‘Entire Nation Is Ashamed’: SC On MP Minister’s Apology Over Remarks On Col Sofiya Qureshi, Orders SIT Probe
New Age Islam News Bureau
19 May 2025
"Entire nation in shame due to your statement," SC Bench said, chiding MP minister over his remarks on Col Sofiya Qureshi. (File)
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· ‘Entire Nation Is Ashamed’: SC On MP Minister’s Apology Over Remarks On Col Sofiya Qureshi, Orders SIT Probe
· Pakistan Targeted Golden Temple After India’s Strikes, Air Defence Shot Down All Drones And Missiles: Indian Army
· Trump Is Repackaging The ‘War On Terror’ To Stop Palestine Activists, But You Can’t Deport A Movement
· Islamic Emirate Supports Foreign Investment in China Talks
· Thousands of Moroccans Call on Arab, Islamic Countries to Support Palestine
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India
· Conversion to Christianity: Constitution Does Not Support Forced Or Fraudulent Religious Conversion: Allahabad HC
· Woman Refuses Service from Muslim AC Technician, Claims “Muslims Disrupt Hindustan”
· Devotees Defy Administration's Bar On Mela At UP, Bahraich, Dargah
· Sambhal mosque survey: Allahabad HC junks plea seeking to halt trial court proceedings
· Opposition slams arrest of Ali Khan Mahmudabad under charges of sedition and ‘insult to modesty’
· In U-Turn From 'Muslim Commissioner' Hate, Nishikant Dubey Learns 'Beauty Of Democracy' With Owaisi
· Asaduddin Owaisi Dismisses Mohan Bhagwat's Statement Towards Muslims As 'Cheap Talk'
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North America
· FBI Says Suspect In California Blast Targeted Fertility Clinic
· Biden diagnosed with ‘aggressive form’ of prostate cancer
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South Asia
· The Decline Of Islamic Industrial Power And Western Suppression
· Islamic Emirate Brings Stability to Waygal with New Centre
· World Bank Opens Office in Kabul, Initiates $50 Million Loan Disbursement
· Foreign Minister Makes Official Visit to Afghanistan’s Embassy in Tehran
· Ministry of Public Health Rebuts UNFPA’s Maternal Mortality Claims
· Ishraque's supporters padlock Nagar Bhaban
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Mideast
· After PKK Move, Healing Turkiye-Kurd Ties Needs ‘Paradigm Shift’: Ocalan
· Israel says it will allow a limited amount of aid into Gaza after nearly 3 months of blockade
· At least 3 killed in blast targeting police station in eastern Syria
· Israel army says 2 projectiles launched from Gaza after air raid sirens sound
· Israeli forces have demolished 600 Palestinian houses in Jenin since January offensive
· Tehran keen to cooperate with Kabul to resolve issues
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Arab World
· Saudi Minister Of State For Foreign Affairs Attends Pope Leo XIV’s Inaugural Mass
· Canadian Expert Praises Saudi Arabia’s Rapid AI, Social Progress
· Saudi, Turkish foreign ministers reaffirm cooperation during meeting in Riyadh
· Saudi Arabia launches new production hub in Riyadh
· Riyadh Event Highlights The Role Of Saudi Museums In The Age Of Social Change
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Europe
· Muslim Charity Ordered To Ensure ‘Rigorous Oversight’ Of Future Speakers And Online Activity
· Hikmat Hajiyev: Azerbaijan and Iran must continue economic cooperation and strengthen bilateral ties
· 'Breakthrough' in last-minute EU-UK talks before summit
· Brexit back in the news - but what do both UK and EU want out of deal?
· Russia launched war's largest drone attack ahead of Putin-Trump call, Ukraine says
· Pro-EU candidate wins Romanian presidential election rerun
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Southeast Asia
· Singapore Doctor Given Maximum Fine Of $10k Over Anti-Islam Remarks That Wounded The Religious Feelings Of Others
· Family Pressure, Money Woes, Mistrust Fuel Johor’s 2024 Muslim Divorce Surge
· Indonesia calls for globally recognized halal standard
· Malaysia launches region’s first sovereign full-stack AI Infrastructure
· Fahmi: Safe Internet Campaign to reach over 10,000 schools nationwide by year-end
· Zahid: Drug abuse at critical level, Kelantan leads with highest rate in Malaysia
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Africa
· Zulum Reveals Boko Haram On Verge Of Taking Over Borno LG
· Stakeholders Seek Tinubu’s Intervention In APC LG Primaries Crisis In Lagos
· Federal High Court CJ Announces Redeployment Of Several Judges
· Nigerian Army Kills Bello Turji’s Strong Ally
· Terror Financing: Tinubu’s Govt Races To Remove Nigeria From FATF Grey List
· Kenya's former justice minister deported from Tanzania
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/entire-nation-mp-minister-sofiya-qureshi/d/135585
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‘Entire Nation Is Ashamed’: SC On MP Minister’s Apology Over Remarks On Col Sofiya Qureshi, Orders SIT Probe
Ananthakrishnan G
New Delhi/ May 19, 2025
"Entire nation in shame due to your statement," SC Bench said, chiding MP minister over his remarks on Col Sofiya Qureshi. (File)
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The Supreme Court Monday rejected the apology tendered by Madhya Pradesh Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah over his remarks on Colonel Sofiya Qureshi as “only a pretence to wriggle out of the consequences”, and ordered the setting up of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the FIR filed against him over the issue.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N K Singh was hearing petitions filed by Shah challenging the Madhya Pradesh High Court’s suo motu order directing the registration of an FIR against him for the alleged remarks.
“Having gone through the contents of the statement attributed to the petitioner, also the contents of the apology said to have been tendered by him, we are satisfied that subject FIR requires to be investigated by an SIT comprising three senior, directly recruited IPS officers of MP cadre but who do not belong the state,” the bench directed.
“We are further of the opinion that out of the three, one should be a woman IPS officer. The Director General of Police, MP, is directed to constitute the SIT before tomorrow at 10 am. It shall be headed by an officer not below the rank of IGP, and both members shall also be of rank SP or above,” the bench added.
Directing that Shah join and fully cooperate with the investigation, the bench said that “subject thereto, as of now, his arrest shall remain stayed.” “Though following the settled law, we are not going to monitor the investigation, however, in the peculiar facts and circumstances of this case, we direct SIT to submit the outcome of its investigation through a status report.”
“We are not saying monitoring, but we will keep a close watch. So it’s a litmus test for you,” the court said while ordering the probe.
The court also refused to allow intervention applications in the matter, saying “it will only politicise the issue.” Justice Kant said, “He must face the consequences of what he has done. But let law take its own course. We will not like anyone to intervene.”
After the order was dictated, the court told Senior Advocate Maninder Singh, who represented Singh, “Meanwhile, you think how you will redeem yourself. We do not want to comment. The entire nation is ashamed of… We are a country that firmly believes in the rule of law. High or small, we follow the same rules for everyone. You had only one minor apprehension…judges never carry prejudices against anyone. That’s why the principle is ordered by the court to cause harm to none. That’s a settled doctrine.”
The bench asked the SIT to submit the report to the court by May 28, when it will hear the matter again.
‘You are harping on that apology’
Singh said the minister had tendered an apology for what he had said. Questioning the lack of sincerity in the apology, Justice Kant asked, “What is that apology? Should we show you (the) video? What kind of apology have you tendered? You might not have watched your video, but because of the nature of this matter, not only have we watched it, but we are also carrying the video clips. So what kind of apology have you tendered? We would like to see that.”
“There is a meaning of the word ‘apology’. Sometimes people in docile language will say a very artificial kind of apology, only to wriggle out. We would like to know. Where is that? The kind of crass comments you made. So completely thoughtless. You made it on May 12, and today is May 19. You are harping on that apology. What prevented you from making at least a sincere attempt?”Justice Kant asked.
Singh said Shah is ready to apologise even before the court. However, the bench said, “We don’t require this apology. We know how to deal with it as per law. It’s not that you have committed contempt of court that you require to tender an apology to us. You commit something and then come to court, and because I am entering the court, I will attach an apology. Is it the attitude?”
Justice Kant said, “You are a public figure, a seasoned politician. You should weigh your words when you speak. In fact, we should display your video of your speech… You were going to commit, people are not reporting, because unfortunately, media people…pick up a few words from you, they are not really going into the depth of your video. You were on the verge of using very abusive language. There you stopped because you couldn’t find any alternate word, filthy language… But somehow or other, either some sense prevailed, or you could not find that word, and you stopped. This is your conduct.”
‘You have played with people’s sentiments’
Singh said, “It was completely, completely not done.”
Justice Kant said, “You should have been more sensible. Such an emotive issue… One has to see the timing. It’s such an emotive issue for the Indian forces. And each one of us needs to be very, very responsible. We said we are proud of our Army. We repeat. They are on the frontlines. The least we can do….”.
Singh contended that Shah had expressed genuine regret. But the bench did not agree. “If you are insisting that this is your genuine regret, then it is outrightly rejected. You say ‘If I have hurt’. You are still not ready to admit that you have hurt somebody’s feelings and sentiments… You say, ‘if I have hurt, then my apology’. What is this condition? What does he think of himself?” said Justice Kant.
“You are a responsible person, You are a minister, a public representative. In a representative democracy, you are, in a way, representing millions of people. They expect something. Your standards need to be much higher than the others. You must lead by example. This is what we expect from our leaders,” Justice Kant added.
Singh said that he is willing to apologise again without any ifs.
“We don’t want to say, but we leave that to your discretion… Tomorrow, you want to give the impression that you are tendering an apology because the court said, not that you want to do it. This is the message you want to give,” said Justice Kant.
“What is the date when this most unfortunate thing (happened)? Today, we are on May 19. What prevented you from doing it? When the whole country is making a hue and cry. You are fully exposed to the public. You know how people’s sentiments have been so ruthlessly hurt. You have played with their sentiments. You should have done something that, yes, I admit, I have done wrong. You are saying if I have done,” said Justice Kant.
‘Should have done something more’
The bench then asked the Madhya Pradesh Government about what it had done “so far” after the registration of the FIR. “First, you register the kind of FIR that the HC has taken notice of, the very next day. What happened after 15, when the HC had to intervene and rewrite your FIR? After that, what have you done? Have somebody examined if any cognizable offence is made out?” asked Justice Kant.
The state counsel said, “We are investigating.”
Justice Kant said, “People are expecting that the action of the state will also be fair. HC has done its duty, they thought it’s a matter where suo motu intervention is needed.”
On the minister’s apprehensions that he was not heard and presumptions have been made against him, the top court said it will also go into those, but added that they might have become academic, now that the FIR has been registered.
To the state’s reply that the local police will investigate, Justice Kant said, “Look at the difference in stature and position of the suspect and the investigating officer. Probably, you should have done something more by now.”
Source: indianexpress.com
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https://indianexpress.com/article/india/sc-mp-minister-vijay-shah-sophiya-qureshi-remarks-apology-india-pakistan-10015380/?ref=hometop_hp
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Pakistan Targeted Golden Temple After India’s Strikes, Air Defence Shot Down All Drones And Missiles: Indian Army
Written by Kamaldeep Singh Brar
Amritsar: May 19, 2025
During a media briefing and live demonstration held in Amritsar, the Indian Army displayed debris of drones and missiles launched from Pakistan and intercepted by Indian air defence systems. (ANI/X
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During a media briefing and live demonstration held in Amritsar, the Indian Army displayed debris of drones and missiles launched from Pakistan and intercepted by Indian air defence systems. During a media briefing and live demonstration held in Amritsar, the Indian Army displayed debris of drones and missiles launched from Pakistan and intercepted by Indian air defence systems. (ANI/X)
Pakistan tried to target the Golden Temple in Amritsar and several cities in Punjab with drones and missiles on the intervening night of May 7-8 in retaliation against India’s strikes on nine terrorist sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir under Operation Sindoor, the Indian Army said Monday.
During a media briefing and live demonstration held in Amritsar, the Indian Army displayed debris of drones and missiles launched from Pakistan and intercepted by Indian air defence systems. The Army also showed how advanced systems, including the upgraded L-70 Air Defence Guns and AKASH missile systems, were used to neutralise aerial threats aimed at critical sites, including the Golden Temple and cities across Punjab.
Major General Kartik C Seshadri, General Officer Commanding, 15 Infantry Division, said the Golden Temple was directly targeted in the recent wave of attacks. “Knowing that the Pakistani army does not have any legitimate targets, we anticipated that they would target Indian military installations and civilian targets, including religious places. Of these, the Golden Temple appeared to be the most prominent. We mobilised additional modern air defence assets to give a holistic air defence umbrella cover to Golden Temple,” he said.
Major General Seshadri gave a detailed account of the sequence of events from the early hours of May 8. “Pakistan carried out a massive air assault with unmanned aerial weapons, primarily drones and long-range missiles. We were fully prepared since we had anticipated this, and our alert Army Air Defence gunners shot down all drones and missiles targeted at the Golden Temple. Thus, not allowing even a scratch to come on our holy Golden Temple,” he added.
Meanwhile, Kulwant Singh Mannan, Secretary, Shiromani Gurudwara Parbhandak Committee, said, “Either it is the Indian Army or the Pakistan army… they may have some political motive. It is my faith that no army commander or general can think that the Darbar Sahib should be attacked. It is a place where life is gifted. We don’t know how many prayers are answered here. The devotees come in thousands every day, and there should be no doubt about it.”
The Indian Army displayed the debris of intercepted Kamikaze drones and Turkish-origin micro-drones, including models like YIHA-III and Songar. An Army soldier involved in the operation said, “Only 10 per cent of the ammunition of ground-based air defence weapons and Army air defence weapons were used… It is very difficult to breach our air defence wall.”
The soldier said that following targeted Indian strikes on terrorist infrastructure, including Lashkar-e-Toiba headquarters in Muridke on May 7, Pakistan retaliated by targeting Indian cities, religious places, and civilian zones with unmanned aerial weapons. “When they failed to damage our air bases or military targets, they shifted to civilian areas, Gurdwara Sahib, and other places using Kamikaze drones and rockets. All of them were intercepted and neutralised with precision,” the soldier added.
