Two UP Natives, Rohit And Santri, Held In Karnataka For Leaking Indian Navy Vessel Secrets, Suspected Link To Pakistan
New Age Islam News Bureau
22 November 2025
The arrested individuals - Rohit (29) and Santri (37)Photo | Express
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· Two UP Natives, Rohit And Santri, Held In Karnataka For Leaking Indian Navy Vessel Secrets, Suspected Link To Pakistan
· Foundation Stone For A “Babri Masjid” Would Be Laid In Murshidabad District On 6 December: TMC MLA
· From ‘Little Communist’ To ‘Worst Nightmare’: 5 Moments Trump And Mamdani Publicly Roasted Each Other
· Terrorism Now Threatens West Africa’s Survival – ECOWAS Tells UN
· AYR Man Made Threat To Slit Muslim Throats At Glasgow Mosque
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India
· No Prayers At Sanjauli Mosque, Protesters End Indefinite Hunger Strike
· Two Vigilante Attacks By Right-Wing Groups In Madhya Pradesh In A Single Day
· Ernakulam Grand Mosque Organised An ‘Open Mosque’ Programme On Friday
· ‘Black Flag, Digital Literature’ Found From Lakhimpur Kheri Home Of Ricin Plot Accused
· India, Afghanistan Start Air Cargo Link; Taliban Minister Calls On Hindu, Sikh Refugees To Return
· In Gujarat’s ‘Epicentre Of Cow Slaughter Convictions’, Silence Over Life To 3 Of A Family
· Smart homes for Sindoor shell-hit locals, flood-affected families in J&K
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North America
· CAIR Commends President Trump and Mayor-Elect Mamdani for Respectful Meeting, Welcomes Mamdani Calling Out U.S. Support for Gaza Genocide
· Momentum grows for Trump to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist org
· FBI restricted agents from working with CAIR years before Texas branded group a terrorist organization
· US transport secretary under fire for saying flyers should ‘dress smartly, not wear pyjamas’:
· ‘Assassinate Trump and I’ll write you naughty letters in jail’: TikToker’s threat to Trump goes viral
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Africa
· UAE Offered Nigeria Terrorism Sponsors List But Buhari Govt Declined – Don
· Military Threat: ‘You Don’t Just Open Your Mouth And Say I’m Coming To Help You’ – Soyinka Blasts Trump
· Stop Pretending – MBF President Blasts Northern Governors For Downplaying Alleged Genocidal Attacks
· List Of Terrorism Financier: Why We Can’t Rush Prosecution – FG
· Sudan military signals willingness to work with US and Saudi for peace
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Europe
· Alleged IS Fanatic, Originally from Tunisia, Was 'Playing A Role' And Planned To Sabotage Anti-Semitic Terror Plot, Court Hears
· Ukraine allies to hold talks on White House peace plan at G20
· What we know about leaked US draft plan to end Russia's Ukraine war
· Putin responds to Washington’s Ukraine peace proposal
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South Asia
· Islamic Emirate Supreme Leader Urges Scholars to Guide Society Through Shariah Principles
· Pakistan says Hasina’s death sentence Bangladesh’s ‘internal matter’
· Terrorist Groups Increasingly Active in Afghanistan and Syria, Warns SCO
· Six PTM Members Abducted in Peshawar, Amnesty Urges Pakistan to Investigate Disappearances
· GD filed over threatening call made to ICT-1 chairman after Hasina verdict
· Saudi King Salman Humanitarian Aid Foundation Distributes Assistance to 800 Earthquake-Affected Families in Balkh
· Bangladesh seeks active regional role amid shifting global alignments: Foreign adviser
· Referendum on July charter: BNP in dilemma as Jamaat pushes for ‘yes’ vote
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Mideast
· How Gaza Trauma Could Linger In Palestinian DNA Long After The Bombing Stops
· Lebanese president says state monopoly on weapons inevitable
· Singapore imposes sanctions, entry bans on 4 Israeli settlers
· Israeli military says Lebanon strike killed 13 Hamas militants
· Gaza women, children injured by Israeli military during shaky ceasefire, MSF says
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Arab World
· Saudi Deputy Minister Of Foreign Affairs Participates In Palestine Donor Group Meeting
· National Greening Season launched in support of national objectives
· KAUST, SkyGrid partner to develop AAM technologies
· London Business School writes new chapter in historic heart of Diriyah
· Diriyah Storytelling Festival finds fitting home in Al-Bujairi
· Diriyah Art Futures announces winners for Emerging New Media Artists Program
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Southeast Asia
· Indonesia's Biggest Islamic Group Asks Chief To Resign Over Invitation To Pro-Israeli Speaker
· Anwar Donates Qurans, Talks Bilateral Halal Ties With African Nations On Four-Day Mission
· Anwar dismisses talk of Nurul Izzah replacing Amirudin as Selangor MB
· Anwar seeks to join UN big leagues, asks South Africa to back Malaysia’s bid
· Selangor aims for a spectacular Islamic Solidarity Games in 2029
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/karnataka-indian-navy-suspected-pakistan/d/137739
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Two UP Natives, Rohit And Santri, Held In Karnataka For Leaking Indian Navy Vessel Secrets, Suspected Link To Pakistan
22 Nov 2025
The arrested individuals - Rohit (29) and Santri (37)Photo | Express
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UDUPI: The Udupi police on Thursday arrested two individuals from Uttar Pradesh, who were allegedly sharing confidential information pertaining to Indian Navy vessels, to unknown persons in Pakistan. The arrested individuals are Rohit (29) and Santri (37) both of Sultanpur in Uttar Pradesh. While Rohit is a contract employee of Udupi Cochin Shipyard in Malpe, Santri worked on contract basis for Cochin Shipyard Limited in Kochi, Kerala.
Udupi SP Hariram Shankar told reporters here on Friday that based on a complaint filed by the CEO of Udupi Cochin Shipyard, Malpe, on Thursday — Malpe police registered a case under section 152 of the BNS and sections 3 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923. The police then arrested the accused Rohit and Santri, who are diploma holders. Udupi Cochin Shipyard, in Malpe, is an institution under the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
This institution has a subcontract with a company named M/S Shushma Marine Private Limited. Rohit and Santri were recruited by this company to work as insulators. Earlier, Rohit worked at Cochin Shipyard Limited, in Kochi where ships related to the Indian Navy are constructed and repaired, SP said.
“While working in Kerala, Rohit illegally shared, via WhatsApp, confidential details like repair schedule about ships related to the Indian Navy and gained unlawful benefits. Even after coming to Cochin Shipyard Limited at Malpe, he continued to obtain information from his friend in Kochi and again shared it through WhatsApp with an unauthorised person — thereby engaging in activities that could endanger the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India and pose a threat to internal security” the SP said.
Responding to a query, the SP said that through discussions with other agencies, it is likely that they might have shared the information with Pakistan. “It is suspected that the duo have been sharing information for the past 18 months.
Currently, Udupi police are handling the case. However, generally, in cases where the national security aspect is involved, national investigation agencies also take it up. The accused have been produced before a court, which has remanded them to judicial custody until December 3. The digital devices used by the accused have been seized,” he added.
The SP concluded by remarking that the duo received money multiple times and their custody will be sought by the police on Saturday.
Source: newindianexpress.com
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https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/2025/Nov/22/two-up-natives-held-in-karnataka-for-leaking-indian-navy-vessel-secrets-suspected-link-to-pakistan
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Foundation Stone For A “Babri Masjid” Would Be Laid In Murshidabad District On 6 December: TMC MLA
Nov 22, 2025
TMC MLA Humayun Kabir (File Photo)
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KOLKATA: Trinamool Congress (TMC) legislator has sparked controversy in West Bengal after announcing that a foundation stone for a “Babri Masjid” would be laid in Murshidabad district on 6 December.
TMC MLA Humayun Kabir said the event would take place in Beldanga and claimed that various Muslim leaders would attend.
“It will take three years to complete,” he told reporters on Friday.
BJP calls it ‘appeasement politics’
West Bengal BJP secretary Priyanka Tibrewal criticised the announcement, describing it as “nothing but appeasement politics”.
“TMC’s secularism is religion-specific. When they say they will re-establish the Babri Masjid, I want to know who they will call to that Babri Masjid? Those Rohingyas who are now in fear of SIR running to the border areas? Build the Babri Masjid, where Babar came from? This is nothing but appeasement politics,” she alleged.
BJP leader Rahul Sinha also objected to what he described as an attempt to politicise the issue.
“Anyone can build a mosque, but it should be at a proper place. We have no objection to anyone following their religion. But those who are trying to politicise the mosque are insulting the Muslim religion,” he said. “If all Indian Muslims build a mosque together, there is no inconvenience.”
Congress distances itself from the row
Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Kumar Lallu criticised Kabir’s remarks, saying his party remained focused on governance issues.
“We’re very clear. We talk about employment, education, health, security, women, farmers, labourers, equality and inclusion. The Congress Party always talks about the Constitution, and these should be the criteria for elections,” he said.
This is not the first time Kabir has made such a statement. In 2024, he had also spoken publicly about the idea of constructing a Babri Masjid-like mosque in the state.
Political parties have called for restraint as tensions heighten ahead of the 6 December anniversary.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/will-take-3-years-to-complete-tmc-mla-says-babri-masjid-foundation-stone-to-be-laid-on-december-6-in-west-bengals-murshidabad-triggers-political-row/articleshow/125501971.cms
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From ‘Little Communist’ To ‘Worst Nightmare’: 5 Moments Trump And Mamdani Publicly Roasted Each Other
Nov 21, 2025
In a political moment few expected, two men who have spent the past year trading jabs from opposite ends of the ideological spectrum are about to sit across from each other for the first time. After months of insults, warnings and public sparring, President Donald Trump and New York City’s new mayor elect Zohran Mamdani will finally meet at the White House.
Mamdani, a democratic socialist, shares little political ground with the Republican president, but he described the meeting as “an opportunity to make the case for New Yorkers,” saying he intends to raise issues of economic security and public safety. “I'll be ready for whatever happens,” Mamdani told CBS.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday, “President Trump is willing to meet with anyone and talk to anyone and to try to do what's right on behalf of the American people.”
Mamdani used similar phrasing, noting that his team initiated the meeting “because I will work with anyone to make life more affordable for the more than 8.5 million people who call this city home.”
Still, their public remarks about one another have often been far sharper. Let us look at some of the very public jabs the two have thrown at each other.
"Turn the volume up"
In his victory speech after winning the New York City mayoral race, Zohran Mamdani explicitly taunted President Trump. Addressing Trump by name, Mamdani told supporters, “Donald Trump… I have four words for you: turn the volume up!”. He followed with a defiant warning: “To get to any of us you will have to go through all of us.” He followed with a defiant warning: “To get to any of us you will have to go through all of us.”
