Bajrang Dal And VHP Object Muslim Drummers At Surat Garba Event, Organisers Apologise
New Age Islam News Bureau
24 September 2025
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· Bajrang Dal And VHP Object Muslim Drummers At Surat Garba Event, Organisers Apologise
· ‘I Love Mohammad’: Poster Heat Spreads From UP To Uttarakhand, Police Use Facial Recognition To Crack Down On Protesters
· CAIR Calls Fearmongering About Sharia in London a ‘Baseless Claim’ Meant to Distract from Gaza Genocide
· Exiled Media Group: Pakistan Must End Arrests and Deportations of Afghan Journalists
· Palestinians Rally In West Bank To Celebrate Statehood Recognition
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India
· Chhattisgarh Waqf Board Chief Asks Muslim Youth To Avoid Garba Events
· J&K deputy CM rules out Omar Abdullah's resignation amid growing criticism
· Debris found in Srinagar’s Dal Lake could be from missile fired by Pakistan during Op Sindoor
· First time ever, J-K High Court judge conducts proceedings from LoC via video conferencing
· Turkish President Erdogan again refers to Kashmir issue in UNGA address
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North America
· Trump Needs Israel-Palestine Peace To Win Nobel Prize – Macron
· CAIR-CA: 100+ CA Muslim Organizations Publish Joint Open Letter Calling on Governor Newsom to Veto Classroom Censorship Bill AB 715
· Obama CIA chief gives murderous Islamic terrorist a PR makeover — in New York City
· Six years ago Trump's UN audience laughed, this year they were silent
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South Asia
· Pakistani Defence Minister Calls for Return of All Afghan Refugees
· President Describes 900th Anniversary Of Maldives Embracing Islam As The Most Significant Milestone This Generation Will Witness
· Afghanistan Loses UN Voting Rights For Third Year, Faces Growing Global Isolation
· Ten Factories Worth $60 Million Inaugurated in Herat
· Iran Executes Afghan Citizen as Rights Group Warns of Over 1,000 Death Sentences in 2025
· Bangladesh set for most transparent election, Yunus tells global leaders
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Mideast
· Gaza War ‘One Of The Darkest Moments’ In UN’s History: Jordan’s King
· ‘We can’t remain indifferent’ over Gaza: Portugal’s president
· Israel allowing children to starve in Gaza, says UK’s foreign secretary
· International recognition of Palestinian state helps peace efforts, says Israeli former spy chief
· Israel an enemy to its neighbours, engaged in genocide: Qatari emir
· Activists say Gaza aid flotilla attacked by ‘multiple drones’
· US may end Gaza war ‘right now’: Trump
· UN Security Council under intense pressure to halt Gaza bloodshed amid political deadlock
· Israel destroys evacuated health centre in Gaza City, medics say
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Arab World
· Saudi Space Ambitions Fuelled By Young, Tech-Savvy Workforce
· Saudi Arabia showcases award-winning AI achievements at UN
· Saudi Arabia welcomes recognitions for Palestinian state
· King Salman thanks God for achievements made in Saudi Arabia on national day
· Riyadh to host International Restoration Week in October
· Saudi Arabia to host seventh law conference
· Saudi aid chief meets Save the Children International CEO
· Saudi students in London for AI bootcamp
· Saudis and expats light up national day in style
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Europe
· Southport Killer Downloaded Material 'Grossly Offensive To Anybody Of Muslim Faith'
· 'Greatest Con Job', Migrant 'Invasion' And Sharia Law In London: Trump's Claims At UN Assembly
· Nazi terrorist who planted bombs in British mosques found dead in high security prison
· Man spared jail for assault after Quran burned outside Turkish consulate in London
· EU state pledges to keep buying Russian energy
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Africa
· Three Soldiers Sentenced To Life Imprisonment For Selling Weapons To Terrorists
· Amnesty International demands release of 36 opposition supporters in Cameroon
· President of DRC’s National Assembly steps down amid calls for him to resign
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Southeast Asia
· Police Chief Rejects US Analyst’s Claim That Malaysia Is A Hub For Hamas Operations
· Saudi Arabia and Indonesia pledge stronger ties on 95th National Day
· Papagomo ordered to defend himself over seditious post on Malaysian King
· Second team of forensic experts to scrutinise Zara Qairina’s diaries
· Malaysia ranks second in Asean for digital readiness, just behind Singapore in GSMA index
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/bajrang-dal-vhp-surat-garba-event/d/136966
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Bajrang Dal And VHP Object Muslim Drummers At Surat Garba Event, Organisers Apologise
September 24, 2025
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A Navratri Garba event in Surat was halted for about an hour after a group of Bajrang Dal and Vishva Hindu Parishad members reportedly stormed in, objecting to the presence of three Muslim drummers from a Mumbai-based musical band. This incident marks the second consecutive time the right-wing group has allegedly targeted the Swarna Navratri event in Surat for featuring Muslim musicians.
Later, the three drummers were allowed to continue performing after the event organisers apologised and assured them that they would not hire Muslim musicians for the event next year.
The incident took place at the Swarna Navratri event organised by Dhaval Munjani and Prince Patel at an open party plot in Surat city’s Vesu area on Monday night.
Hundreds of Bajrang Dal and VHP volunteers and leaders arrived at the event venue, prompting police to rush to the spot. The right-wing leaders entered the pandal, approached the stage during the ongoing event, and informed the organisers about the presence of Muslim drummers, which was acknowledged by organisers Dhaval and Prince. This led to a heated argument between the right-wing leaders and event organisers, however, the organisers eventually apologised and assured that from next year onwards they will ensure that Muslim drummers are not called for such events, said police sources. The drummers also apologised and assured that they will not come from next year onwards. Later, right-wing leaders left the spot. A video of the apology recorded by the right-wing leaders was subsequently shared on social media platforms.
Organiser Dhaval Munjani told The Indian Express “We are an event management company. We arrange different events throughout the year in Surat. We have a yearly contract with the Mumbai-based musical band. Some of the performers are Muslims while some are Hindus. We have been organising Navratri events for the last few years”.
“For the past two years, these artists have been visiting Surat for these events. But after the right-wing leaders objected to the presence of a few drummers, we apologised and assured that from next year, we will ensure that no Muslim artisans will be brought during the Navratri event in Surat,” Munjani added.
Surat Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gahlaut said, “A police team was present on the spot when the right-wing leaders reached the Navratri event spot. There were peaceful talks between the right-wing leaders and event organisers, following which the issue was sorted and the event continued. There were no bad words spoken, and nobody was assaulted. We have not received any complaint in connection with the matter.”
He added, “We want the Navratri events to be organised in a peaceful manner in Surat… there should be no disturbance. We have directed the police personnel on duty to keep a strict tab on mischievous elements who want to disturb the ongoing Navratri event.”
Meanwhile, South Gujarat Prant Prachara of Bajrang Dal, Nilesh Akbari, said, “Last year also, there were around 10 artists who performed during the Swarna Navratri event in Surat. We allowed them to continue at that time, keeping in mind that this was their first mistake. This year again, we received input that the event organisers had brought Muslim drummers from Mumbai, and they are performing at the event. We went there and in the presence of police officials, the event organisers apologised and assured us that from next year this will not happen”.
“After an apology and assurance from the event organisers and our warning, we allowed the Muslim drummers to continue on the stage,” said Akbari.
He further added, “We have issued strict instructions to not allow Muslims as players or even as bouncers during Navratri events.”
Source: indianexpress.com
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https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/muslim-drummers-at-surat-garba-event-sparks-controversy-organisers-apologize-10267267/
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‘I Love Mohammad’: Poster Heat Spreads From UP To Uttarakhand, Police Use Facial Recognition To Crack Down On Protesters
by Aiswarya Raj
September 24, 2025
According to the FIR registered against the participants of the procession under sections including rioting, a police officer was assaulted after he tried to use a loudspeaker to control the crowd (File Photo)
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The row over ‘I Love Mohammad’ posters, which began in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur, found an echo in Uttarakhand after police arrested and detained several people who protested with similar posters. Police also said they are running videos of the protest through facial recognition software to trace the other participants.
The controversy originated last week when an FIR was lodged by the Kanpur police over the poster, which was put up as part of decorations for the annual Barawafat procession to commemorate the birth of Prophet Mohammad.
Protests against the Kanpur FIR were witnessed over the weekend at several districts in UP, including Kaushambi, Pilibhit, Bareilly, Bhadohi, Lucknow, Unnao, and Kanpur.
A similar protest at Udham Singh Nagar’s Kashipur in Uttarakhand on Sunday night turned violent, following which police made a spate of arrests and the district administration demolished several structures, alleging encroachment.
Police claim the protest was taken out without permission. According to the district’s Senior Superintendent of Police, Manikant Mishra, the police tried to control the protesters, but the crowd attacked the police and vandalised their vehicles. “Seven people have been arrested and ten detained. The mastermind, Nadeem Akhtar, is being questioned to find the source of the activities that culminated in violence,” said the SSP.
The local police said they are tracing around 500 participants who were part of the rally by visiting their homes.
According to the FIR registered against the participants of the procession under sections including rioting, a police officer was assaulted after he tried to use a loudspeaker to control the crowd. “The mob kicked and punched me, hurled abuses, obstructed government work, created an atmosphere of fear and terror, and even tore off the star flaps from my uniform. During this incident, the emergency response vehicle that arrived at the spot was vandalised, its windows broken, and the bonnet of the police station’s official vehicle was damaged, causing loss to government property,” the complaint by the officer alleges.
The district administration has imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 BNSS to avoid assembly of people, and a joint team comprising the Revenue Department, Municipal Corporation Kashipur, Electricity Department Kashipur, Pollution Department, and Police conducted a combined operation in Mohalla Alli Kha, Kashipur.
As part of the operation, 17 “illegally operated” electricity connections were disconnected, 11 FIRs were registered, and it was recommended that the registration of a Jan Aadhaar centre be cancelled for not operating as per norms.
The Municipal Corporation also removed “encroachments” on the corporation’s drain, and fines totalling Rs 16,000 were imposed on vendors operating without a trade license.
Prohibitory orders will be in effect for seven days, officials said.
Officials will also run a drive to verify ration cards and cancel those who fail the checks. Further, according to the Municipal Commissioner, about 200 encroachments have been removed in the area that saw violence.
Source: indianexpress.com
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https://indianexpress.com/article/india/row-over-up-posters-singes-uttarakhand-neighbourhood-police-crack-down-on-protest-10267673/
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CAIR Calls Fearmongering About Sharia in London a ‘Baseless Claim’ Meant to Distract from Gaza Genocide
September 23, 2025
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today said President Trump’s claim at the United Nations General Assembly that London wants to “go to Sharia law” and a resurgence in other baseless anti-Muslim conspiracy theories are meant to distract from the real threat to western societies: crackdowns on free speech for the benefit of the genocidal Israeli government.
He claimed: “You have a terrible mayor, terrible, terrible mayor, and it’s been so changed, so changed. Now they want to go to Sharia law, but you’re in a different country. You can’t do that.” The president did not offer a source for his claim.
A spokesperson for London’s mayor said: “We are not going to dignify his appalling and bigoted comments with a response.”
In a statement, CAIR said:
“The claim that London, a city dominated by the political left in a country run by a secular government, is somehow moving toward the establishment of Islamic law is a baseless claim meant to distract from the real threat to western societies: governments that sacrifice the free speech rights of their citizens for the benefit of the Israeli government and waste the taxpayer dollars of their citizens on a genocide, all under pressure from anti-Palestinian lobby groups.
“There’s a reason fearmongering about Muslims and Islamic law in western societies has kicked into high-gear in places as varied as Texas and the UK just months after the Israeli foreign ministry commissioned a poll that showed whipping up fear of Muslims was the best way to distract western audiences from the Gaza genocide.
“Such conspiracy theories have repeatedly inspired extremists to launch violent attacks on British Muslims and others across the world, from the Christchurch mosque massacres in New Zealand to the Norway mass shooting and bombing to ongoing attacks on mosques in the UK.
“From America to the United Kingdom, most people are not falling for this nonsense again. They want their governments to stop cracking down on peaceful protests, censoring social media, threatening free speech, and funding genocide for the benefit of a rogue nation.”
Earlier this month, CAIR’s Texas chapter condemned Governor Abbott’s inflammatory social media post falsely claiming that he had signed laws banning “Sharia law” and “Sharia compounds” in Texas.
Source: cair.com
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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-calls-fearmongering-about-sharia-in-london-a-baseless-claim-meant-to-distract-from-gaza-genocide/
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Exiled Media Group: Pakistan Must End Arrests and Deportations of Afghan Journalists
By Fidel Rahmati
September 24, 2025
An exiled Afghan media group has urged Pakistan to immediately stop arresting and deporting Afghan journalists, warning that forced returns endanger their safety and undermine press freedom.
An Afghan media organisation in exile has strongly condemned the arrest of journalist Jawad Etimad in Islamabad, urging Pakistan to halt the detention and deportation of Afghan media workers.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the organisation said Etimad was taken into custody by Islamabad police after his residence visa had expired. Authorities have indicated that he could soon be deported to Afghanistan.
Etimad, who remains in a police detention facility, had earlier faced arrest in Afghanistan under Taliban rule, raising fears about his safety if forced to return.
Nai-Supporting Open Media in Afghanistan in exited warned that no assurances of freedom or protection exist for Afghan journalists sent back to their homeland. It said many risk questioning and reprisals from Taliban security and intelligence agencies.
It added that the fate of several journalists and media workers expelled from Pakistan and Iran remains unknown, highlighting the dangers faced by those forced out of host countries.
The organisation urged Pakistan to respect its international commitments, stop the deportation of Afghan journalists, and ensure their protection while they remain in the country.
Rights advocates caution that continued arrests and forced repatriations will deepen the humanitarian crisis, silence critical voices, and further erode press freedom across the region.
Source: khaama.com
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Palestinians rally in West Bank to celebrate statehood recognition
September 23, 2025
Palestinians rally in support for Gaza and celebrating the latest western nations recognitions of the Palestinian state ahead of the United Nations General Assembly meetings, in the West Bank city of Ramallah Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025. (AP)
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RAMALLAH, Palestinian Territories: Crowds of people rallied in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, waving flags and holding posters of president Mahmud Abbas to celebrate the wave of recognition by Western powers of a Palestinian state.
