Accused Of Being Anti-Sanatana, Chief Superintendent of Police Hina Khan Shouts Jai Shri Ram
New Age Islam News Bureau
15 October 2025
The Muslim cop's sloganeering stunned the crowd.
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· Accused Of Being Anti-Sanatana, Chief Superintendent of Police Hina Khan Shouts Jai Shri Ram
· Man Prays for Premanand Maharaj's Health In Medina In A Heart-Warming Display Of Interfaith Unity
· UK Minister 'Appalled' Women Banned From "Inclusive" Muslim Fundraising Run
· Nigerian Religious Leaders Reject US’ Claim of Genocide Against Nigerian Christians
· Truce Does Not Mean Impunity For Gaza ‘Genocide’: Spanish Prime Minister
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India
· Allow Muslim Girl To Continue Studies Wearing Hijab, Conduct Inquiry on Who Denied Her Religious Rights: Kerala Minister
· Most Prominent Activists Of The Ex-Muslim Movement Globally, Sahil, Has Returned To Islam
· As MLA Sangram Jagtap targets Muslims again, NCP summons him to Mumbai
· Amit Shah announces new NSG hub in Ayodhya to boost counter-terror preparedness
· Army foils infiltration bid along LoC in Kupwara, kills two militants in encounter
· Operation Sindoor 2.0 will be deadlier, says Western Army Commander Lt Gen Katiyar
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Europe
· Georgia detains three Islamic State members in western Adjara region
· Police issue statement after complaint lodged over incident at Blackburn mosque
· Westminster man stole £1k from mosque before reversing car into police officer
· Brighton MP urges for extra funding for attacked mosque
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Africa
· New Boko Haram Splinter Group ‘Wulowulo’ Infiltrates North-Central – Gov Sule
· Sokoto constructs, renovates 65 mosques to promote moral reform — Commissioner
· Allah Opened My Eyes To See Who My True Allies Are – Former Lawmaker, Farouk Lawan Speaks After Presidential Pardon
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Mideast
· Arafat’s Nephew Returns To West Bank With Plan For Post-War Gaza
· Gaza ceasefire outlook darkens as Israel delays aid and Hamas tightens grip
· Ben-Gvir Storms Al-Aqsa Mosque On Final Day Of Sukkot
· Palestinian Authority condemns Hamas for ‘heinous’ executions in Gaza
· Unexploded bombs pose ‘enormous’ risks in Gaza, NGO warns
· Israel identifies hostage bodies, returns 45 Palestinian dead
· Israel tells UN will only allow half agreed number of aid trucks into Gaza
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South Asia
· Safeguarding Country’s Cultural Heritage Top Priority, IEA Minister
· UK Closes Refugee Camp Housing Afghan Evacuees After Two Years
· IEA’s Message of Condolence Regarding the Shooting of Protestors and Their Casualties in Pakistan
· Afghanistan, India to Establish Joint Trade Committee to Bolster Economic Ties
· Imran Khan Urges Dialogue With Kabul to Tackle Pakistan’s Terror Threat
· Pakistan Briefs Foreign Envoys on Escalating Border Tensions With Afghanistan
· Court summons Hasina, 261 others in sedition case
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Southeast Asia
· Malaysian Company Cuts Salary For Attending Friday Prayers, Man Shocked
· Singapore doubles down on zero tolerance for identity politics, foreign interference
· ‘It will be mandatory’: Fahmi to brief Cabinet on social media ID check deadline for under-13s
· Singapore firms commit over S$5.5b into Johor since JS-SEZ deal, says DPM Gan
· Anwar defends Khazanah’s RM600 million Carcosa restoration investment
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Arab World
· BIE Confers Top Award On Saudi Arabia’s Pavilion At Osaka Expo
· Saudi Cabinet Discuss Developments On Palestine, Sudan
· Saudi communication minister meets Mark Zuckerberg
· Saudi chess star is ready for his next move
· KSA Highlights Conservation Wins At UAE Congress
· KSrelief extends support in Gaza, Chad, Yemen
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North America
· National Security Concerns Delay Trial Of Montreal Teen Facing Terrorism Charges
· CAIR Condemns Maryland School Board VP’s ‘Dangerous’ Call to Protest Local Mosque’s Open House
· 24 hours with Trump on diplomatic tornado through Middle East
· Can a hero’s welcome in Israel make Trump forget the Nobel Peace Prize?
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/anti-sanatana-superintendent-police-jai-shri-ram/d/137260
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Accused Of Being Anti-Sanatana, Chief Superintendent of Police Hina Khan Shouts Jai Shri Ram
Oct 15, 2025
The Muslim cop's sloganeering stunned the crowd.
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A heated confrontation broke out in Gwalior between senior Madhya Pradesh High Court lawyer Anil Mishra and Chief Superintendent of Police Hina Khan over a Ramayana recital at a Hanuman temple amid ongoing prohibitory orders. When Mishra and his supporters accused her of being anti-Sanatan Dharma, Khan’s loud chants of “Jai Shri Ram” left the crowd stunned.
The dispute erupted after Mishra and his supporters brought a tent for the recital. But police personnel, under Khan’s supervision, returned the tent materials and did not allow the programme to proceed.
Mishra and his supporters responded by gathering on the street, starting a sit-in protest, while raising slogans against the police and administration for their decision to lock the temple in view of the prohibitory orders.
Amid the heated exchange, Mishra directly accused the police officer by stating, "You are against Sanatana Dharma," to which she replied, "You are wrong, I am not."
Interrupting the officer, the advocate and his supporters began chanting “Jai Shri Ram.” But in a move that left the crowd stunned, Khan joined in, raising her fist and loudly echoing the slogan as she moved toward the group.
"If you think chanting Jai Shri Ram will put pressure on me, then you are wrong," she stressed.
Source: indiatoday.in
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/ramcharitmanas-recitation-dispute-gwalior-police-lawyer-clash-temple-event-2803434-2025-10-15
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Man Prays for Premanand Maharaj's Health In Medina In A Heart-Warming Display Of Interfaith Unity
Oct 14, 2025
Abhinav Singh
Screengrab of the video showing the Muslim man.
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A heart-warming display of interfaith unity has captured social media's attention after a young Muslim man, Sufiyan Allahabadi from Prayagraj, offered a prayer for Hindu saint, Premanand Maharaj. In the one-minute, 20-second video that has gone viral, Allahabadi can be seen praying in Medina, one of the holiest sites in Islam, for the speedy recovery of the Vrindavan-based saint.
"Sant Premanand Maharaj is a very good person. We have come to know that he is unwell. We are in Khizra now. From here, we pray that Allah grants him health and wellness. We are from India and we also admire him. He is a true and good human being," said Sufiyan with a photo of Premanand Maharaj on his phone.
"I have come from Prayagraj, the land of Ganga-Yamuna sangam. Hindu or Muslim does not matter. Being a good and true person is important," he added.
As the video gained traction online, social media users lauded the man for his kindness and for showing religious tolerance.
"Aameen!!! Let there be peace, brotherhood, harmony and prosperity in our Motherland. Jai Bharat," said one user while another added: "You are a good human being."
Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi, the president of the All India Muslim Jamaat, lauded the Sufiyan for his video, stating that the youth's well-wishes for the Hindu saint aligned with Islam's core tenets.
"Islam is a religion of tolerance and humanity," said Barelvi, adding, "I also pray for Premanand Maharaj's speedy recovery."
Barelvi said Sufiyan praying for Premanand Maharaj from the holy place of Medina Sharif was a true example of humanity.
Who Is Premanand Maharaj?
The Hindu saint has become a household name in recent years owing to his videos going viral on social media platforms, amplifying his reach and popularity. Born Aniruddh Kumar Pandey in Kanpur to a Brahmin family, he left his home at the age of 13 to seek spiritual knowledge, as per his website.
His teachings are delivered through satsangs and emphasise love, humility, and surrender to the divine. Celebrities such as Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma have paid a visit to his aashram in Vrindavan.
Source: ndtv.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/muslim-man-prays-for-premanand-maharajs-health-in-medina-video-viral-9454012
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UK Minister 'Appalled' Women Banned From "Inclusive" Muslim Fundraising Run
15 Oct 2025
Aurelia Foster
The race is an annual event organised by the East London Mosque
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The communities secretary has said he was "horrified and appalled" a fundraising run in an east London park barred women from participating.
Hundreds took part in the 5 km (3.1 mile) race in Victoria Park on Sunday, according to East London Mosque (ELM), which organised the event. It was advertised as "inclusive", but it was only open to men, boys, and girls under 12.
MP Steve Reed said blocking women was "absolutely unacceptable" and that the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) would investigate.
The ELM has not directly addressed the criticism but said it had a "long-standing commitment to supporting women and girls" and encourages women to take part in various sporting activities.
The annual event is described on the mosque's website as having become a "highlight in the East London Muslim calendar", raising thousands of pounds for causes across the UK and abroad, including local youth projects, food banks and refugee support.
When asked about women being barred from the race on LBC Radio, Reed said: "I saw these reports... and I was as horrified as anybody else.
"It's absolutely unacceptable that women should be blocked from going on a fun run in a public space when the men are allowed to go out there and do that.
'We cannot tolerate that'
He said he was sure the equalities watchdog would be aware of the case and appropriate sanctions would follow.
He added: "Speaking for myself, I was appalled.
"We do not want a situation in this country where men are allowed to do things that women are then barred from. We cannot tolerate that."
The mayor of Tower Hamlets, Lutfur Rahman, is quoted on the website congratulating all those who took part, "especially to the youngsters and the elders and the community at large for participating today".
The council said it had contacted the mosque to "seek urgent clarification" after reports about age and gender restrictions.
An EHRC spokesperson said each complaint was considered carefully and that there are certain exceptions under equality law that can apply to charities and belief organisations, including potentially restricting events to one sex only.
A Tower Hamlets council spokesperson said: "This was an independent event held in Victoria Park, not organised by the council.
"Like many local charitable events, it made use of the park space. We are firmly committed to ensuring leisure and sporting activities in Tower Hamlets are inclusive and accessible."
Last weekend's event was the mosque's 12th annual charity run.
A spokesperson for the mosque said:
"ELM encourages women to take part in sporting activities. There are many Muslim women from our community who have taken part in sporting events including boat races, cycling, hiking and marathons as well as various sporting challenges to raise funds for charity.
"We remain committed to listening to the needs of our community and ensuring our programmes serve everyone."
Source: bbc.com
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz0x70rx2jdo
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Nigerian Religious Leaders Reject US’ Claim of Genocide Against Nigerian Christians
15 October 2025
In a rare development in Nigeria’s multifaceted, multi-religious and multi-ethnic society, Christians and Muslims yesterday rejected the claim by some prominent United States officials that there is an ongoing genocide against Christians in Nigeria.
Decrying it as a misconception, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the north as well as the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), the umbrella group for the Nigerian Muslim community as well as the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) stated that the killers should be regarded as criminals who have no preference for any religious sect.
They dismissed the United States’ recent classification of attacks by terrorists in the country as “genocide,” describing the claim as exaggerated and capable of deepening divisions in an already fragile nation.
According to CAN, JNI and MURIC, while violent attacks on religious communities are tragic and unacceptable, the situation in Nigeria is far more complex than the US report suggests, explaining that attributing the crisis solely to religion ignores the underlying causes such as poverty, banditry, and political manipulation.
CAN Chairman in the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Reverend Joseph Hayab, described the insurgents as ‘divide and rule’ individuals, explaining that apart from the significant attacks on Christians in the early days of insurgency, it is now a war against the entire country and not solely against a particular religious belief.
“What we find strange is the exaggeration of the figure (of casualties). The figure that is being played around is an exaggeration, it is outrageous. We don’t understand that. These terrorists, when they started, eventually moved beyond just killing Christians and started killing virtually everybody. And they have continued with that.
“Fortunately for us, in the last two years, the development has started changing. Because in Kaduna, I remember that between 2016 to 2023 May, I was practically burying either 20, 30, 50 people per week or per month. But there’s a shift because of the ongoing efforts of going after the terrorists. And I have forgotten the last time, I can say that in the last 12 months or probably 16 months, I have not buried anybody apart from those who died naturally,” Hayab stated.
The CAN’s top official kicked against calls to put Nigeria on the list of ‘countries of particular concern’ by the US, stressing that if the United States wanted to protect the common man, no such decision should be made.
“When you put Nigeria in the country of particular concern, at this time, you’re simply saying terrorists, go and have your way and destroy them. So, the common people you claim you want to protect, you’re no longer thinking about them because you will deny our military from getting arms across the world. And once they don’t have arms, the terrorists will just be free to kill virtually everybody.
“So, there’s nothing that warrants that at this moment. But killings have happened. No one should deny that. And I’ve always told people who care to listen, the reason that we have reached where we are was the denial of yesterday,” the religious leader said.
Hayab disclosed that the terrorists even go after certain Muslims who refuse to associate with their extremism, emphasising that the killings cut across and are not particularly focused on Christians.
“Two mosques have been attacked in the last two months in Katsina. So, we have an issue, a serious problem with terrorists that started with Christians, now they are going everywhere. Why don’t we join hands to push them where they belong?, he queried.
As someone from Kaduna, he highlighted the success recorded so far, stressing that the Abuja-Kaduna road was a death trap as recently as 2023, but that the situation was changing.
Also speaking at the meeting which was convened by public commentator, Reno Omokri, Islamic thought leaders in Nigeria led by Jama‘atu Nasril Islam (JNI) Secretary General, Prof. Aliyu Abubakar, thanked the US delegation for attempting to hear all the sides to the Nigerian story.
“Without hearing from the other side, it really was a baffling thing, and we’re really very surprised. The US, the leader of democracy and freedom of speech, without hearing from both sides, a decision was taken,” he lamented.
He dismissed the insinuation that the terrorists were killing on behalf of Islam, stressing that there was no plan to exterminate or obliterate Christianity. “It’s an act of criminality. And we can never get it right until we stop linking it to any religious group. Crime is a crime. Criminality is criminality. It has no bound, it has no colour, it has no religion,” he argued.