"My little communist mayor"
Donald Trump has increasingly leaned into branding Zohran Mamdani with a label he knows will land loudly. The president has repeatedly referred to Mamdani, who openly identifies as a democratic socialist, as a communist, cycling through variations like “my little communist mayor” and “a communist lunatic.” In June, he amplified the rhetoric further, posting: "Zohran Mamdani, a 100% Communist Lunatic, has just won the Dem Primary, and is on his way to becoming Mayor. We've had Radical Lefties before, but this is getting a little ridiculous."
Mamdani, meanwhile, has directed his own criticism toward the former administration. After New York Mayor Eric Adams floated the idea of revising school bathroom policies, Mamdani publicly condemned the move and its echoes of federal hostility toward trans students. He tweeted: "Awful and dangerous to hear the Mayor echo the transphobic bigotry coming from the Trump administration." He followed with an additional statement: "It's completely at odds with the values of our city."
"We'll have to arrest him"
Donald Trump has also pushed speculation about Zohran Mamdani’s legal status — despite the fact that Mamdani is a naturalized US citizen. Born in Uganda and brought to New York City at age seven, Mamdani became a citizen in 2018, yet the president has publicly suggested otherwise. Over the summer, he claimed: "A lot of people are saying he's here illegally," adding, "We're going to look at everything."
Trump has further hinted at taking action if Mamdani attempts to block immigration enforcement efforts. If Mamdani were to interfere with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents carrying out arrests or deportations, the president said, "Well then, we'll have to arrest him."
“Whatever the hell his name is”
President Donald Trump had mocked New York City’s Mayor Zohran Mamdani, dismissively referring to him as “whatever the hell his name is” and declaring that the post-election choice facing Americans is now between “communism and common sense.”
Donald Trump’s worst nightmare
During the Democratic debate, Mamdani directly confronted Donald Trump, saying, “I am Donald Trump’s worst nightmare, as a progressive, Muslim immigrant who actually fights for the things I believe in.” He also attacked Trump’s immigration policies as authoritarian and criticised the billionaire donors backing Cuomo, calling them “the same billionaires that put Donald Trump in DC.”
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/from-little-communist-to-worst-nightmare-5-moments-trump-and-mamdani-publicly-roasted-each-other/articleshow/125489959.cms
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Terrorism Now Threatens West Africa’s Survival – ECOWAS Tells UN
November 21, 2025
By Richard Ogunsile
ECOWAS Parliament
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The President of the Economic Community of West African States Commission (ECOWAS), Omar Touray, has warned that terrorism in West Africa and the Sahel has escalated to a level that poses an “existential threat” to the region.
Naija News reports that Touray issued the warning while briefing the United Nations Security Council during its 10,047th meeting on regional counterterrorism efforts.
According to a statement by ECOWAS on Friday, Touray told the Council that terrorists are now waging “economic warfare” by disrupting fuel supply chains, trade routes, and critical infrastructure across multiple member states.
“This wave of attacks is no longer confined to physical violence alone. It is now targeted at the economic lifelines of our region,” he warned.
Touray said ECOWAS is rolling out a range of stabilisation programmes, including efforts to rebuild trust with former member states Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, which recently exited the bloc after a string of military coups.
He also highlighted measures to address the socio-economic drivers of extremism.
The statement added, “Touray outlined ECOWAS’ kinetic and non-kinetic measures, including the accelerated operationalisation of the ECOWAS Standby Force.”
He reaffirmed the bloc’s commitment to working closely with the UN, African Union and other partners to safeguard regional security.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres also addressed the Council, expressing concern over the worsening humanitarian and security situation in the Sahel.
He stressed the urgent need for coordinated regional and international action to halt the spread of extremist groups.
Sierra Leone’s President, Julius Maada Bio, who chaired the meeting in his capacity as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State, described terrorism as a global problem requiring “renewed cooperation and collective resolve.”
Extremists Pushing Toward Coastal States
Extremist violence in West Africa has intensified over the past decade as jihadist groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIS expanded from northern Mali into Burkina Faso and Niger.
By the early 2020s, Burkina Faso had become one of the world’s deadliest terrorism hotbeds, with attacks increasingly spilling toward coastal states such as Benin, Togo and Côte d’Ivoire.
Regional efforts were further weakened by military coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Guinea, which disrupted ECOWAS coordination and created security vacuums.
The withdrawal of major international missions, including France’s Operation Barkhane and the UN’s MINUSMA, removed key support just as extremist networks broadened their reach.
In response, ECOWAS said it is fast-tracking plans to deploy a regional standby counterterrorism force. The mission will begin with 1,650 personnel, expanding to 5,000 troops as more support becomes available.
Touray said the deployment marks a decisive step to “restore stability and protect millions of lives” endangered by the growing wave of terrorist attacks across the region.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/11/21/terrorism-now-threatens-west-africas-survival-ecowas-tells-un/
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AYR Man Made Threat To Slit Muslim Throats At Glasgow Mosque
21ST NOVEMBER
By Andy Hamilton
AN AYR man has confessed to making chilling threats to “slit the throats” of Muslim worshippers at a mosque in Glasgow.
Joseph Graham – who later claimed to police that he “never intended to act” on his threats – is now back on the streets awaiting sentence for his shocking threats after admitting a charge of threatening or abusive behaviour.
As a condition of being allowed to walk free from court under the terms of a bail order, 35-year-old Graham has been banned from entering any mosque in Scotland.
Graham, of James Campbell Road, pleaded guilty at Ayr Sheriff Court to behaving in a manner likely to cause a reasonable person to suffer fear or alarm on October 17.
He admitted that the offence was aggravated by religious prejudice.
The procurator fiscal depute said: “On the date libelled, the accused contacted emergency services and two paramedics were afforded entry by the accused who was home alone.
“He had health issues and they began to assess the accused.
"He became irritated and began shouting and refusing medical assistance. He stated 'get the f*** out my house'.”
The court then heard that Graham told the 999 crew that he planned to “get two knives, get on a bus to Glasgow, go to a mosque and slit their throats and stab them".
He said he believed that by doing this, “they would listen to me".
At this point the two paramedics left Graham’s home and contacted police, with officers going to Graham’s home a short time later.
The prosecutor added: “They spoke to the accused who was cautioned and charged. When conveyed to the police office, he spoke during the course of the journey and stated he had not intended to act out on his comments."
The court heard that Graham was eventually released from police custody on an undertaking to appear in court and not to enter any mosque in Scotland.
Defence solicitor Steven Maxwell told the court he expected background reports would be required, and described his client’s behaviour as “at the upper end of a section 38” – the section of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 which deals with offences of threatening or abusive behaviour.
Sheriff Maria Kicinski told Graham: “I'm going to defer sentence for criminal justice social work reports, You will be released on bail.
"This is a serious offence, especially in the current climate."
Sheriff Kicinski said the condition imposed on the police undertaking barring Graham from entering any mosque in Scotland would be part of the bail order.
Graham will now return to court for sentencing at a later date.
Earlier this year a 17-year-old who planned to carry out mass murder by setting fire to a mosque in Greenock was sentenced to 10 years in custody.
Source: ayradvertiser.com
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https://www.ayradvertiser.com/news/25628282.ayr-man-made-threat-slit-muslim-throats-glasgow-mosque/
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India
No prayers at Sanjauli mosque, protesters end indefinite hunger strike
by Saurabh Parashar
November 22, 2025
The Sanjauli mosque, declared illegal by courts and marked for demolition, wore a deserted look Friday even as various right wing organizations on an indefinite hunger strike, suspended their protest after the local administration agreed for meeting on November 29 to discuss their demands “within the ambit of the law”.
The protesters, led by the Dev Bhoomi Sangharsh Samiti, who have been sitting on an indefinite hunger strike outside the Sanjauli police station— around 70 metres from the mosque — partially blocked the traffic, but didn’t move towards the mosque, where a heavy police contingent had already been deployed.
Although the main entry gate to the mosque was found bolted from the outside, a few people entered the building through a side passage prompting some activists to lodge their protest before the police personnel standing there.
Maulana Shahzad Alam, the mosque’s cleric, said, “No one came to offer prayers. Whoever wanted to come was told to pray at another mosque. I can’t say beyond this. This land belongs to the State Waqf Board. I am a salaried employee here”.
Mohammed Irfan, a resident of Dhalli, said, “Due to heavy police presence and the current situation, my friends and I preferred not to go to the Sanjauli mosque for Friday prayers. There are other mosques in Shimla, so we went there. The fixed time for Friday prayer was 1.30 pm. Yesterday, when I contacted office bearers of the mosque committee, they had hinted that we should avoid going.”
Meanwhile, a short video went viral even as district administration officials—including Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Pankaj Sharma—were interacting with the protesters. The video showed certain individuals entering the mosque, prompting protesters to intensify their demand to seal the disputed structure and disconnect its water and electricity supply.
Vikas Thapta, one of the protestors on hunger strike, said, “A local resident shot a video showing people entering the mosque, bypassing the police stationed at the main entrance. When a structure has already been declared illegal, what is the point of performing religious activity there? We have ended our indefinite hunger strike for now, as the administration has assured us that our demands will be discussed on November 29.”
The atmosphere at the protest site grew tense when right-wing activists under the banner of the Hindu Sangharsh Samiti urged Hindus to boycott goods and services sold or provided by members of a certain community.
ADM Pankaj Sharma told The Indian Express, “There was no traffic jam or any untoward situation. We conveyed to the protesters that a joint meeting will be held on November 29 to discuss their demands, within the ambit of the law. Action will be taken as per rules and regulations.”
Shimla SDM Oshin Sharma, ASP Navdeep Singh, Sanjauli SHO Jaswant Singh, and other officials were present at the site.
Meanwhile, protester Madan Thakur, who was on indefinite strike, was taken to Indira Gandhi Medical College & Hospital (IGMC) due to low blood pressure. Others Vijay Sharma, Ashok Sharma and Vikas Thapta take the food in the presence of district administrative officials.
Source: indianexpress.com
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https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/no-prayers-at-sanjauli-mosque-protesters-end-indefinite-hunger-strike-10379913/
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Two Vigilante Attacks By Right-Wing Groups In Madhya Pradesh In A Single Day
November 21, 2025
In two separate incidents on the same day in Madhya Pradesh involving right-wing Hindu activists taking the law into their own hands, Bajrang Dal members assaulted a Muslim youth in Chhatarpur over allegations of blackmailing a Hindu girl, while activists of the ‘Jai Maa Bhawani Hindu Sangathan’ detained a Muslim man found with a Hindu girl in a Bhopal flat on charges of ‘Love Jihad’.
In Bhopal, several Hindu activists reached a flat in Tanishk Apartments in the Ayodhya Nagar area. They forced the door open and found a boy and a girl inside. The activists assaulted the boy and handed him over to the police.