Soldiers from the Panther Division also voiced their readiness and resolve. “We are representatives of the panther… We will enter and kill the enemy from within, now we don’t fear anyone. There is revenge in the mind, passion in the heart and pride in the eyes. To uproot terrorism, India has launched Operation Sindoor,” said one soldier.
In a statement on May 14, the Ministry of Defence said Pakistan tried to target several military targets in Northern and Western India using drones and missiles after Operation Sindoor. “These were neutralised by the Integrated Counter UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) Grid and Air Defence systems”.
According to the statement, these places included Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj. It also said that the Indian Armed Forces targeted air defence radars and systems at several locations in Pakistan, and that an air defence system in Lahore was neutralised.
Source: indianexpress.com
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https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/golden-temple-pakistan-india-strikes-air-defence-drone-10015480/?ref=hometop_hp
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Trump is repackaging the ‘War on Terror’ to stop Palestine activists, but you can’t deport a movement
BY JINAN CHEHADE
MAY 18, 2025
MARCHERS IN THE CHICAGO, IL HANDS OFF MARCH PROTESTING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, ON APRIL 5, 2025. (PHOTO: SARAH-JI/LOVE+STRUGGLE PHOTOS)
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At first glance, the assault on Mahmoud Khalil and other pro-Palestine organizers may seem like a terrifying rupture—something unprecedented. But to those who have studied the U.S. government’s response to dissent, particularly in Arab and Muslim communities, it is chillingly familiar. This is not a new phenomenon. It is the resurrection of the post-9/11 “War on Terror” playbook, this time aimed not at a constructed foreign enemy, but at the growing, domestic movement for Palestinian liberation.
In fact, the playbook and narrative are strikingly similar. When former President George W. Bush declared the “War on Terror,” his administration ushered in a new era of expanded executive power at the expense of civil liberties, adopting a “detain first, ask questions later” approach. Early in his presidency, Bush authorized the President’s Surveillance Program in secret, directing the National Security Agency to engage in warrantless electronic surveillance of U.S. citizens—including phone tapping and internet data mining—targeting primarily Arab and Muslim communities. Congress subsequently passed the Patriot Act, dramatically expanding government surveillance powers and paving the way for heightened, unchecked criminalization and further erosion of civil liberties.
Dozens of organizations were shut down under the guidance of national security – most notably of which is the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development. The Holy Land Foundation was shut down by the Bush administration after 9/11 and labeled a terrorist organization, even though it donated to Palestinian charities also funded by the U.S. government. Its leaders received sentences of up to 65 years, despite not being accused of directly funding terrorism or terrorist attacks. Instead, they were prosecuted under “material support” laws based on the claim that the social services they funded helped build support for Hamas. The case relied on FISA wiretaps, foreign intelligence from Israel, flawed translations, and testimony from anonymous Israeli military witnesses.
The “disappearing” of Muslims and Arabs on U.S. soil is also nothing new. Such is the case of Muhammad Salah. On January 23, 1995, President Clinton declared a national emergency targeting foreign terrorists seen as obstructing Middle East peace. Six months later, the Treasury designated Muhammad Salah as a Specially Designated Terrorist without informing him or providing any factual or legal basis. Salah and his family only learned of the designation when his wife discovered their bank account had been frozen. The government imposed these restrictions indefinitely without trial, hearing, or notice—denying Salah due process in violation of the Fifth Amendment. To this day, he has never been told why he was designated, even after his death.
While the Trump administration’s strategy is not new, its target is broader. Where the post-9/11 playbook focused on Arabs and Muslims, today’s iteration criminalizes any visible support for Palestine, regardless of ethnic or religious identity. That is because the movement for Palestinian liberation has become too large, too diverse, and too mainstream to be dismissed as the agenda of a single minority group. From campus encampments to congressional offices, the people have found their voice – a threat too terrifying for those in power to dismiss without deploying their most aggressive silencing tactics.
In a recent interview, the Secretary of Homeland Security struggled to articulate any legitimate basis for Mahmoud’s deportation, offering only the vague suggestion that “if he had declared himself a terrorist, we wouldn’t have let him in.” When pressed, he could not identify a single act of terrorism Mahmoud committed. This is not an isolated communication failure—it is the core feature of a framework that substitutes evidence with insinuation, law with fear-mongering, and justice with collective punishment. The government increasingly relies on dubious foreign intelligence—often from Israeli or Zionist-aligned sources—to justify sweeping actions without due process.
Some may argue that comparisons to the War on Terror are inapt because that era was driven by a fear of foreign actors threatening U.S. national security. But this assumes a separation between U.S. and Israeli interests that does not exist in practice. The uncritical deference to Israeli security narratives—even when they contradict U.S. intelligence or violate constitutional norms—reveals the extent to which Israel functions not merely as an ally, but as a projection of American power. In this sense, a threat to Israeli dominance is treated as a threat to the U.S. itself, and any challenge to Zionism becomes an act of domestic subversion.
However, this attempt to replicate the post-9/11 framework will fail, as Trump fails to recognize that, unlike the earlier era, the Muslim and Arab communities are no longer caught off guard. Today, they have a robust defense infrastructure, are more united and stronger than before. They no longer suffer in silence due to stigma and shame; instead, they are prepared to confront this battle head-on, knowing that even if overpowered, their voices will be heard and their resistance will persist.
But here, Trump and the Zionist entity have made a fundamental and grave miscalculation: the youth have nothing to lose. This is the same generation that grew up with active shooter drills, surveillance, mass incarceration, and a constant state of fear. They have witnessed how, at every turn, their institutions have failed them. But this time, they have pushed us too far. We have seen too many innocent lives lost—babies in body bags, burned and beheaded bodies, all funded by our tax dollars—to care for our own comfort. What we see now is the youth are acting with complete moral clarity, one that recognizes no tactic, no matter how aggressive or threatening, will silence their call for the people of Palestine.
And while the cases of Mahmoud Khalil, Rumeysa Ozturk, Leqaa Korida, and others should alarm every student, organizer, and advocate for Palestinian liberation we must understand: Their criminalization is neither incidental nor indicative of our vulnerability—it is a deliberate response to the movement’s growing strength and reach. The attempted deportation of Mahmoud and Leqaa is only the latest in a series of desperate retaliatory acts. From Executive Order 13899 to the firing of pro-Palestinian employees, the Zionist entity and its collaborators—including Trump—have deployed a full spectrum of repressive tools to silence the movement. From doxxing to surveillance, from campus crackdowns to immigration raids, they are weaponizing every mechanism of state power to crush dissent.
It is no coincidence Mahmoud was kidnapped a week before the resumption of Israel’s violence in Gaza. It is meant to be an example for those who dare to speak up against the continued genocide in Gaza. However, the more aggressive and repressive the tactics become it is only a reflection of the pressure they feel now more than ever. It is to say that the movement for Palestine has been so impactful and transformative in making Palestine an American issue, that Trump was forced to rewrite our legal order to suppress and criminalize Muslims and Arabs in this country. Naturally, the greater the threat, the greater the violent force deployed to suppress that threat.
However what we see now is that this intense repression and criminalization has backfired, it has emboldened these very same targets to hold firm to their principles and values no matter the cost.
In its chaotic and indiscriminate attacks on the Palestinian movement, the Zionist entity undermines its own position, distancing itself from the social appeal and public legitimacy it relies on. These actions are making Zionism increasingly unpalatable to the American public. In the end, it may come to realize—too late—that it drove the final nail in the coffin of the war for public consciousness in the United States. The stark injustice and hypocrisy of its tactics have only deepened the divide between popular opinion and government policy.
However, a primary feature of combating such criminalization and repression, is just in fact to carry on, to stay the course, to do what we have always done – to struggle. Anything short of that, risks greater criminality as it will signal that these tactics are working and further push greater repression. Most fundamentally we cannot betray Gaza, for if we betray and turn out backs on Gaza, we betray ourselves, and the global struggle for justice.
All their attempts will fail, because you cannot deport a movement.
Source: mondoweiss.net
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https://mondoweiss.net/2025/05/trump-is-repackaging-the-war-on-terror-to-stop-palestine-activists-but-you-cant-deport-a-movement/
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Islamic Emirate Supports Foreign Investment in China Talks
2025-05-18
KABUL(BNA): Mawlawi Abdul Salam Hanafi, Deputy Administrative Prime Minister of the Islamic Emirate, reaffirmed Afghanistan’s support for all forms of foreign investment during a meeting with Mr. Zhao Xing, the Chinese Ambassador to Kabul.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the meeting focused on deepening bilateral cooperation and exploring opportunities in economic development, especially investment in Afghanistan’s vast natural resources.
Ambassador Zhao praised the longstanding friendly relations between Afghanistan and China, highlighting continued collaboration across various sectors. He expressed appreciation for the Islamic Emirate’s efforts in managing refugee affairs and announced China’s donation of 160 housing units and 30 million yuan in humanitarian aid to support returning Afghan migrants.
The Chinese envoy also emphasized the strong interest of Chinese companies and investors in Afghanistan. “Chinese investment can create thousands of jobs for Afghan citizens,” he stated.
In response, Deputy PM Hanafi thanked the Chinese government for its continued assistance and welcomed increased Chinese investment in Afghanistan. He assured that the Islamic Emirate is committed to facilitating business and investment by creating a stable and cooperative environment.
“Our natural resources and minerals provide excellent opportunities for international investors,” Hanafi said. “The Islamic Emirate supports all forms of foreign investment and will provide necessary facilities to companies interested in working in Afghanistan.”
The Chinese ambassador concluded the meeting by officially inviting Mawlawi Hanafi to attend and speak at the upcoming 9th China–South Asia Expo, scheduled to be held later this year.
Source: bakhtarnews.af
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https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/islamic-emirate-supports-foreign-investment-in-china-talks/
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Thousands of Moroccans Call on Arab, Islamic Countries to Support Palestine
18 May 2025
Thousands of Moroccans called on Arab and Islamic countries to support Palestine and make efforts to put an end to the genocide that the Zionist enemy continues to commit in the Gaza Strip.
This came yesterday evening, Saturday, during protests and marches in several cities, including Tangier, Khouribga, Sidi Slimane, El Jadida, and Agadir, at the invitation of civil society organizations such as the Moroccan Initiative for Support and Advocacy and the Moroccan Front for Supporting Palestine.
The Moroccan Initiative for Support and Advocacy organized a popular sit-in in downtown Tangier.
Source: saba.ye
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https://www.saba.ye/en/news3483632.htm
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India
Conversion to Christianity: Constitution Does Not Support Forced Or Fraudulent Religious Conversion: Allahabad HC
19 May 2025
PRAYAGRAJ: Allahabad High Court has observed that though the Indian Constitution gives every citizen the right to freely follow and spread their religion, it does not support forced or fraudulent conversions.
Justice Vinod Diwaker made the observation while rejecting a plea to cancel an FIR against four people accused under the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Act, 2021.
According to the complaint, the accused tried to convert people to Christianity by offering money and free medical care.
The court refused to cancel the case, stating that the charges were serious and valid enough for police investigation.
In its judgment, the court observed, "India's constitutional framework guarantees the right to religious freedom under Article 25.
This Article confers upon every person the fundamental right to freely profess, practise and propagate religion, subject to public order, morality and health.
The use of the word 'freely' in Article 25 underscores the voluntary nature of religious belief and expression."
"However, the Constitution does not endorse forced or fraudulent conversions, nor does it shield coercive or deceptive practices under the guise of religious propagation," it added.
The court maintained that these limitations are essential to ensure that the exercise of religious freedom does not disrupt the societal fabric or endanger individual and communal well-being.
"The presumption that one religion is inherently superior to other clearly presupposes the moral and spiritual superiority of one religion over another.
Such notion is fundamentally antithetical to the idea of secularism.
Indian secularism is rooted in the principle of equal respect for all religions.
The state must neither identify with nor favour any religion, but instead maintain a principled equidistance from all religions and faith," the ruling said.
Commenting on the 2021 Act prohibiting unlawful religious conversion brought in by the Uttar Pradesh government, the court stated that it was enacted to maintain public order, moral integrity and health in alignment with Article 25 of the Constitution.
"The primary object of the Act is to prohibit conversions from one religion to another that are carried out through misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, allurement, fraudulent means or marriage for the sole purpose of unlawful conversion.
By targeting such methods, the law seeks to prevent exploitation and manipulation that could have broader destabilising effects on social harmony, besides disruption of law and order," the ruling said.
The May 7 judgment also looked into a legal issue as to whether a police officer can be considered an "aggrieved person" under Section 4 of the 2021 Act.
This section generally allows only the victim or close relatives to file a complaint.
The bench clarified that the station house officer can file such FIRs because the law must be read with the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita provisions that allow the police to act in cognizable offences.
Source: newindianexpress.com
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https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2025/May/19/constitution-does-not-support-forced-or-fraudulent-religious-conversion-allahabad-hc
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Woman Refuses Service from Muslim AC Technician, Claims “Muslims Disrupt Hindustan”
May 17, 2025
A young Muslim technician was intimidated and forced out of the house when he had gone to provide AC service after he revealed his religion. The place where the incident took place hasn’t been confirmed yet.
The technician alleged that he was denied entrance. The video of the incident that went viral online. The technician alleged that the woman threatened him by saying that a dog will be unleashed on him if he doesn’t leave immediately. After being intimidated and told that a Hindu should be sent to the house instead of a Muslim, the worker started to film a video to expose the entire incident.
In the video, the Muslim man questions, “Did you say that a Hindu should be sent?” The woman, upon seeing the worker record, starts to threaten him and says, “Leave this place and stop recording, or else you will face consequences.”
Expressing shock and disappointment, the Muslim guy in the video says, “Someone working in this hot weather is asked about religion. This is the situation we are in. She asked me my religion and said that Muslims cause trouble in the country.”
After the Pahalgam attack, the hate against Muslims has intensified, raising serious questions about the safety of Muslims. According to the report published by APCR, 184 anti-muslim hate crimes were reported across the country.
Earlier Devmani Sharma,the New Delhi Co-Convenor of the BJP denied service from Muslim AC technicians from Urban Clap and reasoned the Pahalgam incident. Requesting Hindu workers, Sharma said that he doesn’t wish to see Muslims working for him. The video had caused widespread hatred.