Also speaking, a cyber security expert and former Minister of Communication, Prof Isa Pantami, stressed that people claiming to be Muslims, perpetrating the insecurity in the North, like Boko Haram, have in the past issued death threats to many Islamic scholars, including himself.
“They had a list of scholars to eliminate when they started fighting. My name was number one. And this is as early as 2009. Why? Because I debated their late leader Muhammad Yusuf on their ideology, and with the support of the Almighty God, I defeated him.
‘’If you watch the debate for almost six hours. Before then, Sheikh Jafar, a respected Islamic scholar, graduate of the University of Madinah, Saudi Arabia, was eliminated. Sheikh Muhammad Awal Albani, a respected scholar, was also eliminated, in addition to so many scholars. These are people claiming to be doing it for Islam. In February 2022, their late leader was on air, including BBC, commanding his followers to eliminate me.
“If they are doing it for Islam, why would they go to BBC to say that I must be eliminated, because I am a threat to their ideology, because we challenge their ideology, that this ideology is un-Islamic and is not representing the position of Islam.
“So this is to show you that the criminality is not about religion. It is criminal in general. And this criminality is affecting Muslims, Christians and others. All these religion’s adherents are being killed under this criminality. So there is no justification whatsoever for anyone to claim that it is an ideology,” Pantami maintained.
He stated that rather than point fingers, Nigerians must come together to fight the menacing insecurity, highlighting how Muslims who were praying in Katsina were killed recently.
In his remarks, MURIC’s Prof. Ishaq Akintola described the US’ position as “misrepresentation, misinformation and disinformation, adding that there is nothing like deliberate religion-related killing of Christians or Muslims.
“Muslims are not killing Christians. What is happening is, it’s basically economic warfare. People are hungry. People are jobless. People are desperate. And the idle hand, they say, is the devil’s workshop,” he pointed out.
For instance, he said the problem in the North Central, especially in Benue and Plateau, were largely ethnic clashes between herdsmen and farmers, maintaining that it’s been there for decades.
Earlier, the US officials, including the the erstwhile Mayor of Blanco, Mike Arnold, a campaigner for religious freedom and an associate of US Senator, Ted Cruz, who has been pushing the agenda that Christians were being specifically targeted in Nigeria, noted that his preliminary findings showed that both religions were significantly impacted by the attacks.
Arnold told THISDAY that his fact-finding mission revealed that Christians were mostly affected in Christian populated areas, while Muslim were impacted in majority of areas, where believers of Islam were frequently attacked by the terrorists and bandits.
“I still have multiple meetings with very important people. My main passion and calling is to serve…The tales of trauma and escape and survival are chilling. And for 10 years, they’ve been in this camp. That’s all they have. That’s where they were told to stay, but no assistance, no aid, they are called criminals and beggars. These are people that were productive, school principals and people like that had everything taken away.
“And now they have nothing, and there’s no way out. And they get bulldozed. I mean, it’s inconceivable. I’m intentionally keeping an open mind on some things because I’m here to find facts,” he stated, but noted that from the camps he visited, but Muslims and Christians were affected.
Also speaking, author, Omokri, stated that Nigerians were upset about the insinuations that the killings were motivated by religion, stressing that many people feel it’s a plan to undermine Nigeria, especially after the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, recently spoke at the United Nations General Assembly about Nigeria’s position on the Gaza problem.
“And Senator Ted Cruz is not an evil man. Senator Ted Cruz is a person that means well for Nigeria. He’s a person that means well for the Christian community. Governor Greg Abbott is also a Christian and he means well for the Christian community. However, they do not understand the issues.
“And because they don’t understand the issues, I decided to invite someone that is a personal friend of Senator Ted Cruz. He briefed Senator Ted Cruz before he came and someone that is personally known to Governor Abbott and us as well as a filmmaker to come here and visit IDP camps”, Reno Omokri stated.
He stated that after visiting some IDP camps, there was a consensus that both Christians and Muslims were equally being attacked.
“One of the things that might surprise the American public is that in the IDP camps, they found Muslims and they found Christians and in some cases, more Muslims than Christians,” Omokri said.
In the same vein, an American film maker, Jeff Gibbs, decried the sufferings that IDPs were subjected to, but noted that he has observed that all religions were represented in the camps. “One camp is almost fully Christian. When we go to Durumi, it’s a different environment. Almost fully Muslim,” he stated.
Source: thisdaylive.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.thisdaylive.com/2025/10/14/religious-leaders-reject-us-claim-of-genocide-against-nigerian-christians/
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Truce Does Not Mean Impunity For Gaza ‘Genocide’: Spanish Prime Minister
October 14, 2025
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez speaks at a press conference before summer break, at Moncloa Palace in Madrid, Spain, July 28, 2025. (REUTERS)
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MADRID: Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Tuesday the truce between Hamas and Israel must not come at the expense of holding accountable those responsible for the “genocide” in Gaza.
“Peace cannot mean forgetting; it cannot mean impunity,” the Socialist premier said during an interview with Cadena Ser radio.
“Those who were key actors in the genocide perpetrated in Gaza must answer to justice, there can be no impunity,” he added when asked about the possibility of legal proceedings against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Spain, one of the most vocal critics in Europe of Israel’s offensive in Gaza, announced in September that its prosecutor would investigate “serious violations” of human rights in the Palestinian territory in coordination with the International Criminal Court.
The court has issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Israel’s former defense minister Yoav Gallant.
Sanchez, who attended a peace summit on Gaza in Egypt on Monday, reaffirmed that Spain’s arms embargo on shipments to and from Israel remains in place.
“We will maintain this embargo until the process is consolidated and definitively moves toward peace,” he said. Sanchez also suggested Spain could take part in future efforts to secure peace and aid reconstruction in Gaza.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2618890/middle-east
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India
Allow Muslim Girl To Continue Studies Wearing Hijab, Conduct Inquiry on Who Denied Her Religious Rights: Kerala Minister
14.10.25
Kerala General Education Minister V Sivankutty on Tuesday directed a Christian-run private school in Kochi to allow a Muslim girl studying there to continue her education while wearing her religious headscarf.
He also sought a report from the school authorities for denying her religious rights earlier, which caused her mental distress.
Authorities of St Rita's Public School, Palluruthy in Kochi, had declared a two-day holiday on Monday following an escalation of a dispute with the parents of the eighth-standard student over her wearing the 'hijab'.
In a statement on Tuesday, the minister instructed the school's principal and management to address the mental distress caused to the student and her parents in connection with the girl not being allowed to attend classes wearing a hijab (religious headscarf) to the institution.
They were directed to submit a report to the minister in this regard by 11 am on Wednesday.
Sivankutty issued the directive following a report submitted by the Ernakulam Deputy Director of Education, who had been tasked with conducting an inquiry into the matter. The inquiry report found that there had been a serious lapse on the part of the school authorities.
Citing the report, the minister said that removing the student from class on the grounds of wearing a headscarf amounted to a serious violation of duty and a breach of the Right to Education Act.
"The report states that the school's action was contrary to the fundamental religious freedoms guaranteed to citizens under the Indian Constitution," Sivankutty said.
The minister made it clear that no student should face such hardship in Kerala, which upholds secular values.
No educational institution will be allowed to violate constitutional rights, he said.
Based on the report, the minister directed that the school should allow the girl to continue her studies wearing the hijab, although it may decide on the colour and design of the headscarf, the statement said.
The Ernakulam Deputy Director of Education carried out the investigation following a complaint by the father of the eighth-standard student, the statement added.
Earlier in the day, Ernakulam MP Hibi Eden said that the girl's father had expressed willingness to let his daughter continue studying at the school in accordance with its rules.
On Monday, a school PTA official alleged that the parents were backed by the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), a pro-Islamist political group, and that its members had misbehaved with the school authorities, most of whom are nuns.
The issue came to light after a letter issued by Sister Heleena Alby, the school principal, announcing holidays on Monday and Tuesday, surfaced on social media.
In the letter, the principal stated that, due to pressure from a student who came without the prescribed uniform, her parents, certain individuals not associated with the school, and a few students and staff members had requested leave, citing mental stress.
Source: telegraphindia.com
https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/kerala-minister-directs-christian-school-in-kochi-to-allow-muslim-girl-to-continue-studies-wearing-hijab/cid/2127774
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Most Prominent Activists Of The Ex-Muslim Movement Globally, Sahil, Has Returned To Islam
Oct 15, 2025
The growing community of ex-Muslims in India received a jolt earlier this month. One of the most prominent faces of the movement, known as Ex-Muslim Sahil, returned to Islam. The news was received as a shocking development by his followers and fans, but before deleting his YouTube channel, Sahil posted a video stating that his reverting was to fulfil his mother's last wish.
"I am leaving this activism," Sahil said in the video, adding, "People can judge me, make fun of me, it's alright. You have a right to do so."
"Though I am not feeling like it, I will have to end all livestreaming from tomorrow," Sahil said.
In the last five years, Sahil had emerged as one of the most prominent activists of the Ex-Muslim movement globally, a list that includes names like Maryam Namazie, Zafar Heretic, Harris Sultan, Adam Seeker, and Ayaan Hirsi Ali among others.
On his YouTube channel, Ex-muslim Sahil Uncensored, he has 255K subscribers, showing his reach. And this isn't even his primary channel, which he deleted after posting the recent video. In 2023, his channel with over 500K was blocked by YouTube.
On X, Sahil has almost 90K followers, up from 30' in 2023. India Today had documented the fledgling movement that year in this piece.
Sahil's livestreams on YouTube, where he countered Islamic practices and debated clerics, lasted for hours, at times reaching 13 hours straight, with thousands of people attending them virtually. There have been several instances when clerics, without being able to withstand his scrutiny, simply abandoned the debate.
Sahil had of late begun appearing on mainstream news channels to propound his atheist point of view, especially on topics related to his former faith that he has now returned to.
WHY SAHIL JOINED THE EX-MUSLIM MOVEMENT IN INDIA
Coming from a devout Muslim family, Sahil had begun attending Tablighi Jamaat meetings and later zealously worked to extend dawah (the act of inviting people to Islam). His active participation in religious activities helped him gain knowledge about the faith. It was during the Covid lockdown in 2020 that he started harbouring doubts about the existence of a supreme God who ran the universe. Since he was a Muslim, he sought to find answers in clerics and preachers who knew better.
Not satisfied with the explanations, he created a YouTube channel to discuss with like-minded youths what he thought was "problematic" in theology. He invited members of the ulema (scholars) to discuss his doubts.
One of the first prominent faces of ex-Muslims from India, Sahil, in a way, groomed an entire generation of activists.
"It was like a big explosion in the ex-Muslim space yesterday," said fellow activist Harris Sultan on September 28 regarding Sahil's video in which he declared that he was returning to being a Muslim again. "He was seated outside a hospital and looked distressed," he said.
He performed the last recitation as his mother was lowered into the grave. Given the threat to his life, he was escorted by police to the graveyard in Mumbai and back to his home.
EX-MUSLIMS HAVE A CONSTANT FEAR FOR THEIR LIVES
Sahil, in his farewell video, clarified that his reverting was solely due to his mother's last wish and not because of any "spiritual awakening". Millions of people across the globe, as is indicated by Pew Research studies, have switched or altogether left their religions. However, leaving Islam in a Muslim nation or a country with a sizeable population, like India, comes at a great risk.
That's because Islam, unlike other religions, doesn't permit apostasy, the act of leaving one's faith. In some countries, apostasy is punishable by death.
While the situation is much better in India, in 2017, H Farook, a 31-year-old, was hacked to death by two of his friends and two others for his views.
That is why Sahil's becoming an ex-Muslim activist and criticising certain practices of the faith publicly was significant.
Sahil wore a mask for most video interviews but started revealing his face after he was doxed online. However, he went back to using a mask to conceal his identity given the heightened risk to his life.
"Family members, especially mothers, are worried about the lives of their activist children," said Harris Sultan, regarding the risk and the fears related to ex-Muslims. "We face a lot of pressure from relatives, neighbours and society," said the ex-Muslim from Pakistan, now based in Australia.
WHY EX-MUSLIM SAHIL WENT BACK TO BEING MUSLIM
Sahil too faced similar pressure from his family. As a son, he was torn between continuing his activism and fulfilling the last wishes of his mother.
In a stream on September 25 and posts too, Sahil kept mentioning some medical emergency, but told his followers that he himself was safe. Most likely, he was referring to his ailing mother.
He added that he wasn't returning to Islam because of any "spiritual awakening" or that he would start defending the faith now.
"Meri jaan mujhe hamesha k liye chhodkar chali gayi," Sahil posted on October 1, sharing a photo with his mother. A day earlier, he posted a message on his YouTube channel: "Maa ki akhri tamanna thi Dharavi Qabrastan me he dafan karna, us farz ko bhi pura kar diya".
He said that his mother wanted to be laid to rest at the Dharavi cemetery, and that he had fulfilled that wish of hers.
According to chatter in the ex-Muslim space, Sahil lost his mother, and returned to the faith to bury her as a Muslim, thus fulfilling her last wishes.
"We are with you in these testing times," his fellow traveller Sameer wrote in Hindi, adding, "We will continue on the path shown by you".
While those in the ex-Muslim community expressed solidarity with Sahil and defended his decision, his critics celebrated his return to Islam, and in several instances with rebukes.
"Leave him alone. He needs a break. He had stopped posting when his mother was ill," said Harris Sultan. "Sahil, you don't need to explain yourself to anyone".
Source: indiatoday.in
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
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As MLA Sangram Jagtap targets Muslims again, NCP summons him to Mumbai
by MANOJ MORE
October 15, 2025
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA Sangram Jagtap, who has continued to target the Muslim community despite receiving a show-cause notice from the party, was summoned to Mumbai on Tuesday.
NCP spokesperson Sanjay Tatkare said Jagtap attended a party meeting where party leaders spoke to him. After the party meeting ended late on Tuesday, NCP chief and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said, “I have told him whatever needed to be told.. We have sought a written explanation from him, and we are awaiting his reply.”
