Why Bengal BJP's new chief has taken a new tone on Muslims, Communists
New Age Islam News Bureau
11 July 2025
Samik Bhattacharya succeeded Sukanta Majumdar as the president of the BJP's West Bengal unit. (Image: Samik Bhattacharya/X)
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· Why Bengal BJP's new chief has taken a new tone on Muslims, Communists
· Children queuing for nutrition supplements among 66 killed by Israeli forces in Gaza
· Makkah deputy governor washes Holy Kaaba on behalf of King Salman
· Mosque glorified Hamas in video post, inquiry finds
· Every country faces risks from militant attacks
· Iran Fatwa Fundraiser to Kill Donald Trump Raises Over $40 Million
· Nigerian security forces kill 30 gunmen in counter-attack in northwest
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India
· UP makes QR code stickers mandatory for eateries, steps up food safety drive ahead of Kanwar Yatra
· BJP targeting Bengalis, eviction drive in Delhi's Jai Hind Colony anti-Bangla agenda: WB CM Mamata
· Kerala Muslim body to protest state's move to extend school hours
· Jhangur Baba bought 2 lakh sq ft of land in Pune for just Rs 16 crore; owns Rs 100 crore property in Balrampur; deals linked to chief judicial magistrates' families
· Samastha affiliate planning protests against additional working hours in schools
· Politics heats up in J&K as NC seeks government nod to visit martyrs graveyard on July 13
· Lesbian woman’s outrage against Muslim immigrants in the US goes viral after Pride parade ban, says ‘We helped you settle, now you ban us’
· Chirag Paswan interview: ‘Bihar roll revision is not NRC… Should ghuspaithiye live among us?’
· Lohia stood for Sanatan Dharma, today’s socialists have strayed from his path: Yogi
· Telangana Cabinet to implement 42% quota for Backward Classes in local body elections
· TMC leader Rezzak Khan shot multiple times, hacked to death in West Bengal
· ‘On what basis have they been detained?’ HC asks Bengal chief secy to coordinate with Odisha over detention of migrant workers
· Ahead of Nuh yatra, administration says ready to ensure peace; cow vigilante Bittu Bajarangi seeks participation
· We hit 9 terror targets in Pakistan with precision in Operation Sindoor, missed none: NSA Ajit Doval
· ‘One arrow, two targets’: Congress takes a dig at PM Modi after RSS chief’s retirement remarks
· Uttarakhand government launches Operation Kalnemi to identify and book fake sadhus
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Mideast
· The Frontline: A book about father of Iran’s missiles
· Iran FM remembers Srebrenica by recalling Gaza genocide
· Enemy Faced A Humiliating Defeat, Iran’s Army Commander Says
· The Lebanese Shi‘a Deserve a State, not a Militia
· ICC warns of worsening atrocities in Darfur, cites evidence of war crimes, crimes against humanity
· Palestinians in Gaza pay high price to get hold of scarce cash
· Netanyahu sets out red lines for lasting end to war in Gaza
· British MPs demand full details of US consulting firm’s role in Gaza
· KSrelief extends fire aid to 600 families in Syrian villages, distributes winter kits in Pakistan
· Rescuers save four more survivors from Houthi-struck ship in Red Sea
· Israeli forces arrest pro-Palestine activists near Jericho amid settlers’ attack
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Arab World
· Saudi Arabia new property law opens real estate market to foreigners
· How AI could make Saudi Arabia’s construction sites safer and more efficient
· PIF-backed Savvy Games partners with Side to nurture gaming ecosystem in Saudi Arabia
· Saudi Arabia to host 8th Global Health Exhibition in Riyadh in October
· Saudi Arabia to introduce AI education at all grade levels starting this year
· Saudi Arabia and Hungary lay foundations for enhanced defense collaboration
· Al-Ahsa governor launches direct flights to Turkish Black Sea region
· Hail Municipality launches smart recycling machine to feed stray animals, cut plastic waste
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Europe
· 'Our mosque was threatened after the 7/7 bombings'
· 'Serious blunder' before death of imam, inquiry finds
· He pulled out a 'gun' and ran at two men outside mosque
· UK to return some migrants to France within weeks, PM says
· 'We're worried about our future': Srebrenica massacre's tensions still felt 30 years on
· Deadly new Russian drone and missile attack hits Kyiv
· Russia asks chemical weapons watchdog to investigate Ukraine
· 500% secondary tariffs won’t derail Russian policy – Moscow
· Council of Europe ‘alarmed’ by reports of draft-related Ukrainian deaths and torture
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South Asia
· Crimes against humanity: Ex-IGP Mamun offers to be a state witness
· Bangladesh ex-top cop pleads guilty to crimes against humanity in 2024 protest crackdown
· Eminent poet Al Mahmud’s 89th birth anniversary celebrated today
· Govt takes steps for media reform, adopts 12 decisions
· Political parties should be respectful while criticising opponents: Jamaat secretary
· Up to 40,000 Afghan Migrants Forcibly Deported Daily from Iran: Official
· Kazakhstan, Afghanistan Sign $500 Million Railway Agreement
· WHO warns of rising infectious diseases among deported Afghan migrants
· UN warns: New Media Restrictions in Afghanistan fuel fear and self-censorship
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North America
· CAIR Welcomes Charges for Racist Threats Targeting West Virginia Law Enforcement Officer
· CAIR Calls for Firing of Sequoia Partner Shaun Maguire After Racist, Anti-Muslim Rants
· US never planned to halt weapon deliveries to Ukraine – Rubio
· Don't Cancel Shaun Maguire But Please Stop Making Us Listen to Him
· CAIR Ohio Calls for Immediate Release of Cincinnati Imam Detained by ICE
· CAIR-Chicago and Community to Join Bosnian-Muslim Community to Honor Srebrenica Genocide Remembrance Day—Friday July 11, 3pm at Daley Plaza
· Texas officials face questions about emergency alerts during deadly floods
· Trump threatens 35% tariffs on Canadian goods
· Judge blocks Trump's birthright order after Supreme Court ruling
· Mahmoud Khalil files $20m claim against Trump administration
· Canadian premier accuses US lawmakers of 'trying to trivialise' wildfires
· Rights defenders denounce US sanctions on UN expert
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Africa
· Muslims urged to hold special prayers as leaders eulogise Chief Kadhi
· The New Hijri Year: Rulings And Lessons
· Peter Obi visits Kano fire victims, donates to mosque renovation
· Tax Reform: ‘Even If Anything Happens To Me Now, I Will Die A Happy Person’ – Oyedele Speaks On Death Threat
· Eight dead in Sudan paramilitary attack on shelter: doctor
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Southeast Asia
· Alpaca and ZAD Partner to Bring Shariah-Compliant Investing Globally
· After recent superstitious mob, Kedah Religious Dept to monitor graves of Sg Korok victims over fears of un-Islamic practices
· Minister gives RM100k aid to SMAP Kajang after fire
· JDT talent boosts Harimau Malaya performance, says FAM
· Kelantan still leads in drug abuse cases, says Zahid
· Anwar holds bilateral talks with leaders from China, Australia and five other countries
· ‘I want to die serving’: Hadi Awang to defend PAS top post in Sept polls, amid worry over health
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Pakistan
· Ishaq Dar meets Malaysian PM, reaffirms Pakistan-Malaysia ties
· PM Shehbaz vows rights-based population policy on World Population Day
· SBCA to demolish illegal buildings after Lyari tragedy
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/bengal-bjp-chief-muslims-communists/d/136148
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Why Bengal BJP's new chief has taken a new tone on Muslims, Communists
Jul 11, 2025
Samik Bhattacharya succeeded Sukanta Majumdar as the president of the BJP's West Bengal unit. (Image: Samik Bhattacharya/X)
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Chants of "Jai Shri Ram" were the mainstay of the BJP as it fought to unseat the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal in the 2021 Assembly polls. However, the results of the polls in which it tried its best to consolidate Hindu votes weren't to its liking. Now, a year ahead of the crucial Assembly polls in Bengal, the state BJP might be trying an altogether different approach -- woo Muslims and Communists.
The new tone in its Bengal song was heralded by its new state chief, Samik Bhattacharya.
A Rajya Sabha MP and old RSS hand, Bhattacharya, from his first speech itself, charted a new path for the party far from the politics of polarisation.
"There is a conscious effort to divide Bengal on the basis of religion. The minority community should understand we [the BJP] are not fighting against them," he said in his first speech after taking over as the Bengal BJP chief.
He said the BJP was working against the "forces that shove stones in the hands of Muslim boys", adding, "We want to replace the stones in their hands with pens".
In that speech he reached out to the "nationalist Muslims", asking them to work alongside the BJP to counter radicalisation.
BENGAL BJP's MUSLIM, COMMUNIST OUTREACH A SURPRISE
This was an outreach that wasn't on expected lines, going by the party's projection of Trinamool Congress and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as pandering to Muslims as a vote bank.
With Suvendu Adhikari in the campaign lead, the BJP had taken an aggressive campaign to consolidate Hindu votes in Bengal. Bhattacharya's promotion and the new strategy might seem running counter to the strategy of Adhikari, the leader of the opposition in Bengal Assembly, who aggressively painted Mamata and her Trinamool of minority appeasement.
To an observation by India Today Magazine in an interview that he sounded more receptive towards Muslims than Suvendu Adhikari, Bhattacharya said: "We all want inclusive development and growth in Bengal. Even if the Muslims do not vote for us, our development must and will reach their homes."
Not just Muslims, but Bhattacharya also reached out to Communists by mentioning Bharatiya Jana Sangh leader Syama Prasad Mookerjee and veteran Left leader Jyoti Basu in the same breath.
Bhattacharya said Mookerjee ensured that West Bengal retained its identity during Partition, and he was helped in this mission by Communist leader Jyoti Basu, according to a PTI report.
BJP'S ZERO-LOSS STRATEGY IN WEST BENGAL?
So, what is behind the change in strategy of the BJP with Samik Bhattacharya holding the reins now?
"For the BJP, it is a zero-loss strategy. It tried polarisation politics in Bengal in 2021 and won just 26% of the seats. So, it is likely to try out a different approach this time," political commentator Amitabh Tiwari told India Today Digital.
In the 2021 election, the BJP won 77 of the 294 seats. This wasn't as encouraging coming after an intensive campaign and the 2019 Lok Sabha election in which the BJP made major gains, winning 18 of the 42 seats.
Tiwari-founded Vote Vibe conducted a survey between June 7 and 21 to gauge voter sentiments in West Bengal.
It found 43% of the respondents saying that they agreed with the BJP's accusation that Mamata indulged in minority appeasement politics. While 34% said they didn't believe in the BJP's charges.
More interestingly, the survey found that the issue of religious polarisation came fifth on the list of issues of importance that was dominated by unemployment, price rise, corruption, and law and order.
This survey was conducted after the riots in Murshidabad over the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, in May, when the polarising factor was at its peak.
Bhattacharya's strategy in Bengal also reflects the BJP's broader plan of attracting certain categories of Muslims.
"Muslims aren't a homogenous Communists. And no party has tried to exploit the different segments within the community like the BJP has tried to. Take for example the wooing of the Pasmandas," says Tiwari.
The BJP might also have realised after the 2021 polls that it won't be able to win Bengal by consolidation of Hindu votes and needs to get in all anti-Trinamool voters together.
That must be behind Bhattacharya's bid to attract anti-Trinamool Left voters with the mention of Mookerjee and Basu.
BJP TRYING TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN BENGAL MUSLIMS, BANGLADESHIS?
The new strategy with a fresh face at the helm could be the result of a reassessment in the BJP camp after the 2021 election and the post-poll violence that saw BJP members being attacked and killed.
"Samik Bhattacharya is an urban face, just like Jyoti Basu and Buddhadev Bhattacharya were. It is the bhadralok who set the agenda, and the BJP might be trying a different narrative by bringing in Bhattacharya," says Tiwari.
With reference to "nationalist Muslims", Bhattacharya might be trying to make a clear distinction between indigenous Muslims and the illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.
"Just like fish can't survive without water, Mamata can't survive without illegal Bangladeshi Muslims," the Bengal BJP posted on July 10.
KALIAGANJ BYPOLL RESULT AND BENGAL'S DEMOGRAPHY
The demography of West Bengal too must have forced a rethink in the BJP's strategy.
Muslims make up around 30% of the state's population with districts like Murshidabad, Malda, Uttar Dinajpur, Birbhum and South 24 Parganas having substantial minority numbers.
And it isn't just about getting Muslim votes, even retaining Hindu votes is a challenge. That was evident from the result of the Kaliganj Assembly bypoll declared on June 23.
Trinamool's Alifa Ahmed won by a significant margin over the BJP's Ashish Ghosh in an area where over 48% of the electorate belongs to minority communities, according to a report in The Indian Express.
The BJP candidate's defeat also saw its vote share dip from 31% in 2021 to 28.2% in the bypoll, "prompting the Trinamool to emphasise how BJP had failed to hold on to even its majority community votes", The Times of India reported.
It is keeping in mind the likelihood of slipping of votes and the zero-loss strategy that has made the BJP in West Bengal take to a new strategy of wooing Muslims and Communists. And Samik Bhattacharya is conveying that to the voters.
Source: indiatoday.in
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https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/west-bengal-bjp-samik-bhattacharya-muslim-outreach-communist-left-strategy-change-assembly-election-2754175-2025-07-11
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Children queuing for nutrition supplements among 66 killed by Israeli forces in Gaza
July 10, 2025
Palestinians pray over the bodies of 10 people, including two women and five children, killed in an Israeli strike while they were waiting to receive nutritional supplements at a Project Hope-run medical clinic in Deir Al-Balah, Gaza Strip, on Thursday. (AP)
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GAZA CITY: GAZA: Gaza’s civil defense agency said eight children — killed as they queued for nutritional supplements outside a health clinic — were among 66 people who died in Israeli strikes on the Palestinian territory Thursday.
The agency said the children were among 17 victims in a strike on Deir Al-Balah.
According to the UN children’s agency, the dead included a one-year-old boy whose mother said he had spoken his first words just hours earlier. The mother was critically injured, UNICEF added.
“No parent should have to face such tragedy,” UNICEF executive director Catherine Russell said in a statement.
“The killing of families trying to access life-saving aid is unconscionable,” she added.
US-based charity Project Hope, which runs the facility, said the victims were waiting for the clinic to open to receive treatment for malnutrition, infections and illness. The charity gave a toll of 15 dead, including 10 children and two women.
Its president and chief executive Rabih Torbay called the strike “a blatant violation of international humanitarian law.”
Yousef Al-Aydi, 30, was among dozens of people — most of them women and children — in the queue.
“Suddenly, we heard the sound of a drone approaching, and then the explosion happened,” he told AFP by phone.
“The ground shook beneath our feet, and everything around us turned into blood and deafening screams.”
Israel has expanded its military operations in Gaza, where the war has created dire humanitarian conditions for the population of more than two million people.
The Israeli military told AFP that it targetted a Hamas militant in Deir Al-Balah who had infiltrated Israel during the group’s October 7, 2023 attack.
It said it “regrets any harm to uninvolved individuals and operates to minimize harm as much as possible,” adding the incident was under review.
Mohammed Abu Ouda, 35, was also in the queue at Project Hope. “What was our fault? What was the fault of the children?” he asked.
“I saw a mother hugging her child on the ground, both motionless — they were killed instantly.”
AFP is unable to independently verify the tolls and details due to media restrictions in Gaza.
Four people were killed and several injured in a separate pre-dawn air strike on a home in Al-Bureij camp in central Gaza, civil defense agency official Mohammed Al-Mughair added.
AFP footage from Al-Bureij showed a family including three young children sitting among rubble outside their tattered tent after an air strike hit a house next door.
Elsewhere, three people, including a woman, were killed by Israeli gunfire on civilians near an aid center in the southern city of Rafah, the civil defense agency said.
More than 600 people have been killed around aid distributions and convoys in Gaza since late May, when Israel began allowing a trickle of supplies, the United Nations said in early July.
The European Union on Thursday said it had struck a deal with Israel to open more crossings for aid, as well as to repair infrastructure and protect aid workers.
“We count on Israel to implement every measure agreed,” EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas wrote on X.
The war began after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, leading to the deaths of 1,219 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally of official Israeli figures.
Israel’s retaliatory strikes have killed at least 57,762 Palestinians in Gaza, most of them civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry.
The United Nations deems the figures reliable.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2607633/middle-east
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Makkah deputy governor washes Holy Kaaba on behalf of King Salman
July 10, 2025
Washing ceremony of the Holy Kaaba was carried out on Thursday by the deputy governor of Makkah, Prince Saud bin Mishal bin Abdulaziz. (@AlharamainSA)
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MAKKAH: The washing ceremony of the Holy Kaaba was carried out on Thursday by the deputy governor of Makkah, Prince Saud bin Mishal bin Abdulaziz, on behalf of King Salman.
Upon his arrival, the deputy governor washed the interior of the Holy Kaaba with Zamzam water mixed with rose water, gently cleansing the inner walls with cloth pieces soaked in the sacred blend prepared by the General Authority for the Two Holy Mosques. He also performed Tawaf.
During the washing ritual, the prince was accompanied by several officials, accredited Islamic diplomatic corps members to the Kingdom and the hereditary keepers of the Holy Kaaba.
Source: arabnews.com
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Mosque glorified Hamas in video post, inquiry finds
July 11, 2025
The Charity Commission found misconduct by the trustees of the Al-Manar Centre, a charity that runs a mosque in Cardiff
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Trustees of a mosque in south Wales have been given a formal warning by the Charity Commission after sharing a video in the wake of the October 7 terrorist attacks showing a "positive image" of Hamas, a proscribed terrorist group in the UK.
An inquiry by the regulator found misconduct or mismanagement, or both, by trustees of the Al-Manar Centre Trust in Cardiff over a video posted on the charity's social media account in November 2023.
The trust's objectives include Islamic education and religious harmony, but the commission said the video it shared tried to justify the October 2023 terrorist attack on Israel.
The Al-Manar Centre Trust said the incident was due to "genuine human error".
Its trustees added in a statement: "At no point was there any intention by the charity or its trustees to promote or glorify any proscribed organisation."
The inquiry concluded: "The video was likely to lead an ordinary member of the public to infer that the charity was supportive of and or glorified terrorism."
On 7 October 2023, hundreds of members of Hamas and allied Palestinian armed groups attacked southern Israel, where they killed about 1,200 people and took 251 others hostage.
Israel responded by launching a military campaign in Gaza, during which more than 57,500 people have been killed, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.
The inquiry was told the chair of the Al-Manar Centre Trust posted the video after listening only to the audio, which he believed aligned with the charity's objectives.
In the inquiry's view, the video - which was not produced by or for the charity - "attempts to downplay or justify" the October 2023 attacks.
It found the chair's decision to rely on the audio alone was "wholly inadequate", adding the chair should have recognised the narrative could be "interpreted as supporting Hamas' actions".
An order to review all material on the charity's website and social media platforms in October 2024 has been fully complied with, the commission added.
It also found the "video did not further the charity's objects for the public benefit".
The trustees failed to "implement adequate social media controls", the regulator said, despite being given guidance on protecting the charity from extremist abuse in 2014.
"A charity's reputation can be severely damaged in an instant through reckless use of social media," said the commission's Joshua Farbridge.
He said the conduct of the trustees fell below the standards expected of them.
"There is no excuse for failing to properly review content before it is shared by a charity," he added.
"Our swift intervention, which included an Official Warning and a legal Order requiring specific action to be taken, underscores the Commission's firm commitment to ensuring charities are not misused in supporting or glorifying terrorism."
The charity's trustees said it acknowledged the report, adding: "This incident resulted from a genuine human error, which has since been addressed through new policies and training.
"At no point was there any intention by the charity or its trustees to promote or glorify any proscribed organisation.
"The trustees have cooperated fully with the inquiry and remain committed to good governance and serving the community."
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1mzj08jdz1o
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Every country faces risks from militant attacks
Jul 11, 2025
Photo: PID
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Many incidents of political persecution and repression during the previous Awami League government's tenure were labelled as "militant activities" to divert attention, said US Chargé d'Affaires Megan Bouldin yesterday.
She made the remarks during a courtesy call on Home Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury at his office in the Secretariat, according to a press release issued by the home ministry.
The two also discussed matters of mutual interest, such as the country's law and order situation, security cooperation, counterterrorism, prosecution of related cases, and the prevention of online sexual harassment of young women, among other issues.
The adviser said the US is a close ally of Bangladesh and has long been a key partner in the country's efforts to combat terrorism and enhance security.
"US support in training and equipment has played a vital role in building the capacity of the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police," he said.
Jahangir thanked the Chargé d'Affaires for the assistance and requested continued cooperation in the sector.
Expressing a commitment to cooperate in Bangladesh's security sector, Bouldin said every country faces some level of risk from terrorism and militant attacks, and Bangladesh is no exception.
Bangladesh should nonetheless remain vigilant in this regard, she added.
In response, the adviser said there is no militancy in Bangladesh at present. "Occasionally, banned political parties try to organise rallies and demonstrations, but law enforcement agencies are strictly countering those attempts," he said.
He also said special security arrangements have been made for the diplomatic zone in Baridhara, Dhaka. "Along with regular law enforcement, the Coast Guard has been deployed there."
Thanking the adviser for the special security measures taken for the US Embassy in Dhaka, Bouldin said mutual communication, coordination, and information-sharing among security agencies are essential to ensure national security.
She said similar integration and exchange of information should also take place among Bangladesh's regular police force, National Security Intelligence, Special Branch, CTTC, and Anti-Terrorism Unit, which would help further strengthen and consolidate the country's security system.
The meeting was attended by Khondker Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman, additional secretary (political and ICT) to the Public Security Division; Eric Geelan, political and economic counsellor at the US Embassy; and Josh Pope, political-military affairs officer.
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/diplomacy/news/every-country-faces-risks-militant-attacks-3936846
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Iran Fatwa Fundraiser to Kill Donald Trump Raises Over $40 Million
July 10, 2025
A fatwa, or religious decree, issued by senior Iranian clerics calling for the assassination of U.S. President Donald Trump has attracted online funding worth tens of millions of dollars, reports say. Momentum over such a decree has been growing since Trump's order of U.S. military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities last month after Israel launched Operation Rising Lion with the goal of destroying the Islamic Republic's ability to make a nuclear bomb. Why It Matters Trump faced assassination threats from Iran following his order in 2020 to kill Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps General Qassem Soleimani in Iraq. After last month's U.S. strikes on Iran, senior cleric Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi issued a fatwa declaring that anyone who threatens Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is "an enemy of God," which was interpreted as a threat against Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Other hard-line clerics in Iran have issued similar edicts. While not legally enforceable, a fatwa can influence judicial decisions where there are Sharia-based legal systems. The one against Trump has been compared to the order against the author Salman Rushdie, which led to assassination attempts. What To Know Iran International, an outlet in London, reported that clerics issued a letter on Monday referring to Trump and Netanyahu as "infidel combatants," an Islamic legal term for a nonbeliever at war with Muslims who deserves death. According to the outlet, the Iranian website thaar.ir has said it is raising money for the assassination of Trump and has received $40,286,867. Newsweek has not confirmed the authenticity of this figure. Iran International said the fatwa calling for the killing of Trump and Netanyahu had gained support from about 10 other clerics and attracted fundraising online. It reported that Mansour Emami, another cleric in Iran's West Azerbaijan Province, announced a reward of 100 billion tomans ($1.14 million) for anyone who killed Trump. The cleric Alireza Panahian called on Muslims to kill Trump and Netanyahu in retaliation for their threats on Khamenei. Shirazi and Ayatollah Hossein Noori Hamedani previously declared separate fatwas. Two of those clerics are on the website thaar.ri. According to a translation, the site said it was campaigning against "U.S. state terrorism" and that the funds it raised would be received by those "who carry out the sentence of justice." Iran expert, Hamidreza Azizi, told Newsweek on Thursday that the fatwa should be seen through the lens of Iranian domestic politics and factional rivalries. This is because the clerics who have issued or endorsed the threats belong to an ultra-hard-line camp inherently against any diplomatic engagements with the U.S. or the West. "Although they do not express it openly, but to them even Khamenei is considered a soft person," said Azizi, a research fellow at the German think tank SWP Berlin. "They are not as loyal to Khamenei's decisions and directives as many other supporters of the regime." "They have a political agenda in opposing the talks. Over the years they became so powerful, and Khamenei—in order to contain the moderates and reformists—gave them a free hand to the extent that now they are very difficult to control," Azizi continued. With a post-Khamenei transition looming, this hard-line camp within the Islamic Republic is trying to spread its narrative, strengthen its ranks and make a distinction between its agenda and the others, he added. In comments reported on Wednesday, Mohammad-Javad Larijani, a former senior adviser to Iran's supreme leader, told Iranian state TV that Trump "can no longer sunbathe in Mar-a-Lago," suggesting that he could be attacked by an Iranian drone. Larijani appeared to be joking in the exchange, and Trump laughed off the suggestion when a Fox News reporter asked him about the last time he went sunbathing. Trump replied that it had "been a long time." He added, "I'm not sure it's a threat actually, but perhaps it is." A Secret Service spokesperson told Newsweek on Wednesday that it operated "in a heightened and very dynamic threat environment." They added, "The safety and security of the President and all of our protectees remains our highest priority." What People Are Saying The Iranian website thaar.ir said: "The above sum ($40,286, 867) will be received by the people who have committed themselves to any freedman who will carry out the sentence of justice." Mohammad-Javad Larijani, a former senior adviser to Iran's supreme leader, per Iran International: "Trump has done something so that he can no longer sunbathe in Mar-a-Lago. … A small drone might hit him in the navel." U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday: "I guess it's a threat. I'm not sure it's a threat actually, but perhaps it is." A spokesperson for the United States Secret Service told Newsweek: "To preserve operational integrity, we cannot comment on specific protective intelligence matters. However, our teams work around the clock with international, federal, state, and local partners to ensure the highest levels of protection." What Happens Next Tehran launched a missile attack on a U.S. base in Qatar on June 23, but speculation remains over whether it will retaliate further. There is also speculation about the location of Iran's enriched uranium, which is said to have been shifted before American strikes on its nuclear facilities.
Source: miamiherald.com
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https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/article310362675.html
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Nigerian security forces kill 30 gunmen in counter-attack in northwest
July 11, 2025
Nigerian security forces have killed at least 30 gunmen after armed attacks in the country’s northwest, authorities said on Thursday.
A joint police and military operation took place on Wednesday after hundreds of armed men attacked several villages the previous evening.
Three police officers and two soldiers died during the counter-attack.
In recent months, the mineral rich northwestern and north-central regions of Nigeria have seen an uptick in attacks by armed gangs on local communities, leaving hundreds dead or injured.
Hundreds have been killed and injured in the attacks.
Bandit groups are known for mass killings and kidnappings for ransom in the country's conflict-battered north. Most of the groups are made up of former herders in conflict with settled communities.
Dozens of armed groups take advantage of the limited security presence in the northwest, carrying out attacks on villages and along major roads. Kidnappings for ransom have become a lucrative way for bandit groups to fund other crimes and control villages.
Aside from the conflict in the country's north-central and northwest, Nigeria is battling to contain an insurgency in the northeast where some 35,000 civilians have been killed and more than 2 million displaced, according to the United Nations.
Source: africanews.com
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https://www.africanews.com/2025/07/10/nigerian-security-forces-kill-30-gunmen-in-counter-attack-in-northwest/
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India
UP makes QR code stickers mandatory for eateries, steps up food safety drive ahead of Kanwar Yatra
Namita Bajpai
10 Jul 2025
LUCKNOW: With Kanwar Yatra all set to kick off on Friday with the advent of the holy month of Shravan, the Uttar Pradesh government intensified its food safety and cleanliness campaign along the pilgrimage route.
The state government has made it mandatory for all eateries to display QR-code-enabled stickers linked to the Food Safety CONNECT App.
While the state government officials claim it to be a digital food safety reform aimed at ensuring hygiene, transparency, and accountability for the estimated four crore pilgrims expected to undertake the Yatra this year, the eatery owners consider it the “official version of the nameplate diktat”—a reference to last year’s government order (GO) that had snowballed into a controversy.
As per the new norms, the QR-code-based sticker—linked to the Food Safety Connect App—is now mandatory on all food establishments along the Kanwar Yatra route. Scanning the sticker reveals the owner’s name, registration number, address, and menu details.
According to senior state government officials, the move is not just a technological upgradation but a hygiene and transparency reform.
The official sources confirmed that teams were placing stickers on all eateries—from high-end restaurants to roadside stalls. They said that citizens could also file complaints via the app on finding sub-quality food.
The Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) has also directed shopkeepers to display rate lists and maintain high standards of cleanliness. Expired products and uncovered juices have been destroyed in several inspections, especially in Muzaffarnagar, Lucknow, Meerut, and Ayodhya.
While the state government has decided to stay away from issuing any fresh directive about nameplates or religious identification ahead of this year’s Kanwar Yatra, the digital sticker bearing the owner’s name and registration has reminded traders of July 2024, when the UP Police issued the controversial order for shop owners on the 240-km Kanwar route to display their names and phone numbers prominently.
Officials maintained that the Food Safety Connect App was part of a wider initiative to ensure food safety during monsoon and mass gatherings.
To ensure smooth movement and safety of Kanwariyas along with better coordination with respective district administrations during the Kanwar Yatra, top officials from states including Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, and Uttarakhand convened a high-level meeting at the Commissioner’s Office in Meerut earlier this week.
The inter-state coordination meeting, attended by UP Chief Secretary Manoj Singh, DGP Rajeev Krishna, and other senior officers from the other three states, finalised a detailed action plan for crowd management, law and order, and pilgrim convenience.