Source: muslimmirror.com
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https://muslimmirror.com/woman-refuses-service-from-muslim-ac-technician-claims-muslims-disrupt-hindustan/
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Devotees Defy Administration's Bar On Mela At UP, Bahraich, Dargah
Piyush Srivastava
19.05.25
A large number of devotees trooped to the Dargah of Salar Masud Ghazi in Bahraich on Saturday night despite the district administration suspending the event this year and Allahabad High Court refusing to interfere with the order.
Responding to a petition by Mohammad Wakaullah, the president of the Dargah committee, the Lucknow bench of the high court said it had no reason to overturn the local administration's order, which maintained that the mela could pose a law-and-order problem in the aftermath of the India-Pakistan conflict.
Justices Attau Rahman Masoodi and Subhas Vidyarathi, however, said on Saturday evening that the dargah committee must welcome devotees as usual.
A large number of people started assembling at the dargah at night. They were accompanied by several teams of qawwali singers, some of whom performed at the site.
Salar Masud Ghazi, the son of Mahmud of Ghazni's commander Sahu Ghazi, is believed to have got married on May 17. Nightlong cultural events are held to celebrate the occasion.
According to police estimates, there were over 5,000 devotees at the dargah on Sunday. Muslims and Hindus both offer Chadars at the shrine.
Police sources said additional forces had been deployed at the dargah and devotees were being requested to return after paying obeisance.
Several Hindutva groups, which link Ghazi with the Ghaznavid invasions in India, had urged the Yogi Adityanath government to stop the mela.
Wakaullah had told the high court that Ghazi was a follower of Sufism and the dargah was built in his memory by Firoz Shah Tughlaq, the Sultan of Delhi, in 1375.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/uttar-pradesh-devotees-defy-ban-on-mela-at-bahraich-salar-masud-ghazi-dargah-prnt/cid/2100539
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Sambhal mosque survey: Allahabad HC junks plea seeking to halt trial court proceedings
May 19, 2025
The Allahabad High Court Monday upheld a trial court’s order to conduct survey of Shahi Jama Masjid in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district, news agency PTI reported.
The Muslim side’s plea, seeking a halt on the trial court’s proceedings, was rejected after the court found “no issues with the trial court order” in the ongoing dispute between the Jama Masjid and the Harihar Mandir in the district, ANI reported.
The Sambhal mosque management committee has filed a civil revision petition seeking a stay on the ongoing trial court proceedings in an original suit pending before the district court in Sambhal.
Speaking to news agency ANI, Advocate Gopal Sharma, representing the Hindu side, said: “On 19th November 2024, we filed a petition. The court had ordered a survey. The survey was conducted in two parts. The party of Jama Masjid went to the Supreme Court against the survey… The Supreme Court asked them to go to the High Court.”
The survey was ordered after some people filed a petition in the local court, claiming that the mosque site was previously a Harihar temple, dedicated to Kalki and was built in 1526 after demolishing the temple.
Source: indianexpress.com
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https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/lucknow/sambhal-mosque-dispute-jama-masjid-allahabad-high-court-verdict-10015527/
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Opposition slams arrest of Ali Khan Mahmudabad under charges of sedition and ‘insult to modesty’
18.05.25
Some opposition parties including CPI(M) and TMC on Sunday condemned the arrest of Ashoka University's head of the political science department, Ali Khan Mahmudabad.
Mahmudabad was arrested on Sunday after two FIRs were lodged on stringent charges, including endangering sovereignty and integrity, for his social media posts related to Operation Sindoor, police and his lawyer said.
The CPI(M), AIMIM leader Asaddudin Owaisi and Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra were among those who condemned the arrest.
"Haryana police reportedly arrested him from Delhi, violating legal process. This targets an individual for his opinions; his post wasn't anti-national or misogynistic. A mere complaint by a BJP worker made Haryana police take action," Owaisi said on X.
In a post on X, the CPI (M) said, "We condemn the arrest of professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad for his social media post against hate. While hate-mongers like Vijay Shah (Madhya Pradesh minister) roam free, those calling for justice and peace are targeted in Modi's India." TMC leader Mohua Moitra said they will move the court against the arrest.
"Horrified at arrest of distinguished scholar & academic Prof @Mahmudabad - has this bigoted govt & @police_haryana totally lost it? We are moving court asap (sic)," she said on X.
The arrest comes days after the Haryana State Commission for Women sent a notice to associate professor Mahmudabad questioning his remarks, though he had maintained that they were "misunderstood" and asserted that he had exercised his fundamental right to freedom of speech.
"Ali Khan Mahmudabad has been arrested in Delhi," Assistant Commissioner of Police, Rai, Ajeet Singh said over phone, adding the action came in connection with some comments related to Operation Sindoor.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Narender Kadyan said two FIRs were lodged at the Rai police station here -- one based on a complaint from the chairperson of Haryana State Commission for Women, Renu Bhatia, and the other on the complaint of a village sarpanch.
"On the Commission chairperson's complaint, the FIR has been lodged against Prof Ali of Ashoka University under BNS sections 152 (acts endangering sovereignty or unity and integrity of India), 353 (statements conducing to public mischief), 79 (deliberate actions aimed at insulting the modesty of a woman) and 196 (1) (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion)," Kadyan told reporters here.
"He has been arrested today...Two FIRs have been registered at the Rai police station," he said.
Police remand of Ali will be taken on the basis of a complaint of the Commission, he said.
Indian armed forces hit terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in the early hours of May 7 under Operation Sindoor in retaliation against the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
The associate professor had earlier said that the state Commission for women has "misread" his comment.
"...I am surprised that the Women's Commission, while overreaching its jurisdiction, has misread and misunderstood my posts to such an extent that they have inverted their meaning," Mahmudabad had said on X.
He had said that he had exercised his "fundamental right to freedom of thought and speech in order to promote peace and harmony and to applaud the Indian armed forces for their resolute action, while criticising those who preach hatred and seek to destabilise India".
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/opposition-parties-condemn-ashoka-university-professors-arrest-over-posts-on-op-sindoor/cid/2100524
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In U-turn from 'Muslim commissioner' hate, Nishikant Dubey learns 'beauty of democracy' with Owaisi
J.P. Yadav
19.05.25
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, who had last month dubbed former chief election commissioner S.Y. Quraishi a "Muslim commissioner", on Sunday said the government's decision to include him and his political rival Asaduddin Owaisi in the same diplomatic delegation showed the "most beautiful face of democracy".
Dubey and AIMIM chief Owaisi, two firebrand and polarising faces from the opposite sides of the political divide, are part of a delegation that will travel to Muslim countries later this month to convey India's message of zero tolerance against terrorism against the backdrop of Operation Sindoor.
"I am grateful to honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi for choosing me to travel to Muslim countries and talk about Pakistan's actions and India's 78-year struggle against terrorism," Dubey posted on X. "The most beautiful face of democracy is that Mr Owaisi and I will together talk about Indian democracy and the respect and dignity Muslims get in India."
The delegation, led by BJP MP Baijayant Panda, will also include BJP's Phangnon Koynak and Rekha Sharma and Rajya Sabha member Satnam Singh. It will travel to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and Algeria.
Owaisi and Dubey have often taken swipes at each other inside and outside Parliament. Last month, Owaisi had called Dubey a "tubelight" for attacking the Supreme Court over its judgment setting a deadline for the President and governors to clear bills passed by the legislature twice.
Both were also part of the parliamentary panel assigned to scrutinise the Waqf Amendment Bill. While Dubey had supported the bill, Owaisi had opposed it.
The choice of Dubey to argue India's position on Pakistan-sponsored terrorism before Muslim countries came as a shock to many.
Dubey, the four-term MP from Jharkhand's Godda, has often courted controversy with his hate-spurred attacks on political rivals.
Last month, he had launched a communal attack on Quraishi. "You were not an election commissioner, you were a Muslim commissioner. The maximum number of Bangladeshi infiltrators were made voters in Santhal Pargana in Jharkhand during your tenure," Dubey had posted on X, reacting to Quraishi's slamming of the Waqf Act as a "blatantly sinister, evil plan of the government to grab Muslim land".
The overall composition of the other six diplomatic delegations travelling to world capitals has also raised eyebrows. Many veteran leaders have been placed in teams led by junior leaders.
Two Congress stalwarts — Anand Sharma and Manish Tewari — have been put in the team led by NCP (Sharad Pawar) MP Supriya Sule. This delegation will visit Egypt, Qatar, Ethiopia and South Africa. Another Congress veteran, Salman Khurshid, is part of a team led by JDU MP Sanjay Kumar Jha. It will visit Indonesia, Malaysia, the Republic of Korea, Japan and Singapore.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/u-turn-from-muslim-commissioner-nishikant-dubey-learns-beauty-of-democracy-with-owaisi-prnt/cid/2100536
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Asaduddin Owaisi dismisses Mohan Bhagwat's statement towards Muslims as 'cheap talk'
18.05.25
AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi has dismissed RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's placatory statements towards Muslims as hypocritical "cheap talk", saying "never shall the Twain meet" because the Hindutva organisation only wants to destroy India's diversity.
"You may be making these conciliatory statements but it is your own people who are doing this (anti-Muslim) tamasha. If you think they are wrong, why are you not stopping them?" Owaisi said in an interview to PTI Videos on Saturday.
He was asked to comment on Bhagwat's remarks that the DNA of Hindus and Muslims is the same, and one should not be looking for a Shivling under every mosque.
This was in reference to disputes that have emerged in recent months surrounding pre-Independence, Mughal-era or earlier mosques, which some Hindus believe were built by destroying existing temples.
"Are all these people who are going to courts and filing cases (seeking investigation of mosques' origins) not Mohan Bhagwat's acolytes?" said Owaisi, a five-time MP from Hyderabad and the sole representative of his party in Parliament.
Besides Parliament, his All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen party has only seven seats in the 119-member Telangana Assembly. Despite his minor role in national and regional politics, Owaisi has emerged as a powerful voice of Muslims across the country because of his staunch defence of Muslim rights. His known antipathy towards RSS and BJP as well as vocal criticism of others among opposition parties add to his appeal among Muslims.
When challenged that perhaps it is these very people that Bhagwat is trying to control, Owaisi said: "The proof of the pudding is in the eating. Make them stop. That means they are not listening to you. Are you helpless to stop them? No, that's also not so. It is in your control. It is happening on your orders. It is happening with your acquiescence." He noted that soon after Bhagwat's comments, another senior RSS functionary issued statements saying Bhagwat did not mean what he said.
"This is the theory of confusion of RSS. Bhagwat's statements are hypocritical. This is just cheap talk, loose talk, meant to send a message to America or Gulf Muslim countries," he said.
When told that he could simply meet Bhagwat and seek a clarification on his stand, Owaisi said: "I am not anxious to meet him. (Mere pet me dard nahi hai)".
"I know RSS well. We know what its ideology is. RSS wants to destroy this country's pluralism and diversity, and create a theocratic country. This has been said often by their leaders, whether it is Dr Hedgewar or Golwalkar, Deoras, Bhagwat or Rajju Bhaiya.
"Them and us are the two shores of the sea. How can they come together? Never can the Twain meet. RSS is an ideological creature. RSS will never give up its ideology." Bhagwat has also met Muslim community leaders and intellectuals as part of the RSS outreach. PTI VJ DIV DIV
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/owaisi-dismisses-rss-chief-mohan-bhagwats-placatory-statements-towards-muslims-as-hypocritical-cheap-talk/cid/2100486
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North America
FBI says suspect in California blast targeted fertility clinic
19 May 2025
Nadine Yousif
Authorities have identified the suspect in a deadly car blast that targeted a fertility clinic in Palm Springs, California as Guy Edward Bartkus, a 25-year-old man they said "had nihilistic ideations".
The FBI said they believe he is the sole fatality in the incident.
They said on Sunday that he detonated explosives outside the clinic and tried to livestream the attack, but investigators are still piecing together his movements before the explosion.
The blast happened just before 11:00 local time (19:00 BST) on Saturday, less than a mile from downtown Palm Springs, near several businesses including the American Reproductive Centers (ARC). The clinic said no-one from the facility was harmed.
The FBI had called the attack an "intentional act of terrorism". They believe the suspect deliberately targeted the in vitro fertilisation (IVF) facility. They added they are reviewing a manifesto they believe is linked to Bartkus.
Police said Bartkus is a resident of Twentynine Palms, home to a large marine base about an hour away from Palm Springs.
The FBI has executed a search warrant on his residence in Twentynine Palms, they said. Nearby residents had been evacuated.
Police stressed that there is no on-going threat to the public, both at the site of the blast and near the suspect's home.
The blast was a result of a large vehicle-borne improvised explosive device, law enforcement sources told BBC's US partner CBS News.
Akil Davis, the FBI's assistant director in the Los Angeles field office, said the suspect used a 2010 silver Ford Fusion sedan in the attack.
Mr Davis said the FBI is still looking for the public's help to piece together the suspect's whereabouts before the blast, and will remain on scene for the next day or two to continue their investigation.
The blast was felt more than a mile away. Mr Davis referred to it as "the largest bombing scene" the FBI had seen in southern California in recent memory, and said police are working to survey evidence that is scattered 100 feet away from the explosion "in every direction".
Several buildings were damaged in the blast, including the ACR fertility clinic with images showing a portion of its wall had been entirely destroyed.
In addition to the deceased suspect, four others were injured in the blast. Palm Springs police said they have since been released from hospital.
The ARC said the explosion occurred in the car park near its building.
The fertility clinic said their lab, including all eggs and embryos, remained "fully secure and undamaged".
But Dr Maher Abdallah, who runs the clinic, told the Associated Press that the clinic's office was damaged.
"I really have no clue what happened," he said. "Thank God today happened to be a day that we have no patients."
According to its website, the ARC clinic is the first full-service fertility centre and IVF lab in the Coachella Valley.
It offers services including fertility evaluations, IVF, egg donation and freezing, reproductive support for same-sex couples and surrogacy.
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c787j90wp6po
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Biden diagnosed with ‘aggressive form’ of prostate cancer
18 May 2025
Former US president Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an "aggressive" form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones, according to a statement from his office.