In his latest remark, Jagtap, the Ahilyanagar MLA, had alleged that “jihadis” were responsible for cases involving the abuse of Hindu women. “In 100 cases of atrocities against Hindu women, all the accused are jihadis. Some people among us are supporting these jihadis. If we study assault cases, you will find that all of them involve Hindu women as victims, and the accused are all jihadis,” he said during a rally organised in Ghargaon village of Sangamner taluka on Monday. The ‘Jankrosh Morcha’ was organised to protest the alleged assault on a tribal woman.
The mobile numbers of women are sought under the guise of giving them bakery products, he further alleged. “This leads to the start of a crime,” he said, even as he demanded that all illegal places of worship should be demolished.
Jagtap has been at the centre of a controversy after asking citizens last week to make Diwali purchases exclusively from shops owned by Hindus. Ajit Pawar slammed his remarks, saying they were “unacceptable” to the party, following which a show-cause notice was issued to Jagtap on Sunday. The same day, however, Jagtap justified his remark, saying that it was the Muslim community that had first appealed to its members to make Eid purchases only from their shops.
Anjum Inamdar, a Pune activist, admitted that Jagtap’s claim on leaflets being distributed urging community members to make Eid purchases from only Muslims was true. “But this incident, I heard, happened four years ago. And it was on WhatsApp. The police had filed a case against the person, and he was arrested. Why is Jagtap digging up an old case against which the police have already taken action?” he asked.
“The Muslim community is now convinced that Ajit Pawar is not a secular leader. If he were, he would have taken action against Jagtap long ago. Jagtap has been repeatedly targeting Muslims and hurting our sentiments. What has Ajit Pawar done so far? He is playing political games in association with the BJP to suit his political convenience,” Inamdar added.
A well-thought-out strategy?
NCP sources said that Jagtap was likely to tone down his rhetoric ahead of Diwali and the party was likely to let the issue die down on its own. “The NCP is unlikely to take action as it has the backing of the BJP…Whatever Jagtap is doing is a well-thought-out plan of the BJP-NCP,” said an NCP leader.
Earlier, asked if the party was planning to take further action against Jagtap, Tatkare had said, “’We are looking into the issue.”
Meanwhile, NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule said Jagtap should be sacked as he was trying to create bitterness between the two communities. “Jagtap’s utterances are against the Constitution, and he should be removed by the NCP,” said Sule.
The Maharashtra Congress, however, said it was confident that the NCP would not take any action against Jagtap. “They will just make a show of taking action, but in reality will not do anything. This is all part of the BJP-NCP strategy. Jagtap cannot dare to speak even after the party issues a notice. It is clear that he is doing it with full backing,” Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe told The Indian Express.
Source: indianexpress.com
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https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/mla-sangram-jagtap-targets-muslims-again-ncp-stays-mum-10306242/
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Amit Shah announces new NSG hub in Ayodhya to boost counter-terror preparedness
Imran Ahmed Siddiqui
15.10.25
Union home minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said a new hub of the National Security Guard (NSG), the country’s elite counter-terrorism force, was being established in Ayodhya to bolster anti-terror operations in the region.
Addressing a gathering at the 41st raising day of the NSG in Haryana’s Manesar, he said the new NSG hub would be the seventh such centre in the country after Calcutta, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Jammu.
He said the black commandos at the Ayodhya hub would always be available to provide a strong response to any terror attack in the region. “The NSG headquarters will continuously focus on training NSG personnel and anti-terrorism units of state police forces across the country, sharing best practices, and ensuring the fitness of the forces,” he said.
Home ministry sources said the new NSG hub would be armed with CCTV cameras and drones equipped with artificial intelligence to ensure overall security. Anti-drone systems will also be in place to prevent any aerial threats.
The NSG had led the security arrangements at the Ram Mandir during the Pran Pratishtha ceremony in January last year.
Shah said the Special Operation Training Centre (SOTC), which was inaugurated on Tuesday, was not only meant for the NSG but also for state police forces.
“This centre, being built on eight acres at a cost of ₹141 crore, will provide state-of-the-art training to special commandos combating terrorism. At the SOTC, not only NSG personnel, but also anti-terror units established within police forces across the country will be trained with cutting-edge technology,” he said.
The NSG was raised in 1984 following Operation Blue Star and the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
The government had set up four regional hubs of the NSG in Calcutta, Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad in July 2009 following the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks to reduce the time for elite commandos to reach an attack site.
Earlier, NSG commandos had to be airlifted from Delhi, which caused delays. In March 2011, the Centre approved the setting up of another NSG regional hub in Ahmedabad.
The NSG’s “Black Cat” commandos handle counter-terror and counter-hijack missions, besides protecting high-risk VIPs.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/amit-shah-announces-new-nsg-hub-in-ayodhya-to-boost-counter-terror-preparedness-prnt/cid/2127796
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Army foils infiltration bid along LoC in Kupwara, kills two militants in encounter
Muzaffar Raina
15.10.25
The army foiled an infiltration bid and killed two militants along the Line of Control in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday night.
The army said it had information that a group of militants was infiltrating the Machaal sector of Kupwara, prompting them to lay an ambush.
A spokesperson stated that the intelligence input was provided by the Jammu and Kashmir Police and corroborated by their sources and agencies, leading to a
joint operation.
The troops noticed suspicious movement late on Monday night and challenged the intruders.
“(It) resulted in terrorists opening indiscriminate fire. Troops responded with effective fire, neutralising two terrorists,” the spokesperson said.
The army has recovered a “large quantity of weapons and equipment”.
The operation was in progress to determine if more militants were hiding in the area.
The success for the security forces came days after the army lost two elite para commandos in a snowstorm during an anti-militancy operation in south Kashmir’s Gadole forests.
The army’s Srinagar-based Chinar Corps identified the para-commandos as Lance Havildar Palash Ghosh and Lance Naik Sujoy Ghosh, both from Bengal.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/army-kills-2-militants-in-kupwara-near-loc-foils-infiltration-bid-in-machaal-sector-prnt/cid/2127793
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Operation Sindoor 2.0 will be deadlier, says Western Army Commander Lt Gen Katiyar
14.10.25
Asserting that Pakistan has no capacity to fight India but it may attempt Pahalgam-type attacks again, Western Army commander Lieutenant General Manoj Kumar Katiyar on Tuesday said the response — Operation Sindoor 2.0 — will be deadlier.
He maintained that Pakistan continues its policy of “bleed India through a thousand cuts” and said the Army is fully prepared to deal with it.
“The action we will take this time will be deadlier than in the past. It will be more powerful. Yes, you are very right — it (Operation Sindoor 2.0) has to be deadlier. There is no doubt about it,” Lieutenant General Katiyar told reporters.
He was replying to a question on whether Operation Sindoor 2.0 will be deadlier than the first one.
Asked whether there will be Pahalgam-type attacks in the future by Pakistan, he said that until there is a change in Pakistan’s thinking, it will continue to carry out such mischiefs.
“It does not have the capacity to fight a war with us. They do not want to fight a war. It commits mischiefs as per its policy of ‘bleed India through a thousand cuts’,” he said.
The Western Army commander said that India had inflicted heavy damage on Pakistan in Operation Sindoor. “We destroyed its posts and air bases, but it may again attempt something like the Pahalgam attack. We have to remain prepared. We are fully prepared. I am confident the action this time will be deadlier than in the past,” he said.
The Army commander complimented the armed forces for their role in Operation Sindoor, saying it gave a befitting reply to Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack.
“Pakistan again attempted a nefarious strike through a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, but the Indian Army responded strongly. In Operation Sindoor, we received full support from the public, veterans, state and civil administration, and everyone else,” he said.
Addressing an ex-servicemen rally to commemorate 60 years of the 1965 India-Pakistan War, he said that terrorists killed innocent people in the Pahalgam attack. “The Indian Army gave a befitting reply to Pakistan. Operation Sindoor was successful as we received full support from the administration, ex-servicemen, and the local people.” The Army commander maintained that the forces are ready to thwart future attacks by the neighbouring nation.
He said that Pakistan does not have the courage to face India directly and will not desist from its designs. “We believe Pakistan’s attitude will not change. It will try again to attack us. It lacks the courage to face us directly, so it will attempt another terrorist attack like the one in Pahalgam. It is important that we remain vigilant. The Indian Army is ready to thwart any nefarious move by Pakistan,” he said.
Recalling the 1965 Indo-Pak war, he said the reason for Pakistan’s defeat was that it underestimated the patriotism of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
“We won the trust of the people of the nation after defeating Pakistan in the 1965 war, and that trust is intact today. Pakistan’s aim was to capture Jammu and Kashmir. About 10,000 Razakars trained by the Pakistani Army infiltrated, but they made a mistake in measuring the patriotism of the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
Taking a dig at Pakistan, he said, “With the help of the public, the Indian Army chased them away.” Marking the Diamond Jubilee of the 1965 Indo-Pak War, the Indian Army’s Tiger Division organised a series of events in Jammu to honour the valour and sacrifice of its soldiers.
The ceremony began at Balidan Stambh with the hoisting of a 50-foot-high national flag, followed by a wreath-laying by Lt Gen Katiyar in tribute to fallen heroes. He also interacted with schoolchildren, NCC cadets, Scouts and Guides, urging them to uphold the values of patriotism and discipline.
A mega ex-servicemen rally at Satwari Ground, attended by more than 3,000 veterans, 'Veer Naris' and 'Veer Matas', was graced by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. The rally, themed “Shaurya, Samarpan aur Samadhan”, paid homage to 1965 war heroes and reaffirmed the Army’s commitment to the welfare and honour of its veterans.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/operation-sindoor-2-0-will-be-deadlier-says-western-army-commander-lt-gen-katiyar/cid/2127781
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Europe
Georgia detains three Islamic State members in western Adjara region
October 14, 2025
by Yousef Bardouka
Georgia’s State Security Service (SSG) has announced the arrest of three unnamed Georgian nationals linked to the Islamic State. The agency says the suspects intended to bring in senior members of the terrorist organisation to Georgia, which they planned to use as a transit territory for attacks.
The SSG announced the arrests on Monday, saying its Counter Terrorism Centre had carried out operations in five different, yet unspecified, locations in Georgia’s western Adjara region.
They said that the three Georgian nationals, who called themselves the Takbir Jamaat, had connections with Islamic State leaders abroad, who instructed them to form a terrorist group in Georgia.
The SSG said that the three suspects intended to illegally bring members of the Islamic State to Georgia to receive and accommodate ‘like-minded people’, provide logistical services, and use the territory of Georgia as a transit hub for terrorist operations.
The three suspects are being charged with the illegal acquisition and storage of firearms, ammunition, and explosives, joining a foreign terrorist organisation, and assisting in terrorist activities. The sentences collectively carry up to 17 years of imprisonment.
The SSG attached a video showcasing several weapons, explosives, grenades, sim cards, and money they had confiscated as evidence.
Aside from a high-profile shootout between the Georgian authorities and members of an IS cell in Tbilisi in 2017 and the Pankisi Crisis of 2002, Georgia has not witnessed any major terrorist attacks since the emergence of the IS. Sources such as the US State Department’s Bureau of Counterterrorism’s country profiles on terrorism have indicated that no Georgian nationals were identified to have traveled to Syria or Iraq to participate in terrorist activities between 2019–2023.
In its latest available report, published in 2023, the bureau said that there were approximately 30 displaced and 10 detained Georgian nationals in northeast Syria.
Abu Omar Al Shishani, a Georgian national born as Tarkhan Batirashvili, had also served as a senior member of the IS until his death in 2016.
Source: media.org
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https://oc-media.org/georgia-detains-three-islamic-state-members-in-western-adjara-region/
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Police issue statement after complaint lodged over incident at Blackburn mosque
Emma Downey
14th Oct 2025
Police have issued a statement following a complaint over an incident at a Blackburn mosque.
The incident involving a woman took place at Jamia Ghosia Mosque in Audley on Friday evening.
Lancashire Police confirmed the woman was driving a car and, after multiple requests to stop were ignored, she was located in the car park of the mosque and immediately detained by police officers.
Blackburn Central Councillor Tahir Mahmood said he had spoken to the individual involved and, over the weekend, had asked for an explanation from police.
A spokesperson for Lancashire Police said: “At around 7pm on Friday 10th October officers requested a car to stop multiple times, and after this request was not followed, they located the car in the car park of Jamia Ghosia Mosque, Chester Street, Blackburn.
“The driver was spoken to, and following enquiries, no one was arrested.”
They added: “We acknowledge that a complaint has been made to our professional standards department, therefore it would be inappropriate to comment any further at this time.”
Police have heightened their presence at mosques following the Manchester synagogue terror attack earlier this month which killed two innocent worshippers.
53-year-old Adrian Daulby and 66-year-old Melvin Cravitz, both from Crumpsallsadly lost their lives.
The attacker - 35-year-old Jihad Al-Shamie, a British citizen of Syrian descent, was also shot dead at the scene.
Source: lep.co.uk
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https://www.lep.co.uk/news/police-issue-statement-after-complaint-lodged-over-incident-at-blackburn-mosque-5358376
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Westminster man stole £1k from mosque before reversing car into police officer
Luke Donnelly
14 Oct 2025
A 42-year-old Westminster man stole £1,000 from a Reading mosque before reversing his car into a police officer. Anthony Chieke, 56, winced in his custody photo after being tracked down by police in Slough on November 18 last year.
Three weeks earlier, at 9pm on October 21, he entered Abu Bakr Mosque on Oxford Road and smashed multiple donation boxes in the place of worship. During a nine-and-a-half-hour crime spree, Chieke then stole keys to access the CCTV before spraying the security cameras with white paint and damaging cables linked to the system's hard drive.
Thames Valley Police later used this to locate his DNA. On November 18, 2024, officers were alerted after automatic number plate recognition technology found his car in Slough. During a pursuit, Chieke failed to stop but eventually turned into a dead end road, where he was then blocked in by two police vehicles.
Attempting to escape, Chieke reversed his car with the driver's door open into a police vehicle. A dog handler was getting out of the car at the time, which led to them suffering injuries.
He was taken to hospital but has since been discharged. Chieke, who refused to attend his hearing at Reading Crown Court, was found guilty in his absence of two counts of burglary and one count each of criminal damage, dangerous driving and driving whilst disqualified at the same hearing. Chieke, of Mount Street, Westminster, was sentenced to four years in prison at the same court on Wednesday, October 8.
