"CM Naidu will not allow any bill that harms Muslims interests": TDP leader on Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024

New Age Islam News Bureau

04 Nov 2024

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader Nawab Jan (Photo/ANI)

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·         "CM Naidu will not allow any bill that harms Muslims interests": TDP leader on Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024

·         HRCP calls new anti-terror bill 'violation of right to due process, fair trial'

·         Zionist settlers renew blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque courtyards storming

·         Frankly Speaking: Does Riyadh prefer Trump or Harris?

·         Is the West finally ready to admit defeat in Ukraine?

·         Trump Demonized Muslims. He’s Winning Some of Them Over

·         Police Arrest 113 Chinese, Malaysians, Others for Cybercrimes, Hacking In Nigeria

·         Man accused of deviant Islamic teachings, including that gambling is allowed, denies allegations

·         Tabligh Jamaat calls for unity

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India

·         Jammu and Kashmir: Terrorists throw grenade at CRPF bunker in Srinagar, at least 11 civilians injured

·         Samajwadi Party's real agenda is Muslim appeasement, supporting jihadis for vote bank: UP Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya

·         Karnataka waqf land row: BJP holds state-wide protest, accuses Congress govt of 'land jihad'

·         Waqf Board amendment bill: JPC to hold next meeting today; Islamic scholars to be part of dicsussion

·         Why the removal of Muslim and OBC election officials ahead of bye-polls in UP has raised eyebrows

·         Won't escape responsibility if...: Muslim body warns JD-U, TDP on waqf bill

·         In first J&K Assembly session in 6 years, storm over PDP leader’s proposal for abrogation of Article 370

·         Fading literature: Delhi’s famed Urdu Bazaar on last legs amid Hindi dominance, misconceptions as ‘foreign’ and ‘Muslim-only’ language

·         Row over Waqf properties: BJP's protest is nothing but politics, says Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah

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Pakistan

·         Three terrorists killed in Balochistan’s Musakhel district: CTD

·         Lahore AQI surges past 1,000 again with citizens struggling under suffocating smog

·         NA set to pass bills related to SC, detention of suspects

·         ‘Secret detention cell’ run by Quetta cop uncovered

·         Privacy concerns prompt Nawaz to seek treatment outside UK

·         Govt shuts primary schools in Lahore over record pollution

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Europe

·         Ukraine and Germany have an abusive relationship

·         Pro-EU president declares victory in highly contentious election

·         American who worked for Russia in Donbass speaks exclusively to RT (VIDEO)

·         Ancient Orthodox cathedral in Ukraine turned into movie theater – MP (PHOTOS)

·         British King ‘making millions’ from secret property empire – The Times

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North America

·         US election 2024 results: When will we know whether Harris or Trump won?

·         First-time Muslim voters in US wary of two-party system

·         'I never intended to offend anyone': AFL umpire banned for dressing up as Osama Bin Laden at end-of-season party

·         Dawson's Creek actor reveals cancer diagnosis

·         Kamala Harris makes surprise appearance on Saturday Night Live

·         Nageeye and Chepkirui win New York City Marathon

·         Whirlwind of misinformation sows distrust ahead of US election day

·         Trump speaks about ‘shooting through fake news media’ (VIDEO)

·         Will the coming election make or break America?

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Mideast

·         Leader: Zionist Regime Most Wicked Enemy of Islam

·         Israel officially informs UN of end to relations with Palestinian relief agency

·         Iraqi PM to participate in Arab-Islamic summit on Gaza and Lebanon

·         500 Students honored at Qur'an schools ceremony in Sana'a

·         Iran president says potential ceasefire ‘could affect’ response to Israel

·         Israel says nabbed Syrian spy working for Iran

·         Israeli authorities probe suspected Gaza intelligence leak by Netanyahu aide

·         Balkan Scholars Meeting held in Türkiye with calls for global Muslim solidarity

·         Blind Bulgarian predicts future including global conflict, Muslim rule

·         Qatar's Islamic finance assets valued at QR656bn: Bait Al-Mashura

·         PM Al-Sudani receives invitation from King of Saudi Arabia to participate in Arab-Islamic Summit on Gaza and Lebanon

·         Turkiye sacks 3 mayors in Kurdish majority southeast: interior ministry

·         Yemen’s Houthis will keep blockade on Israeli vessels after asset sale reports

·         Jordan to host inaugural Gulf-Jordanian Investment Conference

·         UN experts say Houthis collaborated with Al-Qaeda to weaken Yemeni government

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Arab World

·         Riyadh to focus on urban planning at Egypt forum

·         Saudi Arabia promotes cultural dialogue as Paris hosts Arab Week

·         Saudi project clears 636 Houthi mines in Yemen

·         Riyadh hosts road safety, sustainability forum

·         Saudi toymaker helps Arab children connect with heritage

·         Saudi deputy foreign minister receives Red Cross president

·         UNESCO chair hosts translating cultures workshops

·         From crocodiles to kangaroos — Riyadh Zoo thrills visitors

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Africa

·         Muslims beg Aiyedatiwa to upgrade institution

·         Chad May Withdraw From MNJTF amid Rising Boko Haram Threats

·         CAF Verdict: FG Denies Report of Harassments, Arrest of Nigerians in Libya

·         Sudan’s army chief appoints new acting foreign minister

·         Nigerians Petition Tinubu To Halt Trial Of Minors Detained After #EndBadGovernance Protest

·         Rivers Crisis: ‘Now Is the Time for Two Dramatis Personae to End Their Rift’ – Ambakederimo

·         At least 14 people die in lightning strike on refugee camp in Uganda

·         Westville’s first mosque still standing 120 years later

·         NCS clarifies on controversy over alleged demolition of mosque in Idiroko

·         Ban Miyetti Allah before ESN – IPOB to Nigerian govt

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Southeast Asia

·         PM Anwar to deliver Malaysia’s mandate to stop Israel’s war crimes in Palestine at Arab-Islamic summit

·         PM Anwar: Malaysia stands with Unifil mission in Lebanon, closely tracks safety of Malaysian peacekeepers in Lebanon

·         Deepavali wishes don't make me lesser Muslim, Rafizi says in Tamil via AI

·         Melaka cruise terminal to boost economy through tourism - Loke

·         MCMC exploring new technologies to enhance internet coverage - Teo

·         MetMalaysia issues thunderstorm warning for KL and eight states

·         GISBH’s ‘deviant’ label raises legal implications: A closer look at fatwa enforcement in Malaysia, with prison a possibility for defiance

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South Asia

·         Ministry of Information and Culture Announces Results of “Doctrinal Studies” Exam

·         Three killed in road accidents

·         UN reports nearly $7 billion in aid received for Afghanistan

·         Four Afghan workers detained in Iran for lack of work permits

·         Probe NBL loans to Bashundhara

·         Capacity-building seminar held in Kabul

·         Honesty in transactions and its role in Islamic society

·         Urban Development Minister Discusses Kabul Infrastructure Projects with Turkish Firm

·         Construction Begins on 3 Key Public Projects in Ghazni

·         JU Prof Nurul Islam made new pro-vc of NU

Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau

URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/naidu-muslims-interests-waqf-amendment-bill/d/133618

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"CM Naidu will not allow any bill that harms Muslims interests": TDP leader on Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024

Nov 04, 2024

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader Nawab Jan (Photo/ANI)

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New Delhi [India], November 4 (ANI): Amid opposition to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill (/topic/waqf-amendment-bill), 2024, Telugu Desam Party (/topic/telugu-desam-party) (TDP) leader Nawab Jan (/topic/nawabjan) who is also the alliance partner of NDA said that Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu (/topic/chandrababu-naidu) will not let any bill that harms the interests of the Muslims be implemented. Addressing the 'Samvidhan Bachao Sammelan' on sunday organised by Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, the TDP leader (/topic/tdp-leader) urged everyone to come together to stop the Waqf (Amendment) Bill (/topic/waqfamendment-bill) 2024 from being passed in Parliament. "Central Government is continuously trying to bring in a Waqf Bill, we all have to go ahead together to thwart that attempt," Nawab Jan (/topic/nawab-jan) said. He further said that the benefits that Muslims got under Naidu's rule are unprecedented since the independence of the country "Our (Andhra Pradesh) CM Nara Chandrababu Naidu (/topic/chandrababu-naid u) is a secular-minded person. He says that Hindus and Muslims are two eyes of the body, any harm done to one eye affects the whole body and I can't tolerate this...Under no circumstance, he (Naidu ) will let a Bill that harms Muslims be implemented," he said. The TDP leader (/topic/tdp-leader) claimed that sending the Waqf (Amendment) Bill (/topic/waqf-amendment-bill) to Parliament's Joint Committee (JPC) could only be made possible because of Naidu. The Waqf Act, of 1995, which was created to regulate waqf properties, has long faced allegations of mismanagement, corruption and encroachments. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill (/topic/waqf-amendment-bill), 2024 seeks to bring sweeping reforms, introducing digitisation, stricter audits, transparency and legal mechanisms to reclaim illegally occupied properties. The JPC is holding a series of meetings to gather input from government officials, legal experts, Waqf Board members and community representatives from different states and Union Territories, aiming for the most comprehensive reform possible. The Bharatiya Janata Party (/topic/bharatiya-janata-party) (BJP) formed the government at the Center with the support of other parties such as the TDP and the Janata Dal (United). Both TDP and JD-U are crucial allies of the BJP in the NDA government. TDP has 16 MPs and JD-U has 12 MPs in the Lok Sabha. BJP-led National Democratic Alliance won its third successive term in the results of Lok Sabha polls declared on June 4. The NDA won 293 seats in the Lok Sabha polls with BJP getting 240 seats. (ANI)  

Source:aninews.in

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https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/cm-naidu-will-not-allow-any-bill-that-harms-muslims-interests-tdp-leader-on-waqf-amendment-bill-202420241104113032/

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HRCP calls new anti-terror bill 'violation of right to due process, fair trial'

By Web Desk

November 03, 2024

A file photo of police officers guarding a site following an attack in Karachi. — Reuters

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The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has urged the federal government to withdraw the recently introduced Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill 2024 in the National Assembly, calling it a "gross violation of the right to due process" and "fair trial". The government, a day earlier, proposed authorising the law enforcement agencies (LEAs), armed forces, and civil armed forces to detain individuals for up to three months through the amendment bill.

The bill would envisage the substitution of section 11EEE of the Anti-Terrorist Act 1997 with a new amended section.

According to the substitution of section 11EEE in the introduced bill, the government, the armed or civil armed forces on receiving credible information or a reasonable suspicion exists against a person, may issue detention orders for three months.

In a statement issued today, the commission said the bill would "authorise the state to detain individuals for 'inquiry' for up to three months merely based on 'credible information' or 'reasonable suspicion' without judicial oversight on the presumption that they pose a threat to national security or public order".

"The HRCP strongly urges the government to withdraw this bill and formulate legislation and a plan of action that cannot be abused as a means of violating citizens’ fundamental rights," read a statement by the HRCP.

The human rights body said it recognises the urgent need to address the country’s deteriorating security and law and order given the recent upsurge in militancy and significant loss of life. However, it added, "Preventive detention is not the solution as such powers are liable to be abused".

It further said: "Regrettably, the state has a poor track record of using such mechanisms fairly, transparently or judiciously."

In the current political climate, there is also the fear that preventive detention may be used against political rivals, the statement added.

The HRCP also conveyed its concerns regarding the bill empowering the armed forces to "detain individuals on mere suspicion and without civilian or judicial oversight", sharing concerns over disregard for the right to due process and fair trial as protected by Articles 10 and 10A of the Constitution.

"Additionally, the grounds for such detention are imprecise and subjective and do not meet the threshold for the derogation of rights under article 4, paragraph 1, of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights," read the statement.

It maintained that the amendment is open-ended rather than referring to temporary or exceptional circumstances.

Source:thenews.com.pk

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https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1246937-hrcp-calls-new-anti-terror-bill-violation-of-right-to-due-process-fair-trial

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Zionist settlers renew blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque courtyards storming

03 Nov 2024

Groups of Zionist settlers renewed their storming of the courtyards of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque in the occupied city of Quds today, Sunday, under the protection of the Zionist enemy forces.

The Palestinian "Wafa" Agency reported that dozens of settlers stormed Al-Aqsa in groups, carried out provocative tours in its courtyards, and performed Talmudic rituals, under the protection of the occupation forces.

Al-Aqsa is exposed daily, except for Friday and Saturday, to settler storming under the protection of the Zionist enemy forces, in two periods, morning and evening, in an attempt to change the status quo in Al-Aqsa, and attempt to divide it temporally.

The Old City of Quds and its gates are witnessing strict Zionist military measures, including thorough searches of citizens and worshippers in Al-Aqsa, assaulting them, and facilitating settler incursions.

Source:saba.ye

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https://www.saba.ye/en/news3391795.htm

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Frankly Speaking: Does Riyadh prefer Trump or Harris?

November 03, 2024

Combo image showing Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris (L) at a campaign rally in Reno, Nevada, on Oct.31, 2024, and former Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump (R) at a campaign rally in Allentown, Pennsylvania, on Oct. 29, 2024. (AFP)

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DUBAI: Saudi Arabia does not have a favorite in the US presidential race, and would enjoy strong relations with either Republican Donald Trump or Democrat Kamala Harris, Saudi political commentator Ali Shihabi has said.

According to him, the Kingdom’s priority is to use its relationship with Washington to address pressing regional issues, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“I think the Kingdom is in a very advantageous position of having excellent ties with both parties,” Shihabi said on the Arab News current affairs program “Frankly Speaking” just days before American voters are due to go to the polls.

“Either option works out well for the Kingdom, which is quite a unique state of affairs really in situations like this.”

Shihabi said Saudi Arabia may have historically leaned more toward the Republican Party, but the situation is different this time around, as in recent years the Kingdom’s relationship with the Democrats has vastly improved.

“Things have gone very well with the Democrats — not well early on, as everybody knows,” he added, referring to President Joe Biden’s threat to make Saudi Arabia “the pariah that they are” when he was campaigning for the presidency in 2019.

However, “the Ukraine-Russian war helped drive home the strategic importance of the Kingdom,” compelling the Biden administration to reassess its stance and to view Saudi Arabia as a stabilizing influence in the region, Shihabi said.

“Now, really, the relationship is as good as it could be at a deep institutional level,” he told “Frankly Speaking” host Katie Jensen. “And that would be expected to continue with a new Democratic administration.

“A new Democratic administration would be expected to carry on and adopt a lot of, if not all, the work that the previous Biden-Harris administration carried out. “At the same time, there’s a very warm relationship with Mr. Trump and the people around him. So it really works out well for the Kingdom either way. And that’s not a usual situation.

“Usually there has been a preference for Republicans, and ties have been closer under Republican administrations. But I think in this case it works out well, whoever wins.”

Shihabi said recognition of the Kingdom’s strategic importance in the Middle East has established it as a key partner for Washington, regardless of which party is in power.

Likewise, Saudi Arabia is looking to the US, no matter which candidate wins, to help resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The Kingdom has taken significant steps to advance the two-state solution, having launched a global coalition in September for this purpose. Shihabi believes US involvement is essential for any long-term success.

“America is an essential component and American pressure is an essential component,” he said. “Without the US, efforts to push Israel toward a meaningful solution may struggle to gain traction, given that Washington holds unique leverage over Israel.”

Shihabi said the attitude of the US toward Israeli actions will significantly impact the prospects for peace. “Unfortunately, the Biden administration wasn’t very strong or decisive with Israel,” he added, underscoring the need for firmer American resolve.

Just a few months ago, a historic US-Saudi security pact appeared to be imminent. At that time, bilateral relations appeared poised for a transformative agreement that could have included normalization with Israel.

However, the Oct. 7 Hamas attack that led to Israel’s invasion of Gaza is seen as having reshaped the political landscape, making such an agreement and Saudi-Israeli normalization unlikely in the near term. “It’s probably completely off the table for the time being, unless there’s a dramatic shift in the attitude of the Israeli government,” said Shihabi.

While a formal pact may be postponed, Shihabi believes the talks have already yielded closer security ties between the US and Saudi Arabia. “I think the discussions with America on that file have brought the Kingdom and America very close in sort of a de-facto security arrangement that isn’t a de-jure one yet,” he said.

Shihabi, who is an author and commentator on the politics and economics of Saudi Arabia, believes the next US administration — whether led by Trump or Harris — is likely to revisit the normalization talks. Indeed, both candidates have shown interest in brokering peace deals, and Saudi Arabia’s strategic importance in the Middle East ensures that these discussions will remain relevant.

However, Shihabi said much will depend on the next US administration’s willingness to press Israel toward meaningful concessions for the Palestinians. “The Israelis may be miscalculating if they think that Mr. Trump will be completely in their hands,” he said, hinting that the former president’s potential unpredictability could lead to renewed pressure on Israel if he returns to office.

“At the same time, the Harris administration will be inheriting a tremendous amount of work that the Harris-Biden administration carried out. So I think both parties will continue to pursue this file.”

During a recent roundtable with journalists ahead of last month’s BRICS Summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the US bore responsibility for the worsening Israeli-Palestinian conflict, attributing it to what he called American monopolization of the peace process.

Asked if Russia has enough leverage to deliver a miracle that the Middle East desperately needs, Shihabi said: “No. Unfortunately, I don’t think so.” He believes it is ultimately American pressure that has the greatest impact on Israel.

“Whether it’s part of the Quartet or whether it’s not part of the Quartet, it boils down to the backbone that an American president has in standing up to the Israelis,” he said, referring to the joint peace efforts of the US, UN, EU and Russia.

Shihabi cited past examples where US presidents exerted influence over Israel, such as when President Dwight D. Eisenhower forced Israel to withdraw from Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula in 1956, and when George H. W. Bush offered conditional loans in the 1990s.

While these instances are rare, Shihabi said, they demonstrate that US influence can shift Israeli policy when applied decisively. He remains skeptical that the current Israeli government, with its hardline stance, will make concessions without firm American intervention.

This challenge places considerable responsibility on Washington, as “the only party that has real muscle with Israel is America,” he said. “The problem is, sometimes it’s Israel that has muscle in America and not the other way around.

“The Israelis are very strong in America. They have a very strong lobbying operation. They exert enormous influence through a variety of means.

“It’s very rare that you get an American administration that takes out the stick to put the Israelis back into line. It may happen. I wouldn’t give it a huge amount of hope, but it’s not impossible.”

One of the more surprising developments of this election cycle is the shifting support of Arab-American voters, who according to a recent Arab News-YouGov poll are drawn by a 2 percent margin to Trump over Harris.

Shihabi said the finding likely reflects the voter group’s disillusionment with the current administration’s approach to Israel. “They’re confused, obviously, because the Biden administration has been very weak-kneed with the Israelis, and hasn’t been exerting enough influence or been adequately restraining them,” he added.

Despite Trump’s history of supporting Israel, Arab-American voters appear to believe he might take a stronger stance on the Palestinian issue if reelected. Shihabi believes this sentiment has something to do with Trump’s reputation as a dealmaker and his unpredictable approach to international affairs.

“There’s that sense among some people that Trump may surprise us because he’s a strong individual; he doesn’t like to be pushed around,” Shihabi said. “He’ll be in his final term, and he loves making deals, and he’d love to solve the Middle Eastern question.

“I think the Israelis may find that they don’t get what they exactly wished for if Mr. Trump wins … He may surprise us all.”

Arab Americans have shown particular concern for the situation in Gaza, with polls indicating the issue ranks higher in importance than domestic matters such as healthcare or the economy.

According to Shihabi, the focus on Gaza revealed by the survey is a reflection of the emotional and cultural impact the conflict has had on Arab-American voters. “There’s been such wanton criminality in the way that the Israelis have behaved, and such intense human suffering, that it’s affected them like it’s affected so many other people,” he said.

The potential influence of the Arab-American vote may come into play in swing states such as Michigan, where even a small margin could sway the outcome. “It’ll be very nice if the Arab-American vote ends up making an impact, either way, because that will show that the Arab Americans are beginning to develop some political muscle,” Shihabi said.

While it remains uncertain whether their votes will tip the scales, he added, the predicted increased voter turnout among Arab Americans indicates a growing political awareness and engagement within the community.

With the leads enjoyed by Harris and Trump in different polls still razor thin, Shihabi would not be drawn on who he thought will be the likely winner. “It’s a coin toss as to which one of them will win,” he said. “We’ll just have to wait.

Source:arabnews.com

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Is the West finally ready to admit defeat in Ukraine?

3 Nov, 2024

FILE PHOTO: A Russian serviceman in Kursk Region, Russia. ©  Sputnik / Sergey Bobylev

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The Economist magazine reports this week that “Russia is slicing through Ukrainian defenses” and Ukraine is subsequently “struggling to survive.” Across the Western media, the public is being prepared for defeat and painful concessions in future negotiations. Journalists are changing the narrative as reality can no longer be ignored. Moscow's coming success has been obvious since at least the summer of 2023, yet this was ignored to keep the proxy war going.

We are witnessing an impressive demonstration of narrative control: For more than two years, the political-media elites have been chanting ‘Ukraine is winning’ and denounced any dissent to their narrative as ‘Kremlin talking points’ that aim to reduce support for the war. What was ‘Russian propaganda’ yesterday is now suddenly the consensus of the collective elites. Critical self-reflection is as absent as it was after the Russiagate reporting, following the 2016 US election.

Similar narrative control was displayed when the media reassured the public for two decades that the US was in control of Afghanistan, before it fled in a great rush with dramatic images of people falling off an airplane.

Journalists deceived the public over the past while by presenting the stagnant front lines as evidence that Russia was not gaining an edge. However, in a war of attrition, the direction of the war is measured by attrition rates – the losses on each side. Territorial control comes after the adversary has been exhausted as territorial expansion is very costly in such high-intensity warfare with powerful defensive lines. The attrition rates have throughout the war been extremely unfavorable to Ukraine, and they keep getting worse. The current collapse of Kiev's front lines was very predictable as its manpower and weaponry have been exhausted.

Why has the former narrative expired? The public could be misled by fake attrition rates, yet it is not possible to cover up territorial changes after the eventual breaking point. Furthermore, the proxy war was beneficial to NATO when the Russians and Ukrainians were bleeding each other without any significant territorial changes. Now that the Ukrainians are exhausted and are beginning to lose strategic territory, it is no longer in the interests of the US-led bloc to continue the war.

Narrative control: Weaponizing empathy

Back in 2022, the political-media elites weaponized empathy to get public support for war and disdain for diplomacy. The Western public was convinced to support the proxy war against Russia by endless messaging about the suffering of Ukrainians and the injustice of their loss of sovereignty.

Those who disagreed with NATO’s mantra that ‘weapons are the way to peace’ and instead suggested negotiations were quickly dismissed as puppets of the Kremlin who did not care about Ukrainians. Support for continued fighting in a war that cannot be won has been the only acceptable expression of empathy.

For the postmodernists seeking to socially construct their own reality, great power rivalry is largely a battle of narratives. The weaponization of empathy enabled the military narrative to become impervious to criticism. War was virtuous and diplomacy treasonous as Ukraine was allegedly fighting Russia’s "unprovoked" war with the objective to subjugate the entire country. A strong moral framing convinced people to deceive and self-censor in support of this noble cause.

Even criticism of how Ukrainian civilians were dragged into cars by their government and sent to their deaths on the front lines was portrayed as supporting ‘Kremlin talking points’, as it undermined the NATO war narrative.

Reporting on high Ukrainian casualty rates threatened to undermine support for the fighting. Reporting on the failure of sanctions threatened to reduce public support for the sanctions. Reporting on the likely US destruction of Nord Stream threatened to create divisions within NATO. Reporting on the US and UK sabotage of the Minsk agreements and the Istanbul negotiations threatened the narrative of the West merely attempting to ‘help’ Ukraine. The public was offered the binary option of adhering either to the pro-Ukraine/NATO narrative or the pro-Russia narrative. Anyone challenging it with inconvenient facts could thus be accused of supporting Moscow’s objectives. Pointing out that Russia was winning was uncritically interpreted as taking its side.

There are ample facts and statements that demonstrate NATO has been fighting to the last Ukrainian to weaken a strategic rival. Yet, the strict narrative control entails that such evidence has not been permitted to be discussed.

The objectives of a proxy war: Bleeding the adversary

The strict demand for loyalty to the narrative hides the fact that US foreign policy is about restoring global primacy and not an altruistic commitment to liberal democratic values. The US considers Ukraine to be an important instrument to weaken Russia as a strategic rival.

The RAND Corporation, a think tank funded by the US government and renowned for its close ties with the intelligence community, published a report in 2019 on how the US could bleed Russia by pulling it further into Ukraine. RAND proposed that the US could send more military equipment to Kiev and threaten NATO expansion to provoke Moscow to increase its involvement in Ukraine:

“Providing more US military equipment and advice could lead Russia to increase its direct involvement in the conflict and the price it pays for it… While NATO’s requirement for unanimity makes it unlikely that Ukraine could gain membership in the foreseeable future, Washington pushing this possibility could boost Ukrainian resolve while leading Russia to redouble its efforts to forestall such a development.”

However, the same RAND report recognized that the strategy of bleeding Russia had to be carefully “calibrated,” as a full-scale war could result in Russia acquiring strategic territories, which is not in the interest of the US. After Russia launched its military operation in February 2022, the strategy was similarly to keep the war going as long as there were not significant territorial changes.

In March 2022, Leon Panetta (former White House chief of staff, secretary of defense, and CIA director) acknowledged: “We are engaged in a conflict here, it’s a proxy war with Russia, whether we say so or not… The way you get leverage is by, frankly, going in and killing Russians.” Even Zelensky recognized in March 2022 that some Western states wanted to use Ukraine as a proxy: “There are those in the West who don’t mind a long war because it would mean exhausting Russia, even if this means the demise of Ukraine and comes at the cost of Ukrainian lives.”

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin outlined the objectives in the Ukraine proxy war to as weakening its strategic adversary:

“We want to see Russia weakened to the degree that it can’t do the kinds of things that it has done in invading Ukraine… So it [Russia] has already lost a lot of military capability. And a lot of its troops, quite frankly. And we want to see them not have the capability to very quickly reproduce that capability.”

There have also been indications of regime change as a wider goal of the war. Sources in the US and UK governments confirmed in March 2022 that the objective was for “the conflict to be extended and thereby bleed Putin,” as “the only end game now is the end of Putin regime.” US President Joe Biden suggested that regime change was necessary in Russia: “For God’s sake, this man cannot remain in power.” However, the White House later walked back these dangerous remarks.

A spokesperson for then UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson also made an explicit reference to regime change by arguing, “the measures we’re introducing, that large parts of the world are introducing, are to bring down the Putin regime.” James Heappey, the UK minister for the armed forces, similarly wrote in the Daily Telegraph:

“His failure must be complete; Ukrainian sovereignty must be restored, and the Russian people empowered to see how little he cares for them. In showing them that, Putin’s days as President will surely be numbered and so too will those of the kleptocratic elite that surround him. He’ll lose power and he won’t get to choose his successor.”

Fighting to the last Ukrainian

Chas Freeman, the former US assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs and director for Chinese affairs at the State Department, has criticized Washington’s decision to ‘fight to the last Ukrainian’.

Meanwhile, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham outlined the favorable arrangements the US had established with Ukraine: “I like the structural path we’re on here. As long as we help Ukraine with the weapons they need and the economic support, they will fight to the last person.” The Republican Senate leader, Mitch McConnell, cautioned against conflating idealism the hard reality of US objectives in the proxy war:

“President Zelensky is an inspiring leader. But the most basic reasons for continuing to help Ukraine degrade and defeat the Russian invaders are cold, hard, practical American interests. Helping equip our friends in Eastern Europe to win this war is also a direct investment in reducing Vladimir Putin’s future capabilities to menace America, threaten our allies, and contest our core interests… Finally, we all know that Ukraine’s fight to retake its territory is neither the beginning nor end of the West’s broader strategic competition with Putin’s Russia.”

Senator Mitt Romney argued that arming Ukraine was “diminishing and devastating the Russian military for a very small amount of money… a weakened Russia is a good thing,” and it comes at a relatively low cost as “we’re losing no lives in Ukraine.” Senator Richard Blumenthal similarly asserted: “we’re getting our money’s worth on our Ukraine investment” because “for less than 3 percent of our nation’s military budget, we’ve enabled Ukraine to degrade Russia’s military strength by half… All without a single American service woman or man injured or lost.” Congressman Dan Crenshaw agrees that “investing in the destruction of our adversary’s military, without losing a single American troop, strikes me as a good idea.”

Retired US General Keith Kellogg similarly argued in March 2023 that “if you can defeat a strategic adversary not using any US troops, you are at the acme of professionalism.” Kellogg further explained that using Ukrainians to fight Russia “takes a strategic adversary off the table” and thus enables the US to focus on its “primary adversary which is China.” Former NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg also argued that defeating Russia and using Ukraine as a bulwark against Russia “will make it easier” for the US “to focus also on China… if Ukraine wins, then you will have the second biggest army in Europe, the Ukrainian army, battle-hardened, on our side, and we’ll have a weakened Russian army, and we have also now Europe really stepping up for defense spending.”