They claimed the man’s real name is Danish Khan, a motor mechanic from Shahjehanabad locality of old Bhopal, who allegedly misled Hindu girls by identifying himself as Rohit Yadav. He had reportedly created a fake social media profile under the same name.
The activists handed him over to Ayodhya Nagar police station, where he was arrested and a case was registered under relevant sections.
In the other incident in Chhatarpur, Bajrang Dal and Hindu Jagran Manch activists caught a young Muslim man who allegedly blackmailed a Hindu girl with her photos and videos and demanded money.
They beat him, forced him to eat drain waste, smeared it on his face, and dragged him by his hair to the police station. The incident occurred in the Civil Lines area.
The youth was apprehended at Hotel Adarsh Plaza on Panna Road, reportedly owned by a BJP leader. Virendra Shriwas of the Hindu Jagran Manch said the accused has been identified as Anas Khan.
According to the organisation, he had been harassing the girl for several months and allegedly possessed objectionable photos and videos of her, which he used to extort money.
Shriwas said the accused had previously taken ₹10,000 from the girl and had called her to the hotel room again today, demanding an additional ₹35,000.
Source: thestatesman.com
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https://www.thestatesman.com/india/two-vigilante-attacks-by-right-wing-groups-in-madhya-pradesh-in-a-single-day-1503515684.html
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Ernakulam Grand Mosque Organised An ‘Open Mosque’ Programme On Friday
November 21, 2025e
The Ernakulam Grand Mosque organised an ‘Open Mosque’ programme on Friday (November 21).
The event allowed people from other faiths to witness the weekly Jumu’ah (Friday) prayer and view the interiors of the mosque and its rituals, said a release issued here. The programme commenced with the Jumu’ah Khutba (sermon) delivered by Imam Faisal Azhari.
Kerala High Court judges Bachu Kurian Thomas, V.G. Arun, and C.S. Manu were among those who attended. The initiative is part of steps toward building bridges, dispelling misconceptions, and strengthening the bonds of brotherhood in Kerala’s diverse society, the communication said.
Source: thehindu.com
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https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/open-mosque-programme-held/article70308305.ece
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‘Black Flag, Digital Literature’ Found From Lakhimpur Kheri Home Of Ricin Plot Accused
November 22, 2025
The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) on Friday confirmed they had recovered a black flag from the home of Mohammad Suhail Mohammad Saleem Khan, a 23-year-old resident of UP’s Lakhimpur Kheri, one of the three persons arrested in connection with a failed terror plot involving the suspected use of the deadly chemical agent Ricin.
After recovering a blue barrel filled with an “unknown” mysterious liquid they claimed was hazardous, several chemicals, at least six bottles of Acetone – an industrial solvent – a seed oil press machine and other equipment such as sieves, funnels, smaller liquid-filled containers and something that looks like a mixer from the home/workshop of main accused Dr Ahmed Mohiyuddin Saiyed in Hyderabad, Gujarat ATS had sent teams to Uttar Pradesh to search the residences of other two accused – Azad Suleman Sheikh (20), a tailor from Shamli, and Mohammad Suhail Mohammad Saleem Khan of Lakhimpur Kheri.
On Friday, the ATS released photographs of the flag which had inscriptions in Arabic – four lines in white on a field of black. Another virtual flag was also found as a masthead on one of Saiyed’s social media accounts. These images went viral on social media with claims that they were flags of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Social media users wrote that the top line notably appears to be similar in content to flags of various terrorist groups. One of the factors that influenced this perception was a statement from the ATS mentioning that Saiyed’s handler – a man named Abu Khadija from Afghanistan – is believed to be associated with Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), a Central Asian branch of ISIS.
The Gujarat ATS hasn’t officially established any conclusive evidence on the association of the trio with any major terrorist organisation.
Regarding the flag seized from Suhail’s home, sources told The Indian Express, “It is just a flag with religious connotations. It has to do with the belief, an interpretation of a hadith (quotes of Prophet Muhammad) that there will be a ghazwa-e-hind (battle in the Indian subcontinent) where the righteous will ride horses and carry black flags. This concept is frequently invoked by multiple terror groups.”
Apart from the flag, the Gujarat ATS found some literature pertaining to “How to Stay Anonymous”, and another PDF titled, “Security and intelligence course by a mujahid brother Abu Abdullah bin Adam”. Sources in the ATS said this literature had been sent to Saiyed by his handler for tips on “how to avoid detection by intelligence and law enforcement agencies”.
The ATS has also shared CCTV footage of Saiyed’s movements around Hotel Grand Ambience in Mirzapur area of Ahmedabad City before his arrest.
Ricin Investigation
The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Gujarat has not yet completed the chemical analysis of the suspect liquid and other materials seized from Saiyed’s home in Hyderabad. Officials said while this investigation has been accorded top priority, FSL researchers want to be completely sure of the makeup and potential of the chemicals.
The ATS had not found any Castor Beans (Ricinus communis) – used to process Ricin – at the home of Saiyed, but had found several kgs of Castor Beans mash that is leftover waste after oil is extracted from them. It is this waste that is developed into Ricin, the toxin for which there is currently no antidote anywhere in the world. According to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Ricin is listed in Schedule-1 of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).
While the Gujarat ATS had found 4 litres of Castor Oil from the car being driven by Saiyed at the time of his arrest, sources have told The Indian Express that the oil was from 1.5 kg of Castor Beans and the waste mash from that batch had been recovered at his home.
The case so far
The ATS had on November 8 arrested Saiyed, Azad Suleman Sheikh and Mohammad Suhail Mohammad Saleem Khan, and declared Abu Khadija wanted. All were booked under sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Arms Act. The ATS had seized two Glock pistols, one Beretta pistol, 30 live cartridges, and 4 litres of castor oil stored in a 10-liter plastic container from Saiyed. Meanwhile, Shaikh and Khan are accused of not only receiving the weapons from Pakistan, but also allegedly reconnoitring the RSS office in Lucknow, the Azadpur vegetable Mandi in Delhi and the Naroda fruit market in Ahmedabad as possible sites of a terror attack. On November 18, about 12 hours after being sent to judicial custody at Sabarmati Central Jail, main accused Saiyed was injured after a violent altercation with three other undertrial prisoners.
Source: indianexpress.com
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https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/black-flag-digital-literature-found-from-lakhimpur-kheri-home-of-ricin-plot-accused-10379575/
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India, Afghanistan start air cargo link; Taliban minister calls on Hindu, Sikh refugees to return
Pheroze L. Vincent
22.11.25
India on Friday announced air cargo connectivity with Afghanistan and the exchange of trade attachés between the two countries during the visit of the Taliban government’s industry minister, Nooruddin Azizi.
At the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Azizi called for closer economic cooperation and iterated the Taliban administration’s appeal to Afghan Hindu and Sikh refugees in India to return home.
External affairs joint secretary (Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran) Anand Prakash said: "I am pleased to announce that the air freight corridor on the Kabul-Delhi sector and Kabul-Amritsar routes have been activated and cargo flights on these sectors will commence very soon."
Prakash said that during Azizi’s meetings on Thursday with the Indian external affairs minister and the minister of state for commerce and industry, “both sides agreed to give a trade attaché in each other’s embassy to oversee and support bilateral trade cooperation”.
Pakistan’s airspace has been closed to Indian aircraft after Operation Sindoor. However, Ariana Afghan Airlines runs passenger flights to Delhi as Pakistan’s airspace is not shut to Afghan aircraft.
India does not officially recognise the Taliban government that deposed the previous republican government in 2021 after a two-decade-long civil war. India, however, has reopened its embassy in Kabul, and Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Mutaqqi visited India last month, the first ministerial trip since his government took office.
Azizi, during his interaction on Friday, said: “The air freight for exports (from Kabul to Delhi) has been reduced to $1 (per kilo) and imports (from Delhi to Kabul) to 80 (US) cents (per kilo).... Tariffs will also be reduced. I have come here to make these functional —one, the air corridor, and secondly, we also want the Chabahar road (the highway from Chabahar in Iran to Zaranj in Afghanistan) to be fully operational and remove impediments.”
The minister thanked India for its help in helping his nation survive amid US sanctions, and welcomed back minorities who had fled Afghanistan to India.
Azizi said: “Our $9.3 billion was frozen by the US. But in that tough time we noted that the Indian government provided full support in terms of wheat, transporting from India directly to Afghanistan....
“I would like to invite the community of our Sikhs and Hindus. As you may be aware, we also have an Afghan Sikh community, an Afghan Hindu community in Afghanistan. And they have already received a lot of love from the Afghan people. And we have provided full support to them, whatever we had.
“However, we request all the Indian community, in terms of industrialists, traders, that they should visit. If not, at least those Sikh and Hindu communities who have come from Afghanistan, please give them back to us.... We invite them to come to Afghanistan and build one more time together with the Afghan private sector and Afghan people, build Afghanistan once again.”
He said that four crore people live in Afghanistan and almost everyone had lost sons and brothers and husbands in the war in the last 50 years for no reason. “On one side Pakistan blocks our road, on the other Americans block our money.... So we want India to keep this road open, and we want the private sector to heavily invest in this so it becomes competitive and cheaper than other routes.”
A source in the Indian ministry of external affairs said Afghanistan had requested a dry port — a cargo handling and customs post — in Chabahar and the start of work on a railway network under a 2014 tripartite agreement between the three countries.
Carpet seller Homayoon Noor, from Afghanistan’s northern Faryab province, got a visa to India after four years and multiple attempts.
He told The Telegraph: “I have traded with India for the last 21 years and it is like a second home to me. I hope that the improvement of diplomatic ties means quicker visas. Also, the tax on carpets from Afghanistan is 38 per cent. As we are part of the South Asia Free Trade Area, I hope that these taxes will go with direct trade links.”
Charanjit Singh, who heads the Indo-Afghan Chamber of Commerce, asked Azizi to facilitate payment for goods in rupees rather than dollars. He said: “Currently, our dollar payments are sometimes stopped by the US and there is a lot of delay in payments.”
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/india-afghanistan-start-air-cargo-link-taliban-minister-calls-on-hindu-sikh-refugees-to-return-prnt/cid/2134146
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In Gujarat’s ‘epicentre of cow slaughter convictions’, silence over life to 3 of a family
by Parimal A Dabhi
November 22, 2025
The Mota Khakivad locality in Amreli town now enjoys a dubious fame. On November 11, it made “history” when three members of a family here were sentenced to life for cow slaughter, along with a collective fine of over Rs 18 lakh.
In the past three years, Amreli district has seen 24 convicted in at least 14 cases under the Gujarat Animal Preservation Act. But the case of the Solankis stands out for the length of the sentence, and for involving three members of one family – brothers Kasim and Akram, 20 and 30 years of age, respectively, and their uncle Satar, 52.
In Mota Khatkivad, a locality with a mixed population of Muslims and Hindus and many such as the Solankis involved traditionally in butchery (giving the area its name), neighbours turn down queries with, “We do not know anything”. The family refuses to talk, saying it “fears the consequences”.
