, said.

Led by Justice Aminuddin Khan, the seven-member bench was hearing a set of intra-court appeals (ICAs) against the Oct 23, 2023, five-judge order that nullified the military trials of civilians involved in the May 9 violence.

The counsel cited the 2010 Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry case, where it was held that there was no room for any residual or inherent powers, and if any power has to be given to any institution, then it must flow from the text of the Constitution.

If the armed forces wanted to exercise any judicial power in relation to civilians, they have to point out a provision from the Constitution, Mr Bhandari contended. He said it was akin to parliament imposing property tax, when the matter falls under the domain of the provincial assemblies.

The counsel cited the 1980 Darvesh Arvi case to explain how amendments to the Pakistan Army Act 1952 through the Defence of Pakistan Ordinance — to punish arson and attacks on government buildings — were declared ultra vires.

Through this ordinance, the powers of magistrates were vested in captains and other officers of the armed forces, the counsel recalled, adding that civil disturbance, attacks on government buildings and arson broke out in the aftermath of the 1977 general elections. Consequently, the army was called in Karachi, Hyderabad, and Lahore.

During the hearing, Mr Bhandari reminded that Article 245 of the Constitution was invoked on May 10, 2023, after the events of May 9, and a subsequent decision was made to hand over the detained suspects to the armed forces for military trials.

The armed forces were called in aid of the civil power in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad and Punjab, the counsel said, adding that the armed forces could not operate beyond what had been stated in Article 245 – a provision which was very exhaustive and lists what the armed forces can do.

The counsel also recalled even the National Assembly had passed a resolution, after which Article 245 was invoked, but before that corps and formation commanders’ meetings were also held.

At this Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar wondered about the effect of the resolution adopted by the National Assembly to try civilians for May 9 violence. The counsel argued that the NA resolution has no binding effect since the law has to function on its own terms, subject to the Constitution.

The resolution has a political force and nothing more, he said, emphasising that the F.B. Ali case has already held that Section 2(1)(d)(i) and (ii) of PAA, which allows the trial of civilians under the army act, will not come under the ambit of Article 8(3)a of the Constitution.

The present bench cannot overrule what has been stated in the F.B. Ali case since no prayers had been made before the court in this regard, he said, adding no reason was given before handing over 105 suspects involved in May 9 cases to the armed forces.

At this, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail observed that F.B. Ali case, which has been endorsed by the Supreme Court in all subsequent judgements, has become something of a problem. The counsel said there was a need to see how Section 2(1)(d)(i) and (ii) fit into the framework of the 1973 Constitution.

He also pointed out that nobody knows under what principle 105 individuals were tried by military courts while the rest were tried by civilian courts. Justice Aminuddin Khan remarked that the ‘pick and choose’ happens after the registration of the FIR.

At this, Justice Musarrat Hilali wondered that more than 5,000 people were arrested on May 9-10, and only 105 were sent into the military’s custody despite the fact that those sent to ATC were also accused of attacking military installations. What were the charges levelled against those who were tried by military courts, Justice Hilali observed, while adding that no one understands the F.B. Ali case.

The counsel argued that an effort should be made to close this path for the future, saying no one knows what charges were brought against those in military trials since the record remained inaccessible. He also referred to his personal experience when he was detained for two hours when he went to get a power of attorney.

Source: dawn.com

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https://www.dawn.com/news/1893243/article-245-does-not-grant-judicial-powers-to-military-supreme-court-cb-told

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St Thomas’ United Reformed Church to be turned into mosque

20th February

By Fintan McGuinness

St Tomas' United Reformed Church.

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The buyers of a £3.5m “derelict” church plan to turn it into a new mosque for Watford “with facilities like never before”.

St Thomas’ United Reformed Church, in Langley Road, Nascot, closed at the end of 2015 with the plan being to demolish and rebuild it because the building was “not fit for purpose” due to “serious structural defects”.

Despite planning permission being approved twice, the scheme never got off the ground and the land was put up for sale last year.

Ar-Rahmah Trust completed the purchase in January and plans to raise a further £1.5m for renovation by the end of this year, so that it can reopen the building as Masjid Al-Ummah in 2026.

According to a Launchgood page for the project, it will be a “welcoming, non-sectarian, and non-partisan environment providing accessible spaces for worship, learning, and community engagement”.

As well as space for prayer, Masjid Al-Ummah will offer a dedicated women’s gym, nursery, food bank, Quran classes and Islamic education, a social space for older people, youth spaces, a sports hall, study hubs and mortuary services.

Both the terms masjid and mosque are used to describe the planned facility, with both referring to places of worship for Muslims.

The Launchgood page is currently aiming to raise £500k during February to repay initial short-term financing. So far, £340k has been raised from 412 supporters.

“The Watford Muslim community has grown from a small group to a vibrant and diverse population of 15,000,” the project website says.

“While existing masjids and musallahs have served us well, the demand for space, especially during Jummah and Ramadan, has outgrown current facilities.”

It adds: “Masijd Al Ummah will address the community’s spiritual, educational, social, and well-being needs, inspired by the traditional role of a masjid as hub for prayer, learning, and community cohesion.”

The trustees behind the scheme have apparently met with the Nascot Residents Association to discuss the best ways to inform and involve the community as it progresses.

It appears that the plan is to maintain the existing building, with some changes, rather than following the previous idea of demolishing and replacing it.

Source: watfordobserver.co.uk

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https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/24950964.st-thomas-united-reformed-church-turned-mosque/

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Group condemns ritual killings by Islamic clerics in Yorubaland

By Bertram Nwannekanma

21 February 2025

The Isese Human Rights Community (ISHRIC) has decried the alarming rise in ritual killings allegedly perpetrated by some Islamic scholars in Yorubaland.

In a statement released yesterday, the group expressed concern over recent incidents involving Islamic clerics caught with human parts, describing these acts as a threat to public safety, particularly for young women and youths.

Citing multiple cases, ISHRIC highlighted the conviction of two clerics, Folorunsho Abdulwahab and his father, Babatunde Folorunso, in Kwara State. The duo was found guilty of exhuming and mutilating the body of Abdulwahab’s friend, Mallam Suleiman Saka, for ritual purposes.

Similarly, the group referenced the arrest of an Islamic cleric, Oluwafemi Idris, in Ondo State for possessing fresh human parts, including kidneys, hearts, and a tongue. Another cleric in Ibadan was also apprehended with a human head and hands intended for rituals.

In another instance, Alfa Ahmed Giga was detained in Apete, Ibadan, for allegedly trading in human parts, a crime linked to the killing of two young girls. Meanwhile, residents of Adamo, Ikorodu, intercepted an Islamic scholar, Babalola, found with a human skull in January 2024.

ISHRIC also recounted the arrest of three clerics in Oyo State—Taofeeq Kabelohun, Rahmon Muibi (known as Alubarika), and another individual—who were caught with human remains in their vehicle. Blood leaking from their car boot had led to their capture.

The most recent case involved Sheikh Abdul-Rahamon Muhammad Bello, accused of murdering a 300-level student from the Kwara State College of Education in Ilorin. The group condemned this act as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by such perpetrators.

While commending the Nigerian Police Force for apprehending the culprits, ISHRIC urged them to remain vigilant in protecting citizens.

The group also called on traditional rulers like the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdul-Rasheed Adewale Akanbi, to denounce these acts and collaborate in eradicating such practices.

“We must create a society where our citizens can live without fear of being killed for ritual purposes,” the statement read.

ISHRIC vowed to continue advocating for justice, stating: “We will not rest until our society is free from the scourge of ritual killings.”

Source:guardian.ng

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https://guardian.ng/news/nigeria/metro/group-condemns-ritual-killings-by-islamic-clerics-in-yorubaland/

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Intra-Islamic Dialogue Conference Stresses Mutual Understanding For Stronger Ummah

20/02/2025

MANAMA (Bahrain), Feb 20 (Bernama) -- Muslims scholars at the inaugural Intra-Islamic Dialogue Conference have stressed the need to promote understanding and tolerance among sects, highlighting unity as key to addressing the challenges facing the ummah. They emphasised the pivotal role of scholars and religious authorities in overcoming barriers to dialogue and fostering connections between different sectsA member of the Muslim Council of Elders, Sayyed Ali Al Amin, said that differences in scholarly opinions have never caused division among their followers. Instead, he stressed that political exploitation of diversity is what leads to sharp divisions. “Reinforcing the values of citizenship, justice, and equality within the Muslim world and establishing joint religious institutions among sects will strengthen unity and mutual respect,” he said. The two-day conference, organised by Al Azhar Al Sharif, the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (SCIA) in Bahrain, and the Muslim Council of Elders, gathered over 400 Islamic scholars, religious leaders, intellectuals, and experts from across the Islamic world under the theme “One Nation, One Shared Destiny”. Meanwhile, the Grand Mufti of Egypt and President of the General Secretariat for Fatwa Authorities Worldwide, Dr Nazir Ayyad, affirmed that the concept of citizenship aligns with Islamic principles and does not conflict with religious identity. He pointed to the Madina Charter as a historical example of coexistence, where diverse communities lived under a unified state while maintaining their distinct identities. A member of the Council of Senior Scholars at Al Azhar Al Sharif and the Muslim Council of Elders, Professor Hassan Al Shafei, identified misinformation and a lack of mutual knowledge as key obstacles to unity. He underscored the need for awareness-building and constructive dialogue based on shared fundamentals, such as the unity of the Quran, the direction of prayer (Qibla), and the core tenets of faith. Egypt’s Minister of Awqaf, Professor Osama Al Azhari, stated that theological diversity is a natural part of religious thought and should never lead to discord. -- BERNAMA

Source:bernama.com

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https://www.bernama.com/en/world/news.php?id=2394684

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Secretary-general of Etidal welcomes director of UN’s Counter-Terrorism Centre

February 20, 2025

RIYADH: Mansour Al-Shammari, the secretary-general of the Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology — also known as Etidal — welcomed Mauro Miedico, director of the UN’s Counter-Terrorism Centre, to Etidal’s headquarters in Riyadh on Thursday.

The parties discussed combating extremism and terrorism and subjects of mutual interest.

Source: arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2591021/saudi-arabia

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India

 

“Make gun license process for Hindus easier”: Yati Narsinghanand writes to CM Yogi

February 20, 2025

Yati Narsinghanand, notoriously known for his constant attacks on Muslims, in his letter to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has appealed to make it easier for Hindus to get a licensed gun.

The letter was written by BJP leader Udita Tyagi on behalf of Narsinghanand. In a video, Udita Tyagi could be seen writing the letter with Yati’s blood.

Narsinghanand had previously organised an emergency meeting at The Dasna Devi Temple in which he said that Hindus must own weapons.

He expressed his disappointment with Hindu leaders alleging that the leaders are not trying to safeguard their religion.

He had also made a revelation that he will soon write a letter to CM Yogi and other Hindu leaders in different countries about the dangers Muslims pose. He urged 1 lakh Hindus to sign the letter he wishes to send to CM.

The letter is said to be submitted to the CM in a public meeting.

Additionally, he said that one lakh Hindus would sign this letter. Dr. Udita Tyagi will submit the letter to the Chief Minister during a public meeting.

A video is going viral on social media showing Dr. Udita Tyagi allegedly writing the letter to CM Yogi using Narsinghanand’s blood.

During the meeting, Narsinghanand said he plans to send letters to the leaders of non-Muslim countries worldwide. In these letters, he will warn them about the dangers of “Islamic Jihad” and urge them to find a permanent solution to this issue.

Narsinghanand expressed his disappointment with Hindu religious leaders, claiming they are not serious about protecting their religion. He criticised them for not taking action and said he has decided to go directly to the people. He plans to start a movement demanding gun licences for the entire Hindu community.

Source:muslimmirror.com

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https://muslimmirror.com/make-gun-license-process-for-hindus-easier-yati-narsinghanand-writes-to-cm-yogi/

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Doordarshan rejects telecast of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan’s biopic

February 20, 2025

The first biopic on the founder of Aligarh Muslim University, Sir Syed Ahmed khan has been rejected to be streamed by national broadcasting channel – Doordarshan.

The film, ‘Sir Syed Ahmad Khan: The Messiah’ was premiered by AMU vice-chancellor, Naima Khatoon with a considerable audience.

Doordarshan program executive in his letter stated, “I am directed to inform you that your proposal offering program based on Sir Syed Ahmad Khan could not qualify for streaming under revenue sharing mode on Prasar Bharati’s upcoming platform.”

Shoaib Choudhury, the producer and the protagonist of the biopic, in his response, stated that one of the films he produced aired on DD channel for the longest run. He expressed shock and said, “It is shocking that my biopic on Sir Syed, a leading reformist and educationist has failed to qualify to stream on the nation OTT platform.”

He alleged that this rejection is a result of political maneuvering.

President of AMU Old Boys Association, Delhi NCR, Mudassir Hayat, stressed the importance of showing such a biopic to the new generation of the country and said, “This biopic can display conceptions and inspire the new generations to take education as a tool for progress.”

The viewers have described the biopic as outstanding and impactful as it resonates with contemporary Muslim issues and that it highlights the importance of education. The critics argue that this raises several questions including the intentions behind the rejection of a biopic based on the life and struggles of an educationist Muslim.

Source:muslimmirror.com

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https://muslimmirror.com/doordarshan-rejects-telecast-of-sir-syed-ahmed-khans-biopic/

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Assam Congress MP Rakibul Hussain attacked in Nagaon; accuses CM Himanta Sarma

Prasanta Mazumdar

20 Feb 2025

GUWAHATI: Assam Congress MP Rakibul Hussain was on Thursday attacked by miscreants in the state’s Nagaon district.

The incident occurred at Rupohihat when the Dhubri MP was riding a two-wheeler to attend a party programme.

In a viral video, a man can be seen hitting Hussain with what looked like a cricket bat, and he fell down on the road. His personal security officers (PSOs) had tried to save him, but they were overpowered and assaulted by the assailants.

Talking to media persons later, Hussain alleged the attack on him was carried out at Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s direction.

“The attack was perpetrated by cowards. CM Himanta Biswa Sarma is afraid of losing power, and he is trying to remain alive politically by hook or by crook,” Hussain said, referring to next year’s Assembly elections in the state.

“He (Sarma) should resign as the home minister if he cannot run the department or take action against the SP and the OC (officer in charge) of the local police station,” the MP said.

He also said that if he had been provided with adequate security, the miscreants would not have dared to attack him. He said he would not lodge an FIR as it was meaningless.

“FIRs lodged with SPs and OCs do not work when Himanta Biswa Sarma is the home minister. Previously, a woman was attacked. She was hospitalised but, surprisingly, it was considered a bailable offence,” Hussain said.

He had won Assembly elections five times in a row, beginning in 2001, from the Samaguri seat in Nagaon. After his election to the Lok Sabha last year, his son contested in the by-elections but lost to the BJP candidate.

Meanwhile, the Congress slammed the BJP-led government over the incident, with state Congress president Bhupen Kumar Borah linking it to the upcoming Assembly elections.

“BJP’s popularity is fast declining, so it has started targeting Congress and its workers. But one cannot win in a democracy by using muscle power. I appeal to Himanta Biswa Sarma to not push Assam to jungle raj,” Borah said.

He demanded the arrest of all those involved in the attack on Hussain, warning that the Congress would otherwise be compelled to take democratic steps.

Source:newindianexpress.com

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https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2025/Feb/20/assam-congress-mp-rakibul-hussain-attacked-in-nagaon-accuses-cm-himanta-sarma

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India and Pakistan hold flag meeting along Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch

21.02.25

India and Pakistan on Friday held a flag meeting along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district in an effort to ease tension after several recent incidents of cross-border firing and an IED attack, official sources said.

The sources said the brigade-commander level flag meeting took place in the Chakkan-Da-Bagh crossing point area with both sides highlighting the need to maintain peace along the borders.

The 75-minute long meeting started around 11 am, they said.

The meeting took place in a congenial atmosphere and both sides agreed to honour the ceasefire agreement in the larger interest of peace on the borders, the sources said.

The ceasefire violations along the borders of Jammu and Kashmir have been rare since the two countries renewed an agreement on February 25, 2021.

Two Indian Army personnel, including a captain, were killed and another injured in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack carried out by suspected terrorists in the Akhnoor sector of the Jammu region on February 11.

Two army personnel were also injured in separate incidents of small arms firing from across the LoC in Rajouri and Poonch districts on February 10 and 14, while two more army personnel were injured in separate landmine explosions in Poonch in the past week.

The extent of damage on the Pakistan side in the retaliatory action was not known immediately but the officials said the enemy forces also suffered “heavy casualties”.

Source:telegraphindia.com

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Kerala Muslim cleric slams widow for travelling instead of staying home to pray

Feb 21, 2025

A statement by an Islamic cleric in Kerala criticising a 55-year-old Muslim widow for going on a trip with her family has sparked widespread outrage on social media.

Ibrahim Saqafi Puzhakkathiri’s remarks, made during a speech, have drawn sharp criticism, with many questioning his views on women’s freedom and rights.

The controversy began after a video of Nafeesumma, a native of Kozhikode, enjoying the snow in Manali with her daughters went viral. In the clip, she is seen playfully throwing snow and encouraging others to experience such moments in life. However, her joyful outing did not sit well with the cleric, who disapproved of her actions.

“You might have seen the video of an old woman. Her husband died 25 years ago. Instead of sitting in a corner and praying, she was seen travelling to another state and playing in the snow. She is calling everyone saying this is life. And this is exactly the problem,” Saqafi said during his speech.

Nafeesumma’s daughter, Jisna, expressed deep distress over the cleric’s statement. “My mother is deeply sad and crying. She is not able to go out as everyone is asking her about the cleric’s words. Does a woman who lost her husband have no right to see the world?” she questioned.

Social media users and activists have rallied behind Nafeesumma, emphasising that widows, like anyone else, have the right to enjoy life and travel. Many have also pointed out the need to challenge such restrictive views that dictate how women, especially widows, should live their lives.

The video of Nafeesumma, which was widely shared online, showed her enjoying a holiday with her family calling it ‘poli mood’, which roughly translates to ‘awesome mood’, trending on Instagram.

Source: indiatoday.in

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Congress leaders urge Karnataka govt to let Muslim employees leave offices after 4 pm during Ramzan

February 20, 2025

After the governments in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh—led by the Congress and the NDA ally TDP, respectively—decided to allow Muslim employees to leave government offices early for Iftar in the upcoming Ramzan month, Karnataka Congress vice-presidents A R M Hussain and Syed Ahmed have requested Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to issue a similar directive.

In a letter written to Siddaramaiah on Thursday, the Congress leaders said, “Since the month of Ramzan is approaching, the government of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana has already given permission to the staff working in government offices to break for Iftar at their homes after 4 pm as Muslims are fasting for one month during the month of Ramzan. Therefore, we hereby request you to kindly allow our Muslim government employees in Karnataka to break for Iftar at their homes after 4 pm.”

Speaking to indianexpress.com, Hussain said this was only a request. “Ultimately it is the government’s call. We welcome any decision that the government takes. Since we all will be fasting from March 2 to March 30, we are requesting that Muslim government employees be allowed to leave an hour early for prayers and to break their fast. The government can allow them to log in early to work at 9 am and leave after 4 pm, instead of 10 am and 5 pm, for the said days,” he added.

A February 17 order of the Telangana government allowed all “Government Muslim Employees/Teachers/Contract/Out-sourcing/Boards/Corporations & Public Sector Employees working in the State to leave their Offices/Schools at 4.00 pm during the month of Ramzan from March 2 to March 31”.

Source: indianexpress.com

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Pathaan writer Abbas Tyrewala finds it 'cliched to see another Muslim villain' in cinema, discusses Aurangzeb as bad guy

Feb 21, 2025

Filmmaker and writer Abbas Tyrewala has criticised the increasing number of Muslim villains in Hindi films, saying that he has begun to 'cringe' at the political stance of modern films. Abbas directed Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na and has worked on the dialogue of films like War, 2.0, and Pathaan. (Also read: Rohit Shetty on criticism of Muslim representation in Sooryavanshi: 'Hindu villains did not create an issue earlier')

Abbas Tyrewala on Muslim villains in Bollywood

In an interaction with Lallantop, Abbas said, “Earlier, films were made by highly individualistic filmmakers. I worked with like-minded people, and there were hardly instances when the villainy or the political stance of a film made me cringe. But now, it isn’t the same. And I am not saying this because I am an Indian Muslim, but just that, from a writing point of view, it is just cliched to see another Muslim villain.”

The writer is currently working on the Hindi dialogue of Pawan Kalyan's Telugu period drama Hari Hara Veera Mallu. The film features Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb as the antagonist. The character was the villain in the recent Hindi hit Chhaava as well. “When Aurangzeb is the villain, there is a sense of importance that is accorded with his representation. Of course, there is the truth, which can’t be denied because it is there in our history, and then there is the exaggeration of truth for cinematic purposes. But there is no denying that what happened had happened,” Abbas said.

About Abbas Tyrewala

Abbas began his career as a lyricist with Love Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega in 2001. He wrote the lyrics for several hit songs in films like Dum and Munnabhai MBBS. He later turned director with the 2008 hit Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na. He only directed one more film after that - Jhootha Hi Sahi. In recent years, Abbas has worked as a screenwriter, contributing to the dialogue in blockbusters like Bang Bang, War, 2.0, and Pathaan.

