Muslim Religious Leaders from Europe Pay Rare Visit to Israel with A Meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog
New Age Islam News Bureau
08 July 2025
A group of Muslim religious leaders from Europe meet with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem, July 7, 2025. Credit: Amos Ben Gershom/GPO
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· Muslim Religious Leaders from Europe Pay Rare Visit to Israel with A Meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog
· ‘India’s Minorities Are Hostages’ Called ‘Jihadi’, ‘Rohingya’, And ‘Pakistani’, Owaisi SlamsUnion Minister Rijiju
· Hypocritical EU ‘Totally Complicit in Gaza Genocide’ – Former Member of the European Parliament
· Ending War in Gaza Is ‘Trump’s Utmost Priority’
· Religious Council Reinforces Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah Principles In Selangor Islamic Affairs
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North America
· Trump says Hamas ‘want to have that ceasefire’ in Gaza
· Alpaca and ZAD Partner to Bring Shariah-Compliant Investing Globally
· CAIR-Austin: Muslim Community Offers Prayers, Relief Efforts for Central Texas Flood Victims
· Trump upbeat on Gaza ceasefire talks as he hosts Netanyahu
· Trump accuses Brazil of 'witch hunt' against Bolsonaro
· Trump promises to resume delivering weapons to Ukraine
· Trump announces stinging tariffs on US allies in Asia
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India
· Clash Over Torn Poster of Iran’s Supreme Leader, 4 Held
· BJP, Congress Leaders Shared Stage To Award Tazia Makers
· Uttar Pradesh Government Pushes Cow-Based Medicines Into Mainstream Healthcare
· Relatives of Bengal family pushed into Bangladesh to file habeas corpus petition in HC
· Pahalgam attack: Jammu court extends NIA custody of two accused of giving shelter to Lashkar terrorists
· Top Muslim body approaches High Court, seeks stay on release of Udaipur Files
· 100-Feet Tazia Collapses During Muharram Procession In UP
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Europe
· McDonald's Muslim Diner Gets Bacon in Egg and Cheese McMuffin
· OIC Journal highlights ICESCO field mission in Azerbaijani liberated territories
· Islamic charity’s former chair banned over ‘inflammatory’ sermon
· National currencies free BRICS from Western pressure – Russian finance minister
· Ukraine’s secret wish list of German arms exposed
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Southeast Asia
· Selangor Assembly passes Islamic Administration Amendment Bill 2025
· Islamic preachers reminded to uphold ethics, guidelines
· Baznas Projects Rp6.56 Trillion Circulates In Mosque Funds
· Selangor mosque administrators face dismissal for defying preaching rules
· Police hunt Sepang temple priest accused of molesting woman during ‘holy water’ ritual
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Africa
· Nigerian Air Force Strikes Destroy Boko Haram Strongholds in Borno
· Kenya: at least 10 dead in ongoing protests, 29 injured nationwide
· Liberian president issues official apology to civil war victims
· Top South African official accuses police minister of colluding with crime syndicates
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Pakistan
· Pakistan Urges UN to Prevent Afghan Soil from Becoming Terrorist Safe Haven
· Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi urge IHC for early hearing in £190 million case
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Mideast
· Settlers Storm Al-Aqsa Mosque, Perform Talmudic Rituals
· Israeli Soldier Describes Alleged Arbitrary Killings Of Civilians In Gaza
· Five Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza: military
· US envoy praises Lebanon’s ‘well-balanced’ response on Hezbollah disarmament
· On the radio and online, Palestinians keep up with Israel’s West Bank roadblocks
· Israel grabs Palestinian land near Ramallah to expand settler outpost
· Settlers seize house near Al-Aqsa Mosque after death of owner
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Arab World
· Saudi Arabia Retains Top Spot in Global Cybersecurity Rankings for 2025
· The Destination: Saudi Reforms Through the Lens of a Documentary
· Israeli Attacks On Health Infrastructure Violate International Law, Saudi FM Tells BRICS Summit
· Cultural gathering calls for youth engagement to preserve traditions
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South Asia
· Afghanistan’s Refugees In India Suffer Inhumane Conditions, Rights Group Warns
· Ashura strengthens brotherhood among Islamic Ummah
· Books written based on Islamic and Afghan values, allowed to be published
· Foreign observers who endorsed past three polls won’t be allowed: CEC
· Afghanistan Chief of Army Emphasizes Border Defence at Artillery Seminar
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/muslim-religious-europe-israeli-president/d/136119
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Muslim Religious Leaders from Europe Pay Rare Visit to Israel with A Meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog
(July 7, 2025
A group of Muslim religious leaders from Europe meet with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem, July 7, 2025. Credit: Amos Ben Gershom/GPO
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A group of Muslim religious and community leaders from Europe began a week-long visit to Israel on Monday with a meeting in Jerusalem with Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
The extraordinary delegation of 15 Muslim imams from several European countries comes amid growing antisemitism across the globe in the aftermath of the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas-led invasion of southern Israel and amid the ongoing war sparked by the massacre.
“The war that broke out after Oct. 7 is not a war between Israel and Hamas or Israel and Hezbollah but a war between two worlds,” Imam Hassen Chalghoumi, chairman of the Conference of Imams of France, told the Israeli president in Arabic. “You represent the world of humanity and democracy.”
“We are all the sons of Abraham,” said Herzog. “I believe that the historic progress in our region is the result of dialogue—between Muslims and Jews and between Jews and Muslims. Against the extremist forces trying to stop this progress of living together, there are other forces that are growing stronger every day, advancing this vision.”
The unusual mix of Muslim leaders said that they carried with them a message of love for the Jewish people, and voiced the hope that the hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza would be brought home.
“We want to see all the hostages home, and also to stop the suffering of the residents of Gaza and live a good life together,” Herzog responded, praising them for their “courageous” visit and voicing the hope that regional peace would soon be in the offing.
The delegation was organized by the ELNET organization, which works to strengthen relations between Europe and Israel. It included Muslim leaders who now live in France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and England. After their morning meeting at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem, the group visited the Israeli parliament, and toured the Old City of Jerusalem. They are also scheduled to visit the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum, meet with Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel Rabbi David Yosef, tour the site of an Iranian ballistic missile impact in Tel Aviv, meet with Muslim victims of the Hamas massacre, travel to the Syrian and Lebanese border and visit the sites of the Oct. 7 attack in southern Israel.
The Muslim religious leaders recited passages from the Koran at the President’s Residence before concluding with a rendition of Israel’s national anthem, Hatikva, in Arabic.
“Islamists in Europe, especially in the United Kingdom, are stronger and more powerful than Islamists in Pakistan or the Middle East because while in the region people know they are extremists, in Europe they live among the people and spread their extremist political ideology in mosques and Islamic community centers unchecked,” said Noor Dahri, the founder and executive director of the U.K.’s Islamic Theology of Counter Terrorism. “People in Europe who say they are supporting the Palestinians are actually supporting Hamas.”
The chairman of the Conference of Imams of France said that members of the group were cognizant of the threats because of their visit, with some declining to be interviewed or photographed, but that they were determined to overcome the haters.
“We are fearful of the consequences of the threats, but the courageous are those who make history and change the world,” he told JNS.
Source: jns.org
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https://www.jns.org/muslim-religious-leaders-from-europe-pay-rare-visit-to-israel/
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‘India’s Minorities Are Hostages’ Called ‘Jihadi’, ‘Rohingya’, And ‘Pakistani’, Owaisi Slams Union Minister Rijiju
Jul 7, 2025
NEW DELHI: AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday lashed out at Union Minister Kiren Rijiju after the BJP leader claimed that minorities in India enjoy more benefits and protections than the majority.
In a long post on X, Owaisi said Rijiju was not showing the true picture of what Indian Muslims go through and reminded him to follow his duties as a minister under the Constitution.
Rijiju on X had stated that “India is the only country where the minorities get more benefits and protections than the majority community!”
This remark triggered a strong response from Owaisi.
Owaisi claimed that Rijiju was speaking like a ruler instead of someone holding a constitutional post.
"You are a Minister of the Indian Republic, not a monarch. Kiren Rijiju, you hold a constitutional post, not a throne. Minority rights are fundamental rights, not charity," he said.
He questioned Rijiju’s idea of ‘benefits’ by pointing to the abuse and violence Muslims face.
"Is it a ‘benefit’ to be called Pakistani, Bangladeshi, jihadi, or Rohingya every single day? Is it ‘protection’ to be lynched? Is it protection that Indian citizens were kidnapped and pushed into Bangladesh?" Owaisi questioned.
The Hyderabad MP also raised concerns over the bulldozing of Muslim properties.
"Is it a privilege to watch our homes, masjids, and mazaars being bulldozed illegally? To be made socially, politically, and economically invisible?" he wrote.
He further alleged that hate speeches were being made by top leaders.
"Is it an ‘honour’ to be the target of hate speeches from no less than the Prime Minister of India?" he said.
Owaisi claimed that Muslims in India were no longer treated equally as citizens.
"India’s minorities are not even second-class citizens anymore. We are hostages," he said.
Owaisi alleged that Rijiju should answer why there is no religious parity in board memberships.
"If you want to talk about ‘favours’, answer this: can Muslims be members of Hindu Endowment Boards? No. But your Waqf Amendment Act forces non-Muslims onto Waqf Boards — and allows them to form a majority," Owaisi said.
The AIMIM leader accused the government of slashing key scholarships for Muslim students. He cited government data and said that Muslims are being left behind.
"You discontinued the Maulana Azad National Fellowship. You defunded the pre-matric scholarship. You limited the post-matric and merit-cum-means scholarships. All because they benefited Muslim students," he wrote.
"Muslims are now the only group whose numbers have fallen in higher education. Their presence in the informal economy has gone up. They have been among the worst-hit by your economic policies. This is your own govt’s data," Owaisi said.
Furthermore, Owaisi said Muslim families are seeing a decline in progress across generations.
"Indian Muslims are the only group whose children are now worse off than their parents or grandparents. Intergenerational mobility has reversed. Muslim-concentrated areas are the ones most starved of public infrastructure and basic services," he stated.
He ended by saying that minorities in India are only asking for the justice promised by the Constitution.
"We are not asking to be compared with other minorities of other countries. We are not asking for more than what the majority community gets. We are demanding what the Constitution promises: social, economic, and political justice."
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/indias-minorities-are-hostages-owaisi-slams-rijiju-over-benefits-claim-says-muslims-are-called-jihadi-rohingya-and-pakistani/articleshow/122295771.cms
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Hypocritical EU ‘Totally Complicit in Gaza Genocide’ – Former Member of the European Parliament
7 Jul, 2025
© Getty Images / Anadolu / Contributor
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The EU has shown unwavering support for Israel’s “genocide” in Gaza while failing to uphold international law or acknowledge the scale of Palestinian suffering, Mick Wallace, a former member of the European Parliament for Ireland, has said.
Speaking to RT on Monday, Wallace accused Brussels of being “totally complicit,” adding that the word “complicit” was probably not strong enough.
“As far as I’m concerned, the EU has enabled and supported the genocide in Gaza 100%,” he stated.
He singled out European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Parliament President Roberta Metsola for granting Israel a “blank check” in the days after the October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel. “Neither of them has said one word of criticism of Israel yet,” he said.
While public opposition to the war continues across Europe, Wallace says EU leaders have aligned themselves with what he described as the “Zionist settler-colonial project.”
Asked about an EU External Action Service review suggesting Israel may have violated human rights, Wallace dismissed the prospect of any response, “because Israel has them in their pocket.”
He pointed to the staggering number of Palestinians – including tens of thousands of children – killed by Israeli forces, yet “the EU institutions still refused to condemn Israel.” But when images of starvation surfaced, EU officials abruptly declared it was “wrong to starve the Palestinians,” he said. “Is it okay to bomb them morning, noon, and night, but not starve them?”
Wallace accused the EU leadership of having “no morals” and “no interest in international law anymore.”
Commenting on reports that EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas may propose a formal response to Israel’s actions, Wallace scoffed: “Come on. You wouldn’t give her a job in a coffee shop... She hasn’t a clue.”
The EU’s association agreement with Israel includes a human rights clause, but Wallace said it has no real effect. “Not one single member state has broken business links with Israel yet,” he said. “The hypocrisy is dripping out of the place.”
Asked about Germany’s role as Israel’s top EU arms supplier, Wallace responded: “I would hold every EU member state culpable… The genocide is happening because both the US and Europe have given it full support.”
