Ramayan, Guru Granth Sahib, Bible, Quran – MP High Court Quotes From All 4 To Sentence Man To Death For Killing Adoptive Mother

New Age Islam News Bureau

24 July 2025

·         Ramayan, Guru Granth Sahib, Bible, Quran – MP High Court Quotes From All 4 To Sentence Man To Death For Killing Adoptive Mother

·         Supreme Court: There Is No Question Of Bringing The 12 Back To Prison, Stays Bombay HC Verdict

·         India Expels Hundreds Of Ethnic Bengali Muslims Unlawfully to Bangladesh:New York-Based Human Rights Watch

·         Investigate Arakan Army For War Crimes Against Rohingyas

·         German Chancellor Merz Tells Muslim Students: Respect Our Constitutional Order

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India

·         'Assam's Muslim Population Will Reach 50% by 2041: Chief Minister

·         Al-Qaida Terror Module Busted: Gujarat ATS Arrests 4 Operatives Linked To AQIS, Seizes Radical Content And Documents On Operation Sindoor

·         Karnataka HC Quashes Case Against Three Men Booked For Distributing Pamphlets Promoting Islam

·         Migrants Flee Gurgaon Amid Crackdown: 400 Accused of Being Bangladeshis, Rohingyas Rounded Up; 'We’re Not Being Heard,' Says Worker

·         Ajmer Dargah's 'No Liability' Notice, For Accidents Caused By Dilapidated Structures, Draws Flak From Muslim Groups

·         BJP Using Muslim Quota To Scuttle BC Reservations: Telangana CM

·         ‘Individual liberty must give way to national interest’: J&K High Court dismisses Doda resident’s habeas corpus petition

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North America

·         CAIR Calls on Border Czar Tom Homan to Cut Ties With Anti-Muslim Hate Groups

·         Everyone Is Invited To Hometown Mercy Mosque Halal Fest

·         CAIR Calls House Foreign Affairs Committee ‘Hotbed of Islamophobia and Anti-Palestinian Racism’ After Randy Fine Added

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South Asia

·         Afghanistan Ranked Lowest in 2025 Global Passport Index Once Again

·         Kabul, Islamabad Ink Trade Deal to Cut Tariffs

·         Russian Security Forces Foil Terror Plot Targeting Oil Refinery, Uzbekistani Suspect Detained

·         Kabul, Moscow Seek to Expand Bilateral Ties Following Recognition of Islamic Emirate

·         Muttaqi says normalizing ties with US needs time

·         Advisory council forms new pay commission

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Europe

·         Anti-Dog Flyer Resurfaces Online, Attracts Hateful Rhetoric Toward Canadian Muslims

·         Second man charged after mosque stabbing disorder

·         Ukraine attacks southern Russia with drones

·         Obama’s role in ‘Russia Hoax lies’ exposed – Gabbard

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Southeast Asia

·         Pre-Marriage Course Speakers Must Be Legally Literate To Build Shariah-Compliant Families

·         Anwar Urges Collective Approach For Fatwa Decisions In Malaysia

·         FMM urges Putrajaya to gazette Sept 15 holiday to give firms clarity, aid compliance

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Mideast

·         Hamas Confirms It Responded To Latest Gaza Truce Proposal

·         More Than 100 NGOs Warn ‘Mass Starvation’ Spreading Across Gaza

·         Canada calls for immediate resumption of UN-led aid in Gaza

·         The Stark Reality Of How Israel Treats Its Own Druze Citizens

·         Israel, Palestinian Envoys Trade Barbs At UN Over Gaza

·         Bahrain to establish permanent diplomatic mission in Beirut

·         Jordan dispatches trucks with flour as starvation spreads in war-torn Gaza

·         Italy and Algeria agree to tackle terrorism and migration at summit

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Africa

·         Nigerian Troops Kill Top Boko Haram Commander, Ibn Khalid

·         Genocide In Gaza: Muslim Groups Accuse Arab- Western Leaders Of Complicity

·         Senator Ojudu, Ekiti SSG, Others To Grace AT-Tawheed Model School’s Silver Jubilee Anniversary

·         With $2bn Portfolio in Nigeria, Islamic Development Bank Seeks FG’s Partnership to Boost Power Infrastructure

·         President Tinubu Approves Fresh Appointment

·         ‘Senseless’ – FG Condemns Latest Killing Of Nigerians In S/Africa

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Arab World

·         From Expulsion To AI Success — How Abdullah Al-Refai’s Journey Is Inspiring A Generation

·         National Museum Summer Camp Inspires Young Saudi Creators

·         Kingdom Opens First Public Arts And Culture School

·         Najran’s Heritage Draws Families To Rural Villages

·         Saudi Broadcasting Authority chief meets with Sri Lankan envoy

Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau

URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/ramayan-bible-quran-high-court-mother/d/136282

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Ramayan, Guru Granth Sahib, Bible, Quran – MP High Court Quotes From All 4 To Sentence Man To Death For Killing Adoptive Mother

by Anand Mohan J

July 24, 2025

Drawing heavily from Hindu, Islamic, Christian and Sikh scriptures, a district court in Madhya Pradesh sentenced a man to death for murdering his mother, observing that if a protector turns destroyer, “why would parents want to raise such a child?”

Special Judge L D Solanki on Wednesday pronounced the judgment, observing: “The one who bears the responsibility of protecting parents, who is the support in their old age, if that very protector becomes the destroyer, then why would parents raise such a child? If the fence itself starts eating the crop, then whom will the farmer trust?” the court observed in its order.

The judge underlined that if leniency was shown in such a case, “no childless parents will adopt any orphan child, and it will have a very adverse effect on society”.

Special Public Prosecutor Rajendra Jadhav said the incident took place on May 6, 2024, when Deepak Pachauri, a resident of Railway Colony in Sheopur, reported his mother, Ushadevi, missing after claiming she had left for the hospital and never returned. A missing person’s case was registered on June 8. However, inconsistencies in Deepak’s statements led to deeper police interrogation, during which he allegedly confessed to murdering his mother.

Deepak had been adopted from an orphanage in Gwalior 20 years ago by Ushadevi and her husband, Bhuvnendra Pachauri. His father had died in 2021, leaving him as nominee of a fixed deposit worth Rs 16.85 lakh, which Deepak later lost in the stock market.

His mother had Rs 32 lakh in her account and had allegedly refused to give him money when he demanded it. On May 6, when she was climbing stairs after bathing, he allegedly pushed her down, hit her with an iron rod and strangled her with a sari. He later allegedly buried the body inside the house, beneath the bathroom floor, using cement and bricks.

Judge Solanki’s verdict drew heavily from religious teachings to articulate the moral depravity of matricide. Quoting the Ramcharitmanas, the judge recalled Lord Rama’s reverence for his parents: “‘Listen mother, how fortunate are those who sleep. Those who are fond of obeying their father’s and mother’s words,” he said.

The court noted that “Lord Rama is telling his mother…that [a] son alone is truly blessed who obeys the words of his parents… a son who satisfies his parents is rare in the entire world”.

The judgment also referred to the story of Shravan Kumar, the dutiful son who carried his blind parents on pilgrimage, to contrast with the accused’s actions. Turning to Sikh teachings, the court cited verses from the Guru Granth Sahib to state that” “one who serves mother and father knows his own salvation. “One who serves mother and father is called a true brave person. Without such brave people, how can the lineage continue?”

Borrowing from the Quran, the court said: “It is written that your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him, and be kind to parents. If one or both of them reach old age with you, do not…rebuke them, but speak to them respectfully”.

From the Bible, it cites Matthew 15:4, saying: “Honour your father and mother, and whoever curses his father or mother shall be put to death”. Borrowing verses from Exodus, the court said: “Whoever strikes his father or mother shall be put to death. Whoever curses his father or mother shall be put to death”.

“These teachings,” the judge wrote, “command children to serve their parents until old age”.

The court sentenced Deepak Pachauri to death by hanging under Section 302 IPC, and seven years of rigorous imprisonment under Section 201 IPC for destroying evidence, along with fines of Rs 1,000 under each section. In case of failure to pay the fine, he will undergo an additional six months of rigorous imprisonment for each count.

“It is clear that the accused, out of greed for jewellery and money, did not let the deceased live, hit her head several times with an iron rod, which broke the skull… nose, caused lacerated wounds, injured bones… The accused strangled her with a saree and buried her in the bathroom with brick and cement. To hide the crime, he filed a missing person report,” the court said.

Source: indianexpress.com

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Supreme Court: There Is No Question Of Bringing The 12 Back To Prison, Stays Bombay HC Verdict

Suchitra Kalyan Mohanty

24 Jul 2025

The Supreme Court of India(File photo | ANI)

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The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the Bombay High court's judgement acquitting all 12 accused in the in the 2006 Mumbai train bomb blasts case. The court, however, said there was no question of bringing the 12 back to prison.

The two-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Justice M MSundresh and also comprising Justice N Kotiswar Singh, also issued notices to all the 12 accused, after hearing the criminal appeals filed by the State of Maharashtra govt challenging the Bombay HC judgment.

During a brief hearing on Thursday, the Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta, appearing for the State of Maharashtra, requested the top court for a stay of the judgment, citing that some of the observations made by the HC in the verdict can impact other pending trials under the MCOCA.

Mehta also clarified that he was not seeking an order from the apex court to direct the accused persons, who have been released from prison following the judgment, to surrender.

After hearing the submissions from Mehta, the apex court stayed the HC verdict.

The court noted that we have been informed that all the respondents have been released and there is no question of bringing them back to the prison. "However, taking note of the submission made by the SG on the question of law, we are inclined to hold that the impugned judgment shall not be treated as a precedent. To that extent, there is a stay of the impugned judgment," said, the top court in its order.

Maharashtra government had on July 22 knocked the doors of the Supreme Court by filing an appeal in it challenging the Monday's Bombay High Court's verdict acquitting all the 12 convicts in the 2006 Mumbai train blasts case.

The High Court on July 21, acquitted all 12 accused in the 2006 train blast case as it set aside the special MCOCA court's order handing death sentence to five and life term to seven accused, saying it was "hard to believe" they committed the crime.

Nineteen years ago, on July 11, 2006, seven bombs ripped through Mumbai's local trains killing 189 and maiming 820 travellers. The bombs were timed to go off during the evening rush to inflict maximum pain.

In the order, a bench of Justices Anil Kilor and Shyam Chandak cited several reasons for overturning the 2015 verdict of the special court. The bench noted that the evidence was not properly collected and presented. The first arrest was made on July 20, 2006 followed by continuous arrests. However, the test identification parade was not done for four months. Besides, some witnesses were also the witnesses in the 2002 Ghatkopar bomb blast case and their testimonies were shattered in cross examinations.

The appellants shall be released from jail if they are not required to be detained in any other case by giving a bond of Rs 25,000 each, the HC had said.

The MCOCA court had sentenced Kamal Ansari (now dead), Mohammad Faisal Shaikh, Ehtesham Siddiqui, Naveed Hussain Khan, and Asif Khan to death.

Tanveer Ahmed Ibrahim Ansari, Mohammed Majid Shafi, Shaikh Mohammed, Mohammed Sajid Margub Ansari, Muzammil Ataur Rahman Shaikh, Suhail Mehmood Shaikh, and Zameer Ahmed Shaikh were handed life imprisonment.

Maharashtra's Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) had investigated the case.

Source: newindianexpress.com

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India Expels Hundreds Of Ethnic Bengali Muslims Unlawfully to Bangladesh:New York-Based Human Rights Watch

July 24, 2025

Police officers detain alleged undocumented Bangladeshi nationals after they were arrested during raids in Ahmedabad, India. Photo: Reuters

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Access to fundamental procedural safeguards for anyone subject to expulsion should be ensured, it says

Indian authorities have expelled hundreds of ethnic Bengali Muslims to Bangladesh in recent weeks without due process, claiming they are "illegal immigrants," Human Rights Watch said today.

Many of them are Indian citizens from states bordering Bangladesh, according to the report of the New York-based human rights organisation published yesterday.

Since May 2025, the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government has intensified operations to expel ethnic Bengali Muslims to Bangladesh, ostensibly to deter people from entering India without legal authorisation, the report claimed.

The organisation called upon the Indian government to stop unlawfully deporting people without due process and instead ensure everyone's access to procedural safeguards to protect against arbitrary detention and expulsion.

"India's ruling BJP is fueling discrimination by arbitrarily expelling Bengali Muslims from the country, including Indian citizens," said Elaine Pearson, Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

"The authorities' claims that they are managing irregular immigration are unconvincing given their disregard for due process rights, domestic guarantees, and international human rights standards."

Human Rights Watch interviewed 18 people in June, including affected individuals and family members in nine cases. Those interviewed include Indian citizens who returned to India after being expelled to Bangladesh and family members of those who were detained and are still missing. On July 8, Human Rights Watch wrote to India's Ministry of Home Affairs with our findings but received no response.

The Indian government has provided no official data on the number of people expelled, but Border Guard Bangladesh has reported that India expelled more than 1,500 Muslim men, women, and children to Bangladesh between May 7 and June 15, including about 100 Rohingya refugees from Myanmar. The expulsions have continued, according to the report.

Authorities in the BJP-run states of Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Odisha, and Rajasthan have rounded up Muslims, mostly impoverished migrant workers, and turned them over to Indian border guards. In some cases, the border guards allegedly threatened and beat the detainees to force them to cross into Bangladesh without adequately verifying their citizenship claims. The Indian government has had to readmit dozens of people who eventually proved their Indian citizenship, it alleged.

The crackdown followed a deadly attack by gunmen against Hindu tourists in Jammu and Kashmir in April. Police started "harassing" Muslims, refused to accept their citizenship claims, and seized their phones, documents, and personal belongings, leaving them unable to contact family members, the HRW said in its report.

Quoting some of those apprehended, the rights organisation said Indian Border Security Force (BSF) officials threatened and assaulted them, and in a few cases, forced them to cross the border at gunpoint.

Khairul Islam, 51, an Indian citizen and former schoolteacher from Assam state, said that on May 26, Indian border officials tied his hands, gagged him, and forced him into Bangladesh, along with 14 others. "The BSF officer beat me when I refused to cross the border into Bangladesh and fired rubber bullets four times in the air," he told HRW. He managed to return two weeks later.

Irregular migration from Muslim-majority Bangladesh to India has gone on for decades, but there is no accurate data and figures are often inflated for political purposes. Senior BJP officials have repeatedly labeled irregular immigrants from Bangladesh as "infiltrators" and used the term more broadly to demonize Indian Muslims to gain Hindu political support, the report mentioned.

Several BJP-run state governments started rounding up Bengali-speaking Muslim migrant workers after the Ministry of Home Affairs in May set a 30-day deadline for states to "detect, identify, and deport illegal immigrants" and told local authorities to "establish adequate holding centers in each district to detain" them. The Ministry of External Affairs said it had sent the names of over 2,360 people to Bangladeshi authorities to verify their nationality.