The top brass of all the states concerned decided to get all liquor shops along the Kanwar route covered with curtains during the Yatra.
“Though the liquor shops will remain open, their visibility will be restricted to avoid any temptation and provocation,” said a senior state government official.
Surveillance through drones will be carried out continuously, and traffic police are set to implement a revised traffic flow plan from Thursday night.
As per the traffic plan, one lane will be dedicated exclusively to Kanwariyas and another for light vehicles. Heavy vehicles will not be allowed inside city limits during the peak period of the Yatra. Additionally, every 15 kilometres, an IPS-level officer will be deployed to monitor the situation and ensure immediate response to any disturbances.
A special WhatsApp-based coordination group has also been created with officers from all four states to facilitate real-time communication, updates, and coordinated troubleshooting. The Yatra is expected to draw over 4 crore participants this year.
While the state has taken a more systemic and administrative approach this year, fringe elements haven’t stayed quiet. However, the state hasn’t endorsed such actions.
In cities like Lucknow, QR stickers are also being used to collect real-time food feedback. This allows FSDA officials to identify problem spots and take action immediately.
Meanwhile, UP Chief Secretary Manoj Singh reiterated that no compromises would be made on the quality of food served to the pilgrims. “Every kitchen would be under scanner of FSSAI officials. From DJ volume to canal water levels, every detail is being tracked. At the same time, the WhatsApp-based coordination group across four states is fully active,” he said.
He added that only pure vegetarian food should be served along the Kanwar route, and the PWD, electricity, and irrigation departments were told to fix past lapses to prevent mishaps.
Source: newindianexpress.com
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https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2025/Jul/10/up-makes-qr-code-stickers-mandatory-for-eateries-steps-up-food-safety-drive-ahead-of-kanwar-yatra
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BJP targeting Bengalis, eviction drive in Delhi's Jai Hind Colony anti-Bangla agenda: WB CM Mamata
Kaushik Pradhan
10 Jul 2025
KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday launched a sharp attack on the BJP, alleging that it was targeting Bengali migrant workers in Delhi’s Jai Hind Colony and spreading its anti-Bengali agenda beyond the state's borders.
The CM termed the move "BJP’s anti-Bengali agenda to other parts of the country in a strategic and systemic manner".
In response, BJP leader Jagannath Chattopadhyay compared Delhi's Jai Hind Colony, where 26 illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators were recently identified, with Kolkata's Gulshan Colony, where he alleged the number of Aadhaar cards were much higher than the population itself.
Banerjee took to social media platform X to accuse the BJP for targeting Bengali migrant workers, and vowed to raise this issue in every possible forum.
She wrote that she was "deeply disturbed by the alarming news of harassment emerging from Jai Hind Colony in Vasant Kunj, New Delhi — a settlement predominantly inhabited by Bengalis who build the city as part of its unorganised workforce."
"Their water supply was reportedly cut on orders from the BJP-led government. Electricity meters were confiscated and power was abruptly cut the day before yesterday. Residents also claim Delhi Police, backed by RAF personnel, blocked private water tankers they had arranged and paid for," she added.
She further said that a "forced eviction is currently underway despite the matter being sub-judice following another transgression last December by Delhi Police. How can we claim to be a democratic republic if the basic rights to shelter, water, electricity are being trampled upon?"
She stated that such actions amounted to criminalising the identity and language of Bengali-speaking Indians, and accused the BJP of treating them as "infiltrators in their own country."
She alleged that the BJP, after having "failed in their attempts to deprive Bengalis in West Bengal", was now "strategically targeting" Bengalis across BJP-ruled states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Madhya Pradesh.
"There are over 1.5 crore migrant workers in Bengal who live with dignity. But the same cannot be said for BJP-ruled states, where Bengalis are being treated as infiltrators in their own country. Speaking Bengali does not make one a Bangladeshi. These individuals are as much citizens of India as anyone else, regardless of what language they speak," Banerjee said.
"We will not remain silent while people from Bengal are treated like trespassers in their own country. Bengal stands in solidarity with every oppressed voice. We will raise this issue in every possible forum," she declared.
The development comes a day after a political slugfest erupted on Wednesday as West Bengal's ruling TMC accused the BJP-led Odisha government of illegally detaining Bengali-speaking migrant workers in Jharsuguda district despite having valid documents, a charge promptly dismissed by Odisha Police citing lack of "verifiable papers."
The ruling party of West Bengal demanded their immediate release and warned of a larger political movement if such "targeted harassment" continues.
A senior Odisha Police officer, however, said the detained people lack valid documents to establish their residency or citizenship.
Reacting to Banerjee’s allegations, BJP leader Jagannath Chattopadhyay claimed that the Mamata-led TMC government in West Bengal has been instructed to undermine steps taken by other states to identify Bangladeshi infiltrators and deport them.
The BJP claimed that about 25,000 illegal infiltrators have already been sent back to Bangladesh from different parts of the country.
According to Chattopadhyay, Tamil Nadu and Kerala governments, states that are not led by the BJP, have so far identified most illegal infiltrators.
The BJP leader said, "Aadhaar cards, voter cards and ration cards have been recovered from those illegal infiltrators. The Union Home Ministry said in a statement that most of the recovered cards were made in North 24 Parganas."
Meanwhile, in a post on X, the Trinamool Congress alleged that Five labourers from Hariharpara in West Bengal, who went to Odisha seeking job have been thrown behind bars on the baseless charge of being "Bangladeshi nationals." They have been languishing in lock-up for 15 days, the party claimed.
"This is not an isolated incident. From Gujarat to Maharashtra to Madhya Pradesh, @BJP4India-ruled states are running coordinated crackdowns on Bengali-speaking workers. Valid documents are ignored, and citizenship is questioned simply because of their identity. This is institutionalised targeting. This is XENOPHOBIC ABUSE of POWER. And we will resist every bit of it. BENGAL will NOT BOW DOWN to INJUSTICE," the post added.
Source: newindianexpress.com
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https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2025/Jul/10/bjp-targeting-bengalis-eviction-drive-in-delhis-jai-hind-colony-anti-bangla-agenda-wb-cm-mamata
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Kerala Muslim body to protest state's move to extend school hours
Jul 11, 2025
Prominent Muslim body in Kerala, Samastha Kerala Jem-iyyathul Ulama, through its affiliate Samastha Kerala Madrassa Management Association (SKMMA), has announced a series of protests against the Kerala government's decision to increase school working hours.
The organisation argues that the revised schedule will severely impact madrassa education, which is attended by around 1.2 million Muslim students in the state.
The protest is in response to the government’s recent order extending school hours for Classes 8 to 10 by 30 minutes daily in all government, aided, and unaided schools following the state syllabus. The extended time —15 minutes added each in the morning and afternoon sessions (except Fridays) — is aimed at achieving 220 working days and 1,100 instructional hours as mandated by the Right to Education Act and the Kerala Education Rules.
Samastha contends that madrassa classes, usually held in the mornings before regular school, will be disrupted. It views religious education as mandatory and asserts that the new schedule cuts into this critical time.
They plan to hold district-level conventions against the government by July 22, then regional-level protests would be held by July 25. On August 5, they will be having a march to the Collectorate and on September 30, they plan a march to the State Secretariat.
Source: indiatoday.in
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https://www.indiatoday.in/india/kerala/story/samastha-body-protest-kerala-govt-school-hour-extension-decision-says-muslim-students-madrassa-education-will-be-affected-2754166-2025-07-11
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Jhangur Baba bought 2 lakh sq ft of land in Pune for just Rs 16 crore; owns Rs 100 crore property in Balrampur; deals linked to chief judicial magistrates' families
Jul 11, 2025
NEW DELHI: In Pune, Jamaluddin bought over 2 lakh square feet of land for Rs 16 crore through complex agreements that included multiple stakeholders — among them, family members of court staff from the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s office.
The deals, investigators say, were just one part of a sprawling operation involving illegal religious conversions and questionable real estate acquisitions across two states.
On Saturday, UP’s Anti-Terrorism Squad arrested the 70-year-old — known in Balrampur as Hazrat Baba Jamaluddin ‘Peer Baba’ — along with his wife Nasreen, for allegedly orchestrating a religious conversion network and acquiring property worth over Rs 100 crore using forged or dubious means.
In Balrampur alone, the couple is believed to have purchased land worth Rs 1.5 crore and developed it into residential and commercial structures without securing legal land-use conversion.
Police say they lived near the Chand Auliya Dargah, where Jamaluddin presented himself as a Sufi spiritual leader and built a loyal following.
But Jamaluddin was not always a religious figure.
Investigators say he was originally Ghanshyam Rohera, a Mumbai resident who converted to Islam in Dubai in 2015, along with his wife and daughter.
The family returned to India soon after, and according to FIRs filed across multiple UP districts, began luring people into Islam through romance, financial inducement or manipulation.
“He posed as a spiritual guide but was running a well-structured conversion racket,” said ADG (Law and Order) Amitabh Yash.
“People were converted through emotional exploitation, pressure or allurements. We are now uncovering financial and property links as well.”
Several FIRs have been lodged against the couple, and authorities suspect a wider network.
The ATS is now scrutinising all land deals, especially in Pune, where the names of judicial staff families on agreement papers have raised concern. More arrests are likely as the investigation deepens.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/jhangur-baba-bought-2-lakh-sq-ft-of-land-in-pune-for-just-rs-16-crore-owns-rs-100-crore-property-in-balrampur-deals-linked-to-chief-judicial-magistrates-families/articleshow/122378789.cms
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Samastha affiliate planning protests against additional working hours in schools
July 10, 2025
The Samastha Kerala Management Association (SKMMA) is planning to stage ‘dharnas’ outside district collectorates on August 5 and take out a march to the Secretariat on September 30 against the additional working hours in aided, government, and recognised unaided schools that follow State syllabus.
Functionaries of the SKMMA, an affiliate organisation of the Sunni scholars’ forum Samastha Kerala Jem-iyyathul Ulama, declared their plans at a convention here on Thursday. M.T. Abdulla Musliyar, general secretary, Samastha Kerala Islam Religious Education Board, said that religious education was important for believers. The State government had no business in meddling with it. No talks were held before increasing the school hours. He claimed that the government could have rearranged the working hours in schools without tampering with the working schedule of ‘madrasas’, which cannot be changed. Mr. Musliyar said that the SKMMA would hold district-level conventions against the government by July 20 and protest events would be held at the regional level by July 25.
The working hours for Classes VIII to X in these schools have been increased by 30 minutes in total -- 15 minutes each in the morning and afternoon on all days except Fridays. This is to realise the target of 220 working days and 1,100 instructional hours for Class VIII as per the Right to Education Act and for Classes IX and X as per the Kerala Education Rules.
Govt. open to discussion on new school timings after concerns raised
E. Moideen Faizy Puthanazhi, general secretary, SKMMA, alleged that the government had not bothered to address the concerns raised by the Samastha in a memorandum submitted to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan by its president Syed Jifri Muthukoya Thangal. “The government implemented the new timings based on a High Court order. The court, however, has not specifically said anything about the additional hours. There are other ways to ensue 220 working days and 1,100 working hours in high school classes. For that, the government should first hold talks,” he added.
Haris Beeran, Rajya Sabha MP of the Indian Union Muslim League, alleged that the State government had been deliberately trying to hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims. “No efforts are being made to arrive at a consensus. A similar approach was seen even in launching Zumba sessions in schools. There are attempts to introduce neo-liberal thoughts and an aversion to religion,” he added. Panakkad Syed Hameedali Shihab Thangal, treasurer, SKMMA, inaugurated the convention.
Source: thehindu.com
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https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/samastha-affiliate-planning-protests-against-additional-working-hours-in-schools/article69796329.ece
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Politics heats up in J&K as NC seeks government nod to visit martyrs graveyard on July 13
Fayaz Wani
11 Jul 2025
SRINAGAR: The political situation in J&K has heated up after the National Conference sought permission from the government to hold function at “Martyrs graveyard” in Srinagar to pay tributes to 22 Kashmiris killed by troops of Dogra rule on July 13, 1931.
Before Article 370 abrogation, July 13 was a gazetted holiday observed as 'Martyrs Day' in erstwhile J&K state to mark the killing of 22 Kashmiri civilians by Dogra troops under Maharaja Hari Singh on this day in 1931.
PDP and other Kashmir-based parties have demanded reinstating of government holiday on the day and holding of official functions to mark the occasion.
The ruling NC General Secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar has written to Deputy Magistrate Srinagar seeking permission for observing July 13 (Martyrs Day).
In the letter the NC general secretary stated that NC is “observing Martyrs Day on July 13 (Sunday) as usual. The party president Farooq Abdullah accompanied by senior functionaries of the party will proceed to Mazer-e-Shuhda (martyrs graveyard at Naqashband sahib in downtown Srinagar) to pay floral tributes to the martyrs at 8 am. Necessary arrangements at martyrs graveyard be made”.
“It is requested to kindly confirm the proposed timing or allot the timing so that there is no confusion whatsoever in this regard and the party will follow the timing as allotted,” he said.
An NC spokesperson said since 2019, the party leaders have repeatedly been denied the right to commemorate this historic day - a day deeply rooted in the collective memory and political conscience of our people.
“We hope that this time, our democratic and peaceful request will be respected, and that the NC will be allowed to mark this day in accordance with tradition and sentiment,” the spokesperson said.
Every year, a customary wreath-laying ceremony by the head of the government used to be held at the martyrs’ graveyard in downtown Srinagar on the day. The wreath-laying ceremony had taken place even when BJP was sharing power with PDP.
The 'Martyrs Day' had been a state holiday till August 5, 2019. However, after abrogation of Article 370, Lt Governor administration in 2020 dropped July 13 from the list of gazetted holidays in J&K.
A special contingent of J&K policemen would post the bugle and present a ceremonial guard of honour to the July 13 martyrs at martyrs graveyard. No such customary ceremony has taken place at the cemetery since abrogation of Article 370.
Former Chief Minister and PDP President Mehbooba Mufti said PDP believes that July 13, 1931, marks the beginning of Kashmir's political awakening and resistance to autocracy, and the martyrdom of 22 brave individuals must be formally honoured, not just in words but through institutional recognition. Security restrictions are being imposed in the area around martyrs graveyard Naqashband Sahib to prevent mainstream leaders from visiting the graveyard to offer their tributes to the July 13, 1931 martyrs.
“PDP reiterates its unwavering commitment to preserving the dignity and memory of the 1931 martyrs and safeguarding the democratic foundations they laid. We will continue to resist all attempts, either covert or overt to erase or dilute Kashmir's past to suit present-day political conveniences,” she said.
“The party leadership has unanimously decided to visit the martyrs graveyard on July 13 to pay tribute to the 1931 Martyrs,” said PDP vice president Sartaj Madni.
The PDP also demanded that July 13 be declared as gazetted holiday and Mehbooba claimed that Omar Abdullah government's proposal sent to Lt Governor about declaring July 13 and December 5 as public holidays would have carried weight if Speaker of J&K Assembly had supported PDP's resolution for the same in the assembly.
In March this year, PDP MLA Waheed Parra during discussion on Motion of Thanks on Lt Governor’s address had demanded restoration of holiday on July 13 ‘Martyrs Day’ and NC founder Sheikh Abdullah’s birth anniversary on December 5. However, BJP leaders created the ruckus and labelled July 13 martyrs as “traitors”.
J&K Apni Party president and former minister Altaf Bukhari said July 13 is a very important day for J&K.
“It is the day of July 13, 1931 martyrs. The NC government should declare a holiday on Martyrs Day,” Bukhari said.
He announced that Apni Party leadership will visit the martyrs’ graveyard at Naqshband Sahib in Srinagar to pay tribute on their anniversary.
“The party has formally sought permission to visit the graveyard on July 13,” he said.
Bukhari also demanded that the “Martyrs’ Day” be observed at the state level as it used to be case before Article 370 abrogation.
Source: newindianexpress.com
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https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2025/Jul/11/politics-heats-up-in-jk-as-nc-seeks-government-nod-to-visit-martyrs-graveyard-on-july-13
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Lesbian woman’s outrage against Muslim immigrants in the US goes viral after Pride parade ban, says ‘We helped you settle, now you ban us’
Jul 11, 2025
In the 1974 Bollywood classic Roti Kapda Aur Makaan, Amitabh Bachchan and Manoj Kumar portrayed the eternal struggles of ordinary people fighting for the basic necessities of food, clothing, and shelter. It was a film about survival, sacrifice, and betrayal – where even the noblest intentions could be crushed by circumstance and shifting loyalties.
Decades later, that cinematic metaphor has found unexpected resonance in Hamtramck, a quiet city in Michigan. Here, Catrina Stackpoole, a lesbian former councilwoman who once championed the cause of Muslim immigrants – helping them find food, clothing, and housing – now feels deeply betrayed. The city’s Muslim-majority council recently banned the Pride flag and refused to stand with LGBTQ+ groups during public celebrations.
Stackpoole’s words, emotional and raw, have gone viral on X (formerly Twitter), sparking a national debate. “We welcomed you,” she told the city council in a public meeting. “We created nonprofits to help feed, clothe, and find housing. We did everything we could to make your transition here easier, and this is how you repay us? By stabbing us in the back?”
For many, her remarks captured the bitter rupture of a once-progressive alliance, now fracturing under the weight of cultural tension.
Pride flag ban sparks outrage in a city once seen as a model of diversity
Hamtramck, a small enclave north of Detroit known as “the world in two square miles,” once symbolized multicultural success. With a population of just 28,000, it saw a significant demographic shift over the last few decades, from being predominantly Polish to becoming majority Muslim, with large Yemeni and Bangladeshi communities. In 2021, the city elected what is believed to be the US’s only all-Muslim city council, with a Yemeni-born mayor, Amer Ghalib.
But in 2023, that same council voted unanimously to ban Pride flags and all non-governmental flags from city property. LGBTQ+ residents and their allies were stunned, especially those who had once advocated for the rights and inclusion of Muslim immigrants. The decision felt targeted. And in June 2025, during Pride Month, the tension reignited as city officials reportedly refused to march alongside LGBTQ+ groups in a local Labor Day parade, prompting Stackpoole’s viral remarks.
Source: The Washington Post, (Sept 16, 2023)
From allyship to accusation, ‘We helped you, you betrayed us’
Catrina Stackpoole is no outsider. She served on the Hamtramck city council from 2008 to 2012 and worked closely with immigrant communities, helping them find housing, food, and social support. Her deep involvement made her heartbreak more visible. When the Pride flag was banned, she didn’t just see it as a policy change, she saw it as a rejection of the very values that once united the city.
Online reactions exploded after journalist Adam Wren shared her comments, with thousands of reposts and replies. Some called it a cautionary tale about multicultural coalitions collapsing under ideological differences. Others defended the council’s move as a matter of religious or cultural principle. Yet the emotions driving Stackpoole’s viral moment seemed to strike a broader nerve, the pain of feeling abandoned by those you once helped rise.
Hamtramck’s Muslim mayor and others in Michigan back Trump, despite Trump’s past Islamophobic rhetoric
Hamtramck’s mayor, Amer Ghalib — the same man who led the charge to ban the Pride flag — recently endorsed Donald Trump for president in 2024. Despite Trump’s previous anti-Muslim policies, such as the 2017 travel ban, Ghalib publicly declared Trump as “the right choice for this critical time.” In a Facebook post written in Arabic, he stated he had spoken to Trump about issues ranging from Yemen to Arab-American voting trends in Michigan and declared, “Let the caravan begin its journey.”
Ghalib is not alone. Across Michigan, a critical swing state, growing numbers of Muslim leaders have begun endorsing Trump, citing frustration with the Biden administration’s support for Israel in the Gaza conflict and a desire for more conservative social policies. Trump’s promises to limit US military involvement abroad and his alignment with “traditional family values” have resonated with many conservative Muslims.
What many see as an ideological betrayal — Muslims supporting a candidate previously seen as hostile to their faith — is for others a strategic pivot. Figures like Imam Belal Alzuhairi have even called Trump the “peace candidate” and praised his Middle East diplomacy under the Abraham Accords.
Political fallout and national attention
With the post of Stackpoole’s remarks circulating widely, Hamtramck has become a flashpoint in the ongoing national debate over identity politics, immigrant integration, and LGBTQ+ rights. The situation is being compared to other global instances where early alliances between liberal and conservative communities fractured once political power shifted. Some online commentators even drew parallels to post-revolution Iran, where secular and religious groups clashed over control and culture.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, who is openly lesbian, also weighed in and urged the city to reverse what she called a “wall of exclusion.” Meanwhile, LGBTQ+ advocates in Hamtramck have reported increased vandalism and harassment since the ban. Incidents include teens egging homes with Pride flags and long-time residents expressing fear about being openly queer in their own city.
What began as a flag policy has now become a symbol of something much deeper—a crisis of trust and shared values in America’s most diverse communities. For Stackpoole and others, the betrayal is not just political; it’s personal. And for those watching from afar, Hamtramck now stands not just as “the world in two square miles,” but as a mirror reflecting the difficult questions facing multicultural democracies everywhere.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/lesbian-womans-outrage-against-muslim-immigrants-in-the-us-goes-viral-after-pride-parade-ban-says-we-helped-you-settle-now-you-ban-us/articleshow/122384576.cms
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Chirag Paswan interview: ‘Bihar roll revision is not NRC… Should ghuspaithiye live among us?’
LIZ MATHEW
Jul 11, 2025
Union Minister and LJP (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan has already launched his campaign for the Bihar Assembly elections slated for October-November this year. In an interview with The Indian Express, Chirag speaks on a range of issues related to the Bihar polls including the raging row over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls being conducted by the Election Commission (EC) in the state. Excerpts:
*There are various criticisms against the SIR in Bihar – the short duration given for the exercise, the number of documents sought as citizenship proof. This has caused problems for people cutting across the caste and regional lines. What’s your take?
The criticism, I believe, is politically-motivated. It’s the Opposition that has been crying after every election that the voter list is inaccurate, there are duplication and that there are names wrongly added. They have made these complaints repeatedly. And when the EC is trying to rectify it, you have a problem.
I admit that availability of these documents in the rural as well as urban areas of Bihar might be an issue. But that’s why the political parties are there. The Opposition is creating a false narrative here and they are not making their karyakartas to go to the houses to help the voters at the booth level. We have Booth Level Agents (BLAs) who help voters and Booth Level Officers (BLOs). Of course, they (BLAs) are not in big numbers, but they are coordinating between BLOs and voters.
*But the number of documents a voter needs for the SIR is too many?
Options have also been provided. It’s been divided at many levels before and after 2003. The fact is that somewhere we have to start this process.
*But Aadhaar or ration cards are not being accepted? And will the timeframe be extended?
Aadhaar card is not accepted because the place of birth is not identified in it. But there are options and if you do not have any of them, the local administration will help you.
I do not know if the time will be extended. Eventually the EC will take a call on that. But since we are heading for elections in October, I do not know how much can be extended.
*But do you think the SIR is like the “NRC (National Register of Citizens) through backdoor” as being charged by the Opposition?
They (Opposition) have a problem with anything and everything that the central government does. They do not believe in any constitutional posts. Of course, it’s not NRC. It’s a process that has been done on a regular basis, maybe not so extensively. The process of sanitisation needs to start somewhere at some point.
We had concerns over the NRC. My party under the leadership of my father (late Ram Vilas Paswan) had a detailed meeting with the Home Minister and clarity was given to us. Our concern was about the people who do not have any documents. We were eventually assured that they will be given a chance to go through an appeal and there will be support for them. Anyway, I do not think that it’s NRC through backdoor and they (Opposition) are trying to create a false narrative.
The question remains, if you are fine with people living in our country without proper documents or people about whom you don’t know whether they belong to this country. Are you okay with ghuspaithiye (infiltrators) living among us? A process of sanitisation and a thorough combing need to be done.
*You have recently commented on the law and order issue in Bihar – there have recently been killings in the state, the murders of a businessman and two youngsters.
Of course, incidents like these definitely shake you up. On a regular basis we are seeing some one or other getting murdered in rural parts of Bihar. Law and order becomes a concern, especially this being a forte of our Chief Minister Nitish Kumar ji. I believe there is some kind of conspiracy happening against him. I am sure he has the ability to get things under control. There have been some arrests too. But it’s a matter of serious concern.
*Your alliance is with a party (BJP) about which Muslims have apprehensions. But your party has always reached out to the Muslim community to seek their support.
Of course, we and JD(U) have been getting the support of Muslims. I do not know if you believe this, but a certain chunk of Muslims have started voting for the BJP as well. They believe that the initiatives like the anti-triple talaq law and the Waqf legislation were taken keeping the interests of poor Muslims in mind. Pasmanda Muslims and a major chunk of Muslim women have started supporting the BJP.
I do not think that our inclusion in NDA has caused an erosion in our Muslim support base. My father always wanted a Muslim CM in Bihar. They know our commitment to the community. We are like their pehredars (guards) in every government.
*How comfortable are you in the NDA alliance?
It’s been 11 years since we became an NDA partner. In between, for a short while, I opted out of the alliance but I was very much part of it. My Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) is on a different level. I love him a lot. He was always there whenever I needed. I am extremely comfortable.
*In Bihar, the Opposition is invoking Bihar pride, alleging that the next NDA government would be a proxy Delhi government.
It’s a false narrative they want to create. We will be heading in for an election under the leadership of Nitish Kumar. When you have a strong leader like Nitish Kumar ji, a proxy can never work.
*Tell us about your plans – are you eyeing the CM’s post or the Deputy CM’s position? Is the LJP(RV) trying to occupy the space occupied currently by Nitish Kumar-led JD(U)?
There is no vacancy for the post of chief minister in Bihar. Of course, I want to go back to my state. The whole purpose of my coming to politics is Bihar and its people. I was born and brought up in Delhi and I worked in Mumbai. I have seen how Biharis are forced to live in poor conditions in other states where they go to work. I used to think why Biharis have to go out of their states to work and why can’t we have a good infrastructure in our state.
Being a third-time MP, I realised you cannot do much sitting in Delhi. If you really want to do something for your state, you have to go back to the state. With that intention I have told my party that I want to contest the Assembly polls. The party has to decide… It needs to analyse whether it is good for the party. It happens when a senior leader contests, the whole ecosystem gets involved and ignores other constituencies. That’s what we are evaluating.
I would love to contest the Assembly elections. I have no intention to become the Deputy CM. But of course after the elections, I would like to have one of my karyakartas representing the state as Deputy CM.
*You mentioned about Bihar not having good infrastructure. But Nitish-led NDA has been in power in the state for more than a decade. Who do you blame for it then?
The government has failed because there was no double-engine sarkar. We have seen Uttar Pradesh performing so well under the NDA. Irony with my state is that for the longest time we have had – almost 27 years – there were different governments at the Centre and the state. During UPA (rule at the Centre), there was an NDA government in Bihar. After 2014 (when NDA was in power at the Centre), there was Mahagathbandhan government in the state. They were not on the same page. The central schemes were not implemented properly at the state level and the state schemes did not get the central support. Now, after the (2024) Lok Sabha elections, we have seen how the state is on a rapid growth path. Big schemes are getting implemented. Our PM has visited the state seven times after the elections, he will soon visit again.
*What’s your view on the allegations made by some Opposition and regional parties that the BJP is trying to impose Hindi? What’s your view on the language controversy?
I do not know why there should be a controversy. I believe that the beauty of our country is that we have so many languages, all languages should be given an equal opportunity to grow together. The problem starts when you force a particular person living in one state to start speaking in one language. Why are you forcing me? If I respect your language, you respect mine… Some think your identity gets diluted if you talk in another Indian language. But you are fine if you speak in a foreign language. I don’t know why. It becomes nasty if every state starts forcing it.
*There has to be one link language?
Let it be an Indian language. If you travel abroad you will realise that they take pride in their native language.
*You think Hindi is that language?
No, why only Hindi. Let it be Tamil or Marathi. I think the Centre is going to ensure that the communication with the states would be in their language soon.
*Several political observers have noted the rise of your brothers-in-law in your party, such as Arun Bharti, Dhananjay alias Mrinal Paswan and Anil alias Sadhu Paswan.
What do I say about it when I cannot shy away from the fact that they are my relatives. But because they are relatives, they cannot be denied a chance to prove themselves despite their contribution to the party. Eventually, everything boils down to your potential and capability. If you do not have the potential, it does not matter whose son or daughter or brother or sister you are.
*It seems you want to expand the reach of your party beyond its core Paswan base. What’s your strategy for it?
If you look at my rallies, its gatherings, you will not see a certain kind of crowd. Youngsters across caste lines come there. I believe I have broken the caste barrier. I do not talk about just Dalits or upper castes. I talk about Biharis and Bihari pride. For Bihar first and for Bihari first. I want to see that the gap between the rich and the poor is reduced.
*What’s your equation with Tejashwi Yadav? How do you see him as a young leader?
Source: indianexpress.com
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Lohia stood for Sanatan Dharma, today’s socialists have strayed from his path: Yogi
July 11, 2025
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Thursday that socialist icon Ram Manohar Lohia stood firmly for Sanatan Dharma and that today’s socialists have strayed from the path shown by him and do not seem to be paying heed to his advice.
Addressing devotees at the Gorakhnath temple, the Chief Minister said India cannot move forward without Hinduism’s revered deities Ram, Krishna and Shiva and anyone opposing them is bound to face ruin.
“Ram Manohar Lohia ji had also said that as long as Indians continue to worship Maryada Purushottam Shri Ram, Leela Purushottam Murli Manohar Shri Krishna and Devadhidev Mahadev Shankar, no force in the world can harm them. But it’s unfortunate that those who claim to follow Lohia’s ideology no longer heed his words.”