'Some worshipers did not feel safe to return for weeks'
Investigating officer Detective Constable Daniel Hardwick said: “This was a burglary of a mosque that affected a whole community. Some days after the incident, the worshippers and attendees were incredibly anxious with some not feeling safe enough to return for weeks.
“The damage caused to the mosque and CCTV system was into the many thousands, and I’m pleased Mr Chieke has received a custodial sentence. He refused to engage throughout the entire judicial process. This includes refusing to engage during his police interview or refusing to attend court either in person or via live link from prison. I hope the attendees of the mosque can now move on and feel safe in their place of worship."
Source: mylondon.news
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https://www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-news/westminster-man-stole-1k-mosque-32678097
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Brighton MP urges for extra funding for attacked mosque
14TH OCTOBER
A Sussex MP has urged for extra funding for a mosque following a suspected arson attack.
Chris Ward, MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, has called for extra funding to help Peacehaven Mosque repair and secure its building following last week’s suspected arson attack.
The attack, which has left the local Muslim community "deeply shaken", came just days after a deadly terrorist attack at a synagogue in Manchester.
Mr Ward stressed that places of worship - including mosques and synagogues - must be safe spaces where people can practise their faith "without fear", and that given the increased threat, "this would require extra funding".
“Everyone has the right to feel safe when attending their place of worship,” Mr Ward said.
“The disgraceful attack on Peacehaven Mosque is a warning to us all, and the costs of repairing and securing the building are going to be substantial. We’ve seen an outpouring of support from the local community but we also need to see extra funding and reassurance. I’ve raised this with the Home Secretary and Security Minister, who have both been incredibly supportive”.
Emergency services were called to a mosque in Phyllis Avenue, Peacehaven, at 9.50pm on October 4 after the building was set alight.
Footage showed two people wearing masks and dark clothing approaching the front door before spraying accelerant on the entrance of the mosque and starting the fire, which the fire service extinguished.
Two people were inside the building at the time of the fire but escaped without injury.
A total of four men, aged 46, 27, 25 and 22, have been arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life since October 6.
Sussex Police is treating the incident as a hate crime.
The MP has contacted the Home Office to request immediate funding assistance to help the mosque recover and ensure the continued safety of worshippers.
“This isn’t just about bricks and mortar — it’s about protecting communities and standing up against attacks on faith. Peacehaven Mosque, and places of worship across the country, deserve our support and protection,” Mr Ward added.
"I will continue to advocate for my constituents and local places of worship and I’ll monitor the situation closely as repairs and security measures are put in place."
The Home Secretary said the country faces a domestic terror threat that is more complex than ever before in the wake of the Manchester synagogue attack.
Shabana Mahmood addressed MPs on the terror attack on October 2 at Heaton Park Hebrew Synagogue in Crumpsall, Manchester, describing it as “an evil act of antisemitic terrorism”.
Shabana Mahmood told the Commons: “Let me be clear, violence directed at any community, be they Jewish or Muslim, of all faiths or none, are attacks on our entire country.
“I know this country is united in our condemnation of those who seek to divide us, because one of the greatest achievements of this country has been our tolerance, our ability to accept and embrace difference, our generosity towards those who may not look the same but are encompassed comfortably within a single national identity”.
Ms Mahmood earlier noted that many MPs “will have been disturbed by a suspected arson attack that took place at a mosque in Peacehaven in East Sussex last week”.
Source: theargus.co.uk
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https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/25541316.brighton-mp-urges-extra-funding-attacked-mosque/
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Africa
New Boko Haram Splinter Group ‘Wulowulo’ Infiltrates North-Central – Gov Sule
October 15, 2025
By Enioluwa Adeniyi
The Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule, has warned that a new splinter group of Boko Haram insurgents, identified as “Wulowulo”, has infiltrated the North-Central region of the country.
Naija News reports that Sule disclosed this on Monday during a stakeholders’ meeting with security agencies in Lafia, the state capital, where he expressed concern that the emergence of the group could worsen the already fragile security situation in the zone.
The governor said, “As you are aware, this new group of Wulowulo, which is a splinter group of Boko Haram, is beginning to surface in the North-Central zone.”
The governor further explained that another terrorist faction, the Lakurawa group, had expanded its activities into Kwara State.
“The Lakurawa group is now a big problem in Kwara. Originally, they were somewhere around Kebbi and Sokoto states, but now they have become prominent in Kwara, which is one of the states in North-Central,” Sule stated.
Sule said the meeting with security stakeholders was convened to discuss measures to prevent the infiltration of the new groups into Nasarawa.
“Some of them are beginning to spread into our state. It is very important that we take steps to ensure that does not happen to us,” he warned.
The governor also lamented the increasing cases of kidnapping in parts of Lafia and Karu Local Government Areas, stressing the need for new strategies to address the menace.
Late last year, the Lakurawa group was reported to have infiltrated parts of Sokoto and Kebbi states from Niger Republic and Mali, raising fears of expanding terrorist networks across Nigeria’s borders.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/10/15/new-boko-haram-splinter-group-wulowulo-infiltrates-north-central-gov-sule/
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Sokoto constructs, renovates 65 mosques to promote moral reform — Commissioner
14th October 2025
Animashaun Salman
The Sokoto State Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Dr Jabir Mai-Hula, says the ministry has evolved beyond being a mere religious institution to become a strategic tool for social policy, moral reform, and community development in the state.
Speaking in an interview on Tuesday, Mai-Hula described the ministry as a “deliberate, evidence-based instrument of social welfare” that delivers tangible benefits across public health, social cohesion, and economic justice.
“Islam in Sokoto State is not only about worship; it is an integrated system of values and practices that shape the daily life of our people.
“So, investing in religious infrastructure and guidance delivers cross-cutting benefits — cleaner prayer facilities that reduce the risk of disease transmission, dignified Imams who are no longer exploited by politicians, and zakat funds that support orphans and vulnerable families,” he said.
The commissioner revealed that 65 Jummah mosques have been rehabilitated or newly constructed across the state — many now equipped with boreholes and solar power to enhance hygiene and accessibility.
He added that the ministry now provides regular stipends and welfare packages for Imams to promote independence and integrity in Friday sermons, helping to curb the politicisation of religious preaching.
“When Imams are respected and supported, their messages carry more weight. We have restored their dignity, and this is helping to rebuild moral discipline in society,” Mai-Hula stated.
Highlighting the success of the Zakat and Waqf Agency, the commissioner said the government has strengthened the Productive Zakat Model, which channels zakat funds into farms and real estate investments to create sustainable income streams for orphans and vulnerable families.
Mai-Hula also justified the creation of the ministry by Governor Ahmed Aliyu, noting that Sokoto, as the Seat of the Caliphate and birthplace of Sheikh Usman Dan Fodio, naturally integrates religion into its civic and cultural governance.
“When government harnesses religious institutions responsibly,” he said, “it solves several problems across sectors — health, education, sanitation, and social justice — all at once.”
Beyond infrastructure, the ministry has intensified moral reorientation campaigns, addressing issues such as indecent dressing, dishonest trade practices, and hygiene in markets.
Through town hall meetings, radio and TV programmes, and mosque sermons, the ministry has promoted behavioural change among traders and youths.
“Our Ramadan campaigns promoted fair measurements by traders, while the training of butchers and market operators improved hygiene and ethics,” the commissioner explained.
He added that the ministry has also undertaken rehabilitation of cemeteries, including fencing, employment of security guards, and general maintenance across local governments.
According to Mai-Hula, the Ministry of Religious Affairs now measures its success through visible, real-world outcomes rather than slogans. “We are not a ministry of slogans,” he said.
“We measure our success with cleaner mosques, fewer disputes, better livelihoods for the vulnerable, and an overall atmosphere of trust. That’s what the people of Sokoto are telling us,” he said.
Under its five strategic pillars, infrastructure, welfare, morality, conflict resolution, and public enlightenment, the ministry continues to promote religious harmony and ensure that faith-based activities operate within the rule of law.
The commissioner had, on July 7, 2025, reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to complementing the administration’s broader development goals through strategic social interventions, empowerment of clerics, and promotion of peaceful coexistence across the state.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Arewa PUNCH, he said the ministry is fully aligned with the SMART agenda of Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s administration, contributing meaningfully to the state’s developmental trajectory despite not being a core economics ministry.
“Our priority is to support the governor’s nine-point SMART agenda by contributing our quota to move Sokoto forward. Every sector is working in synergy to bring development, and we are doing our part, especially in community engagement and social support,” he stated.
Source: punchng.com
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https://punchng.com/sokoto-constructs-renovates-65-mosques-to-promote-moral-reform-commissioner/
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Allah Opened My Eyes To See Who My True Allies Are – Former Lawmaker, Farouk Lawan Speaks After Presidential Pardon
October 14, 2025
By Justina Otio
Former member of the House of Representatives, Farouk Lawan, has spoken after he was granted a presidential pardon by President Bola Tinubu.
Naija News reports that Lawan who represented Bagwai/Shanono Federal Constituency of Kano State, had been convicted in 2021 for soliciting and accepting bribes in 2012.
On June 22, 2021, a Federal High Court sentenced him to seven years in prison.
Lawan was among the 175 persons pardoned by President Tinubu on Thursday, October 9, 2025, following the recommendation of the Council of State.
Speaking in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service on Tuesday, Lawan expressed heartfelt gratitude to the president.
He stated that the experience taught him valuable lessons about life and destiny.
He said, “When someone goes through a trial and Allah grants a chance for pardon, you must be thankful. My family and well-wishers across the world were all filled with joy when the news broke.”
He added, “It was indeed a day of thanksgiving to Allah, for He made it possible, and to President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for doing what is right, something worthy of commendation.”
Reflecting on his prison experience, Lawan said he had long surrendered everything to Allah, knowing that no one can escape destiny.
“Before I even got to prison, my mind was at peace. I knew that wherever I was going, I would meet people, and if others could survive there, I too could live through it,” he stated.
After his release in 2024, the former lawmaker said he took deliberate steps to realign his political direction, parting ways with the Kwankwasiyya movement, which he had long been associated with.
He explained that although he was a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member when he went to prison, he later instructed his supporters to join the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) ahead of the 2023 elections, a directive they followed.
“When Allah allows you to face trials, He also opens your eyes to see who your true allies are and who are not. When you’re in a place like prison, you have enough time to reflect deeply on your relationships,” Lawan said.
He revealed that despite his closeness to the Kwankwasiyya movement, a prominent figure in the group never called to sympathise or rejoice with him after his release.
“It’s been a year now, and not even a phone call from him, not to say, ‘Thank you, Allah, you’re out,’ or offer a prayer for me,” he lamented.
Lawan, however, clarified that although he no longer identifies politically with the Kwankwasiyya group, he still maintains mutual respect for its leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
He concluded that his current focus is on working with a party that has broader national acceptance.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/10/14/allah-opened-my-eyes-to-see-who-my-true-allies-are-former-lawmaker-farouk-lawan-speaks-after-presidential-pardon/
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Mideast
Arafat’s nephew returns to West Bank with plan for post-war Gaza
October 14, 2025
RAMALLAH: A nephew of late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has returned to the West Bank after four years of self-exile, outlining a roadmap to secure peace in Gaza with Hamas transforming into a political party and declaring his readiness to help govern.
Nasser Al-Qudwa, a prominent critic of the current Palestinian leadership, also urged “a serious confrontation of corruption in this country.”
He said President Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah Movement needed deep reform and must do more to counter Jewish settler violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
“The first duty ... is to regain confidence of the street — something that we lost — and we have to be brave enough and say that we don’t have it anymore, and without it, frankly, it’s useless,” Qudwa said.
Qudwa left the West Bank in 2021 after he was expelled from Fatah, the movement founded by his uncle, over his decision to field his own list in elections, defying Abbas who canceled the vote.
Abbas, 89, readmitted Qudwa to Fatah last week, after offering an amnesty for expelled members. His return coincides with renewed pressure on Abbas to enact long-delayed reforms in the Palestinian Authority as it presses for a role in Gaza, lost to Hamas in 2007, despite Israeli objections and being sidelined in President Donald Trump’s plan.
Palestinian analysts say Qudwa could have a role, citing his ties to Arab states, his contacts with Hamas, standing as Arafat’s nephew and his Gazan origins: he was born in Khan Younis. “If I’m needed, I’m not going to hesitate,” Qudwa, 72, said.
He said existing PA assets in Gaza should be used in a new police force, and that Gaza’s current police could be vetted and used as well.
“Hamas needs to understand that nobody is coming after them, that some of these employees will be given another opportunity, that they will not be assassinated, that there will be an opportunity for them to participate in the political life.” He said a Palestinian “council of commissioners” could run Gaza. While Abbas could appoint its head, keeping a link between the West Bank and Gaza, Qudwa said he was not suggesting the “return of the (Palestinian) Authority as is to govern Gaza.”
He said that international supervision would be “fine,” but Gaza must be run by Palestinians and they must be able to hold elections, last held in 2006.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2618889/middle-east
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Gaza ceasefire outlook darkens as Israel delays aid and Hamas tightens grip
October 14, 2025
GAZA/JERUSALEM: Israel delayed aid into Gaza and kept the enclave’s border shut on Tuesday, while re-emergent Hamas fighters demonstrated their grip by executing men in the street, darkening the outlook for US President Donald Trump’s plan to end the war.
Three Israeli officials said Israel had decided to restrict aid into the shattered Gaza Strip and delay plans to open the border crossing to Egypt at least through Wednesday, because Hamas had been too slow to turn over bodies of dead hostages. The militant group has said locating the bodies is difficult.
Meanwhile, Hamas has swiftly reclaimed the streets of Gaza’s urban areas, following the partial withdrawal of Israeli troops last week.
In a video circulated late on Monday, Hamas fighters dragged seven men with hands tied behind their backs into a Gaza City square, forced them to their knees and shot them from behind, as dozens of onlookers watched from nearby shopfronts.
A Hamas source confirmed that the video was filmed on Monday and that Hamas fighters participated in the executions. Reuters was able to confirm the location by visible geographic features.