It mentioned that on May 8, Bangladesh's foreign ministry wrote to the Indian government calling these "push-ins" – an apparent reference to collective expulsions – "unacceptable," and saying that they would "only accept individuals confirmed as Bangladeshi citizens and repatriated through proper channels."

In May, Indian authorities also expelled about 100 Rohingya refugees from a detention centre in Assam across the Bangladesh border. The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) reported that the authorities forced another 40 Rohingya refugees into the sea near Myanmar, giving them life jackets and making them swim to shore in what the UN special rapporteur on Myanmar, Tom Andrews, called "an affront to human decency."

Andrews said the incident was also "a serious violation" of the principle of nonrefoulement, the international legal prohibition against returning people to a territory where they face threats to their lives or freedom.

The Indian Supreme Court refused in early May to block deportations of Rohingya refugees, saying that if they are found to be foreigners under Indian law, they must be deported. On May 16, in response to the account of Rohingya forced into the sea, the court said there was no evidence to support these allegations, claiming this was a "beautifully crafted story." However, the Indian government has not denied the allegations.

India is obligated under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination to ensure the protection of everyone's rights and to prevent deprivation of citizenship on the basis of race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin, the HRW said.

India's detention and expulsion of anyone without due process violates fundamental human rights, Human Rights Watch said.

The Indian government should ensure access to fundamental procedural safeguards for anyone subject to expulsion. This includes access to full information about the grounds for deportation, competent legal representation, and an opportunity to appeal a decision to expel.

The organisation called upon the authorities to ensure that security forces and border guards do not use excessive force and should impartially investigate alleged misuse of force. Those responsible for abuses should be appropriately disciplined or prosecuted. People detained for expulsion should have access to adequate food, shelter, and medical facilities, and authorities should address the specific needs of marginalized groups, including women, children, older people, and people with disabilities.

"The Indian government is putting thousands of vulnerable people at risk in apparent pursuit of unauthorized immigrants, but their actions reflect broader discriminatory policies against Muslims," Pearson said. "The government is undercutting India's long history of providing refuge to the persecuted as it tries to generate political support."

Unlawful and discriminatory expulsions of Refugees, migrants

Indian authorities claim they are expelling people who entered India illegally from Bangladesh. While dozens of people expelled have indicated that they are Bangladeshi nationals, many have said they are not. Lack of due process has meant that many Indian nationals – mostly Bengali-speaking Muslims – have been unlawfully expelled, the HRW said in the report.

Bangladesh authorities have repeatedly said that the Indian government's unilateral actions violate established repatriation procedures and urged Indian authorities to "follow transparent, verifiable processes to address these cases in line with international standards."

At least 300 of those expelled come from Assam state, which underwent a contentious citizenship verification process in 2019 that was arbitrary and flawed, and excluded nearly two million people.

Many of the others are Bengali Muslims who migrated from India's West Bengal state to Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, and Delhi in search of work, the report said.

Assam's Flawed Citizenship Verification Process

In Assam, Bengalis suspected of being "non-original" inhabitants have long been subjected to biased citizenship verification processes. Since 1964, Foreigners Tribunals – quasi-judicial courts – have decided citizenship matters. According to state government data, as of January 2025, these tribunals have declared 165,992 people to be irregular immigrants.

Human Rights Watch research has found these bodies lack transparency, are often discriminatory against Bengali Muslims, and violate due process rights. Once a person is cleared by one tribunal, they can still be brought again before the same or different tribunals. People can be denied citizenship claims if there is a mismatch in the spelling of their names on different documents, for not mentioning certain facts in the written statements, or for minor contradictions in deposition testimony.

In August 2019, the National Register of Citizens, a flawed and discriminatory citizenship verification process in Assam, left out over 1.9 million people, including many who had lived in India for years, in some cases for their entire lives. Those excluded have to prove their citizenship through the Foreigners Tribunals.

In May, Assam's BJP chief minister, HimantaBiswaSarma, confirmed that the authorities had "pushed back" 330 alleged illegal immigrants into Bangladesh.

e assured people that those with pending appeals on their citizenship status in tribunals or courts will not be expelled, Human Rights Watch found that several people with pending appeals had been detained and expelled to Bangladesh.

The HRW alleged that the lack of due process has left many families in Assam without any redress.

Lawyers in Assam said that many people had been detained arbitrarily in recent weeks. "There is a proper legal process for deportation wherein the country of origin should confirm their nationality," said Aman Wadud, a lawyer based in Assam. On May 27, Wadud filed a complaint with India's National Human Rights Commission against the expulsions but has yet to receive a response. "They are picking people up and there is no information about their whereabouts."

In an open letter on June 5, more than 100 activists, lawyers, and academics urged the Indian government to stop the expulsions from Assam, saying they violate the rights to life and equality of those expelled. "Pushbacks also risk putting the people into grave peril by putting them in the line of fire of Bangladeshi border guards or at risk of being detained by Bangladeshi authorities for illegal border crossing," the people who signed the letter said.

Targeting Marginalised Bengali Muslim migrant workers

Several BJP-ruled states have intensified their crackdown on Bengali Muslim migrant workers, many of whom live in poverty, without first verifying their citizenship status.

In Maharashtra, the authorities have detained and expelled to Bangladesh several people who were internal migrants from India's West Bengal state, which borders Bangladesh. In Mumbai, the authorities detained and expelled at least seven workers from West Bengal, who were allowed to return only after the West Bengal state government intervened to confirm their citizenship.

Nazimuddin Sheikh, 34, a migrant worker from West Bengal, had worked as a mason in Mumbai for five years before being detained on June 9 and expelled to Bangladesh. He said the police raided his home, seized his mobile phone, and tore up his identity documents, which were proof of his citizenship. They then flew him in a BSF plane along with over 100 others to Tripura state, which borders Bangladesh. "The [BSF] did not listen to us when we told them we are Indian," he said. "If we spoke too much, they beat us. They hit me with sticks on my back and hands. They were beating us and telling us to say we are Bangladeshi."

Sheikh said he was forced to cross into Bangladesh with eight others. When he reached a village in Bangladesh, the residents let him call his relatives and then took him to a local outpost of Border Guard Bangladesh. On June 15, Bangladesh border guards handed him over to Indian officials.

Forcible returns of Rohingya refugees

The OHCHR reported that in early May Indian authorities detained dozens of Rohingya refugees in Delhi, many of whom held identification documents issued by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. About 40 of them were transferred to an Indian naval ship and forced into the sea near Myanmar with only life jackets. The refugees arrived on shore in Launglon township in Tanintharyi Region but since then their current whereabouts and condition are unknown.

An estimated 40,000 Rohingya live in India, at least 20,000 of whom are registered with the UNHCR. Since 2016, ultranationalist Hindu groups have targeted Rohingya refugees as part of growing attacks on Muslims in India and called for their expulsion from the country. In October 2018, the Indian government began forcibly deporting Rohingya to Myanmar, putting them at grave risk. Conditions for safe, voluntary, and dignified returns of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar do not currently exist.

A 20-year-old Rohingya refugee living in India said: "I escaped to India seeking safety and dignity, but the suffering did not end, it only changed form. Now, the Ministry of Home Affairs in India has issued a 30-day ultimatum: deportation or detention. My childhood was destroyed by genocide, my teenage years swallowed by refugee life filled with endless discrimination and hopelessness. And now, my adulthood faces a fate worse than anything I've survived, being sent back to a land where the genocide still continues. I fear this will not just end my life but erase the last of my hope."

In March, Andrews, the UN special rapporteur, wrote to the Indian government raising concerns about widespread, arbitrary, and indefinite detention of refugees and asylum seekers, including Rohingya refugees, from Myanmar, as well as allegations of refugees returned to danger in Myanmar. He said that the Indian government should end the arbitrary detention of refugees from Myanmar and provide independent access to detention sites.

Source: .thedailystar.net

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Investigate Arakan Army for war crimes against Rohingyas

July 24, 2025

Fortify Rights urges International Criminal Court

Human rights group Fortify Rights has urged the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate war crimes committed by the Arakan Army (AA), including abductions, torture, killings, and beheadings of Rohingya civilians.

A new investigation by Fortify Rights documents how the AA, which currently controls much of Rakhine State, has committed serious violations of the laws of war in ad-hoc detention centres and villages under its control.

"The Arakan Army is responsible for widespread abductions, brutal torture, and the murder of Rohingya, some of whom were found beheaded," said Ejaz Min Khant, Human Rights Specialist at Fortify Rights.

"The ICC has jurisdiction and should investigate and prosecute those responsible."

Since fighting broke out between the AA and Myanmar military in November 2023, around 200,000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh, joining over a million others who had escaped earlier waves of persecution, especially in 2017.

Rohingya communities now say they are being targeted by the AA, which controls nearly 90 percent of Rakhine.

Myanmar's military regime is already facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). On January 23, 2020, the ICJ ordered Myanmar to take measures to protect the Rohingya population.

Between April and July 2025, Fortify Rights interviewed 39 Rohingya survivors -- including eight women -- who survived and witnessed AA abuses in 2024 and 2025. The group also reviewed photographic and video evidence supporting the allegations.

The investigation documented multiple killings in villages and AA-run detention centres, including five reported beheadings.

The findings reveal a systematic pattern in which Rohingyas were abducted and tortured or killed in AA-controlled detention facilities and towns.

Survivors said they were detained after being falsely accused of links with Rohingya armed groups or for refusing to join the AA.

Fortify Rights also highlighted earlier incidents, including a massacre near the Naf River in Maungdaw on August 5, 2024, and an arson attack on Rohingya homes in May 2024.

While the AA has denied the allegations, it publicly admitted in January 2025 that its soldiers had tortured and executed two prisoners of war -- an act considered a war crime under international law.

In 2018, the ICC granted its chief prosecutor jurisdiction to investigate crimes related to the forced deportation of Rohingya to Bangladesh and other related acts. Fortify Rights called on the prosecutor to include AA abuses in the ongoing investigation.

 

"The Arakan Army must end its campaign of torture and killings," said Ejaz Min Khant. "If it wants to be seen as a legitimate revolutionary force, it must follow international law, protect civilians, and be held accountable for its crimes."

Source: thedailystar.net

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German Chancellor Merz tells Muslim students: Respect our constitutional order

23 July 2025

Friedrich Merz visiting Hannover medical university on 22 July, 2025. (Photo by Moritz Frankenberg - Pool/Getty Images)

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German chancellor Friedrich Merz has used a visit at a university in Hannover (Lower Saxony) to remind Muslim students to respect the Liberal constitutional order in Germany.

“Those who come to us from the Muslim world and are warmly welcomed at our universities should please remember that we are a laicist state,” Merz said in a speech at the Hannover Medical University on July 22.

Laicism is a political system characterised by the exclusion of ecclesiastical control and influence.

He stressed that at German universities, State and religion should be strictly separated in keeping with the spirit “which defines our society, namely openness, liberality, and tolerance – including religious tolerance”.

The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) MP told the audience that his government was ready to tighten the reins if need be. “I would expect this [tolerance] especially from those who study here at our universities and come from other cultural backgrounds, perhaps even from other religious affiliations. We expect this, and we will enforce it if necessary.”

The Chancellor did not further comment on how he intended to go about this enforcement.

Merz comments followed two controversial incidents at German universities in which students were required to sit separately by sex in following with Muslim customs.

In May, the Islamic University Group at the university of Kiel in northern Germany held an Islamic Week during which the student group invited a noted radical Islamist preacher as the keynote speaker and handed out Salafist literature.

Salafism is a fundamentalist movement within Sunni Islam that advocates a return to the practices of the first three generations of Muslims, believed to be the purest form of Islam.

Men and women were required to sit separately at the student group meeting. On July 16, Kiel university reacted to the allegations by revoking the Islamic University Group’s official status and rights.

In a similar incident at the Berlin Charité university hospital in June, a Muslim student group also held an event – which included a Koran reading – with separate sitting areas for male and female attendants in a university auditorium.

Source: brusselssignal.eu

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India

 

'Assam's Muslim Population Will Reach 50% by 2041: Chief Minister

Jul 23, 2025

Assam Chief Minister Himanta today said indigenous Assamese people face the threat of becoming minority in their own state due to what the BJP has been claiming "population explosion" of illegal immigrants of Bengali Muslim-origin from Bangladesh.

Mr Sarma said that based on empirical data and past census records, the minority population in the state is projected to reach nearly 50 per cent in the coming years.

Citing the 2011 census, Mr Sarma said minorities currently constitute 34 per cent of Assam's population.

Excluding the 3 per cent indigenous Assamese Muslims, he said the figure of Muslims who migrated to the state stands at 31 per cent.

"If you project that on the basis of 2021 and trends seen in 2031, you arrive at an almost 50-50 population position. This is not my take. I am just stating what is in the statistical census report," the chief minister said.

To a question by the media on Wednesday, Mr Sarma said that despite his best efforts, to the point where his "life will end", it would not  be easy to clear large hectares of encroached land in Assam. He referred to the state government's drive against encroachment of government, forest and satra lands in the state.

"29 lakhs bighas (9 lakh acres) of land were encroached upon in Assam till today. My life will finish, but it will not get vacated. An eviction drive will soon begin at Uriamghat in Golaghat. Encroached land will be clear in eastern Assam," He said.

Source: ndtv.com

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https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/assams-muslim-population-will-reach-50-in-coming-years-chief-minister-8935086

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Al-Qaida terror module busted: Gujarat ATS arrests 4 operatives linked to AQIS, seizes radical content and documents on Operation Sindoor

Jul 23, 2025

NEW DELHI: The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on Wednesday arrested four individuals for alleged links to al-Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), following a coordinated intelligence-based operation across multiple locations, officials said.The accused have been identified as Fardeen Shaikh, resident of Ahmedabad; MohdFaiq, resident of Delhi; Zeeshan Ali, resident of Noida in Uttar Pradesh; and Saifullah Qureshi, resident of Modasa in Gujarat’s Aravalli district, ANI reported. All four are alleged to have been involved in propagating the ideology of AQIS, a banned terrorist outfit, and promoting content aimed at radicalization and recruitment, officials said.

ATS DIG Sunil Joshi said the operation was launched after Deputy SP Harsh Upadhyay received a tip-off on June 10 about five Instagram accounts promoting al-Qaida ideologies. “The accounts were sharing content on a religious basis, against democracy and India,” he was quoted by ANI as saying.

A technical team was formed to monitor the activity and trace the handlers. “All four were found to be involved. They were kept under surveillance and their physical movements were also found to be suspicious,” he added.

Fardeen Shaikh was found in possession of a sword and literature related to al-Qaida. “We also recovered documents on ‘Operation Sindoor’ from him. The content was anti-Indian government, pro-Pakistani, and inciting in nature,” Joshi said. The group allegedly formed multiple Instagram groups where they circulated jihadi content and pushed for the implementation of Sharia law instead of democracy in India.

