‘Tactical Mistake’: CDS Anil Chauhan ‘Confirms’ India Lost Fighter Jets In Operation Sindoor
New Age Islam News Bureau
31 May 2025
Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff of the Indian Armed Forces
Videograb
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· ‘Tactical Mistake’: CDS Anil Chauhan ‘Confirms’ India Lost Fighter Jets In Operation Sindoor
· How Case Against Muslim Teen Accused Of ‘Love Jihad’ Fell Apart In UP Court
· UK Initiative ‘Project Unity’ Seeks To Counter Islamophobia Through Education, Dialogue
· Several Boko Haram/ISWAP Terrorists Killed In Borno By NAF Airstrike
· Arab Group At UN Urges Recognition Of Palestine As ‘Step Toward Lasting Peace’ Ahead Of Conference On Two-State Solution
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India
· Hand Over 'Most Wanted Terrorists' Azhar And Hafiz Or Face Consequences, Rajnath Warns Pakistan
· Development in Jammu and Kashmir won't stop, those who harm us will face befitting reply: Amit Shah in Poonch
· In Indonesia, CPI(M) MP Counters Asim Munir’s ‘Hindus And Muslims Are Different’ Remark Saying, “Salman Khurshid Is Here, We Are All Together”
· Operation Sindoor not over yet: PM Modi outlines India’s bold anti-terror strategy
· Anti-drone system deployed for at Taj Mahal to enhance security
· Omar Abdullah still passed over on security: CM not seen at Shah meet in J&K despite overture
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Europe
· Four Men Sentenced To Nearly 30 Years In Prison For Promoting And Funding Islamic State
· Teen arrested on suspicion of attempted murder over attack outside Maidenhead Mosque
· Istanbul hosts “Bridging COP29 and COP30: Diplomacy, Action and Climate Road Ahead” conference and panel session
· Azerbaijan’s Parliament set to chair OIC PA in next term
· Staffordshire Man Posts 'Anti-Islamic And Anti-Immigration Sentiments' Online
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Africa
· Libya protesters call on PM to quit in third weekly march
· Biafra Agitator, Simon Ekpa Remanded On Terrorism Charges
· Over 100 Dead Bodies Recovered From Flooding In Niger State
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Mideast
· Israel Defense Minister Says ‘We Will Build Jewish Israeli State’ In West Bank
· Israel strikes western Syria, despite talks
· UN aid chief says Israel’s blocking of food to Gaza is a ‘war crime’
· Israel’s Gaza war producing ‘staggering’ carbon footprint
· Foreign Ministry staff renew allegiance to Imam Khomeini
· Palestine is demand for global justice: British academic
· Mass Demonstrations in Al-Dhalea affirm support for Palestine, Islamic Sanctities, including Al-Aqsa
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North America
· Watching Rome From Chicagoland: Muslims Measure New Pope’s Promise
· CAIR Condemns NV Senator Jacky Rosen’s Embrace of War Criminal Netanyahu As He Burns Children Alive in Gaza
· Supreme Court allows Trump to revoke legal status for 500,000 migrants
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South Asia
· Mass Rallies Across Provinces Condemn Israeli Attacks on Gaza
· Pakistan to send Ambassador to Afghanistan, upgrading Diplomatic Ties
· Registration With EC: SC To Deliver Verdict On Jamaat's Appeal Tomorrow
· HC Judges: Writ Petition Seeks Stay On Appointment
· Statement from the office of the IEA Prime Minister in response to the genocide and grave humanitarian crimes in Palestine
· Work on 1st phase of refugees’ township begins in Helmand
· Azizi, Kazak President meet on bilateral political, economic relations
· US plans to close Afghan Relocation Coordination Office
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Arab World
· Saudi Arabia Elected Vice Chair Of WHO Executive Board
· What Saudi Arabia’s Ancient Lava Fields Reveal About Its Volcanic Past — And Tourism Potential
· Saudi Arabia reports five heat exhaustion cases among pilgrims, urges precautions amid soaring temperatures
· Pilgrims’ safety takes priority as Saudi Arabia gears up for Hajj
· Arafat Sermon Will Reach World’s Muslims Through 35-Language Translation Initiative
· Maldives president hails Makkah Route Initiative as symbol of Saudi Arabia’s leadership
· Mount Al-Fahlatain — Where Prophetic History Meets Pilgrimage Tradition
· Islamic economy originated in Madinah, says Abdullah Saleh Kamel at Istanbul summit attended by Erdogan
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Southeast Asia
· Myanmar Police Seize Historic Sagaing Mosque in Ownership Dispute
· Queer health workshop shelved amid death threats as PSM Youth accuses minister’s remark of inciting hostility
· Tengku Zafrul replacing me? Please pray that I stay as Selangor MB while you’re on Haj, Amirudin tells minister
· Jakim files police report, alerts MCMC on scam using Musa’adah Fund's name for illegal donations
· Sarawak’s RM6.8b rural budget boost to bridge urban-rural gap, says Uggah
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/tactical-mistake-india-operation-sindoor-fighter/d/135734
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‘Tactical Mistake’: CDS Anil Chauhan ‘Confirms’ India Lost Fighter Jets In Operation Sindoor
Our Web Desk Published 31.05.25
Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff of the Indian Armed Forces
Videograb
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Chief of Defence Staff Anil Chauhan on Saturday seemed to confirm that India had lost fighter jets in the dogfight with the Pakistan Air Force during Operation Sindoor on May 8.
Chauhan spoke to Bloomberg TV in Singapore, but did not mention whether the jet(s) downed were Rafales, MiGs or Sukhois; he said “yes” when prodded if India did lose fighter aircraft.
“What is important is… not the jets being downed but why they were downed,” said Chauhan in the interview.
When the reporter asked again if at least one jet was down, Chauhan said, “Yeah.”
“So the good part is that we are able to understand the tactical mistake which we made, remedy it, rectify it and then implement it again after two days and flew all our jets again targeting at long range, which I said.”
He added: “I think what is important is that not the jets being downed but why they were being downed.”
Asked if Pakistan’s claims of downing six Indian jets was true, Chauhan said: “Absolutely incorrect… and that is not information which I said is important. What is important is… why they went down. That is more important for us, and what did we do after that.”
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh posted a clip of the interview and asked if the Narendra Modi government will set up a review committee to audit the operations.
“On July 29, 1999, the Vajpayee Govt set up the Kargil Review Committee under the chairmanship of India's strategic affairs guru K. Subrahmanyam - whose son is now our External Affairs Minister. This was just three days after the Kargil War had ended. This Committee submitted its detailed report five months later. The report titled ‘From Surprise to Reckoning’ was then laid on the Table of both Houses of Parliament on Feb 23, 2000 after the necessary redactions. Will the Modi Govt now take a similar step in light of what the Chief of Defence Staff has just revealed in Singapore?” Ramesh posted on his X (formerly Twitter) handle.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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How Case Against Muslim Teen Accused Of ‘Love Jihad’ Fell Apart In UP Court
Ayush Tiwari
May 31, 2025
Mohammad Saqib. | Special Arrangement.
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On the night of December 14, 2020, Mohammad Saqib’s life was upended.
He had stepped out of his friend’s home in Nasirpur village in Uttar Pradesh’s Bijnor district after a birthday party. Outside, he saw a girl on a bicycle surrounded by a few men. When he walked up to the group to find out what was going on, the men attacked him.
Saqib, a 16-year-old daily wager, did not return home in Kirar Kheri village that night. The next morning, his parents learnt that he had been arrested.
The girl was also 16 and a Dalit. On December 15, her father lodged a first information report against Saqib at the Dhampur police station.
Saqib was 16 too. He was accused of kidnapping and “compelling” the minor “for marriage”. He was also booked under the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Ordinance, 2020, better known as the state’s “love jihad” law.
“Love jihad” is a conspiracy theory that accuses Muslim men of being part of an organised plot to trick unsuspecting Hindu women into romantic relationships to ultimately convert them to Islam.
Saqib was one of the first men to be booked under the law, 18 days after it was brought in as an ordinance by the Adityanath government.
Five years later, on May 21, a special court in Bijnor acquitted Mohammad Saqib, now 21, of all charges.
“This is the first case where a Muslim man in UP has been acquitted of charges under the anti-conversion law after a trial,” said Bijnor-based advocate Mashruf Kamaal, Saqib’s counsel.
In other cases, the Uttar Pradesh police has dropped charges against individuals after preliminary investigations, or they have been quashed by the courts.
At least three cases that have ended in acquittals in Amroha, Bareilly and Azamgarh districts had tried mostly Dalit men for illegally converting others to Christianity.
Saqib’s case went through 74 hearings over five years. During the trial, the court found contradictions in the state’s case and said that it could not prove its charges beyond reasonable doubt. “The prosecution has failed to establish the basic facts,” said additional district and sessions judge Kalpana Pandey’s judgement.
The case
The FIR against Saqib made serious claims. It invoked sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act involving sexual assault and accused him of luring a minor for illicit intercourse under the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The complaint alleged that Saqib regularly spoke to the Dalit girl while pretending that he was a Hindu man named Sonu.
Around 11 pm on December 14, 2020, he lured and abducted the girl from her house in Berkhara Chauhan village with the intention of marrying and converting her, it alleged. When she found out that he was Muslim, she escaped and returned home and narrated the ordeal to her parents.
All offences in the complaint were non-bailable. On December 17, Saqib was sent to judicial custody.
He spent six months in prison before the Allahabad High Court granted him bail on June 15, 2021.
In submissions before the sessions court, Saqib said that he was innocent and had been falsely implicated because of a local dispute.
The young man told Scroll that he worked as an understudy to a welder in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, and had returned to his home in Bijnor days before the incident. He added that he did not know the girl and had never met or spoken to her before the night of December 14.
Days after the FIR, the minor’s father, the complainant in the FIR, told the Indian Express that the matter had been “politicised” by the village pradhan, against whom he was going to contest in the panchayat polls in April 2021.
“This is all politics. They made videos of my daughter and falsely claimed that this was a case of love jihad,” he was quoted as saying, adding that his FIR was dictated by police officials.
Poking holes
Arif, Saqib’s elder brother, told Scroll that the girl’s village, Berkhara Chauhan, is a few hundred metres from his family village of Kirar Kheri. Saqib is the youngest of three brothers. “Our father passed away in 2016,” Arif said. “When Saqib was young, we sent him to school for a few months. But he could not adjust, so we took him out and put him to work.”
During the trial, the minor’s cross-examination by the defence counsel poked several holes in the FIR complaint.
Three aspects of the prosecution’s case were called into question: the location of the incident, the account of the complainant, and the claims of religious conversion.
In her statement before the magistrate under section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code, the girl had said that Saqib had lured her to a village called Nasirpur. When she asked his name, he said Saqib and revealed that he was Muslim. Then he tried to molest her. The girl added that she pushed him away and started running. She raised an alarm which led the residents of Nasirpur to catch Saqib.
The court noted that according to the statement of her father, a witness, his wife had told him that their daughter had gone missing from their home after she went to the washroom on the night of December 14. The girl returned shortly after and recounted her ordeal to her parents, he said.
However, the girl’s mother, also a witness in the case, had a different version. She told the court that her daughter had gone missing after going to the washroom that night, but she only returned the next morning to recount her ordeal. Moreover, in her cross-examination, the mother said that her daughter had not told her anything about the incident that night.
The girl’s cross-examination gave yet another account. She said that she had gone to the washroom at her friend’s house when Saqib took her to Nasirpur.
The girl’s statement was inconsistent in other aspects, the court noted. During her medical examination, she claimed that she had been abducted on the night of December 13 by three men while using the washroom in her home.
The men threw her into a van and brought her to Nasirpur, she had said. They forced themselves on her but could not sexually assault her. She eventually escaped after locals intervened.
The second problem in the prosecution’s case was the father’s account. In his court statement, he had alleged that on December 14, when the girl did not return home, he searched for her until she came back herself later that night.
But during his cross-examination, the father said that he did not search for the girl after she went missing. He was instead informed about her whereabouts by a police official at the Nehtaur police station over a phone call. He added that the police handed over the minor to him the next morning.
Third, and most importantly, the claim of conversion also fell apart during the cross-examination. The girl told the court that Saqib had not asked her to convert to Islam. She added that, contrary to her father’s claim in court, she was not present in the police station when he had written out the FIR.
Judge Pandey observed that these contradictions in the statements of the victim and her parents “did not provide much benefit to the prosecution as they are contrary to the prosecution’s story”.
‘Doubtful evidence’
The court found glaring weaknesses in the statements of circle officer Ajay Kumar Agarwal, who was the investigating officer in the case.
For one, during his cross-examination, Agarwal could not recall where Saqib had allegedly taken the girl after kidnapping her, and where he had allegedly proceeded to molest her.
This was a problem because he had drawn the map of the alleged scene of crime himself.
“He does not remember in which direction of the village is the site of the incident,” said the court. “How many rooms were there in the location where he made the map? He does not remember. He does not remember what was east of the incident site. He said that the map only shows where the victim went; not where the incident took place…this makes the evidence doubtful.”
The court also examined the doctor who conducted a medical examination of the minor on December 16. The doctor told the court that she found “no external injuries on the victim’s body”. She had also examined whether the minor was sexually assaulted, despite her claim that she was not.
But Agarwal did not demand a supplementary report on sexual assault from the doctor. “We prepare the supplementary report only when the investigating officer asks for it,” added the doctor.
Taking these inconsistencies into account, judge Pandey ruled that the prosecution “has failed to establish basic facts” since the statements of the victim, her father, her mother and the investigating officer are “full of contradictions and hence not reliable”.
“The prosecution has failed to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt,” the judge said.
The special court acquitted Saqib of all charges.
‘Most cases result in acquittals’
The UP anti-conversion became a law on March 5, 2021, and was amended with harsher punishments on August 6, 2024.
Between November 2020 and July 2024, the UP police registered 835 cases under the law, with 1,682 arrests.
However, lawyers said that convictions under the law have been few.
Advocate Ramesh Kumar, who represented Saqib during his bail hearing in Allahabad High Court, told Scroll that it is difficult to prove charges under Uttar Pradesh’s anti-conversion law during a trial because it is a bad law to begin with
“Mostly, these cases are applied under pressure from Hindu right-wing groups, who force a woman and their family to give false statements,” he said. “But as the pressure eases with time and the trial goes on, the same people contradict their older statements in courts.”
Kumar added that the hardest part is to prove a malafide intent of the person accused of illegal conversion. “This is why most cases under this law result in acquittals,” he said. “Mostly, there is no intent. Cases are filed because of the ruling party and its cadre’s attempt to magnify anti-Muslim prejudices for political gain.”
In July 2024, while acquitting two two men charged with sections of the anti-conversion law, a court in Bareilly directed “appropriate legal action” against police officials for lodging the case “under some pressure” and on the basis of a “baseless, unfounded, fabricated and fantastical” story.