Lohia, a socialist, a freedom fighter and a fierce critic of the Congress, had initiated Ramayana Melas. He stood firmly for Sanatan Dharma, he claimed.
Adityanath said when doubts were raised about India’s unity after Independence, Lohia had affirmed that as long as Ram, Krishna and Shiva are worshipped, there can be no disunity.
“But today’s so-called socialists have strayed from Lohia’s path—and now even open fire on Ram’s devotees,” he said.
Referring to the fate of the demon Maricha from epic Ramayana, the CM said despite being born into a noble lineage, Maricha met a tragic end. “Though born a human, he died like an animal — this is the consequence of betraying righteousness,” he added.
“Shri Ram, Shri Krishna and Shankar, and the epics associated with them are not just stories — they are symbols of our faith, heritage, and the highest ideals of a civilised culture. It is the duty of every Indian to safeguard and uphold these legacies. Ram, Krishna, and Shiva are living embodiments of Sanatan Dharma,” he said.
Calling Sanatan Dharma India’s soul, the Chief Minister quoted a Muslim woman lawyer stating they were also Sanatanis and India has only one religion — Sanatan Dharma.
He urged people to understand the difference between dharma, sect, and faith. “Sanatan Dharma is not merely a way of worship, but a way of life that embraces various forms of devotion,” he said.
“It is untrue to claim Indians failed to preserve their heritage or lacked scientific and modern knowledge. Such claims were made to malign Indians through intellectual deceit. In reality, the Vedas — the world’s most ancient texts — were composed in India when the rest of the world lived in darkness,” he claimed.
Referring to some YouTubers’ negative comments during the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, the CM said that while devotees walked barefoot in faith, these influencers tried to provoke and mock them. “When they questioned the arrangements, the devotees calmly replied that the very roads they walked on were also a part of the arrangements,” he said.
Source: indianexpress.com
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Telangana Cabinet to implement 42% quota for Backward Classes in local body elections
by Nikhila Henry
July 10, 2025
Telangana government’s 19th Cabinet has decided to implement 42 percent reservation for Backward Classes in the upcoming local body elections.
This comes nearly four months after the Telangana Assembly passed two key legislations clearing the way for 42 percent reservation for Backward Classes in government jobs, educational institutions and urban and rural local body polls.
Cabinet ministers Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy and Ponnam Prabhakar said at a press briefing held in Hyderabad Thursday that an ordinance to this effect will be promulgated soon.
Before taking the decision, the advocate general of the state was also consulted by the Cabinet, Srinivas Reddy said. Local body elections in Telangana will have to be held within three months, according to the Telangana High Court’s directions.
The Bills passed by the Telangana Assembly in March were titled the Telangana Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Reservation of seats in educational institutions and of appointments for posts in services under the state) Bill, 2025, and the Telangana Backward Classes (Reservation of seats in urban and rural local bodies) Bill, 2025.
It was passed months after the state government’s caste survey found that the BCs — including Muslim caste groups — form 56.33 percent of the state’s population. The Bills were then sent to Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma, who has referred them to President Droupadi Murmu.
Even if the state were to promulgate an ordinance, governor’s assent will be required. “We have taken all legal precautions to make sure that the ordinance is legally sound,” Srinivas Reddy said Thursday. The ordinance will effectively amend the state’s Panchayat Raj Act – 2018, to increase the reservation for BCs to 42 percent.
The reservation for BCs is expected to face a legal challenge as implementation of this would breach the 49 percent reservation cap set by the Supreme Court of India. To breach this cap, state’s bills will have to be included in the 9th Schedule of the Constitution, similar to Tamil Nadu, where the reservation cap has been increased to 69 percent.
Source: indianexpress.com
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TMC leader Rezzak Khan shot multiple times, hacked to death in West Bengal
Atri Mitra
July 11, 2025
Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Rezzak Khan, 38, was shot multiple times and then hacked to death in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district on Thursday night.
The incident took place in the Chaltaberia area of Bhangar when Khan was returning home after attending a party meeting. According to police sources, unidentified men fired three consecutive shots at Khan, following which they hacked him to death.
Khan, who stayed in the Maricha area, was the Chaltaberia area president of the TMC and was known to be close to party MLA Saokat Mollah. Following the incident, Mollah, the MLA from Canning Purba constituency, accused the Indian Secular Front (ISF) of Khan’s murder, a charge the party denied.
“Under the instruction of MLA Naushad Siddiqui, ISF miscreants murdered Rezzak. We are demanding strong action against all the culprits,” Mollah said.
Khan’s body has been sent for a post-mortem examination. Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma has gone to the spot to oversee the investigation.
Rezzak was initially close to Arabul Islam, a TMC leader in Bhangar, but later shifted loyalties to the Mollah camp.
Source: indianexpress.com
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https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/kolkata/tmc-rezzak-khan-murder-bengal-isf-10119472/
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‘On what basis have they been detained?’ HC asks Bengal chief secy to coordinate with Odisha over detention of migrant workers
by Tanusree Bose
July 11, 2025
The Calcutta High Court on Thursday directed the chief secretary of West Bengal to coordinate with the Odisha government over the detention of over 400 people, mostly from West Bengal, on suspicion of being illegal Bangladesh migrants.
Hearing two habeas corpus petitions filed by the families of two West Bengal residents, the Division Bench of Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty and Justice Reetobroto Kumar Mitra enquired whether the West Bengal government has contacted the Odisha government, and also wanted to know on what basis the migrant workers were detained in Odisha.
One petition was filed by Nasima Mondal, mother of one Rakhibul Islam Mondal, a resident of Hariharpara in Murshidabad. Another petition was filed by Rajjak Shiekh, also a resident of Hariharpara, for his son Sainur Islam. Both Rakhibul and Rajjak were allegedly detained by Odisha Police from Jagatsinhpur in the last week of June.
Seeking judicial intervention under Article 226 of the Constitution, the families claimed that they had not been produced before any court of law after 24 hours of their detention, thereby violating their fundamental rights.
According to the petitioner, despite producing valid documents, including Aadhaar, voter ID, and ration card, the Odisha Police did not take them into consideration.
“The matter is that they (the petitioners) are migrant labour citizen of this country who went to Odisha for a considerable period of time, and they were arrested and kept in detention centres. Their whereabouts are not known. They are illiterate and belong to the downtrodden community of Hariharpara,” the counsel representing the families said.
“They have been arrested on the basis of linguistic minority since they speak Bengali. Since their arrest, they have not been produced in any court, nor a custody memo or any communication to the family has been made… This is illegal detention. Our submission is that they be produced immediately and that the detention is declared illegal, and compensation and disciplinary action be taken against those who are doing all this,” the counsel added.
On enquiry by the Bench, Advocate General Kishore Dutta, representing the West Bengal government, said: “The State is ready to provide whatever help is required. There is no official communication.”
Dutta asked the court to order the appointment of a nodal officer to coordinate “with appropriate people in the place where they are detained”. “The West Bengal government will appoint an officer or ADG(Additional Director General) who can be deputed from our side to coordinate with the nodal officer,” Dutta added.
Odisha Police on Wednesday said that 444 people have been detained during recent raids in Jharsuguda and added that those submitting required valid documents would be released. A senior officer of Odisha Police said the individuals lacked valid documentation to establish their residency or citizenship, necessitating a thorough verification process to ascertain their identity.
Seeking their release, the West Bengal government said the detained people hail from various districts of West Bengal, including Nadia, Murshidabad, Malda, and Purba Medinipur.
Last week, West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Pant wrote a letter to his Odisha counterpart over the detention of Bengali-speaking migrant workers, saying it was “deeply distressing”. Seeking a stop on harassment faced by people from Bengal, he wrote: “What is even more concerning is that, even when these persons produce valid identity documents… In many instances, they are being asked to produce ancestral land records dating back several generations, an unreasonable and unjustifiable demand for migrant workers,” he had added.
Source: indianexpress.com
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https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/kolkata/on-what-basis-have-they-been-detained-hc-asks-bengal-chief-secy-to-coordinate-with-odisha-over-detention-of-migrant-workers-10119222/
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Ahead of Nuh yatra, administration says ready to ensure peace; cow vigilante Bittu Bajarangi seeks participation
July 11, 2025
Ahead of the Braj Mandal Jalabhishek Yatra scheduled for July 14, the district and police administration in Haryana’s Nuh Wednesday held a meeting with members of peace committees, sarpanches and panchayat representatives from various villages to ensure a peaceful and harmonious procession.
Meanwhile, cow vigilante Bittu Bajarangi, who has been banned from the yatra after he was made an accused in the 2023 Nuh communal clashes, has claimed he has moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking permission to participate.
“I am a citizen and believer in Sanatan, not a terrorist or notorious criminal that I should be stopped. If the High Court says no, we will see and comply,” Bajrangi told The Indian Express.
A police spokesperson said they are not aware of any such development as of now, but have received a similar representation so far from a ‘gau rakshak’ group.
On Wednesday, Vishram Kumar Meena, Deputy Commissioner, Nuh, and Rajesh Kumar, Superintendent of Police, held the meeting to ensure a successful, safe, and harmonious yatra.
Unlike last year, when mobile internet was banned as a precautionary measure to prevent clashes, Meena said there are no such plans as of now. “There is no plan for any ban. The yatra will be conducted peacefully. We have been meeting and coordinating with peace committees,” Meena told The Indian Express.
Meena said peace, harmony, and cooperation are key to holding such large events in a foolproof manner.
He added that the religious procession is a symbol of public faith and trust, and it is the collective responsibility of all to conduct it with dignity, peace, and brotherhood.
He urged panchayat representatives to cooperate with the administration in maintaining social harmony in their respective areas, and to immediately report any rumours or anti-social activities to authorities.
The Nuh deputy commissioner said parking facilities will be arranged at various locations for the convenience of devotees participating in the yatra on July 14, from where they will be transported to Nallhareshwar Temple by buses. He said the district administration is fully vigilant and proactive, with necessary instructions issued to all relevant departments.
Nuh SP Kumar said the district police will remain fully prepared to maintain law and order. “Additional forces will be deployed in sensitive areas, with complete monitoring of all routes, route marches, and other security measures ensured,” he said.
He appealed to residents and participants not to spread or allow others to spread misleading or provocative content on social media, or believe in rumours and unverified information. “If anyone does not cooperate in this regard, they should inform the district and police administration immediately.”
A district administration spokesperson said that the panchayat representatives present at the meeting assured the administration of their full cooperation, including their opposition to any anti-social activities.
Meena and Kumar also inspected the designated route for the Jalabhishek Yatra, and directed officials to ensure safety, cleanliness, traffic management, essential emergency services along the route, apart from ensuring police deployment, drone camera surveillance, and crowd management.
In 2023, violence had broken out during the yatra, during which six people, including Bajrang Dal members and a cleric at a mosque in Gurgaon, were killed.
Source: indianexpress.com
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https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/nuh-yatra-cow-vigilante-bittu-bajarangi-10117263/
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We hit 9 terror targets in Pakistan with precision in Operation Sindoor, missed none: NSA Ajit Doval
11.07.25
India hit nine terror targets crisscrossing Pakistan with precision and missed none of them, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval said on Friday, taking pride in India's capability and technological abilities in neutralising the threats from across the border.
The precision was to the point where India knew who was where and the entire operation lasted hardly 23 minutes past 1 am on May 7, he said.
"Thereafter, they said Pakistan did this and so on. Can you tell me of one image or photograph that shows any damage to India?" Doval asked while speaking at the 62nd convocation ceremony of the IIT Madras.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/we-hit-9-terror-targets-in-pakistan-with-precision-in-operation-sindoor-missed-none-nsa-ajit-doval/cid/2112580
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‘One arrow, two targets’: Congress takes a dig at PM Modi after RSS chief’s retirement remarks
11.07.25
The Congress on Friday took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the wake of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat’s remarks suggesting that individuals should step aside after the age of 75, sparking political speculation over whether the comment was a veiled message for the Prime Minister, who turns 75 in September 2026.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh wrote on X: "Poor award-winning Prime Minister! What a homecoming - reminded by the RSS chief upon return that he will turn 75 on September 17, 2025. But the Prime Minister could also tell the RSS chief that - he too will turn 75 on September 11, 2025! One arrow, two targets!"
The comments came after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat referred to the tradition of stepping aside at 75, during a book launch in Nagpur on July 9, held in honour of Moropant Pingle — a key ideologue of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.
Bhagwat said, “When one is draped in a shawl at 75, it signifies that we’ve aged. It’s time to make space for others.” He was recalling Pingle's views that after the age of 75, one should step aside and let others take over responsibilities.
Although Bhagwat did not name the Prime Minister, the timing and phrasing of his comment prompted a flurry of political reactions.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut commented, “Modi forcibly retired leaders like Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, and Jaswant Singh citing age. Let’s see if he follows the same path now.” He went on to ask, "Will Modi retire?"
Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi also weighed in, saying, “Preaching without practice is always dangerous. It is unprincipled that the Margdarshak Mandal was given compulsory retirement applying the 75 years age limit but indications are clear that current dispensation will be exempted from this rule.”
The BJP has long faced scrutiny over its unofficial “retirement at 75” rule — an age threshold that led to several senior leaders being sidelined. In 2019, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had told The Week, “No one above 75 has been given tickets. This is the party’s decision.”
However, Shah later clarified in May 2023 that there was “no retirement clause” in the BJP constitution, asserting, “Modi ji will continue to lead till 2029. There’s no truth in retirement rumours. The INDIA bloc won’t win the upcoming elections with lies.”
Union minister Rajnath Singh also dismissed the idea of a formal retirement rule, stating, “It was never decided. You can write in bold letters that no such decision was taken… I was party president, and I am saying it forcefully that there was no such decision at all. Had it been decided, it would have been mentioned in the party constitution.”
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/one-arrow-two-targets-congress-takes-a-dig-at-pm-modi-after-rss-chiefs-retirement-remarks/cid/2112543
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Uttarakhand government launches Operation Kalnemi to identify and book fake sadhus
Piyush Srivastava
11.07.25
The Uttarakhand government launched Operation Kalnemi on Thursday to identify and book fake sadhus.
Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami told reporters: “We have to stop fake sadhus from cheating people. Uttarakhand is known as Devbhoomi (the land of the gods) because it is a sacred place. But we have seen some people indulging in anti-social activities in the guise of sadhus. We cannot allow anybody to pollute the religion.
“We launched Operation Kalnemi a day before the start of the Kanwar Yatra because a large number of devotees will be in the state to collect holy water from the Ganga. Their safety and sacredness must be protected from those who don a particular kind of clothes to mislead and cheat them,” he said.
The Kanwar Yatra will commence on Friday and conclude on August 9.
Earlier, Dhami wrote on X: “I have given strict instructions to officers to launch Operation Kalnemi against those who wear a cloth (saffron) in the name of Sanatan Dharma in Devbhoomi Uttarakhand to deceive people and play with their sentiments.
“We have come across many cases in the state when anti-social elements donned the clothes of sadhus and saints to swindle people, particularly women. It not only hurts the religious sentiments of the people but also disturbs harmony and tarnishes the image of the Sanatan tradition. We will not consider religion while acting against those found playing mischief. There are many Kalnemis active in our society these days. They sport religious dresses to commit crimes…. We’ll never spare them,” he wrote.
Kalnemi was a demon in the Ramayana. He was the son of Mareech, a demon whom Lord Ram killed. Ravana had sent Kalnemi to kill Hanuman when he was on the Dronagiri Hill to look for a herb required to save the life of an injured Lakshman. Kalnemi tried to mislead Hanuman in the guise of a sadhu, but Hanuman recognised and killed him.
Some people living as sadhus in Chamba, Tehri Garhwal, had entered the house of Kuldeep Rawat, a local, and misbehaved with women last month. The police booked them but didn’t arrest them.
Swami Sarvanand Giri and many other sadhus of Haridwar had written to the chief minister last month to intervene to stop the activities of fake sadhus.
“The government must start police verification of every sadhu in the state,” he had written while reminding the government that a Bangladeshi national who had identified himself as Karan Giri had been living at the Pilot Baba Ashram illegally as a sadhu. People came to know about the Muslim man when the police arrested him.
Three persons wearing saffron clothes had decamped with the gold jewellery of a woman at Nandpur Narka Topa village in Udham Singh Nagar district in March. Tulsa Devi, the victim, has been unwell for years, and the sadhus asked her to show them her jewellery. “They said they would do some tantra-mantra to cure me if I put my jewellery in a red bag and gave it to them,” she said. They then fled with the jewellery.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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Mideast
The Frontline: A book about father of Iran’s missiles
Jul 11, 2025
Titled Khatt-e Moqaddam (“The Frontline”), the book offers a powerful account of the early days of Iran's missile development program, anchored in the life of Hassan Tehrani Moghaddam—reverently known as the “Father of Iran’s Missile Industry.”
A compelling historical narrative rooted in factual detail and personal legacy has been released by Shahid Kazemi Publications.
Written by Fa’ezeh Ghafarhadadi, the work blends story-based narration with meticulous historical accuracy, steering clear of fantasy or embellishment.
It spans the formative period from July 1984 to December 1986, spotlighting Moghaddam’s role in establishing Iran's ground-to-ground missile command within the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC).
Following directives issued by the late Imam Khomeini (RA), the founder of the Islamic Republic, to form the tri-service branches of the IRGC, Tehrani Moghaddam was appointed Commander of the IRGC's Aerospace Force in 1985.
His enduring commitment to research and scientific advancement laid the groundwork for Iran’s indigenous missile capabilities.
His efforts led to the development of strategic missile systems including Shahab-1, Shahab-2, and the long-range Shahab-3, as well as innovations like the Persian Gulf missile and sophisticated guidance systems.
Beyond technical milestones, Khatt-e Moqaddam serves as a tribute to Moghaddam’s character—depicted with nuance and admiration.
The book explores how battlefield limitations in artillery firepower prompted the creation of a forward operations base, known as “Khatt-e Moqaddam,” a military hub designed to support tactical missions and logistics in warfront settings.
From command appointments to groundbreaking innovation, the story chronicles a visionary figure whose strategic thinking reshaped Iran’s defense doctrine.
Available in Persian, the book is poised to become an essential read for scholars and military historians alike.
Hassan Tehrani Moghaddam, born in Tehran on October 29, 1959, joined anti-Shah protestors at age 19, shortly before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Demonstrating an early interest in weaponry, he secretly produced grenades for the revolutionaries, using them to seize a military vehicle on February 11, 1979.
Following the Islamic Revolution, Tehrani Moghaddam joined the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC), tasked with protecting the revolution, and held numerous positions.
He became a key figure in developing the IRGC's missile and artillery capabilities during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s, a role he maintained long after the war ended, dedicating himself to advancing Iran's missile program until his death.
On November 12, 2011, General Tehrani Moghaddam was killed in a large explosion at a missile garrison near Tehran, along with several other IRGC officers. At the time, he was preparing for a missile test.
He had been appointed as the IRGC commander’s missile advisor and head of the Self-Reliance Organization of the IRGC in mid-December 2006, a position he held until his death.
Tehrani Moghaddam is credited with establishing Iran’s missile capabilities, earning him the title Father of Iran’s Missile Program.
He also established Hezbollah's missile units during a visit to Lebanon in the 1980s.
Tehrani Moghaddam established Iran's missile program during the Iran-Iraq War and analysts believe his work based Iran’s defense strategy on missile capabilities and deterrence, effectively negating military options for Iran's adversaries.
Source: mehrnews.com
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https://en.mehrnews.com/news/234156/The-Frontline-A-book-about-father-of-Iran-s-missiles
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Iran FM remembers Srebrenica by recalling Gaza genocide
Jul 11, 2025
“Last year, the UN voted to designate July 11 as the International Day of Remembrance for the Srebrenica Genocide,” Araqchi wrote on his X page on Thursday on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide.
He added, “It is a day of shame for those who were either complicit or stayed silent as thousands of innocent Muslims were massacred.”
“On the 30th anniversary of this grave atrocity, Iran pays tribute to the innocent martyrs and expresses solidarity with the survivors and their families. Had the world truly internalized the lessons of Srebrenica, we would not be witnessing another genocide against Muslims, this time in Gaza.”
He concluded, “Iran will always stand with the oppressed, be it in Bosnia and Herzegovina or in Palestine.”
The Bosnian War was a devastating conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina between 1992 and 1995, involving Bosnian Muslims, Serbs, and Croats. The war was marked by widespread ethnic cleansing, genocide, and numerous atrocities that primarily targeted Bosnian Muslims.
One of the darkest chapters of the war was the Srebrenica massacre in 1995, during which more than 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were systematically executed and is widely recognized as an act of genocide.
Source: mehrnews.com
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https://en.mehrnews.com/news/234171/Iran-FM-remembers-Srebrenica-by-recalling-Gaza-genocide
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Enemy Faced A Humiliating Defeat, Iran’s Army Commander Says
July, 10, 2025
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s Army Commander Major General Hatami underscored the country’s victory in the war imposed by the Israeli regime, saying the enemy faced a humiliating defeat.
“The enemy had sinister thoughts for the country, the nation, and the Islamic system, but all of these thoughts and intentions were neutralized by the blood and efforts of the martyrs,” Major General Hatami said during a meeting with the family of one of the martyrs of the 12-day war.
“The enemy was unable to achieve its predetermined plans and programs and faced a humiliating defeat in strategy.”
He added that the victory of the Islamic Republic over the Zionist enemy, which was backed by domineering powers’ weapons, financial, and intelligence support, was a great achievement of the Iranian nation, and this victory is owed to the sacrifice, struggle, and efforts of our beloved martyrs.
“Today, our proud Armed Forces and Army, alongside the people, are the true guardians of the territorial integrity and independence of Islamic Iran,” Major General Hatami went on to say.
The Zionist regime waged an unprovoked war of aggression against Iran on June 13. It carried out airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear, military and residential sites that resulted in the martyrdom of over 1,000 people, including top military commanders, nuclear scientists and civilians.
The Iranian military forces started counterattacks immediately afterwards. The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Aerospace Force carried out 22 waves of retaliatory missile strikes against the Zionist regime as part of Operation True Promise III that inflicted heavy losses on cities across the occupied territories.
A ceasefire that came into force on June 24 brought the fighting to a halt.
Source: tasnimnews.com
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https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2025/07/10/3351845/enemy-faced-a-humiliating-defeat-iran-s-army-commander-says
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The Lebanese Shi‘a Deserve a State, not a Militia
JULY 10, 2025
Last week marked the commemoration of Ashura, the tenth of Muharram, when Shi‘a Muslims remember the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, their third imam, who was slain at Karbala alongside his family and loyal companions. It is a foundational moment in Shi‘a Islam—emotionally and theologically—soaked in tragedy and imbued with a spirit of resistance against injustice. Yet, in Lebanon, this annual ritual has been tainted by a troubling contradiction.
For some who claim to love Imam al-Hussein, the act of mourning has become conflated with the defense of Hezbollah’s weapons—an Iranian-supplied arsenal they present not merely as a military tool, but as an inseparable component of Shi‘a identity in Lebanon. Calls for disarmament are reflexively framed as calls for the isolation or persecution of the Shi‘a community itself. This line of reasoning is not only disingenuous—it is dangerous. It fuses political deceit with religious hysteria and, in doing so, insults both the Shi‘a faith and the legacy of al-Hussein.
While followers of other Islamic traditions celebrate their spiritual heritage without linking it to private militias or parallel state structures, one must ask: Why, in parts of Lebanon, has devotion to al-Hussein become tied to the possession of arms and the rejection of the state? Has love for al-Hussein been hijacked to justify a foreign-backed political project?
The essence of Karbala is human and universal. Al-Hussein did not rise up for power or sectarian privilege—he rose to speak truth to tyranny. He resisted not with weapons and military might, but with moral clarity. To turn his memory into a cover for the silence imposed by the gun, for the suppression of state authority, or for the obstruction of justice, is to betray his example. To link Karbala to a modern, expansionist Iranian project is to transform a symbol of moral courage into a tool of domination.
Efforts to sanctify Hezbollah’s arms with religious imagery not only distort Shi‘a theology but demand a return to the core sources of Ja‘fari jurisprudence—away from the ideological innovations of the “neo-Shi‘ites” who equate piety with militarism.
In this year’s commemoration, Hezbollah launched a propaganda campaign designed to give divine legitimacy to its arsenal. It adopted a slogan—”We will never abandon our weapons”—paired with AI-generated images of men carrying babies and rifles, women wielding guns. The optics echo the rhetoric of America’s National Rifle Association: “You’ll pry my gun from my cold, dead hands.” But Lebanon’s constitution does not enshrine the right to bear arms. It vests the monopoly of force in the state and its legitimate institutions.
The oft-repeated formula of “the army, the people, and the resistance” is a constitutional fraud. When weapons wear a sectarian cloak, they violate Lebanon’s founding principle of coexistence. Trapping the Shi‘a community in a permanent state of victimhood to justify illegal arms is not just a falsehood—it is a political crime. Those who insist that Shi‘a can only be protected by Iranian arms reduce a proud and diverse community to the status of a besieged enclave, rather than full citizens in a just and civil state.
The weapons have become a curse—on Lebanon and even on those who cling to it. Like a spoiled child who refuses to return a toy he stole from a classmate—even when scolded by his parents—its holders cling to it defiantly, preaching piety to elders while ignoring the wisdom of their own.
Perhaps they have forgotten the wise words of the late Shitte cleric Sayyid Hani Fahs, who once tried to remind Hezbollah’s ranks, and all those enamored with weapons, of a deeper truth:
“The best part of al-Hussein’s past is what should define our future—our commitment to justice, freedom, and unity. These must be built on tawhid (oneness), which unites without erasing differences. Complex meaning is richer and more enduring than simplistic certainty. If we are to preserve or recover our civilizational role, we must renew what can be renewed, discard what is harmful, and add what is necessary… There is no answer without knowledge, and no knowledge without partnership—without unity. Diversity is a condition of civilization; the fault lies not in multiplicity but in those who turn it into conflict and exclusion.”
Only the state—strong, inclusive, and legitimate—can protect all of Lebanon’s citizens: Shi‘a, Christians, Sunnis, and Druze alike. To honor Hussein is not to raise a rifle in his name—it is to raise his voice. He did not die to bestow sacred status on weapons, but to preserve freedom in the face of tyranny, whether foreign or domestic.
And if the lovers of arms will not heed the wisdom of Sayyid Hani, they should at least accept this self-evident truth: Religion belongs to God. Arms belong to the state—and only the state.
And if they still refuse to listen, perhaps they’ll recall the old saying: “No tree has ever reached its Lord—no matter how tall it grows.”
Source: nowlebanon.com
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ICC warns of worsening atrocities in Darfur, cites evidence of war crimes, crimes against humanity
EPHREM KOSSAIFY
July 11, 2025
NEW YORK CITY: The International Criminal Court has “reasonable grounds to believe” that war crimes and crimes against humanity are being committed in Darfur, its deputy prosecutor, Nazhat Shameem Khan, told the UN Security Council on Thursday.
The humanitarian situation in the region has reached an “intolerable” level, he warned.
Speaking in New York, Khan described an escalating crisis marked by widespread famine, targeted attacks on hospitals and aid convoys, and sexual violence.
“People are being deprived of food and water,” she said. “Rape and sexual violence are being weaponized. Abductions have become common practice. Things can still get worse.”
Her comments came amid escalating violence in Sudan’s Darfur region, where the Rapid Support Forces, one of two main rival military factions in the country, and allied groups have been accused of targeting civilians at displacement camps such as Zamzam and Abu Shouk, and during attacks on the regional capital, Al-Fashir.
Khan said the findings of the ICC were based on extensive evidence gathered from various sources over the past six months, including field missions to refugee camps in Chad, and cooperation with civil society organizations and UN fact-finding agencies.
“We have collected over 7,000 evidence items, documentary, testimonial and digital, supporting our conclusion,” she added.
Highlighting gender-based crimes as a key focus of the investigations, Khan detailed ongoing efforts to increase the visibility of such violations, which remain “underreported and insufficiently recognized.”
A dedicated team is working with Darfuri women and girls to gather testimonies of sexual violence, she said, adding: “There is an inescapable pattern of offending targeting gender and ethnicity through rape and sexual violence. These crimes are being given particular priority.”
There were signs of growing cooperation with the court from the Sudanese government, including a recent visit to Port Sudan that allowed investigators to identify potential new witnesses, Khan said, and a second visit is planned in the near future.
But she urged Sudanese authorities to take bolder steps, particularly in the execution of ICC warrants for the arrest of senior officials, including the former president, Omar Bashir, as well as Ahmad Harun and Abdul Raheem Mohammed Hussein, former officials wanted by the ICC over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the Darfur conflict of the early 2000s.
“Transferring Mr. Harun now would carry exceptional weight,” Khan said. She noted that the charges against him closely resemble those at the heart of another ongoing case, against Ali Mohammed Ali Abd-Al-Rahman, also known as Ali Kushayb, a former Janjaweed militia leader accused by the ICC of orchestrating war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Darfur conflict. A verdict in that case is expected this year.
Khan urged the Security Council and the wider international community to act collectively to address the crisis and break what she described as a “seemingly never-ending cycle of violence fueled by impunity.”
She added: “Every single state here is appalled by what is happening in Darfur. Let us take our report as a blueprint. With your support, we can not only deliver justice but prevent this cycle of violence.”
Despite mounting challenges, including limited resources and obstruction on the ground, Khan said the ICC remains determined to pursue accountability in Darfur.
“We need your support now more than ever before,” she said. Though the ICC’s progress is “never sufficient, relative to the scale of the suffering,” if it can be reinforced through international support, “justice delivered collectively can reduce suffering and lay foundations for peace,” Khan added.