MohdFaiq, officials said, was in contact with several Pakistani Instagram accounts which supplied him with jihadi material. “They were disseminating a lot of content across India. We recovered and analyzed large amounts of data from their phones,” Joshi said.

The FIR has been registered under Sections 13, 18, 38, and 39 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and Sections 113, 152, 196, and 68 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Fardeen and Saifullah were produced before a court on Wednesday and sent to 14-day remand. The other two accused, MohdFaiq and Zeeshan Ali, will be produced in court on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Saifullah’s brother, Ameen, expressed disbelief at the arrest. “I don’t know what he did or didn’t do on his phone. He worked with a furniture company, didn’t study beyond Class 9, and used to leave for work at 9 am and return at 8 pm. Police took him at 9:30 am yesterday, we found out only at 10:30 am. Nobody used to come home to meet him,” he said.

Source: indiatimes.com

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Karnataka HC quashes case against three men booked for distributing pamphlets promoting Islam

Scroll Staff

The Karnataka High Court has quashed a first information report against three Muslim persons who were booked for distributing pamphlets promoting Islam at a Hindu temple in May, Live Law reported on Wednesday.

In the order delivered on July 17, Justice Venkatesh Naik T said that the allegations did not amount to an offence under the state’s anti-conversion law, according to Bar and Bench.

The case was registered on a complaint by a man who alleged that when he visited the Ramateerth temple in Jamkhandi city of Bagalkot district on May 4, the three persons were distributing pamphlets promoting Islamic teachings.

The man alleged that they had also offered vehicles and jobs in Dubai as incentives to encourage conversion to Islam, and criticised Hinduism.

The persons were booked under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections pertaining to deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings and punishment for criminal intimidation.

They were also charged under Section 3(5) of the Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Act, 2022, which states that converting persons through misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, allurement or any fraudulent means is considered invalid.

Quashing the case, the High Court held that even if the allegations in the FIR are accepted at face value, the persons accused in the matter had not converted or attempted to convert anybody.

The court further noted that under the Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Act, complaints about conversion through fraudulent means can only be filed by the person who has been converted or their family.

“The absence of these essential elements renders the allegations insufficient to constitute an offence under the Act,” the court said.

Source: scroll.in

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Migrants Flee Gurgaon Amid Crackdown: 400 Accused of Being Bangladeshis, Rohingyas Rounded Up; 'We’re Not Being Heard,' Says Worker

Jul 24, 2025

GURGAON: Making a living washing cars in the city for the last six years, Karimul Islam was among several Palra residents packing their bags and leaving on Wednesday.

A backpack slung over his shoulder and a one-way flight ticket in hand - paid for by his worried family back in West Bengal - 24-year-old Karimul boarded an auto, saying this was perhaps the last time he would see Gurgaon.

In this slum settlement, and in several such colonies in the city, hundreds of migrant families have either left or are preparing to leave, afraid of "being targeted" in the ongoing drive to identify Bangladeshis and Rohingyas living illegally in the Millennium City.

"I have documents like Aadhaar, voter ID, but they're not listening to anyone. They are rounding up people randomly and detaining them. I had to ask my family for money to buy a flight ticket because trains are not available at such a short notice," said Karimul.

Over the last six days, around 400 people have been rounded up in the city, according to sources, for verification of documents.

'Afraid as we don't know what's next'

Around 250 are still inside the four community centres in Sector 10A, Badshapur, Sector 40 and Manesar that are doubling as detention centres.

What is driving these fears, according to migrant workers living in these colonies, is the perception that any Bengali-speaking person could be targeted in the verification drive. Locals said around 200 migrants at Baliawas in Sector 58 had left for Assam in batches. Others accused police of assaulting their family members and picking them up randomly, saying they were "shattered to be treated like criminals".

Saminul Islam from Assam said he has been living in Baliawas for the last 15 years and calls Gurgaon home. His wife and two children are here too. "Suddenly, we are being labelled as illegal Bangladeshis. Several of our relatives have been detained in community centres even though they possess identity proofs of their citizenship. We are Indians, not criminals," he said.

"There's fear because we don't know what's going to happen next," said Panahrul Islam, who is among Palra residents to have stayed back. "Every night, we fear someone will come knocking on doors, asking for papers. But even after people show documents, they are taken away. Some have been taken away while returning from work," added Panahrul, who cleans building glass facades.

For 29-year-old Sukhi Bibi, who works as a domestic helper in housing societies in sectors 69 and 70, Friday night was a nightmare. "They took away five people from our house. If my husband had been home, he would have been taken too," she said. "They are targeting the men first. My husband and children are leaving the city. I haven't gone to work because of constant fear," she said.

Sukhi Bibi added, "Agar hum Bengal se hain, aur Bengali boltehain, to kya hum Bangladeshi hogaye? West Bengal is deshkahissahai (If we are from Bengal and speak Bengali, does that make us Bangladeshi? West Bengal is part of this country."

Asiman Bibi (20) said her husband was taken six days ago and the family has not been allowed to meet him since. "We don't know where he is. He used to clean cars. We have all his documents, but they are not even telling us which centre he's in," she said. Shabnam Bibi, who claimed that her husband was picked up despite having valid identity documents, sat outside her locked room in Sector 58 holding her two children.

"We have lived here for 12 years, worked hard, paid school fees. Now we are suddenly criminals? My husband was rounded up and I don't know where to go now," she said.

With no communication from the authorities, legal aid or clarification on the verification process, there is a vacuum in which all kinds of rumours, like talk of mass detentions and deportations, have begun to swirl, amplifying the sense of panic. "We have been working in Gurgaon for the last six years but there is no one to stand with us now. So people are just leaving with just a bag, even without tickets," said Asadul Sayeed, a scrap dealer in Palra.

Taramiya said he was among those who were rounded up in Baliawas and taken to a police station for verification four days ago. "They wrote our names in the register. When we were being taken to the police station, the cops claimed that we would be released after verification. I was released but some others detained," said the labour contractor, who is from Assam.

He alleged 11 people picked up from Sector 103 were assaulted by cops and only released when they paid Rs 1.2 lakh. "I am also being forced to leave Gurgaon with my daughters who study in class 2 and 3 at govt school in Behrampur," Taramiya added. Salilur Rehman (44) of Assam, another labour contractor, also alleged people he knew had been assaulted.

Police refuted allegations of assault and bribery and said cops were working according to protocols. "There are CCTV cameras at police stations where they were taken for verification as well as at the community centres. No such incident of assault or bribery has taken place. We are following the legal process and have already identified eight Bangladeshis who were residing here illegally. Legal proceedings have started to deport them," Gurgaon police spokesperson Sandeep Kumar said.

A detainee at Sector 10A community centre, meanwhile, said people in their settlement had decided to meet the police with their papers, rather than live in fear. "After learning about the verification drive, 16 of us went for verification voluntarily. Despite having documents, we were sent to the detention centre last Saturday. We work as contractual sanitation workers with the corporation," he said.

Source: indiatimes.com

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Ajmer Dargah's 'No Liability' Notice, For Accidents Caused By Dilapidated Structures, Draws Flak From Muslim Groups

Jul 24, 2025

AJMER: A public notice issued by the Nazim (chief executive officer) of Ajmer Dargah disowning responsibility for accidents caused by dilapidated structures within the shrine complex, has triggered widespread anger among Muslim organisations and the community's religious heads.

The notice, dated July 21, was pasted inside Dargah premises, warning devotees to avoid old or structurally weak buildings that may collapse during heavy rains. It stated, "In case of any accident or untoward incident, the individual will be solely responsible. The nazim office will not accept any legal liability."

The language and tone of the notice have been condemned by organisations from Delhi to Hyderabad, including the Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind, All India Muslim Council and the Muslim Progressive Front (Rajasthan). Several groups have demanded an immediate withdrawal of the notice and called on the ministry of minority affairs to launch an inquiry into the matter.

TOI texted and called Nazim Bilal Khan for a statement, but received no response. The Ajmer Dargah Committee functions under the ministry of minority affairs and the episode has renewed calls for greater accountability, transparency and professional oversight in the management of India's major religious heritage sites.

Sohail Khandwani, managing trustee of Haji Ali and Mahim Dargah in Mumbai, who is currently overseeing renovation work at Haji Ali, expressed dismay: "I came across the letter. I was shocked to learn that the nazim hasn't even identified which buildings are structurally unsafe, nor have any warning signs been placed. Simply issuing a letter will spark fear among devotees."

The Dargah receives 20,000 devotees on normal days, which jumps up to a lakh on Thursdays and Fridays.

Syed Nadeem Hasan Nizami, chief in-charge of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya Dargah in Delhi, called the notice a "hallmark of shamelessness and administrative negligence." He said, "Asking devotees to survey the complex, identify weak structures and then decide whether to proceed with ziyarat (visit the shrine) is absurd. What exactly is the Dargah nazim's role then? He should resign. I appeal to PM Narendra Modi to appoint qualified professionals with experience in management, auditing and public safety."

The notice follows incidents of roof collapse and water seepage in at least three mosques within the Dargah complex in the past week.

Source: indiatimes.com

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BJP Using Muslim Quota To Scuttle BC Reservations: Telangana CM

Jul 24, 2025

Hyderabad: Chief minister A Revanth Reddy on Wednesday accused the BJP of not being in favour of enhancing BC reservations. He claimed that BJP MPs from Telangana were trying to scuttle the 42% quota for the community by demanding removal of Muslim reservation in the state.

The truth, he argued, was that economically backward Muslims had been given reservation for a long time in BJP-ruled states like Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra.

"There is no Muslim reservation at all," Revanth said while talking to reporters in New Delhi. "Reservations are based on socio-economic backwardness. Be it Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Jains, or Buddhists, they follow their religion, and it has nothing to do with reservation."

He explained that besides SC and ST, reservation was extended to A, B, C, D, and E categories of socially and economically backward sections in society among BCs in Telangana. "The BJP is only trying to stop the 42% quota bills sent by the Telangana govt using the pretext of religious-based Muslim reservation," the chief minister alleged.

Revanth is in New Delhi to seek the support of all the opposition parties to exert pressure on the Centre to approve its BC reservation bill in the ongoing monsoon session of Parliament. The state govt is keen on 42% BC reservation in local bodies, and education and employment.

The chief minister, along with the deputy chief minister, Congress MPs from Telangana, and important leaders, will meet opposition leaders in the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha apart from Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi on Thursday morning. In the evening, they will give a presentation to AICC members from various states on the caste survey and the need to exert pressure on the Centre to approve the two BC Bills.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birth state is Gujarat, PM Modi's representing Lok Sabha seat is in Uttar Pradesh, and the RSS national headquarters state is Maharashtra—in all three states, the BJP govt is providing reservations to economically backward Muslims. In an interview, Union home minister Amit Shah said they sere extending Muslim reservations in Gujarat and that they would continue it. Will they suspend Amit Shah from the BJP?" he asked.

"The Centre is delaying approval of the two bills sent to it through the governor by the Telangana govt," he added. "The Telangana High Court directed the state govt to complete fixing of reservations in 30 days and the entire panchayat election process in 90 days, before September 30. The ordinance sent to the Telangana governor is aimed at removing the 50% cap on overall reservations fixed by the previous BRS govt in the Panchayat Raj Act of 2018, after which a blanket 42% BC quota can be given."

He added that the 2029 elections will be a litmus test for all the parties in terms of BC reservations. "The credit should go to Rahul Gandhi, who raised the slogan of a caste census during his Bharat Jodo Yatra and promised the people of Telangana to do it if the Congress is voted to power," he added. "We conducted a scientific and authentic survey. We have our own strategy of making the Modi govt approve the two BC bills."

Box:

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy said on Wednesday his govt made public the caste survey findings on the population of SCs, STs, BCs, Muslims, and others. "However, we cannot make public the personal information and data of the individuals as per the Digital Personal Data Protection Act. But the report submitted by the Justice Sudarshan Reddy-led independent group of experts, which analysed the caste survey data, would be discussed in the cabinet and the assembly, and then we will give access to it to the political parties."\

Source: indiatimes.com

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‘Individual liberty must give way to national interest’: J&K High Court dismisses Doda resident’s habeas corpus petition

by Arun Sharma

July 24, 2025

Where individual liberty comes into conflict with the security of the state, it must give way to the larger interest of the nation, the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has held as it dismissed a petition challenging the detention of a 27-year-old youth from Doda under the Public Safety Act.

A single-judge bench of Justice M A Chowdhary was hearing a habeas corpus petition by the detenu, Rehmatullah of Doda district’s DesaBhata, filed through his brother Mohammad Irfan.

In his petition, the detenu challenged the November 9, 2024, detention order by the Doda district magistrate on the ground that it was primarily based on five FIRs – most of which he allegedly discharged. On the remaining FIR, he claims they are “vague”, a material fact allegedly “concealed” from the detaining authority.

It then goes on to allege that a representation filed on behalf of the petitioner on November 22, 2024, was neither considered expeditiously nor was its outcome conveyed to the detenu, and that, as a result, he could not make an “effective and meaningful representation’’ to the government.

The government advocate, EishaanDadhichi, however, refuted the petitioner’s arguments, saying that his representation was duly considered and found to be “without merit”. He also argued that the detaining authority had seen the past FIRs against the detenu only in the background but relied primarily on four new ones between 2021 and 2024.

Dismissing the petition, Justice M A Chowdhary observed that the grounds of detention clearly show that the detenu was an OGW (overground worker) and a “militant sympathiser” who was detained under Public Safety Act in 2016.

The new FIRs too showed his “continuous involvement in criminal and anti-national activities without any respect of substantive law, thus posing serious threat to the security scenario of the UT of J&K, particularly, District Doda”, Justice Chowdhary observed.

“Keeping in view the activities of the detenu, the Detaining Authority after due application of mind, by arriving at subjective satisfaction has issued the order of detention, which cannot be found fault with,” the court said.

“The power of preventive detention is a precautionary power exercised in reasonable anticipation. It may or may not relate to an offence. The order of preventive detention may be made before or during prosecution and the pendency of the prosecution is not a bar to an order of preventive detention and is also not a bar to prosecution,” he observed.

In this case, the detaining authority – the district magistrate – had applied its mind by going through all the material, the past conduct of the detenu and “arrived at subjective satisfaction that the activities of the detenu were prejudicial to the interest of the State and issued the order of detention”, the court.

“Liberty of an individual has to be curtailed, within reasonable bounds, for the good of the society at large,” he said. “In a democracy governed by the rule of law, the drastic power to detain a person without trial for security of the State and/or maintenance of public order, must be strictly construed. However, where individual liberty comes into conflict with an interest of the security of the State or public order, then the liberty of the individual must give way to the larger interest of the nation.”

Source: indianexpress.com

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North America

 

CAIR Calls on Border Czar Tom Homan to Cut Ties With Anti-Muslim Hate Groups

July 23, 2025

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on the Trump administration’s border czar Tom Homan to cut and renounce his ties to anti-Muslim hate groups, including an extremist organization dedicated to opposing what it calls “the Satanic choke-hold of Islam” in America.