In search of a new narrative

A new victory narrative is required as a NATO-backed Ukraine cannot realistically defeat Russia on the battlefield. The most obvious is to claim that Russia has failed in its objective to annex all of Ukraine to help recreate the Soviet Union and thereafter conquer Europe. This spoofery would enable NATO to claim victory. After Ukraine’s disastrous counteroffensive in summer 2023, it was flagged by David Ignatius in the Washington Post, where he argued that the measurement of success is the weakening of Russia:

“Meanwhile, for the United States and its NATO allies, these 18 months of war have been a strategic windfall, at relatively low cost (other than for the Ukrainians). The West’s most reckless antagonist has been rocked. NATO has grown much stronger with the additions of Sweden and Finland. Germany has weaned itself from dependence on Russian energy and, in many ways, rediscovered its sense of values. NATO squabbles make headlines, but overall, this has been a triumphal summer for the alliance.”

Sean Bell, a former Royal Air Force air vice marshal and Ministry of Defense staffer, argued in September 2023 that the war had significantly degraded the Russian military to the point it “no longer poses a credible threat to Europe.” Bell therefore concluded that “the Western objective of this conflict has been achieved” and “The harsh reality is that Ukraine’s objectives are no longer aligned with their backers.”

The Ukrainian proxy has been exhausted, which ends the proxy war unless NATO is prepared to go to war against Russia. As NATO is preparing to cut its losses, a new narrative is required. Soon it will be permitted to call for negotiations as a display of empathy for Ukrainians.

Source:rt.com

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

https://www.rt.com/news/606810-west-media-changes-narrative-ukraine/

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TRUMP DEMONIZED MUSLIMS. HE’S WINNING SOME OF THEM OVER

By LOUBNA MRIE

NOVEMBER 3, 2024

On Oct. 5, 2024, Mayor Amer Ghalib convened a modest crowd in Hamtramck, Michigan, a densely populated enclave of metro Detroit, known as the only Muslim-majority city in America and home to a large Yemeni community. In footage live-streamed on YouTube, around 40 people gathered, some snapping selfies, others standing and chatting. Children sat with signs reading, “Yemeni Americans are with Donald Trump.”

Wearing a red tie to match Trump’s — a nod to their alliance — Ghalib rallied the crowd, urging everyone to bring another person or two. “If we get enough people, I will go live and show President Trump how many people have shown up to the opening of his campaign office!”

On a large screen, they watched the Republican nominee’s rally in Pennsylvania. Trump’s speech played on and by minute 38, he mentioned Yemen, claiming the country is sending “known terrorists” to America. “They’re coming out of Yemen. A lot of people are coming out of Yemen,” he said. “We’ll stop it immediately… We’re going to deport these people. We’re going to get them out of our country, or we won’t have a country.” Yet the largely Yemeni crowd’s enthusiasm barely wavered, attendees say, showing just how deep and surreal this new alliance had become. Or perhaps what Trump said wasn’t strange at all; perhaps it was a rhetoric that, by now, felt all too familiar.

During his 2016 presidential campaign, Trump labeled Muslims terrorists and described refugees as “Trojan horses” sent to sabotage the country. Once elected, he enacted a travel ban, blocking entry from several predominantly Muslim countries, including Yemen. The impact wasn’t confined to visa rejections or borders; it shook the Muslim community here at home. According to a report by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), anti-Muslim hate incidents surged by 57 percent from 2015 to 2016, marking a sharp rise in bias across the nation. Mosque windows were shattered, racial slurs appeared on community walls overnight, and Muslim Americans found themselves marked as outsiders in the only country they called home.

In the days following Trump’s Oct. 5 speech, as anger simmered within the broader Yemeni community, Mayor Ghalib was quick to step in. On Facebook, he wrote that Trump had privately apologized to him — though he admitted he couldn’t secure a public apology — and promised never to label Yemenis as terrorists again. Later that week, Ghalib doubled down on what he framed as a diplomatic success, posting that Trump had since only mentioned threats from South America when discussing terrorism, omitting Yemen. He reiterated that Trump was the right candidate for their community, someone who aligned with their values. And most importantly, he’d listened to them.

In the 2020 election, Michigan’s Arab American voters were pivotal; President Joe Biden’s narrow victory by roughly 154,000 votes leaned heavily on support from areas like Dearborn and Hamtramck. Back then, many Arab and Muslim voters saw their support for Biden as a stand against Trump’s rhetoric and policies that they felt perpetuated anti-Muslim sentiment.

Today, the dynamic appears to be shifting, and many Arab Americans are re-evaluating their loyalty to a party they feel has taken their support for granted while sidelining issues close to them. For the 2024 election, their ballots — whether filled or left blank — represent a voice of frustration with the Biden-Harris Administration’s financial support of Israel during the war on Gaza, a silence that feels like betrayal. The real twist, perhaps unfathomable just a few years ago, is that these communities are now actively turning toward Trump.

A split over LGBTQ+ issues

In the small city of Hamtrack, divisions between conservative Muslim residents and progressive voices had been simmering well before Oct. 7, 2023.

In 2021, then-Mayor Karen Majewski had cast the decisive vote to fly a pride flag outside city hall. Later that year, Amer Ghalib, a 45-year-old Yemeni American medical office worker, unknown in the local power circles, announced his bid for mayor. In a mayoral debate, Ghalib explained that he decided to run after observing a deep chasm between the city’s leadership and its residents, whom he described as feeling “disconnected, ignored, and misunderstood.”

That November, Ghalib unseated Majewski, ending her 16-year tenure and making national headlines as Hamtramck elected its first Yemeni-American mayor and America’s first all-Muslim city councill. However, by June 2023, this newly celebrated council stirred controversy, voting to ban the display of Pride flags on city property, a decision they said reflected the cultural and moral beliefs of the city’s Muslim residents.

In a video of the meeting later uploaded to YouTube, a transgender person approached the podium to speak against the ban. As soon as they began, their identity becoming apparent through their voice, a man in the audience quickly covered the ears of a child standing beside him. It was a small moment, but it captured something larger: a belief that LGBTQ+ symbols were not simply expressions of identity but, as someone had remarked earlier in the same meeting, “invasive and unnatural forces” from which children needed to be protected.

The decision to ban the Pride flag from city property was not the end of the backlash. Security footage, shared with Rolling Stone and captured by cameras installed at the entrance of a private residence, show kids pass by casually, seemingly indifferent — until a Pride flag catches their eye. Then, in a sudden gesture, they tear it down. Other clips show a more organized approach: Cars pull up for only a few moments, just enough time for a teenager to jump out, tear down a flag, and speed away.

Despite growing concerns, some in the community dismiss the vandalism as harmless child’s play — even meaningless. “They are just kids,” says Habeb Al-Jawfi, a Yemeni journalist based in Hamtramck who regularly provides commentary on local issues. But the footage tells a different story. In one video, a mother walks beside a child, slowing her pace to give him time to tear down the flag. In another, an older man approaches the children after they’ve dismantled what the resident described as “complicated knots” used to secure the flag, shaking their hands. These were not random acts of play; they were deliberate acts encouraged by adults.

This sense of cultural threat has not been isolated to Hamtramck. Across the U.S., communities were, and still are, wrestling with similar fears — as a conservative campaign to demonize LGBTQ+ Americans hums on across the country, down to the local level. On Aug. 4, 2023, Grace Christian Church in Sterling Heights, Michigan, organized an event titled “Protect Our Children, Protect Our Future.” This gathering brought together muslim community leaders, local activists, and conservative voices from across the country. In attendance was Mayor Ghalib, as well as Michael Flynn, Trump’s former national security advisor and a Christian nationalist who had once compared Islam to a vicious cancer. When asked later about their first meeting, Ghalib described it as a “constructive dialogue” focused on shared concerns about family values.

The following month, Flynn — who had admitted to lying to the FBI but was later pardoned by Trump — traveled to Hamtramck to meet with community leaders, a visit Ghalib described as “the fruit of our communication.”

The event aimed to build bridges between Republican leaders and Muslim community members, emphasizing shared values. As attendees sat shoulder-to-shoulder, Flynn took the podium and recalled his first impression of Ghalib. “I saw something in this young man,” Flynn told the crowd. “He’s sharp. He is a leader.” Flynn then spoke for over an hour, emphasizing that the purpose of his visit was to foster unity between Republicans and Muslim community leaders. He railed against ‘woke culture’ and claimed, without evidence, that schools were providing hormone blockers to children without parental consent.

During the Q&A, when a community member asked him how this alliance could be trusted — how they could bridge the gap after years of being labeled as threats? — Flynn was ready. “We live and breathe for our families,” he told them, saying that whatever disagreements they had in the past should be put aside. “We need to focus on what unites us. We don’t want to see our children mutilated.”

In many Muslim communities, homosexuality is traditionally viewed as incompatible with Islamic teachings, though interpretations and acceptance vary widely. Some groups have adopted a more nuanced approach in recent years. However, for more conservative communities, the threat of American attitudes around gender and sexuality seeping into their community felt serious enough to team up with people who had staked their careers on Islamophobia.

“There’s a level of coercion when we’re expected to align with ideas imposed by people outside the fold of Islam,” explains Imran Salha, the Imam of Islamic Center of Detroit. “It’s not just about differing views; it feels like a challenge to the integrity of our cultural and religious identity.”

This clash between maintaining tradition and confronting modern social issues is one Yaffa, a queer and trans Palestinian poet and the executive director of the Muslim Alliance for Sexual and Gender Diversity, understands well. “Addressing homophobia within conservative Muslim communities is thorny,” they explain, not just because it risks feeding Islamophobic stereotypes, but also because it is extremely painful to navigate.

Working with trans Muslims across the nation, Yaffa sees firsthand how, for many queer Muslims who remain tied to conservative communities, confronting homophobia feels like splitting themselves in two. “To address the issue almost feels like killing one side of yourself, like you can’t be both queer and Muslim,” Yaffa says, yet, they emphasize the importance of speaking openly about hostility toward LGBTQ+ identities within Muslim communities. “These are realities within our communities,” Yafa insists. “And it’s not about raising them to create division; it’s so we can find ways to work together long-term.”

Yaffa emphasizes that homophobia among Muslim conservatives shouldn’t be seen as an isolated issue but rather as a dynamic the Christian nationalist movement has seized upon, exploiting anxieties within Muslim communities to build political alliances. With these deep-rooted fears and cultural anxieties, all compounded by the misinformation spread by right-wing media, “It’s the entry point,” they say.

Oct. 7 changes the conversation

A cohort of progressive representatives, notably members of the “Squad” — Jamaal Bowman, Ilhan Omar, Summer Lee, and Cori Bush — have emerged as rare voices in Congress calling for an end to Israel’s offensive in Gaza. Their calls for a cease-fire and push to halt U.S. military aid to Israel have placed them squarely against the Democratic establishment. In response, pro-Israel lobbying groups like AIPAC have made clear the costs of dissent. Millions of dollars have been funneled into defeating progressive representatives in Democratic primaries, and Bowman and Bush both lost their reelection bids this year. But for each statement of defiance, the silence from the Biden administration grows more pronounced.

This silence, though, is calculated. For two decades, Republicans have weaponized the notion of Democrats sympathizing with America’s enemies, especially in the context of Palestine. Since 9/11 and well into the Obama era, any expression of support for Palestinian rights became political quicksand. In Washington, to speak too openly was to risk alienating middle-ground voters, an easy mark for attack ads framing Democrats as “soft” on terrorism. For Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, stepping forward on this issue now would mean handing ammunition to their opponents in an election year. For them, the stakes are higher than one crisis abroad; the stakes are the presidency itself.

For many Americans, the conflict in the Middle East may feel distant. But in Michigan with its large Arab population, it feels as if the entire state is cloaked in mourning. Since Oct. 7, when Hamas killed 1,200 Israelis and took 251 hostages, Israel has led a brutal siege on Gaza, killing more than 42,000 Palestinians. The Israeli war has now spread to Lebanon.

Countless Michigan residents have lost friends, family members, properties, and childhood homes in the Middle East. Places of worship have turned into spaces of condolence, hosting endless lines of mourners. Here, calls for a cease-fire or to get aid into Gaza aren’t simply items on a political agenda; they are pleas for lifelines for loved ones — family members struggling to survive, in desperate need of help.

In 2020, Biden’s campaign offered a glimmer of hope that the issues facing Muslim and Arab communities would finally be addressed, especially after years of feeling marginalized by Trump’s inflammatory policies. But now, in 2024, the hope that led them to the polls has soured. As Gaza faces a worsening humanitarian crisis, these communities feel that the Democratic Party has turned a deaf ear. To them, Biden’s administration has done little to rein in military aid to Israel, and the silence from Democratic leaders on the mounting casualties has felt like a profound betrayal. Campaigns like the “Uncommitted Movement” and “Abandon Harris” are gaining momentum. Their message is clear: If Democratic leaders don’t take serious steps to address the suffering in Gaza, many voters will withhold their support or redirect it entirely.

Day after day, as the death toll climbed and requests as basic as asking a Palestinian American state representative to address the Democratic National Committee were denied, many in the Muslim community felt dismissed, as if these voices were unworthy of the party’s platform. Then came the administration’s statement following Israel’s assassination of Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah’s leader, in Lebanon. The statement, which called the Israeli airstrike “a measure of justice for his many victims,” didn’t even mention the civilians who had died alongside him. For those with family still overseas, it was as if their lives were irrelevant, written out of the story entirely.

If Israel’s war in the Middle East had given conservative Muslims the final push to abandon the party altogether, it also offered non-conservatives an opening — a reason to start questioning their loyalty. And as frustrations with the Democrats mounted, Trump was observing every misstep, looking to fill the void they left behind.

Trump’s move into Muslim communities

Trump has always had a few Arabs on his team, but Massad Boulos was different. Two years ago, Michael Boulos, Massad’s son, married Tiffany Trump, establishing a family link Trump could leverage. Massad Boulos, a Lebanese-born businessman who moved to Texas and earned a degree in jurisprudence from the University of Houston, brought with him deep ties to Arab American communities — connections Trump hoped to activate to sway disenchanted voters in Michigan and beyond.

Unlike Trump’s previous Middle Eastern surrogates, Boulos brought sharp wit, seasoned eloquence, and native fluency that made him a regular on Arabic media channels, where he reshaped Trump’s policies for an Arab American audience — positioning them not as xenophobic but as security-minded. The Muslim ban? Boulos labeled it a misrepresentation by anti-Trump media. “These weren’t bans,” he argued on air, “but restrictions on visas from war-torn countries where thorough background checks were nearly impossible.”

When asked about Trump’s history of racist remarks against Muslims, Boulos would dismiss it: “Right, Trump is so racist his daughter married one of us.” Boulos positioned himself as a bridge, speaking directly to Arab Americans in their own language and addressing their frustrations with the current administration.

As figures like Boulos worked to reframe Trump’s blunt approach within the Arab American community, some Arab and Muslim leaders found an appeal in Trump’s unfiltered approach, contrasting it with what they saw as insincere promises from the Democratic Party. For leaders like Imran Salha, a Detroit-based imam who recently endorsed Trump, the appeal lay in this bluntness, however unsettling it might be.

“For our survival, if we can find the nuance to engage with a genocidal administration, why hesitate to work with one that, yes, is bigoted and racist, but at least doesn’t pretend otherwise?” Salha asks. To him, Trump’s brutal honesty was almost a relief, however uncomfortable. He felt deceived by the Democrats, whose promises on Palestine were endless but empty, leaving the community caught in a cycle of hope and betrayal.

“I’d rather deal with the wolf than the fox,” Salha says, his words heavy with irony. “Democrats keep offering us access, trying to rebuild bridges they burned long ago. But what good is this access if the access and relationships we already have with them can’t stop a single bullet in Palestine or deliver a water bottle to Gaza?”

When pressed on Trump’s praise of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Salha shrugs. “The worst is already happening,” he said, “Harris won’t change her approach. At least with Trump, he might offer something different. We have nothing left to lose.”

Wael Al-Zayat, director of Emgage, a prominent Muslim advocacy organization, remains a strong advocate for Kamala Harris, urging Muslim and Arab American communities to continue supporting her despite mounting frustrations. “Harris is the only one of the two who supports a ceasefire,” Al-Zayat said in a recent interview. “I understand the pain and anguish with the Democratic Party, but supporting a third-party candidate in a place like Michigan is essentially a vote for Donald Trump, which will be bad for everyone.”

Al-Zayat warns that a Trump victory could have serious repercussions, not only for the people of Palestine but also for anyone who has advocated, marched, or protested for Palestine within the United States. If Trump wins, he believes they will be fighting to defend their communities both domestically and overseas.

In September 2024, Hamtramck made the news again. After a decades-long history of being a Democratic stronghold, Mayor Amer Ghalib endorsed Trump, calling him “a man of principles” and “the right choice.” In return, Trump did what he does best: He created the illusion of intimacy. He praised Ghalib as “greatest mayor in the whole world” and shared the mayor’s posts on his Truth Social platform.

For many Yemeni immigrants in Hamtramck, this moment was not just about party politics; it was about belonging. In a community that often feels sidelined, Trump’s recognition of one of their own — a man who shared their roots and culture — felt like a direct line to power, a validation that their voices might finally be heard.

“I bet everyone in Hamtramck is saying, ‘Bro, we will be rolling with Trump. we’ve got an in,’” joked Salha. “And I can’t blame them. Trump has a way of making people feel they’re in his inner circle, even if they aren’t.”

In mid-October, in an interview on Al Arabiya, Trump struggled to outline any specific plans for the Middle East, resorting to the broad and ambiguous promise that he would “make peace.” The lack of clear policies seemed almost beside the point, as the appearance itself held symbolic weight for viewers. To appear on a widely watched Arabic-speaking news channel, despite the lack of concrete messaging, suggested a recognition of the Arab community’s growing political voice in the U.S.

For those who have long felt overlooked by the Democratic establishment, Trump’s approach offered something that felt unexpectedly inclusive. His outreach cultivated an aura of accessibility — he seemed to understand the “forgotten” segments of the population. He wasn’t just speaking to them; he was appearing on their channels, interacting with their social media posts.

It was a strategy that worked — well enough that when Trump referred to Yemeni people as “terrorists” during the Pennsylvania rally on Oct. 5, it barely rippled the loyalty of his supporters in Hamtramck. By the time I arrived days later, his popularity was palpable. Locals, many of them Yemeni, lit up at the mention of Trump’s campaign office, insisting he might even make a personal stop in town. They spoke of his visit like fans anticipating a celebrity sighting, as though discussing Taylor Swift rather than a divisive politician.

And their excitement wasn’t misplaced. Trump delivered on his promise, visiting Hamtramck. At the end of his stop there, those who had emigrated from a country Trump recently labeled as a source of “known terrorists” now stood beside him, presenting a certificate of appreciation, as if welcoming back a long-lost friend.

Harris loses ground

Meanwhile, the Harris campaign seems to have resigned themselves to losing segments of the Muslim vote. Harris’ recent alignment with former Rep. Liz Cheney — a conservative Republican whose father, former Vice President Dick Cheney, helped orchestrate the U.S. invasion of Iraq — spoke volumes to many Arab Americans. To them, this connection was more than just a bid to sway moderate Republicans; it felt like a calculated distancing from a community that has long questioned American foreign policy in the Middle East.

On Oct. 21, Ahmed Ghanim, an activist and former congressional candidate from Michigan, was escorted out of a campaign event featuring Harris and Liz Cheney. Outside the venue, he went live on Facebook, with a police car visible behind him. “I was escorted out without any explanation. I was threatened with detention if I didn’t leave immediately.” He continued, recalling how in 2016, “we used to get kicked out of Trump rallies because we were Muslims. Now, we are being kicked out of Kamala’s rallies because we are Muslims.” The video was later shared by Mayor Ghalib, with nothing in the caption but a few exclamation marks.

Chris Wyant, Michigan’s senior adviser for the Harris campaign, acknowledged the incident, stating that “the vice president’s team regrets this action and its impact on Dr. Ghanim and the community,” and adding that Ghanim “remains welcome at future events.” Despite the apology, Ghanim said in an interview that he felt deeply unsettled by the incident, which only reinforced his feeling that “there is not much respect or appreciation for the Muslim community” within the party. While Ghanim remained open to supporting Harris and rallying for her despite his concerns over the administration’s stance on Palestine, this event made him question his place within the Democratic Party.

On Democracy Now, Ghanim revealed that Trump’s campaign had approached him to record an ad against Harris, promising extensive visibility, including on networks like CNN. “They told me this ad would be everywhere,” he said. “But I told them, no, I can’t do that.”

Days later, Trump invited Muslim leaders to his stage in Michigan, calling them “great people.” He gave a shout-out to Mayor Ghalib, the man who, as Trump said, got the movement of Muslim endorsements for Trump rolling.

For those prioritizing cultural and religious values, the choice is challenging. On one side is a party seen as deaf to their voices, and on the other, a party with a history of viewing Muslims with suspicion — a party that now appears willing to listen to their concerns. This shift underscores that voting blocs are not monolithic, and alliances are moving in ways that cut across typical lines. It’s a moment that highlights the fluid, nuanced nature of American political identity, especially among marginalized groups finding a voice in unexpected places.

Imam Salha views aligning with Trump, despite the former president’s past anti-Muslim rhetoric, as a necessary compromise. With both parties increasingly aware of the influence of the Arab and Muslim vote, Salha sees an opportunity if Trump wins.

“If Muslim leaders help him clinch Michigan — a pivotal swing state — it could mean having his attention for the next four years,” he says. “We’d be remembered as the ones who shifted the tide.”

Source:rollingstone.com

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https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/trump-muslim-vote-election-michigan-1235150692/

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Police Arrest 113 Chinese, Malaysians, Others For Cybercrimes, Hacking In Nigeria

3 November 2024

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has disclosed that its operatives have arrested 130 foreign nationals and Nigerians for cybercrime and hacking.

Naija News reports that this was made known in a statement released on Sunday by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi.

He disclosed that the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun has ordered a thorough investigation into possible security threats and networking.

Adejobi said the arrest was made during a coordinated raid on a building at the Next Cash and Carry area of Jahi, Abuja, where the suspects were reportedly using computers and other sophisticated devices to facilitate criminal activities.

The statement read: “The Nigeria Police Force has arrested 130 suspects comprising 113 foreign nationals (87 males and 26 females), primarily of Chinese and Malaysian origin, and their 17 Nigerian collaborators (4 males and 13 females) for their alleged involvement in high-level cybercrimes, hacking, and activities that threaten national security.

“This strategic operation was conducted through a coordinated raid on a building at the Next Cash and Carry area of Jahi, Abuja, where the suspects were reportedly using computers and other sophisticated devices to facilitate criminal activities.

“The operation which was led by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police for Zone 7 Headquarters, Abuja, AIG Benneth Igweh, on Saturday, 2nd November 2024, comprised officers of the Nigeria Police Force Zone 7 Command Abuja and the National Cyber Crime Centre (NPF-NCCC).

“We are investigating the matter and scientifically analysing the exhibits recovered from them. The suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of our investigations.

“We will update the public on the outcomes of our investigations as and when due.”

Source:naijanews.com

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https://www.naijanews.com/2024/11/03/police-arrest-113-chinese-malaysians-others-for-cybercrimes-hacking-in-nigeria/

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Man accused of deviant Islamic teachings, including that gambling is allowed, denies allegations

NOV 04, 2024,

SINGAPORE - A man accused of teaching a doctrine contrary to Islamic laws has denied multiple allegations against him, saying that he had not conducted religious classes, among other things.

Taking the stand on the eighth day of his trial on Nov 4, former massage therapist Mohd Razif Radi, 67, told District Judge Shaiffudin Saruwan that he is aware that he has been accused of teaching others that gambling could be made permissible and that a “spiritual marriage” between a man and a woman could be valid.

The Singaporean added that he is also aware that he is accused of claiming to be able to summon the spirit of “Mbah”, who was purportedly Prophet Muhammad or from the Prophet’s lineage.

Responding to queries from defence lawyer Simon Tan through a Malay language interpreter, Razif, who used to work as a driver and is now jobless, said: “I didn’t teach such teachings. I hold on to Islamic (values).”

The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) stated on its website that gambling is prohibited in Islam.

It said that a spiritual marriage is one that occurs without several elements, such as witnesses, a formal solemnisation and dowry.

Muis added: “In most cases, there are no limitations on the number of women ‘married’ to a man through such deviant spiritual marriages.

“Such acts occur either between followers of a particular teaching or between the teacher and his students.”

During the trial, Razif told the court that he is married to his only wife for 42 years, and they have three children together – a 40-year-old man and two women, aged 33 and 37.

Razif, who has never been an Islamic teacher under the Asatizah Recognition Scheme, shared details about his educational background.

He told Judge Shaiffudin that he had failed his Primary 6 education over three years before he went to Mountbatten Vocational School.

While there, he said he learnt skills including carpentry and later took on different jobs including as a driver at Jurong Country Club in 1995 before being retrenched seven years later.

He went on to work as a massage therapist after that.

Razif said that he went on the haj pilgrimage in 2002.

The haj is the fifth pillar of Islam, and it is obligatory for able Muslims to perform the pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, at least once if they have the means.

Stressing that he has no criminal antecedents, he told the court: “I am a Muslim. I follow Islam. I pray five times a day, fast and gave ‘zakat’.”

For Muslims, zakat is a form of alms-giving and is also one of the pillars of Islam.

Razif has denied conducting religious classes, as claimed by some of the prosecution’s earlier witnesses, and added: “(We) met as friends. (They were) not classes. Nothing happened. We ate and drank and spoke about our families and businesses...We exchanged ideas and had open discussions as Muslims.”

He also denied taking on the role of “Mbah” during such meetings.

In earlier proceedings, a prosecution witness said that Razif usually spoke with a Singaporean Malay accent but when Mbah purportedly took over his body, he spoke with an Indonesian accent.

But when queried by Mr Tan on Nov 4, Razif said that the term “Mbah” is used to refer to someone older, like a grandfather or an uncle.

He said: “I’m (of Javanese descent)...Sometimes, I may sound like I’m Indonesian...I did not become Mbah. I did not allow this to happen to myself.”

Razif said he had never heard of “spiritual marriages” before the start of the court proceedings against him.

He told Judge Shaiffudin: “The first time I heard of it was when it was brought up in court.”

A prosecution witness had testified in June that according to Razif, gambling proceeds from 4-D and Toto could be “cleansed”.

On Nov 4, Razif denied making such a statement, adding: “I do not do anything outside the teachings of Islam.”

However, he admitted that he had taken part in gambling activities such as 4-D and Toto in his personal capacity.

Source:straitstimes.com

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

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/man-accused-of-deviant-teachings-denies-allegations-including-saying-gambling-is-allowed-in-islam

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Tabligh Jamaat calls for unity

 Nov 4, 2024

Tabligh Jamaat Bangladesh has called for a resolution to differences and disagreements regarding Tabligh issues.

In a press release signed by Imam Muhammad Azimuddin of the Kakrail Markaz yesterday, it highlighted that divisions and discord among members can deprive them of Allah's blessings and can result in irreparable damages.

Following the "July Revolution", calls for unity have emerged from various Islamic circles, inspiring the nation and its people towards a renewed sense of purpose, the release added.

Azimuddin said, "We hope that scholars and leaders within the Tabligh community will remain vigilant and refrain from actions that could create an atmosphere of division."

The press release also mentioned an upcoming gathering of scholars and leaders scheduled for November 5 at Suhrawardy Udyan and said all should remain cautious so that divisions and disagreements do not escalate.

Meanwhile, a meeting will be held this morning at the home ministry regarding the upcoming Bishwa Ijtema. The home adviser will preside over it, said a press release signed by Faisal Hasan, ministry's senior information officer.

The meeting will address matters related to setting the date for Ijtema, maintaining law and order, ensuring overall security, and other issues concerning the two groups of Tabligh Jamaat (Jubair and Saad).

Source:thedailystar.net

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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/tabligh-jamaat-calls-unity-3743871

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India

Jammu and Kashmir: Terrorists throw grenade at CRPF bunker in Srinagar, at least 11 civilians injured

03.11.24

Terrorists lobbed a grenade at a CRPF bunker near a crowded flea market in the heart of the city here on Sunday, injuring at least 11 civilians, officials said.

The attack, which took place near a heavily guarded complex housing All India Radio and Doordarshan Kendra near the Tourist Reception Centre (TRC), comes a day after security forces eliminated a top Pakistani commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in the Khanyar locality of downtown Srinagar.

A senior police officer said the terrorists hurled the grenade at the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) bunker near the TRC. "However, the grenade missed the intended target and landed on the roadside, injuring 11 people," the officer said.