In March 2024, the Supreme Court had remarked that parts of Uttar Pradesh’s anti-conversion law may seem violative of Article 25 of the Constitution, which protects freedom of conscience and the free profession, practice, and propagation of religion.
‘The case ruined us’
Soon after he was granted bail in 2021, Saqib returned to Dehradun and resumed his welding job. “I used to make Rs 7,000 a month when I got the job and today I make Rs 10,000,” he said. “Most of that money was spent in fighting the case. Sometimes, I had to travel to Bijnor four times a month for hearings. I have not been able to save any money.”
His brother, Arif, added that he and other family members had to pitch in when Saqib ran out of money. “Hum toh bekaar ho gaye is case ki wajah se,” he said. The case ruined us.
While the acquittal came as a relief to him, the trial has taken a toll. “The case happened when I was 16. That is the age when others play and have fun,” said Saqib. “The case is like a stain on me and my family. In Bijnor, some still believe that I did it.”
Arif added that people in his village still look down on the family because of the trial. “None of our ancestors ever went near a police station,” he said. “But this [case] changed everything.”
Source: scroll.in
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UK Initiative ‘Project Unity’ Seeks To Counter Islamophobia Through Education, Dialogue
30/05/2025
A demonstrator speaks as protesters hold anti-Islamophobia signs at Utilita Arena Birmingham, in Birmingham, Britain, March 28, 2025. (Reuters)
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With anti-Muslim hate reaching record levels in the UK, Better Communities Bradford (BCB) has launched Project Unity, a bold, nationwide initiative to educate against Islamophobia, challenge harmful myths and build more inclusive communities.
The project arrives at a critical time. Muslims comprise just 6.5 percent of the UK population, yet account for 42 percent of all religious hate crime victims (according to a Home Office Report). In 2024, Islamophobic assaults rose by a staggering 74 percent.
A recent analysis found that there is 400 percent more negative coverage about Muslims than about other groups in the media.
In the workplace, 40 percent of Muslims report facing discrimination in performance reviews and promotions while 60 percent of Conservative Party members believe Islam “threatens British life.”
“Anti-Muslim prejudice has become disturbingly normalised in public life, media and policy. Project Unity is about turning that tide, creating spaces for facts, humanity and dialogue to replace suspicion and division. This isn’t just a Bradford issue. It’s a national challenge, and we believe it deserves a national solution,” said Chief Executive of Better Communities Bradford Abbas Najib.
Over the next 12 months, Project Unity will deliver free interactive workshops and interfaith dialogues across England, reaching schools, universities, community venues, public sector organisations and workplaces. Each session is designed to debunk harmful myths, challenge media narratives and give people the tools to engage thoughtfully and honestly.
Workshops include: Myths and Misconceptions about Islam; Islam, Extremism and the Narrative War, Separating mainstream beliefs from extremist ideologies; The Truth About ‘Grooming Gangs’: Challenging racial scapegoating with facts and context; Does Islam Oppress Women? Exploring women’s rights, agency and misperceptions; Islam, Terrorism, and Security: Understanding Islam’s stance on justice and violence; Media and Political Narratives: How bias and misinformation shape public opinion.
Workshops are tailored to context, backed by evidence, and led by facilitators with both lived and professional expertise. Project Unity is more than a response to rising hate. It is a proactive call to organisations across the UK to become visible allies in the fight against Islamophobia.
Source: thearabweekly.com
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https://thearabweekly.com/uk-initiative-seeks-counter-islamophobia-through-education-dialogue
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Several Boko Haram/ISWAP Terrorists Killed In Borno By NAF Airstrike
May 30, 2025
By Oladipo Abiola
An airstrike by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), through the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai, has resulted in the death of several Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists in Borno State.
According to a statement on Friday by the NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the airstrike was launched in Bita, Borno State.
He confirmed that several Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists were eliminated in the airstrike, which was described as one of the most decisive blows against the insurgents in recent times.
Ejodame noted that the airstrike was carried out in the early hours of Friday, after NAF combat aircraft carried out precision airstrikes on fleeing terrorists.
“The highly coordinated operation, executed under the cover of darkness, represents a major leap in ongoing efforts to dismantle the operational capabilities of terrorist elements undermining national security in the North East. He said Ground forces have since commenced clearance and exploitation operations to consolidate on the gains achieved from the successful air strikes,” the NAF spokesperson said.
The statement added that NAF remains committed to defending the nation’s territorial integrity and protecting law-abiding citizens.
Ejodame added that all necessary measures are being taken to ensure that terrorist elements have no safe haven anywhere within the country.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/05/30/several-boko-haram-iswap-terrorists-killed-in-borno-by-naf-airstrike/
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Arab Group at UN urges recognition of Palestine as ‘step toward lasting peace’ ahead of conference on two-state solution
EPHREM KOSSAIFY
May 30, 2025
Arab representatives at the UN on Friday praised countries that have recognized the state of Palestine, and urged other nations to follow suit. (Supplied)
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NEW YORK: Arab representatives at the UN on Friday praised countries that have recognized the state of Palestine, and urged other nations to follow suit.
“Recognition is not just symbolic, it is a step toward lasting peace,” said Mohamed Abushahab, the UAE’s permanent representative to the UN and chair of the Arab Group for May, a forum for Arab nations to outline their positions on various issues.
The comments came as Saudi Arabia and France prepare to co-chair a global conference later this month that will seek to hasten implementation of a two-state solution and end decades of conflict between Israel and Palestinians.
The effort gained further support this month as the devastating toll of Israel’s resumed assault on Gaza sparked international anger.
Arab representatives say the upcoming conference, which will take place in New York, must go beyond diplomacy and deliver tangible steps toward peace.
Speaking at a UN General Assembly meeting earlier this month in preparation for the forum, Saudi Arabia said that recognizing the state of Palestine is a “strategic necessity” that is “the cornerstone of a new regional order based on mutual recognition and coexistence.”
“Regional peace begins with recognizing the state of Palestine, not as a symbolic gesture, but as a strategic necessity,” the Kingdom said.
The high-level conference is scheduled to begin on June 17 at the UN headquarters and aims to urgently adopt concrete measures toward the implementation of the two-state solution.
Palestine is officially recognized by 147 of the UN’s 193 member states and has observer status at the UN, but is not a full member.
More than 53,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel unleashed its military operation in Gaza after a Hamas-led attack killed 1,200 people in October 2023.
As the death toll and suffering in Gaza has increased, more nations have moved to recognize Palestine, including Ireland, Norway, and Spain last year.
The Arab Group also issued an urgent call for immediate action from the UN Security Council to end the “catastrophic war” and deepening humanitarian crisis in the enclave.
Abushahab emphasized the group’s collective condemnation of Israel’s military campaign and blockade on Gaza.
“The Arab Group stands united in our determination to mobilize and put an end to the catastrophic war on Gaza,” he said.
“We demand the lifting of all restrictions on humanitarian aid and its distribution based on humanitarian principles. Starvation must not be used as a weapon of war.”
Abushahab criticized Israel’s proposed aid distribution mechanism, calling it a violation of international humanitarian law.
He reiterated the Arab Group’s demand for an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire, alongside the release of all hostages and detainees.
The UN representative urged the Security Council to adopt the draft resolution on Gaza advanced by the elected members of the council, and called on member states to take “concrete actions” to advance the two-state solution.
Majed Bamya, Palestine’s deputy permanent representative to the UN, said: “It is enough for anybody to understand the human tragedy unfolding before our eyes.”
Referring to the relentless bombardments, mass displacement, starvation, and the killing of children, he added: “Outrage is not enough. We need action.”
Bamya stressed the need for full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2735, which calls for a ceasefire, the release of hostages and prisoners, and the massive delivery of humanitarian aid.
He praised Egypt and Qatar for their mediation efforts, and acknowledged US involvement in attempts to secure a ceasefire.
“The Palestinian people are being subjected to an attempt to liquidate their cause by force,” Bamya said, accusing Israel of using starvation and aid obstruction to displace the population and seize land.
He firmly rejected any new aid distribution mechanism proposed by Israel, insisting on the UN plan that ensures equitable aid access throughout Gaza.
“We cannot expect people to survive this alone,” he said. “Israel wants to convince them that if they want life, they can only find it away from their land. Our collective responsibility is to help our people find life and liberty in their homeland.”
As the humanitarian toll mounts, the Arab Group’s call to the Security Council reflects increasing pressure for global powers to take a firmer stance on the crisis.
“The time of half-measures has passed,” said Bamya. “Palestinian lives are not less valuable than any other lives. The council must act accordingly.”
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2602791/middle-east
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India
Hand over 'most wanted terrorists' Azhar and Hafiz or face consequences, Rajnath warns Pakistan
Imran Ahmed Siddiqui
31.05.25
Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said Operation Sindoor was not just a military action but India’s frontal assault on terrorism and urged Pakistan to hand over designated terrorists Masood Azhar and Hafiz Saeed to face trial in India if it was serious about talks.
India has long been asking Pakistan to hand over the two “most wanted terrorists”, and this has been New Delhi’s precondition for any dialogue with Islamabad that has been stalled for nearly a decade now.
“It would be in Pakistan’s interest to uproot the nurseries of terrorism operating on its soil with its own hands. If Pakistan is serious about talks, then it should hand over terrorists like Masood Azhar and Hafiz Saeed to India so that justice can be served,” Rajnath said, pointing out that both were on India’s “most wanted” list as well as the UN’s list of designated terrorists.
Saeed is the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) chief and mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai terror attack. Azhar, the founder of the terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), is wanted in major terror strikes in the country, including the 2001 attack on Parliament.
Aboard India’s first indigenously built warship INS Vikrant off the Goa coast, the defence minister also warned Pakistan while underlining the navy’s formidable strength, stating that had the navy actively joined the other armed forces during Operation Sindoor, Pakistan could have faced an outcome worse than the 1971 war.
“Pakistan knows what happens when the Indian Navy moves with full force. 1971 is a witness to this. When the Indian Navy came into action, Pakistan was divided into two parts,” he said.
“If the navy had come into form in Operation Sindoor, then Pakistan would not only have been divided into two parts, but I think it would have been divided into four parts.”
A 45,000-tonne warship built at ₹20,000 crore, INS Vikrant played a major role in the recently conducted Operation Sindoor.
The deployment was a strategic deterrent, along with other warships including seven destroyers equipped with BrahMos missiles, medium-range surface-to-air missiles and heavyweight torpedoes capable of engaging surface, aerial and underwater threats.
Addressing naval personnel aboard the aircraft carrier, currently deployed in the
Arabian Sea, Rajnath reviewed operational readiness and praised the navy’s role in neutralising threats during the operation.
“When the Indian Air Force destroyed the terror bases on Pakistani soil, the navy’s aggressive deployment in the Arabian Sea, its unmatched maritime domain awareness and supremacy confined the Pakistani Navy to its own shores.
“Our western fleet ships deployed at sea within 96 hours of the Pahalgam terrorist attack, carried out successful firings of surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles and torpedoes on the western and eastern coasts. It demonstrated the combat readiness of our platforms, forcing the enemy to come into a defensive posture,” Rajnath said.
He said that if Pakistan resorted to anything evil or unethical, it would face the firepower and ire of the Indian Navy.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/give-us-two-most-wanted-terrorists-masood-azhar-and-hafiz-saeed-pakistan-told-prnt/cid/2105316
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Development in Jammu and Kashmir won't stop, those who harm us will face befitting reply: Amit Shah in Poonch
30.05.25
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday asserted that the development of Jammu and Kashmir, which he said began in 2014 under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will not stop or slow down despite recent provocations, and warned that those attempting to harm India will face a "strong and decisive" response.
Delivering a message of reassurance and resolve from the border district of Poonch, Shah said the pause in development caused by recent disturbances is only momentary, and the Union Territory’s progress will soon regain its momentum.
The home minister lauded the bravery and readiness of the armed forces and the civil administration, acknowledging the sacrifice of a senior official during the recent India-Pakistan military conflict. He also praised the administration’s swift response in evacuating civilians to safer places during the shelling.
This is Shah’s first visit to the Union Territory after Operation Sindoor.
Shah said that that a package would soon be announced by the Centre for damaged homes, businesses, and religious sites.
Soon after his arrival in Poonch, Shah visited Gurudwara Singh Sabha, which was damaged in the Pakistani shelling. He also visited other such places in the shelling-hit areas and interacted with the people.
During his visit, Shah met residents and families who lost loved ones and suffered extensive damage to their properties in the shelling.
Flanked by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Delhi Minister Majinder Singh Sirsa, Shah, who is on a two-day visit to the Jammu region, visited shelling-hit places in the town. He was greeted with the slogan 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai'. Shah also met the affected shopkeepers.
Addressing people in Poonch, Shah said that Pakistan committed a “highly condemnable act” by carrying out intense shelling in border areas of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in Poonch, and asserted that India responded by precisely targeting terror infrastructure across the border without harming any civilians.
Calling the recent shelling “the worst in Poonch since Independence,” Shah said civilian homes, temples, gurudwaras, and mosques were targeted by Pakistan. “This is a highly condemnable act. Pakistan used civilians as human shields. Only after this provocation, our forces responded with strength and precision,” he said.
Shah said that a package would soon be introduced by the Centre for damaged homes, businesses, and religious sites.
He arrived in Jammu on Thursday, his third visit to Jammu and Kashmir since April 6. The Union home minister chaired a high-level meeting here on Thursday night to review the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir and arrangements for the annual Amarnath Yatra, officials said.
Poonch witnessed heightened artillery and mortar shelling after India carried out precision strikes under Operation Sindoor on nine terror hubs in Pakistan and PoK on May 7 in response to the Pahalgam terror attack.
A wave of artillery shelling, missiles, and drone strikes by Pakistan killed 28 people — 14 in the Poonch district alone — and injured more than 70 between May 7 and 10 across Jammu and Kashmir.
Thousands were forced to leave their homes near the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border to seek refuge in government-run relief camps.
India and Pakistan reached an understanding on May 10 to end the military confrontation after four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/development-in-jammu-and-kashmir-wont-stop-those-who-harm-us-will-face-befitting-reply-amit-shah-in-poonch/cid/2105251
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In Indonesia, CPI(M) MP Counters Asim Munir’s ‘Hindus And Muslims Are Different’ Remark Saying, “Salman Khurshid Is Here, We Are All Together”
May 31, 2025
CPI(M) MP John Brittas took a sharp aim at Pakistan Army chief general Asim Munir during an interaction with the Indian community in Jakarta on Friday. Brittas questioned Asim Munir’s claim that Hindus and Muslims are inherently different in a way that justifies division or conflict.