A local who knows the family says the uncle and the brothers live together. While Kasim is unmarried, Akram has a wife and four children. “The family is in shock,” he says. “A person gets a death sentence or life imprisonment for killing a human being… Here, three people have been sentenced to life for killing a calf of a cow.”
He adds: “The family’s three main earning members are in jail now. I do not know how they will raise the Rs 18 lakh for the fine, or go about appealing against the conviction.”
The Gujarat Animal Preservation Act prohibits cow slaughter and sale of cow meat in the state. In 2017, the BJP government amended the Act and increased the maximum punishment for cow slaughter from seven years to life imprisonment.
Akram was on bail in an earlier case under the Act, in which he had been sentenced to three years’ rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5,000, when held in this one. As per charges in this case, on November 6, 2023, police, acting on a tip-off about cow slaughter and sale of beef, raided the Solanki residence and allegedly recovered beef, remains of a slaughtered calf and equipment used for slaughtering an animal.
Subsequently, a veterinary doctor and a forensic test confirmed the recovered meat to be that of a cow.
Apart from provisions of the Gujarat Animal Preservation Act, the Amreli Sessions Court that gave the Solankis life also convicted them for “destroying any object held sacred by any class of persons with the intention of thereby insulting the religion of any class of persons” and for “mischief by killing or maiming cattle of any value”. They were fined Rs 6.08 lakh each, with the court ordering that they would have to serve more time if they failed to pay.
The Gujarat government welcomed the order as “historic” and said it showed its commitment to cow preservation in Gujarat.
Chandresh Mehta, the Special Public Prosecutor in cases of cow slaughter in Amreli district, is associated with the VHP. He called the judgment “landmark” and the result of “a number of factors”. “There was a timely tip-off, the police raid was conducted successfully, there was strong scientific and documentary evidence, very good investigation, and evidence of witnesses.”
He hopes the judgment will prove “a strong deterrent” for offences of cow slaughter in Gujarat. “It will set an example for those who indulge in such acts.”
Mehta also attributed the high number of convictions in Amreli district under the Gujarat Animal Preservation Act – with around 11 of the 14 convictions for cow slaughter – to his “dedication”.
“Amreli has emerged as an epicentre of such convictions in Gujarat because I work hard on the cases and its trial, giving attention to minute details,” he said.
Nine of the convictions have come in the Court of Sessions Judge Rizvana Bukhari, including the Solanki case.
According to Mehta, “Because of these cases and convictions, cow slaughter has decreased significantly in Amreli. In the last two years, only one or two cases (under the Gujarat Animal Preservation Act) have been reported in the district. The convictions have instilled fear in those indulging in such acts.”
Mota Khatkivad locality falls under Ward No. 9 of Amreli Municipality. Corporator Iqbal Bilakhiya said he agrees with the conviction of Solankis as they were found to be committing a crime. “But there are many cases where the convictions are not right… The government and police act with prejudice under pressure from groups like the VHP on such issues,” Bilakhiya said.
Hoping that such wrong convictions would be overturned on appeal, he added that if the government cared about cows, “it should also remedy the issue of stray cows on city roads”.
Nitin Karya, an Amreli resident, agrees. He says cows are sacred to him and welcomes the court cases for bringing to light “such activity)” but adds that the government should also find a way to deal with the issue of stray cows.
Source: indianexpress.com
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https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/in-gujarats-epicentre-of-cow-slaughter-convictions-silence-over-life-to-3-of-a-family-10379325/
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Smart homes for Sindoor shell-hit locals, flood-affected families in J&K
Muzaffar Raina
22.11.25
Hundreds of families hit by Pakistani shelling during Operation Sindoor and those affected by the recent floods will get “smart homes” courtesy a house-rebuilding initiative by a voluntary group backed by lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha’s administration.
Sinha on Friday laid the foundation stone for the construction of 388 houses in Rajouri and another 133 in Poonch, the two districts in Jammu’s Pir Panchal region that bore the brunt of Pakistani shelling during Operation Sindoor.
An official spokesperson said the houses would be built “free of cost” with
the assistance of the High-range Rural Development Society (HRDS India), a Kerala-based non-government organisation.
The society has signed a memorandum of understanding with the divisional commissioners of Jammu and Kashmir to build 1,500 houses in the Union Territory as part of the initiative.
The lieutenant governor reaffirmed the commitment of the government of India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the rehabilitation of affected families and the improvement of the life of every resident of Poonch and Rajouri, the spokesperson said.
“A total of 1,500 houses are to be built in the first phase across the Union Territory and will be handed over to the beneficiaries within six months of the beginning of the foundation work. These new three-bedroom prefabricated smart houses are designed to help families quickly get their lives back on track,” the spokesperson said. The project will cost ₹51 crore, which will be borne by the HRDS, the official said.
“These houses will have specific facilities such as cowsheds. The maintenance for the next five years will be done by HRDS India. In the second phase, solar panels will also be installed in these houses,” the spokesperson said.
Officials said this was in addition to the ex gratia and jobs provided to families affected by the recent flash floods and Pakistani shelling in both districts.
“Under the security-related expenditure and central scheme, relief of more than ₹10 crore has already been provided to other house owners in Poonch. It is being ensured that not a single family is deprived of their rights and fundamental needs,” Sinha said.
Pakistani shelling during Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the April 22 Pahalgam attack that killed 25 non-local tourists and a local horseman had cost the lives of 21 civilians and eight military personnel. The operation was launched on May 7.
The LG lauded HRDS India for its “noble initiative” and highlighted that the
most pressing need for affected families is a safe roof over their heads.
The lieutenant governor directed the district administration to include all genuine beneficiaries. He said that there was no cap on the number of houses to be built, suggesting more than the specified 1,500 can be rebuilt.
“The people of Poonch and Rajouri faced neglect for decades and suffered from terrorism perpetrated by the neighbouring country. Today, a new ray of development has replaced that dark phase and false promises.
“For the first time since Independence, the people of these two districts are reaping the benefits of the development they have been entitled to. I assure that this process will continue unabated,” Sinha said.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/smart-homes-for-sindoor-shell-hit-locals-flood-affected-families-in-jk-prnt/cid/2134141
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North America
CAIR Commends President Trump and Mayor-Elect Mamdani for Respectful Meeting, Welcomes Mamdani Calling Out U.S. Support for Gaza Genocide
November 21, 2025
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today commended President Trump and Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani on their respectful meeting in the White House. CAIR also commended Mayor-Elect Mamdani for acknowledging and speaking out against U.S. support for Israel’s genocide in Gaza during the Oval Office meeting.
In a statement, CAIR said:
“We commend President Trump and Mayor Elect-Mamdani for the respectful meeting they hosted at the White House today. We especially commend Mayor-Elect Mamdani for having the courage to recognize and speak out against U.S. support for Israel’s genocide in Gaza while standing beside President Trump in the Oval Office. We also appreciate President Trump’s agreement with Mayor-Elect Mamdani that the American people do not want our nation to spend our taxpayer dollars on more forever wars. We encourage President Trump to build on today’s positive moment with the first Muslim elected mayor of New York City by rejecting the extremist voices who seek to divide Americans, spread hate and entangle our nation in conflict overseas.”
In their first face-to-face meeting, President Trump and New York Mayor-Elect Mamdani described their first in-person conversation as cordial and productive.
Trump praised Mamdani’s campaign and pledged to work with him on shared policy concerns surrounding the cost of living and crime reduction. “I met with a man who’s a very rational person. I met with a man who wants to see – really wants to see – New York be great again,” the President said, referring to Mamdani. “I’ll be cheering for him.”
“I enjoyed our conversation and I look forward to working together to deliver that affordability for New Yorkers,” Mayor-Elect Mamdani said.
SEE: Trump and Mamdani share a cordial White House meeting : NPR
Source: cair.com
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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-commends-president-trump-and-mayor-elect-mamdani-for-respectful-meeting-welcomes-mamdani-calling-out-u-s-support-for-gaza-genocide/
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Momentum grows for Trump to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist org
November 21, 2025
Momentum seems to be growing in the push to convince the Trump Administration to designate the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) as a foreign terrorist organization, with the Republican governor of Texas publicizing the newly-established designation in his state. Members of Congress and think tanks are pushing the proposal as well.
The first Trump Administration indicated that they were strongly considering designating the MB — a radical Islamist group founded nearly a century ago in Egypt but with chapters, parties, and affiliated movements around the world — as a foreign terrorist organization, but they did not do so. The second Trump Administration has similarly suggested that such a designation is likely, but it has not happened nearly a year in.
Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott this week designated the MB and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as being “foreign terrorist organizations and transnational criminal organizations.” CAIR has denied the label and sued the Texas government. According to Politico, "CAIR says that proclamation, which bars its members from buying land in Texas, violates its members’ constitutional property and free speech rights."
Some Democrats joining the movement
Republicans in the House and the Senate, along with some Democrats, are currently pushing for the State Department to designate the Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organization. Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated in August that the designation of the MB as a foreign terrorist organization was “in the works” but that the process was a lengthy and careful one, including because the MB has numerous branches and affiliates to examine individually.
A number of Middle Eastern countries have already taken action against the MB, with Egypt and Jordan banning the group and Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain labeling it a terrorist organization.
The MB pushed back against the potential terrorism label during the first Trump administration, arguing in 2019 that “we will remain [...] steadfast in our work in accordance with our moderate and peaceful thinking in what we believe to be right, for honest and constructive cooperation, to serve the communities in which we live and humanity as a whole.”
"The Muslim Brotherhood will remain stronger — through God's grace and power — than any decision,” the MB added at that time. The MB’s motto is "Allah is our objective. The Prophet is our leader. The Qur'an is our law. Jihad is our way. Dying in the way of Allah is our highest hope."
The Brotherhood did not respond to a request for comment sent to them through their official English language website. CAIR did not respond to a request for comment.
Abbott: "Not welcome in our state"
Gov. Abbott of Texas revealed on Tuesday that he had designated both the MB and CAIR as foreign terrorist groups — something that the Trump Administration has not yet done.
“The Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR have long made their goals clear: to forcibly impose Sharia law and establish Islam’s ‘mastership of the world.’ The actions taken by the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR to support terrorism across the globe and subvert our laws through violence, intimidation, and harassment are unacceptable,” Abbott said.
“Today, I designated the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR as foreign terrorist organizations and transnational criminal organizations. These radical extremists are not welcome in our state and are now prohibited from acquiring any real property interest in Texas.”
The proclamation by Abbott argued that the MB “provides support to localized branches in countries and territories throughout the world, including groups that conduct terrorism internationally” and that the activities of MB branches have been “limited or prohibited” by other governments due to the MB “engaging in terrorism or attempting to destabilize those countries.”