“If we can come together, if we can agree that such suffering needs the support of all those who are able to provide it, I believe the present crisis can ultimately demonstrate how justice delivered collectively can set the foundations for the reduction of suffering and the beginning of work towards peace.”
Source: arabnews.com
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Palestinians in Gaza pay high price to get hold of scarce cash
July 11, 2025
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip: Cash is the lifeblood of the Gaza Strip’s shattered economy, and like all other necessities in this war-torn territory – food, fuel, medicine – it is in extremely short supply.
With nearly every bank branch and ATM inoperable, people have become reliant on an unrestrained network of powerful cash brokers to get money for daily expenses – and commissions on those transactions have soared to about 40 percent.
“The people are crying blood because of this,” said Ayman Al-Dahdouh, a school director living in Gaza City. “It’s suffocating us, starving us.”
At a time of surging inflation, high unemployment and dwindling savings, the scarcity of cash has magnified the financial squeeze on families – some of whom have begun to sell their possessions to buy essential goods.
The cash that is available has even lost some of its luster. Palestinians use the Israeli currency, the shekel, for most transactions. Yet with Israel no longer resupplying the territory with newly printed bank notes, merchants are increasingly reluctant to accept frayed bills.
Gaza’s punishing cash crunch has several root causes, experts say.
To curtail Hamas’ ability to purchase weapons and pay its fighters, Israel stopped allowing cash to enter Gaza at the start of the war. Around the same time, many wealthy families in Gaza withdrew their money from banks and then fled the territory. And rising fears about Gaza’s financial system prompted foreign businesses selling goods into the territory to demand cash payments.
As Gaza’s money supply dwindled and civilians’ desperation mounted, cash brokers’ commissions – around 5 percent at the start of the war – skyrocketed.
Someone needing cash transfers money electronically to a broker and moments later is handed a fraction of that amount in bills. Many brokers openly advertise their services, while others are more secretive. Some grocers and retailers have also begun exchanging cash for their customers.
“If I need $60, I need to transfer $100,” said Mohammed Basheer Al-Farra, who lives in southern Gaza after being displaced from Khan Younis. “This is the only way we can buy essentials, like flour and sugar. We lose nearly half of our money just to be able to spend it.”
In 2024, inflation in Gaza surged by 230 percent, according to the World Bank. It dropped slightly during the ceasefire that began in January, only to shoot up again after Israel backed out of the truce in March.
Cash touches every aspect of life in Gaza
About 80 percent of people in Gaza were unemployed at the end of 2024, according to the World Bank, and the figure is likely higher now. Those with jobs are mostly paid by direct deposits into their bank accounts.
But “when you want to buy vegetables, food, water, medication – if you want to take transportation, or you need a blanket, or anything – you must use cash,” Al-Dahdouh said.
Shahid Ajjour’s family has been living off of savings for two years after the pharmacy and another business they owned were ruined by the war.
“We had to sell everything just to get cash,” said Ajjour, who sold her gold to buy flour and canned beans. The family of eight spends the equivalent of $12 every two days on flour; before the war, that cost less than $4.
Sugar is very expensive, costing the equivalent of $80-$100 per kilogram (2.2 pounds), multiple people said; before the war, that cost less than $2.
Gasoline is about $25 a liter, or roughly $95 a gallon, when paying the lower, cash price.
Bills are worn and unusable
The bills in Gaza are tattered after 21 months of war.
Money is so fragile, it feels as if it is going to melt in your hands, said Mohammed Al-Awini, who lives in a tent camp in southern Gaza.
Small business owners said they were under pressure to ask customers for undamaged cash because their suppliers demand pristine bills from them.
Thaeir Suhwayl, a flour merchant in Deir Al-Balah, said his suppliers recently demanded he pay them only with brand new 200-shekel ($60) bank notes, which he said are rare. Most civilians pay him with 20-shekel ($6) notes that are often in poor condition.
On a recent visit to the market, Ajjour transferred the shekel equivalent of around $100 to a cash broker and received around $50 in return. But when she tried to buy some household supplies from a merchant, she was turned away because the bills weren’t in good condition.
“So the worth of your $50 is zero in the end,” she said.
This problem has given rise to a new business in Gaza: money repair. It costs between 3 and 10 shekels ($1-$3) to mend old bank notes. But even cash repaired with tape or other means is sometimes rejected.
People are at the mercy of cash brokers
After most of the banks closed in the early days of the war, those with large reserves of cash suddenly had immense power.
“People are at their mercy,” said Mahmoud Aqel, who has been displaced from his home in southern Gaza. “No one can stop them.”
The war makes it impossible to regulate market prices and exchange rates, said Dalia Alazzeh, an expert in finance and accounting at the University of the West of Scotland. “Nobody can physically monitor what’s happening,” Alazzeh said.
A year ago, the Palestine Monetary Authority, the equivalent of a central bank for Gaza and the West Bank, sought to ease the crisis by introducing a digital payment system known as Iburaq. It attracted half a million users, or a quarter of the population, according to the World Bank, but was ultimately undermined by merchants insisting on cash.
Israel sought to ramp up financial pressure on Hamas earlier this year by tightening the distribution of humanitarian aid, which it said was routinely siphoned off by militants and then resold.
Experts said it is unclear if the cash brokers’ activities benefit Hamas, as some Israeli analysts claim.
The war has made it more difficult to determine who is behind all sorts of economic activity in the territory, said Omar Shabaan, director of Palthink for Strategic Studies, a Gaza-based think tank.
“It’s a dark place now. You don’t know who is bringing cigarettes into Gaza,” he said, giving just one example. “It’s like a mafia.”
These same deep-pocketed traders are likely the ones running cash brokerages, and selling basic foodstuffs, he said. “They benefit by imposing these commissions,” he said.
Once families run out of cash, they are forced to turn to humanitarian aid.
Al-Farra said that is what prompted him to begin seeking food at an aid distribution center, where it is common for Palestinians to jostle over one other for sacks of flour and boxes of pasta.
“This is the only way I can feed my family,” he said.
Source: arabnews.com
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Netanyahu sets out red lines for lasting end to war in Gaza
July 11, 2025
JERUSALEM: Israel is ready to negotiate a lasting deal with Hamas to end the Gaza war when a temporary halt to hostilities begins, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday.
But Netanyahu said the militants must first give up their weapons and their hold on the Palestinian territory, warning that failure to reach a deal on Israel’s terms would lead to further conflict.
His comments as Gaza’s civil defense agency said eight children — killed as they queued for nutritional supplements outside a health clinic — were among 66 people who died in Israeli strikes across the territory Thursday.
The UN children’s agency said one victim was a one-year-old boy who according to his mother had uttered his first words only hours earlier.
Efforts to secure a 60-day halt in the 21-month war have dominated Netanyahu’s talks with US President Donald Trump in Washington.
Indirect negotiations have been taking place between the two sides in Qatar, and the militants have agreed to free 10 of the 20 hostages still alive in captivity since the October 7, 2023 attack which sparked the war.
Sticking points include Hamas’s demand for the free flow of aid into Gaza and Israel’s military withdrawal from the territory. It also wants “real guarantees” on a lasting peace, the group said.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said “progress has been made” but admitted in an interview with Austrian newspaper Die Presse that ironing out “all complex issues” would likely take “a few more days.”
There was no agreement on the number of Palestinian prisoners to be released in exchange for hostages, he told the newspaper.
He said that “initially, eight hostages are to be released, followed by two more on the 50th day” of the 60-day ceasefire. “Additionally, 18 bodies of hostages are to be handed over,” he was quoted as saying.
Saar said a lasting ceasefire would be discussed but added: “There are still major differences, especially regarding the question of how Hamas will be prevented from controlling Gaza after the war.”
He said Israel was ready to grant Hamas leaders safe passage into exile.
‘Fundamental conditions’
Netanyahu, who is under domestic pressure to end the war as military casualties mount, said disarming and neutralizing Hamas were “fundamental conditions” for Israel.
“If this can be achieved through negotiations, great,” he said. “If it cannot be achieved through negotiations within 60 days, we will have to achieve it through other means, by using... the force of our heroic army.”
Senior Hamas official Bassem Naim told AFP that it would not accept “the perpetuation of the occupation of our land” or Palestinians being herded into “isolated enclaves” in the densely populated territory.
The group was particularly opposed to Israeli control over Rafah, on the border with Egypt, and the so-called Morag Corridor between the southern city and Khan Yunis, he added.
Israel announced this year that the army was seizing large areas of Gaza to be incorporated into buffer zones cleared of their inhabitants.
Naim said the group also wanted to end the delivery of aid by a US and Israel-backed group, a system which has seen scores of people killed while seeking food rations.
The Palestinian territory’s civil defense agency said eight children were among 17 people killed in an Israeli strike outside a medical clinic in Deir el-Balah in central Gaza.
“The ground shook beneath our feet and everything around us turned into blood and deafening screams,” said Yousef Al-Aydi, who was in the queue for nutritional supplements when he heard a drone approaching then a blast.
Rabih Torbay, the head of US medical charity Project Hope which runs the facility, called it “a blatant violation of humanitarian law.”
Israel’s military said it had struck a Hamas militant in the city who had infiltrated Israel during the 2023 attack and that it “regrets any harm to uninvolved individuals.”
Overall, the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said at least 57,762 Palestinians, most of them civilians, have been killed since the start of the conflict.
Hamas’s October 2023 attack led to the deaths of 1,219 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures.
A total of 251 hostages were seized in the attack. Forty-nine are still held in Gaza, including 27 the Israeli military says are dead.
Source: arabnews.com
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British MPs demand full details of US consulting firm’s role in Gaza
July 10, 2025
LONDON: A parliamentary committee in the UK has demanded that a major US consulting firm provides full details of its activities related to Gaza, after it emerged the company helped set up a controversial Israeli-led aid operation.
Boston Consulting Group was also asked to provide details of the work it carried out on models to estimate the costs of a widely-condemned Israeli and US plan to relocate Palestinians from Gaza to other countries.
Liam Byrne, chairperson of the Business and Trade Committee, sent a letter requesting the information to BCG’s CEO, Christoph Schweizer, as part of the “scrutiny of the UK’s commercial, political and humanitarian links to the conflict.”
The Financial Times reported on July 4 that the consultancy had built a financial model for the reconstruction of Gaza, which included an estimate of the likely cost of the voluntary relocation of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians.
It also said BCG had helped establish the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a US and Israeli-backed aid-distribution program in the territory. Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed trying to access humanitarian supplies at the foundation’s distribution sites since they started operating in May.
In a statement published on Wednesday, Schweizer said the lead partner involved in the work carried out by BCG had been “explicitly told not to do any work related to Gaza reconstruction.”
He added: “The project fell well outside our standards for work that we accept. But the ban was ignored, and the work was secretively conducted anyway.”
He said an internal investigation began in May, two of the partners involved were subsequently “exited” from the company and BCG did not receive any fees for the work.
Byrne, an MP from the UK’s ruling Labour Party, sent a number of questions for BCG to answer about its work on Gaza “in light of the high level of public and parliamentary concern.”
He wrote: “We are aware of recent reports regarding BCG’s engagement with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation and associated modeling of the costs of relocating Palestinians from Gaza.”
He asked for a “detailed timeline” of BCG’s involvement with the foundation, the scope of its engagement, and the identities of the clients and partners involved. He requested details of other organizations, companies or individuals engaged by BCG in relation to the aid-distribution program, and more details about the type of the “unauthorized” work the company said was carried out.
Byrne also asked for more information about the work related to the development of models for the relocation of Palestinians from Gaza, including the identities of those who commissioned the work and whether any UK-based organizations were involved.
He gave BCG until July 22 to respond, “given the seriousness of these issues and the high level of public interest.”
Nearly 58,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023 during Israel’s war on Gaza, including more than 500 in recent weeks as they attempted to obtain food aid from Gaza Humanitarian Foundation distribution sites. The organization, which was set up to replace UN aid-distribution mechanisms, has been condemned by humanitarian chiefs for politicizing aid.
US and Israeli-backed proposals to relocate the Palestinian population of Gaza to other countries, which emerged at the start of the year, were widely condemned by governments in the region and beyond.
Source: arabnews.com
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KSrelief extends fire aid to 600 families in Syrian villages, distributes winter kits in Pakistan
July 10, 2025
DAMASCUS: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center has expanded its emergency response operations, delivering critical assistance to fire-affected communities in Syria while simultaneously addressing winter shelter needs for displaced populations in Pakistan.
Relief workers distributed emergency supplies to 600 families impacted by fires across rural Latakia province in Syria, reaching 13 villages: Al-Midan, Aysha Banar, Shaqraa, Beit Fares, Beit Awan, Al-Husainiya, Al-Ramadiya, Al-Rawda, Qastal Maaf, Al-Tamima, Beit Sheikh Wali, Beit Al-Wadi and Beit Hussein.
In parallel operations, the center provided 2,012 emergency shelter kits to vulnerable populations across Kashmir region in Pakistan, reaching 14,921 people through its 2025 shelter materials and winter supplies distribution program.
The operations form part of Saudi Arabia’s broader humanitarian framework, delivered through the center’s established networks, to support affected communities globally.
Source: arabnews.com
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Rescuers save four more survivors from Houthi-struck ship in Red Sea
July 10, 2025
ATHENS/LONDON: Rescuers pulled three more crew members and a security guard alive from the Red Sea on Thursday, maritime security sources said, a day after Houthi militants sank the Greek ship Eternity C and said they were holding some of the crew still missing.
It was the second Greek bulk carrier sunk this week by the Iran-aligned Houthi militia, shattering months of relative calm off Yemen’s coast, the gateway to the Red Sea and a critical route for oil and commodities to the world.
Many shipping companies have suspended voyages due to the fear of attack. The Houthis are believed to be holding six of the Eternity C’s complement of 22 crew and three guards, maritime security sources said.
“These are blameless victims who were simply doing their job,” the UK-based Seafarers’ Charity association said.
“Seafarers should be able to work safely at sea. Instead, they are being unfairly forced into the firing line.”
Eternity C was first hit on Monday with sea drones and rocket-propelled grenades fired from speed boats. Four people are believed to have been killed in the attacks, maritime security sources say. If confirmed, the deaths would be the first fatalities in the area since June 2024.
Following a second attack on Tuesday morning, the crew were forced to jump into the water. Rescuers have been searching for survivors since Wednesday morning. The vessel’s operator, Cosmoship Management, has not responded to Reuters’ requests for comment.
A total of 10 survivors from the Eternity C have been rescued so far — eight Filipino crew members, one Indian and one Greek security guard. The four people rescued on Thursday morning had spent nearly 48 hours in the water.
“This fills us with more courage to continue to search for those missing, as the Greek vessel operator requested, and shows that our search plan was correct,” said Nikos Georgopoulos, an official at the Greece-based maritime risk firm Diaplous.
Another 11 people are still missing.
The United States’ Mission in Yemen has accused the Houthis of kidnapping crew members and has called for their immediate, unconditional release.
On Wednesday, the Houthis’ military spokesperson said in a televised address that the Yemeni navy had “responded to rescue a number of the ship’s crew, provide them with medical care, and transport them to a safe location.”
Fraught passage
The Eternity C sank on Wednesday, days after Houthis hit and sunk the Magic Seas, reviving a campaign launched in November 2023 that has seen more than 100 ships attacked in what the group said was solidarity with the Palestinians in the Gaza war.
Both of the vessels hit this week flew Liberian flags and were operated by Greek companies. All crew from the Magic Seas were rescued before it went down.
Some of their sister vessels in the respective fleets had made calls to Israeli ports in the past year, an analysis of shipping data showed.
Abdul Malik Al-Houthi, the leader of Yemen’s Houthi fighters, reiterated in a televised address on Thursday the group’s ban on companies transporting goods related to Israel through the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea.
He said this week’s attacks were part of that ban, which has been in place since 2023.
“It was never stopped or canceled, and it is a valid decision,” he said. “What was discovered (this week) was the violation by some companies of the decision.”
The insurance cost of shipping goods through the Red Sea has more than doubled since this week’s attacks, with some underwriters pausing cover for some voyages, industry sources said on Thursday.
The number of daily sailings through the narrow Bab Al-Mandab strait, at the southern tip of the Red Sea and a gateway to the Gulf of Aden, was 32 vessels on July 9, down from 43 on July 1, Lloyd’s List Intelligence data showed.
Several ships on Thursday broadcast messages referring to Chinese crew and management or armed guards on board, according to MarineTraffic data. One vessel broadcast that it had no relation with Israel.
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Israeli forces arrest pro-Palestine activists near Jericho amid settlers’ attack
July 10, 2025
LONDON: Israeli forces detained several pro-Palestine activists with foreign nationalities north of Jericho in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday evening.
The Al-Baidar Organization for Defense of Bedouin Rights reported that activists were arrested while intervening on behalf of Palestinian residents of Al-Auja Spring village to protect the nomadic community’s cattle from an attack by Israeli settlers.
The settlers entered the village on Wednesday and released the cattle among the homes and cultivated land, sabotaging the community’s source of livelihood, the Al-Baidar human rights group said.
The Arab Al-Mlaihat clan living in the Jordan Valley relies on livestock for their income. Al-Baidar said that repeated settler attacks on this nomadic community aim to force them to leave the area.
The clan originally comes from the desert area of the Negev in Israel. However, due to political events and armed conflicts since 1948, the residents of Arab Al-Mlaihat were forced to live in different parts of the West Bank.
Dozens of Palestinian bedouin communities live in the Jordan Valley, an area that Israel has declared 45.7 percent of its northern part as military firing zones.
About 1 million Israeli settlers live in illegal settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem in violation of international law. Their violence against Palestinians has escalated since 2023, prompting Western governments to sanction some of their leaders; however, Israeli authorities rarely prosecute their actions.
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Arab World
Saudi Arabia new property law opens real estate market to foreigners
TAREQ AL-THAQAFI
July 10, 2025
MAKKAH: The Saudi Cabinet recently approved an updated system that will allow non-Saudis to own property in the Kingdom, effective from January 2026.
Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing Majid bin Abdullah Al-Hogail praised the leadership’s support for the initiative, describing the updated framework as a natural progression of real estate reforms designed to stimulate sector growth and encourage foreign direct investment, which will increase property supply by drawing investors and development firms to Saudi markets, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The new regulations balance foreign investment opportunities with citizen protections through controlled market mechanisms and compliance procedures aimed at maintaining real estate equilibrium. Property ownership will be permitted in specific geographical zones, particularly Riyadh and Jeddah, while special conditions apply to ownership in Makkah and Madinah.
The General Authority for Real Estate will identify which geographic areas are open to foreign ownership. Implementation guidelines will be published on the Istitlaa platform within 180 days of the law’s publication in the official gazette, with full system activation scheduled for January 2026.
The comprehensive regulations will outline acquisition procedures for foreign nationals, enforcement requirements, and detailed application processes that consider both economic and social implications across all sectors.
The new system also aligns with the Premium Residency Programme, or Iqama, and the regulation of real estate ownership by Gulf Cooperation Council citizens, which permits cross-border property ownership for investment and residential purposes.
Hamad Al-Shuwaier, chairman of the National Valuation Committee at the Saudi Chambers Federation, told Arab News that the Cabinet’s approval signals strong support for real estate development initiatives.
“Foreign capital influx and international developer participation will enhance supply quality and market availability, creating the balanced marketplace we have been working toward,” said Al-Shuwaier, who also serves as the chairman of the Saudi-Qatari Business Council, noting the sector’s role as an economic cornerstone supporting over 80 related industries.
The Saudi market offers compelling investment fundamentals backed by adaptable regulations and profitable opportunities for domestic and international investors alike, positioning the Kingdom to capitalize on Vision 2030 momentum.
Real estate specialist and certified marketer Badr Al-Sulaimani emphasized the strategic importance of utilizing Saudi Arabia’s extensive territory, noting that current development covers just 0.36 percent of the Kingdom.
“These regulations demonstrate the government’s commitment to maximizing natural and geographical assets to achieve Vision 2030 targets, while preparing infrastructure for major international events including Expo 2030 and the 2034 World Cup,” Al-Sulaimani explained.
Real estate expert Fawaz Assiri highlighted the updated system’s role in enhancing market attractiveness through increased foreign direct investment flows that will diversify property offerings and improve supply dynamics.
Precise geographical boundaries and specialized requirements for holy cities, especially in Makkah and Madinah, ensure market stability while protecting citizen interests, he noted.
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How AI could make Saudi Arabia’s construction sites safer and more efficient
WAAD HUSSAIN
July 10, 2025
RIYADH: Across the global construction sector, long considered one of the most resistant to digitization, a quiet revolution is unfolding.
Artificial intelligence is no longer a mere buzzword confined to laboratories and boardrooms. It is increasingly present in the urban fabric, embedded into scaffolding, concrete and command centers.
One company at the heart of this shift is viAct, a Hong Kong-based AI firm co-founded by Gary Ng and Hugo Cheuk. Their aim is to make construction safer, smarter and significantly more productive using a scenario-based AI engine built for complex, high-risk environments.
“Despite being one of the most labor-intensive and hazardous industries, construction remains vastly under-digitized,” Ng told Arab News. “We saw this as an opportunity to bring AI-driven automation and insights to frontline operations.
Unlike conventional surveillance tools that simply record footage, viAct’s platform acts like a digital foreman. It interprets real-time visual data to detect unsafe practices, productivity gaps and anomalies, all without human supervision.
At the core of the platform are intelligent video analytics powered by edge computing. By processing visuals from jobsite cameras and sensors, viAct can flag whether a worker has entered a restricted zone, whether proper personal protective equipment is being worn, or if a crane is operating unsafely.
“This is not just about object detection,” said Ng. “Our AI understands context. It recognizes behaviors — like a worker being too close to the edge without a harness or a truck reversing unsafely — and acts in real time.”
That ability to contextualize data is crucial in megaprojects, where risks multiply with size.
The firm’s technology has already been deployed across East Asia and parts of Europe. Now, the company is eyeing Saudi Arabia and the wider Gulf region, where giga-projects are transforming skylines at record speed.
Ng confirmed viAct is in active discussions to enter the Saudi market.
“Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 is deeply aligned with our mission,” he said. “There’s a growing demand for AI in infrastructure — not just for safety, but also for efficiency, environmental compliance, and transparency.
From NEOM and The Line to Qiddiya and Diriyah Gate, Saudi Arabia is leading one of the most ambitious construction booms in the world. These projects involve thousands of workers, advanced logistics and constant oversight.
However, traditional safety audits and manual inspections are no longer sufficient. “With projects of this scale, real-time monitoring is not a luxury — it’s a necessity,” said Ng.
While viAct hasn’t yet launched in the Kingdom, its platform is fully prepared for Arabic localization and regional compliance standards, including Saudi labor laws and Gulf Cooperation Council safety codes.
What sets viAct apart is how seamlessly it integrates with existing infrastructure. Rather than requiring expensive proprietary equipment, the platform works with standard CCTV cameras and can be deployed in both urban and remote sites.
“Our system is plug-and-play,” said Ng. “You don’t need to overhaul your entire setup to use AI. That makes it ideal for companies in transition or for phased construction timelines.”
Its use of edge AI, meaning data is processed on site rather than in a distant cloud, allows viAct to deliver insights even in areas with weak internet connectivity. This feature is particularly useful in Saudi Arabia’s more isolated development zones or early-phase sites with minimal setup.
Its software is also highly customizable. For instance, a client building a hospital might prioritize fall detection and material delays, while a contractor working on an airport runway may need to monitor large machinery and perimeter access.
As automation reshapes industries, many worry that people are being replaced by machines. But Ng insists that viAct’s goal is not to eliminate workers — it is to protect them.
“We’re not building robots to take over,” he said. “We’re building tools that enhance human judgment and ensure safety. When a worker is alerted to a risk before an accident occurs, that’s AI doing its best job.”
In fact, many of viAct’s clients report that once site workers understand the system is not spying on them, but rather observing unsafe situations, adoption becomes smoother. Managers gain better oversight and laborers gain peace of mind.
“We see this as a collaboration between human intelligence and artificial intelligence,” Ng said. “Each has strengths. Together, they’re far more effective.”
Deploying AI in construction also brings ethical questions to the forefront, particularly in projects run by government entities or involving public infrastructure. Ng is upfront about these concerns.
“All our solutions are GDPR-compliant and privacy-first,” he said, referring to the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation, a comprehensive set of rules designed to protect the personal data of individuals.
“We don’t use facial recognition and we don’t track individuals. The focus is purely on safety, compliance and productivity.”
Workers are anonymized in the system, with all data encrypted and stored securely. Dashboards used by contractors and project leads include logs, alerts and safety scores, allowing for clear documentation and accountability without compromising personal privacy.
This is especially important in the Gulf, where projects often involve multinational labor forces and cross-border stakeholders
Looking ahead, viAct plans to double down on its expansion in the Middle East, continue advancing its AI models and advocate for ethical AI deployment in high-risk sectors.
The company is also exploring ways to integrate predictive analytics, allowing clients to foresee and prevent incidents before they occur. This could eventually shift AI’s role from reactive to proactive, forecasting safety breaches, delivery delays or environmental compliance issues in advance.
Ng believes this kind of intelligent foresight will soon become standard across the construction industry.
“It’s not about replacing humans,” he said. “It’s about building a smarter site, one where decisions are faster, risks are fewer, and lives are safer.”
In the age of giga-projects, that is a future Saudi Arabia is already building.
Source: arabnews.com
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PIF-backed Savvy Games partners with Side to nurture gaming ecosystem in Saudi Arabia
TAMARA ABOALSAUD NADA ALTURKI
July 10, 2025
RIYADH: PIF-backed Savvy Games Group has partnered with gaming service provider Side to open a physical studio in Riyadh later this year to further support Saudi Arabia’s growing gaming ecosystem.
The collaboration was cemented at a signing event earlier on Thursday at Side’s London studio.
Nika Nour, head of global business development at Savvy Games Group, told Arab News: “There is no better partner than people like Side who have actually opened offices in other regions of the world, not just in Western countries like Europe or North America.
They have the experiences and the tools to actually increase services, to train up local talent, and enter communities and understand cultural nuances to forge partnerships, not just for the short term, but beyond 2030, and that’s why we’re very excited about this strategic initiative.”
This is a step in expanding Side’s global footprint to 20 studios across 14 countries, providing services that range from co-development, player support, quality assurance (QA), localization QA, and audio. Their work in Saudi Arabia will be a tailored approach to the country’s needs, initially by offering co-dev, localization and local audio recording services.
Jacob Madsen, London studio head and VP of EMEA at Side, told Arab News: “From a company point of view, we’re always looking to expand into new markets. We’re always looking to try and have a diverse workforce, so that was also something that was really interesting to me. Over the four months, we’ve been kind of developing a relationship between Side and Savvy.”
Savvy prides itself on its three pillars as a holdings entity at PIF: Investments in MMA games, efforts on e-sports, as noted regionally with the Esports World Cup, and most importantly, moving forward and progressing on Saudi’s national Vision 2030 initiative of gaming ecosystem development.
The studio will also aim to provide youth training programs and strengthen local institutions, including collaboration with local partners such as Full Sail University, to nurture homegrown talent in co-development, localization and QA.
“What we tend to do when we open up a studio is very much work with the local population,” Madsen explained. “We try to bring in as few seniors or employees of other studios and hire the men and women of the country that we’re in. We are talking to Savvy about how we can connect to any existing university or training programs, whether we can bring down some of our experts — but we will also very much be training the people that we hire for the services that we’ll be providing.”
Savvy Academy, the company’s flagship initiative, focuses on incubation, acceleration and training with university relationships. They have also been collaborating with the International Game Developers Association’s Riyadh chapter, which has a talent pool of more than 200 individuals in Jeddah, Dammam and Riyadh.
“We have great relationships with universities that we plan on imploring, working with, to bring these experts not only to the classrooms, but also figure out how we get them from graduation into professional careers,” Nour said.
The studio is set to launch in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi Arabia to host 8th Global Health Exhibition in Riyadh in October
July 10, 2025
RIYADH: The eighth annual Global Health Exhibition will take place from Oct. 27 to 30 at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Center, the Ministry of Health said on Thursday.
The aim of the event, the theme for which is “Invest in Health,” is to help accelerate the transformation of the Kingdom’s healthcare sector in line with the goals of the Vision 2030 plan for national development and diversification, the Saudi Press Agency reported, while strengthening Saudi Arabia’s position as a global hub for health innovation and investment.
The four-day exhibition will give health sector leaders, investors and innovators from around the world the chance to explore partnership and investment opportunities, and showcase the latest advances in healthcare technology, including developments in telemedicine, digital health and preventative care.
Organizers hope this year’s event will further boost momentum in the rapidly evolving Saudi health sector, building on the success of last year’s exhibition that attracted more than 100,000 visitors from 80 countries, who signed deals worth more than SR50 billion ($13.3 billion).
The event also reflects the Kingdom’s growing influence on the global health stage, according to organizers. Recent Saudi initiatives such as the National Biotechnology Strategy and the hosting of high-profile international gatherings — including the Fourth Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance in November 2024, and the upcoming 2nd annual CPHI Middle East pharmaceutical expo scheduled for December — highlight the nation’s commitment to shaping the future of healthcare, they said.
The exhibition aims to serve as a key platform for fostering collaborations and driving investment in technologies and initiatives that support healthier, more sustainable communities across the region and beyond, the organizers added.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi Arabia to introduce AI education at all grade levels starting this year
ARAB NEWS
July 10, 2025
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia will integrate artificial intelligence education throughout the country’s public school system beginning in the coming academic year.
The introduction of this nationwide AI curriculum will support the Kingdom’s Human Capability Development Program, part of the Vision 2030 plan for national development and diversification, which is designed to create a comprehensive education system that strengthens core values and boosts the nation’s global competitiveness and AI leadership.