Earlier this month, CAIR exposed Homan’s relationship to anti-Muslim hate groups, such as The United West and ACT for America, in a special report.

“Every government official has a constitutional obligation to treat everyone in our nation equally regardless of their religion, and no hate group should play any role in influencing our nation’s policies. Border czar Tom Holman should immediately cut and renounce his ties to the anti-Muslim hate groups The United West and ACT for America, which have spent years fomenting dangerous bigotry against the American Muslim community and threatening the U.S. Constitution’s guarantee of religious freedom. Until Mr. Holman does so, he himself must be identified as an anti-Muslim extremist alongside these groups and their founders.”

As recently as May 2025, Homan publicly collaborated with Tom Trento’s The United West, which has been designated an anti-Muslim hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center and CAIR. Despite Trento’s long-standing record of anti-Muslim rhetoric, such as declaring “Islam is the enemy,” Homan was scheduled to participate in an immigration-themed tour to Israel alongside Trento in May. Homan previously tapped the anti-Muslim hate group to help run a border project for him in 2020.

Homan also has a relationship with Brigette Gabriel’s ACT for America, designated an anti-Muslim hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. Homan was listed as a “special dinner gala honoree” for a convention held by the group in 2018.

ACT once was considered the nation’s largest anti-Muslim hate group. Its founder Brigitte Gabriel infamously said to an audience at the Pentagon, “If a Muslim who has — who is — a practicing Muslim who believes the word of the Koran to be the word of Allah, who abides by Islam, who goes to mosque and prays every Friday, who prays five times a day — this practicing Muslim, who believes in the teachings of the Koran, cannot be a loyal citizen to the United States of America.”

Source: cair.com

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Everyone Is Invited To Hometown Mercy Mosque Halal Fest

Jul 23, 2025

ILLINOIS — Multiple Illinois breweries took home awards at this year's U.S. Open Beer Championship.

The 2025 competition saw more than 8,000 beers submitted from breweries across the nation, and Illinois breweries walked away with 20 medals this year. Representing more than 170 diverse categories, the competition honors the creativity and craftsmanship of American brewers.

Some specific breweries earned more than one medal this year, including Brothership Brewing in Mokena and Werk Force Brewing Co. in Plainfield, which both earned three awards.

Brothership took home gold in the hazy/juicy strong pale ale category for its Antimatter beer; silver in the New England/juicy DIPA category for its Sauced in Space beer; and bronze in the Mexican lager/pilsener category for its El OVNI beer.

Werk Force earned Gold in the chili pepper beer category for its Barrel Aged Hell Bear beer; and silver in the barrel-aged strong stout/porter category for its 3-year barrel-aged family reserve sleepy bear beer. It also took home gold for its collaboration with Rocky Reef Brewing Co. from Wisconsin for their Stupid Sticky Fingers dark beer.

More Brewing Co, which has multiple locations throughout the state in Bartlett, Huntley and Villa Park, scored two awards. The brewery earned silver for its Milkshake IPA strawberry double marbles beer and its Muese Valley beer in the Barrel-Aged Quad/Belgian Dark Ale category.

Adams Street Brewery in Chicago also took home two accolades, earning gold in both the Foreign Stout category for its Der Reisende beer and the Historical Beer: Kentucky Common category for its steam engine beer.

Other Illinois winners at the 2025 U.S. Open Beer Championship include:

New England/Juicy DIPA

Gold: Indistinguishable From Magic – Triptych Brewing

Pastry Stout

Gold: Kodiak’s Revenge BBA – Raspberry Pâczki Ike & Oak Brewing Co

English Summer Ale

Gold: Farmhouse – Crystal Lake Brewing

Imperial Stout/Porter

Gold: Thick Thighs and Luscious Eyes – Hop District Community Brewing Co.

Belgian and French Ale

Silver: If You Want Blond… – BBGB Brewery and Hop Farm

Belgian Tripel

Gold: Bel Ringer – 9th Hour Brewing Company

Italian Pilsener

Silver: Antonio – Brother Chimp Brewing

Mexican Lager/Pilsener

Gold: San Carlos Especial – Riverlands Brewing Company

Barrel-Aged Strong/Porter Extreme (12.5%+)

Silver: Sir Blends A-Lot #5 – Mikerphone Brewing

Historical Beer – C: Grodziskie

Silver: Grodziskie – Goldfinger Brewing Company

Source: patch.com

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CAIR Calls House Foreign Affairs Committee ‘Hotbed of Islamophobia and Anti-Palestinian Racism’ After Randy Fine Added

July 23, 2025

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today said that Speaker Mike Johnson has turned the House Foreign Affairs Committee into an “Israel First hotbed of Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism” after the committee added Rep. Randy Fine, who is notorious for extremely racist, anti-Palestinian, and anti-Muslim statements and advocating Israel First policies.

A post by the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Twitter welcomed Rep. Fine to the committee. The committee is led by Rep. Brian Mast, who previously compared the civilians of Gaza to Nazis and endorsed the bombing of civilian homes.

“The House Foreign Affairs Committee’s top priority should be representing the American people and advancing American interests, not the interests of the Israeli government. Yet the committee is led by Brian Mast, who has equated Palestinian civilians with Nazis and walked through the halls of Congress wearing an IDF uniform, and now includes Randy Fine, who has celebrated an image of a dead Palestinian baby, threatened Muslim members of Congress, and called for nuking two million people in Gaza. Speaker Johnson has turned the House Foreign Affairs Committee into a hotbed of Islamophobia. As long as the Committee platforms genocidal racists and Israel Firsters like Mr. Mast and Mr. Fine, it will have no credibility.”

As early as 2021, Fine openly endorsed violence against Muslims and Palestinians on his social media accounts. In June, in response to an X (formerly Twitter) post with an image of a Palestinian infant reportedly killed by an Israeli air strike, Fine responded with “Thanks for the pic!” That same year, Fine defended the bombing of a building with American journalists inside, publicly responding “Yes!” to a post inquiring if it was okay that reporters were among the targets. In another incident, he privately wrote “Go blow yourself up!” to a Florida Muslim after they challenged his social media posts, calling on an Islamophobic trope that Muslims are prone to violence or suicide bombings.

Fine’s attacks on Muslim and Palestinian communities only increased following the latest escalation of violence in Israel and Palestine in 2023.

In December 2023, as Palestinians awaited much-needed humanitarian aid, Fine mocked them, posting on his X account, “Stop the trucks. Let them eat rockets. There are plenty of those. #BombsAway.” Fine’s statement to deny Palestinians lifesaving aid effectively amounts to collective punishment of a civilian population. In September 2024, Fine brazenly celebrated the recent killing of 26-year-old Turkish-American activist AysenurEzgiEygi, writing that it was “One less #MuslimTerrorist,” and further promoted violence against American citizens, encouraging the Israeli government to “#FireAway.”

Upon his bid to run for the U.S. House of Representatives, Fine has only become more emboldened in his violent and bigoted rhetoric toward American Muslim and Palestinian communities.

In November 2024, Fine warned Representatives Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) and Ilhan Omar (D-MN) that they should “consider leaving before [he] gets there,” followed by “#BombsAway,” an open threat against two Muslim members of Congress. Later, in 2025, Fine wrote to Tlaib again, calling her a “Muslim terrorist” and once more endorsed withholding aid from starving Palestinian civilians to whom Tlaib called attention.

Fine’s blatant Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian bigotry extends beyond members of Congress. In another X post from January 2025, Fine wrote that he was working on “the need to solve America’s #MuslimProblem,” invoking a common Islamophobic stereotype that an entire religious community poses a threat to American national security. In March 2025, while serving in the Florida State Senate, Fine told a member of the public wearing a keffiyeh, a symbol of Palestinian culture, to “enjoy your terrorist rag” and defended his anti-Palestinian remarks by claiming: “I’m the chairman, I can say whatever I want.” Later, in June, Fine’s rhetoric escalated, as he publicly called “for all ‘Palestinian’ organizations to be federally-designated terror organizations” in a post on X.

Fine’s racist and violent rhetoric against Muslim and Palestinian populations abroad has also escalated. In May 2025, Fine suggested on national television that the United States should use nuclear weapons against Gaza, invoking the atomic bombings of Japan as a model for dealing with Palestinians. When asked to explain this genocidal rhetoric, he doubled down with a racist and dehumanizing response, claiming that half of Gaza’s population is “married to their cousins” and has “mental defects,” and that “you’ve got to have a mental defect to interpret the comment that way.”

Source: cair.com

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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-calls-house-foreign-affairs-committee-hotbed-of-islamophobia-and-anti-palestinian-racism-after-randy-fine-added/

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South Asia

 

Afghanistan Ranked Lowest in 2025 Global Passport Index Once Again

July 23, 2025

By Fidel Rahmati

The Henley Passport Index for 2025 has once again ranked the Afghanistan passport as the least powerful in the world. According to this year’s report, Afghanistan is placed at the bottom of the list—ranked 106th—making it the most restricted passport globally.

The Henley Index, published annually using exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), evaluates passports based on the number of destinations their holders can access without a visa. Countries whose passports offer the highest travel freedom are placed at the top of the list.

In 2025, Singapore claimed the top position, allowing its citizens visa-free access to 195 countries. Japan followed closely in second place, with access to 193 countries without a visa. Finland, France, Germany, Italy, South Korea, and Spain shared third place, with visa-free access to 192 destinations.

Afghanistan’s passport allows entry to only 26 countries without a visa. Among these are Sri Lanka, Somalia, Kenya, Cambodia, and Bangladesh. Compared to 2024, Afghanistan has fallen two places, from 104th to 106th, further reducing its already limited travel freedom.

Notably, despite being under Taliban control, Afghanistan passports are still printed with the emblem of the previous government. The combination of ongoing political instability and economic hardship has intensified migration, while at the same time making it increasingly difficult for citizens to even obtain this low-ranking passport.

The steady decline in passport power reflects the deteriorating global standing of Afghanistan, as well as the isolation its citizens face. The limited access to the world not only restricts individual mobility but also symbolizes broader diplomatic and economic exclusion.

Addressing the root causes—political instability, lack of international recognition, and economic collapse—remains essential if Afghanistan is to regain its standing on the global stage. Without such changes, the Afghanistan passport is likely to remain at the bottom of international rankings for years to come.

Source:khaama.com

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Kabul, Islamabad Ink Trade Deal to Cut Tariffs

July 23, 2025

By Fidel Rahmati

Pakistan and the Taliban signed a preferential trade agreement today, Wednesday, aimed at reducing customs tariffs on several export items. The agreement seeks to strengthen bilateral trade and boost economic exchanges between the two neighboring countries.

According to the Taliban’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the deal was signed in Islamabad between AhmadullahZahid, Taliban Deputy Minister for Industry and Commerce, and JavedPaal, Pakistan’s Deputy Minister of Commerce. Both sides have expressed their commitment to implementing the terms efficiently.

The agreement is set to come into effect on August 1, 2025, and will remain valid for one year. However, the document allows for the possibility of extension if both parties agree. This flexibility indicates a willingness to deepen long-term trade cooperation.

One of the key components of the agreement is a significant reduction in customs duties—from over 60 percent to 27 percent—on eight major export goods. This includes four Afghanistan products—grapes, pomegranates, apples, and tomatoes—and four Pakistani goods—mangoes, kinnows (mandarins), bananas, and plums.

Both Pakistani and Taliban officials have expressed hope that this tariff reduction will strengthen regional markets, support local farmers and producers, and expand mutual economic ties. The agreement also states that more items may be added to the list of preferential goods in the future, depending on the needs of both parties.

This agreement marks a new chapter in trade relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan. It reflects a shared economic interest that could pave the way for improved political and diplomatic engagement over time.

If successfully implemented, the deal could not only stimulate local economies but also encourage stability through economic interdependence. It remains to be seen how the agreement will play out in practice, but it certainly represents a step forward in regional cooperation.

Source:khaama.com

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Russian Security Forces Foil Terror Plot Targeting Oil Refinery, Uzbekistani Suspect Detained

July 23, 2025

By Fidel Rahmati

The Federal Security Service of Russia has announced that it successfully prevented a terrorist attack that was being planned against an industrial oil refinery located in the Kuban region of the country. Authorities claim the planned attack was aimed at disrupting operations and spreading fear.

According to the security service, the individual involved is a citizen of Uzbekistan. He had allegedly devised a plan to set fire to the dormitory building of the oil refinery as part of a coordinated act of sabotage.

Investigations revealed that the suspect intended to record a video of the building engulfed in flames and then distribute the footage online. This action was reportedly aimed at causing panic and terror through digital platforms and social media.

Authorities also stated that the man was acting under instructions from an international terrorist organization. After committing the arson, he had planned to leave Russia and travel to Afghanistan to join the ranks of that militant group.

The Russian state news agency TASS reported that the suspect has been taken into temporary custody. Officials confirmed that an in-depth investigation into his motives, connections, and communications has already begun and remains ongoing.

This foiled attack once again highlights the global nature of modern terrorism and the challenges governments face in preventing cross-border threats. Russia’s internal security apparatus appears to have acted swiftly to neutralize the danger before any harm was done to civilian infrastructure or personnel.

The case serves as a stark reminder of how digital platforms can be used to spread extremist propaganda and incite fear. It also emphasizes the importance of regional and international cooperation to detect, intercept, and dismantle the networks that support these kinds of violent plots.

Source: khaama.com

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Kabul, Moscow Seek to Expand Bilateral Ties Following Recognition of Islamic Emirate

July 23, 2025

KABUL(BNA): Mawlavi Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, engaged in a telephone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to discuss the strengthening of political ties between Afghanistan and Russia.

During the call, both officials emphasized the importance of economic cooperation and addressed various regional issues. Minister Muttaqi expressed appreciation for Russia’s decision to recognize the Islamic Emirate, highlighting it as a pivotal moment that opens avenues for enhanced political and economic collaboration. He noted that this recognition marks an unprecedented step toward integrating Afghanistan into the international community.

Additionally, Foreign Minister Muttaqi underscored the necessity of joint efforts in combating drug trafficking and promoting regional projects and transportation corridors.

Lavrov echoed MawlaviMuttaqi’s sentiments, stating that Russia’s recognition has created unparalleled opportunities for cooperation on political, economic, and international fronts. He reassured that tangible outcomes from this partnership would manifest soon. The Russian Foreign Minister also commended the Islamic Emirate’s initiatives in tackling drug issues and bolstering security.

In a gesture to deepen ties, Lavrov formally invited Minister Muttaqi to participate in the upcoming Moscow-format meeting, which aims to facilitate further discussions on bilateral engagement and regional cooperation.

Source: bakhtarnews.af

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Muttaqi says normalizing ties with US needs time

July 23, 2025

KABUL (Pajhwok): Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Maulvi Amir Khan Muttaqi on Wednesday said the Islamic Emirate was ready to interact with all countries based on mutual respect and was also in contact and direct bilateral meetings with the United States of America.