The blast took place close to the weekly flea market, popularly known as the Sunday market, which is thronged by thousands. The explosion caused panic in the area and sent shoppers scrambling for cover.

The officer said the attack was borne out of the desperation of terrorists following Saturday's killing of the LeT commander.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah condemned the attack.

"The last few days have been dominated by headlines of attacks and encounters in parts of the Valley. Today's news of a grenade attack on innocent shoppers at the Sunday market in Srinagar is deeply disturbing. There can be no justification for targeting innocent civilians," Abdullah said in a post on X.

"The security apparatus must do everything possible to end this spurt of attacks at the earliest so that people can go about their lives without any fear," he added.

The Jammu and Kashmir Congress called for measures to curb such attacks.

"It is deeply disturbing to learn about the unfortunate and ghastly incident of a grenade attack on shopkeepers," Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief Tariq Hameed Karra said in a statement.

"Jammu and Kashmir Police must take effective measures to contain such brutal and inhuman attacks so that the public can move freely and without any fear," he said.

Source:telegraphindia.com

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Samajwadi Party's real agenda is Muslim appeasement, supporting jihadis for vote bank: UP Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya

Nov 3, 2024

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Sunday said the "real agenda" of the Samajwadi Party is "Muslim appeasement and giving open support to jihadis for vote bank". In a post on X in Hindi, Maurya said, "SP's real agenda: Muslim appeasement and giving open support to jihadis for vote bank." "Love Jihad, Land Jihad, Vote Jihad -- politics of dividing society on every front, is this Shri Akhilesh Yadav's claim of harmony? Is this PDA? Both the character and face of SP have been exposed," Maurya said in his post.Maurya's statement comes at a time when the BJP and the SP are all gearingOn Saturday as well, Maurya had attacked the party, termed the Samajwadi Party chief's coinage "PDA" as 'Parivaar' Development Agency. The term PDA was coined by Yadav as 'Pichhade' (backward classes), 'Dalit' and 'Alpasankhyak' (minorities).From the 'gram sabha' to the Lok Sabha, the flag of 'parivaarvaad' (dynastic politics) has been raised by SP, he alleged. Voting will be held in Katehari (Ambedkar Nagar), Karhal (Mainpuri), Meerapur (Muzaffarnagar), Ghaziabad, Majhawan (Mirzapur), Sishamau (Kanpur city), Khair (Aligarh), Phulpur (Prayagraj) and Kundarki (Moradabad)

on November 13 while votes will be counted on November 23

Source:indiatimes.com

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Karnataka waqf land row: BJP holds state-wide protest, accuses Congress govt of 'land jihad'

Nov 4, 2024,

NEW DELHI: Upping the ante following allegations by a section of farmers in certain parts of Karnataka that their lands were marked as Waqf properties, BJP on Monday held a state-wide protest, accusing the ruling Congress government of indulging in "land jihad".

The opposition party also demanded the sacking of Waqf minister Zameer Ahmed Khan from the Cabinet.

The BJP has decided to go ahead with the protest despite chief minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday directing officials that all notices issued to farmers be immediately revoked, and any unauthorised amendments in land records without due notice must also be nullified.

There were allegations by a section of farmers from Vijayapura district that their lands were marked as Waqf properties, and similar charges have surfaced from few other places. While BJP state President B Y Vijayendra led the protest in Ballari, Leader of Opposition in Legislative Assembly R Ashoka took part in it at K R Puram here.

Similarly, various party leaders have joined the protests in different parts of the state.

On Sunday, Siddaramaiah hit out at the BJP for organising the protest, despite him directing officials to immediately retract all notices sent to farmers. The CM alleged that their motive is purely political, with no genuine interest in protecting the welfare of farmers. He said the BJP's "true nature" is to stoke communal strife for political gain, and this protest has no intention of safeguarding farmers' interests; instead, it threatens the harmony of Karnataka.

Source:indiatimes.com/

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Waqf Board amendment bill: JPC to hold next meeting today; Islamic scholars to be part of dicsussion Nov 04, 2024

New Delhi [India], November 4 (ANI): Chairman of Joint Parliamentary Committee for Waqf Amendment Bill (/topic/waqf-amendment-bill) Jagdambika Pal (/topic/jagdambika-pal) on Monday said that a series of meetings will take place on November 4 and 5 to gather input from a wide range of stakeholders on the issues related to the Waqf Board (/topic/waqf-board) amendment bill. The Joint parliamentary committe chairman Jagdambika Pal (/topic/jagdambika-pal) said that he aims to involve various groups, including Islamic scholars, former judges, lawyers from the Supreme Court and high courts, and minority organizations to hold a detailed discussion on the Waqf Board (/topic/waqf-board) Amendment bill "When the resolution for the Joint Parliamentary Committee was brought by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, he said that he wanted to refer it to the JPC (/topic/jpc) so that we could call more and more stakeholders, intellectuals, Islamic scholars, former judges, lawyers of the Supreme Court and high court, minority organisations," Chairman of Joint Parliamentary Committee for Waqf Amendment Bill (/topic/waqf-amendment-bill) Jagdambika Pal (/topic/jagdambika-pal) said while speaking to ANI. Pal emphasized the importance of these discussions, stating that the JPC (/topic/jpc) will engage with representatives from Jamiat Ulema-eHind and other notable organizations, such as Dawoodi and Vohra, to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the bill. "We have a meeting on November 4 and 5. We have called Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, intellectual women. We have called other organisations on November 5, Dawoodi, Vohra. We will meet various stakeholders on Nov 4 and 5," Jagdambika Pal (/topic/jagdambika-pal) added"I think that all members of the JPC (/topic/jpc) must take the Waqf bill into consideration, know all the aspects and then make a detailed report out of it," he said. A meeting of Joint Committee of Parliament on Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, chaired by BJP MP Jagdambika Pal (/topic/jagdambika-pal) was held on October 28. Th  Committee also called Call for Justice (Group led by Chander Wadhwa, Trustee), Waqf Tenant Welfare Association, Delhi and Harbans Dunkall, President, Residents Welfare Association (All Blocks), B.K. Dutt Colony, New Delhi to record their views and suggestions. The Waqf Act, 1995, which was created to regulate waqf properties, has long faced allegations of mismanagement, corruption and encroachments. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 seeks to bring sweeping reforms, introducing digitisation, stricter audits, transparency and legal mechanisms to reclaim illegally occupied properties. The JPC (/topic/jpc) is holding a series of meetings to gather input from government officials, legal experts, Waqf Board (/topic/waqf-board) members and community representatives from different states and Union Territories, aiming for the most comprehensive reform possible. (ANI) Source:aninews.in

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Why the removal of Muslim and OBC election officials ahead of bye-polls in UP has raised eyebrows

Ayush Tiwari

Nov 4, 2024

For close to two decades, Shakeel Ahmed, a nagar panchayat employee in Uttar Pradesh, has been pressed into service during elections.

The 51-year-old was tasked with adding and removing voters from the electoral roll as a booth-level officer in Katehari Assembly constituency in Ambedkar Nagar district.

Booth-level officers, who are usually local-level government employees, like anganwadi workers, panchayat secretaries or postmen, act as part-time officials of the Election Commission of India. Apart from maintaining voter lists, they also distribute voter information slips before polling day, which confirm the voter’s registration and includes information on where and when to cast their vote.

But in September, Ahmed was told by the sub-divisional magistrate that his services as a BLO at the polling centre in Iltifatganj Bazar were not required. “After the [Lok Sabha] elections, we were told that our work in the nagar panchayat was suffering because of the BLO duty,” said Ahmed. “But none of the Hindu BLOs in the neighbouring villages were removed.”

In Uttar Pradesh, the Lok Sabha elections held earlier this year were marred by allegations that voters from Muslim, Yadav and other communities – seen as supporters of the Samajwadi Party, the main opposition party in the state – were denied their vote in several constituencies. In Mathura, Muslim voters told Scroll that booth-level officers had deleted their names from voter lists.

Now, as the state holds bye-elections in nine Assembly constituencies in November, allegations of electoral rigging are back, but in another form.

In August and September, the Adityanath government removed hundreds of booth-level officers in these constituencies. Scroll’s analysis of two constituencies – Kundarki and Katehari – reveals that a striking number of booth-level officers removed from their duties belong to Muslim, Yadav and Kurmi communities.

The Samajwadi Party had flagged the “undemocratic and unconstitutional” removal of BLOs to the chief electoral officer in Uttar Pradesh, saying that it put a “question mark on fairness of the elections”.

The bye-polls are pegged as a litmus test for the leadership of chief minister Adityanath. The Bharatiya Janata Party lost 30 seats in the state in the Lok Sabha elections, thereby losing its majority in Parliament.

In the aftermath of the recent national polls, the Bharatiya Janata Party constituted a task force to investigate its poor show in Uttar Pradesh.

One of the reasons cited in by findings of the task force was “non-cooperation from state government officials”, reported The Print.

In Ambedkar Nagar, Rajesh Singh, the BJP district coordinator, told Scroll that even though BSP and SP are no longer in power in the state, some “government officials still do their bidding” and “work against the Adityanath government”. Most of these officials, Singh added, were Yadavs and Muslims.

Against this backdrop, the removal of the BLOs from these communities is being seen as the BJP government’s attempt to ensure the field is skewed in its favour.

Two constituencies: 200 BLOs changed

We compared the names of BLOs in Kundarki and Katehari published by their district administrations before the general elections with the names of BLOs now available on the Election Commission’s Voters’ Service Portal.

In Kundarki, BLOs were changed at 181 polling stations – a little over 40% of the 436 polling stations in the constituency. As many as 85 BLOs removed were Muslim.

Nineteen BLOs were removed in Katehari, which has 425 polling stations. Ten of them are Muslim, one is Yadav and eight are Kurmis. After the rejig, the Katehari Assembly is left without any Muslim BLO. The community constitutes nearly 17% of the population in Ambedkar Nagar district, according to the 2011 census.

“It is a politically motivated decision,” said Ahmed.

The Samajwadi Party’s complaint to the Electoral Commission also cited examples of transfers of Muslim BLOs in Sishamau assembly constituency in Kanpur Nagar district and Majhawan assembly constituency in Mirzapur district – both up for bye-polls next month.

Former chief election commissioner OP Rawat told Scroll that BLOs can be transferred by their administrative departments before the bye-elections are notified.

The UP bye-polls were notified on October 15.

“BLOs may be in position for more than three years if their administrative department does not transfer them,” he said. Rawat added that the administration cannot appoint or remove BLOs on the basis of faith or caste.

According to the ECI’s manual on electoral rolls, BLOs remain under control of their administrative departments, but “would not be transferred without prior permission of the District Election Officer”. The cases of their transfer are decided by the chief electoral officer.

The Election Commission had sought a detailed report from the chief electoral officer on the allegations. Rawat said that the ECI should make the findings public.

Scroll sent questions to the district election officers in Moradabad and Ambedkar Nagar, and to the chief election officer in Lucknow and the ECI in Delhi. This story will be updated if we receive a response.

The change in Katehari

On September 11, Lalji Verma, the Samajwadi Party MP from Ambedkar Nagar, took to Twitter to allege that Yadav, Kurmi and Muslim officials in the district administration were being removed to enable electoral manipulation in the coming bye-poll in Katehari.

The SP leader’s social coalition includes Muslims, Yadavs, and voters from his own caste, Kurmis, a landowning community classified as an ‘other backward class’ in UP.

Verma was elected MLA from Katehari from the Bahujan Samaj Party in 2017, and from the Samajwadi Party in 2022. His wife, Shobhawati Verma, is the candidate in the upcoming bypoll.

His winning margin in the Katehari seat has been slim – ranging from about 6,000 votes in 2017, 8,000 in 2022 to about 17,000 in 2024.

During the 2024 general election, the Samajwadi Party got more votes than the BJP in all the 19 polling stations in Katehari in which BLOs have been changed, shows official polling data published by the ECI. Its combined vote share in these booths was 65%, compared to BJP’s 18%.

On September 6, in a written order seen by Scroll, the Ambedkar Nagar district administration replaced 10 BLOs in Katehari because of “inevitable reasons”. Eight of them were Kurmis, one Yadav and one Muslim.

In the coming month, nine other BLOs – all Muslims – were either informed about their removal, or asked to resign from their positions, say the BLOs.

Kadir Husen, who works in the district’s MNREGS department, had been the BLO in Adhanpur village in Katehari since 2016. “My department was sent a notice by the tehsil that I was no longer a BLO,” said Husen. “They were told that my progress on updating the voter list was slow and so they were removing me.”

Manju Verma, a BLO in Maurapara village since 2012, was not given any reason for her removal. “I got the news from the lekhpal [ a revenue official] only after my name was removed from the list,” she said.

Shakeel Ahmad said that he, along with three other Muslim colleagues in the nagar panchayat, were summoned by sub-divisional magistrate Shashi Shekhar and asked to submit their resignation as BLOs.

But one of his colleagues, Mohammad Intkaf, a former BLO at the Iltifatganj polling centre, told Scroll that he had put in the resignation himself, and not under the bureaucrat’s pressure. “The work was too much,” he said. “I had been trying to get off that duty since last year.”

Most of the new BLOs in the 19 polling stations in Katehari are Dalits, while the remaining are from marginalised OBC groups like Badhai and Kahar. There are also two Brahmins and one Yadav woman.

One of them, a Dalit woman, was upset over her new part-time role. “I have never been a BLO,” she said, on the condition of anonymity. “The woman who was doing the job before me was very hardworking. Now, for a pay of Rs 500, they want me to work after my day job and update the voter list. This is exploitation.”

‘Attempt to bring down our vote share’

The Kundarki Assembly falls in Moradabad district, but is part of the Sambhal parliamentary constituency.

Kundarki has been a strong seat for the Samajwadi Party. It has won the seat in every state election since 2012 – and with good margins. In the 2022 Assembly elections, its winning margin was nearly 43,000 votes. In the recent general election, this swelled up to nearly 57,000, according to ECI data.

One of the reasons for this is the Muslim community, which significantly consolidated behind the SP and Congress alliance this year, and makes up nearly 47% of Moradabad district.

In August, the Moradabad administration changed BLOs at 181 polling stations in Kundarki assembly.

Of the BLOs removed, 85 are Muslims and 96 are Hindus. While a majority of Hindu BLOs – 90 out of 96 – were replaced by other Hindu BLOs, a majority of Muslim BLOs – 78 out of 85 – were also replaced by Hindu BLOs, Scroll’s analysis shows.

As a result, the number of Muslim BLOs in Kundarki has fallen from 128 to 56.

Mohammad Usman, a Samajwadi Party leader in Moradabad, told Scroll that the SP-Congress alliance has an estimated vote share of around 65% in Kundarki. “These [removal of Muslim BLOs] are efforts by the BJP to bring down our vote share by cutting out names of our voters from the voter lists, while increasing their vote share,” he said.

During the general election, the SP got more votes than the BJP in 119 of the 181 polling stations, with a total vote share of 54%. The BJP cornered more votes in 61 polling stations, with a total vote share of 32%. There was a draw at one polling station, shows booth-wise data released by the ECI.

Jarrar Ali, who had been a BLO in Jaitpur village till August, said that not just Muslims, but Yadav BLOs have also been removed from their positions. Scroll could identify five Yadav BLOs who were shown the door. One of them, Hariom Yadav, the former BLO in Bhaypur village, said that he was given the news over a phone call from the administration in August.

Ali added that the government had also removed dozens of ‘shiksha mitra’ from BLO positions. Shiksha mitras are teachers in government schools who are hired on a contractual basis.

Shiksha mitras in UP have been demanding regularisation of their positions for nearly a decade. They have also asked for a hike in their pay. In recent years, their cause has been taken up by the Samajwadi Party.

Suraj Pal, a Dalit who is a shiksha mitra in Jaitpur, said that he had been removed from BLO duty because “Yogi [Adityanath] thinks that we cut BJP votes at our booths and discourage others from voting for the party”.

Pal added: “I can’t even get my relatives to vote one way or the other, and they think we can influence a whole booth.”

Of the 181 BLOs removed in Kundarki, 91 are shiksha mitras. Fifty-one of them are Hindus, and 40 are Muslims.

Bagesh, a Thakur who is a shiksha mitra and a former BLO in Maanpur Patti village, said that in July, the additional district magistrate had summoned shiksha mitras and asked them to resign from their BLO duties. “Many of us refused, but we were removed anyway,” he said.

Source:scroll.in

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Won't escape responsibility if...: Muslim body warns JD-U, TDP on waqf bill

November 03, 2024

Stepping up its campaign against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind on Sunday urged Telugu Desam Party's Chandrababu Naidu and Janata Dal-United's Nitish Kumar to heed the sentiments of Muslims on the matter and said the parties within the National Democratic Alliance that claim to be secular must distance themselves from supporting this "dangerous" legislation.

It also cautioned that if the legislation is passed, the "two crutches" on which the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government is running at the Centre would not be able to escape responsibility.

Jamiat chief Maulana Arshad Madani made the assertion at the prominent Muslim body's 'Save Constitution Convention' held in New Delhi at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium.

"People of the country defeated the BJP. They did not accept their policies. This government is dependent on two crutches - a strong one is Chandrababu and the other is Bihar's Nitish Kumar. I had invited him (Naidu), he excused himself but has sent (senior party leader) Nawab Jan. I look at this positively as he will convey the sentiments of the people gathered here," Madani said, gesturing to the large gathering of Jamiat functionaries and supporters.

"If the Waqf Bill is passed ignoring the emotions of the Muslims -- it would be as much a responsibility of the crutches as it would be of other powers at the Centre," Madani asserted.

A resolution passed by the Jamiat at the Convention put forward the demand that no individual from any other religion be included in the Waqf Board, and that Parliament's joint committee be bound to consult only Muslims, Muslim organisations, and Muslim leaders.

"Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind supports the stance of opposition parties regarding the proposed Waqf Amendment Bill and appeals to the parties within the NDA that claim to be secular to distance themselves from supporting this dangerous proposed bill and to prove their secular credentials," the resolution read.

In his remarks, Madani said Jamiat has decided that either by the end of this month or in December, it will hold a gathering of around five lakh Muslims in Chandrababu Naidu's "area" and put forward Muslims' feelings before him.

"If this bill is passed, the crutches on which the government is dependent would not be able to escape responsibility for it," he reiterated.

Madani said the waqf is established by "our ancestors and is a part of Allah's ownership, with mosques built on it".

"You (government) should protect them because we live in this country and we have not come from outside. If a Hindu is a Gujjar, a Muslim is also a Gujjar...Hindus are Jats, Muslims are also Jats -- They chant slogans saying that Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs are separate, but we say that 'Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians sab hai bhai bhai'," the Jamiat chief said.

"There are so many mosques, some of which are 400-500 years old, located in Delhi... There is a section in India that seeks to usurp these mosques... Who can present 500-year-old documents? The law states that any mosque built on Waqf land is indeed Waqf," Madani said.

He also said that the INDIA bloc and Rahul Gandhi had stated in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls that if they came to power, all minorities would be free to practice their religion, an assertion he appreciated.

"That is why I urged Muslims to support the alliance that gives them the freedom to practice their religion and I am happy that Muslims supported the alliance throughout the country. The alliance moved forward and the BJP was defeated," Madani said.

"I say that if they did not have the crutches of Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar, the BJP would not have been able to form a government. The policy of divisiveness and trying to burn down the idea of secularism has led them to this state after thumping wins in two earlier elections," the Jamiat chief said.

A Joint Committee of Parliament is examining the contentious Waqf Amendment Bill 2024.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 was introduced in Lok Sabha in August and referred to a Joint Parliamentary panel after a heated debate, with the government asserting the proposed law, did not intend to interfere with the functioning of mosques and the Opposition calling it targeting of Muslims and an attack on the Constitution.

The committee's meetings have often seen tempers fly with opposition members accusing the Chair of inviting different organisations, including those working for Hindu causes, that have no stake in the waqf issues and the BJP members charging their political rivals with deliberately disturbing the proceedings.

In its resolution, the Jamiat said it has always been vigilant and proactive, in accordance with its official duties, to protect waqf endowments.

"It has consistently raised its voice against unnecessary government interference in endowment properties and has emphasised the need for strong legislation to ensure the protection of these endowments.

"After independence, when the political landscape of the country changed, Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind made significant strides in protecting endowments with determination, courage, and a solid strategy, whether it was dealing with the eviction of illegal encroachments or the inappropriate use of income," the resolution said.

Jamiat is still actively engaged with the same determination today, asserting that the Muslim community in India cannot accept any proposal or plan regarding endowments that do not guarantee the complete protection of waqf properties and do not provide for the use of Islamic endowments in accordance with Islamic law, the resolution said.

"Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind's 'Save Constitution Convention' demands that: The Waqf Act of 2013 is a very comprehensive and effective act in itself, and it does not require any amendments. Instead, it needs to be implemented honestly and to free Waqf properties from illegal occupation and control," it said.

Jamiat completely rejects the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 and confidently asserts that there is not a single amendment in the proposed changes that warrants consideration, it said.

Jamiat's Convention demands that the government withdraw the proposed Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 and maintain the Waqf Act of 2013, the resolution said.

Source:rediff.com

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In first J&K Assembly session in 6 years, storm over PDP leader’s proposal for abrogation of Article 370

by Bashaarat Masood

 November 4, 2024

J&K UT First Legislative Assembly Session Today: In a dramatic return to the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, which convened for the first time in six years, lawmakers witnessed a heated exchange on Monday. The commotion was sparked by People’s Democratic Party (PDP) legislator Waheed Para, who presented a resolution opposing the abrogation of Article 370, enacted in August 2019.

The Council of Ministers has put forward a resolution calling for the restoration of statehood, aligning with the sentiments of the populace. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha addressed the assembly, stating, “My government will make every effort to restore the state.”

Para’s introduction of the resolution against the scrapping of Article 370 ignited fervent discussions among members, highlighting the ongoing tensions surrounding the special status of the region. The assembly’s session reflected the complexities and deep-rooted emotions tied to the political landscape in Jammu and Kashmir.

NC leader Abdul Rahim elected as Speaker of Assembly

Senior National Conference (NC) leader Abdul Rahim Rather was Monday elected to be the Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly soon after the House convened to hold its first session. The seven-time Charar-e-Sharief constituency MLA was elected through an unopposed voice vote.

First elected in 1977, Rather represented the constituency in 1977, 1983, 1987, 1996, 2002, 2008 and now in 2024. He had lost the seat only in the year 2014.

The Omar Abdullah-led NC government, which came to power in the recent J&K polls, is the first elected government in J&K after the dissolution of the Mehbooba Mufti-led People’s Democratic Party government in November 2018.

Congratulating the senior leader, Abdullah said he was a natural choice for this post and that’s why no one opposed it. Omar also said he is hopeful that the Speaker will give more attention to the Opposition benches than the treasury benches.

The Leader of Opposition in the House, Sunil Sharma of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) too congratulated him and assured him of the support from the Opposition benches. He assured that Opposition will maintain the discipline and decorum of the House.

Congress leader and Dooru Assembly member congratulated the Speaker, hailing his tremendous experience, said he was best suited for this post.

On Sunday, NC and Congress — who are allies in J&K — met to chalk out a strategy for the session.

In the recent Assembly elections, the NC emerged as the single largest party in Jammu and Kashmir and won 42 seats in the 90-member Assembly of the Union Territory.

Source:indianexpress.com

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Fading literature: Delhi’s famed Urdu Bazaar on last legs amid Hindi dominance, misconceptions as ‘foreign’ and ‘Muslim-only’ language

 04 Nov 2024

NEW DELHI, Nov 4 — In the bustling heart of Old Delhi, Indian bookseller Mohammed Mahfooz Alam sits forlorn in his quiet store, among the last few selling literature in a language beloved by poets for centuries.

Urdu, spoken by many millions today, has a rich past that reflects how cultures melded to forge India’s complex history.

But its literature has been subsumed by the cultural domination of Hindi, struggling against false perceptions that its elegant Perso-Arabic script makes it a foreign import and a language of Muslims in the Hindu-majority nation.

“There was a time when, in a year, we would see 100 books being published,” said 52-year-old Alam, lamenting the loss of the language and its readership.

The narrow streets of Urdu Bazaar, in the shadow of the 400-year-old Jama Masjid mosque, were once the core of the city’s Urdu literary community, a centre of printing, publishing and writing.

Today, streets once crowded with Urdu bookstores abuzz with scholars debating literature are now thick with the aroma of sizzling kebabs from the restaurants that have replaced them.

Only half a dozen bookstores are left.

“Now, there are no takers,” Alam said, waving at the streets outside. “It is now a food market.”

Dying ‘day by day’

Urdu, one of the 22 languages enshrined under India’s constitution, is the mother tongue of at least 50 million people in the world’s most populous country. Millions more speak it, as well as in neighbouring Pakistan.

But while Urdu is largely understood by speakers of India’s most popular language Hindi, their scripts are entirely different.

Alam says he can see Urdu literature dying “day by day”.

The Maktaba Jamia bookshop he manages opened a century ago. Alam took over its running this year driven by his love for the language.

“I have been sitting since morning, and barely four people have come,” he said gloomily. “And even those were college or school-going children who want their study books.”

Urdu, sharing Hindi’s roots and mingled with words from Persian and Arabic, emerged as a hybrid speech between those who came to India through trade and conquest — and the people they settled down amongst.

But Urdu has faced challenges in being viewed as connected to Islamic culture, a popular perception that has grown since the Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of Prime Minister Narendra Modi took power in 2014.

Hard-right Hindu nationalists seeking to diminish Islam’s place in India’s history have opposed its use: in the past decade, protests have ranged from the use of Urdu in clothing advertisements to even graffiti.

“Urdu has been associated with Muslims, and that has hit the language too,” said Alam.

“But it is not true. Everyone speaks Urdu. You go to villages, people speak Urdu. It is a very sweet language. There is peace in it.”

‘Feel the beauty’

For centuries, Urdu was a key language of governance.

Sellers first set up stores in the Urdu Bazaar in the 1920s, selling stacks of books from literature to religion, politics and history — as well as texts in Arabic and Persian.

By the 1980s, more lucrative fast-food restaurants slowly moved in, but the trade dropped dramatically in the past decade, with more than a dozen bookshops shutting down.

“With the advent of the internet, everything became easily available on the mobile phone,” said Sikander Mirza Changezi, who co-founded a library to promote Urdu in Old Delhi in 1993.

“People started thinking buying books is useless, and this hit the income of booksellers and publishers, and they switched to other businesses.”

The Hazrat Shah Waliullah Public Library, which Changezi helped create, houses thousands of books including rare manuscripts and dictionaries.

It is aimed at promoting the Urdu language.

Student Adeeba Tanveer, 27, who has a masters degree in Urdu, said the library provided a space for those wanting to learn.

“The love for Urdu is slowly coming back,” Tanveer told AFP, adding that her non-Muslim friends were also keen to learn.

“It is such a beautiful language,” she said. “You feel the beauty when you speak it.” — AFP

Source:malaymail.com

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https://www.malaymail.com/news/life/2024/11/04/fading-literature-delhis-famed-urdu-bazaar-on-last-legs-amid-hindi-dominance-misconceptions-as-foreign-and-muslim-only-language/155684

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Row over Waqf properties: BJP's protest is nothing but politics, says Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah

04.11.24

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday termed the BJP's state-wide protest against the Congress government on the Waqf issue as nothing but politics.

Upping the ante following allegations by a section of farmers in certain parts of Karnataka that their lands were marked as Waqf properties, BJP on Monday held a state-wide protest, accusing the Congress government of indulging in "land jihad".

"BJP never fights on issues, they always make false allegations, they protest for the sake of politics. Where is the issue? Basavaraj Bommai (BJP MP and former CM) had earlier said every inch of Waqf property that has been encroached has to be recovered, now he is speaking against it for political reasons," Siddarmaiah said.

Speaking to reporters here, he alleged that for the sake of politics, the BJP is "taking this issue forward and fighting," but people have understood that the Waqf property issue is not something that is new, and notices were served during all previous governments including the BJP.

"I have said very clearly after holding a meeting that notices issued to farmers should be immediately revoked, and any unauthorised amendments in land records without due notice must also be nullified. And farmers should not be evicted for any reasons, whether they are Muslims or Hindus or Christians anyone else," he added.

The Chief Minister on Saturday directed officials that all notices issued to farmers be immediately revoked, and said any unauthorised amendments in land records without due notice must also be nullified.

There were allegations by a section of farmers from Vijayapura district that their lands were marked as Waqf properties, and similar charges have surfaced from a few other places.

The CM termed the BJP'S move to stage protest "as nothing but politics" as the government had already directed officials to immediately retract all notices sent to farmers and assured that none of them will be evicted.