“Asim Munir said something about Hindus and Muslims are different. Can you ever vouch for that?” Brittas asked, challenging the idea head-on.
Standing alongside senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid, Brittas pointed to India’s diversity as its strength. “Salman Khurshid is here. We are all together. I am from Kerala... I am a Christian. In Kerala, we have three major religions. We coexist in harmony. That is the message of India,” he said.
John Brittas added that such a statement does not reflect the reality of India, where people from different religions, including Hindus, Muslims and Christians, live together peacefully.
‘India wants peace, but not at the cost of lives’
The MP didn’t hold back when speaking about terrorism and India-Pakistan relations. “Khwaja Asif... said that they have been indulging in this dirty job of nurturing and harbouring terrorist organisations for three decades. We don't require any more evidence. It's for all of us to see who is nurturing and harbouring terrorism,” Brittas added.
He was referring to an April 25 interview with Sky News, in which Asif appeared to admit Pakistan’s role in supporting terrorism while also accusing Western countries of conveniently targeting Pakistan.
Brittas went on to highlight New Delhi's long-standing efforts for peace despite repeated provocations. “India wants peace. The Indus Waters Treaty gave 80% of the water to Pakistan. We had been cooperative with them... Still, Pakistan continued with the trajectory of sending across terrorists," he said.
"That's why India decided that enough is enough. We want peace, but it shouldn't be at the cost of our precious lives,” the CPI (M) MP added.
He also underlined the contrast between India and Pakistan, saying, “Pakistan is a theocratic state... They chose to be a nation in the name of a religion, and they are triggered by hate. India decided on its path. Two hundred million Muslims are in India, the second-largest Muslim community after Indonesia. This reflects the real character of India,” he said.
He pointed out the diversity within the Indian delegation as a reflection of India's democratic values. “The unique nature of this delegation is that out of five political parties, three are against the ruling party, but we are here together for a mission. This represents the real culture of India,” he said.
Brittas was part of an all-party delegation visiting Indonesia as part of a broader diplomatic tour of Southeast and East Asia to deliver India's side to the world in the wake of Pahalgam terror attack. The group is visiting Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, and Singapore.
The delegation is led by JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha and includes members from the BJP, Congress, CPI(M), and Trinamool Congress, such as Aparajita Sarangi, Abhishek Banerjee, Brij Lal, Pradan Baruah, Hemang Joshi, Salman Khurshid, and Mohan Kumar.
Source: hindustantimes.com
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https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/cpim-mp-john-brittas-counters-asim-munir-s-hindus-and-muslims-are-different-claim-in-jakarta-101748652935567.html
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Operation Sindoor not over yet: PM Modi outlines India’s bold anti-terror strategy
Namita Bajpai
30 May 2025
KANPUR: Sending a powerful message on India’s anti-terror strategy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the country would respond decisively to every act of terrorism, regardless of where the threat originates from, as ‘Operation Sindoor’ was still ongoing.
The Prime Minister was addressing a public rally in Kanpur after inaugurating and laying the foundation for 15 development projects related to power, transport, Jal Shakti and other sectors, worth Rs 47,700 crore, during his two-hour visit.
He asserted that India would no longer be bullied by nuclear threats from its neighbours, and outlined three principles guiding the country’s counter-terrorism approach:
1. India will give a befitting reply to every terrorist attack, with the timing, method, and conditions determined solely by the armed forces.
2. India would no longer be intimidated by nuclear threats, nor make decisions based on such intimidation.
3. India would treat the masterminds of terror and the governments that support them with equal resolve.
PM Modi said his Kanpur visit was originally scheduled for April 24 but was cancelled due to the terrorist attack in Pahalgam. He warned that Pakistan’s tactics would no longer succeed, declaring, “If I say it in Kanpuriya style, the enemy will be decimated wherever he is.”
Delivering a strong message on national security, the Prime Minister stated, “India has made its position clear, every terrorist attack will be avenged.”
“Our armed forces will decide the timing and method of the response,” he asserted.
Rejecting the threat of nuclear retaliation as a deterrent, Modi said, “Today’s India does not fear the atomic bomb, nor will it base its decisions on such threats.”
He added that India would no longer accept the excuse of state and non-state actors behind terrorism and that the masterminds and the regimes supporting them would be treated alike.
Referring to India’s strong military response through Operation Sindoor, the Prime Minister said the entire world had witnessed the anger of the country’s daughters and sisters through the operation. “Our forces entered deep into Pakistan and destroyed terrorist hideouts. The Indian Army’s valour forced the Pakistani military to come on its knees and plead for a ceasefire.”
He added that Operation Sindoor had not ended, it had only paused.
Earlier in the day, PM Modi had an emotional interaction with the bereaved family of Shubham Dwivedi at the Kanpur airport. He met Shubham’s widow Aishanya, mother Seema, and father Sanjay Dwivedi.
Focusing on the importance of self-reliance in the defence sector, Modi said that India’s weapons and missiles had caused devastation in the enemy country. He emphasised that achieving self-reliance was crucial not only for the economy but also for national pride.
He recalled that India once heavily depended on other countries for its military needs. “That is why we launched the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’, to free the country from this dependence,” he said.
The Prime Minister credited India’s growing defence capabilities to the resolve of a self-reliant nation, which played a key role in the success of recent military operations.
He claimed that Uttar Pradesh was playing a vital role in making the country self-reliant in the defence sector. The PM highlighted that the UP Defence Corridor was attracting major investment, Kanpur’s ordnance factories had been given commercial status, Amethi’s Korba ordnance factory was manufacturing AK-203 rifles, and BrahMos missiles, used effectively during Operation Sindoor, were set to be manufactured in Lucknow.
“UP is going to be the front runner in defence export in the days to come,” said the PM.
In a veiled attack on previous governments, he said they had ignored the state’s industrial needs. “The family-driven governments never thought of giving priority to industrial development and pushed the state out of the race of developing states,” he said.
Highlighting Uttar Pradesh’s transformation into a logistics and industrial hub, Modi said, “The state already has an international airport, and with this year’s budget, we’ve launched ‘Mission Manufacturing’ to further boost local business and industry.”
He also spoke about reforms to the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector, saying it had earlier been misrepresented in ways that discouraged entrepreneurs.
“We have changed that perception and expanded support through this budget. In the last 10 years, we’ve taken several major decisions to empower small businesses,” he said.
Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath welcomed the Prime Minister, extending the gratitude of the state. “The way India’s new defence system has given a befitting reply to the enemy is commendable,” he said.
He called it the outcome of the strategic efforts initiated by the Prime Minister over the past decade.
“We are proud of your (PM Modi’s) leadership which has strengthened the nation’s defence and global standing,” Adityanath added.
Source: newindianexpress.com
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https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2025/May/30/operation-sindoor-not-over-yet-pm-modi-outlines-indias-bold-anti-terror-strategy
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Anti-drone system deployed for at Taj Mahal to enhance security
31.05.25
An anti-drone system has been deployed at the Taj Mahal to enhance security around the wondrous monument, police said on Friday.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (Taj Security) Syed Arib Ahmed said the system has been installed within the Taj Mahal premises and is capable of disabling any drone entering the restricted airspace.
Surveillance will be maintained over a 500-metre radius around the monument, and any drone detected within this range will be immediately neutralised, he said.
"The system is capable of disabling drones within an 8-km radius, but considering the security sensitivity of the Taj Mahal, monitoring has initially been limited to a 500-metre perimeter," Ahmed said.
He added that the system uses radio frequency and GPS signal jamming technology to disable drones. Once a drone is brought down, a rapid response team will reach the location to secure the device. The team will also track down the individual operating the drone.
Uttar Pradesh Police are among the few in the country that uses anti-drone systems for securing VIPs and vital installations.
Recently, the high technology security system was put to use during the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj and prior to that during the consecration ceremony of the Ram Lalla idol at the Ram temple in Ayodhya in January 2024.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/anti-drone-system-deployed-for-at-taj-mahal-to-enhance-security/cid/2105369
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Omar Abdullah still passed over on security: CM not seen at Shah meet in J&K despite overture
Muzaffar Raina
31.05.25
Chief minister Omar Abdullah has once again failed to secure a place at the high table at a meeting chaired by Union home minister Amit Shah on Jammu
and Kashmir’s security despite his strong push for inclusion recently.
Shah arrived in Jammu on Thursday evening for a two-day visit to the region, his first after Operation Sindoor, for a review meeting on the upcoming Amarnath Yatra, the larger security situation since the April 22 carnage, and to reach out to victims of Pakistani shelling.
The visit comes against the backdrop of a strong pitch by Omar for a say in security-related issues during his back-to-back meetings with his cabinet and the bureaucracy in Pahalgam and Gulmarg this week.
One of his major concerns is his inability to reopen dozens of tourist destinations that were shut by the administration of lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha following the Pahalgam attack. Sources close to Omar said the closure defeats the purpose of reopening Kashmir for tourism as most places remain out of bounds for visitors.
On Thursday evening, the home minister chaired a meeting on the Amarnath pilgrimage with LG Sinha and the security brass. Pictures released by Shah on his social media handle show that Omar was not present.
The chief minister’s social media handles offered no updates on whether he had any engagement with Shah. In a post on Thursday evening, Omar iterated his call that tourism should be a conflict-neutral activity, an apparent rebuff to efforts allegedly seeking to politicise it.
“Time and again, tourism of Jammu and Kashmir gets entangled in politics. All should see tourism as an economic activity more than anything else,” he said in a post on X.
After his meeting on Amarnath, Shah said he evaluated the security arrangements and preparedness for the pilgrims. “Instructed to maintain the utmost vigilance and ensure the seamless completion of the sacred journey. Central govt and J&K administration will leave no stone unturned to facilitate the pilgrims with all necessary facilities,” Shah posted on X.
The 38-day Yatra begins on July 3. It remains the foremost security concern for the administration, particularly because the militants involved in the Pahalgam mayhem remain elusive. Thousands of security forces are being deployed to ensure an incident-free Yatra.
On Wednesday, Omar said there was a need for Jammu and Kashmir’s elected government, led by him, the “unelected government” headed by the LG and the central government to work together to ensure what happened on April 22 does not happen again, clearly seeking a role
in security.
More than six months in office, Omar has never been consulted by the LG’s administration on security matters. The only exception was on May 13, when Northern Command chief Lt General Pratik Sharma visited his home to brief him on security.
Shah on Friday visited Poonch, which suffered extensive damage in Pakistani shelling. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s development programme for Jammu and Kashmir started in 2014 and it will not stop or slow down despite recent provocations.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/omar-abdullah-still-passed-over-on-security-chief-minister-not-seen-at-amit-shah-meet-in-jammu-and-kashmir-despite-overture-prnt/cid/2105314
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Europe
Four Men Sentenced To Nearly 30 Years In Prison For Promoting And Funding Islamic State
By George Allison
May 30, 2025
Four men have been sentenced to nearly 30 years in prison for sharing terrorism propaganda and arranging financial support for the banned Islamic State group via a WhatsApp chat group.
The investigation, led by Counter Terrorism Policing West Midlands, uncovered a network of individuals involved in the dissemination of extremist content and the funding of terrorist activities between 2022 and 2023.
Mohammed Hamad, 30, from Liverpool, admitted two counts of disseminating terrorist propaganda and was sentenced to four years in prison at Liverpool Crown Court this week. He was arrested in March 2023 following a targeted operation.
Three others were previously convicted in connection with the same group chat. Roshman Azad Wali Saeed, 30, from Birmingham, was jailed for 12 years in April 2024 after being convicted of six counts of disseminating terrorist material and entering into terrorist funding arrangements. Tshko Ahmad Mohamad, 33, from West Bromwich, was sentenced to seven years for fundraising for terrorism.
The investigation began following the arrest of Omar Hussain Ahmadi at Stansted Airport by Counter Terrorism Policing South East officers in April 2023. Ahmadi, 24, from Sheffield, was found with £7,000 hidden inside baby milk tins and later admitted involvement in terrorism funding. He was jailed for five years and seven months in December 2024.
Officers seized over £4,000 in cash, more than 30 SIM cards, and upwards of a dozen mobile phones during raids. Forensic examination and translation of group messages uncovered graphic content and clear expressions of support for Islamic State.
Detective Superintendent Annie Miller said: “It’s clear all these men were involved in supporting Islamic State. The group chat was used to promote propaganda and arrange to raise money in the UK to then send to IS to support their activities. It is entirely unacceptable to promote terrorism and we will not hesitate to investigate online behaviour or content which breaches terrorism or other criminal legislation.”
Source: ukdefencejournal.org.uk
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https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/four-men-jailed-for-promoting-and-funding-islamic-state/
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Teen arrested on suspicion of attempted murder over attack outside Maidenhead Mosque
30 May 2025
A 17-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a man was assaulted outside Maidenhead Mosque in Holmanleaze today (May 30).
The victim, a man in his 30s, is receiving treatment in hospital over the attack. Police said he had suffered serious injuries but was in a stable condition.
Emergency services were called to the scene at around 1.40pm; where at least five police cars, a dozen officers and a police cordon remained in place at 4.30pm. First aid kits could be seen on the ground beside a silver car parked in the road.
A statement from Islamic Trust Maidenhead on WhatsApp, seen by the Advertiser, said the incident was ‘not in any way connected to Islamic Trust Maidenhead or Maidenhead Mosque’.
Police are appealing for witnesses and have urged against sharing footage of the incident on social media.
Investigating officer detective inspector Sarah Noah said police believed the two people involved were known to each other and that there was 'no known threat to the wider public'.
DI Noah continued: “We have made an arrest and we are not looking for anyone else in relation to the stabbing.
“I am appealing to anybody who witnessed what happened to please contact us.”
“We have made an arrest and we are not looking for anyone else in relation to this assault.
“I am appealing to anybody who witnessed what happened to please contact us.”
“I would particularly like to hear from anybody who may have footage on their phones or dash-cams, which could help us in our investigation.
“Please do not share footage of the incident on social media and please do not speculate on the circumstances.
“Anybody with any information that may assist us is urged to contact Thames Valley Police, either online or by calling 101, quoting reference 43250265897.
“If you don’t want to speak directly with police, you can also call the independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
Source: twyford-advertiser.co.uk
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http://www.twyford-advertiser.co.uk/news/appeals-and-information/201544/teen-arrested-on-suspicion-of-attempted-murder-over-attack-outside-maidenhead-mosque.html
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Istanbul hosts “Bridging COP29 and COP30: Diplomacy, Action and Climate Road Ahead” conference and panel session
30.05.2025
A conference and a panel session titled “Bridging COP29 and COP30: Diplomacy, Action and Climate Road Ahead” were held in Istanbul, Türkiye on Friday.