He was speaking at a program to explain one year’s achievements of government agencies. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs presented its achievements for the past year.

Muttaqi said the Islamic Emirate was ready to interact with all countries on the basis of mutual respect and efforts were also in place to get the IEA recognized by other countries following Russia.

“After Russia, we are very optimistic about which countries will recognize the Islamic Emirate. We have made great progress in this area. We sent diplomats in the first step, then it came to ambassadors. Now the matter of recognition is ongoing and all this will come to light in due course.”

He added it was natural that countries had their own internal issues, regional partnerships, and international relations. These will gradually come to a noticeable position and this process will move forward in the future.

The Acting Foreign Minister said like other countries Afghanistan also needed recognition for international interaction and it was Afghanistan’s right, which should be given to it.

Regarding relations between the Islamic Emirate and the United States, Muttaqi said: “We are in contact with the United States, we have direct bilateral meetings and we also have meetings in some processes, such as the Doha process, in which all countries are involved.”

He added they had also discussed with the United States about the Afghan embassy in the country, especially consular services because tens of thousands of Afghans lived in the US and consular services were their human right.

“Naturally, countries like the United States need time to normalize their relations with Afghanistan.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said diplomats sent to Germany will provide consular services to Afghans there and talks will be held with Germany in the future and many developments will be made.

He added about Afghanistan’s seat in the United Nations: “Afghanistan’s seat in the United Nations is Afghanistan’s right. Because who represents the person sitting in that seat now, what system he represents, even the person who represented the previous regime led by Ashraf Ghani does not exist anymore, it is someone else who is sitting there, the rights of Afghanistan have been usurped there and these rights must be returned to Afghanistan, our efforts are ongoing in this regard and we are also asking countries to do the same.”

He said Afghanistan had more than 40 consulates and embassies in other countries and this number was increasing with each passing day.

Continuing his speech, the Acting Minister said that now all those dreams in Afghanistan that the rule of the Islamic Emirate would be “unwillingly shaken” had been proven wrong.

According to him: “Issues that are common to the whole world, such as the issue of security, which was a major concern for many countries in Afghanistan, today, thank God, there is no armed group outside the central government in Afghanistan.”

Addressing the event, Director of Consular Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maulvi ShoaibBaralai, said that the ministry issued visas to about 250,000 foreigners from 176 countries last year, showing a 60 percent increase in visa issuance compared to previous years.

He said: “We give good news to Afghans living in European countries that in the near future, the passport printing center in Bonn, Germany, will be reactivated after a four-year pause. With the resumption of these services, the problems of Afghan citizens in European countries regarding passports will be actively addressed.”

He said that passport services have been provided to about 200,000 Afghan citizens through the diplomatic and consular missions of the Afghan government abroad.

He said that in order to address the problems of Afghan citizens abroad, the process of issuing passports was currently underway in 29 diplomatic and consular missions; while last year, these services were available in only 17 missions.

According to his information, the Consular Affairs Department currently provides certification services for 79 types of certified documents, while previously this number was only 49 types of documents.

Source: pajhwok.com

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Advisory council forms new pay commission

July 24, 2025

The council of advisers, led by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, has formed a new pay commission for government officials and employees under the National Pay Scale.

Former finance secretary Zakir Ahmed Khan has been appointed as the head of the commission.

The pay commission will submit their report in six months.

Shafiqul Alam, press secretary to the chief adviser, confirmed the information in a Facebook post today.

Source:.thedailystar.net

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Europe

 

Anti-dog flyer resurfaces online, attracts hateful rhetoric toward Canadian Muslims

July 23, 2025

Images of a sign allegedly requesting people in British Columbia province restrain their dogs as a courtesy to Muslim members of the community circulated to much outrage online in July 2025. But the posts do not acknowledge that the pictures are more than eight years ago old and it remains unclear who originally made the flyers, which both the local government and the non-profit cited in the text deny sponsoring.

"Residents of Vancouver, Canada, have spotted several signs around the city asking people to keep their dogs away, as dogs are considered filthy and 'haram' in Islam," reads the caption of a July 13, 2025 X photo. "Canadians, expected to give UP all you are to become what they fled from."

The attached image shows a leaflet asking people to "be courteous to your Muslim neighbours" by keeping dogs on a leash and away from people practicing Islam supposedly due to religious convictions about the animals.

Claims about the picture also appeared in online articles and on TikTok and Facebook where it was widely viewed in a post by American conservative commentator David J Harris Jr, who has previously spread misinformation.

Comments on some of the posts disparagingly implied owners could bring their dogs wherever they liked and that Muslims needed to assimilate to Canada.

Other recent posts shared the image but claimed the flyer was seen in the United Kingdom.

AFP previously fact-checked claims in Canada misrepresenting Muslims' beliefs and actions.

As the country's once long-standing immigration consensus has broken down, misleading claims frequently circulate on newcomers in general.

The recent posts about supposed anti-dog posters are similarly missing context.

A reverse image search reveals images of the flyers have been online since 2017.

That year, local media reported on the appearance of the signs at an off-leash park in the town of Pitt Meadows, British Columbia, outside of Vancouver.

No one ever came forward to claim responsibility for the action, but the City of Pitt Meadows and the non-profit Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), which were advertised as alleged sponsors of the campaign on the flyer both stated they do not endorse the leaflets' message.

The image frequently reappears online and, in an August 2024 statement (archived here), Pitt Meadows officials said whoever created the sign was not authorized to use the city's logo and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police had been aware of the incident since 2017.

"Pitt Meadows is a welcoming multi-cultural community and this post does not represent the City or its community members," the statement says.

"Like other municipalities, the City of Pitt Meadows has a bylaw that asks dog owners to keep their pets on a leash, except in designated off-leash areas," it adds.

The city also noted no physical signs have been found in Pitt Meadows since 2017.

AFP reached out to CAIR for comment about the posters and did not receive a response but the non-profit previously told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation it did not participate in any sort of flyer campaign, while noting that Islam does not explicitly prohibit dog ownership.

CAIR also speculated on whether the appearance of the leaflets was an Islamophobic trolling campaign, while disinformation researchers cited evidence that a similar 2016 anti-dog flyer incident targeting the Muslim community in Manchester England may have been hatched on 4chan (archived here).

France24 reported on the resurgence of the Canadian sign in April 2025, along with several similar hoaxes in the United Kingdom, which were also recently covered by British fact-checking organization FullFact.

In February, British organization Tell MAMA reported the highest-ever number of incidents of anti-Muslim hate in the United Kingdom, while Canadian groups have also raised alarm about instances of Islamophobia (archived here). Statistics Canada recorded a steady rise in police-reported hate crimes targeting Muslims between 2020 and 2024, behind the number and increase of anti-Semitic incidents (archived here).

Source: factcheck.afp.com

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Second man charged after mosque stabbing disorder

24 July 2025

A second man has been charged over a stabbing outside a mosque that was followed by an armed street fight and other violent attacks, police have said.

Lancashire Police found a man with stab wounds in his back outside the Raza Jamia Masjid in Accrington on Friday, and were later that day called to reports of a fight on nearby streets and an incident where another man was found stabbed in the neck.

The force said Aiwaz Hussain, 22, has been charged with section 18 wounding after the three incident, which officers are treating as linked.

It comes after Ishtaq Hussain, 33, of no fixed address, was charged with a range of offences after the disorder.

Hussain was charged with section 18 wounding with intent, section 18 grievous bodily harm with intent, possession of a bladed article, and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place.

Both Ishtaq Hussain and Aiwaz Hussain have appeared before Blackburn Magistrates Court.

Neck wounds

Detective were called to the mosque on Lower Antley Street about 14:30 BST and found a man in his 40s with stab wounds to his back.

The force said he had since been discharged from hospital.

Later that day at about 17:15, officers were called to Steiner Street where "a dozen people were fighting in the street with weapons", a police spokesman said.

Minutes later police were also called to an assault on Craven Street where a man was found with stab injuries in his neck.

He was taken to hospital and is in a serious but stable condition, police said.

Officers have said they want to track down three other men from Accrington who have link to Coventry and the West Midlands in connection with the attack outside the mosque.

The force has also appealed for anyone with information about the disorder, including any footage, to come forward.

A 36-year-old man, a 33-year-old woman and a 36-year-old woman, all from Accrington and all arrested on suspicion of affray, have been released on bail pending further enquiries, police added.

Source: bbc.com

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Ukraine attacks southern Russia with drones

24 Jul, 2025

Ukrainian drones targeted the Black Sea resort city of Sochi and the nearby Sirius educational hub in southern Russia early on Thursday, local officials have said.

Veniamin Kondratyev, the governor of the Krasnodar Region which came under attack, reported that two women were killed when an intercepted drone fell to the ground. Elsewhere, a total of 11 people were wounded, with four of them sent to hospital for treatment, the official said.

One drone hit an oil terminal in the Sirius federal territory, according to Mayor Dmitry Plishkin. The district, established in 2020, serves as a technological and educational hub, as well as a training center for young athletes.

Telegram news channels reported that students and tourists were evacuated to shelters and underground parking lots. Locals described hearing air raid sirens and up to 20 explosions across different parts of Sochi.

The latest strike occurred just hours after Russia and Ukraine concluded a third round of talks in Istanbul, during which Moscow proposed short truces to allow both sides to evacuate wounded troops and recover bodies from the battlefield.

According to top Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky, Moscow also proposed a new prisoner swap involving at least 1,200 POWs from each side and offered to return the bodies of 3,000 more fallen Ukrainian soldiers.

Source: rt.com

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Obama’s role in ‘Russia Hoax lies’ exposed – Gabbard

23 Jul, 2025

US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard on Wednesday released a previously classified congressional report, which she claims debunks "Russia Hoax lies" – a coordinated effort by former President Barack Obama to distort intelligence regarding Moscow’s alleged role in the 2016 election.

This marks Gabbard’s second major declassification move, following her earlier allegation of a “treasonous conspiracy” aimed at undermining Donald Trump’s presidency.

The newly public document – produced by the House Intelligence Committee in 2020 under Republican leadership – challenges the analytical foundation for the conclusion that Russian President Vladimir Putin sought to help then-candidate Trump win the election. It criticizes the CIA for failing to adhere to its own standards, citing “one scant, unclear, and unverifiable fragment of a sentence from one of the substandard reports” as the basis for its assessment that Putin favored Trump.

In a post on X on Wednesday, Gabbard called the report a “bombshell,” asserting it reveals “the most egregious weaponization and politicization of intelligence in American history.” She accused Obama and his senior officials of collaborating with media allies to delegitimize Trump through what she described as a deliberate disinformation campaign.

“They conspired to subvert the will of the American people,” Gabbard wrote, claiming the effort amounted to a “years-long coup” against Trump.

The report also claims Obama issued “unusual directives” to accelerate the release of the intelligence assessment before Trump’s inauguration, bypassing normal interagency coordination procedures within the intelligence community.

Gabbard has argued that these actions warrant a criminal investigation and accused Obama-era officials of manufacturing a false narrative to discredit a sitting president. Trump has endorsed her findings, calling for prosecutions of Obama and top members of his administration.

She also claimed that internal US intelligence assessments consistently concluded Russia lacked both the capability and intent to interfere in the 2016 election – but that these findings were deliberately suppressed.

Russia has denied any involvement in US elections, and President Putin has repeatedly stated that Moscow does not favor any particular American political candidate.

Source: rt.com

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https://www.rt.com/news/621884-obama-ordered-putin-trump-reports/

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Southeast Asia

 

Pre-Marriage Course Speakers Must Be Legally Literate To Build Shariah-Compliant Families

theSun Local

2025-07-24

PUTRAJAYA: Speakers involved in Islamic Pre-Marriage Course in Malaysia must possess a clear and thorough understanding of Syariah law to ensure accurate, meaningful instructions, which go beyond emotional appeal, to strengthen participants’ grasp of Islamic legal principles.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), Datuk Dr MohdNa’im Mokhtar, said that marriage education is no longer a mere formality, but a crucial gateway to building principled, Syariah-compliant, and resilient families.

“So these speakers must be legally literate. The knowledge they share should not be general or emotional alone, but should enhance participants’ readiness to establish a family that upholds Islamic rights and responsibilities,” he said when opening the National Convention of Islamic Pre-Marriage Course Speakers 2025 here today.

In his speech, MohdNa’im emphasised that the MBKPI (Integrated Module for Islamic Pre-Marriage Course) speakers are not only educators, but also spiritual guides (da’i) and mentors (murabbi) entrusted with shaping the future of Muslim families.

“Fulfil this trust guided by the five core values of al-Falah, namely knowledge, integrity, excellence, consistency and sincerity. These are the hallmarks of a true preacher, who doesn’t just deliver content but inspires a shared vision of a harmonious society,” the minister said.

MohdNa’im further stressed that an understanding of Islamic family law must align with Maqasid Syariah, as defined by Imam al-Shatibi, which is to protect the religion, life, intellect, lineage, and property.

“The MBKPI syllabus, which covers topics such as guardianship (wali), maintenance (nafkah), and divorce, reflects these objectives in a contemporary context. Therefore, the speaker’s role is not merely theoretical; it is about guiding participants to live as faithful Muslims and responsible citizens,” he added.

This year’s convention gathered 1,674 registered speakers from across the country who are actively involved in community education through Islamic pre-marriage courses. - Bernama

Source: thesun.my

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https://thesun.my/malaysia-news/pre-marriage-course-speakers-must-be-legally-literate-to-build-syariah-compliant-families-ED14534541

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Anwar urges collective approach for fatwa decisions in Malaysia

theSun Local

2025-07-24

KUALA LUMPUR: Fatwa institutions must operate collectively and ensure that any fatwa or religious edict issued is based on information gathering and in-depth analysis of the issue by qualified experts, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

In a Facebook post on Wednesday (July 23), Anwar said the matter was among those discussed during his meeting today with the Penang State Fatwa Committee led by Penang Mufti Assoc Prof Dr MohdSukki Othman.

“The responsibility of issuing fatwas is a noble and vital duty in providing clarity on religious rulings for the understanding of the ummah (Muslim community).

“The ummah needs fatwas that are in line with local realities and the current era, in addition to developing new skills in dealing with contemporary issues and challenges for the benefit of society,” he said.

In the same post, Anwar said he and members of the Penang State Fatwa Committee also exchanged views on the development of Islamic scholarship, especially in matters related to fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence), maqasidsyariah (objectives of Islamic law) and efforts to strengthen fatwa-related research. - Bernama

Source: thesun.my

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https://thesun.my/malaysia-news/anwar-urges-collective-approach-for-fatwa-decisions-in-malaysia-FD14533143

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FMM urges Putrajaya to gazette Sept 15 holiday to give firms clarity, aid compliance

By Malay Mail

24 Jul 2025

KUALA LUMPUR, July 24 — The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) has called on the government to urgently gazette the September 15 public holiday to provide legal clarity to employers.

The additional holiday that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced yesterday in a special address has triggered concerns within the manufacturing sector over compliance and planning, the group said.