Stating that the decision to withdraw notices were made soon after he got to know about it and not under any pressure from the BJP, Siddaramaiah said: "they too had issued notices in 216 cases when (B S) Yediyurappa, (D V) Sandanada Gowda, Jagadish Shettar (of BJP), and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy were CM, why?" Responding to a question on former Mysuru MP Prathap Simha's reported statement against him that he has become a Muslim, while targeting him on the Waqf issue, Siddaramaiah said: "...what else can you expect from a communal person? He has no respect for the constitution and democracy, and indulging in communal things is his craft, dividing society in the name of religion and caste is his politics..."

Source:telegraphindia.com

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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/row-over-waqf-properties-bharatiya-janata-partys-protest-is-nothing-but-politics-says-karnataka-chief-minister-siddaramaiah/cid/2060469

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Pakistan

 

Three terrorists killed in Balochistan’s Musakhel district: CTD

Abdullah Zehri

November 3, 2024

The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) in Balochistan conducted an operation in the Musakhel district in the early hours of Sunday, where three terrorists were killed and two were arrested, said a CTD spokesperson.

According to the spokesperson, the CTD and law enforcement agencies received “credible information” about terrorists belonging to the proscribed Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) active in the Rarhasham area of Musakhel.

“Forces [including] CTD, FC and police were deployed in general area and late at night one of the deployed force contingent came across a group of 10-12 terrorists, moving towards main road,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

“The terrorists were intercepted and heavy exchange of fire followed.”

During the gun battle, three terrorists were killed and two others were apprehended, according to the spokesperson. However, “five to seven of them managed to flee because of night conditions”, he said, adding that a search for them was underway.

The spokesperson added that weapons and ammunition were seized from the terrorists during the operation, while the bodies were shifted to a hospital and the arrested terrorists were being interrogated.

“[An] FIR (first information report) has been registered with CTD. Further information will be shared as it develops,” said the spokesperson.

Earlier, the Balochistan CTD registered an FIR against unidentified terrorists who carried out an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in Mastung on Friday.

Nine people, including five children, were killed and 29 were injured in the blast, drawing condemnation from Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti who lamented that terrorists had now started targeting innocent children along with poor labourers.

The country, particularly the Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, has seen a sharp uptick in terrorism-related incidents over the last few months.

Terror attacks declined by 24 per cent in September compared to August, but they witnessed surges in August and July, according to monthly security reports.

In 2023, Pakistan witnessed 1,524 violence-related fatalities and 1,463 injuries from 789 terror attacks and counter-terror operations. Overall fatalities, including those of outlaws, mark a record six-year high.

Source:dawn.com

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https://www.dawn.com/news/1869577/three-terrorists-killed-in-balochistans-musakhel-district-ctd

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Lahore AQI surges past 1,000 again with citizens struggling under suffocating smog

By Irfan Nazir & Ummay Farwa

November 03, 2024

The Punjab authorities struggle to bring the smog levels down in Lahore as the city topped the global pollution charts on Sunday, with an even higher air quality index (AQI), indicating alarming situation in the provincial capital.

Residents continue to suffer under "hazardous" air quality as Lahore's AQI surpassed 1,000 mark on the real-time list of world's most polluted cities by Swiss pollution monitor.

The AQI, which measures a range of pollutants, spiked to 1,073 on the IQAir's list at 10:45am.

Meanwhile, the level of fatal PM2.5 pollutants — the small particulate matter in the air that inflicts immense harm to health — was at 613, which is 122.6 times higher than the World Health Organisation's (WHO) hazardous threshold.

At one point, the AQI reached 1,194 before dipping down to 766 by the noon.

Thick smog shrouding the megapolis also reduced the visibility to zero as the Punjab government failed to bring down the pollution levels.

An environmental expert reiterated the advise that the citizens should avoid going out of their homes without masks, and keep themselves hydrated besides washing face in short intervals.

For days, the city of 14 million people has been affected by smog mix of fog and pollutants caused by low-grade diesel fumes, smoke from seasonal agricultural burning and cooler temperatures.

On Saturday, the AQI in Lahore surged to 1,067, an "unprecedented" level according to a senior government official.

The city battles smog each year in winter. Seasonal crop burn-off by farmers on the outskirts of Lahore also contributes to toxic air, which according to the WHO, can cause strokes, heart disease, lung cancer besides respiratory diseases.

Pollution-led smog in the city is causing serious problems for residents, especially those who work outdoors. Citizens toiling in polluted air have reported breathing difficulties, coughing and burning eyes, affecting both their health and productivity.

The Punjab government has been scrambling to reduce the pollution with multiple actions, and has renewed the smog alert, warning citizens of injurious effects of persisting bad air quality on health.

To fight off smog, authorities have imposed a "Green Lockdown" in the most polluted zones of Lahore, completely banning construction activities, entrance of "Qingqi motorcycle-rickshaws", operation of commercial generators, open food cooking points and food outlets using charcoal, coal or wood without installation of proper emission control system.

The government has also introduced mandatory mask-wearing and restricted outdoor activities, including school assemblies and playtime to keep the citizens safe from severe smog.

Meanwhile, the transport department is continuing crackdown on the vehicles causing environmental pollution.

However, the measures appear ineffective in mitigating the impact of smog as its continues to rise across Punjab, causing a sharp deterioration in air quality.

The central and southern regions of the province were also engulfed in harmful smog.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has said that Multan, Sialkot, Narowal, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Jhang, Bahawalpur, and Dera Ghazi Khan will experience the smog, with mainly dry weather in most districts of Punjab.

Punjab's Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, who holds multiple portfolios including environment protection and climate change, said that the cities adjoining Lahore and Indian capital, New Delhi are being affected due to the change of wind direction.

She stressed on strict adherence to the guidelines defined by the experts to stay safe from the effects of air pollution.

Punjab's Environmental Protection Department spokesperson said that the smoke-laden air from neighbouring India is contributing to increase in smog levels.

Delhi also reels under intensifying smog, mostly as the second most polluted city on the IQAir's list. It retained its position today as well with an AQI of 511 around 10am.

India has called for collaboration and regional cooperation in South Asia to tackle the deteriorating air pollution dilemma after Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz floated the idea of engaging in diplomatic efforts with the neighbouring country.

Source:thenews.com.pk

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NA set to pass bills related to SC, detention of suspects

Syed Irfan Raza

November 4, 2024

• Sources say speaker may put off travel to Commonwealth event until passage of key legislation

ISLAMABAD: The Nati­­o­nal Assembly, which meets again today (Monday), is expected to pass three important bills in its current session, including two laws related to the Supreme Court and another regarding preventive detention of terror suspects for up to three months.

Much-touted amendments to the Supreme Court (Practice and Pro­cedure) Act is one of the three bills expected to be passed by the lower house of parliament in its current session.

National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, who was scheduled to attend 67th Common­wealth Parliamentary Conference being held in Australia from Nov 3 to 8, has been asked to stay in the country until the passage of the bills, a source told Dawn on Sunday.

One of the main aspects of the SC Practice and Procedure Amendment Bill — related to the procedure of formation of benches — is said to be a continuation of the recently passed 26th constitutional amendment that “clipped powers” of the judiciary.

The new bill is expected to give complete authority to the incumbent Chief Justice Yahya Khan Afridi to pick any judge as member of the bench.

Another bill is related to the strength of judges in the apex court.

The third bill, concerning terrorism, will empower the army and civil armed forces to arrest and detain any person, who is suspected of being involved in terrorism, for up to three months.

When contacted, some MNAs were confident that the three important bills would be passed with a simple majority during the current session of the assembly.

Strangely, the opposition had not raised any objection when the bills related to terrorism was tabled in the lower house of parliament on Friday. It is now expected that they may register their protest in the house at the time of passage of these bills.

Monday’s agenda

According to the agenda of the NA for Monday, an ordinance regarding Supreme Court (Practice & Procedure) Bill will be tabled in the house. The ordinance already landed in the Senate on Friday.

The controversial ordinance, promulgated by President Asif Ali Zardari in September, had given a dominant role to the chief justice of Pakistan in the formation of benches.

The ordinance changes the composition of the committee that forms benches and fixes cases under the SC (Practice & Procedure) Act, 2023. While the three-member committee originally comprised the chief justice and two senior most judges of the court, it now comprises CJP, the next most senior judge, and a judge picked by the CJP.

Another significant change is about handling of cases under Section 184(3) of the Constitution.

The ordinance makes it mandatory to document why a particular case is considered a matter of public importance before it is taken up by the court.

The ordinance also takes away the SC power to take up a case for hearing out of turn.

A number of matters featuring on the orders of the day relate to Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, who is named as being the minister who will lay the ordinance in the lower house.

A calling attention notice, moved by Sehar Kamran, invites Mr Tarar’s attention to Pakistan’s plummeting ranking in the Rule of Law index.

As per previous practice, other pieces of legislation not on the agenda can also be moved by including them on a supplementary agenda, which could be issued anytime today (Monday).

Number of SC judges

Amidst opposition from the PTI and JUI-F, a Senate panel on Friday had agreed to increase the number of SC judges from 17 to 25.

The bill, moved by Senator Abdul Qadir, was thoroughly discussed during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice held with Farooq H. Naek in the chair. The bill introduced in the house had proposed to increase the number of judges from 17 to 20.

In another significant move, the government on Friday quietly introduced a crucial bill in the NA seeking to grant military and civil armed forces the authority to keep individuals facing terrorism charges in ‘preventive detention’ for up to three months.

Deputy Speaker Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah referred the bill, which proposes amendments to the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) 1997, to the relevant committee for consideration immediately after Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar tabled it in the closing moments of a thinly-attended session, without explaining its salient features.

The bill also includes provisions for establishing JITs composed of members from various law enforcement and intelligence agencies to conduct inquiries.

Source:dawn.com

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https://www.dawn.com/news/1869695/na-set-to-pass-bills-related-to-sc-detention-of-suspects

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‘Secret detention cell’ run by Quetta cop uncovered

Saleem Shahid

November 4, 2024

QUETTA: Police have unearthed a private detention cell operated by a police constable in collaboration with others in Quetta, recovering four young men held in captivity, officials said on Sunday.

The police acted on information regarding the secret detention facility managed by a cop in Hazara Town, on the outskirts of Quetta.

SP Saddar Shoukat Ali Mohmand formed an investigation team led by Brewery Police Station SHO Mehmood Khorti.

The police team raided a house in Hazara Town’s Block 33, where they discovered four young men detained in a room. Three suspects arrested from the house were identified as Wajahat Kandahari, Ali and Nadir Ali.

The alleged mastermind, Constable Sanaullah of the Balochistan Constabulary, had already been taken into custody.

Police said the private cell had been run by Sanaullah for a long time.

The rescued detainees told officers that Sanaullah and his associates had detained them three days ago and subjected them to torture to coerce confessions of theft.

Sources said the accused used the cell to blackmail young people.

Source:dawn.com

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https://www.dawn.com/news/1869652/secret-detention-cell-run-by-quetta-cop-uncovered

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Privacy concerns prompt Nawaz to seek treatment outside UK

Atika Rehman

 November 4, 2024

• PML-N president has historically been treated in London

• PTI steps up protests with demonstration outside Downing Street

LONDON: Former prime minister and PML-N president Nawaz Sharif returned to London over the weekend, and is expected to spend less than a week here, ahead of his departure to another country for a medical check-up.

Sources told Dawn that Nawaz would remain in London for less than a week, and that he is scheduled to have medical check-up in another country where his daughter, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, is expected to join him.

Many on social media noted that unlike the day when Nawaz arrived from Pakistan, there were no PTI protesters thronging his vehicle on his return to the UK from the United States as he was driven to his apartment in Avenfield House on Saturday evening.

However, a large crowd of PTI supporters gathered near 10 Downing Street, the British PM office, on Sunday evening, demanding the release of incarcerated party founder Imran Khan and appealing to authorities in Pakistan to uphold the rule of law.

Protest at Downing Street

PTI supporters from across London as well as those from Leeds, Luton, Manchester and Birmingham travelled to the city to register their protest and be part of the demonstration.

Men and women of all ages were in attendance, with many holding Mr Khan’s posters, demanding his release. There were also posters demanding that the government “free political prisoners”.

PTI’s Zulfi Bukhari, who is active in campaigning for the party in the UK, was prominent among those who were present and made a speech. Besides, former adviser in the PTI government, Shahbaz Gill, who has been in the United States since the crackdown against the party began back home, was also at the protest.

The protest was originally scheduled to take place at the end of October, but the date was shifted forward to include Mr Gill.

“Whoever is telling you that Imran Khan is striking a deal, or that he is weak, or that he or that he is compromising on his position, they are making a fool of you. Because you believe in conspiracies, because we are a weak nation, we are not brave,” he said, adding that this protest was held to demand Imran Khan’s release, nothing else.

Also speaking at the podium was PTI social media lead Azhar Mashwani, and former adviser to Mr Khan, Shehzad Akbar, who has been in the UK for more than a year.

Asked about the criticism against the PTI leaders for fleeing the country, Mr Bokhari told Dawn that Azhar Mashwani has “faced persecution himself, and his family have been through hell. He left because there was a threat to his life. As for me, I’ve been here long before Khan sahab was arrested, and he told me to stay out.

“It is by being here that we made it possible to raise awareness about Mr Khan’s imprisonment, and engage the international media and UN.”

Prominent PTI activist Shayan Ali was also at the protest, though he was not invited to speak.

When asked to comment on Mr Ali’s recent action to chase Justice Qazi Faez Isa’s car outside Middle Temple last week, Mr Bukhari said, “There are many supporters of Mr Khan, but they all are not part of the PTI. PTI leaders speak about rule of law and democracy.”

Nawaz’s travel plans

About the PML-N president visit to the UK, sources said, Nawaz would return to Pakistan after three weeks, towards the end of November.

Though he has historically had his medical check-ups in London, it appears that due to privacy concerns, and in lieu of the PTI’s growing protests and demonstrations outside Nawaz’s home and office, the decision was taken to have his medical examination and treatment in another foreign country. In 2019, his doctors said he had coronary artery disease.

Source:dawn.com

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https://www.dawn.com/news/1869651/privacy-concerns-prompt-nawaz-to-seek-treatment-outside-uk

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Govt shuts primary schools in Lahore over record pollution

 Imran Gabol

 November 3, 2024

Lahore will close primary schools for a week over record pollution, government authorities said on Sunday, to avoid exposing millions of children to smog several times above levels deemed dangerous.

For days, Lahore’s 14 million people has been enveloped by smog, a mix of fog and pollutants caused by low-grade diesel fumes, smoke from seasonal agricultural burning, and winter cooling.

The air quality index, which measures a range of pollutants, exceeded 1,000 on Saturday — well above the level of 300 considered “dangerous” — according to data from IQAir.

The Punjab government also recorded peaks of over 1,000 on Sunday, which it considered “unprecedented”.

“Weather forecast for the next six days shows that wind patterns will remain the same. Therefore we are closing all government and private primary schools in Lahore for a week,” Jahangir Anwar, a senior environmental protection official in Lahore told AFP.

“All the classes” for children up to the age of 10, public, private & special education… shall remain closed for one week“ from Monday until Saturday, read a local government decision seen by AFP.

The decision added that the situation will be assessed again next Saturday to determine whether to extend the school closure.

“This smog is very harmful for children. Masks should be mandatory in schools. We are keeping an eye on the health of children in senior classes,” Punjab senior minister Marriyum Aurangzeb told a news conference on Sunday.

Smog counters have been established in hospitals, she added.

Breathing the toxic air has catastrophic health consequences, with the WHO saying strokes, heart disease, lung cancer and respiratory diseases can be triggered by prolonged exposure.

According to a notification issued by the Punjab government’s School Education Department — a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, Director General of the Punjab Environmental Protection Agency Punjab Dr Imran Hamid Sheikh ordered the closure of schools from November 4-9 due to the plummeting air quality.

“In the wake of deteriorating Air Quality Index (AQI) and in light of order dated 03.11.2024 issued by Director General Environmental Protection Agency Punjab … it is notified that all the classes upto 5th grade in all schools (public & private) located in the territorial jurisdiction of district Lahore shall remain closed for one (1) week w.e.f 04.11.2024 (Monday) till 09.11.2024 (Saturday),” the notification read.

Sheikh’s order — a copy of which is also available with Dawn.com — said that following a meeting, a provincial committee declared a “critical air pollution event” in Lahore due to the poor air quality.

“Section 6(1)(t) of The Punjab Environmental Protection Act 1997 empowers EPA to take or cause to be taken all necessary measures for the protection, conservation, rehabilitation and improvement of the environment,” said the order, warning that anyone defying it would be in violation of Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Pakistan Penal Code and legal action would be taken.

The order adds that further instructions will be issued on November 9.

Children particularly vulnerable

On Saturday, the concentration of deadly PM2.5 pollutants — fine particulate matter in the air that causes most damage to health — was more than 40 times the level deemed acceptable by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

PM2.5 levels on Sunday morning exceeded that before decreasing slightly.

Last week, the provincial environmental protection agency announced new restrictions in four “hot spots” in the city.

Tuk-tuks equipped with polluting two-stroke engines are banned, as are restaurants that barbecue without filters.

Government offices and private companies will have half their staff work from home starting Monday.

Children are particularly vulnerable because they have less developed lungs and breathe more rapidly, taking in more air relative to their size than adults.

Last month, authorities banned schoolchildren from outdoor exercise until January and adjusted school hours to prevent children from travelling when the pollution is most punishing.

Pollution in excess of levels deemed safe by the WHO shortens the life expectancy of Lahore residents by an average of 7.5 years, according to the University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute.

According to Unicef, nearly 600 million children in South Asia are exposed to high levels of air pollution and half of childhood pneumonia deaths are associated with air pollution.

Source:dawn.com

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https://www.dawn.com/news/1869574/govt-shuts-primary-schools-in-lahore-over-record-pollution

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Europe

 

Ukraine and Germany have an abusive relationship

3 Nov, 2024

Speaking as a historian, my future colleagues looking back on early 21st century European history will have much to discuss at their conferences.

Concerning geopolitics, they will argue about how post-Cold War Europe managed not to emancipate itself from the US but, on the contrary, became submissive as never before. Regarding economics, they will ponder the mystery of Europe’s decline – predicted, much lamented, and yet irresistible. The legacy of Israel’s Gaza genocide will, of course, have generated a whole range of literature about how most of Europe took part in perpetrating it or looked away.

But during the coffee breaks, there will be those moments of nerd humor that only fellow academics find funny, where a favorite game could be to ask which two states had the kinkiest relationship. Hands-down, every time, the winner of most-perverse-international-relationship is going to be the Germany-Ukraine couple.

Why, you ask? For one thing, there is the outstanding absurdity of a state, Germany, not only tolerating a massive eco-terrorist attack on its energy infrastructure and thus its economy and therefore politics (the 2022 Nord Stream explosions) but helping in the cover-up and generously rewarding the attackers, that is, Ukraine and friends. It is impossible to think of a more bizarro example of sadomasochism in international politics. Then there is the German political and media elites’ odd habit of letting themselves be publicly insulted and cajoled by the representatives of a Ukrainian regime that could not survive a day without Western, very much including German, support. Former ambassador Andrey Melnik was a past master at that sport, but as it turns out, his current successor, Aleksey Makeev, is no slouch either.

Recently, Makeev has felt the urge to tell his host country how to do democracy properly. No, really, that’s not a joke: The representative of Kiev’s Zelensky regime has lessons to teach and insights to share. Yes, that would be the same regime which has a leader who “missed” his last election, which lacks a functioning opposition or free media, conducts regular public manhunts to catch cannon fodder for the proxy war against Russia it is carrying out for the West,  and admits that Ukraine’s very, very far right has a veto on its foreign policy (and then some).

What stung Makeev into action is the fact that Germany’s rising new BSW party (Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance – Reason and Justice) is too successful for his taste. By combining socio-economically left-wing with culturally conservative positions in a manner clearly appealing to many Germans, the BSW has recently achieved electoral breakthroughs in three federal states: Saxony, Thuringia, and Brandenburg. Consequently, in accordance with the ordinary rules of German politics, the party now is in talks about joining coalitions to govern them.

One of the BSW’s conditions is that the coalition agreements must reflect its demand for a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine War as well as its rejection of the current plan to station new US missiles in Germany. While the BSW leadership realizes, of course, that state governments have little direct influence on foreign policy issues, there is nothing unconstitutional, illegal, or otherwise improper about articulating the will of its voters in this manner. In fact, it’s an exemplarily democratic expression of a very sensible position and the support it enjoys among German citizens. The fact that some of these negotiations and the compromises they involve have produced debates within the BSW itself makes no difference in this regard.

Makeev, however, does not like any of it. Not at all. And, unusually for a diplomat but well within the style of Ukrainian anti-diplomacy, he has not kept his misgivings to himself. On the contrary, he has taken a bullhorn to the German public sphere. Turning to the potential coalition partners of the BSW via one of Germany’s major news magazines, Stern, the ambassador has told them not to concede the BSW’s foreign-policy demands, which he decries as “slogans.” Accepting them, he has warned, is a sure way to defeat. That’s ironic if you think about it, because defeat is a thing his boss in Kiev knows a thing or two about, but Makeev is too self-important to notice.

While busy dishing out unsolicited advice, the anti-diplomat from Ukraine has admonished the “politicians of the democratic parties” in Germany to stand by their “values.” If that term in this context makes you fear things will be getting worse, you are right. Makeev explicated his generous instructions further by adding that CDU and SPD “must not” – note the voice of self-assured command: not even “should not” but “must not” – cede ground to “populists” by abandoning their “solidarity” with Ukraine.

Where to even begin? Let’s disregard the cheap use of the big bad word “populism” to scare us all. The BSW is a legal, democratic party. Makeev’s clear implication that it is not is baseless slander. What he really seems to mean by “populism” is that the BSW takes Germans seriously enough to offer them reasonable policies that many want to endorse. And then succeeds in elections; the kind his boss in Kiev is evading.

Makeev’s abuse of the word “solidarity” is equally dishonest: Like other NATO-besotted hawks and proxy war fans, he implies that standing by Ukraine means standing by the West and its client, the Zelensky regime, while they are using the country and people up in an attempt to take down Russia as a great power that is futile, geopolitically selfish and even counter-productive. True solidarity, though, is something entirely different, namely a firm “no” to devastating Ukraine – or any other country – for such perverse policies and an insistence on the search for negotiated solutions instead. Just as the BSW suggests.

But Makeev, in his ire, wasn’t done yet. Channeling Senator Joe McCarthy, he also derided the BSW as an “alliance of Leninist ideologists,” which, to anyone familiar with the party’s actual composition, program, and statements is a simply ridiculous statement, betraying either profound ignorance or the kind of provincial bigotry that mistakes everyone to the left of, say, Donald Trump for a reincarnation of Joseph Stalin.

Makeev also charged the BSW with “instrumentalizing the genocidal war of Russia against” Ukraine. That is a plain absurdity, because while there is a war, it is definitely not genocidal. If the Zelensky regime’s mouthpiece wishes to see genocidal warfare, he should look at Israel’s conduct. How exactly the BSW is supposed to “instrumentalize” the Ukraine conflict is also hard to imagine.

What Makeev seems to mean is that the party has the unheard-of temerity to prioritize peace. A peace that would benefit Ukraine and Ukrainians most of all. If he wishes to see some real instrumentalizing of war, he should look at Ukraine’s Western users and the Zelensky regime that is selling out his country to them. But he cannot do that, obviously, because it remains virtually impossible to make a man see a thing when his career depends on turning a blind eye.

As a matter of fact, every single statement made by Makeev in that Stern interview was either blatantly misleading or conceptually perverse. Not all can be addressed here, but one merits special attention. Makeev insisted that “the voice of Central and Eastern Europe must be really heard at long last.” What he has in mind, of course, is not the voice of Russia, although that country is elementary to eastern Europe – and, as it happens, Europe. For Zelensky’s man in Berlin, the voices to be heard are his, and in general that of Ukraine’s Zelensky regime as well as those eastern European NATO and EU members who have made it their mission to drag the rest of the West into ceaseless confrontation, if not war, against Russia.

The odd thing here is that, for years already, we have been made to obediently hear just those voices, especially from Ukraine, Poland, and the Baltics (including Poland’s open jubilation at Germany having its vital infrastructure bombed, for instance) to the point of being physically sick of them. Again, if Makeev would like to see what actually not being heard looks like, he should imagine himself as a Palestinian. As a Ukrainian official representing the Zelensky regime, the very last thing he has any right to complain about is a lack of attention.

Yet, apart from the jumble of entitlement, prejudice, and ignorance, in the head of yet another incompetent ambassador from Ukraine, there are serious issues here: For one thing, Makeev is obviously and openly meddling if not in elections than in their outcomes. Because coalitions are the results of elections. Therefore, arrogating to himself a bizarre right to tell Germans which coalitions they may or may not conclude is just as bad as election interference. Again, no one among the German elite circles seems to have the guts to tell Makeev to mind his business or get lost. But what about, then, the “voices” of German citizens and voters? What about their – to use a term once beloved by proxy war apologists – “agency”? Clearly, Kiev’s man in Berlin either doesn’t notice a problem or just doesn’t give a damn.

Ultimately, this kind of unprofessional and unacceptable behavior will damage Ukraine’s interests the most. Makeev and others from his school of anti-diplomacy may believe that the submissive Germans they encounter in politics and the media are all there is to Germany. Yet they are provoking a backlash. Sooner rather than later, ever more Germans will want to openly tell entitled and overbearing Zelensky regime bullies to cool it or take their endless demands elsewhere. And since Makeev cannot yet actually control what happens in German elections, that should worry him. But then, he does not come across as a man of foresight.

Source:rt.com

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

https://www.rt.com/news/606936-ukraine-germany-ambassador-relationship/

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Pro-EU president declares victory in highly contentious election

November 03, 2024

Moldova’s incumbent pro-EU president, Maia Sandu, declared victory in Sunday’s runoff election after an official tally gave her a 10-point lead over former prosecutor general Alexandr Stoianoglo.

With over 98% of ballots counted, Sandu had received 55.03% of the votes, while Stoianoglo had 44.97%, news channel TVR reported in the early hours of Monday, citing the Central Electoral Commission.

Although early results indicated a slim lead for Stoianoglo, Sandu overtook him at around midnight, and the gap gradually widened as more votes were counted overnight.

“Moldova, today you are victorious. Together, we’ve shown the strength of our unity, democracy, and commitment to a dignified future,” Sandu wrote on X shortly after 1 am local time on Monday.

At a press conference, Sandu described the election result as “a lesson in democracy that deserves to be included in the history books.” Addressing the nation’s Russian-speaking minority, she promised to be “a president for everyone.”

“We may have a difference of opinion and may speak different languages, but we all want peace, mutual understanding, and a worthy life for our children,” Sandu said.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has congratulated Sandu, pledging to “continue working with you towards a European future for Moldova and its people.”

Before the results were announced, Stoianoglo, who advocates for good relations with both the EU and Russia, urged everyone to keep calm. “I sincerely hope that we will put an end to the hatred and division that has been imposed on us,” he said.

The election, which is widely seen as pivotal for Moldova’s aspirations to join the EU, had been marred by accusations of rigging and voter manipulation from both the government and the opposition.

The Party of Socialists, which supports Stoianoglo, and other opposition groups, have criticized the authorities for opening only two polling stations at Moldova’s embassy in Moscow, despite a large number of Moldovan expatriates living in Russia.

Moldovans living in Western Europe heavily contributed to Sandu’s victory during the first round on October 20. The president thanked the expat community on Sunday. “Diaspora turnout has reached a record high, with Moldovans still voting across [time zones]. Proud of each of you for making your voice heard,” she wrote.

Sandu has accused Russia of meddling in the election, and unspecified “criminal groups” of attempting to “purchase” votes. Sandu’s national security adviser, Stanislav Secrieru, wrote on X that monitors had flagged “organized voter transportation” to the polls, which is illegal under Moldovan law. Russia has dismissed all claims of foreign interference as baseless.

Moldova held a referendum last month on whether the “strategic objective” of integrating with the EU should be enshrined in its constitution, with 50.35% voting for the amendment, and 49.65% voting against it.

Source:rt.com

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

https://www.rt.com/russia/606958-maia-sandu-leading-election-moldova/

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American who worked for Russia in Donbass speaks exclusively to RT (VIDEO)

3 Nov, 2024

RT has spoken exclusively with a US citizen who spent months secretly collecting intelligence on the Ukrainian military in Donbass and handing it over to Russia.

Daniel Martindale, who was there as a missionary, revealed that before moving to Ukraine in February 2022, he had resided in a “small Polish village where there’s a Protestant church, and I was working with children in summer camps, teaching them English, but of course with the whole Christian theme.”

When asked what prompted him to move to the neighboring country, he said: “Probably the biggest motivation was my desire to be in Russia if and when World War III starts.”

Martindale stayed in Ukraine for two years, spending most of his time in a village located not far from the front line in Donbass which has since been liberated by the Russian military.

The man eventually managed to get in touch with his handlers and was safely evacuated into Russian-controlled territory when the community fell to Moscow’s advancing forces.