DELAY IN HANDING OVER BODIES
Trump has given his blessing to Hamas to reassert some control of Gaza, at least temporarily. Israeli officials, who say any final settlement must permanently disarm Hamas, have so far refrained from commenting publicly on the reemergence of the group’s fighters.
On Monday the US president proclaimed the “historic dawn of a new Middle East” to Israel’s parliament, as Israel and Hamas were exchanging the last 20 living Israeli hostages in Gaza for nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees and prisoners.
But so far, Hamas has handed over only four coffins of dead hostages, leaving at least 23 presumed dead and one unaccounted for, still in Gaza.
Aid trucks have yet to be permitted to enter Gaza at the full anticipated rate of hundreds per day, and plans have yet to be implemented to open the crossing to Egypt to let some Gazans out, initially to evacuate the wounded for medical treatment.
HAMAS RETURN DEMONSTRATES HURDLES TO SETTLEMENT
The highly public return of Hamas to control of Gaza’s streets demonstrates the hurdles to progressing from the initial ceasefire — phase one of Trump’s plan — to a permanent settlement that would prevent a new eruption of fighting.
Gaza residents said Hamas fighters were increasingly visible on Tuesday, deploying along routes needed for aid deliveries.
Palestinian security sources said dozens of people had been killed in clashes between Hamas fighters and rivals in recent days.
Meanwhile, Israeli drone fire killed five people as they went to check on houses in a suburb east of Gaza City and an airstrike killed one person and injured another near Khan Younis, Gaza health authorities said.
Hamas accused Israel of violating the ceasefire. The Israeli military said it had fired on people who crossed truce lines and approached its forces after ignoring calls to turn back.
A summit co-hosted by Trump in Egypt on Monday ended with no public announcement of major progress toward establishing an international military force for Gaza, or a new governing body.
HAMAS ASSERTS CONTROL
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has consistently maintained that the war cannot end until Hamas gives up its weapons and ceases to control Gaza, a demand that the fighters have rejected, torpedoing all previous peace efforts.
But Trump, having announced that the war is now over, said on Monday Hamas still had a temporary green light to keep order.
“They do want to stop the problems, and they’ve been open about it, and we gave them approval for a period of time,” he said.
Hamas sources told Reuters on Tuesday the group would tolerate no more violations of order in Gaza and would target collaborators, armed looters and drug dealers.
The group, though greatly weakened after two years of pummelling Israeli bombardment and ground incursions, has been gradually reasserting itself since the ceasefire took hold.
It has deployed hundreds of workers to start rubble clearing on key routes needed to access damaged or destroyed housing and to repair broken water pipes. Road clearance and security provision will also be needed for increased aid delivery.
AID AND HOSTAGES
The ceasefire has stopped two years of devastating warfare in Gaza triggered by the October 7, 2023 attack in which Hamas-led gunmen killed around 1,200 people and seized 251 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.
Israel’s military campaign in Gaza killed nearly 68,000 people according to local health authorities, with thousands more feared dead under the rubble. Gaza’s Civil Defense Service said 250 bodies had been recovered since the truce began.
Swathes of Gaza are in ruins and the global hunger monitor said in August there was famine in the territory. Thousands of Gazans have been returning to homes since the ceasefire, many finding whole streets bombed into dust.
UNICEF spokesperson Tess Ingram said that while aid was getting into Gaza with tents, tarpaulin sheets, winter clothes, family hygiene kits and other critical items, she hoped for a significant increase later this week.
Source: arabnews.com
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Ben-Gvir storms Al-Aqsa Mosque on final day of Sukkot
October 14, 2025
LONDON: Far-right Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque on Tuesday along with dozens of extremist settlers.
The raid, which came on the final day of the Jewish Sukkot holiday, involved tours of the Al-Aqsa courtyards and the performance of Talmudic rituals in the eastern area of the mosque, under the protection of the Israeli police, according to Wafa news agency.
It coincided with increased Israeli military measures at Al-Aqsa and in the walled city of occupied East Jerusalem.
This week, Ben-Gvir has led multiple raids into the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Last Wednesday, he guided 1,200 settlers into the holy site, coinciding with the second day of Sukkot.
Thousands of Israeli settlers have entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque since September to mark various holidays, including Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and the recent Sukkot.
Jordan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned Ben-Gvir’s provocative tour of the holy site, also known as Al-Haram Al-Sharif, and referred to by Jews as the Temple Mount.
“(This is) a blatant violation of the historical and legal status quo governing Al-Haram Al-Sharif, and a desecration of its sanctity,” it said in a statement.
The ministry added that Israel does not have sovereignty over occupied East Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian holy sites, and warned against Israeli efforts to cause divisions over the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Petra news agency reported.
Source: arabnews.com
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Palestinian Authority condemns Hamas for ‘heinous’ executions in Gaza
October 15, 2025
LONDON: The Palestinian Authority has condemned extrajudicial killings and field executions of Palestinians carried out by Hamas gunmen in Gaza, which have claimed the lives of at least 32 people since Friday.
The Palestinian presidency said the killings, carried out by Hamas without fair trials, were “heinous crimes that are utterly rejected under any pretext.”
It continued: “These acts constitute a crime and a blatant violation of human rights, representing a grave breach of the rule of law and reflecting the movement’s determination to impose its authority through force and terror, at a time when the people in Gaza are enduring the hardships of war, destruction and siege.”
The Palestinian Authority said that such actions undermine efforts to unify Palestinian institutions under one legitimate authority and rule of law. It called for an end to the violations, for protection of unarmed citizens, and for those involved in the killings to be held accountable.
The presidency said it holds Hamas fully responsible for “these crimes that harm the supreme interests of the Palestinian people,” the Palestinian Wafa news agency reported.
The attempt by Hamas to reassert its control over Gaza, as Palestinians begin to return to their homes following the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel, provides “pretexts to the (Israeli) occupation, obstructs reconstruction, deepens division, and hinders the establishment of a free and independent State of Palestine,” the authority added.
Hamas has been weakened by two years of war in Gaza, the assassinations of top officials by Israel, Israeli military operations against the group’s allies in Lebanon and Iran, and the fall of the Assad regime in Syria.
Facing increasing opposition and internal challenges from other Palestinian groups in Gaza, Hamas has attempted to reassert its authority since the US-brokered ceasefire came into effect last week by cracking down on dissent, resulting in the deaths of dozens of its opponents.
US President Donald Trump seemed to imply in comments to the press on Monday that the US had approved a “limited role” for Hamas in policing Gaza during the initial stages of the ceasefire.
However, the 20-point US peace plan that led to the truce states that Hamas must disarm and will play no future role in governing Gaza. And on Tuesday, Trump said that the group would be forced to disarm in a “reasonable period of time,” and if it did not, “we will disarm them and it will happen quickly and perhaps violently.”
Source: arabnews.com
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Unexploded bombs pose ‘enormous’ risks in Gaza, NGO warns
October 14, 2025
JERUSALEM: Unexploded ordnance in Gaza poses “enormous” risks for displaced people returning home during a US-led ceasefire, the NGO Handicap International warned Tuesday, calling for the entry of equipment needed for demining.
“The risks are enormous — an estimated 70,000 tons of explosives have been dropped on Gaza” since the start of the war, said Anne-Claire Yaeesh, the organization’s director for the Palestinian territories.
Handicap International specializes in mine clearance and assistance to victims of anti-personnel mines.
Unexploded ordnance, ranging from undetonated bombs or grenades to simple bullets, has become a common sight in the Gaza Strip during the two years of the war, sparked by Hamas’s unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
“The layers of rubble and levels of accumulation are extremely high,” Yaeesh said.
She warned that the risks are aggravated by the “extremely complex” nature of the environment, due to the limited space in densely populated urban areas.
In January, the UN’s Mine Action Service (UNMAS) estimated that “5 to 10 percent” of the munitions fired on Gaza had not exploded.
Since then, fighting has continued, with the Israeli army notably launching a large-scale operation in mid-September in Gaza City.
A ceasefire, the third since the start of the war, came into effect on Friday in the Gaza Strip.
Contacted by AFP, UNMAS said that due to restrictions imposed over the past two years, its teams had “not been able to conduct large-scale survey operations in Gaza,” and the agency therefore does not have “a comprehensive picture of the (explosive ordnance) threat in the Strip.”
Nicholas Orr, a former UK military deminer who worked in Gaza for Handicap International, told AFP in March that he was unable to obtain permission to conduct bomb disposal in Gaza, as Israeli aerial surveillance could have mistaken him for a militant attempting to repurpose unexploded ordnance into weapons.
UNMAS nonetheless stressed that since the ceasefire came into effect on October 10 requests for technical expertise “have surged,” and the agency has been called upon for “a range of humanitarian missions including to areas that were previously inaccessible.”
In the coming days, “a large part of the efforts will focus on ensuring the safety of debris management operations” and clearing rubble, particularly along the roads used by the thousands of displaced people returning home.
While the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said Monday that humanitarian workers would “assess key roads for explosive hazards,” UNMAS stated that it has “a limited number of armored vehicles on the ground which means that we can only conduct a certain number of explosive hazard assessments each day.”
The United Nations agency also said it had not yet obtained authorization from Israeli authorities to bring in the necessary equipment for the destruction of unexploded ordnance.
At the moment, UNMAS said it had three armored vehicles “at the border waiting to enter Gaza, which will allow safer and larger-scale operations.”
Source: arabnews.com
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Israel identifies hostage bodies, returns 45 Palestinian dead
AFP
October 14, 2025
JERUSALEM: The Israeli military said Tuesday that the remains of four deceased hostages returned by Hamas have been identified, including those of a Nepalese student.
Separately, a Gaza hospital said it has received the bodies of 45 Palestinians that had been handed back by Israel, also as part of US President Donald Trump’s plan to end the Gaza war.
In a statement, the Israeli military named two of the victims as Guy Iluz, an Israeli national, and Bipin Joshi, an agriculture student from Nepal.
The names of the other two hostages have not yet been released at the request of their families, the statement added.
Iluz, who was 26 at the time of the attack, had been attending the Nova music festival when Hamas-led militants launched their assault on October 7, 2023.
He reportedly tried to flee and hid in a tree, from where he made his last contact with his parents before being captured.
The military said Iluz was wounded and abducted alive, but later died of his injuries due to a lack of medical treatment while in captivity.
It did not specify when he died, though his death was announced in December 2023.
The military said the final causes of death for the four hostages will be determined following the completion of forensic examinations.
Joshi, who was 22 at the time of the attack, was part of a Nepalese agricultural training group that had arrived in Israel three weeks before the Hamas assault.
He was abducted from Kibbutz Alumim.
“It is assessed that he was murdered in captivity during the first months of the war,” the military said.
‘Courageous’ Joshi
Joshi’s Nepalese friend Himanchal Kattel, the group’s only survivor, told AFP that the attackers had thrown a grenade into the shelter, which Joshi caught and threw away before it exploded, saving Kattel’s life.
Joshi was a “courageous” student, his teacher Sushil Neupane said.
“We were deeply hoping that Bipin would return home. This news hurts us all... our hope has died,” he said.
Hamas returned the four bodies on Monday, following the release of all 20 surviving captives as part of the ceasefire deal brokered by Trump.
“It’s difficult. You know, we kind of had the rollercoaster on the up yesterday and now we’re on the down,” said Rotem Kuper, son of Amiran Kuper, whose remains are still held in Gaza.
“We need to re-gather and continue strongly. You know, we pretty much have no choice,” Kuper told journalists.
Meanwhile, the bodies of 45 Palestinians that had been in Israeli custody were handed over to the Nasser Medical Center in Gaza, the hospital said.
Under the Trump deal, Israel was to turn over the bodies of 15 Palestinians for every deceased Israeli returned.
Slow recovery
Palestinian militants are still holding the bodies of 24 hostages, which are expected to be returned under the terms of the ceasefire agreement.
“We will not rest untill all 24 hostages are brought home,” said the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, the main Israeli group campaigning for the release of all hostages.
As Israelis awaited the return of the remaining bodies, the hostages released on Monday were gradually recovering.
“Being underground affects all the body’s systems,” said Noa Eliakim Raz, director at Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva, where some of the surviving hostages are being treated.
“There is no fixed timetable — each person is recovering at their own pace. It’s important that they heal slowly,” she told journalists, adding that many hostages had experienced weight loss.
Twins Ziv and Gali Berman, who were reunited on Monday, said they had been separated throughout their captivity and held in complete isolation, according to Channel 12.
The two, who were 28 when abducted, described enduring long periods of hunger, alternating with short intervals when they were better fed, the report said.
Source: arabnews.com
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Israel tells UN will only allow half agreed number of aid trucks into Gaza
October 14, 2025
Israel has told the United Nations it will only allow 300 aid trucks – half the agreed number – into the Gaza Strip from Wednesday and that no fuel or gas will be allowed into the enclave except for specific needs related to humanitarian infrastructure, according to a note seen by Reuters and confirmed by the UN.
Olga Cherevko, a spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Gaza, confirmed the UN had received the note from COGAT, the arm of the Israeli military that oversees aid flows into Gaza.
COGAT had said on Friday that it expected about 600 aid trucks to enter Gaza daily during the ceasefire.
The COGAT note said the restrictions were being taken because “Hamas violated the agreement regarding the release of the bodies of the hostages.”
Source: arabnews.com
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South Asia
Safeguarding Country’s Cultural Heritage Top Priority, IEA Minister
October 15, 2025
KABUL: Minister of Information and Culture, Shaikh Shir Ahmad Haqqani, emphasized that Afghanistan, as a cradle of great civilizations, must preserve its rich cultural heritage, reaffirming the ministry’s strong commitment to protecting historical monuments and promoting national identity.
He made the remarks in a meeting with Eng. Ajmal Maiwandi, Head of the Aga Khan Cultural Services to Afghanistan, the ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.
Maiwandi provided an overview of the organization’s activities, noting that alongside its ongoing projects, the institution has restored and rehabilitated over 160 historic structures across several provinces, including Kabul, Herat, Balkh, Badakhshan, Logar, and Ghazni.
He also mentioned the recent completion and inauguration of the Babaji Mosque restoration project in Ghazni.