Source: hindustantimes.com

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Muslim delegation withdraws objection to Maharana Pratap statue in Himachal

Feb 20, 2025

The Muslim community in Sujanpur Tira town of Himachal Pradesh has withdrawn its objection to a proposed Maharana Pratap statue outside a mosque.

Nagar Parishad executive officer Ajmer Thakur on Thursday said the Muslim Sudhar Sabha supported the installation of the statue and some members of the community might participate in the installation ceremony.

This comes two days after a delegation of the Muslim community submitted a memorandum to the Hamirpur administration, asking it not to install the statue in the park being built outside the mosque in ward number 4.

Reacting to the memorandum, the Vishva Hindu Parishad called on the administration to not go back on its decision to install the statue at the approved spot. The town was on the edge over the developments and the deputy commissioner had asked the sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) to look into the issue.

Thakur said that the head of Muslim Sudhar Sabha, Nizamuddin, and members of the committee had come to his office on Wednesday and gave a letter saying “many people are in support of installing the statue”.

The group said they welcome the installation of the statue in the park.

According to Thakur, the committee’s head said they wanted the two communities to live peacefully. Committee members also said they would take back the application opposing the statue, he added.

On Monday night, the Muslim delegation submitted their memo to the district administration, a video of which was widely circulated.

The next day, the VHP said that the statue would be erected at the place approved by the civic body.

Panjak Bharatiya, deputy secretary of the state wing of VHP, said there was no justification to oppose a statue of Maharana Pratap in front of the mosque and that a group of Muslim leaders from outside the state were creating “anti-Hindu sentiments”.

Bharatiya called upon the Hindu community to unite to install the statue at the approved spot. He also urged Muslims to attend the installation ceremony in the interest of peace and brotherhood.

Source: hindustantimes.com

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'Rice spilled on hostel floor': Bengaluru madrassa in-charge’s son thrashes, kicks 11-year-old girl

Feb 21, 2025

BENGALURU: City police arrested an 18-year-old son of a madrasa in-charge for allegedly beating up a 11-year-old girl over a trivial issue.

M Mohammed Hassan of Thanisandra was arrested on the basis of a complaint filed by the mother of the girl who is a student of a madrasa. Hassan's mother is in charge of the madrasa, with about 200 children studying in it.

The girl lived in the madrasa and her parents, who are self-employed, live in Yeshwantpur. The girl joined the madrasa in July 2024, her mother told police.

"On Tuesday (Feb 18), I received a phone call from a madrasa staffer, who told us that Hassan badly beat up and kicked my daughter on Sunday (Feb 16). We rushed to the spot, but Hassan was not there. According to my daughter, kids spilled rice on the floor while playing. Hassan grew angry and told the kids to clean it. Meanwhile, Hassan asked my daughter why she was not cleaning, and the girl replied saying she had not spilled the rice. He beat her up and kicked her," the mother told TOI.

"The accused's mother argued that the former did not beat up anyone. However, she, not knowing the truth, played the CCTV recording before us, and it clearly showed Hassan's inhuman act," the girl's mother said, adding that her husband immediately called Kothanur police.

Hassan has been booked under the Juvenile Justice Act and sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 115 (Voluntarily causing hurt).

"After keeping Hassan in custody for one day, where we carried out formalities like spot mahajar, we produced him before a court on Wednesday. The court handed him over to judicial custody," an investigating officer said.

Source: indiatimes.com

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Mideast

 

Al Azhar Official commends Bahrain’s role in fostering intra-Islamic dialogue

 20 Feb 2025

Manama, Feb. 20 (BNA): Dr. Ilham Muhammad Shaheen, Assistant Secretary General of the Islamic Research Academy at Al Azhar, highlighted the importance of the Intra-Islamic Dialogue Conference, held under the theme "One Nation, One Shared Destiny", hosted by Bahrain under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

She said that holding the conference at this critical time for the Islamic nation reflects a genuine response to a call shared by all Muslims. She also commended Bahrain’s leading role in hosting events that promote Islamic values and enhance solidarity among nations.

Dr. Shaheen expressed her appreciation to the Kingdom for bringing together scholars and thinkers, commending Bahrain efforts in supporting intellectual and scientific dialogue. She noted that participants are keenly anticipating the conference’s recommendations, which will play an important role in raising awareness and addressing current challenges.

Source: bna.bh

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Israel says it has struck Lebanon-Syria border crossings used by Hezbollah

February 21, 2025

BEIRUT: Israel said Friday it struck crossings on the Lebanon-Syria border used by Hezbollah to smuggle weapons, with a Syria war monitor reporting an unspecified number of people wounded in the attack.

The Israeli military said its air forces “struck crossing points in the area of the Lebanon-Syria border” used by the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group “in attempts to smuggle weapons into Lebanese territory.”

“These activities constitute a blatant violation of the ceasefire understandings between Israel and Lebanon,” the statement added.

A fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah has been in place since November 27, after more than a year of hostilities including two months of all-out war. Both sides have accused the other of violating the deal.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor said the overnight strikes put an “illegal crossing” near Lebanon’s frontier town of Wadi Khaled, which borders Syria’s Homs province, “out of service” and wounded a number of people.

The raids came “after a convoy of smugglers’ vehicles was observed headed from Syria toward Lebanon,” added the Britain-based Observatory, which has a network of sources inside Syria.

Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman reported “heavy material damage to buildings and vehicles.”

Lebanon’s official National News Agency reported “enemy aircraft flying at low altitude over the city of Hermel” and villages in the Bekaa Valley in the country’s northeast near the Syrian border.

Under the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire, Lebanon’s military was to deploy in south Lebanon alongside UN peacekeepers as the Israeli army withdrew over a 60-day period that was later extended to February 18.

Hezbollah was to pull back north of the Litani River, about 30 kilometers (20 miles) from the border, and dismantle remaining military infrastructure in the south.

Israel announced just before the latest deadline that it would temporarily keep troops in “five strategic points” near the border.

Earlier this month, the Israeli military said it carried out an air strike targeting a tunnel on the Syria-Lebanon border used by Hezbollah to smuggle weapons.

In January, Israel carried out air strikes in Lebanon targeting areas in the east and south according to Lebanese state media, with the Israeli military saying it hit Hezbollah targets including smuggling routes along the border with Syria.

Syria shares a 330-kilometer (205-mile) border with Lebanon, with no official demarcation.

Hezbollah lost a supply route when opposition forces in December ousted Bashar Assad in Syria, where Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes since war broke out in 2011.

Hezbollah holds sway in large parts of the Lebanese-Syrian border region, and had fought alongside Assad’s troops during the war.

Source: arabnews.com

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Israeli prime minister tells military to carry out West Bank operation after bus explosions

February 20, 2025

JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed the military to carry out an “intensive” operation in the West Bank after explosions on buses close to Tel Aviv on Thursday, in what Netanyahu’s office described as an attempted mass attack.

No casualties were reported.

The Israeli police earlier said there had been explosions on three buses in two Israeli suburbs outside Tel Aviv and that four explosive devices had been found. Local media reported the explosions had occurred on buses in depots and were empty.

The explosions were a stark reminder of the devastating bus bombings in Israel that were a hallmark of the Palestinian uprising of the 2000s, although such attacks are now rare.

The military said in a statement that it was assisting the police and Shin Bet intelligence agency in the investigation. The police said it was searching for suspects, advising the public to remain vigilant.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the explosions. Netanyahu met with the defense minister, head of the military and Shin Bet and the police commissioner following the explosions, his office said. A police spokesperson said that improvised explosive devices with timers had been identified and public transportation had been searched for any further devices.

A video published by local media showed what appeared to be a bus on fire at a depot and a photo of a burned out bus.

The military said it would intensify counter-terrorism operations in the West Bank and that it had blocked entry points in certain areas, without specifying where. The military has been conducting a large scale military operation in the West Bank over the past month that it says is targeting militants.

Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been forced to leave their homes in West Bank refugee camps, while homes and infrastructure have been demolished.

The bus blasts come amid a fragile ceasefire in Gaza between the Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel after 16 months of war. Hamas on Thursday released the bodies of four hostages.

The ceasefire has held since it was implemented on January 19 despite accusations traded by Israel and Hamas of violations.

Source: arabnews.com

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Pro-Hezbollah outburst at Beirut airport sparks tension

NAJIA HOUSSARI

February 20, 2025

BEIRUT: A passenger’s display of support for Hezbollah after her arrival at Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport caused tension and resentment among other travelers.

The woman, whose actions were recorded on video and shared on social media, was criticized “inciting trouble in the airport.” 

She claimed that a security officer at the airport prevented her from raising a Hezbollah flag and pictures of former Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah on airport premises.

Her reaction led to an altercation among travelers and those waiting at the airport.

The woman claimed that a military intelligence officer requested her not to display the pictures inside the airport, saying: “Raise them outside.”

Ensuing developments then caused tension among the passengers arriving at the airport.

As seen in video clips recorded by passengers at the airport and circulated on social media, the woman held up a picture of Nasrallah.

She said: “This is Lebanon’s airport; this is the real Lebanon. We are here in our airport, and you are not the one to stop us from raising or placing the picture wherever we want.”

She continued shouting, accusing those preventing her from displaying the pictures of “taking orders from the Israelis.”

She added: “They should be the ones to leave, not us. If anyone does not like it, they can leave Lebanon. This is our homeland.”

Some returning passengers supported her stance, chanting: “At your service, Nasrallah,” further escalating tensions.

This incident came just days after Hezbollah supporters staged protests on the airport road after the authorities’ refusal to grant landing permission to an Iranian civilian aircraft.

The ban remains in effect due to Israeli threats to target Iranian planes and the airport in Beirut.

The protests included roadblocks in Beirut and turned into riots as protesters burned car tires and dumped rubbish in the streets, and even intercepted a UNIFIL convoy, assaulting the UNIFIL deputy commander and his escort, who were both taken to hospital.

The demonstrations culminated in clashes with the Lebanese army, leading to the arrest of dozens of rioters.

Public Prosecutor Jamal Al-Hajjar is expected to conclude preliminary investigations into the actions of detainees suspected of attacking three UNIFIL military vehicles and setting one on fire.

He received initial reports from the military Intelligence Directorate concerning 30 people held for questioning.

A judicial source told Arab News that 10 detainees had been identified as participants in the attack.

The case will be forwarded to the Military Prosecutor's Office to file charges against those involved in crimes that may include attempted murder, vandalism, destruction of military vehicles, arson, and rioting.

Also on Thursday, officials said there had been an unusual influx of flights carrying passengers returning to Lebanon at the airport, some arriving via Iraq to attend the funerals of Nasrallah and his successor Hashem Safieddine.

The two men were killed in September and October during Israeli airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs. The war delayed their funeral processions.

The funeral is scheduled for next Sunday at Camille Chamoun sports stadium at the southern entrance to Beirut.

Nasrallah will be buried on a plot of land owned by Hezbollah on the old airport road, parallel to Beirut’s southern suburbs, and Safieddine will be buried in his hometown in the south.

Beirut airport announced the suspension of flights during the funeral processions, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, with all flights for that day being rescheduled.

Hezbollah said that participants from 79 countries would attend the funeral, including Iran, Iraq and Yemen.

Hezbollah delegations continue to send invitations to Lebanese officials and party leaders, including Hezbollah’s opponents.

Yemeni Information Minister Moammar Al-Eryani called on the Lebanese state to arrest the Houthi leaders who will attend Nasrallah’s funeral and hand them over to the Yemeni government.

Al-Eryani said in a post on social media that “the participation of the Houthi officials in the funeral affirms their unwavering support for Iran, and their ongoing involvement in the Iranian project in the region, while the Yemeni people suffer from war, hunger, poverty, and disease due to their destructive policies.”

The Yemeni official believes that “this is not a mere participation in the funeral, but an attempt to gather all the leaders of the Iranian axis and assess the situation after the blows they received.”

He emphasized the importance of “ensuring that Lebanon doesn’t become a safe haven for the leaders of the armed group, in compliance with international resolutions.”

During a press conference, Nasser Akhdar, the head of Hezbollah’s media committee for the funeral procession, confirmed that Hezbollah will go ahead with the funeral regardless of the circumstances.

“This includes any security issues arising from the ongoing Israeli occupation in the south, as well as any adverse weather conditions if the meteorologists’ predictions are accurate,” he said.

“Preparations are ongoing, invitations are being distributed, and the funeral will take place as scheduled.”

Source: arabnews.com

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UN calls for rapid economic recovery in Syria to reverse losses from 14 years of conflict

EPHREM KOSSAIFY

February 20, 2025

NEW YORK CITY: A newly published report from the UN Development Programme warned that at current growth rates, the Syrian economy will not recover to prewar levels until 2080, leaving the country stuck in a state of prolonged hardship and instability.

It also underscored the urgent need for a rapid economic recovery to help reverse the decades of progress that were lost as a result of the 14-year civil war. The conflict shattered nearly four decades of economic, social and human development, causing irreparable damage to the nation’s infrastructure, economy and social fabric.

The report, titled “The Impact of the Conflict in Syria: A Devastated Economy, Pervasive Poverty, and a Challenging Road Ahead to Social and Economic Recovery,” offers a detailed analysis of the socioeconomic state of the country, and outlines a road map for rebuilding its economy and infrastructure.

According to the UNDP’s preliminary socioeconomic impact assessment, gross domestic product in Syria has halved since the war began in 2011, representing a loss of $800 billion over the past 14 years.

Poverty has reached alarming levels, with the national poverty rate soaring from 33 percent before the war to 90 percent. Extreme poverty has also skyrocketed, with 66 percent of the population now affected, up from just 11 percent prior to the conflict. Three out of four people in the country rely on humanitarian aid and are in urgent need of support for critical aspects of life such as healthcare, education, employment, food security and housing. The country also has one of the highest unemployment rates in the world, with one in four Syrians jobless.

Achim Steiner, the administrator of UNDP, said that the requirements for Syria’s recovery extend beyond the immediate need for humanitarian aid.

“Restoring productivity for jobs and poverty relief, revitalizing agriculture for food security, and rebuilding infrastructure for essential services such as healthcare, education and energy are key to a self-sustaining future, prosperity and peace,” he said.

The damage to Syria’s infrastructure, which has left many essential services nonfunctional, is among the primary obstacles to recovery. The report highlights a staggering array of damage: nearly 50 percent of schools are closed, one-in-three housing units have been destroyed, and nearly half of the nation’s water-treatment plants and sewage systems are no longer operational. Energy production has plummeted by 80 percent, with power plants and transmission lines heavily damaged. These failures in basic services exacerbate poverty levels and block any meaningful path toward recovery.

The UNDP report also highlighted the devastating loss of life during the war, and the decline in health infrastructure. Nearly 618,000 Syrians died during the conflict, and 113,000 were forcibly disappeared, their whereabouts still unknown. Meanwhile, the collapse of the healthcare system has exacerbated the crisis; a third of all medical facilities have been damaged and almost half of ambulance services are no longer operational.

The education sector was also hit hard, leaving 40-50 percent of children between the ages of 6 and 15 unable to attend school. The widespread destruction of housing has left 5.7 million people in need of shelter support.

Essential infrastructure, including water-treatment plants, sewer systems and power plants, has been severely damaged, leaving millions without access to clean water, sanitation or reliable energy supplies.

Syria’s position on the Human Development Index has plummeted to its lowest point since 1990, further illustrating the catastrophic effects of the war on the nation’s development.

The economic outlook remains grim but hope can be found in the potential for robust growth if the correct strategies are implemented, the UNDP said. Its report calls for an ambitious approach to development, as growth rates will need to increase sixfold if they are to recover within a decade.

At the current rate of annual growth, 1.3 percent, it would take more than 50 years to restore GDP to prewar levels. To recover within 15 years, Syria would need to achieve a growth rate of 5 percent, and a tenfold increase in growth would be required for the country to reach the level of development it could have attained in the absence of the war.

Abdallah Al-Dardari, UNDP’s assistant administrator and director of its regional bureau for Arab states, stressed the important need for comprehensive reforms, and said: “Syria’s future hinges on a robust development-recovery approach.

“This demands a comprehensive strategy addressing governance reform, economic stabilization, sector revitalization, infrastructure rebuilding, and strengthened social services.”

He told Arab News that this strategy for recovery will rely on investments and on good management of those investments, as he underscored the institutional requirements Syria will need to meet to attract private investment in infrastructure.

“If you want to invest $100million or $200 million in (a) highway, you need to first of all be sure that you can go to the court, and the court will treat you equally if you have a litigation with your counterpart, which is the government,” Al-Dardari said.

“You need to make sure that there are internationally recognized arbitration systems. You need to make sure that your money can come in and leave the country. You need to make sure that your banking system respects the highest standards of banking.

“I can give you a very long list of things that need to be done and are not there yet. So this is an arduous journey. This is not an easy journey.”

Al-Dardari also told Arab News about the effects of international sanctions, imposed on the Assad regime during the war, on the economy and the ways in which they are hampering recovery progress.

“I'll give you an example,” he said. “Who is going to bring those investments of $36 billion while they are not really sure that the banking sector is free to bring in money, to use the SWIFT (banking system) to transfer funds and to invest?

“How do you make sure that your shipments into Syria of raw materials or semi-manufactured products are protected? How do you make sure that your exports from Syria can arrive at their destinations, and money will be paid for those exports?

“So at every step of the way in recovery, sanctions will play a role. The chilling effect of sanctions, what we call the ‘overload lines,’ will accompany those sanctions. So our core message (to countries) here is: Please understand the impact of sanctions and act accordingly.”

Source: arabnews.com

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Strike shuts Tunisia mining town over infrastructure woes

February 20, 2025

TUNIS: Schools and businesses in Om Laarayes, a major Tunisian mining town, shut down Thursday as a general strike protested deteriorating infrastructure, days after a deadly road accident.

The regional URT labor union, part of the powerful UGTT trade federation, called for the strike to demand improvements to the southwestern town’s infrastructure and health care.

“All schools, shops and local institutions have shut down in protest against the deteriorating state of infrastructure,” said URT secretary-general Mohamed Sghaier Miraoui.

The strike followed a road accident on Tuesday when a bus collided with a truck in the town, killing six people and injuring nine.

“This tragic accident has sparked outrage among residents of our neglected region,” Miraoui told AFP.

“Such incidents are frequent because we still lack basic infrastructure Public transport is inadequate, and our hospital is poorly equipped even for emergency care, while the morgue cannot properly accommodate bodies.”

Despite its phosphate wealth, Om Laarayes, home to 40,000 people, remains underdeveloped.

“Our town is a mining city and has natural resources,” said Miraoui. “It should be among the main regions with infrastructure.”

Many inland areas of Tunisia struggle with social and economic hardship, unlike wealthier coastal cities.

Protests have been common in these regions since the 2011 revolution that toppled longtime ruler Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and sparked the Arab Spring uprisings.

In the mining hub of Gafsa, people have long demanded better infrastructure and jobs by reviving phosphate production.

Tunisia produced eight million tons of phosphate in 2010 but has only been producing up to half of that in recent years due to underinvestment and recurring social unrest.

Phosphates, one of Tunisia’s few natural resources, are a key ingredient in fertilizers.

Source: arabnews.com

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Seven civilians killed in Syria leftover munitions blast: monitor

February 20, 2025

BEIRUT: Seven civilians, including a woman and a child, were killed Thursday when leftover munitions exploded inside a house in northwest Syrian Arab Republic, a war monitor said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported the deadly blast a day after another organization said two-thirds of Syrians risked being killed or wounded by unexploded ordnance.

“Seven civilians, including a woman and a child, were killed when leftover munitions stored inside a house” in Idlib province exploded, said the Observatory, adding the toll was provisional.

An AFP correspondent saw civil defense personnel working to remove rubble and pull victims from the destroyed house.

Mohammed Ibrahim, from the civil defense in Idlib, said they received a report “of an explosion of unknown provenance in Nayrab, and when teams headed to the site, they found unexploded ordnance.”

Syria’s conflict has killed more than half a million people and forced millions from their homes since erupting in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government protests.

Non-governmental organization Humanity and Inclusion said Wednesday that of the around one million munitions that have landed or been planted across Syria since then, experts estimate that 100,000 to 300,000 had never detonated.

It’s “an absolute disaster,” said HI’s Syria program director Danila Zizi, noting “more than 15 million people (are) at risk” out of the country’s estimated population of some 23 million.

As hundreds of thousands of Syrians return to their homes after Islamist-led rebels toppled longtime ruler Bashar Assad in December, “urgent action is needed to mitigate the risk of accident,” HI said.

Source: arabnews.com

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UN denounces Hamas’s ‘abhorrent’ display of hostages’ coffins

February 20, 2025

GENEVA: Hamas’s staged handover of the remains of four Gaza hostages to Israel on Thursday was “abhorrent and cruel,” the UN said, with the Red Cross again pleading for transfers to take place privately.

“The parading of bodies in the manner seen this morning is abhorrent and cruel, and flies in the face of international law,” said UN human rights chief Volker Turk.

“We urge that all returns are conducted in privacy, and with respect and care,” he added.

It was the first handover of dead hostages under a fragile ceasefire that so far had only seen living captives exchanged for Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.

The ceremony to return the bodies of Shiri Bibas and her two young sons Kfir and Ariel, alongside a fourth hostage, Oded Lifshitz, took place at a former cemetery in the southern Gazan city of Khan Yunis.

