After 'No Non-Hindus' Call, Shani Temple in Maharashtra Fires 114 Muslim Staff
New Age Islam News Bureau
14 June 2025
Maharashtra: After 'no non-Hindus' call, Shani temple fires 114 Muslim staff
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· After 'No Non-Hindus' Call, Shani Temple in Maharashtra Fires 114 Muslim Staff
· Explosions Rock Tel Aviv, Jerusalem As Iran Fires Ballistic Missiles Into Israel
· ‘Britain United: Tackling Anti-Muslim Hatred Is Part of the Solution’
· CAIR-Chicago Condemns Islamophobic Fear-Mongering by the new President of the Federation of Indian Associations
· Makkah’s Two Holy Mosques Architecture Exhibition Unveils 1,400 Years Of Sacred Architecture
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India
· Chhattisgarh Replaces Urdu, Persian Police Terms - 'Halafnama' With 'Shapath Patra' 'Dafa' With 'Dhara', 'Fariyadi' With 'Shikayatkarta' And 'Chasmdid' With 'Pratyakshdarshi'
· RIP: Places Of Worship Remember The DeadAir India 171 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner Crash
· ‘Fails To Precisely Depict Borders’: Israeli Military Apologises Over Map Showing J&K In Pakistan
· Assam CM orders shoot-at-sight in restive Dhubri
· Iran tensions spark concern in Mumbai’s Persian heritage communities
· Why TMC’s Appointment Of A Sufi Shrine Cleric Is A Significant Move As Bengal Politics Simmers
· Mirwaiz Umar Farooq calls post-370 normalcy narrative a ‘myth’
· Hizb-ut-Tahrir Terror Case: NIA Conducts Searches In Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan
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Mideast
· Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement Condemns Zionist Aggression Against Iran
· Palestinian Endowments condemn Occupation closure of al-Aqsa Mosque, Ibrahimi Mosque
· At UN, Iran accuses US of being complicit in Israeli strikes
· US helps Israel shoot down barrage of Iranian missiles
· Netanyahu calls on Iranians to unite against ‘evil and oppressive regime’
· Palestinian ambassador: UK should recognize statehood to help end ‘deadly status quo’
· Arab world, Middle East condemn Israel’s attacks against Iran
· UN nuclear watchdog chief ready to travel to Iran to assess situation
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Europe
· Labour Councillors In Bedford Say Muslim Network Report Is A ‘Wake-Up Call’
· 'Anti-Islam' terrorist who attacked Welsh police station jailed for life
· Sydney Muslim Cleric Revels In Being ‘Deliberately Provocative’ And Must Be Restrained By Law, Court Hears
· Azerbaijan`s Foreign Ministry advises citizens of Azerbaijan to refrain from traveling to Iran
· Royals To Honour Air Crash Victims At Trooping The Colour
· Russia hands over another 1,200 bodies of soldiers to Ukraine
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North America
· Trump Says Iran Has ‘Second Chance’ To Come To Nuclear Deal After Israeli Strikes Devastate Tehran
· MAGA Rep Debuts 'Giant Christian Tattoos' — After Rumours He's A Secret Muslim
· Multiple agencies respond to incident at Islamic Centre of Mississippi and Alabama
· Trump struggles with Iran message as Republicans diverge over attack
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Arab World
· Saudi Arabia re-elected to IGC administrative committee
· Saudi Crown Prince Discuss Repercussions Of Israel-Iran Clash With Macron, Meloni
· How Saudi Arabia’s OceanQuest is making waves in global marine conservation
· Saudi crown prince, President Trump discuss regional tensions in phone call
· Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques launches Umrah season programs
· Saudi Cycling Federation signs strategic partnership with global cycle powerhouse
· Saudi airports issue travel alert after airspace closures amid Israel-Iran tension
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South Asia
· Islamic Emirate Strongly Condemns Zionist Regime’s “Unjustified And Illegitimate” Aggression On Iran
· National unity, solidarity essential for achieving lasting peace, Haqqani
· IEA delegation attends International Conference of Ministers of Education in Kazan
· No major crimes reported this Eid, law and order improved: Home adviser
· Bangladesh concerned over Israeli attack on Iran
· No communal, political motive behind attack on Kachharibari
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Africa
· Activists stopped in Libya and Egypt ahead of planned march on Gaza
· Presidency Speaks On Issuing Fresh Honour List Featuring Aisha Yesufu, A Staunch Supporter Of Labour Party
· Court Shifts NnamdiKanu’s Trial To DSS Headquarters
· Tinubu pardons the Ogoni Nine activists, 30 years after their execution
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Southeast Asia
· Surah Yasin Recital Held In Ipoh Commemorating UPSI Crash, Other Fatal Incidents
· Muslim Convert Loses Appeal To Restore Birth Name On Identity Card
· Legislator backs govt plan for Indonesian Hajj Village in S Arabia
· Malians gather to replasterDjenne’s iconic mud mosque in annual heritage ritual
· Sabah ranks third nationally as RM10.9b in Q1 investments exceed full-year 2024 figure
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/non-hindus-temple-maharashtra-muslim-staff/d/135871
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After 'No Non-Hindus' Call, Shani Temple in Maharashtra Fires 114 Muslim Staff
Jun 14, 2025
Maharashtra: After 'no non-Hindus' call, Shani temple fires 114 Muslim staff
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NASHIK: The trust managing the Shani Shingnapur shrine in Maharashtra's Ahilyanagar has recently laid off 167 staffers on "disciplinary grounds". Of them, 114 (68%) are Muslims, a temple source said.
The trust, Shri ShaneshwarDevasthan, has attributed the sackings to "non-performance and long absenteeism" but not cited any specific reasons. The staffers, working for 2-10 years, were sacked in two rounds on June 8 and June 13.
An outfit named Sakal Hindu Samaj had threatened a protest on June 14 demanding removal of non-Hindus working in the shrine in Shanishingnapur. This followed a viral video in May showing a man, purportedly not a Hindu, carrying out painting work at the shrine.
Devasthan CEO GorakshanathDarandale justified the removals and denied bias.
"There is no question of discrimination in the action. Those removed are from different faiths. The action was strictly disciplinary in nature. Over 2,400 employees work with Devasthan. Many do not report to work. Devasthan had held back their salaries and served show-cause notices. This is the first batch against whom action has been taken," Darandale said.
Another senior Devasthan official said those sacked "were engaged in agriculture, waste management and education departments of the temple trust". "Some have been absent from work for five months."
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/maharashtra-after-no-non-hindus-call-shani-temple-fires-114-muslim-staff/articleshow/121838062.cms
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Explosions Rock Tel Aviv, Jerusalem As Iran Fires Ballistic Missiles Into Israel
June 13, 2025
By George OshogweOgbolu
Explosions lit up the skies over Tel Aviv and Jerusalem on Friday night as air raid sirens wailed across Israel following a barrage of missiles launched from Iran, escalating tensions between the two regional rivals.
According to Israeli military officials, the missiles were fired in retaliation for Israel’s massive airstrikes on Iranian territory, which included an unprecedented assault on Iran’s underground nuclear facility at Natanz and targeted strikes that killed several top Iranian military commanders.
Iran’s state news agency IRNA confirmed that hundreds of ballistic missiles were launched in response to what it called “Israel’s biggest-ever attacks” on Iranian soil.
The Israeli military described its campaign as the beginning of “Operation Rising Lion,” while Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused Israel of initiating full-scale war. “They have started it,” he said in a televised address. “And they will receive a bitter response.”
As night fell, Iranian media reported explosions near key locations including Tehran’s northern and southern outskirts, as well as the Fordow nuclear site near Qom, which had initially been spared during the first wave of Israeli strikes.
Additional blasts were heard in Isfahan, where Israel later confirmed it had struck another nuclear facility.
Israel said its forces were actively targeting Iranian missile and drone launch sites.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a televised address, framed the strikes as an existential defense mission.
“This campaign will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat,” Netanyahu declared.
“Generations from now, history will record our generation stood its ground, acted in time, and secured our common future.”
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump urged Iran to abandon its retaliation and return to nuclear negotiations.
“I tried to save Iran humiliation and death,” Trump told Reuters in a phone interview, “They can still work out a deal; it’s not too late.”
Though nuclear talks between Iran and the United States were scheduled for Sunday, Trump admitted it was uncertain whether they would proceed given the rapidly unfolding crisis.
Earlier on Truth Social, the former U.S. president posted: “Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left.”
Israel’s National Security Adviser TzachiHanegbi echoed this sentiment, noting that while military action alone might not dismantle Iran’s nuclear program, it could pave the way for a long-term diplomatic solution.
“Military action won’t destroy Iran’s nuclear program,” Hanegbi said, “but it can create the conditions for a long-term deal, led by the United States.”
As of Friday night, air defense systems remained on high alert in both countries, and regional airlines diverted flights as fears of a wider Middle East conflict loomed.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/06/13/breaking-explosions-rock-tel-aviv-jerusalem-as-iran-fires-ballistics-missiles-into-israel/
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‘Britain United: Tackling Anti-Muslim Hatred Is Part of the Solution’
Focus group discussions showed that the general British public often do not have a detailed understanding of Islam, even if they consider themselves supportive. (Image: Nq)
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Drew on a nationwide poll of Muslims and people of other (and no) faiths, focus group discussions and the analysis of a public advertising campaign.
The report was headed by Dr Mohammed Sinan Siyech for Equi a think tank. Sentiments of anti-Muslim hatred and social cohesion were measured by asking participants if they would defend a Muslim (or person of another faith) if they saw this person being harassed by other members of the public.
Other questions were related to how participants viewed Islam and Muslims in the UK, and whether they were aware of some of the altruistic aspects of Islam, such as Zakat, a core pillar of Islam that obligates Muslims to pay a portion of their annual savings to vulnerable members of society.
The report said: “Anti-Muslim hatred affects social cohesion and trust between communities and the government, especially following events like the 2024 summer riots.
“Anti-Muslim hatred leads to a breakdown of intercommunity relations. Many British Muslims feel unfairly targeted under anti-terrorism measures like the Prevent strategy. Mistrust between British Muslims, the government and broader society undermines social cohesion and fosters alienation.
“Anti-Muslim hatred constitutes a significant economic burden on the country, with the total estimated costs of the summer riots of 2024 amounting to a minimum of £243 million.
"Direct economic costs include the effects of violent hate crimes, riot policing expenses, prison costs, as well as insurance and riot compensation claims.”
The report said ‘targeted public awareness campaigns with examples of Muslims’ positive role in society can lead to positive shifts in attitudes. The majority of the UK population hold positive views or are neutral towards British Muslims, even if their overall knowledge of Islam is low.’
The report was based findings from 14 focus groups polling of 2,000 people.
Focus group discussions showed that the general British public often do not have a detailed understanding of Islam, even if they consider themselves supportive.
Overall, respondents felt that their knowledge of Islam was insufficient to defend British Muslims in public, when they saw anti-Muslim hatred.
However, according to findings: “When presented with tangible, positive examples of Islam’s role in people’s lives, positive shifts in opinions were noted, even amongst segments of society that did not consider themselves supportive.
"These findings demonstrate that an active effort invested into dispelling myths can help promote better social cohesion while actively reducing hatred towards Muslims in the process."
A 60-year-old white male told the report: “The only time you hear about Islam on the TV is usually extreme. That does give a fairly negative view, but when I interact with followers of Islam, they are often kind, gentle, family type people”
Key findings from the polling and focus group discussions revealed that 16% of participants had concerns about both Islam and Muslims. The remaining 84% were either neutral (38%) or proclaimed no negative sentiments towards Muslims (46%) specifically.
Most participants were reluctant to overtly defend Islam, but 56% said they would stand up for an individual being harassed in public, including Muslims, demonstrating a differentiation between British Muslims and Islam as a religion.
Fifty-six percent believed that Muslims had a strong sense of community and 50% believed that Muslims felt a purpose to living their lives, demonstrating some level of positive sentiment towards Muslims.
In the focus groups, there was a focus on how the media presented Islam negatively, and how there was an overwhelming lack of understanding about some of the core values of Islam.
Most focus group participants were largely unresponsive and reluctant to engage when they felt they did not understand the religious practice they were asked about.
Most people of non-Muslim backgrounds in the focus groups were not aware of Zakat, but when informed, they were broadly supportive and became more positive towards the religion.
Focus group participants were much more engaged when given practical examples and demonstrations of the core tenets of the religion
The report asks for the ‘government to champion a unifying vision for the UK, countering the rise of misinformation, political polarisation and divisive rhetoric.’
There were also calls for ‘the government to recognise the damage that is done in allowing language that exacerbates divisions to go unchallenged.’
Rather than focusing on responding to divisive narratives, ’leaders should emphasise shared values like respect for all, equality and liberty.'
The findings also call for the government to make the tackling of anti-Muslim hatred a priority in their efforts to improve social cohesion and address anti-Muslim hatred, alongside other forms of group-based discrimination such as racism, xenophobia and antisemitism, is key to improving social cohesion.
The government should also develop a cross-departmental strategy to engage community groups, including faith and belief actors, as key delivery partners in the fight against anti-Muslim hatred and for improving social cohesion, with clear mechanisms for funding, capacity-building and accountability.
Professor Javed Khan OBE, Managing Director of Equi said: “Britain’s diverse and welcoming cultural identity is one of its greatest strengths. But we cannot leave social cohesion to chance.
"Failing to address social division is not only unjust but fiscally draining, at a time when resources are scarce.
“But knowing most Britons are not getting sucked into divisive language that can destroy community relations, should give us great hope.
"The government should use its unique platform to build on this and articulate a unifying vision for the nation. Rather than focussing on responding to divisive narratives, leaders should emphasise our shared values like respect, equality and liberty.
“As Britain’s 4 million Muslims celebrated Eid, this report provides a timely and urgent reminder – with a clear focus from the government, a stronger, peaceful and cohesive UK is within reach."
Source: asianimage.co.uk
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https://www.asianimage.co.uk/news/united_kingdom/25235621.calls-unite-britain-tackling-misconceptions-muslims/
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CAIR-Chicago Condemns Islamophobic Fear-Mongering by the new President of the Federation of Indian Associations
June 13, 2025
The Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) today expressed serious concern regarding the recent Islamophobic fear mongering by Hemant Patel, the new President of the Federation of Indian Associations (FIA). Under Hemant Patel’s leadership, Shree Sanatan, the organization for which he serves as president, distributed a flyer containing content that CAIR-Chicago believes promotes harmful stereotypes and misinformation, that he personally shared on his public social media platforms in May 2025, raising concern among members of the local community.