The events, co-organized by Azerbaijan’s Consulate General in Istanbul, the COP29 Presidency, and the Istanbul Consular Corps (ICC), gathered several high-ranking officials, including Narmina Mustafayeva, Azerbaijani Consul General in Istanbul; Babatunde A. Ahonsi, Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in Türkiye; Lazar Comanescu, Secretary General of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC); Isiaka Abdulqadir Imam, Secretary-General of the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation; Yalchin Rafiyev, Azerbaijani Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, COP29 Lead Negotiator; Fatma Varank, Turkish Deputy Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, Türkiye’s Chief Climate Change Negotiator; Altug Karatas, General Manager of “Vat Enerji”, and others.
Yalchin Rafiyev also held bilateral meetings with Isiaka Abdulqadir Imam, Secretary-General of the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Lazar Comanescu, Secretary General of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) on the margins of the event.
In their remarks, Narmina Mustafayeva, Azerbaijani Consul General in Istanbul; Babatunde A. Ahonsi, Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in Türkiye; Lazar Comanescu, Secretary General of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC); and Isiaka Abdulqadir Imam, Secretary-General of the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation, underscored the significance of the event in addressing the COP29 outcomes and future initiatives on this track.
The event followed up with the panel session moderated by Gürkan Kumbaroglu, professor at Bogaziçi University, with Yalchin Rafiyev, Fatma Varank and Altug Karatas among the speakers.
Yalchin Rafiyev provided an overview about Azerbaijan’s COP29 goals and achieved outcomes, including reaching full operationalization of Article 6 of Paris Agreement, providing high-quality and transparent carbon markets through which countries and companies can work together to meet their climate goals.
Fatma Varank congratulated Azerbaijan on great success achieved at COP29.
Source: azertag.az
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https://azertag.az/en/xeber/istanbul_hosts_bridging_cop29_and_cop30_diplomacy_action_and_climate_road_ahead_conference_and_panel_session-3587959
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Azerbaijan’s Parliament set to chair OIC PA in next term
30 May 2025
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 30.? Azerbaijani Parliament will assume the chairmanship of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Parliamentary Assembly (OIC PA) in 2026, said Sahiba Gafarova, Chairperson of the Azerbaijani Parliament, at the final session of the spring parliamentary term, Trend reports.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) stands as the preeminent collective entity following the United Nations, encompassing a diverse membership of 57 sovereign states distributed across four distinct geographical regions. The institution serves as the unified representation of the Islamic community globally.
It strives to fortify and uphold the interests of the Islamic community, embodying the ethos of fostering global tranquility and synergy among diverse populations worldwide. The entity was instituted following a resolution from the pivotal conclave convened in Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco, on the 25th of September, 1969.
Source: trend.az
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https://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/politics/4051269.html
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Staffordshire man posts 'anti-Islamic and anti-immigration sentiments' online
30 MAY 2025
A Staffordshire man is awaiting sentence after posting threatening messages on social media. Richard Britton, from Wombourne, has pleaded guilty to two counts of publishing or distributing threatening, abusive or insulting material over a two-month period in 2023.
Britton displayed 'anti-Islamic, racist and anti-immigration sentiments' and used threatening language on his social media account. He also shared images of weapons online and encouraged others to do the same. The account was later suspended by Twitter.
The 31-year-old was arrested during a pre-planned operation and weapons were seized from his address. He has pleaded guilty at Wolverhampton Crown Court and will be sentenced on 25 July.
Detective Superintendent Annie Miller, from Counter Terrorism Policing in the West Midlands, said: “When we searched Britton’s address following his arrest, we found machetes, fireworks and terrorism material matching the images he’d posted online. Our absolute priority is to ensure the safety and security of the people who live, work and visit the wider West Midlands area."
Source: stokesentinel.co.uk
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https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/staffordshire-man-posts-anti-islamic-10225779
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Africa
Libya protesters call on PM to quit in third weekly march
May 31, 2025
TRIPOLI: Hundreds of protesters gathered in central Tripoli on Friday for the third week in a row to demand the resignation of UN-recognized Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah following recent clashes in Libya’s capital.
Demonstrators chanted “Dbeibah out,” “the people want the fall of the government,” and “long live Libya.”
At least 200 people had assembled by late afternoon, with several hundred more following suit later. Some blasted slogans on loudspeakers from their cars.
Libya is split between the UN-recognized government in Tripoli, led by Dbeibah, and a rival administration in the east controlled by the family of military strongman Khalifa Haftar.
The North African country has remained deeply divided since the 2011 NATO-backed revolt that toppled and killed longtime leader Muammar Qaddafi.
National elections scheduled for December 2021 were postponed indefinitely due to disputes between the two rival powers.
The recent unrest came after deadly clashes between armed groups controlling different areas of Tripoli killed at least eight people, according to the UN.
The clashes were sparked by the killing of an armed faction leader by a group aligned with Dbeibah’s government — the 444 Brigade which later fought a third group, the Radaa force that controls parts of eastern Tripoli and the city’s airport.
The fighting broke out also after Dbeibah announced a string of executive orders seeking to dismantle Radaa and dissolve other Tripoli-based armed groups but excluding the 444 Brigade.
The government and UN support mission in Libya have been pressing efforts to reach a permanent ceasefire since.
Last Saturday, a separate protest in Tripoli drew hundreds in support of Dbeibah.
Demonstrators condemned the armed groups and called for the reinstatement of Libya’s 1951 constitution, which was abolished by Qaddafi after his 1969 coup.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2602812/middle-east
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Biafra Agitator, Simon Ekpa Remanded On Terrorism Charges
May 30, 2025
By Richard Ogunsile
Pro-Biafran activist, Simon Ekpa, appeared in the Päijät-Häme District Court on Friday for a preliminary hearing concerning charges related to terrorism.
Naija News recalls that in November 2024, the Finnish government announced the arrest of Ekpa along with four other individuals on allegations of engaging in terror-related activities, which include incitement to violence and financing terrorism.
Finnish law enforcement has confirmed that Ekpa, who is referred to as the self-declared Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government-in-Exile, purportedly utilised social media platforms to incite violence in the South-East region, specifically targeting both civilians and governmental authorities.
As reported on Friday by Finnish news outlet Yle, the Päijät-Häme District Court ordered Ekpa to be held in custody on charges of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent.
The report indicates that prosecutors are pursuing a six-year prison term, citing significant evidence derived from Ekpa’s digital communications and activities.
“We have a great deal of evidence regarding this individual’s online activity and communications,” said state prosecutor Sampsa Hakala.
Nevertheless, the prosecution recognised the difficulties in obtaining trustworthy information, pointing out that a significant portion of the alleged criminal activities took place in Africa.
Naija News reports that the investigation has been conducted in collaboration between Finnish law enforcement and Nigerian officials.
Ekpa, represented by his attorney Kaarle Gummerus, has refuted the allegations. His counsel raised concerns regarding the reliability of the information sourced from Nigeria.
Alongside the terrorism-related charges, the court is examining claims of serious tax fraud and the possibility that Ekpa may have commissioned arms for pro-Biafra organisations.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/05/30/biafra-agitator-simon-ekpa-remanded-on-terrorism-charges/
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Over 100 Dead Bodies Recovered From Flooding In Niger State
May 30, 2025
By Oladipo Abiola
Emergency responders have recovered more than one hundred dead bodies following the flood caused by torrential rainfall in parts of Niger State.
This was disclosed on Friday by a spokesman for the Niger State Emergency Management, Ibrahim Audu Husseini.
He added that many more bodies are still expected to be recovered as rescue efforts continue.
Naija News reports that many residents went missing as a result of the flood caused by torrential rains late on Wednesday while many houses were submerged in and around the city of Mokwa, in Niger State.
Husseini, who spoke with AFP about ongoing rescue efforts, said many individuals remain unaccounted for and rescue efforts are still in progress.
“We have so far recovered 115 bodies and more are expected to be recovered because the flood came from far distance and washed people into the River Niger.
“Downstream, bodies are still being recovered. So, the toll keeps rising,” he said.
He added that his teams would need excavators to retrieve corpses from under the rubble.
“Some bodies were recovered from the debris of collapsed homes,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has extended its heartfelt condolences to the Niger State Government following the recent flooding disaster in the Mokwa Local Government Area, which has tragically claimed numerous lives.
In a statement issued on Friday and signed by the NGF Chairman, AbdulRaman AbdulRazaq, the forum expressed its deep shock at the severity of the flood, which has caused significant loss of life and destruction of property in the affected community.
The NGF assured the state government and the people of Niger of their full support in the aftermath of the tragedy.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/05/30/over-100-dead-bodies-recovered-from-flooding-in-niger-state/
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Mideast
Israel Defense Minister Says ‘We Will Build Jewish Israeli State’ In West Bank
May 30, 2025
JERUSALEM: Defense Minister Israel Katz vowed on Friday to build a “Jewish Israeli state” in the occupied West Bank, a day after the government announced the creation of 22 new settlements in the Palestinian territory.
Israeli settlements in the West Bank, seen as a major obstacle to lasting peace, are regularly condemned by the United Nations as illegal under international law, and Thursday’s announcement drew sharp foreign criticism.
“This is a decisive response to the terrorist organizations that are trying to harm and weaken our hold on this land — and it is also a clear message to (French President Emmanuel) Macron and his associates: they will recognize a Palestinian state on paper — but we will build the Jewish Israeli state here on the ground,” Katz was quoted as saying Friday in a statement from his office.
“The paper will be thrown into the trash bin of history, and the State of Israel will flourish and prosper.”
Katz was speaking during a visit to the Sa-Nur settlement outpost in the northern West Bank.
Sa-Nur was evacuated in 2005 as part of Israel’s disengagement from Gaza, promoted by then prime minister Ariel Sharon.
Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967.
During a visit to Singapore on Friday, French President Macron asserted that recognition of a Palestinian state, with some conditions, was “not only a moral duty, but a political necessity.”
An international conference meant to resurrect the idea of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is set to take place in June at the UN headquarters in New York.
A diplomat in Paris close to preparations for the conference said it should pave the way for more countries to recognize a Palestinian state.
Macron said in April that France could recognize a Palestinian state in June.
Following Israel’s announcement of the new settlements on Thursday, Britain called the move a “deliberate obstacle” to Palestinian statehood, while UN chief Antonio Guterres’s spokesman said it pushed efforts toward a two-state solution “in the wrong direction.”
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2602755/middle-east
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Israel strikes western Syria, despite talks
May 30, 2025
DAMASCUS: Israel on Friday struck western Syria, the Israeli military and Syrian state media said, in the first such attack on the country in nearly a month.
It came after Damascus announced earlier this month indirect talks with Israel to calm tensions, and the US called for a “non-aggression agreement” between the two countries, which are technically at war.
“A strike from Israeli occupation aircraft targeted sites close to the village of Zama in the Jableh countryside south of Latakia,” state television said.
The Israeli military shortly thereafter said it “struck weapon storage facilities containing coastal missiles that posed a threat to international and Israeli maritime freedom of navigation, in the Latakia area of Syria.”
“In addition, components of surface-to-air missiles were struck in the area of Latakia,” it said, adding that it would “continue to operate to maintain freedom of action in the region, in order to carry out its missions and will act to remove any threat to the State of Israel and its citizens.”
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights meanwhile reported that jets likely to be Israeli struck military sides on the outskirts of Tartus and Latakia.
Syria and Israel have technically been at war since 1948. Israel seized the Golan Heights from Syria in 1967 and has carried out hundreds of strikes and several incursions since the overthrow of Bashar Assad in December.
Israel says its strikes aim to stop advanced weapons reaching Syria’s new authorities, whom it considers jihadists.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2602806/middle-east
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UN aid chief says Israel’s blocking of food to Gaza is a ‘war crime’
May 30, 2025
LONDON: Israel’s blocking of food aid to starving Palestinians in Gaza in an attempt to forcibly remove the population amounts to a war crime, the UN’s humanitarian chief said in an interview broadcast on Friday.
Israel allowed a trickle of supplies into Gaza last week after a complete blockade for nearly three months. But there have been chaotic and deadly scenes amid a new distribution system that sidelined the UN.
“We’re seeing food sat on the borders and not being allowed in when there is a population on the other side of the border that is starving, and we’re hearing Israeli ministers say that is to put pressure on the population of Gaza,” Tom Fletcher told the BBC.
Using food as a weapon “is classified as a war crime,” he said, adding that would be for the courts and history to judge.
He also warned Israel against the forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza to another country, a policy that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and members of his hard-line cabinet have advocated.
Earlier this month, Israel’s extremist Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said Gaza would be “totally destroyed” within six months and Palestinians there would be so despairing that they would be “looking for relocation to begin a new life in other places.”
Fletcher called on Netanyahu to ensure that “this language, and ultimately, this policy ... of forced displacement, isn’t enacted.”
Since Israel broke a two-month ceasefire in March it has ramped up its operations in Gaza, killing thousands more Palestinian civilians in an attempt to take full military control of the territory.
The increased violence has led European countries to shift their stance and threaten sanctions against Israel if it does not stop the slaughter and allow the full flow of aid.
On May 14, Fletcher told the UN Security Council that it must act to prevent genocide in Gaza. He said the comments were in response to what his colleagues on the ground were telling him.
“What they’re reporting is forced displacement. They’re reporting starvation, they’re reporting torture, and they’re reporting deaths on a massive scale,” he said.
“In previous cases, Rwanda, Srebrenica and Sri Lanka, the world had told us afterwards that we didn’t act in time, that we didn’t sound the warning and ask that the world respond to prevent genocide.
“And that’s my call to the Security Council and the world right now, ‘will you act to prevent genocide?’”
He added: “History will be tough in the way it judges us. And it must be.”
The conflict has killed almost 54,000 Palestinians since it started in October 2023 when a Hamas-led assault killed 1,200 Israelis and seized dozens of hostages.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2602771/middle-east
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Israel’s Gaza war producing ‘staggering’ carbon footprint
May 30, 2025
LONDON: The emissions caused by Israel’s war on Gaza as well as estimated reconstruction costs are greater than the annual footprint of 100 individual countries, new research has found.
The war caused more carbon emissions than the annual combined total of Costa Rica and Estonia in its first 15 months.
The research, published by the Social Science Research Network, was shared exclusively with The Guardian.
Destroying, clearing and rebuilding the Gaza Strip could produce 31 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e), researchers from the UK and US found.
There is no obligation for states to record military emissions to the UN’s climate body, with researchers warning that the lack of accountability could lead to an underreporting of the global carbon footprint.
The study’s data, which also includes estimates of emissions relating to Hamas and Hezbollah activity, highlights the asymmetry between each side.
Hamas’s use of bunker fuel and rockets accounted for about 3,000 tCO2e, just 0.2 percent of the conflict’s total carbon footprint.
Israel’s use of weapons, equipment, tanks and ordnance produced 50 percent of emissions, the study found.