The Bibas boys had become symbols of Israel’s ordeal during the unprecedented October 7 Hamas attack in 2023.

“Under international law, any handover of the remains of deceased must comply with the prohibition of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, ensuring respect for the dignity of the deceased and their families,” Turk said.

The International Committee of the Red Cross, which has been responsible for transferring hostages and detainees between the Palestinian and Israeli sides since the war began in 2023, called for the transfer of remains to be carried out in private.

“Today the ICRC brought back the remains of those who should have been reunited with their loved ones in life, not in death,” it said in a brief statement.

“Our role today was to fulfil a vital humanitarian duty to allow families to mourn with dignity. They deserve to grieve and honor those they lost with a proper burial.

The ICRC said it remained committed to the role entrusted to the Geneva-based organization under the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.

Ahead of the handover, Hamas and members of other armed Palestinian groups displayed four black coffins on a stage in front of a banner depicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a bloodstained vampire.

After the handover, Israeli government spokesman David Mencer criticized the ICRC for having “not once visited our hostages while they were alive,” and having “made no effort whatsoever” to bring them medicines.

The ICRC has repeatedly said since the beginning of the conflict that it was making every effort to reach the hostages, but in vain.

Source: arabnews.com

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Intra-Islamic Dialogue Conference concludes with a call for unity

 20 Feb 2025

Manama, Feb. 20 (BNA): The Intra-Islamic Dialogue Conference concluded with a final statement emphasising the importance of Islamic unity and constructive engagement to address common challenges. Participants expressed appreciation to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa for the royal patronage and Bahrain for hosting the event. They also extended appreciation to His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al Tayyeb, Grand Imam of Al Azhar Al Sharif and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, for his presence and contributions, as well as to the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs for its hospitality and organisation.

The final statement stressed that Islamic unity is a shared responsibility and that mutual understanding and cooperation are essential for fostering Islamic fraternity. It called for a dialogue that is not focused on theological debate but rather on practical engagement that embraces the many shared elements of unity in confronting contemporary challenges.

Participants underscored the need for cooperation among religious, academic, intellectual, and media institutions to counter hate speech and sectarian incitement. The statement condemned all forms of insult and cursing, and called for a firm stance against expressions of hostility from all sects. It also acknowledged that historical and intellectual discourse within various Islamic traditions contains interpretative errors that should be critically reviewed, encouraging scholars to engage in self-assessment to continue the work initiated by earlier Islamic scholars.

The conference called for collective efforts to address key issues affecting the Islamic nation, particularly support for Palestine, resistance to occupation, and combating poverty and extremism. It highlighted that when Muslims from diverse sects work together on these critical issues, sectarian disputes naturally diminish under the banner of Islamic solidarity, as urged by the Holy Quran.

Participants urged leading Islamic institutions to develop a comprehensive study documenting areas of consensus in Islamic “Aqeeda” (doctrine), “Sharia” (law), and values. They noted that such an initiative would strengthen self awareness among Muslim communities, improve mutual perceptions, and enhance shared Islamic culture and humanitarian engagement.

The statement highlighted the need for unity to be institutionalised, starting with education and extending to religious discourse, sermons, and media representation. It called for practical measures to instil a culture of understanding, including curricula that teach the ethics of disagreement, platforms that counter hate speech, and collaborative social and developmental projects.

The conference also recognised the role of women in fostering unity, whether within families or through their contributions in education and society. It called for a renewed approach to intra-Islamic dialogue that incorporates youth perspectives and modern communication tools, ensuring that religious discourse resonates with digital-age realities and reflects the aspirations of young Muslims in an evolving world.

Participants recommended the establishment of dedicated committees within major Islamic institutions to facilitate dialogue among Muslim youth from various sects. This initiative aims to organise youth-led programmes, connect Muslim youth in the West with their Islamic heritage, and promote positive representations of their religious identity while addressing sectarian misperceptions. The conference also highlighted the importance of institutional and scholarly initiatives to dismantle stereotypes, reduce tensions, and combat Islamophobia as a means to enhance the global perception of Muslims and foster greater unity within the Islamic nation.

The conference proposed the creation of an "Islamic Dialogue Association" under the Muslim Council of Elders to serve as a platform for open communication among all components of the Islamic nation without exclusion. This initiative draws from the prophetic tradition that defines the Muslim nation as a unified entity.

Additionally, the event launched a declaration titled “Nida’ Ahl Al Qibla” (Call of the Qibla People), advocating for a unified religious discourse under the theme One Nation, One Shared Destiny.

The General Secretariat of the Muslim Council of Elders announced that it will oversee the formation of a joint committee for Islamic dialogue, ensuring the implementation of the conference’s resolutions. It also confirmed that preparations will commence, in coordination with Al Azhar Al Sharif, to organise the second Intra-Islamic Dialogue Conference in Cairo, in line with the announcement made by the Grand Imam, His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al Tayyeb, during the conference.

Source: bna.bh

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Pakistan

 

How Hindu dowry system denying Muslim girls’ inherited property?

Zaheer Malik 

February 21, 2025

KANDHKOT  -  Most of the countries of the South Asia including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India and others, there prevails similar customs, traditions and culture although the same languages are written, read and spoken all over the area.

According to various reports more than 80 percent living standards, culture and custom of Pakistan and India is almost same. Since Pakistani culture and traditions are adopted from Indian customs. Hence Dowry is the ritual practice of Hinduism in India while there is no concept of Dowry in Islam while the demand made by the bridegroom’s family from the bride’s parents for the payment of money along with other precious gifts a condition precedent to the alliance is called dowry.

Thus, dowry system has spread in almost all parts of the country and sections of society. According to reference of various Hadith Prophet Mohammad (Peace be Upon him) has given gifts to his beloved daughter Fatima tu Zahra (RA) on her wedding (Nikkah) were included Holy Qur’an Pak,  a bed sheet, a leather water bag a pillow which was stuffed with grass. It was lesson for all Muslims of the world that according to their circumstances they pay household gifts to their daughters if those are new or old but here is another situation in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh greedy family of grooms always demand for expensive gifts and cash from parents of brides if the parents can’t afford their high demands due to poverty they reject their daughters while their black hair turn into silver while waiting their match and remain unmarried throughout the life.

Additionally religion of Islam has allowed for Mahr (A mandatory condition for wedding) which is paid by the groom’s family to bride at the time of (Nikkah) wedding, it is legal property of bride. Deen-e- Islam granted a rightful share to daughters from inheritance’s family.  Dowry is a simulation of Hindu dharm (Hindu religion) especially from India in which daughters were not given any share from their parents but only dowry is given to daughters however Islam denied of dowry and it has been declared as harram. Nowadays it is custom of mostly Hindu and Muslim in both countries ie Pakistan and India as they demand expensive gifts, precious ornaments and cash at the time of building new relationship.

Islam strictly condemned of dowry while parents, family members, relatives and friends may give gifts to their girls on their wedding.  It necessary to add here that practice of giving dowry is not concept and also part of Islam however it is increased day by day in Pakistan. Islam doesn’t restrict of giving gifts to girls but rejected or denied demands from groom’s party. Scholars and Islamic renowned people said dowry is deep rooted evil however the demand of dowry is based upon the greed and may be considered as extortion of money from the bride party even in Hindu families the groom’s party demands the dowry as per their choice and hand over list of luxury items to parents of bride and the wedding is subjected to the supply of desired luxurious items. In case of failure the poor girls’ engagement are broken on the basis of not fulfillment of groom’s party.  The other bad practice existing in Hindu families that the relationship are the built on non- blood relative basis from either side i.e. maternal and paternal, whereas Islam permits inter blood relationship with paternal and maternal cousins. The non-blood religionship amongst Hindu communities have made the situation worse since hundreds of maternal and paternal girls stay unmarried or married to the families living aboard or far of places even across the countries.

Quoting the Holy Prophet Mohammad PBUH renowned scholars told that the best gifts are the simplest or most affordable. It is also reported dowry deaths have been rampant throughout Pakistan especially in rural and remote areas last for several decades as more than 1500 dowry related deaths were recorded annually. According to various reports, the cases of suicide, acid throwing, honour killing, strangled, domestic violence deprivation from the share in property, burning of girls and women are not highlighted in media and publicly in Pakistan as it is social crime which warrants to government to devise effective social policy which prevent women and minor girls falling prey to these social crimes. Since society stands mum over such injustice with girls and housewives.

However United Nation (UN) has also played a vital role in combating violence against women including dowry deaths. With a view to root out the evil of dowry from the society, we shall have to build up a strong public opinion against it especially organizing workshops, events and programs at school and college level.

Source: nation.com.pk

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Council of Islamic Ideology Chairman announces Sadqa-e-Fitr, Fidya rates

February 21, 2025

ISLAMABAD  -  The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) Chairman, Dr. Raghib Hussain Naeemi on Thursday announced the prescribed rates for Sadqa-e-Fitr and Fidya for the current year. According to the announcement, the minimum amount for Sadqa-e-Fitr and Fidya per person is Rs. 220. However, based on different commodities, the rates vary as follows: wheat Rs. 220, barley Rs. 450, dates Rs. 1,650, raisins Rs. 2,500, and dried grapes (Munqqa) Rs. 5,000. Dr. Naeemi urged affluent individuals to pay their Sadqa-e-Fitr and Fidya according to their financial capacity, instead of relying on the minimum wheat-based amount. He emphasized that Sadqa-e-Fitr is obligatory for every Muslim, slave or free, male or female, young or old, who possesses the means. He also encouraged people to pay in accordance with their financial standing so that a larger number of underprivileged individuals can benefit. Residents of provinces other than Punjab should calculate their Sadqa-e-Fitr and Fidya based on the local prices of the respective commodities. The prescribed weight for different items is as follows: wheat half Sa’a (approximately 2 kg), barley, dates, and dried grapes one Sa’a (approximately 4 kg). For those compensating for 30 missed fasts (Fidya), the total amount is: wheat Rs. 6,600, barley: Rs. 13,500, dates Rs. 49,500,raisins Rs. 75,000, and dried grapes (Munqqa): Rs. 150,000. Dr. Naeemi further clarified that for those who intentionally break a fast, the Kaffara (atonement) is either fasting for 60 consecutive days or feeding 60 needy individuals two meals a day. Additionally, individuals who consume government-subsidized wheat flour can also pay Rs. 160 as Sadqa-e-Fitr or Fidya, he added.

The CII Chairman advised faithful to fulfill their Sadqa-e-Fitr obligations before Eid-ul-Fitr to ensure that those in need can celebrate the festival with ease.

Source: nation.com.pk

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Badin father slays daughter for defying family’s 'marriage tradition'

By Imtiaz Hussain

February 20, 2025

A man in Badin district brutally murdered his daughter by subjecting her to brutal torture after she expressed her wish to marry a man of her choice, committing Karo-Kari — an act of so-called honour killing prevalent in the rural and tribal regions of Sindh.

The victims of such killings are predominantly women, accused of bringing shame to their families for having relationships outside marriage, before marriage, or seeking to marry of their own free will.

In some cases, victims are killed merely based on rumours or hearsay.

The police arrested the murder suspect, a resident of Lanwari Sharif Town, who was identified as Dodo Bheel, while the victim's name was Indirah Bheel.

Speaking to reporters, the suspect admitted to killing his daughter after she allegedly threatened to leave the family to marry a man she liked.

Dodo claimed that such marriages went against his family's tradition, where girls are not allowed to wed of their own free will.

"Dodo Bheel fatally struck his daughter, Indrah Bheel, on the head with sticks," said Anwar Laghari, Station House Officer (SHO) of Badin Model Police Station.

In January, a man gunned down his teenage daughter and her friend in the name of honour at Malir's Rafah-e-Aam Society in Karachi.

The suspect claimed that he found his daughter and her friend alone on the rooftop of the house, which enraged him into shooting them dead, according to the police.

Much of Pakistani society operates under a strict code of "honour", with women beholden to their male relatives over choices around education, employment and who they can marry.

Hundreds of women are killed by men in Pakistan every year for allegedly breaching this code.

According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, 316 "honour" crimes against women were recorded in the country in 2022.

But many cases go unreported, as families tend to protect the murderers — often male relatives.

Source: thenews.com.pk

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Pakistan, EU reaffirm resolve to combat terror at 9th strategic dialogue

By Web Desk

February 20, 2025

Pakistan and the EU reaffirmed their commitment to combating terrorism in all forms during the ninth counter-terrorism dialogue in Brussels on Thursday, discussing bilateral cooperation under the 2019 Strategic Engagement Plan.

The respective delegations were led by the European External Action Service's Director for Security and Defence Policy Maciej Stadejek and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Director General for Counter-Terrorism Abdul Hameed.

The European Union and Pakistan condemned terrorism in all its forms and confirmed their steadfast commitment to fight it, an official statement read.

The two-sided talks allowed for an exchange on regional and global challenges, including the security implications of the situation in Afghanistan and in other areas, like the Middle East.

Both parties confirmed the importance of strong cooperation with international partners in multilateral fora. This includes the work in the United Nations' framework and in the Global Counter-Terrorism Forum, which the EU has been co-chairing since 2022, it added.

The European Union and Pakistan also discussed areas for the exchange of best practices and for concrete cooperation, with a focus on common actions on prevention and countering of violent extremism, recruitment and movement of foreign fighters, offline and online radicalisation, combating terrorism financing and more topics that are relevant to address the growing challenges posed by terrorism.

In January, EU Special Representative for Human Rights (EUSR) Ambassador Olof Skoog paid a week-long visit to Pakistan in which he emphasised the need for progress on a range of issues in Pakistan, including human rights, to benefit from GSP+ status amid the ongoing review under the GSP+ trade policy.

During his visit, Ambassador Skoog held meetings with federal and provincial government ministers, military leadership, senior officials, United Nations bodies, human rights defenders and lawyers, civil society organisations, media representatives, and the business sector.

The special representative reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting Pakistan in meeting its human rights obligations and, in this regard, encouraged diligent efforts and meaningful consultations with all stakeholders, including the country’s vibrant civil society.

Source: thenews.com.pk

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'Courts should stay out of politics,' PTI leader on PM-CJP meeting

By Web Desk

February 20, 2025

In the backdrop a recent meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) parliamentary leader in the Senate Barrister Ali Zafar said on Thursday that the courts should stay out of politics.

A day earlier, the premier visited CJP Afridi's residence, at his invitation, to share the agenda of the upcoming meeting of the National Judicial Policymaking Committee (NJPMC).

Last week, the CJP invited PM Shehbaz and Leader of the Opposition Omar Ayub Khan to propose improvements to the justice system, which will be taken up in the upcoming NJPMC meeting.

Speaking on Geo News programme “Capital Talk”, the PTI counsel said that such meetings should be “one-off” and not be routine practice.

“The CJP should not make such meetings a routine [practice] as it gives the impression of politics.”

“It's correct that the chief justice has called the opposition for the meeting and I am part of that delegation. I am going to Islamabad to meet him [chief justice] tomorrow at his residence,” he added.

Barrister Zafar said the 10 to 12-point meeting agenda with the CJP includes discussion on law, the judicial system, commercial cases and the digitalisation of the judicial system.

"This is unusual because I have never seen it before, that a chief justice meets a government and opposition delegation."

It appears that such meetings may be an effort to bring the government and the opposition on the same page, the PTI leader said, adding: “Despite this, such meetings should not be made routine practice and it would be better to make such practice a one-off thing as meeting the opposition and government can give a perception of politics.”

Responding to a question about the PTI’s upcoming power show, Barrister Zafar confirmed that there would be no clash between their public rally and the ongoing ICC event.

“The PTI is not being allowed to hold rallies in Punjab," claimed the PTI leader.

Talking about “political victimisation”, he said the incumbent government was using tactics that were not used even during periods of dictatorshipa.

“The PTI will stage protest demonstrations after Eid ul Fitr,” the PTI lawyer reiterated.

“The government will collapse if proceeding of pending cases resumes,” he claimed further.

During the February 19 meeting, the CJP assured taking opposition parties’ input over the judicial reforms during his meeting with the PM, read a statement issued by the apex court.

The premier was accompanied by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Cheema and Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan. SC Registrar Muhammad Salim Khan and Secretary Law and Justice Commission Tanzeela Sabahat were also present on the occasion.

The chief justice shared the agenda of the upcoming meeting of the NJPMC and sought the input of the government.

"The move is part of the chief justice's overall reform agenda intending reduction in the pendency and providing speedy justice to the people of Pakistan," read the SC statement.

The CJP informed PM Shehbaz that he would also be taking the opposition parties’ input and wishes that his reform programme should carry bi-partisan support so that the "reforms are consistent, sustainable and more impactful".

The prime minister appreciated the reform package and agreed the government would provide its input soon.

Separately, a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office stated PM Shehbaz appreciated the chief justice's initiative to visit remote areas of South Punjab, Interior Sindh, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and to consult with all stakeholders for effective and timely delivery of justice.

Apprising the chief justice of the long-pending tax disputes in various courts, he requested the top judge to ensure timely decisions on these cases based on merit. The premier also assured the top judge of accelerating effective measures regarding missing persons.

Source: thenews.com.pk

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At Oxford, Bilawal defends Pakistan’s N-programme

February 21, 2025

LONDON: Former foreign minister and PPP leader Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Thursday called out the hypocrisy of Western countries, questioning what makes a state entitled to nuclear weapons.

During a wide-ranging speech at the Oxford Union, a pre­stigious debating society that invites world leaders to speak on key issues before students and academics, Mr Bhutto-Zardari said he was “concerned that Pakistan’s bal­­listic missile programme is sanctioned by the US” and ask­ed who defines the rules for a country’s defence capabilities.

“I am struck by the hypocrisy… Is it that every Western or White country is allowed nuclear weapons and others aren’t? Pakistan’s is not an aggressive nuclear weapons programme.”

He also made a veiled jibe at recent remarks made by US President Donald Trump, saying “We don’t have an expansionist policy to take over the Panama canal or conquer Canada. Ours [nuclear weapons] are only for self-defence.”

The event was an ode to the former PPP prime minister, titled the ‘Benazir Bhutto Memorial Lecture’ to discuss democracy in a divided world. A portrait of the late Benazir hung in the hall, overlooking the podium where the Bhutto scion spoke.

Mr Bhutto-Zardari spoke at length about his mother, an alumnus of the prestigious university and also the Union’s first Asian woman president. He hailed her sacrifices for democracy, her commitment to politics, and her position as a woman politician who was also a mother.

“My mother… came to Oxford at the age of 16 to study and then went to Pakistan at the age of 25 to participate in politics,” he said. “She was an extraordinary woman, with whom people would establish a personal relationship.”

“My mother did not teach me to take revenge, that is why I say that democracy is the best revenge.”

He spoke about strides Pakistan had made to appoint women to leadership positions, including having a female foreign minister, a female chief minister and even a female speaker of parliament.

“What made male politicians ambitious made [women] greedy. What makes male politicians charismatic, made her loud. But she took all this in her stride,” he said.

“Despite the restrictions imposed on women, Benazir Bhutto paved the way for women to come forward in Pakistan, today the Chief Minister of Punjab is also a woman. Many attempts were made to target Benazir, but she continued to participate in politics without fear.”

He also said that the future of Pakistan is linked to the “supremacy of the people, an independent judiciary and journalism”.

“The people of Pakistan are right to demand a better future,” he said, adding that people deserve a better future that populists promise. “They certainly do not deserve another military coup.”

After his’s lecture, Oxford University President Israr Khan hosted a Q&A session, pressing the party chairman on human rights concerns in Pakistan and allegations of eroding democratic principles. Mr Bhutto-Zardari responded by saying that even seasoned democracies have problems.

Source: dawn.com

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Ume Hassan, 12 others sent on four-day physical remand

Malik Asad | Munaer Azeemw

February 21, 2025

ISLAMABAD: An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad has sent Ume Hassan, spouse of Lal Masjid cleric, and 12 others on a four-day physical remand in a case related to an armed attack on a government vehicle and staff.

They, six women and seven men,were arrested on Wednesday night from Madani Mosque in Margalla Town and presented before the court of ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra, where the prosecution sought a five-day physical remand.

A case has been registered against the accused at Shahzad Town Police Station under anti-terrorism provisions.

During the hearing, the defence lawyer opposed the remand, arguing that the accused were arrested from the Madani Mosque in Margalla Town and questioned what the police intended to recover from them. Ume Hassan stated that the incident stemmed from a dispute over the mosque and that she had gone to negotiate with the administration before being arrested.

The police contended that the disputed property was designated for a madressah and that construction work was going on when the accused allegedly attacked officials and took away building materials.

The prosecution emphasised the need for remand to facilitate the arrest of other suspects linked to the incident.

Judge Sipra, questioning the necessity of remand, remarked: “If they were arrested on the spot, what can be recovered from them?” The police responded that they needed to apprehend additional accomplices. The judge also noted that Ume Hassan had four previous cases against her, to which her lawyer replied that they had only recently been informed and would appear in court accordingly.

Expressing concern over recurring disputes in religious places, the judge remarked, “Why do they fight at mosques, temples, and Imambargahs? When will conflicts at places of worship stop?”

After hearing arguments from both sides, the court granted a four-day physical remand of all the accused to the police.

They were arrested on Wednesday night under several charges including firing at police and CDA staff, making CDA officer and labourer hostage, putting up resistance, damaging official vehicles, etc., police said.