Mr. Patel has shared messages associated with extremist political Hindu Supremacist ideologies and debunked Islamophobic conspiracy theories. Mr. Patel has appeared at events featuring speakers affiliated with the RSS, including individuals whose public remarks have been condemned by human rights groups for promoting anti-Muslim sentiment and for calling for a mass slaughter of Muslims.
“Embracing and elevating a figure whose public associations and rhetoric raise serious concerns about the spread of Islamophobia and anti-Muslim bias in Chicago is a moral failure. The FIA should be uniting our communities, not importing hate. We demand that the FIA find a new President that delivers on the timely need to unite our communities against all forms of racism, xenophobia, and fascism. Chicago deserves better leadership, leadership that reflects our city’s values of inclusion, justice, and mutual respect.” — Ahmed Rehab, Executive Director, CAIR-Chicago
Pushkar Sharma, Executive Director of SACRED (South Asian American Coalition to Renew Democracy) said:
“At a moment when immigrant and minority faith communities face increasing hate, organizations like FIA have a moral responsibility to stand up for all marginalized communities.
“As an Indian-American I am personally offended by Mr. Hemant Patel’s actions spreading hateful disinformation and apparently seeking to financially profit from it.
“I call on Mr. Patel to reject bigotry and to instead promote intercommunity cooperation. If he refuses, FIA members should immediately elect a principled leader who can.”
CAIR-Chicago’s mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
Source: cair.com
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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-chicago-condemns-islamophobic-fear-mongering-by-hemant-patel-the-new-president-of-the-federation-of-indian-associations/
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Makkah’s Two Holy Mosques Architecture Exhibition unveils 1,400 years of sacred architecture
June 13, 2025
The Two Holy Mosques Architecture Exhibition, housed in a renovated 1,200-square-meter facility in the Um Al-Joud neighborhood, is presenting rare artifacts. (SPA)
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MAKKAH: Visitors to Makkah are being offered an unprecedented journey through Islamic architectural history, showcasing the remarkable evolution of the Grand Mosque and Prophet’s Mosque across 14 centuries of development.
The Two Holy Mosques Architecture Exhibition, housed in a renovated 1,200 sq. meter facility in the Um Al-Joudneighborhood, is presenting rare artifacts and architectural models that document the transformation of Islam’s most sacred sites.
The exhibition building itself exemplifies the fusion of traditional and contemporary Islamic design, with architectural elements deliberately echoing the Grand Mosque’s distinctive style.
According to the Saudi Press Agency, this design philosophy creates an immersive environment in which visitors experience visual and cultural connections to the sacred spaces.
Following comprehensive upgrades, the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque has launched the exhibition’s trial operations phase. The modernization included complete technical infrastructure overhauls, contemporary presentation methods for historical artifacts, and sophisticated lighting systems that illuminate intricate details while enhancing the visitor experience.
The exhibition’s renewed mission extends beyond simple display, aiming to transmit the Two Holy Mosques’ heritage to both Islamic communities and global audiences, the SPA said.
Through interactive experiences and educational programming, the facility seeks to broaden understanding of Islamic architectural principles, while connecting contemporary visitors with their civilizational roots.
Those interested in visiting can schedule appointments through the official booking portal at https://visits.alharamain.gov.sa/
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2604424/saudi-arabia
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India
Chhattisgarh Replaces Urdu, Persian Police Terms - 'Halafnama' With 'Shapath Patra' 'Dafa' With 'Dhara', 'Fariyadi' With 'Shikayatkarta' And 'Chasmdid' With 'Pratyakshdarshi'
14.06.25
The Chhattisgarh government has replaced Urdu and Persian words used in police official records with Hindi terms that can be easily understood by a layperson, in order to make policing more accessible, transparent and communicative, an official here said on Saturday.
Replacing 'halafnama' with 'shapathpatra' (affidavit), 'dafa' with 'dhara' (section), 'fariyadi' with 'shikayatkarta' (complainant) and 'chasmdid' with 'pratyakshdarshi' (eyewitness) are some of the examples of this.
On the instructions of Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, who also holds the home portfolio, the Director General of Police (DGP) has issued a letter to the district Superintendents of Police (SPs) in this regard stating that difficult and traditional words used in police functioning should be changed with simple and clear Hindi terms, an official statement said.
A list of 109 words with their Hindi alternatives have been provided with the letter suggesting to be used in place of old difficult words, it said.
When a common citizen visits a police station for any complaint, crime information or other work, he/she is often confused about the language used in the FIR or other documents of the police. Words of other languages are unknown to common people, due to which they are neither able to explain their point properly nor understand the entire process properly, Deputy CM Sharma said on Friday.
If the purpose of the police is to help and protect the citizens, then its language should also be such that it is understood by the citizens and increases their confidence, he added.
According to the statement, it has also been directed in this letter that all the subordinate officers should be made aware of the change and it should be ensured that the order should not remain a mere formality but its actual implementation should be seen in every police post, police station and office of the state.
The Chhattisgarh police will now not only become an institution that enforces law but also become a medium of public communication. This simplification of language will help the complainant to clearly state, hear and understand their case. Procedures like FIR, which was so far understood only by advocates or police personnel, will now be understandable to the common citizens too, it added.
Some of the words which will be replaced with simple Hindi terms are 'khayanat' to be replaced with 'hadapna' (to usurp), 'goshwara' with 'naksha' (map), 'nakabjani' with 'sendh' (burglary), 'maalmashruka' with 'looti-chorikigaisampatti' (looted assets), 'rojnamcha' with 'samanyadainiki' (general diary), 'shinakht' with 'pehchan' (identification), 'adalatdiwani' with 'civil nyayalay' (civil court), 'faujdariadalat' with 'dandiknyayalay' (criminal court), 'jarayam' with 'apradh' (crime), 'jaydademashruka' with 'kurk hui sampatti' (confiscated property), 'zilabadar' with 'nirvasan' (externment) and 'sakin' with 'pata' (address), it said.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/chhattisgarh-replaces-urdu-persian-police-terms-with-easy-hindi-for-public-understanding/cid/2107814
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RIP: Places Of Worship Remember The DeadAir India 171 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner Crash
Jun 14, 2025
Kolkata: People from different faiths came together in Kolkata to express grief and solidarity following the tragic crash of an Air India 171 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner in Ahmedabad, which occurred shortly after take-off on Thursday and claimed 274 lives.
Various places of worship across the city organised special prayers, uniting people in remembering the victims and expressing solidarity with the families of the deceased. Emergency services personnel who participated in rescue operations were also acknowledged in public prayers.
At the Nakhoda mosque on Zakaria Street, special prayers were offered for the victims and their families after the Friday prayers. The trustees of the mosque also released a condolence message after the prayer, expressing deep sorrow. "We, the citizens of this country, are deeply saddened by the tragic airplane crash in Ahmedabad, which has claimed many lives and left families in grief. We stand with the families in this hour of grief. May the departed souls find eternal peace, and may those left behind find love and comfort in the prayers of the community. May God grant strength to those mourning their loved ones and guide the hands of those working tirelessly in rescue and relief operations," read the message signed by Nasser Ebrahim, a trustee of the mosque.
The members of the Sikh community, who were observing the Gurpurab of Guru Hargobind Singh Ji on Thursday, also held special prayers. At Gurdwara Behala, an Ardaas (Sikh prayer) seeking peace for the departed souls and unwavering strength for the bereaved families enduring unspeakable loss was held. Special prayers were offered not only for the victims of Flight 171 but also for the broader community affected by this grief.
"Guru Hargobind Singh Ji taught us the path of compassion, courage, and collective responsibility. In times of joy and sorrow, the Sangat stands united as one family, extending its prayers and support to those in need. Today, our Ardaas for the departed souls of Flight 171 is a tribute to their memory," said Satnam Singh Ahluwalia, general secretary of the gurdwara.
Special prayers were held at the Archbishop's chapel on Friday morning to express grief for the deceased. Many churches will also be offering prayers for the deceased and their families after the Mass on Sunday. "Our prayers are with the souls of the deceased. May they find eternal rest. We offer our prayers for the families and loved ones of the victims. May they find strength and solace in this incredibly difficult time," said Father Dominic Gomes, the Vicar General.
Members of The Old Mission Church on RN Mukherjee Road will be remembering the victims during the Sunday Mass. "We have already offered our condolences and prayers in our WhatsApp group of the members. On Sunday, we will be offering a prayer again during the Mass," said an office bearer of the church.
Samaj Sebi Sangha in south Kolkata will remember the victims during their Khuti Puja. "The loss of so many lives has shocked us. We will be praying for the departed souls during the Khuti Puja on Sunday," said ArijitMaitra, general secretary of the puja committee.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/rip-places-of-worship-remember-the-dead/articleshow/121836391.cms
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‘Fails to precisely depict borders’: Israeli military apologises over map showing J&K in Pakistan
14.06.25
The Israeli military on Saturday apologised for posting a map that incorrectly depicted Jammu and Kashmir as part of Pakistan after objections from Indian social media users, clarifying that the image "fails to precisely depict borders".
The map was posted by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) on their X handle on Friday to show the range of Iranian missiles. The post quickly drew criticism from social media users in India. "Now you understand why India remains neutral. In diplomacy, no one’s really your friend," one user commented on X.
In response, the IDF admitted that the map "fails to precisely depict borders".
"This post is an illustration of the region. This map fails to precisely depict borders. We apologize for any offense caused by this image," IDF said on X.
"Iran is a global threat. Israel is not the end goal, it’s only the beginning. We had no other choice but to act," the IDF earlier posted along with the incorrect map, justifying the launch of Operation Rising Lion against Iran. The Israeli Air Force also posted a short video carrying a similar map, showing the range of the Iranian missiles.
In response to the controversy, Israeli Ambassador to India Reuven Azar on X described the map as "bad unintended" infographics.
He said he had already asked to get the map removed/fixed.
India has consistently maintained that Jammu and Kashmir, along with Ladakh, is an integral part of the country.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/world/fails-to-precisely-depict-borders-israeli-military-apologises-over-map-showing-jk-in-pakistan/cid/2107813
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Assam CM orders shoot-at-sight in restive Dhubri
June 14, 2025
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday (June 13, 2025) gave a shoot-at-sight order to check communal tension in Dhubri town, about 290 km west of Guwahati. The town, headquarters of the Dhubri district, has been on edge since the severed head of a cow was found in front of a Hanuman Temple on June 8, a day after Id-ul-Azha (Bakrid) was observed.
“The matter was resolved as leaders from both communities met, but the head of another cow was placed at the same spot the very next day, escalating tension,” Mr. Sarma told journalists after visiting Dhubri to assess the law-and-order situation there.
“I have ordered a shoot-at-sight in Dhubri if any kind of untoward situation happens. The order is applicable for any illegal activities, including stone-pelting,” he said.
The Chief Minister also issued a directive to immediately arrest all known criminals in the district, which he said has been targeted by fundamentalist forces in Bangladesh for a long time. “Central security forces have been deployed in the communally sensitive areas to maintain peace and order,” he said.
He also said there was an organised attempt to incite communal unrest through a campaign to make Dhubri a part of Bangladesh. He said secessionist posters attributed to a group named ‘Nabin Bangla’ were pasted in parts of the district – one even on an Army Signals infrastructure – calling for a fight to make Dhubri a part of Bangladesh.
“A series of events aimed at stoking communal violence indicates a Bangladeshi force is at work in Dhubri,” he said.
Mr. Sarma further said that a new network of cattle smugglers has increased its activities over the past few months, bringing in cattle in large numbers from West Bengal. “We will investigate who is behind this network,” he said, asserting the government’s commitment to enforcing law and order and defeating all communal forces.
Muslims, mostly Bengali speakers, are in the majority in the Dhubri district. According to the 2011 Census, Muslims account for almost 74% of the district’s population.
Source: thehindu.com
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https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/assam/assam-cm-orders-shoot-at-sight-in-restive-dhubri/article69691257.ece
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Iran tensions spark concern in Mumbai’s Persian heritage communities
by Heena Khandelwal
June 13, 2025
Following Israel’s airstrikes on Tehran, members of Mumbai’s communities that share Persian heritage including both Zoroastrians and Iranian Shia Muslims have voiced concern over the escalating conflict in the region which is a distant homeland, a place of religious significance and familial ties.
“Iran has a deep and rich history that’s closely tied to the Zoroastrian and Parsi communities,” FirozaMistree, author, curator and independent researcher on Zoroastrianism, said. “Our sacred sites are there, including Takht-e Soleyman, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and we’re concerned about the potential destruction. Iran is home to around 55 fully functional fire temples and six great shrines linked to the last Zoroastrian kings. These are not just historic places, but living symbols of our faith and heritage. Our traditions, our people, our fire temples, they’re all still in Iran. Naturally, we’re worried,” she added, noting that community members have been reaching out to check on the safety of those still living there.
Zoroastrians, also known as Parsis, migrated from Persia (modern-day Iran) to the Indian subcontinent to preserve their faith and tradition and to escape religious persecution after the Arab invasion.
“We are not too many people in the world, we are only about 110,000-115,000 Zoroastrians living across the world. Iran is a very major centre with nearly 20,000 strong Zoroastrians living there, mainly in Tehran, Yazd and Kerman,” she said.
Mistree added that although Zoroastrians in India migrated from Iran long ago, “in our hearts, it is a very holy country because it is linked to our religion from where we originated from.”
Calling the incident very unfortunate, Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP)’s chairperson Viraf Mehta said, “We don’t yet know the full extent of the loss it could cause to Zoroastrians and their places of worship. But we are a very small community, and every Zoroastrian—no matter where they are in the world—matters to us.”
He further added that it is their responsibility to look out for one another. “If any of them wish to come to Mumbai and seek asylum, while that decision lies with the Government of India, the Parsi panchayat would certainly support them. We always have, and always must, look out for one another, to ensure that every Zoroastrian has a roof over their head and food on their plate.”
Another Zoroastrian whose family migrated to India from Iran over a century ago, shared that he has a few friends there. “They told me that they are alright as of now. The airport is shut. There is definitely a lot of stress but let’s see what happens,” he said, adding, “You cannot do anything. One can only pray.”