The conflict began with Hamas’ assault on southern Israel in October 2023, in which around 1,200 people were killed and 250 were taken hostage. Of those, 50 remain in Gaza, with fewer than half still alive. Israel’s military response has killed at least 57,000 people in the enclave, mostly civilians, over the past 21 months, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/621165-eu-complicit-gaza-genocide/
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Ending War in Gaza Is ‘Trump’s Utmost Priority’
July 07, 2025
Palestinians react as they ask for food from a charity kitchen, amid a hunger crisis, in Gaza City. (Reuters)
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WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump’s “utmost priority” is to end the war in Gaza and free hostages held by Hamas, the White House said on Monday before a crucial meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff will this week travel to Qatar, where Israel and Hamas are holding indirect talks. Israel’s refusal to allow the free and safe entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza remains the main obstacle to progress in the ceasefire talks in Doha, Palestinian sources said. Mediators hosted two more rounds of discussions on Monday.
The US-backed proposal for a 60-day ceasefire envisages a phased release of hostages, Israeli troop withdrawals from parts of Gaza and discussions on ending the war entirely.
Hamas has long demanded a final end to the war before it would free remaining hostages, but Israel will not halt fighting until all hostages are free and Hamas dismantled. Trump said last week that he would be “very firm” with Netanyahu on the need for a speedy Gaza deal.
However, Israel has intensified its military campaign in Gaza and sharply restricted food distribution. “God willing, a truce will take place,” Mohammed Al-Sawalheh, 30, from Jabaliya in northern Gaza, said on Monday after another Israeli air strike. “We cannot see a truce while people are dying. We want a truce that will stop this bloodshed.”
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2607287/middle-east
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Religious Council Reinforces Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah Principles In Selangor Islamic Affairs
theSun
2025-07-07
Image for visual purposes - Photo by BERNAMA
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SHAH ALAM: The Selangor Islamic Religious Council (MAIS) has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah principles in the state’s Islamic administration, ensuring it remains free from deviant influences.
Datuk Salehuddin Saidin, MAIS chairman, stated that the council, alongside the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS), the Selangor Mufti Department, and other agencies, will enhance awareness programmes to deepen public understanding of the Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah creed.
“These efforts include structured Islamic teaching programmes led by certified instructors and religious activities conducted in mosques and suraus,” he said in a statement.
Salehuddin highlighted that this initiative aligns with the decree of Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, the Sultan of Selangor, who stressed the importance of preserving faith purity and legally defining the Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah position.
“A strong grasp of the Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah creed is essential for fostering unity among Muslims,” he added.
The Selangor State Legislative Assembly also passed the Administration of the Religion of Islam (State of Selangor) (Amendment) Enactment Bill 2025, which clarifies appointment criteria for MAIS members, ensuring adherence to the Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah creed.
The amendment aims to prevent individuals with extreme or liberal views from influencing Islamic affairs in Selangor. The Bill was unanimously approved after a debate involving six assemblymen. – Bernama
Source: thesun.my
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https://thesun.my/malaysia-news/mais-reinforces-ahli-sunnah-wal-jamaah-principles-in-selangor-islamic-affairs-ED14428837
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North America
Trump says Hamas ‘want to have that ceasefire’ in Gaza
July 08, 2025
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump voiced his confidence Monday that Hamas was willing to agree a truce with Israel, as he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to push for an end to the Gaza war.
“They want to meet and they want to have that ceasefire,” Trump told reporters at the White House when asked if clashes involving Israeli soldiers would derail talks.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2607296/middle-east
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Alpaca and ZAD Partner to Bring Shariah-Compliant Investing Globally
Jul 8, 2025
NEW YORK & KUWAIT CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Alpaca, a self-clearing broker-dealer and brokerage infrastructure API, and ZAD, a leading Kuwait-based investment platform for Shariah-compliant US stocks and ETFs, today announced their strategic partnership to expand access to Shariah-compliant investment products. This partnership continues to open financial access for investors seeking to align their financial growth with Islamic principles.
With global Islamic finance assets surpassing $5.5 trillion USD in 2024, a report from Standard Chartered forecasts they could reach $7.5 trillion USD by 2028. This is largely from key markets like Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Kuwait, and the UAE, with countries across Southeast Asia and Africa seeing increased demand for Shariah-compliant financial solutions.
Recognizing this, ZAD is expanding access to their local Kuwait market and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) markets like Saudi Arabia. Their expansion plans and commitment to making Shariah-compliant investing accessible has been a cornerstone of their success.
“If we were a conventional investment application, we would not have reached the growth levels that we have in the past couple of years. It’s very important for the people in the region. They really appreciate it, they want it, and they’re very careful with what they buy,” says Abdullah Alotaibi, ZAD’s Co-Founder and Deputy CEO of Fintech Brokerage.
ZAD has partnered with Alpaca to build these products, including Shariah-compliant Instant Funding, which was launched recently. They are also collaborating to deliver margin trading, options trading, and high-yield cash accounts, becoming one of the leading platforms to offer these products in a Shariah-compliant way.
While building Shariah-compliant infrastructure has presented unique challenges, the solutions developed with Alpaca’s Broker API are scalable across other Islamic regions. For instance, the margin trading product is an asset-backed lending model rather than interest-based, adhering to Islamic law. “There are service providers that tell you, ‘this is what we have, take it or leave it.’ Not Alpaca,” says Abdullah. “They listen to us. They understand the region well. They’re helping us offer the best possible products to our clients.”
“We’re grateful to be innovating with ZAD in the rapidly growing Islamic finance and are excited to be their partner in delivering Shariah-compliant margin trading, options trading, instant funding, and more. Shariah-compliance is a key focus at Alpaca as we look to support and expand financial accessibility globally,” says Yoshi Yokokawa, CEO and Co-Founder of Alpaca.
About Alpaca
Alpaca is a US-headquartered self-clearing broker-dealer and brokerage infrastructure for stocks, ETFs, options, fixed income, and 24/5 trading – raising over USD170 million in funding. Alpaca is backed by top-tier investors globally, including Portage Ventures, Spark Capital, Tribe Capital, Social Leverage, Horizons Ventures, Unbound, SBI Group, Derayah Financial, Elefund, and Y Combinator.
About ZAD
ZAD is a Kuwait-based digital investment platform, offered by The Securities House, that provides global stock market access and offers Shariah-compliant products. ZAD aims to simplify the investment and trading process for people who adhere to the principles of Shariah.
Options trading is not suitable for all investors due to its inherent high risk, which can potentially result in significant losses. Please read Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options before investing. All investments involve risk; for more information, please see our Disclosure Library. Brokerage services are provided by Alpaca Securities LLC (member FINRA/SIPC), a subsidiary of AlpacaDB, Inc. Technology and Services offered by AlpacaDB, Inc. This is not an offer, solicitation, or advice to buy, sell, or open accounts in any jurisdiction where Alpaca is unlicensed.
Source: businesswire.com
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https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250707824606/en/Alpaca-and-ZAD-Partner-to-Bring-Shariah-Compliant-Investing-Globally
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CAIR-Austin: Muslim Community Offers Prayers, Relief Efforts for Central Texas Flood Victims
July 7, 2025
Muslim civil rights group welcomes ‘Governor Greg Abbott’s recent proclamation calling on all faith communities to pray for those impacted by the devastating floods’
(AUSTIN, TEXAS, 7/7/2025) – The Austin Muslim community offered prayers yesterday for the relief of the Texans affected by the devastating floods in central Texas and started a relief effort in response to the governor’s proclamation of July 6 as the Day of Prayer.
Yesterday, Governor Greg Abbott signed a statewide proclamation calling on faith communities to offer prayers for the victims and their families and proclaiming July 6th, 2025 as the Day of Prayer. In response, Mosques across the region has offered special prayers for healing, safety, and recovery.
Also, ICNA-Relief, one of the largest national Muslim nonprofit organizations, has launched an emergency donation drive to aid all those impacted by the floods. They are currently accepting donations of essential items in Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, and Houston locations, including hygiene kits, non-perishable food, and cleaning items. These items will be transported to the flood victims in Kerrville, Texas.
Austin: 8204 N Lamar Blvd, Suite B14, Austin, TX 78753, Monday 10AM – 5PM, Tuesday 9AM – 1PM
San Antonio: 5281 Casa Bella St, San Antonio, TX 78249, Monday 12PM – 4PM
Houston: 100 Sharpstown Center, Suite S5, Houston, TX 77036, Monday 12PM – 4PM
Dallas: 10874 Plano Road #A, Dallas, TX 75238, Monday 12PM – 4PM
In a statement, Shaimaa Zayan, the Operations Manager of CAIR-Austin, said:
“I sincerely appreciate Governor Greg Abbott’s recent proclamation calling on all faith communities to pray for those impacted by the devastating floods in Central Texas. I am particularly heartened by the inclusive language of the proclamation, which acknowledges the vital role that all faith traditions play in healing and supporting our communities in times of crisis. This gesture of unity is a powerful reminder that we are brought together by our shared humanity and collective compassion. I hope this is a sign of a more unified and respectful relationship between state leadership and all communities of faith, including the Muslim community.”
The Texas chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Texas), a chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, expressed its heartfelt condolences and solidarity Saturday with the victims and families affected by the tragic flash flooding at Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp located along the Guadalupe River in the Texas Hill Country.
“At ICNA Relief, we deeply believe that serving those in need is one of the highest expressions of faith. Inspired by the Islamic values of compassion, justice, and mercy, we are committed to alleviating suffering and uplifting the dignity of every individual—regardless of race, religion, or background. ICNA Relief is proud to be on the ground responding with immediate aid—collecting and distributing essential items to families affected by the flood,” said Masroor Ahmed, ICNA-Austin Area Manager.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
Source: cair.com
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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-austin-muslim-community-offers-prayers-relief-efforts-for-central-texas-flood-victims/
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Trump upbeat on Gaza ceasefire talks as he hosts Netanyahu
July 8, 2025
Yang Tian
US President Donald Trump has said he thinks talks to end the war in Gaza have been "going along very well", as he hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington DC.
Trump also expressed confidence that Hamas was willing to end the 21-month conflict. "They want to meet and they want to have that ceasefire," he said in unexpected remarks to reporters at the White House.
The meeting came after the latest rounds of indirect ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas in Qatar ended without a breakthrough, though negotiations were expected to continue this week.
In Monday's remarks, Trump was asked by a journalist what was preventing a peace deal in Gaza, and he said: "I don't think there is a hold-up. I think things are going along very well."
Both leaders were asked about potential plans to relocate Palestinians, with Trump saying he has co-operation from countries neighbouring Israel.
Netanyahu, meanwhile, said he was working with the US on finding countries that will "give Palestinians a better future".
"If people want to stay, they can stay, but if they want to leave, they should be able to leave," Netanyahu said.
The Palestinian presidency has previously rejected plans to relocate Palestinians, and pointed out it would violate international law.
Netanyahu also appeared to play down prospects of a full Palestinian statehood, saying that Israel will "always" keep security control over the Gaza Strip.
"Now, people will say it's not a complete state, it's not a state. We don't care," Netanyahu said.
At the meeting, the Israeli PM also said he had nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, reportedly a long-held goal of the US president.
"He's forging peace as we speak, in one country, in one region after the other," Netanyahu said as he presented Trump with a letter he sent to the prize committee.
Trump has previously said he would be "very firm" with Netanyahu about ending the war and indicated that "we'll have a deal" this week.
The White House initially said it would not make the meeting between the two leaders open to the media, with officials describing it as a private dinner during which Trump would prioritise the push for an end to the war and the return of all hostages.
But keeping the meeting closed to journalists would have been unusual for a president who likes to platform his positions with foreign leaders in front of the world's press.
The US-backed ceasefire proposal would reportedly see Hamas release 10 living hostages and the bodies of 18 dead hostages in five stages during a 60-day truce.
Israel would be required to release an unknown number of Palestinian prisoners and withdraw from parts of Gaza, where it now controls about two-thirds of the territory.
Obstacles to a deal remain significant.
The main outstanding issue relates to aid, as Hamas insists on ending the work of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, while the Israeli delegation refuses to discuss the issue, saying they are not authorised to discuss it.
During his visit, Netanyahu met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.
As Netanyahu's armoured limousine travelled to the White House, dozens of protesters gathered at security gates, waving Palestinian flags and shouting calls for his arrest.
Netanyahu, along with his former defence minister Yoav Gallant and a Hamas commander Mohammed Deif, were made subjects of an arrest warrant in November from the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Netanyahu has rejected the allegations, calling the warrants antisemitic, while the Trump administration has imposed sanctions on four ICC judges for what it called "baseless actions targeting America or our close ally, Israel".
The latest round of negotiations on the war in Gaza began on Sunday in Doha, with representatives seated in different rooms in the same building.
A second session was held on Monday and ended without a breakthrough, a Palestinian official familiar with the negotiations told AFP.
Witkoff was due to join the talks in Doha later this week in an effort to get a ceasefire over the line as the Gaza conflict nears its 22nd month.
Speaking to the BBC, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee declined to say whether Trump would give a written guarantee that a proposed 60-day ceasefire would be extended, so long as negotiations continue.