Minister Haqqani commended the Aga Khan Cultural Services for their contributions to heritage restoration and emphasized the importance of greater coordination in this field.
Both sides concluded the meeting with a mutual commitment to strengthen cooperation and preserve Afghanistan’s rich cultural legacy.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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UK Closes Refugee Camp Housing Afghan Evacuees After Two Years
By Fidel Rahmati
October 15, 2025
Britain has closed a refugee camp that housed more than 1,500 Afghan evacuees for two years, relocating all residents to permanent homes across the country.
Britain has closed the Nesscliffe military base, which served as temporary housing for Afghan refugees who fled the country following the Taliban’s takeover in 2021, the Home Office said on Tuesday.
The facility, located in northern England, had sheltered more than 1,500 Afghans over the past two years. Most were families and individuals who had worked with British troops and were evacuated under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP).
According to officials, all residents of the base have now been moved into permanent accommodation across the United Kingdom. The site will no longer be used to host new arrivals.
The British government said more than 15,000 Afghans who supported UK military or diplomatic operations have been resettled since the fall of Kabul, receiving housing, education, and integration support.
The closure of the camp marks a transition from emergency housing to long-term resettlement, as London seeks to integrate evacuees into communities nationwide. Officials say the focus is now on ensuring stability and self-reliance for Afghan families.
Analysts welcomed the progress but warned that many eligible Afghans remain stranded abroad or awaiting relocation approvals. Rights groups have urged the UK to accelerate pending cases and uphold its commitments to those left behind.
Observers say the Nesscliffe closure symbolizes the end of Britain’s initial evacuation phase, but the broader humanitarian challenge — supporting and resettling thousands still at risk — remains unfinished.
Source: khaama.com
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IEA’s Message of Condolence Regarding the Shooting of Protestors and Their Casualties in Pakistan
October 15, 2025
Protests were initiated by the Tehreek-e-Labbaik party in Pakistan, with the objective of bringing their demonstration to Islamabad and conducting a lawful protest in accordance with the country’s legal framework. However, the Pakistani military responded with direct gunfire and violent attacks on the protestors, resulting in significant casualties and financial losses among the civilian population.
We are profoundly saddened and deeply affected by such violence and the tragic loss of life inflicted upon innocent civilians. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and to the entire nation of Pakistan, and we wish a swift recovery to those who have been wounded.
We urge the Pakistani government and its ruling authorities to cease any further acts of violence against their people and to pursue resolution through dialogue and mutual understanding.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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Afghanistan, India to Establish Joint Trade Committee to Bolster Economic Ties
October 15, 2025
KABUL: Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce of the Islamic Emirate, Mawlavi Ahmadullah Zahid, met with India’s Minister of Industry and Commerce, Jitin Prasad, in New Delhi, discussing the establishment of a joint trade committee to bolster economic ties.
The two sides discussed expanding trade relations and reaffirmed their commitment to facilitating business opportunities and easing challenges for traders from both countries, the ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.
As a result of the discussions, both sides agreed to form a joint trade committee that will regularly meet to address key trade issues and explore new areas of economic partnership.
The initiative is seen as a step toward revitalizing historic commercial ties and promoting regional connectivity.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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Imran Khan Urges Dialogue With Kabul to Tackle Pakistan’s Terror Threat
By Fidel Rahmati
October 15, 2025
Imran Khan, speaking from prison, urged Pakistan to engage the Taliban in dialogue, saying terrorism cannot end without an inclusive, comprehensive political strategy.
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has said the country cannot overcome terrorism without holding talks with the Taliban and involving all key stakeholders in a unified national strategy.
In a message released from prison on Tuesday, Khan stressed that an effective counterterrorism policy must include “local tribes, provincial governments, the federal government, and the Afghanistan authorities.” He said the issue could not be solved through “behind-closed-doors decisions,” but required “a comprehensive and politically informed approach.”
Khan, who leads the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, said no strategy against militancy would succeed without consultation with the elected representatives and leadership of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a province at the frontline of Pakistan’s fight against extremism.
The message coincided with the swearing-in of Sohail Afridi as the new Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Khan congratulated Afridi and thanked PTI lawmakers for endorsing his nominee. He also praised former chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur, noting that Gandapur had “honourably resigned three times” upon his request.
Afridi, a loyal PTI member, replaced Gandapur following internal party discussions aimed at reinforcing political alignment within the province. Khan’s message reaffirmed his continued influence on PTI affairs and regional governance despite his incarceration.
Khan’s remarks come amid renewed militant violence in Pakistan’s northwestern regions and tensions along the Afghanistan border. His call for dialogue with the Taliban contrasts with Islamabad’s current emphasis on military operations.
Analysts say Khan’s statement may spark fresh debate on Pakistan’s counterterrorism direction, reviving questions about whether negotiation or force offers the more sustainable path to peace. His message from prison highlights both his political relevance and his ongoing role in shaping national security discourse.
Source: khaama.com
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Pakistan Briefs Foreign Envoys on Escalating Border Tensions With Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati
October 15, 2025
Pakistan briefed foreign envoys in Islamabad on rising border tensions with Afghanistan, reaffirming its security concerns and commitment to defending national sovereignty amid ongoing cross-border clashes.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry convened a briefing for diplomats in Islamabad on Tuesday to discuss the recent escalation of border tensions with Afghanistan.
According to an official statement, the session was led by Amina Baloch, Pakistan’s Deputy Foreign Minister, and attended by ambassadors and senior representatives of several foreign missions based in the capital.
During the briefing, Baloch underscored what she described as Pakistan’s “legitimate security concerns” and reaffirmed the government’s determination to protect its territorial integrity and national security. She called on the international community to understand Islamabad’s position amid mounting cross-border challenges.
The meeting came as clashes continued along multiple sections of the Pakistan–Afghanistan border, where recent fighting between Taliban and Pakistani forces has heightened regional instability and disrupted trade routes.
Officials said Pakistan remains committed to diplomatic engagement but will not tolerate “unprovoked aggression” against its forces. Afghan authorities have not yet commented on the Pakistani briefing.
Analysts said the move reflects Islamabad’s attempt to rally diplomatic support and reassure foreign partners that it seeks a peaceful resolution while defending its borders.
Observers added that the latest border violence poses a fresh test for regional diplomacy, as Pakistan and Afghanistan face growing pressure to prevent a wider conflict that could threaten humanitarian access and economic stability across the frontier.
Source: khaama.com
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Court summons Hasina, 261 others in sedition case
Oct 15, 2025
A Dhaka court yesterday ordered the relevant authorities to publish a gazette asking ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 261 others to appear on November 11 in a sedition case.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Jewel Rana issued the directive after receiving police reports on earlier arrest warrants against the absconding accused, said a court staffer.
During the hearing, 24 accused, who were arrested in the case, were produced before the court. The court also rejected their bail petitions, the staffer added.
According to the prosecution, if the absconding accused do not appear, the trial will proceed in their absence.
Meanwhile, a CID press release said a total of 91 people accused in the sedition case are now in different jails across the country.
On August 14, the court issued arrest warrants against 286 people, including Hasina, after taking cognisance of the charges brought against them in the case.
Earlier in the day, Investigation Officer Md Enamul Haque, an assistant superintendent of police of the Criminal Investigation Department, submitted a probe report before the court accusing Hasina and others of conspiring to overthrow the interim government through a civil war.
On March 27, the CID filed the case with the court against Hasina and 72 others for their alleged involvement in the conspiracy.
After a hearing that day, a Dhaka metropolitan magistrate directed the CID to submit a report after investigating the case.
According to the case statement, the CID received information about an online meeting held on December 19, 2024, where participants formed a platform called the "Joy Bangla Brigade" and discussed plans to bring Hasina back to power by waging a civil war.
A total of 577 individuals from home and abroad attended the meeting and expressed support for Hasina's directives.
Rabbi Alam, vice-president of Awami League's US chapter who convened the virtual meeting, has been named as the second accused in the case.
Source: thedailystar.net
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Southeast Asia
Malaysian Company Cuts Salary For Attending Friday Prayers, Man Shocked
2025-10-15
A 31-year-old man from Plentong has spoken out after discovering his salary was cut for attending Friday prayers, a move that has drawn widespread criticism online for being “unethical” and “disrespectful.”
The man, identified as Saleh Zuhri, said he was shocked to see “Time Off” listed under the Deductions column in his September payslip, indicating that his obligatory Solat Jumaat was treated as unpaid leave.
“It’s already 2025 — I thought all companies in Johor followed the Labour Department’s guidelines by now. Turns out, some still don’t.
“Last month I only worked through two Fridays, but this month there’ll be five.
“Yesterday I told HR — please inform the boss to allow Friday prayer breaks. If that still doesn’t work out, then I’ll be the one walking away from here,” he wrote in his Threads post.
Saleh said the company’s HR department confirmed that time taken for Friday prayers is counted as time off unless employees stay back after work to make up for it.
“If the employee works extra hours to replace the time, then it won’t be deducted. Otherwise, yes, it’s cut from the salary,” the HR representative said, according to a screenshot.
Saleh claimed that several Muslim employees at the same workplace face similar deductions, prompting some to skip prayers entirely out of fear of losing pay.
The issue has since gone viral, with Malaysians condemning the company’s decision.
One user called ridhuanazmi advised: “Report it to the Labour Department (JTK), and the employer will be in hot water — they’ll be called in and have to submit all payslips and staff attendance records for payroll inspection.
“If the employer threatens you, report again. If they fire you? Go to the Industrial Relations Department (JPP) and file an Unfair Dismissal case within 60 days from the date of your termination letter.”
“Wow... Maybe some staff used to slack off before. At my previous workplaces, employees had to make up the time after work since there was no punch card during lunch. But the “make-up” was based purely on honesty — no one actually checked. Thankfully, all the staff were honest,” piandayah commented.
“You can’t just deduct someone’s salary however you like, except for what’s clearly allowed under labour law. Aiyoooo,” maryshaaa.adhyraaa lamented.
Source: thesun.my
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https://thesun.my/viral/going-viral/m-sian-man-shocked-as-company-cuts-salary-for-attending-friday-prayers-sparks-outrage-online-JN15096935
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Singapore doubles down on zero tolerance for identity politics, foreign interference
15 Oct 2025
Singapore’s government has reinforced its bottomline of zero tolerance for the politics of race and religion as well as foreign interference, arguing that such elements should be rejected swiftly.
In parliament on Tuesday, Workers’ Party (WP) chief Pritam Singh and Coordinating Minister for National Security K. Shanmugam disagreed on the “timing” and “substance” of the WP in rejecting election endorsements by a self-styled Islamic preacher Noor Deros and Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) members.
In April, ahead of Singapore’s May 3 general election, Noor and the PAS members endorsed WP candidate Faisal Manap over then minister-in-charge of Muslim affairs Masagos Zulkifli, as the former was seen to be more vocally supportive of the Malay-Muslim community.
Masagos led the ruling People’s Action Party to a narrow victory in a four-corner fight in the Tampines constituency, including against Faisal’s WP team, during the election.
Shanmugam said that asking Singaporeans to vote for political candidates along racial and religious lines was “reckless”, and foreigners urging such acts had crossed a red line.
“If different groups press their religious ideals hard instead of compromising with one another, and if the government prioritises the views of one faith over another, conflict is inevitable,” warned Shanmugam, who is also home affairs minister.
About 74 per cent of the Singapore population is Chinese, followed by Malays at 13.5 per cent and Indians at 9 per cent.
On April 23, during the nine-day election campaign period, Noor, a Singaporean, posted on Facebook that Faisal was a more vocal champion of Malay and Muslim issues, calling on Tampines voters to “do the right thing”.
Noor claimed on April 24 that he had spoken to all of the WP’s Malay candidates and would rally votes for any political party that agreed with his demands, which included adopting Islamic economics by taking a non-interest-based model and removing policies that maintained the ethnic proportions in Singapore.
On April 25, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Elections Department stressed the dangers of mixing religion and politics and urged political parties and candidates to safeguard Singapore’s racial and religious harmony.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong then called a press conference on April 26 to urge all political parties to take a clear stand on identity politics having no place in the city state, and that Singapore should never mix religion and politics.
WP then released its own statement on the same day, saying that no promises, commitments or agreements were made to Noor in exchange for political support. The party revealed that Noor happened to be at a dialogue with Muslim religious leaders.
Shanmugam on Tuesday argued this was during the campaign period when “every day made a huge difference”. For example, sections of voters might be misled into thinking on those two days that the WP was possibly considering Noor’s demands, he said.
He took issue with the ambiguity of the WP statement, which did not “categorically reject [Noor] Deros’ call on Muslims in Singapore to vote along racial religious lines”.
Leader of the Opposition and WP secretary general Pritam Singh accepted on Tuesday that the party could have been clearer but rejected the accusation that his side was slow to denounce foreign interference.
He noted that the statements by the government were released on the night of April 25, and WP released its statement the next morning. During a media interview on April 26, he also urged Singaporeans to judge the party for what it did for all residents and not for any one community.
Singh argued that his party was a small opposition group that did not have an operations room or office to monitor what foreigners or others said and where these actors might be “venturing into territory which is dangerous”, but in the event there was something untoward, the WP was not shy about coming together and trying to resolve the issue.
He also insisted he did not know who Noor was and did not want to give attention to a “nobody”.
Singh disagreed with Shanmugam’s point that WP never rejected Noor’s endorsement on the basis of race and religion.
He pointed to a media doorstop during the campaign trail in which he dismissed any notion that the WP would push Noor’s agenda in exchange for support, adding that if Noor thought his advocacy had an effect on the party, he was “sadly mistaken”.
Singh argued that the government had a perspective that was far broader than a small political party, and if the issue was serious enough, it was not difficult for authorities to reach out in the national interest to get clarification from all political parties. “I hope the minister can consider this in future,” he said.
Shanmugam argued that the government did not know what was discussed with Noor, but that it would consider Singh’s suggestion.
“Maybe Mr Singh is welcoming of a phone call to say, ‘This is not on.’ But I can imagine a number of other political parties might say you are trying to threaten me in the middle of a general election. So we need to be very careful.”