Although Zoroastrians form the majority, Mumbai’s Irani community also includes a significant number of Shia Muslims from Iran, currently estimated at around 2,500. While the city has long-standing ties with Iran evident in its substantial Zoroastrian and Bahá’í populations, a fresh wave of migration occurred in the early 19th century, predominantly comprising Iranian Muslims. These migrants, mostly from the inland cities of Shiraz and Isfahan, arrived in search of better economic prospects amid a recession in central Iran.
Many of these early Shia Iranian traders settled in areas like Umerkhadi and Dongri, where their descendants still live today. Familial connections with Iran remain strong across generations.
“We heard that Shiraz was attacked—a city many of us have visited and where some have family through marriage,” said a prominent member of Mumbai’s Iranian Muslim community. “We watch the news with trepidation, fearing for the lives of our loved ones and for the fate of a city so rich in culture and beauty being ravaged because of this war.”
Source: indianexpress.com
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Why TMC’s appointment of a Sufi shrine cleric is a significant move as Bengal politics simmers
indianexpress
ATRI MITRA
Jun 14, 2025
As the political rhetoric in West Bengal intensifies in the run-up to the Assembly elections next year with the BJP looking to push a polarising narrative, the Trinamool Congress’s (TMC) response has been to shore up its position among the minority community, and this is reflected in its recent decision to appoint Pirzada Kasem Siddiqui of the powerful Sufi shrine of Furfura Sharif a state general secretary.
Siddiqui’s appointment comes at a time when the BJP has been trying to politically gain from painting the Mamata Banerjee-led party as “anti-Hindu” over the situation in Bangladesh, Murshidabad communal violence, the Sharmistha Panoli case, and this week’s violence on the outskirts of Kolkata between two communities. Though the TMC has no reason to be apprehensive about its Muslim vote shifting — the party has been the minority community’s choice since the 2009 Lok Sabha elections — given the BJP’s strategy in the run-up to the elections, the party wants to ensure it has a lock on the community’s support and does not want to provide a smaller outfit such as Indian Secular Front (ISF) a way in to muddy the waters.
Floated by Furfura Sharif’s top cleric Abbas Siddiqui before the Assembly polls in 2021, the ISF contested that election alongside the Congress and the Left and ended up being the only party in the alliance to win a seat. It won in Bhangar, with Abbas Siddiqui’s younger brother Naushad getting elected from the constituency in what was earlier a TMC stronghold in South 24 Parganas district. Though it does not pose a big threat to the TMC’s Muslim vote, the ISF nonetheless held its ground and never really went away. In the 2023 panchayat elections, it picked up around 400 gram panchayat seats, mostly in the TMC bastion of South Bengal.
The ISF’s support base comprises poor agricultural workers and Bengali-speaking, working-class Muslims who are the followers of Furufura Sharif. The ISF’s brand of social justice politics, which is also aimed at other vulnerable groups such as Dalits and tribals, is what has helped the party gain traction among voters from these communities. If left unchecked, the TMC believes this has the potential to pose a challenge to its hold over minority votes. In contrast, the TMC till now has relied mostly on political symbolism and fear in the community about the BJP coming to power to keep its hold on the Muslim vote.
It is in this context that Siddiqui’s entry into the TMC is politically important. His link to the Furufura Sharif — he is the cousin of Abbas and Naushad — provides him with a heft that the ruling party can utilise to reach out to Muslim voters and negate the ISF’s influence ahead of the Assembly election battle, when it will need the entire minority vote behind it. “Kasem Siddiqui has good organisational skills. That is why he was appointed general secretary,” said TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh.
For the TMC, widespread support of women (because of its welfare initiatives) and minority community voters, and the success in portraying the BJP as a party of outsiders have been the ingredients of a winning combination till now. At the same time, it has helped the TMC that the Hindu vote has not consolidated behind the BJP in equal measure despite the latter’s best attempts.
Trinamool and ISF
While the ties between the TMC and Furfura Sharif took a hit after the formation of the ISF, and worsened further when Naushad was arrested ahead of the 2023 panchayat elections — he and his supporters clashed with the police after refusing to lift a blockade in Kolkata while protesting against violence in Bhangar — the ruling party of late has tried to mend fences and even reached out to the Bhangar MLA.
In March, Mamata Banerjee made her first visit to the Sufi shrine in Hooghly district in nearly a decade and announced a polytechnic college in the area and a bus stand for pilgrims. During the visit, Kasem was seen by her side, sparking speculation about his entry into the party for the first time. The following day, on March 18, Naushad dropped in to meet the CM at the state secretariat to discuss, as he claimed, matters related to his constituency. Denying that there were any plans to join hands with the TMC, Naushad asked how he could join the ruling party in the state when he spent 42 days in jail for a “movement against this government” and more than 10 ISF workers had died in the last four years. However, at the time, those in the know said the two sides were considering reaching an “understanding” and a senior TMC leader said the idea behind the meeting was to “ensure 100% Muslim consolidation in the 2026 elections”.
Source: indianexpress.com
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https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/bengal-mamata-kasem-siddiqui-isf-10066202/
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Mirwaiz Umar Farooq calls post-370 normalcy narrative a ‘myth’
June 13, 2025
Questioning Lt Governor Manoj Sinha for “banning” Eid prayers at Srinagar’s Jama Masjid, Kashmir’s chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, while delivering the Friday sermon, claimed that “oppressive measures are very much in place and the so-called narrative of normalcy post-abrogation of Article 370 is a myth.”
Leading the Friday prayers at the Jama Masjid in Srinagar, Mirwaiz said, “No political or administrative space is available to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, as it is shrinking by the day.”
“We are meeting for the first time after Eid, when we were not allowed to offer Eid prayers either at Eidgah or at the Jama Masjid. Both places were locked down, and I was put under house arrest. For the last seven years, this action by the rulers has prevented the Muslims of Kashmir from exercising their basic right to practise religious rites,” Mirwaiz said.
“I want to ask the authorities, especially the LG sahib, since he is the head: while he extends Eid greetings to people and speaks about the spirit of Eid and Islam in a very reverent manner, why are the Muslims of Kashmir prevented from offering Eid prayers at Eidgah or at the Jama Masjid? What is the reason? The authorities should spell out their fears and apprehensions, if that is what prevents them — or is it simply to punish Kashmiris,” Mirwaiz said.
Hitting out at the government, Mirwaiz said, “This gathering strongly condemns these inhuman diktats. The reality is that oppressive measures are very much in place, and the so-called narrative of normalcy post-abrogation of Article 370 is a myth. No political or administrative space is available to the people of Jammu and Kashmir — it is shrinking by the day. The elected government, too, has so far failed to stand up and safeguard the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. They cannot forever hide behind the excuse of limited authority and wait for nothing or all until statehood is restored. People rightfully have expectations of them to deliver.”
Mirwaiz had earlier on Saturday written on X: “Yet again, Kashmir wakes up to the sad reality: no Eid prayers at Eidgah, and Jama Masjid locked down — for the 7th straight year. I, too, have been detained at my home. In a Muslim-majority region, Muslims are deprived of their fundamental right to pray — even on their most important religious occasion celebrated across the world! What a shame on those who rule over us, and on those elected by the people who choose to remain silent as our rights are trampled over, again and again.”
Referring to the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, Mirwaiz said, “Yesterday, we witnessed a great tragedy when the Air India flight crashed in Ahmedabad. It has deeply saddened us all. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones and pray to the Almighty to give them strength in this very trying time. We also pray for the swift recovery of the injured.”
Source: thestatesman.com
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Hizb-ut-Tahrir terror case: NIA conducts searches in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan
June 14, 2025
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has raided multiple locations in Madhya Pradesh’s Bhopal and Jhalawar in Rajasthan in a terror conspiracy case related to the banned outfit, the Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HuT).
“Three locations were extensively searched in Bhopal and two in Jhalawar as part of the agency’s continuing probe into the activities of HuT and its members in the case,” said the agency, adding that the case was registered in 2023. The NIA teams seized digital devices during the searches.
IED blasts conspiracy in Assam: NIA charge sheets ULFA (I) chief PareshBaruah, two others
The case, registered by NIA as part of its efforts to destroy various terrorist and radical networks and outfits trying to spread mayhem across India, relates to the HuT conspiracy to radicalise and recruit “vulnerable Muslim youth.”
“The youth were being motivated to spread violence in a bid to overthrow India’s democratically elected government and establish an Islamic State governed by Shariah law,” the NIA said.
Source: thehindu.com
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Mideast
Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement Condemns Zionist Aggression Against Iran
13 Jun 2025
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement on Friday strongly condemned the Zionist aggression against Iran on Friday.
In a statement, the movement called the attacks a dangerous development signaling a new phase of confrontation sought by Netanyahu's government to expand its regional dominance.
Islamic Jihad expressed full solidarity with Iran, trusting its ability to respond powerfully, and offered condolences for the martyrs, including IRGC Commander Hossein Salami and nuclear scientists Fereydoun Abbasi and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi.
Source: saba.ye
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https://www.saba.ye/en/news3498512.htm
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Palestinian Endowments condemn Occupation closure of al-Aqsa Mosque, Ibrahimi Mosque
13 Jun 2025
The Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs on Friday condemned the Israeli occupation's closure of the blessed al-Aqsa Mosque in al-Quds and Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron at dawn on Friday, preventing worshippers from entering them. This move targets the two most important holy sites in Palestine.
The ministry said in a statement on Friday, "We strongly condemn and denounce this reprehensible act, and we affirm our constant commitment to preserving and protecting Islamic holy sites."
The ministry called on international institutions to halt Israeli enemy violations against holy sites and places of worship.
Source: saba.ye
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At UN, Iran accuses US of being complicit in Israeli strikes
June 14, 2025
UNITED NATIONS: Iran accused the United States of being complicit in Israel's attacks on the Islamic Republic, which Washington denied, telling Tehran at the United Nations Security Council that it would "be wise" to negotiate over its nuclear programme. Iran launched retaliatory strikes on Israel late on Friday after Israel attacked Iran earlier in the day.
Israel's U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon said Iran had been "preparing for war" and Israel's strikes were "an act of national preservation." His Iranian counterpart, Amir SaeidIravani, accused Israel of seeking "to kill diplomacy, to sabotage negotiations, and to drag the region into wider conflict," and he said Washington's complicity was "beyond doubt". "Those who support this regime, with the United States at the forefront, must understand that they are complicit," Iravani told the Security Council. "By aiding and enabling these crimes, they share full responsibility for the consequences."
U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that he had given Tehran a 60-day ultimatum, which expired on Thursday, to make a deal over its escalating uranium enrichment program. A sixth round of U.S.-Iran talks had been scheduled to take place in Oman on Sunday, but it was unclear whether it would go ahead. Danon said Israel had been patient despite mounting risks.
"We waited for diplomacy to work ... We watched negotiations stretch on, as Iran made false concessions or refused the most fundamental conditions," Danon told the Security Council. He said intelligence had confirmed Iran could have produced enough fissile material for multiple bombs within days.
Senior U.S. official McCoy Pitt said the United States will continue to seek a diplomatic resolution that ensures Iran will never acquire a nuclear weapon or pose a threat to stability in the Middle East. "Iran's leadership would be wise to negotiate at this time," Pitt told the council. While Washington was informed of Israel's initial strikes ahead of time it was not militarily involved, he said. U.N. nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi told the Security Council the above-ground pilot enrichment plant at Iran's Natanz nuclear site had been destroyed, and that Iran has reported that nuclear sites at Fordow and Isfahan were also attacked.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2604443/middle-east
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US helps Israel shoot down barrage of Iranian missiles
June 14, 2025
WASHINGTON: American air defense systems and Navy assets in the Middle East helped Israel shoot down incoming ballistic missiles Friday that Tehran launched in response to Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities and top military leaders, US officials said.
The US has both ground-based Patriot missile defense systems and Terminal High Altitude Air Defense systems in the region capable of intercepting ballistic missiles, which Iran fired in multiple barrages in retaliation for Israel’s initial attack.
Naval assets also were involved in assisting Israel as Iran fired missiles at Tel Aviv, one official said. It was not immediately clear if ships fired interceptors or if their advanced missile tracking systems helped Israel identify incoming targets.
The United States also is shifting military resources, including ships, in the Middle East in response to the strikes.
The Navy has directed the destroyer USS Thomas Hudner, which is capable of defending against ballistic missiles, to begin sailing from the western Mediterranean Sea toward the eastern Mediterranean and has directed a second destroyer to begin moving forward so it can be available if requested by the White House, US officials said.
American fighter jets also are patrolling the sky in the Middle East to protect personnel and installations, and air bases in the region are taking additional security precautions, the officials said.
The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to provide details not yet made public or to discuss ongoing operations.
President Donald Trump met with his National Security Council principals Friday to discuss options.
The forces in the region have been taking precautionary measures for days, including having military dependents voluntarily depart regional bases, in anticipation of the strikes and to protect personnel in case of a large-scale response from Tehran.
Typically around 30,000 troops are based in the Middle East, and about 40,000 troops are in the region now, according to a US official. That number surged as high as 43,000 last October amid the ongoing tensions between Israel and Iran as well as continuous attacks on commercial and military ships in the Red Sea by the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen.
The Navy has additional assets that it could surge to the Middle East if needed, particularly its aircraft carriers and the warships that sail with them. The USS Carl Vinson is in the Arabian Sea — the only aircraft carrier in the region.
The carrier USS Nimitz is in the Indo-Pacific and could be directed toward the Middle East if needed, and the USS George Washington just left its port in Japan and could also be directed to the region if so ordered, one of the officials said.
Then-President Joe Biden initially surged ships to protect Israel following the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas that launched the war in Gaza. It was seen as a deterrent against Hezbollah and Iran at the time.
On Oct. 1, 2024, US Navy destroyers fired about a dozen interceptors in defense of Israel as the country came under attack by more than 200 missiles fired by Iran.
Source: arabnews.com
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Netanyahu calls on Iranians to unite against ‘evil and oppressive regime’
June 13, 2025
JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on Iranians Friday to unite against what he described as an “evil and oppressive regime,” telling them Israel was engaged in “one of the greatest military operations in history.”
“The time has come for the Iranian people to unite around its flag and its historic legacy, by standing up for your freedom from the evil and oppressive regime,” Netanyahu said in a video statement after Israel struck over 200 military and nuclear sites in the Islamic republic.
“We are in the midst of one of the greatest military operations in history, Operation Rising Lion,” he added.