Students will learn how to develop innovative technology solutions, beginning in elementary school and continuing through secondary education, university studies, technical training and lifelong-learning programs, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The curriculum unveiled by the National Curriculum Center, with the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, and the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority, features age-appropriate AI modules in the form of interactive and hands-on teaching. They are designed to connect between grade levels to ensure progressive development of skills and comprehensive student-evaluation systems.
It follows the announcement by the SDAIA in April, during the Human Capability Initiative conference in Riyadh, of an “Introduction to Artificial Intelligence” course for third-year high school students in the general track, in collaboration with the Curriculum Center and the Education Ministry.
This introductory course will serve as the initial phase of the curriculum development and establish the groundwork for the incorporation of AI concepts throughout academic programs, the Saudi Press Agency added.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi Arabia and Hungary lay foundations for enhanced defense collaboration
LAMA ALHAMAWI
July 10, 2025
RIYADH: Hungarian Defense Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky’s landmark visit to Saudi Arabia marks the first official defense dialogue between the two nations, signaling a pivotal moment in bilateral relations.
In an exclusive interview with Arab News, the minister emphasized Saudi Arabia’s growing influence as a regional stabilizer and commended its proactive approach to diplomacy.
His discussions with Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman centered on strengthening military ties, launching joint training initiatives, and exploring areas of technological cooperation.
Both sides expressed a shared commitment to advancing defense collaboration and formalizing their partnership through a strategic memorandum of understanding.
Visit Objective
This visit is historic — it marks the first official meeting between the defense ministers of Hungary and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. I was honored to accept the invitation of His Royal Highness at a time when the global security environment is undergoing profound and complex changes.
We are living in an era where stability can no longer be taken for granted. In such a climate, the world needs strong regional anchors — visionary governments capable of projecting stability both within and beyond their borders. Saudi Arabia clearly plays such a role.
We also recognize the Kingdom’s constructive role in international diplomacy, especially as a platform for dialogue in the context of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Hungary has consistently advocated for a ceasefire and immediate peace negotiations. We firmly believe there is no military solution to this war — only a diplomatic one. Saudi Arabia’s responsible and forward-leaning neutrality closely aligns with our own long-standing call for meaningful dialogue and de-escalation.
Desired Outcome
Until now, defense cooperation between our two nations has been modest. This visit establishes a new foundation. We have initiated discussions on a memorandum of understanding between our defense ministries — a step that will provide a formal framework for structured and forward-looking collaboration.
Hungary is prepared to offer training opportunities within our military education system, which already welcomes numerous international participants. We also explored the potential for future joint exercises.
However, the most exciting prospects lie in the area of defense industry cooperation and innovation. Saudi Arabia, through organizations such as SAMI (Saudi Arabian Military Industries), has become a major force in modern defense manufacturing and technological development. Hungary shares this focus.
Our country has recently established the Hungarian Defence Innovation Research Institute (VIKI), which serves as the national hub for cutting-edge defense technologies, applied research, and dual-use innovation. VIKI brings together academia, industry, and operational users to ensure that innovation is both forward-thinking and mission-relevant.
In today’s rapidly evolving defense landscape — shaped by unmanned systems, AI-driven platforms, advanced sensors, and hybrid warfare — collaboration between like-minded and technologically ambitious nations is essential. Hungary and Saudi Arabia have both the intent and the institutional capacity to create a partnership based on joint development, co-investment, and innovation-driven defense solutions.
Saudi-Hungarian Defense Cooperations
At present, our defense cooperation is at a formative stage — but there is strong political will on both sides to advance it. A Saudi expert delegation is expected to visit Hungary in the near future, where we will present our full range of capabilities, including in military training, force development, and defense technology.
This will be the first step in building a structured and strategic partnership — one rooted in mutual interests, trust, and long-term objectives.
Saudi Arabia Regional Stabilizer
Saudi Arabia is not only a regional powerhouse but an increasingly influential global actor. Vision 2030 is more than an ambitious blueprint — it is a program being implemented with clarity, commitment, and results.
In the diplomatic sphere, the Kingdom plays a unique stabilizing role. It engages constructively with a broad spectrum of actors — from Iran and Türkiye to the United States, Russia, and beyond. In a fragmented and polarized world, Saudi Arabia has emerged as a trusted interlocutor — capable of bringing conflicting parties to the negotiating table.
This leadership is especially evident in relation to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which directly affects European security and economic stability. Hungary values the Kingdom’s active mediation efforts — not only as a neutral venue for dialogue, but as a country that offers credible leadership in the pursuit of peace.
Visit to Saudi Arabia
This is my second visit to the Kingdom — the first was nearly a decade ago — and the transformation is remarkable.
What was already a developed country has undergone a striking evolution. From infrastructure and urban planning to innovation ecosystems and societal dynamism, the pace of progress is tangible. Vision 2030 is not just a slogan — it is visibly reshaping the future of the Kingdom.
Saudi Arabia, with its deep historical legacy, growing economic weight, and expanding international presence, is stepping decisively into a global leadership role. It has been a privilege to witness this transformation firsthand — and to explore ways in which Hungary and Saudi Arabia can grow together as strategic partners in defense, innovation, and security.
Source: arabnews.com
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Al-Ahsa governor launches direct flights to Turkish Black Sea region
July 10, 2025
RIYADH: Prince Saud bin Talal bin Badr, governor of Al-Ahsa, inaugurated the launch of the first direct seasonal flights between Al-Ahsa International Airport and Rize-Artvin Airport in Turkiye on Thursday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The launch was in cooperation with Turkish Airlines and Al-Ghazal Travel and Tourism Agency, and in the presence of several officials.
According to SPA, the inauguration is part of the expansion plans for seasonal destinations served by Al-Ahsa International Airport, with the aim of enhancing air connectivity and broadening international travel options for passengers from the governorate and the Eastern Province, particularly during the summer season. It is also part of the efforts by the Al-Ahsa Development Authority to support the development of Al-Ahsa International Airport and enhance its services.
Prince Saud said that this step was an extension of the leadership’s support for the civil aviation and air transport sector, as well as its commitment to developing infrastructure and enhancing the quality of services provided to citizens and residents.
According to SPA, this aligns with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 to grow the tourism and economic sectors and meets the aspirations of the residents of Al-Ahsa governorate to have direct international flights through the local airport.
Prince Saud praised all government and private entities that contributed to activating the flights, stressing the importance of strengthening integration among various sectors to provide high-quality services that reflected the stature of Al-Ahsa, contributed to its tourism and economic development, and reinforced the role of Al-Ahsa International Airport as a growing regional hub in air transport.
The CEO of Dammam Airports Company, Mohammed bin Ali Al-Hassany, said that the new destination to Rize-Artvin Airport came within the plan for seasonal flights for the summer of 2025, which would contribute to enhancing international travel and tourism through Al-Ahsa International Airport.
Source: arabnews.com
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Hail Municipality launches smart recycling machine to feed stray animals, cut plastic waste
HAJAR ALQUSAYER
July 10, 2025
RIYADH: In a bid to reduce plastic waste and promote animal welfare, Hail Municipality has launched a smart machine that recycles used bottles, leftover food and water into meals for stray animals.
The Saqya Rahma initiative aims to strike a balance between sustainability and compassion through a simple, tech-driven solution.
“The primary motivation lies in converting recyclable waste — such as plastic bottles, leftover food, and water — into a useful resource that helps hydrate and feed stray animals,” Saud Al-Ali, assistant secretary of Hail Region for Media and Corporate Communication, told Arab News.
“This achieves a balance between caring for the environment and supporting living creatures,” he added.
The machine allows people to place leftover food and water into designated compartments and insert empty bottles for recycling.
“Instead of being discarded, these bottles are reused as a raw material for recycling, creating a direct environmental impact by feeding stray animals in a sustainable and responsible way,” Al-Ali said
“This simple step helps reduce unrecycled plastic waste and transforms it into an environmentally beneficial process.”
He said the initiative is also designed to promote long-term behavioral change among residents by encouraging sustainable habits and reducing the environmental burden caused by plastic pollution.
Al-Ali emphasized that the initiative aligns with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to enhance the quality of life and environmental sustainability.
“It supports the vision’s environmental and sustainable development pillars by reducing waste, promoting recycling, and improving treatment of living creatures. It also enhances community involvement in environmental work and encourages eco-friendly practices in daily life.”
Among those who welcomed the initiative is Mohammad Al-Lahham, a resident who looks after stray cats. He said this initiative offers a practical solution that benefits both the environment and animals.
“I do believe that providing food, in exchange of plastic would encourage people to be more open about their care for the little ones, along with creating an awareness towards the environment,” Al-Lahham told Arab News.
“Making them (people) know that the more they recycle bottled water, the more cats would find food and water, so it is a win-win situation,” he added.
Al-Lahham also pointed to the public health implications of neglecting stray animals.
“Unfortunately, on a day-to-day basis, you do find a lot of dead cats for multiple reasons, and that invites bugs, ravens, and with that, of course, a lot of reasons for diseases,” he said.
“I may not be well versed on the topic, but I can at least be aware that those things may affect other animals and maybe other living beings one way or another, so caring for those cats would reduce the chance of that happening.”
Al-Lahham also believes that over time, the initiative could inspire a stronger culture of recycling across the Kingdom.
“I am certain it would make a massive impact with time, and encouragement from the locals, to reduce plastic pollution, and in the process increase awareness to other types of items that need to be recycled, and that would create a culture among the cities and the country as a whole,” he said.
“For recycling, making cities cleaner, and making those little ones thrive as well, because they will find food, water, and lots of love from the people,” he concluded.
Source: arabnews.com
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Europe
'Our mosque was threatened after the 7/7 bombings'
July 11, 2025
Shabnam Mahmood & Jess Warren
On 7 July 2005, a series of explosions on London's public transport system killed 52 people and injured more than 770.
The actions of the bombers, all British Muslims, affected Muslim communities - both immediately and in the long term.
Dilowar Khan, then an executive director at East London Mosque, described "a very tense time for all of us". He said the community felt anti-Muslim hatred, with women in particular afraid to leave their homes; that the mosque received "a number of bomb threats", and its windows were smashed.
Another incident involved "a good number of men who came down and urinated in front of the main entrance".
Although the mosque publicly condemned the attacks, Mr Khan said many Muslims in the community faced increased scrutiny, suspicion and hostility.
"Shortly after the incident, we received a couple of bomb threats," he said. "I remember it was two Fridays actually. Friday is the busiest day for the mosque and so we had to call the police.
"We also received white powder by post, and again we had to call the police.
“Fortunately, it wasn't anthrax."
He said many Muslim women were “afraid to go on the bus and the underground“ even though one of the congregation of his mosque, a young woman in her 20s, was killed in the bombing.
"Women's hijabs were pulled, they were spat on.
"I remember one incident where a woman was refused entry on the bus. The bus driver, he was probably Islamophobic or racist.
"My own sisters, my wife, they felt very scared to go out."
'Alienated and attacked’
Shahmina, a pharmacist, was just a teenager when the bombings took place.
"I was 13. And all of a sudden I startEd feeling quite alienated," she said. "Suddenly my faith felt like something that could be attacked.
"We felt afraid to openly be Muslim.
”We would avoid certain areas if we knew there wouldn’t be a huge amount of Muslims there, because then we felt isolated.
"It was like you could become a prime target for Islamophobia and racism.
"It became rife after these attacks because what we were seeing in the media was a depiction that these attacks were central to being a Muslim and being Islamic and it wasn't - these attacks were isolated to individuals."
Two decades on, London's Muslim community has more than doubled to 1.3m people, but for Shahmina, it is still difficult.
"I'm feeling it coming back again with the resurgence of what's happening in the international political sphere," she said.
"I think relations can improve if we start changing the language we use around Muslims and people of different ethnic groups.
"If we shift how we talk about them when a crime is committed, we may find that actually the general public will have a different view on our community."
At the East london Mosque, community leaders regularly hold interfaith events and open days in the hopes of promoting a better understanding between people of different faiths.
Imam Shaqib Juneja is a former teacher and now works with a Muslim youth group.
"We don't want people to feel that we're different," he said.
"That's an important point, because one of the things that happened after 7/7 was a lot of the talk that was happening from politicians, from the media, about the portrayal of Muslims, perhaps even on the BBC - it made Muslims feel we are different.
"It's not the community that has the problem, it's a few individuals.
"But when it's portrayed as the community having the problem, people start to feel there is a lack of trust.
"We're people just like everybody else. We're human beings. There are more things that we have in common than actually make us different."
Source: bbc.com
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'Serious blunder' before death of imam, inquiry finds
10TH JULY
By Kent Lawlor
A “serious blunder” led to two missed opportunities to detect or disrupt the activities of two extremists who plotted to kill a Rochdale Imam, a public inquiry has found.
Highly respected Jalal Uddin, 71, was bludgeoned to death with a hammer in a public park by Mohammed Kadir, then aged 24, because he practised a form of Islamic healing the terror group regarded as “black magic”.
Kadir, from Oldham, fled to Syria afterwards but his getaway driver, Mohammed Syeedy, 21, a former Manchester United steward and charity worker from Rochdale, was jailed for life for the murder on February 18, 2016.
A third man, Mohammed Syadul Hussain, who had already come under police scrutiny after his nephew, aged eight, went into school saying he wanted to join the Taliban, was jailed for five years for helping Kadir leave the UK days after the killing.
A public inquiry was held, chaired by His Honour Thomas Teague KC, which involved both public and private “closed” hearings, to protect national security.
The public report, laid before Parliament today (Thursday, July 10), found all three men convicted after the murder had previously come to the attention of the police, while Kadir became known to Counter Terrorism Police in October 2015 and had been identified as a person of high risk and significant concern.
Although the need for a targeted police investigation into his activities had been recognised by December that year, the steps necessary to set up such an investigation, including the appointment of a senior investigating officer (SIO) to head it, were not taken.
The report states that a potential appointee was identified within North West Counter Terrorism Unit (NWCTU), however for reasons beyond the control of that officer and of NWCTU, the steps necessary to place him in a position to take up the duties of an SIO were not taken.
The exact details of what happened have not been made public.
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Judge Teague’s report adds: “In summary, my conclusion is that this failure, the detailed consequences of which I have traced in my closed report, amounted to a serious blunder that led to the loss of two opportunities to detect or disrupt the activities of Kadir and Syeedy before Mr Uddin was murdered.
“Above all, I extend my condolences to Mr Uddin’s family and friends.”
The reason for the killing was that Mr Uddin practised a form of healing, known as ruqyah, which the extremists regarded as blasphemous and his murder was a message that such practices would not be tolerated.
The inquiry’s findings say the investigations into the activities of Kadir and Hussain before the murder were hampered by “serious mistakes”.
Former Greater Manchester Police detective inspector Frank Morris told the inquiry an investigation into Hussain had been closed down prematurely two years before the murder.
Later, the failure to appoint an SIO led to two “missed opportunities”.
The first was that Kadir’s Facebook posts of September 2015 were captured by police but not reviewed before the murder.
Kadir’s social media post had described Imams like Mr Uddin as “dirty kufr people” and vowed to “take this on” to “paralyse them” and asked for prayers, “that we do not get caught”.
The report says the second missed opportunity was that even if the plot itself had not been detected through close analysis of the Facebook posts, other police investigative actions concerning Kadir might have detected the plot or, even if only incidentally, disrupted it.
Just a month before the killing, intelligence suggested that Kadir had access to openly available extremist literature, including bomb-making manuals and other material providing instructions on how to undertake violent jihad.
Kadir’s exact whereabouts are unknown and it is not known if he is still alive, while Syeedy is still serving his life sentence.
Both had been consumed by hatred of Mr Uddin after becoming supporters of Islamic State, Syeedy’s trial heard.
Father-of-seven Mr Uddin, from Bangladesh, was a “gentle, well-respected man” whose funeral in Rochdale was attended by 2,000 locals.
Assistant Chief Constable Rob Potts, speaking on behalf of Counter Terrorism Policing North West, said: “Jalal was a beloved and respected Islamic scholar who was well known in the community, and his murder in 2016 had a profound impact on many people.
“This was an act of extremist violence that has no place in Greater Manchester. Syeedy is rightly serving a life sentence in prison for his actions, and we are prepared to take swift action against Kadir should he return to the UK.
“Whilst it will be of little comfort to Mr Uddin’s family, we are appreciative that His Honour Teague KC has recognised the significant changes and improvements we have made to investigative practices that have already been implemented since the murder.
“We will now take the opportunity to reflect upon the content of both the open and closed reports further.”
Source: theoldhamtimes.co.uk
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He pulled out a 'gun' and ran at two men outside mosque
Emily Carubia
10 Jul 2025
A man who was seen to pull out what appeared to be a firearm outside a mosque has been jailed. Liverpool Crown Court heard today, July 10, two men on bikes were seen to ride onto Hatherley Street from Mulgrave Road, Toxteth, as a number of people were coming out of Al Rahma mosque following afternoon prayers.
One of the men on the bikes, now known to be 23-year-old Chris Beya, was seen to get off his bike and run at two other men who escaped inside the mosque.
When Beya got to the front of the building, he pulled out what appeared to be a firearm and then walked away.
A firearm has never been recovered, but an investigation found Beya was the man involved in the incident and he was arrested and subsequently charged.
Beya, of Gwendoline Street, in Toxteth, pleaded guilty to being in possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence. He was jailed for three years.
Following sentencing, Detective Inspector John Mullen said: “This was a serious offence that caused a lot of concern in the community at the time. Following a thorough investigation, we were able to provide enough evidence that Beya had no choice but to admit he was the man involved.
“We take all reports concerning firearms extremely seriously and I hope the sentencing of Beya offers reassurance that we are relentless in our pursuit of those involved in gun crime.
“To the untrained eye, an imitation firearm can cause fear and harm to people who wouldn’t know the difference between them or a more dangerous weapon if confronted with one.
“We rely on information given to us by the public and this makes a huge difference in identifying suspects, seizing weapons and removing suspects who would bring weapons onto our streets.
“It is vital that members of our communities come forward with information so we can make our communities safer for the decent, law-abiding people who live in areas affected by gun crime.
“Where people are willing to support the police, we will ensure every possible avenue is progressed to them.
“And if you don’t feel comfortable coming directly to the police call the independent, anonymous, Crimestoppers hotline on 0800 555 111, we need to know who is involved in gun crime and where those guns are being stored.”
Source: liverpoolecho.co.uk
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UK to return some migrants to France within weeks, PM says
July 11, 2025
Kate Whannel
The UK will begin returning migrants arriving in small boats to France within weeks under a new pilot scheme, Sir Keir Starmer has said.
Under the "one in, one out" deal, some arrivals would be returned to France and in exchange the UK would accept an equivalent number of asylum seekers, subject to security checks.
Speaking alongside French President Emmanuel Macron at the end of a three-day state visit, the prime minister said the plan would show that attempts to cross the Channel in small boats would "be in vain".
It had been reported that the scheme would see up to 50 people a week being returned, but Sir Keir did not confirm any figures.
He said the "ground-breaking" plan would help "break the model" of the people smugglers, and would be ramped up if it was successful.
Illegal migration was, he said, "a global crisis, an EU crisis and a crisis for our two nations".
Since 2018, when figures began to be gathered, more than 170,000 people have arrived in the UK in small boats. Numbers this year have reached record levels with nearly 20,000 arriving in the first six months of 2025.
Macron said the scheme would have a "deterrent effect" beyond the numbers returned.
He added that Brexit had made it harder for the UK to tackle illegal migration, arguing that the British people were "sold a lie... which is that the problem was Europe".
During the press conference, the two leaders also announced that their countries would:
co-ordinate their nuclear deterrents, meaning they would jointly mobilise their weapons in the event of an attack
strengthen collaboration on supercomputers and AI
"speed up and accelerate" co-operation on anti-ship missiles.
Some details of the small boats deal, including how the UK would decide who to send back to France, remain unclear, although it is understood the pilot will start with adults.
Those living in France but wanting to come to the UK would be able to express interest in applying for asylum via an online platform.
Priority would be given to those from countries most prone to people smugglers, as well as to people with links to the UK.
In a statement released after the press conference, the government said the agreement would be signed "subject to completing prior legal scrutiny in full transparency and understanding with the [European] Commission and EU Member states".
Other EU countries – such as Spain and Italy - may have concerns that returned migrants could then be sent to them. Under EU rules, individuals sent back to France would have to claim asylum in the first European country they arrived in, often places bordering the Mediterranean Sea.
Sir Keir said there was "no silver bullet here, but with a united effort, new tactics and a new level of intent, we can finally turn the tables".
In addition to the returns pilot, he also promised "a crackdown" on illegal working, which would ensure the jobs promised by traffickers to migrants "would no longer exist".
The government has said it has plans to bear down on illegal working hot spots, such as deliver riders.
Macron said the two countries would "intensify joint action" in the countries of origin and transit.
Announcing the pilot, Sir Keir said: "I know some people will still ask, why should we take anyone in - so let me address that directly.
"We accept genuine asylum seekers because it is right that we offer a haven to those in most dire need.
"But there is also something else, something more practical which is that we simply cannot solve a challenge like stopping the boats by acting alone and telling our allies that we won't play ball."
Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp said the deal would "only return one in every 17 illegal immigrants arriving".
"Allowing 94% of illegal immigrants to stay will make no difference whatsoever and have no deterrent effect."
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said the crossings were "a national security emergency".
"Frankly the French owe us our money back," he added, in a reference to payments made by the UK to support French policing efforts.
He said he did not believe the pilot would work, saying: "If we even try to deport people across the Channel, we will run straight into the European Convention on Human Rights."
John Vine, a former chief inspector of immigration and borders, told the BBC's Newsnight programme that establishing the principle that France should take back some illegal migrants was "a first" and "an achievement in itself".
However, he said the plan would not reduce crossings unless the numbers being returned were "considerable".
Imran Hussain from the Refugee Council said it was "right" for the government to look at ways of targeting the smugglers' business model and the proposal would also provide "a mechanism potentially where families have a safe and legal route to come to the UK from France".
However, the charity Asylum Matters said: "We don't need another expensive, ineffective, dangerous Rwanda-style gimmick.
"It's incredibly simple: the only way to stop people from making dangerous journeys is to give them real safe routes to seek sanctuary."
Labour and the previous Conservative governments have both struggled to stem the numbers coming to the UK in small boats.
The Conservatives had proposed sending arrivals to Rwanda, but the scheme was delayed by legal challenges. The general election was called before it could be implemented.
One of Sir Keir's first acts as prime minister was to scrap the plan, calling it a gimmick.
He said his government would focus instead on tackling the smuggling gangs that organise the crossings.
Source: bbc.com
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'We're worried about our future': Srebrenica massacre's tensions still felt 30 years on
July 11, 2025
Guy Delauney
The silence is shattered by a guttural scream. A group of people scrabble on the ground, sifting through the soil. One of them holds up a watch they have uncovered; another, a sandal.
The scene on stage at Sarajevo's War Theatre is uncomfortably familiar for the audience at the world premiere of the Flowers of Srebrenica. The play reflects the grim reality of the events not just of July 1995 – but the ensuing decades of unresolved grief and divisions in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Srebrenica massacre remains the most notorious war crime committed in Europe since World War Two. Bosnian-Serb forces overran Srebrenica in eastern Bosnia, where thousands of Bosniaks, who are mostly Muslim, had taken refuge, believing they were safely under the protection of the United Nations.
Instead, Dutch soldiers stood aside as Bosnian-Serb General Ratko Mladic directed his troops to place women and the youngest children on buses for transport to majority-Bosniak areas. Then, over the following days, he oversaw the systematic murder of around 8,000 people – most, but not all of them, men and boys.
Mladic's troops dumped the bodies in mass graves. But later, to cover up their crimes, they exhumed then reburied the remains in multiple sites.
As a result, body parts were distributed across multiple graves, causing endless anguish for the victims' families. Many of them are still searching for their relatives' remains decades later, though DNA testing has helped thousands of families to bury their family members at Potocari Cemetery, adjacent to the former UN base.
Others have been able to identify body parts through scraps of clothing or personal belongings – as depicted in scenes in the Flowers of Srebrenica.
The play also reflects the apparently deepening divisions in contemporary Bosnia and Herzegovina. While the audience in Sarajevo delivers a standing ovation to the cast and crew, in majority-Serb Republika Srpska, political leaders repeatedly deny that genocide took place at Srebrenica, despite Mladic's conviction for the offence at an international tribunal in The Hague, as well as the earlier conviction of the Bosnian-Serb political leader Radovan Karadžic.
"I thought that when 30 years passed, we'd come to our senses," says Selma Alispahic, the lead actress of the Sarajevo War Theatre – herself a former refugee from Bosnia's conflict.
"People get tired of proving the truth that's been proven so many times, even in international courts. The story of the hatred and spinning of facts serves only the criminals who profited from the war and who want to preserve their fortune today."
Genocide denial is not the only symptom of the country's divisions. The Dayton Peace agreement brought an end to the war, just four months after the massacre. But it also divided Bosnia and Herzegovina into two "entities", on ethnic grounds. Most Bosniaks and Croats live in the Federation, while the majority of Serbs are in Republika Srpska.
There is also a state-level government, with a member of the presidency for each of the three main ethnic groups. But most of the power lies at the entity level.
In recent months, Republika Srpska's president has been exploiting that to make mischief. Milorad Dodik has been pushing through legislation to withdraw from numerous national institutions, including the judiciary. This has brought him into conflict with Bosnia's ultimate power, the international High Representative.
The current holder of that position, Christian Schmidt, annulled the laws concerned. But Dodik refused to recognise those rulings.
Earlier this year a court sentenced him to a year in prison and a six-year ban from public office for ignoring the High Representative's decisions. The verdict is currently under appeal.
Further shenanigans have ensued – including legislation to establish a "reserve police force". The same terminology was used for murderous Serb militia during Bosnia's conflict.
"This is dangerous, playing with the memory of those who have experienced the 1990s," says Mr Schmidt.
"I see the irresponsible part of the political class playing with this. We need a clear presence of the international community on a military level – so EUFOR [the EU peacekeeping force] gets more responsibility in the sheer presence, promising people they will be supported in a peaceful manner."
In the centre of Sarajevo, reminders of the anniversary of the Srebrenica massacre are hard to miss. Hundreds of people huddled under umbrellas in the pouring rain to pay their respects to the convoy carrying the remains of seven recently-identified victims who will be buried at Potocari Cemetery during the commemoration. Outside the city's shopping centres, video screens urge passers-by to "Remember Srebrenica".
But just 15 minutes up the road, in East Sarajevo, there are no public references to the massacre. The Cyrillic script signs and Jelen Beer umbrellas indicate that this is Republika Srpska. And in the entity government's building, there is little enthusiasm for the commemorations.
Indeed, state-level foreign trade minister Saša Košarac – a leading member of Dodik's SNSD party – claims that Srebrenica is used to deepen divisions and prevent reconciliation.
"In this country, Bosniaks, Croats and Serbs were killed – and crimes were committed on all three sides. It's important, when thinking about the future, that all the perpetrators, on all sides, should be held accountable," he says.
"Bosniaks insist on talking only about Bosniak victims. A crime has been committed in Srebrenica – no Serbs deny that – but we have the right to point out the crimes against Serbs in and around Srebrenica."
But thousands of other people are focusing on solidarity with Srebrenica. On the eve of the commemoration, the Memorial Centre and Potocari Cemetery were already busy with people paying their respects. And they cheered the arrival from around the country of groups of cyclists, runners and motorcyclists.
Mirela Osmanovic says this support is crucial to Bosniaks who have returned to live in the area where their family members died. She was born two years after her two brothers were murdered at Srebrenica and now works at the Memorial Centre. But the recent tensions have left her rattled.
"The intense atmosphere produced by Republika Srpska's leaders really disturbs us, making us feel we're not protected anymore – and we're really worried about our future."
"My parents say it looks the way it looked in 1992."
For Milorad Dodik, manipulating the cycle of tensions is just part of his strategy to remain in power. But for people in Srebrenica, the ongoing ethno-political games only make the healing harder.
Source: bbc.com
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Deadly new Russian drone and missile attack hits Kyiv
July 11, 2025
Paul Adams
A massive overnight Russian attack has hit Ukraine's capital Kyiv, killing at least two people and injuring 16, President Volodymyr Zelensky has said.
The attack involved 18 missiles and about 400 drones, primarily targeting the capital, Zelensky added.
Residents' sleep was interrupted for three hours as drones and missiles converged on the capital. Authorities in Kyiv said drone wreckage struck the roof of a residential building and fires burned across the city.
In June, Ukraine recorded the highest monthly civilian casualties in three years, with 232 people killed and 1,343 injured, according to the UN.
In the early hours of Thursday morning, Ukraine's police reported that Russian drone strikes had hit eight districts in Kyiv.
"Residential buildings, vehicles, warehouses, office and non-residential buildings are burning," administration head Tymur Tkachenko said in a post on Telegram.
Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko confirmed that a 68-year-old woman and a 22-year-old police officer at a metro station had been killed.
In Kyiv's Podilsky district, a primary healthcare centre was "almost completely destroyed", Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko said.
City residents were urged to shelter until the air raid siren was lifted, and also close windows when they returned to their homes because there was a "lot of smoke" in Kyiv.
Overnight, Ukraine's air force reported a threat of Russian drone attacks in a number of regions. It was not immediately clear whether there were any casualties outside Kyiv.
Russia's military has not commented on the reported latest attack.
It followed what Ukraine described as the largest Russian aerial attack on Tuesday night, when 728 drones and 13 cruise or ballistic missiles struck cities across the country.