The case has been registered at Shahzad Town police station under sections 7 and 11(x) of ATA, Section 8 of Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act 2024, sections 395, 324, 342, 341, 148, 149, 353, 186, and 440 of Pakistan Penal Code, and Section 13 and 20 of Arms Ordinance 1965.

According to the FIR, CDA allotted a plot to Madrasa Idara Ashraful Uloom, Murree Road for construction of a seminary. Ume Hassan and 80 men and 40 women, armed with weapons and batons, attacked the labourer and the CDA staff.

After getting the information the police reached the spot. Seeing the police contingent the attackers gave provocative speeches besides, putting up stiff resistance against the police and also blocked the roads.

Source: dawn.com

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CTD lodges case over Barkhan killings

Saleem Shahid | Behram Baloch

February 21, 2025

QUETTA / GWADAR: The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of Balochistan Police on Tuesday registered an FIR against unknown assailants involved in the Barkhan killing incident, where seven people were murdered.

According to officials, the FIR was filed on the complaint of the Station House Officer (SHO) of CTD Loralai against unidentified individuals under various charges, including murder and terrorism.

The incident occurred when armed men intercepted a Faisalabad-bound passenger coach, checked the passengers’ National Identity Cards and executed seven people from different cities of Punjab. CTD investigators have launched an investigation into the killings following the registration of the FIR.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement.

Panjgur shooting

Unknown assailants shot dead two people and injured three others, including a woman, in Panjgur district, officials said on Thursday.

Levies officials said the armed men entered the house of the victims in the Gomazain Sabazap area of the district and opened fire on them, killing two persons and injuring three others.

“Two persons, identified as Muhammad Kashif and Arslan, died on the spot as they received multiple bullet injuries,” a senior Levies officer said, adding that three others, two of them passersby, got injured.

Levies personnel rushed to the site after receiving information about the incident and shifted the bodies and the injured to the district hospital. The bodies were later handed over to the family after medico-legal formalities. The injured were identified as Saifullah, Irfanullah and Rahila.

Source: dawn.com

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KP govt to name Peshawar’s cricket stadium after Imran

Manzoor Ali

February 21, 2025

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to rename the Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium—the lone international cricketing venue in the province—as the Imran Khan Cricket Stadium to honour the former prime minister’s pivotal role in shaping the nation’s sports landscape.

Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur on Thursday signed a summary of the sports department, proposing the renaming of the Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium. The matter will now be placed before the provincial cabinet for its approval.

Sports minister Syed Fakhar Jahan told Dawn that the renaming of the stadium was beyond politics as Imran Khan was the biggest name in the country’s sporting history.

He said that ideally speaking, the government should have named Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium after Imran Khan, but it only named an enclosure after him.

The summary said that Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur had desired for the re-naming of the Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium Shahi Bagh, Peshawar, as Imran Khan Cricket Stadium.

It added that the stadium located in Shahi Bagh area of Peshawar was constructed by the Municipal Corporation Peshawar through the Peshawar Development Authority following the directions of the then president of the country.

“Initially, the stadium had a seating capacity of 5,000 spectators and a small pavilion for local cricket matches,” it said.

The stadium, according to the summary, was transferred to the sports board from the municipal corporation and the provincial government undertook its development in 1986-87. The stadium was later improved and provided with facilities when the World Cup was jointly hosted by India and Pakistan in 1996.

The summary said that the stadium had been used as a venue for the test matches, one-day internationals, first class matches and inter-club competitions.Since up-gradation, it has hosted teams from all major cricket playing nations, including Australia, England, South Africa, West Indies, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, India and Zimbabwe, for both test and one-day internationals.

The summary also noted that the provincial government approved a scheme—Feasibility and Improvement of Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium Peshawar—at the cost of Rs1.37 billion in April 2008.The scheme was revised on April 4, 2021, with a revised cost of Rs1.94 billion. A second revision was approved on Sept 6, 2024, increasing the total cost to Rs2.31 billion.

The summary said that there were a number of international standard playing facilities in the province established by the provincial or federal government.

It added that the government, in recognition of the services of the political figures and former national and international level sportsmen, had named some sporting facilities in the province after them, including Lala Ayub Hockey Stadium and Qayyum Stadium at Peshawar Sports Complex, Hanif Khan Sports Complex Thana, Abdul Wali Khan Sports Complex Charsadda and Qazi Mohib Hockey Stadium Bannu.

“To honour Mr Imran Khan’s remarkable contributions to Pakistan cricketing legacy and his pivotal role in shaping the nation’s sports landscape, it is proposed that the Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium be renamed as Imran Khan Cricket Stadium, Shahi Bagh Peshawar,” it said.

The summary added that the stadium’s renaming reflected the government commitment to recognising national heroes, inspiring future generations and promoting a culture of acknowledging excellence in sports.

Senior Peshawar-based sports journalistAmjad Aziz Maliksaid the stadium was named Arbab Niaz, a former federal minister for sports.

He said that Mr Niaz was the father of Arbab Shahzad, former KP chief secretary in the Pervez Khattak government and adviser to the prime minister on establishment in the Imran Khan government.

“For years, there was only the Peshawar Club ground, which staged first-class matches from 1938, and a lone Test match, against India, in 1954-55. In 1984, it was joined by two grounds in Peshawar University. In 1985, Peshawar got a new test venue, the Arbab Niaz stadium. This also staged a one-day international on the ‘goodwill’ tour by India in 2004-05, during which the Indian tourists were able to walk around the markets and bazaars with minimal security and buy carpets,” British journalist Peter Osborne notes in his book, Wounded Tiger, A History of Cricket in Pakistan.

Source: dawn.com

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https://www.dawn.com/news/1893306/kp-govt-to-name-peshawars-cricket-stadium-after-imran

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Europe

 

Blackburn's IMO charity to host landmark health event for 50 mosques

20th February

By Shuiab Khan

Mosques leaders across Blackburn with Darwen are coming together as part of a health and well-being event.

The Al Sihatu Wal Aafiyah - 'Our Community, Our Responsibility' conference is being hosted by the IMO charity and will aim to address critical health challenges within the borough.

The event will unite committee members, imams, councillors from over 50 mosques to explore how faith and education are ‘transforming lives  and strengthening families’.

Speakers include IMO Charity’s chief executive, Mohammed Sidat, Blackburn with Darwen director of public health, Abdur Razaq, SPARK collaborative representative, Hanif Ali and Hafiz Suhayl from the Beacon Counselling Trust.

Kidney donor recipients and advocates Mufti Helal Mehmood and Fez Awan will also speak about their experiences.

Speakers will present local data, address stigma, and promote solutions for issues relating to gambling, drugs and alcohol misuse, diabetes and cancer.

IMO's health and well-being manager, Salma Kathrada said: "Al Sihatu wal Aafiyah is an event which brings to the fore issues existing locally, with which many people are suffering in isolation.

"We want to work together to break the shame, stigma and cultural misconceptions which contribute to the decline in the health and wellbeing of the communities we serve.

“Gatherings like these are much needed and we hope attendees on the day show their commitment and sign up with a pledge of collaborative action on the health concerns identified within their communities”.

IMO trustee and health and well-being champion, Michael Wedgworth said “This pioneering initiative represents a crucial step forward in addressing the health challenges faced by our community.

“By bringing together religious leaders, healthcare professionals, and community advocates, we are creating a powerful platform for open dialogue and meaningful action.

“Our faith teaches us that preserving health is a sacred duty, and through this event, we are empowering our community leaders to become champions of health and well-being.

"Together, we can build a healthier, stronger, and more resilient community”.

The Al Sihatu Wal Aafiyah - 'Our Community, Our Responsibility' event is invitation only and will take place on Wednesday, February 26.

Source:lancashiretelegraph.co.uk

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https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/24942929.imo-charity-hosts-landmark-health-event-50-mosques/

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Imam quits Blackburn College post over Palestine event

20th February

By Shuiab Khan

An imam and chaplain has resigned from his role at Blackburn College after plans for a 'Palestine Awareness Day' were cancelled ‘without explanation’.

Imam Saleem Seedat had been in the role for 13 years and along with leading and organising the Friday prayers on campus, he provided pastoral care to students.

Blackburn College provides multi-faith facilities at three locations around the campus and access is open to everyone of all faiths and none.

Blackburn College said it was following Department for Education guidance, which advised it is ‘unable to host political or exclusionary events’.

The college said it had a strong record of welcoming ‘people from different cultures, perspectives and experiences’.

The event had been due to take place last month.

However, when contacted the Department for Education said the any decision was made by college leaders without direct input from DfE officials.

In an extensive and wide-ranging post on Wednesday evening, Mr Seedat said he was 'unable' to continue in his role.

He said: “During the week before we finished for the Christmas holidays, I was informed the proposal for Palestine Awareness Day was rejected.

“The event was being organised by some University Centre students where they were due to speak alongside a reputable Palestinian speaker; known to regularly speak at diverse events across the country and share the lived experience of herself and other victims in Gaza.

“The management decided, suddenly, to not allow the event, though the planning of the event was taking place not only with their knowledge but with their request to me, several months ago, to provide specialist support to the students as College Chaplain and in light of my academic background and national experience of engaging and sharing platforms with leaders of other faith communities including the Jewish community.”

Mr Seedat said he had escalated the matter to Lancashire Council of Mosques (LCM).

He went on: “Neither was there any rationale provided as to why, on one hand, I was asked to offer and deliver training to staff on how best to manage issues surrounding the conflict, as part of their Continuous Professional Development (CPD), in the previous academic year, and then, on the other hand, all that guidance used to prepare staff, totally being overlooked in the decision made.

“As a side note, it would be important to keep in mind that I was appointed at Blackburn College as Chaplain by LCM to ensure that the person appointed was deemed representative of the community, whilst ensuring that the chaplaincy - and by extension the college - was working within the framework of the law and college policy.

“In this regard, over the period of 13 years, I have consistently been a 'critical friend' of the management of the college in challenging the inequalities affecting the under-represented community.”

He went on to say "expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness" were being stifled and he had resigned after being "left with no meaningful alternative to address this matter of public interest".

The college, which is aware of the statement and also the full list of claims made, said ‘equity, diversity, and inclusion’ was one of the institution’s core values.

A Blackburn College spokesperson said: “Individuals from different cultures, perspectives and experiences are at the heart of Blackburn College.

"We are guided by our values in everything we do and recognise that being a diverse and inclusive college helps us fulfil our responsibility to make a difference in transforming the lives of our students through education.

“Equity, diversity, and inclusion at Blackburn College is one of our core values.

“Following Department for Education guidance, and in line with our own Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Policy, Blackburn College is unable to host political or exclusionary events.

“Blackburn College works closely with Blackburn with Darwen Interfaith Forum, as well as a number of community groups, to provide a safe environment for all.”

In its most recent Ofsted inspection, the body awarded Blackburn College a ‘good’ rating, with inspectors praising its leaders' creation of a “cohesive and harmonious culture.”

'Outstanding’ ratings were given to behaviour and attitudes, personal development, education programmes for young people and adult learning programmes.

The Department for Education said 'the decision on the protest was made by college leaders without direct input from DfE officials' and it was for 'the college to comment on the decision'.

Source: lancashiretelegraph.co.uk

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https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/24951401.imam-quits-blackburn-college-post-held-13-years/

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Solihull Mosque allowed to keep temporary marquee as planners find 'very special circumstances'

20 Feb 2025

Sam Greenway

A mosque has been allowed to keep a marquee for another year after a previous successful appeal.

The marquee was erected at Solihull Central Masjid in 2020 to allow for socially-distanced prayers during the pandemic.

Solihull Council planners later said the marquee would have to come down as it was considered inappropriate development in the green belt.

But, after the Warwick Road-based place of worship appealed, temporary consent for the marquee was granted by the planning inspectorate which noted the “community and social need for the development” and found “very special circumstances exist to justify the temporary planning permission”.

That permission expired earlier this year, leading to Solihull Central Masjid submitting another planning application.

Application agent Claremont Planning said: “Although social distancing requirements are no longer in place, elderly and vulnerable members of the community continue to benefit from the increased space for accessible prayer in the marquee.

“The applicant is seeking consent for retention of the temporary marquee for a further 12-month period, while an application for a permanent rear extension is progressed.

“The applicant is currently engaging in pre-application discussions with the council with regards to a permanent rear extension, and a full planning application is anticipated to be submitted in early 2025.

“The proposed permanent rear extension will replace the existing temporary marquee.”

During a consultation, five objections from neighbours were made including it being inappropriate development in the green belt, highway and parking concerns.

In a report recommending approval Solihull planners said: “A loss to visual openness would occur, however, this is considered to be limited due to the screening of the existing frontage building and surrounding tree areas.

“The planning inspector concluded there is little evidence to demonstrate the arrangements at the site will result in parking capacity issues such that outspill or dangerous parking occurs in the locality.

“The proposed temporary sitting of a marquee to the rear of Sandalls Cottage for a period of 12 months is unlikely to have a noticeable impact on public highway safety.

“The proposal is considered to be acceptable, subject to appropriate conditions.”

Planning officer Mark Andrews, head of planning, design and engagement services, granted planning approval on February 19.

Source:birminghammail.co.uk

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https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/solihull-mosque-allowed-keep-temporary-31046573

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Mosque offers sneak peak of rare artefacts at new museum

20th February

By Shuiab Khan

A new mosque and community hub said more than 20 rare Islamic artefacts will be on display in its museum as it opens its doors to the public this weekend.

The Al-Buraq Masjid, located in Devonport Road, has been made possible through a ‘monumental’ fundraising effort and is set to have two launch events.

A male event will take place from 12pm on Saturday, February 22, and a women’s event will be held the day after on Sunday from 1pm.

The mosque also revealed a leading Islamic spiritual leader from New York will be among the special guests at the official opening.

This week the mosque shared details of the rare Islamic artefacts that visitors will be on show on the top floor of the mosque.

The artefacts from the Ottoman era include an original key to the Kaaba in Makkah dating back more than 100 years. The Kiswah, the cloth that covers the Kaaba, dating back to the early 19th century is also being displayed.

More than 20 artefacts will be on display, many of these have never been on public display in the UK.

The museum aims to attract schools, community groups, and the wider public, promoting education and cultural appreciation.

Visiting the official launch will be Sheykh Lokman Efendi.

Sheykh Lokman left his home in Singapore at a young age to pursue his post-graduate studies at Columbia University in New York City.

He is now one of the pre-eminent spiritual leaders in the country and leader of the Osmanli Naksibendi Hakkani Tarikat.

A mosque spokesperson said: “We are delighted to be welcoming people from across the world to join our community here in Blackburn.

“The opening event will thank the volunteers and people who supported this project.”

The mosque said it was hoping to launch a new food bank, the ‘Blackburn Community Fridge’, which will collect donations from local businesses.

There are plans in the future to collaborate with established charities to support people of all faiths and backgrounds.

Volunteers took part in sponsored cycle rides and treks across northern England, while donations from families and mosque members contributed to what the mosque said was a wholly community-led initiative.

The new building will replace the Islamic Education Centre on the corner of Addison Street as the community’s focal point for prayers and religious activities.

The majority of worshippers live in the surrounding area.

Built on spare land behind Devonport Road, the mosque has been designed to maximise space while incorporating elements of modern Islamic architecture.

The first Friday prayers at Al-Buraq Masjid will take place on Friday, February 28.

Source:asianimage.co.uk

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https://www.asianimage.co.uk/news/24949961.mosque-offers-sneak-peak-rare-artefacts-new-museum/

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Anti-Muslim hate reports in UK reach record high in 2024, charity says

ByEastern Eye

Feb 20, 2025

A UK group that tracks anti-Muslim hate said on Wednesday that it received the highest number of reports in 2024, attributing the rise to online platforms and artificial intelligence.

Tell MAMA’s director, Iman Atta, described the increase as "unacceptable" and "deeply concerning for the future."

"We have had the largest volume of cases reported to us... since we started our work in 2012," Atta said.

Tell MAMA recorded 6,313 cases of anti-Muslim hate in 2024, with most occurring online. The group verified 5,837 of them. In comparison, there were 4,406 reports in 2023, of which 3,767 were confirmed.

Assault cases increased by 73 per cent, rising from 99 in 2023 to 171 in 2024. The group also documented 2,197 cases of abusive behaviour taking place offline.

The increase in reports followed key events, including the Gaza conflict that began in October 2023 and the murders of three young girls in Southport in July 2024.

False claims that a Muslim immigrant was responsible for the Southport killings spread widely on social media in the days after the attacks.

The misinformation contributed to the UK's worst riots in decades, with mobs targeting mosques and immigrant shelters.

Axel Rudakubana, a UK citizen born in Cardiff to Rwandan parents, is serving 13 life sentences for the murders.

"Significant national and international events spiked online reports of anti-Muslim hate into Tell MAMA," the report stated.

The group also raised concerns about artificial intelligence-generated images spreading anti-Muslim hate online.

Atta urged the government to take coordinated action and called on the public "to stand together against hatred and extremism."

Tell MAMA described X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, as "the most toxic online platform in the dissemination of anti-Muslim hate."

It pointed to "aggressive language and the targeted nature of anti-Muslim hate towards other users" on the platform.

Tell MAMA called on the government and social media companies to address the issue, stating that online spaces must uphold "the fundamental rights of all."

Source:easterneye.biz

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https://www.easterneye.biz/anti-muslim-hate-uk-surge/

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Africa

 

Prophet declares national fast, urges repentance for Nigerians

February 20, 2025

by Adeola Ogunlade

The spiritual leader of Christ Gospel Apostolic Church (CGAC) worldwide, Apostle (Prophet) Ezekiel Oyediran Oyedele, has issued a solemn call for a three-day national fasting and prayer session, warning that Nigeria faces an impending crisis.

Addressing journalists at a press briefing in Lagos yesterday, Oyedele urged Nigerians from all religious backgrounds to participate in the spiritual exercise, scheduled for February 24 to 26, 2025.

According to him, the message was divinely revealed during his annual prayer dedication programme, emphasizing the need for national repentance, unity, and divine intervention.

“The Lord has asked me to announce this warning to the nation to seek His face, repent from our wicked ways, and ask for God’s mercy,” he declared, citing 2 Chronicles 7:14 as the scriptural foundation for his message.

The cleric highlighted Nigeria’s ongoing struggles, describing the nation as being at a critical crossroads.

“The economy is shaking while people are suffering from corruption and economic mismanagement. Poverty, unemployment, and inequality are on the rise. Politically, the country is divided by greed and selfish ambition, while crime, injustice, and ethnic tensions continue to grow,” he lamented.

Despite these challenges, Prophet Oyedele expressed hope, stating that God is ready to restore Nigeria’s lost glory if its people turn back to Him with sincerity.

The prophet also referenced past revelations he claimed to have received, which he said later came to pass. “In 2013, he prophesied a dramatic rise in food prices, which he noted became a reality in subsequent years. In 2017, he warned of a global epidemic and led his congregation in prayers against it.

According to him, this prophecy was fulfilled with the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2019/2020”.

 “This time, the Lord has mandated me to warn the nation again. Nigerians must humble themselves, seek God’s face, and pray to avert the looming crisis,” he said.

Oyedele emphasized that the call to prayer was not limited to Christians but extended to all Nigerians, including Muslims and other religious groups who believe in God.

Quoting 2 Chronicles 7:14, he reiterated: “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

Source:thenationonlineng.net

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https://thenationonlineng.net/prophet-declares-national-fast-urges-repentance-for-nigerians/

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Memorisers battle for final spot as MSSN hosts Qur’an boot camp

February 21, 2025

by Tajudeen Adebanjo

The Shamsi Adisa Thomas Central Mosque in Ikeja will tomorrow become a hub of intense Quranic study as the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, Lagos State Area Unit (MSSN Lagos), will be hosting a crucial bootcamp designed to determine the finalists for its prestigious Lagos Quran Competition, popularly known as ReciteLagos.

Quran memorisers from across Lagos State, each vying for a coveted spot in the grand finale, had participated in the rigorous contest at zonal stages in five, 10, and 30 juzu.

The grand finale of the Qur’an competition organised in honour of the late Alhaji Lateef Adegbite is expected to be held on Sunday, March 9, at JF Ade Ajayi Auditorium, the University of Lagos with the theme, “Unfailing Compass”.

Among the dignitaries expected at the event include the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Kadri Hamzat while a senior lecturer, Al-Hikmah University, Shaykh (Dr.) Sanusi Lafiagi, is expected to deliver the lecture alongside Dr Abdullah Shuaib.

According to the Amir (President) of MSSNLagos, Kamoldeen Abiona, the bootcamp served as a critical evaluation period, assessing not only the participants’ memorisation prowess but also their recitation accuracy and other technicalities.

He said, “The bootcamp focused on refining memorisation techniques, improving tajweed (rules of recitation), and deepening the participants’ understanding of the Quranic verses. The competition is not merely a test of memory but a celebration of the profound connection between the memorisers and the Holy Quran.

“The selection process for the grand finale will be highly competitive, with only the most skilled and dedicated memorisers advancing. The bootcamp is designed to ensure that the finalists possess the highest level of proficiency and are ready to inspire audiences with their exceptional Quranic recitations.”

The Chairman of the Qur’an competition’s organising committee, Imam Sulaimon Dhikrullah, noted that MSSN Lagos remained committed to promoting the study and understanding of the Quran among Muslim students and youth in Lagos State.