“As we achieve our objective, we are also clearing the path for you to achieve your freedom,” he said, referring to Israeli strikes that hit targets across Iran, including nuclear sites, killing several top military commanders and nuclear scientists.
“The regime does not know what hit them, or what will hit them. It has never been weaker,” Netanyahu said in his video published shortly after a salvo of Iranian missiles reached Israel.
“Our fight is against the murderous Islamic regime that oppresses and impoverishes you,” he said, adding: “This is your opportunity to stand up and let your voices be heard.”
Netanyahu also promised that “more is on the way,” having said earlier that Israel’s attack on Iran would “continue for as many days as it takes.”
Iran called the attack “a declaration of war” and threatened to retaliate by opening “the gates of hell” on Israel.
It first sent about 100 drones toward Israel, many of which were intercepted before reaching the country.
The drones were followed by dozens of missiles, some of which caused physical damage in Israeli cities, and injured at least seven people, according to first responders.
Source: arabnews.com
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Palestinian ambassador: UK should recognize statehood to help end ‘deadly status quo’
June 13, 2025
LONDON: The Palestinian ambassador to the UK has called on the Labour government to fulfill its manifesto pledge and recognize his nation as an independent sovereign state.
HusamZomlot wrote in The Guardian that the move was “long overdue” ahead of a UN conference on the two-state solution next week in New York, and that it would help end the “deadly status quo” with Israel.
“I call on the British government to end this vicious path, right its historic wrongs and officially recognize the state of Palestine while the conditions are uniquely ripe to do so,” Zomlot wrote.
“Recognition is neither a reward for one party nor a punishment for another. It is a long-overdue affirmation of the Palestinian people’s unconditional right to exist and live freely in our homeland,” he added.
“Peace is not made between occupier and occupied. It can only exist between equals.”
Ahead of the UN conference on June 17, set to be co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, several states yet to recognize Palestine have begun discussions about doing so, including the UK and Canada.
Middle East Minister Hamish Falconer came under pressure in the House of Commons on Tuesday for the government to recognize Palestine unconditionally.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy recently told Parliament the UK had held direct talks with France about Palestinian statehood, but added the UK wanted the move to amount to more than just a symbolic gesture.
But Zomlot wrote: “Recognition (should not) be subject to ever more conditions on the Palestinian side. Delaying recognition simply reinforces the deadly status quo, denying Palestinians’ equal rights until Israel consents, thus granting our occupier a permanent veto over the future.”
Ahead of the conference, the French government, which is also believed to be among those set to recognize Palestine, published a letter laying out political commitments made by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, including that a future Palestinian state would require Hamas “laying down its weapons” and “no longer ruling Gaza.”
The commitments included holding democratic presidential elections within a year, and Hamas accepting nonviolence, disarmament, and the two-state solution. Abbas also condemned the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel by the militant group, and demanded the release of all remaining hostages in Gaza.
Hugh Lovatt, from the European Council on Foreign Relations, told The Guardian: “Recognition would certainly allow London and Paris to press the PA towards political renewal, including the holding of long-overdue elections, but it does not provide them with much leverage over Hamas which does not consider recognition by itself as being of sufficient value of itself to disarm before a peace agreement with Israel is reached.”
A senior diplomat from a Gulf state told The Guardian that Hamas had agreed to the proposal to end its rule in Gaza, but not to disarming.
Another Gulf diplomat told the paper: “Israel is seeking the total annihilation of Hamas and will not be willing to hand security in Gaza to the PA or a multinational force.”
The US government sent a diplomatic cable on Tuesday urging countries not to attend the conference, calling it “counterproductive to ongoing, lifesaving efforts to end the war in Gaza and free hostages.”
But Zomlot wrote: “This is a moment of historic consequence. It demands moral clarity and political courage. I urge the UK to rise to the moment and act now.”
Source: arabnews.com
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Arab world, Middle East condemn Israel’s attacks against Iran
June 13, 2025
DUBAI: The Arab world has responded to Israel’s strikes against Iran, each country offering its condemnation of the attacks that killed at least two top military officers, raising the potential for an all-out war between the two bitter Middle East adversaries.
The UAE, through its foreign affairs ministry, stressed the importance of “exercising the utmost self-restraint and judgment to mitigate risks and prevent the expansion of the conflict.”
“Enhancing dialogue, adhering to international law, and respecting the sovereignty of states constitute essential principles for resolving the current crises,” the foreign affairs ministry added.
The UAE emphasized the need to resolve disputes through diplomatic means rather than confrontation and escalation, and called on the United Nations Security Council to take urgent and necessary measures to achieve a ceasefire, and to reinforce international peace and security.
Oman offered its “strong condemnation of the brutal military aggression launched by Israel on the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which targeted sovereign facilities and caused casualties.”
“Oman considers this action a dangerous and reckless escalation that constitutes a flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter and the principles of international law. It also represents unacceptable and ongoing aggressive behavior that undermines the foundations of stability in the region,” the country’s foreign affairs ministry said.
And Jordan’s foreign ministry spokesperson SufianQudah warned of the “consequences of such escalatory actions, saying they threatened regional security and stability and risk exacerbating tensions”, state news agency Petra reported.
Elsewhere Qatar said it “considers the assault a blatant violation of Iran’s sovereignty and security, as well as a clear breach of international law and its established principles,” state news agency QNA meanwhile reported.
“The State of Qatar voices its grave concern over this dangerous escalation, which forms part of a recurring pattern of aggressive policies that threaten regional peace and stability and hinder efforts aimed at de-escalation and diplomatic resolution.”
Qatar emphasized “the urgent need for the international community to assume its legal and moral responsibilities and to act swiftly to halt these Israeli violations.”
“The State of Qatar reaffirms its firm position in rejecting all forms of violence, and reiterates its call for restraint and the avoidance of escalation that could widen the scope of conflict and undermine regional security and stability,” QNA reported.
Turkiye also condemned “in the strongest terms” Israel’s air strike on Iran, calling it a provocation that violates international law and risks further escalation in the region.
The Turkish foreign ministry in a statement said the attack showed Israel “does not want issues to be resolved through diplomatic means” and urged it to halt “aggressive actions that could lead to greater conflicts.”
Jassim Mohammed Al-Budaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), also described the Israeli attacks as a ‘clear violation of international law and the United Nations Charter.’
Al-Budaiwi, in a statement, called on the ‘international community and the Security Council to assume their responsibilities towards immediately halting this aggression and avoiding escalation that could ignite a wider conflict, which would have dire consequences for regional and international peace.’
In its condemnation of the attacks, Bahrain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned of its “grave repercussions on regional security and stability”.
And it called for “de-escalation, restraint, and a reduction in tensions”.
The Ministry reiterated Bahrain’s call for an immediate halt to military escalation to spare the region and its people from the consequences on regional stability, security, and international peace.
And it affirmed Bahrain’s stance advocating for the resolution of the crises through dialogue and diplomatic means, as well as the necessity of continuing US-Iranian negotiations regarding the Iranian nuclear file.
Source: arabnews.com
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UN nuclear watchdog chief ready to travel to Iran to assess situation
June 13, 2025
VIENNA: UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi said on Friday he was ready to travel to Iran to assess the situation there after Israel carried out widespread military strikes that hit the sprawling nuclear complex at Natanz.
In a statement to a meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Board of Governors, Grossi said the other main enrichment center in Iran, Fordow, was not hit and neither was another nuclear facility in Esfahan, citing Iranian authorities.
There are no elevated radiation levels at Natanz, he added.
“I call on all parties to exercise maximum restraint to avoid further escalation. I reiterate that any military action that jeopardizes the safety and security of nuclear facilities risks grave consequences for the people of Iran, the region, and beyond,” Grossi said in his statement.
“I have indicated to the respective authorities my readiness to travel at the earliest to assess the situation and ensure safety, security and non-proliferation in Iran.”
He did not say what the extent of the damage at Natanz was or what parts of the site were hit. The site includes a vast underground uranium enrichment plant and a smaller, above-ground pilot enrichment plant.
Iran is enriching to up to 60 percent purity, close to the roughly 90 percent of weapons grade, at the pilot plant, but it is producing smaller quantities of that material there than at Fordow, a site dug into a mountain that military experts have said would be difficult for Israel to destroy through bombardment.
“Despite the current military actions and heightened tensions, it is clear that the only sustainable path forward – for Iran, for Israel, the entire region, and the international community – is one grounded in dialogue and diplomacy to ensure peace, stability, and cooperation,” Grossi said.
Source: arabnews.com
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Europe
Labour councillors in Bedford say Muslim Network report is a ‘wake-up call’
By Local Democracy Reporter -
13 June 2025
Bedford Borough Labour Group said the recent Labour Muslim Network (LMN) survey findings are” sobering” but are “not being dismissed”.
The LMN asked Muslim Labour MPs, councillors and elected mayors about their views and experiences.
It claimed the report’s “stark findings” provide the “clearest and most comprehensive insight” to date into the experiences of Muslim Labour representatives.
It added that a “majority” believe the Party does not take Islamophobia seriously, and 64 per cent say there is a hierarchy of racism, one in which Islamophobia is deprioritised or ignored.
A spokesperson for Bedford Borough Labour Group said: “We recognise the pain and frustration reflected in the responses.
“And they are prompting both reflection and action. In Bedford, where approximately 7 per cent of the population identifies as Muslim (2021 Census), we take these concerns very seriously.”
The group said it is “proud” to have a diverse and representative team.
Tackling Islamophobia
“Of our 13 current Labour councillors, six are of Muslim faith, including both the group leader and the chair,” the spokesperson said, “This is not symbolic, it is substantive and reflects our belief in inclusive leadership that listens, understands, and acts.”
The group admits that representation alone is not enough, and it is working to ensure that all Muslim members feel “safe, valued, and heard” within the local party.
This includes establishing a dedicated inclusion and engagement forum, led by Muslim councillors, to hear from Muslim members and supporters regularly, and challenging discrimination “wherever it arises”.
The spokesperson said: “Islamophobia must be recognised, called out, and eradicated in all its forms.”
The survey also said 82 per cent of Muslim members judged the party’s handling of the Gaza crisis as “fairly bad or very bad”.
“Bedford Borough Labour councillors have supported calls for an immediate ceasefire, humanitarian access, reflecting the overwhelming desire among constituents for peace and justice,” the spokesperson said.
“We welcome the Labour Government saying that they will be recognising a Palestinian state.
“While foreign policy is determined at a national level, we are making sure that voices from Bedford, particularly from our Muslim communities, are being heard at the highest levels of the party.
“We are, of course, in frequent contact with Bedford &Kempston MP and former Bedford Borough Labour Group councillor Mohammad Yasin, who has raised this in Parliament,” they said.
The group said its engagement with Muslim communities is “constantly ongoing” and not a seasonal or electoral consideration.
Wake-up call
The spokesperson said: “We will be launching a ‘Faith & Representation’ roundtable series, bringing together councillors, Muslim leaders, and young people to discuss how local government can better serve and reflect their priorities.
“We welcome all feedback from all of our residents and hope those who feel marginalised or underrepresented know they can approach us.”
The group said residents can speak directly with their local Labour councillors, attend monthly councillor surgeries, or use email or social media channels.
“The Labour Muslim Network report is a wake-up call, and we do not shy away from its findings.
“But here in Bedford borough, we are committed to doing politics differently, rooted in respect, representation, and meaningful relationships with our Muslim communities.
“We still have work to do, but we believe we are on the right path and we invite all residents, Muslim and non-Muslim alike, to be part of building a fairer, more inclusive Labour Party locally and nationally,” the group spokesperson said.
Source: bedfordindependent.co.uk
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https://www.bedfordindependent.co.uk/labour-councillors-in-bedford-say-muslim-network-report-is-a-wake-up-call/
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'Anti-Islam' terrorist who attacked Welsh police station jailed for life
13 JUN 2025
An anti-Islam terrorist who attacked officers with Molotov cocktails and a hatchet outside a police station has been jailed for life and ordered to serve a minimum of 22 years in prison.
Alexander Dighton, 28, knocked one officer unconscious and stabbed another in the leg when he launched an attack on Talbot Green Police Station in Rhondda Cynon Taf on January 31.
In a police interview after the attack, Dighton, of Pontyclun, said he did not consider the scope of damage, "merely that blood had to be spilt".
He previously admitted 10 charges relating to the incident, including attempting to murder Detective Constable Jack Cotton and attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent to Sergeant Richard Coleman.
Dighton also admitted assaulting Pc Joshua Emlyn and threatening Pc Stephanie Fleming with an adapted wooden pole.
Judge Mark Lucraft KC sentenced Dighton, who had been referred to the anti-terrorism programme Prevent in January 2024, to life imprisonment and ordered him to serve a minimum of 22 years.
The judge told the defendant, who represented himself in court, that the offences had "a terrorist connection".
He said: "It is clear that you continue to hold entrenched views.
"Other than the early guilty pleas, there is little else to be said to your credit."
The judge said the police officers that encountered Dighton were experienced.
He added: "Whilst they accept potential violence and difficult confrontations are part of the role of being a police officer, they were all deeply shocked by the nature and ferocity of your attack."
Prosecuting, Nicholas Hearn described how Dighton's sister had reported him to Prevent due to concerns he held "racist and anti-Muslim views" and was likely to be involved with incel groups.
The incel movement is made up of people who find themselves unsuccessful in relationships, often harbouring extreme and misogynistic views.
On the night of the attack, Dighton arrived at the police station shortly before 7pm, where he lit a petrol bomb and threw it at a police van.
When that failed to ignite, he attempted to start a fire by pouring lighter fluid over the van before smashing the windows of two vehicles using a pole.
When confronted by officers, Dighton said "I'm fed up, I'm done", before launching his attack.
Attempts to restrain him using a Taser were unsuccessful because of the body armour he was wearing.
He swung a pole at one officer, punched one in the head and stabbed another in the thigh, narrowly missing his femoral artery.
Two of the three injured officers were taken to hospital for treatment.
Speaking after the case, Frank Ferguson of the Crown Prosecution Service said Dighton wanted to attack the Government and the state.
"We were able to show that Dighton's attack was not only pre-meditated and meticulously planned, but that his motivations were connected to terrorism," he said.
"While it is not a criminal offence to hold extreme or offensive views, it is one to carry out attempted murder and attack police officers because of them."