According to the statement, Biden was diagnosed with "prostate cancer, characterized by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with metastasis to the bone."
The statement noted that this is a "more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive, which allows for effective management."
"The President and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians," his office said.
Metastasis means the cancer has spread from its primary site to other tissues in the body.
A spokesperson for Biden’s office said they have no additional comment beyond the statement.
The former president and his family are meeting with doctors and considering "multiple treatment options," including hormone treatment for the cancer, according to a source familiar with Biden's and his family's thinking.
Prostate cancer is common, second only to skin cancer as the most common cancer affecting males, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
The source said Biden is currently at his home in Wilmington, Delaware, but it is unclear where the former president will receive treatment.
But Biden’s prostate cancer had a Gleason score of 9 (Group grade 5). This means the cancer is more likely than others to grow and spread.
“Gleason nine is by definition, aggressive, but you don’t know how bad it is unless you know what the PET scan looks like,” said Dr. Alan Tan, genitourinary section lead at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville.
Tan said that this type of prostate cancer is not rare. “This is the most common thing I see in my clinic,” he said. “This is bread and butter genitourinary oncology.”
President Donald Trump said he was "saddened to hear about" Biden's diagnosis.
"We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Source: presstv.ir
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https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2025/05/18/748202/Biden-diagnosed-with-%E2%80%98aggressive-form%E2%80%99-of-prostate-cancer
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South Asia
The Decline Of Islamic Industrial Power And Western Suppression
May 19, 2025
Throughout history, the Islamic world was once a beacon of industrial innovation and development.
The Muslim states, governed by Islamic principles, were not followers of other nations but rather the leaders in science, technology, and industrial advancement.
Their approach to industrial progress was proactive and independent, relying on domestic capabilities as well as international expertise when needed.
They sought out and welcomed skilled industrialists, engineers, and scholars, regardless of whether they resided within the borders of the Islamic world or beyond.
If a renowned scientist or expert was identified outside Islamic lands, they were promptly invited and contracted by the Islamic state—much like how modern developed nations today attract global talent to strengthen their industries.
This model of progress empowered the Islamic world and allowed it to retain its dignity, strength, and leadership for centuries.
The Islamic state successfully maintained its industrial power and international prestige until a series of internal weaknesses and external conspiracies began to undermine its foundation.
As the spiritual strength of Islam weakened in the hearts of its followers, adversaries launched calculated efforts to dismantle the unity and progress of Muslim states.
The turning point came after World War I, when the final remnants of the unified Islamic state were dismantled.
The collapse opened the door for colonial powers to expand their control over Muslim lands. Using cunning political and economic strategies, Western colonial governments effectively prevented industrial development in Muslim-majority countries.
Their objective was clear: to maintain control and dominance by ensuring that these countries remained industrially weak and economically dependent.
To achieve this, the colonial powers drew artificial borders and installed leaders who were aligned with their own interests.
These leaders, often trained or influenced by the West, were given control over Muslim lands not to foster independence and progress, but to ensure ongoing reliance on Western industries, systems, and political directions.
The industrial and political growth of these nations was guided by policies shaped in Western capitals, rather than by the needs and aspirations of the people on the ground.
One of the most destructive strategies used by Western powers was the prevention of heavy industry development in Muslim countries.
By limiting access to advanced technologies and production capabilities, they ensured that Islamic nations could not emerge as serious competitors on the global stage. Instead, these nations were turned into consumers of Western goods and markets for Western products.
This economic dependency crippled their ability to produce independently and ensured a cycle of importation and underdevelopment.
Moreover, the abundant natural resources in many Islamic countries became tools for further manipulation.
Instead of being used for local industrialization and development, these resources were extracted and exported to Western nations, enriching them while leaving the resource-owning countries in poverty and underdevelopment.
Today, the legacy of these historical injustices still shapes the economic and industrial realities of many Muslim countries.
However, understanding this history is crucial for reversing the trend.
Just as the Islamic state once led the world in scientific and industrial achievement through independent vision, strategic alliances, and firm belief, a revival of those principles—adapted to modern realities—can lead to renewed progress. It is essential that Muslim nations invest in education, rebuild scientific and industrial capabilities, and reclaim control over their resources. By doing so, they can transition from being dependent consumers to being influential producers and contributors to global development.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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https://thekabultimes.com/the-decline-of-islamic-industrial-power-and-western-suppression/
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Islamic Emirate Brings Stability to Waygal with New Centre
2025-05-18
NURISTAN (BNA): According to a press release from the Nuristan provincial office, the administrative center for Waygal District has officially been inaugurated, and its foundation stone laid following the resolution of long-standing local disagreements.
Although the establishment of Waygal District had previously been approved based on the proposal of the provincial authorities and the request of local tribes, the exact location of its center remained undecided due to disputes among residents. After three rounds of assessments and visits by joint central delegations, a final decision was made in accordance with the official directive of the Prime Minister’s Office. The area of Kawashma, located between the villages of Puch and Akchuri, was formally designated as the district center.
In a ceremony attended by Mawlawi Mohammad Shafiq Hanafi, Head of the Nuristan Governor’s Office; Abdullah Azam, Director of Personnel Affairs; along with tribal elders, religious scholars, and government officials, the foundation stone of the district center was laid and a ribbon was cut to mark the inauguration.
With this act, the official decree of the Islamic Emirate’s leadership has been implemented, and Waygal District now begins its administrative operations from its new center.
Residents of the wider Waygal region expressed their deep gratitude to the Nuristan provincial administration and praised the implementation of the Prime Minister’s directive. They called the decision a clear sign of the Islamic Emirate’s attention and care toward the long-neglected and oppressed people of Waygal. Many expressed joy that, after years of uncertainty, a stable, accessible, and secure location has been selected to serve as the district center—one that can effectively deliver government services to all.
It is worth mentioning that the selection of Kawashma was the result of comprehensive geographical, security, and social assessments conducted by the central delegation to ensure that all residents of Waygal District can equitably benefit from the services of the Islamic Emirate.
Source: bakhtarnews.af
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https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/islamic-emirate-brings-stability-to-waygal-with-new-center/
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World Bank Opens Office in Kabul, Initiates $50 Million Loan Disbursement
2025-05-19
KABUL(BNA): The World Bank (WB) has officially opened its office in Kabul and is set to begin disbursing outstanding loans to Afghan corporations.
The move follows extensive discussions between the Ministry of Finance (MoF) and WB representatives.
The World Bank has confirmed that it will disburse a total of $50 million to logistics and construction companies in Afghanistan. The funds will be released in four phases, ensuring close coordination with the MoF.
Starting today,Monday the first phase will see $10.8 million disbursed directly to the relevant companies. The remaining $39.11 million will be distributed through the Ministry of Finance in three subsequent phases.
The MoF has hailed the commencement of this loan disbursement as a “major financial development” for Afghanistan.
Officials believe it will help relaunch significant development projects across the nation, create job opportunities, and contribute positively to the strengthening of the national economy.
Source: bakhtarnews.af
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https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/world-bank-opens-office-in-kabul-initiates-50-million-loan-disbursement/
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Foreign Minister Makes Official Visit to Afghanistan’s Embassy in Tehran
2025-05-19
KABUL(BNA): Mawlavi Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan, visited the Embassy of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Tehran.
According to the Afghanistan Embassy in Tehran, during the visit, the embassy officials presented a detailed report on the general situation, ongoing activities, and consular services. They also shared several suggestions and recommendations with him to improve and enhance the effectiveness of operations.
The Foreign Minister, after listening to the issues and suggestions, issued guidelines to strengthen, facilitate, and expedite consular services.
During his trip to Tehran, Mawlavi Amir Khan Muttaqi also met with Dr. Seyed Abbas Araghchi, the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
In this meeting, they discussed bilateral relations, security issues, water matters, trade, transit, refugees, prisoners, and other important topics.
Source: bakhtarnews.af
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https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/foreign-minister-makes-official-visit-to-afghanistans-embassy-in-tehran/
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Ministry of Public Health Rebuts UNFPA’s Maternal Mortality Claims
2025-05-19
KABUL(BNA): The Ministry of Public Health has strongly refuted statements made by the Chief Executive of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), asserting that one woman dies every two hours in Afghanistan due to pregnancy or childbirth.
In a recent statement, the ministry labeled these claims as “incorrect” and “baseless,” arguing they contradict the country’s health developments. Officials highlighted that under the current governance of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, significant strides have been made in maternal and child health, including the expansion of health centers and a reported decrease in maternal mortality rates.
The Ministry of Public Health urged both national and international organizations to align with them before disseminating information regarding health statistics, emphasizing the importance of accurate reporting in addressing health issues in the country.
Source: bakhtarnews.af
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https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/ministry-of-public-health-rebuts-unfpas-maternal-mortality-claims/
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Ishraque's supporters padlock Nagar Bhaban
May 19, 2025
Supporters of BNP leader Ishraque Hossain continued their sit-in for the fifth consecutive day today, demanding his swift swearing-in as the mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC).
As part of their continued agitation, the protesters enforced a complete blockade of Nagar Bhaban today from 11:00am to 3:00pm.
Protesters began gathering around 9:00am, blocking the main gate and occupying nearby roads, causing severe traffic congestion in the surrounding areas.
All entrances to Nagar Bhaban, the DSCC headquarters, have remained locked since Saturday, bringing administrative operations and public services to a halt.
In addition to demanding Ishraque's assumption of office, some demonstrators have called for the resignation of Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain, adviser to the Local Government Division, declaring him "unwanted" at DSCC premises.
They have vowed to keep the gates locked until Ishraque is formally handed charge of the mayor's office.
Former secretary Mashiur Rahman, representing the protesters under the banner of Dhakabashi, announced the complete blockade programme yesterday.
"We will remain here from 11:00am to 3:00pm to ensure Nagar Bhaban stays shut during this period," he said.
DSCC operations remain suspended amid the ongoing standoff, with no resolution in sight.
On March 27, the Dhaka First Joint District Judge and Electoral Tribunal declared Ishraque Hossain, a BNP Foreign Affairs Committee member, as the rightful mayor of DSCC.
The Election Commission later issued a gazette notification on April 27, officially recognising him as mayor.
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/ishraques-supporters-padlock-nagar-bhaban-3898041
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Mideast
After PKK move, healing Turkiye-Kurd ties needs ‘paradigm shift’: Ocalan
May 19, 2025
ISTANBUL: A “major” shift is needed to repair broken ties between the Turkish state and the country’s Kurdish minority following the historic decision of the Kurdistan Workers Party to disarm, its jailed founder said Sunday.
The message from Abdullah Ocalan was transmitted through a delegation of the pro-Kurdish DEM party who visited the Imrali prison island near Istanbul where Ocalan has been serving life in solitary confinement since 1999.
It was their first visit since the May 12 disarmament announcement, which sought to draw a line under conflict that began in 1984 when the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) took up arms. More than 40,000 people have died since.
“What we are doing involves a major paradigm shift,” wrote the 76-year-old former guerrilla.
“The Turkish-Kurdish relationship is like a brotherly relationship that is broken. Brothers and sisters fight, but they can’t exist without each other,” he said, calling for “a new agreement based on the concept of brotherhood.”
“We must clear away, one-by-one, all the traps and minefields that spoil this relationship, we must repair the broken roads and bridges.”
Only DEM lawmaker Pervin Buldan visited Ocalan this time, with lawyer Ozgur Erol, following the recent death of veteran Turkish peacemaker Sirri Sureyya Onder.
Onder, who was Turkiye’s deputy parliamentary speaker, died on May 3, after suffering a cardiac arrest and just days before the PKK’s historic decision.
He had spent years trying to end the conflict with Turkiye’s Kurdish minority in efforts that earned respect from across the political spectrum.
Since December, he had been part of a delegation that visited Ocalan several times, shuttling messages between him and Turkiye’s political establishment and paving the way for the PKK move.
“I had a hankering to speak to Sirri Sureyya Onder one last time,” Ocalan wrote, describing him as “a wise person for Turkiye” and saying he left behind “a cherished memory that we need to keep alive.”
The government has said it will carefully monitor the disarmament process and in turn, observers expect the government to show a new openness to the Kurds who make up about 20 percent of the 85 million population.
Ocalan is unlikely to be freed, as his life would likely come under threat, but the conditions of his imprisonment are likely to be “eased,” officials say.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2601250/middle-east
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Israel says it will allow a limited amount of aid into Gaza after nearly 3 months of blockade
May 18, 2025
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip: Israel says it will allow a limited amount of humanitarian aid into Gaza after a nearly three-month blockade to avoid a “hunger crisis,” after global experts on food crises warned of famine.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday his Cabinet approved a decision to allow a “basic” amount of food into the territory of over 2 million people. Israel imposed a complete blockade on humanitarian aid starting March 2.
Netanyahu said allowing some aid in would enable Israel to expand its new military operation, which began Saturday.
It was not immediately clear when aid would enter Gaza, or how. Netanyahu said Israel would work to ensure that Hamas will not control aid distribution and ensure the aid does not reach Hamas militants.
Earlier on Sunday, Israel launched “extensive” new ground operations in Gaza. Airstrikes in its new offensive killed at least 103 people, including dozens of children, overnight and into Sunday, hospitals and medics said. The bombardment forced northern Gaza’s main hospital to close as it reported direct strikes.
Israel began the offensive — the largest since it shattered a ceasefire in March — with the aim of seizing territory and displacing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians.
Israel is pressuring Hamas to agree to a temporary ceasefire that would free hostages from Gaza but not necessarily end the war. Hamas says it wants a full withdrawal of Israeli forces and a path to ending the war as part of any deal.
“When the Jews want a truce, Hamas refuses, and when Hamas wants a truce, the Jews refuse it. Both sides agree to exterminate the Palestinian people,” said Jabaliya resident Abu Mohammad Yassin, who was among those fleeing the new offensive on foot or in donkey carts. “For God’s sake, have mercy on us. We are tired of displacement.”
Israel’s military, which recently called up tens of thousands of reservists, said the ground operations are throughout the Palestinian territory’s north and south. Israel’s chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, said that plans include “dissecting” the strip.