"I simply don't know," Huckabee said.
This is one of Hamas's key demands and a stumbling block in the current negotiations.
When asked whether he believes Trump can achieve a breakthrough with the Israeli leader, Huckabee said: "I'm not a prophet. I cannot predict the future, so I won't try to tell you what will happen."
Netanyahu is visiting the White House for the third time since Trump returned to power nearly six months ago.
But the leaders are meeting for the first time since the US joined Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear sites and then brokered a ceasefire between Israel and Iran.
There is a strong sense that the recent 12-day war has created more favourable circumstances to end the Gaza war.
Witkoff said at Monday's dinner that a US meeting with Iran would take place in the next week or so. Trump also said he would like to lift sanctions on the Islamic Republic at some point.
The US president has expressed increasing concern over the conflict in Gaza in recent weeks and believes there is a "good chance" of reaching a ceasefire.
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said it was Trump's "utmost priority" to end the war in Gaza and that he wanted Hamas to agree to the 60-day deal "right now".
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2k14n9d8y9o
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Trump accuses Brazil of 'witch hunt' against Bolsonaro
Ian Aikman
July 8, 2025
US President Donald Trump has urged Brazilian authorities to end their prosecution of the country's former President Jair Bolsonaro, accusing them of carrying out a "WITCH HUNT".
His comments drew a swift rebuke from current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who said Brazil would not accept "interference" from anyone and added: "No one is above the law."
Bolsonaro, who governed Brazil between 2019 and 2022, is standing trial for allegedly attempting a coup against Lula following his election victory in 2021.
The former leader has denied involvement in any alleged plot.
In a social media post, Trump said Bolsonaro was "not guilty of anything, except having fought for THE PEOPLE" and told prosecutors to "LEAVE BOLSONARO ALONE!"
He praised Bolsonaro as a "strong leader" who "truly loved his country".
The US president compared Bolsonaro's prosecution to the legal cases he himself faced between his two presidential terms.
"This is nothing more, or less, than an attack on a Political Opponent - Something I know much about! It happened to me, times 10," Trump said.
Bolsonaro thanked Trump for his comments, describing the case against him as "clear political persecution" in a social media post.
But President Lula hit back at the US leader, saying "the defence of democracy in Brazil is a matter for Brazilians. We are a sovereign nation.
"We won't accept interference or instruction from anyone. We have solid and independent institutions. No one is above the law. Especially those who attack freedom and the rule of law."
Brazilian Minister of Institutional Affairs Gleisi Hoffmann also criticised Trump: "The time when Brazil was subservient to the US was the time of Bolsonaro."
"The US president should take care of his own problems, which are not few, an respect the sovereignty of Brazil and our judiciary," she added.
The back and fourth comes as Lula hosted representatives from China, Russia and other nations at a Brics summit in Rio de Janeiro.
Trump had earlier threatened to levy additional tariffs against countries aligned with what he called the bloc's "anti-American" policies.
Trump and Bolsonaro enjoyed a friendly relationship when their presidencies overlapped, with the pair meeting at the White House in 2019.
Both men subsequently lost presidential elections and both refused to publicly acknowledge defeat.
A week after Lula's inauguration in January 2023, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters stormed government buildings in the capital, Brasilia, in what federal investigators say was an attempted coup.
Bolsonaro was in the United States at the time and has always denied any links to the rioters.
He has been barred from running for public office until 2030 for falsely claiming Brazil's voting system was vulnerable to fraud, but he has said he intends to fight that ban and run for a second term in 2026.
Speaking in court for the first time last month, Bolsonaro said a coup was an "abominable thing". The 70-year-old could face decades in prison if convicted.
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62gd8e1e5do
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Trump promises to resume delivering weapons to Ukraine
8 Jul, 2025
The United States will continue supplying weapons to Ukraine, President Donald Trump said on Monday, a week after the Pentagon halted some deliveries.
“We’re going to send some more weapons. We have to. They have to be able to defend themselves. They’re getting hit very hard now,” Trump told reporters during a dinner with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“Defensive weapons, primarily, but they’re getting hit very, very hard. So many people are dying in that mess,” he said, without elaborating.
Shortly after Trump’s remarks, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed that the US will send “additional defensive weapons to Ukraine.” He added that the review of military shipments worldwide “remains in effect and is integral to our America First defense priorities.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered a pause in deliveries last week, citing concerns about dwindling US stockpiles. “This decision was made to put America’s interests first following a DOD review of our nation’s military support and assistance to other countries across the globe,” White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly told the media at the time.
Parnell said the agency was reviewing all munitions shipments, not just those to Ukraine. “We can’t give weapons to everybody all around the world,” he said last Wednesday.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry responded by summoning the US deputy chief of mission in Kiev, John Ginkel, and stating that “any delay or slowing down in supporting Ukraine’s defense capabilities would only encourage the aggressor.”
Trump, breaking from his predecessor Joe Biden, has resumed direct talks with Russia and is seeking to broker a ceasefire between Moscow and Kiev.
Russia has said that foreign weapons will not stop it from achieving victory. Last month, President Vladimir Putin reiterated that Moscow considers Western states supplying arms to Ukraine as “de facto direct participants in the conflict.”
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/621168-trump-promises-weapons-ukraine/
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Trump announces stinging tariffs on US allies in Asia
7 Jul, 2025
US President Donald Trump has announced new tariffs on several countries, including key Asian allies Japan and South Korea.
On Monday, Trump posted near-identical letters on Truth Social to Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, declaring a “tariff of only 25%” on all imports starting August 1. He said economic ties with Tokyo and Seoul had “been, unfortunately, far from Reciprocal.”
“We have decided to move forward with you, but only with more balanced, and fair, TRADE,” he wrote. “We invite you to participate in the extraordinary Economy of the United States, the Number One Market in the World, by far.”
He warned that another 25% could follow if Japan or South Korea raise their own tariffs in response.
Trump also imposed 25% tariffs on goods from Kazakhstan, Malaysia, and Tunisia. Higher rates will apply to imports from South Africa and Bosnia and Herzegovina (30%), Indonesia (32%), Serbia and Bangladesh (35%), Thailand and Cambodia (36%), and Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar (40%).
The US president has long argued that tariffs fix unfair trade deficits and stop other countries from “ripping off” the US. Critics say the policy raises domestic prices and hurts the economy. Democrats and some economists call the new rates poorly designed.
The first round of levies came on April 2 with the so-called Liberation Day package. It included a 10% tariff on all imports and steeper rates for China, Mexico, Canada, and the EU. Some tariffs were paused for 90 days to allow time for talks and avoid a full-scale trade war.
Earlier this month, Trump said more tariffs were coming if deals weren’t reached. “By the ninth they’ll be fully covered,” he told reporters Friday. “They’ll range in value from maybe 60% or 70% tariffs to 10% and 20% tariffs.”
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/business/621166-trum-tariffs-japan-south-korea/
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India
Clash over torn poster of Iran’s Supreme leader, 4 held
Jul 7, 2025
Bijnor: A case was registered against four named and 350 unidentified persons after a group allegedly clashed with three youngsters and some police personnel over a torn poster of Iran's Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Bijnor late on Saturday. The four people — Urooj Abbas, Fairoz Haider, Ali Mehndi and Qaiyam Haider — were later arrested and sent to jail after being presented in court, Bijnor city SHO, Uday Pratap Singh, said on Monday.
The SHO added: "Based on a complaint from Excise post in-charge Deepak Kumar, an FIR was registered against four named and 350 unidentified persons under BNS sections 115 (2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 191 (2) (rioting), 132 (assaulting or using criminal force against a public servant). Police are reviewing CCTV footage to identify others."
The incident took place around 11pm when some people were returning from a Muharram procession. At Jaani Chauraha, a few of them spotted a torn poster of Khamenei and alleged that three youngsters in a car -- parked nearby --- were responsible.
The youngsters denied any involvement, leading to a heated exchange, and the matter escalated as more people gathered.
Police teams led by circle officer city Rakesh Vashisht and Kotwali in-charge Uday Pratap promptly reached the spot. They were allegedly jostled by the crowd and had to resort to mild force to disperse them.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/meerut/clash-over-torn-poster-of-irans-supreme-leader-4-held/articleshow/122302752.cms
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BJP, Congress Leaders Shared Stage To Award Tazia Makers
July 8, 2025
On Sunday, two senior leaders, one each from the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress, attended a Tazia procession being carried out by the Muslim community members on the occasion of Muharram in Surat. During the procession, Gujarat BJP Chief and Union Minister for Jal Shakti C R Paatil attended the procession with Mayor Daxesh Mavani, City BJP President Paresh Patel, and the party’s municipal corporators, among others. Tazias with best designs were handed out trophies by Paatil. Former Surat Mayor and senior Congress leader Kadir Pirzada shared the stage with Paatil as the latter recalled instances from the past such as allotment of a piece of land for installing a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj when Pirzada was the Surat mayor or when, following their joint efforts, two public events — celebration of the birth anniversary of the Maratha warrior king and Tazia processions — were held peacefully in Limbayat area of the city. Meanwhile, a former Congress MLA of Savarkundla in Amreli district Pratap Dudhat attended a Tazia procession, a video of which went viral on social media. Speaking to The Indian Express, Dudhat said, “As a public leader and someone belonging to a party that follows secularism, I participate in both Tazia procession as well as festivals of other religions every year. The video which went viral is of Limdi Chowk, in Savarkundla town of Amreli district, on Sunday afternoon. As a public leader, I got an invitation and not only did I remain present, I also participated in the rituals. During Hindu festivals, the Muslims also took an active part, giving water and soft drinks to the people participating in the Hindu procession.” He further said, “It is a norm in villages in Gujarat where both Hindus and Muslims participate in each other’s religious activities. I have done nothing new.”
New Police Body
Gujarat IPS Association Monday saw a new body announced where the second seniormost officer, Director General of Police Manoj Agrawal, who heads the Civil Defence and Home Guards, was appointed the new president. Ahmedabad Commissioner of Police GS Malik was appointed Vice President. Gujarat Secretary (Home) Nipuna Torawane was appointed Secretary in the Association while Ahmedabad’s Additional CP (Traffic) NN Choudhary was appointed Treasurer. Those appointed to the Executive Committee included ADGP Piyush Patel, Gagandeep Gambhir, Virendra Yadav, Vishal Vaghela, Sunil Joshi, Karanraj Vaghela, Parthraj Gohil, Rajesh Gadhiya, Rajdeep Zala, Om Prakash Jat and Vishakha Dabral.
Source: indianexpress.com
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https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/gujarat-confidential-beyond-political-divide-when-bjp-congress-leaders-shared-stage-to-award-tazia-makers-10112312/
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Uttar Pradesh government pushes cow-based medicines into mainstream healthcare
07.07.25
The Uttar Pradesh government has thrown its weight behind a bold and controversial initiative of mass production of Ayurvedic medicines using Panchgavya, a traditional mixture made from cow milk, curd, ghee, urine, and dung.
Toothpaste, ointments, and medicinal formulations, made from cow derivatives, will now be developed at scale and incorporated into the Ayurvedic system.
The state claimed these products would be backed by modern research and targeted at treating a wide range of illnesses, from diabetes to heart disease, asthma to anaemia. The move will be closely tied to the state’s efforts to revive cow shelters and generate rural employment.
Central to the plan is the use of cow urine in formulations for 19 diseases. Cow urine had immune-boosting and healing properties, according to the plan. The initiative will be supported by the AYUSH department, with a focus on lab-based validation to push Panchgavya products into mainstream medicine.
“Efforts are being made to produce scientifically Panchgavya-based medicines,” said Dr Anurag Srivastava, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) at the Uttar Pradesh Gauseva Commission. “These will be developed using modern research methodologies to ensure efficacy and broader acceptance in the healthcare system.”
The government said that the aim for the initiative is to address the unemployment gap in rural Uttar Pradesh and make gaushalas economically viable. “As demand for Panchgavya products grows, so will the relevance of cow shelters,” the government statement said.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/uttar-pradesh-government-pushes-cow-based-medicines-into-mainstream-healthcare/cid/2111917
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Relatives of Bengal family pushed into Bangladesh to file habeas corpus petition in HC
Ravik Bhattacharya
July 7, 2025
The family of Danish Sheikh, who and his wife and an eight-year-old son were pushed into Bangladesh on June 26, has decided to file a habeas corpus petition in the Calcutta High Court.
A missing diary has also been lodged at Paikar police station in Birbhum, their native place.
Danish Sheikh (30), his wife Sunali Khatun (26), and their eight-year-old son, were detained by Delhi Police during the ongoing drive against “illegal” Bangladesh migrants in the national capital. Their daughter, who was at a relative’s place, is still in India.