“This bootcamp is a testament to our dedication to nurturing Quranic talent and fostering a generation of devoted scholars,” he added.

Source:thenationonlineng.net

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https://thenationonlineng.net/memorisers-battle-for-final-spot-as-mssn-hosts-quran-boot-camp/

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New UN envoy to Libya vows to pursue ‘peace and stability’

February 20, 2025

TUNIS: The new United Nations envoy to Libya pledged on Thursday to “spare no effort in achieving peace and stability” in the divided country, said the UN Support Mission in Libya.

Hanna Serwaa Tetteh, a Hungary-born Ghanaian former parliamentarian and minister, said as she took up the role in Tripoli that her task “will not be easy” and called for “working together,” UNSMIL said in a statement.

Libya has struggled to recover from the chaos that followed the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that overthrew longtime ruler Muammar Qaddafi.

It remains split between a UN-recognized government in Tripoli and a rival authority in the east backed by military strongman Khalifa Haftar.

Tetteh was appointed last month by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as his Special Representative and head of UNSMIL, succeeding the Senegalese Abdoulaye Bathily, who stepped down in April last year.

She was previously appointed the UN Special Representative for the Horn of Africa in 2022 and is the 10th official to hold the Libya role since 2011.

Tetteh pledged to “forge a path toward a Libyan-led and Libyan-owned solution.”

She said her mission would also “work with regional and international actors... to preserve national unity, territorial integrity, and sovereignty.”

Presidential and parliamentary elections in the oil-rich North African country had been scheduled for December 2021 but were indefinitely postponed due to disputes between rival factions.

“UNSMIL will continue to work tirelessly to support and enable Libyan institutions to hold inclusive national elections and forge a collective national vision to address Libya’s long-standing challenges,” said the statement.

Source:arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2590980/middle-east

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If Nigeria Has Conscience, IBB Would Not Show His Face In Public – Farotimi

 21 February 2025

By Udeze Ekene

Human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, has condemned the description of former Military President, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) as a statesman.

Naija News reported that the former Military President launched his autobiography ” A Journey of Service” on Thursday.

The book launch attracted former presidents and military heads of state, including Yakubu Gowon, Olusegun Obasanjo, Abdulsalami Abubakar, Goodluck Jonathan, and current President Bola Tinubu.

At the event, IBB announced that Moshood Abiola won the 1993 presidential election which he annulled. He, however, disclosed that it was the former Military Head of State, Sani Abacha, who served in his administration that annulled the election without his knowledge.

“I would later find out that the ‘forces’ led by General Sani Abacha annulled the elections. There and then, I knew I was caught between ‘a devil and the deep blue sea’!! From then on, the June 12 elections took on a painful twist for which, as I will show later, I regrettably take responsibility,” he disclosed in his book.

IBB, however, took responsibility as it happened in his administration.

“As the leader of the military administration, I accept full responsibility for all decisions taken by me. And June 12 happened under my watch. Mistakes, oversights, and missteps happen in quick succession but I say in my book, in all matters, we acted in extreme national interest so that Nigeria could survive,” the former military president said at the event,” he stated.

Reacting to the event and IBB’s revelation, Farotimi, on his 𝕏 handle, wrote: “MKO on my mind.

“To die for a people devoid of memory, is to be killed over and over, again and again. In a place inhabited by the conscious, IBB would not dare to show his face in public. But in the crime scene that doubles as our country, having been succeeded by even more villainous ruiners, Badamasi is installed in the seat of the statesman.”

Source:naijanews.com

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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/02/21/if-nigeria-has-conscience-ibb-would-not-show-his-face-in-public-farotimi/

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I Am Glad About What Is Happening In America – Tinubu Asks Nigeria To Wake Up Amid USAID Shut Down

21 February 2025

By Justina Otio

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday said the US government’s decision to shut down its Agency for International Development, has shown that it is time for Nigeria, and Africa to wake up.

Naija News reports that hours after he was sworn in as president, Donald Trump had announced an immediate 90-day freeze on all US foreign assistance, including over $40bn for international projects provided by United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Trump said the hiatus would allow for a review to ensure the agency aligned with his America-First agenda.

Speaking on the development when he appeared as Special Guest of Honour at the official launch of the autobiography of former Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida, Tinubu stated that the revelation, including terror financing, should jolt the continent to action.

He said, “I’m glad about what is happening in America and Europe; the contradiction that we are seeing now all over. What is it telling us? It’s telling us to wake up, to make Africa a better place, particularly this country, Nigeria.”

At Thursday’s gathering, Tinubu acknowledged the leadership in the room, noting that the spirit of “revolutionary courage” that first united them now compels them to continue strengthening the nation.

He expressed gratitude for the mandate, patience and perseverance shown by those who have undertaken the country’s responsibilities.

“We find our leaders here, the situation that brought us together, and the one that we’ll continue from this moment on, the revolutionary courage that brought leadership out to build our country.

“I’ve seen so much responsibility and the need to take some decisions on behalf of this country. I want to thank all of you for your mandate, patience and perseverance,” he stated.

Source:naijanews.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.naijanews.com/2025/02/21/i-am-glad-about-what-is-happening-in-america-tinubu-asks-nigeria-to-wake-up-amid-usaid-shut-down/

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Court Clears IPOB’s Chika Edoziem Of Terrorism, Orders Public Apology

21 February 2025

By Enioluwa Adeniyi

The Federal High Court sitting in Owerri, Imo State, has cleared the Head of the Directorate of State of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Chika Edoziem, of all charges related to terrorism, insurgency, kidnapping, and violent criminal activities.

Presided over by Justice I.N. Oweibo, the court ruled that Edoziem’s designation as a wanted person and security threat was illegal and violated his fundamental rights.

Delivering judgment in the case between Edoziem and the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar and the Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, Justice Oweibo held that the inclusion of Edoziem’s name and photograph in the Ministry of Defence’s security threat publication on March 22, 2024, was unconstitutional.

Naija News reports that the court also ordered the Minister of Defence and the Chief of Defence Staff to retract the unconstitutional declaration and issue an unreserved public apology to Edoziem in two national newspapers.

Court Awards ₦5 Million In Damages

In suit no: FHC/OW/FHR/29/2024, on Thursday, the court awarded Edoziem ₦5 million in damages for the violation of his right to dignity.

Among the names listed in the security threat publication, Edoziem was the only individual who successfully challenged his designation in court.

Reacting to the judgment, IPOB’s lead counsel, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, described the ruling as a “historic” and “landmark” judgment.

“Security agencies must focus on proper profiling to identify actual criminals rather than targeting innocent citizens. The real perpetrators of crime operate in known locations, and tackling insecurity requires collective responsibility beyond just the security forces,” Ejiofor said.

He further noted, “Justice has prevailed, and we march forward with renewed faith in the rule of law, even as we continue to move forward!”

Source:naijanews.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.naijanews.com/2025/02/21/court-clears-ipobs-chika-edoziem-of-terrorism-orders-public-apology/

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Army Chief Gives Troops One-Month Ultimatum To Eliminate Bello Turji, Others

21 February 2025

By Enioluwa Adeniyi

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has directed troops to eliminate notorious bandit leaders, including Bello Turji, within one month.

Speaking to the troops of Operation Fansan Yamma in Gusau, Zamfara State, on Thursday, Gen. Oluyede emphasized the urgency of restoring peace in the Northwest region and Nigeria at large.

“This mandate must be carried out within one month in order to restore peace for the development of the Northwest zone in particular and Nigeria in general,” he stated.

First Visit Since Assumption Of Office

Naija News reports that the visit marks the Army Chief’s first direct engagement with the troops in Zamfara since assuming office.

He commended their efforts in neutralizing several bandit kingpins and urged them to intensify their offensive against criminal elements.

“You must deliver on the ongoing war against banditry in your area of operations. We will give you all the necessary support in whatever way you need to enable you to succeed in the fight against banditry,” Oluyede pledged.

While promising logistics support and improved welfare for the frontline troops, the Army Chief maintained that military action alone would not be enough to eradicate the banditry menace.

“I want to use this opportunity to call on Nigerians to collaborate with the troops by providing them with credible and timely information to flush out the bandits within the zone,” Oluyede stated.

He stressed the need for a concerted effort between security forces and local communities to ensure long-term stability in the region.

Eliminating High-Profile Criminals

Gen. Oluyede reiterated his commitment to crushing armed bandits and high-profile criminals terrorizing the Northwest.

“Just do your best and eliminate those recalcitrant bandits’ leaders like Bello Turji and others,” he charged the troops.

Source:naijanews.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.naijanews.com/2025/02/21/army-chief-gives-troops-one-month-ultimatum-to-eliminate-bello-turji-others/

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Southeast Asia

 

Man, 78, found dead in locked bathroom

BERNAMA

21-02- 2025

IPOH: A 78-year-old man was found dead inside a locked bathroom at a house in Batu 14, Kampung Dato’ Rosli, near Trong, this morning.

Perak Fire and Rescue Department assistant director (Operations) Sabarodzi Nor Ahmad said his department received an emergency call at 8.14 am, and a team from the Trong Fire and Rescue Station (BBP) was promptly dispatched to the scene.

“Upon arrival, rescue personnel used bolt cutters and crowbars to force open the door.

“Once access was gained, medical personnel from the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) confirmed that the victim had passed away,“ he said in a statement today.

He added that the victim’s remains were handed over to the police for further action, and the operation was concluded at 8.45 am.

Source:thesun.my

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://thesun.my/malaysia-news/man-78-found-dead-in-locked-bathroom-ME13717319

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Perak next to ban foreigners from setting up stalls, working at Ramadan bazaars

By John Bunyan

21 Feb 2025

IPOH, Feb 21 — Perak Local Government exco Sandrea Ng Shy Ching today said that Ramadan bazaar operators in the state are not allowed to hire foreigners to work at their stalls.

Ng also said that strict action will be taken against traders who employ foreigners, including the revocation of their licenses and blacklisting.

“The local authorities in the state had decided that foreigners are not allow to apply business license to operate in Ramadan baazars.

“The foreigners are also not allowed to set up their own food stalls anywhere near Ramadan bazaars,” she told a press conference at the Weil Hotel here.

Ng pointed out the authorities have already given a briefing on this matter to those who applied for the Ramadan bazaars license.

“The Ramadan bazaars traders should follow the instructions and guidelines set by the authorities,” she said.

Apart from Perak, Negeri Sembilan also taken up enforcement actions to ensure that foreigners do not operate businesses at Ramadan bazaars within the state.

Separately, Ng also said that the local authorities will work with the State Education Department to monitor hawkers and traders outside school premises following the death of a 10-year-old boy, who choked on a gummy candy bought outside his school premise in Penang.

“We welcome the directive from the education director-general Azman Adnan. At the moment, we are monitoring the sales of food and beverages outside school premises around Perak.

“However, we will intensify the monitoring around schools following the recent tragic incident,” she said.

Mohammad Fahmi Hafiz Mohammad Fakhruddin, a student at Sekolah Kebangsaan Sungai Dua in Butterworth, was reported died last night at Penang Hospital Pediatric Intensive Care Unit after choking on a gummy candy he bought outside the school premises on Wednesday.

Source:malaymail.com

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Four more suspects arrested over Simpang Renggam shooting

BERNAMA

21-02- 2025

JOHOR BAHRU: Police have arrested four more suspects in connection with the shooting incident in Machap in Simpang Renggam, Kluang on Feb 10.

Johor police chief Datuk M. Kumar said all four individuals, aged between 34 and 41, were apprehended in Kampung Melayu Majidee here at about 12.30 pm last Monday.

During the raid, police also seized a black Sig Sauer pistol with a magazine and holster, a suspected imitation firearm, two Yamaha motorcycles, two modified Allen keys, several transparent plastic packets containing substances believed to be dangerous drugs and six mobile phones of various brands.

“Preliminary investigations suggest that the seized firearm was used in the shooting incident. However, we are still awaiting a ballistic analysis report from the Chemistry Department for confirmation.

“Checks revealed that all four suspects have criminal and drug-related records. Urine tests also showed that three of them were positive for methamphetamine,“ he said in a statement last night.

Kumar said police believe they have solved four cases with the arrests and investigations are ongoing to determine the suspects’ involvement in other cases.

“All of them remain in remand until Feb 23 to assist in investigations under Section 3 of the Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act 1971, and Sections 307, 392/397 and 379A of the Penal Code.

“Investigations are also being conducted under Sections 8 and 36 of the Arms Act 1960, as well as Sections 12(2) and 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952,“ he said.

He added that another suspect, known as Man Tiger, 32, who was arrested at the Simpang Renggam Trade Centre on Feb 10, will be charged at the Kluang Magistrate’s Court today under Section 307 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 109 of the same law.

In the incident, a 36-year-old woman was approached by seven men who enquired about the homeowner before one of them pulled out a gun and fired several shots at her. However, the shots missed their target.

The suspects then fled the scene in a Perodua Bezza, Volkswagen Golf and Honda Civic.

Source:thesun.my

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https://thesun.my/malaysia-news/four-more-suspects-arrested-over-simpang-renggam-shooting-BE13717152

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Malaysia to leverage ASEAN’s role in empowering rural development - Ahmad Zahid

BERNAMA

20-02- 2025

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will leverage ASEAN’s role in strengthening rural development through more comprehensive and integrated regional planning, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

He said as ASEAN Chair this year, Malaysia will focus on key areas such as digitalisation, increasing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and empowering rural women to ensure the economic benefits are enjoyed by all levels of society, including those living in rural and remote areas.

“We want this year’s ASEAN Summit to deliver real benefits, rather than just hosting meetings and issuing declarations.

“ASEAN must ensure that rural development is not left behind amid rapid technological advancements. Regional synergy must be intensified through digitalisation, innovation hubs and the promotion of technopreneurs so that the rural sector can continue to grow,“ he said in an exclusive interview by Bernama TV on the programme “ASEAN: From Kuala Lumpur to the World” tonight.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Rural and Regional Development Minister, also proposed the establishment of the ASEAN Villages Network (AVN) as a strategic platform to bridge the relationship between villages in the region with the private and government sectors.

He said the initiative will focus on three key elements: Village Tourism, Digital Villages, and the One Village, One Product (OVOP) concept.

According to Ahmad Zahid, Malaysia can leverage the AVN platform to promote rural products across ASEAN, thereby creating greater economic opportunities for rural communities.

“InsyaAllah, I am confident that with these measures, we can make ASEAN an effective ‘market gateway’ for our rural products,“ he said.

Malaysia, he said, also plans to introduce several other programmes, including the ASEAN business incubator, expert exchange programme, and initiatives in renewable energy technology, as part of efforts to strengthen rural entrepreneurship at the regional level.

“I believe this is the step to ensure ASEAN 2025 has a direct impact on the people, especially the rural communities,“ he said.

Ahmad Zahid emphasised the need for ASEAN to recognise the potential of the rural economy as a new driver of regional growth by increasing funding for rural technology startups and enhancing human capital development through TVET, particularly in agrotechnology, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the digital economy.

Meanwhile, he said, Malaysia views its ASEAN chairmanship as a strategic opportunity to strengthen cooperation in the halal sector and capitalise on the global market, which is estimated to be worth USD 3 trillion.

With a population of over 240 million Muslims, he said, ASEAN represents a vast and high-potential halal market.

“Through Halal Diplomacy, we aim to strengthen trade relations with countries such as China, Russia, India, and the Philippines.

“Furthermore, the halal sector is expected to contribute 8.1 per cent to Malaysia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) this year,“ he said.

He expressed confidence that these initiatives would ensure ASEAN 2025 goes beyond just meetings and declarations, delivering tangible benefits to the people, particularly rural communities.

Malaysia officially assumed the ASEAN Chairmanship on Jan 1 this year, marking the fifth time it has held the position, following its previous terms in 1977, 1997, 2005, and 2015.

Source:thesun.my

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https://thesun.my/malaysia-news/malaysia-to-leverage-asean-s-role-in-empowering-rural-development-ahmad-zahid-DE13716173

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PAC vows to scrutinise medical inflation, potential price rigging in healthcare amid monopoly concerns

By Syed Jaymal Zahiid

21 Feb 2025

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 21 — The Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said today it plans to scrutinise the entire healthcare and insurance ecosystem in a bid to address concerns over medical inflation, including looking into allegations of monopoly in the supply chain.

The Bayan Baru MP addressed the media after the PAC held its second public inquiry in Parliament building here this morning as part of an ongoing investigation, which will continue with closed-door proceeding this Monday.

“Yes we plan to study [allegations] of monopoly such as the supply of medicines,” PAC member Sim Tze Tzin told reporters after the public hearing concluded.

The committee had previously said the issue will be a top agenda this year after dozens of policy holders alleged some insurers announced they would raise premiums as high as 40 per cent.

Claims of price rigging in the healthcare industry reemerged following news of a planned hike of insurance premiums sparked public backlash that forced the government to intervene, with Bank Negara Malaysia imposing a 10 per cent cap and three year moratorium on further hikes of premiums.

Source:malaymail.com

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Arab World

 

Putin thanks Saudi crown prince for hosting US-Russia talks during phone call

February 20, 2025

RIYADH: Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed on Thursday his appreciation to the Kingdom and its crown prince for hosting US-Russian talks in Riyadh on Tuesday.

During a phone call between Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Putin, the president also praised the depth of relations between their countries and his keenness to develop them in various fields.

Prince Mohammed stressed the Kingdom’s commitment to making every possible effort to enhance global peace and security due to its belief that dialogue is the only way to resolve all international crises.

Source: arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2591003/saudi-arabia

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Senior Muslim scholars express appreciation for King Salman’s patronage of MWL Islamic conference

February 20, 2025

RIYADH: Muslim World League chief Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa said members of the organization’s bodies, assemblies, and councils have thanked King Salman for his patronage of a conference to be held in Makkah during Ramadan.

MWL will host the second edition of the Global Conference for Building Bridges Between Islamic Schools of Thought and Sects on March 6-7 in Makkah, Saudi Press Agency announced on Tuesday.

The conference will bring together leading muftis, scholars, intellectuals, and representatives from senior Islamic councils, jurisprudential academies, and religious institutions across different sects and denominations.

It will serve as a unified platform for fostering constructive dialogue among diverse Islamic traditions as well as coordinating efforts and resources to strengthen Islamic unity, while ensuring mutual respect for doctrinal diversity.

Al-Issa explained that members of the organization confirmed that King Salman’s sponsorship of the event is an extension of Saudi Arabia’s role in strengthening Islamic solidarity, especially among Muslim scholars of various sects.

Al-Issa added that members of the league’s Supreme Council, Jurisprudence Council, and World Supreme Council for Mosques praised the Kingdom’s influence and its influential and respected word among Muslim nations around the world.

Source: arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2590994/saudi-arabia

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Saudi Arabia expresses solidarity with Kuwait after military accident

February 20, 2025

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Thursday expressed its solidarity with Kuwait after two army personnel died during a military exercise.

The two members of the Kuwaiti Ground Forces died during a night shooting drill with live ammunition on Wednesday as part of a joint military exercise between Kuwait and the US. Two other soldiers were injured during the incident.

Major Sergeant Ahmad Farhan Harat and Sergeant Musaad Dhahi Saleh were buried on Thursday in Sulaibikhat Cemetery, Kuwait News Agency reported.

Special technical teams, involving the US military, have been formed to investigate the incident, KUNA added.

The Kingdom expressed its sincere condolences to the families of the deceased and to the government and people of Kuwait, a foreign ministry statement said. It also wished the injured a speedy recovery.

Source: arabnews.com

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UK and Saudi Arabia ‘natural partners’ in innovation and tech

February 20, 2025

LONDON: The UK plans to deepen its relationship with Saudi Arabia in the areas of innovation and technology, a UK government minister said during a visit to the Kingdom.

Bringing together expertise from the two countries will help them both benefit from the rapid advances in new technologies, the UK’s Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology Peter Kyle told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper.

The UK wants “to continue to work closely with Saudi Arabia to bring together our science and tech expertise so we can ensure potentially game-changing innovations can benefit both our nations,” Kyle said in the interview published on Thursday.

“The UK and Saudi Arabia are natural partners in these areas, with shared ambitions when it comes to both innovation and our strengths in science and technology. Right across the world, breakthrough technologies like AI, quantum, and engineering biology are starting to transform our economies and societies.”

Kyle said the UK and Saudi Arabia were also working together on clean energy and hydrogen technologies after they launched a joint energy partnership in January 2022.

The agreement was strengthened by a visit in December to Riyadh by the British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

During the trip, the UK and Saudi Arabia signed agreements covering environmentally-sustainable advanced materials and hydrogen.

“We have made becoming a clean energy superpower one of our key government missions, and the growing demand for clean energy is a massive shared opportunity — for growth, for green jobs, and for enhanced energy security,” Kyle said.

“By further building the commercial and investment ties between our two countries, we can drive research and innovation and build the skills we need to continue the net-zero transition — benefitting us all.”

During his visit to the Kingdom, the minister went to the King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center and met the medics who carried out the first robotic heart transplant in January.

He also visited King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology.

Source: arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2591006/saudi-arabia

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Saudi FM meets with counterparts on sidelines of G20 meeting in Johannesburg

February 20, 2025

RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan met with his counterparts from the UK, China, Australia, and France separately in Johannesburg on Thursday.

On the sidelines of a meeting of G20 foreign ministers held for the first time in Africa, Prince Faisal discussed regional and international developments with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy.

With Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Prince Faisal discussed intensifying coordination on issues of common interest.

Ways to enhance and develop joint relations were reviewed by Prince Faisal and his Australian counterpart Penny Wong.

Prince Faisal also discussed regional developments and efforts made to achieve stability and peace in the region with French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot.

Source: arabnews.com

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How AI is transforming education — but potentially impacting child development

HAIFA ALSHAMMARI

February 20, 2025

RIYADH: Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing industries across the globe, and education is no exception. From personalized learning experiences to administrative efficiency, AI is reshaping classrooms and redefining the roles of both teachers and students.

However, as AI’s influence in education expands, experts warn of potential drawbacks — particularly when it comes to young children.

AI-powered tools are becoming increasingly prevalent in education. According to a 2024 report by the UK-based digital safety organization Internet Matters, nearly 44 percent of children are currently using AI, and 54 percent have incorporated it into school assignments.

The report, titled “Artificially Intelligent? Children’s and parents’ views on generative AI in education,” found that teachers, too, are integrating AI into their daily tasks, with 60 percent reporting that they use the technology to enhance their work.

The adoption of AI in education reflects a broader global trend. Experts at Allied Market Research project the market for AI-driven educational tools will grow from $2.5 billion in 2022 to $6 billion by the end of 2025, highlighting the increasing reliance on technology in schools.

In Saudi Arabia, the government has embraced AI’s potential in various sectors, including education. The Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence, established in 2019, aims to drive innovation in AI and position the Kingdom at the forefront of data-driven economies.

For educators, AI presents exciting opportunities to enhance learning experiences.

“AI has transformed education by personalizing learning experiences, allowing for tailored content that meets individual student needs,” Faleh bin Saad Al-Huqbani, director of Al-Muqaddimah Schools in Riyadh, told Arab News.

By adapting content to a child’s pace and learning style, AI enables more individualized instruction, helping students grasp difficult concepts with greater ease. Additionally, AI-powered tutoring systems provide real-time feedback and support, reinforcing learning outside the classroom.

“AI tools can engage children with interactive and gamified learning environments, making education more enjoyable,” Al-Huqbani added.

Beyond the classroom, AI is also streamlining administrative tasks, allowing educators to focus more on teaching rather than paperwork. Automated grading systems, data analysis tools, and AI-powered lesson planning are freeing up valuable time for teachers to engage with students more effectively.

While AI’s impact on education is largely positive, some experts caution against its overuse — especially among young children.

Dr. Sultan Ayoub Meo, professor of physiology at the College of Medicine at King Saud University, stresses the importance of cognitive development in early childhood, warning that excessive reliance on AI and electronic devices could have unintended consequences.

“It is not just a natural biological maturation; it is shaped by the infant’s experiences and interactions with their environment,” Dr. Meo told Arab News.

“Children’s cognitive development from birth to 5 years of age is critical due to rapid brain growth and acquiring initial knowledge in thinking, learning, problem-solving, language, and understanding.”

Dr. Meo believes AI has an important role to play in higher education, but he does not recommend its use for children under the age of 6.

“In this age group, the most important and highly sensitive systems, nervous and endocrine systems, and their physiological processes are rapidly developing,” he said.

He also pointed out potential health risks associated with prolonged exposure to AI-enabled devices. “Using AI for children at the age of 6 can cause behavioral and psychological issues,” he said.

“We cannot deny the effects of electromagnetic field radiation generated by AI-allied devices and their hazards on various body organs, including the brain, ears, and eyes, especially in infants and children.”

Despite these concerns, Dr. Meo acknowledges that AI is now an integral part of education and research.

“This is the era of science and technology,” he said. “The future of digital education is extremely important in academia and research. Digital education makes knowledge easily accessible and enables students to access the same knowledge resources.”

In addition to making education more accessible, AI facilitates lifelong learning and skill acquisition, helping students meet the demands of an evolving job market. However, Dr. Meo highlighted the importance of being selective in how and when AI is introduced in the classroom.

“It will be helpful at higher school and university levels rather than primary schooling,” he said. “Digital education at primary school levels may replace real-world learning and human interaction.”

While AI’s impact on education is undeniable, experts agree that a balanced approach is necessary. AI should complement, rather than replace, traditional teaching methods, ensuring that students continue to benefit from human interaction and hands-on learning experiences.

“We must balance technology with traditional teaching and learning methods,” Dr. Meo added.

Source: arabnews.com

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Saudi artist’s ‘Tafawut’ exhibition showcases harmony between art and architecture

HIND AL-KHUNAIZI

February 20, 2025

RIYADH: Saudi artist and architect Salman Al-Amir’s exhibition, “Tafawut” (Disparity) which was held at Mahd Alfnon Gallery in Riyadh from Feb. 13-19, showcased a glimpse of his creative process, in which he skillfully blended art and architecture.

Born in 1963 in Al-Ahsa, Al-Amir holds a master’s from Syracuse University and a bachelor’s from King Faisal University.

With a background in interior design and architecture, he creates spaces that blend functionality with artistic expression, transforming each project into an exciting adventure.

“Tafawut” presented a diverse and engaging collection of 37 artworks that serve as a window into the artist’s emotions and experiences.

The exhibition showcased a stunning variety of styles and mediums; some pieces were abstract and displayed a masterful play of geometric shapes and others representational, with artworks focusing on people, animals, or objects. Some featured prints, while others featured dreamy backdrops.

His use of acrylic and oil paint allows for a wide range of textures and tones making his works both thought-provoking and visually striking.

The color palettes were equally varied, ranging from earthy to vibrant tones, further demonstrating the versatility of Al-Amir’s artistic vision and skill.

This flair is a testament to Al-Amir’s architectural background, where precision and creativity come together. Each artwork invites viewers to explore the harmonious relationship between structure and form.

His talent lies in merging his architectural expertise with his artistic passion. The paintings on display incorporate intricate details, touching upon various elements of Al-Amir’s experiences.

When asked about a specific painting that links his personal and professional experiences, Al-Amir said: “A painting titled ‘Ideas on a Flat Carpet’ is devoid of ideas but filled with the principles and foundations of Islamic miniature arts, often overlooked in our Islamic cultural heritage, yet rich with inspiration for the Saudi, Arab, and Islamic artist.”

This painting reflects Al-Amir’s strong connection to his cultural roots and his passion for reinterpreting traditional artistic forms in a contemporary context.

Reflecting on his creative process, Al-Amir explained: “I am still on a journey to discover the creative form that satisfies me and relieves me from the arduous search.”

The exhibition itself displays this ongoing exploration and experimentation.

Discussing the exhibition’s theme, Al-Amir stated: “Disparity here means diversity, not a difference in levels.

“This is precisely the message I wanted to convey to my fellow artists and amateurs to explore the depths of their talents and strive to reveal them,” Al-Amir told Arab News.

The exhibition celebrated the multifaceted nature of art and the importance of embracing diverse styles and approaches.

As Al-Amir looks ahead, he shared his artistic goals. “I’m working to bring more Eastern influences into my art,” he explained.

He aims to give his creations a unique character that reflects the beauty and richness of Eastern traditions.

The artist shared valuable advice for aspiring artists. “Learn the rules like a professional so you can break them like an artist. Additionally, I encourage aspiring artists not to imitate Western styles; instead, they should adapt and reformulate these influences to support their local identity.”

Al-Amir is a dynamic force in the art world, leading workshops that ignite creativity. As a juror for art shows and a lecturer at King Fahd University, he inspires and helps direct many other aspiring artists.

Source: arabnews.com

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Japan Embassy in Riyadh celebrates Emperor Naruhito’s 65th birthday

February 21, 2025

RIYADH: The Ambassador of Japan to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Yasunari Morino hosted a reception on Thursday to celebrate the 65th birthday of Japan’s Emperor Naruhito.

Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf, mayor of Riyadh region, attended the reception, which included several representatives of diplomatic missions and dignitaries.

In a speech, Morino highlighted the development of relations between Japan and Saudi Arabia, noting that this year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties.

He said several Japanese officials have visited Saudi Arabia this year including Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yoji Muto, and Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Hisashi Matsumoto.

In February, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan visited Japan and signed a pact with his counterpart to establish a Strategic Partnership Council.

Morino emphasized the expansion of cooperation between the two nations in several sectors including clean energy, mineral resources, technology, health, food, entertainment and sports — in line with the Japan-Saudi Vision 2030 plan.

He also spoke about Japan’s efforts to attract foreign direct investment.

Morino underscored the continued growth of people-to-people exchanges, noting that Japanese culture continues to captivate Saudi Arabia’s citizens, particularly young people.

He also mentioned the upcoming Kansai-Osaka Expo, set to begin in April, and expressed hope the event would attract many visitors from Saudi Arabia and other nations.

He said the expo would showcase the importance of the planet’s ecosystem, human diversity and the collective wisdom of humankind.

Morino reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening Japan-Saudi Arabia strategic partnerships to help promote international peace, stability, and human development.

Source: arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2591061/saudi-arabia

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North America

 

Boulder City Council postpones declaration condemning Muslim hate

February 20, 2025

The Boulder City Council agreed Thursday to postpone reading a declaration condemning Muslim hate after some councilmembers and community members raised concerns about some of the declaration’s language, including that it went too far into the realm of foreign affairs instead of sticking to a more local focus.

The two-and-a-half page declaration condemning Muslim hate was proposed and drafted by Councilmember Taishya Adams. She said in a Hotline email prior to the meeting that she worked with community members over the past couple of months to write the declaration. Hotline emails are emails used by the Boulder City Council to have email conversations among council members and city staff that are available for the public to receive as well.

“While I appreciate the concerns raised to me by council colleagues and community members about the creation, intent and purpose of this declaration, I know that the best resources and understandings can be gained by reaching out to our local Mosque or members of this community,” she wrote.

Councilmember Tina Marquis wrote in a Hotline email prior to the meeting that she “was deeply supportive of a resolution condemning Muslim hate,” but expected the resolution to focus on the Muslim community. She suggested removing multiple references to the Jewish community, including a section that says “Muslim and Arab share a semitic heritage with Jewish residents.”

“The role of this resolution is not to redefine what antisemitism means but instead focus on Muslim hate and bias,” Marquis wrote in the email.

She also suggested removing at several sections, including one that reads: “Boulder recognizes the struggles of displaced and oppressed communities, locally and globally, and will support humanitarian efforts that promote justice, peace and human rights for all.”

“I believe that if we are to support humanitarian efforts locally and globally, that is a separate discussion including fiscal impacts and overlaps with the discussion around our engagement with foreign affairs,” she wrote in the Hotline email.

Last year, the City Council decided not to consider a resolution calling for a ceasefire in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. A majority of council members at the time said they believed the council’s job was to focus on issues in Boulder and that dedicating city time and resources to the Israel-Hamas conflict detracts from that goal. Only two, Councilmembers Adams and Lauren Folkerts, wanted to explore a resolution.

Instead of reading the original declaration on Thursday, Adams read a general declaration about Ramadan.

“I do believe it is critical that we publicly support our Muslim community and let them know that they are not alone,” she wrote in her Hotline email.

The Ramadan declaration was accepted by community member Linda Badwan, who invited councilmembers to attend an iftar, a meal served at mosques for those who celebrate Ramadan who are breaking their fast.

“This is a very important step in recognizing our Muslim community,” she said.

Following her acceptance of the Ramadan declaration, Badwan during open comment also expressed her disappointment that the original declaration was postponed. She said the City Council appeared to treat the declaration differently from those that were read by councilmembers previously.

“It is absolutely only about solidarity, and there was no harm in the language to anybody in the community,” she said.

“It was about bringing us together and creating a bridge and, most importantly, creating a safe space for all of us to come together and work together as a community as part of the healing that needs to be done.”

Boulder resident Mindy Miller, however, said during open comment that, while she supports the idea behind the declaration, she was disappointed it referenced Jews seven times “without any consultation or communication with Jewish community members.”

“If the intent was to bring our communities together, then actually bring our communities together,” she said.

Thursday’s meeting was held virtually because of heating issues at the Penfield Tate II Municipal Building, but it was originally planned to be the first held in person since the City Council decided to hold several meetings online in January and February amid ferocious community debate and protest over the war in Gaza.

Although protesters had been a near-constant presence during open comment periods at council meetings for more than a year, tensions and anger over the war flared up at the Dec. 19 council meeting, forcing the council into a nearly 15-minute recess. After that meeting, some council and community members expressed feeling unsafe.

Source:dailycamera.com

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https://www.dailycamera.com/2025/02/20/boulder-city-council-postpones-declaration-condemning-muslim-hate/

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Kash Patel vows to 'rebuild' FBI after Senate confirms him

February 21, 2025

The FBI's new director, Kash Patel, has vowed to "rebuild" the bureau after he was confirmed by the US Senate to lead the law-enforcement agency that he has long attacked.

The upper chamber of Congress narrowly approved President Donald Trump's nominee by 51-49. Two Republicans voted no.

Democrats had warned he would seek retribution against Trump's enemies, although the nominee has denied any plans to pursue political vendettas.

In his confirmation hearings, Patel, 44, also denied keeping a list of "deep state" enemies, while playing down controversial past remarks he had made such as referring to law enforcement officials who investigated Trump as "criminal gangsters".

Patel was voted against by all Democratic senators and two Republicans who have often dissented, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.

He was the 18th cabinet official approved by lawmakers since Trump was inaugurated a month ago.

"I am honored to be confirmed as the ninth Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation," Patel said on X, shortly after he was confirmed by the Senate.

"My mission as Director is clear: let good cops be cops - and rebuild trust in the FBI."

"We will rebuild an FBI the American people can be proud of," he added.

Patel takes the helm of an FBI in flux after the justice department forced out some of its top officials and demanded the names of agents who investigated the 2021 riot by Trump supporters at the US Capitol.

News of Patel's confirmation was greeted by an ovation on the other side of Washington DC where Republicans were gathering for the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).

Florida Senator Rick Scott stood on CPAC's stage and asked the crowd: "What do you think about Kash Patel?" Loud applause was the response.

To most Republicans, Patel is a disruptor who will lead an overdue shake up the nation's top law enforcement agency, which they and Trump claim has been weaponised against conservatives.

But Democrats say Patel is a far-right conspiracy theorist with little experience in law enforcement, and someone who would put fealty to Trump above his oath to lead a department that is meant to operate independently.

"[Patel's] poor judgment and lack of experience make him wholly unqualified to keep Americans safe as our FBI Director. I voted no," Senator Martin Heinrich said on X.

Patel replaces Christopher Wray who Trump picked in 2017. Wray resigned before inauguration day last month, after the incoming Republican president indicated he would fire him.

Source:bbc.com

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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg1ln145l3o

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North Carolina’s Summit Church claims religious discrimination in zoning lawsuit

February 20, 2025

DURHAM, N.C. (BP) – The Summit Church has filed a federal lawsuit accusing a North Carolina county of denying a zoning request to build a church facility because of religious discrimination.

In the lawsuit filed Feb. 14 in the U.S. Middle District Court of North Carolina, The Summit Church alleges that the Chatham County Board of Commissioners violated provisions of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) of 2000, a federal law that protects individuals, houses of worship and other religious institutions from discrimination in zoning and landmarking laws.

The lawsuit stems from the Chatham County Board of Commissioners’ decision in December 2024 to deny The Summit Church’s request to rezone three parcels of land totaling approximately 50 acres to build a permanent location for its Chapel Hill campus, which currently meets in a local high school. The Summit Church is a multisite congregation with 13 campuses that meet in 12 different locations across the Triangle region of North Carolina. Two of the campuses meet in the same location.

In rendering its decision, the board said in a signed statement that The Summit Church’s request was not consistent with the county’s land conservation and development plan, and it would not provide diversity in tax revenue or high-quality jobs for the area.

However, attorneys for The Summit Church claim that the commissioners’ denial, along with the county’s land use regulations and policies, place a substantial burden on the church’s religious exercise, treat religious assemblies and institutions unequally, discriminate on the basis of religion, and place unreasonable limitations on religious assemblies, institutions and structures, which are all violations of RLUIPA.

In a statement to the Biblical Recorder, The Summit Church said it filed the lawsuit to defend its constitutional rights, as well as the rights of other churches.

“The Board of Commissioners unanimously rejected our rezoning request, claiming that we were too big, after previously approving large commercial and retail developments within approximately three miles of our proposed location,” The Summit’s statement said. “Their statements also made it clear that our church is not welcome at all in the County. We view this to be unjust and in violation of federal law, specifically the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), and are appealing to the courts because we believe we have a responsibility to defend our constitutional rights and the rights of all churches, regardless of beliefs, size, or methodology.”

The lawsuit seeks an injunction against the county’s decision and would require the county to approve The Summit’s zoning request. According to the lawsuit’s summons, Chatham County officials have 21 days from the filing date to respond, which would be March 7.

Chatham County Attorney Bob Hagemann acknowledged the lawsuit and said in a statement provided by email that the allegations raised in the lawsuit do not represent the community.

“We are aware of and are reviewing the complaint,” Hagemann said. “As with any legal action, Chatham County will respond through normal legal processes. That said, we reject the notion that Chatham County is hostile to religious institutions and practices. On the contrary, the County respects and supports the right of its residents to freely hold and exercise their religious beliefs.”

In December 2023, The Summit Church acquired an interest to purchase six parcels of land totaling about 97 acres in northeast Chatham County that had previously been approved for the development of a multiuse, active-adult community before those plans fell through. The land is about 13 miles away from East Chapel Hill High School in neighboring Orange County, where The Summit’s Chapel Hill campus currently meets.

Prior to entering the purchase agreement, representatives from The Summit Church met with review staff representing each stage of Chatham County’s rezoning process around October 2023. During that meeting, the review staff expressed the opinion that The Summit’s project was consistent with the county’s land use plan, according to the lawsuit.

After meeting with the Chatham County Appearance Commission and holding a community meeting in April 2024, The Summit Church submitted a rezoning application to the Chatham County Planning Department in May 2024 that requested three of the six parcels of land totaling about 50 acres be approved for a church/place of worship. The Summit also submitted a second rezoning application requesting that the remaining three parcels be returned to a residential zoning designation because the church had no immediate plans to develop them.

During a public hearing on The Summit Church’s rezoning requests scheduled by the Planning Department on Aug. 19, 2024, Chatham County Zoning Administrator Angela Plummer told county commissioners that the Appearance Commission “was very happy with their proposed landscaping plan,” adding that the church “took special care” and was “sensitive” to views from the road and adjacent properties.

Jael Wagoner, a landscape architect representing The Summit, also told the commissioners that building plans “are trying to match some of the surrounding commercial [development] that is adjacent to the site to make sure it’s fitting in with what’s there.”

Following Plummer’s and Wagoner’s presentations, some commissioners raised questions about traffic, tax implications, preservation of rural character and where church attendees would be coming from. The Summit’s lawsuit says that the Aug. 19 public hearing was the first time any elected official or member of the county’s planning staff had publicly expressed any concern about the church’s rezoning request or consistency with land use plans.

“For me, this just seems like a really big, brand-new megachurch looking for a place to go, and it feels like a really poor fit for what we are envisioning,” said Commissioner Karen Howard, who was serving as the board’s vice chair at the time. “It really does feel like something that is antithetical to real rural character preservation.”

Howard also expressed concern about people coming from outside Chatham County to worship.

“This definitely feels like a site that will accommodate overflow from somewhere else,” Howard said.

Mike Dasher, then chair of the Board of Commissioners, raised a question about tax status.

“If a church were the owner of all of that property, I’m assuming it would all be exempt then from property tax?” Dasher asked. “Is that true?”

Dasher went on to express concerns about the potential loss of tax revenue.

“My concerns are taking that out of potential economic activity and benefit to the county in that way in perpetuity,” Dasher said.

Following the public hearing, the Board of Commissioners referred the matter to the Chatham County Planning Board.

The Planning Board held two meetings — one on Sept. 3 and another on Oct. 1 — to consider a recommendation on The Summit’s rezoning request. Each meeting included presentations from the county zoning administrator, representatives from The Summit Church and time for public comments.

Before the Planning Board voted at the Sept. 3 meeting to table consideration of the zoning request until October, board member Tony Mayer said, in his opinion, there were “not any really clear reasons to object” to the measure, according to minutes from the meeting. However, during the Oct. 1 meeting, the Planning Board voted 8-0 to recommend denying The Summit’s zoning request to the Board of Commissioners.

Prior to the vote on the recommendation to deny the request, Planning Board member Eric Andrews noted that “a denial of rezoning based on lack of revenue could be discriminatory and a violation of the 1st Amendment,” according to minutes from the meeting.

While a number of public comments in opposition to the zoning request focused on concerns about traffic, taxes and maintaining rural character, some were also critical of The Summit Church.

One Chatham County resident wrote: “This county is known for its progressive, LGBTQ-friendly, and open-minded atmosphere, which is why many of us have chosen to call it home. Building a mega-church in this area runs contrary to these values, and many residents, including myself, are deeply concerned. A mega-church is not just a place of worship – it functions as a large-scale business, and it should be taxed and regulated as such.”

Another resident wrote: “The increased traffic congestion, environmental degradation, community disruption, potential tax hikes, and support for an organization with anti-LGBTQ+ views all pose significant risks to the area’s residents and their quality of life. This development is not in the best interests of the community.”

The Chatham County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to deny The Summit’s rezoning request Dec. 16, 2024.