Chief Superintendent Stephen Jones, of South Wales Police, paid tribute to the "bravery and professionalism" of the officers at the scene.
"Each officer is not just a public servant but also a husband, wife, or parent, and their families are undoubtedly deeply affected by incidents such as these that officers face daily," he said.
"I want to also recognise the detectives' unwavering commitment throughout the investigation which is also commendable."
Source: dailypost.co.uk
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https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/anti-islam-terrorist-who-attacked-31853693
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Sydney Muslim cleric revels in being ‘deliberately provocative’ and must be restrained by law, court hears
Ben Doherty
13 June 2025
A Muslim cleric accused of a series of antisemitic slurs during lectures at a Sydney prayer centre must be restrained by law from making similar statements in the future because he has refused to apologise and revels in being “deliberately provocative and inflammatory”, the federal court has been told.
Wissam Haddad – whose legal first name is William but who is also known as Abu Ousayd – is being sued by two senior members of Australia’s peak Jewish body, the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ), over a series of lectures he gave in Bankstown in November 2023 – subsequently broadcast online – in which he is alleged to have maligned Jewish people.
Haddad allegedly breached section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act, which prohibits offensive behaviour based on race or ethnic origin.
In his speeches, he quoted from the Qur’an and hadith, and described Jewish people as “mischievous”, “treacherous” and “vile”. His defence has argued the lectures were given for an educational purpose, and that they could not be found to have breached section 18C because they were not public, but rather addressed to a private Muslim audience.
Peter Braham SC, appearing for senior ECAJ members Peter Wertheim and Robert Goot, argued in closing submissions the court had the power to, and must, impose a restraint on Haddad making further incendiary speeches.
Braham argued Haddad had continued to post antisemitic tropes online after the case had been filed before the court.
“He plainly will – unless restrained – continue to do it, unconcerned by the seriousness of these proceedings or the offence … he knew he had caused,” Braham told Justice Angus Stewart.
Braham said other speeches made subsequently had been designed to “taunt” Christians, Hindus and Muslims, using language and tropes that were “deliberately provocative and inflammatory”.
“If you look at his conduct over time, it’s quite plain he does mean to cause offence,” Braham said.
He said a court-mandated apology would not suffice: “An ordered apology’s a useless thing.
“He should be ordered to not repeat the conduct.”
The ECAJ applicants, Wertheim and Goot, are seeking an injunction that Haddad’s five offending sermons be removed from the internet, and an order that he refrain from publishing similar speeches in future.
They are also seeking publication of a “corrective notice” on Haddad’s prayer centre’s social media pages, and to be awarded the legal costs of bringing their action. They have not sought damages or compensation.
Andrew Boe, appearing for Haddad, said the claim against Haddad must fail at the first hurdle, because it was not a public speech, but rather a private address.
“He was directing his speeches at his own people.”
Boe said the fact Haddad knew the lectures were to be subsequently uploaded online did not change their essential character: that they were intended for a Muslim audience of his followers and congregants.
“He knew it was being recorded and he understood … that the recordings were to be placed on two specific sites associated with the centre, so that those who may have an interest – within his community – would be able to access those recordings.”
Boe argued members of Australia’s Jewish community – including those who have brought the court action – were only made aware of the speeches through the reportage of the lectures in the mainstream media.
Boe earlier told the court it was unlikely a Jewish person would have discovered the speeches, to then be offended by them, if the recordings had not been amplified by mainstream media.
“It would be analogous to a person of a prudish sensitivity seeking out pornography on the web and then complaining about being offended by it,” Boe told the court.
Boe argued there must be room, in a democratic society, for “the confronting, the challenging, even the shocking”. He said Haddad’s speeches – in particular those titled The Jews of Al Madina – were concerned with historical events recorded in Islamic scripture, and his interpretations.
Earlier this week, Haddad posted a video online, telling followers he did not accept the authority of Australia’s secular courts.
“We disbelieve in these courts, these are the houses of the Taghut,” he said, using an Islamic concept that describes the worship of anyone or anything other than Allah. In modern contexts, the term is used to dismiss a non-Muslim power as anti-Islamic, tyrannical, or illegitimate.
The hearing concluded Friday. Justice Stewart has reserved his decision.
Source: yahoo.com
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https://uk.news.yahoo.com/sydney-muslim-cleric-revels-being-064313005.html
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Azerbaijan`s Foreign Ministry advises citizens of Azerbaijan to refrain from traveling to Iran
13.06.2025
“Due to the current tense security situation between the State of Israel and the Islamic Republic of Iran, citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan are advised to refrain from traveling to the Islamic Republic of Iran unless necessary, and those who do travel are advised to exercise extreme caution,” Azerbaijan`s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
“Citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan currently in the Islamic Republic of Iran are requested to observe security and safety regulations, not to go to areas near military and nuclear facilities, and to act in accordance with the security instructions issued by local authorities.
In case of emergency, our citizens are requested to contact the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Consulate General in Tabriz as follows:
Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Islamic Republic of Iran
Source: azertag.az
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https://azertag.az/en/xeber/azerbaijans_foreign_ministry_advises_citizens_of_azerbaijan_to_refrain_from_traveling_to_iran-3608219
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Royals To Honour Air Crash Victims At Trooping The Colour
14 JUN 2025
Sean Coughlan
King Charles has asked the Royal Family taking part in the Trooping the Colour parade to wear black armbands, as a mark of respect to the victims of the Air India plane crash, Buckingham Palace said.
The King requested a minute's silence, which will come after his inspection of the parade on Saturday, in recognition of "the lives lost, the families in mourning and all the communities affected by this awful tragedy", a Palace spokesman said.
The Trooping the Colour ceremony in London marks the King's birthday, with 1,350 troops involved in the annual parade.
The King, who is receiving cancer treatment, is expected to travel in a carriage as he did last year, rather than riding on horseback.
The King had sent a message of support soon after the news broke of the air crash, which claimed the lives of all but one of the 242 passengers and crew.
Flags have been at half-mast at royal residences and the black armbands will add another sign of respect, with the King having said he was "desperately shocked by the terrible events in Ahmedabad".
Coachmen and women on carriages in the parade are also likely to wear black armbands, along with those senior royals in military uniform in the parade, including the King and the Prince of Wales.
Those royals at the ceremony but not in uniform will probably not wear armbands.
The Trooping the Colour ceremony includes an inspection of troops on Horse Guards and the parade along the Mall.
It culminates traditionally in a Red Arrows flypast over Buckingham Palace, watched from the balcony by the Royal Family.
King Charles's actual birthday is in November, but in an effort to hold the event in better weather, monarchs have traditionally held public celebrations in the summer.
The ceremony dates back to the 17th Century and sees regimental colours being displayed in front of the monarch - with the colours of the Coldstream Guards to be presented this year.
At last year's event there had been huge interest in the return of the Princess of Wales after her cancer diagnosis, for what was her first public appearance of the year. The princess is now in remission from her cancer.
The King is still receiving ongoing cancer treatment, but has seemed well enough for a busy round of engagements and is recently back from a well-received visit to Canada.
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3d4g5eeemro
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Russia hands over another 1,200 bodies of soldiers to Ukraine
13 Jun, 2025
Russia has handed over to Kiev the remains of 1,200 Ukrainian soldiers, both sides confirmed on Friday.
The transfer was first announced in Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War. The organization said the bodies will now be subjected to examination to confirm the identities of the deceased. Russian MP ShamsailSaraliev, a member of the parliamentary coordination group on the Ukraine military operation, confirmed the transfer to local media.
Footage from the scene taken at an undisclosed location shows the latest batch of bodies being delivered to Ukraine by a train carrying refrigerated freight containers placed on flatbed carriages. The bodies were subsequently loaded into a Ukrainian freight train. According to Russian media reports, Moscow did not receive any bodies of fallen soldiers from the Ukrainian side this time.
This comes after another exchange of slain soldiers carried out on Wednesday. The Russian side returned the remains of 1,212 Ukrainian servicemen, receiving 27 bodies in return, according to Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, who serves as Moscow’s chief negotiator in talks with Kiev.
Moscow decided to return more than 6,000 slain Ukrainian soldiers during negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul earlier this month. The transfer has been marred by repeated delays, with Moscow accusing Kiev of deliberately delaying acceptance of the bodies. According to Medinsky, the first batch of remains was swiftly delivered to the designated exchange areas, but Ukrainian representatives were nowhere to be found. It turned out that Ukraine had rescheduled the meeting without giving notice.
Apart from exchanging slain soldiers, Moscow and Kiev have also agreed to conduct several POW swaps, primarily focusing on seriously wounded or ill captives, as well as those under 25. Over the past week, the two sides held three prisoner exchanges but did not disclose the exact numbers of soldiers involved. According to Medinsky, each side is expected to return some 1,200 soldiers during the ongoing swaps.
The Russian Defense Ministry said Kiev has been lagging behind schedule with the exchange and was unable to perform the swaps “daily” as agreed in Istanbul. “Unfortunately, the Ukrainian side is not ready to conduct exchanges in that swift mode,” the military said in a statement on Thursday.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/russia/619202-ukraine-slain-soldiers-return/
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North America
Trump Says Iran Has ‘Second Chance’ To Come To Nuclear Deal After Israeli Strikes Devastate Tehran
June 13, 2025
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump on Friday urged Iran to quickly reach an agreement on curbing its nuclear program as Israel vowed to continue its bombardment of the country.
Trumped framed the volatile moment in the Middle East as a possible “second chance” for Iran’s leadership to avoid further destruction “before there is nothing left and save what was once known as the Iranian Empire.”
The Republican president pressed on Iran as he met his national security team in the Situation Room to discuss the tricky path forward following Israel’s devastating strikes, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to keep up for “as many days as it takes” to decapitate Iran’s nuclear program.
The White House said it had no involvement in the strikes, but Trump highlighted that Israel used its deep arsenal of weaponry provided by the US to target Iran’s main enrichment facility in Natanz and the country’s ballistic missile program, as well as top nuclear scientists and officials.
Trump said on his Truth Social platform that he had warned Iran’s leaders that “it would be much worse than anything they know, anticipated, or were told, that the United States makes the best and most lethal military equipment anywhere in the World, BY FAR, and that Israel has a lot of it, with much more to come — And they know how to use it.”
Just hours before Israel launched its strikes on Iran early Friday, Trump was still holding onto tattered threads of hope that the long-simmering dispute could be resolved without military action. Now, he’ll be tested anew on his ability to make good on a campaign promise to disentangle the US from foreign conflicts.
In the aftermath of the Israeli strikes, the US is shifting its military resources, including ships, in the Middle East as it looks to guard against possible retaliatory attacks by Tehran, according to two US officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.
The Navy has directed the destroyer USS Thomas Hudner to begin sailing toward the Eastern Mediterranean and has directed a second destroyer to begin moving forward, so it can be available if requested by the White House.
As Israel stepped up planning for strikes in recent weeks, Iran had signaled the United States would be held responsible in the event of an Israeli attack. The warning was issued by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi even as he engaged in talks with Trump special envoy Steve Witkoff over Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program.
Friday’s strikes came as Trump planned to dispatch Witkoff to Oman on Sunday for the next round of talks with the Iranian foreign minister.
Witkoff still plans to go to Oman this weekend for talks on Tehran’s nuclear program, but it’s unclear if the Iranians will participate, according to US officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe private diplomatic discussions.
The president made a series of phone calls Friday to US television news anchors to renew his calls on Iran to curb its nuclear program.
CNN’s Dana Bash said Trump told her the Iranians “should now come to the table” and get a deal done. And Trump told NBC News that Iranian officials are “calling me to speak” but didn’t provide further detail.
Trump also spoke Friday with British Prime Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron about the evolving situation, as well as Netanyahu.
Meanwhile, oil prices leapt and stocks fell on worries that the escalating violence could impact the flow of crude around the world, along with the global economy.
Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, offered rare words of Democratic praise for the Trump administration after the attack “for prioritizing diplomacy” and “refraining from participating” in the military strikes. But he also expressed deep concern about what the Israeli strikes could mean for US personnel in the region.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who’s on Democrats’ shortlist for top 2028 White House contenders, said if Israel can set back Iran’s nuclear program with the strikes “it’s probably a good day for the world.”
“But make no mistake: We do not want an all-out war in the Middle East,” Shapiro said. “That’s not only bad for the Middle East, it’s destabilizing for the globe, and it’s something that I hope will not occur.”
Iran late Friday launched hundreds of ballistic missiles toward Israel after firing dozens of drones earlier in the day. The US military assisted Israel intercept the missiles fired by Iran in the retaliatory attack.
Trump, in the hours before the Israeli attack on Iran, still appeared hopeful in public comments that there would be more time for diplomacy.
But it was clear to the administration that Israel was edging toward taking military action against Iran. The State Department and US military on Wednesday directed a voluntary evacuation of nonessential personnel and their loved ones from some US diplomatic outposts in the Middle East.
Before Israel launched the strikes, some of Trump’s strongest supporters were raising concerns about what another expansive conflict in the Mideast could mean for the Republican president, who ran on a promise to quickly end the brutal wars in Gaza and Ukraine.
Trump has struggled to find an endgame to either of those conflicts and to make good on two of his biggest foreign policy campaign promises.
And after criticizing President Joe Biden during last year’s campaign for preventing Israel from carrying out strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, Trump found himself making the case to the Israelis to give diplomacy a chance.
The push by the Trump administration to persuade Tehran to give up its nuclear program came after the US and other world powers in 2015 reached a long-term, comprehensive nuclear agreement that limited Tehran’s enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.
But Trump unilaterally withdrew the US from the Obama administration-brokered agreement in 2018, calling it the “worst deal ever.”
The way forward is even more clouded now.
“No issue currently divides the right as much as foreign policy,” Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA and an ally of the Trump White House, posted on X on Thursday. “I’m very concerned based on (everything) I’ve seen in the grassroots the last few months that this will cause a massive schism in MAGA and potentially disrupt our momentum and our insanely successful Presidency.”
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2604438/middle-east
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MAGA rep debuts 'giant Christian tattoos' — after rumours he's a secret Muslim
Sarah K. Burris
June 13, 2025
Florida Republican Rep. Cory Mills posted a photo of his new "dramatic tattoo," Politico reported Friday. It shows the U.S. Capitol surrounded by clouds that look at first glance like smoke. A beacon of light is coming from the cupola that sits atop the dome. It also shows "We the People" written in a font similar to the calligraphy in the Constitution's Preamble.