Researchers also included estimated emissions from Yemen’s Houthi militia, which has traded strikes with Israel over the course of the war. Iran and Israel’s tit-for-tat attacks, and the war in southern Lebanon, were also recorded.
All military activity arising from the Gaza war produced the equivalent, in emissions, of charging 2.6 billion smartphones or running 84 gas power plants for a year.
The figure includes the tC02e estimate — 557,359 — of the pre-war construction of Hamas’s tunnel network and Israel’s “iron wall” barrier surrounding Gaza. The findings could eventually help calculate claims for reparations, The Guardian reported.
More than 99 percent of the tCO2e generated between Oct. 7, 2023, and the temporary ceasefire in January this year was attributed to Israeli bombardment and the invasion of Gaza.
US involvement in the emissions was also highlighted by researchers. They found that almost 30 percent of greenhouse gases generated in the same period came from regular resupply flights carrying military equipment to Israel from American stockpiles in Europe.
Israel’s destruction of Gaza has produced an estimated 60 million tonnes of toxic rubble that requires clearing, producing what researchers warned would be the biggest emissions toll of the conflict.
Removing debris, rebuilding 436,000 destroyed apartments, roads, 700 schools, mosques and administrative sites will produce an estimated 29.4 million tCO2e.
Zena Agha, analyst for Palestinian policy network Al-Shabaka, said: “This report is a staggering and sobering reminder of the ecological and environmental cost of Israel’s genocidal campaign … But this is also the US, UK and EU’s war, all of which have provided seemingly limitless military resources to enable Israel to devastate the most densely populated place on the planet.
“This brings home the destabilizing (regional) impact of the Israeli settler state and its inseparability from the western military-industrial complex.”
In producing the report, researchers used open-source information, media articles and data from independent groups, including UN agencies.
Hadeel Ikhmais, head of the climate change office at the Palestinian Environmental Quality Authority, said: “Wars not only kill people but also release toxic chemicals, destroy infrastructure, pollute soil, air and water resources and accelerate climate and environmental disasters.
“War also destroys climate adaptation and hinders environmental management. Not counting carbon emissions is a black hole in accountability that allows governments to get away from their environmental crimes.”
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2602766/middle-east
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Foreign Ministry staff renew allegiance to Imam Khomeini
May 31, 2025
The Iranian Foreign Ministry delegation was welcomed by Hassan Khomeini, the custodian of the mausoleum and the grandson of Imam Khomeini.
Earlier on Wednesday, the members of parliament visited the mausoleum ahead of the anniversary of the passing of the late Imam, as well as the anniversary of the demonstrations of June 5, 1963, known as the uprising of Khordad 15.
Imam Khomeini was born on September 24, 1902, and passed away on June 3, 1989. He is best known as the founder and first leader of the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran. The mausoleum of Imam Khomeini is located in the southern area of Tehran, near the Behesht-e Zahra, the largest cemetery in Iran.
During the visit, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said that the lawmakers are committed to Imam Khomeini’s ideals, which are based on rationality, spirituality, and justice.
Source: mehrnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://en.mehrnews.com/news/232480/Foreign-Ministry-staff-renew-allegiance-to-Imam-Khomeini
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Palestine is demand for global justice: British academic
31.05.2025
Palestine is a demand for greater justice throughout the world, according to British academic Salman Sayyid from the University of Leeds.
Speaking to Anadolu at the Reorienting Resistance, the fourth Critical Muslim Studies conference in Istanbul, Sayyid emphasized that the event united academics and researchers from around the world.
Sayyid described the purpose of the conference as rethinking the knowledge produced about Islam and Muslims in light of current global circumstances.
Sayyid said that what is happening in Palestine reveals the limits of the ability of Muslims to influence the world and their own governments, and added that having little power to respond raises serious questions about governance and exposes the failure of the liberal international order to serve its purpose for Muslims.
“If we cannot protect people suffering live on our TVs from the horrors, then the international order itself needs to be rethought in a way that Palestinian people are facing the last Western colonial settler state,” Sayyid said.
He said the Palestinian struggle resonates across the world, noting the growing international support, including Latin American governments cutting ties with Tel Aviv.
Sayyid pointed out that the concept of resistance has been marginalized in Western media and academia since the Cold War, and the belief in equal treatment under the liberal order has failed to address injustices.
He stated that those events help move beyond nationalist perspectives by bringing together scholars and participants worldwide, highlighting that many challenges and opportunities are global.
Sayyid emphasized the need to build transnational solidarities to achieve a just world.
Highlighting that the theme of the event, decolonization and emancipation, is the most critical issue facing Muslim societies, he noted that although many Islamic countries gained formal independence 50 to 70 years ago, they have yet to achieve true sovereignty.
Stressing the direct link to democracy, he stated that if governments cannot make independent decisions, then voting does not contribute to real decision-making.
Sayyid stressed that genuine popular will requires governments capable of autonomous decision-making “rather than having to listen to external powers.”???????
Source: aa.com.tr
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https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/palestine-is-demand-for-global-justice-british-academic/3584974
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Mass Demonstrations in Al-Dhalea affirm support for Palestine, Islamic Sanctities, including Al-Aqsa
30 May 2025
Massive popular demonstrations were held today in the districts of Damt, Juban, Al-Hasha, and Qa’atabah in Al-Dhalea Governorate under the slogan: “No Security for the Zionist Entity… Gaza and Al-Aqsa Under Attack.”
Participants, led in Damt by Acting Governor Abdul Latif Al-Shaghadri and Chairman of the Yemeni News Agency SABA Nasr Al-Din Amer, raised Yemeni and Palestinian flags and chanted slogans condemning the Zionist regime’s massacres, genocide, and starvation policies in Gaza.
They reaffirmed their support for the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islamic sanctities, and the Palestinian people, and expressed their full backing of the Yemeni Armed Forces’ operations against the Zionist entity in solidarity with Gaza.
The demonstrators declared a general mobilization and readiness for direct confrontation with the Zionist enemy in support of the Palestinian cause and resistance.
A statement issued during the marches confirmed:
Loyalty to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), stressing that the response to Zionist insults won’t be limited to condemnation but will include military mobilization, economic boycott, and all forms of jihad for the sake of God.
A warning to the Zionist enemy that attempting to weaken Yemen’s supportive stance towards Gaza is futile.
Condemnation of attacks on civilian and economic facilities, which reinforce Yemeni conviction of the Zionist entity’s criminal nature and justify deterrent action.
The statement called on the Islamic Ummah to rise in defense of the Prophet and Gaza, emphasizing that Gaza, though under siege, continues to resist global powers without surrender.
The Yemeni Armed Forces were urged to escalate operations against the Zionist entity as long as Gaza remains under aggression and siege, with full public support promised.
A message to the people of Gaza concluded the statement: “Be patient and steadfast; your struggle is for the sake of God, and your sacrifices will not be in vain. Victory is near by God’s will. Your wounds are our wounds, your blood is our blood, your children are our children, and your homes are our homes. Your inevitable victory is ours, and victory is only from Allah.”
Source: saba.ye
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https://www.saba.ye/en/news3490613.htm
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North America
Watching Rome From Chicagoland: Muslims Measure New Pope’s Promise
Anna Piela
May 30, 2025
(RNS) — The announcement of the first U.S.-born pope is important for all Americans but resonates especially strongly in Chicago and its larger community, known locally as Chicagoland. Born on the city’s Southside and raised in the nearby suburb of Dolton, Robert Prevost, the man who would become Pope Leo XIV, taught in local Catholic schools and attended Chicago Theological Union before he became a missionary in Peru and began his rise in the church’s ranks.
But as he steps into the papacy, many around Chicagoland are watching to see who this native son will be as Leo XIV, non-Catholics as much as his fellow religionists, not least Chicago’s Muslims.
Recent popes have taken widely differing stances on Christian-Muslim relations. “Nostra Aetate” (“Our Time”), the Second Vatican Council’s declaration on the church’s relation to non-Christians, promulgated during Paul VI’s reign, was a revolutionary departure from centuries of polemics and hostilities against Muslims. It affirmed Islam’s monotheism, the faiths’ shared Abrahamic heritage, their veneration of Jesus and Mary and ethical alignment with Christianity.
The document reads: “… this sacred synod urges all to forget the past and to work sincerely for mutual understanding and to preserve as well as to promote together for the benefit of all mankind social justice and moral welfare, as well as peace and freedom.”
Pope John Paul II was the first pontiff to operationalize these affirmations. In 1985, he addressed young Muslims in Casablanca, saying: “We believe in the same God, the one God, the living God, the God who created the world and brings his creatures to their perfection.” In 2001, he became the first pope ever to enter a mosque, the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, where he called for Christian-Muslim dialogue.
That same year, John Paul vocally opposed the association of Islam with terrorism after 9/11 and the war in Iraq, and the combination of theological respect and political conscience earned him deep respect among many of the world’s Muslims.
That momentum slowed under his successor, Pope Benedict XVI, whose tenure was marked by a controversy beginning when the pope publicly quoted from the work of Byzantine emperor Manuel II Palaiologus (1350–1425): “Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached.”
The failure to contextualize, much less disavow, this statement brought protest from Muslims. Many Muslim intellectuals and clerics demanded an apology. It never came. In the aftermath of the dustup, Benedict visited the Blue Mosque in Istanbul and established the Catholic-Muslim Forum, an official platform for high-level dialogue between Catholic and Muslim leaders, but his papacy never dropped its doctrinal approach, focused more on the differences between the two faiths.
Francis revived a dynamic, justice-oriented model of interfaith engagement. The first pope to visit the Arabian Peninsula in 2019, he co-signed the “Document on Human Fraternity” with Grand Imam Ahmed el-Tayeb of al-Azhar. Two years later, he visited Iraq, where he met the Shi’a leader Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani — another first.
He backed his actions with words: His 2020 encyclical “Fratelli Tutti” (“Brothers and Sisters All”) offered a sweeping vision of interreligious solidarity, drawing inspiration from his namesake, St. Francis, meeting with Sultan Malik al-Kamil in 2019. “Fratelli Tutti” framed religion as a force for peace and explicitly rejected Islamophobia.
Yet in many Muslim eyes, Francis’ lasting legacy may be his moral clarity on Palestine. He consistently called for ceasefire and humanitarian aid for Gaza, including in his 2024 “Urbi et Orbi” address. The Vatican’s Nativity scene last year mirrored Palestinian minister Munther Isaac’s “Christ in the Rubble” installation in Bethlehem. In one of his last public gestures, he repurposed the papal vehicle into a mobile clinic for Gazan children. His private gestures, such as his nightly phone calls to the Holy Family Church during Israeli airstrikes, revealed a pastoral concern that resonated deeply with Muslims worldwide.
Before the conclave began, Faisal Kutty, a Toronto-based lawyer and law professor, wrote for Newsweek: “The next pope cannot merely preserve theological doctrine. He must preserve the moral imagination that Francis so vividly embodied. He must continue the work of reminding us that leadership is not about grandeur, but about grace.”
Echoing Kutty, Chicago-area Muslim leaders have expressed cautious hope for Leo’s continuity with Francis and his commitment to justice. Tarek Khalil, education coordinator for American Muslims for Palestine Chicago, said, “I hope that the new pope would reinstitute the same traditions that the late pope was committed to.”
Tanveer Azmat, treasurer of the World Council of Muslims for Interfaith Relations in Lombard, Illinois, noted, “The (new) pope was a very close friend of Pope Francis who spoke truth to power and was very concerned about the destitute in the human family. We expect that Pope Leo XIV will follow his footsteps. He is relatively young and American. He may be able to communicate frankly with Americans.”
In its official welcome to Leo, the World Council of Muslims for Interfaith Relations said, “WCMIR is excited to see the continuation of Pope Francis’ legacy. He spoke truth to power, stood up for the poor, and emphasized dialog with non-Christians.”
Shi’a Muslims shared these sentiments: “With the ascension of Pope Leo XIV, we pray that he continues the efforts of the late Pope Francis in bridging divides and creating opportunities for dialogue and understanding,” said Jawad Hussain, chairman of the board of Baitul Ilm Academy, a Shi’a mosque in Streamwood, Illinois.
“I think a key to this collaboration,” Hussain said, “is that both parties understand and work towards being faithful and steadfast in their beliefs while giving others the space to do the same, while coming together to advocate for the common challenges.”
Other leaders pointed to shared moral and theological grounds for interfaith work. “As a Muslim living in America, I find it heartening to see the new pope carrying on the legacy of the last — standing for peace, compassion, and the kind of humanity that brings people of all faiths closer together,” said Deena Habbal, a Muslim community advocate in Chicago.
But Chicago’s Muslim leaders emphasized that continuity is not enough. What is needed is prophetic clarity in a moment of global crisis. Imam Tariq El-Amin of Masjid Al-Taqwa, the power of Leo’s first public use of the word “peace” was profound. “That struck a chord,” he said. “At this moment globally, with so much conflict and injustice, starting with peace feels like both a prayer and a direction.”
He and others stressed the need for the pope to go beyond dialogue and embrace prophetic action. “They want a pope who doesn’t just bless the status quo, but challenges it with love and courage,” El-Amin said. Muslim youth especially, he said, have great expectations around climate, anti-racism and Palestine. “It’s not just about friendly dialogue, but collaboration that shows up in action: feeding the hungry together, standing against oppression together. That’s where real trust is built,” he concluded.
Khalil also cautioned against doing interfaith work “as normal,” despite the ongoing genocide and humanitarian crisis in Gaza: “I would emphasize the need for interfaith dialogue, so long as the pope does not engage in normalization… treating normal what is absolutely abnormal, which is what is happening right now.”
Like Chicago Catholics, Muslims in greater Chicago will not be passive observers of the new papacy. Their expectations around building (and maintaining) bridges between Catholics and Muslims, collaboration on social justice issues and opposing oppression are already well articulated. Their desire for continuity of Francis’ work is matched by their hopes for prophetic justice from the new Catholic leader. Mere gestures of goodwill will not be enough.
Source: religionnews.com
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https://religionnews.com/2025/05/30/watching-rome-from-chicagoland-muslims-measure-new-popes-promise/
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CAIR Condemns NV Senator Jacky Rosen’s Embrace of War Criminal Netanyahu As He Burns Children Alive in Gaza
May 30, 2025
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today sent a letter to Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) condemning her recently publicized meeting with Israeli leader anti-Arab racist and wanted war criminal Benjamin Netanyahu as his government bombed and starved civilians in Gaza, including at a U.N. school shelter.
Senator Rosen’s May 27 meeting with Netanyahu took place just hours after the Israeli military carried out the assassination of two Red Cross workers and bombed a school shelter in Gaza, killing 36 displaced civilians, including 18 children. During the same visit, members of Netanyahu’s cabinet stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque under armed protection and harassed Palestinian worshippers.