Prior to the vote, Howard, the Board of Commissioners’ former vice chair who now serves as chair, said Chatham County was not the place for a church the size of The Summit, which she referred to as a “megachurch.”

“This is not a disparagement to The Summit Church in not wanting a church of that size in that location in Chatham County,” Howard said, adding that “Chatham County is not a place to call home for that size of a church.”

According to records, The Summit Church’s proposal included plans for a two-story, 82,000 square-foot church building capable of seating 1,200 people, a one-story, 900 square-foot maintenance building and a future one-story accessory building totaling approximately 24,000 square feet. The plans also call for a children’s play area and a sports court.

The active-adult community previously approved for development on the site included plans for 161 residential units, a four-story, 140,000 square foot congregate care facility, a one-story, 10,000 square foot office/day care, a community garden and a barn for events.

The Summit’s lawsuit called Howard’s statements “troublesome.”

“Given the sprawling commercial development around the Property, the size of Summit’s building is clearly not the problem,” the suit says. “Larger developments line U.S. Highway 15-501 near the Property. Instead, the Board of Commissioners takes issue with building ‘that size of a church.’”

The suit adds that stated reasons for the denial — lack of tax revenue and high-quality jobs — “would apply to almost any house of worship.”

“That denial’s inconsistency with policy, procedure, and historical practice, combined with its apparent application to houses of worship, provides compelling evidence of religious discrimination,” the suit says.

Source:baptistpress.com

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CAIR-CA Releases Guidance for Muslim Employees, Students, and Community Members on Navigating Religious Accommodations During Ramadan

February 20, 2025

The California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA) recently released a resource guide to support Muslim employees, students, and community members in navigating workplace and school accommodations during the month of Ramadan.

Ramadan is a sacred month for Muslims around the world, characterized by abstention from food and water from dawn to dusk, as well as increased worship, nightly congregational prayers, and other devotional acts. This year, Ramadan will begin on or around Friday, Feb. 28.  

Every year, CAIR-LA provides resources, including downloadable letter templates, to assist Muslim employees and students in securing religious accommodations at work and school, including adjustments to schedules, access to prayer spaces, and time off to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, one of Islam’s most important holidays that occurs at the end of Ramadan. 

CAIR-LA also sent letters to California school administrators and correctional facilities providing education and advice on preparing for Ramadan. CAIR-CA also works with jails and prisons across the state to provide guidance regarding the needs, religious beliefs, and rights to which Muslim incarcerees are entitled.  

“Religious accommodations are not a privilege—they are a legal right. As we approach Ramadan, we must ensure that Muslim students and employees have the tools they need to advocate for their ability to fast, pray, and observe their faith without fear of discrimination or hostility. Resources such as these empower individuals to confidently request religious accommodations while reminding institutions of their legal obligations under federal and state law.”

Two CAIR-CA-sponsored bills that protect the rights of American Muslim students during the month of Ramadan were recently signed into law. 

AB 2377, authored by Assemblymember Luz Rivas, ensures that K-12 students observing religious fasting are given appropriate accommodation during physical education (P.E.) classes by offering them a modified exercise regimen or providing them with academic assignments related to the course. 

AB 1503, authored by Assemblymember Alex Lee, grants students K-12 students a full day of excused absence time per semester to observe religious holidays, such as Eid, without academic penalty.  

CAIR-CA is a chapter of CAIR, America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims. 

Source:cair.com

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Trump 'very frustrated' and Zelensky must strike minerals deal, says adviser

February 21, 2025

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky needs to return to the negotiating table and strike a deal on US access to Ukraine's critical minerals, White House national security adviser Mike Waltz has said.

On Wednesday, Zelensky rejected US demands for a share of its rare earth minerals - a "deal" Trump said would reflect the amount of aid the US had provided to Ukraine during its war with Russia.

The comments, made at a White House briefing on Thursday, overshadowed a meeting in Kyiv between Zelensky and Keith Kellogg, the US chief envoy to Ukraine.

Waltz said the White House was "very frustrated" with Zelensky after he levelled "unacceptable" insults at US President Donald Trump earlier this week.

Ukraine holds huge deposits of critical elements and minerals, including lithium and titanium, as well as sizeable coal, gas, oil and uranium deposits - a supply worth billions of dollars.

Earlier on Thursday, Waltz suggested US access to rare minerals in Ukraine could be exchanged in return for aid - or even as compensation for the support the US has already provided.

"We presented the Ukrainians really an incredible, and a historic opportunity," the adviser said, adding that it would be "sustainable" and "the best" security guarantee Ukraine could hope for.

But Zelensky had refused the offer, saying: "I can't sell our state."

Waltz's comments in the White House news briefing came shortly after the conclusion of Zelensky's meeting with Kellogg in Kyiv, after which the Ukrainian leader announced he was ready to make an "investment and security agreement" with the US to end the war in Ukraine.

The meeting was hailed as "productive" by Zelensky - but it more closely resembled an awkward political date.

As the senior members of Donald Trump's team continued to engage directly with Moscow, the retired general had said he was in Kyiv to "listen".

But it soon became apparent he wouldn't speak, publicly that is, after a news conference was cancelled at the last minute.

The BBC understands it was a US decision, with Ukrainian sources claiming they believed Kellogg had been "sidelined" by the White House.

The meeting with Kellogg had been of huge importance to Kyiv, given that officials are relying on the special envoy to relay its needs to Washington.

In a post shared on X, the Ukrainian president said he and the US special envoy had "a detailed conversation about the battlefield situation, how to return our prisoners of war, and effective security guarantees".

He added: "Ukraine is ready for a strong, effective investment and security agreement with the president of the United States."

Later on Thursday, Zelensky said he had spoken to the leaders of Canada, Finland, Norway and South Africa. "Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine," he wrote in one post on X.

The possible reasons for Kellogg not wanting to face questions are mounting.

Kellogg's meeting comes in the context of a war of words between his boss Donald Trump and Ukraine's leader, which culminated in the US president referring to Zelensky as a "dictator without elections".

Trump also blamed him for starting Russia's invasion.

Now there are reports that the US is refusing to recognise a UN resolution which labels Moscow as the aggressor while recognising Ukraine's territorial integrity.

Earlier this week, Zelensky was excluded from talks between senior Russian and American officials who met in Saudi Arabia to discuss the possibility of ending the conflict.

The war began when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine three years ago, following its earlier annexation of Ukrainian territory.

Trump, who has been in office for one month, believes US involvement in the war is not in America's interest - and in a radical reversal of previous US foreign policy, he has chosen to negotiate directly with Russia to secure a quick end to the conflict.

On Tuesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emerged after more than four hours of talks with Russian diplomats in Riyadh to declare that the first steps towards negotiations had been agreed, with teams to be formed on both sides.

After the meeting in the Middle East, Trump suggested Zelensky had "started" the war with Russia - claims which led Zelensky to describe the US president as "living in this disinformation space" governed by Moscow.

Trump hit back with his "dictator" attack and claimed Zelensky had low popularity ratings among the Ukrainian electorate.

Looking forward, Ukraine will be concerned by the prospect of Russia-US talks continuing without the direct involvement of Ukraine.

"Nothing is off the negotiating table," claimed US Vice-President JD Vance.

The problem for Ukraine is that it isn't even sitting at it.

Source:bbc.com

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Nicolas Cage's ex sues him over their son's alleged attack

February 21, 2025

An ex-girlfriend of Hollywood star Nicolas Cage is suing him and their son for "life-threatening injuries" she says she sustained in an alleged fight last year.

Christina Fulton accuses her 34-year-old son, Weston Cage, whom she described as a "300-pound professional fighter", of attacking her without provocation.

According to the lawsuit, Fulton, 57, is suing her son for assault and battery and Cage, 61, for negligence, claiming he failed to prevent their son's alleged behaviour.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for the "catastrophic physical, emotional, and economic harm she has endured due to an unprovoked attack by their son, Weston". Nicolas Cage's lawyers called the lawsuit "frivolous".

Weston Cage was arrested in June last year and charged with two felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon following accusations that he attacked his mother and another individual.

He pleaded not guilty to both charges.

Ms Fulton claims she visited her son on 28 April 2024 after receiving "urgent messages" from his friends, according to the civil complaint submitted to the Los Angeles County Superior Court.

Upon arriving, she alleges he attacked her in a "manic rage", assaulting her in the car park, lift and lobby of his residence. The lawsuit says she was left with a concussion, multiple contusions, neck and throat injuries, dental trauma, tinnitus, abdominal trauma and PTSD.

Ms Fulton alleges that Nicolas Cage was aware of their son's "long history of mental and psychological disorder" and previous alleged acts of "violent assault and battery", but continued to enable such behaviour by providing financial support.

The lawsuit adds that Mr Cage bought an apartment for their son next door to his own residence, bailed him out of jail multiple times, and drank alcohol with him despite knowing about his alleged struggles with substance abuse.

In a statement to the BBC, Nicolas Cage's lawyer, Brian Wolf, said the lawsuit was "absurd".

"Weston Coppola is a 34 year old man," Mr Wolf said. "Mr Cage does not control Weston's behavior in any manner and is not responsible for Weston's alleged assault of his mother."

The BBC has contacted Weston Cage's representatives for comment.

In an interview with the BBC, Joseph Farzam, the attorney representing Ms Fulton, agreed that most people are not responsible for their adult children's actions.

But he said the law was very clear that a parent can be responsible for an adult child with any mental disability if they cannot support themselves.

"This is a unique situation," he told the BBC. "Weston has a history of violence and his father has not stopped him, but enabled him, bailed him and made the situation much worse."

Ms Fulton, who was in a relationship with Nicolas Cage from 1988-91, previously sued the actor in 2009 over a financial dispute.

She alleged he owed her $13m (£10m) and had reneged on a promise to buy her a home in Hancock Park, a wealthy LA enclave. That case was settled in 2011 under undisclosed terms.

This is not the first bout of legal trouble for Weston Cage.

In 2011, he and his then-wife, Nikki Williams, were arrested on felony domestic violence charges.

In 2017, he was detained on suspicion of driving under the influence and hit-and-run. He pleaded no contest, was given three years of probation and had to go to a recovery programme and complete community service.

Source:bbc.com

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Canada beats US in revenge hockey rematch played on political thin ice

February 21, 2025

Canada has beaten the United States after the two countries battled it out on the rink in a championship game that proved to be about more than just ice hockey.

The 4 Nations Face Off final ended 3-2 in overtime.

On any ordinary day, this fixture would have been a significant one for the two neighbouring countries who have long been friendly rivals on the ice.

But heating up the rivalry this time was the looming threat of an economically damaging trade war, as well as Donald Trump's persistent musings to annex Canada and make it the 51st state.

Trump himself was invited to attend the game in Boston by Team USA's general manager Bill Guerin. The US president was unable to make it, but made a point of calling the team to wish them good luck.

He also repeated his desire to absorb Canada, writing in a Truth Social post ahead of the game that he hoped the country "will someday, maybe soon, become our cherished and very important, Fifty First State".

Canada's public safety minister David McGuinty later told reporters he took Trump's quip as a sign that the president was "worried about the outcome" of the game.

After Canada's victory, outgoing PM Justin Trudeau - dubbed "Governor Trudeau" by Trump - posted on X: "You can't take our country - and you can't take our game."

For fans across North America, the final was a "dream match-up," ice hockey writer Daniel Nugent-Bowman told the BBC. Not since the 2014 Winter Olympics had the top men's ice hockey players from Canada and the US faced off in such a consequential game.

Both countries boast some of the biggest stars in the National Hockey League (NHL), like Canadians Mitch Marner and Connor McDavid, and Americans Auston Matthews and Jack Eichel. The game was a chance for this new generation of players to prove themselves.

But in Canada, the game was also a personal one, giving both die-hard and casual fans an opportunity to bask in national pride at a time when the country's sovereignty looks to be threatened by its closest neighbour.

The first game between Canada and the US of this tournament, played on 15 February in Montreal, saw the American national anthem booed by Canadian fans, despite the announcer asking fans beforehand - in both English and French - to show respect to the opposing team.

Vocal protests of the US anthem have become a common sight at sports games in Canada over the past month since Trump threatened a 25% tariff on all Canadian goods.

When it came to singing the Canadian anthem, fans - including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau - belted it out at the top of their lungs.

Three fist fights then broke out on the ice in the first nine seconds of the game between the American and Canadian players. It was an astonishing sight, even by ice hockey standards where fights are common.

Matthew Tkachuk, a Team USA player who was among those involved in the brawls, told reporters afterwards that his team needed to deliver a message that "It's our time right now."

Perhaps the loudest message sent that day was Team USA's decisive 3-1 win against Canada.

Few Canadians would dispute how integral ice hockey is to the country's national identity.

The sport has served as a backdrop to some of the most patriotic moments in Canada's history, like Sidney Crosby's overtime gold medal goal at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Historically, Canada has had the upper hand against the US. The two countries have met 20 times in best-on-best tournaments since the 1976 Canada Cup, with Canada winning 14 of those games.

Source:bbc.com

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Mitch McConnell announces he will not run for re-election

February 21, 2025

US Senator Mitch McConnell has announced that he will not seek re-election in 2026 following a 40-year career in Congress.

McConnell, 83, was the longest-serving party leader in Senate history, but stepped down from Republican leadership while facing health issues.

Despite supporting much of Donald Trump's agenda during his first administration, McConnell has become a more vocal critic of the president as he faces retirement at the end of his term.

"I have some unfinished business to attend to," he said in a speech on the Senate floor that announced that his "current term in the Senate will be my last".

In his speech, McConnell encouraged his fellow Senators to use their constitutional powers at a time when Trump has sought to greatly expand the reach of the presidency.

McConnell has voted against Trump's appointments the most of all Senate Republicans by opposing Pete Hegseth for defense secretary, Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence and Robert F Kennedy Jr for health secretary.

He stressed that Congress is a co-equal branch of government to the president's, and it was a fundemental responsibility to confirm federal officials who "possess authentic devotion to the rule of law above all else".

"The weight of our power to advise and consent has never been lost on me," said McConnell, who had himself thwarted many a Democratic president's agenda in the legislative branch.

At the end of his speech, senators and staff applauded and gave him a standing ovation.

The Kentucky politician developed a reputation as a wily tactitian and perpetual thorn in the side of Democrats. Even when his party was in the minority, McConnell used arcane procedures and blunt political force to achieve sometimes seismic results.

In one of his most stunning manoeuvres, he held up President Barack Obama's US Supreme Court nomination at the end of his second term.

The blockade allowed an incoming president Trump to appoint a conservative judge instead, paving the way for a sweeping transformation of the nation's highest court. That, in turn, has led to the overturning of national abortion rights and a broad expansion of presidential immunity and power.

McConnell also oversaw Trump's remaking of the federal judiciary, helping the president appoint a new slate of conservative judges across the US.

But McConnell cooled significantly on the former president after the 6 January 2021 riot at the US Capitol, where McConnell and other lawmakers were swept into hiding from a violent mob.

"There's no question, none, that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day," McConnell said in a speech following the attack.

Yet he did not vote to convict Trump on impeachment charges that stemmed from the riot.

During the Biden administration, McConnell took a hawkish stance on Ukraine, becoming an outspoken advocate for US support even as Trump and his Maga base called for an insolationist response.

While he was heavily criticised for bending and changing many of the Senate norms to push through his conservative agenda, the longtime Republican stressed the importance to respect the legislative body.

"I assure my colleagues I will depart with the great hope of the endurance - the endurance - of the Senate as an institution," McConnell said.

Source:bbc.com

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Zizians: What we know about the vegan 'cult' linked to six deaths

February 21, 2025

A cult-like US group known as Zizians has been linked to a string of murders, sparking several arrests – who are the people behind this group and what do they believe?

Jack Lasota, 34, who allegedly leads a group of a few dozen followers known as Zizians, was arrested on Sunday alongside Michelle Zajko, 32, and Daniel Blank, 26, on charges including trespassing and obstruction.

Authorities say they are investigating at least six killings across the US that are allegedly connected to members of the group, including a double homicide in Pennsylvania, a knife attack in California, and the shooting of a US border guard in January.

Four other alleged members of the group have already been charged with murder.

The origins of the group

Lasota, a transgender woman, is allegedly the leader of the group.

She earned a degree in computer science from the University of Alaska-Fairbanks in 2013 and, according to her blog, moved to the San Francisco area three years later.

There, she wrote that she applied for a series of jobs at tech companies and startups - including a brief internship with Nasa - and began to associate with people involved in the rationalist movement, an intellectual trend popular in Silicon Valley that emphasises the power of the human mind to see clear truth, eliminate bias and bad thinking, and improve individuals and society.

Lasota began blogging using the alias "Ziz", but soon fell out with mainstream rationalists as her writings spun off in bizarre directions.

The blog included posts of thousands of words, blending Lasota's personal experiences, theories about technology and philosophy, and esoteric comments about pop culture, computer coding and dozens of other subjects.

At one point, during a long diatribe about the TV series The Office, artificial intelligence and other subjects, she wrote: "I realized that I was no longer able to stand people. Not even rationalists anymore. And I would live the rest of my life completely alone, hiding my reaction to anyone it was useful to interact with. I had given up my ability to see beauty so I could see evil."

Other themes included veganism – total avoidance of any animal food or products – and anarchism.

In 2019 Lasota and three others were arrested while holding a protest outside an event held by a rationalist organisation. The last posts on her blog date from around this time.

False obituary

Over the next few years, Lasota and others would move around the US, according to reports, at one point living on a boat, and later staying on property owned by others in California and North Carolina.

In 2022, a warrant was issued when Lasota failed to show up for a court hearing, related to the protest outside the rationalist organisation meeting. But her lawyer at the time stated she was "now deceased after a boating accident in the San Francisco Bay area".

An obituary - noting that Lasota loved "adventure, friends and family, music, blueberries, biking, computer games and animals" - even appeared in an Alaska newspaper.

But the story was wrong: Lasota was still alive.

Jessica Taylor, an artificial intelligence researcher who says she knew several of the group members, told the Associated Press that Lasota and the Zizians stretched their rationalist beliefs to justify breaking laws.

"Stuff like thinking it's reasonable to avoid paying rent and defend oneself from being evicted," Taylor said.

Poulomi Saha, an associate professor at the University of California, Berkeley, who studies cults, says that while there is no strict legal definition of such a group, several of the Zizians' attributes align with the popular cultural conception of the term.

"This is a group of individuals that seem to share some unorthodox viewpoints," she said. "That in and of itself wouldn't open up them up to the cult label… but then there is this leadership figure 'Ziz.'"

Saha noted, however, that there is still significant uncertainty about the relationships between group members and about what may have motivated alleged acts of violence in recent years.

Escalating violence

Not long after the obituary was published, Lasota resurfaced along with other members of the group in Vallejo, California, which is north of San Francisco. Several members were living in vans and trucks on land owned by a man named Curtis Lind.

At some point the Zizians allegedly stopped paying rent, and Lind sued to evict them.

But the dispute escalated and in November 2022, Lind was attacked, stabbed 50 times and blinded in one eye. In an act of what police would later say is self-defence, he fired a gun, which killed Emma Borhanian, a former Google employee who was one of the Zizians and who had previously been arrested at the rationalist protest.

Two other members, Suri Dao and Somni Logencia, were arrested and charged with attempting to murder Lind. They remain in prison awaiting trial. Lasota was also at the scene of the attack, but was not charged with a crime.

The following month, two parents of a Zizian member were killed in a small Pennsylvania town.

Richard Zajko, 71, and his wife, Rita, 69, were found shot in the head in their home.

The Zajkos were the parents of Zizian member Michelle Zajko, who was briefly held by police but not charged with a crime.

Lasota was arrested and charged with obstructing law enforcement and disorderly conduct in connection with the incident.

The hunt continues

Despite the links to those two attacks, the group mostly flew under the radar without receiving much wider public attention until earlier this year.

On 17 January, Lind, the California landlord who had allegedly been attacked by members of the group, was killed.

Vallejo Police Department say he was stabbed to death by an assailant wearing a mask and black beanie.

Police later charged Maximilian Snyder with murder, and alleged that Snyder killed Lind in order to stop him from testifying during the attempted murder trial.

That was followed just a few days later by the killing of a US border patrol agent on the other side of the country.

Two Zizians, Teresa Youngblut and Felix Bauckholt, were pulled over by US Border Patrol Agent David Maland near the Canadian border in Vermont.

A firefight ensured. Bauckholt, a German citizen who also went by the name Ophelia, was killed in the shootout along with Maland.

Youngblut - who was previously known as Milo - was wounded and later arrested on firearms charges.

The shooting led to a wider hunt for members of the group after police said the gun used to kill Maland was bought by Michelle Zajko.

Fugitives captured

After the Vermont shootout, police in Pennsylvania said they had uncovered new evidence about the shooting of Zajko's parents, and Lasota was wanted for failing to appear at several court hearings.

The whereabouts of the pair were unknown until Sunday, when they were arrested with fellow group member Daniel Blank in Maryland.

A police report said a resident of Frostburg, about 160 miles (260km) north-west of Washington DC, had called police saying he wanted three "suspicious" people off his property after they asked to camp on his land for a month.

Maryland State Police said that the trio were charged with trespassing and obstruction, and that Lasota and Zajko were additionally charged with weapons violations. All three were denied bail.