Nationalist slogans blared from loudspeakers across the central square in the city of Ramallah, where a crowd of more than 100 clutched Palestinian and European flags alongside signs reading “stop the genocide.”
High-ranking officials from Abbas’s political movement, Fatah, and the Palestinian Authority — which exerts limited control in the West Bank — shook hands and smiled.
“This recognition is a first step in a process that we hope will continue,” Jibril Rajoub, secretary-general of Fatah’s central committee, told AFP.
“It is the result of more than a century of resistance and determination by our people.”
Rajoub said he had felt moved listening to the speeches made at the UN General Assembly in New York the night before.
“We must learn from the past and unite the people,” he said.
Maysoon Mahmud, 39, who is also a Fatah member, said: “We came here today to thank the countries that have recognized Palestine, but also to ask them to continue to support us in stopping the war.”
“It is time for the world to take responsibility,” she added.
Further north in Tulkarem, dozens more gathered, holding the flags of countries that now recognize a Palestinian state.
A majority of European powers now recognize a Palestinian state, following official declarations on Monday by France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta and others, after nearly two years of war in Gaza and soaring violence in the West Bank.
A day earlier Britain, Australia, Canada and Portugal also took the step.
- ‘We want action’ -
But many Palestinians interviewed by AFP expressed ambivalence at the move due to the bitter reality of the situation on the ground.
Roula Ghaneb, an academic from Tulkarem, stood impassively in the middle of the Ramallah rally, holding a photo of her 20-year-old son, Yazan.
“He was arrested at our home eight months ago,” she said, adding that he was being held in poor conditions.
Ghaneb said she wanted an end to all violence, insisting: “We don’t want words, we want action.”
Jamila Abdul, a resident of a village between Jerusalem and Ramallah, said: “Palestine is being exterminated today in Gaza and the West Bank in various ways.”
Hard-line Israeli government ministers have made little secret of their desire to annex the West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967 and where roadblocks are multiplying and Israeli settlements are expanding.
The diplomatic push also comes as Israel is intensifying its military offensive in Gaza City, after nearly two years of war triggered by Hamas’s deadly attack in October 2023.
“If they want to recognize something, they must recognize the genocide that is taking place today, put an end to these atrocities and punish Israel for these crimes,” said Abdul.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2616464/middle-east
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India
Chhattisgarh Waqf Board chief asks Muslim youth to avoid garba events
Scroll Staff
Sep 24, 2025
The chairperson of the Chhattisgarh Waqf Board, Salim Raj, on Tuesday appealed to Muslim youths to avoid participating in garba events during the ongoing Navratri festival, The Hindu reported.
Waqf boards are state-level bodies that manage charitable endowments made by Muslims for community and religious welfare.
In a statement shared on the board’s WhatsApp group, Raj said that garba was not “an ordinary dance event” but a devotional folk performance in worship of Hindu deity Durga.
“If the Muslim community does not believe in idol worship, they should stay away from religious events like garba,” the statement added.
Garba is a Gujarati folk dance, performed in a circular pattern around a lamp or an idol, symbolising Durga. It is performed during the Navratri festival, which began on Monday and will conclude on October 2 this year.
Raj said that those who wished to take part with respect for the traditions and attire could do so with the organisers’ permission, The Hindu reported.
“Entering garba venues with malicious intent and attempting to create a disturbance hurt the sentiments of the Hindu community, potentially disrupting social harmony,” the statement added.
Raj told The Hindu that his statement was an appeal and not a directive.
He said that there have been controversies about the participation of Muslims in garba events.
Raj’s statement came amid reports that members of the Bajrang Dal and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad have demanded that garba events in Chhattisgarh should maintain “sanctity and cultural purity”.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Bajrang Dal are part of a group of Hindutva organisations led by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the parent organisation of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
In Jagdalpur district, the Hindutva groups announced that garba events should begin only after participants apply tilak and recite the devotional hymn Hanuman Chalisa, The Times of India reported.
Munna Kori, a Bajrang Dal leader from Jagdalpur, told The Times of India that Navratri was a “time of devotion”.
“We will not tolerate vulgarity or distortion of culture in the name of garba,” he said.
In MP, calls for dress code, restricting non-Hindus’ participation
Hindutva organisations and several BJP leaders in Madhya Pradesh have called for dress codes, and restrictions on music and participation of non-Hindus in garba events, The New Indian Express reported.
Madhav Jha, the Khandwa district convener of the Hindu Jagran Manch, said that only traditional Indian attire should be permitted inside garba sites, the newspaper reported.
“No western clothing…including backless attire…should be permitted,” The New Indian Express quoted Jha as saying. “The festival must be celebrated entirely in a traditional Indian manner and wearing traditional Indian dress should be mandatory.”
Jha also said that entry should only be granted after the identity cards of participants are checked.
“Garba is a Hindu festival, so non-Hindus should not be allowed to participate,” the newspaper quoted him as saying.
The Khandwa police said they have instructed organisers to ensure that the festivities are held “free of obscenity and disturbances”.
Khandwa Superintendent of Police Manoj Rai said that organisers have been instructed to conduct the event in a “completely traditional manner”, The New Indian Express reported.
“Bollywood songs will not be allowed at any garba venue to preserve the festival’s cultural integrity,” Rai added.
Several BJP leaders have also supported the demand for restrictions at garba events.
In Indore district, BJP leader and former state Culture Minister Usha Thakur said that it should be ensured that garba events are organised only by “true spiritual seekers”, The New Indian Express reported.
“The trend of women and girls attending garba events in revealing or inappropriate attire is worrying,” Thakur was quoted as saying. “Only traditional clothing should be permitted in the spirit of the festival.”
Thakur, who had earlier called for restricting the entry of persons from different faiths from entering garba events, reiterated the demand.
“Islam prohibits idol worship, so why are members of that community attending garba events, often by concealing their true identities,” the newspaper quoted her as saying.
Anil Firojiya, BJP MP from Ujjain, also said that organisers should verify participants’ identity cards and look for markers such as tilak on forehead or “sacred thread”.
“If a non-Hindu is found inside, legal action should be taken, as in previous years,” The New Indian Express quoted him as saying.
Source: scroll.in
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https://scroll.in/latest/1086924/chhattisgarh-waqf-board-chief-asks-muslim-youth-to-avoid-garba-events
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J&K deputy CM rules out Omar Abdullah's resignation amid growing criticism
Muzaffar Raina
24.09.25
Jammu and Kashmir's deputy chief minister Surinder Choudhary on Tuesday ruled out the resignation of chief minister Omar Abdullah amid mounting criticism that his government had failed to deliver on its poll promises.
Choudhary’s comment came on a day the cabinet led by Omar recommended that lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha convene the autumn session of the Assembly from October 13 to 20.
The Opposition and the ruling NC’s Srinagar MP, Aga Ruhullah Mehdi, have in recent weeks accused Omar of failing to assert his authority before the LG or taking on Delhi to fulfil its promise of restoring statehood.
Several civil society leaders have also joined the criticism. Fayaz Malik, a leader of a north Kashmir-based apple growers’ union, recently asked Omar to resign if he was not in a position to address their concerns.
The apple growers were outraged over the weeks-long closure of the Srinagar-Jammu national highway due to landslides, leading to massive losses to the industry.
Choudhary on Tuesday said some people wanted them to resign. “We want to tell them we are not among those (who give up by resigning). We are workers of Sher-e-Kashmir (Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah). We will fight for our people,” he told reporters in Ganderbal.
Choudhary said people would have to understand that there were two power centres in Jammu and Kashmir, one elected by the people and another “appointed” by the Centre. “We do not have a free hand as we still have a dual governance system in which there is an elected government and an appointed administration,” he said.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/jk-deputy-cm-rules-out-omar-abdullahs-resignation-amid-growing-criticism-prnt/cid/2124651
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Debris found in Srinagar’s Dal Lake could be from missile fired by Pakistan during Op Sindoor
by Bashaarat Masood
September 24, 2025
Four months after the escalation of hostilities between India and Pakistan in light of the Pahalgam terror attack, debris believed to be from a missile has been found in Srinagar’s Dal Lake. Security officials say they believe the suspected missile was fired from the Pakistani side on May 10.
The debris was found during a cleaning drive of the lake on Sunday. Sources say the debris has been handed over to the Air Force for further investigation.
“It was found during a usual cleaning operation at the Dal Lake,” a senior police officer told The Indian Express. “It is likely a missile. The make is not yet clear, but we suspect it was fired by Pakistan during Operation Sindoor in May. We had received some reports that day of a missile-like object hitting the water body.”
Sources say the target could have been a military installation in Srinagar. The Dal Lake is less than a kilometre from the Army’s 15 Corps headquarters at Badami Bagh in Srinagar.
On May 10, when Pakistan fired missiles towards India, a suspected missile was reported to have fallen in the lake, but the searches yielded nothing at the time.
A senior Army official reiterated that the debris has been handed over to the Air Force. “It could be from the Pakistani missile, Fateh, but the exact make would be known only after the forensic examination,” the official said.
The routine clean-up operation was being carried out by the Lake Conservation and Management Authority, during which workers found the debris and informed the police, officials said.
Source: indianexpress.com
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https://indianexpress.com/article/india/debris-found-in-srinagars-dal-lake-could-be-from-missile-fired-by-pakistan-during-op-sindoor-10266745/
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First time ever, J-K High Court judge conducts proceedings from LoC via video conferencing
by Bashaarat Masood
September 24, 2025
Justice Sanjeev Kumar was on an official visit to Gurez, a tourist resort right on the LoC in Bandipore district, as part of his commitments as the executive chairman of the J&K Legal Services Authority.
During his visit, however, Justice Kumar heard all the listed cases from Gurez’s Munsiff Court through virtual mode. He also presided over a Division Bench along with Justice Sanjay Parihar. While Justice Kumar joined from Gurez, Justice Parihar joined from the Jammu.
(This has) marked a new chapter in the technologically enabled justice system where geographical barriers no longer hinder access to courts,” said an official release that described it as a “historic first”.
“This move is the first of its kind, which will connect a cut-off border area with the rest of the world via a digital platform,” the release said.
Officials said that Justice Kumar heard 50 cases from the border area, including 45 from the Jammu wing of the High Court and five from its Srinagar wing, “exhausting the entire cause list for the day.”
Justice Kumar, who is also the chairman of the High Court’s Information Technology Committee, called for improving the existing IT infrastructure to ensure leverage between physical and digital platforms for ease of court business and enhancing digital access to physical platforms.
“Justice Kumar directed Central Project Coordinator e-Court High Court of J&K and Ladakh to ensure seamless service of e-filing, display of timely case information, (and) real-time display of case list for the information of all the litigants to prevent any deprivation to such facilities,” the official release said.
Bashaarat Masood is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express. He has been covering Jammu and Kashmir, especially the conflict-ridden Kashmir valley, for two decades. Bashaarat joined The Indian Express after completing his Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University in Kashmir. He has been writing on politics, conflict and development. Bashaarat was awarded with the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2012 for his stories on the Pathribal fake encounter.... Read More
Source: indianexpress.com
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https://indianexpress.com/article/india/first-time-ever-j-k-high-court-judge-conducts-proceedings-from-loc-via-video-conferencing-10267569/
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Turkish President Erdogan again refers to Kashmir issue in UNGA address
24 Sep 2025
UNITED NATIONS: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan referred to the Kashmir issue in the UN General Assembly and said his nation was "pleased" with the "ceasefire" between India and Pakistan after a period of conflict earlier this year.
He said it is important to see cooperation between India and Pakistan on counter-terrorism.
"The issue of Kashmir should be resolved on the basis of resolutions of the UN for the best for our brothers and sisters in Kashmir, through dialogue, we hope," he said.
"In South Asia, we consider the preservation of peace and stability to be of utmost importance. We are pleased with the ceasefire achieved following the tensions last April between Pakistan and India, the tension which had escalated into a conflict," Erdogan said in his address at the General Debate at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly.
In recent years, the Turkish leader has referred to the issue of Kashmir in his address to world leaders at the high-level UN General Assembly session.
India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting terrorist infrastructure in territories controlled by Pakistan, in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 people dead.
The strikes triggered four days of intense clashes that ended with an understanding on stopping the military actions on May 10.
Source: newindianexpress.com
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https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2025/Sep/24/turkish-president-erdogan-again-refers-to-kashmir-issue-in-unga-address-2
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North America
Trump needs Israel-Palestine peace to win Nobel Prize – Macron
23 Sep, 2025
French President Emmanuel Macron has said that US President Donald Trump could only win the Nobel Peace Prize if he brings an end to the war in Gaza, pushing back against Trump’s repeated claims that he already deserves the award.
Macron made the remarks on Tuesday during an interview with French broadcaster BFMTV on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
“I see a US president who is active, who wants peace… who wants the Nobel Peace Prize. But the Nobel Peace Prize is possible only if you stop this war,” Macron said, urging Trump to put pressure on Israel to halt its military operations and secure the release of hostages held by Hamas.
Macron also dismissed Trump’s assertion that France’s recognition of the Palestinian state amounted to rewarding Hamas, arguing instead that the move helps strengthen the Palestinian Authority and isolate the militant group.
Trump, in his own address to the General Assembly earlier on Tuesday, repeated his longstanding view that he should already have won the Nobel Peace Prize. He cited his record of having “ended seven un-endable wars” and said, “everyone said I should get the Nobel Peace Prize.”
Trump also condemned the states recognizing Palestine as “a reward for these horrible atrocities, including Oct. 7,” when Hamas carried out its deadly incursion into southern Israel, which killed more than 1,200 people. He insisted he was “deeply engaged” in seeking a Gaza ceasefire but argued that Hamas had repeatedly rejected “reasonable offers to make peace.”
Macron used his General Assembly speech to defend the United Nations, declaring that “more than ever” the world needs the UN’s ‘spirit of cooperation.’ Trump, by contrast, dismissed the body as ineffective and even mocked its broken escalators and malfunctioning teleprompters.
Macron acknowledged that despite France’s recognition of Palestinian statehood, Washington held the decisive leverage: “There is only one person who could do something in the current situation – the American president.”