He recounted that while he had exercised due diligence to keep his activities secret, Ukrainian authorities never once checked the contents of his mobile phone. He surmised that his status as a US citizen, coupled with the assistance he was providing to the local community could have contributed to this apparent lack of suspicion.

However, the American missionary went on to add that at least some of Ukrainian troops and special services operatives seemed to know “instinctively” that he was on Russia’s side, only they lacked any hard evidence to put the heat on him at the time.

According to Martindale, at one point “Ukrainian artillery was basically firing from my backyard.” He said he had been collecting whatever information he could gather and relayed it to the Russians, noting that it was “most of the time probably insufficient.”

While refusing to disclose what kind of information he was providing to Russian forces, Martindale said that the “main purpose of it was to try to minimize the losses among civilians and [Russian] soldiers.”

The man claimed that judging by his interactions with Ukrainian soldiers over the past six months, “they were beginning to understand that they were just being used, that it’s a losing battle.” He also claimed that in the village where he was staying, there were civilians “who really were waiting for Russia to come.” They supposedly believed that Moscow’s forces would be able to restore law and order there.

Source:rt.com

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

https://www.rt.com/russia/606950-us-national-russian-spy-donbass-ukraine/

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Ancient Orthodox cathedral in Ukraine turned into movie theater – MP (PHOTOS)

3 Nov, 2024

The Transfiguration Cathedral, one of the oldest Orthodox churches in Ukraine and which dates back to the early 11th century, has been turned into a makeshift movie theater, according to an MP.

The issue has been highlighted by Artyom Dmitruk, a Ukrainian lawmaker known for his public opposition to the Kiev government’s crackdown on the country’s largest Christian denomination, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC). The MP was ultimately forced to flee the country over his views and is now being sought by Ukrainian authorities.

Dmitruk has cited imagery circulating online to back up his assertions. The building was seized by authorities last year.

“[Vladimir] Zelensky’s dogs, having seized the most ancient cathedral in Ukraine, set up a cinema in it and removed all the icons,” Dmitruk wrote on his Telegram channel, claiming that people attending the ‘cinema’ have been charged 20 hryvnias (about 50 cents) for entry.

Pictures shared by the MP show a darkened interior of the cathedral, with a small group watching a large TV screen erected in front of the altar. The place of worship appears to lack any icons, with some pictures placed on easels visible near the TV. According to local media reports, the images were recorded on Friday at the premiere of a documentary movie titled ‘Principality of Chernigov. 1,000 years.’

Transfiguration Cathedral, located about 100 miles north of Kiev, was seized by the authorities in October last year, with the UOC priests forcibly evicted from its premises by armed and masked individuals. Officials and a local museum that were managing the cathedral and leasing it to the canonical church at the time, claimed the premises was in an extremely poor condition due to UOC’s neglect and that it required renovation immediately.

In the same post, Dmitruk also mentioned a recent scandal in the western Ukrainian city of Lutsk, where a local cathedral, controlled by the schismatic Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), was adorned with frescoes of local businessmen, who purportedly donated funds to its restoration.

“The OCU cathedral in Lutsk was painted with frescoes with portraits of local bandit-businessmen. The work has been initiated personally by the Volyn ‘bishop’ of the OCU Mikhail Zinkevich. This is awful,” the MP wrote.

The frescoes have reportedly received a mixed reaction even among local followers of the OCU, with some branding the display a sacrilege and demanding their removal. However, painting portraits of ktetors, major donors who provide funds for construction or reconstruction of a church, is a longstanding tradition in Eastern Christianity and is not offensive by any means.

Ukraine has been gripped by religious tensions throughout most of its modern history, with multiple entities claiming to be the country’s true Orthodox Church.

The situation rapidly deteriorated after 2018, when the OCU was established with the active backing of then-president Pyotr Poroshenko, who secured a special decree to legitimize the entity from the Constantinople Patriarchate. The move caused a major rift in the Orthodox world, with the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) severing its ties with Constantinople and branding the OCU schismatics.

The persecution of the canonical UOC intensified after the escalation of a long-running conflict between Moscow and Kiev in February 2022. Although the church formally declared independence from Moscow, this did not spare it from repeated accusations of working for Russia.

Source:rt.com

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

https://www.rt.com/russia/606953-orthodox-cathedral-ukraine-movie/

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British King ‘making millions’ from secret property empire – The Times

3 Nov, 2024

King Charles III and his son Prince William have contracts with UK taxpayer-funded public services, charities, government departments and even a prison, which help them earn millions every year, the Sunday Times has claimed. That’s in addition to the so-called sovereign grant the royals get from the government.

In 2023 alone, Charles and William’s “private fiefdoms,” the Duchy of Lancaster and the Duchy of Cornwall - raised £27.4 million (over $35 million) and £23.6 million ($30 million) respectively for the British royal family, the newspaper found as part of a joint investigation with Channel 4’s Dispatches program.

The paper said Saturday that they used the royal addresses to uncover their business contracts and discovered how the duchies are making money “via a series of commercial rents and feudal levies on land largely seized by medieval monarchs.”

Dubbed “Duchy Files,” the investigation claims to have found that King Charles and Prince William “charge for the right to cross rivers, offload cargo onto the shore, run cables under their beaches, operate schools and charities, and even dig graves.”

“They earn revenue from toll bridges, ferries, sewage pipes, churches, village halls, pubs, distilleries, gas pipelines, boat moorings, opencast and underground mines, car parks, rental homes and wind turbines,” The Times claims.

Some 5,410 landholdings and properties are held by the royal duchies, the investigation claims.

For instance, a deal with an NHS foundation trust will reportedly pay the King’s Duchy of Lancaster £11 million ($14 million) over 15 years to rent a warehouse for ambulances.

Prince William’s Duchy of Cornwall receives £1.5 million ($1.9 million) a year from the Ministry of Justice for using Dartmoor Prison, The Times claims. The duchy of the King’s eldest son, the Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps, also charges the military “for the right to train” on its 67,500 acres of land in Dartmoor. The sum it gets has not been revealed.

The estates also rent out over 900 residential homes and farms to tenants, according to the report.

The duchies, both established in the 14th century, are operating as commercial landlords, but are exempt from paying tax on their corporate profits, the paper notes. The King and Prince pay income tax voluntarily at the highest rate, 45%. In 2022, the last time King Charles published his tax filings, he paid 25% of the £23 million ($30 million) in duchy profit “because he deducted expenses he considered related to his official duties,” The Times pointed out.

The “Duchy Files” investigation marks the first time that the complete list of property holdings for the two royal estates has been made public, the paper says, adding that even the British parliament was denied access to it.

“The ancient property empires that fund the King and the Prince of Wales have remained a closely guarded secret within the royal family and its small circle of advisers for centuries,” it claimed.

The two duchies are separate from the Crown Estate, a vast property business owned by the British monarch but run independently. Because of its soaring profits, the taxpayer-funded sovereign grant that pays for official royal duties will rise from £86.3 million ($111 million) in 2024-25 to £132 million ($170 million) in 2025-26.

Source:rt.com

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

https://www.rt.com/news/606954-king-charles-millions-property/

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North America

 

US election 2024 results: When will we know whether Harris or Trump won?

NOVEMBER 4, 2024

Sam Cabral

Americans are voting for their next president in a general election that culminates on Tuesday 5 November.

Once polls close, depending on how close the contest is, it is possible a winner will not be projected for several hours, days or even weeks. Here's what you need to know.

When is the 2024 presidential election result expected?

Democrat Kamala Harris, the current vice-president, and Republican Donald Trump, the former president, have been running neck-and-neck for weeks.

National and swing state polls have tightened as 5 November draws closer, so there could be very narrow margins of victory in several places, which may require votes to be recounted.

It is also possible that some results may come in more slowly this year due to changes in how individual states - including all seven swing states that will ultimately decide the race - have administered their elections since 2020.

On the other hand, vote-counting has been sped up in places like Michigan, and far fewer votes will be cast by mail this time than in the last election, which was held during the Covid pandemic.

This means there are a number of possible outcomes - a winner declared on election night, the next morning or possibly days or weeks later.

US election polls: Who is ahead - Harris or Trump?

US election 2024: A really simple guide to the presidential vote

When did we get the 2020 presidential election result?

The 2020 election took place on Tuesday 3 November, but US TV networks did not declare Joe Biden the winner until late morning on Saturday 7 November.

As Americans went to bed on election night, Trump supporters felt confident victory was near but, in fact, both candidates were within reach of the 270 electoral college votes needed to become president-elect.

Though the vast majority of states called their races within a 24-hour period, a handful of key states - including Pennsylvania and Nevada - did not.

Pennsylvania, with its 19 electoral votes, had however been trending toward the Democrats. On Saturday morning, a fresh batch of ballots counted from the battleground state gave networks the confidence to project that Biden would win there.

CNN was the first to announce the result, with every other TV network following suit over the next 15 minutes.

When are presidential election results usually announced?

Generally, voters have become used to the idea that they will know who the next president is going to be by the time they go to bed late on election night or at least in the early morning hours of the next day.

In 2016, for example, when Trump first won the presidency, he was declared the winner shortly before 03:00 EST (08:00 GMT) the day after the election.

In 2012, when Barack Obama secured a second term, his victory was projected before midnight on polling day itself.

But one notable recent exception was the 2000 election between George W Bush and Al Gore.

The two campaigns went to war over a tight contest in Florida, and the race was not decided until 12 December when the US Supreme Court voted to end the state's recount process, keeping Bush in place as the certified winner and thus handing him the keys to the White House.

What are the key states to watch?

Across the country, the first polls will close at 1800 EST (2200 GMT) on Tuesday evening and the last polls will close at 0100 EST (0500 GMT) early on Wednesday.

But this race is expected to come down to results from the seven swing states - Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

1900 EST (2300 GMT) - Polls close in Georgia and five other states, and partially in two more states. This is also when US TV networks are likely to begin making their first calls of the night, in less competitive states like Kentucky.

1930 EST (2330 GMT) - Polls close across three states, including North Carolina, where Harris is hoping to end a string of losses for Democratic presidential candidates since 2008.

2000 EST (0000 GMT) - Polls close in Pennsylvania, 15 other states and the District of Columbia, as well as partially in Michigan and four other states.

2100 EST (0100 GMT) - All remaining polls close in Michigan. Voting will also end in Arizona, Wisconsin and 12 other states.

2200 EST (0200 GMT) - Polls close across Nevada and two other states, and partially in two others.

Source:bbc.com

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

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cde7ng85jwgo

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First-time Muslim voters in US wary of two-party system

November 4, 2024

WASHINGTON: Disen­ch­antment with both major US political parties is pushing many first-time Muslim voters in Northern Virginia toward abstention or even third-party support, raising concerns for Democrats who traditionally rely on this constituency.

In conversations with visiting Pakistani journalists at a lively shopping plaza in the region, some young Muslim voters cited foreign policy decisions, environmental issues, and unmet domestic needs as reasons for their reluctance to vote for either major party.

The plaza, known for its diverse array of halal restaurants, grocery stores, and pizza shops, has become a central meeting place for Muslims from Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C.

Store owners are preparing for election day by setting up a large screen in one of the restaurants to broadcast results, and offering free tea and samosas to patrons to foster a sense of community.

They recently hosted an event inviting Pakistani journalists to engage with their mostly Muslim clientele to encourage discussions among young voters. In attendance was a group of young first-time voters, aged 18 to 22, who shared insights into the shifting political views of their generation.

Ms Khan, a young voter who provided only her last name, shared that her family’s long-standing support for the Democrats is now uncertain. While her parents voted for the party in the previous election, they, like Ms Khan, are reconsidering this time.

“The government didn’t have enough funds to help victims of this year’s cyclone in the southern US, yet they’re spending billions on wars in the Middle East and Ukraine,” she said, expressing disappointment in the Democrats’ current priorities.

Another first-time voter, Aariz, voiced support for the Green Party, citing environmental concerns and frustration over foreign policy as key issues. “I won’t vote for Donald Trump because he is bad for the environment,” he said, adding that he also felt hesitant about voting for Kamala Harris due to her stance on Gaza.

Ramiz, another new voter, echoed these sentiments. While acknowledging Israel as a US ally, he questioned the Biden administration’s lack of action on the Gaza conflict.

“What prevented the administration from enforcing a ceasefire in Gaza?” he asked.

Despite this wave of dissatisfaction, many of the younger voters, besides Ms Khan’s father, noted that American Muslims have historically leaned towards Democrats.

They attributed this to the party’s generally progressive stance on immigration and religious freedoms.

Older voters referenced a recent incident where Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud publicly rejected an invitation to meet former president Donald Trump during his campaign stop.

Dearborn, Michigan — home to a large Arab-American population — has seen considerable political mobilisation within its Muslim communities, and Hammoud’s decision, they noted, was widely seen as a rebuke of Trump’s “Muslim ban” during his first term.

This executive order, which imposed travel restrictions on individuals from several Musl­im-majority countries, includ­ing Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen, remains a sore point for many Muslim voters.

‘Split-vote’

Amid these expressions of frustration, Democratic Party campaigners recognise the urgency of retaining Muslim support.

“That’s almost like voting for Trump,” argued David Byrne, a Democratic campaigner, when one first-time Muslim voter said he planned to support the Green Party.

“It won’t bring the Green Party to power and will weaken Harris’s support base,” Mr Byrne added, stressing the potential implications of a split vote in this election.

Similar Democratic teams have been canvassing nearby areas in Washington D.C., and Virginia, hoping to connect with young voters, both Muslims and Christians, especially those voting for the first time.

Democrats’ strategists have emphasised the critical role that young Muslim voters could play in tight races, particularly in swing states.

Despite the outreach efforts, some Republican-leaning Muslims remain resolute. Junaid Bashir, a PTI supporter who plans to vote for Mr Trump, commented that despite persistent Democratic outreach, many new voters, particularly Muslims, were hesitant to back Harris.

Political analyst Uzair Younus described these sentiments as “anecdotal”, pointing to broader data trends showing strong support for Harris among young voters. “While anecdotal evidence may suggest some erosion of support within sub-groups, data shows that young people are expected to come out in support of Kamala Harris,” he explained.

He cited a survey released by the Harvard Institute of Politics (IOP) last week to back his point. The survey, which has tracked voter attitudes in the 18-29 age group since 2008, revealed a significant lead for Harris over Trump among young voters, with Harris ahead by 17 points (49pc to 32pc).

This contrast between individual anecdotes and broader polling trends highlights the challenges that campaign strategists face as they work to address the complex and diverse concerns of Muslim voters in the region.

Source:dawn.com

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https://www.dawn.com/news/1869697/first-time-muslim-voters-in-us-wary-of-two-party-system

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'I never intended to offend anyone': AFL umpire banned for dressing up as Osama Bin Laden at end-of-season party

November 4, 2024

An AFL umpire has been banned after dressing up as the assassinated former leader of al-Qaeda and mastermind behind the September 11 terrorist attacks on the USA, Osama Bin Laden, at an end-of-season party, the league has announced.

The AFL said in a statement on Monday that Leigh Haussen dressed up as Bin Laden at a post-season gathering for umpires themed "characters of the 2000s".

He will not be appointed to officiate in round one of the 2025 season.

The event Haussen attended was held the day after the grand final in a private room in a Melbourne restaurant.

The AFL confirmed that, unlike the infamous GWS end-of-season event, there were no skits involved.

Haussen will now have to undergo education work which will involve an address to the AFL umpiring cohort when they return to training.

AFL head of umpiring, Stephen McBurney, put his support behind Haussen.

"Leigh understands the inappropriate nature of his costume," he said.

"He has reflected on that choice. Leigh is a valued member of the umpiring group with an unblemished record both throughout his umpiring career and since his elevation to the AFL umpires list in 2017. We will support Leigh to make his return to umpiring AFL football following this suspension."

Source:nine.com.au

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https://www.nine.com.au/sport/afl/news-2024-umpire-banned-leigh-haussen-osama-bin-laden-constume-mad-monday-20241104-p5kns8.html

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Dawson's Creek actor reveals cancer diagnosis

NOVEMBER 4, 2024

American actor James Van Der Beek says he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer.

The 47-year-old, known for starring in the TV series Dawson's Creek and the film Varsity Blues, told People magazine about his diagnosis and treatment.

"I have colorectal cancer. I’ve been privately dealing with this diagnosis and have been taking steps to resolve it," he told the outlet.

Van Der Beek says there is reason for "optimism" and that he is "feeling good".

BBC News has reached out to a representative for the actor.

Colorectal cancer develops from growths in the colon's inner lining and can spread if not treated, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

More men develop this form of cancer than women. Increased screenings have helped detect it early - lowering the number of people who die from colorectal cancer, the clinic notes.

Van Der Beek starred in multiple popular shows and films in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He played Dawson Leery in the hit TV show Dawson's Creek, which ran from 1998 to 2003.

He also played a fictionalised version of himself in the cult television show Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23, and he performed on the 28th US season of Dancing with the Stars.

Van Der Beek has continued working through his diagnosis.

He has two projects in production, including a Tubi original film called Sidelined: The QB and Me, which is due to come out later this month.

Source:bbc.com

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

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gmrn0mxrno

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Kamala Harris makes surprise appearance on Saturday Night Live

Jack Burgess

NOVEMBER 4, 2024

Vice-President Kamala Harris has made a surprise appearance alongside comedian and actor Maya Rudolph on the live comedy sketch show Saturday Night Live (SNL).

Cheers from the audience drowned out the first lines spoken by the Democrats' US presidential candidate.

The pair performed a scripted exchange featuring puns on Harris's first name, Kamala, including "keep calm-ala" and "carry on-ala".

Jason Miller, a senior adviser to Republican candidate Donald Trump, expressed surprise that Harris would appear on SNL given what he said was her unflattering portrayal on the show.

Asked if Trump had been invited to appear on the programme, Miller said “I don’t know, probably not”, according to the BBC’s US partner CBS News.

Follow live updates as candidates make final push in swing states

During the sketch, which lasted about two minutes, Ms Rudolph performed a mirror-image double of Harris.

"It is nice to see you, Kamala," Harris told Ms Rudolph. "And I'm just here to remind you, you got this."

Speaking in sync, the duo said they share each other's "belief in the promise of America" and announced together "live from New York; it's Saturday night".

Harris also mocked a recent stunt by her election opponent Trump, in which he appeared to struggle to open the door to a garbage truck.

"You can do something your opponent cannot do," Harris told Rudolph. "You can open doors."

Trump's garbage truck stunt was in response to comments by President Biden in which he appeared to call Trump supporters "garbage", although the White House has denied that was Biden's intention.

Several other presidential candidates, including Trump, have featured on the programme during previous election campaigns.

Trump's appearance came in 2015, when he hosted the show.

However, going on the programme so close to election day is unusual.

Brendan Carr, a Republican member of the Federal Communications Commission media regulatory agency's five-person board, slammed the move as "a clear and blatant effort to evade" its equal time rule.

The federal policy requires US broadcasters to treat political candidates equally in terms of air time, and Mr Carr wrote on X that its purpose is "to avoid exactly this type of biased and partisan conduct - a licensed broadcaster using the public airwaves to exert its influence for one candidate on the eve of an election".

Asked about the surprise appearance on Fox News, Trump's son Eric said mainstream media has been against his father "from day one".

"I mean, just no one, no one trusts most of those mainstream channels," he said. "I'm not sure if the Saturday Night Live stuff is going to ultimately matter. I think it's my father's work ethic [is] going to matter."

Harris briefly stepped away from her campaign in the battleground states to make Saturday's surprise trip to New York for the broadcast.

She arrived on Air Force Two, at LaGuardia Airport, following early evening campaigning in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Harris was scheduled to head to Detroit but aides said she'd be making an unscheduled stop once she was in the air.

Her appearance wasn't announced beforehand and was only confirmed by an official moments before it began.

Polls show the two presidential candidates are locked in a tight race in seven key swing states.

Both Harris and Trump are preparing a blitz of these battleground states in the final days of the campaign.

Source:bbc.com

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

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx275g67gw6o

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Nageeye and Chepkirui win New York City Marathon

3 November 2024

Abdi Nageeye surged past former champion Evans Chebet in the final stretch to win the men's race at the New York City Marathon in two hours seven minutes 39 seconds.

Dutch runner Nageeye finished six seconds ahead of 2022 winner Chebet, with Albert Korir taking third place and last year's winner and Olympic champion Tamirat Tola placing fourth.

"I was so focused. When I reached the finish, the emotion was not there. It felt like I was dreaming," said Nageeye - a silver medallist at the 2020 Olympics.

Kenyan runner Sheila Chepkirui, 33, won the women's event in 2:24.35, finishing 14 seconds ahead of 2023 winner Hellen Obiri.

Chepkirui, who won 10,000m bronze at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, led an all-Kenyan podium, with Vivian Cheruiyot taking third place.

"This means a lot to me. It means my training has been good. I had to really dig in and it was really hard. I pushed myself to the limit and I am so happy," said Chepkirui, after winning her first world marathon major.

Source:bbc.com

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

https://www.bbc.com/sport/athletics/articles/cew2gqrelero

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Whirlwind of misinformation sows distrust ahead of US election day

4 November 2024

Rumours, misleading allegations and outright lies about voting and fraud are flooding online spaces in unprecedented numbers in advance of the US election.

Hundreds of incidents involving purported voting irregularities are being collected and spread by individuals, as well as both independent and Republican-affiliated groups. A small number of posts are also coming from Democrats.

The US government has also alleged that foreign actors, including Russia, are spreading fake videos to undermine confidence in the electoral process.

The whirlwind of misinformation spreading online poses a challenge to election officials who are having to debunk rumours and reassure voters, while preparing to administer election day on Tuesday.

Many posts alleging election irregularities support the Trump campaign’s false claim that the former president won the 2020 election and suggestions that he will potentially be cheated out of victory again on 5 November.

When asked whether he will accept the 2024 election result, Donald Trump said during the presidential debate in September that he would if it was a "fair and legal and good election".

A majority of Americans - 70% - expect him to reject the result if he loses, according to a CNN/SSRS poll released Monday.

Just this week, Trump himself claimed widespread fraud in a key swing state.

“Pennsylvania is cheating, and getting caught, at large scale levels rarely seen before,” Trump posted on his Truth Social network. “REPORT CHEATING TO AUTHORITIES. Law Enforcement must act, NOW!”

The allegation followed officials in three Pennsylvania counties saying they were working with local law enforcement to investigate some voter registration applications for potential fraud.

While Trump and allies seized on the announcements, the state's top election official, Republican Al Schmidt, has urged caution and warned voters to be aware of "half-truths" and disinformation circulating on social media.

“This is a sign that the built-in safeguards in our voter registration process are working,” he said.

Flood of misleading content

The BBC has seen hundreds of allegations of election fraud online, on social networks and on message boards and in chat groups. Some of these posts have been viewed millions of times each.

The posts have implied it's easy for non-citizens to vote, made false claims about voting machines and sowed distrust in the ballot-counting process.

One video claimed to show recently-arrived Haitians voting in Georgia.

The BBC has found clear indications, including false addresses and stock photos, which indicate the video is a fake. On Friday US security officials said it was made by "Russian influence actors".

Another person on X claiming they were Canadian posted a picture of a ballot and said: “Figured I would drive across the border and vote."

It, too, is a fake, and part of an effort co-ordinated on the fringe message board 4chan. The ballot shown is from Florida, a state that requires identification to vote in person and is about a 20-hour drive from the Canadian border.

Meanwhile in Northhampton County, Pennsylvania, a video was posted on X showing a man dropping off a container of ballots at a courthouse, alleging suspicious activity. It turned out he was a postal worker delivering mail-in ballots, but the video was seen more than five million times.

Echoes of 2020

Experts worry the burst of misinformation just before election day could undermine people's trust in the results - or lead to threats and violence in the lead-up to the election and beyond.

It's happened before.

In the hours and days that followed the 2020 presidential election, while votes were still being counted, then-President Trump turned to social media to allege fraud and falsely claim that he was the real winner of the election. "Stop the steal" became a slogan of his supporters' movement to overturn the results.

Election polls - is Harris or Trump ahead?

On social media, chatrooms and during street protests, conspiracy theorists alleged widespread voter fraud, culminating with a riot at the US Capitol on 6 January 2021.

Meanwhile, in battleground states like Georgia, election officials - civil servants whose job it is to oversee the election - faced death threats.

While false claims about voting ramped up after the 2020 vote, groups that monitor this kind of activity say this year it has started well before election day.

Wendy Via, founder of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism (GPAHE), said some far-right and right-wing activists “are preparing themselves for the election to be stolen in a way they weren’t in 2020”.

“We cannot overstate the role of conspiracy theories in all of this,” she said.

These doubts have already reached Trump supporters on the ground. At a rally this week in Wisconsin, another key swing state, a number of people said they believed only illegal activity would prevent the Republican nominee from winning.

“I feel very confident about Trump, as long as there’s no cheating,” said Brad Miller of Green Bay, who mentioned that he’d already heard rumours about fraud. “Our only hope is that it’s not big enough to change the result.”

After the 2020 election, dozens of court cases alleging election fraud were lodged by Trump's team across multiple states, but none succeeded.

Source:bbc.com

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Trump speaks about ‘shooting through fake news media’ (VIDEO)

4 Nov, 2024

US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has said he would not mind if a would-be assassin were to shoot through the “fake news” reporters covering his events.

Trump, who has a longstanding feud with leading American news organizations, has survived two assassination attempts this year.

The former president made his remarks at a campaign rally in Lititz, Pennsylvania on Sunday, two days before the election. During his speech, he noted that there were gaps in the panes of bullet-proof glass around him, and that some of the reporters had a sight line through one of the gaps.

“I have this piece of glass over here, and I don’t have a piece of glass there,” Trump said. “But all we have really over here is the fake news, right? And to get me, somebody would have to shoot through the fake news. And I don’t mind that so much. I don’t mind. I don’t mind,” he said, eliciting laughter from the crowd.

At the same rally, Trump described news organizations as being full of “seriously corrupt people.” He singled out ABC, CBS and NBC. “The media is so damn bad. It’s unbelievable,” he told supporters.

Following a backlash online, Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung insisted that the Republican nominee’s remarks had “nothing to do with the media being harmed, or anything else.”

“It was about threats against him that were spurred on by dangerous rhetoric from Democrats,” Cheung said, arguing that Trump was making a point that reporters covering him “should have had a glass protective shield, also.”

Trump narrowly survived an attempt on his life in July, when a gunman opened fire at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. In September, another would-be assassin was arrested after hiding with a rifle at Trump’s golf course in Florida.

Trump has long accused media outlets of bias and spreading lies about him and his record as president. He has often been accused of incitement, and most recently was criticized for labeling his political rivals the “enemy from within.”

Source:rt.com

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Will the coming election make or break America?

3 Nov, 2024

As the 2024 US election nears, tension is rising across the nation, fueling fears that the American republic itself hangs in the balance.

For some, this election presents the risk of a final fracture, one where states weary of federal overreach might assert their autonomy and challenge Washington’s hold. Supporters of a more decentralized America argue that a return to local governance could strengthen the republic, while critics warn it may signal the beginning of a dissolution of that which once bound the states by family ties and shared purpose. With the world watching, the outcome of the election may determine whether America endures as a unified power or breaks up into a mosaic of rival territories, each proclaiming its own justice.

Many foresee an era of upheaval – one that may bring the nation closer to collapse than ever before. The election, many argue, could serve as a sword dividing the states, slashing the bonds of unity that held them through trials and bloodshed. A wave of mistrust washes ashore with each campaign promise and counterattack, feeding a monster that has been lurking since the nation’s founding. Dread grows that strong states like Texas may finally cast off the federal chains, carving paths as sovereign lands should they sense betrayal from a distant capital.

Some voices call for the wisdom of disaggregated administration, suggesting that perhaps strength lies not in a vast, singular realm but in federated regions, united only by a loose pact. For these, the nation’s greatness could thrive in a non-monolithic structure, one that allows each region to wield its own power and champion its distinct traditions. They see this as a way to preserve the land’s beauty, avoiding the stain of forced conformity and letting each region flourish like a proud kingdom unto itself. But others see this as the beginning of the end, a shattering of the once-mighty republic, a descent into fractious states wary of neighbors and embittered by ancient rivalries.

Across the oceans, foes of the republic watch with a glint in their eyes, sensing the scent of weakness. The world, once ordered by America’s hand, could see new realms emerge as pillars of a power shift. With America splintered, vast civilizations unshackled from Western influence could grow bold, forging a world of their own design. In the tumultuous aftermath of this election, new alliances could take shape, established on ancient principles that defy the siren song of democracy. It is a prophecy of an order led not by one people but by many, each distinct, each following the call of its own land and heritage.

For the republic itself, dark forebodings abound. Some warn that unchecked discord could rend the union asunder, casting the states as enemies sworn to conquer one another, much as kingdoms of old clashed on blood-soaked fields. Political battles, once confined to speeches and votes, may soon take the form of steel and fire, with regions seeking dominance or defense of their way of life. In such a landscape, the banners of free states could be raised high, each upholding its own “God-given” reign, even as they march against one another.