Before the announcement, airstrikes killed more than 48 people — including 18 children and 13 women — in and around the southern city of Khan Younis, according to Nasser Hospital, which said it struggled to count the dead because of the condition of bodies.
In northern Gaza, a strike on a home in Jabaliya killed nine members of a family, according to the Gaza Health Ministry’s emergency services. Another strike on a residence there killed 10, including seven children and a woman, according to the civil defense, which operates under the Hamas-run government.
Israel’s military had no immediate comment. Its statement announcing the ground operations said preliminary strikes over the past week killed dozens of militants and struck more than 670 targets. Israel blames civilian casualties on Hamas because the militant group operates from civilian areas.
Shortly afterward, Israel’s military said that it intercepted a projectile from central Gaza and another fell in an open area, with no injuries reported.
Talks in Qatar
Israel had said it would wait until the end of US President Donald Trump’s visit to the Middle East before launching its offensive, saying it was giving ceasefire efforts a chance. Trump didn’t visit Israel on his trip that ended Friday.
Netanyahu’s office said his negotiating team in Qatar was “working to realize every chance for a deal,” including one that would end fighting in exchange for the release of all remaining 58 hostages, Hamas’ exile from Gaza and the disarmament of the territory.
Hamas has refused to leave Gaza or disarm.
Israel ended the previous eight-week ceasefire in March. Gaza’s Health Ministry has said almost 3,000 people have been killed since then.
Days before resuming the war, Israel cut off all food, medicine and other supplies to Gaza. The blockade is now in its third month, with global food security experts warning of famine across the territory.
Frustration in Israel has been rising. A small but growing number of Israelis are refusing to show up for military service, even risking imprisonment. Other Israelis have been displaying photos of children killed in Gaza during weekly rallies demanding a deal to free all hostages and end the war.
The war in Gaza began on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and abducting 251 others. Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed more than 53,000 Palestinians, many of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count.
Hospital cites Israeli ‘siege’
Health officials said fighting around the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza and an Israeli military “siege” prompted it to shut down. It was the main medical facility in the north after Israeli strikes last year forced the Kamal Adwan and Beit Hanoun hospitals to stop offering services.
“There is direct targeting on the hospital, including the intensive care unit,” Indonesian Hospital director Dr. Marwan Al-Sultan said in a statement, adding that no one could reach the facility that had about 30 patients and 15 medical staff inside.
Israel’s military said that troops were operating against militant infrastructure sites in northern Gaza, including the area “directly adjacent” to the hospital.
Israel has repeatedly targeted hospitals, accusing Hamas of being active in and around the facilities. Human rights groups and UN-backed experts have accused Israel of systematically destroying Gaza’s health care system.
In northern Gaza, at least 43 people were killed in strikes, according to first responders from the Health Ministry and civil defense. Gaza City’s Shifa Hospital said 15 children and 12 women were among the dead.
A drone strike Sunday afternoon killed at least seven Palestinians near a school sheltering displaced people northwest of Gaza City, according to the Health Ministry’s emergency service.
Other strikes in central Gaza killed at least 12 people, hospitals said. One in Zweida town killed seven people, including two children and four women, according to Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital in Deir Al-Balah.
In Gaza City, Um Mahmoud Al-Aloul lay across the shrouded body of her daughter, Nour Al-Aloul.
“You took my soul with you,” she cried. “I used to turn off my phone from how much you called.”
Source: arabnews.com
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At least 3 killed in blast targeting police station in eastern Syria
May 18, 2025
CAIRO: At least three people were killed when a blast targeted a police station in the eastern Syrian town of Al-Mayadeen on Sunday, the state news agency said, citing a security source.
The explosion also injured several people, the report said, without providing further details.
Source: arabnews.com
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Israel army says 2 projectiles launched from Gaza after air raid sirens sound
May 18, 2025
JERUSALEM: The Israeli army said two projectiles were launched from the Gaza Strip on Sunday, shortly after it announced it had commenced “extensive ground operations” across the besieged Palestinian territory.
“Following the sirens that sounded in Kissufim, two projectiles were identified crossing into Israel from the central Gaza Strip,” the army said, adding one was intercepted and the other fell in an open area.
Source: arabnews.com
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Israeli forces have demolished 600 Palestinian houses in Jenin since January offensive
May 18, 2025
LONDON: Israeli forces have demolished nearly 600 Palestinian houses in the Jenin refugee camp, according to the town municipality, where Israel has been carrying out military operations for the past 118 days.
On Sunday, forces intensified dredging and destruction operations in the Jenin refugee camp, causing significant damage to its water and electricity infrastructure and main roads, while continuing to block access to the area.
The Jenin Municipality has documented the total destruction of 600 houses in the camp, while others were either partially damaged or have been abandoned by residents since Israel launched a major offensive in January.
The neighborhoods of Al-Sharqi and Al-Hadaf sustained the heaviest damage — to shops, houses and infrastructure — the Wafa news agency reported.
Also on Sunday, Israeli forces arrested Yasmeen Shaaban at her home in Al-Jalameh village, north of Jenin. Shaaban, who spent 21 months in prison, was released in November 2023 during the first temporary truce and captive-exchange arrangement between Israel and Hamas.
The municipality reported that 22,000 people are displaced in Jenin as Israeli forces increase enforcement in the town and its refugee camp. The military operation has caused heavy losses to businesses in Jenin, leading to many shop closures and a decrease in shopper footfall from nearby villages, with an estimated loss of $300 million.
Since Israel launched its offensive on January 21 in Jenin, at least 40 people have been killed, while hundreds have been arrested and injured.
Source: arabnews.com
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Tehran keen to cooperate with Kabul to resolve issues
May 19, 2025
Pezeshkian met with Amir Khan Muttaqi on Sunday on the sidelines of the Tehran Dialogue Forum 2025 which brings together senior officials and diplomats from 53 countries as well as the United Nations. The forum is held in the Iranian capital, Tehran, on Sunday and Monday.
The Iranian president said that his country considers it a duty to assist the people of Afghanistan based on religious principles, adding that Iran is ready to develop cooperation with Afghanistan in different fields.
“Based on our basic and strategic principles, we deem as unfounded any disputes among Islamic countries, and we consider the strengthening of brotherhood and cohesion as a reasonable substitute to any division in the Islamic Ummah,” said Pezeshkian.
Amir Khan Muttaqi, for his part, called Iran a well-intentioned and good neighbor of Afghanistan, saying that his country is seeking to be a good and trustworthy neighbor for Iran as well.
He also said that Iran and Afghanistan share deep-rooted religious and cultural commonalities and have common views on international and regional issues, including Palestine.
“Adopting a balanced policy, we are seeking a broader and constructive interaction with regional countries, especially the Islamic Republic of Iran,” he noted.
The volume of trade between Iran and Afghanistan now stands at $3 billion, he further said, expressing hope that Afghanistan, with the help of Iran, can turn into a safe place for regional trade and transit now that the cultivation of narcotics has come to zero in Afghanistan and the Daesh (ISIL) terrorist group has completely been driven out from the country.
Muttaqi also expressed gratitude towards Iran for hosting millions of refugees from Afghanistan, and said that his country is making efforts to gradually return those refugees to their homeland.
He also said that Afghanistan intends to turn the borders into common opportunities and promote trade with Iran to high levels through expanding economic cooperation.
Source: mehrnews.com
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Arab World
Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs attends Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural mass
May 18, 2025
RIYADH: Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Climate Affairs Envoy Adel Al-Jubeir headed Saudi Arabia’s delegation participating in the inauguration ceremony of Pope Leo XIV, Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.
The pope began his inauguration mass on Sunday, marking the official start of his papacy. He arrived in St Peter’s Square in the white Popemobile, waving to the crowds.
The Kingdom’s ambassador to Italy Prince Faisal bin Sattam bin Abdulaziz also attended the mass.
Source: arabnews.com
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Canadian expert praises Saudi Arabia’s rapid AI, social progress
LAMA ALHAMAWI
May 18, 2025
RIYADH: Janice Stein, founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto, has praised the Kingdom’s ongoing transformation and its growing role in artificial intelligence and education.
During a two-day visit, Stein met officials from government, academia, and the private sector, and highlighted Saudi Arabia’s regional role while noting that much can be learned from Saudi Data and AI Authority’s initiatives.
“We went to universities, think tanks, and government ministries that work in education and artificial intelligence,” said Stein, Belzberg professor of conflict management. She added: “I think Canada can learn a lot.”
Stein noted that officials at the SDAIA had explained that the Kingdom will have a K-12 AI education strategy “in which students from grade three onward will start to learn about artificial intelligence and engage with it.”
She told Arab News: “Well, we are not there in Canada, and depending on how SDAIA measures and tracks its results, I think Canada can learn from the experiment SDAIA is running.”
Stein added that the future project led by SDAIA had not yet been implemented in Saudi Arabia, but much could be learned from its research and rollout.
“There is a sense that things are moving quickly and that will be foundational to the role Saudi Arabia will play in the future,” she said.
Stein also discussed the traditional educational cooperation model between Saudi Arabia and Canada, which has mainly involved Saudi students going abroad to study.
She said: “I think that will remain, but that is the old model.”
Looking to the present, Stein said she was interested in sharing and learning from the “very large experiment that Saudi society is now running.”
She stressed that the goal was in partnership and not encouraging Saudis to leave the Kingdom, adding: “Saudi Arabia is playing a leading role in the Gulf; I think all Saudis know that.”
She said that Saudi Arabia had the weight and urgency to lead, and that what it needed was a clear focus and annual measurement to benchmark the country’s progress against others.
“As a long-time student of the Middle East, my strong sense is that the Gulf is growing in strategic importance, things are moving, and the pace of change is accelerating,” she said.
“I thought, what a wonderful time to find an institutional partner here.”
Stein stressed how impressed she was by the “sense of urgency” in Saudi Arabia’s developmental efforts.
She said that in her conversations she had been struck by the strong focus on results and the awareness that time is limited, describing the urgency as “really, really impressive.”
Stein also noted the clear changes that women are undergoing, saying that it was encouraging to see women working at the airport on her arrival.
She underlined that as women’s roles start to change in society, that society itself begins to change.
Stein said that Saudi people understood the “rapid pace of global change and the need to act quickly — something often missing in more established societies.”
She added: “I think we all need that sense of urgency.”
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi, Turkish foreign ministers reaffirm cooperation during meeting in Riyadh
May 18, 2025
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan has met his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan in Riyadh to discuss recent regional developments.
The ministers co-chaired the second meeting of the Saudi-Turkish Coordination Council on Sunday, a key diplomatic forum aimed at strengthening political, economic, and strategic exchanges between Ankara and Riyadh.
Officials discussed ways to enhance bilateral cooperation and coordination on issues of mutual interest, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji and his Turkish counterpart Nuh Yilmaz signed a memorandum of understanding between diplomatic centers affiliated with their respective ministries.
Prince Saud Al-Faisal Institute for Diplomatic Studies, and Turkiye’s Diplomacy Academy are to work together to improve collaboration and share knowledge, a statement said.
Fidan praised the increasing momentum of Turkish-Saudi relations, attributing it to the “vision put forward by our leaders,” reported the Anadolu Agency.
He added: “Turkish-Saudi relations, shaped by historical and human ties, have proven their strength and resilience in the face of challenges and difficulties.”
The first meeting of the Saudi-Turkish Coordination Council, which was established during the visit of King Salman to Turkiye in 2016, took place in Ankara in February 2017.
Several senior Saudi and Turkish officials attended Sunday’s meeting, including the Saudi Ambassador to Turkiye Fahd bin Asaad Abu Al-Nasr.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi Arabia launches new production hub in Riyadh
May 18, 2025
RIYADH: The Saudi Film Commission has unveiled Jax Film Studios, a new production complex in Riyadh, marking a step forward in the Kingdom’s efforts to develop a connected and competitive film and media industry.
Scheduled for completion later this year, the studio spans more than 7,000 sq. meters and features two soundstages of 1,500 sq. meters, along with a virtual production stage using Sony’s latest screen technology.
The complex also includes a private cinema, meeting rooms, production prep areas, dining spaces, and a VIP lounge — designed to accommodate a range of needs, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
The facility provides convenient access to hotels, the international airport, restaurants, and a growing network of creative and technical professionals.
Filmmakers can find local crews, equipment, and post-production services to support their projects, all within a 20-minute radius.
Saudi Film Commission’s CEO Abdullah Al-Qahtani said: “Jax Film Studios represents a cornerstone of our strategy to develop a world-class film infrastructure in Saudi Arabia.
“As we become one of the region’s premier production hubs, this facility is built to meet the highest international standards — empowering local creatives while attracting global talent.”
Abduljalil Alnasser, the commission’s general manager of sector development and investment attraction, said: “With Jax Film Studios we are introducing one of the world’s most advanced and largest virtual production stages, powered by Sony’s latest innovations, unlocking limitless creative possibilities.”
Source: arabnews.com
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Riyadh event highlights the role of Saudi museums in the age of social change
SAMIA HANIFI
May 18, 2025
RIYADH: In recognition of International Museum Day, the National Museum of Riyadh hosted, a cultural event under the theme: “The future of museums in rapidly changing societies.”
The event, organized by the Saudi Ministry of Culture’s Museums Commission, ran from May 15 to 17 and highlighted the role of museums in social change, innovation and youth engagement.
The program included workshops, debates, performances and interactive activities, all aligned with the cultural goals of Vision 2030.
A special session took place with Princess Haifa bint Mansour bin Bandar, president of the Saudi National Committee of the International Council of Museums.
During this open discussion, Princess Haifa emphasized the importance of considering the specific situation of museums depending on their location and level of development. While some institutions demonstrate real dynamism, others are struggling to keep up.
“The efforts to modernize and renovate certain museums are clear. However, other museums face challenges in trying to catch up,” she said.
She stressed the need to revise the legislative framework and encourage private investment to support growth in the sector:
“Our museum system is currently being reviewed, and legislation is needed that encourages investment. Supporting the creation of museums in smaller buildings helps to facilitate funding.”
Regarding the frequent criticisms of so-called “traditional” museums, she offered a more nuanced view.
“There are traditional museums that are changing and remain popular, which proves they still serve the public. Sometimes, traditional museums fail to attract the public, even more so than innovative museums.”