“As a constitutional republic our nation is founded upon our Christian Judea faith. I believe we are in spiritual warfare and need to lean on faith more now than ever. My upper arm is Archangel Michael fighting the serpent. Our Congress is meant to protect ‘We The People’ as a nation who fights good vs evil. I feel they both are meaningful and have importance to my beliefs," Mills told Politico in a text message.
The Bulwark's Will Sommer pointed out on X, "After facing allegations that he’s secretly a Muslim, Republican Rep Cory Mills got some giant Christian tattoos."
During his 2022 campaign, he was alleged to have been married by a radical Islamic cleric and unindicted co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center Bombings, Blaze Media wrote in May, when the accusations about Mills resurfaced.
Mills was in a Republican primary race for Congress against Florida state House member Anthony Sabatini.
An anti-Mills website posted what it said was his 2014 marriage certificate. Ex-Daily Beast reporter Roger Sollenberger posted about the document on X again in April, and Blaze Media confirmed the authenticity of the marriage certificate after.
The congressional opponent implied at the time that Mills was secretly a Muslim.
The Blaze had a "combative, often heated, near hour-long phone call" with Mills in which "he denied converting to Islam."
The second tattoo that depicts Archangel Michael shows him as a Roman with a sword, not surrounded by flames. In the Bible, Michael protects Paradise with a flaming sword. He appears to be slaying a creature that looks like a dragon.
Source: rawstory.com
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https://www.rawstory.com/republican-2672365790/
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Multiple agencies respond to incident at Islamic Center of Mississippi and Alabama
Jun. 14, 2025
MERIDIAN, Miss. (WTOK) - Multiple Law Enforcement agencies responded to a call of a reported Active Shooter and Stabbings at the Islamic Center of Mississippi and Alabama in Meridian, MS.
On Friday afternoon, law enforcement was informed about a crime occurring at the Islamic Center of Mississippi and Alabama, which is located at 4329 Highway 45. It was reported that subjects were shot and stabbed at the center.
The report was later found to be untrue.
“This was more or less a disturbance. Authorities are still investigating the situation; however, there is no threat to the community,” Meridian Police Chief Deborah Naylor-Young said.
Source: wtok.com
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https://www.wtok.com/2025/06/13/multiple-agencies-respond-incident-islamic-center-mississippi-alabama/
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Trump struggles with Iran message as Republicans diverge over attack
June 14, 2025
As the massive size and scope of Israel's overnight attacks on Iran have come into view on Friday, Donald Trump is presented with a major new foreign policy crisis - as well as a diplomatic dilemma.
How does the American president who promised to be a peacemaker handle a dramatic military escalation in the Middle East?
In the hours after the strike, Trump appears to be struggling to find a consistent message in the face of a grave blow to his diplomatic efforts.
Last night, US diplomats reacted coolly to the first reports of the Israeli strikes. While it was clear that American forces had advance notice of what was coming, a statement from Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasised the US was not involved in the logistics or planning of the attack.
By Friday morning, the president himself was commenting on his Truth Social account, with a sombre message directed at the Iranian leadership - more "I told you so" than a clear plan to stop the warfare.
"Certain Iranian hardliners spoke bravely, but they didn't know what was about to happen," Trump wrote. "They are all DEAD now, and it will only get worse!"
He followed that up with a shorter post, noting that the 60-day deadline he had given the Iranians for a deal had expired - but still holding out hope. "Now they have, perhaps, a second chance!" he wrote.
In comments to American media outlets, though, Trump's message was more muddled.
He told CNN that the US "of course" supports Israel "and supported it like nobody has ever supported it".
"I think it's been excellent," he said of Israel's strikes in an ABC interview. He added that the US gave Iran a chance, but they didn't take it. "They got hit about as hard as you're going to get hit. And there's more to come - a lot more."
In another twist, to the Wall Street Journal he said the US received more than just a heads-up from Israel: "We know what's going on." He also called Israel's move "a very successful attack, to put it mildly."
According to Daniel Byman, from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service, Israel's move represents a new willingness to go against American preferences in the region. For a more traditional American administration, such open defiance would be a significant affront.
But for Trump, his grab-bag of comments after Israel's attack illustrates how different rules apply - and that while Israel is clearly operating according to its own schedule and agenda, that may not lead to a clear break between the two longtime allies.
"He doesn't feel bound by any of his past statements," Byman said.
As Iran assesses the damage – including more than 90 dead, explosions in its capital city Tehran, and what the Israel Defense Force described as significant damage to the Natanz nuclear facility - Israel is activating tens of thousands of its soldiers and continuing what its officials say will be a two-week military campaign. The prospects for peace seem dimmer by the hour.
Trump's strategy, at the moment, appears to be hoping that the military action jolts Iran into making new concessions – a delicate dance of distancing the US from Israel's actions while still trying to use them to gain advantage at the negotiating table.
By his own acknowledgement, however, key Iranian leaders have been killed in the strikes - and Iran is currently focusing its diplomatic efforts on appeals to the United Nations Security Council, where it has labelled Israel's action an "act of war".
"I think that Netanyahu just torpedoed the nuclear talks for the time being," said Sina Azodi, assistant professor of Middle East Politics in George Washington University's School of International Affairs. "You cannot beat up a guy and then say come and negotiate with me."
The US still plans to hold scheduled talks with Iranian officials in Oman on Sunday. Will Todman, a senior fellow in the Middle East programme at the Center for Strategic & International Studies, said a US-Iranian deal, if it were to happen, would have a "dramatic impact" on Israel's strategy going forward.
"Israel would be much more constrained in the approach that it can take to its efforts to downgrade Iran's nuclear programme, but also its military capabilities," he said, adding that any kind of deal was unlikely to happen at this point.
That may be just fine with some key members of the Republican Party - exposing what could be a growing divide between conservative pro-Israel foreign policy hawks in Congress and the America First, isolationist sympathies of many in the Trump administration.
"How does the America First foreign policy doctrine and foreign policy agenda... stay consistent with this right now?" Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist and vocal Trump supporter, asked during an internet livestream that was broadcasting as the Israeli strikes began Thursday evening, Politico reported.
At about the same time, more bellicose Republicans were celebrating the attacks on social media.
Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina took to X to post: "Game on. Pray for Israel".
"Israel IS right - and has a right - to defend itself!" Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson wrote.
Within the White House, many of the more vocal advocates for military action against Iran have been sidelined in recent months, including former National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, who reportedly had consulted with Israel on Iran attack plans before Trump requested his resignation in early May.
The president's most senior advisers, including Vice-President JD Vance, have been wary of allowing America to be pulled into new conflicts – or becoming overly involved in foreign policy concerns that they view as removed from core US interests.
"Previously, it seems that those advocating for restraint were ascendant in the administration, but I think ultimately, this comes down to President Trump alone," said Todman. "The statements that we saw from him this morning seem to indicate that he's open to providing more support to Israel, depending on how the next few days play out."
With American forces based across the Middle East, involvement may be unavoidable. Just five months into his second term in office, the peacemaker president could have a new war on his hands.
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cq69e7nr9m5o
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Arab World
Saudi Arabia re-elected to IGC administrative committee
June 13, 2025
RIYADH: The International Grain Council re-elected Saudi Arabia as a member of the administrative committee for the 2025-2026 session during its 62nd meeting in London on Thursday, retaining the Kingdom among 16 elected members chosen from 30 countries.
Saudi General Food Security Authority Chairman Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Al-Fares said that Saudi Arabia’s renewed committee membership confirmed its expanding role in international forums and its significant economic influence on both international and regional stages.
Since joining the board on Sept. 1, 2010, the Kingdom has actively contributed to board decisions that enhance global grain market stability.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2604422/saudi-arabia
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Saudi crown prince discuss repercussions of Israel-Iran clash with Macron, Meloni
June 14, 2025
RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Friday talked with the leaders of France and Italy about the latest developments in the region, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
During a phone call, the crown prince and France’s President Emmanuel Macron discussed the repercussions of Israeli strikes on Iran, which has killed 78 people, including generals and scientists, and wounded 320 others.
Iran retaliated later in the day, raining missiles and weaponized drones on Israeli cities, causing destruction.
In a separate call with Italy’s Prime Minister GiorgiaMeloni, the two leaders “emphasized the necessity of making every effort to de-escalate the situation, the importance of exercising restraint, and resolving all disputes through diplomatic means,” SPA said.
Earlier in the day, the crown prince spoke with US President Donald J. Trump, during which the duo also stressed the need for continued joint work to achieve security, peace, and stability in the Middle East.
Macron had also announced that because of the Israel-Iran clash, the UN conference on a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians that France and Saudi Arabia planned to co-chair next week in New York had been postponed.
“While we have to postpone this conference for logistical and security reasons, it will take place as soon as possible,” he said at a press conference.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2604444/saudi-arabia
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How Saudi Arabia’s OceanQuest is making waves in global marine conservation
HAIFA ALSHAMMARI
June 13, 2025
RIYADH: As the curtains closed on this year’s UN Ocean Conference in the French city of Nice, the Saudi-led foundation OceanQuest emerged as one of the standout contributors to marine sustainability — not only in policy circles but also in the depths of the world’s oceans.
Fresh from its pioneering Around Africa Expedition, OceanQuest, in partnership with OceanX, brought remarkable scientific discoveries and a powerful message to UNOC — that true marine conservation must combine exploration, collaboration, and education.
“This expedition went around Africa and engaged on-ship around 16 African scientists and more than 200 port stops,” Martin Visbeck, CEO of OceanQuest, told Arab News.
From surveying megafauna by helicopter to exploring seamounts more than 1,000 meters beneath the surface aboard the OceanXplorer, the team used cutting-edge technology and human ingenuity to illuminate previously uncharted ecosystems.
OceanQuest is a Saudi non-profit incubated at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. It is rapidly becoming a key player in the global marine science arena, dedicated to deep-sea exploration, design innovation, and cross-border collaboration.
One of its flagship missions — the Around Africa Expedition — offered not only new data but a model of inclusive, equitable marine science.
Using robotic vehicles, manned submersibles, and remote sensing tools, the team made multiple dives during the mission.
In total, they spent 53 hours underwater, collected nearly 90 samples, and mapped thousands of square kilometers of the seabed, including around the Nola Seamounts and Santo Antao Island. Flights over 922 nautical miles provided additional data on large marine animals.
Among the major outcomes was the identification of new underwater seamounts, crucial for fisheries and marine biodiversity.
“We will be the ones who go to seamount systems and explore what is there, look at the species, look at the functions and understanding, then share that with the community, to provide reasons why certain seamounts should be protected,” said Visbeck.
This insight is critical as countries consider the ratification and implementation of the High Seas Treaty — formally the Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction agreement — a major focus at UNOC.
“Biodiversity protection beyond national jurisdiction means the protected areas in the high seas, outside of a country’s own legal role,” said Visbeck.
OceanQuest’s approach is not just technical — it is human-centered.
Working alongside top African entities such as the National Research Foundation, the University of Cape Town, and the South African National Biodiversity Institute, the expedition helped build capacity for African marine science.
Twenty-four early-career professionals from across the continent were trained in seafloor mapping, environmental DNA analysis, and deep-sea sampling.
“This wasn’t just about what we discovered in the ocean. It was also about who we empowered on the ground,” said Visbeck. “By investing in people — students, young professionals and educators — we’re building a foundation for Africa’s long-term leadership in ocean science.”
He sees this collaborative model as a roadmap for future conservation.
“These collaborations are the future of ocean science in Africa,” he said. “We’ve seen what’s possible when scientists, governments and regional institutions align behind a common purpose, advancing knowledge, access and opportunity.”
This year’s UNOC provided the perfect platform for OceanQuest to share these achievements and ambitions.
“I decided that it would be amazing to celebrate and launch OceanQuest and share with the ocean world our arrival on the scene at UNOC,” said Visbeck.
“We are using UNOC to celebrate with our partners, friends and ocean-policy people on the scene and share with them our mission and vision.”
In a time of mounting ocean crises — from plastic pollution to overfishing and climate change — Visbeck says awareness is a powerful tool.
“What we are trying to do is fight ignorance by providing data and information. Once the information is more clear, it can be a basis for regulatory agencies.”
From the Red Sea to the high seas, OceanQuest is helping reframe the future of ocean conservation — not just by mapping the seafloor, but by drawing a new map for global cooperation.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi crown prince, President Trump discuss regional tensions in phone call
June 13, 2025
RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held a phone call with US President Donald Trump to discuss the latest developments in the Middle East, including the ongoing Israeli military operations against Iran, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
During the call on Friday, the two leaders stressed the importance of restraint and de-escalation, and underlined the need to resolve disputes through diplomatic means, SPA added.
They also affirmed the importance of continued joint efforts to promote security, peace, and stability across the region.
Source: arabnews.com
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Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques launches Umrah season programs
June 13, 2025
MAKKAH: The Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques is preparing to enhance its program for the upcoming Umrah season through an initiative aimed at welcoming pilgrims, worshippers and visitors, and raising awareness about rituals.
The presidency explained that the centers for responding to religious inquiries have been enhanced through both on-site locations and telephone services. These are distributed across 10 sites inside and outside the Grand Mosque in Makkah, in addition to four dedicated offices for phone-based inquiries.
A total of 62 participating scholars, including judges and university faculty members, are available around the clock to respond to inquiries.
The presidency will enhance the devotional atmosphere via religious and scholarly initiatives and programs throughout the season. The plan also seeks to recruit volunteers to serve in the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi Cycling Federation signs strategic partnership with global cycle powerhouse
RASHID HASSAN
June 13, 2025
RASHID: The Saudi Cycling Federation has signed a strategic partnership agreement with GreenEdge Cycling that will transform the sport in the Kingdom by raising technical standards, and developing both male and female athletes.
The agreement includes technical support based on GreenEdge’s global expertise and capabilities, Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday.
In an important step in the development of cycling in the Kingdom, the partnership aims to enhance athletes’ skills and abilities, striving to achieve professional technical standards and notable accomplishments in international arenas.
SACF President Abdulaziz Al-Shahrani said that the partnership with GreenEdge Cycling reflects the federation’s aim of strengthening international collaborations and expanding growth opportunities.
He described it as a milestone in transforming cycling in Saudi Arabia into a competitive and sustainable sport with a strong technical presence on the global stage.