FMM said many businesses remain unclear whether the holiday falls under Section 8 or Section 9 of the Holidays Act 1951, which would affect their obligations under the Employment Act 1955.

“This is critical to provide legal clarity and enable businesses to plan operations, workforce scheduling, and ensure compliance with the Employment Act 1955,” said FMM president Tan Sri SohThian Lai.

The group warned that manufacturers operating on shift-based or continuous cycles face higher risks from such unplanned disruptions.

The four-day stretch from Saturday to Tuesday may force production lines to halt and restart, which FMM said would be inefficient and costly.

It added that the cascading effects on supply chains, logistics and delivery timelines would be especially difficult for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to manage.

FMM advised employers to prepare buffer stock, adjust schedules, and communicate with workers, customers and suppliers to minimise operational risks.

The group also reminded businesses to monitor the gazette and consider using the substitution option under Section 8, if applicable.

It then reiterated its view that “policy announcements must reflect clarity, consistency, certainty, and credibility,” adding that ad hoc decisions could undermine Malaysia’s attractiveness to investors.

Source: malaymail.com

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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/07/24/fmm-urges-putrajaya-to-gazette-sept-15-holiday-to-give-firms-clarity-aid-compliance/184976

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Mideast

 

Hamas confirms it responded to latest Gaza truce proposal

July 24, 2025

GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories: Hamas confirmed on Thursday that it has responded to an Israeli proposal for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, after more than two weeks of indirect talks in Qatar have failed to yield a truce.

“Hamas has just submitted its response and that of the Palestinian factions to the ceasefire proposal to the mediators,” the Palestinian militant group said in a statement on Telegram.

The response included proposed amendments to clauses on the entry of aid, maps of areas from which the Israeli army should withdraw, and guarantees on securing a permanent end to the war, according to a Palestinian source familiar with ongoing talks in Doha.

Negotiators from both sides have been holding indirect talks in Doha with mediators in an attempt to reach an agreement on a truce deal that would see the release of Israeli hostages.

Of the 251 hostages taken during Hamas’s 2023 attack, 49 are still being held in Gaza, including 27 the Israeli military says are dead.

But the talks have dragged on for more than two weeks without a breakthrough, with each side blaming the other for refusing to budge on their key demands.

For Israel, dismantling Hamas’s military and governing capabilities is non-negotiable, while Hamas demands firm guarantees on a lasting truce, a full withdrawal of Israeli troops and the free flow of aid into Gaza.

Israeli government spokesman David Mencer on Wednesday accused Hamas of obstructing talks.

“Israel has agreed to the Qatari proposal and the updated (US special envoy Steve) Witkoff proposal, it is Hamas that is refusing,” Mencer told reporters, adding that Israel’s negotiating team was still in Doha and talks were ongoing.

The United States said Witkoff will head to Europe this week for talks on a possible ceasefire and an aid corridor.

More than 100 aid organizations warned on Wednesday that “mass starvation” was spreading in Gaza.

Source:arabnews.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Storyhttps://www.arabnews.com/node/2609220/middle-east

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More than 100 NGOs warn ‘mass starvation’ spreading across Gaza

July 23, 2025

JERUSALEM: More than 100 aid organizations and human rights groups warned on Wednesday that “mass starvation” was spreading in Gaza, as the United States said its top envoy was heading to Europe for talks on a possible ceasefire and aid corridor.

Israel is facing mounting international pressure over the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza, where more than two million people are facing severe shortages of food and other essentials after 21 months of conflict.

But it denied blocking supplies, saying that 950 trucks’ worth of aid were in Gaza waiting for international agencies to collect and distribute.

“We have not identified starvation at this current point in time but we understand that action is required to stabilize the humanitarian situation,” an unnamed senior Israeli security official was quoted as saying by the Times of Israel.

On the ground, the Israeli military said it was operating in Gaza City and the north, and had hit dozens of “terror targets” across the Palestinian territory.

Gaza’s civil defense agency told AFP that Israeli strikes killed 17 people overnight, including a pregnant woman in Gaza City.

The United Nations said on Tuesday that Israeli forces had killed more than 1,000 Palestinians trying to get food since the US- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) started operations in late May — effectively sidelining the longstanding UN-led system.

A statement with 111 signatories, including Doctors Without Borders (MSF), Save the Children and Oxfam, warned that “our colleagues and those we serve are wasting away.”

The groups called for an immediate negotiated ceasefire, the opening of all land crossings and the free flow of aid through UN-led mechanisms.

The United States said its envoy Steve Witkoff will head to Europe this week for talks on Gaza and may then visit the Middle East.

Witkoff comes with “a strong hope that we will come forward with another ceasefire as well as a humanitarian corridor for aid to flow, that both sides have in fact agreed to,” State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce told reporters.

Even after Israel began easing a more than two-month aid blockade in late May, Gaza’s population is still suffering extreme scarcities.

Israel says humanitarian aid is being allowed into Gaza and accuses Hamas of exploiting civilian suffering, including by stealing food handouts to sell at inflated prices or shooting at those awaiting aid.

GHF said the United Nations, which refuses to work with it, “has a capacity and operational problem” and called for “more collaboration” to deliver life-saving aid.

COGAT, the Israeli defense ministry body that oversees civil affairs in the Palestinian territories, said nearly 4,500 trucks entered Gaza recently, with flour, baby food and high-calorie food for children.

But it said there had been “a significant decline in the collection of humanitarian aid” by international organizations in the past month.

“This collection bottleneck remains the main obstacle to maintaining a consistent flow of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip,” it added.

Aid agencies, though, said permissions from Israel were still limited and coordination to move trucks to where they are needed — and safely — was a major challenge.

The humanitarian organizations said warehouses with tons of supplies were sitting untouched just outside the territory, and even inside, as they were blocked from delivering the goods.

“Palestinians are trapped in a cycle of hope and heartbreak, waiting for assistance and ceasefires, only to wake up to worsening conditions,” the signatories said.

“It is not just physical torment, but psychological. Survival is dangled like a mirage,” they added.

“The humanitarian system cannot run on false promises. Humanitarians cannot operate on shifting timelines or wait for political commitments that fail to deliver access.”

The head of Gaza’s largest hospital said Tuesday that 21 children had died due to malnutrition and starvation in the Palestinian territory over the previous three days.

Mediators have been shuttling between Israeli and Hamas negotiators in Doha since July 6 in search of an elusive truce, with expectations that Witkoff would join the talks as they entered their final stages.

More than two dozen Western governments called on Monday for an immediate end to the war, saying suffering in Gaza had “reached new depths.”

Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has killed 59,219 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.

Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which sparked the war, resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.

Source: arabnews.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original https://www.arabnews.com/node/2609146/middle-east

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Canada calls for immediate resumption of UN-led aid in Gaza

July 24, 2025

OTTAWA: The Canadian government said on Wednesday that Israeli military operations against civilians and aid workers in Gaza were unacceptable, and called for the immediate resumption of UN-led aid distribution in the war-torn enclave.

“Israeli military operations against WHO staff and facilities, World Food Programme aid convoys, & the ongoing killing of Palestinians seeking urgently needed food and water are unacceptable,” the Canadian foreign ministry said on X.

“Hunger in Gaza has reached catastrophic levels ... Canada calls for the immediate resumption at scale of UN-led aid,” the ministry added.

Source:arabnews.com

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The stark reality of how Israel treats its own Druze citizens

July 24, 2025

LONDON: Israel mounted a bombing campaign across Syria last week with the stated objective of protecting the Druze community of Sweida from attack by Bedouin fighters amid a recent upsurge in sectarian violence.

Yet, this purported humanitarian intervention on behalf of a vulnerable religious minority has drawn attention to the disparity in Israel’s treatment of its own Druze citizens, prompting accusations of double standards.

For centuries, the Druze — an enigmatic religious community whose origins in the Levant date back to the 11th century — have guarded their beliefs and customs behind a veil of secrecy.

Today, amid mounting regional upheaval and intensifying sectarian conflict, the fate of this small group — whose numbers are dwarfed by those of their neighbors — has become a critical test case for questions of loyalty, identity, and equal citizenship within modern nation states.

Nowhere are these tensions more apparent than in Israel, where the Druze have forged a uniquely complex relationship with the Jewish majority, one marked by military partnership and shared sacrifice, yet also by persistent inequality and simmering frustration.

As a result of their opposition to conversion and discouragement of intermarriage, the Druze community remained small in number and vulnerable, constantly maneuvering politically for their own survival among more powerful forces.

Still, when push comes to shove, they can prove to be fearless warriors.

The special relationship between the Jewish and Druze communities already existed in Mandatory Palestine. This relationship grew closer and stronger after Israel declared its independence, although it remains rather complex.

One of the tenets of Druze philosophy — some might call it a survival mechanism — is loyalty to the state where they reside. In this sense, Israel is no exception.

In 1956, at the request of the Druze community’s leaders, Druze men became subject to the military draft upon turning 18, just like their Jewish compatriots.

This created a covenant written in blood between the Jewish and Druze communities, with more than 430 having lost their lives serving in the Israeli security forces — a substantial number for a small community of 143,000, which is less than 1.6 percent of Israel’s population.

But despite this sacrifice and the generally positive perception of the Druze among Jewish Israelis — unlike attitudes toward other Arab communities — they are not spared discrimination. Consequently, there are forces among their youth who oppose continued military service.

The recent wave of deadly sectarian clashes that rocked southern Syria exposed the country’s fragility, as the new government proved either incapable or unwilling to impose law and order, leading to a failure to protect the Druze.

The response by the Druze in Israel highlighted another strong tenet in the community’s philosophy: mutual responsibility. In a Pew Research Center survey, nine in 10 said that they had a strong sense of belonging to the Druze community and were proud to be part of it.

Roughly two-thirds expressed that they feel a special responsibility to care for Druze in need around the world.

Over the last week, this manifested in community leaders exerting pressure on the Israeli government to intervene on behalf of the Druze in their clashes with Bedouin militias.

Translating intentions into action, around 1,000 community members — including two members of the Knesset, Afef Abed and Hamad Amar from the right-wing parties Likud and YisraelBeytenu, respectively — crossed the border from the Israeli-occupied side of the Golan Heights to support their brethren on the other side, expressing outrage over what they described as the massacre of their relatives in Suwaida.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the Druze community in Israel and the Golan Heights in a video statement, urging them to show restraint and avoid crossing into Syria amid the ongoing clashes.

Instead, Israel took the extreme measure of striking the Syrian Defense Ministry in Damascus and government forces in southern Syria, with Netanyahu announcing that Israel was “working to save our Druze brothers.”

Israel’s immediate reaction to the fall of the Bashar Assad regime in December of last year was to “temporarily” take over additional territory on the Syrian side of the Golan Heights — a move that increasingly looks permanent — and to carry out hundreds of airstrikes on military targets across Syria.

With this in mind, Israel’s use of force again last week raises questions about whether the strikes were solely in defense of the Druze or intended to send a broader message to the government of Ahmed Al-Sharaa about the power balance between the two countries.

Another factor raises suspicion over Israel’s purported commitment to the Druze in Syria. Despite the total loyalty of the Druze to the state of Israel, it does not appear that the Jewish state is equally loyal to them.

For all their years of sacrifice and devotion, the Druze still do not enjoy the same equal rights as the Jewish population. Although attitudes toward the Druze in Israel may be more favorable than toward Palestinian citizens, they are still far from being treated as equals.

Some researchers of the Druze community in Israel suggest that they represent something of an in-between group, comprising “individuals who simultaneously belong to social categories that are often seen as mutually exclusive, while maintaining their distinct group identity.”

The Druze are ethnically Arab and share that Arab identity with the Arab-Palestinian minority in Israel, but, at the same time, identify with the Jewish Israeli state.

In recent years, there has been an awakening among young Druze that, despite their sacrifices, they are institutionally and socially discriminated against as individuals and as a community.

In a protest last year, community leaders stated: “The covenants of blood and life have become superficial and false slogans.” They demanded that budgets allocated to their towns and villages be equal to those of their Jewish neighbors.

This discrimination is visible not only in the underinvestment in their communities, but also in the confiscation of their land for the Judaization of the Galilee and in house demolitions — not to mention having to contend with poor electricity networks, sewage systems, and roads.

Many residents in the 16 Druze towns and villages of Israel find it almost impossible to obtain planning permission, leaving them under constant threat of demolition orders or hefty fines.

A piece of legislation dating back to 2017, the Kaminitz Law, gives authorities the power to issue penalties — such as demolition and stop-work orders, the confiscation of building equipment and vehicles, and arrests — all without referring these cases to the judicial system.

Generally, the law is seen as targeting Arab communities, where building permits are almost impossible to secure, resulting in illegal construction followed by fines and threats of demolition by the government, despite a growing population and need for additional accommodation.

A request to put in place a 5-year plan to support local authorities of Druze communities has not been approved despite protests by community leaders.

The final straw for many Druze in Israel was likely the 2018 Nation State Law, which made many feel that despite their loyalty and sacrifice for the country, they are not rewarded in kind.

The law explicitly states that Jews have a unique right to national self-determination in Israel, and it relegated Arabic from being one of the two official languages, alongside Hebrew, to one with “special status.”

Describing Israel as “the national home of the Jewish people” was effectively a way of defining everyone else as unequal in their political, human, and civil rights.

Despite repeated promises from the Israeli government to promote a Basic Law for the Druze community, which aims to anchor the important status of the Druze community in Israel, this still has not happened.

This has instilled among the community an oft-quoted sentiment: “Druze enter the army as an Israeli and leave as an Arab.”

For the Druze, there is a sense that the community has the rawest of deals — one in which they are loyal and prepared to sacrifice their lives for the country but are still treated as second-class citizens.

Source: arabnews.com

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Israel, Palestinian envoys trade barbs at UN over Gaza

July 24, 2025

NEW YORK: Palestinian and Israeli envoys traded angry accusations Wednesday at the United Nations over the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, as aid and human rights groups warned of “mass starvation” in the war-torn territory.

Israel is facing growing international pressure over chronic food shortages in Gaza, where more than two million people lack food and other essentials after 21 months of conflict.

Even after Israel began easing a more than two-month aid blockade in late May, Gaza’s population is still suffering extreme scarcities.

“Every day now we receive heart-wrenching messages from Gaza...‘I am hungry,’” Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour told the Security Council.

“This is what our children are saying and every individual in Gaza is saying: ‘I am hungry. There is no food for my family. We are dying. Help us,’” he said.

“What should we tell them? What should the Security Council tell them? That the whole world is against this starvation policy and yet it is worsening?“

But Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon accused Hamas, which rules Gaza, of using the misery to “feed it into their propaganda machine.”

“For Hamas, the suffering of its own people is their greatest weapon,” he said.

Claiming Israel was making the Middle East safer, Danon accused the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of “bias” against his country.

OCHA is a “propaganda machine” against Israel, he said, which purposely undercounts aid trucks heading into Gaza.