She also referred to the significant transformations underway in the Kingdom, supported by a government body dedicated to the museum sector.
“We are in the midst of a radical transformation with a body entirely dedicated to museums, that supports positive change and offers opportunities for progress.”
As the longstanding head of the Saudi ICOM committee, Princess Haifa reminded the audience that Saudi Arabia is actively involved in international dialogue and decision-making:
“This year, we participated in the revision of a code of ethics established in previous years to recognize what constitutes a museum. We are currently translating certain museological references into Arabic.”
Human resources were another key focus of her speech. She identified several obstacles, especially language barriers and the lack of specialized training.
“The first challenge is the language factor. Frankly, we must acknowledge these issues, particularly the importance of the English language,
“We absolutely need specialized schools, partnerships with universities, training opportunities in our field, and specializations such as museum management and exhibition security.”
Despite the challenges, she expressed optimism, welcoming ongoing partnerships with Saudi universities — particularly in the Eastern Province — and the creation of new professional qualifications.
“This is a diploma that is about to become a master’s degree. Museums are not merely storage spaces; they were designed to be places of restoration and rehabilitation. Today, they have become vital centers offering programs for all segments of society.”
In the context of cultural and social transformation, the ongoing reflection on the role of museums in Saudi society reflects a clear ambition: to transform museums into vibrant, inclusive and forward-looking institutions.
Reporting to the Ministry of Culture, the Saudi Museums Commission is a public body whose mission is to develop, modernize, and supervise museums throughout the Kingdom, whether public or private.
It supports the creation of new museums, promotes heritage, encourages innovation — particularly in the digital space — and fosters cultural education.
Source: arabnews.com
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Europe
Muslim charity ordered to ensure ‘rigorous oversight’ of future speakers and online activity
19 May 2025
by Dami Adewale
The Charity Commission has ordered trustees of the Islamic Centre of England to provide “rigorous oversight” of future speakers and online activity after finding misconduct and/or mismanagement during its ongoing inquiry.
The regulator opened a statutory inquiry into the charity, which is a centre of Islamic worship in north London, in 2022 to investigate “serious governance concerns” related to events in which trustees described Iranian protestors as “soldiers of Satan”, among other concerns.
Emma Moody of the law firm Womble Bond Dickinson was appointed as an interim manager at the charity by the commission in 2023, to conduct a review of the charity’s governance and administration and make recommendations to the commission based on her findings, the regulator said.
The commission’s order requires the trustees to take a range of actions to improve the charity’s operations, governance and financial oversight, with clear deadlines for compliance, the regulator said.
“Among these are that the trustees are instructed to ensure that all religious services, speakers and events further the objects of the charity and are in its best interests, complying with due diligence processes put in place by the interim manager,” the regulator said.
“Similarly, the trustees are required to ensure the charity’s website and social media content is exclusively in furtherance of the charity’s purposes and that trustees and staff document their decisions appropriately.”
As part of its inquiry, the regulator removed a requirement from the charity’s governing document for a trustee to be the official UK religious representative of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, with the latest occupant of this role also leaving the charity.
“This addressed regulatory concerns about the charity’s failure to manage the conflicts of interest and apparent lack of independence this caused, which were at odds with charity law,” the regulator said.
The regulator has taken further action during the inquiry on “wide-ranging governance issues and breaches of past advice on orders”.
These included, more recently, failure to fully comply with the order appointing the interim manager and failure to fully comply with directions, the regulator said.
The commission considers these, and a range of other past breaches, mismanagement and misconduct in the administration of the charity and the trustees currently dispute some of these legal findings, the regulator said.
Moody has been discharged after overseeing the appointment of two additional trustees to improve the charity’s management and governance, particularly regarding speakers and events.
David Holdsworth, chief executive of the Charity Commission, said: “We now expect the trustees to take the required action directed by the commission and will not hesitate to use further legal powers should that be necessary.”
The Islamic Centre of England has been contacted for comment.
Source: thirdsector.co.uk
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Hikmat Hajiyev: Azerbaijan and Iran must continue economic cooperation and strengthen bilateral ties
18.05.2025
Azerbaijan and Iran must continue and strengthen their economic cooperation. We are a happy country developing in the Eurasian region. We have multifaceted cooperation with Turkiye, Russia, and Iran, said Hikmat Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration, at a panel of the Tehran Dialogue Forum.
In this regard, he touched upon the importance of the 3+3 format. Emphasizing the importance of increasing the functionality of regional organizations in the region, he highlighted the activities of the Economic Cooperation Organization, CICA, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. "We also cooperate with Iran within the framework of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Because the principle of Islamic solidarity is important to us," added H. Hajiyev.
Stating that Azerbaijan and Iran have a common historical past, the President's Assistant said: "We can create and develop models for partnership together. We should not allow anyone to create an order for us; we must think about prosperity and development ourselves." Hikmat Hajiyev also spoke about the economic reforms implemented in Azerbaijan and the infrastructure projects of international importance. He emphasized that we must use real opportunities to benefit ourselves and our partners. In this regard, he touched upon the importance of the North-South project, which is redesigning the Eurasian transport corridor, saying: "We must try to build a new security architecture for ourselves and identify the projects to be implemented."
Responding to a question about Palestine, Hajiyev noted: "The Organization of Islamic Cooperation is one of the most important institutions that exists. Azerbaijan also supports Islamic solidarity based on justice and international law. We support the "two-state" solution for the Palestinian issue based on UN decisions and resolutions.
Based on its distinct geopolitical identity, Azerbaijan is conducting active diplomatic activities in different regions - the South Caucasus, the Caspian and Black Sea basins, the post-Soviet space, Central Asia, the Middle East, and others."
Commenting on the peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Hajiyev emphasized: "Now Azerbaijan has created a new status quo and reality in the region. There is a favorable environment for peace. The Victory we achieved came at the cost of our people's blood. Military elements - especially military aggression and occupation - have been removed from the agenda in the relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia. The occupation was ended by military and political means. Azerbaijan wants to lead the region towards peace and stability. We know that the constitution is the internal affair of every country, provided that it does not pose a threat to another country or have territorial claims. Armenia's constitution still contains a territorial claim against Azerbaijan, and this provision must be removed from there. Regional issues should be resolved by the countries of the region themselves. Unfortunately, some foreign forces are trying to interfere in the region and carry out geopolitical intrigues. Tensions and non-constructive processes are observed in the international relations system in the modern era."
Source: azertag.az
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'Breakthrough' in last-minute EU-UK talks before summit
19 May 2025
Negotiations to reset the UK's post-Brexit relations reached a "breakthrough" last night, No 10 sources said, as Sir Keir Starmer prepares to meet EU leaders at a summit in London.
Talks between the UK and the EU continued late into Sunday evening, with the issues discussed thought to include defence, trade, fishing rights and a possible youth mobility scheme.
The remaining stumbling blocks to a deal, mostly concerning fishing rights, were solved at about 22:30 on Sunday night, government sources said.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage have described the deal as a "surrender", despite the contents being unknown.
Sir Keir will meet European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for the second time in four days as they aim to strike a deal.
Negotiations for the UK are being led by the minister for UK-EU relations, Nick Thomas-Symonds, who told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg that he was driven by "ruthless pragmatism" and was focused on jobs, lower household bills, and stronger borders.
He said the government was "confident" a deal to cut red tape on food exports and imports to and from the EU will be agreed.
But he declined to give specific details of any deal, saying: "Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed."
Announcements around trade and security have been expected to include British access to a €150bn (£125bn) EU defence fund, which could be a boost for UK defence companies.
Fishing could also be part of a deal, with a post-Brexit deal on fishing rights set to expire at the end of June 2026.
The Conservatives have warned that the government must "make it clear that giving up any rights to UK waters and natural resources would represent a betrayal to British fishermen".
Reports have circulated that a youth mobility scheme with the EU could be set up - something that Sir Keir told the Times on Saturday would be a "reciprocal" arrangement in which young people would be able to move abroad for up to two years.
No specific details about the ages of those who could be eligible and whether there would be a cap on numbers were given, and it has received mixed responses from opposition parties.
Badenoch described the possible scheme as "free movement through the back door" while Reform's deputy leader Richard Tice said earlier this week that such a scheme would be "the thin end" of EU free movement.
The Liberal Democrats have backed the idea of a "capped mobility scheme", although the party's Europe spokesperson James MacCleary has accused the government of "dragging their heels when it comes to properly negotiating on the issue".
Reports have also suggested there could be agreements on British travellers using EU e-gates at European airports and cutting red tape on food exports and imports.
Thomas-Symonds said he was "pushing for people to be able to go through" European airports "far more quickly" and that he was confident about a deal on food.
He added: "We know we've had lorries waiting for 16 hours, fresh food in the back not able to be exported because frankly it's just going off, red tape, all the certifications that are required, we absolutely want to reduce that."
Conservative MP Alex Burghart told the BBC on Sunday he was concerned the government was signing up to EU standards and becoming "a rule taker - one of the things we specifically left behind when we left the EU".
Source: bbc.com
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Brexit back in the news - but what do both UK and EU want out of deal?
19 May 2025
"It's a cold world out there. We need to huddle together."
So said a European Union diplomat to me, confident of the magnetising effect on both the EU and the UK of the world having changed so significantly since the original Brexit deal.
Both sides privately talk up what is seen as the remorseless logic of closer defence and security ties.
The British government, in trying to ensure it has the political space to justify a (partial) re-writing or tweaking of the relationship, talks of now being in "the mid 2020s" as a reminder of the time that has elapsed, and events that have unfolded, since all the noise, negotiations, anger and elections that leaving the EU provoked.
Without question, Russia's full scale invasion of Ukraine and President Trump's overt reluctance to subsidise European security as he sees it have changed the conversation about defence.
Whatever your views about Brexit, a word of warning: the next 24 hours or so might be triggering if the kind of headlines and phrases that made the news for years on end became mildly off-putting roughly between 2016 and 2020.
There will be talk of haggling, of fish, of sovereignty, of cash and of courts. And we have already had senior figures on both sides talking about last-minute tweaks and that old favourite in the phraseology of EU negotiations: "Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed."
It feels like a landmark moment. After the years of Brexit noise, there were the years of (relative) Brexit silence. Now, it is returning to the news again.
What will change is actually relatively narrowly defined – the government has promised it won't take the UK back into three of the biggest pillars of the EU: its customs union, single market or the freedom of movement of people around the bloc.
But that much accepted, there is plenty that is being talked about.
Over the weekend, the negotiations rumbled on, led on the UK side by Nick Thomas Symonds, the minister in charge of the UK's relations with the EU.
Alongside him has been Michael Ellam, who returned to government in January to lead, at an officials-level, the negotiations with the EU. Ellam was previously director of communications in Downing Street when Gordon Brown was prime minister.
In the last hours, the talks took place virtually.
At various points in recent months they have happened face to face.
So what can, or should, we expect?
The Labour manifesto from last year's general election is worth a look as both a guide to what the government wants, and a tool to scrutinise what they manage to pull off.
Here is what it says:
On page 117, the party wrote that it wanted "an improved and ambitious relationship with the European Union" which would "deepen ties".
On the following page, it promises to "improve the UK's trade and investment relationship with the European Union" and remove "unnecessary barriers to trade".
It adds that they want a "veterinary agreement," which is diplomatic-speak for making it easier to move food around, an arrangement to make it easier for touring artists such as bands to travel, the mutual recognition of professional qualifications and a security pact.
So, when we get the details, we can measure what has already been achieved, where there is broad agreement but not yet agreement on the specifics, where there is no agreement at all and where things have been signed up to that were not in the manifesto.
We can expect both sides to herald the importance of improved defence and security cooperation.
Ministers have also been talking up the removal of queues for Brits visiting EU countries.
What does the EU want?
It is very keen on a youth mobility scheme, allowing young people from the UK and EU to travel more easily.
After months of denying it had any plans for such a scheme, the government has in recent weeks been acknowledging publicly that one is being discussed and has started to sell what they see as its merits.
The government is keenly aware that some will see it as freedom of movement by the back door.
Let's see precisely what, if any, details have been agreed and what the scheme is called.
Then there is fish, never far away when the EU negotiates.
And then two Brexit perennials: cash and courts.
What is the UK willing to pay to access various EU schemes and what role will the European Union's court have in settling any disputes?
Some of those who long argued for Brexit and would now see themselves as custodians of the deal Boris Johnson negotiated worry that the government will sign up to what is known as "dynamic alignment" - an acceptance not just of EU rules now in a certain area, but an agreement to accept them if they change in the future.
They would see this as a fundamental dilution of a key tenet of Brexit and, critics point out, it was not in the Labour manifesto.
So again, detail will be key here when we see what has been agreed.
Sir Keir Starmer will argue his manifesto and his majority gives him a mandate for closer ties and can point to opinion polls that also suggest support for negotiating a closer relationship.
He will argue that a deal with the EU, alongside the ones with India and the United States announced this month, show a willingness to both leverage the freedoms of Brexit while getting what he will see as a better relationship with Brussels.
But it is also true that he risks inflaming all those old Brexit rows, angering Brexiteers and doing little to pacify those who have long hated Brexit.
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c20qxx9yv6zo
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Russia launched war's largest drone attack ahead of Putin-Trump call, Ukraine says
19 May 2025
Ukraine says Russia has launched its biggest drone attack since the full-scale invasion began, targeting several regions including Kyiv, where one woman died.
The barrage came just a day before a scheduled call between Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The US President has been urging a ceasefire.
Russia and Ukraine held their first face-to-face talks in more than three years on Friday in Turkey, agreeing a new prisoner swap deal but little else.
Ukraine's air force said Russia had launched 273 drones by 08:00 Sunday (05:00 GMT) targeting the central Kyiv region, and Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk regions in the east.
It said 88 drones were intercepted and another 128 went astray "without negative consequences".
The strikes killed one person in Obukhiv district in the Kyiv region, and injured at least three others - one of whom was a four-year-old child - officials reported.
The previous largest drone attack from Russia happened on the third anniversary of the full-scale invasion on 23 February, when Moscow launched 267 drones.
Russia's military said it had intercepted 25 Ukrainian drones overnight and on Sunday morning.
Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Sunday that he and leaders of the UK, France, and Poland would have a virtual meeting with Trump before his conversation with Putin on Monday morning.
The four leaders jointly visited Ukraine over two weeks ago to spearhead calls for a 30-day-ceasefire, backed by the so-called "coalition of the willing".
Ukraine's intelligence agency has said it believes Russia could be planning to carry out a "training and combat" launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile overnight, as an attempted intimidation.
Russia has not responded to the claim.
Ukrainian officials said Saturday night's strikes showed Russia had no intention of stopping the war, despite international pressure for a ceasefire.
"For Russia, the negotiations [on Friday] in Istanbul are just a pretence. Putin wants war," said Andriy Yermak, a top aide to the Ukrainian president.
Following the talks in Turkey, Trump had suggested there would be no progress towards peace until he and Putin meet face-to-face.
The US president has proposed a 30-day ceasefire agreement and threatened tougher sanctions if Russia doesn't comply.
Ukraine's President Zelensky has said he is ready to accept the proposal for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire.
But Russia will only agree to a pause in fighting if military supplies to Ukraine are halted.
Putin has also said any negotiations must include discussions about the cause of the war. Russia's terms include Ukraine becoming a neutral country, cutting the size of its military, and abandoning its Nato membership ambitions - conditions that Ukraine has rejected as tantamount to capitulation.
Moscow now controls approximately 20% of Ukraine's territory, including the southern Crimea peninsula it illegally annexed in 2014.
Zelensky was at the Vatican on Sunday where he had a private meeting with Pope Leo following the new pontiff's inauguration mass. He also briefly met US Vice President JD Vance in Rome.
The Ukrainian leader said they talked about the "low-level" delegation Putin sent to Turkey, the "need for sanctions against Russia", and how to achieve peace.
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1ldm42eyzmo
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Pro-EU candidate wins Romanian presidential election rerun
18 May, 2025
Pro-EU Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan has defeated Euroskeptic candidate George Simion in Romania’s presidential election rerun, according to the official tally.
With more than 99% of ballots counted, Dan secured 54% of the vote in Sunday’s runoff, while Simion received 46%.
Dan thanked his supporters for an “unprecedented mobilization.”
“Starting tomorrow, we begin the reconstruction of Romania – a united and honest Romania, founded on respect for the law and for all its people,” he wrote on X.
Simion, the leader of the right-wing Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), did not initially concede defeat, claiming in a post on X on Sunday evening that he was “the new president.” However, he conceded several hours later and congratulated Dan. “It was the will of the Romanian people. We will go all the way, even if it is hard to bear the bitter taste of defeat,” he said in a video address on Monday. “We may have lost a battle, but we will certainly not lose the war.”
The pro-EU president of neighboring Moldova, Maia Sandu, congratulated Dan. “Moldova and Romania stand together, supporting one another and working side by side for a peaceful, democratic, and European future for all our citizens,” she said.
The two countries share deep historical and cultural ties, with around 30% of Moldova’s population holding dual Moldovan-Romanian citizenship. Simion’s party has claimed that Moldovan authorities and media outlets waged an illegal campaign to mobilize support for Dan among voters living in Moldova. Chisinau has denied any interference in the election.
The election rerun was ordered after Romania’s Constitutional Court annulled the results of the November vote, in which independent right-wing candidate Calin Georgescu came first with 23%. The authorities cited “irregularities” in his campaign, along with intelligence reports alleging Russian interference – claims Moscow has denied.
Simion had condemned the annulment of the 2024 election results as a “coup d’état” and said that, if elected, he could appoint Georgescu as prime minister.
During the first round on May 4, Simion received 41% of the vote, while Dan and former Senator Crin Antonescu each garnered around 20%.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/617809-nicusor-dan-wins-romania/
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Southeast Asia
Singapore Doctor Given Maximum Fine Of $10k Over Anti-Islam Remarks That Wounded The Religious Feelings Of Others
MAY 19, 2025
SINGAPORE - A doctor who posted anti-Islam content on his personal Facebook page in 2021, and left the country in 2022 while he was under investigation, has been given a maximum fine of $10,000.
On May 19, Kho Kwang Po, 85, pleaded guilty to one count of performing an act that wounded the religious feelings of others.
Kho, a non-practising doctor, will have to spend two weeks behind bars if he fails to pay the amount. His name could not be found on the Singapore Medical Council’s database of registered healthcare professionals when The Straits Times searched it on May 19.
Court documents did not disclose what spurred the Singaporean to commit the offence, which Deputy Public Prosecutor Sean Teh said was done with the “deliberate intention of wounding the racial feelings of Muslims in general”.
Kho was the only person who had access to the Facebook account, DPP Teh added.
On April 21, 2021, Kho made the incriminating post available for the public to view, which comprised screenshots of remarks he had earlier made on Facebook in 2016.
About two months later, in June 2021, a person lodged a police report that “Kho Kwang Po has been openly making racist posts on his Facebook. The posts are highly insulting towards Islam”.
Later that month, another person alerted the authorities that Kho had been posting seditious material “denigrating Islam” on Facebook for several years.
Kho left Singapore for an undisclosed location in January 2022 and returned in October 2024, the police had said earlier. He was charged in court on Feb 26, 2025.
For performing an act that wounds the religious feelings of others, an offender can be jailed for up to three years, fined or both.
On May 19, the DPP urged the court to fine Kho the maximum $10,000 fine without a jail sentence, saying: “We accept that the accused’s racist posts have not gained significant traction. We have also considered the accused’s advanced age and his plea of guilt.”
Defence lawyers Kenneth Au-Yong and Josiah Tan pleaded for their client to be given a fine of $6,000, saying that Kho is truly sorry for what he had done and is unlikely to repeat the offence.
Before handing down the sentence, District Judge Eddy Tham said Kho, as a doctor, should have known better than to commit such an offence.
The judge also noted that Kho had been fixated on what he read on the internet, and had accepted propaganda without critical examination.
Shaffiq Alkhatib is The Straits Times’ court correspondent, covering mainly criminal cases heard at the State Courts.
Source: straitstimes.com
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/non-practising-elderly-doctor-given-maximum-fine-of-10k-over-anti-islam-remarks-online
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Family pressure, money woes, mistrust fuel Johor’s 2024 Muslim divorce surge
19 May 2025
ISKANDAR PUTERI, May 19 — The total number of divorce cases filed in the Syariah Courts across Johor rose from 7,174 in 2023 to 7,306 in 2024.
State Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman Mohd Fared Mohd Khalid said the main causes of divorce included lack of understanding, financial problems, irresponsible spouses, third-party involvement and interference by in-laws.
He noted that divorce claims or applications increased to 4,264 cases in 2024 from 4,042 in 2023, while validation of lafaz cerai (divorce pronouncements) edged up to 2,462 cases from 2,416.
Mohd Fared gave the figures when replying to Marina Ibrahim (PH-Skudai) during the Johor State Legislative Assembly sitting in Kota Iskandar today.
He added that fasakh (annulment) claims fell to 545 cases in 2024 compared with 675 in 2023, confirmation of cerai taklik (divorce by condition) dipped to 27 cases from 33, and khuluk (divorce initiated by the wife) applications held steady at eight cases.
Couples aged 26 to 35 accounted for the most filings last year with 2,838 cases, followed by those aged 36 to 45 (1,951), 46 to 55 (881), 18 to 25 (747), 56 to 65 (349) and 66 and above (124). — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Indonesia calls for globally recognized halal standard
May 18, 2025
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Head of the Indonesian Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH) Ahmad Haikal Hasan, during an Islamic cultural meeting in Kazan, Russia, emphasized the importance of establishing a globally recognized standard for halal products.
"The concept of halal has transcended religious boundaries, evolving into a global symbol of modern civilization, quality, health, cleanliness, ethics, animal welfare, trust, and sustainability," he remarked at the Russia-Islamic World: Kazan Forum 2025 in Kazan, Tatarstan, Russia.
In a statement from his office cited in Jakarta on Sunday, Hasan called on member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to harmonize their visions and steps towards creating an international halal standard.
"While we currently have differences in halal standards, we can begin to devise a global standard widely recognized by OIC member states," he said, asserting that a credible international benchmark is crucial for inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
He also argued that "collaboration is essential to becoming leaders in the halal industry."
Furthermore, Hasan shared Indonesia's experience, citing the establishment of the BPJPH in 2014 as part of the government's efforts to build a trusted halal certification system.
Additionally, Hasan introduced SiHalal, an integrated information system Indonesia utilizes to offer halal certification services to both domestic and foreign businesses.
"Indonesia envisions becoming a global hub for halal products. Through the BPJPH, the government has been working to strengthen our halal standard to boost the competitiveness of our halal products in international markets," he affirmed.
In addition to speaking at the forum, which took place from May 13-18, the BPJPH leader also held bilateral meetings with representatives from the Saudi Halal Center of Saudi Arabia and RussQuality of Russia.
Source: antaranews.com
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https://en.antaranews.com/news/355641/indonesia-calls-for-globally-recognized-halal-standard
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Malaysia launches region’s first sovereign full-stack AI Infrastructure
Bernama
19-05- 2025
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has officially launched the Strategic Artificial Intelligence (AI) Infrastructure, becoming the first in the region to activate a sovereign, full-stack artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem.
Ministry of Communications Deputy Minister Teo Nie Ching said the move marks an important step in the country’s AI development, as localising large language models like DeepSeek and hosting servers domestically would enhance AI sovereignty by ensuring data is processed locally, thus safeguarding user privacy and data security.
“The special thing about this project is that the data will be stored in Malaysia, it will be managed by Malaysians, and it will be used by Malaysians as well, so this is how we can actually safeguard our AI sovereignty.
“(With this) now it’s no longer like the cloud or the data centre is overseas, but it’s now purely in Malaysia -- server also in Malaysia, managed by Malaysia, and the AI agents will also be developed by Malaysians. I think this is how we can localise the AI application in Malaysia,” she said.
Teo was speaking at a press conference after officiating the launch of the Strategic AI Infrastructure: Trusted, Sovereign and Global, here today.
Teo also noted that the project marks the first deployment of Huawei’s chips and servers, along with the DeepSeek large language model, outside of China, making it a regional first.
“So this is first of the kind outside China, we are very proud, meaning that in terms of AI adoption and AI application, Malaysia indeed truly will be the leader in ASEAN, in terms of AI application and adoption,“ she said.
Described as the country’s first complete national AI infrastructure, the platform is designed to empower the government, businesses and universities to leverage AI in improving services, boosting productivity and driving innovation.
At the event, Teo also launched Malaysia’s first sovereign generative AI environment, powered by the AlterMatic DT250 AI Server, which features eight high-end graphics processing units (GPUs).
The system offers 20 per cent higher performance and 30 per cent energy savings compared to industry peers, and hosts the DeepSeek open-source large language model, making it the first national-scale sovereign LLM deployed in Malaysia.
Early adopters already onboard include the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Communications, Permodalan Negeri Selangor Berhad (PNSB), Cyberview Sdn Bhd and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM).
Skyvast and Leadyo also announced a roadmap to deploy 3,000 advanced GPUs across multiple infrastructure zones by 2026, supported by a growing ecosystem of Malaysian AI delivery and integration partners.
Teo also witnessed the launch of the Malaysia-China Trusted Data Zone, the first bilateral corridor linking Cyberjaya, Malaysia, and the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone Lin-gang Special Area, aimed at enabling seamless cross-border AI development through infrastructure, joint innovation platforms and digital capability integration.
The Malaysia-China Trusted Data Zone is operated by Skyvast Data on the Malaysian side and Shanghai International Data Port Co Ltd (SHIDP) on the China side, ensuring bilateral operational alignment and continuity.
When asked why Malaysia was chosen for the collaboration, Leadyo Systems Chief Executive Officer Zhang Yifeng said Malaysia offers one of the best industrial environments in the region.
“Looking at a good bilateral relationship between China and Malaysia, as well as readiness of the Malaysian market in terms of semiconductor manufacturing, in terms of the infrastructure readiness, as well as the skill sets of the talents available in Malaysia.
“That’s why companies like Leadyo Systems and even Huawei decided to select Malaysia as the first country to launch such an advanced GPU (technologies),“ he said.
Meanwhile, Skyvast Data Chief Executive Officer Lim Chee Siong said the Perlis Advanced Tech Park project is progressing and is expected to be ready in the next two years.
He said the Digital Twin Park will be integrated into the Perlis Advanced Tech Park upon completion, while the design phase of a trusted data zone linking Perlis and Shanghai’s Lin-gang has already begun.
“For Cyberjaya, it’s already happening as we have identified data centre clusters that were mapped into Shanghai’s Lin-gang,“ he added.
Source: thesun.my
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https://thesun.my/malaysia-news/malaysia-launches-region-s-first-sovereign-full-stack-ai-infrastructure-EE14100433
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Fahmi: Safe Internet Campaign to reach over 10,000 schools nationwide by year-end
19 May 2025
LANGKAWI, May 19 — The Ministry of Communications, through the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), has brought the Safe Internet Campaign Tour to schools in the Northern Zone as part of efforts to strengthen online safety and build a resilient digital community.
Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Ulu Melaka here is the starting point of the tour for the Northern Zone, which will subsequently be expanded to other schools in the region.
“We are starting at SK Ulu Melaka but will later move on to 21 primary schools and seven secondary schools throughout the Langkawi district.
“The intention is to deliver the message especially to primary school students to avoid using social media and to raise awareness among parents about the benefits and dangers of social media and the internet,” he told reporters after launching the Northern Zone Safe Internet Campaign Tour here today.
Also present were the Ministry of Communications Secretary-General Datuk Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa, MCMC Commissioner General (Rtd) Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin, and Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) Chief Executive Officer Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin.
Fahmi said the tour will be expanded to other zones after this, with the goal of reaching the over 10,200 schools nationwide by the end of this year.
“It’s not an easy task, but I have asked MCMC to leverage its network with NADI ((National Information Dissemination Centres). We have 1,099 NADI centres across the country and 1,878 MADANI Community groups under the Information Department nationwide.
We also aim to collaborate with Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs)... and with Student Representative Councils at public institutions of higher learning to help reach out to schools as a start,” he said.