A new poll released last week by Data for Progress and Zeteo found that 71 percent of likely Democratic voters believe the United States should end arms transfers to Israel until it halts attacks on civilians in Gaza, supports Palestinian rights, and commits to a long-term peace process. Only 21 percent support continuing military aid, revealing a 50-point margin of opposition to the position embraced by Senator Rosen during her visit.
Netanyahu, who leads a government of anti-Arab racists, is currently the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Gaza.
In the letter, CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert S. McCaw wrote in part:
On behalf of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest American Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, I write to express our profound disappointment over your recently publicized meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In November 2024, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Prime Minister Netanyahu following its investigation into Israel’s war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Gaza. Shaking hands with a sitting head of government wanted by the ICC, and publicly celebrating that meeting on social media, was not only deeply troubling but a betrayal of your Muslim and Palestinian constituents in Nevada.
That meeting took place just hours after the Israeli military assassinated two Red Cross workers and bombed a school shelter in Gaza, killing at least 36 displaced civilians, including 18 children.
Among those affected was five-year-old Ward Al-Sheikh, whose small frame was filmed silhouetted against the flames following the bombing of the Fahmi al-Jarjawi School in Gaza City. Thankfully, Ward survived. However, her mother, five siblings, and many children around her age, did not. The image of her amid the devastation has shocked the conscience of the world and laid bare the unrelenting horror of Israel’s U.S.-backed assault on Gaza.
While you were touring Israel, members of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s cabinet also stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque under armed protection, harassed Palestinian worshippers, and desecrated one of Islam’s holiest sites, an act condemned by the international community. That moment of profound violation for Palestinian Muslims coincided with your visit, yet you chose to meet with the very leader enabling such acts.
Senator Rosen, your long-standing political alignment with hardline pro-occupation, now pro genocide advocates, has become a source of serious moral concern. The Netanyahu government has openly declared its intent to permanently occupy Gaza and erase the Palestinian presence. Senior ministers have called for Gaza to be “completely destroyed.” This is not a security operation, it is a campaign of forced displacement and annihilation.
It is time for you to confront the moral consequences of your choices. CAIR urges you to reverse course and stand on the side of international law and human rights by:
• Supporting congressional resolutions that condemn the mass killing of civilians and uphold international law
• Enforcing U.S. laws prohibiting weapons transfers to governments obstructing humanitarian aid or committing war crimes
• Supporting the reauthorization of U.S. funding to UNRWA to address the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza
Your Nevada Muslim constituents, and all Nevadans, whether Christian, Jewish, Muslim, or of any background, who oppose genocide and support human rights, deserve representation that reflects their values, not complicity in atrocity.
Separately, CAIR yesterday sent a letter to every U.S. Senate office urging immediate action to end the Israeli government’s genocide in Gaza. That letter was prompted by the now-iconic image of five-year-old Ward al-Sheikh, who was filmed crying out for her family as flames engulfed the Fahmi al-Jarjawi School in Gaza City, moments after an Israeli airstrike killed at least 36 displaced Palestinians sheltering there, including 18 children.
CAIR continues to call on Congress, the White House, and the international community to end U.S. complicity in Israel’s atrocities and take urgent steps to protect innocent civilians in Gaza.
Source: cair.com
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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-condemns-nv-senator-jacky-rosens-embrace-of-war-criminal-netanyahu-as-he-burns-children-alive-in-gaza/
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Supreme Court allows Trump to revoke legal status for 500,000 migrants
May 31, 2025
President Donald Trump's administration can temporarily revoke the legal status of over 500,000 migrants living in the US, the US Supreme Court ruled on Friday.
The ruling put on hold a previous federal judge's order stopping the administration from ending the "parole" immigration programme, established by former President Joe Biden. The programme protected immigrants fleeing economic and political turmoil in their home countries.
The new order puts roughly 530,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela at risk of being deported.
Justices Ketanji Brown Jackson and Sonia Sotomayor, two of the court's three liberal justices, dissented.
The parole programme allows immigrants temporary status to work and live in the US for two years because of "urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit", according to the US government.
The Trump administration had filed an emergency appeal to the Supreme Court after a federal judge in Massachusetts blocked the administration from ending the programme, also known as CHNV humanitarian parole.
The White House "celebrated" the opportunity to deport 500,000 "invaders", White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller told CNN. "The Supreme Court justly stepped in".
In her dissent, Justice Jackson wrote that the court's order would "have the lives of half a million migrants unravel all around us before the courts decide their legal claims".
On the day he took office, Trump signed an executive order directing the Department of Homeland Security to get rid of parole programmes. Then, in March, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the end of CHNV humanitarian parole.
Several immigrants rights groups and migrants from the programme sued the Trump administration over the decision, arguing they could "face serious risks of danger, persecution and even death" if deported back to their home countries.
The ruling comes after the Supreme Court earlier this month allowed Trump officials to revoke Temporary Protected Status (TPS) - a separate programme - for some 350,000 Venezuelan immigrants living and working in the US.
Humanitarian parole programmes have been used for decades to allow immigrants fleeing war and other tumultuous conditions in their home countries to come to the US, including Cubans in the 1960s following the revolution.
The Biden administration also established a parole programme in 2022 for Ukrainians fleeing after Russia's invasion.
Source: bbc.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp8d21zmm88o
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Supreme Court allows Trump to revoke legal status for 500,000 migrants
May 31, 2025
President Donald Trump's administration can temporarily revoke the legal status of over 500,000 migrants living in the US, the US Supreme Court ruled on Friday.
The ruling put on hold a previous federal judge's order stopping the administration from ending the "parole" immigration programme, established by former President Joe Biden. The programme protected immigrants fleeing economic and political turmoil in their home countries.
The new order puts roughly 530,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela at risk of being deported.
Justices Ketanji Brown Jackson and Sonia Sotomayor, two of the court's three liberal justices, dissented.
The parole programme allows immigrants temporary status to work and live in the US for two years because of "urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit", according to the US government.
The Trump administration had filed an emergency appeal to the Supreme Court after a federal judge in Massachusetts blocked the administration from ending the programme, also known as CHNV humanitarian parole.
The White House "celebrated" the opportunity to deport 500,000 "invaders", White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller told CNN. "The Supreme Court justly stepped in".
In her dissent, Justice Jackson wrote that the court's order would "have the lives of half a million migrants unravel all around us before the courts decide their legal claims".
On the day he took office, Trump signed an executive order directing the Department of Homeland Security to get rid of parole programmes. Then, in March, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the end of CHNV humanitarian parole.
Several immigrants rights groups and migrants from the programme sued the Trump administration over the decision, arguing they could "face serious risks of danger, persecution and even death" if deported back to their home countries.
The ruling comes after the Supreme Court earlier this month allowed Trump officials to revoke Temporary Protected Status (TPS) - a separate programme - for some 350,000 Venezuelan immigrants living and working in the US.
Humanitarian parole programmes have been used for decades to allow immigrants fleeing war and other tumultuous conditions in their home countries to come to the US, including Cubans in the 1960s following the revolution.
The Biden administration also established a parole programme in 2022 for Ukrainians fleeing after Russia's invasion.
Source: bbc.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp8d21zmm88o
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South Asia
Mass Rallies Across Provinces Condemn Israeli Attacks on Gaza
2025-05-30
KABUL(BNA): Hundreds of thousands of residents across the provinces gathered today, Friday to condemn the Israeli attacks on Gaza, expressing unwavering support for the Palestinian people.
The rallies, which drew participation from a diverse group including religious scholars, tribal elders, local officials, and youth, highlighted widespread outrage over what protestors labeled as genocide. Many speakers criticized the silence of some Islamic countries and international organizations in the face of ongoing violence.
Participants emphasized the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza, where recent reports indicate that over 54,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 123,000 wounded due to the attacks. Protesters called for immediate action from the international community to halt these atrocities and defend human dignity.
Religious leaders articulated a moral obligation to respond to such injustice, asserting that silence equates to complicity with oppression. They urged the Islamic Ummah to unite in support of the oppressed Palestinian nation and to defend the sanctity of Al-Quds.
The demonstrations served not only as a condemnation of violence but also as a call for material and spiritual support for the people of Gaza, reinforcing the bonds of Islamic brotherhood and shared responsibility.
Source: bakhtarnews.af
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https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/mass-rallies-across-provinces-condemn-israeli-attacks-on-gaza/
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Pakistan to send Ambassador to Afghanistan, upgrading Diplomatic Ties
By Fidel Rahmati
May 30, 2025
Pakistan plans to send an ambassador to Afghanistan, upgrading diplomatic relations to strengthen cooperation in security, trade, and regional stability.
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, announced on Friday, May 30 that Islamabad is prepared to upgrade its diplomatic representation in Kabul from chargé d’affaires to ambassador level. In a recent statement, he described relations between Pakistan and the Taliban as moving in a “positive direction” following his recent visit to Kabul.
Dar expressed confidence that this upgrade would lead to increased engagement and deeper bilateral cooperation in economic, security, and trade sectors. He emphasized that the move aims to strengthen mutual collaboration between the two countries, which he described as “brotherly neighbors.”
Despite these diplomatic advancements, Pakistan, like many other countries, has not yet officially recognized the Taliban government. Recently, an informal trilateral meeting was held in Beijing between the foreign ministers of China, Pakistan, and the Taliban, signaling a willingness to foster closer ties.
Following the Beijing meeting, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced that Pakistan and the Taliban had agreed to exchange ambassadors soon. China welcomed this development and reiterated its support for strengthening relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Currently, diplomatic relations remain at the chargé d’affaires level, with Obaid-ur-Rehman Nizamani serving as Pakistan’s chargé d’affaires in Kabul, and Sardar Ahmed Shakeeb as the Taliban’s chargé d’affaires in Islamabad. Sources also indicate that Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi is expected to visit Pakistan soon, possibly in June.
Tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban have persisted, largely due to security concerns and cross-border militant activities. However, both sides show willingness to improve cooperation to address these challenges.
China’s mediation has played a key role in easing tensions, facilitating dialogue, and encouraging Pakistan and the Taliban to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties for regional stability.
Source: khaama.com
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Registration with EC: SC to deliver verdict on Jamaat's appeal tomorrow
May 31, 2025
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court is scheduled to deliver its verdict tomorrow on Jamaat-e-Islami's appeal against a High Court verdict that scrapped its registration with the Election Commission (EC) as a political party.
According to the Supreme Court website, the appeal has been listed as item No 1 in tomorrow's cause list of a four-member bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, for pronouncement of the judgement.
On May 14, the apex court bench fixed the date after concluding hearing on the appeal.
On August 1, 2013, the High Court cancelled Jamaat's registration with the EC following a writ petition. Maulana Syed Rezaul Haque Chandpuri, secretary general of the Bangladesh Tariqat Federation, along with 24 others, filed the petition on January 25, 2009, seeking a court order declaring the party's registration illegal.
Source: thedailystar.net
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HC judges: Writ petition seeks stay on appointment
May 31, 2025
A Supreme Court lawyer filed a writ petition with the High Court on Thursday seeking a stay on the effectiveness of the public circular that invited applications from candidates for the posts of its additional HC judges.
On May 28, the Supreme Court administration for the first time issued a public circular asking for such applications.
The circular was issued under Section 7(a) of the Supreme Court Judges Appointment Ordinance, 2025.
The ordinance, issued by the law ministry on January 21, 2025, established the framework for appointing judges to both the Appellate and High Court Divisions of the Supreme Court.
As per Section 3 of the Ordinance, a permanent body known as the Supreme Judicial Appointment Council has been formed to assist the chief justice in recommending suitable candidates for judicial appointments. The Chief Justice serves as the chairperson of this council.
According to section 7 of the ordinance, the council has the authority to collect relevant information about potential candidates on its own initiative.
Additionally, it can publicly invite applications through a standard form to be submitted by interested candidates.
On Thursday, SC lawyer Md Abu Sayeed Khan submitted the writ petition also challenging the legality of the Supreme Court Judge Appointment Ordinance.
In the petition, he prayed to the HC to issue a rule asking the officials concerned of the government to show cause as to why ordinance should not be declared unconstitutional and why they should not be directed to include name of the vice chairman of Bangladesh Bar Council and president of the Supreme Court Bar Association as representatives of lawyers in the appointment of judges in any subsequent ordinance promulgated.
He also urged the HC to stay all further operation, implementation and effect of the Supreme Court Judge Appointment Ordinance, 2025, saying that the ordinance was formulated without parliamentary debate and bypassing the legislative scrutiny.
Writ petitioner MA Sayeed Khan told The Daily Star that hearing of the petition may be held next week.
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/crime-justice/news/hc-judges-writ-petition-seeks-stay-appointment-3907636
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Statement from the office of the IEA Prime Minister in response to the genocide and grave humanitarian crimes in Palestine
May 31, 2025
It is with profound sorrow that we observe the ongoing genocide in Gaza perpetrated by the Israeli occupying forces.
The situation continues to deteriorate daily, in blatant violation of fundamental humanitarian principles. Hundreds of civilians, including women and children, are being killed. Humanitarian aid corridors remain obstructed, while the wounded and martyrs are denied evacuation.
The unlawful occupation of oppressed Muslim lands persists, accompanied by the daily use of increasingly lethal and disproportionate weaponry. The most disheartening aspect remains the silence, or the lack of meaningful action by the international community, humanitarian organizations, and relevant authorities in response to these grave violations. We once again strongly condemn the Israeli attacks and genocide in Gaza. We call on all countries to take urgent and effective action to end this humanitarian catastrophe and halt the ongoing atrocities and oppression.
We call upon the people of Afghanistan to hold Qur’an recitations across mosque courtyards nationwide following today’s Friday prayer, as a unified demonstration of solidarity with the Palestinian Muslims.
Prayers should be offered for the relief, strength, and victory of the Palestinian Mujahideen and the people of Gaza, expressing our compassion and unwavering support for their just cause. We pray to Allah Almighty to grant victory to these oppressed and helpless Muslims, and to destroy, humiliate, and bring ruin upon the Israeli occupiers and their foreign supporters.
Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, Prime Minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
Source: thekabultimes.com
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Work on 1st phase of refugees’ township begins in Helmand
May 31, 2025
KABUL: Mawlavi Abdul Salam Hanafi, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Islamic Emirate for Administration Affairs, officially kicked off the construction work on the first phase of a refugees’ township in the Washir district of Helmand province, Arg said in a statement the other day.
Hanafi highlighted the Islamic Emirate’s dedication to enhancing the economy, education, healthcare, and other essential services for Afghan returnees.
The detailed urban plan for the Helmand refugees’ settlement encompasses all fundamental amenities required for the residents. Spanning 10,000 acres of land as per the urban design, the refugees’ township construction has commenced with the initial phase covering 5,000 acres, the statement said.