Danish’s family said that he moved to Delhi two decades ago and worked as a ragpicker there.
Earlier this year, they visited their native village, Paikar, in Birbhum district for Eid and returned to Delhi in May. Danish’s family claimed that they came to know from him on July 4 that he and his wife and minor son were pushed into Bangladesh; and since then, they have not heard from them.
“I have filed a missing diary at the local police station. Tomorrow (Tuesday), we are planning to file a petition in the Calcutta High Court,” said Bhodu Sheikh, father of Sunali.
According to Sunali’s cousin, they had sent all relevant documents proving their citizenship to the Delhi Police, but they refused to accept them. “All documents, including land deeds, were provided to the police. But they didn’t budge,” Roshni Bibi, a cousin of Sunali, told The Indian Express over the phone from Delhi.
The West Bengal Migrant Labour Welfare Board has also decided to back the family in the High Court.
“This is happening every day. Since they speak Bengali, our migrant labourers and their families are being targeted as illegal Bangladeshis. We plan to approach the court. We will help the family file a habeas corpus petition. We will appeal to the court to intervene and bring the family back to India and present them in front of the court,” said Samirul Islam, chairman of the West Bengal Migrant Labour Welfare Board.
Earlier, Delhi Police had told The Indian Express that Danish Sheikh and his family were deported to Bangladesh after proper verification “at the local police level first and a thorough interrogation by the Foreigners Regional Registration Office”. Delhi Police claimed that Danish and his family hail from Bagerhat in Bangladesh. Last month, seven persons from West Bengal, including a couple, who were pushed into Bangladesh after being detained by Maharashtra Police over suspicion of being illegal Bangladeshi migrants were brought back following the intervention of West Bengal government and police.
Source: indianexpress.com
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https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/kolkata/bengal-family-bangladesh-file-habeas-corpus-petition-hc-10112016/
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Pahalgam attack: Jammu court extends NIA custody of two accused of giving shelter to Lashkar terrorists
07.07.25
A special court in Jammu on Monday granted the National Investigation Agency (NIA) 10 more days' remand of the two accused arrested for allegedly harbouring Pakistani terrorists involved in the deadly Pahalgam terror attack in April, officials said.
After the expiry of the earlier 10-day remand, Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar and Bashir Ahmad Jothar were produced before the Special NIA Court, which extended their remand to enable the NIA to carry out its investigation in the case, the officials said.
The two were arrested on June 22 and were presented in a local court in Jammu the next day. The court initially granted the NIA five days' remand before the case was shifted to the special court.
According to the NIA, the accused disclosed the identities of the three armed terrorists involved in the attack and confirmed that they were Pakistani nationals affiliated with the banned terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
The federal agency alleged that Parvaiz and Bashir had knowingly harboured the terrorists at a seasonal 'dhok' (hut) in Hill Park in Pahalgam before the April 22 attack that left 26 people, mostly tourists, dead and 16 others injured.
The two provided food, shelter and logistical support to the terrorists, who, on the fateful afternoon, selectively targeted and killed tourists based on their religious identity, making it one of the most gruesome terrorist attacks in recent memory, the NIA said, as it continues its probe into the terror network behind the massacre in Kashmir's tourism hub.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/jammu-court-extends-nia-custody-of-two-accused-of-giving-shelter-to-lashkar-terrorists/cid/2111884
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Top Muslim body approaches High Court, seeks stay on release of Udaipur Files
Jul 8, 2025
Maulana Arshad Madani, President of the Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind, has filed a petition before the Delhi High Court seeking to restrain the release of the film Udaipur Files, scheduled to hit theatres on July 11.
The film is based on the 2022 murder of Kanhaiya Lal Sahu in Udaipur. The matter is expected to be heard on Wednesday, July 9.
According to a report in Bar and Bench, the petition raises serious concerns over the content of the movie’s trailer, alleging that it portrays the killing of Sahu as being carried out with the complicity of Muslim community leaders. According to the petitioner, this narrative is not only misleading but also has the potential to incite communal discord.
"The trailer portrays an entire community in a prejudicial light, violating the right to live with dignity guaranteed to all citizens," the plea states. It describes the film as "highly provocative" and capable of inciting communal tensions and disturbing public order.
The petition goes on to assert that the film presents a "deeply divisive and inflammatory narrative," including references to the sensitive and sub-judice matter of the Gyanvapi Masjid, which is currently pending before both the Varanasi District Court and the Supreme Court of India.
“The content of the trailer not only appears to specifically target the Muslim community, by depicting a highly prejudicial and distorted view in order to promote a complete breakage of fraternity, cause communal disharmony, but also deliberately references the sensitive and contentious issue of the Gyanvapi Masjid, which is presently sub judice before the District Court of Varanasi as well as before the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India,” the petition states.
Further objections were raised regarding the film’s alleged amplification of controversial remarks previously made by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Nupur Sharma, which had sparked nationwide unrest. The petitioner contends that by reviving these issues, the film endangers the secular and pluralistic character of Indian society.
The petition also strongly objects to scenes in the film that purportedly depict Muslim religious figures engaging in homosexual acts with underage boys, calling such depictions "highly objectionable" and harmful.
“Artistic expression, no matter how evocative, cannot be permitted to become a vehicle to crush fraternity and uproot the ethical foundations of the nation as enshrined in the Constitution,” the petition argues.
Maulana Madani has requested the court to issue directions prohibiting the release, screening, distribution, or public exhibition of the film. Additionally, the petition urges the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) to ensure the immediate removal of the film's trailer from all digital and social media platforms, including YouTube, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter).
Apart from director and producer of the movie, the petition has also added the distributor, Reliance Entertainment Pvt Ltd, Google, X and Meta as the parties.
Source: indiatoday.in
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https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/top-muslim-body-approaches-high-court-seeks-stay-on-release-of-udaipur-files-2752604-2025-07-08
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100-Feet Tazia Collapses During Muharram Procession In UP
Jul 08, 2025
A 100-feet-high Tazia - a miniature replica of the tomb of Imam Hussain - collapsed during a Muharram procession in Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur Kheri on Sunday.
The incident, which was caught on CCTV, took place when Tazia was being assembled and lifted.
It, however, lost balance and fell on an 11,000-volt power line, sparking panic among thousands of people who had gathered for the procession. No one was injured as the electricity supply was cut off.
The video shows three towering Tazias, about 100 feet tall, which are often made of bamboo and adorned with vibrant, colourful paper and fabrics, during the religious procession. One of them, however, suddenly starts tilting and eventually collapsing, breaking apart as it falls.
Muharram is the second sacred month in the Islamic calendar after Ramadan. It marks the beginning of the Islamic lunar new year. This year, it commenced on June 27, initiating 10 days of mourning for Muslims.
This period commemorates the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain, the son of Hazrat Ali and grandson of Prophet Muhammad, who died in the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD.
The period of mourning reaches its zenith with Ashura, when Shia Muslims partake in processions, carrying Tazia.
Source: ndtv.com
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https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/on-camera-100-feet-tazia-collapses-during-muharram-procession-in-up-lakhimpur-kheri-8841240
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Europe
McDonald's Muslim Diner Gets Bacon in Egg And Cheese McMuffin
07 Jul 2025
Thomas Cooper
Fast-food giant McDonald's has apologised to a Muslim couple after mistakenly including bacon in one of their Egg and Cheese McMuffins. The global firm launched a 'thorough investigation' following the blunder at the Trent Vale branch.
The couple had visited the Springfield Retail Park branch at 9.40am on Wednesday, July 2 after spending the night at the nearby Royal Stoke University Hospital. Their order - two Egg and Cheese McMuffins, two hash browns and two apple juices - came to a grand total of £9.98.
But when one half of the couple bit into their McMuffin they discovered it included bacon too.
They said: "I won’t go back to McDonald’s anytime soon. For literally over 30 years of my life, I’ve never thought about eating pork, never had it, always avoided it. We’ve never consumed it. Our kids will probably never consume it."
His wife added: "We are both practising Muslims. We’d been in hospital overnight and needed something quick to eat. My husband took a bite as soon as we’d left and spat it out straight away. I hadn’t had any of mine yet but there was only bacon in his.
“It was extremely upsetting for us both. It’s a religious choice, so it’s not something that we just do for fun. As Muslims, it’s completely forbidden. We can’t just pick and choose to have it. My husband was physically gagging. And - this is quite personal - I said to him that I didn’t even feel like kissing him or holding his hand because I know you’ve had pork. It was really distressing as neither of us have ever eaten pork in our lives."
The couple have been dealing with McDonald's customer service.
A McDonald's spokesman said: "Order accuracy is of the utmost importance to us and we have strict procedures in place to ensure that customers are served correctly. We are disappointed to hear that we’ve fallen short of these high standards and would like to sincerely apologise to the customer affected.
"As soon as we were made aware of this incident, we instigated a thorough investigation, and our restaurant team has been reminded of our robust food handling processes. We understand that the customer is in touch with our customer services team to help find a resolution.”
The incident has also been reported to Stoke-on-Trent City Council and the Food Standards Agency.
Source: stokesentinel.co.uk
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https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/mcdonalds-sorry-after-muslim-diner-10325887\
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OIC Journal highlights ICESCO field mission in Azerbaijani liberated territories
07.07.202
The latest edition of the Journal of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has published an article highlighting the second technical field mission of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in collaboration with the Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture, to assess the state of preservation and conservation of cultural, religious, and civilizational heritage in the liberated Azerbaijani territories, as part of the “Post-Conflict Heritage Management in the Islamic World” program.
According to the report, during its stay in Azerbaijan from April 18 to 30, 2025, the mission visited 75 heritage sites across 10 regions. The visited sites included mosques, churches, museums, historical monuments, archaeological sites, cemeteries, shrines, and homes of prominent cultural figures, along with administrative buildings and other sites associated with collective memory.
The mission documented these sites using observation forms, photographs, and video recordings to build an accurate database reflecting their current state.
The mission consisted of four independent international experts - from Iraq, Italy, and Spain - in the fields of archaeology, architecture, and cultural heritage management, with each of them having over 20 years of experience and enjoying a distinguished scientific standing. The mission was supervised by Dr. Webber Ndoro, Director of ICESCO’s Islamic World Heritage Center, along with Mr. Mohamed AlAbsi and Dr. Mohamed Aba Othman, Experts at the Center. The expert team held coordination meetings with officials from the Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture, local authorities, and key figures from the Karabakh region. These meetings aimed to exchange expertise and broaden the scope of field data collection. The team relied on documents and archival files provided by the Ministry of Culture, which included heritage site passports, inventory cards, archival photographs, and technical drawings. The experts are expected to release a detailed technical and scientific report on the state of heritage conservation in the post-conflict phase.
The report will highlight the extent of material and intangible damage suffered by the sites, instances of looting, and attempts to ideologically exploit heritage and arts. This effort is intended to support Azerbaijan’s initiatives to rehabilitate and preserve its national heritage for future generations.
The article also highlights the support of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev for ICESCO’s initiatives and projects.
Source: azertag.az
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https://azertag.az/en/xeber/oic_journal_highlights_icesco_field_mission_in_azerbaijani_liberated_territories-3646735
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Islamic charity’s former chair banned over ‘inflammatory’ sermon
07 Jul 2025
The Charity Commission has disqualified the former chair of an Islamic charity over an “inflammatory and divisive” sermon he delivered days after the events in Israel on 7 October 2023.
Former Nottingham Islam Information Point trustee Harun Holmes shared a sermon on the charity’s premises on 13 October 2023, which included language such as “the hour will not begin until the Muslims fight the Jews and the Muslims will kill them until a Jew hides behind a rock or a tree”.
After reviewing footage of the sermon, the commission recognised that some of the content had been taken from a specific Hadith, a narration of historical events ascribed to the prophet Muhammad.
However, the regulator judged that Holmes’ sermon was given without the appropriate context to its source material and as such was “inflammatory and divisive”.
The commission said there was no consideration given to how appropriate it would be to deliver such a sermon, which showed that Holmes “lacked the good judgement expected of a trustee”.
“Holmes accepted that with hindsight the Hadith was sensitive, and he did not give sufficient context to it,” the commission said in a statement.
“The sermon did not further the charity’s purposes, including to provide relief to those in need, and was not in the charity’s best interests.
“The regulator found that the sermon amounted to misconduct and/or mismanagement.”
The commission also found Holmes failed to comply with regulatory advice the charity had received when he was its chair.
As a result, the regulator disqualified Holmes from serving as a trustee or holding any senior management position in a charity in England and Wales for three years, taking effect in July 2024.
Official warning
The commission also issued the charity with an official warning and set out actions to improve its governance, including ensuring all activity at the organisation contributes to its purposes.
It ordered the charity to create, implement and adhere to robust and suitable policies on topics including social media use and speakers.