A lawyer for Lasota, Daniel McGarrigle, declined to comment on the arrest but instead sent the BBC a statement he had previously issued about his client, saying: "I urge members of the press and the public to refrain from speculation and premature conclusions."

Source:bbc.com

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Governor Hochul will not remove NYC Mayor Adams from office

February 21, 2025

Governor Kathy Hochul has decided not to remove New York City Mayor Eric Adams from office, but instead announced a plan to limit his authority following a string of scandals.

The New York governor said she would propose legislation and measures aimed at exerting more oversight over the mayor's office. Adams responded there would have been no legal basis to remove him.

The US justice department is currently pushing to drop a corruption case against Adams, which a former top prosecutor alleged was a deal in exchange for the mayor's co-operation on immigration enforcement.

Adams was indicted on corruption and bribery charges last year, and his trial is scheduled for April. The mayor pleaded not guilty and has denied wrongdoing.

Announcing her proposed "guardrails" against Adams on Thursday, the governor said she decided not to use her power to remove the mayor as she could not defy the "will of the voters".

In her new plan, she has proposed a new inspector general position for New York City, providing more resources for officials to take legal action against the Trump administration, and expanding funding for the state comptroller's office to conduct more oversight of the city.

Hochul said these steps would "make sure our leaders are operating only with the city's best interest in mind".

The plan would still require approval from the New York City Council and state legislature.

The mayor said in a statement later: "While there is no legal basis for limiting New Yorkers' power by limiting the authority of my office, I have told the governor, as we have done in the past, that I am willing to work with her to ensure faith in our government is strong."

Hochul's attempt to rein in the mayor comes as he awaits the decision of a New York judge regarding his corruption case.

Adams was indicted last year for allegedly accepting gifts totalling more than $100,000 (£75,000) from Turkish citizens in exchange for favours.

The Trump administration ordered its Manhattan prosecutors to drop the case against Adams, arguing it impedes on his official duties for national security.

Shortly after the directive, the top Manhattan federal prosecutor in the case, Danielle Sassoon, resigned in protest. Several other federal prosecutors followed.

In a letter to the US attorney general, Sassoon alleged that the justice department and Adams' lawyers had engaged in a quid-pro-quo for the mayor to enforce Trump's immigration policies in exchange for dropping the case.

Amid the uproar, Hochul announced that she was weighing whether to use her powers to remove Adams.

Adams denied he had propositioned the justice department to drop the case in exchange for immigration enforcement.

His attorney, Alex Spiro, argued in court that because Adams lost his security clearance due to his criminal charges, the case should be dismissed so that he can again participate in high-level public safety conversations.

The case has sent the city's government into upheaval and infuriated New Yorkers, dozens of whom appeared for Adams' hearing this week to boo him as he arrived at court. A handful of supporters held signs on the courthouse steps.

As the Trump administration seeks to dismiss the charges against Adams, the president has sought to flex his influence over New York City, announcing he intends to revoke approval for the city's congestion pricing programme that started in January.

In her remarks, Hochul took aim directly at the Trump administration, referring to him at one point as a "king".

"We know they'll stop at nothing to try to exercise control over New York," she said of the Trump administration.

Source:bbc.com

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South Asia

 

BDR Massacre: Commission records 37 testimonies

Feb 21, 2025

The National Independent Investigation Commission, formed to re-investigate the 2009 BDR massacre, has so far recorded the testimonies of 37 individuals in 41 working days since December 24, regarding the incident.

Among the 37 individuals who have testified so far, there are three lieutenant generals, two major generals, five brigadier generals, four colonels, four lieutenant colonels, seven majors, two captains, seven BDR members, and three victims' family members.

Maj Gen (retd) ALM Fazlur Rahman, the commission chief and former director general of the then-BDR (now BGB), shared the developments at a press conference at the BRiCM building in the capital's Science Laboratory yesterday.

He said former army chief general (retired) Moeen U Ahmed is crucial for obtaining detailed information about the incident.

The commission has already sent letters to the foreign ministry to establish communication with certain foreign embassies to reach Moeen, ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, and others residing abroad, he said.

Fazlur said, "I cannot reveal the names of those embassies being contacted to bring back fugitives."

When asked about Moeen, who is now based in Florida in the US and has shared his version of the 2009 BDR mutiny in a YouTube video, Fazlur said the commission has its own objective to reinvestigate the incident.

Fazlur said requests have been made to the relevant authorities to impose restrictions on various individuals from leaving the country.

The commission chief said they have 90 working days to complete the investigation, with 41 days already elapsed.

He said that the commission has set five areas of focus. These include uncovering the true nature of the incident at Pilkhana, identifying those responsible for the killings and other crimes, including perpetrators, accomplices, conspirators, evidence destroyers, instigators, and individuals or organisations -- both domestic and foreign -- linked to the incident.

The commission also aims to identify those responsible for failing to prevent the massacre and other crimes.

Uncovering the truth about an event that occurred 16 years ago is a complex task, but the commission is progressing with a well-structured approach to gather all necessary evidence and establish the truth, he said.

Source:thedailystar.net

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5 Bangladeshis return after Mediterranean ordeal

 Feb 21, 2025

Five Bangladeshis, who were dreaming of a better future in Europe and left their homes, have returned today.

Instead of reaching their destination, they ended up in Libya, where they were trapped by a notorious trafficking mafia and subjected to brutal torture, BRAC said in a release today.

Around 5:30am, they arrived in Dhaka airport on a Turkish Airlines flight from Algeria.

The returnees are Mostakim Sarkar from Dhaka, Mozammel Haque from Sherpur, and Jihad Fakir, Roman Howlader, and Yasin Howlader from Madaripur.

According to the victims, the human traffickers held them captive in Libya's capital, Tripoli, torturing them while demanding ransom from their families in Bangladesh.

Once their families managed to pay, the traffickers put them on a boat to cross the Mediterranean to Italy. However, their boat broke down at sea, and they were rescued by the Tunisian Coast Guard.

Later, they were taken to the Algerian border, where they were imprisoned for varying periods for illegal entry.

With assistance from BRAC, the Wage Earners' Welfare Board under the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, and the Bangladesh Embassy in Algeria, they were eventually repatriated.

Recalling his ordeal, Yasin Howlader from Madaripur said, "I was held captive by the Libyan mafia. My family had to take out loans, mortgage land, and borrow from relatives to pay a ransom of Tk 25.8 lakh to the traffickers. Now, we have nothing left."

Aziz Ahmed, Senior Manager of BRAC's Migration Programme, stated, "For the repatriation of these five trafficking survivors, we coordinated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Wage Earners' Welfare Board, and the US-based Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Hero Network. Earlier, in October 2024, BRAC and TIP Hero Network helped bring back eight other Bangladeshi trafficking victims."

For the past eight years, BRAC's Migration Welfare Center has been assisting returnee migrants at the airport. With support from Civil Aviation authorities, Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport authorities, the Expatriate Welfare Desk, APBN, and others, the centre has provided various forms of assistance to over 35,000 people. In 2024 alone, 40 Bangladeshis were rescued from different countries.

Shariful Hasan, associate director of BRAC's Migration Programme, emphasised the need for awareness among the public and aspiring migrants. He urged law enforcement agencies to identify and dismantle local trafficking networks, especially by tracking financial transactions. "Without a collective effort, this problem cannot be solved," he said.

Source:thedailystar.net

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Devil Hunt: 492 more held across the country

Feb 21, 2025

The joint forces arrested 492 more people across the country in the last 24 hours till yesterday afternoon as part of the "Operation Devil Hunt", according to the Police Headquarters.

With the latest arrests, the number of arrestees is now 6,849. Additionally, 1,260 others, who were either accused or wanted in previous cases, were also arrested in the last 24 hours.

Law enforcers also recovered two pipe guns and two sharp weapons.

The government launched the operation on February 8 to restore law and order following an attack on "students and people" in Gazipur.

Analysing reports from some districts, this newspaper found that many of the arrestees are members of the Awami League and its associate bodies. Many are accused in cases filed after the fall of the Hasina-led government on August 5.

Source:thedailystar.net

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Islamic Emirate Declares Stance on ICC

2025-02-20

KABUL(BNA): The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, as the guardian of the religious and national values of Afghans under Islamic Sharia, does not consider itself bound by the Rome Statute or the institution established under it, known as the International Criminal Court (ICC). The Emirate hereby declares the following points:

First: The historical conduct of this “Court” has shown that it operates based on political biases rather than principles of justice and fairness. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, which advocates for mutual respect and principle-based interactions with other nations, does not agree with such an approach.

Second: In Afghanistan and many other countries, millions of innocent people—including women, children, and civilians—have been killed and oppressed. However, this “Court” has remained silent on these grave injustices.

Third: The institution has failed to address the war crimes committed by occupying forces and their allies against Afghan civilians. These crimes include the destruction of entire villages, educational centers, mosques, hospitals, and wedding ceremonies. Women, children, the elderly, and even thousands of bound prisoners have been killed with impunity, yet the Court has neither questioned nor prevented such atrocities.

Fourth: Many of the world’s major powers are not members of this “Court.” Afghanistan, which has long suffered from foreign occupation and colonialism, sees no necessity in joining such an institution.

Considering the above points, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan formally declares that it is not bound by the Rome Statute and considers the previous administration’s accession to it as legally void and invalid.

Source:bakhtarnews.af

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ANDMA Urges Aid Organizations to Prioritize Preventive Measures in Disaster Management

2025-02-20

KABUL(BNA): In a meeting, Mullah Nooruddin Turabi, Tthe head of Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA), called on aid organizations to enhance their focus on preventive measures in disaster management projects.

The meeting included Shehzad Jameel, the country director of Concern Worldwide, who acknowledged the partnership between the organization and the authority.

According to a statement from the authority’s press office, Mullah Turabi highlighted Afghanistan’s vulnerability to natural disasters due to its geographical location, which results in significant human and financial losses annually. He urged all organizations involved in disaster management to prioritize projects aimed at prevention.

He also reassured aid organizations that necessary facilities would be provided to support their efforts. He emphasized the importance of transparency and efficiency in the implementation of projects.

In response, Shehzad Jameel expressed gratitude for the ongoing cooperation with the National Disaster Preparedness Authority. He presented a report detailing Concern Worldwide’s previous initiatives and reaffirmed the commitment to continue future collaborations.

Source:bakhtarnews.af

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Major Energy Projects Inaugurated in Jawzjan to Improve Power Access

2025-02-20

JAWZJAN (BNA): Islamic Emirate Authorities have inaugurated two major electricity projects in Jawzjan Province, valued at 125 million Afghanis, in the presence of Dr. Abdul Bari Omar, executive director of Da Afghan Breshna Sherkat (DABS) , and local officials.

During the ceremony, Dr. Omar highlighted that the projects include the installation of a 110-kilovolt transmission line from the Jarqaduq substation to Bayat Power Station, as well as the expansion of a 20-kilovolt distribution network in the Khurasan Bridge area of Shibirghan City.

According to Dr. Omar, these initiatives will increase electricity capacity from 40 megawatts to 90 megawatts, significantly reducing power shortages in Jawzjan, Faryab, and Sar-e-Pul provinces. He added that efforts are ongoing to ensure a stable and sustainable energy supply across the country.

Local officials described the projects as crucial for boosting industrial and commercial activity, paving the way for new factories and job creation.

Residents of Jawzjan welcomed the initiative and urged authorities to extend electricity access to all districts, ensuring that communities across the province benefit from the development.

Afghanistan’s national power company stated that several large-scale energy projects are currently underway. Once completed, these projects are expected to enhance Afghanistan’s industrial and economic standing both regionally and internationally.

Source:bakhtarnews.af

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Afghanistan is the most landmine and explosive affected country: ICRC

By Fidel Rahmati

February 20, 2025

 The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has announced that Afghanistan is one of the countries with the highest levels of contamination from landmines and unexploded ordnance.

On Wednesday, February 19, the ICRC wrote on its X page that it has launched various support programs to raise public awareness about the dangers of mines and unexploded munitions.

The Red Cross Committee added that in 2024, it has informed 243,000 people in five regions of Afghanistan about the dangers of mines and explosive materials.

Previously, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Afghanistan announced that 55 civilians are killed or injured every month in Afghanistan due to explosions from explosive materials.

Meanwhile,, the demining organization “Halo Trust” reported that contamination from improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Afghanistan has reached over 65 square kilometers.

The organization also emphasized that by the end of 2022, this figure was around 53 square kilometers, and to date, contamination has been identified in 26 provinces of Afghanistan.

These alarming figures highlight the ongoing challenges Afghanistan faces due to war-related remnants, posing a serious threat to public safety and hindering recovery efforts. Continued efforts in awareness and demining are crucial for reducing the risk and ensuring safer environments for civilians.

Source:khaama.com

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Islamic scholars for upholding spirit of Language Movement, July uprising

20 Feb 2025

DHAKA, Feb 20, 2025 (BSS) – Islamic scholars, journalists and teachers at a discussion here today said the spirit of the great language movement inspired the nation to wage such a massive movement like July-August mass uprising that ousted authoritarian ruler Sheikh Hasina.

“We must keep alive the dreams of a new Bangladesh, remembering the sacrifices of July uprising martyrs and honor those who gave their blood and lives in the 1952 language movement,” said the speakers.

Speakers emphasized the importance of preserving the memory of martyrs at the discussion at the Islamic Foundation (IF) auditorium, marking ‘Shaheed Dibash’ (Martyrs Day) and the International Mother Language Day.

Quoting a verse from the holy Quran, which highlights the significance of language as a divine gift, Islamic Foundation Director General Abdus Salam Khan said, “Language is a vital element for human connection and identity. The importance of mother language cannot be ignored.”

Chaired by IF Coordination Director Md. Mohiuddin, Jatiya Press Club former General secretary Elias Khan, Director of the Mosque-Based Child and Mass Education Program SM Shafiul Alam Talukdar and Director of the Darul Arkam Ibadatdai Madrasa Project Abdus Sabur, IF directors Tauhidul Anwar and Rezzakul Haider took part in the discussion.

The speakers highlighted the sacrifices made for the country's achievements, particularly how every success has come through shedding of blood and stressed that the victory gained through the people's uprising in 2024 must be preserved.

“We must keep alive the dreams of the new Bangladesh, remembering the sacrifices made, and honor those who gave their blood and lives in the 1952 language movement,” they said.

They said, “The sacrifices of 1952 martyrs were not just for language, but for the very soul and identity of Bangladesh as a nation.” They urged everyone to continue striving for the preservation and elevation of the Bengali language, both within Bangladesh and on the global stage.

The event concluded with a prayer for the forgiveness of the language movement martyrs and a collective supplication for continued peace, welfare, and progress in the country.

Source:bssnews.net

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Ctg commodity market looks vibrant with Ramadan goods, sees price fall

20 Feb 2025

CHATTOGRAM, Feb 20, 2025 (BSS) - Essential commodities mostly in demand in Ramadan has been started pouring in major commodity markets in the port city resulting significant price fall of most of the items.

Aiming at keeping the prices of essentials stable particularly during the month of Ramadan, the Interim Government’s farsighted and pragmatic policy including significant tax withdrawal and other policy supports have encouraged the businessmen and importers to import in a bigger volume, which outplayed the members of unscrupulous trade racket, said traders and importers here talking to BSS. 

Country’s biggest commodity hub Khatunganj-Chaktai , wholesale fruits selling points –Reazuddin Bazar and ‘Falmondi’ at Station Road have seen bustling with essential Ramadan goods like edible oil, chickpeas, sugar, onions, potatoes, and dates.

 The major commodity market has started experiencing an overall positive and visible impact that resulted in a downtrend in prices and indicates price stability when some specific commodity demand will escalates gradually on the eve and during the month of Ramadan.

Wholesale and retailers as well as trade body leaders in Khatunganj and Chaktai said that current market trend has already brought some sorts of relief among the consumers as well as genuine businessmen as it narrowed down reckless playing by unethical trade syndicates.

 Sources said usually such market pictures have not been seen in the last few years. In previous years, it was seen that the prices of consumer goods started increasing a few days before Shab-e-Barat and later the market was booming as Ramadan approaches.

This time, there is an exception. Traders in Khatunganj are struggling to storing huge goods in their warehouses and sell them in retail markets as quick as possible. As a result, the market prices are lower than last year.

 Besides, the interim government had relaxed the LC opening margin on the import of 11 types of daily essential items to ensure smooth supply of consumer goods ahead of the holy month of Ramadan.

The items are- rice, wheat, onion, pulses, edible oil, sugar, eggs, chickpeas, peas, spices and dates. However, importers who have good track record are getting more benefits from the banks in opening LCs following a Bangladesh Bank Circular issued on November 17 last year.  Since then, the import of these products has been increasing.

Dr. Md. Shah Alam, Deputy Director of the Plant Quarantine Center (Sanga Nirod Kendra) of Chattogram Port said the maximum numbers of consumer goods were imported in January centering vibrant market of Ramadan.

More products will be imported by the end of February. In the last four and a half months, 1.95 million tons of consumer goods of 17 categories have arrived at Ctg port.

In the last four and half months about two million tons of onions, sugar, cinnamon, cloves, garlic, cumin, nutmeg, pepper, ginger, turmeric, mustard, kichmich (Raisin), chickpeas, peas and lentils, and edible oil have been imported through Chattogram Port. 

But, in the corresponding period in 2024, a total of 1.73 million tons were imported that indicated that 12 percent more goods were imported this year compared to same period of last year. In January 2025 alone, 97,181 tons of chickpeas were unloaded through Chattogram Port.

 However, there is a demand for chickpeas in the country during the Ramadan. Some more chickpeas are waiting to be off-loaded. A total of 66,040 tons of chickpeas were unloaded in January 2024. Good quality chickpeas are being sold at TK 92.5 per kg in the wholesale market of Khatunganj.

Medium quality chickpeas are being sold at TK 90 per kg. Last year, the same chickpeas were sold at TK 95 to TK 100 per kg before Ramadan.

Mohammad Idris, General Secretary of Khatunganj's Hamidullah Miah Market Welfare Association, said the prices of onions, ginger and garlic have been decreasing for the past 15 days.

The market now has the highest supply of local and Indian onions. The stock of ginger and garlic from China is also adequate. Locally produced onions are being sold at TK 32-38 per kg, and Indian onions are at TK 50-55.

 Ginger is being sold at TK 65-70. Fifteen days ago, ginger was selling at TK 75-80 per kg. Now it has decreased by TK 10 per kg. Garlic is being sold at TK 195-200 per kg. Its price has also decreased by TK 15.

Idris said that onion prices also started falling as supply flow of locally produced onions has been increased. Along with onions, the prices of spices like ginger and garlic are also decreasing. However, in other years, consumers particularly lower and lower middle income groups were struggling with soaring prices of Ramadan goods.  The administration also had to conduct drives against market manipulation and keep the price stableand within the reach of the commoners.

This time, the picture is reverse. Most wholesale traders in Khatunganj are anxious due to poor flow of retailers pushing them to apprehend incurring losses instead of profit during Ramadan. 

Stating that the price of dates is decreasing due to increased imports, Abul Hasem, owner of Bismillah Store in Falmondi, Chattogram, said that currently a five-kg packet of Medjool is at TK 4,100, Ajoa at TK 4,500, Safabiat TK 3,200 and Maryam at TK 7,700.

In last year, 5 kg cartons of dates that were sold at TK 4,000 whereas same quantity dates are being sold for TK 3,300 to TK 3,400 this time, Idris said.

After reducing the duty on dates, prices have also decreased. As Ramadan approaches, sales are also increasing. He said that the demand for dates in Bangladesh is about 90,000 tons per year. Of this, the demand during Ramadan is around 50,000 tons. In January this year alone, 21,261 tons were imported. The government reduced the customs duty to control the price of dates, resulting to a record amount of imports.

 This time, traders have imported much more consumer goods against the demand, said Chaktai Khatunganj Aratdar General Traders Welfare Association General Secretary Md. Mohiuddin, saying that it’s impact has started to be visible in the market.

The demand for sugar during Ramadan is about three lakh tons. Of this, 2.53 lakhs tons of sugar were imported through Chattogram port in December and January, which is 85 percent of the demand. 

In the first phase, on October 17 last year and in the second phase on November 19, the customs duty on edible oil imports was reduced to only 5 percent.

According to Chattogram Customs, the demand for edible oil during Ramadan is about three lakh tons. In contrast, three lakh 89,000 tons of soybean and palm oil were imported in January alone. Some more edible oil is waiting to be released. Accordingly, there should be no shortage of edible oil in the country.

Talking to businessmen in Khatunganj, it was said that the prices of all types of consumer goods, except edible oil, are lower this year compared to last year.

Some traders in Khatunganj said that although there is no reason for an edible oil crisis in the market due to sufficient imports against demand, an unscrupulous group is still trying to destabilize and volatile the edible oil market by creating an artificial crisis.

These traders were of the opinion that this ill-attempt can be prevented in advance if there is close supervision of the stock and supply level of imported oil and immediate legal action is taken against unscrupulous importers and hoarders.

Muhammad Rafiqul Alam, owner of M/s MK Trading in Khatunganj, said, 'S Alam's brand ready sugar was sold at Tk 4,230 per maund in the Khatunganj market on Tuesday while City and Meghna Group's sugar was sold at Tk 4,175 per mound . Last year, the price of sugar per maund at the same time was around Tk 5,000.

Source:bssnews.net

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