The Israeli military is currently pushing to fully seize Gaza City, which it has threatened to destroy unless Hamas surrenders. Gazan health authorities say the death toll in the enclave has surpassed 65,300, though some observers believe it could be significantly higher, given that many bodies are likely buried under rubble from Israeli strikes.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/625162-macron-trump-nobel-prize/
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CAIR-CA: 100+ CA Muslim Organizations Publish Joint Open Letter Calling on Governor Newsom to Veto Classroom Censorship Bill AB 715
September 23, 2025
The California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA), along with more than 110 mosques, Islamic centers, and Muslim community organizations, today published a joint open letter to Governor Gavin Newsom on behalf of California’s more than one million Muslims. The letter urges him to veto Assembly Bill (AB) 715—a dangerous classroom censorship bill that will silence Muslim, Arab, Palestinian, Jewish, and other marginalized voices in California public schools by criminalizing honest discussions on Palestine and other global human rights issues.
In the letter, signatories outlined their concerns about AB 715’s vague and sweeping mandates on “factual accuracy,” its disproportionate focus on one form of hate outside a broader civil rights framework, and its reference to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA)’s definition of antisemitism. The IHRA definition was first incorporated in President Biden’s 2023 U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism and has been widely criticized—including by its own author—for conflating antisemitism with legitimate criticism of the state of Israel and being used to silence free speech on school campuses.
The letter also emphasized that, while challenging antisemitism in schools is essential, AB 715’s narrow framework erases, and even punishes, the identities and lived experiences of Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian students.
In a statement, CAIR-CA CEO Hussam Ayloush said:
“AB 715 is a dangerous bill that trades facts-based education and honest conversations on critical global justice issues for censorship and erasure. Our students deserve classrooms where they can speak freely, ask difficult questions, and see their histories accurately represented. Instead, this bill threatens to chill free speech and criminalize discussion of Palestinian history and the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
“Governor Newsom has a responsibility to protect students’ right to learn, and we strongly urge him to uphold this responsibility by vetoing AB 715. We cannot allow censorship to masquerade as safety.”
Organizations that signed onto the letter include American Muslims for Palestine, Islamic Shura Council of Southern California, the Council of Sacramento Valley Islamic Organizations, the Islamic Center of Southern California, the Muslim Community Association of San Francisco Bay Area, the Muslim Leadership Council of San Diego, and the Shia Muslim Council of Southern California.
CAIR-CA is calling on all Californians to stand up for academic freedom and urge the Governor to veto AB 715.
CAIR-CA is a chapter of CAIR, America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
Source: cair.com
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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/100-ca-muslim-organizations-publish-joint-open-letter-calling-on-governor-newsom-to-veto-classroom-censorship-bill-ab-715/
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Obama CIA chief gives murderous Islamic terrorist a PR makeover — in New York City
Joseph MacKinnon
September 23, 2025
Ahmed al-Sharaa, the Islamic radical who was previously designated a terrorist by the State Department and who founded the al-Qaeda affiliate al-Nusra Front and now serves as Syria's president, received a warm welcome on Monday in New York City, just five miles away from where his comrades killed 2,753 people on 9/11.
While al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammad al-Jolani or Muhammad al-Jawlani, was in town for the United Nations General Assembly, he also took part in a "fireside discussion" with ex-CIA Director David Petraeus on the sidelines of the general assembly at the 2025 Concordia Annual Summit.
Ahead of the discussion, Baihas Baghdadi of Baghdadi Capital provided the terrorist with a glowing introduction, painting him not only as a liberator — a characterization that some Syrian Christians and other religious minorities might find questionable — but as "the hero, the man that brought freedom back to Syria."
Before it was taken down, the State Department's Rewards for Justice $10 million bounty page for al-Sharaa stated:
Al-Sharaa's terrorist group claimed responsibility for multitudes of other terror attacks throughout Syria, including 600 attacks in its first year of operation, and worked in concert with ISIS.
In 2017, al-Sharaa merged al-Nusra with other Islamic extremist groups to form Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a group that was linked in its formative years to the late leader of ISIS, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, and was recognized by the U.S. as a foreign terrorist organization until July.
After HTS-led forces overthrew the Assad regime, al-Sharaa took power in Damascus.
"Together, we acknowledge all the sacrifices you have made to return Syria to all Syrians," Baghdadi said on Monday of the murderous terrorist. "It is our time to ask ourselves what we can do for Syria now that you, Mr. President, brought back Syria to all of us."
Although Petraeus, the former commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan whose extramarital affair blew up his CIA directorship, admitted at the outset of the discussion that he and the terrorist were on different sides during the American surge in Iraq, the retired general similarly characterized al-Sharaa as a liberator.
Al-Sharaa told Petraeus, "We cannot judge the past based on the rules of today, and we cannot judge today based on the rules of the past."
The terrorist suggested further that his intent has long been to protect and defend people and human rights and to combat "injustice."
"Perhaps there was some mistakes," the terrorist said. "Sometimes in a person's journey, there are some mistakes, but what's important is to focus on defending people from the threats that they face."
In addition to reportedly committing scores of massacres since taking power, the supposed humanitarian's regime has supported some of those Sunni radicals who have in recent months engaged in massacres, bombings, rapes, and kidnappings, including those who executed an American citizen, Hosam Saraya, in July.
Petraeus — who, while CIA director, proposed a covert program of arming radicals like al-Sharaa in Syria in a regime-change operation that became known as Timber Sycamore — said that he felt validated by the terrorist's rise to power and claimed both that al-Sharaa's "vision is powerful and clear" and that his success "is our success."
Al-Sharaa appeared interested in more than just a PR makeover. He impressed upon Petraeus and the audience his desire to see the Trump administration lift America's remaining sanctions on Syria, namely those under the 2019 Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act.
"Just lift the sanctions, and you will see the results," al-Sharaa said.
President Donald Trump signed the Caesar Act into law on Dec. 20, 2019. The act imposes sanctions on those who provide various goods or services to Syria, such as aircraft for its military, items on the U.S. Munitions List, and items Trump believed were being used to commit human rights abuses against the Syrian people.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted after meeting with al-Sharaa on Monday that they "discussed implementing President Trump's historic announcement on sanctions relief and the importance of Israel-Syria relations."
When pressed for comment about the sanction talks with Syria, a State Department spokesperson told Blaze News that as a general matter, they do not comment on private diplomatic discussions.
Source: theblaze.com
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https://www.theblaze.com/news/obama-cia-chief-gives-murderous-islamic-terrorist-a-pr-makeover-in-new-york-city
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Six years ago Trump's UN audience laughed, this year they were silent
September 24, 2025
James Landale
Donald Trump's speech to the United Nations was one of the clearest expositions of the way he sees the world, his ideology in its rawest form.
To his supporters, it will be seen as Trumpism unplugged - to his critics, Trumpism unhinged.
Over almost an hour, he took aim at his opponents and their ideas, picking them off one by one as he toured the world. He began at home, praising the United States and himself. He said the US was living through a golden age and repeated his much-disputed claim that he had personally ended seven wars, something he argued merited a Nobel Peace Prize.
But then the president laid into his hosts. The UN, he said, had not helped his peace-making. He questioned the organisation's purpose, saying it had tremendous potential but was not living up to that. All it did, he claimed, was write strongly-worded letters that it did not follow up. Empty words, he said, did not end wars.
He also attacked the UN for the aid it gave to asylum seekers hoping to enter the US, saying: "The UN is supposed to stop invasions, not create them and not finance them." The president even attacked the UN for a broken escalator and teleprompter that disrupted his visit and speech.
On one level, he has a point. Many analysts question the effectiveness of the UN in resolving conflict these days, pointing in particular to gridlock in the Security Council and the body's unresponsive bureaucracy.
But on another level, Trump can himself be seen as both a cause and symptom of the UN's lack of effectiveness - for he believes global crises are best resolved by powerful men like him getting together and hammering out a deal, not using multilateral bodies like the UN to work out collective solutions. Under Trump, the US has withdrawn much of its UN funding, leaving the body forced to cut its humanitarian work around the world.
Trump saved perhaps his biggest criticism for his European allies, attacking the continent for investing in renewable energy, and opening its borders to migration.
"Europe is in serious trouble. They have been invaded by a force of illegal aliens like nobody has ever seen before… Both the immigration and suicidal energy ideas will be the death of Western Europe," he said.
Climate change, he claimed to audible gasps, was "the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world" and was lumbering European countries with expensive energy costs compared to fossil fuels. He criticised in particular the UK government for imposing new taxes on North Sea oil.
If you don't get away from the green energy scam, your country is going to fail," he said.
"I love Europe. I love the people of Europe. And I hate to see it being devastated by energy and immigration. This double-tailed monster destroys everything in its wake… you want to be politically correct and you are destroying your heritage."
Note that last point. It echoes what the president said during his state visit to the UK last week when he spoke of the importance of defending the values of what he called "the English-speaking world".
There is a cultural edge to Trump's criticism of Europe, a sense that he believes uncontrolled immigration is threatening what he sees as Europe's Judeo-Christian heritage. Not for nothing is Trump the leader of an administration that wears its religion firmly on its sleeve. "Let us protect religious liberty," he told the UN, "including for the most persecuted religion on the planet today – it's called Christianity."
On a specific point of policy, the most substantive warning Trump gave related to Russia's war on Ukraine. He said President Putin's refusal to end the conflict was "not making Russia look good". He said the US was prepared "to impose a very strong round of powerful tariffs" to end the bloodshed. But he said European nations had to stop buying Russian energy, claiming he only found out two weeks ago that some were doing so.
In practice, Hungary and Slovakia are the only substantive European buyers of Russian oil. Diplomats say Trump is hiding behind this so he does not have to impose secondary sanctions on India and China which are both buying huge amounts of cheap Russian energy, both of whom were cited by Trump.
Perhaps more important than his speech was Trump's social media post a short while later, in which he asserted for the first time that Ukraine could be in a position to win back all of its territory.
His dismissal of Russia as a "paper tiger" and not a "real military power" will hurt President Putin, who is sensitive to any suggestion his country is not a global player. Diplomats said this was the latest example of Trump's journey towards a position that is more critical of Russia.
But one should always treat Trump's words with a pinch of salt. He was being optimistic only moments after meeting Ukraine's President Zelensky at the UN.
And he said Ukraine could win back territory with EU and Nato support - there was no mention of US involvement. All the evidence of the last few years is that this is a war of slow attrition, and Ukraine would not retake land from Russia without massive US military support.
So this was undiluted Trump - a defence of America and the nation state, an assault on multilateralism and globalism, a stream of consciousness with questionable assertions.
Six years ago, Trump's audience at the UN laughed at his at times non-factual assertions; this year they listened largely in silence.
"I am really good at this stuff," he told world leaders. "Your countries are going to hell."
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c179p4wvz29o
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South Asia
Pakistani Defence Minister Calls for Return of All Afghan Refugees
By Fidel Rahmati
September 24, 2025
Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has called for the return of all Afghan refugees, insisting their continued stay in Pakistan creates multiple challenges.
Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Tuesday reiterated that all Afghan refugees residing in Pakistan must return to their homeland. Speaking to a private television channel, he maintained that their continued presence was creating multifaceted challenges for the country.
The minister alleged that terrorism was being orchestrated from across the border and said Afghanistan soil was being used to destabilise peace in Pakistan. He added that Islamabad had repeatedly urged Kabul’s interim rulers to take concrete steps against militant groups operating from Afghanistan territory.
The statement comes amid growing concerns within Pakistan over security threats, rising militancy, and economic strains that officials link to the influx and presence of Afghan refugees. Public debate has intensified over the government’s policy to manage undocumented foreigners.
While Islamabad insists that security considerations must come first, human rights groups and aid agencies caution that forced repatriation could trigger severe humanitarian consequences. Many Afghan families in Pakistan, they note, have no homes or viable support systems to return to in Afghanistan.
Observers warn that compelling refugees to leave under precarious conditions may worsen regional instability and create fresh displacement. Analysts stress that Pakistan must strike a balance between safeguarding national security and upholding international humanitarian obligations
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/pakistani-defence-minister-calls-for-return-of-all-afghan-refugees/
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President describes 900th anniversary of Maldives embracing Islam as the most significant milestone this generation will witness
23 September 2025
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has described the forthcoming 900th anniversary of the Maldives embracing Islam, next year, is the most significant and historic milestone that this generation of Maldivians will experience. He made the remarks in his national address on the anniversary of the day the Maldives embraced Islam.
The President noted that, to commemorate this milestone, the Government is planning a series of nationwide programmes aimed at reviving Islamic and national spirit while fostering greater unity among the people.
Reflecting on the nation’s heritage, the President stated that for nine centuries, historians around the world have described Maldivians as hospitable, peace-loving, well-mannered, and generous. He added that the nation’s beauty is magnified when paired with the timeless Islamic moral values that have been deeply rooted in Maldivian society since ancient times.
Underscoring his Administration’s priorities, the President stressed that one of the Government’s foremost responsibilities is to nurture wise Maldivian citizens and ensure proper education and upbringing for children, alongside implementing infrastructural development. He also emphasised the importance of national unity, kind speech, and a deepened love for the religion.
Concluding his address, the President reaffirmed that the Government will continue to safeguard the Maldives as a strong Islamic state and as a nation committed to defending the Ummah.
The Maldives annually commemorates the day the nation embraced Islam on the 2nd of Rabiʽ al-Akhir in the Islamic calendar.
Source: presidency.gov.mv
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https://presidency.gov.mv/Press/Article/35057
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Afghanistan Loses UN Voting Rights For Third Year, Faces Growing Global Isolation
By Fidel Rahmati
September 24, 2025
Afghanistan has lost its UN General Assembly voting rights for the third year running after failing to pay membership dues, deepening its political isolation worldwide.
The United Nations has confirmed that Afghanistan has once again lost its voting rights in the General Assembly after failing to pay its annual membership dues.
According to the UN Charter, any member state that does not pay contributions for more than two years is automatically suspended from voting.
Afghanistan’s annual contribution is around US$200,000. However, the country has not made payments for the past three years, leaving its debt at more than US$900,000.