“We will not work with organizations that have chosen politics over principles,” Danon said, with Israel in future granting just one-month visas to the agency’s international staff.

More than 100 aid and human rights groups said Wednesday that “mass starvation” was spreading in the Gaza Strip, and France warned of a growing “risk of famine” caused by “the blockade imposed by Israel.”

“I don’t know what you would call it other than mass starvation — and it’s man-made,” World Health Organization chief TedrosAdhanomGhebreyesus told reporters.

The lack of food and water was affecting the ability of journalists to carry out their work documenting the conflict.

AFP’s journalists in Gaza said this week that desperate hunger and lack of clean water is making them ill and exhausted.

Some have even had to cut back on their coverage of the war, now in its 22nd month, with one journalist saying “we have no energy left due to hunger.”

Source: arabnews.com

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Bahrain to establish permanent diplomatic mission in Beirut

July 23, 2025

BEIRUT: Bahrain will establish a permanent diplomatic mission in Beirut, King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa has said.

The announcement came during a visit to Bahrain by Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.

Aoun’s trip commemorated the resumption of Bahrain’s diplomatic representation in Lebanon and the 53rd anniversary since the two countries established diplomatic relations.

In a statement, Aoun said: “Lebanon looks forward to the full return of the Bahraini embassy to Beirut.

“We look forward to resuming full trade exchange between us, as well as our cooperation in various fields for the good of our peoples and the interests of our two countries.”

King Hamad highlighted Bahrain’s support for Lebanon’s sovereignty, stability and territorial integrity. Bahrain rejects any external interference in Lebanon’s internal affairs, he added, praising Lebanon’s religious diversity and the values of civilized coexistence that characterize its society.

Bahraini Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa took part in the talks held at Al-Qudaibiya Palace in Manama on Wednesday.

A joint statement said that the talks focused on “ways to develop and strengthen relations across all fields to advance common interests.

“We are keen to enhance Lebanese-Bahraini relations and look forward to outcomes that benefit both peoples and nations alike,” it added.

The king highlighted his kingdom’s deep-rooted historical ties with Lebanon. The two sides exchanged views “on regional events and developments of mutual concern,” in addition to “the situation in Lebanon and efforts to address it.”

Aoun praised Bahrain’s support for Lebanon and its people. “We also value Bahrain’s commitment to preserving Lebanon’s unity, security and stability. Lebanon looks forward to strengthening its cooperation with Bahrain to achieve shared benefits and prosperity for both peoples,” the president said.

During the talks, King Hamad highlighted efforts to strengthen the Bahraini-Lebanese joint committee to implement agreements concluded between the two countries, and to explore further opportunities that serve mutual interests. “This remains a consistent priority in our bilateral relations,” he said.

“Bahrain has long welcomed Lebanon’s citizens and those who hold it dear, ensuring their stay is met with warmth and care in recognition of the valuable contributions they have made, and continue to make to the Kingdom,” he added.

The king said Bahrain would stand by Lebanon to restore its prominent role within the Arab world and the international community.

“Lebanon will rise once more to be, as it has always been, a homeland of unity, peace and harmonious coexistence,” he said.

“We hope that this country would continue to serve as a beacon for the Arab East and a gateway to the sought-after regional stability.”

Also attending the talks were Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, personal representative of the king of Bahrain; Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, representative of the king for humanitarian and youth affairs, and national security adviser; and Sheikh Khaled bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, first deputy president of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, president of the General Sports Authority and president of the Bahrain Olympic Committee, along with senior Bahraini and Lebanese officials.

On the second day of his visit to Bahrain, Aoun held a meeting with Bahrain’s Economic Development Board.

He told the board that Lebanon is pursuing investment partnerships based on mutual trust and the belief that his country’s recovery and stability are in the interests of the entire region.

“We closely follow Bahrain’s inspiring experience in economic diversification, infrastructure development and the enhancement of the innovation environment,” he said.

“In this context, I would like to praise Bahrain’s last activities on the international scene, which affirm that Bahrain is an ambitious and effective economic player globally.”

He thanked the kingdom for its support of Lebanon and for embracing its expatriate community.

Lebanon views Bahrain as “an honest partner with whom we can build a new phase of active cooperation on both the government and private sector levels,” he said.

Bahraini Finance Minister Sheikh Salman bin Khalifa Al-Khalifa described the steps taken by the government to implement its economic recovery plan, develop industries and carry out major development projects to ensure growth.

“Bahrain became a service hub for the UAE and Saudi Arabia,” he said.

The minister highlighted improvements in Bahrain’s economic indicators, including significant growth in the oil sector.

Minister of Sustainable Development Noor bint Ali Al-Khulaif said she was keen to maintain and improve ties with Lebanon.

She highlighted investment projects in Bahrain and efforts to improve empowerment programs, as well as the golden residency offered by the kingdom and its impact on economic growth.

The board meeting also discussed the energy sector and investments, as well as the private sector’s role in completing major projects in Bahrain.

Source: arabnews.com

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Jordan dispatches trucks with flour as starvation spreads in war-torn Gaza

July 23, 2025

LONDON: Jordan has dispatched dozens of food trucks to the Palestinian coastal enclave of the Gaza Strip this week, with the latest delivery of flour on Wednesday to help Palestinians amid the Israeli military campaign in the territory.

The country’s charitable arm, Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization, or JHCO, announced that the latest aid convoy entered through the Zikim border crossing, also known as Erez West, in northern Gaza.

This week, the JHCO coordinated with the country’s armed forces, World Central Kitchen, or WCK, and the World Food Program, or WFP, to dispatch four food convoys to Gaza. A total of 147 trucks delivered essential food supplies and humanitarian aid, primarily flour.

The JHCO and WFP facilitated the entry of 111 trucks, while WCK arranged for the remaining 36 trucks, reaffirming their commitment to oversee the distribution of supplies to affected residents.

Videos on social media shared by Jordanian journalists show Palestinians carrying sacks of flour from distribution points in northern Gaza on Wednesday.

Efforts to deliver aid through international organizations have encountered persistent challenges, especially at the Israeli border, where convoys are often delayed, according to JHCO. Some obstacles include the use of live ammunition against individuals approaching the crossings to obtain aid, it added.

The Gaza Strip continues to face instability and occasional direct attacks on aid convoys as well as attempts to loot supplies and hinder the safe delivery of humanitarian assistance, the charity added.

Source:arabnews.com

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Italy and Algeria agree to tackle terrorism and migration at summit

July 23, 2025

ROME: Italy and Algeria agreed to work together to fight terrorism and control migration during an intergovernmental meeting in Rome on Wednesday, documents showed, while companies signed off on deals on sectors including energy and telecommunications.

Italian Prime Minister GiorgiaMeloni met Algerian President AbdelmadjidTebboune at the 17th-century Villa DoriaPamphili, after a trip to Algiers by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani in March.

Algeria is Rome’s leading trading partner in Africa, with trade worth almost 14 billion euros ($16.4 billion) while Rome’s investments there amount to 8.5 billion, Italy said.

According to a document seen by Reuters, a memorandum will be signed between Italy and Algeria on fighting terrorism and its financing. The document did not say which threats the countries were focused on.

The two nations will also agree on a plan to coordinate the search and rescue operations for migrants who attempt the dangerous sea crossing from North Africa to Europe. Meloni’s right-wing government was elected in 2022 on a mandate to curb migrant arrivals.

On the business side, Italian energy group Eni this month signed a production sharing contract with oil and gas company Sonatrach worth $1.3 billion to explore and develop hydrocarbons in Algeria.

A document said the two companies will sign an additional agreement on the sidelines of the summit to strengthen their cooperation.

Eni buys gas from Sonatrach under a long-term contract that has made the north African country one of the key fuel suppliers for Italy after Rome severed ties with Russia’s Gazprom following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

A separate deal will involve Submarine cable company Sparkle, a unit of Telecom Italia (TIM), which is set to be sold to a consortium led by Italy’s Treasury later this year.

Sparkle will sign a preliminary agreement with Algerie Telecom for a new subsea cable connecting the two countries.

“Algeria is a strategic partner, and we are working hard to make this partnership ever broader, stronger and more diversified,” Foreign Minister Tajani said during a speech at a business forum with over 400 companies from the two nations.

Source: arabnews.com

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Africa

 

Nigerian Troops Kill Top Boko Haram Commander, Ibn Khalid

 July 23, 2025

By Richard Ogunsile

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have repelled coordinated Boko Haram attacks on Monguno and Bitta in Borno State, killing several insurgents, including a top commander of the terrorists and the group’s cameraman.

Naija News reports that the development was disclosed in a statement on Wednesday by the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Captain Reuben Kovangiya.

Kovangiya said the troops displayed gallantry by engaging the terrorists with superior firepower, effectively foiling their infiltration attempt into Monguno.

“The resilient troops, during the attempted infiltration, engaged the insurgents with superior firepower, resulting in the neutralisation of several terrorists, among whom was a senior Quaid Commander, Ibn Khalid, and also their cameraman,” he stated.

He added that while pursuing the fleeing terrorists, the soldiers observed blood trails along the withdrawal routes, indicating severe casualties.

Recovered items at the scene included a large quantity of 7.62mm special ammunition, one PKT belt, an AK-47 rifle magazine, a Rocket Propelled Grenade bomb, and other operational gear.

The troops also recovered a camcorder used by the terrorists to document their operations.

“The troops have continued the exploitation to ensure the terrorists are denied freedom of action,” the statement noted.

Kovangiya further revealed that 17 terrorists were neutralised in subsidiary offensives carried out across Sambisa forest, Madagali, and Kaga Local Government Areas.

The troops also captured several motorcycles and other logistics used by the insurgents.

In a separate operation, troops foiled another attempted attack on Bitta, where more insurgents were killed and weapons recovered.

“The troops at Bitta also engaged the terrorists with superior fire power, neutralizing several fighters and recovering additional AK-47 magazines and other combat items,” Kovangiya said.

The Defence Headquarters commended the soldiers for their bravery and charged them to maintain the momentum in the ongoing counter-insurgency efforts.

“The troops have been commended by the military higher authorities for their show of resilience and urged them to sustain the fight against the insurgents,” the statement concluded.

Source: naijanews.com

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Genocide In Gaza: Muslim Groups Accuse Arab- Western Leaders Of Complicity

July 22, 2025

Muslim organizations have condemned the criminal silence of the leaders of the Muslim and Western nations to the murderous acts of the Zionist regime in Palestine.

The groups, in a rally held in Lagos, called on the government at all levels, religious leaders, and those in positions of authority to support the cause of Palestine by condemning the genocide.

Acting under the aegis of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) and the Muslim Congress (TMC), members of the groups held a peaceful procession around the Agege area of Lagos

Demonstrators carried placards with inscriptions such as “Free Free Palestine”, “Free Free Gaza”, “From the River to the Sea”, and “Palestine Will Be Free”, as they marched through the streets and local markets.

Speaking to journalists, the Grand Mufti of the Conference of Islamic Organizations (CIO), Sheikh Dhikrullah Shafi’i, said the war in Gaza and genocide had reached 21 months.

The Muslim scholar said  failure of both Western and Arab nations to halt the ongoing massacre, which he said has claimed nearly 60,000 lives mostly women and children.

“We’re here to show our solidarity with our brothers and sisters and register our displeasure in respect to happenings in Gaza and Palestine in its entirety,” Sheikh Shafi’i declared.

“The illegal occupants of Palestine, Israel, with the support of the US and Europe, are making lives unbearable for people in Gaza, the West Bank, and all over the nooks and crannies of Palestine.”

He also reacted to the recent video broadcast by Abu Obeida, spokesperson of Hamas’ military wing, released on Friday, July 18. In the nearly 20-minute broadcast, Abu Obeida pledged that Hamas was prepared for a long-term war in the absence of a ceasefire agreement and criticised Arab and Islamic leaders for their lethargy and inaction.

Sheikh Shafi’i said: “Whoever listened to Abu Obeida’s broadcast speech in Arabic or any language would realise he has left the Ummah to Allah’s will.

He said Allah will ultimately judge every human on earth today, starting from Islamic scholars and clergymen and leaders of the Muslim world, who watch the atrocities going on in Gaza with arms akimbo watching the indiscriminate killings of women and children in Gaza.”

He condemned the blockade of aid to Gaza, including the complicity of neighbouring countries such as Egypt and Jordan, and condemned the indifference of Muslims around the world to the crisis.

“Therefore, it is pertinent that all Muslims across the globe stand against this injustice. We must come together and speak in one voice to end this genocide,” he urged.

Sheikh Shafi’i called on the government at all levels, religious leaders, and those in positions of authority to support the cause of Palestine.

“We are playing our own part today by calling everyone to support the people of Gaza,” he said. “We pray Allah grants all the supporters of Benjamin Netanyahu exactly what they deserve. May Allah SWT, the Omnipotent, save the people of Gaza from their oppressors,” he said.

Source;independent.ng

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Senator Ojudu, Ekiti SSG, Others To Grace AT-Tawheed Model School’s Silver Jubilee Anniversary

July 22, 2025

by PopoolaYaqoub

Secretary to the Ekiti State Government, Professor HabibatAdubiaro, and Senator BabafemiOjudu are among the eminent personalities expected at the silver Jubilee anniversary of the foremost Islamic school in Ekiti State, AT-Tawheed Model School.

The institution, established in the year 2000 to blend Western education with Islamic knowledge, is reputed for grooming  Muslim children in Western education and in Tawheed (Islamic monotheism).

Addressing journalists on the Activities lined up for the event, the Chairman, Board of Trustees, Mufutau Bello, explained that the silver jubilee anniversary is not merely a celebration of years but a testament to the profound impact that the School has on its products.

He hinted that the School, which was founded in 2000, has series of school categories ranging from Nursery, Primary and Secondary Schools.

According to him, products of the school have been making waves and breaking new ground in areas such as Medicine, Law, Engineering, Economics, and radiography, among others.

Bello also revealed that all students of the School who enrolled for 2025 Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) surpassed 200 with a number of them scoring above 300.

This according, is a testament of the School’s commitment towards excellence as well as putting their feet in the way of religion.

“This joyous occasion is not merely a celebration of years gone by but a testament to the profound impact we’ve had on lives, the dreams we’ve nurtured, and the values we’ve upheld. It stands as a shining example of Allah’s benevolence and the collective efforts of a visionary community.

“Our journey began with a group of visionary members of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Ekiti State Area Unit, who dared to dream of an education system that would empower Muslim children with knowledge rooted in Tawheed and excellence.

“As the Board of Trustees, we’ve been humbled to serve as custodians of this noble vision, working tirelessly to uphold the integrity of our mission and ensure its continued relevance.

“We have witnessed infrastructure expansion, the introduction of digital learning systems, and the rise of alumni who are now making positive impacts across professions and communities.

“This silver jubilee offers us a chance to reflect on how far we’ve come, and to recommit ourselves to the path ahead. It also compels us to recognize and appreciate our teachers, administrators, donors and parents, past and present, who have carried the torch of this noble cause with dedication and sincerity”.