In June, Russia launched ten times more "missile and loitering munitions attacks" against Ukraine than in June last year, the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission (HRMMU) in Ukraine reported.
Civilians were killed or injured in at least 16 regions of the country and in Kyiv, the HRMMU said.
"Civilians across Ukraine are facing levels of suffering we have not seen in over three years," Ms Danielle Bell, head of the HRMMU, said. "The surge in long-range missile and drone strikes across the country has brought even more death and destruction to civilians far away from the frontline."
Late on Wednesday, three people were killed in a Russian air strike in the town of Kostiantynivka, close to the front line in eastern Ukraine, the country's emergency service DSNS said.
"Russia is obviously stepping up terror," Zelensky said. "It is necessary to be faster with sanctions and pressure Russia so that it feels the outcomes of its own terror. Our partners need to act faster investing in weapons production and developing tech."
He said that on Thursday, he would be speaking to partners about additional financing for producing interceptor drones and air defence supplies.
The US had resumed sending some weapons to Ukraine, Reuters reported late on Wednesday, days after it halted shipments of some critical air defence arms.
The latest attack underlines just how remote the prospects of a diplomatic breakthrough seem to have become.
On Wednesday, Germany's Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, said diplomacy had been exhausted. The Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, spoke in similar terms earlier in the week.
And US President Donald Trump seems increasingly impatient with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
"We get a lot of bull---- thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth," Trump told reporters on Tuesday. "He's very nice to us all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless."
Peskov said Moscow was "pretty calm about this. Trump's way of talking is generally quite harsh, the phrases he uses".
The two leaders have been in regular contact, but this has so far failed to translate into tangible steps towards a ceasefire in Ukraine - something Trump once said he would be able to achieve in a day.
Trump has been threatening sanctions on Russia since taking office in January but has so far not imposed any.
A bipartisan bill is working its way through Congress which would penalise countries such as China and India that continue to buy Russian oil and gas. Trump said he might support it.
The focus among Kyiv's allies has now shifted back to how to protect Ukraine and punish Russia, with Europe working on a new package of sanctions.
All this is likely to be discussed in Rome, where a two-day conference attended by delegates from 77 countries on Ukraine's recovery is due to start on Thursday.
With Russia's drone attacks on Ukraine increasing in frequency and scale, renewed attention on how to protect Ukraine's airspace could also be on the agenda.
Later on Thursday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of a summit in Malaysia.
Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Source: bbc.com
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Russia asks chemical weapons watchdog to investigate Ukraine
11 Jul, 2025
Russia has asked the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to investigate its claim that Ukrainian troops are using toxic munitions.
“The Russian side continues to document not only instances of Ukrainian nationalists using toxic chemicals and military-grade poison agents, but also evidence of a widespread system for their mass production in Ukraine,” Russian envoy Vladimir Tarabrin said at a session of the OPCW Executive Council in The Hague on Thursday.
The diplomat added that Moscow has requested the OPCW to dispatch experts to verify its findings.
Earlier this month, Russia announced the discovery of a makeshift lab allegedly used by Ukrainian troops to store chloropicrin – a choking agent banned under the Chemical Weapons Convention. According to Moscow, Kiev’s forces have dropped toxic substances from drones.
Kiev also asked the OPCW earlier this month to investigate the alleged use of banned chemical munitions by Moscow. Last Friday, Germany and the Netherlands accused the Russian army of dropping choking agents on Ukrainian trenches.
Tarabrin rejected the accusations and accused the “pro-war faction” in the EU of “waging a campaign to falsify evidence.”
Source: rt.com
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500% secondary tariffs won’t derail Russian policy – Moscow
10 Jul, 2025
Moscow will adapt if the US imposes 500% secondary tariffs on Russian trade partners, and such restrictive measures will not force it from its sovereign course, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov has said.
US President Donald Trump told reporters on Tuesday that he is “very strongly” considering backing legislation that would impose the massive levies, expressing unhappiness with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. The bill, designed to force Moscow into compromising on the Ukraine conflict, was proposed by Russia hawk Senator Lindsey Graham earlier this year.
Ryabkov was asked by journalists on Thursday how Moscow would react to the potential 500% secondary tariffs.
“The hypothetical arrival of some new measure, in the form you described, will require additional analysis and reflection, but will not radically change the picture,” Ryabkov replied, according to TASS. Foreign states have imposed more than 30,000 sanctions against Russia to date, he added.
Western governments imposed an unprecedented slew of sanctions on Moscow following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, aiming to undercut the Russian economy. Moscow has condemned the restrictive measures as illegal.
According to Putin, the sanctions are doing more harm to Western nations than to Russia. “The more sanctions are imposed, the greater the damage to the imposers,” he said at the Eurasian Economic Union summit in Minsk last month.
Putin also argued that Western sanctions have “ultimately changed the quality of the Russian economy,” allowing domestic firms to adapt and take over market niches left by foreign businesses. Russia has only grown more resilient faced with the unprecedented sanctions, he said.
Source: rt.com
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Council of Europe ‘alarmed’ by reports of draft-related Ukrainian deaths and torture
10 Jul, 2025
The Council of Europe’s commissioner for human rights, Michael O’Flaherty, has expressed concerns about “systematic and widespread” abuse committed by Ukrainian draft officials.
In his latest update on the situation in the country, published this week, the official says he's seen “alarming” reports that include “allegations of torture and death during military recruitment.”
He urged Ukraine’s authorities to promptly investigate all alleged instances of abuse and take measures to prevent similar violations, including independent oversight of recruitment officials’ behavior, he said.
O’Flaherty cited a statement by Ukraine’s Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmitry Lubinets, who also noted that human rights abuse committed by draft officials was “systematic and widespread.” The list of these violations includes “beatings, brutal arrests, denial of access to a lawyer, incommunicado detention, mobilization of people with disabilities and other unacceptable acts,” the report stated.
In an April interview with political commentator Ben Shapiro, Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky denied that abuse is “massive,” insisting that it was limited to “singular cases.” He asserted that the main problem was people evading mobilization through bribes, while neglecting to touch upon allegations of beatings and torture.
Ukraine expanded its conscription criteria last year amid heavy battlefield losses, lowering the legal draft age from 27 to 25, while increasing the power of military recruiters. The mobilization campaign, which is overseen by Ukraine’s Territorial Centers of Recruitment and Social Support (TCR), has drawn widespread public criticism.
Numerous videos circulating online show enlistment officers chasing would-be recruits in the streets, commonly backed by civilian police. Reluctant draftees are sometimes threatened with military-grade weaponry and often beaten, along with any bystanders who attempt to intervene.
Earlier this week, a video surfaced online showing an elderly woman trying to prevent military recruiters from detaining her son. The woman was seen clinging to the windshield of a van and screaming. A witness filming the scene claimed the vehicle belonged to military recruiters and that her son was inside. According to Strana.UA, the woman soon felt unwell and died in an ambulance.
A February report by Strana.UA suggested that 80% of Ukrainians had a negative view of the TCR. Meanwhile, the head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation, Andrey Kovalenko stated this week that ordinary citizens were providing the coordinates of local TCR offices to the Russian military.
Source: rt.com
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South Asia
Crimes against humanity: Ex-IGP Mamun offers to be a state witness
Jul 11, 2025
The International Crimes Tribunal-1 yesterday framed charges against deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina and two of her former top aides in a case related to the crimes against humanity during the July uprising.
One of her co-accused, former inspector general of police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, pleaded guilty and appealed to become a state witness (a witness for the prosecution).
This is the first time an accused has made such a plea at the ICT since its formation in 2010. This is also the first time accused have been charged at the ICT in a case over atrocities during the uprising.
The charges against the trio include murder, attempted murder, torture, and the use of lethal weapons and other crimes against humanity.
The ICT-1 set August 3 and August 4 for the opening statements of the prosecution and the defence and the recording of witness depositions.
The other person accused in the case, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, remains absconding. Hasina has been in India since she fled to the neighbouring country on August 5 last year.
The trio is also charged with crimes against humanity for their "superior command responsibility, conspiracy, incitement, instigation, facilitation, abetment, complicity, failure to punish, failure to prevent crimes".
Having read out the charges, Judge Md Mohitul Hoque Anam Chawdhury asked ex-IGP Mamun, "Do you plead guilty?"
In a surprise move, with all eyes in the packed courtroom on Mamun, he pleaded guilty.
"I will voluntarily disclose the truth and make full disclosure of the whole of the circumstances within my knowledge relating to the case," the former police chief said.
Tajul Islam, chief prosecutor of the ICT, later at a briefing said Mamun had applied to become an approver, and the court has granted the request.
In legal contexts, an approver is a person who, having been involved in a crime, confesses their guilt and agrees to testify against their accomplices in exchange for leniency or immunity.
Jaiad Bin Amjad, lawyer for Mamun, told The Daily Star that he had submitted an application for his client to become an approver. "The court has granted it. So, from now on, he is considered an approver, not an accused. However, if the tribunal is not convinced by his statement later, it can still treat him as an accused. This is part of the legal process."
Judge Mohitul read the charges as instructed by tribunal chair Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder.
Each charge against Hasina begins with a context from her press conference of July 14, 2024. The charges state that as prime minister and political head of the Awami League-led 14-party alliance, Hasina made inflammatory remarks likening protesters with "grandchildren of Razakars" or collaborators of the Pakistani forces during the 1971 Liberation War.
These comments incited law enforcement officials and armed party cadres, according to the charges. Hasina then issued the order to use lethal force, the prosecution alleged, adding that in turn, the former home minister and ex-IGP executed the orders through subordinate commanders.
The judge read on, "As a result, coordinated armed attacks were carried out nationwide on innocent protesters demanding quota reforms. Drones were used to locate protest sites, followed by attacks with firearms and helicopters. At least 1,500 people were killed and 25,000 injured -- many suffering permanent blindness and disabilities."
He also said the victims were denied medical treatment, and no post-mortem examinations were carried out. In the case of Abu Sayed, a student of Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur who was shot dead, the post-mortem report was changed four times.
The judge also said that six people were burned -- five already dead and one still alive at the time -- in an attempt to destroy evidence.
The ICT-1 member also said the tribunal believes there is enough evidence to presume the accused knowingly and systematically committed offences under the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 1973.
"Thereby, Sheikh Hasina, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, and Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun are formally indicted," he announced.
Former police chief Mamun appeared sombre in the dock in a purple chequered half shirt and gray trousers. Security was tight, with extra police deployed around the tribunal premises.
THE CHARGES
Charge 1: This charge specifies that following Hasina's July 14 press briefing, former home minister Asaduzzaman, former IGP Mamun, and other high officials of the then government abetted, assisted, and were complicit in the severe and systematic attacks on innocent, unarmed students and masses.
Charge 2: This charge is related to Hasina ordering the use of drones and helicopters along with lethal weapons to subdue protesters. It mentions the telephonic conversation between Hasina and former Dhaka South mayor Fazle Noor Taposh and former Dhaka University vice-chancellor Prof ASM Maksud Kamal where the former premier spoke about the order. The prosecution charged Asaduzzaman and Mamun with facilitating and executing this directive by issuing instructions to law enforcers.
The defendants have been charged with ordering, facilitating, being complicit in, and conspiring to commit these crimes against humanity, knowingly and systematically.
Charge 3: This charge is related to the killing of Rangpur student Abu Sayed.
As part of the widespread and systematic attacks on unarmed student protesters, on July 16, police shot Sayed several times without provocation. The doctor concerned was forced to alter his post-mortem report four times to conceal the actual cause of death. The defendants ordered, incited, abetted, facilitated, were complicit and conspired to commit these crimes against humanity.
Charge 4: This count is related to the shooting and killing of six unarmed protesters in Dhaka's Chankharpul on August 5 last year.
The prosecutors said the atrocities in Chankharpul were carried out on the defendants' orders, and with incitement, abetment, facilitation, complicity, and conspiracy, constituting crimes against humanity.
Charge 5: The defendants are charged with the shooting of six student protesters, five of whom were killed and burned, while the sixth was reportedly set on fire while still alive, in Ashulia on August 5 last year.
As the judge read the word "burned", he paused and muttered, "Nauzubillah!"
The prosecution contends that the atrocity was carried out knowingly with the defendants' orders, incitement, abetment, facilitation, complicity, and conspiracy, constituting crimes against humanity, including other inhumane acts such as torture and murder.
Source: thedailystar.net
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Bangladesh ex-top cop pleads guilty to crimes against humanity in 2024 protest crackdown
10 Jul 2025
DHAKA, July 10 — Bangladesh’s former police chief pleaded guilty to crimes against humanity committed during a crackdown on protests last year, while ex-prime minister Sheikh Hasina was formally indicted, prosecutors said after the trial resumed today.
Up to 1,400 people were killed between July and August 2024, according to the United Nations, when Hasina’s government attempted to crush a student-led uprising.
Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) is prosecuting former senior figures connected to Hasina’s ousted government and her now-banned party, the Awami League.
Former inspector general of police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Mamun “pleaded guilty to crimes against humanity,” Muhammad Tajul Islam, chief prosecutor at the ICT, told reporters.
Islam said Mamun has agreed to assist the court by acting as a witness, giving “all the knowledge he has regarding the crimes committed during the July-August uprising”.
The court has approved separate accommodation to ensure Mamun’s safety.
The tribunal today also rejected defence lawyers’ request to have the charges against Hasina and her interior minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal dismissed.
Both Hasina and Kamal were formally indicted in the same case.
Amir Hossain, the state-appointed counsel for Hasina and Kamal, however remained hopeful.
“The trial is at an initial stage, and there are several other phases,” he said.
Hasina, 77, fled by helicopter to India as the protests ended her 15-year rule.
She has defied an extradition order to return to Dhaka, where her trial in absentia opened on June 1.
Hasina faces at least five charges at the ICT, including “abetment, incitement, complicity, facilitation, conspiracy and failure to prevent mass murder during the July uprising”.
Prosecutors say that Hasina held overall command responsibility for the violence.
She was already convicted of contempt of court in a separate case on July 2, receiving a six-month sentence.
Fugitive former minister Kamal is also believed to be in India. — AFP
Source: malaymail.com
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Eminent poet Al Mahmud’s 89th birth anniversary celebrated today
Jul 11, 2025
The 89th birth anniversary of Al Mahmud, one of the most influential voices in modern Bangla poetry, is being observed today with reverence and remembrance across literary circles in Bangladesh.
Born on July 11, 1936 in Brahmanbaria, Mir Abdus Shukur Al Mahmud played a pivotal role in reshaping Bangla poetry in the post-Tagore era.
His acclaimed collection 'Sonali Kabin' (Golden Dowry) explored themes of rural life, love, history, nationalism, and spirituality, delivered through a lyrical and distinctly local voice that earned him wide recognition.
In the early hours of today, Bangla Academy paid tribute to the late poet through a commemorative post on social media, highlighting his significant contributions to Bangla literature and noting that he was awarded the Bangla Academy Literary Award in 1968.
The post also recalled that following his death on February 15, 2019, Al Mahmud's body was brought to the academy's Nazrul Mancha the following day, allowing the public to pay their final respects.
As part of the tribute, the academy shared two archival photographs of Al Mahmud taken at its premises, along with a solo portrait provided by Photoseum -- the photography initiative of Ekushey Padak-winning photographer and Bangla Academy Fellow, Nasir Ali Mamun.
In a personal reflection on the academy's Facebook post, Mamun wrote, "Even during his lifetime, Al Mahmud was forcibly erased. This story is long."
"In 1974, he was imprisoned. I, too, was in the same cell with him at Dhaka Central Jail for several days. We haven't forgotten the brutality of the Rakkhi Bahini," he recalled, referencing Ahmed Musa's book Itihasher Kathgoray Awami League and Al Mahmud's own memoirs.
"Individuals and institutions deliberately tried to erase the poet from poetry. What remains is the heavy sorrow and the history of a culture of neglect. And today, that sorrow rises with a howl. Let us celebrate the sorrowful poet Al Mahmud. Thank you, Bangla Academy," he added.
Throughout his career, Al Mahmud produced a vast body of work including poetry, fiction, short stories, essays, and memoirs. His literary voice was intertwined with the country's cultural and political transformations, from the Language Movement to the complexities of post-independence Bangladesh.
Despite facing political censorship and personal adversity, his poetry endured, often circulated beyond mainstream platforms. His major works include poetry collections such as Lok Lokantor, Kaler Kalosh, Sonali Kabin, Mayabi Porda Dule Otho, Arobbo Rojonir Rajhash, and Bokul Chokh; novels including Kobi O Kolahol, Purusher Jobanbondi, and Upomohadesh; short story collections like Pankourir Rokto and Duhshomoy; and his memoir Jiboner Jolchhobi.
Al Mahmud is remembered not only for his unmatched lyrical mastery but also as a symbol of resistance against cultural marginalisation. His legacy continues to influence the literary landscape of Bangladesh.
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/eminent-poet-al-mahmuds-89th-birth-anniversary-celebrated-today-3937166
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Govt takes steps for media reform, adopts 12 decisions
Jul 11, 2025
The government has begun implementing several key recommendations made by the Media Reform Commission, with the information ministry initially adopting 12 major decisions.
The ministry disclosed the move yesterday in a press statement, noting that the 11-member Media Reform Commission, led by senior journalist Kamal Ahmed, submitted its report to the government on March 22 this year.
According to the statement, an ordinance ensuring the protection of journalists' rights will be enacted soon following consultations with stakeholders.
A task force will be formed to reform the newspaper circulation auditing system.
Simultaneously, steps will be taken to rationally increase newspaper advertisement rates.
As per the commission's recommendations, the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) will conduct a survey to assess audience, viewer, and reader satisfaction with media content.
To promote fair competition in the advertising industry, the ministry will consult the Bangladesh Competition Commission to investigate any alleged unfair practices.
The security deposit fee for FM radio licenses will be revised and reduced to a more reasonable level, the statement read.
In consultation with the National Board of Revenue (NBR), steps will be taken to exempt columnists, contributors, artists, and guest presenters or discussants in the media from advance income tax on their honorarium.
A primary decision has been taken to remove the mandatory use of Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited (BSCL) for television channels' uplink and downlink services.
Moreover, the curriculum of the Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB) and the National Institute of Mass Communication (NIMC) will be updated, and efforts will be made to enhance their institutional capacity.
A preliminary decision has also been taken to establish the BCS Information Academy for training officials of the Information Cadre.
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/govt-takes-steps-media-reform-adopts-12-decisions-3936681
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Political parties should be respectful while criticising opponents: Jamaat secretary
Jul 10, 2025
Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar today said that the political parties may have different opinions, but they should stay united in the interest of the nation and democracy.
He also urged the parties to use careful and respectful language while speaking or criticising their opponents so that people do not get any wrong message about the unity among the anti-fascist forces.
The Jamaat leader said this while addressing a discussion at the Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka this afternoon.
However, he called upon all pro-democratic parties to stay alert, saying that any disunity among them could help fascist forces to rise.
Describing journalists as the barometer of civilisation, he requested the media to play a more responsible role by practising fair and objective journalism.
He also alleged that some media outlets are spreading false and misleading information about Jamaat, BNP and other parties to create division among the democratic forces.
Source: thedailystar.net
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/political-parties-should-be-respectful-while-criticising-opponents-jamaat-secretary-3936661
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Up to 40,000 Afghan Migrants Forcibly Deported Daily from Iran: Official
2025-07-10
KABUL(BNA): Up to 40,000 Afghan migrants are being deported daily from Iran, a senior Islamic Emirate official said on Tuesday, amid a sharp rise in forced returns through key border crossings.
Mawlavi Abdul Salam Hanafi, Deputy Prime Minister for Administrative Affairs and head of the High Commission for Addressing Refugee Affairs, told a press conference in Kabul that around 30,000 Afghans are crossing back through the Islam Qala border in Herat, while 10,000 more return via the Milak border in Nimroz province each day.
Over the past month, more than 500,000 Afghans have returned from Iran, Hanafi said.
He added that the Islamic Emirate is actively working to support the returnees, offering cash assistance of 2,000 Afghanis per person, free transportation, and basic services at the border.
Deputy PM Hanafi also announced that land would be leased at subsidized rates to help returnees settle and earn a livelihood. He said 35 planned residential areas across 25 provinces have been designated for their permanent resettlement, covering a total of 140,000 jeribs (about 28,000 hectares) of land.
Eligible families could receive up to 15 bushels of land (approximately 0.3 hectares) based on family size.
The official further noted that Afghans repatriating with capital from abroad would be exempt from taxes for five years, granted free land in industrial parks, allowed to import up to two vehicles duty-free, and be eligible for two-year work visas for foreign employees.
The wave of forced returns from Iran comes as deportations from Pakistan continue as well, raising humanitarian concerns.
Source: bakhtarnews.af
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https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/up-to-40000-afghan-migrants-forcibly-deported-daily-from-iran-official/
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Kazakhstan, Afghanistan Sign $500 Million Railway Agreement
2025-07-10
KABUL(BNA): Afghanistan and Kazakhstan have signed an agreement to invest $500 million in the Herat-Torghundi railway project. The agreement was formalized during a meeting between Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund, Afghanistan’s Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, and Murat Nurtuliev, Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, at the Presidential Palace today, Thursday.
The discussions centered on enhancing trade, transit, and economic cooperation between the two countries. Deputy PM Mullah Baradar highlighted the positive trajectory of Afghan-Kazakh ties, emphasizing the potential of Afghanistan as a transit corridor for Kazakh energy to South Asia.
Both officials acknowledged the opportunities for joint ventures in various sectors, including mining, transport, communications, energy production, and infrastructure development. They also explored the signing of agreements on agricultural product protection, international transportation, and reducing transit fees, which could elevate bilateral trade to $3 billion.
Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister reaffirmed ongoing support for Afghanistan on the international stage and expressed readiness to increase electricity imports and facilitate Afghan agricultural exports to Kazakhstan. The commitment to the Herat-Torghundi railway marks a crucial step toward bolstering transit and trade relations.
The agreement, signed today, Thursday is expected to pave the way for enhanced economic ties and development in the region, underscoring the mutual benefits of cooperation between Afghanistan and Kazakhstan.
Source: bakhtarnews.af
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/kazakhstan-afghanistan-sign-500-million-railway-agreement/
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WHO warns of rising infectious diseases among deported Afghan migrants
By Fidel Rahmati-
July 10, 2025
WHO warns of rising infectious diseases among deported Afghan migrants, citing poor sanitary conditions and urgent need for expanded medical support.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a warning about the growing spread of infectious diseases and poor sanitary conditions among Afghan migrants deported from neighboring countries. WHO reports a surge in respiratory infections, diarrhea, skin conditions like scabies, and suspected COVID-19 cases among returnees.
On-the-ground assessments at key border points—particularly Islam Qala in Herat Province—show that upper respiratory infections are the most common ailments, followed closely by diarrhea and dehydration, especially among children and the elderly. Suspected cases of scabies and COVID-19 have also been reported.
In response, WHO has launched emergency health screenings and mass vaccination campaigns in collaboration with local health authorities at Islam Qala and Spin Boldak border crossings. These initiatives aim to prevent further outbreaks and provide critical care to vulnerable populations.
According to WHO, over 8,700 children received oral polio vaccines, and more than 8,300 individuals received injectable polio vaccines at the Islam Qala crossing alone. Thousands of returnee children have also been vaccinated against measles in high-risk border areas.
In total, nearly 29,000 people have been screened or vaccinated at major border points including Spin Boldak, Torkham, and Islam Qala. WHO mobile health teams are stationed at reception centers and zero-point borders, conducting daily health checks on hundreds of returnees.
In just a short monitoring period, WHO identified more than 840 individuals showing symptoms of infectious disease, all of whom received immediate medical care. The organization emphasized the urgency of increasing medical resources and staff capacity to deal with rising health risks.
As the number of deported Afghan migrants continues to grow, WHO stresses that expanded funding and coordinated efforts are urgently needed to prevent large-scale disease outbreaks and provide adequate care for returnees in crisis.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/who-warns-of-rising-infectious-diseases-among-deported-afghan-migrants/
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UN warns: New Media Restrictions in Afghanistan fuel fear and self-censorship
By Fidel Rahmati-
July 10, 2025
UN warns that new media restrictions in Afghanistan are fueling widespread fear, tightening control, and significantly increasing self-censorship among journalists.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has expressed serious concern over a new media directive issued by the Taliban. The agency warned that the policy, which requires pre-approval of political programs and guests by the Taliban government, will increase fear and self-censorship among Afghanistan media outlets.
UNAMA’s statement, released on Thursday, July 10, 2025, on X, said the new guidelines formalize previous restrictive actions and further erode press freedom in the country. The move follows a pattern of escalating media censorship since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021.
The Taliban’s Ministry of Information and Culture has circulated a four-page document titled “Policy for Holding Political Programs (Roundtables) in Afghanistan” to local media. This directive obliges outlets to submit all political content to the ministry before broadcasting. Participants in such programs must receive prior approval and ID cards from the Taliban.
According to the document, political programming must align with the “Islamic Emirate’s policies.” Any criticism of the Taliban or deviation from “national unity and values” could result in harsh penalties, including the suspension of media licenses.
The ministry has further instructed media to criticize Taliban officials only in a “respectful manner” and within what it describes as the framework of Islamic law. Analysts view these instructions as a veiled threat to independent journalism.
Since reclaiming power, the Taliban have dramatically restricted press freedom, silenced dissent, and jailed or intimidated journalists. Their new media policy institutionalizes these crackdowns by placing direct editorial control under government scrutiny.
These developments have contributed to Afghanistan’s plummet in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), where it ranks 175th out of 180 countries with just 17.88 points—a stark drop compared to previous years.
The international community, including media watchdogs and human rights groups, has called on the Taliban to reverse these draconian measures. Without urgent action, Afghanistan risks becoming one of the most repressive environments in the world for free expression and independent journalism.
Source: khaama.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.khaama.com/un-warns-new-media-restrictions-in-afghanistan-fuel-fear-and-self-censorship/
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North America
CAIR Welcomes Charges for Racist Threats Targeting West Virginia Law Enforcement Officer
July 10, 2025
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed the filing of charges against a man who allegedly made racist threats against a law enforcement officer in Monongalia County, West Virginia.
According to authorities, the suspect “would only refer to [the deputy] as a racial slur,” and “claimed he was superior due to being white and claim this was a reason he wanted to take [the deputy’s] life.”
In a statement, CAIR said:
“We welcome the charges in this disturbing case. No one – whether a law enforcement officer or a member of the public – should be subjected to allegedly bias-motivated threats or harassment. Federal, state and local law enforcement authorities should take all such alleged threats seriously and continue to combat rising hate-fueled violence.”
Washington, D.C., based CAIR and the American Muslim community stand in solidarity with all those challenging antisemitism, systemic anti-Black racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, white supremacy, and all other forms of bigotry.
Source: cair.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-welcomes-charges-for-racist-threats-targeting-west-virginia-law-enforcement-officer/
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CAIR Calls for Firing of Sequoia Partner Shaun Maguire After Racist, Anti-Muslim Rants
July 10, 2025
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called for the firing of Sequoia Capital partner Shaun Maguire over racist, anti-Muslim remarks posted on social media.
In a tweet about New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, Maguire said Mamdani “comes from a culture that lies about everything. It’s literally a virtue to lie if it advances his Islamist agenda.” Maguire later doubled down on his remarks and responded to public criticism with vague threats, writing to one individual critical of his remarks, “You may not know this… but I’ve been watching you.”
In a statement, CAIR Research and Advocacy Director Corey Saylor said:
“We believe most of Sequoia Capital’s staff and leaders are as horrified by hate as we are. Mr. Maguire’s recent statements are nothing more than anti-Muslim bigotry. We hope Sequoia’s leadership chooses to stand against hatemongering and relieve him of his position. Any other choice simply tells the world that at Sequoia it is open season on racial, religious, and other minorities.”
CAIR-San Francisco Bay Area Executive Director Zahra Billoo said:
“Shaun Maguire’s statements are not just bigoted—they are dangerous. They echo the same Islamophobic tropes that have fueled harassment, discrimination, and violence against Muslims in this country for decades. Sequoia cannot continue to remain silent while one of its partners openly dehumanizes an entire faith community. If the firm truly values equity and inclusion, it must act decisively and end its relationship with Shaun Maguire.”
Source: cair.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-calls-for-firing-of-sequoia-partner-shaun-maguire-after-racist-anti-muslim-rants/
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US never planned to halt weapon deliveries to Ukraine – Rubio
10 Jul, 2025
The US has never stopped supplying military aid to Ukraine, despite reports of a Pentagon-ordered suspension, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio claims. He insisted that shipments were only temporarily paused to assess stockpiles.
Last week, a Pentagon spokesman confirmed that some arms deliveries, including air defense interceptors and artillery shells, had been paused. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a vocal skeptic of further aid to Kiev, reportedly made the decision without consulting allies or lawmakers. The move raised concern in Europe and drew criticism from Ukrainian officials.
“That decision unfortunately was mischaracterized,” Rubio said at a press conference. “It was a pause pending review on a handful of specific type munitions.” He described the review as “very limited” and aimed at ensuring that US stockpiles remained sufficient for other global obligations.
“The overwhelming majority of military aid that the United States provides Ukraine has never been paused and continues along the same schedules that it's been,” he insisted.
Rubio also noted that most deliveries are “defensive in nature,” while stressing that Ukraine still needs more Patriot missile batteries.
Earlier this week, Axios reported that President Donald Trump had promised to send ten Patriot interceptors to Ukraine. Each of these costs about $4 million, and at least two are usually needed to intercept a single target. The limited pledge follows signs that US military support for Kiev is waning.
The most recent pause was the third time arms shipments to Ukraine have been put on hold since Trump took office. While Trump has said support will continue, he acknowledged that Patriot systems are “very rare” and “very expensive.”