And it told the charity to ensure all current and future trustees understand their legal duties as set out in the regulator’s guidance.
After monitoring the charity’s progress with these actions, the commission has now concluded its case.
Trustees have taken ‘positive steps’
Stephen Roake, assistant director of investigations and compliance at the commission, said: “In times of conflict, people expect charities to bring people together, not to stoke division.
“In this case, we found due consideration had not been given to the words and rhetoric used. The sermon was inflammatory and divisive, and we acted robustly and disqualified the trustee who gave the sermon. We also issued the charity with a formal warning.
“Following our intervention, the charity’s remaining trustees have taken positive steps to improve their governance. This includes the introduction of a more robust events policy. All charities that host events and speakers should take note of this case and ensure they have sufficient due diligence in place.”
Civil Society has contacted the Nottingham Islam Information Point for comment.
Source: civilsociety.co.uk
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https://www.civilsociety.co.uk/news/islamic-charity-s-former-chair-banned-over-inflammatory-sermon.html
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National currencies free BRICS from Western pressure – Russian finance minister
7 Jul, 2025
Settling trade in national currencies offers BRICS countries a reliable alternative to the Western financial institutions, which can suspend transactions at any moment, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov has said.
Members of the economic bloc have accelerated efforts to reduce reliance on third-party currencies in bilateral trade in recent years, especially after Western sanctions led to the freezing of Russia’s reserves held in dollars and euros following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022.
Speaking to RT on Sunday on the sidelines of the 17th BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, Siluanov said Moscow is ready to offer mechanisms to reduce the risks posed by sanctions. The issue was discussed earlier in the day at a meeting of the New Development Bank (NDB) governors. The financial institution was established by BRICS in 2015 to address the needs of developing countries.
Such mechanisms “would not involve Western financial infrastructure or settlement in currencies of those countries that imposed sanctions on Russia and would secure the New Development Bank from possible risks,” Siluanov stated.
Commenting on the growing use of national currencies in BRICS trade, he said such settlements “have proven their reliability and independence from Western lending institutions that at any moment, as it turned out, can suspend payments.”
Siluanov noted that transactions are being handled through reliable banks with direct correspondent ties, bypassing Western-controlled systems. Expanding these links, he said, is key to maintaining trade turnover and ensuring smooth settlements.
Since major Russian banks were cut off from SWIFT in 2022, Moscow and many of its trading partners have stepped up efforts to reduce exposure to the Western financial system. Banks and businesses have sought to use alternative financial and banking platforms, such as non-SWIFT money-messaging systems, and increasingly use national currencies in trade settlements.
As one example, Siluanov cited trade with China, saying turnover has increased and will likely continue to grow. Bilateral trade hit $245 billion last year, with nearly all transactions now conducted in rubles and yuan.
BRICS was founded in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, with South Africa joining in 2010. Over the past year, Egypt, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia have also become full members. At the group’s summit in Kazan, Russia, last year, BRICS approved a new ‘partner country’ status in response to a growing membership interest shown by more than 30 countries.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/business/621163-brics-national-currencies-sanctions/
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Ukraine’s secret wish list of German arms exposed
7 Jul, 2025
Ukraine has submitted to Germany a “secret list” containing a broad array of advanced weapons that it wishes to obtain, Bild has reported, citing a copy obtained by the outlet.
Since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022, Berlin has been the second largest supplier of arms to Kiev, surpassed only by the US.
In an article on Sunday, Bild claimed that the list is divided into three categories: air defense, armored vehicles, and electronic warfare. According to the tabloid, the requested weapons are worth billions of euros, though it is not clear at this point whether Berlin will fulfill Kiev’s supposed wish list.
The media outlet reported that while anonymous “military circles and industry have confirmed the existence of the list,” a spokesperson for Germany’s Defense Ministry declined to comment on the matter.
Among the weapons requested are 1,500 medium-range and 500 short-range missiles for various modifications of the German-made Iris-T air defense system, Bild claimed. Ukraine is also reportedly seeking 1,200 mine-protected and tracked vehicles, plus an additional 200 off-road vehicles.
Kiev’s wish list also includes 1,000 GPS jammers and 200 mobile surveillance radars, according to the outlet.
Last week, Bild, citing unnamed sources, claimed that Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government had quietly approached US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in June at the behest of Ukrainian officials. According to the media outlet, Kiev hoped that Washington would agree to a deal under which Berlin would purchase two US-made Patriot air defense systems that would subsequently be handed over to Ukraine.
Speaking last Friday, German government spokesman Stefan Kornelius acknowledged that “intensive discussions” were taking place between Berlin and Washington regarding such an arrangement.
In May, Germany’s Defense Ministry announced that it would provide €5 billion ($5.6 billion) to “finance the production of long-range weapon systems in Ukraine.”
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov condemned the decision, saying that Germany is “competing with France for primacy in further provoking war.”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov similarly stated that Berlin’s “direct involvement in the war is now obvious.”
“Germany is sliding down the same slippery slope it already followed a couple of times in the last century – down toward its own collapse,” the diplomat warned in late May.
Moscow has consistently condemned Western arms deliveries to Ukraine, arguing that they fuel more bloodshed and obstruct peace efforts.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/621161-ukraine-secret-wish-list-german-weapons/
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Southeast Asia
Selangor Assembly passes Islamic Administration Amendment Bill 2025
theSun
2025-07-07
SHAH ALAM: The Selangor State Legislative Assembly has passed the Administration of the Religion of Islam (State of Selangor) (Amendment) Enactment Bill 2025.
The bill aims to refine the criteria for appointing members of the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (MAIS), ensuring adherence to the Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah creed.
The amendments, involving 10 clauses, were approved unanimously after a third reading.
Six assemblymen participated in the debate before the bill’s passage.
State Islamic Religious Affairs and Innovation Committee chairman Dr Mohammad Fahmi Ngah highlighted that the amendment introduces a clear interpretation of Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah into Enactment No. 1/2003.
During drafting, MAIS engaged stakeholders, including legal experts, religious departments, and federal agencies.
“Parties consulted included the Selangor State Legal Advisor’s Chamber, Selangor Mufti Department, and JAKIM,“ said Mohammad Fahmi.
The amendment also prevents appointments of individuals with extreme or liberal views, ensuring alignment with Maqasid Syariah principles.
The bill follows Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah’s March 14 decree, urging MAIS to formalise Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah provisions for Selangor’s Muslim community. – Bernama
Source: thesun.my
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https://thesun.my/malaysia-news/selangor-assembly-passes-islamic-administration-amendment-bill-2025-HD14426302
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Islamic preachers reminded to uphold ethics, guidelines
theSun
2025-07-07
KUALA LUMPUR: Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar has called on Islamic preachers and missionaries, particularly independent figures, to strictly adhere to religious ethics and guidelines set by state authorities.
He emphasised the need for thorough screening of independent preachers to ensure their teachings benefit society rather than spread slander.
Mohd Na’im stressed that holding a position as a preacher does not grant permission to misuse religion for personal gain or engage in unethical behaviour.
“Holding the position of a preacher is not a licence to exploit religion for personal gain or to engage in immoral or unlawful behaviour,“ he said in a Facebook post.
The minister highlighted the government’s commitment to fostering a structured and integrity-driven dakwah ecosystem.
Initiatives such as Felo Muda Dakwah (FMD) and Akademi Daie Muda YADIM (ADMY) aim to train young preachers aligned with MADANI values.
Since 2014, 364 individuals have undergone intensive training under these programmes.
Addressing a recent case involving an independent preacher accused of distributing explicit videos, Mohd Na’im warned of the severe repercussions such actions have on public trust and the reputation of religious institutions.
He urged the public to allow authorities to conduct a fair investigation and avoid hasty judgments.
“We must firmly reject the culture of public shaming one another, especially when it is driven by motives of influence-seeking or personal intention,“ he said.
Police had earlier arrested a freelance preacher suspected of sharing inappropriate content to shame individuals. – Bernama
Source: thesun.my
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https://thesun.my/malaysia-news/islamic-preachers-reminded-to-uphold-ethics-guidelines-AD14425476
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Baznas projects Rp6.56 trillion circulates in mosque funds
July 8, 2025
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian National Alms Agency (Baznas) estimates that public religious funds in mosques nationwide from almsgiving, voluntary charity, and donations (ZIS) could reach Rp6.56 trillion (US$403 million) annually.
“If we look at the figures, whether from almsgiving, voluntary charity, and donations, based on Baznas’ survey, the estimated potential is around Rp6.56 trillion,” Baznas' Head of Distribution and Utilization Saidah Sakwan remarked.
Speaking at the 2025 Mosque Symposium and National Workshop of the Mosque Welfare Board held in Jakarta on Tuesday, Sakwan acknowledged several challenges in ensuring ZIS' optimal impact on community empowerment.
She pointed out that one key issue is accountability and transparency, especially in the recording and reporting of fund usage to the public.
“In fact, the circulation of community funds in mosques is significant if we consolidate it. The challenge is how to manage them in an accountable and transparent way, so they can have an optimal impact on empowering the community,” she remarked.
Sakwan affirmed that some mosques still lack integrated financial reporting systems and do not provide open reports to their congregations. As a result, the potential of these funds had yet to be fully realized to support poverty alleviation and education, as well as strengthen the community’s economy.
Hence, she encouraged mosques to improve their professional management systems, including utilizing technology to simplify record-keeping and reporting while adhering to existing regulations on ZIS collection and distribution.
“With transparency and accountability, these substantial public funds from the community can be better managed for programs that directly address the needs of the community,” she remarked.
Looking ahead, she expressed hope that the potential circulation of community funds in mosques could evolve into a real economic force for the community while also strengthening the role of mosques as centers for grassroots empowerment through professional and accountable management.
Source: antaranews.com
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https://en.antaranews.com/news/364845/baznas-projects-rp656-trillion-circulates-in-mosque-funds
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Selangor mosque administrators face dismissal for defying preaching rules
theSun
2025-07-07
SHAH ALAM: Mosque administrators in Selangor who allow unaccredited preachers to conduct lectures or teachings risk being dismissed, according to State Islamic Religious Affairs and Cultural Innovation Committee chairman Dr Mohammad Fahmi Ngah.
He stressed the need for strict enforcement to maintain the sanctity of religious teachings and public faith.
“The state government must take firm action. Mosque administrators who permit unqualified individuals to teach should be removed. We have clear mosque management guidelines to prevent such breaches,“ he said after a session at the Selangor State Legislative Assembly.
His remarks followed reports of an independent preacher under investigation for allegedly sharing inappropriate content while still active in religious talks across Selangor.
The Selangor Islamic Religious Council (MAIS) confirmed revoking the preacher’s credentials in 2022.
MAIS chairman Datuk Salehuddin Saidin added that the individual had been detained in September 2024 for teaching without proper authorization.
Mohammad Fahmi also revealed that 87 mosque administrators in Selangor have faced disciplinary action over management misconduct complaints. – Bernama
Source: thesun.my
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https://thesun.my/malaysia-news/selangor-mosque-administrators-face-dismissal-for-defying-preaching-rules-OD14426976
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Police hunt Sepang temple priest accused of molesting woman during ‘holy water’ ritual
By Dhesegaan Bala Krishnan
08 Jul 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, July 8 — Police are searching for a temple priest who allegedly molested a 27-year-old female devotee in Sepang on July 4.
Sepang district police chief ACP Norhizam Bahaman said the offence was allegedly committed at a Hindu temple in Bandar Baru Salak Tinggi.
“The suspect is an Indian national who was temporarily filling the position because the temple’s resident priest is currently abroad,” Norhizam said in a statement today.
“The suspect’s modus operandi was allegedly to sprinkle holy water on the victim’s face and body before proceeding to molest her,” he added.
The case is being investigated under Section 354 of the Penal Code for outrage of modesty, which is punishable by a prison term of up to 10 years, a fine, whipping, or any two of such punishments, upon conviction.
Police have urged those with information about the suspect to contact the investigating officer, Inspector Sathiyan Balrajoo, at 013-206 0771 or the Sepang police headquarters at 03-8777 4222.
In an Instagram post on Monday, a local Indian actress and host alleged that a temple priest approached her while she was praying and offered to give her a protective string and blessings.
The actress alleged that the priest then led her to his office and began touching her inappropriately after splashing what he claimed was holy water on her.
She confirmed that she lodged a police report on July 4, further alleging that the priest had already fled the temple by the time she informed the temple management.
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/07/08/police-hunt-sepang-temple-priest-accused-of-molesting-woman-during-holy-water-ritual/183249
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Africa
Nigerian Air Force Strikes Destroy Boko Haram Strongholds in Borno
July 7, 2025
By Richard Ogunsile
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has launched offensive airstrikes, targeting key Boko Haram hideouts in the Mandara Mountains of Borno State.