In response to a question from a member of parliament on whether the latest incident was due to weakness in the Malay-Muslim community or that various groups could be targeted as a result of Singapore’s diversity, Shanmugam pointed out that the Chinese community in Singapore had been singled out in previous elections.
He said that in every society, there would be attempts to draw comparisons and mobilise different communities, with such strategies trotted out in a general election to divide Singaporeans.
“We can see how societies are getting increasingly divided, so let us continue to stay firm to our principles and avoid the pull of identity politics,” he said.
Shanmugam used the United States as an example of a place dominated by culture wars and, according to him, where every disagreement was framed as an ideological battle with no room for compromise.
In the Netherlands, politicians also framed Islam as incompatible with liberal Dutch values, and some campaigned on banning the Koran, closing mosques and sharpening divides for electoral gain, he added.
While acknowledging the issue of race and religious harmony was better in Singapore than in most other countries, Shanmugam said it was a work in progress and “deep-seated human instincts” could not be wished away.
Secret sauce
He said the “secret sauce” to maintaining social cohesion in Singapore was the government’s heuristic approach that extended beyond economics to an active involvement in managing social, housing and community issues.
Singapore has laws to maintain racial and religious harmony. For example, it disallows hate speech and offensive speech against races and religions. Open dialogues with the government on such sensitive issues are also held behind closed doors.
Shanmugam argued that peace and harmony in Singapore had been the foundation of its progress and that people’s lives have improved regardless of race, language or religion.
“Our multiracial model has worked and we must not heedlessly and irresponsibly put it at risk,” he said.
Earlier on Tuesday, the parliament addressed US tariffs on pharmaceutical products, which have been delayed for Singapore’s exports to allow companies to negotiate exemptions with America.
The 100 per cent levy on branded and patented drugs was announced by US President Donald Trump on September 25, and was supposed to take effect on October 1. Trump had said that companies building a plant in the US would be spared from the levy.
Gan Siow Huang, minister of state for trade and industry, said that many Singapore-based companies have existing plans to build new capacity or expand facilities in the US and were awaiting confirmation that their plans would exempt them from tariffs.
Discussions for a preferential tariff arrangement were also ongoing, said Gan, with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong discussing the matter with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in a virtual meeting last week.
Source: scmp.com
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It will be mandatory’: Fahmi to brief Cabinet on social media ID check deadline for under-13s
15 Oct 2025
SIPITANG, Oct 15 — Malaysia will soon require all social media platforms to implement ‘electronic Know Your Customer’ (eKYC) identity verification to ensure users under 13 do not own accounts.
Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the move aims to protect children online and ensure that community guidelines set by the platforms are properly enforced.
“When I met representatives from social media platforms last month, I made it clear that Malaysia will make identity verification mandatory, especially to prevent children below 13 from having accounts.
“I will present the exact timeline to the Cabinet before making an announcement,” he told reporters after officiating the ‘NADI (National Information Dissemination Centre) on Wheels’ programme at the Sindumin state constituency here today.
Also present were Communications Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa, Sipitang MP Datuk Matbali Musah, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) deputy managing director (Regulation and Corporate) Datuk Zurkarnain Mohd Yasin, and Bernama Editor-in-Chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj.
Fahmi said MCMC will hold a meeting with social media companies next week to discuss immediate steps towards implementing the requirement.
Beyond child protection, he said eKYC is also crucial to curb online scams and harmful content such as gambling and fake advertisements.
“Many platforms have been misused by criminals for scams. As I mentioned in Parliament yesterday, 78 per cent of all scam-related content taken down came from Facebook,” he said.
Meanwhile, the NADI on Wheels initiative, jointly implemented by the ministry and MCMC, aims to expand digital access and bring information technology to rural communities.
There are currently 1,099 NADI centres nationwide, including 131 in Sabah.
The programme in Sipitang also features Starlink connectivity with speeds of up to 250 Mbps and several tablets for digital and entrepreneurship training.
Fahmi also highlighted the upcoming RM2 billion Madani Submarine Cable Connectivity (SALAM) project linking Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak and Sabah, expected to be completed within two to three years.
“For the SALAM project, in Sabah we will also build a coastal submarine cable network with cables to be laid from Tanjung Aru all the way to Tawau along the coast. We expect this project to be completed within two to three years,” he said.
He said the SALAM project will be a ministry priority to ensure stable communications in Sabah and to reduce reliance on existing submarine cables.
At the same time, Fahmi said MCMC will focus on telecom tower maintenance in flood-prone areas by implementing site hardening and hybrid power systems to improve resilience. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Singapore firms commit over S$5.5b into Johor since JS-SEZ deal, says DPM Gan
14 Oct 2025
SINGAPORE, Oct 14 — Singapore-based companies have committed over S$5.5 billion (RM17.8 billion) in investments into Johor since the signing of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) memorandum of understanding (MoU) last year, said the republic’s Deputy Prime Minister, Gan Kim Yong.
Gan, who is also the Minister for Trade and Industry, said Singapore and Malaysia will continue to work closely together to realise the full potential of the JS-SEZ.
“We look forward to more investments in the months ahead,” he said in his keynote address at the 2nd JS-SEZ Joint Investment Forum, at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre, here today.
Gan outlined three priorities to further strengthen the JS-SEZ: anchoring flagship projects, making it easier to do business, and ensuring inclusive growth, particularly for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and their workers.
He noted that efforts must continue to make the JS-SEZ more business-friendly and future-ready by streamlining regulatory processes, enabling businesses to move faster, improving the ease of cross-border flows of goods and professionals, and strengthening skills and talent development to enhance the quality of human capital.
Gan said the JS-SEZ has made good headway with Johor, which has designated nine flagship zones across the southern state and introduced an attractive tax incentive package, as well as establishing the Invest Malaysia Facilitation Centre-Johor (IMFC-J)to assist investors.
Additionally, Singapore has established a Joint JS-SEZ Project Office, comprising the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI), the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and EnterpriseSG, to smooth regulatory processes and help companies establish themselves on both sides.
Meanwhile, Gan said at a time when global trade is slowing and protectionist pressures are rising, the JS-SEZ stands as a strong illustration of what countries can achieve when they choose cooperation over contestation and partnership over protectionism.
He said to both Singapore and Malaysia, the JS-SEZ represents the creation of a connected business community that can grow together and compete more effectively in a changing global economy.
“Together, we are building a cross-border ecosystem that supports enterprise growth, innovation and the creation of good jobs on both sides (of the Causeway),” he added.
Gan said the partnership is already taking shape on the ground, with firms such as Singapore-based agritech company Archisen, which signed an MoU with Southern Catalyst earlier this morning to develop an 80.94-hectare modern agricultural hub in Sedenak, Johor.
“The project will apply indoor farming technologies to boost food production, and in doing so, contribute to the region’s food security and agritech development,” he said.
Other companies, like ResMed — a medical technology firm based in the United States and Australia — also operate on both sides of the Causeway.
He noted that these companies are examples of what the JS-SEZ makes possible for businesses, enabling them to operate across both sides of the Causeway as one integrated ecosystem to grow their operations and strengthen their supply chains.
The one-day forum, jointly organised by Singapore and Malaysia, was also attended by Malaysia’s Investment, Trade and Industry Minister, Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, and Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Anwar defends Khazanah’s RM600 million Carcosa restoration investment
theSun Local
2025-10-15
PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has defended Khazanah Nasional Bhd’s (Khazanah) RM600 million investment for the restoration of heritage buildings in Kuala Lumpur, including Carcosa Seri Negara, describing them as significant landmarks that embody the nation’s history and identity.
The Finance Minister said the historic buildings are not merely relics of the past but symbols of the Malay Rulers’ heritage and the nation’s journey towards independence.
“There were questions raised about Carcosa — this is the problem when sometimes the opposition doesn’t read. Carcosa is a heritage site. I take pride in our history...I take pride in Carcosa as part of the legacy of the Malay Rulers.
“Kuala Lumpur should be recognised as a city that is modern in its technology and rich in culture. When we begin investing there, it will encourage further investments in the surrounding areas,” he said when addressing the monthly assembly of the Finance Ministry here today.
Anwar announced the investment during the tabling of Budget 2026 last week. - Bernama
Source: thesun.my
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Arab World
BIE confers top award on Saudi Arabia’s pavilion at Osaka Expo
October 14, 2025
TOKYO: Following the final day of the Osaka-Kansai Expo on Monday, the Bureau International des Expositions announced that Saudi Arabia’s pavilion was awarded the gold medal for the best architecture and landscape in the top Type A category.
The silver medal went to Spain and the bronze to the UAE.
The award for the smaller category of Type A pavilions went to Bahrain, which won over Czechia and Switzerland.
The expo’s organizers said the total number of visitors to the event in the six months since it opened on April 13 was 29,017,924. This figure included 3,438,938 AD Pass holders, or on-site service providers. The actual number of tickets sold was 22,069,546.
Tokura Masakazu, chairperson of the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, had a message of unity on the final day, saying the expo reaffirmed that in a world facing division, 160 countries gathered to say that the world is “diverse, yet one.”
Ishige Hiroyuki, secretary-general of the association, said the expo achieved its three core goals: avoiding major accidents, remaining financially solvent, and attracting many visitors. He attributed its success to constant improvement and “overwhelmingly attractive content,” as well as the contributions of the visitors, staff, and media.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi cabinet discuss developments on Palestine, Sudan
October 14, 2025
RIYADH: King Salman chaired the cabinet session held on Tuesday in Riyadh, which focused on the outcomes of the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit and the ongoing hostilities in Sudan.
The cabinet reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s hope that the Egypt-hosted summit will end the war in Gaza and strengthen regional security.
It called for alleviating the humanitarian suffering of the Palestinian people, ensuring a full Israeli withdrawal, and taking practical steps toward peace, including establishing an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The council also stressed the need for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Sudan, the preservation of the country’s unity and institutions, and full implementation of the Jeddah Declaration to prevent further suffering and destruction.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi communication minister meets Mark Zuckerberg
October 14, 2025
Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah Al-Swaha met with Mark Zuckerberg, founder, chairman and CEO of Meta, during his official visit to the US.
The visit is part of the Kingdom’s efforts to strengthen strategic partnerships in artificial intelligence and innovative digital solutions, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.
The two discussed collaboration opportunities in AI, large language models, the metaverse, and generative AI, as well as initiatives to empower innovators and developers, enhance national capabilities and reinforce the Kingdom’s leadership in future technologies.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi chess star is ready for his next move
TAREQ AL-THAQAFI
October 14, 2025
MAKKAH: Saudi Arabia’s rising chess prodigy Basil Al-Salman is not your typical teenager.
While most his age are focused on school routines, the 11-year-old is competing internationally, leading tournaments, and speaking with the confidence of someone intent on becoming a world champion.
In a recent interview with Arab News, Al-Salman spoke about his journey so far, the sacrifices behind his rapid rise, and belief that young players like him can challenge — and even surpass — the legends of the game.
“I discovered my passion for chess in 2023,” he said.
“It was during a family gathering when I watched my relatives play. I was fascinated by their focus and strategies. Out of curiosity, I turned to YouTube and began watching tutorials and games.
“That’s when I realized chess wasn’t just a pastime — it was something I wanted to dive into deeply.”
That spark quickly grew into a steady interest. “I’m motivated by my dream to become the best chess player of all time,” he said.
“I want to show the world that chess isn’t just for adults. Kids and teens, no matter where they’re from, can compete with and even beat the greatest players through hard work, strategy, and passion.”
Balancing school and chess is a challenge, but Al-Salman tackles both with discipline.
After finishing homework and review sessions in the afternoon, he dedicates his evenings to practice — playing online games, studying openings, and analyzing positions. Weekends are reserved for deeper study sessions to refine his tactics and stay ahead of competitors.
His proudest moment so far came at the Abu Dhabi Open B Tournament in 2025. “That was my breakthrough,” he said.
“I played the best chess of my life, scoring 3.5 out of 4 and holding the sole lead for two rounds. Being at the top of the leaderboard in such a competitive event showed me what my hard work and dedication could achieve.”
Not every match has been easy. He recalls a particularly tough game, also in Abu Dhabi: a four-hour duel against the top seed.
“I lost because of a devastating fork under time pressure. It was painful, but it taught me the importance of time management. Since then, I always double or triple check my moves in high-pressure situations,” he said.
Al-Salman’s inspiration comes from one of chess’ boldest legends. “Mikhail Tal is my biggest role model,” he said.
“He was a magician on the board. His daring attacks and fearless creativity forced opponents to constantly rethink. For me, he’s the GOAT (greatest of all time), and I strive to bring that same spark of brilliance into my own games.”
Looking ahead, Al-Salman’s ambitions are clear. In the short term, he hopes to become the Saudi chess champion and represent his country internationally.
“Long-term, I want to become the greatest chess player of all time, surpassing legends by winning world championships and pushing the boundaries of the game,” he added.
To prepare for tournaments, Al-Salman keeps a steady routine. He ensures a good night’s sleep, solves chess puzzles to sharpen his mind, and reviews his opening repertoire before each match.
“That routine helps me stay calm and focused, ready to play my best,” he said.
With his focus, discipline, and confidence, Al-Salman embodies a new generation of Saudi talent ready to compete globally.
Source: arabnews.com
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KSA highlights conservation wins at UAE congress
October 14, 2025
RIYADH: The Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Nature Reserve Development Authority has concluded its participation in the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi, UAE, which brought together international organizations, experts, and environmental decision-makers.
At its pavilion, the authority showcased key achievements in biodiversity conservation and vegetation enhancement across 91,500 sq. km, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.
These included planting more than 775,000 seedlings, increasing vegetation cover to more than 9 percent, and implementing programs to reintroduce endangered species including the Arabian oryx, sand gazelle, and red-necked ostrich.
The pavilion also highlighted the authority’s comprehensive approach to nature protection, community development, and ecotourism promotion.
It featured interactive displays of plant and soil models, as well as field monitoring and measurement devices demonstrating vegetation cover and ecosystem health.
The pavilion included informative exhibits on tourism initiatives, offering visitors an immersive experience that integrates the reserve’s environmental, cultural, and touristic aspects.