Al-Shahrani also expressed gratitude for the support extended to the sports sector by the Saudi leadership and the follow-up by Minister of Sport Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal, president of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, who is committed to advancing Saudi clubs and national teams across all sports.
With over 180 competitors across four different teams — men and women’s UCI WorldTour Teams plus men and women’s UCI Continental teams — GreenEdge Cycling has a wealth of knowledge and experience to offer the Saudi federation.
The partnership will create a new system and pathway for the federation to grow into a world-leading and results-based organization, a statement by GreenEdge Cycling said.
Commenting on partnership, Brent Copeland, GreenEdge Cycling general manager, said: “We are happy to share the news of this partnership with the Saudi Cycling Federation. There’s a lot of untouched talent within the Kingdom and we are delighted to be involved with and support their development. Providing the Saudi Cycling Federation with access to our extensive resource pool, we are confident that we can help make a real impact and assist in the growth of cycling within the nation.
“Already through our naming rights partner, AlUla, we have had the opportunity to make a change and support with the development of talent, with the likes of Moroj Adil, the first female Saudi rider to join a UCI Continental Team, as she races with our Liv AlUla Jayco Continental team setup. It is inspiring for all involved as we look ahead and to helping future generations,” he added.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi airports issue travel alert after airspace closures amid Israel-Iran tension
RASHID HASSAN
June 13, 2025
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Friday issued a travel alert for citizens and residents after airspace closures following the Israeli attacks on Iran ramping up tensions between the regional rivals.
Increased tensions in the region could pose security risks and several countries in the Middle East closed their airspace, resulting in travel disruptions, including flight cancellations.
Major airports authorities in the Kingdom have advised those traveling to check with their airlines before heading to the airport to avoid delays or flight changes.
In advisories on social media, King Khalid International Airport Riyadh, King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah, King Fahd International Airport, Dammam and Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport, Madinah, said: “In the interest of your safety and comfort and due to the current developments in some countries in the region, travelers heading to destinations affected by airspace closures are kindly advised to contact their respective airlines directly before proceeding to the airport.
“This is to confirm the latest updates on their flights and to avoid any unexpected delays or changes. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation, and we are always pleased to serve you.”
After Israel attacked Iran early on Friday, airlines diverted flights affected by airspace closures.
Airlines cleared out of the airspace over Israel, Iran and Iraq, Flightradar24 data showed, with carriers scrambling to divert and cancel flights to keep passengers and crew safe.
Joanne Serrieh, a journalist working with Alarabiya, on Friday afternoon posted on X: “Currently on Emirates flight EK216 from LAX to DXB. We’re being diverted to avoid closed Iranian airspace. We’ll be landing in Jeddah to refuel then will hopefully be able to continue to Dubai.”
Shamim Akhter, an Indian expat who worked in Riyadh for decades and is flying back home tonight on final exit, told Arab News: “After learning about airspace closure and flight diversion from Arab News, I contacted my airline, so far, the flight is expected to depart as scheduled. There is no change in timing, so I will proceed on time.
“If there is a change, I will be informed by the airline,” he said, adding: “The heightened tension following the Israeli attack on Iran has created unnecessary chaos. I hope and pray things return to normal soon.”
Due to the heightened tension Iranian airspace has been closed until further notice, state media reported. Jordan also closed its airspace to all flights.
Israel has suspended flights to and from Israel, its flag carrier El Al Airlines said. Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport was closed until further notice.
Conflict zones around the world are becoming an increasing burden on airline operations. Six commercial aircraft have been shot down unintentionally and three endured near misses since 2001, according to aviation risk consultancy Osprey Flight Solutions.
Source: arabnews.com
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South Asia
Islamic Emirate strongly condemns Zionist regime’s “unjustified and illegitimate” aggression on Iran
June 14, 2025
KABUL: Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesman of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, in a statement on Friday, strongly condemned the “unjustified and illegitimate” aggression by the Zionist regime against the Islamic Republic of Iran, which resulted in the martyrdom of Iranian commanders, nuclear scientists and innocent people.
“The Israeli military strikes violated the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran and clearly contravene the UN Charter and fundamental principles of international law,” Mujahid said.
He highlighted that these attacks occur while the oppressed people of Palestine, especially in the Gaza Strip, continue to endure relentless and catastrophic assaults and the occupying regime persists in its aggression, disregarding humanitarian and international norms.
The Islamic Emirate expressed concern that the continuation of such provocative actions exacerbates regional tensions, rendering the situation increasingly fragile and alarming, the spokesman said, calling on all relevant parties to act responsibly and fulfil their obligations in maintaining regional peace and security, urging them to prevent further escalation and instability.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported that the Chief Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps
(IRGC), Major General Hossein Salami and other military and civilian figures have been assassinated in Israeli strikes in Tehran. The agency also reported the assassination of Mohammad-Mehdi Tehranchi, a nuclear scientist and president of the Islamic Azad University, and Fereydoun Abbasi, also a nuclear scientist and former head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran. Besides, Commander of Khatam al-Anbia Headquarters Major General Gholamali Rashid was assassinated in the Israeli strikes.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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National unity, solidarity essential for achieving lasting peace, Haqqani
June 14, 2025
KABUL: Khalifa Sirajuddin Haqqani, the acting Minister of Interior Affairs of the Islamic Emirate, said that national unity and solidarity are essential for achieving lasting peace in Afghanistan, according to a statement from the ministry the other day. Addressing a gathering of government officials, religious scholars, and traders, Haqqani warned that forgetting the country’s core goals has repeatedly led Afghanistan into crisis, according to the statement. “The Islamic Emirate Haqqani does not hold anyone accountable based on past actions, and that there is no place for hatred, stressing that Afghans must stand united for peace and brotherhood,” he said as quoted by the statement. The Kabul Times
Source: thekabultimes.com
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IEA delegation attends International Conference of Ministers of Education in Kazan
June 14, 2025
KABUL: The country’s Ministry of Education said in a statement the other day that an Afghan delegation attended the International Conference of Education Ministers in Kazan city, Russia, to enhance bilateral cooperation in the education sector.
Alongside the conference, the delegation also held a meeting with the Russian Deputy Minister of Education to discuss the strengthening of bilateral education cooperation, the statement said. During the meeting, the Russian Deputy Minister of Education expressed willingness to collaborate on enhancing Afghanistan’s educational initiatives and emphasized Russia’s intent to actively assist the Afghan education system as a significant donor. Held in Kazan city, the conference hosted education ministers and deputies from 30 countries. The Kabul Times
Source: thekabultimes.com
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No major crimes reported this Eid, law and order improved: Home adviser
Jun 14, 2025
Home Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury today said the overall law and order situation has significantly improved, citing the incident-free Eid holidays as an example of the police force's effectiveness.
"Just look at this Eid — there hasn't been a single major negative report. By the grace of Allah, everything went smoothly. That proves how much law and order has improved," he told reporters after visiting the Armed Police Battalion (APBn) headquarters in Dhaka.
Acknowledging that minor incidents such as theft and mugging still occur, he said no serious crimes were reported during the holiday period. "Improvement has no fixed limit — it requires constant effort," he added.
The adviser said he remains in close coordination with the inspector general of police to address persistent issues, including shortages in resources and infrastructure. "One of the biggest challenges is the lack of (police) vehicles. Although we haven't solved it yet, around 200 vehicles are being procured to ease the situation," he said.
He also highlighted the ongoing housing crisis faced by many officers, particularly in general police stations. "Out of 50 stations in the capital, 25 are still operating from rented premises. The living conditions there are very poor. Addressing this is among our top priorities," he added.
On the APBn's specific role, the adviser noted that its operational responsibilities differ from those of regular police. "In times of war, they are expected to work alongside the army. Their equipment and organisation must reflect that," he said. "You can't expect the same tools across the board — naval police need boats, and industrial police have their own requirements."
He also addressed recent discussions around arming police with lethal weapons, saying, "These days, even a pencil can be lethal. That doesn't mean they will be equipped like the military, but yes, they will have rifles — that's standard."
Asked about evaluating police stations based on arrest numbers, he dismissed the idea of performance rankings. "There's no 'first' or 'second' in crime control. It depends on the nature of crime in each area. Officers are regularly transferred -- one may be in Uttara today and Jashore tomorrow -- but overall, they are performing well."
He concluded by reaffirming the government's commitment to law enforcement reform. "We are addressing these challenges step by step. With continued effort and support, the situation will only improve."
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/no-major-crimes-reported-eid-law-and-order-improved-home-adviser-3916616
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Bangladesh concerned over Israeli attack on Iran
Jun 14, 2025
Bangladesh has unequivocally expressed its strong condemnation and deep concern over the latest Israeli military attacks against the Islamic Republic of Iran.
"This blatant act of hostility constitutes a clear violation of United Nations Charter and fundamental principles of international law and the sovereignty of Iran," said a foreign ministry statement yesterday.
It poses a serious threat to regional and global peace and security with far reaching consequences, it said.
Bangladesh calls upon all parties to exercise the utmost restraint and refrain from any actions that may further escalate tensions in an already volatile region.
Bangladesh also urged the UN and the international community to act collectively in support of a stable Middle East, underscoring that diplomacy and mutual respect remain the only viable path to lasting peace, it added.
Source: thedailystar.net
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No communal, political motive behind attack on Kachharibari
Jun 14, 2025
The Ministry of Cultural Affairs yesterday said that there is "no communal or political motive behind the attack" at the RabindraKachharibari in Shahjadpur, Sirajganj, and that the incident stemmed from a personal conflict.
In an official statement, the ministry detailed the sequence of events surrounding the altercation that took place at the site on June 8.
According to the ministry, the dispute began with a misunderstanding that led to an argument and later a physical fight between an on-duty employee of the Kachharibari and a visitor named Shahnewaz.
Allegations were brought against custodian Habibur Rahman of the Department of Archaeology for allegedly assaulting and detaining the visitor.
While the matter was still under investigation, locals organised a human chain on June 10 in support of Shahnewaz, demanding action against the accused officials, the statement said.
Following the demonstration, an agitated crowd reportedly entered the premises intending to assault staff members. Several employees were injured in the ensuing violence, the statement added.
In response, the district administration and the Department of Archaeology each formed an investigation committee.
Both are expected to submit reports within five days.
According to the ministry's statement, the Department of Archaeology has filed a case, and police have arrested five individuals so far, with efforts underway to apprehend the rest.
Security at the Kachharibari has since been reinforced.
With support from the local administration and community, the site was reopened to visitors yesterday morning.
The ministry emphasised that no artifacts or relics associated with Rabindranath Tagore's memory were harmed. "Nothing disrespectful or damaging to the honor of the poet has occurred," the statement read.
On Thursday, India condemned the "vandalism of the RabindraKachharibari" in Shahjadpur and urged Bangladesh's interim government to take strict action against the perpetrators.
Replying to a question at the weekly media briefing, Indian Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "We strongly condemn the despicable attack and the vandalisation of the ancestral home of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore by a mob."
"The violent act is a disgrace to the memory and the inclusive philosophy and the teachings that the Nobel laureate espoused in Bangladesh.
"The attack falls in the broad pattern of systematic attempts by extremists to raze the symbols of tolerance and eviscerate the syncretic culture and the cultural Legacy of Bangladesh. We urge the interim government [of Bangladesh] to rein in the terrorists and take strict action against the perpetrators..."
Source: thedailystar.net
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Africa
Activists stopped in Libya and Egypt ahead of planned march on Gaza
June 13, 2025
MOROCCO: Egyptian authorities detained more activists planning to march to Gaza in protest of restrictions on aid reaching the territory, while security forces in eastern Libya blocked a convoy of activists en route to meet them.
Demonstrators from 80 countries planned to march to Egypt’s border with Gaza to spotlight the deepening humanitarian crises facing Palestinians since Israel began blocking aid trucks from entering the coastal enclave in March.
Israel slightly eased restrictions last month, allowing limited aid in, but experts warn the measures fall far short.
The Global March on Gaza was slated to be among the largest demonstrations of its kind in recent years, coinciding with other efforts, including a boat carrying activists and aid that was intercepted by Israel’s military while on its way to Gaza earlier this week.
Organizers on Friday said authorities confiscated the passports of 40 activists at what they called a “toll booth-turned-checkpoint” being patrolled by riot gear-clad officers and armored vehicles.
Others were detained at hotels.
The group’s spokespeople urged officials from the activists’ home countries to push Egypt to release their citizens.
Friday’s detentions come after hundreds arriving in Cairo were earlier detained and deported to their home countries in Europe and North Africa.
Before authorities confiscated their passports, the activists said they planned to gather at a campsite on the road to the Sinai to prepare for Sunday’s march.
They said authorities had not yet granted them authorization to travel through the Sinai, which Egypt considers a highly sensitive area.
“We continue to urge the Egyptian government to permit this peaceful march, which aligns with Egypt’s own stated commitment to restoring stability at its border and addressing the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza,” the activists said in a statement.
As activists at the checkpoint languished in the heat, Hicham El-Ghaoui, one of the group’s spokespeople, said they would refrain from demonstrating until they were clear on whether Egypt would authorize their protest.
The planned demonstrations cast an uncomfortable spotlight on Egypt, one of the Arab countries that has cracked down on pro-Palestinian activists even as it publicly condemns aid restrictions and calls for an end to the war.
The government has arrested and charged 186 activists with threatening state security since the war began, according to the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights.
Many of them said they were protesting peacefully and collecting donations for Gaza.
Still, the severity of the crackdown surprised European activists.
Antonietta Chiodo, who traveled to Cairo from Italy, said those awaiting further instruction had been detained, interrogated, treated harshly by Egyptian authorities, or deported.
Alexis Deswaef, a Belgian human rights lawyer, said he woke up to dozens of security vehicles packed with uniformed officers surrounding Talat Harb Square, where activists had found hotels.
Members of his group snuck out of the lobby as security entered, asking an officer for assistance booking taxis to the Pyramids of Giza, where they’ve been since.
“I am so surprised to see the Egyptians doing the dirty work of Israel,” he said from the Pyramids.
He hoped there would be too many activists outside Cairo at the new meeting point for Egyptian authorities to arrest en masse.
In a divided Libya, Egypt-backed authorities stop a convoy
Meanwhile, an aid convoy traveling overland from Algeria picked up new participants along the route in Tunisia and Libya but was stopped in the city of Sirte, about 940 km from the Libya-Egypt border.
Organizers of the overland convoy said late Thursday night they had been stopped by authorities governing eastern Libya, which has for years been divided between dueling factions.