There are those who say that liberal values, driven to extremes, have weakened the vigor of the republic, depleting the core with the illusion of individualism over communal dignity. They argue that when men forget the tribe, the people, and live only for themselves, they are as lone wolves, vulnerable to the claws of more ferocious beasts. These arguments paint a grim future where tested ideals have decayed, leaving citizens as mere shadows of the proud warriors who built the land with iron will. Should this election accelerate such decomposition, it may be the final blow to a society weakened by division and abandoned traditions.

To some, the only salvation lies in dialogue, a rare form of peace wrought not by force but by mutual respect among the states. If the republic can harness this path, bringing every voice to the table in honest accord, it might yet survive. Without it, a hollow republic could become prey to darker powers, as citizens grow weary of leaders and whisper, in longing, the names of past heroes who once held honor above ambition. They foresee a world where democracy itself becomes but a fleeting memory, like a dying star once bright in the sky, now receding from view.

In the heart of this storm, some claim that if bonds are not reforged, each faction will see the other as a foe to vanquish. They remember tales of ancient kings and emperors, warriors whose realms fell not to the might of foreign swords but to the poison of betrayal and brotherhood turned bitter. This vision warns that as factions fortify against each other, the spirit of the republic might die long before the final blow, leaving behind only the empty shell of a once-great land.

Should such a schism be realized, new powers may take the helm, casting the people into a hierarchy led by the prestige of one’s birthright. Each state, each faction, would gain in strength, bound not by ideals of freedom but by ancestral pride and the desire for dominion. In this world, the republic would be forgotten, its former glories dust beneath the boots of those who know no allegiance but to their blood and soil.

Thus, the republic stands at the edge of an active volcano. The 2024 election looms as the next swing of fate’s blade, one that may either sever its fragile ties or bind them anew through struggle and ordeal. For some, the days ahead promise the dawn of a new configuration, where each region’s strength is respected and honored; for others, it spells the doom of all they hold dear, the end of a union born in blood and bound by oaths spoken over ancient, hallowed ground. Whether it is peace or war, the coming era promises a reckoning that will shape the land as surely as any conqueror’s sword.

Source:.rt.com

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https://www.rt.com/news/606935-us-election-make-break/

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Mideast

 

Leader: Zionist Regime Most Wicked Enemy of Islam

November, 03, 2024

The families of the martyrs of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Defense Force, who fought against the recent vicious attack by the Zionist regime, had a meeting with Ayatollah Khamenei in Tehran on Sunday, November 3.

In the gathering, the Leader paid tribute to the martyrs and hailed their august standing under divine blessing, saying, “The martyrdom of these dear ones is a prominent and significant martyrdom because of defending the country and nation in direct confrontation with the Zionist regime, which is the most wicked enemy of Islam.”

Ayatollah Khamenei also prayed for patience and clam for the families of the martyrs.

The Iranian Army said four of its combatants were martyred during the confrontation with the projectiles fired by the criminal Zionist regime in the early hours of October 26.

According to a statement from the Iranian Air Defense, the Israeli regime launched attacks on some military sites in the provinces of Tehran, Khuzestan and Ilam on October 26.

Source:tasnimnews.com

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Israel officially informs UN of end to relations with Palestinian relief agency

November 04, 2024

JERUSALEM: Israel has officially notified the United Nations that it was canceling the agreement that regulated its relations with the main UN relief organization for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) since 1967, the country’s foreign ministry said on Monday.

Last month, the Israeli parliament passed legislation banning UNRWA from operating in Israel and stopping Israeli authorities from cooperating with the organization, which provides aid and education services to millions of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza.

Israel has long been critical of UNRWA, set up in the wake of the 1948 war that broke out at the time of the creation of the state of Israel, accusing it of anti-Israel bias and saying it perpetuates the conflict by maintaining Palestinians in a permanent refugee status.

Since the start of the Gaza war in October last year, it has also said that the organization has been deeply infiltrated by Hamas in Gaza, accusing some of its staff of taking part in the Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

The legislation has alarmed the United Nations and some of Israel’s Western allies who fear it will further worsen the already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, where Israel has been fighting Hamas militants for a year. The ban does not refer to operations in the Palestinian territories or elsewhere.

Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon said in a statement that despite the overwhelming evidence “we submitted to the UN highlighting how Hamas infiltrated UNRWA, the UN did nothing to address this reality.”

The legislation does not directly outlaw UNRWA’s operations in the West Bank and Gaza, both considered by international law to be outside the state of Israel but under Israeli occupation.

But it will severely impact its ability to work in those areas and there has been deep alarm among aid groups and many of Israel’s partners.

The Israeli foreign ministry said activity by other international organizations would be expanded and “preparations will be made to end the connection with UNRWA and to boost alternatives to UNRWA.”

Source:arabnews.com

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Iraqi PM to participate in Arab-Islamic summit on Gaza and Lebanon

November 3, 2024

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, received an invitation on Sunday from Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to participate in an Arab-Islamic summit on Gaza and Lebanon.

The invitation was conveyed by the Saudi Ambassador to Iraq, Abdulaziz Al-Shammari, according to a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

In a phone conversation in late October, Al-Sudani and the Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, discussed plans for an Islamic summit on developments in the region.

The two sides discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations and how to align their stances to overcome challenges in order to serve the interests of the people in both Iraq and Saudi Arabia.

The two leaders’ conversation addressed regional issues, including Israel’s continuous escalation and attempts to put an end to the conflict that has been ongoing in Gaza and Lebanon for over a year.

The ongoing conflict involving Israel, Gaza, and Lebanon has escalated significantly, marked by intense military actions and a rising civilian toll.

The war intensified after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking hostages. This led to a severe Israeli military response in Gaza, with reports indicating over 43,000 Palestinian casualties since the conflict began.

Israel has expanded its military operations into Lebanon, primarily targeting Hezbollah.

Following the start of hostilities in Gaza, Hezbollah began launching rocket attacks into northern Israel, prompting Israel to retaliate with airstrikes across Lebanon.

Reports indicate that around 1,500 people have died in Lebanon due to these strikes, and over 1.2 million have been displaced.

Source:iraqinews.com

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500 Students honored at Qur'an schools ceremony in Sana'a

03 Nov 2024

The Martyr of the Qur’an School for Islamic Sciences at al-Firdaws Mosque in Shu’ub district of Sana’a held its inaugural honoring ceremony on Sunday, celebrating the achievements of 500 students from the Generation of the Qur’an schools for the year 1446 AH.

The event was attended by prominent figures, including Fahd al-Azzi, Deputy Director of the Office of the Presidency of the Republic, and Khaled al-Madani, First Undersecretary of the Capital Sana'a.

Scholar al-Azzi Rajih commended the efforts of those involved in the Qur’an circles, highlighting their role in instilling divine guidance among students and fostering a strong Qur’anic culture in society.

Rajih emphasized the importance of Qur’an memorization and education as a means to empower the youth with the teachings of Islam and protect them from negative influences. He encouraged students to continue pursuing knowledge and embodying the principles of the Qur’an in their lives.

During the ceremony, student Abdulqadir al-Rashidi spoke on behalf of his peers, reflecting on the skills and religious knowledge they gained, which equip them to counter destructive ideologies through Qur’an circles established in 25 mosques, including those focused on memorizing and reciting the Holy Qur’an.

The ceremony featured various performances and was attended by key figures in the education sector, community leaders, and parents. A documentary film was also showcased, detailing the launch of the Martyr of the Qur’an School and its initiatives over the past year.

Source:saba.ye

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https://www.saba.ye/en/news3391732.htm

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Iran president says potential ceasefire ‘could affect’ response to Israel

November 03, 2024

TEHRAN: Iran’s president said Sunday a potential ceasefire between its allies and Israel “could affect the intensity” of Tehran’s response to Israel’s recent strikes on Iranian military sites.

“If they (the Israelis) reconsider their behavior, accept a ceasefire and stop massacring the oppressed and innocent people of the region, it could affect the intensity and type of our response,” Masoud Pezeshkian said, quoted by state news agency IRNA.

He added that Iran “will not leave unanswered any aggression against its sovereignty and security,” according to the news agency.

Israeli warplanes carried out the Oct. 26 strikes in what Israel said was retaliation for Tehran’s October 1 missile barrage.

Iran had in turn described that attack as a reprisal for the killing of Iran-backed militant leaders and a Revolutionary Guards commander.

Since the strikes last month, Israel has warned Iran against retaliating, while Tehran vowed to respond.

On Saturday, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say in all matters of the state, said the Islamic republic would retaliate.

“The enemies, both the USA and the Zionist regime, should know that they will definitely receive a tooth-breaking response to what they are doing against Iran, the Iranian nation, and the resistance front,” Khamenei said in a speech to students in Tehran.

He was referring to the alliance of Tehran-backed armed groups that include Yemen’s Houthi rebels, Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.

After the strikes, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said they “hit Iran’s defense capabilities and missile production.”

Iran’s armed forces said the attack killed four military personnel and caused “limited damage” to a few radar systems. Iranian media said a civilian was also killed.

Source:arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2577920/middle-east

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Israel says nabbed Syrian spy working for Iran

November 03, 2024

JERUSALEM: The Israeli military said on Sunday it had captured a Syrian spy for Iran in recent months, thwarting a planned attack by what it described as Iranian terror networks.

The military named the “Iranian terror network operative” as Ali Soleiman Al-Assi, a Syrian citizen living in the area of the southern village of Saida.

“His activities included gathering intelligence on IDF (Israeli military) troops in the border area for future terror activity of the network,” it said in a statement.

The military said the operation took place “in recent months,” adding that the Syrian citizen “was detained and transferred for interrogation in Israel.”

The operation “prevented a future attack and led to the exposure of the operational methods of Iranian terror networks located near the (occupied) Golan Heights.”

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, had previously reported that Israel had seized a Syrian man on July 19.

“Israeli forces detained a citizen who worked as a driver to transport milk to the capital Damascus,” the war monitor said in July.

It added that the Syrian was detained in the village of Al-Razatiya, in a southern province bordering the Golan Heights annexed by Israel.

“An Israeli military force of three cars and an armored vehicle crossed the border, entered the village and took the man to the occupied Golan Heights,” the observatory said.

Since late September Israel has been engaged in full-scale war against Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Hezbollah began launching cross-border attacks last year, saying it was acting in support of Palestinian militants Hamas, whose unprecedented attack against Israel on October 7, 2023 triggered the ongoing war in Gaza.

Iran-aligned groups in Yemen, Iraq and Syria have also been drawn into the fighting, and Iran and Israel have themselves attacked each other, heightening fears of even wider conflict.

Source:arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2577914/middle-east

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Israeli authorities probe suspected Gaza intelligence leak by Netanyahu aide

November 03, 2024

RISHON LE-ZION, Israel: A suspected leak of classified Gaza documents involving an aide to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has jolted Israeli politics and outraged the families of hostages held by Hamas who have been pushing for a deal to get their loved ones home.

Details of the case have been trickling out only slowly because of a gag order.

But a court ruling partially lifting the order has provided an initial glimpse of the case which the court said had compromised security sources and may have harmed Israel’s war effort.

On Friday, the magistrates’ court confirmed that a number of suspects had been arrested as part of the probe into a suspected “security breach caused by the illegal provision of classified information.”

Netanyahu has denied any wrongdoing by his office staffers and said in a statement on Saturday that he was only made aware of the leaked document by the media. The suspects could not be reached for comment.

Details from the document in question were published by the German Bild newspaper on Sept. 6, according to Israeli newspaper Haaretz, one of the media outlets that had appealed the court to lift the gag order.

The article, labelled as an exclusive, purportedly outlined the negotiation strategy of Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist militant group which Israel has been fighting in Gaza for more than a year.

Around that time, the United States, Qatar and Egypt were mediating ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas, that were to include a deal to release hostages held in Gaza.

But the talks faltered with Israel and Hamas trading blame for the deadlock. The article in question largely corresponded with Netanyahu’s allegations against Hamas over the impasse.

It was published days after six Israeli hostages were found executed in a Hamas tunnel in southern Gaza. Their killing sparked mass protests in Israel and outraged hostage families, who accused Netanyahu of torpedoing the ceasefire talks for political reasons.

On Saturday, some of the families joined the Israeli journalists’ appeal to lift the gag order.

“These people have been living on a rollercoaster of rumors and half-truths,” said their lawyer, Dana Pugach.

“For the last year they have been waiting to hear any intelligence or any information about negotiations for the release of those hostages. If some of that information had been stolen from army sources then we think that the families have the right to learn about any relevant detail,” she added.

In another session on Sunday about the investigation by the Shin Bet domestic security service, police and the military, the court ordered one suspect be released, while keeping others in remand, according to Israeli Channel 13 News.

Asked about the investigation, Bild said that it does not comment on its sources. “The authenticity of the document known to us was confirmed by the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) immediately after publication,” it said.

The war in Gaza erupted after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages back to the enclave, according to Israeli tallies. Israel’s retaliatory offensives have killed more than 43,000 Palestinians and reduced much of Gaza to rubble.

Source:arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2577912/middle-east

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Balkan Scholars Meeting held in Türkiye with calls for global Muslim solidarity

04.11.2024

Gokhan Balci

A meeting of scholars from the Balkans region was held Sunday in northwestern Türkiye, bringing together chief muftis, scholars and religious leaders from several Balkan nations.

The Balkan Scholars Meeting was organized by the Islamic Scholars Foundation under the title "Our Own Dome," with the support of the governorship of Edirne province and hosted by the local Trakya University.

Brotherhood between Anatolia and the Balkans was emphasized during the event.

Nasrullah Hacimuftuoglu, head of the Islamic Scholars Foundation, read the final declaration at the event, highlighting the urgent need for awareness and action in response to global crises.

"Our world is experiencing a human crisis. Global powers have trampled on the fundamental human values gained through painful experiences over centuries," he said.

"The Islamic world has suffered the most serious damage from all this and continues to do so," Hacimuftuoglu added.

Hacimuftuoglu also criticized the Islamic world for its "unacceptable" lacking response to Israel's ongoing genocidal offensive in the Gaza Strip.

"The international community must immediately take initiative on this matter with all its capabilities."

He urged Islamic leaders to collaborate on policies that promote unity among Muslim states.

"Islamic scholars and opinion leaders should lead Muslim states in developing policies grounded in Islamic brotherhood and ummah (global Muslim community) consciousness."

The meeting served as a platform for discussing various issues, including religious services and social and cultural activities, with a collective call for vigilance against injustices faced by Muslims worldwide.

Hacimuftuoglu concluded by expressing the foundation's commitment to engaging with Islamic scholars globally, underscoring the importance of solidarity in addressing contemporary challenges.

Source:aa.com.tr

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https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkiye/balkan-scholars-meeting-held-in-turkiye-with-calls-for-global-muslim-solidarity/3383239

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Blind Bulgarian predicts future including global conflict, Muslim rule

By MAARIV

NOVEMBER 4, 2024

Throughout history, many people have claimed to have the power to see the future, offering a vision of what awaits humanity. Among these, Baba Vanga, a blind Bulgarian mystic, stands out due to her many prophecies that captured public attention.

Her predictions, which continue to spark interest and debate, have left many pondering their meanings, particularly as the world nears years she described as pivotal.

As 2025 approaches, Vanga's prophecies have garnered significant interest due to their alignment with current global challenges. The renowned mystic predicted a major conflict in Europe, exacerbated by current tensions between Russia and Ukraine, with severe nuclear implications.

Vanga also envisioned environmental disasters linked to climate change, including widespread droughts and wildfires.

On a hopeful note, she foresaw advancements in lab-grown human organs, a breakthrough expected to extend life expectancy and alleviate organ transplant shortages. This blend of urgency and optimism reflects the complex realities the world faces as we approach 2025.

Prophesied world war

Notably, Baba Vanga warned of a new war breaking out in 2025, threatening Europe's population and potentially triggering a global cataclysm. Reports state that she specifically indicated that Russian President Vladimir Putin would triumph and suggested that Russia would dominate globally.

She further claimed that while the end of the world would begin in 2025, complete human extinction would not occur until 5079.

Beyond conflict, her forecasts include Europe coming under Muslim rule by 2043 and a return to global communist governance by 2076. She highlighted that the world’s ultimate demise in 5079 would be caused by a natural event.

Baba Vanga, whose full name was Vangelia Pandeva Gushterova, was born in 1911. She lost her sight at age 12 after being caught in a violent storm, an event she claimed led to her acquiring predictive powers.

These abilities brought her fame as her forecasts resonated globally. She even accurately predicted her own death, reportedly stating in a 1990 interview that she would die on August 11, 1996—a prediction that came true. Despite her death, the legacy of her prophecies endures, with new interpretations frequently surfacing.

Source:jpost.com

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https://www.jpost.com/international/article-827417

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Qatar's Islamic finance assets valued at QR656bn: Bait Al-Mashura

NOVEMBER 03, 2024

Qatar is the fifth largest Islamic finance market in the world with assets valued at QR656bn, growing at 3.3% on an annualised basis, according to Bait Al-Mashura Journal, published by Bait Al-Mashura Financial Consultations Company.

"The estimates indicate that Islamic banks are expanding all over the world and witnessing an increase in their market share and demand for their innovative financial products. Takaful insurance companies and Islamic investment firms are also experiencing significant growth worldwide," said Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti, Editor-in-Chief of Bait Al-Mashura magazine and Vice-Chairman of Bait Al-Mashura Financial Consultations Company.

Bait Al-Mashura Journal was ranked first in the Arab world for the specialisation of “Islamic Economics and Finance” among “19” Arab countries and more than “1500”scientific and research institutions. The rank was awarded by the Arab Citation and Impact Factor (ARCIF), for the year 2024.

It was classified in the first quartile (Q1), which is the top quadrant for the field. It also obtained an impact factor of (0.5926) and succeeded in achieving the accreditation criteria of the (ARCIF) factor, by meeting the 32 global standards required by ARCIF, which aligns with the international benchmarks.

The ARCIF database collects, studies and analyses data from thousands of titles of Arab scientific and research journals in various disciplines, while the Supervisory and Coordination Council for the ARCIF Impact Factor consists of representatives of several Arab and international entities, namely: UNESCO Regional Office for Education in the Arab States in Beirut, United Nations Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), Bibliotheca Alexandrina, and the Knowledge Database of the Association of Special Libraries - Gulf Branch.

Source:gulf-times.com

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https://www.gulf-times.com/article/693824/business/qatars-islamic-finance-assets-valued-at-qr656bn-bait-al-mashura

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PM Al-Sudani receives invitation from King of Saudi Arabia to participate in Arab-Islamic Summit on Gaza and Lebanon

November, 03, 2024

Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al-Sudani Receives Invitation from King of Saudi Arabia to Participate in Arab-Islamic Summit on Gaza and Lebanon.

 “Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al-Sudani has received an official invitation from King of Saudi Arabia, His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, to participate in an Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh, which will focus on the developments in Gaza and Lebanon and the ongoing Zionist aggression,” stated The Media Office of The Prime Minister , in a statement received by The Iraqi News Agency-INA.

 “The invitation was delivered to Prime Minister Al-Sudani today by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Iraq, Mr. Abdulaziz Al-Shammari,” the statement added.

 The statement further stated,”The meeting included discussions on strengthening bilateral relations and exploring opportunities for development across various sectors, including political and economic areas. Emphasizing the importance of coordinating positions and addressing current challenges to promote mutual benefits and serve the interests of both nations.”

Source:ina.iq

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Turkiye sacks 3 mayors in Kurdish majority southeast: interior ministry

November 04, 2024

ISTANBUL: Turkiye on Monday sacked three mayors facing terrorism charges in the Kurdish-majority southeast and replaced them with trustees, the interior ministry said.

The mayors in the cities of Mardin and Batman as well as Halfeti — a district in the Sanliurfa province — were removed from their positions, the ministry said.

The three from the pro-Kurdish DEM party were elected in the March local elections when opposition candidates won in numerous towns and cities across Turkiye, including Istanbul.

Ahmet Turk won the vote in Mardin, while Gulistan Sonuk was mayor of Batman and Mehmet Karayilan represented Halfeti.

Their dismissal comes days after another mayor from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) party was arrested for alleged links to the banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in an Istanbul district and replaced with a governor.

Ahmet Ozer, 64, mayor of the Istanbul district of Esenyurt, was arrested on Wednesday with the government swiftly appointing a trustee to take his place.

Both the CHP and DEM, the main pro-Kurdish party — which slammed his arrest as a “political coup” — protested against what they said was the politically-motivated detention of the mayor.

The dismissals come after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed full support for one of his political ally’s attempts to reach out to Turkiye’s Kurds, describing it as a “window of opportunity.”

The Turkish government has removed dozens of elected Kurdish mayors in the southeast and replaced them with its own trustees.

Source:arabnews.com

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Yemen’s Houthis will keep blockade on Israeli vessels after asset sale reports

November 03, 2024

CAIRO: Yemen’s Houthis said on Sunday they would maintain their maritime blockade against Israeli vessels in response to “intelligence information” regarding Israeli shipping companies selling their assets to other companies.

The Iran-aligned Houthis have said they are intensifying their attacks to support Hamas and Hezbollah in their resistance against Israeli actions in the region.

“Intelligence information confirms that many companies operating in maritime shipping affiliated to the Israeli enemy are working to sell their assets and transfer their properties from shipping and maritime transport ships to other companies,” said Yahya Sarea, military spokesperson of the group.

The Houthis will not recognize any changes of ownership and warned against any collaboration with these companies, Sarea said in a televised address.

Sarea also said the Houthis will continue imposing their naval blockade on Israel and would target any ships belonging to, linked to, or heading to Israel.

He said the blockade would continue until “the aggression stops and the siege on the Gaza Strip is lifted and the aggression on Lebanon stops.”

Source:arabnews.com

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Jordan to host inaugural Gulf-Jordanian Investment Conference

November 03, 2024

LONDON: The Jordan Chamber of Commerce will host the inaugural Gulf-Jordanian Investment Conference on Dec. 4, the Jordan News Agency reported on Sunday.

Held in alignment with Jordan’s Economic Modernization Vision, the event is the latest bid to boost economic cooperation between Jordan and the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) in conjunction with the Gulf-Jordanian Economic Forum, which held its third edition in 2023.

The conference will coincide with the 65th meeting of the Federation of Chambers of the GCC’s Board of Directors — the first such gathering held outside the GCC states.

The JCC President Khalil Haj Tawfiq told of the collaborative spirit of the conference in a statement on Sunday.

He said: “Through this conference we aspire to establish an integrated economic framework that will strengthen trade and investment cooperation, allowing us to better navigate global economic challenges and attract further investment.”

Key figures expected at the conference include the Secretary-General of the GCC Jasem Al-Budaiwi, leaders of Gulf chambers, board members, prominent Gulf investors, and representatives of economic and financial institutions from Jordan and the Gulf region.

The agenda will feature in-depth discussions on investment opportunities, success stories of Gulf investments in Jordan, and sector-focused dialogues with Jordanian ministers.

Priority sectors include energy, mining, transportation, logistics, tourism investment, food security, agricultural production, information technology, and pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Tawfiq highlighted the timeliness of the event, given the current economic challenges facing the region.

He praised King Abdullah II for fostering stability and creating an investor-friendly environment, adding: “This conference is pivotal for Gulf-Jordanian economic integration, especially as global economic crises continue to affect us all.”

Source:arabnews.com

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UN experts say Houthis collaborated with Al-Qaeda to weaken Yemeni government

SAEED AL-BATATI

November 03, 2024

AL-MUKALLA: Yemen’s Houthi militia has armed Al-Qaeda militants, provided them with a haven, and facilitated attacks on Yemeni government-controlled areas, UN experts said. The Houthis have also made millions of dollars through sea piracy.

Disclosing the strange partnership between the Houthis and Al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups, including Al-Shabaab in Somalia, the UN Panel of Experts on Yemen said in their report that the Houthis and Al-Qaeda agreed to put aside their differences and focus on weakening the Yemeni government by transferring weapons, coordinating attacks on Yemeni government forces, cooperating to smuggle weapons into Yemen, sharing intelligence information, and providing haven for the other’s fighters.

“That opportunistic alliance is characterized by cooperation in security and intelligence, offering safe havens for each other’s members, reinforcing their respective strongholds and coordinating efforts to target the Government’s forces,” the report said, adding that the Houthis also released incarcerated Al-Qaeda fighters convicted of terrorism and provided Al-Qaeda with drones and rockets.

“Since the beginning of 2024, the two groups have coordinated operations directly. They agreed that the Houthis would transfer four uncrewed aerial vehicles, as well as thermal rockets and explosive devices, and that the Houthis would provide training to AQAP (Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula) fighters.”

Citing deadly drone attacks by Al-Qaeda in Abyan, Yemeni military commanders have lately accused the Houthis of supplying Al-Qaeda with drones and other weapons, as well as sheltering Al-Qaeda militants who stage hit-and-run attacks on government troops.

The 537-page report, which covers the period from Sept. 1, 2023, to July 31, 2024, described Hezbollah as “one of the most important” supporters of the Houthis in Yemen, assisting them in decision-making, field military support through the use and assembly of weapons and fighting techniques, increasing their financial revenues, recruitment and brainwashing techniques, and managing Houthi media propaganda.

The Houthis have a variety of revenue sources to support their military efforts, including selling rare and valuable antiques and antiquities abroad, minting coins and printing currencies, imposing levies on telecom companies in areas under their control, confiscating assets of companies, including Yemenia airways revenues, smuggling weapons and banned pesticides, and imposing levies on oil imports to the country.

“The Houthis have been amassing substantial illegal resources through the organized smuggling of various items such as weapons, drugs, telecommunications equipment, prohibited goods such as banned pesticides, non-permissible medicines, and cultural heritage property,” the report said.

It added: “The Panel's investigations revealed that Houthi-appointed authorities collected approximately 994 billion Yemeni rials in the name of customs duties on imports of fuel through ports under their control during the period from April 1, 2022, to June 30, 2024, under the exchange rate prevailing in government-controlled areas.”

However, during the Houthi campaign against ships that the Yemeni militia claimed were in support of the Palestinian people, the Houthis have collected approximately $180 million a month from ships to allow them to sail in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden without being attacked, and a high-ranking Houthi leader facilitated the transfer of the money from the shipping agencies to the militia’s coffers.

“The sources estimate the Houthis’ earnings from these illegal safe-transit fees to be about $180 million per month. The Panel has not been able to verify this information independently.”

The UN experts also accused the Houthis of recruiting and exploiting Ethiopian migrants — who arrive in the country by the thousands each year — to fight alongside them against the Yemeni government while also facilitating drug trafficking.

The Yemeni government, as well as local and international rights groups, have previously said that the Houthis recruited thousands of African migrants to fight the Yemeni government. 

“Other sources informed the Panel that the Houthis have also recruited mercenaries from the Tigray and Oromo Ethiopian tribes, at salaries ranging from $80 to $100. The Panel has been unable to verify that information and continues to investigate,” the experts said.

The Yemeni government welcomed the findings of the UN report and urged the world to designate the Houthis as a terrorist organization and cut off their financial resources.

Yemen’s Information Minister Moammar Al-Eryani said in a post on X that the collusion between the Houthis and other terrorist organizations is intended to “weaken the Yemeni state, destabilizing security and stability in liberated areas,” thereby undermining maritime navigation security.

Source:arabnews.com

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Arab World

 

Riyadh to focus on urban planning at Egypt forum

November 03, 2024

RIYADH: The municipality of Riyadh will take part in the 12th World Urban Forum, organized by the UN Human Settlements Programme in Cairo, from Nov. 4-8.

It will showcase the Kingdom’s role in sustainable urban development, aligned with Vision 2030 goals, including urban planning, reducing visual pollution, and enhancing environmental, health, and urban sustainability standards.

The municipality will also highlight the Kingdom’s achievements in sustainable urban goals across various sectors, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

Focus areas include comprehensive urban planning, sustainable transportation, community engagement, waste management, green spaces, and solutions to environmental challenges.

These initiatives aim to create resilient, inclusive urban communities that make use of local innovations to enhance quality of life and protect the environment.

Additionally, the municipality will emphasize its strategic focus on urban development, infrastructure innovation, and sustainability through AI, data analysis, and project management to build a sustainable urban model that meets the demands of modern cities worldwide.

By participating in the forum, the municipality reinforces its commitment to strengthening regional and international partnerships.

Source:arabnews.com

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Saudi Arabia promotes cultural dialogue as Paris hosts Arab Week

November 03, 2024

RIYADH: Arab Week will open on Monday at the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization headquarters in Paris, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The two-day event plays a significant role in advancing Arab and international cultural and civilizational efforts, contributing to the progress of education, culture, and science at both regional and global levels.

This is the first time in over half a century that Arab countries have organized an Arab Week at UNESCO. The event is spearheaded by the Kingdom’s Saudi National Committee for Education, Culture, and Science, which reinforces the Kingdom’s position regarding cultural dialogue and coexistence.