CAIR responded by claiming they were being defamed and by attacking Abbott. “Greg Abbott is an 'Israel First' politician who has spent months stoking anti-Muslim hysteria to smear American Muslims critical of the Israeli government,” CAIR’s national organization said in a press release.
“By defaming another prominent American Muslim institution with debunked conspiracy theories and made-up quotes, Mr. Abbott has once again shown that his top priority is advancing anti-Muslim bigotry, not serving the people of Texas,” the group added.
Criminal investigations launched
Abbott’s office then announced on Thursday that the governor had directed the Texas Department of Public Safety to “launch criminal investigations” into CAIR and the MB.
“The goal is to identify, disrupt, and eradicate terrorist organizations engaged in criminal activities in Texas," Abbott said. “We will target threats of violence, intimidation, and harassment of our citizens. We will also focus on individuals or groups who unlawfully impose Sharia law—which violates the Texas Constitution and state statutes."
CAIR launched their lawsuit against the State of Texas government in federal court on Thursday as well.
“CAIR-Texas and the Texas Muslim community are standing up for our constitutional rights by directly confronting Greg Abbott’s lawless attack on our civil rights,” CAIR said in publicizing their lawsuit. “We are not and will not be intimidated by smear campaigns launched by 'Israel First' politicians like Mr. Abbott. Mr. Abbott is defaming us and other American Muslims because we are effective advocates for justice here and abroad.”
Congressional push for State Department to label the MB as an FTO
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and other Republican Senate co-sponsors introduced a bill in July which would call for the MB to be designated as a foreign terrorist organization, or FTO.
“The Muslim Brotherhood is a terrorist organization, and it provides support to Muslim Brotherhood branches that are terrorist organizations. One of those branches is Hamas, which on October 7 committed the worst single-day massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, which included the murder and kidnapping of at least 53 Americans,” Cruz said this summer.
“They are committed to the overthrow and destruction of America and other non-Islamist governments across the world, and pose an acute threat to American national security interests. American allies in the Middle East and Europe have already labeled the Brotherhood a terrorist organization, and the United States should do the same, and do so expeditiously,” Cruz said.
Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart, R-Fla., and Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., reintroduced the Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act of 2025 in July, arguing that it “implements a new modernized strategy for designating the global Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist group.”
“The global Muslim Brotherhood has numerous regional branches, including terrorist organizations such as Hamas, and spreads violence and instability throughout the Middle East,” Díaz-Balart said. “For this reason, it is crucial to U.S. national security interests that we prohibit U.S. dollars from enabling the Muslim Brotherhood’s dangerous activities, and that we ensure Muslim Brotherhood members are blocked from entering the United States.”
Moskowitz argued that “the Muslim Brotherhood has a documented history of promoting terrorism against the United States, our allies, and our society.”
Trump again weighs labeling the MB as a foreign terrorist organization
Then-Trump White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters in April 2019 that "the president has consulted with his national security team and leaders in the region who share his concern, and this designation [of the MB] is working its way through the internal process.” The designation never happened.
Rubio, serving as both Secretary of State and National Security Advisor for Trump, was asked this August about whether the State Department would designate CAIR or especially the MB as a foreign terrorist organization.
“Yeah, all of that is in the works, and obviously there are different branches of the Muslim Brotherhood, so you’d have to designate each one of them,” Rubio said. “But let me just tell you that there’s a process which I didn’t fully appreciate till I came into this job, and I know people don’t want to hear about processes, but because these things are going to be challenged in court, right?”
Rubio added: “We are constantly reviewing for groups to designate for what they are: supporters of terrorists, maybe terrorists themselves, whatever it may be. We haven’t done this in a long time, so it’s — we’ve got a lot of catch-up to do. And you’ve mentioned a couple names, particularly the Muslim Brotherhood, that are of grave concern.”
A brief history of the Brotherhood
The Ottoman Empire collapsed in 1922 in the wake of its defeat alongside in World War One after it allied with Germany. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey, and other Turkish nationalists took power and soon abolished the Ottoman Caliphate in 1924 upon the nation's founding.
The Brotherhood was founded by Sunni imam Hassan al-Banna in Egypt a few years later in 1928, with the aim of establishing an Islamic state — a caliphate — which would be governed by sharia law. Sayyid Qutb — a major thinker for and leader of the Muslim Brotherhood in the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s — was an Egyptian revolutionary whose promotion of jihad is believed to have inspired more modern jihadists such as Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri.
The MB helped inspire many of the terrorist offshoots which would emerge in the ensuing decades. Egyptian Islamic Jihad — which counted Zawahiri as one of its leaders prior to him merging his faction with al-Qaeda — was active in the 1970s, prior to the Soviet invasion and U.S. intervention, and the group successfully assassinated Egyptian President Anwar Sadat in 1981. The Islamic Group was another jihadist group formed in Egypt in the 1970s. Palestinian Islamic Jihad was formed in Gaza in 1979 as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, and it has been active in attacking Israel ever since.
Mohamed Morsi — the leader of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood — was soon elected president of Egypt after Hosni Mubarak’s February 2011 resignation. Morsi served in the role from June 2012 until July 2013. Following large-scale protests in June 2013, the Egyptian military — led by Abdel Fattah el-Sisi — removed Morsi from power. Sisi is the current ruler of Egypt.
Hamas is also considered to be a branch of the MB, and other Muslim groups and organizations are closely linked to the brotherhood.
This year in March, on the anniversary of its founding, the Brotherhood released a statement arguing that “throughout its long journey since its founding by the martyred Imam Hassan al-Banna (may God have mercy on him), the ‘Muslim Brotherhood’ group has given great importance to the issue of Palestine, which has remained and will remain the central issue of the nation” and that the MB “has defined its approach to dealing with it by mobilizing all possible energies to support its resistance and defend its sanctities.”
Threats posed by the MB, according to experts
The Free Press published a story this summer on “How the Muslim Brotherhood Is Capturing Europe.” The article cited a leaked report by the French Ministry of the Interior which concluded that “the Brotherhood’s strategy is to install a form of ideological hegemony by infiltrating civil society under the guise of religious and educational activities.”
The Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy — which says it is “committed to fighting antisemitism on the battlefield of ideas” — has released multiple reports warning about the Brotherhood.
“The Muslim Brotherhood appears to be the intellectual inspiration behind all Islamist groups (and their jihadist offshoots) that operate today, such as ISIS, al-Qaeda, and Hamas,” the institute assessed in 2023. “Sunni jihadist groups are grounded in the firm ideological roots that key MB ideologues pioneered in the last century.”
The institute released another report in November titled, “The Muslim Brotherhood’s Strategic Entryism into the United States.”
“This comprehensive study exposes and examines the Muslim Brotherhood’s comprehensive, multigenerational strategic campaign to transform Western society (especially in the United States) from within, through what its own internal documents describe as ‘civilizational struggle’ (jihad),” the report this month contended. “Unlike conventional terrorist threats, this strategy exploits democratic freedoms and institutions to advance fundamentally anti-democratic objectives, representing a sophisticated form of nonviolent extremism targeting Western democracies.”
Think tank: "A gateway to terrorism"
The conservative Foundation for Defense of Democracies think tank released an October report on “Patient Extremism: The Many Faces of the Muslim Brotherhood” and argued that “a more systematic approach to the Brotherhood is long overdue.”
“The ideas that animate Hamas are not unique; they are part of the Brotherhood’s common heritage. These ideas have also spread far beyond the Brotherhood, animating al-Qaeda, the Islamic State, and many other lethal organizations. The spectacular violence of al-Qaeda and the Islamic State ensures a forceful response from the United States and other victims,” FDD said. “At the same time, their attacks contribute to a certain complacency regarding the Muslim Brotherhood, whose branches in the United States and Europe reject the use of violence within their host countries.”
The think tank added: “Yet globally, the Brotherhood is a gateway to terrorism, infusing members with the religious doctrines and hatred that justify violence. The most determined of these members then form splinter groups or migrate individually to terrorist organizations.”
FDD released a memo this month which “maps out the funding, leadership, and history of the Brotherhood’s activity in six countries in the Middle East and serves as a starting point for determining which branches merit U.S. designation under existing terrorism authorities.” FDD said their research showed why the U.S. “should designate the Muslim Brotherhood and its offshoots as Foreign Terrorist Organizations.”
The MB’s unexpected relevance to NYC politics
A Just the News review previously found that Zohran Mamdani embraced a nearly decade-long association with Linda Sarsour, a high-profile anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian activist, as he rose from an activist to New York State assemblyman and now the Democratic Party-backed winner to be mayor of America’s largest city. Sarsour’s commentary and views on Israel have stirred years of controversy and accusations of anti-Semitism, an allegation she denies.
She also infamously posted a tweet in 2011 which downplayed the concerns about the radical MB taking over Egypt, saying, “Yo' the Muslim Brotherhood knows how to parrrttaaay! So much for radical islamists taking over!”
Sarsour said in a 2017 speech that it was important to wage “jihad” against the Trump White House. She soon backpedaled on the meaning of the word "jihad" by claiming that critics were taking her words out of context as she emphasized her commitment to nonviolence.
Mamdani himself spent a summer in college in Egypt, where the self-described democratic socialist — who was not yet an American citizen — learned about the “addiction of revolution” and witnessed the overthrow of the Brotherhood by the Egyptian military firsthand.
Mamdani having it both ways
Mamdani wrote an article in August 2013 for the Bowdoin College student newspaper about his time in Egypt that summer, and while he seemed critical of the MB’s rule during his time in Egypt, he seemed even more critical of the Egyptian military — particularly the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF). He was also critical of the “fulool” — described as remnant supporters of the former Mubarak regime — and urged people not to be fooled by their efforts.
The mayor-elect also questioned the wisdom of the decision by the Egyptian Revolutionary Socialists to join in protests against the Brotherhood, asking if a socialist revolution would really be easier with the Egyptian military back in charge.
Mamdani and Trump met in the White House on Friday, as the president weighs whether to designate the MB as a foreign terrorist organization. Although there was no readout of the private meeting, the BBC reported the tête-à-tête was "surprisingly conciliatory."
Source: justthenews.com
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https://justthenews.com/government/security/momentum-grows-trump-admin-designate-muslim-brotherhood-foreign-terrorist-org
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FBI restricted agents from working with CAIR years before Texas branded group a terrorist organization
November 21, 2025
The FBI has spent more than a decade limiting official contact with the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) over concerns about the group’s ties to Hamas, according to a Justice Department report reviewed by Fox News Digital.
The 2013 Office of Inspector General (OIG) report shows the FBI put a nationwide restriction in place in 2008 and repeatedly reminded field offices to follow it after evidence in a major terrorism-financing case linked CAIR leaders to Hamas, a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization.
Those findings resurfaced after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott designated CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood terrorist organizations last week and as lawmakers renew calls for federal action against Islamist networks operating throughout America.