Notably, the first phase of development includes 3 mosques, 18 small mosques, 30 schools and religious schools, 8 health clinics, 5 hospitals, markets, and various other vital facilities, the statement said.
A few days ago, Mawlavi Hanafi also kicked off the construction work on refugees’ townships in Zabul, Kandahar and Maidan Wardak provinces.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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https://thekabultimes.com/work-on-1st-phase-of-refugees-township-begins-in-helmand/
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Azizi, Kazak President meet on bilateral political, economic relations
May 31, 2025
KABUL: Nooruddin Azizi, the acting Minister of Industry and Commerce of the Islamic Emirate, during his official visit to Kazakhstan, met with Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, that country’s President and discussed enhancement of bilateral political and economic relations, the ministry said in a statement the other day.
President Tokayev highlighted that Kazakhstan aims to increase bilateral trade with Afghanistan to over $3 billion, noting that his country was among the first countries to keep its embassy open in Kabul following the Islamic Emirate’s return to power and has maintained diplomatic relations since then.
“The establishment of a UN office in Kazakhstan to support Central Asian countries, particularly to address the challenges in Afghanistan, was one of his country’s initiatives,” he said as quoted by the statement.
Meanwhile, Azizi expressed his gratitude for Kazakhstan’s diplomatic support and efforts to remove the name of the Islamic Emirate from the list of banned organizations.
He also appreciated Kazakhstan’s interest in investing $500 million in the Torghundi railway project and its humanitarian assistance, calling the investment crucial for job creation and economic development in Afghanistan.
According to the statement, both sides expressed satisfaction with the progress in bilateral cooperation and agreed on a future visit by Kazakhstan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs to Afghanistan to further enhance political ties.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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https://thekabultimes.com/azizi-kazak-president-meet-on-bilateral-political-economic-relations/
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US plans to close Afghan Relocation Coordination Office
By Fidel Rahmati
May 30, 2025
The US State Department plans to close the Afghan Relocation Coordination Office, shifting its responsibilities amid organizational restructuring.
The U.S. Department of State has informed Congress of its intention to close the Office of the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts (CARE). This office was responsible for managing the relocation of Afghans who assisted U.S. forces during the Afghanistan conflict.
Bloomberg reported on May 28th that this decision has sparked strong reactions from nonprofit organizations. These groups played a critical role during the U.S. withdrawal and Taliban takeover in 2021 by helping evacuate and support Afghan allies.
The closure was detailed in a letter to Congress outlining a reorganization plan within the State Department. A copy of the letter obtained by Bloomberg reveals that the office’s responsibilities will be transferred to the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs.
Additionally, the special representative for Afghanistan’s reconstruction position will be eliminated under these changes. The restructuring is part of a broader effort to streamline the State Department’s organizational framework.
The Coordinator for Afghan Relocation (CARE) office was originally established to coordinate efforts supporting Afghans who worked alongside U.S. forces and required relocation or protection.
Experts warn that closing this office may hinder ongoing support for vulnerable Afghans, especially those at risk of retaliation under Taliban rule. Humanitarian groups urge the U.S. government to maintain robust assistance programs for these individuals. The decision comes amid shifting U.S. priorities in the region but highlights ongoing challenges in balancing diplomatic restructuring with humanitarian obligations toward Afghan allies.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/us-plans-to-close-afghan-relocation-coordination-office/
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Arab World
Saudi Arabia elected vice chair of WHO Executive Board
May 31, 2025
GENEVA: Saudi Arabia was elected Friday as vice chair of the World Health Organization's (WHO) Executive Board for the 2025–2028 term.
The election was held during the board’s first meeting of its 57th session in Geneva following the conclusion of the 78th session of the World Health Assembly.
Saudi Arabia's delegation to the session was led by Rakan Khalid Bin Dohaish, Ministry of Health undersecretary for international cooperation, reporesenting Health Minister Fahad Al-Jalajel, SPA reported.
Composed of 34 members from various member states, the WHO Executive Board is responsible for implementing the resolutions and recommendations of the World Health Assembly — the supreme decision-making body of the WHO. The Executive Board oversees priority health programs and policies at both regional and international levels.
Elected chairman of the Executive Board was Australia, represented by Blair Comley, secretary of the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.
Also elected to the Board's three other vice chair positions were Norway, Togo and Thailand.
A statement by the Saudi delegation, quoted by SPA, said the Kingdom's election to the WHO Executive Board underscores "the growing international confidence in the Kingdom’s leadership and its significant role in advancing global public health."
According to the WHO, Saudi Arabia has since 2018 consistently supported the organization, contributing over $385 million to global health initiatives and emergency-related operations in various countries including the occupied Palestinian territories, Ukraine, Bangladesh, Iraq, Somalia, Syria and Yemen.
Source: arabnews.com
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What Saudi Arabia’s ancient lava fields reveal about its volcanic past — and tourism potential
SALEH FAREED
May 30, 2025
JEDDAH: Scattered across Saudi Arabia’s vast deserts and mountains lie more than 2,500 volcanic craters — relics of a fiery geological past that continues to intrigue scientists and thrill adventurous travellers today.
These ancient volcanoes have not erupted in centuries. Their silence, however, belies their significance.
“The Kingdom possesses one of the largest volcanic fields (locally known as Al-Harrat) in the world,” Turki Essam Al-Sehli, senior director of the Geohazard Center at the Saudi Geological Survey, told Arab News.
“These fields cover an area of approximately 90,000 square kilometers — around 4.6 percent of the Kingdom’s total area.”
The last known eruption was in 1256 AD, when lava from Al-Harrat Rahat flowed within 20 kilometers of Madinah. While dramatic in its time, such activity has long since ceased. “The Kingdom has experienced relative volcanic stability for centuries,” Al-Sehli said.
This dormancy, combined with the dramatic scenery of ancient lava fields, has opened the door to a growing trend: volcano tourism.
From stark black cones to craters that plunge deep into the Earth, Saudi Arabia’s volcanic landscape offers some of the most breathtaking geological sights in the region.
Among the most striking is Al-Wahbah, a vast crater near Taif that is 250 meters deep and more than two kilometers across. In the Asir region, Jabal Farwa — the Kingdom’s tallest volcanic peak — rises more than 3,000 m above sea level.
Meanwhile, the Khaybar tract is home to Mount Al-Qadar, where lava once flowed for more than 50 km, and the otherworldly Mount Al-Abyad, known for its pale color and unusual formations.
“Fields like Rahat and Khaybar are characterized by hundreds of volcanic cones formed by mild explosive eruptions and vast lava flow areas reaching lava flow length over 50 km on some occasions, which grant them significant geological and scientific importance,” Al-Sehli said.
“Additionally, they are considered the largest in the Arab world and the Middle East.”
While some fields are still classified as “potentially active,” experts agree there is no cause for alarm.
“Some volcanic fields are categorized as potentially active due to the geophysical indicators of eruptible magma in the mid-crust, which means there is a possibility — even if slight — of future volcanic activity,” Al-Sehli said.
“Currently, there are no signs of imminent danger.”
Indeed, any future eruption, while highly unlikely in the short term, would be closely monitored. The Saudi Geological Survey operates a state-of-the-art seismic and volcanic surveillance network designed to detect even the slightest changes beneath the surface.
Should a large eruption take place, however, the environmental impact and the effect on the local climate could be significant.
“In the event of a major volcanic eruption, the emission of fine volcanic ash and gases such as sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the upper layers of the atmosphere could lead to temporary cooling of the local or regional climate, as well as generating acid rainfall,” Al-Sehli said.
With little risk posed by these sleeping giants and great natural beauty to explore and enjoy, Saudi Arabia is increasingly investing in geotourism — promoting its volcanic fields not as hazards, but as heritage.
“There is growing interest in developing geological tourism in the Kingdom,” Al-Sehli said. “The ministry of tourism is collaborating with the Saudi Geological Survey to develop and preserve these geological sites.”
The Saudi Geological Survey’s role extends far beyond monitoring. It produces maps and reports, conducts scientific research, and works to raise public awareness through exhibitions and outreach programs.
It also helps identify and conserve key geological sites, ensuring that Saudi Arabia’s volcanic past is protected for future generations.
From lava trails to towering cones, the Kingdom’s volcanic fields offer a window into Earth’s ancient forces — and a unique travel experience for those looking to explore a different side of Saudi Arabia.
These volcanoes may be dormant, but their potential — for knowledge, for tourism, and for wonder — is anything but.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi Arabia reports five heat exhaustion cases among pilgrims, urges precautions amid soaring temperatures
MOHAMMED AL-KINANI
May 30, 2025
MAKKAH: As temperatures soared at the holy sites, Saudi Arabia confirmed five cases of heat exhaustion among the more than one million pilgrims who have arrived to perform Hajj rituals.
All those affected received immediate medical attention and are currently in a stable condition, according to the ministry of health, which added that health teams were on high alert to respond swiftly to similar cases as part of the Kingdom’s commitment to safeguarding the health and safety of pilgrims.
The country’s National Center for Meteorology has forecast hot to extremely hot weather conditions at the holy sites during this year’s Hajj season.
According to the center, maximum temperatures are expected to range between 40°C and 47°C, while minimum temperatures will vary between 27°C and 32°C. Humidity levels are projected to fluctuate between 15 percent and 60 percent.
In a post on its X account, the ministry urged pilgrims to stay hydrated, avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, and follow official health guidelines, such as using shaded walkways, wearing appropriate protective gear, and seeking help at the first signs of fatigue.
“If not treated promptly, heat exhaustion can escalate to heat stroke within 10-15 minutes — a life-threatening medical emergency,” the post stated.
The ministry also advised pilgrims who experience heat exhaustion symptoms to begin immediate cooling measures, such as washing their hands, faces and necks with cold water and moving to a cooler area, as well as drinking plenty of cold water to rehydrate.
In its post, the ministry identified headache, excessive sweating, nausea, dizziness, and severe thirst as key clinical symptoms of heat exhaustion.
Multilingual awareness campaigns have been launched, and field preparedness has been reinforced, particularly in response to seasonal heat risks.
The ministry had announced the health sector's readiness to receive pilgrims, revealing a 60 percent increase in bed capacity compared with last year.
Fahad Al-Jalajel, the minister of health, recently confirmed the deployment of over 50,000 medical and technical personnel to serve pilgrims and emphasized the stability of the health situation, with no reported outbreaks or epidemics, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
“Health efforts began early in pilgrims’ homelands by analyzing international health risks and issuing clear health requirements, including vaccinations against yellow fever, meningitis, polio, COVID-19, and influenza,” SPA reported, citing Al-Jalajel.
The minister underscored the role of the health certificate as the first line of defense during the Hajj season, noting that the Kingdom’s health system launched its services with the arrival of the first Makkah Route Initiative flight.
As part of the Kingdom’s comprehensive preparations, 14 land, air, and sea ports have been fully equipped, delivering more than 50,000 health services so far, including 140 surgical procedures, 65 cardiac catheterizations, and six open-heart surgeries, the minister said.
To combat heatstroke risks, Al-Jalajel announced a series of measures in coordination with the Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites. These include planting more than 10,000 trees, installing 400 additional water coolers and misting fans, and expanding shaded pedestrian pathways to protect pilgrims from extreme heat.
The ministry of health has also intensified awareness efforts through multilingual campaigns, stationing field teams, launching media programs, and organizing medical missions to ensure important health information reaches all pilgrims.
Al-Jalajel further revealed the establishment of a new 200-bed emergency hospital in Mina, developed in collaboration with Kidana Development Co.
In addition, three new field hospitals with more than 1,200 beds have been set up in partnership with the ministries of national guard, defense, and interior.
These were inaugurated “alongside 71 emergency points, 900 ambulances, 11 evacuation aircraft, and over 7,500 paramedics,” Al-Jalajel told SPA.
The minister urged pilgrims to follow health guidelines and affirmed that the Kingdom’s health system is operating at full capacity to ensure a safe and healthy Hajj season for all.
Source: arabnews.com
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Pilgrims’ safety takes priority as Saudi Arabia gears up for Hajj
RASHID HASSAN
May 30, 2025
RIYADH: With temperatures expected to soar during Hajj, set to begin on June 4, Saudi Arabia is putting the safety of pilgrims first during the annual event.
The authorities have put a range of measures in place to mitigate the harsh desert weather, which will see maximum temperatures of 40-45 C, including using artificial intelligence and expansion of cooling infrastructures.
Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Al-Rabiah said: “One of the big challenges that we face is the increasing temperature across the different years. This is an issue (to which) we give top priority.”
On Friday, the Saudi Ministry of Health confirmed there had been five cases of heat exhaustion among pilgrims performing Hajj rituals amid rising temperatures at the holy sites.
A statement given to Arab News said: “All individuals affected have received immediate medical attention and are currently in (a) stable condition.”
Health teams remain on high alert and will respond swiftly to similar cases as part of the Kingdom’s broader commitment to safeguarding the health and safety of pilgrims.
The ministry urged pilgrims to stay hydrated, avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight and follow official health guidelines such as using shaded walkways, wearing appropriate protective gear and seeking help at the first signs of fatigue. Multilingual awareness campaigns have been launched to reinforce the message.
In a significant step to improved healthcare services for pilgrims, the Ministry of Health has also launched an advanced robotic surgery program at King Abdullah Medical City in Makkah.
The measures are part of Saudi Arabia’s comprehensive strategy to ensure a safe and healthy experience for millions of pilgrims from around the world.
Among the key measures taken to offer relief from the high temperatures are the provision of 50,000 sq. meters of additional shaded areas, more than 400 misting and cooling stations, renovation and extension work around the Grand Mosque, and heat-reflective asphalt on major walkways.
The Saudi Food and Drug Authority has also reviewed its Hajj preparations. CEO Dr. Hisham S. Al-Jadhey has visited the authority’s Makkah office to assess how operational plans are being implemented and confirm the readiness of the services provided.
He emphasized the importance of intensifying efforts to ensure the safety of all food and medicine for pilgrims, adding that the responsibility was a great honor.
He also reviewed the SFDA’s initiatives to apply the highest regulatory standards, leverage modern technologies and utilize artificial intelligence to monitor factories and warehouses, ensuring the quality of products provided during Hajj.
The tour included a visit to the SFDA’s Hajj Operations Center in Makkah, where Al-Jadhey was briefed on ongoing coordination with government entities, performance monitoring mechanisms and support provided to field teams during inspection tours. The tours are enhanced by advanced tools, such as body cameras, used to document field inspection activities.
Al-Jadhey also visited the SFDA site in the regulatory zone within the Holy Sites area, where he reviewed field surveillance plans covering food factories and warehouses. The location serves as a primary base for the deployment of regulatory field teams.
In addition, he visited the emergency hospital in Mina, where he met with Dr. Abdullah bin Rashoud Al-Algwizani, CEO of the Saudi Public Health Authority (Weqaya). The meeting focused on the importance of ongoing collaboration between the two authorities to enhance the health and safety of pilgrims.