Attracting widespread interest from delegations and visitors worldwide, the pavilion showcased the Kingdom’s achievements in managing royal reserves, emphasizing the synergy between conservation efforts and economic and social development.
The congress began on Oct. 9 and ends on Wednesday.
Source: arabnews.com
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KSrelief extends support in Gaza, Chad, Yemen
October 14, 2025
RIYADH: The Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief has distributed food baskets to hundreds of displaced families living in camps across the southern Gaza Strip, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.
The Saudi Center for Culture and Heritage, KSrelief’s implementing partner in Gaza, managed the delivery and distribution, in collaboration with international organizations and local institutions.
Members of the displaced families thanked Saudi Arabia for its ongoing humanitarian aid and solidarity amid the difficult conditions.
In Chad, KSrelief launched its in-kind aid distribution project in the capital, N’Djamena, fulfilling the Kingdom’s pledge announced in Jeddah at the 2024 Donors’ Conference to Support Displaced Persons and Refugees in the Sahel and Lake Chad Region.
The launch was attended by Mohammed Al-Salem, charge d’affaires of the Saudi Embassy, with representatives of international and local humanitarian organizations.
The initiative aims to distribute 61,915 food baskets across 14 states, benefiting 200,000 people, including families and internally displaced people.
In Yemen, KSrelief launched a comprehensive health services program for women and their families in the Sayoun district of Hadramout, focusing on reintegrating them into society.
The program aims to benefit 180 individuals through medical consultations and examinations, provision of medication, and awareness sessions on public health and disease prevention.
It includes child vaccinations, primary and reproductive health care, and psychological referrals.
Amer Saeed Al-Amri, undersecretary of Hadramout governorate for valley and desert affairs, praised KSrelief’s efforts to rehabilitate and empower women.
Source: arabnews.com
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North America
National security concerns delay trial of Montreal teen facing terrorism charges
Oct 14, 2025
The trial of a Montreal teen facing terrorism charges has been delayed until December after the Crown announced that some evidence could not be shared with the defence at this time.
The 17-year-old, accused of planning to carry out a terrorist attack on behalf of the Islamic State, was in Quebec youth court Tuesday morning.
“The Federal Court will decide whether disclosing the evidence could be prejudicial to national security, national defence or international relations, but the court will balance all those issues,” Crown prosecutor Marc Cigana told reporters outside the courtroom.
Defence lawyer Tiago Murias said he couldn’t proceed without that evidence.
The Crown agreed with the defence’s request for a delay, and the judge set the next hearing for Dec. 18. The teen will remain detained.
The RCMP allege the suspect was planning a terror attack on behalf of the Islamic State and was saving money to buy an AK-47-like rifle. He was arrested by 40 RCMP officers at his home in Côte-des-Neiges—Notre-Dame-de-Grâce on Aug. 20.
The charges against him include assaulting a police officer causing bodily harm, participating in the activity of a terrorist group, facilitating a terrorist activity and financing a terrorist activity. If convicted, the Crown will ask that he be given an adult sentence.
Source: torontosun.com
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CAIR Condemns Maryland School Board VP’s ‘Dangerous’ Call to Protest Local Mosque’s Open House
October 14, 2025
DC-based Muslim civil rights and advocacy group calls on local law enforcement to provide security
The Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MD), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned Washington County School Board of Education Vice President Mike Guessford’s “dangerous” call for protesters to target the Islamic Society of Western Maryland’s (ISWMD) upcoming interfaith open house event.
In response to a Herald-Mail Media Facebook post about the mosque’s interfaith event scheduled for October 18, Guessford commented, “We need to protest.”
The open house, hosted annually by the Islamic Society of Western Maryland (ISWMD), invites neighbors of all faiths to visit the mosque, meet their Muslim neighbors and strengthen community ties.
“It’s unacceptable and dangerous for an elected official entrusted with shaping the education and moral development of children in the county to target a peaceful interfaith event designed to build understanding,” said CAIR’s Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry. “A call to protest a mosque’s open house – an event intended to promote unity and education – also betrays the values of inclusion respect that our state and schools should uphold.”
“We stand with the Islamic Society of Western Maryland and every Marylander who believes in the right to worship freely without harassment or intimidation,” Chaudry added.
She said CAIR is in contact with mosque leaders to lend support and ensure the safety and well-being of the congregation and the broader community.
The Washington, D.C., based civil rights organization is also calling on Washington County Public Schools to publicly affirm its commitment to diversity and inclusion and to review whether Guessford’s comments are consistent with the standards expected of elected school officials.
Chaudry said CAIR encourages community members to attend the mosque’s open house in a spirit of peace and solidarity.
CAIR offers a “Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety” booklet to help keep religious facilities safe. The advice in the booklet is applicable to all houses of worship.
Earlier this year, CAIR released its 2025 Civil Rights Report “Unconstitutional Crackdowns,” which reveals that Islamophobia continues to be at an all-time high across the country. CAIR said viewpoint discrimination against those speaking out against genocide and apartheid was a key factor in many cases.
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
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24 hours with Trump on diplomatic tornado through Middle East
October 14, 2025
Tom Bateman
US President Donald Trump's day-long trip to the Middle East came as the Gaza deal was clinched: an agreement coming into force amounting to one of the most critical moments yet after two years of catastrophic war.
Painting as he does in primary colours, Trump's portrayal was vivid - of the biggest turning point in three millennia. On the return flight in the early hours of Tuesday, he reflected that it had been a "historic day, to put it mildly". He had earlier suggested "everlasting peace" had been grasped under his tutelage, in a region long convulsed by violence.
As part of the White House press corps, we were travelling on Air Force One – which is how I found myself at the centre of this US diplomatic tornado.
As we headed for Tel Aviv, the presidential plane took a turn to do a fly-by of the beach. It dipped a wing so we could get a view of a giant sign atop the sand that said "thank you" to Trump, and featured the Israeli flag as well as an outline of the US president's head in profile.
The manoeuvre set the mood for a trip that was a victory lap, rather than an exercise in setting out the punishing detail for starting "phase two" of the negotiations and securing a longer-term future for Gaza.
The agreement made in Doha last week was under intensive pressure on the sides from Trump. It marked one of the most profound moments for millions of people in the last two years: major combat operations in Gaza ceased, the remaining living hostages held by Hamas released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, and Palestinians in Gaza returning to the ruins of their homes in the north amid a partial withdrawal by Israeli troops.
But I found Trump's journey was in fact to a waypoint, not a destination - a fragile truce in a century-old conflict which shows no real signs of being solved.
The most immediate question hanging over the trip was whether Trump's deal could hold - and whether more intensive, arguably harder, negotiations could now build on it.
During the flight, Trump came back to speak to us. Standing in the doorway as we crowded around, he clearly wanted to build up the sense of achievement, frequently referring to his own role in negotiating the deal.
"Every country is dancing in the streets," he said repeatedly. I pressed him on whether the ceasefire would stay intact. He was confident it would, saying there were "a lot of reasons why it's going to hold". But he glossed over the really big questions about what comes next, particularly how to secure and govern Gaza.
I asked him about the proposed multinational force, or International Stabilization Force (ISF), outlined in his 20-point plan but whose existence has yet to be agreed by the sides.
"It's going to be a big, strong force," said Trump, adding that it would "barely" have to be used because "people are going to behave, everybody knows their place".
On the tarmac in Tel Aviv, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu greeted Trump with a red carpet and a military band. We then zoomed off in the motorcade towards Jerusalem, along the Route 1 motorway which had been completely cleared for the presidential convoy.
The same day, thousands watched a giant screen in a public plaza in Tel Aviv that has become known as Hostages Square. They shed tears of joy and relief as the hostages were released by Hamas in Gaza. Trump's arrival was the other half of this split-screen moment – pictures were beamed out of the US president setting foot on Israeli territory.
In the chamber of the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, the mood was altogether more raucous than that in the streets.
Emblazoned on the red baseball caps handed out by staff, and worn by some of the audience, were the words: "The president of peace". Spectators shouted from the gallery behind me: "Thank you Trump." Lawmakers hammered their desks. Trump hailed a "historic dawn of a new Middle East".
He also wanted to leave little doubt that the war was over, and it seemed he expected it to stay that way: Israel, he said, with America's help, had won all that it could "by force of arms". His speech meandered into extensive attacks on his political opponents in the US. He praised a major donor to his election campaign seated in the gallery.
And he even appealed to Israel's president, Isaac Herzog, sitting next to him, to pardon Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption – charges that the Israeli PM denies. "Cigars and champagne, who the hell cares about that?" Trump exclaimed, referencing the allegation that Netanyahu accepted pricy gifts.
The White House press officers who chaperone the press pool - the "wranglers" - took us back into the media vans and the motorcade made its way back to Ben Gurion airport after fewer than seven hours in Israel.
We took the short flight to Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt; location of the mediated talks between Israel and Hamas that led to last week's breakthrough. On our descent, Egyptian F16s escorted us - the ultimate show for the president who loves displays of military might.
Trump had wanted to celebrate every minute of the day.
But the dangers in this region are many, and the risk seemed clear that he was declaring the ultimate deal before really landing it.
That was reflected in the giant sign, written in capital letters, above the presidential podium in Sharm el-Sheikh: "PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST".
There, I watched the extraordinary sight of world leaders filing into a room to stand behind Trump as he made his speech hailing peace. They lined up in front of their national flags and listened as he listed their countries one by one.
Trump had been introduced to the stage by the host, Egyptian president Abdel Fatah el-Sisi, who said that the goal remained a two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians.
Trump has changed his position markedly since the start of this year. He became increasingly irritated by the Israeli leadership and was drawn closer to his friends in the Gulf. That came amid a diplomatic move by the Europeans to isolate Israel over its escalating campaign in Gaza and to get the Saudi leadership onboard with their vision. Trump then shifted, drawn by his Gulf allies – whose wealth and "power" he frequently referred to during the trip.
Trump presided over the signing ceremony in Sharm saying it had taken "3,000 years" to get here. But there are still many more years to go - and it will take more than one man to get there.
Follow the twists and turns of Trump's second term with North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher's weekly US Politics Unspun newsletter. Readers in the UK can sign up here. Those outside the UK can sign up here.
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c93xprvdy23o
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Can a hero’s welcome in Israel make Trump forget the Nobel Peace Prize?
14 Oct, 2025
On Monday, US President Donald Trump was awarded an honor few state leaders enjoy in their lifetime – the historic opportunity to address the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem.
In fact, the only American president to have had such an honor was George W. Bush in 2008, which is rather strange, considering how many times Israeli leaders have addressed the US Congress.
“No American president has ever done more for Israel, and as I said in Washington, it ain’t even close. It’s not really a match,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Judging by the triumphant atmosphere surrounding Trump’s visit, most Israelis agreed with their leader for a change. In the Knesset and on the street, people were seen dancing while sporting MAGA-style hats that read “Trump The Peace President.”
And peace is exactly what most Israelis are craving today as the country recently acknowledged the passage of a grim anniversary. Two years ago, on October 7, 2023, some 1,200 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken captive in Hamas’ attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border. On Monday, the last 20 surviving hostages were returned to Israel.
For its part, Israel has released nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees, many of whom were sent to Gaza or exiled to neighboring countries.
An international team will work on finding the remains of hostages which haven't been returned, with many believed to be buried under the rubble somewhere inside the demolition zone known as the Gaza Strip.
Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace roadmap begins with a comprehensive ceasefire, the release of all captives, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces to agreed lines. While it’s far short of the formal recognition of statehood for the Palestinian people, it just might be, in the words of Donald Trump, “the dawn of a new Middle East.”
For his efforts, many Trump supporters believed that the US leader deserved to win the coveted Nobel Peace Prize, which was announced last week. Yet not only was Trump snubbed for his work between Israel and Hamas, but he was passed over for six or seven other achievements as well, including helping the peace process between India and Pakistan, Israel and Iran, and Azerbaijan and Armenia.
The White House is of the opinion that the Nobel Committee had placed “politics over peace” when it selected Maria Corina Machado, leader of Venezuela’s opposition, as the honoree this year.
However, Trump departed the Middle East with some nice consolation prizes for his blood, sweat and tears on behalf of peace. He was awarded the Israeli Presidential Medal of Honor by Israeli President Isaac Herzog, while Netanyahu submitted Trump’s nomination to make him the first non-Israeli recipient of the “Israel Prize,” which is regarded as the state’s highest cultural honor.
“Through his tireless efforts, President Trump has not only helped bring our loved ones home but has also laid the foundations for a new era in the Middle East built on security, cooperation, and genuine hope for a peaceful future,” Herzog said in a statement. “It will be a great honor for me to present him with the Israeli Presidential Medal of Honor.”
The bestowing of the US leader with lavish honors did not stop there. In a state visit to Egypt on Tuesday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi awarded the Nile Collar to Trump in recognition of his distinguished contributions to “supporting peace efforts, defusing conflicts, and most recently, his pivotal role in ending the war in Gaza.”
The question remains, however: will these prestigious honors and sparkling trinkets make Trump forget the sting of being snubbed by the world’s ultimate award, the Nobel Peace Prize? After all, since his return to the White House, Trump’s campaign to influence the Norwegian Nobel Committee has been anything but subtle. Indeed, never has a Nobel Peace Prize loomed so large over a US president and their foreign policy.
In fact, many observers believe it was no coincidence that Washington’s 20-point Gaza peace plan was wrapped up on Friday – the same day as the Nobel committee announced its winner.
Trump has struggled to conceal his bitterness about the award. “If I were named Obama, I would have had the Nobel prize given to me in 10 seconds,” he remarked last year during the presidential race, before denying that he was actively seeking the prize. “No matter what I do, they won’t give it up and I’m not politicking for it.”
When all is said and done, perhaps state awards from Israel and Egypt are worth far more to Donald Trump than politically skewered international awards, like Norway’s prestigious prize. In any event, it is fortunate that Trump received at least some material acknowledgements for his peace efforts, lest he deem it more worthwhile to call up his newly rebranded Department of War and raise hell – the man wants to go down in history, and if his Western counterparts stubbornly refuse to recognize his peace efforts, there’s always the other option.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/626419-trump-nobel-israel-award/
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