According to the OIG, FBI headquarters issued a series of internal memoranda between August and December 2008 ordering all field offices to end non-investigative engagement with CAIR unless cleared through Washington.
The directive, the report notes, stemmed in part from evidence introduced during the Holy Land Foundation trial connecting CAIR leadership to the Hamas support network.
The policy was a "significant deviation" from prior outreach practices, and some offices resisted the shift.
At least one special agent-in-charge pushed back, telling staff his office would set its own CAIR policy unless headquarters provided more detail. Others sought exceptions for long-standing local relationships.
Despite the bureau-wide restrictions, the OIG found several violations between 2010 and 2012. In three of five reviewed incidents, field personnel did not follow the CAIR policy.
The OIG identified several cases in which field offices violated the bureau-wide CAIR contact ban. In Chicago, the special agent-in-charge attended an event at which a CAIR official spoke, an appearance the group later publicized. I
n New Haven, agents consulted directly with CAIR and even allowed CAIR officials to teach a cultural workshop despite explicit warnings from FBI headquarters that such engagement would violate policy.
And in Philadelphia, a CAIR representative was brought into an outreach session after staff followed guidance from the Office of Public Affairs rather than the bureau directives that barred that type of contact.
The OIG concluded the FBI "did not conduct effective implementation or oversight" of its own CAIR-contact restrictions.
The internal FBI restrictions — still in effect as of 2013 — take on new significance after Abbott’s decision to classify CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood terrorist organizations under Texas law, preventing them from owning property in the state.
Abbott said the groups "have long made their goals clear" and accused them of supporting terrorism worldwide.
The OIG findings also align with a sweeping new report from the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy (ISGAP) warning of a coordinated, decades-long effort by Muslim Brotherhood-linked organizations to infiltrate American institutions.
ISGAP is urging federal lawmakers to follow Texas’ lead.
CAIR has repeatedly rejected any claim of wrongdoing, saying earlier this week it "opposes all forms of terrorism" and accuses critics of relying on "guilt by association."
The OIG recommended the FBI improve training and enforcement around the CAIR restrictions and ensure that field offices comply with headquarters’ directives moving forward.
CAIR, in a statement to Fox News Digital, said it "and the FBI have communicated with each other to address matters such as hate crimes against the American Muslim community, threats to our civil rights organization and crime prevention."
The group added that, during President Trump’s first term, "it was our CAIR Georgia chapter that repeatedly warned the FBI about a potential threat to President Trump and other Americans. After the FBI later arrested a troubled individual accused of plotting an attack on the White House, senior FBI agents met with and explicitly thanked CAIR for saving lives."
CAIR said it remains "willing to communicate with the FBI to address public safety matters," but the two organizations "do not engage in photo ops or community events with each other."
The group noted it has "been critical of some of the bureau’s tactics" and "sometimes face[s] off in court," pointing to its "9-0 U.S. Supreme Court ruling against abuses of the FBI’s watchlist."
The FBI and ISGAP did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
Source: foxnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.foxnews.com/us/fbi-restricted-agents-working-cair-years-before-texas-branded-group-terrorist-organization
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US transport secretary under fire for saying flyers should ‘dress smartly, not wear pyjamas’: ‘We want comfort, not a fashion show’
Nov 21, 2025
US transportation secretary Sean Duffy drew flak after suggesting that air travel would improve if passengers simply “smartened up” and dressed better.
Speaking on Fox Business, Duffy promoted a new campaign urging travellers to “bring civility back” to airports. He said passengers should “be nice, say please, say thank you,” and even suggested a return to the days when people “didn’t wear pajamas to the airport." He urged people to "dress up a little bit.”
Some viewers agreed with the general call for politeness, but critics called the comments tone-deaf. They argued that cramped cabins, weather issues, constant delays and rising ticket prices—not passengers’ outfits—are what make flying miserable. Others said it was hypocritical for a Trump Cabinet member to lecture the public on civility while the president routinely uses hostile language online on his Tirth Social account.
Duffy said his message was simply meant to encourage patience during the busy holiday travel season, but passengers weren’t buying it. Users on X quickly piled on, trolling, memeing and mocking the transportation secretary for blaming travellers instead of fixing the real problems.
Netizen venting session:
People want safe air travel with well staffed air traffic control towers, not a f****g fashion show, you idiot! Duffy is what you get when an incompetent moron is in charge of hiring all the other incompetent morons running an organization. This chucklef**k needs to resign now.
People stand in huge lines to get stuffed into narrow seats with no leg room. The bathrooms are insanely tiny. Disembarking the plane is chaos. The food is barely food. But sure, the problem is wearing comfortable clothing and not dressing up
People are crammed into tiny seats, paying extra for basic comforts, and dealing with constant delays.. but the real crisis is sweatpants? Maybe fix the system before policing outfits
Maybe stop treating passengers like cattle and their mood might improve. And hey, you want me to dress up, buy the clothes, clean up the planes, give us more room. Your travel fantasy died in the '70s. Cry harder.
Why would I want to dress up when I have to take off my belt and shoes and jacket and have my body fondled to get through security at 6 am?
You shouldn't wear your pajamas. But the airlines went from caring about people's comfort and space to packing people in like sardines and trying to maximize profit by lower their standards.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/us-transport-secretary-under-fire-for-saying-flyers-should-dress-smartly-not-wear-pyjamas-we-want-comfort-not-a-fashion-show/articleshow/125487744.cms
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‘Assassinate Trump and I’ll write you naughty letters in jail’: TikToker’s threat to Trump goes viral
Nov 21, 2025
A TikTok video circulating widely on X sparked a wave of outrage and calls for federal investigation after the creator appeared to encourage the assassination of President Donald Trump, even offering to send “naughty letters” to whoever carried it out. The clip has gone viral, drawing millions of views and becoming the centre of a political firestorm.
What the viral video shows
The 41-second clip features a young woman, identified on TikTok by the username @myfriendelise, filming herself inside a bathroom. In a casual, confessional tone, she rants about Trump before abruptly escalating to a direct call for violence, saying someone should “take him out already.” She then adds, with a smile, that if the person is arrested, she would write them “dirty letters” in jail.
The tone of the video is light, joking and almost playful, which contrasts sharply with the seriousness of her statements. Many viewers interpreted the remarks as a genuine threat rather than satire.
The creator behind the video is known publicly as Elise, a Portland-based TikTok user. Her profile was linked repeatedly across multiple X accounts sharing the clip.
Online reactions to the viral post
The video triggered thousands of comments across X, with users demanding immediate action from federal agencies. Here are the most prominent reactions:
“Evil! Arrest her now!”
“SHUT OFF @tiktok_us”
“Please arrest this woman. People are way too comfortable making threats.”
“When she says we does that mean her multiple personalities”
“Yes. She needs to be picked up.”
“Demonic possession is real!”
“A visit from the Secret Service and a charge from the DOJ seem to be in order!”
“Is this legal?”
“This individual is calling for the assassination of Donald Trump. She must be picked up immediately.”
The responses show how quickly political commentary online can escalate into broader debates about national security, political extremism and digital accountability.
Why the video struck a nerve
The TikTok emerged during a period of heightened political tension in the United States, with national debates increasingly framed through culture-war lenses. The flippant tone, the bathroom setting and the performer-style delivery made the video appear unserious to some viewers, but the message was seen as crossing a clear legal and ethical line.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/assassinate-trump-and-ill-write-you-naughty-letters-in-jail-tiktokers-threat-to-trump-goes-viral/articleshow/125487124.cms
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Africa
UAE Offered Nigeria Terrorism Sponsors List But Buhari Govt Declined – Don
November 21, 2025
By Richard Ogunsile
A professor of Strategic Management and Human Capital Development, Prof. Okey Ikechukwu, has accused the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari of refusing to disclose the identities of Nigerians allegedly financing terrorism, despite an offer of assistance from the government of the United Arab Emirates.
Naija News reports that Ikechukwu made the claim on Friday, November 21, during his appearance on Channels Television’s Morning Brief, while reacting to a recent meeting between Nigerian delegates and U.S. Congressman Riley Moore over terrorism and alleged genocide claims.
The varsity Don said the UAE government had, several years ago, provided Nigeria with names of suspects believed to be sponsoring terrorism and banditry across the country.
However, he alleged that the Buhari administration chose not to release the names to the public.
“A few years ago, under Buhari, the UAE government offered to provide us with a list of individuals funding terrorism in Nigeria, and they are Nigerians. But what did they do? The federal government did not request that list to be made public,” he said.
He added that a top official in the Buhari government previously argued that the identities were being kept secret to “maintain the privacy and rights” of the individuals involved.
Ikechukwu said the refusal to expose terror financiers has strengthened the belief that powerful actors behind insecurity often evade punishment.
“No names have been made public, but those who should know, know who the sponsors of terrorism and banditry are,” he said.
The professor argued that widespread poverty remains a key driver of the escalating violence in the North. He said idle young people were easily manipulated by criminal groups.
“Yes, poverty provides a fertile soil for this kind of thing in the North. If you meet someone who is not doing anything and tell him to follow you to raid, he will follow you quickly,” he noted.
Ikechukwu questioned the failure of northern political leaders to address the roots of insecurity, contrasting the situation with other regions.
“Why is it not happening in Lagos? Why is it not happening in Nnewi? The place is messed up. Civilian leadership is not doing enough. How many of the leaders reside in their local government?” he asked.
He added that several of the armed groups infiltrating southern states were not indigenous to the communities they now terrorise, suggesting that the crisis has an identifiable “origination point.”
Source: naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.naijanews.com/2025/11/21/uae-offered-nigeria-terrorism-sponsors-list-but-buhari-govt-declined-don/
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Military Threat: ‘You Don’t Just Open Your Mouth And Say I’m Coming To Help You’ – Soyinka Blasts Trump
November 22, 2025
Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, has slammed the United States President, Donald Trump, for threatening to invade Nigeria with the American military over the rising insecurity and alleged Christian genocide in the country.
Naija News recalls that on October 31, Trump designated Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) over alleged killings of Christians.
The US President thereafter threatened that he had asked the Defence Department to prepare for possible military action in Nigeria if the Nigerian government “continues to allow the killing of Christians”.
However, Soyinka, after meeting with Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, on Friday in Makurdi, expressed displeasure at Trump‘s military threat.
The literary icon stated that the US President’s comments were a testament to what he described as a pre-set mindset that ignores Nigeria’s complex security challenges.
According to Soyinka, Trump should at least respect those who are finding solutions to the incessant killings.
The nonagenarian maintained that governments must protect citizens, stressing that victims deserve respect.
He added, “You don’t just open your mouth and say, ‘I’m coming to help you whether you like it or not.
“With poor, almost non-existent analysis, you say you are coming with ‘guns blazing. At least respect those finding solutions to this unacceptable situation.”