Taliban officials claim that the lack of international recognition prevents them from making direct payments, though critics argue the issue reflects Afghanistan’s broader diplomatic isolation.
Naseer Faiq, Afghanistan’s representative at the UN, said the absence of a legitimate and representative government has left the country without a voice on the global stage.
He added that Afghanistan has been absent from the UN General Assembly leaders’ summit for four consecutive years since the Taliban takeover in August 2021.
Manizha Bakhtari, Afghanistan’s ambassador to Austria, also lamented that the international community has shifted its focus to other crises, leaving Afghanistan sidelined. She warned that the country’s credibility and standing have eroded.
The continued loss of representation and voting rights highlights Afghanistan’s deepening isolation, raising fears that its people will pay the heaviest price through further humanitarian and political neglect.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/afghanistan-loses-un-voting-rights-for-third-year-faces-growing-global-isolation/
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Ten Factories Worth $60 Million Inaugurated in Herat
September 24, 2025
HERAT: Ten new manufacturing factories worth $60 million, in an official ceremony, were inaugurated in Herat on Tuesday.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Shaikh Mawlana Islamjar, Governor of Herat, Mawlavi Ahmadullah Zahid, Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce, along with government officials, business leaders, and industrialists, the governor’s press office said in a statement.
Governor Islamjar welcomed the launch of the factories, expressing optimism that they will create employment opportunities for hundreds of people and ease the economic struggles of many families.
He highlighted Herat’s rising role in the country’s industrial development, noting that the province is becoming a symbol of economic growth under a secure environment.
Meanwhile, Mawlavi Ahmadullah Zahid praised the private sector for its contribution to strengthening domestic industry, stating that their progress reflects both a national duty and a moral responsibility. He also emphasized Herat’s leading position in Afghanistan’s manufacturing sector and called for collective efforts to achieve economic independence through industrial self-sufficiency. The new factories mark a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to revitalize Afghanistan’s economy through local investment and private-sector engagement.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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https://thekabultimes.com/ten-factories-worth-60-million-inaugurated-in-herat/
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Iran Executes Afghan Citizen as Rights Group Warns of Over 1,000 Death Sentences in 2025
By Fidel Rahmati
September 24, 2025
Iran has executed an Afghan citizen in Taybad prison, rights group Hengaw reported, warning that over 1,000 executions this year include 65 Afghan nationals.
An Afghan citizen was among three prisoners executed in Iran this week, the human rights organisation Hengaw reported on Tuesday.
The execution took place on Sunday at the central prison in Taybad, Razavi Khorasan province. The Afghan, identified only by the surname “Ahmadi,” had been convicted on drug-related charges and sentenced to death by Iran’s judiciary.
Hengaw noted that Iranian officials and state media have not confirmed or publicly reported on the executions, reflecting a broader pattern of opacity in capital punishment cases.
This is not an isolated incident. In recent weeks, Iran also executed a young Afghan couple on similar drug-related charges, raising renewed alarm among human rights defenders.
Hengaw, in a wider report cited by Khaama Press, revealed that since the start of 2025 Iran has executed more than 1,000 prisoners, including 65 Afghan nationals. The group warned that the scale of executions highlights the disproportionate impact on vulnerable migrant communities.
Rights advocates say Iran’s reliance on the death penalty for drug-related offences demonstrates systemic flaws in its justice system. They argue that Afghan citizens, many lacking legal protection, face heightened risks of arbitrary detention and harsh sentencing.
Observers caution that the continuation of such practices deepens humanitarian concerns, further straining Afghanistan-Iran relations, and leaving Afghan migrants in an increasingly precarious and uncertain situation.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/iran-executes-afghan-citizen-as-rights-group-warns-of-over-1000-death-sentences-in-2025/
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Bangladesh set for most transparent election, Yunus tells global leaders
Sep 24, 2025
Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has reaffirmed his government's commitment to conducting one of the most transparent and credible elections in the country's history, set for early February.
He expressed the hope that international observers would be present to ensure the integrity of the electoral process in Bangladesh.
The chief adviser said while holding a series of high-level meetings with prominent global leaders on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly at the UN Headquarters in New York on Tuesday.
The prime minister of Australia, Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, the Director-General of the World Health Organization, the former president of Chile and the current foreign minister of Uruguay were among those he met.
Yunus briefly exchanged greetings with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese following their attendance at the UNGA's inaugural session, said Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam.
Their short conversations touched on key topics, including reforms, undertaken by the interim government, the upcoming general election in Bangladesh and the growing Bangladeshi diaspora in Australia.
Prime Minister Albanese spoke warmly of the Bangladeshi community's growing contributions to Australia, particularly in his own constituency.
He recalled attending a commemoration of Language Martyrs' Day on February 21 several years ago.
Later, Yunus met Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, who also serves as the UN Secretary-General's Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development.
The discussion focused on expanding access to health insurance globally, particularly in the Global South.
They explored innovations in the financial sector, including life and health insurance, long-term savings, and pension schemes—and emphasised the importance of financial inclusion.
Yunus highlighted the urgent need for credit access tailored to maternal healthcare, especially during pregnancy.
He proposed the use of digital health check-ups to connect rural women with top medical professionals, which could save countless lives.
During the meeting, Yunus also called for a restructuring of the global pharmaceutical industry, urging for more drug manufacturers to operate as social business enterprises.
"Vaccines produced by social business drug manufacturers will remain affordable," said Prof Yunus.
The chief adviser invited Queen Máxima to visit Bangladesh at a mutually convenient time. Catharina-Amalia, the princess of Orange, also joined the meeting. Yunus also met Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization. Their discussions covered a range of shared priorities and recent global health developments.
Later in the day, the chief adviser participated in two key events: one on Fashion for Development and another focusing on public and private sector collaboration in social innovation.
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/bangladesh-set-most-transparent-election-yunus-tells-global-leaders-3993331
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Mideast
Gaza war ‘one of the darkest moments’ in UN’s history: Jordan’s king
GABRIELE MALVISI
September 23, 2025
LONDON: The war in Gaza is “one of the darkest moments” in the UN’s history, Jordan’s King Abdullah II told the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday.
The UNGA “was born 80 years ago, pledging to learn from, not repeat, history. The world vowed never again,” he said.
“However, for almost as long, Palestinians have been living through a cruel cycle yet again; bombed indiscriminately yet again; killed, injured and maimed yet again; displaced and dispossessed yet again; denied rights, dignity, their basic humanity yet again.
“So I must ask, how long? How long will it be before we find a resolution to this conflict, one that safeguards the rights of all sides and allows a level of normalcy in the lives of the families at its core?”
King Abdullah said the ongoing suffering has made him “question the worth and utility of words in capturing the magnitude of the crisis, yet not speaking about it would signal acceptance of the situation and abandonment of our humanity, and that I won’t do.”
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict “remains unique” among the ones the UN has dealt with over eight decades, he added.
“It’s the longest-standing conflict in the world, an illegal occupation of a helpless population by a self-declared democratic nation, and a flagrant violation of repeated UN resolutions, international law and human rights conventions, a failure that should’ve elicited outrage and action, especially from major democracies. Instead, it has been met with decades of inertia.”
He reminded the assembly that the Palestinian cause “has remained on the UN agenda for its entire eight-decade existence,” adding: “How long will we be satisfied with condemnation after condemnation without concrete action?”
King Abdullah criticized the double standards with which Israel is treated, saying: “The current Israeli government’s provocative calls for a so-called Greater Israel can only be realized through the blatant violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its neighbors, and there’s nothing great about that.”
He added: “I can’t help but wonder if a similar outrageous call were made by an Arab leader, would it be met with the same global apathy?”
Urging the international community to “stop entertaining the illusion” that Israel is a willing partner for peace, he warned that its ongoing violations of international law risk inciting “a religious war that would reach far beyond the region and lead to an all-out clash that no nation would be able to escape.”
King Abdullah, who is set to join a delegation of Arab and Muslim leaders meeting with US President Donald Trump in New York to discuss peace principles and post-war governance in Gaza, praised the Jordanian people for working tirelessly to provide relief to Palestinians, even under fire.
He stressed that the two-state solution remains the only viable path to security and prosperity in the region.
“We all know that force is no foundation for security; it’s a prelude for greater violence. Repeated wars are teaching generations of Israelis and Palestinians that their only recourse is the gun. Security will only come when Palestine and Israel begin to coexist,” he said.
“For the past two years, we’ve finally seen the world’s conscience stirring in the courage of ordinary people, from every walk of life and every corner of the globe, raising their voices as one and declaring, ‘It has been too long.’
“This UN must echo that call. It has been too long, and it must act on that call until peace is a reality.”
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2616440/middle-east
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‘We can’t remain indifferent’ over Gaza: Portugal’s president
Zaira Lakhpatwala
September 23, 2025
NEW YORK: “We can’t remain indifferent” to the crisis in Gaza, Portugal’s president told the 80th UN General Assembly on Tuesday, days after his country’s recognition of a Palestinian state.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa called for a ceasefire, the immediate release of hostages held by Hamas, and humanitarian assistance to the war-ravaged Palestinian enclave.
He stressed the importance of creating political, economic and social conditions that “strengthen the solution of two sovereign states,” which will help rebuild “economies and societies.”
This is what will allow for “peace” for “Israelis and Palestinians so that they can live, not die,” he added.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2616454/middle-east
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Israel allowing children to starve in Gaza, says UK’s foreign secretary
September 23, 2025
LONDON: The UK’s foreign secretary accused Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of allowing children to starve in Gaza as she explained Britain’s decision to recognize a Palestinian state.
Speaking at a landmark UN conference co-hosted by Saudi Arabia and France, Yvette Cooper pointed to Israel’s atrocities in Gaza as a key reason why the UK had made the declaration.
Britain is among at least 10 other Western nations to have recognized Palestine in recent days in response to Israel’s war in Gaza that has killed more than 65,000 people.
Cooper said statehood is the “inalienable right of the Palestinian people” and that two states is the only path to “security and lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians.”
She said Britain’s decision reflected “a grave reality” with the road map to a lasting peace with a Palestinian and Israeli state side by side “in profound peril.”
Cooper said: “In Gaza, the unbearable humanitarian catastrophe worsens as the Netanyahu government chooses to escalate war and hold back aid. Children dying of starvation while food rots at the border.”
She said Israel’s settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank also threatened “the very viability of a Palestinian state.”
She added: “The two-state solution risks disappearing beneath the rubble. That is what extremists on all sides want.”
Her comments came during the High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine held in New York on Monday.
Hours earlier, President Emmanuel Macron told the meeting that France would also recognize Palestine, warning against the “peril of endless wars” if a two-state solution was not realized.
Cooper said the UK’s action was also intended to freeze out Hamas from a future Palestinian state.
“This pathway is the opposite of Hamas’ hateful vision,” she said.
She called for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all Israeli hostages seized by Hamas during the deadly October 2023 raid that triggered the conflict, and the resumption of aid to Gaza that Israel has reduced to a trickle.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2616437/middle-east
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International recognition of Palestinian state helps peace efforts, says Israeli former spy chief
September 23, 2025
LONDON: Official recognition of the State of Palestine by major Western nations could help end the war in Gaza and is a “nightmare” for Hamas, the former head of Israel’s Shin Bet spy agency said.
Britain, France, Canada and Australia are among at least 10 nations that have made such declarations of recognition in recent days. They came as Saudi Arabia and France co-hosted a landmark UN conference on Monday with the aim of galvanizing support for a two-state solution to the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.
The move met with anger from Israel, which said such action would reward Hamas for the Oct. 7 attacks in 2023.
But Ami Ayalon, who once led the domestic secret service, told The Times newspaper that the UK’s recognition of Palestine would not only help to kill off the ideology of Hamas, it is also a blow to Israeli hardliners.
“It is a very, very clear message to these two radical, violent, spoiler groups that in a way have led the region for the last 30 years,” he said.
“It is a nightmare of Hamas. It is a collapse of their ideology. They will disappear as a major political player.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed on Sunday that Britain would officially recognize the State of Palestine in the face of “growing horror” in Gaza, and to help keep alive the prospect of a two-state solution.
President Emmanuel Macron of France formally announced his country’s backing of the Palestinian state during the High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine on Monday. He said the time for peace had come and nothing justified the war in Gaza.
Ayalon said the recognition was “very positive” and sent an important message.
“Everywhere, but especially in the Middle East, this has great, great meaning, a value,” he said. “It is crucial to create hope.”
The declarations would isolate Israel, he added, where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government no longer represented the views of most Israelis. He said that 70 percent of the population believes the government should end the war, bring home the remaining hostages taken during the Hamas-led raids two years ago, and start peace negotiations with the Palestinians.
Ayalon also described Israel’s recent strike on Qatar, targeting Hamas leaders gathered there, as a “mistake.” The strike, which missed its intended targets from the group’s negotiating team but killed six other people, including a Qatari security officer, was condemned by the Gulf Cooperation Council and global leaders.
“They (the military) took a decision without considering the regional ramifications it could have,” Ayalon said of the attack. “We Israelis, we made mistakes more than once by not understanding the consequences.”
Ayalon, 80, was head of Shin Bet between 1995 and 2000, before becoming an Israeli Labor Party politician and minister.
He is among a raft of former senior Israeli military and security officials who have criticized Netanyahu’s handling of the war in Gaza, which has killed more than 65,000 Palestinians, resulted in famine in some areas, and been branded a genocide by UN-commissioned experts.
There also appears to be growing opposition within the present-day Israeli security establishment. The country’s external security agency, Mossad, refused to carry out a ground operation in Qatar targeting the Hamas officials, the Washington Post reported.
And military chief Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir reportedly opposed Netanyahu’s plans to expand the conflict in Gaza through a full military takeover of Gaza City, which is currently unfolding.
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Israel an enemy to its neighbours, engaged in genocide: Qatari emir
Zaynab Khojji
September 23, 2025
LONDON: “Israel isn’t a democratic country surrounded by enemies, but … an enemy to its surrounding neighbors,” Qatar’s emir told the UN General Assembly on Tuesday.
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani was addressing the annual gathering after an Israeli attack earlier this month targeted Hamas negotiators in Doha, killing six people, including a Qatari national.