More than 1,800 participants, including students from 22 schools, teachers, parents, community leaders and representatives from various relevant agencies took part in the programme today.
The campaign is a continuation of efforts to enhance digital literacy among the public, especially children and teenagers, in facing challenges such as cyberbullying, online scams, cyber gambling and child sexual exploitation.
Throughout this year, over 100,000 participants across the northern zone comprising Perlis, Kedah, Penang and Perak are expected to be involved in the campaign.
Previously, SK Bidor 2 in Tapah, Perak was the first location for the implementation of the campaign, which was launched on April 10.
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/05/19/fahmi-safe-internet-campaign-to-reach-over-10000-schools-nationwide-by-year-end/177334
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Zahid: Drug abuse at critical level, Kelantan leads with highest rate in Malaysia
19 May 2025
PUTRAJAYA, May 19 — Drug abuse in Malaysia has reached a critical level and now poses a serious threat to public safety, economic stability and the country’s social structure, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamid
Citing the latest data, he said there are 192,857 drug users and addicts in the country, with 61 per cent of them aged between 15 and 39 as of 2024.
“Of this number, 96 per cent are male, driven largely by peer influence and curiosity,” he said in a statement after chairing the Cabinet Committee on Eradicating Drug Abuse today.
Ahmad Zahid said Kelantan recorded the highest rate of drug abuse with 1,130 users per 100,000 population, followed by Terengganu (974), Perlis (965), and Kedah (898).
To address the growing problem and increasingly complex challenges, he said the committee today approved the Anti-Drug Communication Plan 2025–2027, which adopts a comprehensive and targeted approach.
He said the plan focuses on promoting behavioural change, increasing awareness, and delivering accurate information through coordinated efforts across multiple agencies — towards a national anti-drug movement.
To enhance treatment and rehabilitation efforts, the Drug Assessment Centre (DAC) under the National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK) has adopted a Single Point Entry approach to expedite screening and intervention for detainees without waiting for pathology results.
“As of April 5, a total of 261 detainees had undergone evaluation at the DAC in Kuala Muda, Kedah,” he said.
He also highlighted new concerns involving mushroom-flavoured vape products found to contain psychoactive substances such as psilocybin and psilocin, based on findings by the National Poison Centre.
“These substances pose a serious risk to children and youth and require immediate and more aggressive enforcement action,” he said.
Ahmad Zahid also announced that the Home Ministry will utilise the Crime Data Network Analysis system to better track drug-related crime patterns and help develop more focused and effective strategies.
He stressed that the government remains firm in implementing the National Drug Policy, which covers prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and enforcement.
“The fight against drugs is a shared responsibility that requires active involvement from all levels of society — including the public and civil society groups.
“To protect future generations from the threat of drugs, we will remain steadfast and uncompromising in this fight against the nation’s number one enemy,” he added. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Africa
Zulum Reveals Boko Haram On Verge Of Taking Over Borno LG
May 19, 2025
By George Oshogwe Ogbolu
Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, has raised serious concerns over the deteriorating security situation in Marte Local Government Area, warning that only one town remains unoccupied by Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents.
Naija News reports that the governor, who made the statement on Sunday following a visit to the area, urged the Federal Government and the Nigerian Army to adopt decisive and coordinated strategies to prevent the complete fall of the local government to insurgents.
“Hitherto, Marte Local Government comprised over 300 towns and villages. Now, we have only one left standing. If we cannot maintain this one, then we risk losing the entire LGA,” Zulum said.
Mass Displacement and Urgent Appeal
Zulum disclosed that about 20,000 residents have fled Marte in recent days, seeking refuge in Dikwa.
He warned that such mass displacement could pose long-term security risks, especially as idle youth in displacement camps may become vulnerable to recruitment by terrorists.
“Marte was resettled about four years ago, but in the past three days, it was ransacked and displaced again,” the governor lamented. “Allowing such a huge population to remain in camps is dangerous. We must act swiftly.”
Despite the alarming situation, Zulum noted that his visit to the area, in the company of the Nigerian Army and local security volunteers, has led to some displaced residents returning.
“Alhamdulillah, we returned to Marte yesterday and spent the night there. With support from the Nigerian Army and volunteers, the community has now been resettled for the second time,” he said.
The governor emphasized the need for continuous military presence and proactive engagement to secure the remaining town and prevent further territorial loss to insurgents.
“I am calling on the Federal Government and the Nigerian Army to act now. We must hold our ground for this one town to remain, otherwise the implications will be dire,” Zulum appealed.
Governor Zulum reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting the military and all security agencies in achieving peace and stability in Borno State.
“As governor of Borno State, I will continue to provide all necessary support to our gallant military forces and ensure that peace returns to our communities,” he pledged.
Marte Local Government has long been a flashpoint in the Boko Haram insurgency, given its strategic location in the Lake Chad region.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/05/19/only-one-standing-zulum-reveals-boko-haram-on-verge-of-taking-over-borno-lg/
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Stakeholders Seek Tinubu’s Intervention In APC LG Primaries Crisis In Lagos
19 May 2025
Amid the crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Somolu local government area of Lagos State, stakeholders and party loyalists have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in what they describe as an injustice in the party’s chairmanship selection process.
In a joint appeal, the stakeholders said the man at the centre of the controversy is Hon. Bowale Sosimi, a grassroots politician and long-time APC loyalist, who was reportedly endorsed as the consensus candidate by the local party structure.
They alleged that his name was dropped in favour of another aspirant in a last-minute twist, leading to widespread anger and allegations of manipulation.
The Chairman-General of the Shomolu Muslim community, Alhaji Alabi Yunusa, faulted a letter said to have been written by the Chief Imam of Somolu, Sheikh Boonyamin Dabiri, appealing for the selection of a Muslim candidate.
He said key Muslim leaders have distanced themselves from the letter, describing it as unauthorised and not representative of the community’s position, as the Chief Imam acted unilaterally and has no administrative authority to speak on political matters.
He emphasized that the Chairman-General and the General Secretary must sign all official correspondence. Alhaji Rabiu Fatai, the General Secretary, reaffirmed this, calling the Imam’s letter an aberration.
Alhaja Nurat Lawal, the Iya Suna of the community, also condemned the politicisation of religion, warning that past Muslim chairmen have not delivered significant benefits to the Muslim population.
She called for fairness and balance, stressing that religious bias must not determine political leadership at the grassroots.
They urge President Tinubu to investigate the matter, reverse the decision, and restore Hon. Sosimi’s candidacy.
According to them, this is not the first time Hon. Sosimi has faced such a political setback, pointing out that in 2017, his name was similarly withdrawn from the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) list after a last-minute change to the party’s nomination process — a move allegedly orchestrated by some political big wigs in the state.
Source: leadership.ng
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https://leadership.ng/stakeholders-seek-tinubus-intervention-in-apc-lg-primaries-crisis-in-lagos/
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Federal High Court CJ Announces Redeployment Of Several Judges
May 19, 2025
By Richard Ogunsile
Chief Judge of the Federal High Court (FHC), Justice John Tsoho, on Sunday, May 18, announced the reassignment of several judges.
In a statement issued by the FHC’s Director of Information, Dr. Catherine Christopher, Justice M. G. Umar has been instructed to assume responsibility for cases previously overseen by Justice Inyang Ekwo of Court 5 in the Abuja Division.
The announcement indicated that these changes are effective immediately.
Naija News understands that the judges affected by this redeployment are expected to make every effort to resolve all outstanding judgments in their current locations as swiftly as possible.
“The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Hon. Justice John Tsoho, KSS, OFR, FCIArb. (UK) has effected the redeployment of some judges of the court.
“The general public is hereby notified that all cases pending before Court No. 5 in the Abuja Judicial Division will be attended to by the judge who has been moved to Abuja for that purpose.
“Consequently, there is no need for litigants and/or counsel to apply to the Hon. Chief Judge for re-assignment of cases that have been pending before the court,” the statement said.
Justice Tijjani Garba Ringim, previously of the Gombe Division, has been reassigned to the Yola Division. Meanwhile, Justice M. T. Segun-Bello, formerly of the Abakaliki Division, has been relocated to the Enugu Division.
Additionally, Justice Bala Khalifa-Mohammed Usman from the Yola Division has been redeployed to the Awka Division, and Justice Amina Aliyu Mohammed from the Awka Division has been transferred to the Gombe Division.
“The judges currently resident in the Abakaliki and Katsina Judicial Divisions shall take responsibility for all the cases already pending or newly instituted in their respective divisions, until otherwise instructed,” it concluded.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/05/19/federal-high-court-cj-announces-redeployment-of-several-judges/
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Nigerian Army Kills Bello Turji’s Strong Ally
May 18, 2025
By Oladipo Abiola
The Nigerian Army has eliminated a strong ally of the wanted terrorist kingpin, Bello Turji, known as Alhaji Shaudo Alku.
According to a statement from the Army, Alku was killed in an airstrike carried out by the air component of Operation Fasan Yama on Sunday, May 18.
Naija News reports the insurgent was killed in an airstrike which targeted terrorists near Tunfa Primary School in Isa local government area of Sokoto State.
The statement added that several other terrorist commanders were also killed in the airstrike.
“In a significant blow to notorious terrorist leader Bello Turji, his key ally Alhaji Shaudo Alku has been confirmed killed in an airstrike.
“The Air Component of Operation Fasan Yama conducted the strike on May 18, 2025, targeting terrorists near Tunfa Primary School in Isa LGA, Sokoto State.
“Alku, invited from Niger Republic for a meeting, died alongside several men and unconfirmed commanders. This development is part of ongoing efforts to disrupt terrorist operations in the region,” the statement read.
The Nigerian Army also promised to provide further details at a later date.
Meanwhile, in a determined push to restore investor confidence and strengthen Nigeria’s financial credibility, the Federal Government has intensified efforts to remove the country from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Grey List by the end of May.
The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made this known during a recent meeting in Abuja with the United Kingdom’s Minister of State for Home Affairs, David Hanson.
He revealed that he and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), are jointly chairing a committee working in collaboration with the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) to fast-track Nigeria’s transition to the FATF “White List.”
Nigeria was moved from the FATF’s “Black List” to the “Grey List” in February 2023, marking some progress in addressing international financial compliance concerns.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/05/18/nigerian-army-kills-bello-turjis-strong-ally/
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Terror Financing: Tinubu’s Govt Races To Remove Nigeria From FATF Grey List
May 18, 2025
By Ikenna Ngere
In a determined push to restore investor confidence and strengthen Nigeria’s financial credibility, the Federal Government has intensified efforts to remove the country from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Grey List by the end of May.
The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made this known during a recent meeting in Abuja with the United Kingdom’s Minister of State for Home Affairs, David Hanson.
He revealed that he and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi SAN, are jointly chairing a committee working in collaboration with the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) to fast-track Nigeria’s transition to the FATF “White List.”
Nigeria was moved from the FATF’s “Black List” to the “Grey List” in February 2023, marking some progress in addressing international financial compliance concerns.
According to Dr Tunji-Ojo, the administration of President Bola Tinubu is taking significant steps to strengthen the nation’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing frameworks.
He stated: “When you look at the challenges we are having especially in battling terrorism and insecurity, you will know that a lot of these has to do with fraud and illicit funding. So, it is in our own interest as a country to make sure that we bring fraud to its knees.”
He continued: “Let me also say this, you will realize the efforts that Nigeria has been making with regards to the FATF; you know we were on the Black List, but at the moment, we are on the Grey List. I am the co-chair of the committee with the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice. I can tell you we are working very well with the NFIU and making sure that we exit the Grey List and we will get to the White List by the end of May.”
The minister highlighted the economic importance of financial transparency: “So, it means we are pretty serious about this and because it is key to economic recovery. You know Nigeria is a country of 230 million people it is a country of huge potentials and it is not just about population. Population must come with productivity and productivity is a function of investment and management. For people to invest in your country, people must have confidence in the economy. So when the level of fraud is high, nobody wants to come and risk investment.”
Dr Tunji-Ojo noted that the current administration is determined to reshape Nigeria’s global economic image: “This particular government is trying to create within the era of renewed hope, the biggest economy not just in Africa but one that is competitive within the economy of the world. We sincerely are taking this very seriously and the NFIU is doing massively well in this regard and there is a firm instruction from the President for us to exit the Grey List.
“So, we are working technically round the clock and in the areas of collaboration trans-border, regional, inter-regional, intra-regional whichever, we are open to it because as I said our values are shared and our focus is the same and we just need to align our thoughts and harmonize our strategies towards making sure that we are able to solve this problem.”
He further acknowledged the impact of Nigeria’s current reputation on its economic outlook: “We are aware of the perception and the reputation out there and we know how it has affected investments and economic growth and we know how it has affected even the per capita income in Nigeria, which is, the population today is increasing faster than the economy in terms of growth. So, it means that we have to do something different and in doing something different, it means that we must put in more efforts in making sure we solve this problem.”
Concluding, Dr Tunji-Ojo assured that this administration is committed to change: “I want to assure you, this is not business as usual. This particular government is about business unusual and it is about doing things not in the same way. It is about doing things in a renewed and a reformed way. If you renew the past that has led us to nowhere then you have renewed hopelessness. We didn’t promise that.”
Source: naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.naijanews.com/2025/05/18/terror-financing-tinubus-govt-races-to-remove-nigeria-from-fatf-grey-list/
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Kenya's former justice minister deported from Tanzania
May 18, 2025
Martha Karua, a lawyer and presidential candidate in Kenya, says she was expelled from Tanzania, where she had been due to attend the trial of a prominent opposition figure facing treason charges.
Karaua has dubbed the move a sign that the Tanzanian authorities would not give a fair trial to Chadema party leader Tindu Lissu.
Lissu, who Karua says is the main challenger to Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassa, could be facing the death penalty for his alleged crimes.
Lissu's Chadema party has been disqualified from presidential and legislative elections due in October, after it refused to sign an electoral code of conduct.
Karua says Tanzania is seeing a "total erosion of democratic principles.”
The former justice minister has been vocal about "democratic backsliding" in East Africa.
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.africanews.com/2025/05/19/kenyas-former-justice-minister-deported-from-tanzania/
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/entire-nation-mp-minister-sofiya-qureshi/d/135585