Officials have described the latest assault as a major blow to insurgent operations in the North-East.
Naija News reports that the operation, executed under Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) on Saturday, July 6, 2025, specifically targeted Wa Jahode and Loghpere, two fortified hideouts of the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) faction of Boko Haram.
In a statement issued on Monday by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the Air Force stated that the precision strikes followed Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions that had revealed an increase in terrorist activity in the area.
“The high-profile targets, Wa Jahode and Loghpere, have long served as fortified enclaves for the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad faction of Boko Haram,” Ejodame stated.
He added that the ISR missions confirmed the presence of logistics warehouses, solar-powered structures, black flags, and fortified compounds, indicating a resurgence and preparation for possible coordinated attacks by the terrorist faction.
NAF airstrikes were said to have targeted and destroyed multiple terrorist facilities, including command centres, logistics depots, and defensive shelters deeply embedded in the mountain terrain, which straddles Nigeria’s border with Cameroon.
“Several terrorists were neutralised in the operation, effectively disrupting their supply chain and diminishing their capability to sustain further offensives,” Ejodame added.
The Air Force described the success of the mission as strategic, noting that dismantling the logistics and operational hubs in Wa Jahode and Loghpere would deal a significant setback to Boko Haram’s ability to regroup or launch large-scale attacks in the region.
“The Nigerian Air Force remains resolute to sustain the ongoing onslaught against terrorists and restore lasting peace to all troubled regions across the country,” the statement concluded.
Naija News reports that the Mandara Mountains, with their rugged and remote topography, have long been exploited by terrorist groups as hideouts and staging grounds for attacks. The area’s proximity to Cameroon’s border and difficult access make it an ideal location for insurgents to evade capture.
Saturday’s successful strikes are part of renewed military efforts to neutralise remaining pockets of insurgency in the North-East, particularly in areas believed to harbour high-ranking commanders and operational assets.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/07/07/naf-airstrikes-destroy-boko-haram-strongholds-in-borno/
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Kenya: at least 10 dead in ongoing protests, 29 injured nationwide
July 8, 2025
Police in Kenya clashed with demonstrators Monday during anti-government protests as the authorities blocked major roads leading into the capital, Nairobi, and most businesses closed.
According to government-funded national rights watchdog Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, at least 10 people died on Monday, and another 29 were reported injured nationwide.
A police statement published on Monday evening counted 11 fatalities and mentioned that numerous police officers had been injured, although it counted far fewer injured civilians than the rights watchdog.
Protesters lit bonfires and hurled stones at police in roadblocks and police fired and hurled teargas canisters, injuring one demonstrator.
Associated Press journalists witnessed an injured person being carried by protesters who were chanting against police. Kenyans had planned demonstrations on July 7 to protest against police brutality, poor governance, and to demand President William Ruto’s resignation over alleged corruption and the high cost of living.
July 7, known as Saba Saba, is a significant date in Kenya’s recent history, marking the first major protests 35 years ago that called for a transition from a one-party state to a multiparty democracy, which was realized in the 1992 elections.
A blocked city
Police officers were stopping private and public vehicles from accessing the city centre.
They were also blocking most pedestrians from entering the capital, only allowing through those deemed to have essential duties.
Public Service Minister Geoffrey Ruku had urged all government employees to report to work on Monday, insisting that the demonstrations would not disrupt public services.
Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen said on Sunday that the government would not tolerate violent protests and that police would be deployed to ensure public safety.
The roads leading to the country’s parliament and the president’s office were barricaded using razor wire.
Source: africanews.com
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https://www.africanews.com/2025/07/07/kenya-at-least-10-dead-in-ongoing-protests-29-injured-nationwide/
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Liberian president issues official apology to civil war victims
July 8, 2025
Liberia's president issued a formal state apology to the victims of the country's two civil wars between 1989 and 2003 on Saturday, during an official ceremony.
"To every victim of our civil wars, to every broken family, to every shattered dream, we say: we are sorry", he said. "The State could have done more", the president added.
An estimated 250 000 people died during the two conflicts, with many more wounded or psychologically broken by rape, massacres, or because they were mutilated or forced to be child soldiers.
While the apology is a step in the direction of reconciliation, Liberia's leadership has long been criticised for failing to prosecute the perpetrators of potential war crimes.
Prosecutions have taken place in foreign tribunals, notably in Switzerland, France, Sweden and the United States, but none in Liberia.
In 2024, Liberia's government however endorsed a vote to set up a long-awaited tribunal of its own. The main challenge in the process is the funding required for the court, which has been estimated at 100 million dollars.
The decision to set up the tribunal has been welcomed internationally, with both individual countries and the United Nations encouraging the political will in Liberia to prosecute war criminals.
Source: africanews.com
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https://www.africanews.com/2025/07/07/liberian-president-issues-official-apology-to-civil-war-victims/
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Top South African official accuses police minister of colluding with crime syndicates
July 8, 2025
A South African top security official accused the police minister and a deputy national commissioner of colluding with crime syndicates, sparking public uproar.
In an unprecedented move, General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, head of the police in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, called for a press conference Sunday and claimed that Senzo Mchunu and Shadrack Sibiya had interfered with sensitive police investigations.
He also alleged both men disbanded a crucial crime unit tasked with investigating repeated politically motivated killings in the province after it was revealed that crime syndicates were behind the killings.
Mkhwanazi claimed his investigation showed that some “politicians, law enforcement, SAPS (South African Police Service), metro police and correctional services, prosecutors, judiciary” were being "controlled by drug cartels and as well as business people.”
He said he had evidence supporting his claims, yet to be made public.
South Africa has one of the highest crime rates in the world and allegations of corruption within the police are not new. However, it is unusual for high-ranking security officials to accuse each other of involvement with criminals.
Mchunu has denied Mkhwanazi’s claims, calling them “baseless.”
“The Minister of Police will never allow his integrity, that of the Ministry or the SAPS at large to be undermined by insinuations made without evidence or due processes, from anyone, including Lieutenant General Mkhwanazi,” Mchunu said in a statement.
President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is currently in Brazil attending a BRICS Leaders' Summit, said he would see to Mkhwanazi's allegations on his return home this week.
“This is a matter of grave national security concern that is receiving the highest priority attention," Ramaphosa's office said in a statement, adding that the trading of accusations between the country's top police officials could undermine public confidence.
The African National Congress party, which leads the country's unity government, said the issues raised by Mkhwanazi were “of grave concern” and it had been assured that Ramaphosa would attend to them.
The Institute for Security Studies, an independent crime watchdog, said these accusations should be thoroughly probed as they could erode public confidence in South Africa's police.
Source: africanews.com
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https://www.africanews.com/2025/07/08/top-south-african-official-accuses-police-minister-of-colluding-with-crime-syndicates/
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Pakistan
Pakistan urges UN to prevent Afghan soil from becoming terrorist safe haven
July 08, 2025
Pakistan has called on the United Nations to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a hub for terrorism, warning that groups like the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) pose a serious threat to regional and global peace.
Addressing a UN General Assembly plenary session on the situation in Afghanistan, Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, stressed that the war-torn country must not become a breeding ground for terrorist groups.
"We must ensure that Afghanistan does not become a breeding ground for terrorists that threatens not only its neighbours, but the region and beyond," the ambassador stated.
Pakistan has consistently expressed concern over the use of Afghan soil by terror groups to launch attacks across the border. Last week, Pakistani security forces eliminated at least 30 Indian-backed militants attempting to infiltrate from Afghanistan into North Waziristan, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Ambassador Iftikhar highlighted the surge in cross-border terrorism following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces. He warned that groups like Daesh, Al-Qaeda, the TTP, and Baloch militant outfits continue to operate from ungoverned Afghan territories.
He noted that the TTP, with an estimated 6,000 fighters, remains the largest UN-designated terrorist group operating from Afghanistan. "The TTP poses a threat not only to our national security but also to the region and the world," he said, adding that terrorists are now using sophisticated weapons and equipment in attacks against Pakistan.
The envoy also voiced concern over credible evidence of collaboration between the TTP and other anti-Pakistan groups such as the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and Majeed Brigade, which aim to disrupt strategic infrastructure and development projects.
"Regrettably, Afghan soil continues to be used by terrorists, often proxies, against other countries, particularly Pakistan," the ambassador added.
He also highlighted the humanitarian dimension, noting that Pakistan has hosted millions of Afghan refugees for decades and recently saw another million undocumented Afghans enter the country since August 2021, increasing the burden on national resources.
Ambassador Iftikhar urged the international community to equitably share this responsibility, revive Afghanistan's economy, unfreeze its assets, and enable trade and investment.
He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to regional connectivity through projects like TAPI, CASA-1000, the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan railway, and the extension of CPEC to Afghanistan, which could bring peace and prosperity to the region.
Concluding his address, the ambassador called for continued engagement with Afghanistan through "practical and pragmatic diplomacy" to ensure a peaceful, inclusive, and terror-free future for the country and its neighbours.
Source: nation.com.pk
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https://www.nation.com.pk/08-Jul-2025/pakistan-urges-un-to-prevent-afghan-soil-from-becoming-terrorist-safe-haven
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Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi urge IHC for early hearing in £190 million case
July 08, 2025
Former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi have filed fresh petitions in the Islamabad High Court (IHC), seeking an early hearing of their appeals for suspension of conviction in the £190 million case.
The petitions, submitted through Barrister Salman Safdar, request the court to expedite proceedings that have faced repeated delays.
According to the plea, the couple was convicted on January 17, and appeals were filed within 10 days, on January 27. However, the first hearing on the suspension pleas did not take place until May 15.
The petition alleges that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has been intentionally stalling the case by seeking frequent adjournments, causing unnecessary delays despite the court's earlier assurance of an expedited process.
Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi have urged the High Court to immediately schedule the hearing of their suspension appeals, citing concerns over fairness and due process.
Source: nation.com.pk
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https://www.nation.com.pk/08-Jul-2025/imran-khan-bushra-bibi-urge-ihc-for-early-hearing-in-pound-190-million-case
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Mideast
Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque, perform Talmudic rituals
07 Jul 2025
This Monday morning, Zionist settlers renewed their storming of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque through the Mughrabi Gate, under heavy protection from the Zionist enemy police.
According to the Palestinian Safa News Agency, the Islamic Endowments Department in occupied Jerusalem reported that dozens of settlers stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque and organized provocative tours of its courtyards.
The settlers received explanations about the alleged "Temple" and performed Talmudic rituals and prayers in the eastern area of the mosque.
Source: saba.ye
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https://www.saba.ye/en/news3512752.htm
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Israeli soldier describes alleged arbitrary killings of civilians in Gaza
July 07, 2025
LONDON: An Israeli army reservist has claimed that civilians in Gaza were frequently shot without warning or threat during his service, describing what he called shifting and often arbitrary rules of engagement that, at times, led to the killing of unarmed people.
In a rare on-camera interview with Sky News, the soldier, who served three tours of duty in Gaza with the Israeli military, said troops were often instructed to shoot anyone entering areas considered to be off limits, regardless of whether they posed a threat or not.
“We have a territory that we are in, and the commands are: everyone that comes inside needs to die,” he told Sky News. “If they’re inside, they’re dangerous, you need to kill them. No matter who it is.”
Speaking anonymously for fear of reprisal, the reservist from the Israeli military’s 252nd Division said he was twice stationed at the Netzarim corridor, a narrow military-controlled strip carved through central Gaza early in the war to divide the territory and tighten Israeli control.
He described how his unit marked invisible boundaries near civilian areas, sometimes while occupying homes belonging to displaced Palestinians. Local residents, he said, were expected to understand these lines without explanation or risk being shot.
“There’s an imaginary line that they tell us all the Gazan people know. But how can they know?” he said. “It might be like a teenager riding his bicycle.”
The soldier said the decision to open fire on civilians frequently depended on the “mood of the commander,” with criteria for engagement varying from day to day, adding: “They might be shot, they might be captured, it really depends on the day.”
He recalled one incident in which a man was shot for crossing the boundary, followed by another who was detained for approaching the body, only for the rules to change again hours later, with orders to shoot anyone crossing the line.
The soldier alleged that commanders were able to set their own rules of engagement, sometimes with deadly consequences.
“Every commander can choose for himself what he does. So it’s kind of like the Wild West,” he said. “Some commanders can really decide to do war crimes and bad things and don’t face the consequences of that.”
He also described a pervasive culture among troops that viewed all Gazans as legitimate targets in the aftermath of the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7, which killed about 1,200 people in Israel and led to more than 250 taken hostage.
“They’d say: ‘Yeah, but these people didn’t do anything to prevent October 7, and they probably had fun when this was happening to us. So they deserve to die’,” he said.
“People don’t feel mercy for them. I think the core of it, that in their mind, these people aren’t innocent,” he added.