Israel “is engaged in a genocide (in Gaza), and its leader is proud of preventing the establishment of a Palestinian state, and he promises that such a state will never be established,” the emir said.
“Israel is surrounded by states who have either signed a peace agreement or who are committed to the Arab Peace Initiative, but Israel doesn’t make do with truces and settlements.
“It desires to impose its will on its surrounding Arab neighbors, and everyone who opposes its will is either antisemitic or a terrorist. Even Israel’s allies realize this fact and reject it.”
The emir thanked the international community for the “solidarity we’ve received in Qatar after the attack (on Doha), including a statement by the (UN) Security Council that has condemned the attack.”
He said the attack was an attempt by Israel to derail Gaza ceasefire negotiations. “Unlike the claim of the prime minister of Israel, this attack isn’t a legitimate right to follow perpetrators of terrorism. It’s an act of a diplomacy that’s dedicated to political assassinations, and it undermines any diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the genocide against the people in Gaza,” he added.
“It’s also an attempt to kill politicians who are members of the delegation that engages in negotiations with Israel while they were studying an American proposal.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to continue the war so as to make Gaza “unliveable,” Sheikh Tamim said.
“Qatari mediation has, in cooperation with Egypt and the US, achieved the release of hostages, and the last agreement was negated by Israel unilaterally, preventing an ability to reach a permanent ceasefire, and the release of all hostages, and the withdrawal of the occupying forces from the Gaza Strip … and the release of Palestinian prisoners. They visit our country and plot to attack it,” he added.
“The Israeli leader wants to continue war. He believes in what is called Greater Israel. He believes that war is an opportunity to expand settlements and to change the status quo in the holy sites (of Jerusalem).”
Sheikh Tamim vowed that Qatar would remain true to its history and legacy, and continue its mediation efforts.
“We’ll continue to speak the truth, and we’ll engage in diplomacy when our enemies find it easier to use weapons,” he said.
“We’ve engaged to mediate an end to the war and allow for humanitarian access and release hostages, and we’ve faced disinformation campaigns.
“However, these campaigns won’t deter us. We’ll continue our efforts in cooperation and partnership with Egypt and the US.”
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Activists say Gaza aid flotilla attacked by ‘multiple drones’
September 24, 2025
ATHENS: Organizers of a Gaza-bound flotilla carrying aid and pro-Palestinian activists said late Tuesday they heard explosions and saw multiple drones that targeted some of their boats, currently situated off Greece.
“Multiple drones, unidentified objects dropped, communications jammed and explosions heard from a number of boats,” the Global Sumud Flotilla said in a statement, without adding whether there were any casualties.
“We are witnessing these psychological operations firsthand, right now, but we will not be intimidated,” the statement said.
German human rights activist and flotilla member Yasemin Acar said in a video she posted on Instagram that five vessels had been attacked.
“We are carrying only humanitarian aid,” she said. “We have no weapons. We pose no threat to anyone. It is Israel who is killing thousands of people (and) starving a whole population.”
In an earlier video, Acar said the activists had “sighted 15 to 16 drones,” adding that their radios had been jammed as loud music could be heard.
One video posted by the flotilla’s official Instagram page showed an explosion it said it recorded from the Spectre boat at “01:43 GMT +3.”
In another video posted by the same page, Brazilian activist Thiago Avila said four boats had been “targeted with drones throwing devices” just before another explosion was heard in the background.
The Global Sumud Flotilla set sail from Barcelona earlier this month with the aim of breaking Israel’s blockade of Gaza and delivering aid to the territory.
It currently numbers 51 vessels, most of which are situated off the Greek island of Crete.
It had already been targeted in two suspected drone attacks in Tunisia, where its boat had been anchored before resuming its voyage toward Gaza.
Among its high-profile participants is environmental activist Greta Thunberg.
Israel said Monday it would not allow the boats to reach Gaza.
Israel blocked two earlier attempts by activists to reach Gaza by sea in June and July.
Israel has come under huge international pressure over its war in Gaza, which has sparked a dire humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territory.
Last month, a body backed by the United Nations officially declared famine in part of Gaza.
And on September 16, UN investigators accused Israel of committing “genocide” in the besieged territory, nearly two years after the war erupted following Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
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US may end Gaza war ‘right now’: Trump
Caspar Webb
September 24, 2025
NEW YORK: The US may end the Gaza war “right now,” President Donald Trump told a meeting of Arab and Muslim leaders at the UN on Tuesday.
“We want to end the war in Gaza. We’re going to end it. Maybe we can end it right now,” he told the leaders and the media.
Trump said he would “see the people in Israel,” including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, “and we’re going to get something done because it’s gone on too long, and we want it to end.”
He added: “We’re here to see if we can get the hostages back and get the war over and get back to life in the Middle East, which is a beautiful life, but it’s much more beautiful without wars, right?”
The meeting was attended by the presidents or foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Turkiye, Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan and Indonesia.
Trump described them as “great leaders from a very important part of our planet” who are “respected all over the world.”
He added: “They’re respected by me in the Oval Office, I can tell you that. They’re respected by the US.”
Trump highlighted the issue of the Israeli hostages held by Hamas and other militant groups. “Right now, they have 20 hostages and 38 dead bodies … We have to get the 38 back and we have to get the 20 back, and I think we’ll be able to do it,” he said.
“This is the group that can do it more than any other group in the world. This is the group that can do it.”
Qatar’s emir told Trump: “The only reason you’re here is to stop the war and bring the hostages back. And we count on you and your leadership as well to end this war and to help the people of Gaza. The situation is very, very, very bad there.”
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani added: “We’re here to meet and to do everything we can to stop this war, and to bring the hostages back.”
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UN Security Council under intense pressure to halt Gaza bloodshed amid political deadlock
Ephrem Kossaify
September 24, 2025
NEW YORK: The world is confronting “one of the darkest chapters of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” the UN secretary-general said on Tuesday, warning that nearly two years after the “horrific Hamas terror attacks” of Oct. 7 and the “devastating Israeli military response,” violence has only deepened across the Occupied Territories, posing grave threats to regional and global peace and security.
The Israeli onslaught in Gaza City is compounding an already catastrophic humanitarian crisis, said Antonio Guterres.
“Famine is a reality, with the population constantly forced to move and being starved,” he told a high-level UN Security Council meeting. “To call this situation untenable, and morally and legally indefensible, doesn’t begin to capture the scale of human suffering.”
Impunity prevails “and our collective credibility is being undermined,” he said, adding that violence is spreading from Gaza to the occupied West Bank and beyond, including several countries in the region, most recently Qatar.
“Efforts to secure a ceasefire and hostage release deal — led by Qatar, Egypt and the US — suffered a serious blow on Sept. 9,” Guterres said.
“The Israeli attack (on Doha) wasn’t only a violation of Qatar’s sovereignty and territorial integrity — it also threatened the very norms and mechanisms we rely on for diplomacy and conflict resolution.”
Guterres also warned that the viability of a two-state solution is “steadily eroding,” reaching its “most critical level in more than a generation.”
He added: “Relentless settlement expansion, de facto annexation, forced displacement, cycles of deadly violence — including by extremist settlers — have entrenched an unlawful Israeli occupation and pushed us perilously close to a point of no return.”
Guterres sounded the alarm over Israel’s recent approval of settlement construction in the E1 area which, if implemented, would destroy the contiguity of a Palestinian state. “Israeli settlements aren’t just a political issue — they’re a flagrant violation of international law,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority is facing an existential crisis, with fiscal, political and institutional pressures severely undermining its ability to function, he added.
Israel’s withholding of tax revenues, the collapse of the Palestinian economy, and a drastic decline in donor aid have left the PA unable to pay salaries or provide basic services, Guterres said.
He emphasized the urgent need for international financial and political support to stabilize the PA and maintain it as a viable partner for peace.
He noted a “glimmer of hope” with the High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution that took place on Monday, commending France and Saudi Arabia for co-chairing it and helping to revive political momentum.
Guterres welcomed increased international recognition of Palestinian statehood, particularly by France and the UK, calling this the clearest path to achieving a two-state solution based on pre-1967 borders with Jerusalem as the shared capital.
He urged the international community to seize this momentum, stressing that the future of Gaza must be rooted in international law, free of ethnic cleansing and aligned with a political vision for a viable Palestinian state.
He called for an immediate halt to settler expansion, violence and annexation threats, and reiterated the International Court of Justice’s demands for Israel to end its settlement activities and unlawful presence in the Occupied Territories.
Saudi Arabia’s permanent representative to the UN, Abdulaziz Alwasil, described Gaza as “a catastrophic situation that’s deteriorating day by day” due to ongoing military escalation and a prolonged siege.
He said the repeated Israeli aggressions and violations of international law stem from “the lack of accountability and the prevalence of impunity,” which has undermined the credibility of the UN and threatens both regional and global peace and security.
Alwasil criticized the failure of the international community to deter these actions, warning that it risks erasing national sovereignty and deepening the regional conflict.
He called on the UNSC to “shoulder its responsibilities” by enforcing accountability measures against Israel to restore peace and uphold international legitimacy.
He condemned Israel’s continued intransigence and expansionist policies, including violations of the sovereignty of regional countries such as Qatar.
Stressing the urgent need for a just resolution, Alwasil insisted that peace can only be achieved through a comprehensive approach based on the “implementation of a two-state solution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the lines of 1967 with East Jerusalem as its capital.”
Slovenia’s Foreign Minister Tanya Fajon lamented the UNSC’s paralysis and its failure to fulfill its obligations to maintain international peace and security.
She warned that when politicians facing charges for war crimes and crimes against humanity walk free while judges are placed under sanctions, the international community cannot remain silent without becoming complicit through complacency.
Fajon stressed that the breakdown of the rules and obligations underpinning the international system constitutes a direct threat to global peace and security.
“Gaza has become a textbook example of the failure of the international community,” she said. “It has become a place in which people dread the nightfall and fear what a new day will bring.
“Gaza has become the deadliest place for children, the deadliest place for humanitarian and medical workers, the deadliest place for journalists, the place of the first-ever proclaimed famine in the Middle East.
“Marked by continuous offensives and strikes against hospitals, schools, homes, shelters and holy places, it’s defined by death and despair, where hostages suffer and civilians count heartbeats left.”
Tajon told council members that “Gaza is a man-made catastrophe which is live-streamed across the globe and sustained by those acting in contradiction to everything we stand for.”
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen told the UNSC that it is essential that Israel change its course immediately and that the war in Gaza ends.
He emphasized that the council, tasked with maintaining international peace and security, should be able to make this demand as a bare minimum.
“That means all of us, every single member, working in concert and common cause toward this goal. It means setting aside political differences to save lives,” he said.
Rasmussen lamented last week’s US veto, the sixth since the start of the war, on a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire and the release of Israeli hostages.
Addressing Americans directly, Rasmussen quoted President Donald Trump as saying the war in Gaza needs to be stopped immediately.
“Denmark continues to support the dedicated efforts of the US, Qatar and Egypt to mitigate a ceasefire,” he said.
“Your unwavering commitment to find a path to peace is critical in the context, but we count on you in this council too. Your leadership is critical in our joint aspirations of bringing peace and stability to the region.”
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said her country’s “historic recognition” of Palestine is part of acting to protect the viability of the two-state solution as the only path “to a just and lasting peace,” and part of “rejecting extremist ideas on all sides, which involved too often fantasies of the destruction of the State of Israel or expulsion of the Palestinian population.”
Mike Waltz, US permanent representative to the UN, reiterated Washington’s demand that Hamas immediately release all remaining hostages, “cease putting civilians in harm’s way, cease sacrificing their own people for propaganda aims,” and “disarm” and “surrender,” adding: “This war could end today if that happened.”
Waltz said there was no credible Palestinian partner for peace, adding that PA leaders were denied visas to be in New York this week because they “failed to meet their Oslo commitments.”
He said: “The commitments were basic, including renouncing terrorism, renouncing violence, resolving issues through direct negotiations with Israel.
“The Palestinian Authority has failed to clear even those low bars, and their attempts to bypass negotiations through what can only be called lawfare, including at the ICC (International Criminal Court) and at the ICJ, and its pushes for unilateral recognition of statehood … this charade is disappointing. It’s clearly fueled by domestic politics, and has given Hamas a reward for refusing to surrender.”
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Israel destroys evacuated health center in Gaza City, medics say
September 23, 2025
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip: A Palestinian medical charity said Tuesday that Israel destroyed its main center in Gaza City after ordering its evacuation.
The Palestinian Medical Relief Society said an Israeli strike reduced its six-story building in the central Samer area to rubble. It said the center was one of the main facilities in the city providing blood donation and testing services, trauma care, cancer medicine and chronic disease treatment.
There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military, which has repeatedly bombed and raided hospitals in Gaza throughout the war.
In a separate development, Israel announced Tuesday complete closure of the border crossing between the occupied West Bank and Jordan until further notice after an attack last week that killed two Israelis.
The Allenby Bridge Crossing over the Jordan River, also known as King Hussein Bridge, is the only cargo and passenger crossing available to Palestinians in the West Bank that does not lead to Israel. It is also on a key route for delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Multiple hospitals in famine-stricken Gaza City have been forced to shut down as Israel forces advance. Israel accuses Hamas of using medical facilities for military purposes — which could cause them to lose their protection under international law — but the military has often provided little or no evidence of a significant militant presence.
The head of the World Health Organization, which has partnered with the charity, condemned the strike. “Attacks on health facilities must end. The senseless violence must stop. Ceasefire!” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus wrote on X.
The medical charity said another of its centers was damaged and surrounded by Israeli troops, and that a third center was destroyed in a separate strike. Gaza’s Health Ministry said Monday that the Al-Rantisi Children’s Hospital and the Specialized Eye Hospital had been forced to shut down because of nearby Israeli military operations.
Several Western countries on Monday called on Israel to restore a medical corridor for Palestinians in Gaza to be treated in east Jerusalem and the West Bank, and for Israel to lift restrictions on medical supplies entering Gaza.
The statement was cosigned by 24 nations, including Canada, France and Germany, and comes as Israel has faced mounting criticism over the war in Gaza from even some of its closest allies.
Israel captured east Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza in the 1967 Mideast war. The Palestinians want all three territories for a future state.