Unlike his predecessor, Joe Biden, Trump has resumed direct talks with Russia and been pushing for a ceasefire. Kremlin officials have welcomed signs of reduced US military support, arguing that Western weapons have only prolonged the conflict without altering its course.
Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov pointed out on Thursday that, despite the Trump administration’s apparent desire for peace, the US is still supplying arms to Ukraine. He warned that the conflicting statements coming out of Washington are not encouraging diplomatic progress, while noting that bringing arms deliveries to a full stop would bring a resolution to the conflict “closer.”
Source: .rt.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.rt.com/news/621314-us-never-planned-arms-halt-ukraine/
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Don't Cancel Shaun Maguire But Please Stop Making Us Listen to Him
TOM DOTAN
JUL 11, 2025
One outcome of our low-barrier, infinite-distribution age is a barbell effect among social media influencers. On one end, there’s an explosion of unconventional, niche thinkers who can now find an audience. On the other, powerful people with existing status and followings have convinced themselves that all their opinions are important.
I’m thinking about this in light of Sequoia’s Shaun Maguire, who again sparked controversy on X, this time by calling left-wing NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani a liar by dint of the ‘Islamist’ culture that he’d been ingrained in. The comment followed a New York Times report that Mamdani, a Uganda-born Muslim of Indian descent, was arguably misleading in identifying as both African American and Asian on his Columbia application. To Maguire, the alleged deceit reflected Islamist thinking.
Facing backlash, Maguire said he wasn’t intending to impugn all Muslims, just the ones who he categorized as Islamists. He apologized somewhat: “to any Muslim that is not an Islamist and to any Indian who took offense to this tweet, I am very very sorry. I know that things are difficult. I am not trying to stoke hatred,” he said in a follow up video, where he admitted his initial post did not have its intended effect. But if his other posts are any indication, he’s mostly giddy with the attention that he’s gotten for stirring up anger. He certainly hasn’t backed off his stance on Mamdani.
Posting political opinions on X is something Maguire says he’s morally bound to do. In a March podcast interview with Jack Altman, he cited Hamas’ October 7th attack on Israel as the event that made him realize that he had to enlist as a soldier in the information warfare playing out online.
Yet Maguire’s feed is a typical mélange of hard-line pro-Israel politics you can find almost anywhere, alongside unfounded claims of election fraud that bounce around MAGA world. In the case of Mamdani, he veers into Islamic fear-mongering that essentially regurgitates the kinds of things Ann Coulter or Christopher Hitchens would have said on whatever Bill Maher show in the years after 9/11.
It’s unclear to me what he’s adding to the discourse beyond amplifying far-right views that are now mainstream among a certain cohort in Silicon Valley. If Maguire’s views get any carry, it’s because it comes with the imprimatur of a Sequoia Capital partner.
It’s easy for VCs like Maguire to see their big followings as a sign of interest in what they might have to say on any topic. But an investor at a prominent and influential firm getting online attention for posting rage-bait isn’t a sign that they’ve hit on something important. It’s a hack.
I’ve followed Maguire on and off over time because of where he works and that he’s close to Elon Musk, not because I care about his political opinions. But likely with the help of Musk, we get a steady serving of them anyway. And the shock value of a Sequoia partner posting trollish comments — and the attendant brouhaha — only add to his fame. (Maguire’s colleague Pat Grady tried to play why-can’t-we-all-get-along cleanup for Maguire and, of course, Grady’s anti-extremist plea received far less engagement on X’s angry algorithm.)
It’s worth contrasting Maguire’s activities with those of other VCs who are leaning into the politics racket.
Mike Solana, not quite an investor himself at Founders Fund, has built a following for his Pirate Wires newsletter, where he rides his contrarian id. Whatever you think about his politics, though, he’s attracted an engaged audience with paying customers. Marc Andreessen failed with Clubhouse to see if his vision of mobile Parisian salons would find traction, but I admired the attempt. The All-In podcast is a very successful show, whose hosts’ rapport is entertaining to the type of people who like that sort of thing.
But All-In has begun to seem like a warmed-over Crossfire panel. You can’t even say that about Maguire who comes across not so much as a sharp, media-savvy political pundit as a bumbling hack eager to put out his half-baked, conspiratorial political takes.
If I were at a dinner party and Maguire expressed what are now conventionally right-wing political opinions, I wouldn’t pay much attention to them. I feel confident saying this because I’ve been to a dinner party he was at where he expressed his conventionally right-wing political opinions, and I didn’t pay much attention to them.
We could all be better about ignoring loud internet personalities when we decide they’re not adding anything to the conversation — but that feels much harder somehow than excusing yourself from an obnoxious dinner party companion.
Of course, the specter of Cancellation hangs over all of this. There’s a petition circulating among founders that implores Sequoia to take some action in response to Maguire’s posts on Islamists. There’s also one countering it, with founders and friends saying he’s actually a great guy and supportive investor. Maguire has argued he has the strong backing from the tech community; to me his personal support shows that his politics aren’t all that salient.
In Silicon Valley whether or not someone will or won’t be Canceled for their Takes ranks near the top of things leaders think about. On a recent episode of Joe Rogan’s podcast, Replit CEO Amjad Masad bemoaned the scourge of wokeness and proclaimed that it was killed when Musk bought Twitter.
Masad is Jordanian-American and of Palestinian descent and one of the few people in tech openly speaking out against Israel’s actions in Gaza and throughout the Middle East (Paul Graham being another). But in tech, being against Cancellation crosses all political boundaries.
For what it’s worth, my take is it would be bad for Maguire to lose his job for expressing his political opinions. Not just because I’m against people trying to adjudicate social justice through the workplace and because, all things considered, I’d rather people not be afraid of expressing their opinions. But also because if Maguire had to go solo and make a career strictly out of his posts, I’m pretty confident there’d be no audience for that.
Don’t make this man shill his takes for a living, please.
If he had to, that could be a version of cancellation itself.
When a TV network exec axes a show, it usually isn’t because it’s too controversial; it’s because it had no ratings.
Source: newcomer.co
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.newcomer.co/p/dont-cancel-shaun-maguire-but-please
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CAIR Ohio Calls for Immediate Release of Cincinnati Imam Detained by ICE
July 10, 2025
The Ohio chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio) today called for the immediate release of Imam Ayman Soliman, a respected Muslim chaplain at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and imam at Clifton Mosque, who was detained yesterday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Imam Ayman Soliman immigrated to the United States from Egypt over a decade ago and was granted asylum based on credible fears of political persecution. He has no criminal record and has lived here for years under lawful asylum status. In December 2024, his asylum was unexpectedly revoked without clear explanation or due process.
He was detained yesterday morning during a routine ICE check-in. Imam Ayman is widely respected for his service to the Cincinnati community, including his role as the first official Islamic chaplain at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, where he has provided essential spiritual care to patients and families.
His detention raises serious concerns about due process and the integrity of the U.S. asylum system. Given his history of political activism in Egypt, Imam Ayman faces grave risk of persecution, imprisonment, or even death if deported.
CAIR Ohio strongly condemns this unjust detention and calls on federal immigration authorities to:
Immediately release Imam Ayman Soliman and halt deportation proceedings
Restore his asylum status.
Ensure full transparency in ICE’s decision making and uphold all legal protections for asylum seekers.
In a statement, CAIR-OH Executive Director Khalid Turaani said:
“This is an unconscionable abuse of power that puts the life of a kind and dedicated community leader at risk. Imam Ayman has served Cincinnati with compassion and integrity. Revoking his asylum without cause or process is not only cruel, it is a betrayal of America’s values. We demand his immediate release and a full investigation into this injustice.”
In a statement, CAIR-OH Staff AttorneyBilal Ahmed, Esq., said:
“Imam Ayman’s shockingly abrupt detention raises great concerns regarding potential due process violations. Imam Ayman came to the United States from Egypt to escape precisely the type of arbitrary detention he is facing now. We are truly saddened by the developments in his case, but remain committed to assisting Imam Ayman in whatever capacity we can.”
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization, with three offices in Ohio – Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland. The organization is dedicated to enhancing understanding of Islam, protecting civil rights, promoting justice, and empowering American Muslims.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
Source: cair.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-ohio-calls-for-immediate-release-of-cincinnati-imam-detained-by-ice/
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CAIR-Chicago and Community to Join Bosnian-Muslim Community to Honor Srebrenica Genocide Remembrance Day—Friday July 11, 3pm at Daley Plaza
July 10, 2025
On Friday, July 11, the Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago), in partnership with SABAH, Bosniak Brotherhood of Genocide Survivors (BBGS), Muslim Civic Coalition and other community allies, will host a public press conference and commemoration for “Srebrenica Genocide Remembrance Day.”
The program will include lowering the flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina to half-staff, the National anthem, a children’s choir performance “jedna si jedina”, and a commemorative address.
Chicago’s City Council unanimously adopted “Srebrenica Genocide Remembrance Day” in 2023. In 2024, the United Nations formally recognized July 11 as the “International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica”. This year marks 30 years since the genocide in which over 8,000 Bosniak Muslim men and boys were systematically murdered in Srebrenica, Bosnia. According to the Illinois Muslims Report, Bosnians are among the largest ethnic Muslim communities in Chicago, and nearly every Bosnian family in the city has been directly impacted by the genocide.
This event also serves as a call to all communities affected by genocide and ethnic cleansing—from Gaza, Sudan, and the Rohingya, to Indigenous, Jewish, and Armenian communities. We urge all survivors, allies, and advocates to join in solidarity and reaffirm that “Never Again” means Never Again for All—No Exceptions.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice and empower American Muslims.
Source: cair.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-chicago-and-community-to-join-bosnian-muslim-community-to-honor-srebrenica-genocide-remembrance-day-friday-july-11-3pm-at-daley-plaza/
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Texas officials face questions about emergency alerts during deadly floods
July 11, 2025
Brandon Drenon
Texas officials are facing mounting questions about when Kerrville's residents were notified about deadly flash floods that killed 96 locals, with more than 160 others still missing.
Asked about a possible police radio failure at a press conference on Thursday - almost a week after the 4 July flooding - Kerrville Police community services officer Jonathan Lamb said, "I don't have any information to that point."
The questioning followed a tense exchange the day before when reporters asked officials repeatedly about a possible lag in emergency communications.
Early on Friday, the Guadalupe River rose several metres in a matter of minutes, after an estimated 100bn gallons of rain.
At least 120 people have died in the Texas Hill Country flash floods. Kerr County, which includes Kerrville, absorbed the brunt of the devastation, with 96 confirmed deaths, including 36 children, many of whom attended a nearby Christian camp.
Kerr County officials have been pressed on the various reasons behind the tragedy.
According to an audio recording obtained by an ABC News affiliate, a firefighter located upstream from Kerrville asked the Kerr County Sheriff's Office to alert nearby residents about the rising water around 04:22 local time on 4 July.
But, ABC News reported, Kerr County officials did not notify residents until nearly six hours later, after hundreds of people had been engulfed in floodwater.
The first alert from Kerr County's CodeRED system did not arrive until roughly 90 minutes later, the news outlet reported.
"The Guadalupe Schumacher sign is underwater on State Highway 39," the firefighter said in the dispatch audio obtained by ABC News. "Is there any way we can send a CodeRED out to our Hunt residents, asking them to find higher ground or stay home?"
"Stand by, we have to get that approved with our supervisor," a Kerr County Sheriff's Office dispatcher replied.
Officials were asked during a press conference on Wednesday about any delays in emergency communications.
Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said he was first notified around the "four to five area", and said prior to that "we're in the process of trying to put a timeline".
"That's going to take a little bit of time," he continued. "That is not my priority this time."
He said he was instead focused on locating those missing and identifying victims. More than 160 people were still listed as missing on Thursday morning, including five campers and one counsellor from Camp Mystic, the nearby Christian camp.
Kerr County officials say they have not rescued anyone alive since the day of the floods.
Weather alerts preceded the storm. The National Weather Service sent several about rain and possible flooding starting on Thursday afternoon, and the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) activated state resources because of flooding concerns.
Officials have cited lack of mobile phone service, no sense of the storm's intensity and public desensitisation to such alerts in the flood-prone area as reasons some did not evacuate.
President Donald Trump signed a federal disaster declaration at the request of Texas Governor Greg Abbott. This enabled the Federal Emergency Management Agency to deploy to Central Texas and open a disaster recovery centre in Kerr County.
Rescue efforts included more than 2,100 responders on the ground, private helicopters, drones, boats and cadaver-detecting dogs. They are searching for the missing and the dead buried beneath mounds of mud-soaked debris.
"These large piles (of debris) can be very obstructive, and to get deep into these piles is very hazardous," Lt Colonel Ben Baker of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department said on Wednesday.
"It's extremely treacherous, time consuming. It's dirty work. It's the water still there. So, we're having to go layer by layer, peeling these off, to make those recoveries," he said.
Source: bbc.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cq537dp2ello
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Trump threatens 35% tariffs on Canadian goods
July 11, 2025
Nadine Yousif
US President Donald Trump has said he will impose a 35% tariff on Canadian goods starting on 1 August, even as the two countries were days away from a self-imposed deadline to reach a new trade deal.
The announcement came in the form of a letter published on Trump's social media platform Truth Social, along with additional threats of blanket tariffs of 15% or 20% on most trade partners.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said his government would continue to protect his country's workers and businesses as they head towards the new deadline.
Trump has sent more than 20 such letters to other US partners this week. He also says he will soon announce new tariffs on the European Union.
Like Canada's letter, Trump has vowed to implement those tariffs by 1 August.
A blanket 25% tariff has already been imposed on some Canadian goods, with the nation also hit hard by Trump's global steel, aluminium and auto tariffs - though there is a current exemption in place for goods that comply with a North American free trade agreement.
It is unclear if the latest tariffs threat would also apply to goods covered by the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).
Trump has also imposed a global 50% tariff on aluminium and steel imports, and a 25% tariff on all cars and trucks not built in the US.
He also recently announced a 50% tariff on copper imports, scheduled to take effect next month.
Canada sells about three-quarters of its goods to the US, and is an auto manufacturing hub and a major supplier of metals, making the US tariffs especially damaging to those sectors.
Trump's letter said the 35% tariffs were separate to those sector-specific levies.
"As you are aware, there will be no tariff if Canada, or companies within your country, decide to build or manufacture products within the United States," Trump stated.
He also tied the tariffs to what he called "Canada's failure" to stop the flow of fentanyl into the US, as well as Canada's existing levies on US dairy farmers and the trade deficit between the two countries.
"If Canada works with me to stop the flow of Fentanyl, we will, perhaps, consider an adjustment to this letter. These Tariffs may be modified, upward or downward, depending on our relationship with Your Country," Trump said.
President Trump has previously accused Canada - alongside Mexico - of allowing "vast numbers of people to come in and fentanyl to come in" to the US.
In his response on X, Carney said Canada had made essential progress to "stop the scourge of fentanyl" in North America, and that his government was committed to continuing to work alongside the US to protect communities in both countries.
According to data from the US Customs and Border Patrol, only about 0.2% of all seizures of fentanyl entering the US are made at the Canadian border. Almost all of the rest is confiscated at the US border with Mexico.
Earlier this year, Canada also announced more funding towards border security and had appointed a fentanyl czar in response to Trump's complaints.
Canada has been engaged in intense talks with the US in recent months to reach a new trade and security deal.
At the G7 Summit in June, Carney and Trump said they were committed to reaching a new deal within 30 days, setting a deadline of 21 July.
Trump threatened in the letter to increase levies on Canada if it retaliated. Canada has already imposed counter-tariffs on the US, and has vowed more if they failed to reach a deal by the deadline.
In late June, Carney removed a tax on big US technology firms after Trump labelled it a "blatant attack" and threatened to call off trade talks.
Carney said the tax was dropped as "part of a bigger negotiation" on trade between the two countries.
Source: bbc.com
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Judge blocks Trump's birthright order after Supreme Court ruling
July 11, 2025
Ana Faguy
A US judge has once again blocked President Donald Trump from implementing an executive order ending birthright citizenship for some US residents as a legal challenge moves forward.
A New Hampshire judge approved a class action lawsuit against Trump's executive order, and temporarily stopped the president's order from taking effect.
The class action lawsuit was brought by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of immigrant parents and their infants.
The decision comes weeks after the Supreme Court introduced limits on how and when universal injunctions are issued by federal courts. However, the decision still allows them through certain legal avenues.
The class action suit was introduced after the Supreme Court decision, in keeping with the new standards set by the court.
Still, the White House challenged the validity of the judge's ruling and said it would fight "vigorously" against what it said were "attempts of these rogue district court judges to impede the policies President Trump was elected to implement."
Spokesman Harrison Fields described the decision as "an obvious and unlawful attempt to circumvent the Supreme Court's clear order against universal relief" which "disregards the rule of law by abusing class action certification procedures".
The lawsuit argues Trump's order goes against the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution, which established that "all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside".
Trump has sought to revoke that right for babies born to undocumented immigrants and foreign visitors, as part of his crackdown on immigration.
The class-action lawsuit seeks to challenge the order as harmful and unconstitutional, and the judge ruled that it can proceed on behalf of the babies who would be affected by the restrictions.
The ruling also once again pauses an order that was a priority for Trump. The judge has given the government seven days to appeal.
Restricting birthright citizenship was one of his first actions in office.
Multiple courts across the US issued nationwide injunctions as they considered legal challenges to the order.
The Trump administration appealed against those temporary holds to the highest US court, arguing judges did not have the authority to block a presidential order nationally while the courts considered the cases.
The Supreme Court's conservative majority sided with Trump in a 6-3 ruling that broadly curtailed judicial power, though the justices did not address the constitutionality of Trump's birthright citizenship order.
Following the Supreme Court's decision, Trump's order had been set to take effect on 27 July.
Source: bbc.com
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Mahmoud Khalil files $20m claim against Trump administration
July 11, 2025
Ali Abbas Ahmadi
Columbia university graduate Mahmoud Khalil is seeking damages from the US government, weeks after spending more than 100 days in immigration detention for participating in pro-Palestinian protests on campus.
On Thursday, his lawyers filed a claim for $20m (£14.7m) in damages alleging false imprisonment, malicious prosecution and being smeared as an antisemite.
Mr Khalil was arrested by immigration agents on 8 March. The US government wants to deport him, arguing his activism is detrimental to its foreign policy interests.
A federal judge ruled in late June that Mr Khalil was not a flight risk or threat to his community and could be released as his immigration proceedings continue.
In the claim, his lawyers argue Mr Khalil was subject to false arrest, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, abuse of process, the intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligent actions which led to emotional distress.
They said these "harms" are the result of Secretary of State Marco Rubio's determination that Mr Khalil "posed serious and adverse foreign policy consequences and would compromise a compelling US foreign policy interest".
They argued that Rubio's determination was used to target non-citizens who "participated in protests of Israel's genocide in Gaza and the United States' support for it".
Israel denies the accusations of genocide in the Palestinian enclave.
In a statement carried by the Associated Press (AP) Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, said Mr Khalil's claim was "absurd", and accused him of "hateful behavior and rhetoric" that threatened Jewish students.
The BBC has reached out to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement for comment.
In an AP interview , Mr Khalil said he was seeking accountability from the Trump administration for his detention and "for the chilling effect that such actions had on core community, the group supporting Palestine, on students in general, and just on the American public as well".
He said he is seeking either the $20m or an official apology from the Trump administration "for the wrongdoings that they did against me and against others".
"What they did to me is they tried something, it failed, but still the harm is already there. So unless they feel that there's some sort of accountability for that, they will continue to go unchecked," he continued.
Mr Khalil, a permanent US resident, was arrested in early March from his home in New York in front of his pregnant wife.
He was held in an immigration facility in Louisiana for three months before a federal judge ruled that the Trump administration could no longer detain or deport him. On 20 June, a judge ruled Mr Khalil must be released.
He was unable to be there for the birth of his first child, saying that is "something I will never forgive".
Mr Khalil, a Palestinian refugee raised in Syria, was lead student negotiator during pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University in New York City last year.
Several others who criticised Israel's war in Gaza, including Turkish student Rümeysa Öztürk and Indian scholar Badar Khan Suri were also detained. They have since been released.
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg4188gl4zo
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Canadian premier accuses US lawmakers of 'trying to trivialise' wildfires
July 11, 2025
Nadine Yousif
A Canadian premier has accused a group of US lawmakers who demanded the country do more to tackle its wildfires of "trying to trivialise" a deadly situation.
Smoke from the fires is making it difficult for Americans to enjoy summer, six members of Congress said in a letter to Canada's embassy this week.
The premier of Manitoba, which has just declared a state of emergency for a second time this summer due to active blazes, praised US firefighters who are assisting the province.
"I would challenge these ambulance chasers in the US Congress to go and do the same, and to hear how much the American firefighting heroes who are here love our province," Wab Kinew said on Thursday.
He added: "This is what turns people off politics. When you've got a group of congresspeople trying to trivialise and make hay out of a wildfire season where we've lost lives in our province."
There are 104 wildfires burning across Manitoba as of Thursday, according to data by the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC), several of which are classified as out of control.
Garden Hill Anisininew Nation, home to around 4,000 people, was put under a mandatory evacuation order on Thursday after a fire approached the community.
Snow Lake, another town located 590 km (366 miles) northwest of Winnipeg, was also evacuated. It has a population of 1,000 people.
Both communities under mandatory evacuation orders are remote, and members of the Canadian Armed Forces have been called in to help residents leave, officials said.
Garden Hill Anisininew Nation Chief Dino Flett called it an "unprecedented and devastating time" for his community.
Kinew said the emergency declaration will help the province access more shelter space for evacuees.
Wildfires are not uncommon during the summer months in Canada, but have intensified in recent years.
More than four million hectares of land have burned across the country so far. It is the highest year-to-date figure since 2023, when Canada saw its worst wildfire season in history.
The hardest hit provinces this year are Manitoba and Saskatchewan, with both declaring states of emergency earlier in the season.
A large blaze killed two people in Lac Du Bonnet in Manitoba's cottage country in mid-May. Dozens of properties in the area were also destroyed.
The impact of the wildfires has also been felt beyond Canada's borders and into the US, where smoke travelling south has prompted air quality advisories.
In their letter to the Canadian ambassador, the US lawmakers said: "Our constituents have been limited in their ability to go outside and safely breathe due to the dangerous air quality the wildfire smoke has created."
They urged Canadian officials to do more to prevent the blazes, including through improved forest management.
The Canadian embassy has told the BBC that Canada takes wildfire prevention "very seriously".
Wildfires are part of the natural cycle, and play an essential role in the regeneration of Canada's boreal forests, according to Canada's natural resources ministry.
Many are caused by lightning strikes. In 2023, 93% of the fires in Canada were caused by lightning, according to the Canadian Climate Institute.
Scientists have linked worsening wildfire seasons to warmer and drier weather caused by climate change, an issue that affects Canada significantly.
The country is warming at a rate twice that of the global average due to its large land mass, and its Arctic region is warming three times as fast, according to scientists.
Source: bbc.com
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Rights defenders denounce US sanctions on UN expert
July 10, 2025
GENEVA: Human rights defenders rallied on Thursday to support the top UN expert on Palestinian rights, after the US imposed sanctions on her over what it said was unfair criticism of Israel.
Italian lawyer Francesca Albanese serves as special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, one of dozens of experts appointed by the 47-member UN Human Rights Council to report on specific global issues.
She has long criticized Israeli treatment of the Palestinians, and this month published a report accusing over 60 companies, including some US firms, of supporting Israeli settlements in the West Bank and military actions in Gaza.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Wednesday Albanese would be added to the US sanctions list for work that had prompted what he described as illegitimate prosecutions of Israelis at the International Criminal Court.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk urged Washington to reverse course.
“Even in the face of fierce disagreement, UN Member States should engage substantively and constructively, rather than resort to punitive measures,” he said.
Juerg Lauber, the Swiss permanent representative to the UN who now holds the rotating presidency of the Human Rights Council, said he regretted the sanctions, and called on states to “refrain from any acts of intimidation or reprisal” against the body’s experts.
Mariana Katzarova, who serves as the special rapporteur for human rights in Russia, said her concern was that other countries would follow the US lead.
“This is totally unacceptable and opens the gates for any other government to do the same,” she said. “It is an attack on UN system as a whole. Member states must stand up and denounce this.”
Russia has rejected Katzarova’s mandate and refused to let her enter the country, but it has so far stopped short of publicly adding her to a sanctions list.
Washington has already imposed sanctions against officials at the International Criminal Court, which has issued arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister for suspected war crimes in Gaza. Another court, the International Court of Justice, is hearing a case brought by South Africa that accuses Israel of genocide.
Israel denies that its forces have carried out war crimes or genocide against Palestinians in the war in Gaza, which was precipitated by an attack by Hamas-led fighters in October 2023.
“The United States is working to dismantle the norms and institutions on which survivors of grave abuses rely,” said Liz Evenson, international justice director at Human Rights Watch.
The group’s former head, Kenneth Roth, called the US sanctions an attempt “to deter prosecution of Israeli war crimes and genocide in Gaza.”
The US, once one of the most active members of the Human Rights Council, has disengaged from it under President Donald Trump, alleging an anti-Israel bias.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2607666/middle-east
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Africa
Muslims urged to hold special prayers as leaders eulogise Chief Kadhi
By James Omoro
Jul. 10, 2025
The Muslim community has been urged to hold special prayers following the death of Chief Kadhi Sheikh Abdulhalim Hussein Athman.
The Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) Secretary in Homa Bay County, Abdul Masud, has called on all Muslims to hold special prayers for the late Kadhi during their prayer sessions.
Masud said the Kadhi’s death is a setback not only to Muslims but to Kenyans as a whole.
“As Muslims, the Kadhi’s demise is a serious loss to us. He used to play a significant role for Kenyans in various capacities, including being a member of the Judiciary. His demise is a loss for the entire country,” Masud said.
He noted that the country had lost a leader who was committed to preaching peace.
“Peace is a very important aspect of co-existence among various ethnic and religious groups in our country. We have lost a leader who supported peace in Kenya,” Masud said.
Leaders in the area, led by Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, condoled with Muslims over the death of the Kadhi.
“We join the Muslim community and the nation in mourning the loss of Chief Kadhi Hussein, who passed away,” Wanga said.
She described the Kadhi as a leader who championed equitable justice through judicial reforms.
“We have lost a humble and transformative leader who championed unity, judicial reforms, and equitable justice, particularly for women and children in Kadhi courts in Kenya,” Wanga said.
She prayed for God’s solace for the late Kadhi’s family and Muslims.
“I extend my deepest condolences to his family, the Muslim community, and all Kenyans. May his legacy of service, integrity, and bridge-building leadership endure,” Wanga added.
Source: standardmedia.co.ke
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https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/nyanza/article/2001523971/muslims-urged-to-hold-special-prayers-as-leaders-eulogise-chief-kadhi
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The New Hijri Year: Rulings And Lessons
Abdulkadir Al-Salman
July 11, 2025
All praise is due to Allah, who merges the night into the day and the day into the night, He has made them two signs to determine the number of years and reckoning. He has explained everything in great detail, and preferred some days and months over others by appointing seasons and rituals of worship in them. He promised victory to His messengers over their enemies and fulfilled His promise in complete truth.
I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, without partner, acknowledging His sole divinity and recognising the continuity of His blessings upon us every morning and evening, affirming His supreme Lordship. I submit to all that He has affirmed for Himself and described regarding His exalted attributes. Glory be to You, O Possessor of might and dominion, eternally and without end.
You saved Musa (peace be upon him), and thus Ashura became among the most virtuous of days. I also bear witness that our Master Muhammad is His servant and Messenger, who delivered the message, fulfilled the trust, and endured various forms of persecution and harm in its cause until he was granted permission to migrate to Madinah, an enabling victory. His Lord saved him and protected him from the schemes of the schemers, until the Word of Allah became supreme and the word of the disbelievers was cast down.
O Allah, send peace and blessings upon this noble Prophet, the effacer (of disbelief), the final Prophet, the source of divine secrets, the fountain of lights, the beauty of the two worlds, the honour of the two abodes, the master of humankind and jinn, the one honoured with “the distance of two bow-lengths.”
Rejoice! A month of blessings has arrived
In it, guidance has radiated with light that floods our lands
Welcome, O month, in which Allah fortified the light
Brought by the Prophet as a gift for those granted ears to hear
Welcome, O Muharram, a month full of glad tidings
In it, the Beloved migrated, guiding us toward goodness
In you, the Prophet was embraced by his Madinah
With love, honour, and a renewed covenant of guidance
A lesson for us on how to live with dignity and confidence
To guard hearts and protect our faith and homeland
O Lord, send peace upon the noble companions and all
Who followed the light, never fearing trials
Bestow continued goodness upon all people of peace
Fortify Nigeria and shield it from trials and tribulations.
O servants of Allah,
What we must begin this new Hijri year with is spreading the message of unity among the Ummah, strengthening our bonds with one another, and reviewing and refining our dawah efforts to ensure continued success and achievements. However, what we unfortunately witness in reality is trivial and unconstructive criticism from some Islamic groups over minor matters in the religion, one of which is the issue of exchanging greetings and congratulations on the advent of the Hijri New Year.
You will find among those groups some who deem it forbidden and go as far as to compare their fellow Muslims who engage in it with disbelievers or at the very least, accuse them of introducing innovations in the religion. Others, however, take a more balanced view, seeing no harm, disbelief, or innovation in it.
O servants of Allah,
Allah has always appointed scholars in every time and place to remove confusion for Muslims in matters of their religion. These scholars have researched and examined this issue thoroughly and have concluded with two main views: prohibition and permissibility. Those who deemed it permissible further split into three categories:
Those who consider it recommended (mandub),
Those who consider it permissible (muba?),
Those who allow it only as a response—i.e., if one is greeted, they are obligated to return the greeting in kind.