Source: naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.naijanews.com/2025/11/22/military-threat-you-dont-just-open-your-mouth-and-say-im-coming-to-help-you-soyinka-blasts-trump/
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Stop Pretending – MBF President Blasts Northern Governors For Downplaying Alleged Genocidal Attacks
November 22, 2025
By Justina Otio
National President of the Middle Belt Forum (MBF), Bitrus Pogu, has accused northern governors of downplaying the terror attacks in the region.
Speaking to Punch, Pogu lamented that the northern leaders have failed to take decisive action against the resurgent attacks.
The MBF president’s accusation comes amidst growing public concern over the surge in killings and kidnappings that have engulfed some northern communities in recent weeks, leaving dozens dead and many more displaced.
In the latest attack, three people were killed and about 35 others kidnapped at the Christ Apostolic Church, Oke Isegun, in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State on Tuesday, according to police and multiple eyewitness accounts.
The Federal Government, through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, on Wednesday, blamed the renewed terror attacks on recent remarks by the United States.
However, Pogu argued that northern governors, not the United States, should be blamed for the attacks.
The MBF chieftain urged the Federal Government to seek US intervention to address the situation.
He argued that, despite not having direct control over the military or police, governors could influence civil defence forces and other armed organisations to accelerate and improve the speed and effectiveness of responses to attacks.
Pogu said instead of admitting their faults, some government officials have been pretending and denying the genocidal claims out of fear of the United States.
The MBF President cautioned that if the situation escalates to a point where the US intervenes forcefully, the consequences could be devastating.
According to him, “The best thing to do is for them to own up that these things are happening and that there is genocide, attacks deliberately against Christian organisations and settlements in their areas. They should urge the Federal Government to partner with America to resolve these issues.
“The US know where these people are. They have satellites that can even identify you, how you look, where you are going, and your movement. So let the governors not pretend and think that the Americans don’t know.”
He also warned the governors against imposing their views on others under the guise of religion, stating that any attempt to enforce Sharia or other practices on unwilling populations would only bring trouble.
The MBF President also took a swipe at the Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, for denying that an ethnic genocide is occurring in the state.
“If Alia, because of serving the interests of some political godfathers and his pocket, can come out and say there is no genocide when hundreds of his people are being killed, and they are Christians, and their churches have been burnt, then I’m sorry for him,” Pogu said.
He added that, since the governor claimed to be a reverend father, he must change his stance and acknowledge the truth.
Source: naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.naijanews.com/2025/11/22/stop-pretending-mbf-president-blasts-northern-governors-for-downplaying-alleged-genocidal-attacks/
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List Of Terrorism Financier: Why We Can’t Rush Prosecution – FG
November 22, 2025
By Enioluwa Adeniyi
The Federal Government has explained why suspected terrorism financiers have not been prosecuted, insisting that the process requires extensive and sensitive investigations that cannot be hurried.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, stated this on Friday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, amid rising public concern over alleged government inaction.
Idris dismissed the assumption that the government had a list of suspects but was unwilling to act, stressing that terrorism financing cases are complex and intelligence-driven.
He said, “It is not a question of having the list or not having the list; it is not as simplistic as that. Investigations have to be conducted.
“You don’t say, ‘because pronouncements have been made, let me take you to court directly.’ There must be sufficient investigation carried out.”
He noted that some allegations previously circulated in public had “merit”, but insisted that due process must be followed to avoid jeopardising ongoing security operations.
Successive governments have faced intense pressure to prosecute individuals allegedly funding Boko Haram, ISWAP, and bandit groups.
Under former President, Muhammadu Buhari, officials announced that some suspects had been identified, a revelation that led many to expect swift prosecutions.
However, no high-profile trial has occurred, prompting civil society groups and security experts to accuse the government of shielding powerful individuals.
FG Appeals For Patience, Says Terror Fight Is Complex
Addressing the criticism, Idris said terrorism-related investigations involve multi-layered intelligence collaboration with local and foreign partners.
Idris said, “Unfortunately, when you are fighting these kinds of battles, it is not something that you just sort out within a day or two..
“That is why, all the time, we are calling on our partners within and outside this country to understand the complexity and diversity of the situation we have here.”
Idris insisted that the Tinubu administration has made progress since assuming office, even if many Nigerians do not recognise the achievements.
He said, “Sometimes we forget the successes we have recorded in the fight against bandits, criminals, and some of these jihadists. From May 2023 to date, over 13,500 of these criminals have been neutralised and taken out of our society.
“Over 17,000 of them have been apprehended. Even as we speak, some of them are having their day in court, and some have been sentenced. I think we should recognise these efforts.”
Source: naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.naijanews.com/2025/11/22/list-of-terrorism-financier-why-we-cant-rush-prosecution-fg/
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Sudan military signals willingness to work with US and Saudi for peace
November 22, 2025
Sudan's Sovereign Council, led by army chief Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman Al-Burhan, announced on Wednesday its readiness to cooperate with the United States and Saudi Arabia to end the two-year-long conflict devastating the country.
The council expressed gratitude to both nations for their ongoing efforts to halt the violence and affirmed its willingness to participate seriously in peace initiatives for Sudan.
This statement comes after US President Donald Trump signaled his willingness to work with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt to resolve the fighting between Sudan's army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Clashes between the military and this paramilitary group, accused of serious abuses, have plagued Sudan since April 2023.
"We will work with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and other partners in the Middle East to end these atrocities," Trump declared on his Truth Social account. The comment followed a visit by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Washington, where he urged Trump to take action to end the conflict.
Recently, Secretary of State Marco Rubio called for an end to foreign military support for the RSF, highlighting concerns about escalating violence.
Recent RSF offensives, including the capture of North Darfur's capital el-Fasher, have resulted in hundreds of deaths and forced tens of thousands to flee amid reports of atrocities. The International Organization for Migration reported that nearly 90,000 people have left el-Fasher and nearby villages, facing hazardous conditions without necessities like food or medical care.
Saudi officials caution that worsening instability in Sudan could threaten the Red Sea region and Africa, possibly enabling extremist groups to expand.
Regional divisions have emerged: Egypt, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia support the Sudanese Armed Forces, while the UAE reportedly supplies arms to the RSF.
Trump further pledged on social media that the US would work with Middle Eastern partners to end the violence and stabilize Sudan. His remarks coincided with Prince Mohammed's first visit to Washington in seven years.
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.africanews.com/2025/11/21/sudan-military-signals-willingness-to-work-with-us-and-saudi-for-peace/
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Europe
Alleged IS Fanatic, originally from Tunisia, Was 'Playing A Role' And Planned To Sabotage Anti-Semitic Terror Plot, Court Hears
John Scheerhout
21 Nov 2025
An alleged Islamic State fanatic accused of planning the mass killing of Jewish people has rejected suggestions at Preston Crown Court that he is a “shameless liar.”
Walid Saadaoui, originally from Tunisia and formerly a restaurateur and entertainer at a Haven holiday park, denies all terrorism charges. Giving evidence, he insisted he never intended to carry out an attack and claimed he was merely “playing a role.”
Jurors previously heard that Saadaoui did not realise his conversations with an undercover officer - known only as “Farouk” and posing as a jihadi - were being secretly recorded. Saadaoui says he believed Farouk had been sent by an Islamic State figure he had encountered outside a Norwich mosque, who had allegedly threatened him.
According to Saadaoui, he thought the man was “testing” him and that he planned to sabotage the supposed plot and inform police before anything happened. On Thursday (November 20), Saadaoui told the jury that the man he met in Norwich had “faked” his own death.
He said he had been shown a death certificate suggesting the man died in 2021 - nearly two years before Saadaoui claims he sold his house and restaurant in Great Yarmouth and moved to Wigan to flee alleged threats. The 38-year-old, of Crankwood Road, Abram, Wigan; and his co-accused, Amar Hussein, 52, of no fixed abode, deny terror charges.
They are accused of a plot to murder 'as many Jews as possible' in Manchester in the summer of 2024. Mr Saadaoui’s brother Bilel Saadaoui also denies failing to disclose acts of terrorism, the M.E.N. reports.
Walid Saadaoui was arrested in the car park of The Last Drop hotel north of Bolton on May 8, 2024, before the alleged summer 2024 plot to target a pro-Israel march in Manchester then Jewish communities in Prestwich, Higher Broughton and Cheetham Hill. Officers found two assault rifles, a semi-automatic pistol and almost 200 rounds of ammunition in a car, the court has been told.
The defendant was awaiting delivery of a further two assault rifles, another pistol and another 700 arounds of ammunition, according to the Crown. But Walid Saadaoui told the jury he was 'just playing a role' and he acted under threat from an Islamic State member he referred as Person A, also referred to as Almasalahki, in court.
He says he intended to call police so they could arrest Almasalahki, Farouk and his co-defendant Mr Hussein, before any attack took place. As the trial continued at Preston Crown Court yesterday, Mr Saadaoui was cross-examined by Harpreet Sandhu KC on behalf of the prosecution.
The prosecution say investigators have identified a man from Damascus in Syria named Hamdi Almasalahki. And Mr Saadaoui was shown a passport photo of the man and another of him which appears to show him with a head dressing in hospital. Mr Saadaoui told the jury the pictures were of the man said to have threatened him.
The defendant agreed that, following his arrest, he had provided police a description of the man which matched his passport photograph and also told officers the man had connections with ISIS and had delivered aid to refugees in Syria. Mr Saadaoui, pressed by the KC, said he had not seen evidence that Almasalahki would have been 'picked up' for immigration offences between 2013 and 2020 if he had been located.
The defendant was also shown a death certificate for Almasalahki which said he died in Turkey at 1.30pm on February 18, 2021, and that the cause of death was a non-communicable disease. Mr Saadaoui, asked if he knew of concerns from people who knew him that Almasalahki had a 'growth' on his head, said: "I have seen a plaster on the back of his head."
The prosecutor suggested to the defendant Almasalahki had died almost two years before Mr Saadaoui had moved to Wigan to escape him. The defendant said: "He's alive. He's not dead."
Asked about a picture of Almasalahki dead in hospital, Mr Saadoui said: "His face is covered up." Pressed further about the picture, the defendant went on: "I have seen a picture of someone dead."
When the KC suggested to the defendant 'it's him', Mr Saadaoui said: "It's not him. One million per cent it's not him."
The prosecutor said 'the death certificate undermines your entire defence doesn't it?', and Mr Saadaoui told the jury: "I know he's dead."
When it was suggested there were pictures of the burial, Mr Saadaoui said he had seen only 'soil'.
The KC suggested to the defendant the death certificate had 'pulled the rug from under your feet', and he replied: "He's not dead. That's classic ISIS to fake their death and show up with a different name and different account... A few times I have heard that they do that."
Asked how he knew it was a 'classic' ISIS tactic, Mr Saadaoui said he had seen posts online 'where people fake their death and come back again'. He it was to 'avoid the police'.