Israel launched a major offensive earlier this month aimed at occupying Gaza City, the territory’s largest, which has already suffered heavy damage from previous raids and bombardment. Israel says the operation is aimed at pressuring Hamas to surrender and return the remaining 48 hostages taken during its Oct. 7, 2023, attack that triggered the war. Israel believes around 20 of the captives are alive.
The world’s leading authority on hunger crises said last month that Israel’s blockade and ongoing offensive had already pushed Gaza City into famine. More than 300,000 people have fled the city in recent weeks as Israel has ordered the population to move south, but an estimated 700,000 remain, according to UN agencies and aid groups.
Meanwhile a Palestinian man died from his injuries after being shot by Israeli settlers in the village of Al-Mughayyir, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said Tuesday.
Palestinian residents of Al-Mughayyir said Saeed Murad Naasan, 20, was shot after confronting settlers who were grazing their livestock on the outskirts of the village which is situated east of Ramallah.
The Israeli military said troops fired live rounds to disperse Palestinians hurling rocks at Israeli civilians during a “violent confrontation” that wounded one person. It said the incident is under review.
Hamas-led militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted 251 in the Oct. 7 attack. Most of the captives have since been released in ceasefires or other deals.
The Gaza Health Ministry says at least 65,382 Palestinians have been killed in the war, without saying how many were civilians or combatants. It is part of the Hamas-run government. Its figures are seen by the UN and many independent experts as the most reliable estimate of wartime casualties.
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Arab World
Saudi Space Ambitions Fuelled By Young, Tech-Savvy Workforce
September 23, 2025
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s space exploration ambitions are being driven by a generation of tech-savvy young nationals.
A group of dynamic professionals from the PIF-owned Neo Space Group have spoken about their aspirations to advance national objectives through space technology, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Abdullah Duwaihi Al-Anazi, a Space Communications Department engineer at the Satellite Operations Center, said that space capabilities directly correlated with technological sovereignty while creating substantial economic and scientific opportunities.
His colleague, Rayan Al-Zahrani from Satellite Communications Management, added that space investment gave the Kingdom autonomy in data and communications.
Strategy and Business Development Specialist Abdullah Al-Qarni added that space held opportunities for medical research, communications technology and economic opportunity.
He emphasized space technology’s role in supporting economic diversification initiatives and generating high-value employment opportunities.
Saudi professional contributions span satellite operations centers to information technology management, the SPA reported.
Satellite Operations Center Engineer Mohammed Al-Abbad said that local talent was a driving force in space technology.
Information Technology Department Data Analyst and Cybersecurity Specialist Manar Akef added that each Saudi professional contribution advanced the Kingdom toward self-sufficiency.
Space Systems Engineer Osama Adel Baabdullah positioned expertise as the cornerstone of technological sovereignty and the primary catalyst of space innovation.
NSG runs training programs ranging from administrative workshops to technical instruction, the SPA reported.
Engineer Osama Baabdullah praised the professional mentorship program facilitating direct engagement with executive leadership.
Satellite Operations Center Engineer Muayad Al-Makdoom cited benefits from the Lumofy platform and space communications courses in supporting innovation objectives.
Despite the sector’s nascency, Saudi youth encounter technical and infrastructural challenges that they reframe as development opportunities, the SPA reported.
Human Resources Information System Officer Ghadah Al-Dhalaan encapsulates this perspective, saying that challenges represent innovation and creativity opportunities.
The NSG was founded in 2024 by the PIF as a means of rapidly developing Saudi Arabia’s space and satellite communications capabilities.
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Saudi Arabia showcases award-winning AI achievements at UN
September 23, 2025
RIYADH: The Saudi Data and AI Authority showcased the Kingdom’s approach to building advanced artificial-intelligence systems at the UN General Assembly in New York this week.
Raied Al-Jadaany, assistant CEO for computer vision and audio technologies at the SDAIA, outlined the Kingdom’s approach to the technology, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
“Successfully addressing the fundamental challenges these technologies present is essential for unlocking AI’s transformative potential for global society,” Al-Jadaany said in a presentation.
Speaking during another session, Rehab bint Saad Al-Arfaj, the SDAIA’s director-general of strategic partnerships and indicators, demonstrated how theory has been transformed into concrete improvements in the lives of citizens and residents.
Al-Arfaj said Saudi Arabia’s National Data and AI Strategy recently earned first place in the Global AI Index’s government category.
A notable achievement has been Tawakkalna, the national application launched during the COVID-19 pandemic that has evolved into a unified platform offering over 1,000 government services.
The platform’s performance earned it the 2022 UN Public Service Award, for its substantial societal impact.
The Kingdom has also established a National Data Bank that connects more than 385 government platforms and provides access to 480 services.
This has generated substantial economic benefits, with savings and returns exceeding SR51 billion ($13.6 billion), according to the SPA.
Fawaz Al-Qahtani, director of modern technologies at the SDAIA’s National AI Center, addressed another session with strategies for using the technology.
He said automated technologies can generate cost savings between 10 and 30 percent.
Saudi Arabia also secured second place globally in public AI awareness, according to the 2023 Artificial Intelligence Index Report by Stanford University.
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Saudi Arabia welcomes recognitions for Palestinian state
September 23, 2025
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Tuesday welcomed the recognition of the State of Palestine by France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Andorra, and San Marino during a high-level international conference on the Palestinian issue, co-chaired by France.
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that the successive recognitions “confirm the international consensus on the inherent right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, the establishment of their state, and the fulfillment of their aspirations for stability and prosperity.”
The Kingdom reiterated its call for all countries to recognize Palestine and to take concrete steps to support the Palestinian Authority and reinforce the two-state solution.
Such measures, it said, are essential to ending the suffering of the Palestinian people, safeguarding their legitimate rights, and ensuring lasting security and peace across the region.
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King Salman thanks God for achievements made in Saudi Arabia on national day
September 23, 2025
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman thanked God for the achievements made in the Kingdom on its national day.
In a post on X, the king wrote: “On the occasion of our National Day, we thank God for the achievements made in our beloved country, and for the national unity founded on Islamic law and justice.”
Saudi Arabia celebrates its national day on Sept. 23 every year to commemorate the unification of the Kingdom and its founding at the hands of King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al-Saud.
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Riyadh to host International Restoration Week in October
September 23, 2025
RIYADH: The Heritage Commission will organize the International Restoration Week exhibition from Oct.1-5 in the Jax district of Diriyah.
The event will bring together leading local and international institutions specializing in restoration and the preservation of urban heritage, to exchange expertise and strengthen cooperation by demonstrating the latest practices and technologies in conserving historic buildings and sites, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The exhibition is as part of Heritage Commission efforts to protect and develop Saudi Arabia’s urban heritage — there are more than 34,000 heritage assets recorded in the National Urban Heritage Register.
The commission also seeks to raise awareness of restoration as an integrated process that safeguards historic sites and cultural identity while supporting their sustainable development in line with contemporary needs.
Various organizations, institutions, and companies from at least 12 countries are expected to take part in the event.
The Heritage Commission said the International Restoration Week is a specialized platform for cooperation and knowledge exchange in the field of urban heritage conservation.
It further reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to advancing restoration standards in line with global best practices and strengthening its position in cultural heritage preservation.
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Saudi Arabia to host seventh law conference
September 23, 2025
RIYADH: Experts, legal professionals and academics from across the Kingdom and beyond will converge in Riyadh on Sept. 28-29 for the seventh Saudi Law Conference.
Themed “The Future of Legal Systems in the Age of Technology, Artificial Intelligence, and Sustainability,” the two-day event will examine how AI and digital transformation are reshaping legal systems worldwide, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Minister of Justice Dr. Walid bin Mohammed Al-Samaani will headline the opening ceremony, bringing his dual roles as president of the Supreme Judicial Council and chairman of the Saudi Bar Association board of directors.
His participation signals the government’s recognition that legal frameworks must evolve rapidly to accommodate digital transformations and global changes while strengthening cooperation between legal, academic and professional institutions to support legislative development in the Kingdom.
This gathering represents a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s strategy to modernize its legal and regulatory framework as outlined in Vision 2030, providing a forum for examining the profound changes reshaping the legal profession and addressing both the obstacles and possibilities created by emerging technologies and environmental imperatives.
Conference organizers have structured the event around specialized discussion panels and workshops featuring government officials, practicing attorneys, technology specialists, and business leaders from domestic and international markets.
The sessions will tackle pressing questions including how legal systems should adapt to accelerating digital transformation, protecting personal data and privacy rights in digital economies, establishing regulatory frameworks for AI and emerging technologies, defining legal responsibility and ethical boundaries for technological applications, and integrating sustainability principles into national and international legislation.
Princess Hala bint Khalid, as president of the conference organizing committee, positioned the event within Saudi Arabia’s broader ambitions for global legal leadership.
She described the seventh conference as embodying the Kingdom’s determination to establish itself as a premier international platform for legal system development that matches the pace of rapid technological and sustainability-focused changes.
“Our wise leadership embraces a vision extending beyond simply responding to developments,” Princess Hala said. “We are creating practical solutions and innovative perspectives that help design an advanced legislative future supporting Saudi Vision 2030’s aspirations while establishing the Kingdom's regional and international leadership position.”
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Saudi aid chief meets Save the Children International CEO
September 23, 2025
NEW YORK: Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, general supervisor of the Saudi aid agency KSrelief, met with Save the Children International CEO Inger Ashing at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in New York City on Tuesday.
The organizations signed an agreement to establish a strategic partnership that will focus on cooperation in humanitarian aid, relief, and volunteer work, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The officials also discussed ongoing humanitarian and relief projects focused on supporting children worldwide and providing them with essential aid.
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Saudi students in London for AI bootcamp
September 23, 2025
RIYADH: Thirty Saudi Arabia university graduates arrived in London on Monday for an Artificial Intelligence Engineering Bootcamp, a collaboration between the Saudi Data and AI Authority and the University of Oxford, running until Oct. 9.
The program targets those with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in AI and computer science, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The course provides advanced skills in computer vision, deep learning, and generative models under the guidance of international experts.
The first phase of the boot camp was conducted remotely, while the second and final three-week portion is held at Oxford University.
Participants will gain hands-on experience with frameworks including TensorFlow and PyTorch, and technologies covering YOLO and Hugging Face.
This initiative supports the SDAIA’s mission to enhance the skills of citizens, and aligns with the digital transformation objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, ensuring graduates are globally competitive.
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Saudis and expats light up national day in style
Tamara Aboalsaud
September 23, 2025
RIYADH: Green lights illuminated Riyadh as the Kingdom celebrated its 95th national day on Tuesday — with cars adorned by flags, streets filled with music, and children exchanging candy and bracelets in traffic — the people’s patriotism was on full display.
Crowds gathered across the city to bask in the heritage of the Kingdom and its vision moving forward, and the excitement at King Abdullah Financial District was no exception.
Foreigners and locals alike took part in the day’s activities, including Flaminia Avola from Italy, who has been living and working in the Kingdom since May.
“Until now I can say that it is an amazing experience, and national day is so fantastic. You have so many things to do.”
Avola took her mother to KAFD to view all the different amenities and said that she was most excited to see the fireworks show.
“I think that the financial district is very nice because it’s very close to the main area of the city and it’s a mix between the new and the old.
“So, it’s very nice to see that you are open to a new type of style but at the same time keep your culture … that’s very important, to not lose your culture.”
As to what she is most excited about in Saudi Arabia’s future, Avola is keen to experience Expo 2030.
“I think the country is on a very good path to make the Expo and World Cup successful, so I wish them the best of luck.”
Carl Tuazon, an admin secretary from the Philippines, has lived in Saudi Arabia for almost ten years.
“All the people are very cooperative and really generous in many ways,” Tuazon said, adding that he encounters kind and generous people every day, from his days at work to social outings such as national day.
“Compared to other countries, national day here in Saudi is very nice. They really adopt the culture of being Saudi.”
Having witnessed many of the country’s developments first-hand, Tuazon said that he is enthusiastic about what is to come.
“I’m very excited for the 2030 Vision of the crown prince, and I’m looking forward to seeing the changes here in Saudi Arabia.”
English teachers Mirna Al-Sabbagh from Egypt and Nada Bouzir from Tunisia also spoke to Arab News about their experience living in Saudi Arabia for the past few years.
“It’s beautiful and so comfortable, the normal basic life feels like luxury. I’m so lucky to be here,” Al-Sabbagh said.
“I really love national day because it’s so lively and full of green colors, and everyone is just so excited.
“I feel like I’m in my own country because all of them are just welcoming everyone, so it’s really friendly and cozy.”
Bouzir shared similar sentiments, saying that she loves how people are so proud of their nationality, displaying it in their dress and performances.
Reflecting on her time in the Kingdom so far, Bouzir said that she feels very comfortable and is particularly thankful for how safe the country is.
“Especially the security here, as a woman it’s very important to be secure, to go out wherever you want to without worry.”
Lines gathered as eager visitors participated in various activities, from photo booths to live art shows, from traditional dance to national songs.
Saudi native and health educator, Amer Mansour Al-Hazobar, who was volunteering at KAFD to assist the celebrations, shared his sentiments and well wishes to his home country.
“Praise be to God for the lasting security and safety, and thanks be to God for the blessing of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
“May God preserve this security and safety, and God willing, may we always be celebrating together. May God ease the hardships of any Arab country facing difficulties, and may He keep the joys everlasting, God willing.”
Al-Hazobar said that he is excited about Saudi Arabia taking center stage in the coming years with Expo 2030 and the FIFA World Cup in 2034.
“And Saudi Vision 2030, may God bring it forward, we need it.”
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2616443/saudi-arabia
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Europe
Southport killer downloaded material 'grossly offensive to anybody of Muslim faith'
Patrick Edrich
24 Sep 2025
The Southport killer downloaded a large amount of anti-Islamic material that would be "grossly offensive to anybody of the Muslim faith". The ongoing Southport Inquiry heard yesterday, Tuesday, how police investigators found a disturbing litany of extreme material on the electronic devices belonging to mass murderer Axel Rudakubana as part of their wider probe into his dance party attack.