The legal consequences of whether something is prohibited, recommended, or permissible are well known. A prohibited act is forbidden (in the Book and Sunnah); if a legally responsible Muslim does it, they incur sin. A recommended act is one which earns reward if done but no punishment if left, though blame may apply. A permissible act is one where no reward or sin applies whether done or left.
The majority of scholars, including Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalani, Ibn Hajar al-Haytami, Shaykh al-Sa‘di (teacher of Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen), and Ibn ‘Uthaymeen himself, have not been extreme in forbidding or mandating the act of congratulating others on the Islamic New Year or other religious occasions such as Fridays. Rather, they adopted a balanced stance, in line with the Qur’anic verse:
“And thus We have made you a moderate nation so that you may be witnesses over the people and the Messenger may be a witness over you.” [Surah al-Baqarah 2:143]
They ruled that such greetings are recommended (mandub), and the meaning and ranks of mandub acts in the Shari‘ah are well established.
The majority built their position upon the great legal principle:
“The default ruling on customary words and actions is permissibility and lawfulness, unless prohibited by the Shari‘ah or proven to cause harm.”
Allah says:
“It is He who created for you all that is on the earth.” [Surah al-Baqarah 2:29]
And the Prophet ? said:
“The lawful is that which Allah has permitted in His Book, and the unlawful is that which He has prohibited in His Book. What He has remained silent about is among that which He has pardoned.”
Narrated by al-Daraqutni in his Sunan and al-Hakim in his Mustadrak.
One of the most important evidences relied upon by those who consider it recommended to exchange greetings for the Hijri New Year is a report attributed to ‘Abdullah ibn Hisham, recorded by Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalani in al-Isabah (2/378), meeting the conditions of authenticity. It states:
“The companions of the Prophet ? would learn supplications like they learned the Qur’an. When a new month or year entered, they would say:
‘O Allah, bring it upon us with security, faith, safety, Islam, protection from Satan, and pleasure from the Most Merciful.’”
Also, consider what Shaykh ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Sa‘di wrote in the preface of one of his treatises (see The Complete Works of Shaykh al-Sa‘di, p. 348):
“…We congratulate you on the Hijri New Year. May Allah renew His blessings upon us and you, and ward off harm from us and you.”
O servants of Allah,
Why can we not excuse one another and show tolerance in such secondary issues, tolerance that involves no hypocrisy, no appeasement, and no compromise in Tawheed? Why not strive for unity and harmony in our ranks?
O servants of Allah,
Love one another. Cooperate with each other. Exchange gifts. Share greetings on the advent of the Hijri New Year. May Allah make it a year of blessings, victories, and openings for Islam and the Muslims.
Second Sermon
All praise is due to Allah alone. I bear witness that there is no god worthy of worship but Him, and that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. No one sent him as a mercy to the worlds except Allah Himself.
O Muslim! O heedless one! O distracted! O one who will be held accountable:
You spent the months of the year in heedlessness and neglect,
And gave no regard to the sacred month of Muharram.
You did not honour Rajab with its due rights,
Nor did you fast the month of Ramadan as completely (deserved).
Nor did you stand in prayer during the nights of Dhul-Hijjah,
Nor were you in a state of ihram for pilgrimage.
So, will you now erase those sins with sincere tears?
Will you weep over them with remorse and regret?
Will you welcome the new year with sincere repentance,
So that perhaps you may wipe clean what has gone before?
O my sister in Islam, and O my brother in Islam,
This is a golden opportunity, a blessed season, a fresh return from your Lord.
Perhaps you can wipe away your sins with heartfelt tears,
Perhaps you can begin your life with repentance and submission.
Perhaps you will feel regret before the day of the death rattle,
Before the day when “the leg will be wound about the [other] leg” (Qur’an 75:29),
Before the day when Hell is asked, “Are you full?” and it says, “Are there any more?” (Qur’an 50:30),
Before the day a man flees from his brother, wife, and children,
Each person on that day having enough concern of their own.
Before the day when you are told, “Read your book; you are sufficient this day to take account of yourself.” (Qur’an 17:14)
And you say when you see your deeds before you:
“How come! this book leaves nothing small or great except it has recorded it?” (Qur’an 18:49)
That is the day your limbs will testify against you:
Your hands will speak, your feet will bear witness, by the command of your Lord.
You will have seen your fate. Hell will be brought forward before you.
Then, you will cry out, but too late, “My Lord, return me, so I might do righteous deeds in that which I left behind!”
Allah will respond: “No! It is but a word he speaks, and behind them is a barrier until the Day they are resurrected.” (Qur’an 23:99–100)
O servants of Allah,
You are aware that Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) did not normally consider past religious laws as foundational sources unless they were specifically mentioned in the Qur’an, confirmed by the Sunnah, and upheld by Islamic rulings, such as the fasting of Ashura, which Islam retained as recommended, not obligatory.
O servants of Allah,
Repent before the appointed Day comes, and begin your new year by fasting on Ashura, as scholars have explained in four ranks or levels:
The highest level: Fasting the 9th, 10th, and 11th of Muharram, based on a narration in Musnad Ahmad.
Second level: Fasting the 9th and 10th, based on the Prophet’s statement when he was told that the Jews fasted the 10th:
“If I live until next year, I will surely fast the 9th,”, to differ from the Jews.
Third level: Fasting the 10th and 11th, also based on a narration in Musnad Ahmad.
Fourth level: Fasting the 10th alone, which is permissible based on specific hadiths.
It is also allowed for someone who did not make the intention before dawn to intend it during the day. This is considered recommended, not mandatory, and such a person will be rewarded, God willing.
O servants of Allah,
You know well that the entire life of the Prophet ? was full of lessons and wisdom. Every aspect of it carries noble benefits.
Now, for Nigerian citizens and the government, there are two major lessons from the Prophetic Hijrah:
For the government:
It must invest more efforts in strengthening the intelligence and security apparatus, equipping it with all material and moral resources to protect the country and its people, reduce crime, and achieve national goals.
The Prophet ?, during his migration to Madinah, assigned ‘Abdullah ibn Abi Bakr to act as a spy and informant to monitor the movements of enemies, even though Allah was protecting and accompanying them.
This shows the clear importance of intelligence systems for any state seeking to be secure and progressive, whether culturally, economically, socially, or politically.
For citizens:
They must entrench their Nigerian national identity in their hearts and daily lives, prioritising it above all identities except the Islamic identity.
Favour your local products over foreign imports.
Improve and prioritise your schools, universities, and hospitals over foreign ones.
Do not sell your country or leak its secrets to other nations for fleeting worldly gains.
Learn from your Prophet ?, when he advocated the fast of Ashura and added the 9th day to distinguish Islam’s identity from what was previously practiced.
The Prophet ? took pride in the Islamic identity in this and many other acts, such as:
Letting the beard grow and trimming the mustache,
Praying in shoes,
Delaying breaking the fast,
Eating suhoor,
and other unique Islamic customs.
Likewise, Nigerian citizens should honour their Nigerian identity, protect their dignity, and preserve it from any action or word that might defile it.
O servants of Allah,
What you have heard is only a drop in the ocean of lessons from the Hijrah of your Prophet Muhammad ?.
Source: leadership.ng
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https://leadership.ng/the-new-hijri-year-rulings-and-lessons/
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Peter Obi visits Kano fire victims, donates to mosque renovation
Oladipupo Mojeed
July 10, 2025
Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has declared that Nigeria must continue to support its religious and economic institutions to foster unity and national development.
Obi, who was in Kano on Thursday, said he visited the families of the late business mogul, Aminu Dantata, and late elder statesman, Maitama Sule.
He also joined congregants for Juma’at prayers at Triumph Mosque, where he redeemed a donation pledged earlier for the mosque’s renovation.
He wrote on X: “Our places of worship are vital pillars in our communities to build unity, and we should endeavour to support them.”
Obi later visited the Kano Farm Centre GSM Market, which was recently gutted by fire, destroying shops and sources of livelihood for several traders.
He commended Abba Yusuf, governor of Kano, for visiting the scene and promising to rebuild the market.
His words: “I deeply appreciate the governor of Kano state for personally visiting the scene and for his commitment to rebuilding the market.
“His show of compassion and support for the affected SMEs is very commendable.”
He said he interacted with affected traders and sympathised with their losses.
“What they need now is urgent support and lasting solutions. The growth of our economy rests heavily on the strength of small and medium businesses,” he said.
Obi further called for leadership that is responsive and visible in times of crisis.
Source: politicsnigeria.com
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https://politicsnigeria.com/peter-obi-visits-kano-fire-victims-donates-to-mosque-renovation/
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Tax Reform: ‘Even If Anything Happens To Me Now, I Will Die A Happy Person’ – Oyedele Speaks On Death Threat
July 11, 2025
By Enioluwa Adeniyi
The Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Tax Policy and Fiscal Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, has revealed that he was forced to flee his home and now lives in a secret location under armed police protection following a wave of death threats over his tax reform campaign.
Naija News reports that Oyedele made the disclosure during a live interview on Nigeria Info FM, stating that his clampdown on over 60 government agencies illegally collecting taxes had sparked a backlash from powerful individuals.
He said, “I had to pack out of my house. I rented a place in a secret location where I now live. I’m not the kind of person who wants anybody carrying a gun to follow me around, but I had to accept mobile police protection.”
Oyedele, a former Africa Tax Lead at PwC, said he underestimated the resistance his reforms would face from entrenched interests benefiting from a broken tax system.
He said, “These are not small boys and girls. They are big people with deep connections and resources. So naturally, they would resist any effort to block those illegal streams.”
He added that the threats also took an emotional toll on his family. His wife has been fasting daily out of fear, while his 80-year-old mother developed an ulcer from the distress.
Oyedele further stated, “There’s this bit of sacrifice that people don’t see. If you’re not in the public sector to steal money, it is not attractive at all.”
President Bola Tinubu signed four major tax reform laws into effect on June 26, 2025. The new laws, the Nigeria Tax Act, Nigeria Tax Administration Act, Nigeria Revenue Service Act, and Joint Tax Board Act, will take effect from January 1, 2026.
Key highlights of the reforms include:
Nigerians earning ?110,000 or less per month will be exempt from PAYE tax.
Middle-income earners will see reduced tax burdens.
High-income earners (earning ?2 million or more per month) will pay a 25% tax.
Essential goods and services, including food, housing, healthcare, education, and transport, will now be zero-rated for VAT, allowing producers to claim back input VAT and reduce costs.
Oyedele said, “We should not overburden businesses with cost. Those costs have now been removed.”
He clarified that, contrary to earlier fears, the government will not increase VAT. Instead, the reforms aim to reduce the burden on low- and middle-income Nigerians and formal businesses.
“The objective was to make the system work for everyone, particularly people below the middle class,” he explained.
Though the threats have subsided since the reforms were signed into law, Oyedele acknowledged the dangers he faced in pushing through the changes.
He said, “Now that the laws have been signed, there’s really no point for anybody to hurt me. Even if anything happens to me now, I will die a happy person, because Nigerians will remember there was a guy who was trying to help his country.”
He praised President Tinubu for demonstrating political will in supporting the reforms, despite the associated political risks.
“We didn’t brief Mr President before most of these actions. Yet he took all the blame, never distancing himself from us,” Oyedele said.
A nationwide public awareness campaign is set to begin soon, aiming to educate Nigerians, particularly low-income earners and small businesses, on how to avoid extortion and take advantage of the new laws.
He added, “As people collect their salaries, they will see their net pay rise, even without a salary increase. That’s the microeconomic benefit.”
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/07/11/tax-reform-even-if-anything-happens-to-me-now-i-will-die-a-happy-person-oyedele-speaks-on-death-threat/
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Eight dead in Sudan paramilitary attack on shelter: doctor
July 10, 2025
PORT SUDAN: Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces killed eight civilians in an attack on a bunker sheltering dozens in the besieged western city of El-Fasher, a doctor said Thursday.
Nearly all of Darfur, the vast western region of Sudan, remains under RSF control, with communications and media access cut off since the RSF’s war with the army began in April 2023.
The conflict has killed tens of thousands, triggered the world’s largest hunger and displacement crisis, and devastated the northeast African country.
“The RSF bombed a shelter where citizens had taken refuge using a drone, late on Tuesday night,” the doctor told AFP from El-Fasher Teaching Hospital, one of the city’s last functioning health facilities.
They spoke on condition of anonymity for their safety, as health workers have been repeatedly targeted, using a satellite Internet connection to circumvent the communications blackout.
North Darfur state’s capital, El-Fasher, is the only major city in Sudan’s vast Darfur region still outside RSF control, despite a siege that began in May last year.
Since losing control of the capital Khartoum to the army in March, the RSF has stepped up attacks on El-Fasher and its surrounding displacement camps — where famine has already been declared — in an attempt to consolidate its hold on Darfur.
The United Nations has repeatedly warned of the plight of the city’s trapped civilians, who shelter from shelling in makeshift bunkers dug in courtyards and in front of houses.
The bunker bombed on Tuesday had been “sheltering dozens of people,” an eyewitness told AFP.
The city’s resistance committee, one of hundreds of volunteer groups coordinating frontline aid across the country, said El-Fasher was rocked by RSF artillery throughout Wednesday.
El-Fasher’s estimated one million people survive with barely any access to food, water or health care, with critical infrastructure decimated by a lack of maintenance and fuel shortages.
The United Nations said this week that nearly 40 percent of children under five in El-Fasher were suffering from acute malnutrition, including 11 percent with severe acute malnutrition.
Aid sources say an official famine declaration is impossible given the lack of access to data, but mass starvation has all but gripped the city.
Since the war began, the UN estimates 780,000 people have been displaced from El-Fasher and its surrounding displacement camps, including half a million in April and May following a series of brutal RSF attacks.
Of the 10 million people currently internally displaced in Sudan — the world’s largest displacement crisis — nearly 20 percent are in North Darfur.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2607669/middle-east
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Southeast Asia
Alpaca and ZAD Partner to Bring Shariah-Compliant Investing Globally
July 10, 2025
New York & Kuwait City--(ANTARA/Business Wire)--Alpaca, a self-clearing broker-dealer and brokerage infrastructure API, and ZAD, a leading Kuwait-based investment platform for Shariah-compliant US stocks and ETFs, today announced their strategic partnership to expand access to Shariah-compliant investment products. This partnership continues to open financial access for investors seeking to align their financial growth with Islamic principles.
With global Islamic finance assets surpassing $5.5 trillion USD in 2024, a report from Standard Chartered forecasts they could reach $7.5 trillion USD by 2028. This is largely from key markets like Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Kuwait, and the UAE, with countries across Southeast Asia and Africa seeing increased demand for Shariah-compliant financial solutions.
Recognizing this, ZAD is expanding access to their local Kuwait market and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) markets like Saudi Arabia. Their expansion plans and commitment to making Shariah-compliant investing accessible has been a cornerstone of their success.
“If we were a conventional investment application, we would not have reached the growth levels that we have in the past couple of years. It’s very important for the people in the region. They really appreciate it, they want it, and they’re very careful with what they buy,” says Abdullah Alotaibi, ZAD’s Co-Founder and Deputy CEO of Fintech Brokerage.
ZAD has partnered with Alpaca to build these products, including Shariah-compliant Instant Funding, which was launched recently. They are also collaborating to deliver margin trading, options trading, and high-yield cash accounts, becoming one of the leading platforms to offer these products in a Shariah-compliant way.
While building Shariah-compliant infrastructure has presented unique challenges, the solutions developed with Alpaca’s Broker API are scalable across other Islamic regions. For instance, the margin trading product is an asset-backed lending model rather than interest-based, adhering to Islamic law. “There are service providers that tell you, ‘this is what we have, take it or leave it.’ Not Alpaca,” says Abdullah. “They listen to us. They understand the region well. They’re helping us offer the best possible products to our clients.”
“We’re grateful to be innovating with ZAD in the rapidly growing Islamic finance and are excited to be their partner in delivering Shariah-compliant margin trading, options trading, instant funding, and more. Shariah-compliance is a key focus at Alpaca as we look to support and expand financial accessibility globally,” says Yoshi Yokokawa, CEO and Co-Founder of Alpaca.
About Alpaca
Alpaca is a US-headquartered self-clearing broker-dealer and brokerage infrastructure for stocks, ETFs, options, fixed income, and 24/5 trading – raising over USD170 million in funding. Alpaca is backed by top-tier investors globally, including Portage Ventures, Spark Capital, Tribe Capital, Social Leverage, Horizons Ventures, Unbound, SBI Group, Derayah Financial, Elefund, and Y Combinator.
About ZAD
ZAD is a Kuwait-based digital investment platform, offered by The Securities House, that provides global stock market access and offers Shariah-compliant products. ZAD aims to simplify the investment and trading process for people who adhere to the principles of Shariah.
Options trading is not suitable for all investors due to its inherent high risk, which can potentially result in significant losses. Please read Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options before investing. All investments involve risk; for more information, please see our Disclosure Library. Brokerage services are provided by Alpaca Securities LLC (member FINRA/SIPC), a subsidiary of AlpacaDB, Inc. Technology and Services offered by AlpacaDB, Inc. This is not an offer, solicitation, or advice to buy, sell, or open accounts in any jurisdiction where Alpaca is unlicensed.
Source: antaranews.com
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https://en.antaranews.com/news/365529/alpaca-and-zad-partner-to-bring-shariah-compliant-investing-globally
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After recent superstitious mob, Kedah Religious Dept to monitor graves of Sg Korok victims over fears of un-Islamic practices
10 Jul 2025
JERLUN, July 10 — The Kedah Islamic Religious Affairs Department (JHEAIK) will monitor the graves of the six family members who died in the tragedy at Sungai Korok last Saturday to prevent any activities that are contrary to Islamic teachings.
JHEAIK director Datuk Dr Abd Ghani Zainuddin said that although no activities contrary to Islamic teachings had been detected at the cemetery so far, the department was taking precautionary measures.
“The Kubang Pasu district religious office has received a complaint regarding the possibility of suspicious activities at the cemetery,” he said.
“We have mobilised personnel to carry out monitoring, and so far, there has been no need to install barrier ropes to cordon off the site,” he said when contacted today.
He added that monitoring would continue from time to time, and appropriate action would be taken if any activities were found to be against Islamic teachings.
He also reminded the public not to engage in any superstitious practices that go against religious teachings.
Meanwhile, the secretary of the At-Taqwa Mosque, Mhd Shukri Hassan, said many visitors had been seen stopping by and reciting prayers at the graves.
“There were people stopped outside the mosque’s fence and offered prayers for the deceased, as the graves of the six family members are located next to the village road,” he said when met today.
He added that the mosque committee would continue monitoring the situation.
“We have contacted the police and religious authorities. If we observe any suspicious activities, we will report them for further action,” he said.
In last Saturday’s tragedy, husband and wife Mohamad Azim Izat Ishak, 32, and Nurul Hidayah Khadijah Razman Efendi, 31, along with their four children, died after the Proton Iswara car they were travelling in is believed to have skidded and plunged into Sungai Korok in Kampung Kemboja near here. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Minister gives RM100k aid to SMAP Kajang after fire
theSun
2025-07-11
KAJANG: Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar has delivered RM100,000 in immediate aid to Sekolah Menengah Agama Persekutuan (SMAP) Kajang following a fire that damaged one of its offices. The financial assistance was split equally between the Malaysian Islamic Economic Development Foundation (YAPEIM) and Yayasan Taqwa of the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council.
Mohd Na’im stated that the funds will support urgent repairs and ensure uninterrupted teaching and learning activities. “The Prime Minister and the MADANI Government, particularly through religious agencies, remain committed to safeguarding Islamic educational institutions,“ he told reporters after inspecting the fire site.
The minister also met with school staff to assess the damage and salvage important documents. “There are challenges, but InsyaAllah, there is wisdom behind this test. Perhaps this trial will bring future good,“ he added.
The fire broke out early Thursday, destroying an office room. The Selangor Fire and Rescue Department responded at 1.18 am, deploying 16 firefighters and five engines. The blaze was under control by 1.58 am, with no casualties reported. Investigations into the cause and losses are ongoing. - Bernama
Source: thesun.my
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https://thesun.my/malaysia-news/minister-gives-rm100k-aid-to-smap-kajang-after-fire-BE14451653
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JDT talent boosts Harimau Malaya performance, says FAM
theSun
2025-07-11
KUALA LUMPUR: The depth of talent within Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) has proven invaluable for the national men’s football team, Harimau Malaya, according to Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) deputy president Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mahadi. The club’s mix of local, naturalised, and heritage players has elevated the national squad’s performance, helping Malaysia climb six places to 125th in the latest FIFA rankings.
Mohd Yusoff noted that JDT’s dominance in the Super League, with 11 consecutive titles, provides Harimau Malaya head coach Peter Cklamovski an advantage in assessing players, as most national team members are from the Southern Tigers. “The presence of JDT players only strengthens the national squad,“ he said during the FAM-Bank Islam Malaysia strategic partnership signing ceremony.
JDT recently bolstered their squad with four new heritage signings: midfielder Nacho Mendez, striker Joao Figueiredo, defender Jon Irazabal, and midfielder Hector Hevel. However, only Figueiredo, Irazabal, and Hevel have represented Harimau Malaya so far, featuring in the 4-0 victory over Vietnam in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers last month.
When asked if JDT’s dominance creates an imbalance in the M-League, Mohd Yusoff acknowledged the gap but justified it by pointing to the club’s ambitions in high-level competitions like the AFC Champions League Elite and FIFA Club World Cup. “JDT’s preparations are definitely right on track, and we must leverage this to strengthen the national team,“ he added. - Bernama
Source: thesun.my
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https://thesun.my/sport/jdt-talent-boosts-harimau-malaya-performance-says-fam-BE14452344
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Kelantan still leads in drug abuse cases, says Zahid
11 Jul 2025
TANAH MERAH, July 11 — The issue of drug abuse continues to plague Kelantan, as statistics show that it has consistently recorded the highest number of cases, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He said statistics released by the National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK), the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID), and the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) clearly show that the problem has yet to be effectively addressed in the state.
“I am quite disheartened because Kelantan still ‘leads’ the nation in drug abuse, and this statistic has been confirmed by various agencies.
“As chairman of the National Anti-Drugs Cabinet Committee, I believe it is not appropriate for any party to shirk responsibility and assume that it is solely the duty of others,” he said.
He told reporters this after opening the Tanah Merah Umno division delegates meeting here today. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/07/11/kelantan-still-leads-in-drug-abuse-cases-says-zahid/183608
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Anwar holds bilateral talks with leaders from China, Australia and five other countries
11 Jul 2025
PUTRAJAYA, July 11 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today held a series of bilateral meetings with senior leaders and representatives from seven countries and international entities, on the sidelines of the 58th Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) and related meetings currently taking place here.
The meetings, held at the Prime Minister’s Office, involved China, Australia, Pakistan, Turkiye, Palestine, the United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union.
In his meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Anwar said both sides discussed various aspects of Malaysia–China ties, which continues to be strengthened following President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Malaysia in April, during which 31 memoranda of understanding and agreements were signed.
“China has remained Malaysia’s largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years, with total trade reaching US$106 billion in 2024. We also explored efforts to narrow the trade gap and expand cooperation in the port, liquefied natural gas (LNG), water, digital economy, and green technology sectors,” he said in a statement issued to Bernama and RTM.
Anwar also expressed appreciation for China’s support of Asean’s Five-Point Consensus regarding the situation in Myanmar and reiterated the importance of a peaceful resolution to the South China Sea issue, in line with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos).
During his meeting with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Anwar said Malaysia and Australia continued discussions towards strengthening bilateral relations, which have been established since 1957.
“I welcome the interest of Australian investors in the smart manufacturing, digital economy, artificial intelligence and renewable energy sectors.
“Australia has also been invited to participate in the Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) this September, in line with the halal economy’s vast potential as a driver of future cooperation,” he said.
Anwar also said that education remains one of the key pillars of Malaysia–Australia relations, and both countries are expected to sign a new memorandum of understanding (MoU) at the Annual Leaders’ Meeting in October.
The MoU will cover areas including Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), curriculum development and student exchange programmes.
“I also appreciate Australia’s support in enhancing local vaccine capability through training and research funding amounting to AU$500,000 (RM1.4 million),” said Anwar.
The prime minister also said he looks forward to the official visit of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to Malaysia in October, which is expected to open a new chapter in bilateral relations based on trust, shared values and aspirations for a more peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/07/11/anwar-holds-bilateral-talks-with-leaders-from-china-australia-and-five-other-countries/183606
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‘I want to die serving’: Hadi Awang to defend PAS top post in Sept polls, amid worry over health
11 Jul 2025
MARANG, July 11 — Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang has confirmed that he will defend his position as PAS president at the party’s 71st Muktamar in Kedah this September.
Abdul Hadi, who is also the Member of Parliament for Marang, said he has no intention of relinquishing the presidency, a post he has held for more than 20 years.
Having undergone treatment at the National Heart Institute in mid-June, he said he intends to continue serving the party for the rest of his life as his health remains good.
“If possible, I want to die while still serving. I’m healthy ... Alhamdulillah, still healthy,” said the 77-year-old leader when met by reporters after delivering a Dhuha lecture at Masjid Rusila today.
Commenting on the position of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman, Abdul Hadi said the matter would be discussed with the coalition’s component parties, as the chairman’s post is not determined by PAS alone.
Previously, there had been speculation of calls for PN to appoint a new chairman, but the claim was denied by Muhyiddin himself. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Pakistan
Ishaq Dar meets Malaysian PM, reaffirms Pakistan-Malaysia ties
July 11, 2025
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar met with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on the sidelines of the 32nd ASEAN Regional Forum Ministerial Meeting on Friday, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties.
Dar conveyed warm wishes from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and lauded Malaysia’s leadership as ASEAN Chair for 2025. He also thanked Prime Minister Ibrahim for the warm hospitality and excellent arrangements at the regional forum.
During the meeting, the two leaders discussed avenues for enhancing cooperation, particularly in trade and investment. Dar appreciated the practical steps taken by Malaysia to boost economic engagement following Anwar Ibrahim’s visit to Pakistan in October last year.
Prime Minister Anwar, in response, welcomed the sentiments and said he looked forward to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s upcoming visit to Malaysia, scheduled for October this year.
Source: nation.com.pk
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https://www.nation.com.pk/11-Jul-2025/ishaq-dar-meets-malaysian-pm-reaffirms-pakistan-malaysia-ties
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PM Shehbaz vows rights-based population policy on World Population Day
July 11, 2025
As the world marks World Population Day, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reiterated Pakistan’s strong commitment to a comprehensive, rights-based population strategy focused on equitable healthcare, informed family planning, and empowering individuals to make autonomous decisions about their future.
In a message issued on Friday, the Prime Minister emphasized that the government’s efforts are fully aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Family Planning 2030 targets. He stressed that stabilizing population growth requires a coherent, multi-sectoral approach involving all segments of society.
“This year’s theme, ‘Empowering young people to create the families they want in a fair and hopeful world,’ carries great relevance for Pakistan,” said the premier. “With a population of 242 million 65% of whom are under 30 Pakistan stands at a pivotal moment. Our youth are both our greatest strength and a significant challenge.”
He noted that if properly supported and empowered, Pakistan’s young people could become a powerful engine of innovation, productivity, and national progress. However, he also acknowledged the strain that rapid population growth places on public resources, infrastructure, and governance systems.
Prime Minister Shehbaz called upon federal and provincial governments, development partners, civil society, the private sector, religious leaders, and local communities to come together to address the pressing population challenges facing the nation.
“We must act now to ensure a healthier, more equitable and prosperous future for every citizen of Pakistan,” he stated, highlighting the importance of unity and sustained action.
World Population Day, observed annually on July 11, serves as a global reminder of the need to address population-related challenges and promote sustainable and inclusive development.
Source: nation.com.pk
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https://www.nation.com.pk/11-Jul-2025/pm-shehbaz-vows-rights-based-population-policy-on-world-population-day
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SBCA to demolish illegal buildings after Lyari tragedy
July 11, 2025
In the wake of the deadly Lyari building collapse that claimed over 25 lives, the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) has announced a sweeping citywide operation to demolish all illegally constructed and under-construction buildings across Karachi.
The move comes days after more than 10 individuals, including seven SBCA officials and building owners, were arrested in connection with the incident. The arrests followed a targeted operation by Karachi’s District City Police in the Baghdadi area of Lyari, where the five-storey residential building collapsed last week.
According to sources, the detained SBCA officials were directly involved in the building’s approval process and construction oversight, raising serious concerns about institutional negligence and corruption.
In response, the SBCA has now launched a decisive action plan to eliminate illegal structures throughout Karachi. The anti-encroachment operation will begin in densely populated areas and will be conducted with full support from district administrations.
The authority has directed all Additional Directors, District Directors, Regional Directors, and the Director of Demolition to begin immediate implementation of the plan. SBCA has assured that all safety protocols will be strictly followed during the demolitions.
Property owners will bear the full cost of demolitions, and in cases of non-payment, the expenses will be recovered as tax liabilities. Additionally, the SBCA will submit daily progress reports to the government to ensure transparency and accountability throughout the operation.
The Lyari building collapse has once again exposed the widespread issue of unauthorized constructions and lax regulatory enforcement in Karachi’s urban landscape. With the SBCA under intense public and governmental scrutiny, the upcoming demolition drive is seen as a crucial step toward restoring order and public safety in the city.
Source: nation.com.pk
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https://www.nation.com.pk/11-Jul-2025/sbca-to-demolish-illegal-buildings-after-lyari-tragedy
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/bengal-bjp-chief-muslims-communists/d/136148