Also, the Chairman of the School’s Management Board, EngrAbdullahi Adebayo said the School has experienced significant progress in infrastructure, from a single rented bungalow to a well-equipped permanent site housing multiple classroom blocks.

 “Science and computer laboratories, a school mosque, and a newly completed two-storey building with 13 classrooms and a laboratory being commissioned as part of this celebration.

“Our ICT unit facilitated in partnership with Digital Bridge Institute has been transformed into a modern digital learning hub, completed with computers, printers, projector and other CBT facilities. The unit is also powered by solar PV backup systems. Today, our senior students take their internal and mock examinations using CBT, preparing them for national standards.

“Beyond academics, we remain committed to character-building through Islamic morals, spiritual development, and co-curricular activities. We also run a functional and subsidized transport system and a boarding facility for both male and female students.”

The Chairman, Planning Committee, EngrShereefdeenSanni reeled out other activities of the celebration to include Novelty Match on Tuesday,  Alumni Programme and Visitation to Orphanage Homes on Wednesday,  Anniversary Lecture, Awards Presentation, and Commissioning of Project on Thursday, Prize-Giving ceremony, Medical Outreach and Jum’ah Service on Friday, alongside the End of the Year and Graduation Ceremonies on Saturday.

Source:independent.ng

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With $2bn Portfolio in Nigeria, Islamic Development Bank Seeks FG’s Partnership to Boost Power Infrastructure

July 22, 2025

Islamic Development Bank (IDB), which currently boasts nearly $2 billion active portfolios across various sectors in Nigeria, expressed interest in partnering with the federal government to address critical infrastructure gaps in the power industry, with ready funds to support the country’s energy development as part of a new Country Engagement Framework.

 A delegation from IDB, led by the financial institution’s Lead Global Energy Specialist, Alagi Gaye, disclosed the move during a courtesy visit to Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, in Abuja, Tuesday, according to a statement by the minister’s Special Adviser on Strategic Communications and Media Relations, BolajiTunji.

Gaye revealed that IDB had an active portfolio of nearly $2 billion across various sectors in Nigeria, including energy, transport, agriculture, and education. But he stressed the bank’s desire to deepen its involvement in power infrastructure.

He explained that the bank was developing its first-ever Country Engagement Framework for Nigeria since the nation joined IDB in 2005.

Unlike its previous project-based approach, Gaye said the bank now sought programme-based interventions that aligned with Nigeria’s sectoral policies, regulations, and challenges.

He acknowledged the country’s significant electricity access gap and affirmed IDB’s commitment to incentivising private-sector investment in the sector.

In response, Adelabuemphasised the need for substantial investment to ensure stable, efficient, and affordable electricity for Nigerians.

He stated that improving power supply was a top priority for President Bola Tinubu’s administration, citing the Electricity Act of 2023 as a key step towards liberalising the sector.

Adelabu highlighted ongoing reforms, including the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI)—a $2.3 billion agreement with Germany’s Siemens Energy to modernise Nigeria’s aging power grid.

He stated that the pilot phase, involving the installation of 10 power transformers and 10 mobile substations, had already improved grid stability, with plans for further expansion over the next few years.

He told his visitors that the government was also working on a “Super Grid” project to tackle redundancy and had secured support from the World Bank and African Development Bank (AfDB) for transmission upgrades.

The minister also addressed challenges in the distribution segment, where inefficiencies persisted, despite privatisation.

He informed the IDB team that the government retained a 40 per cent stake in distribution companies (Discos) and was exploring partnerships to improve their performance.

According to him, a major concern is the metering gap, with only six million meters deployed out of 13 million registered consumers. To address this, the minister said the government launched the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI), which aimed to import two million meters annually over five years.

Adelabu further discussed Nigeria’s “Mission 300” programme, which promotes renewable energy solutions for rural electrification.

He stated, “Given the difficulty of extending the national grid to remote areas, the government is deploying solar home systems and mini-grids to power households, schools, and healthcare facilities while supporting agricultural activities.”

While acknowledging global climate concerns, the minister emphasised that Africa’s minimal carbon footprint meant Nigeria’s renewable energy push was driven more by necessity than emission targets.

He welcomed IDB’s support and urged the bank to review feasibility studies for proposed projects.

Adelabu expressed confidence in the partnership, citing the bank’s credibility as a financial institution.

The discussions, according to the statement, underscored the potential for collaboration in transforming Nigeria’s power sector and ensuring sustainable energy access for citizens.

Source;thisdaylive.com

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President Tinubu Approves Fresh Appointment

July 23, 2025

By OladipoAbiola

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Prof. Yusuf Muhammad Yusuf as a commissioner of the Nigerian Law Reform Commission (NLRC).

In related news, the Senate recently confirmed the appointment of Professor Dakas C.J. Dakas as Chairman of the Nigerian Law Reform Commission, alongside Dr. Uchenna Eugene Okolocha as Commissioner representing the South-South.

Naija News reports that the confirmation followed the presentation and adoption of a report by the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, chaired by Senator AdeniyiAdegbonmire (Ondo Central), during plenary.

The appointments were made pursuant to Section 2 (1) and (2) of the Nigerian Law Reform Commission Act, 2022, which empowers the President to appoint a Chairman and three Commissioners, subject to Senate approval.

The committee report stated that only two of the three nominees, Professor Dakas and Dr. Okolocha, appeared for the screening held on June 25, 2025.

The third nominee, Professor Fatima Alkali, who hails from the North-East, reportedly declined the nomination and communicated her decision to the Presidency.

“Both nominees met all constitutional and professional requirements, demonstrated competence, and have no petitions or adverse security reports against them,” the committee stated.

The panel recommended that a new nominee from the North-East, preferably a woman, be considered to maintain regional and gender balance.

Source:naijanews.com

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‘Senseless’ – FG Condemns Latest Killing Of Nigerians In S/Africa

July 23, 2025

By George OshogweOgbolu

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has described the killing of two Nigerian Traders in South Africa by “unknown gunmen” as intolerable and senseless with a call to fish out the culprits.

In a statement to Naija News, the Commission’s Spokesperson, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, disclosed that NiDCOM boss, AbikeDabiri, said the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa is looking into the matter.

Dabiri-Erewa said this latest unprovoked killing is condemnable and barbaric, calling on South African authorities to thoroughly investigate the matter and expose the perpetrators.

She recalled that the early warning mechanism put in place by both countries to prevent such killings is yet to be implemented by South Africa.

The NiDCOM Boss condoled with the families of the deceased, assuring them that justice will be served.

Naija News gathered gathered that two Nigerians simply identified as Austin and Ayo were shot dead by masked gunmen in Durban, South Africa.

According to unconfirmed reports, the gunmen stormed Austin’s office, shot him and his visiting friend, Ayo at a close range with both dead on the spot.

Following tension rising amongst the Nigerian community in South Africa, Dabiri-Erewa has appealed for calm and urged Nigerians not to take laws into their hands while awaiting the outcome of the investigations by the South African police authorities.

She added that the Acting Nigerian High Commissioner in South Africa has demanded a thorough and fair investigation into the incident.

Source:naijanews.com

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Arab World

 

From Expulsion To AI Success — How Abdullah Al-Refai’s Journey Is Inspiring A Generation

July 23, 2025

ALKHOBAR: In June, a student research team at King Saud University quietly presented their breakthrough — a Saudi-built artificial intelligence agent named Mantiq.

Mantiq successfully solved 84 out of 120 abstract puzzles and scored a 70 percent accuracy rate on the global Abstraction and Reasoning Corpus benchmark in a challenge widely recognized among leading artificial general intelligence researchers around the world.

But behind the results was something just as compelling — a group of young Saudis that included a once-expelled university student who rebuilt his future line by line, code by code.

Abdullah Al-Refai, 24, is a software engineering student at Prince Mohammed Bin Fahd University in Dhahran. With no official title, no funding, and no affiliation to a major lab, he represents a growing generation determined to push boundaries in the most advanced frontiers of AI.

“We may not have the same resources as big tech labs, but we have vision and we’re proving that brilliance can come from anywhere — even a small research group in Saudi Arabia,” he said.

Al-Refai’s journey was far from linear; it was full of detours, setbacks and moments of deep personal doubt.

First, he enrolled at Dammam Community College, where he excelled. His performance earned him a transfer to King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, one of the top institutions in the Kingdom.

But the transition proved overwhelming. Battling depression and struggling to adjust, his grades declined and, following a difficult time, he left.

“Getting expelled broke me. I felt like everything I had worked for was gone. But over time, I realized that failure doesn’t define you — how you respond to it does,” said Al-Refai.

Determined not to give up, he later enrolled at Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University, a smaller, private center, and supported himself by working at Jarir Bookstore.

As he regained his academic footing, Al-Refai rediscovered his love of technology. His coding journey had started years earlier when he received a Dell PC in sixth grade and began experimenting with Java programming to create modifications for popular video game Minecraft.

A turning point came when he started a part-time AI research role at PMU. Soon after he met his mentor, Sulaiman Ureiga, who invited him to join a student-led research group focused on AGI.

Unlike traditional AI systems, which rely on massive datasets, AGI aims to mimic human thought, reasoning and learning, and adapt with minimal input. It is a field into which tech giants like OpenAI and DeepMind have poured billions.

In Saudi Arabia, Al-Refai and his team are approaching the same goal with minimal resources other than passion, perseverance and belief.

Their focus has been the ARC challenge developed by Google researcher François Chollet, which tests a model’s ability to solve logic puzzles using abstraction, not memorization.

When the team presented the first phase of their research, an AGI-1 prototype that solved 70 percent of the test puzzles within minutes, it was a proud moment.

“Standing there at King Saud University, presenting our agent and (seeing) it solve 70 percent of the ARC-1 tasks, I knew this was bigger than a research demo. It was proof that Saudi youth can build world-class AI,” said Al-Refai.

His motivation goes beyond personal achievement, however; he sees his story as a blueprint for others, proof that failure is not final and that Saudi youth can lead global conversations on AI.

His team is already working on the next phases of their research, hoping to improve the model’s reasoning capabilities and publish in an academic forum. They have also created educational posters, hosted sessions and spoken at local events to spread awareness and encourage others to explore AI.

“My dream is that when people around the world talk about the future of AI, they mention Saudi Arabia — not just for investments, but for real innovation and breakthroughs,” said Al-Refai.

All this comes at a time when Saudi Arabia is pouring historic levels of investment into emerging technologies. In May, the Kingdom announced a $600 billion strategy in AI and digital transformation, reinforcing its ambition to become a global innovation hub.

While high-level partnerships and summits dominate headlines, stories like Al-Refai’s reveal a parallel transformation, one happening from the ground up, driven by students, self-learners and quiet researchers working after hours in labs and dorm rooms.

“If I can come back from academic failure and end up contributing to AGI research, anyone can,” said Al-Refai. “We just need to believe in ourselves and build with purpose. We are capable of greatness. We always have been, and we always will be.”

Source: arabnews.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original https://www.arabnews.com/node/2609198/saudi-arabia

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National Museum summer camp inspires young Saudi creators

July 23, 2025

RIYADH: The National Museum’s summer camp is in its first phase, offering children aged 10-12 a range of activities that blend theory and practice.

The camp connects generations by showcasing handicrafts as both a source of national pride and a path to future economic opportunities, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Through interactive sessions and hands-on learning across four craft tracks, participants explore Saudi Arabia’s rich cultural heritage.

Each child designs and creates their own products, building creative and organizational skills while fostering initiative, the SPA added.

The camp transforms the National Museum into a vibrant hub, aiming to instill a lifelong love of learning and creativity while developing critical thinking and design skills.

It also introduces children to handicrafts as a core part of Saudi identity and empowers them to manage small craft projects, the SPA reported.

The first phase, running through to July 31, has already attracted strong interest from families and educators. This enriching experience opens new horizons for knowledge and fosters deeper connections with national heritage, the SPA added.

Source: arabnews.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original https://www.arabnews.com/node/2609203/saudi-arabia

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Kingdom opens first public arts and culture school

July 23, 2025

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s ministries of culture and education have launched an Arts and Culture Academy, the first government-run school of its kind in the Kingdom.

The initiative aims to identify and develop talented young people, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.

In its inaugural year, the academy will operate in Riyadh and Jeddah, admitting students in the fourth grade of primary school and first grade of intermediate school.

The academy combines accredited academic curricula with specialized cultural programs in a stimulating and enriching learning environment, the SPA added.

Initially, it will target students with talent in drawing, acting, music and singing. The plan is to expand to all educational levels and regions of the Kingdom.

Students will follow the standard Ministry of Education curriculum alongside intensive cultural programs in a balanced daily schedule.

The school day is divided into two sessions: morning for academic work and afternoon for cultural activities, according to the SPA.

The academy will open in the 2025/2026 academic year at Al-Nakheel district in Riyadh for boys, and Al-Sheraa district in Jeddah for girls.

Admission has three stages: online registration, performance evaluation and interview, and admission notification. Students are admitted based on seat availability.

Source: arabnews.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original https://www.arabnews.com/node/2609136/saudi-arabia

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Najran’s heritage draws families to rural villages

July 23, 2025

RIYADH: Rural tourism in Najran is encouraged by the area’s diverse environment, natural beauty, and rich cultural heritage, a Saudi Press Agency report says.

It offers visitors a unique experience — from captivating landscapes and ecological formations to ancient architecture and historic fortresses steeped in history.

The western villages of Najran, along both banks of Wadi Najran, feature towering fortresses atop mounts Raum and Saadan, the SPA added.

Traditional mud-brick palaces among palm and grape farms create scenic views which reflect the region’s environmental identity and cultural history.

Resident Saleh Al-Asiri says Najran is marked by its cultural diversity and architectural landmarks, varied terrains like mountains, valleys, plains, and deserts making it ideal for nature and heritage tourism. He pointed out areas of interest such as ZurWadeah, Al-Hadhan, Al-Jarbah, and Al-Qabil.

Rural tourists can discover these sites, admire traditional mud houses and palm farms, and visit heritage villages. They can also explore Wadi Najran, enjoying views of historic homes, ancient palm trees, and sunsets over Raum Fortress, Al-Aan Palace, and Mount Abu Hamdan.

Source: arabnews.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original https://www.arabnews.com/node/2609129/saudi-arabia

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Saudi Broadcasting Authority chief meets with Sri Lankan envoy

July 23, 2025

RIYADH: Saudi Broadcasting Authority CEO Mohammed Al-Harthi received Sri Lankan ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Omar Lebbe Ameer Ajwad, in Riyadh.

During the meeting, the two sides explored avenues for bilateral cooperation in the media sector, particularly in television and program production, content exchange, and media expertise sharing, Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

They also discussed opportunities for joint media training between the two countries and Sri Lanka’s upcoming participation in the Saudi Media Forum.

Source: arabnews.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original https://www.arabnews.com/node/2609207/saudi-arabia

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