The inquiry was told that two Lenovo tablets and a HP laptop were seized by police officers from Rudakubana's home address on Old School Close in Banks. Investigators found PDF documents on the then 17-year-old's devices relating to "violence, an interest in religion and conflict, an interest in Nazi Germany, Chechnya, genocide, punishment dealt to slave rebels, the Zulu war, and the fight against ISIS".
A number of JPEG images were also found which included the slavery of women; anti-Islamic material; anti-Semitic material, extreme violence including torture, bodies of the deceased following atrocities, Nazi era imagery and one image of the Twin Towers.
Merseyside Police's senior investigating officer in the case, Jason Pye, told the inquiry that the material showed the killer, who is only being referred to as AR in the proceedings, had "an interest in numerous wars, violence...the family did say that he was interested in studying history but the majority of these were quite extreme in the material found on them".
Rudakubana murdered Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, when he targeted the Taylor Swift-themed event on July 29 last year. He also badly injured eight other children, who cannot be named for legal reasons, as well as teacher and party organiser Leanne Lucas and local businessman John Hayes.
Senior counsel to the inquiry, Nicholas Moss KC, asked detective chief inspector Pye about the volume of anti-Islamic material found on Rudakubana's devices after there was "suggestions and speculation [about] what might be described as an Islamist attack".
Mr Moss asked: "Would it be right that some of that material involved graphic cartoons of the kind that would be grossly offensive to anybody of the Muslim faith?" DCI Pye confirmed this was correct, with the inquiry hearing some of the imagery was "graphic of a kind that no mainstream media in the UK would ever consider publishing".
Among the documents found on Rudakubana's devices was a research paper entitled "Military studies in the Jihad against the tyrants: The Al-Qaeda training manual". The inquiry heard that the document, although an academic article, contained large portions of the manual itself and included information about the use of knives and poisons.
Having the document amounted to an offence under the Terrorism Act and Rudakubana was charged and pleaded guilty to possessing information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism.
Mr Moss asked DCI Pye "if AR subscribed to an extreme form of Islam or indeed Islam at all?" The officer responded: "There wasn't and that was something that we kept very open minded about all the way through the investigation."
In the wake of the attack, speculation about Rudakubana's background was amplified on social media, with false rumours claiming he had come to the UK by crossing the English Channel in a small boat. A mosque in Southport was attacked following a vigil in the Sefton town, which resulted in widespread rioting across the UK in the following days.
Mr Moss also asked the detective if the police found that Rudakubana was motivated by any ideological cause, whether political, religious or racial. DCI Pye said his team did not, nor did a review by Counter Terrorism Policing find any.
The inquiry heard that instead Rudakubana was a "young man who had a fascination with violence and inappropriate material", who "specifically targeted women and girls" at the dance studio.
Rudakubana was jailed for life with a minimum term of 52 years in January at Liverpool Crown Court, after admitting the "sadistic" murders and attempted murders.
Mr Moss previously said the proceedings would be a "definitive account" of the attack, the background and the killer’s involvement with state agencies, including police, schools and social services.
Sir Adrian Fulford, chairman of the inquiry, has promised to do everything "humanly possible" to answer the questions of bereaved families and victims. He added: "What occurred on that day has made it critically necessary, moreover, to identify all the changes that need to be implemented in order to ensure, as best as our society is able, that there is no repetition."
he first phase of the inquiry, which is expected to run until November, continues.
Source: liverpoolecho.co.uk
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https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/southport-killer-downloaded-material-grossly-32534072
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'Greatest con job', migrant 'invasion' and Sharia law in London: Trump's claims at UN Assembly
23 September 2025
President Trump's speech to the UN General Assembly featured a number of dubious, hyperbolic and headline-grabbing statements.
Here are some of the main soundbites from his 56-minute moment in front of world leaders in New York.
'London wants Sharia law'
The president continued his long-running criticism of London's mayor, Sir Sadiq Khan, telling delegates: "I look at London, where you have a terrible mayor, terrible, terrible mayor, and it's been changed, it's been so changed.
"Now they want to go to Sharia law. But you are in a different country, you can't do that."
It's not clear why he raised Sharia law - which is Islam's legal system - but there is no evidence of it being administered by civil authorities in London.
A spokesperson for Sir Sadiq said: "We are not going to dignify his appalling and bigoted comments with a response.
"London is the greatest city in the world, safer than major US cities, and we're delighted to welcome the record number of US citizens moving here."
Immigration will be 'death of Western Europe'
The president, who's clamped down on migrants coming via America's southern border and ordered immigration raids, warned the UN "immigration and their suicidal energy ideas will be the death of Western Europe if something is not done immediately".
He said Europe was being "invaded by a force of illegal aliens like nobody's ever seen before".
"Illegal aliens are pouring into Europe and nobody's doing anything to change it," Mr Trump said.
Directly addressing European leaders, he added: "You're doing it because you want to be nice. You want to be politically correct, and you're destroying your heritage."
The UK has seen a record number of illegal migrants arrive in small boats for this point in the year - and there has been a spike in legal migration too. How to tackle the problem continues to be a key political battleground.
Climate change world's 'greatest con job'
Mr Trump urged Europe to abandon green energy plans and called climate change "the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world" with predictions "made by stupid people that have cost their countries fortunes".
He said scientists had previously predicted some nations might be "wiped off the map" by now - but that's "not happening".
"If you don't get away from the green scam, your country is going to fail," he argued.
The vast majority of scientists accept climate change is largely man-made and already having an effect; for example by causing glaciers to shrink, sea levels to rise, and making wildfires more likely.
He also reiterated his belief that Britain should make more of untapped North Sea oil, but claimed it was "so highly taxed that no developer, no oil company can go there".
The president is well known for his loathing of renewable energy and used his speech to also take a swipe at the UK's green energy efforts.
"I want to stop seeing them ruining that beautiful Scottish and English countryside with windmills and massive solar panels that go seven miles by seven miles, taking away farmland," the president said.
The UK's largest solar plant is Cleve Hill in Kent, which stretches about 1.8 miles x 1 mile at its widest.
However, the country's largest onshore wind farm at Whitelee, near Glasgow, comprises 215 turbines over about 30 square miles.
'Everyone' says Trump should get prize after 'ending seven wars'
Mr Trump is widely believed to be very keen to get the Nobel Peace Prize, and today he again claimed to have stopped "seven wars" - despite US efforts to get a ceasefire in Ukraine and Gaza so far failing.
"I ended seven wars and in all cases they were raging with countless thousands of people being killed," he said, adding that "no president or prime minister" has "ever done anything close to that".
However, the president said he actually isn't concerned about being honoured for his efforts.
"Everyone says that I should get the Nobel Peace Prize for each one of these achievements," he told world leaders.
"The real prize will be the sons and daughters who live to grow up with their mothers and fathers because millions of people are no longer being killed in endless and unglorious wars," the president said.
"What I care about is not winning prizes as much as saving lives."
He also took a swipe at what he said was a lax approach from the UN, saying it was "too bad that I had to do these things instead of the United Nations doing them".
Although his administration has helped mediate relations in disputes between countries such as India and Pakistan, and Cambodia and Thailand, experts say his impact isn't as clear cut as he makes out.
Source: yahoo.com
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https://uk.news.yahoo.com/greatest-con-job-migrant-invasion-172300674.html
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Nazi terrorist who planted bombs in British mosques found dead in high security prison
September 23, 2025
Pavlo Lapshyn, 37, stabbed Mohammed Saleem in Birmingham in April 2013 — five days after arriving in the UK.
Lapshyn later planted three home-made bombs near mosques in the West Midlands in planned racist attacks.
He died today at HMP Wakefield, the Category A jail in West Yorkshire, the Prison Service has confirmed.
A local in the West Midlands told Metro: ‘He absolutely spread fear through the community. And obviously we had to contain it, because what you didn’t want is, what he wanted — to start a race war.
‘I think maybe he was doing little testers at the little mosque, because the last one that he did was in a mosque in Wolverhampton, and it was, it would have been horrific. It was a nail bomb that detonated all across the car park. But the clocks went back so the Friday prayer time had changed by an hour. It could have been so much worse.
‘There were lots of questions we had that we didn’t get answered because none of it actually made any sense.
‘Because if he was going to commit race wars why would you go to the smallest mosques in the back streets of Birmingham, when he was staying on site opposite one of the biggest mosques in Birmingham?’
Lapshyn, from Dnipropetrovsk in Ukraine, had been living in Birmingham while on a temporary work placement in the city.
He stabbed Mr Saleem three times as the father-of-seven was walking home from prayers at Small Heath mosque on April 29.
He also stamped on the head of his victim, who had 22 grandchildren and was a fortnight away from becoming a grandfather again.
Six weeks later, Lapshyn planted his first explosive device beside gates outside the Aisha mosque in Walsall.
He detonated another seven days later on a roundabout near Wolverhampton Central Mosque, although no one noticed for three weeks.
His final and most dangerous bomb, packed with hundreds of nails, sent debris flying across a car park close to Kanzul Iman Masjid mosque in Tipton on July 12. The attack failed to cause casualties only because morning prayers had been put back an hour, delaying the arrival of up to 1,000 worshippers, the Old Bailey heard.
He was caught after police recognised his Delcam work clothes on CCTV footage. At his home, officers found material for further bombs, including three mobile phones used as detonators, and white supremacist literature.
Lapshyn admitted to police that he had acted alone and ‘wanted to increase racial conflict’. He said he targeted mosques ‘because they are not white and I am white’.
In October 2013, he was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 40 years for the murder by a judge at the Old Bailey.
The killer’s tariff included 12 years for offences under the Explosives Substances Act and 12 years for offences under the Terrorism Act.
A Prison Service spokesperson said today: ‘This was an abhorrent crime and our thoughts remain with Mr Saleem’s friends and family.
‘Pavlo Lapshyn died on 23 September 2025 at HMP Wakefield.
‘As with all deaths in custody, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will investigate.’
Source: metro.co.uk
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https://metro.co.uk/2025/09/23/nazi-terrorist-planted-bombs-british-mosques-found-dead-high-security-prison-24241496/
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Man spared jail for assault after Quran burned outside Turkish consulate in London
23 September 2025
A Muslim man who attacked another man who was burning a Quran outside the Turkish consulate in London has been spared jail.
Hamit Coskun, 51, shouted “f*** Islam”, “Islam is religion of terrorism” and “Quran is burning”, as he held a flaming Islamic text aloft during a protest in Rutland Gardens, Knightsbridge, on 13 February.
Moussa Kadri, 59, then came out of a residential building and told Mr Coskun “I’m going to kill you”, before returning and slashing at him with a knife, later telling police he was protecting his religion, prosecutors said.
Judge Adam Hiddleston handed Kadri a 20-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, at Southwark Crown Court on Tuesday. He is also required to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and 10 days of rehabilitation.
The judge said that the way Kadri lost his temper was “disgraceful”, adding: “Use of blades is a curse on our community.”
Kadri, of Kensington, west London, had pleaded guilty to assault and having a bladed article in a public place.
Turkey-born Coskun, who is half Kurdish and half Armenian, travelled from his home in the Midlands and set fire to the Quran at about 2pm, prosecutors previously said.
Kadri approached and asked Coskun why he was burning it.
Coskun could be heard in footage making a reference to “terrorist” and Kadri called him “a f****** idiot” and said “one sec, I’m coming back” and “I’m going to kill you now”, prosecutors said.
Kadri later returned holding a knife and slashed at Coskun, the court heard.
The footage appeared to show Coskun backing away and using the burning Quran to deflect Kadri, who slashed out at him again, prosecutors said.
Kadri chased Coskun, who stumbled forward and fell to the ground, where the defendant then spat at and kicked him, the court heard.
Kadri said: “Burning the Quran? It’s my religion, you don’t burn the Quran.”
He later told police: “I protect my religion.”
Greg Unwin, defending, said: “This was a response to a very unusual situation that Mr Kadri has demonstrated regret and remorse for. His reaction was in the heat of the moment to what he perceived was a deeply offensive act on a holy book.”
Coskun was convicted at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in June of a religiously aggravated public order offence of using disorderly behaviour “within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress”, motivated by “hostility towards members of a religious group, namely followers of Islam”, contrary to the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and section five of the Public Order Act 1986.
An appeal was lodged with the Crown Court.
Coskun had argued that his criticism was of Islam in general rather than its followers, but District Judge John McGarva said he could not accept this, finding that Coskun’s actions were “highly provocative” and that he was “motivated at least in part by a hatred of Muslims”.
His case prompted campaigners and some politicians to say it was an attempt to bring back blasphemy law, but the government has said there are no blasphemy laws in England nor are there any plans to introduce any.
Source: independent.co.uk
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https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/burning-Quran-protest-spared-jail-moussa-kadri-b2831979.html
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EU state pledges to keep buying Russian energy
24 Sep, 2025
Hungary will continue importing Russian oil and gas, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has said, rejecting pressure from Washington and Brussels for a clean break from Moscow’s energy supplies.
Szijjarto made the comments in an interview with The Guardian published on Tuesday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. For landlocked Hungary, he said, the issue of energy security is a matter of physical infrastructure – pipelines, refineries and existing contracts – that limit where it can source energy.
“We can’t ensure the safe supply for our country without Russian oil or gas sources,” he said. “It can be nice to dream about buying oil and gas from somewhere else … but we can only buy from where we have infrastructure.”
In recent weeks, Washington has increasingly pushed its European NATO partners to stop purchasing Russian energy – and to introduce secondary tariffs on India and China – while refusing to impose any new sanctions unilaterally. President Donald Trump mocked them in his UNGA address on Tuesday, claiming “some in NATO are funding the war against themselves.”
Hungary’s state-owned MOL Group imports about five million tonnes of crude annually via the Druzhba (“Friendship”) pipeline, which also supplies Slovakia. The route has come under direct threat in recent months, with Ukrainian forces striking pumping stations and other facilities along the line, causing temporary disruptions to shipments.
The European Commission has set a goal of phasing out Russian fossil fuels by 2027. Brussels has reportedly included twelve Chinese and three Indian entities in its 19th sanctions package, which must be unanimously approved before being adopted.
Brussels has also been weighing separate trade measures that could curtail oil deliveries through Druzhba, even without unanimous consent, effectively allowing other EU members to outvote Budapest and Bratislava, according to Bloomberg.