In Israel, where military service is a social rite of passage and the military is widely seen as a unifying national institution, public criticism of the armed forces is rare. The soldier told Sky News he feared being branded a traitor but felt compelled to speak out.
“I kind of feel like I took part in something bad, and I need to counter it with something good that I do, by speaking out,” he said. “I am very troubled about what I took and still am taking part of, as a soldier and citizen in this country.”
He added: “I think a lot of people, if they knew exactly what’s happening, it wouldn’t go down very well for them, and they wouldn’t agree with it.”
When asked about the allegations, the Israeli military told Sky News that it “operates in strict accordance with its rules of engagement and international law, taking feasible precautions to mitigate civilian harm.”
According to the statement: “The IDF operates against military targets and objectives, and does not target civilians or civilian objects.”
The military said complaints or reports of alleged violations are “transferred to the relevant authorities responsible for examining exceptional incidents that occurred during the war.”
It also highlighted steps it says it takes to minimise civilian casualties, including issuing evacuation notices and regular updates about combat zones.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2607254/middle-east
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Five Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza: military
July 08, 2025
JERUSALEM: Five Israeli soldiers were killed in combat in the northern Gaza Strip, Israel’s military said on Tuesday, as Israel and Hamas held indirect talks in Qatar on an elusive ceasefire.
Two of the soldiers “fell during combat in the northern Gaza Strip,” the Israeli military said in a statement, adding that three others were killed and two severely wounded in the same incident.
The wounded soldiers were “evacuated to a hospital to receive medical treatment and their families have been notified,” the military said.
The latest round of negotiations on the nearly two-year war in Gaza began on Sunday in Doha, with representatives of Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas seated in different rooms in the same building.
Monday’s talks ended with “no breakthrough,” a Palestinian official familiar with the negotiations said.
The Hamas and Israeli delegations were due to resume talks, with US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff also set to join them this week in an effort to secure a ceasefire.
The US proposal included a 60-day truce, during which Hamas would release 10 living hostages, taken during its October 2023 attack on Israel, and several bodies in exchange for Palestinians detained by Israel, two Palestinian sources close to the discussions earlier said.
Hamas was also demanding certain conditions for Israel’s withdrawal, guarantees against a resumption of fighting during negotiations, and the return of the UN-led aid distribution system, they said.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2607307/middle-east
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US envoy praises Lebanon’s ‘well-balanced’ response on Hezbollah disarmament
NAJIA HOUSSARI
July 07, 2025
BEIRUT: US envoy Tom Barrack said he was “very satisfied” with how Lebanon responded to a US proposal aimed at disarming Hezbollah.
The comments from the US ambassador to Turkiye and special envoy for Syria and Lebanon came after his meeting with President Joseph Aoun on Monday.
Barrack’s meetings with Lebanese officials took place while Israeli reconnaissance planes were hovering over Beirut and the Presidential Palace in Baabda.
A security source told Arab News that the US delegation “expressed its surprise at the overflight, using the term ‘weird’ to describe it, especially since the roar of the aircraft was audible inside the meeting hall.”
Barrack received the Lebanese leadership’s response to the US proposals aimed at establishing a road map for implementing the ceasefire agreement between Hezbollah and Israel, and focusing on confining weapons solely to the Lebanese state.
On the eve of Barrack’s visit, the Israeli army launched a series of airstrikes on several areas in the south and the Bekaa Valley. The attacks left 10 people injured, including a child, the Ministry of Health said.
Besides Aoun, Barrack held talks with Lebanon’s Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri — who is in charge of communicating with Hezbollah regarding the negotiations with the American side — and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, with each meeting lasting over an hour.
In a statement issued by its media office, the presidency emphasized that Aoun provided Lebanese ideas for a comprehensive solution.
Berri’s media office said that the meeting was “very good and constructive and clearly took into account Lebanon’s interests and sovereignty, the concerns of the Lebanese people and Hezbollah’s demands.”
A political source told Arab News that Hezbollah “did not provide the response-drafting committee with answers but rather a set of questions reflecting its concerns.”
In a press conference at the presidential palace, Barrack described his meeting with Aoun as “very interesting and satisfying.”
US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were “deeply grateful for the promptness and the well-balanced, considerate tone of the response to our proposals,” he said.
“It is a highly critical period for Lebanon and the region. An opportunity is on the horizon as the region undergoes significant changes and everything is moving at a remarkable pace. The countries around us are undergoing constant transformation,” he said.
Barrack said Trump had expressed his commitment to and deep respect for Lebanon, as well as his support and desire to help it achieve peace and prosperity.
“I don’t believe there has been any statement like that since the time of Dwight Eisenhower,” he said.
On the Lebanese response, Barrack said: “It is thoughtful and considered. We are creating a go-forward plan and to make that we need dialogue. What the government gave us was something spectacular in a very short period. I’m unbelievably satisfied with the response.
“Now what it takes is delving deeper and taking the time to reflect on the details, which we are going to do. I’m very hopeful.
“Of course the complexity of all this is massive but at the end of it, it is simple: Is everybody tired of what has gone on for the past years? And I think the answer is: absolutely yes. Now that we have a new architecture, we must seize the opportunity. Now everybody is going to have to give up something.
“But when you give up something of a hope and expectation of an illusion, of the adversariness that we have had internally, you can get support from the world to do that.”
Regarding how to deal with Hezbollah’s refusal to hand over its weapons to the state, Barrack said: “The good news for the US is that we do not intend to deal with it. We intend for you to deal with it.
“If you want change, you change it, and we will be there to support you. But if you do not want change, it is no problem. This is a call to action.”
Lebanon risked being left behind as change swept through other countries in the region, he said.
Regarding guarantees for Lebanon, Barrack said that “what happened previously was that the specificity in the cessation of hostility agreement just was not sufficient. So neither side trusted the other.
“The mistrust between Israel, Hezbollah and the Lebanese army, all the pieces just never came together, because everybody was in such a hurry to get a transaction done. What your government is doing now is filling in those details.”
The envoy referred to the Taif Agreement, which he considered “almost identical to what is happening today. So let us take lessons from the past.”
“My belief is that Israel wants peace with Lebanon, how to get there is a challenge. Hezbollah is a political party but it also has a militant aspect to it.
“It needs to see that there is a future for it and that that road is not harnessed just solely against it and that there is an intersection of peace and prosperity for it also.”
Barrack said Israel “does not seek war with Lebanon. It is not an occupying force nor does it harbor ambitions to control the country.
“On the contrary, it respects the shared Levantine culture that unites the region. The conflict has been a nightmare for both sides and a growing fatigue is evident.
“Today, a genuine opportunity exists, made possible by the leadership of the US president, particularly through his decisive stance on Israel and Iran. Israel finds itself at a moment of introspection, seeking to show the world that it values patience and is committed to regional calm. I believe their intentions are sincere.
“Syria, once overwhelmed by chaos, is now entering a new phase, marked by hope that the international community will support its reconstruction efforts, which are beginning from the ground up,” Barrack said.
Addressing the prospect of a Syria-Israel agreement, he said: “Dialogue between the two sides has already begun, and we are no longer constrained by the events of 1967, 1974, 1982, 1993, or even by UN Resolution 1707.
“While these events hold historical significance, they are no longer the focal point. What matters now is that all parties are actively seeking to reach an understanding, an effort to de-escalate tensions and bring an end to hostilities through a meaningful agreement.”
According to sources, the Lebanese response “reaffirmed its commitment to Resolution 1701, including the extension of state authority south of the Litani River and the dismantling of unauthorized installations.”
However, it linked “the exclusivity of arms control to Israel’s full implementation of its obligations under the same resolution,” they said.
The Lebanese response stopped short of detailing how Hezbollah would withdraw its weapons north of the Litani and offered neither an implementation mechanism nor a defined timeline for action.
The Lebanese response urged “Arab sponsorship of Lebanese-Syrian relations, emphasizing the importance of facilitating the return of Syrian refugees and strengthening control over the shared border.
“It also underscored the need to address the issue of Palestinian faction arms, under the Taif Agreement and the provisions of Resolution 1701,” the sources said.
Source: arabnews.com
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On the radio and online, Palestinians keep up with Israel’s West Bank roadblocks
July 07, 2025
RAWABI: Radio presenter Hiba Eriqat broadcasts an unusual kind of traffic reports to her Palestinian listeners grappling with ever-increasing Israeli checkpoints and roadblocks across the occupied West Bank.
“Deir Sharaf: traffic, Qalandia: open, Container: closed,” Eriqat reads out from drivers’ live reports, enumerating checkpoints to let listeners know which of the West Bank’s hundreds of checkpoints and gates are open, busy with traffic, or closed by the Israeli military.
“My mission is to help Palestinian citizens get home safely,” she told AFP in the radio studio in the city of Rawabi between her thrice-hourly broadcasts.
“Covering traffic in the West Bank is completely different from covering traffic anywhere else in the world.”
The West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967, has long been dotted with checkpoints, but obstacles to Palestinians’ movement in the territory have proliferated since the 2023 start of the war in Gaza — a separate territory.
In the West Bank, a territory roughly the size of the US state of Delaware, there are hundreds of new checkpoints and gates, but Israeli authorities do not provide updates about their status.
“The army might suddenly close a checkpoint, and the traffic jam would last an hour. Or they might just show up and then withdraw seconds later, and the checkpoint is cleared,” Eriqat said.
The UN humanitarian agency OCHA said in early 2025 there were 849 obstacles restricting the movement of Palestinians in the West Bank, including checkpoints, road gates, earth walls, trenches and roadblocks.
Updates on WhatsApp groups
To navigate, Palestinians often rely on minute-by-minute updates from drivers on WhatsApp and Telegram groups, some of which were created by Basma Radio to feed Eriqat’s broadcasts.
“We turned to taxi drivers, truck drivers, private companies and even ordinary people,” said Eriqat, to create the West Bank’s only traffic report of its kind.
The updates were launched in October 2023 — the same month the Gaza war broke out — and are now broadcast by other Palestinian radio stations too.
A Telegram group run by Basma Radio now has some 16,000 members.
Fatima Barqawi, who runs news programs at the station, said the team had created “contact networks with people on the roads,” also receiving regular updates from Palestinians who live near checkpoints and can see the traffic from their window.
Beyond the restrictions imposed by the Israeli authorities, the traffic reports sometimes feature warnings about roads blocked by Israeli settlers, whose attacks against Palestinians have also risen throughout the war.
It is a constantly shifting roadscape, Eriqat said, complicating even what otherwise should have been a quick drive to work, home or to see family and friends.
“You might tell people the checkpoint is open now, but three minutes later, it’s jammed again. And it’s not a regular jam — it could last six or seven hours,” she said.
Safe journey ‘not guaranteed’
Maen, a 28-year-old video editor, used to tune in to Basma Radio to plan his weekly commute from Ramallah to his hometown of Bethlehem, but now prefers checking what other drivers have to say.
“I often call a friend who has Telegram while I’m on the road” and ask for updates from checkpoints, said Mazen, who asked to use his first name only for security reasons.
He has deleted Telegram from his own phone after hearing about Palestinians getting into trouble with soldiers at checkpoints over the use of the messaging app.
But in a sign of its popularity, one group in which drivers share their updates has 320,000 members — more than one-tenth of the West Bank’s population.
Rami, an NGO worker living in Ramallah who also declined to give his full name, said he listened to the radio traffic reports but mainly relied on Telegram groups.
Yet a safe journey is far from guaranteed.
Rami told AFP he recently had to stop on the way to his hometown of Nablus.
“I pulled over, checked the news and saw that 100 settlers had gathered at a settlement’s road junction and started throwing stones at Palestinian cars,” recognizable by their green license plates, he said.
And passing through a military checkpoint often “depends on the soldier’s mood,” said Eriqat.
“That’s the difficult part.”
Source: arabnews.com
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Israel grabs Palestinian land near Ramallah to expand settler outpost
July 07, 2025
LONDON: The Palestinian Authority’s settlement activity watchdog reported that Israeli authorities on Monday seized 77.4 hectares of land in northeastern Ramallah, the administrative capital in the occupied West Bank.
The Palestinian Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission said that the land in the villages of Al-Mughayir and Jabait was declared “state land” to justify its seizure on Monday.
The commission added that Israeli authorities have incorporated the newly captured area into the Malakhi HaShalom outpost, an illegal Israeli settlement established in 2015 on land belonging to the village of Al-Mughayir. The Israeli far-right government in 2023 announced a plan to legalize Malakhi HaShalom and expand its territory.
The commission reported that the total Israeli land grab, designated as “state land” since early 2023, is estimated at 6,381 hectares, or 25,824 dunams, a measurement used by Palestinians since the Ottoman era.