The event celebrates the rich cultural heritage of the Arab world through literature and the arts. It also provides opportunities for intercultural dialogue, with all Arab countries showcasing the richness and diversity of Arab culture, promoting intercultural understanding, and contributing to cultural development.

Arab Week at UNESCO features 22 spaces dedicated to Arab countries, each showcasing different aspects of Arab culture. Seven seminars will focus on topics such as the Arabic language, Arabic calligraphy, Arabic literature, AI, education, fine arts, intangible cultural heritage, and world heritage.

Musical performances, handicrafts, Arab fashion, and Arab cuisine will also be on show.

Visitors will be able to explore a cultural exhibition, an Arabic calligraphy exhibition, a photography exhibition of heritage sites in the Arab world, and an exhibition of Arab cultural products.

The committee’s work aims to represent the Kingdom in regional and international organizations concerned with education, culture, communication, and information.

It focuses on preparing and providing support for cooperation with international and non-profit organizations, building communication bridges, and leveraging all capabilities to foster initiatives that enhance cultural dialogue between Arab countries and the rest of the world.

Arab Week has received the support and endorsement of Arab countries, and will highlight their historical diversity and cultural pluralism, as well as their values rooted in a rich cultural and civilizational heritage.

Source:arabnews.com

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Saudi project clears 636 Houthi mines in Yemen

November 03, 2024

Riyadh: Members of Saudi Arabia’s Project Masam removed 636 explosive devices from various regions of Yemen last week.

The total included four anti-personnel mines, 36 anti-tank mines and 596 unexploded ordnances, according to a recent report.

Ousama Al-Gosaibi, the initiative’s managing director, said a total of 468,067 mines had been cleared since its inception in 2018.

The explosives were planted indiscriminately and posed a threat to civilians, including children, women and the elderly.

Project Masam is one of several initiatives undertaken by Saudi Arabia on the orders of King Salman to help the Yemeni people, clearing routes for humanitarian aid to reach the country’s citizens.

The demining operations took place in Marib, Aden, Jouf, Shabwa, Taiz, Hodeidah, Lahij, Sanaa, Al-Bayda, Al-Dhale and Saada.

The initiative trains local demining engineers and provides them with modern equipment. It also offers support to Yemenis injured by the devices.

Teams are tasked with clearing villages, roads and schools to facilitate safe movement for civilians and the delivery of humanitarian aid.

About 5 million people have been forced to flee their homes since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many of them displaced by the presence of land mines.

Source:arabnews.com

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Riyadh hosts road safety, sustainability forum

WAAD HUSSAIN

November 03, 2024

RIYADH: Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistics Saleh Al-Jasser inaugurated the Road Safety and Sustainability Conference and Exhibition in Riyadh on Sunday.

The two-day event, themed “Innovating for Tomorrow,” is organized by the General Authority for Roads together with the International Road Federation, and has attracted over 1,000 specialists from more than 50 countries, including major global companies.

Al-Jasser, who is also the chairman of the General Authority for Roads, said that the number of deaths on the Kingdom's roads has decreased by nearly 50 percent, exceeding the targets set in the National Transport and Logistics Strategy introduced in 2021.

In his speech, the minister also praised the Kingdom’s efforts to elevate road safety standards and enhance sustainability.

Al-Jasser said that the Kingdom ranked fourth among the G20 countries in the Road Quality Index, confirming its leadership in achieving the highest standards of safety and quality on roads.

The conference emphasizes Saudi Arabia’s global standing in the roads sector. Key projects under the National Transport and Logistics Strategy have improved road safety and reduced fatalities, affirming the Kingdom’s commitment to safety.

Saudi Arabia has introduced initiatives to preserve road infrastructure, including performance-based contracts for greater transparency, spending efficiency, and service standards, aligning with Vision 2030.

Following the inauguration, a ministerial session titled “Road Safety: Innovation and Lessons Learned” gathered officials from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Georgia, Cyprus, and Nepal to discuss policy-driven solutions for road safety, emissions reduction, and sustainable infrastructure.

The conference features over 130 scientific papers and 27 innovative technologies on sustainable transport, including advancements in AI and smart transport systems for traffic management, vehicle safety, and environmental impact reduction.

An exhibition with 20 organizations showcases innovations in AI, smart transport, and sustainable mobility.

The conference offers a platform for global experts to share insights, best practices, and the transformative role of emerging technologies in road safety and transport.

Source:arabnews.com

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Saudi toymaker helps Arab children connect with heritage

TAREQ AL-THAQAFI

November 04, 2024

MAKKAH: The Jawlah Foundation in Saudi Arabia has been creating toys and games since 2020 to give children a deeper connection with Arab culture while improving their cognitive abilities.

Founder Shahd Al-Athel, a Saudi Arabia academic, who spoke to Arab News recently, said the company was founded because she saw “a clear gap in the content of children’s toys.”

Al-Athel said many of the products on the market for children “does not reflect our Islamic environment or represent the identity of our Arab children.”

“For instance, instead of playing with toys such as palm trees, children were engaging with Christmas trees and pine trees.”

Al-Athel’s formative years were in the US, which she says shaped her childhood activities and ideas on traditions, and she felt disconnected from her heritage.

While her friends in the US engaged in customs that reflected their identity and heritage, she yearned to do so herself.

At 15, Al-Athel moved to Saudi Arabia, where she experienced the warmth of family relationships and the richness of Arab and Islamic culture for the first time.

In the Kingdom, Al-Athel developed a sense of belonging, and gained a great deal of knowledge about her identity at secondary school by engaging in activities with fellow learners.

At university, Al-Athel decided to specialize in education. She obtained a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from the University of Hartford in the US, followed by a master’s degree in educational technology and digital design from New York University.

Al-Athel said she worked for the children’s television show “Sesame Street” in New York, contributing to the development of English-language content tailored for a culturally diverse audience.

However, she felt that the work did not align with her ambition to create educational content for Arab children, prompting her to leave the company.

Returning to Saudi Arabia, she joined Saudi Aramco and worked at the entrepreneurship center Wa’ed, which serves as an incubator for businesses and startups.

Al-Athel spent a year at Wa’ed, during which she learned the fundamentals of entrepreneurship and gained experience in project management that would ultimately prepare her to establish her own company.

After giving birth to her first son, Abdullah, the family moved to Malaysia. As a dedicated mother keen on shaping his identity, she sought methods to teach Abdullah Arabic.

However, she found it challenging to find suitable educational materials for this purpose.

These were all experiences that inspired her to eventually create Jawlah.

Source:arabnews.com

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Saudi deputy foreign minister receives Red Cross president

November 03, 2024

Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Elkhereiji received President of the International Committee of the Red Cross Mirjana Spoljaric in Riyadh on Sunday.

During the meeting, they reviewed various aspects of joint humanitarian work, the Foreign Ministry wrote on X.

The two sides also discussed regional and international developments.

Meanwhile, Saudi Deputy Minister for International Multilateral Affairs Abdulrahman Al-Rassi met with Shahin Abdullayev, Azerbaijan’s ambassador to the Kingdom, in Riyadh on Sunday.

They discussed bilateral relations and topics of common interest.

Source:arabnews.com

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UNESCO chair hosts translating cultures workshops

November 03, 2024

RIYADH: The UNESCO Chair in Translating Cultures at the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, supported by the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission, recently hosted three online workshops.

The workshops were attended by members of the Translating Cultures Lab and researchers with an interest in translating cultures.

The lab unites renowned scholars and early-career Saudi researchers to publish papers on the 2024 theme, “Rethinking Translating Cultures and its Conceptual Framework,” focusing on knowledge transfer and translation in the Global South.

At the workshops researchers presented papers and received feedback from lab members to refine them for publication.

In the first two workshops, six papers were presented, addressing issues in translating cultures, including cultural narratives, religious concepts such as “mahr” in Islam, and humor translation in modern Saudi literature.

Other topics included foreignizing and domesticating Arab culture in translation, translation as knowledge transfer, and translating Plastic Arts into Arabic.

The papers were presented by scholars from King Khalid University (Saudi Arabia), Indira Gandhi National Open University (India), Jagiellonian University (Poland), Mohammed I University Oujda (Morocco), the Catholic University of America (US), and an independent Australian researcher.

The third workshop reviewed papers for an edited volume by the Translating Cultures Lab on the theme of “Rethinking Translating Cultures.”

The UNESCO chair views “translating cultures” as a concept tied to broader debates in the humanities, regarding it as a continuous process involving translation, cross-cultural communication, and knowledge sharing.

Source:arabnews.com

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From crocodiles to kangaroos — Riyadh Zoo thrills visitors

November 03, 2024

RIYADH: Riyadh Zoo has added a bird show to its already extensive lineup as part of Riyadh Season 2024, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The zoo offers an exceptional experience for wildlife enthusiasts, as well as giving visitors of all ages an opportunity to learn about animal life, environmental care, and conservation awareness.

A farm area has been enhanced to provide interactive activities that promote an understanding of biodiversity and the importance of preserving nature.

One of the highlights is the Croc Cave, where visitors can safely observe crocodiles up close.

At Kangaroo Arena, visitors can enjoy a rare encounter with the Australian marsupials and capture memorable photos.

To enrich the educational experience, the new farm area provides hands-on activities that educate visitors on nature and wildlife conservation.

The zoo is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., giving visitors ample time to enjoy its diverse facilities, which span 161,000 square meters and house over 1,400 animals of various species.

A variety of outlets and mobile food trucks offer a wide range of food and beverages, as well as family-friendly seating areas for comfort.

In a move aimed at enhancing inclusivity, Riyadh Season offers free entry to senior citizens aged 60 and older for its entertainment areas.

The initiative was announced by Turki Al-Sheikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, as part of efforts to make the season more accessible to all.

Seniors can enter select areas by showing their Tawakkalna application at designated gates.

The areas included in the offer are Boulevard World, Boulevard Runway, and Wonder Garden, along with the standard free-entry areas such as Riyadh Zoo, Al-Suwaidi Park, and Souq Al-Awaleen. They will also have access to Boulevard City and VIA Riyadh without the need for prior tickets.

However, the offer does not cover events with reserved seating, such as concerts, plays, boxing matches, or special experiences, which require separate ticketing arrangements.The initiative underscores Riyadh Season’s commitment to ensuring that all segments of society can enjoy its diverse offerings.

Source:arabnews.com

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Africa

 

Muslims beg Aiyedatiwa to upgrade institution

November 3, 2024

Muslims Ansar-ud-Deen Comprehensive High School Old Students’ Association has begged Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to improve infrastructure and learning facilities of the school.

It said it provided funding for ad-hoc staff of the school due to the dearth of teachers in critical subjects.

National President of the Association, Naibi Afolabi Ahmed, who spoke in Owo at a press briefing to mark the 50th anniversary of the school, said all public schools in the state need improved infrastructure and learning facilities.

Ahmed said the 50th-anniversary ceremony would feature awards of excellence to notable Owo Kingdom indigenes and alumni who have distinguished themselves in their various callings as well as in their contribution to the school and the community.

He said the old students have embarked on some projects that were begging for support such as renovation of the school hall, sports field, hostel accommodation, computer and laboratory halls.

Source:thenationonlineng.net

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Chad May Withdraw From MNJTF Amid Rising Boko Haram Threats

 4 November 2024

By George Oshogwe Ogbolu

Chad’s President, Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, has indicated the potential withdrawal of Chadian forces from the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) following a recent Boko Haram assault that left casualties among Chadian soldiers.

After the October 27 attack on a Chadian army position in Barkaram, President Deby immediately took charge of military operations along the Lake Chad border.

A statement from Hassan Abdelkerim Bouyëbri, Chad’s Director General of Communication, revealed that the President is assessing the impact of the incident and expressed concern over the coalition’s diminishing unity, stating, “The MNJTF’s lack of coordinated action against Boko Haram shows the coalition’s waning commitment to this shared struggle.”

Since arriving at the frontline on October 28, President Deby has overseen the burial of fallen soldiers, ensured medical care for the injured, and established a local command post to guide counter-insurgency efforts.

He also announced Operation Haskanite to root out remaining Boko Haram fighters, bolstered Chad’s border defenses, and outlined strategies to confront asymmetric warfare tactics by the militants.

President Deby reiterated his dedication to protecting Chad’s citizens and addressing security threats but indicated that Chad might reconsider its involvement with the MNJTF if collective action within the task force does not improve.

Established in 1994, the MNJTF brings together troops from Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria, originally to address cross-border crime but expanded in 2012 to combat terrorism across the Lake Chad Basin.

Source:naijanews.com

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CAF Verdict: FG Denies Report Of Harassments, Arrest Of Nigerians In Libya

 3 November 2024

By Oladipo Abiola

The federal government has debunked claims that Nigerians are getting subjected to harassment and ill-treatment in Libya as a result of the recent ruling by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), which awarded the Super Eagles three points and a fine of $50,000 against Libya following a botched 2025 AFCON qualifier.

There had been reports that following the CAF verdict issued in favour of the Super Eagles of Nigeria, authorities in Libya had begun arresting and ill-treating Nigerians in the North African nation.

The report claimed the Nigerian community in Libya is facing a wave of mass arrests and fines following the recent ruling by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), which went against them.

However, a statement issued on Sunday by the Spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Eche Abu-Obe, said reports available to the government show otherwise.

It stressed that Nigerians in the North African country were going about their normal businesses.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to convey that as of the time of making this statement, Nigerians in Libya are going about their daily activities, devoid of any form of harassment by Libyan authorities.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to reiterate that the wellbeing of Nigerian citizens anywhere in the world is a top priority of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and will continue to strive to safeguard it at all times,” the statement read in part.

Naija News recalls the Super Eagles were subjected to a traumatic experience at the Al-Abraq Airport, where they were held for over 20 hours ahead of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Libya.

The Nigerian team eventually withdrew from the match and returned to the country.

Following an investigation by CAF’s disciplinary committee, the Libyan Football Federation (LFF) was found guilty of breaching several regulations and slammed a fine, including awarding all three points and three goals to Nigeria from the cancelled match. Source:naijanews.com

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Sudan’s army chief appoints new acting foreign minister

November 04, 2024

CAIRO: Sudan’s army chief Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan has appointed a new acting foreign minister, following a cabinet decision issued on Sunday.

Hussein Awad Ali has been relieved of his duties, with Ali Youssef Ahmed taking his place, a statement from Burhan’s office said.

Source:arabnews.com

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Nigerians Petition Tinubu To Halt Trial Of Minors Detained After #EndBadGovernance Protest

4 November 2024

By Enioluwa Adeniyi

A growing number of concerned Nigerians have launched a petition urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in the ongoing trial of minors arrested on charges of treason following their involvement in the recent #EndBadGovernance protest.

Published on Change.org, the petition highlights concerns over the welfare of these children, who are reportedly facing severe legal consequences and calls for their immediate release.

The petition, which began circulating on Saturday, calls on President Tinubu to “defend the vulnerable and uphold justice, especially for our nation’s children.”

Citing the distressing image of children collapsing in court, petitioners argue that the arraignment of minors and the excessive bail conditions, set at millions of naira, are violations of Nigeria’s laws and international standards for protecting children’s rights and dignity.

In a poignant appeal to President Tinubu, the petitioners recalled that even under the repressive regime of General Sani Abacha, children were not subjected to the “inhumane treatment” currently being faced by these minors.

“It pains us to see actions under your administration echoing a more brutal past,” the petition reads, adding that Nigerians expect the current administration to champion justice and compassion, not repression.

The petition continues, “We trust that you may not be fully aware of the scale of this wrongdoing. This suffering is not something we believe you would knowingly condone. We appeal to your compassion and faith to halt this situation immediately. Our nation looks to your leadership to uphold values of humanity, justice, and freedom.”

Prominent figures, including former Vice President and PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and civil rights organizations such as Amnesty International, Enough Is Enough Nigeria, and Hope Behind Bars Africa, have publicly condemned the treatment of these children and called for their immediate release.

In a distressing incident last week, one of the detained minors collapsed in court, leading to further public outcry.

Reports indicate that the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, charged the 22 minors with terrorism following the protest and obtained remand warrants to keep them in custody for over 60 days.

Responding to the growing criticism, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, reportedly directed the police to transfer the case file concerning the detained #EndBadGovernance protesters to his office.

Source:naijanews.com

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Rivers Crisis: ‘Now Is The Time For Two Dramatis Personae To End Their Rift’ – Ambakederimo

3 November 2024

By Enioluwa Adeniyi

A prominent South-South leader and convener of the South-South Reawakening Group, Elder Joseph Ambakederimo, has expressed concern over the prolonged political crisis in Rivers State, urging an immediate resolution to prevent potential fallout.

In an interview with Vanguard, Ambakederimo warned that the standoff between Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, could have severe consequences if left unaddressed.

Ambakederimo further stated that only Wike and Fubara can decide if they want the crisis to end.

The political tension between Governor Fubara and Minister Wike has significantly affected governance and operations in the state, leading to concerns about continuity in state projects and administration.

Ambakederimo said, “The issues playing out in Rivers State is unfortunately dragging on for too long, and if left unchecked, may lead to something untoward that could have a spiral effect on the polity.”

“Now is the best time for the two dramatis personae to resolve what is left of the crisis. Only the two can decide if they want to resolve the issues between themselves and if they genuinely love the state as they claim.”

Speaking on the church that stops the Federal Government from releasing allocation to Rivers Local Government, he said, “The judgment delivered by the trial judge is based on what was brought before the court, no one can fault the judgment as held for now until the judgment is adjudicated upon by a superior court (the Appeal Court) if approached by the Rivers State Government.

“We should not cry more than the bereaved, who in this case is the Rivers State Government. The state government knows what to do, therefore, the law should take its course until otherwise obtained.”

Source:naijanews.com

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At least 14 people die in lightning strike on refugee camp in Uganda

3 November 2024

At least 14 people, including several children, were killed in a lightning strike in a refugee camp in northern Uganda, police said Sunday.

Officials say the victims were residents of the Palabek settlement camp, which primarily houses people displaced from South Sudan.

They had been attending a prayer service in a makeshift metallic structure when the lighting struck on Saturday night.

The camp is on the Uganda side of the country’s border with South Sudan, and houses around 80,000 people.

Police spokesman Kituuma Rusoke said 34 other people were injured and have been admitted to health centres in the area.

The victims have not yet been identified.

Deadly lightning is commonly reported in Uganda during the wet seasons.

Source:africanews.com

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https://www.africanews.com/2024/11/03/at-least-14-people-die-in-lightning-strike-on-refugee-camp-in-uganda/

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Westville’s first mosque still standing 120 years later

 4 November 2024

This week’s look at historic Durban takes in the Scofie Masjid and Darbar at 119 Jan Hofmeyr Road, Westville, which dates back to 1904.

It was one of a series of mosques founded by Hazrath Scofie Saheb, who was born in India in 1848. With the blessing of his family, he travelled to South Africa in 1895 to strengthen Islam among the growing number of Indian labourers who had been arriving in Durban since 1860. After their contracts of indenture had ended, many had settled in Durban and the surrounding areas.

The first mosque which Hazrath Soofie Saheb established was at Riverside, but he was the driving force behind many other mosques, including those at Overport (1901), 45th Cutting, Sherwood (1905) and Westville (1904). All the mosques he founded still survive. When he died suddenly in 1911, he was buried at his first mosque.

At the end of the 19th century, there was a small community of Indians in Westville, many of whom lived on or close to Old Main Road (later renamed Jan Hofmeyr Rd). In need of a place of worship, Hazrath Soofie Saheb secured sufficient donations to buy two plots of land from Shaik Ally who lived in nearby Old New Germany Road.

In 1904, a small mosque was built together with a wood and iron house for the Imam. It is notable that although there had long been Christian worship in Westville, the first purpose-built church (St Elizabeth’s) was only erected in 1939.

A little way up from the mosque is the Outspan Tree, which was the first stop for the wagons travelling from Durban into the hinterland and eventually to Johannesburg.

Near this tree, a Natal fig, was a sign “Free Water at the Mosque”, inviting transport riders to make use of it. The water was from the mosque’s underground well which had a pump which is now on display at Westville’s Bergtheil Museum.

The well was re-opened during the severe drought of 1983/84, but has since been filled in. Also left for the transport riders were barrows of fruit, particularly the small stringy mangoes which had been brought to Natal from India. This variety of mango is still found in Westville and elsewhere.

The generally harmonious relations between the Indian and white communities changed after 1948. Under the Group Areas Act, relocated Indian families were forced out of “white” Westville.

Many were moved to Shallcross; others settled in the new “Indian” enclave in the Devon Terrace and Meerut Road part of Westville in the late 1960s.

Not everyone supported the removal of the Indian community.

Roddy Clarke, who had bought the Westville Hotel in Jan Hofmeyr Road in 1947, employed staff whose families owned houses across the road from the hotel. It was a battle they could not win and they too were forced out. The mosque survived, but was isolated from its community.

One victor was the Imam and his extended family who survived numerous attempts to relocate them. Relying on legal technicalities, they became the only Indian family to live in a white area. However, when the family later applied for their only son, Fuzail, to attend Westville Boys’ High (which is across the road from the mosque) in 1986, permission was refused. Fuzail Soofie is now the Imam, the fifth generation of his family to hold this post.

The family’s original house was later replaced with a brick building to which a small madressa was subsequently added. They still live in this house.

In 1930, a boundary wall was built with traditional arched entrances which have been preserved. There were extensions in 1984 and 1992, but these would prove inadequate after the repeal of the Group Areas Act. Many Muslim families could move back to Westville.

In 2010, a new mosque was built in which only the original entrance and a few walls could be incorporated into its interior. The concept behind the design was a modern interpretation of traditional Islamic architecture. The huge arch exaggerates the 1930 entrance arches, while the aluminium lattice cladding above the arch was laser cut in France by the same company which worked on the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.

Even more impressive are the inner teak doors. Hand-carved by Indonesian craftsmen, each set of doors contains a chapter from the Koran: worshippers can both read the Koran and admire the delicate detail of extraordinary artistry. The new mosque can accommodate up to 1 500 worshippers as opposed to 50 a century ago.

Behind the mosque is a carefully maintained cemetery, where many prominent residents are buried, including earlier this year, Zuleikha Mayat (1926-2024), the author of Indian Delights.

Despite being in the heart of Westville and on its most historic road, most residents drive past the mosque unaware of its 120-year history.

Source:iol.co.za

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https://www.iol.co.za/ios/news/westvilles-first-mosque-still-standing-120-years-later-8547b6cc-1278-4436-9950-f22686ee2b03

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NCS clarifies on controversy over alleged demolition of mosque in Idiroko

By Victor Gbonegun

04 November 2024

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun 1 Area Command, has responded to a viral video alleging that the Officer in Charge of Building ordered the demolition of a mosque under construction at the Nigeria Customs Secondary School in Idiroko.

The Command’s spokesperson, CSC Hameed Oloyede, clarified that an investigation revealed the mosque project had not received formal approval and did not align with the official master plan for the school and junior barracks premises.

According to Oloyede, the Command has designated areas for religious activities, including established mosques and a chapel located across the border area, at the Comptroller Area Controller’s residence, and within the senior and junior officers’ barracks.

Oloyede further explained that under the current Officer in Charge of Building, a mosque in the junior barracks had recently undergone renovation and expansion, highlighting the Command’s support for religious facilities within its jurisdiction.

To address the concerns, Customs Area Controller Comptroller James Ojo has intervened directly, pledging to lay the foundation for a new mosque at an approved location within the premises.

Ojo committed to overseeing the mosque’s construction, ensuring it adheres to the Command’s guidelines.

In his statement, Ojo urged stakeholders to exercise patience and understanding, underscoring the importance of respect when addressing religious matters.

He also advised the school administration to promote harmony within the community surrounding the barracks.

Source:guardian.ng

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https://guardian.ng/news/nigeria/metro/ncs-clarifies-on-controversy-over-alleged-demolition-of-mosque-in-idiroko/

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Ban Miyetti Allah before ESN – IPOB to Nigerian govt

November 3, 2024

By Seun Opejobi

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has said the Nigerian government can put an end to the activities of Eastern Security Network, ESN, if Miyetti Allah is banned and open grazing abolished.

In a statement, the spokesman of the group, Emma Powerful said ESN would continue to defend the Southeast if Miyetti Allah is not banned.

IPOB said Nigerians should be grateful to its leader, Nnamdi Kanu and ESN for preventing the activities of killer herders from the Sahel.

The statement reads partly: “The sole purpose for the existence of ESN is to checkmate the excesses of these killer herdsmen from the Sahel and to ensure that no inch of the Land of the Ancients (Igboland) is forcibly taken over and occupied by killers disguised as herdsmen.

“Not many people in Nigeria today know that a sizeable chunk of Yoruba land, Oyo State in particular is under forcible occupation by these killer herdsmen from the North. This was what some Yoruba agitators were fighting against or have we all forgotten?

“Today no Yoruba man would dare enter a forest renamed Gambari in Oyo State that is the heart of the Yoruba race. Is Gambari a Yoruba name? Tiv people of Benue today have forfeited their ancestral land which has long been renamed Katsina Ala.

“Meaning a mini Katsina in another person’s land. The last time we checked, Gambari as a name is not an indigenous Yoruba name, neither is Katsina Ala a name anyone can associate with native Tiv people.

“Every well-meaning Easterner should be grateful to Nnamdi Kanu and ESN for blunting and putting a permanent stop to the relentless advance of killer herdsmen from the Sahel who are hellbent on conquering Indigenous populations all the way to the Atlantic Ocean.

“Like the Yoruba Amotekun formed to give legitimacy to the quest to eradicate killer herdsmen from Yoruba farms and forests, ESN is here to protect the people, nothing more nothing less.

“If other Nigerians are comfortable with killer herdsmen taking over their forests and farmlands and slaughtering their people at will, that is their prerogative. Such a state of affairs will never replicated in Biafraland. As long as IPOB exists, Fulani herdsmen will never take over any inch of territory in Biafraland.”

Source:dailypost.ng

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https://dailypost.ng/2024/11/03/ban-miyetti-allah-before-esn-ipob-to-nigerian-govt/

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Southeast Asia

 

PM Anwar to deliver Malaysia’s mandate to stop Israel’s war crimes in Palestine at Arab-Islamic summit

04 Nov 2024

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 4 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has received an invitation from King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia to participate in the extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit on Nov 11, aimed at discussing the ongoing war crimes and atrocities committed by Israel against Palestine.

Anwar said that his participation at the summit, set to take place in Riyadh, is to bring the mandate of the Malaysian Parliament, which is to advocate for firm action to stop the ongoing Israeli aggression and atrocities against the Palestinians.

He said Malaysia would also raise issues regarding the invasion and destruction of places of worship in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), and open attacks on regions in Lebanon and Iran, including the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar.

“Additionally, this summit will address the current challenges faced by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), following the Israeli regime’s decision to ban the operations of the humanitarian organisation on Oct 28,” he said during the briefing session on the Palestinian issue at the Dewan Rakyat today.

The prime minister said Malaysia's participation as a member of the Global Coalition is also part of the effort to increase diplomatic pressure on Israel to implement a lasting ceasefire in Gaza, call for the release of Palestinian prisoners, withdraw from occupied territories, and address the suffering of the Palestinian people through the immediate resumption of humanitarian aid.

“We will also discuss an action plan and identify concrete steps toward achieving absolute independence for Palestine within a reasonable timeframe.

“As a country that upholds the principles of justice and international law, Malaysia remains committed to advocating for Palestinian rights as a sovereign and independent nation, as well as for a fair and final resolution,” he added. — Bernama

Source:malaymail.com

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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2024/11/04/pm-anwar-to-deliver-malaysias-mandate-to-stop-israels-war-crimes-in-palestine-at-arab-islamic-summit/155763

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PM Anwar: Malaysia stands with Unifil mission in Lebanon, closely tracks safety of Malaysian peacekeepers in Lebanon

 04 Nov 2024

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 4 — The government, through the Ministry of Defence (Mindef), is constantly monitoring the situation of the Malaysian Battalion (MALBATT) 850-11, which is currently undertaking peacekeeping missions in southern Lebanon, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that the ministry also keeps almost daily contact with their personnel there to ensure the presence and safety of all involved.

“We are committed to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and bound by the United Nations (UN) charter. At present, our Ambassador (to Lebanon Azri Mat Yacob) is still in Beirut and is monitoring the situation.

“There have been some calls urging us to withdraw (from Lebanon), but we stand with UNIFIL, and we are making decisions collectively with Indonesia and Brunei,” he said in reply to Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh (PH-Ledang) and Ahmad Tarmizi Sulaiman (PN-Sik) regarding the peacekeeping forces.

Anwar said that the rotation of MALBATT 850-12 is scheduled to begin from Nov 6 to 18.

Meanwhile, Anwar said that Malaysia, along with 33 other UNIFIL contributing countries, has issued a joint statement led by Poland to condemn Israel’s attacks in Lebanon.