When asked about mounting European pressure, Szijjarto said it was “totally impossible to carry out a fact-based, rational dialogue based on common sense” with Western officials, whom he described as “fanatics.”
Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban, one of Trump’s closest allies in Europe, has argued that maintaining Russian supplies is essential to protect households and industry. He has maintained relations with Russia and often criticized Western military support for Ukraine, even as most EU states have cut ties since 2022.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/625163-hungary-keep-buying-russian-energy/
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Africa
Three Soldiers Sentenced To Life Imprisonment For Selling Weapons To Terrorists
September 23, 2025
By Oladipo Abiola
Three soldiers of the Nigerian Army have been sentenced to jail after they were found guilty of illegally dealing in arms and ammunition.
Naija News reports that the three soldiers were found guilty by a special court-martial of the Nigerian Army in Maiduguri, Borno State, which was presided over by acting General Officer Commanding 7 Division and Commander of Sector 1, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), Brigadier General Ugochukwu Unachukwu.
The soldiers, Sergeant Raphael Ameh, Sergeant Ejiga Musa, and Lance Corporal Patrick Ocheje, were found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Delivering judgment, the president of the court-martial, Brigadier General Mohammed Abdullahi, however, handed a 15-year jail term to Corporal Omitoye Rufus.
The soldiers were found guilty of connivance with police officers and terrorists in illegal arms dealing by the special court-martial of the Nigerian Army, which sat at the Officers’ Mess of the Theatre Command Headquarters in Maiduguri.
Naija News reports that the soldiers were convicted of offences ranging from theft and unlawful dealing in ammunition to aiding the enemy, all punishable under the Armed Forces Act.
Ameh, who served as an armourer at the 7 Division Garrison, was found to have conspired with a deceased colleague to steal ammunition from the division’s armoury.
He worked with police officers to conceal weapons in bags of beans and smuggle them to Enugu and Ebonyi for criminals.
Abdullahi revealed that bank records linked Ameh to over 100 suspicious transactions between July 2022 and June 2024.
Musa, while serving as armourer of 195 Battalion, was discovered to have collaborated with Ocheje and police officers in selling an AK-47 rifle and large quantities of ammunition.
Records showed he collected more than ₦500,000 from the transactions before he was arrested while attempting to sell more ammunition.
Rufus was convicted for selling 40 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition to a police officer, while Ocheje, who was deployed at the forward operating base in Molai, was found guilty of diverting ammunition during communal clashes at the instigation of a police officer.
He also stole an AK-47 rifle belonging to a colleague.
The court held that their actions directly endangered military operations and national security, amounting to aiding the enemy.
Condemning the convicts, Abdullahi described them as “bad eggs” who betrayed the trust, discipline, and honour expected of soldiers in the fight against insurgency.
He restated the army’s zero-tolerance stance on the sale of arms or ammunition to adversaries “in whatever form or guise.”
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/09/23/three-soldiers-sentenced-to-life-imprisonment-for-selling-weapons-to-terrorists/
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Amnesty International demands release of 36 opposition supporters in Cameroon
September 23, 2025
Amnesty International has demanded the immediate release of 36 supporters of the opposition Movement for the Renaissance of Cameroon (MRC), who have been detained for five years for participating in peaceful protests against President Paul Biya.
On September 22, the organization denounced what it describes as the arbitrary detention of these individuals, who were imprisoned for expressing their political views.
The MRC supporters received sentences ranging from one to seven years in 2019, under charges of "rebellion" and "attempted insurrection."
This situation has escalated recently, with heightened repression during the ongoing presidential campaign. In August, 54 MRC supporters were arrested in Yaoundé after the rejection of their candidate, Maurice Kamto's, application to run in the elections. Although they were later released on bail, these arrests highlight a growing restriction on civic space in the country.
The UN Human Rights High Commissioner has already raised concerns about the ability of voters to express their will freely.
With the presidential campaign set to begin soon, President Paul Biya, 92, who has been in power for nearly 43 years, is once again seeking another term alongside 11 challengers, including opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary.
Biya has spent nearly half of his life as president and is Africa's second-longest-serving leader, behind only Equatorial Guinea's Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. If he wins an eighth seven-year term in the October 12 vote, he could govern until he's nearly 100.
During his decades in power, the Central African nation, with a population of nearly 30 million, has struggled with challenges ranging from a deadly secessionist movement to chronic corruption that has stifled development, despite its rich natural resources, including oil and minerals.
At least 43% of the country's citizens live in poverty, as measured by core living standards, including income, education, and health, according to UN estimates.
Source: africanews.com
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https://www.africanews.com/2025/09/23/amnesty-international-demands-release-of-36-opposition-supporters-in-cameroon/
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President of DRC’s National Assembly steps down amid calls for him to resign
September 23, 2025
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, Vital Kamerhe has resigned as President of the National Assembly, just ahead of a planned vote on a petition targeting his leadership.
The announcement was made Monday evening by the Assembly’s first vice president, with Kamerhe addressing lawmakers shortly after. He framed his resignation as a sacrifice to refocus the nation on what he called “the real challenges” : unity, sovereignty, and economic progress.
The campaign, which called for Kamerhe’s ouster, focused on internal matters concerning the functioning of the National Assembly.
The petition's legitimacy was questioned by Kamerhe’s allies, while opposition leaders called the entire process a political charade.
President Félix Tshisekedi, speaking from New York, denied any involvement, reaffirming Kamerhe as “a brother and ally.”
It comes after Kamerhe was convicted of embezzlement back in 2020, a verdict that was later overturned, before returning to the spotlight in 2024.
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.africanews.com/2025/09/23/president-of-drcs-national-assembly-steps-down-amid-calls-for-him-to-resign/
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Southeast Asia
Police chief rejects US analyst’s claim that Malaysia is a hub for Hamas operations
24 Sep 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 24 — The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) today denied claims by former US Department of Treasury terrorism finance analyst Jonathan Schanzer that Malaysia was serving as a hub for Hamas operations.
Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail said the Palestinian struggle was an issue close to the hearts of Muslims in Malaysia, but the country continued to maintain good relations with the United States and other nations.
“There are foreign nationals here, especially from Palestine, Syria and others, who are studying in our institutions of higher learning, and perhaps our people’s concern (for their plight) has been misinterpreted by certain quarters,” he told a press conference here today.
Schanzer, via his social media account, had alleged that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was not interested in peace between Palestine and Israel.
Mohd Khalid said PDRM constantly collaborates and shares information with foreign counterparts to ensure security and effective preventive measures in the future.
On the country’s security control level, including at border areas, he said it remained at an optimum level thanks to close cooperation among government agencies such as the Immigration Department, Customs Department and the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency.
“We are in constant communication, sharing information and taking joint action to deal with issues related to border security,” he said. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/09/24/police-chief-rejects-us-analysts-claim-that-malaysia-is-a-hub-for-hamas-operations/192228\
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Saudi Arabia and Indonesia pledge stronger ties on 95th National Day
September 24, 2025
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Indonesia, Faisal Abdullah H. Amodi, reaffirmed Riyadh’s commitment to strengthening ties with Indonesia across various sectors during the celebration of Saudi Arabia’s 95th National Day here on Tuesday (September 23).
“Both sides emphasized the importance of enhancing cooperation in all areas. These efforts by the two friendly countries will continue, insya Allah,” Ambassador Faisal said in his remarks.
He noted that since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1968, ties between Saudi Arabia and Indonesia have continued to develop and expand.
As the guardian of Islam’s Two Holy Cities, Saudi Arabia shares a unique bond with Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation.
Both countries are also active members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the G20, and enjoy a close relationship between their peoples.
To seize opportunities presented by Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and Indonesia’s Golden Vision 2045, the two nations have signed economic agreements worth US$27 billion.
The ambassador highlighted ongoing collaboration to improve services for Indonesian Hajj pilgrims through the Makkah Route Initiative, which streamlines airport procedures. “The service is being expanded to new airports, and both sides are working to strengthen coordination and improve efficiency,” he said.
Indonesian Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar, attending on behalf of President Prabowo Subianto, congratulated the Kingdom on its National Day and expressed hope for deeper cooperation.
“We gather here not only to celebrate the remarkable journey of the Kingdom, but also to reaffirm the bond of friendship and cooperation that unites our two nations,” he stated.
The celebration in Jakarta was attended by Governor Pramono Anung, Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment Muhaimin Iskandar, Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Abdul Mu’ti, Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana, and other cabinet members, along with ambassadors from Palestine, Iran, the UAE, Britain, Japan, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Syria, the Vatican, and other countries.
Source: antaranews.com
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https://en.antaranews.com/news/381936/saudi-arabia-and-indonesia-pledge-stronger-ties-on-95th-national-day
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Papagomo ordered to defend himself over seditious post on Malaysian King
24 Sep 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 24 — The Sessions Court here today ordered blogger Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris, better known as Papagomo, to enter his defence on a charge of making seditious statements intended to incite hatred against His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, the King of Malaysia.
Judge Norma Ismail made the ruling after finding that the prosecution, represented by Deputy Public Prosecutor Nursyuhada Husna Sulaiman, had successfully established a prima facie case against Wan Muhammad Azri.
Lawyer Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali informed the court that the defence would call a single witness, namely the accused himself, during the proceedings.
Norma then set Nov 4 for Wan Muhammad Azri to testify in court.
On May 2, 2024, Wan Muhammad Azri, a former UMNO Youth exco member, pleaded not guilty to posting a seditious statement on his X account regarding Sultan Ibrahim’s audience with the owner of KK Supermart & Superstore Sdn Bhd.
He was charged under Section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act 1948, which carries a maximum fine of RM5,000 or imprisonment of up to three years, or both, if convicted.
The trial, which began in October last year, heard testimony from nine prosecution witnesses. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/09/24/papagomo-ordered-to-defend-himself-over-seditious-post-on-malaysian-king/192221
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Second team of forensic experts to scrutinise Zara Qairina’s diaries
By Julia Chan
24 Sep 2025
KOTA KINABALU, Sept 24 — Lawyers in the inquest into the death of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir have engaged a second team of forensic document experts to scrutinise her handwritten diaries, aiming to verify the materials and shed light on her state of mind before she died.
Lawyer Nizam Salleh, who represents Zara’s mother, said the move was not meant to challenge earlier findings but to provide the court with the “fullest possible picture,” given the significant weight being placed on the diaries as evidence.
The new three-member team includes independent forensic document examiner Tay Eue Kam, who previously testified in a 1MDB case involving former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
The team, which also includes two forensic science experts from Universiti Sains Malaysia, has flown in with a mobile forensic laboratory to conduct a three-day analysis of the documents.
Using their mobile lab, the team is expected to carry out advanced tests, including ink and pen analysis, ultraviolet and infrared light examinations, and other specialised techniques to verify the authenticity and integrity of the writings.
Nizam raised several concerns regarding the documents, which consist of at least three diaries and 15 loose pages.
These issues include the chain of custody of the evidence, torn pages, date discrepancies, and the fact that the diaries were easily accessible to others.
“We want to really look into these aspects… Many of Zara’s classmates knew of her diaries, and her locker was easily accessed.
“We don’t want any doubts,” Nizam told reporters, adding that the entire forensic exercise is being funded by public donations through the “Justice for Zara” campaign.
Building on initial findings
This second round of analysis will build on the initial examination conducted last week by Dr Linthini Gannetion of SD Forensic Document Services.
Her work focused on handwriting comparisons and reconstructing torn pages to establish a sequence, providing a foundation for determining authorship and spotting inconsistencies.
The new forensic report will be submitted to the court once the examinations are completed.
The inquest, now in its 13th day, was ordered by the Attorney-General’s Chambers following intense public pressure and questions raised by Zara’s family.
Zara was found unconscious on the ground floor of her boarding school dormitory in Papar on July 16 and died the following day. Police initially classified the case as sudden death.
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/09/24/second-team-of-forensic-experts-to-scrutinise-zara-qairinas-diaries/192182
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Malaysia ranks second in Asean for digital readiness, just behind Singapore in GSMA index
24 Sep 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 24 — Malaysia has been ranked second among Asean countries in the inaugural GSMA Digital Nations Index 2025, positioning it as a regional leader in digital readiness, behind only Singapore.
According to the report titled Achieving the Asean Connectivity Strategic Plan, Malaysia achieved an aggregate score of over 60 out of 100, placing it in the top tier of digitally advanced countries in the region, alongside the Philippines and Thailand.
The index assesses each Asean member state’s digital readiness across five key components: infrastructure, innovation, data governance, security and people.
Malaysia’s strongest performance was in the People component, where it scored in the highest range of 76–100, reflecting the country’s sustained efforts to broaden access to digital services and enhance the digital competencies of its workforce.
However, the report also identified areas for improvement, with Malaysia scoring only moderately in Infrastructure, Innovation and Security, all within the 25–49 range.
The GSMA report also commended several of Malaysia’s key strategic initiatives to accelerate its digital transformation. Among them was the launch of the AI Nation Framework in August 2025, a national strategy designed to ensure that artificial intelligence benefits every citizen.
In the innovation space, the report highlighted the launch of Ryt Bank, Malaysia’s first fully AI-powered banking service. The service utilises a homegrown large-language model named ILMU to process natural conversation in Bahasa Malaysia, English and Manglish, making banking services more intuitive and accessible.
On the infrastructure front, the report noted significant investment in Malaysia’s digital economy. It cited a Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) disclosure in July 2025 that total investments more than doubled to RM29.47 billion (US$7 billion) in the second quarter of the year, largely driven by the data centre and cloud computing segments.
The report also recognised Malaysia’s progress in strengthening its legal and regulatory framework through the enactment of the Cyber Security Act 2024 and the release of new Guidelines on Cross-Border Personal Data Transfer in April 2025.
Overall, the GSMA report concluded that realising Asean’s development plans would require concerted efforts to improve digital readiness, calling on member nations to bridge infrastructure gaps, accelerate regional policy harmonisation and leverage international cooperation. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/09/24/malaysia-ranks-second-in-asean-for-digital-readiness-just-behind-singapore-in-gsma-index/192173
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/bajrang-dal-vhp-surat-garba-event/d/136966