The tour also included a visit to the National Health Emergency and Crisis Management Center.
Throughout the visits, the SFDA teams demonstrated smart analytical tools and digital regulatory technologies employed in surveillance and inspection operations. These tools form part of an interactive, AI-powered system designed to enhance operational efficiency and contribute to achieving the authority’s public health and safety goals during Hajj season.
In a high-tech upgrade, the Kingdom is also employing AI to monitor pilgrim movements in real time, with drones relaying live footage to command centers to ensure timely crowd control and detection of any medical emergencies.
“We use advanced AI technologies to do this monitoring and get fast feedback,” said Al-Rabiah, stressing the importance of technology in preventing tragedies.
The crackdown on unauthorized pilgrims by the Ministry of Interior has also intensified. AI-powered systems are monitoring the movement of people entering the holy cities as the majority of last year’s heat-related deaths during Hajj involved those without official permits.
Source: arabnews.com
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Arafat sermon will reach world’s Muslims through 35-language translation initiative
May 30, 2025
RIYADH: The Presidency of Religious Affairs at the Grand Mosque and Prophet’s Mosque on Thursday launched an initiative to translate this year’s Arafat sermon into 35 languages, reaching approximately five million Muslims worldwide during the 1446 AH Hajj season, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, the president of religious affairs, emphasized the presidency’s dedication to highlight the Kingdom's leadership in serving Islam and Muslims, particularly those visiting the Two Holy Mosques.
Al-Sudais said that transmitting the moderate global message is a cornerstone priority: “At the forefront of our broadcasting principles is spreading the guidance of the Arafat sermon, which contains the foundations of human and civilizational brotherhood and religious tolerance, translated into 35 languages for this year's Hajj.”
Translation preparations were completed early, Al-Sudais said, to project the Kingdom’s moderate message worldwide.
According to SPA, the presidency established an independent committee to create a standardized framework to maximize the sermon’s impact and outcomes.
Source: arabnews.com
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Maldives president hails Makkah Route Initiative as symbol of Saudi Arabia’s leadership
May 30, 2025
RIYADH: President Mohamed Muizzu of the Maldives has hailed Saudi Arabia’s Makkah Route Initiative as a symbol of the Kingdom’s service to Islam and Muslims.
“Their leadership of the Islamic world represents an exemplary model of giving, unity, and service, not only at the two holy mosques but throughout the entire Islamic world, confirming the Kingdom’s pivotal role in leading with wisdom and mercy in serving Islam,” he said at the launch of the initiative in his country recently.
Muizzu added: “For the first time, Maldivian pilgrims will benefit from this pioneering initiative, designed by Saudi Arabia under its wise leadership and generously provided within the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Guests Program emerging from Saudi Vision 2030,” he explained.
The initiative enables the completion of all passport, customs and health screening procedures from the departure point — Velana International Airport.
Muizzu thanked Saudi Arabia’s ministries of interior, Hajj and Umrah, as well as other organizations for their assistance.
“We renew our great gratitude and appreciation for the leadership and people of Saudi Arabia, and look forward to enhancing cooperation and joint work under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and his crown prince for the good of the entire Islamic nation.”
The initiative is now operating in eight countries, which includes Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkiye, Morocco and the Ivory Coast.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2602759/saudi-arabia
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Mount Al-Fahlatain — where prophetic history meets pilgrimage tradition
May 30, 2025
AlUla: Rising from the landscape north of Madinah, Mount Al-Fahlatain has served as a geographical beacon and spiritual waypoint for more than a thousand years.
The landmark, on the historic route to AlUla, bears witness to one of Islam’s most significant military expeditions — the Prophet Muhammad’s journey to Tabuk in 9 A.H.
The mountain’s name tells its own story. Two colossal rocks crown its summit, their silhouette resembling the horns of a bull — “fahl” in Arabic, giving rise to “Al-Fahlatain,” or “the two bulls.”
The sacred site has been documented meticulously by historians and travelers.
Ali Al-Samhudi’s work, “Wafa Al-Wafa Bi Akhbar Dar Al-Mustafa,” places the location precisely one day’s march from Madinah, describing twin peaks sheltering underlying rock formations. Firuzabadi reinforced its historical significance in “Al-Maghanim Al-Mutaba fi Ma’alim Taba,” cataloging it among the landmarks witnessed by the Prophet’s army on their way to Tabuk.
Mohammed Ibn Abdullah Al-Mawlawi provided additional detail in “Rihlat Al-Shita Wa Al-Sayf,” positioning the twin peaks on the mountain’s western flank alongside the main thoroughfare. Al-Suwaidi offered an alternative etymology in “Al-Nafha Al-Miskiyya Fi Al-Rihla Al-Makkiyya,” suggesting the name reflects the mountain’s solitary stance in the landscape, isolated like a bull among grazing camels.
Historian and Islamic history researcher Fouad Al-Maghamsi identifies Mount Al-Fahlatain — sometimes called Faifa Al-Fahlatain — as strategically positioned near Shajwa village, northwest of Madinah.
With an elevation of 1,084 meters, the mountain commands sweeping views across the surrounding plains, bordered by complementary ridges and highlands.
Al-Maghamsi said the site functioned as a vital rest station along the Syrian Hajj route, known as Darb Al-Hajj Al-Shami, earning local appellations including “Antar’s Fortress” and “Antar’s Stable.”
Archaeological evidence such as building foundations and service facilities suggests a sophisticated infrastructure designed to support the thousands of pilgrims and merchants who annually traversed these routes.
The Syrian Hajj route encompasses diverse terrain rich with sites linked to prophetic biography and pilgrimage heritage.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2602745/saudi-arabia
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Islamic economy originated in Madinah, says Abdullah Saleh Kamel at Istanbul summit attended by Erdogan
May 30, 2025
ISTANBUL — The second Global Islamic Economy Summit kicked off in Istanbul on Friday in the presence of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Organized by the Al Baraka Forum for Islamic Economy, the summit runs until Sunday and gathers a distinguished group of policymakers, economists, and thought leaders from around the world.
During the opening session, Abdullah Saleh Kamel, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Al Baraka Forum, emphasized that the foundations of the modern Islamic economy were laid in Madinah, and that Saudi Arabia played a key role early on in institutionalizing this values-driven model based on Islamic principles and social justice.
Kamel noted that the first sessions of the Al Baraka Forum were held in Madinah over 50 years ago, marking the beginning of an integrated Islamic economic movement.
He called for Saudi Arabia to further its strategic leadership in this space amid the accelerating shifts in the global economic landscape.
He also highlighted the importance of investing in Islamic finance tools such as zakat, waqf, sukuk, and qard hasan (benevolent loans), which he said now represent realistic solutions for addressing development crises and promoting social and financial stability.
The Al Baraka Forum for Islamic Economy is an independent, non-profit intellectual platform aimed at developing an economic model based on Islamic values.
It holds annual international gatherings that bring together economic and intellectual leaders to enrich Islamic economic research and knowledge frameworks.
Source: saudigazette.com.sa
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https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/652315/SAUDI-ARABIA/Abdullah-Saleh-Kamel-Islamic-economy-began-in-Madinah-Saudi-Arabia-leads-its-principles
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Southeast Asia
Myanmar Police Seize Historic Sagaing Mosque in Ownership Dispute
The Irrawaddy
May 30, 2025
The military regime has sealed off a historic quake-hit mosque in the compound of the central police station in Sagaing town, according to the local Muslim community.
Ownership of the land is disputed between the mosque trustees and the local police.
“Over the past four or five years, police have kept telling us to leave, saying our mosque squats on the police station compound,” said a local Muslim who asked to remain anonymous. “But we were able to stay by sending requests to the home affairs and religious affairs ministries.”
Gattan Mosque was commissioned in 1902 under colonial rule by a major from the Burma Military Police Force, who had bought the entire land where the police station and mosque now sit, according to the board of mosque’s trustees. It was only a decade later that he donated part of it for a police station.
But later the police applied for ownership of the entire land, labeling the mosque a squat, he said.
The mosque sustained some damage in the March 28 earthquake, and police forced the mosque’s board of trustees to sign a pledge that it would be removed.
“The trustees signed out of fear. We got the eviction notice a few days ago, and when the deadline elapsed they sealed off the mosque,” the local Muslim told The Irrawaddy.
The Muslim community now wants to submit a petition to the Home Affairs Ministry because they have strong evidence of their ownership. If their petition is denied, they plan to ask the authorities to build a new mosque somewhere else.
The Religious Affairs Ministry has so far permitted only one of over 130 mosques wrecked by the earthquake in Mandalay, Sagaing, and Naypyitaw to be restored. Applications to rebuild or repair the others remain pending.
Source: irrawaddy.com
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Queer health workshop shelved amid death threats as PSM Youth accuses minister’s remark of inciting hostility
By Malay Mail
31 May 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, May 31 – Socialist Party of Malaysia’s (PSM) youth wing said today it was forced to postpone its closed-door event indefinitely after a surge in hateful comments and death threats following remarks by Religious Affairs Minister Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar.
It linked the spike in online hostility to the minister’s recent statements about its queer-focused sexual health workshop, which it described as a small, lawful, and educational initiative focused on delivering accurate, stigma-free information.
“Since the minister’s statement, the number of hateful comments and death threats on our social media handles has increased exponentially. Is violence and hatred the culture we want to ‘normalise’ in Malaysia?” its chairman Amanda Shweeta Louis asked in a statement here.
Socialist Youth said the “PRIDECARE: Queer Stories and Sexual Health Awareness” programme aligns with Malaysia’s National Strategic Plan to End AIDS (2021–2030).
It also criticised the minister for contradicting his own February 2025 remarks, in which he had urged caution and sensitivity when speaking about issues affecting diverse communities.
“The reaction from both the public and the minister reflects the rising irrationality and hatred towards gender minorities, even though the program is in the public’s interest to curb the spread of sexually-transmitted infections (STIs),” it said.
“Socialist Youth stands firmly against this wave of hatred and repression. We will not stay silent while vulnerable groups are threatened with violence and denied their dignity, whether by the state or by the public.”
Despite the indefinite postponement of the workshop, the wing said it remained open to dialogue with the Religious Affairs Ministry, the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) and the Bar Council to facilitate meaningful engagement on the issue.
Earlier this week, Mohd Na’im had urged the authorities, including the police, to immediately investigate the programme and take appropriate action should there be any breach of the law.
He claimed the workshop “clearly challenges societal norms and religious values upheld by the majority of Malaysians”, even when held behind closed doors.
Source: malaymail.com
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Tengku Zafrul replacing me? Please pray that I stay as Selangor MB while you’re on Haj, Amirudin tells minister
By Malay Mail
31 May 2025
GOMBAK, May 31 – Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari has today downplayed speculation that Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz’s entry into PKR was part of a plan to replace him.
The PKR vice-president also jokingly said he had asked Tengku Zafrul to pray for his job security while the latter is performing the Haj in Mecca.
“In my view, it’s a long shot. I don’t think that path is likely, as it would require a by-election,” he was quoted saying by Kosmo!, referring to Tengku Zafrul replacing him.
“We only have about two and a half years left in the term, so there isn’t much room to manoeuvre. We’ll have to monitor any developments.”
Amirudin reiterated PKR secretary-general Fuziah Salleh’s statement that the party has yet to receive an official membership application from Tengku Zafrul.
He noted that Zafrul’s inclusion in PKR would strengthen the party and improve collaborative efforts, citing past cooperation when Zafrul was finance minister.
“Now, as the minister of investment, trade and industry, we’re also collaborating in sectors such as aerospace and semiconductors.
“We already have a strong working relationship, and I believe it will only improve,” he said.
Amirudin also said discussions had been held with Umno to establish mutual understanding following Tengku Zafrul’s decision to leave the party.
“There had been talk of Tengku Zafrul joining since last year. I believe an understanding can or has been reached — I’m not fully informed on that matter,” he added.
Yesterday, Tengku Zafrul said he has resigned from Umno and announced plans to apply for membership in political ally PKR.
The investment, trade and industry minister is also vacating his seat on the Umno Supreme Council as well as his position as its Kota Raja division chief.
Source: malaymail.com
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Jakim files police report, alerts MCMC on scam using Musa’adah Fund's name for illegal donations
31 May 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, May 31 — The Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) has lodged a police report and notified the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) regarding the existence of a scam syndicate fraudulently using the name of the Jakim-Yayasan Waqaf Malaysia (YWM) Musa’adah Fund to collect donations illegally.
Jakim director-general Datuk Dr Sirajuddin Suhaimee said the report was made to enable investigations and firm action to be taken under the relevant legal provisions.
“Jakim takes seriously public complaints regarding the existence of a scam syndicate misusing the name of the Jakim-YWM Musa’adah Fund for unauthorised fundraising purposes.
“For the record, Jakim has never appointed nor engaged in any form of collaboration with any individual or company to represent Jakim in collecting donations for the Musa’adah Fund,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Sirajuddin also urged all parties to remain vigilant against the existence of such syndicates.
“Such irresponsible acts undoubtedly tarnish the good name of religious affairs agencies. Jakim remains committed to ensuring all forms of exploitation against the public are eradicated, to guarantee a peaceful, harmonious and just society,” he said. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Sarawak’s RM6.8b rural budget boost to bridge urban-rural gap, says Uggah
31 May 2025
KUCHING, May 31 — The increase in rural development allocation for this year’s Sarawak budget is a reflection of the state government’s unwavering resolve to narrow the rural–urban gap and ensure equitable growth.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas recently said RM6.8 billion had been allocated under the Sarawak 2025 Budget for rural development, which rose from RM5.695 billion in 2024, indicating the State Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg’s clear commitment to uplift the wellbeing of the rural communities.
In his message for the Gawai Dayak festival, which begins tomorrow, Uggah said the rural development focus has seen major bridge projects being implemented as growth catalysts.
“Five (bridges) have already been completed, including the Batang Saribas 1 Bridge in Pusa, Betong and others such as the iconic Bintulu Jepak, Muara Lassa, Marudi and Batang Rajang bridges.
“Six more, including the nation’s longest river bridge — Batang Lupar 1 — are expected to be completed by year-end,” said Uggah, who is also the State Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development.
He said that Gawai Dayak should be accepted as a festival to bridge inter-racial relationships in Sarawak, which has been a pertinent essence for the state to continue progressing.
“Just as bridges connect our cities and villages, this Gawai season should also serve as a ‘bridge’ to strengthen the bond of friendship, unity and harmony among us all. Let us celebrate our diversity under the spirit of ‘Segulai Sejalai’ or Together in Unity,” he added. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/05/31/sarawaks-rm68b-rural-budget-boost-to-bridge-urban-rural-gap-says-uggah/178788
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