“Even major powers in recent history have not been as reckless, brutal, and oppressive as Israel has been right now.

“There was hardly any country that willingly disregarded all international laws, rules and regulations, to the extent of putting UN personnel in Lebanon at risk,” he said.

As such, he said Malaysia will continue to uphold the necessity of deploying UNIFIL members to maintain security in the conflict-stricken region.

Other than Malaysia, 50 UN member countries are also participating in the UNIFIL mission, with a total of 10,058 personnel and officers involved. — Bernama

Source:malaymail.com

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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2024/11/04/pm-anwar-malaysia-stands-with-unifil-mission-in-lebanon-closely-tracks-safety-of-malaysian-peacekeepers-in-lebanon/155775

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Deepavali wishes don't make me lesser Muslim, Rafizi says in Tamil via AI

 Nov 3, 2024

As racial and religious fissures continue to widen in Malaysia due to divisive politics, Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli has turned to artificial intelligence (AI) to rebuild bridges.

In a video posted on Instagram this evening, the PKR deputy president experimented with AI voice technology to extend his Deepavali greetings in Tamil.

At the same time, Rafizi explained that Muslims should not refrain from...

Source:malaysiakini.com

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https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/724725

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Melaka cruise terminal to boost economy through tourism - Loke

BERNAMA

04-11- 2024

MELAKA: The construction of a cruise terminal in Pulau Melaka, Banda Hilir here, is poised to significantly enhance Melaka’s economy through increased tourism, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke.

He said the project is in line with the federal government’s focus on the maritime economy’s essential role in national development.

“Cruise tourism holds immense potential, especially as we (the government) are actively promoting this sector. We have major cruise ports including Port Klang and Penang.

“We anticipate that the completion of this terminal (in Melaka) will significantly benefit the state’s economy and stimulate regional development,“ Loke said following the launch of the 1st Melaka International Maritime Economy Conference 2024 (MIMEC 2024), officiated by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh here today.

Also present were Melaka state secretary Datuk Azhar Arshad, State Public Works, Infrastructure, Public Amenities and Transportation Committee chairman Datuk Hameed Mytheen Kunju Basheer, TAG Marine chairman Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob and Kuala Linggi International Port (KLIP) chief executive officer Tan Sri Dr. Noormustafa Kamal Yahya.

Meanwhile, Ab Rauf urged the licence holders for port development in Melaka to expedite infrastructure construction to drive future economic growth.

“Melaka has received approval from the Ministry of Transport for three port licences aimed at developing the maritime industry along the Melaka Straits, particularly within the Straits of Melaka Waterfront Economic Zone (SM-WEZ).

“We encourage licence holders to accelerate their activities, so that these approvals can spur Melaka’s future development,” he said.

Source:thesun.my

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https://thesun.my/malaysia-news/melaka-cruise-terminal-to-boost-economy-through-tourism-loke-GD13237634

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MCMC exploring new technologies to enhance internet coverage - Teo

BERNAMA

04-11- 2024

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is exploring new technologies, including direct-to-device systems utilising Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite technology, to improve internet coverage, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Deputy Minister of Communications Teo Nie Ching said this innovative internet service technology aims to benefit users, particularly those in rural and remote areas.

She emphasised that this initiative reflects MCMC’s commitment to enhancing internet services and communication infrastructure nationwide.

“In response to public complaints and MCMC’s findings regarding coverage issues, we are planning several improvements, including identifying suitable locations for the upcoming Phase 2 of JENDELA,” she said during the question and answer session today.

Teo said this in reply to a question from Datuk Larry Soon @ Larry Sng Wei Shien (PBM-Julau) concerning areas requiring enhanced internet connectivity and the ministry’s efforts to utilise cutting-edge technologies, such as satellites or towers, to address connectivity challenges.

Source:thesun.my

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

https://thesun.my/malaysia-news/mcmc-exploring-new-technologies-to-enhance-internet-coverage-teo-ED13237333

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MetMalaysia issues thunderstorm warning for KL and eight states

BERNAMA

04-11- 2024

KUALA LUMPUR: Thunderstorms, heavy rain and strong winds are expected in the federal capital and eight states until noon today, according to the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia).

In a weather warning issued at 8.30 am today, MetMalaysia said the affected states include Kedah (Langkawi, Yan, Kuala Muda, Kulim and Bandar Baharu); Penang; and Perak (Kerian, Larut, Matang and Selama, Manjung, Perak Tengah, Bagan Datuk and Hilir Perak).

The same weather conditions are also expected to hit Pahang (Kuantan and Pekan); Selangor (Sabak Bernam, Kuala Selangor, Klang, Gombak, Petaling and Hulu Langat); and Melaka (Central Melaka and Jasin); Johor (Tangkak, Muar, Batu Pahat, Kluang, Pontian, Kulai, Kota Tinggi and Johor Bahru); and Sabah (Kudat).

Source:thesun.my

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https://thesun.my/malaysia-news/metmalaysia-issues-thunderstorm-warning-for-kl-and-eight-states-GD13236624

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GISBH’s ‘deviant’ label raises legal implications: A closer look at fatwa enforcement in Malaysia, with prison a possibility for defiance

 04 Nov 2024

By Ida Lim

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 4 — Now that Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings Sdn Bhd (GISBH) has been declared deviant in about half of the states in Malaysia, what will the legal consequences be?

Here’s a quick summary by Malay Mail, based on public information including existing state Islamic laws, publications by local Islamic authorities and news reports:

A fatwa is a religious opinion typically issued by a mufti (a Muslim legal expert or qualified Islamic legal scholar) on Islamic law. In Malaysia, muftis sit in committees that carry out discussions before fatwas are issued.

In Selangor, the typical process is that the mufti may ask for a matter to be researched and studied, and the state fatwa committee (which includes the mufti) then discusses a fatwa, and the proposed fatwa is then presented to the state Islamic religious council, and the state Islamic council may then recommend it to the Selangor ruler for his royal assent or approval for the fatwa to be published in a gazette.

The process is generally and broadly similar in the other states in Malaysia.

For states without state rulers, the fatwa is to be recommended to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong for royal assent to be gazetted. This is because the sultans are the head of Islam in their respective states, while the Agong is the head of Islam for four states and the federal territories.

2. When does a fatwa become legally binding?

A fatwa must be gazetted by the relevant state governments or federal territories to be enforceable as law in Malaysia.

If the fatwa is not gazetted, it remains a religious opinion that is not legally binding and serves only as a reference.

For example, let’s look at Selangor’s state Islamic law.

In the Administration of the Religion of Islam (State of Selangor) Enactment 2003, Section 49 states that a gazetted fatwa is binding on every Muslim in Selangor and must be followed.

Section 49 also says the fatwa is recognised by all courts in Selangor.

3. Who enforces a fatwa that has been gazetted?

According to the Selangor Islamic Religious Council’s (Mais) 2015 booklet on “ajaran sesat” or deviant teachings, the mufti or the state mufti department has no power to enforce a gazetted fatwa.

Instead, the Mais booklet states that the state Islamic religious councils prosecute those who contravene fatwas in Shariah courts.

The state Islamic religious councils can also enforce fatwas by prosecuting any Muslims who break laws on Shariah offences.

The state Islamic religious councils can seek the police’s cooperation in enforcing laws if there are criminal elements or if the offences relate to existing laws, the booklet states.

4. What happens if a Muslim goes against a gazetted fatwa?

You could be breaking state laws on Shariah offences and may be charged in Shariah courts.

Depending on the offence, you may be jailed or fined if found guilty.

For example, in Selangor, those involved in deviant teachings could be charged under the state’s laws — the Syariah Criminal Offences (Selangor) Enactment 1995 and the Administration of the Religion of Islam (State of Selangor) Enactment 2003.

Based on Mais’ November 1, 2022 article on deviant teachings, these possible offences in Selangor would be Sections 7, 8, 10, 12, 13, 16 in the 1995 law and Section 119 in the 2003 law.

For example, Section 7 covers the offence of teaching doctrines against fatwas in force in Selangor.

Section 12 covers the offence of acting in contempt of Selangor’s religious authorities or defying, disobeying, or disputing a mufti’s orders expressed in a fatwa, while Section 13 covers the offence of giving or spreading opinions that go against fatwas in force in Selangor.

Generally, other states and the federal territories also have similar laws on Shariah offences and the administration of Islam, so breaching gazetted fatwas there could result in similar legal consequences.

5. Are there real-life examples of individuals being charged in Shariah courts over deviant beliefs?

Yes. There are news reports of such cases, including of Abdul Kahar Ahmad, who had proclaimed himself to be “Rasul Melayu” and had been sentenced in 2009 to 10 years’ jail, RM16,500 fine and six strokes of the cane after being convicted in Selangor of Shariah offences over deviant teaching.

More recent examples include 14 individuals suspected to be followers of deviant sect Millah Abraham being charged in August this year in a Shariah court in Johor over the state’s Shariah offences of disobeying religious authorities and possessing religious publications contrary to Islamic law.

Also in August this year, a street musician was sentenced in a Shariah court in Negeri Sembilan to three months’ imprisonment for teaching Millah Abraham teachings to his son as it goes against Islamic law. This was on top of his earlier sentence of a RM2,000 fine and one-month jail term for teaching Millah Abraham teachings to his wife.

The Millah Abraham teachings had been declared deviant or contrary to Islamic teachings in gazetted fatwas in several states, including in Johor and Negeri Sembilan.

6. So what states in Malaysia have already issued fatwas against GISBH?

To date, six states have issued fatwas to declare GISBH and its teachings, practices or beliefs as deviant. The first to issue such a fatwa was Perlis, followed by Selangor, Pahang, Melaka, Sabah and Penang.

Out of the six states, Selangor is the only one that is known to have already gazetted its fatwa. This means the fatwa can be enforced as law in Selangor now.

7. What does Selangor’s fatwa say?

Let’s take a look at the gazetted Selangor fatwa.

The Selangor fatwa says GISBH leaders, followers, members or workers continue to practise the beliefs of the Darul Arqam group — a group Selangor declared as deviant in the state’s 1993 gazetted fatwa.

The fatwa also says any new beliefs, teachings, or practices partially or fully similar to GISBH’s are deviant and against true Islamic teachings.

The Selangor fatwa said any Muslims who have joined or practised or held on to GISBH’s beliefs or practices must immediately repent and seek forgiveness from Allah, and that the relevant parties must rehabilitate them.

8. What’s next?

The National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs’s (MKI) muzakarah committee or its fatwa committee — which includes the muftis of each state — had in late September decided on its opinion regarding GISBH.

MKI chairman Sultan Nazrin Shah has approved these views, and these views were presented to the Conference of Rulers during its two-day meeting on October 23 and 24.

If the Conference of Rulers gives its consent or approval to the MKI’s opinion, the respective states’ fatwa committee can then adopt these views and issue it as a fatwa. It would be also up to the respective states on whether to gazette the fatwas.

Some of the states have previously said they would wait for the MKI’s decision first before making any move to consider issuing a fatwa on GISBH.

Source:malaymail.com

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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2024/11/04/gisbhs-deviant-label-raises-legal-implications-a-closer-look-at-fatwa-enforcement-in-malaysia-with-prison-a-possibility-for-defiance/154624

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South Asia

 

Ministry of Information and Culture Announces Results of “Doctrinal Studies” Exam

2024-11-03

KABUL(BNA):  The Ministry of Information and Culture has announced the results of the “Aqeedah (Doctrinal) Studies” examination, conducted over four and a half months, as part of the 1403 fiscal year curriculum. The Directorate of Invitation and Guidance organized this assessment for hundreds of ministry employees from various departments, with the results being revealed today in an official ceremony.

During the event, Mawlawi Mohammad Yunus Rashid, Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs, spoke about the crucial role of religious guidance in Islamic society, underscoring the esteemed status of scholars. He highlighted that scholars bear the responsibility for fostering spiritual well-being and shaping individuals for a virtuous and purposeful life. “The true purpose of life should be to seek Allah’s satisfaction and to serve humanity,” he stated, emphasizing the dual goals of material and spiritual pursuits.

Mawlawi Haji Mohammad Tayeb, Head of the Directorate of Invitation and Guidance, elaborated on the significance of both worldly and spiritual responsibilities, calling on individuals to follow Islamic principles and prepare for life’s ultimate test. He encouraged everyone to engage in worship and to fulfill their duties in accordance with Islamic law, aiming to achieve divine satisfaction.

In his remarks, Mawlawi Imdadullah Mansoor, Head of Cultural Affairs, touched on Afghanistan’s long history of resistance to foreign ideologies. He praised the Afghan people’s enduring commitment to safeguarding their values and opposing external influences, especially among the youth, who have consistently resisted foreign impositions.

Participants expressed appreciation for the Directorate’s educational initiatives, which they viewed as essential for both personal and societal development. They emphasized that the courses have enriched their understanding of religious and creedal matters.

The ceremony concluded with the presentation of awards to several high-achieving participants in recognition of their exceptional performance in the examination.

Source:bakhtarnews.af

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https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/ministry-of-information-and-culture-announces-results-of-doctrinal-studies-exam/

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Three killed in road accidents

Nov 4, 2024

Three motorcyclists were killed in separate road accidents in Kishoreganj and Mymensingh yesterday.

In Kishoreganj, two teenagers were killed when their motorbike hit a roadside tree in Mothkhola area of Pakundia upazila.

The victims -- identified as Polash, 17, son of Kamal Hossain and Riad, 18, son of Asad Mia from Charkhama village in Pakundia -- died on the spot, said Pakundia Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Shakhawat Hossain.

In Mymensingh, a businessman was killed as his motorbike collided head-on with a Mymensingh-bound CNG-run auto-rickshaw on Mymensingh-Phulbaria road in Doshmile area under Phulbaria upazila.

The victim was identified as Alim Uddin, 27, from Jhorbaria Khanbari area in Phulbaria.

Quoting locals, Phulbaria Police Station OC Mohammad Rukunuzzaman said the accident occurred around 2:00pm.

Police recovered the bodies and handed those to the families. Separate cases were filed.

In Kishoreganj, two teenagers were killed when their motorbike hit a roadside tree in Mothkhola area of Pakundia upazila.

The victims -- identified as Polash, 17, son of Kamal Hossain and Riad, 18, son of Asad Mia from Charkhama village in Pakundia -- died on the spot, said Pakundia Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Shakhawat Hossain.

In Mymensingh, a businessman was killed as his motorbike collided head-on with a Mymensingh-bound CNG-run auto-rickshaw on Mymensingh-Phulbaria road in Doshmile area under Phulbaria upazila.

The victim was identified as Alim Uddin, 27, from Jhorbaria Khanbari area in Phulbaria.

Quoting locals, Phulbaria Police Station OC Mohammad Rukunuzzaman said the accident occurred around 2:00pm.

Police recovered the bodies and handed those to the families. Separate cases were filed.

Source:thedailystar.net

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

https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/three-killed-road-accidents-3743856

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UN reports nearly $7 billion in aid received for Afghanistan

By Fidel Rahmati

November 4, 2024

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has warned of a significant decrease in aid to Afghanistan, highlighting that the country has received approximately $6.7 billion in assistance over the past three years.

In a report published on Sunday, November 3, OCHA stated that the reduction in aid threatens recent achievements and exacerbates food insecurity and poverty in the region.

The organization emphasized that Afghanistan remains highly vulnerable to natural disasters, climate change, and geopolitical shifts.

OCHA noted that restrictions on women and girls have intensified the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. The agency pointed out that international assistance has played a crucial role in alleviating poverty and addressing humanitarian challenges in the country.

From August 15, 2021, to 2022, approximately $3.3 billion was provided to Afghanistan. OCHA warned that continued budget cuts could jeopardize the humanitarian gains made in the country under Taliban control.

International organizations have also raised alarms about budget reductions and the rising levels of poverty in Afghanistan. Without sustained support, the situation for millions of Afghans could deteriorate further, leading to increased hardship and suffering.

The international community must prioritize and enhance humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, ensuring that vulnerable populations receive the necessary support to rebuild their lives. A collective effort is essential to address the ongoing crisis and protect the hard-won gains achieved over recent years.

Source:khaama.com

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https://www.khaama.com/un-reports-nearly-7-billion-in-aid-received-for-afghanistan/

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Four Afghan workers detained in Iran for lack of work permits

By Fidel Rahmati

November 4, 2024

Officials in Iran reported the arrest of four Afghan workers for lacking work permits at a dairy production unit in Yazd. The Yazd Health and Treatment Network urged food establishments to refrain from employing foreign nationals.

On Sunday, November 3, Iranian state media announced the detainment of Afghan citizens at a dairy factory in Mehriz. Law enforcement and environmental health experts conducted a joint inspection of the facility, leading to the arrests.

The director of the Mehriz Health and Treatment Network stated, “According to labor law, foreign nationals without a temporary work permit or card are not allowed to work in the country. Employers who hire them are considered violators and will face penalties.”

Iranian authorities emphasized that employing migrants in dairy stores and food outlets is also prohibited. Recently, the Iranian government has classified the employment of undocumented Afghan migrants as a crime, accelerating the deportation process.

Furthermore, the Iranian Agricultural Jihad Organization in Kermanshah Province has declared the employment of “unauthorized” Afghans in the agricultural sector illegal.

The situation for Afghan refugees in Iran and Pakistan is increasingly dire, marked by forced deportations and a lack of legal protections. Many face discrimination and limited access to basic services, further exacerbating their plight.

As regional tensions rise, the vulnerability of these refugees highlights the urgent need for comprehensive policies to safeguard their rights and provide humanitarian assistance. Without such measures, their future remains uncertain, and they continue to live under the threat of expulsion.

Source:khaama.com

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https://www.khaama.com/four-afghan-workers-detained-in-iran-for-lack-of-work-permits/

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Probe NBL loans to Bashundhara

 Nov 4, 2024

The High Court has ordered the Anti-Corruption Commission and other authorities concerned to probe whether the National Bank gave undue privileges to Bashundhara Group regarding a loan of Tk 3,859 crore in violation of the banking rules.

The court asked the authorities to come up with a report in four months on the progress of the probe.

The order was issued to the finance and cabinet secretaries, chairman of National Board of Revenue, governor of Bangladesh Bank, chairman of Anti-Corruption Commission, Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit.

The HC also issued a rule asking 22 respondents to explain why the inaction of these six officials in conducting the probe should not be declared illegal.

Besides the six aforesaid officials, the other respondents to the rule are chairman of National Bank Limited; Abdur Rouf Talukder, former governor of Bangladesh Bank; managing director of National Bank Limited; managing director of Bashundhara Paper Mills Ltd; managing director of Bashundhara Multi-paper Industries; Bashundhara Industrial Headquarter; managing director of Meghna Cement Mills PLC; managing director of Bashundhara Industrial Complex Limited; Bashundhara Food and Beverage Industries Ltd; managing director of Bashundhara Oil and Gas Company Ltd; managing director of Bashundhara Multi Food Product Ltd; Ahmed Akbar Sobhan alias Shah Alam, chairman of Bashundhara Group; and his sons Sadat Sobhan, Sayem Sobhan Anvir, Sifiat Sobhan Sanvir and Safwan Sobhan.

The HC bench of Justice Mohammad Ullah and Justice Foyej Ahmed issued the order and rule on October 29 following a petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Mohammad Sarwar Hossain.

Sarwar filed the petition after Prothom Alo on September 15 reported that Bashundhara Group enjoyed special privilege just four days before the Awami League government fell.

Citing the newspaper report, Sarwar said in his petition that the Bangladesh Bank and its governor extended privileges to Bashundhara Group, one of the top loan defaulter businesses of the country, so that it would not have to repay its defaulted loans in two years.

"The group got this undue privilege for his loans taken from the National Bank Limited. According to sources in Bangladesh Bank, Bashundhara's loans with National Bank stands at Tk 3,859 crore. This direct loan provided to the business group is eight times higher than the loan ceiling applicable to them according to the loan related circulars of the Bangladesh Bank and relevant laws. Special and undue privileges were provided to Bashundhara Group while rescheduling their defaulted loan," he stated in the petition.

He also said in the petition that the companies of Bashundhara Group availed the undue privilege in connivance with the National Bank Limited chairman, Abdur Rouf Talukder, former governor of Bangladesh Bank and managing director of National Bank Limited in a most illegal, arbitrary and discriminatory manner.

Sarwar, assisted by Salah Uddin Reagan, moved the petition at the hearing.

Source:thedailystar.net

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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/crime-justice/news/noakhali-rape-case-jubo-league-leader-acquitted-3743806

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Capacity-building seminar held in Kabul

November 4, 2024

KABUL: The acting Minister of Education Mawlavi Habibullah Agha, in an official ceremony, inaugurated a four-day capacity-building seminar for scores of professional lecturers here in Kabul on Sunday. According to a statement from the ministry, sixty professional members of the Islamic Education Department of the ministry who have attended the ceremony will be provided with standard teaching methods. The head of the ministry’s Darul Ulooms, Mawlavi Abdul Qodus Qodusi, said the seminar was held to raise the capacities of professional members of the department. “Capacity building encourages professional members of the ministry to think creatively and develop new ideas and solutions to various challenges. It helps them broaden the scope of their work to serve more people or to serve the people they are already working with efficiently,” the statement quoted him as saying. Meanwhile, the Islamic Education Deputy Minister of Education spoke about the importance of establishing schools, allocating posts for teachers, and organizing training workshops for teachers. Capacity-building empowers individuals and organizations to perform tasks effectively, achieve objectives, adapt to challenging circumstances, and ultimately, reach their full potential. It focuses on developing specific competencies but also on building a broader capacity for growth, innovation, and resilience. Ziarmal Hotak

Source:thekabultimes.com

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https://thekabultimes.com/capacity-building-seminar-held-in-kabul/

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Honesty in transactions and its role in Islamic society

November 4, 2024

Islam strongly emphasizes that transactions must be conducted in accordance with Sharia, with

honesty, fairness, and respect for the rights of both parties, so that, on the one hand, Allah’s pleasure is attained and, on the other hand, values such as honesty, trustworthiness, ethics, balance,

and justice are preserved within society.

Islam is the religion of truth, justice, and peace. Without a doubt, humanity can benefit from the prosperity and wellbeing Islam offers only when it is understood accurately and applied precisely in all aspects of life. Contrary to the misconceptions of some misinformed individuals and secularists, who mistakenly believe Islam is a religion confined to beliefs and morals alone, Islam is a comprehensive system that encompasses every dimension of individual and collective life, including beliefs, transactions, punishments, foods, clothing, ethics, and every sphere of life. It provides specific guidance for each, as revealed, and its details have been explained and systematized by the Prophet (peace be upon him), the Companions, the founding scholars of the Islamic schools of thought, and other knowledgeable jurists. Observing and implementing these guidelines leads to the success and salvation of societies and guarantees well-being in this world and the hereafter. Unfortunately, several factors—such as people’s lack of awareness of Islamic principles, the imposition of non-Islamic systems for multiple decades, and the influence of colonialism on Afghan soil— have led people to prioritize harmful societal customs over Islamic teachings in their daily lives. One of these areas is the transactions commonly conducted in Afghanistan’s marketplaces. Now, to examine this subject more thoroughly and explore the available solutions, we will delve into the Islamic jurisprudence of transactions. This will help us elaborate on the issue and identify existing solutions so that society can be saved from the dangers and harm of non-Islamic and unlawful transactions, guiding it to  ward prosperity, happiness, and well-being. Essentially, a transaction or “sale” refers to the exchange of goods for goods or for money, generally referring to the buying and selling of items. In other words, a transaction or sale is an agreement in which one party (the seller) transfers an item to another party (the buyer) in exchange for money or another item. It should be noted that such transactions must meet specific requirements—such as the mutual consent of both parties, the legal capacity of both parties, the clarity of the item and price, and the possibility of delivery of the item— to be considered valid in Islamic law. The Hanafi school of jurisprudence, in particular, has detailed regulations regarding the types of transactions and the conditions required for their validity, which are based on the overarching principles of Islamic jurisprudence. Discussing all the details would require extensive knowledge and goes beyond the scope of this article. Two decades of occupation and the dominance of capitalism in Afghanistan not only hindered this land’s economic growth and the implementation of Islam but also led to the unintentional integration of Western ideologies into people’s lives. For instance, capitalism holds that the purpose of human life is to gain material benefits, achieve material progress, and attain pleasure or happiness. Thus, to fulfill life’s purpose, individuals are encouraged to focus on material matters individually and use any means necessary to acquire wealth to reach happiness and progress. Capitalists believe that material resources bring happiness and pleasure to life. Hence, Western traders and businessmen try, on the one hand, to entice customers by any possible means to buy their goods, and on the other hand, to lie about the quality of their products to the extent that, after purchase, the customer feels that they did not receive the intended product and believes it was delivered to them by mistake—when in fact, the product was the same, but the trader had lied about it. In contrast, Islam defines a Muslim’s purpose in life as a test, reminding them that they are constantly in a divine test. Islam defines the objectives of trade and business as earning a lawful livelihood, meeting the needs of society, and strengthening positive relations within the community. Its primary standards are defined by what is lawful and unlawful. These objectives are designed to encompass not only individual benefits but also to ensure the welfare and ethical integrity of society. Additionally, Islam recognizes the material and economic needs of human beings and allows individuals to fulfill their necessities through lawful transactions. Islam strongly emphasizes that transactions must be conducted in accordance with Sharia, with honesty, fairness, and respect for the rights of both parties, so that, on the one hand, Allah’s pleasure is attained and, on the other hand, values such as honesty, trustworthiness, ethics, balance, and justice are preserved within society. Firooz Ahmad Ebrahimi

Source:thekabultimes.com

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https://thekabultimes.com/honesty-in-transactions-and-its-role-in-islamic-society/

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Urban Development Minister Discusses Kabul Infrastructure Projects with Turkish Firm

2024-11-03

KABUL(BNA): Sheikh Hamdullah Nomani, the Acting Minister of Urban Development and Housing, held a meeting at his office with Abdullah Shurash Yaziji, head of the Turkish firm Daynik, and Murad Sozkisen, a partner in the company.

According to a press release from the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing, discussions focused on advancing housing development, enhancing Kabul’s urban infrastructure, and exploring related opportunities.

During the meeting, Mr. Yaziji provided insights into Daynik’s experience and mentioned interest from other Turkish companies in investing in Kabul’s urban sector. He highlighted a proposal to build international-standard residential complexes in unplanned areas of Kabul, aiming to improve the city’s aesthetic and functional appeal.

For his part, Sheikh Nomani expressed support for these initiatives, encouraging other Turkish firms to visit Kabul to explore opportunities firsthand. He assured that the ministry would facilitate investment efforts, adding that additional international companies are expected to visit Kabul soon to discuss investment terms and regulations.

Source:bakhtarnews.af

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https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/urban-development-minister-discusses-kabul-infrastructure-projects-with-turkish-firm/

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Construction Begins on 3 Key Public Projects in Ghazni

2024-11-03

KABUL(BNA): The Ghazni Municipality has launched three significant public works projects in Ghazni city, funded at a total of 25 million afghanis. Mawlawi Muhammad Nabi Hamza, the Mayor of Ghazni, announced that these projects are being supported by the UNOPS organization, focusing on enhancing infrastructure and public services.

One of these projects involves the construction of a 477-meter long, 3-meter high retaining wall in the Qala Joz area of Ghazni’s fourth district. Additionally, a 650-meter drainage system is being installed in the third district to improve water management, while another project involves reconstructing a 525-meter road in the Qalaati area, also in the third district. The roadwork, scheduled for completion within two months, is expected to improve transportation in the area.

These initiatives are not only aimed at boosting infrastructure but also at creating job opportunities for local residents, aligning with Ghazni Municipality’s efforts to support both economic growth and public welfare in the region.

Source:bakhtarnews.af

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https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/construction-begins-on-3-key-public-projects-in-ghazni/

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JU Prof Nurul Islam made new pro-vc of NU

03 Nov 2024

SAVAR, Nov 03, 2024 (BSS) - Professor Dr. Md. Nurul Islam of Jahangirnagar University's Geography and Environment department has been made the new pro-vice-chancellor of National University (NU).

The Secondary and Higher Education Division under the Ministry of Education issued a notification in this regard today.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin, chancellor of the universities, appointed Dr. Md. Nurul Islam as the pro-vice chancellor for the next four years. He will receive salary and allowances equivalent to that of his current position, the notification said.

Professor Md. Nurul Islam graduated with PhD from the University of Nottingham, the UK in 2011.  Earlier, he completed his B.Sc (honours) and M.Sc (thesis) in Geography from Jahangirnagar University in 1992 and 1993 respectively.

Currently, Prof Nurul Islam is serving as the general secretary of the Nationalist Teachers’ Forum of Jahangirnagar University (JU) unit.

Source:bssnews.net

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https://www.bssnews.net/news/220626

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URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/naidu-muslims-interests-waqf-amendment-bill/d/133618

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