More than 700,000 settlers live in the West Bank, where the Israeli government has maintained a military occupation since June 1967. The expansion of settlements has long been viewed as an obstacle to the establishment of a Palestinian state and the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Source: arabnews.com
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Settlers seize house near Al-Aqsa Mosque after death of owner
07 Jul 2025
Quds residents revealed that settlers seized a Palestinian home in the Old City of occupied Quds on Sunday, a few days after the death of the home's owner.
The sources reported that armed settlers stormed a house in Hosh Al-Zurba, near the Cotton Market, adjacent to the western wall of Al-Aqsa Mosque, and forcibly took over the house amidst a festive atmosphere.
The sources indicated that the storming of the house came days after the death of the Palestinian woman, the home's owner, in a scene that reflects the exploitation of humanitarian conditions to implement plans to seize and Judaize the Holy City.
Source: saba.ye
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Arab World
Saudi Arabia retains top spot in global cybersecurity rankings for 2025
July 07, 2025
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has maintained its position as the top-ranked country in global cybersecurity, according to this year’s edition of the International Institute for Management Development World Competitiveness Yearbook.
The cybersecurity indicator ranking reflects what officials describe as continued support from the country’s leadership, including King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Officials added the leadership’s national digital transformation strategy has helped propel the Kingdom to the forefront of international benchmarks.
They also said the Kingdom’s achievements in cybersecurity stem from a comprehensive, long-term strategy that balances national security with economic and technological development.
Saudi Arabia was also designated a Tier 1 “role-modeling” nation in the Global Cybersecurity Index 2024 published by the UN’s International Telecommunication Union, further underlining its international standing.
Central to this model is the National Cybersecurity Authority, the country’s primary body for overseeing cybersecurity affairs, and the Saudi Information Technology Company, which serves as its technical and strategic partner.
Together, these institutions have helped strengthen national cyber defenses, localize key technologies, and expand collaboration both domestically and internationally.
The NCA, which acts as the national reference point for all matters relating to cybersecurity, is tasked with enhancing the Kingdom’s digital resilience by safeguarding critical infrastructure, key sectors, and government services.
It is also responsible for setting policies, frameworks, and standards while encouraging innovation, investment, and growth within the Kingdom’s cybersecurity sector.
These initiatives form part of Saudi Arabia’s wider efforts to build a secure and trusted digital environment that supports economic growth and global cooperation.
Source: arabnews.com
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The Destination: Saudi reforms through the lens of a documentary
TAMARA ABOALSAUD
July 07, 2025
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s transformation toward its Vision 2030 goals has been documented in a new film by the Ministry of Media.
Launched by the ministry’s Konoz initiative, “The Destination” highlights the progress made in the political, economic, medical, sporting, cultural, media and artistic fields.
Its title reflects the Kingdom’s path toward becoming a global destination for tourism and investment.
Konoz CEO Abdullah Al-Ahmari credited megaprojects and upcoming events such as the AFC Asian Cup 2027, Expo Riyadh 2030 and FIFA World Cup 2034.
“The Konoz initiative aims to document the Kingdom’s achievements through creative productions,” he said, describing the country as a “model admired by the world.”
The film reflected the progress being made on the ground and highlighted the initiative’s focus on Saudi talent in shaping the Kingdom’s future, he said.
“The Destination” includes interviews with key figures from various fields as well as testimonies, quotes and historical records. It is part of a series of films produced by Konoz in cooperation with almost 90 organizations and more than 2,600 individuals.
The Konoz initiative is part of the Human Capacity Development Program under Vision 2030. Its goal is to promote Saudi Arabian culture around the world by highlighting the contributions and success stories of its citizens.
Source: arabnews.com
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Israeli attacks on health infrastructure violate international law, Saudi FM tells BRICS summit
July 07, 2025
RIYADH: Israeli attacks on health infrastructure and the targeting of civilians constitute a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan told the BRICS summit underway in Rio de Janeiro on Monday.
Prince Faisal called on the international community to shoulder its responsibilities to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid and the protection of civilians, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
He said that the human suffering in Gaza cannot be overlooked and that the international community must work diligently to end the crisis and achieve a lasting and comprehensive peace for all, based on the two-state solution in accordance with international law.
In a speech to a plenary session entitled “Environment, COP30, and Global Health,” the foreign minister affirmed the Kingdom’s commitment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement, calling for a practical and balanced approach that takes into account the diverse circumstances of different countries.
He explained that the Kingdom, as a country suffering from water scarcity, has developed advanced methods and technologies to manage environmental challenges and water resources, and has led efforts that led to the establishment of the Global Water Organization which aims to ensure equitable access to the vital resource.
With regard to the health sector, Prince Faisal said the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 includes comprehensive reforms focused on prevention and integrated care.
He also highlighted the Kingdom’s experience in managing major gatherings such as Hajj and Umrah, and developing and planning early warning systems.
Its expertise in hosting Hajj and Umrah enhances the Kingdom’s position as a regional center for preparedness and response to health emergencies, the minister said.
Source: arabnews.com
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Cultural gathering calls for youth engagement to preserve traditions
July 07, 2025
RIYADH: The Intangible Heritage Association held a workshop to encourage better preservation of cultural heritage in the digital age and urged young people to become the nation’s future storytellers.
Held at the Al-Abo Sarrah Palaces, northwest of Abha, the capital of Asir Province, the event, titled “Asir … We Are the Living Heritage,” was attended by experts and enthusiasts from the fields of culture and the arts.
Othman Al-Seeni, the association’s chairman, described the workshop as part of a broader national effort to safeguard intangible heritage across the Kingdom, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
“We are gathering the opinions and ideas of researchers and enthusiasts, whether on customs, traditions, handicrafts or performing arts, and using them in initiatives to document and preserve this heritage as a vital part of Saudi culture,” he said.
The attendees discussed various issues, including how to engage young people in cultural issues through social media. One concern was how misinformation about folk tales, customs and traditional narratives was being spread online.
The workshop’s conclusion was that heritage endures not through documentation alone but through active, daily practice. Young Saudis should be seen as future storytellers, not just passive recipients, they said.
The organizers also warned against fully automated documentation, recommending “cultural verification” protocols when using AI tools. Digital heritage efforts must retain human oversight from experts to ensure their authenticity, they said.
The association has already completed phase one of a comprehensive heritage inventory with the Heritage Commission, cataloging more than 10,000 cultural elements across six regions, and a second phase is planned.
Source: arabnews.com
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South Asia
Afghanistan’s Refugees in India suffer inhumane conditions, rights group warns
By Fidel Rahmati
July 8, 2025
A rights group reports that Afghanistan’s refugees in India are living without legal protection, basic services, or dignity, enduring harsh conditions and prolonged uncertainty.
Dozens of Afghan asylum seekers who fled to India due to threats in their homeland are staging a protest outside the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office in New Delhi, demanding urgent action on their deteriorating situation.
According to the Afghanistan Human Rights Defenders Committee, the protest—now in its sixth day—has been driven by frustration over what they describe as “harsh and inhumane conditions” in India. Many of the protesters have lived in the country for years without access to permanent residency, legal employment, formal education for their children, or adequate healthcare.
In a statement released Tuesday, the committee condemned the prolonged delays in the refugee status determination process, calling it a “painful and exhausting ordeal.” Thousands of Afghan applicants, it said, remain stuck in legal limbo while waiting for their cases to be processed by UNHCR.
The demonstrators, holding placards that read “Delays in refugee registration equal suspended lives”, are urging UNHCR to accelerate case reviews and resume basic assistance programs that have been discontinued. Despite their ongoing protest, they report receiving no official response from the UN agency.
Adding to their concerns, the protesters allege that they have faced “humiliating and intimidating behavior” by Indian police during their sit-in, which they say further jeopardizes their safety and dignity.
The asylum seekers are now calling on international organizations, particularly UNHCR, to immediately resume food, medical, financial, and educational support. They are also appealing for swift resettlement opportunities and the deployment of independent observers to monitor how refugees are treated by local authorities.
“These refugees did not flee Afghanistan to endure suffering and humiliation under global neglect,” the committee stated, emphasizing the emotional toll of displacement compounded by bureaucratic delays and lack of protection.
This protest highlights broader concerns over the treatment of displaced populations globally, and the urgent need for host countries and international agencies to respond to vulnerable communities with speed, transparency, and compassion.
Source: khaama.com
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Ashura strengthens brotherhood among Islamic Ummah
July 8, 2025
Ashura is a day of commemoration in Islam as it occurs annually on the tenth of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar.
Ashura is highly admired and paid respect by Sunni and Shia Muslims worldwide.
According to history, for Sunni Muslims, Ashura marks the parting of the Red Sea by Moses and the salvation of the Israelites. Also, on this day, it is believed that Noah disembarked from the Ark, God forgave Adam, and Yousuf was released from prison, among various other auspicious events having occurred on Ashura according to Sunni tradition. As said, Ashura is celebrated in Sunni Islam through supererogatory fasting and other acceptable expressions of joy. In some Sunni communities, the annual Ashura festivities include carnivals, bonfires, and special dishes, even though some Sunni scholars have criticized such practices.
But for Shia Muslims, Ashura is a day of mourning as they annually commemorate the death of Imam Husain ibn Ali, grandson of the Islamic prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and the third Imam of Shia Muslims. Imam Husain refused on moral grounds to pledge his allegiance to the Umayyad caliph Yazid ibn Muawiya and was subsequently martyred, alongside most of his male relatives and his small retinue, by the Umayyad army in the Battle of Karbala on Ashura. Among the Shia, mourning for Imam Husain is viewed as an act of protest against oppression, a struggle for Allah the Almighty and a means of securing the intercession of Husain in the afterlife. Ashura is observed through mourning gatherings and processions. In such ceremonies, Shia mourners strike their chests to share in the pain of Imam Husain. Sometimes extreme self-flagellation, often involving self-inflicted bloodshed, remains controversial among the Shia Scholars and often condemned by many Shia clerics and outlawed in some Shia communities.
Anyway, in Afghanistan, both Sunni and Shia Muslims pay high respect to the work, struggle and devotion of Imam Husayn, who lost his life along with more than 70 of his companions in the battle of Karbala against Yazid and his forces to ensure justice and freedom among the Islamic Ummah.
Shia and Sunni Muslims are now living under a single umbrella provided by the Islamic Emirate, as this year’s Ashura was marked peacefully nationwide.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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Books written based on Islamic and Afghan values, allowed to be published
July 8, 2025
KABUL: The regular meeting of the Book Evaluation Commission was held with the Deputy Minister of Information and Culture for the Publications Affairs, Mawlavi Muhajer Farahi, on the chair, deciding to allow the publication of those books that have been written according to the Islamic and Afghan values, the ministry said in a statement Monday.
At the beginning, the commission’s secretary shared a report regarding the previous commission’s meeting with the participants, the statement said
Also, a number of books that have been presented to the commission for assessment were distributed to the commission’s members, and they were instructed to evaluate and share their findings in the next meeting, the statement said.
The Book Evaluation Commission is held weekly to assess different books and grant publication approval to those books that have been written under Islamic and Afghan values, as well as the policies of the Islamic Emirate.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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Foreign observers who endorsed past three polls won’t be allowed: CEC
Jul 8, 2025
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin today said that foreign observers, who had termed the past three national elections "credible", will not be allowed to observe the upcoming parliamentary election.
He made the remark following a meeting with Canadian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Ajit Singh at the Election Commission headquarters in Agargaon.
"Should we accept those observers who termed the last three elections acceptable, fair, and credible? We will allow those with proven experience in election observation and who are considered reliable. We will not accept those who endorsed the previous three elections," the CEC told reporters.
Asked about the number of foreign observers for the next general election, the CEC said they hoped many observers will come to oversee the polls.
"We have already written to European Union to send observers… They had earlier expressed interest in coming. However, they have been asked to inform us in advance, since they have 28 countries," he said.
Source: thedailystar.net
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Afghanistan Chief of Army Emphasizes Border Defense at Artillery Seminar
2025-07-07
KABUL(BNA): The Chief o f Army of the country emphasis urgent need for the national army to be fully prepared to defend the country’s borders. His remarks came during the closing ceremony of a three-day artillery capacity building seminar aimed at enhancing the skills of 65 directors and commanders from various units.
The seminar, organized by the Ministry of National Defense, featured prominent attendees including Qari Mohammad Fasihuddin Fitrat, Chief of Army, and other key military leaders, such as Ma2lavi Turab-ul-Hadi and Mullah Sediqullah Mastri, experts in artillery and guided munitions.
“The artillery section is one of the most vital branches of our national army,” stated the Chief of Staff. “The stronger this section is, the stronger our army will be. We must defend our borders with determination and stand ready against any potential aggression.”
The event concluded with the presentation of certificates to participants and a collective prayer, reinforcing the commitment to bolster Afghanistan’s defense capabilities in a challenging regional environment.
Source: bakhtarnews.af
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