The convoy was allowed to cross from Tunisia to Libya but was halted near the front line.
The Benghazi-based government urged activists to “engage in proper coordination with the official Libyan authorities through legal and diplomatic channels to ensure the safety of all participants and uphold the principles of solidarity with the Palestinian people.”
It said they should return to their home countries and cited Egypt’s public statements that marchers had not been granted authorization.
Organizers leading the overland convoy said authorities had allowed them to camp in Sirte and await further approval.
Their group, which includes thousands of participants, had already traversed parts of Algeria, Tunisia, and the western Libyan cities of Tripoli and Misrata.
Jawaher Shana, one of the convoy’s organizers, said it would eventually continue.
“We didn’t cross 2,000 km all for nothing!” she yelled to a crowd at Sirte Gate, referencing the length of the Mediterranean coastline the convoy had traveled.
The efforts — the activist flotilla, the overland convoy, and the planned march — come as international outcry grows over conditions in Gaza.
Israel has continued to pummel the territory with airstrikes while limiting the flow of trucks carrying food, water, and medication that can enter.
The UN has said the vast majority of the population relies on humanitarian aid to survive, and experts have warned the coastal enclave will likely fall into famine if Israel doesn’t lift its blockade and stop its military campaign.
Over UN objections, a US-backed group has taken control of the limited aid entering Gaza.
But as desperate Palestinians crowd its distribution sites, chaos has erupted, and almost 200 people have been killed near aid sites.
Nearly half a million Palestinians are on the brink of possible starvation, and 1 million others can barely get enough food, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, a leading international authority.
Israel has rejected the findings, saying the IPC’s previous forecasts had proven unfounded.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2604319/middle-east
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Presidency Speaks On Issuing Fresh Honour List Featuring Aisha Yesufu, A Staunch Supporter Of Labour Party
June 13, 2025
By Rachel OkporuFadoju
The Presidency has dismissed the publication, claiming that President Bola Tinubu gave a national honour to Aisha Yesufu, a staunch supporter of Labour Party (LP) 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Naija News reports that the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, TemitopeAjaiyi, in a post via X on Friday, described the report on the purported honour as fake news.
Tinubu’s aide clarified that the Presidency has not issued any fresh honour list different from the ones in President Tinubu’s address to the joint sitting of the National Assembly on Thursday.
He wrote, The story on a viral list of national honours featuring names of Aisha Yesufu and others credited to Leadership newspaper is fake news. It should be ignored. The Presidency has not issued any fresh honours list different from the ones in President Tinubu’s address to the joint sitting of the National Assembly yesterday.
In other news, the Chairman of Tantita Security Services, Government Ekpemupolo, widely recognised as Tompolo, expressed his support for President Bola Tinubu on Friday, asserting that he is the sole visionary leader capable of revitalising the nation’s struggling economy.
The former Niger Delta warlord also claimed that a significant achievement has been made in the battle against oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the resource-rich region, reassuring Nigerians that the previously widespread sabotage of national infrastructure has now been largely mitigated.
Naija News reports that during a press briefing organised by the PBAT Door-2-Door Movement in Abuja to commemorate Democracy Day, Tompolo, speaking through the Technical Adviser to the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Edgar Biu, stated that the President has demonstrated through his reforms that he possesses both the vision and determination to complete his initiatives.
Source: naijanews.com
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Court Shifts NnamdiKanu’s Trial To DSS Headquarters
June 13, 2025
By EnioluwaAdeniyi
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered that the trial of NnamdiKanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), be relocated to the headquarters of the Department of State Services (DSS).
Naija News learnt that Justice James Omotosho issued the directive on Friday, citing the need to inspect a shipping container linked to the IPOB leader as the primary reason for the relocation.
According to Daily Post, the court filings revealed that the container in question allegedly housed a radio transmitter believed to have been used for broadcasts on Radio Biafra.
Authorities claim the transmitter was smuggled into the country by Kanu in furtherance of his separatist campaign.
Justice Omotosho ruled that due to security considerations and the sensitive nature of the container, it would be more appropriate to move proceedings to the DSS facility, where the equipment is currently stored.
NnamdiKanu is currently facing terrorism-related charges stemming from his long-standing agitation for the actualisation of the sovereign state of Biafra. The Federal Government has accused him of inciting violence and engaging in subversive activities through his leadership of IPOB.
He was re-arrested in 2021 after jumping bail in 2017 and has remained in DSS custody since then, with multiple court appearances delayed or adjourned over security logistics.
Source: naijanews.com
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Tinubu pardons the Ogoni Nine activists, 30 years after their execution
June 13, 2025
Nigeria's president on Wednesday conferred a posthumous national honour on the late activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and fellow campaigners, 30 years after their execution by the then-military regime.
Saro, along with eight other fellows, popularly referred to as the Ogoni nine, were convicted of murder and later hanged in 1995, sparking global outrage.
The nine activists were convicted by a secret special military tribunal over allegations that they killed four pro-government Ogoni chiefs in 1994.
The chiefs were killed during an intracommunal riot in Ogoniland during the reign of the late junta president Sani Abacha.
Saro-Wiwa was an author and activist who led the Ogoni people to protests against Shell and other oil companies.
They accused the oil companies of polluting the land, barring them from farming and rearing animals.
Their execution prompted suspension from the British Commonwealth in 1995.
Shell and other oil companies have fought legal battles in Nigeria and the UK over oil spills and environmental damage, especially in the Niger Delta region, over the years.
The family of SaroWiwa and Amnesty International have said that the clemency granted to the Ogoni nine falls short of the justice they needed.
Source: africanews.com
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Southeast Asia
Surah Yasin Recital Held In Ipoh Commemorating UPSI Crash, Other Fatal Incidents
Bernama
13-06- 2025
IPOH: More than 300 congregants attended a Yasin recital, tahlil and doaselamat ceremony following a series of heart-wrenching tragedies that have occurred in Perak, including the recent bus crash that claimed the lives of 15 UniversitiPendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students.
Perak RumahNgaji chairman RobaatunHadayiah Harun said the event was held to pray for all victims involved in the tragic incidents over the past year.
“Previously, we were shocked by the crash of two Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) helicopters that claimed the lives of 10 personnel on April 23 last year. Then, on May 13 (this year), a Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) truck accident killed nine people, including five family members from Bota who perished in Jerantut, and most recently, 15 UPSI students died in a tragic crash in Gerik.
“These incidents are deeply saddening, and we express our sympathy to all the victims and their families by holding this event as a form of moral support,“ she told reporters here today.
RobaatunHadayiah added that the event was jointly organised with the management of the Sultan Idris Shah II Mosque, PertubuhanWanitaPrihatin Perak (PWPP), and the Malaysian Muslim Women’s Welfare Board (LKPIM).
She said the collaboration was hoped to unite the ummah (Muslim community) in facing trials and to pray for Perak and the entire nation to always be protected from any calamities.
Earlier, the event began with Asar prayers, followed by Yasin recital, tahlil and doaselamat led by the Grand Imam of the Sultan Idris Shah II Mosque (Perak State Mosque), Abd Farid Salleh, in remembrance of all those who had lost their lives.
Source: thesun.my
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https://thesun.my/malaysia-news/yasin-recital-held-in-ipoh-commemorating-upsi-crash-other-fatal-incidents-DC14259930
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Muslim convert loses appeal to restore birth name on identity card
Bernama
13-06- 2025
PUTRAJAYA: A 50-year-old Muslim convert has failed in his appeal to compel the National Registration Department (NRD) to reinstate his birth name on his identity card.
The Court of Appeal, in a unanimous decision by a three-member panel comprising Justices Datuk SupangLian, Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah and Datuk Dr Alwi Abdul Wahab, upheld the High Court’s dismissal of his judicial review application.
Delivering the court’s judgment, Justice Sequerah held that Regulation 14(2A) of the National Registration Regulations 1990 does not permit the reversion to the original name once a new name has been lawfully assumed.
“The name change is made because the person making the application has absolutely renounced and abandoned the use of his original name and assumed a new name,” he said, adding that the law envisages a change of name but not a reversion to the original name.
He stated that the court was of the view that there are compelling public policy considerations as to why the law permits a change of name but does not contemplate a reversion to the original name once a new name has been lawfully adopted.
The 28-page grounds of judgment dated yesterday were uploaded to the judiciary’s website today.
The man, who embraced Islam in 2005 and adopted a Muslim name following his conversion, claimed he was denied entry into India in 2016 despite travelling with a Malaysian passport bearing his Muslim name.
He claimed Indian immigration authorities refused entry on the grounds that he had previously entered the country under his original Hindu name, resulting in his deportation to Malaysia.
He then applied for a new passport using his birth name, but the application was rejected by the Immigration Department as his identity card still bore his Muslim name.
Subsequently, he applied to have his current name in his identity card changed back to his original name, but the application was rejected by the NRD director-general in December 2021.
This led to him filing for a judicial review in the High Court, naming the NRD director-general and the Government of Malaysia as respondents, seeking a mandamus order compelling the NRD to amend and re-register his birth name in his identity card.
He argued that he faced complications arising from the presence of two different names in his previous passport, which led to his denial of entry into India.
He further submitted that he owns immovable properties abroad registered under his original name, which may give rise to confusion when dealing with foreign authorities due to the inconsistencies between the names in his identity card, passport and other official documents.
The NRD director-general maintained that the application could not be approved under Regulation 14(2A) of the National Registration Regulations 1990, which does not permit a reversion to a name that has been lawfully renounced.
On Nov 20, 2023, the High Court dismissed the man’s judicial review application, upholding the NRD’s decision to reject the request for a name amendment.
Source: thesun.my
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Legislator backs govt plan for Indonesian Hajj Village in S Arabia
June 13, 2025
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Senior legislator JunaidiAuly has expressed his support for the government’s plan to build an “Indonesian Village” in Mecca and Medina, Saudi Arabia, to meet the needs of the country’s Hajj and Umrah pilgrims.
The plan to build the Indonesian Village is well-founded, so the government can consider putting it on the strategic project list of sovereign wealth fund management agency Danantara, he said here on Friday.
He suggested that Danantara develop an investment scheme for the project by involving the Hajj Financial Management Agency (BPKH), state-owned enterprises, private partners, and the global sharia financial industry.
“Building the Indonesian Village in Saudi Arabia is a concrete action for fulfilling the needs of our Hajj and Umrah pilgrims,” Auly, who represents the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) faction in the Indonesian House of Representatives, said.
In addition, it may pave the way for strategic long-term investment and also serve as a long-term solution to problems that arise frequently during the annual Hajj season, he added.
Setting up the Indonesian Village in Mecca and Medina would also shift the government’s approach toward Hajj services from a reactive to a proactive one, he said.
The plan to build the Indonesian Village was first announced by President PrabowoSubianto on April 5, 2025.
As per information on the Cabinet Secretariat’s website, Prabowo also expressed his intention to build the village during his meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
According to the Secretariat’s website, “the Crown Prince responded positively to the proposal and agreed to further discuss the technical details in the near future.”
Source: antaranews.com
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Malians gather to replasterDjenne’s iconic mud mosque in annual heritage ritual
14 Jun 2025
DJENNE, June 14 — Thousands of Malians have replastered the iconic earthen mosque in the historic city of Djenne during an annual ceremony that helps preserve the World Heritage site.
To the sound of drums and festive music, townsmen on Thursday coated the towering three-minaret mosque with fresh mud plaster.
The annual replastering with “banco”—a mix of earth and water—shields the mosque from harsh weather ahead of the Sahel region’s often violent rainy season.
“This mosque belongs to the whole world,” said Aboubacar Sidiki Djiteye, his face streaked with mud as he joined the “unifying” ritual.
“There’s no bigger event in Djenne than this,” he told AFP.
“Replastering the mosque is a tradition handed down from generation to generation,” said BayiniYaro, one of the women tasked with carrying water for the plaster mix.
Locals prepared the mix themselves, combining water, earth, rice bran, shea butter and baobab powder—a hallmark of Sahel-Sudanese architecture.
Chief mason MafouneDjenepo inspected the fresh coating.
“The importance of this mosque is immense. It’s the image on all Malian stamps,” he said.
A blessing ceremony followed the replastering, with Quranic verses recited in the mosque courtyard. Participants then shared dates and sweets.
First erected in the 13th century and rebuilt in 1907, the mosque is considered the world’s largest earthen structure, according to the United Nations’ cultural body, UNESCO.
Djenne, home to around 40,000 residents and known for preserving its traditional banco houses, has been on UNESCO’s World Heritage list since 1988.
The site was added to the endangered heritage list in 2016 due to its location in central Mali, where jihadist fighters linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group, as well as ethnic militias and criminal gangs, have waged a violent insurgency since 2012. — AFP
Source: malaymail.com
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Sabah ranks third nationally as RM10.9b in Q1 investments exceed full-year 2024 figure
14 Jun 2025
KOTA KINABALU, June 14 — Sabah recorded a total of RM10.9 billion in approved investments in the first quarter of this year, surpassing the state’s total investment figure for the entire year of 2024.
According to the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), the investment performance from January to March places Sabah third nationally, behind Selangor and Kuala Lumpur.
State Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Datuk PhoongJinZhe said Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) was the main contributor, accounting for RM6.6 billion or 61 percent of the total, while Domestic Direct Investment (DDI) amounted to RM4.29 billion or 39 percent.
The manufacturing sector was the top performer, recording RM7.3 billion in investments — the highest among all states for this quarter. Of this, RM6.59 billion or 91.3 percent came from foreign investors, with the remaining RM711 million or 9.7 percent from domestic sources.
The services sector followed with RM2.83 billion, while the primary sector attracted RM757.1 million.
Phoong said the figures reflected continued investor confidence in Sabah’s economic growth potential and its conducive business ecosystem.
“Despite global economic uncertainties and geopolitical pressures, Sabah remains a competitive investment destination trusted by both foreign and domestic investors,” he said at a press conference at WismaKewangan today.
He added that the success was due to investor-friendly policies and the state government’s strong commitment to stimulating industrial development.
“The state government is committed to strengthening the investment ecosystem and welcoming more investors to achieve sustainable and inclusive economic development for Sabah,” he said. — The Borneo Post
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/06/14/sabah-ranks-third-nationally-as-rm109b-in-q1-investments-exceed-full-year-2024-figure/180297
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/non-hindus-temple-maharashtra-muslim-staff/d/135871