Pressed why Almasalahki would have wanted to fake his own death, the defendant said he had learned he was wanted by the police. It was put to Mr Saadaoui that Almasalahki had died in Turkey, and he repeated that he thought he was trying to get away from the police.
Mr Sandhu said: “You know a great deal about Isis because you, Walid Saadaoui, are an Isis supporter?” Mr Saadaoui said: “I’m not, no.”
Mr Sandhu said: “Your attempt to explain away the contents of this death certificate are an attempt to shift the blame of your terrorist offending on to someone else.”
Mr Saadaoui said: “He is not dead.”
The prosecutor said: “Is the position this, you simply can’t go back and change your account because it would expose that you are a shameless liar.”
Mr Saadaoui said: “I don’t have to change my account, it’s the truth.”
Walid Saadaoui and Amar Hussein have pleaded not guilty to preparation of terrorist acts, namely that between December 13, 2023, and May 9, 2024, with the intention of committing acts of terrorism, they arranged for the purchase and delivery of firearms, conducted reconnaissance and made plans of attack.
Walid’s brother, Bilel Saadaoui, 36, from Hindley, Wigan, has pleaded not guilty to a single charge of failing to disclose acts of terrorism between the same dates.
Source: lancs.live
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https://www.lancs.live/news/lancashire-news/alleged-fanatic-playing-role-planned-32916341
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Ukraine allies to hold talks on White House peace plan at G20
22 Nov 2025
James Chater
Ukraine's allies will seek to "strengthen" a US plan to end the war with Russia when they meet at the G20 summit in South Africa, UK PM Sir Keir Starmer has said.
The summit begins a day after President Volodymyr Zelensky warned Ukraine faced "one of the most difficult moments in our history" over pressure to accept the plan - leaked details of which have been seen as favourable to Moscow.
Zelensky held phone talks with Sir Keir and the leaders of France and Germany on Friday. Afterwards, the PM said Ukraine's "friends and partners" remained committed to securing a "lasting peace once and for all".
Neither US President Donald Trump nor Russian President Vladimir Putin are attending the G20.
The widely leaked US peace plan includes proposals that Kyiv had previously ruled out, including ceding eastern areas it currently controls.
Washington has been pressing Kyiv to accept and sent senior Pentagon officials to the Ukraine earlier this week to discuss the proposals.
But there is nervousness in Europe over what has been perceived as a set of terms heavily slanted in Moscow's favour. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called the prospect of it being adopted a "very dangerous moment".
According to news agency Reuters, she told reporters: "We all want this war to end, but how it ends matters. Russia has no legal right whatsoever to any concessions from the country it invaded, ultimately the terms of any agreement are for Ukraine to decide."
Ahead of the talks at the G20, Sir Keir said gathered leaders would "discuss the current proposal on the table, and in support of President Trump's push for peace, look at how we can strengthen this plan for the next phase of negotiations".
He continued: "Not a day has passed in this war where Ukraine hasn't called for Russia to end its illegal invasion, roll back its tanks and lay down its guns.
"Ukraine has been ready to negotiate for months, while Russia has stalled and continued its murderous rampage.
"That is why we must all work together, with both the US and Ukraine, to secure a just and lasting peace once and for all."
As part of the White House's plan, Ukraine would be obliged to cut the size of its army and pledge not to join the Nato military alliance, a long-held Kremlin demand.
Trump warned on Friday that Ukraine would lose more territory to Russia "in a short amount of time" and that Zelensky "is going to have to approve" the plan.
The US president said he had given Ukraine until Thursday to agree to the plan - Thanksgiving in the US - which he described as an "appropriate" deadline.
Russian troops have been making slow advances along the vast front line, despite reported heavy losses.
Ukraine relies on deliveries of US-manufactured advances weaponry to arms its forces, including air defence systems.
Kyiv has also been dependent on intelligence provided by Washington since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
US Vice-President JD Vance said on Friday that it was a "fantasy that if we just give more money, more weapons, or more sanctions, victory is at hand".
During a meeting with his security cabinet on Friday, Putin confirmed the US had presented its proposed peace plan, and said it could be the "basis" for a settlement - though added detailed talks on its terms had not yet been held in the Kremlin.
He said Russia was willing to "show flexibility" but was also prepared to fight on.
In a 10-minute address in front of the presidential office in Kyiv, Zelensky warned that Ukraine would face "a lot of pressure... to weaken us, to divide us".
"We're not making loud statements," he went on, "we'll be calmly working with America and all the partners... offering alternatives" to the proposed peace plan.
Zelensky has had to strike a careful balance between Kyiv's interests and maintaining cordial ties with Trump, with whom he had a public falling out with at the White House earlier this year and who has appeared at times frustrated at the lack of progress in peace talks.
His reaction to the US plan has been measuredly worded - though he did admit on Friday that Ukraine "might face a very difficult choice: either losing dignity, or risk losing a key partner".
The White House has pushed back on claims that Ukraine was frozen out of the drafting of the proposal.
An unnamed US official told CBS News, the BBC's US media partner, that the plan was drawn up "immediately" following discussions with Ukraine's top security official Rustem Umerov, who agreed to the majority of it.
The leaked draft proposes Ukrainian troops' withdrawal from the part of the eastern Donetsk region that they currently control, giving Russia de facto control of Donetsk, as well as the neighbouring Luhansk region and the southern Crimea peninsula Moscow annexed in 2014.
Russia currently controls around 20% of Ukrainian territory.
Kyiv would receive "reliable security guarantees", the plan says, though no details have been given.
The document says "it is expected" that Russia will not invade its neighbours and that Nato will not expand further.
The draft also suggests Russia will be "reintegrated into the global economy", through the lifting of sanctions and by inviting Russia to rejoin the G7 group of the world's most powerful countries - making it the G8 again.
Source: bbc.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyx9xnpll8o
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What we know about leaked US draft plan to end Russia's Ukraine war
22 Nov 2025
Paul Kirby
The draft US-Russia peace plan has been widely leaked and we now know that it proposes to hand over those areas of Ukraine's industrial eastern Donbas region still under Ukrainian control to the de facto control of Vladimir Putin's Russia.
Latest versions of the text also call for Ukraine to cut the size of its armed forces to 600,000 people.
But what else is known about the text and who stands to benefit from it most?
What are the key points?
There are 28 key points and there are several on the face of it that could be acceptable to Ukraine. Others come across as vague and imprecise.
Ukraine's sovereignty would be "confirmed" and there would be a "total and complete comprehensive non-aggression agreement between Russia, Ukraine and Europe", with robust or reliable "security guarantees" for Kyiv and a demand for snap elections in 100 days.
If Russia were to invade Ukraine a "robust co-ordinated military response" is proposed along with a restoration of sanctions and a scrapping of the deal.
Although elections are impossible in Ukraine as there is martial law in place, they could theoretically be held if a peace deal is signed.
But on security guarantees, there is no detail on who would provide them and how robust they might be. This falls well short of a Nato-style Article Five commitment to treat an attack on Ukraine as an attack on all. Kyiv would want more than a vague promise if it were to sign up.
Handover of Ukraine's territory and cut in armed forces
Among the most contentious proposals are Ukraine handing over its own unoccupied territory and cutting the size of its armed forces.
"Ukrainian forces will withdraw from the part of Donetsk Oblast that they currently control, and this withdrawal zone will be considered a neutral demilitarized buffer zone, internationally recognized as territory belonging to the Russian Federation. Russian forces will not enter this demilitarised zone."
Ceding territory where at least a quarter of a million Ukrainians live - the Donetsk "fortress belt" cities of Slovyansk, Kramatorsk and Druzhkivka - will not be acceptable to most Ukrainians. Russia has spent well over a year trying to capture the town of Pokrovsk - Ukraine is unlikely to hand over such important strategic hubs without a fight.
"The size of the Ukrainian Armed Forces will be limited to 600,000 personnel."
Ukraine's military was estimated last January at 880,000 active personnel, up from 250,000 at the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022.
While 600,000 might seem a potentially acceptable number in peacetime, that kind of limitation would infringe on Ukrainian sovereignty. It might also be too big a number for Russia to accept.
"Our red lines are clear and unwavering," Ukrainian representative Khrystyna Hayovyshyn told the UN security Council: "There will never be any recognition formal or otherwise of Ukrainian territory temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation as Russian. Ukraine will not accept any limits on its rights to self defence or on the size or capabilities of our armed forces."
The draft also proposes that "Crimea, Luhansk and Donetsk will be recognized as de facto Russian, including by the United States".
In other words Ukraine and other countries would not need to recognise Russian control by law. That could enable Kyiv to accept such phrasing, as it would not impinge on Ukraine's constitution that says its borders are " indivisible and inviolable".
Elsewhere, in the southern regions of Kherson and Zaporizhzia, the front lines would be frozen and Russia would relinquish areas it has occupied elsewhere in Ukraine.
Ukraine's future - with EU but not Nato
The draft proposes significant commitments on Ukraine's strategic future:
"Ukraine agrees to enshrine in its constitution that it will not join Nato and Nato agrees to include in its statutes a provision that Ukraine will not be admitted in the future."
"Ukraine is eligible for EU membership and will get short-term preferred market access to the European market while this issue is being evaluated."
There is little chance of Ukraine joining Nato any time soon and Russia has in recent months softened its stance on Ukraine's candidacy for EU membership. The document appears to offer Kyiv access to EU markets while ignoring the views of 27 European countries.
Joining both the EU and Nato are part of Ukraine's constitution and another of Khrystyna Hayovyshyn's red lines at the UN on Thursday was: "Nor will we tolerate any infringement on our sovereignty including our sovereign right to choose the alliances we want to join."
Other draft proposals are that Nato agrees not to station troops in Ukraine and that European fighter jets will be stationed in Poland. Kyiv would also have to commit to being a "non-nuclear state".
That appears to reject the West's Coalition of the Willing's plans led by the UK and France to help police any future deal.
Bringing Russia back from isolation
Several points refer to Russia being brought back from isolation with "Russia to be re-integrated into the global economy" and invited back into the G8 group of powers.
That seems a long way off for now, with Putin under an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court. Russia was thrown out of the G7 after it seized and then annexed Crimea in 2014 and Trump tried to bring Putin back into the fold six years later.
If the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan were reluctant before the full-scale invasion, there's even less chance of that happening now.
What about Russia's frozen assets?
The draft proposes that $100bn of frozen Russian assets should be invested "in US-led efforts to rebuild and invest in Ukraine", with the US receiving 50% of the profits and Europe adding $100bn in investment for reconstruction.
This is reminiscent of the US minerals deal with Ukraine earlier this year, extracting an American price for involvement, and it also leaves the European Union with nothing but hefty bills.
The sums it mentions may not be sufficient, either: earlier this year the total cost of reconstruction in Ukraine was put at $524bn (€506bn).
Some €200bn in Russia frozen assets are largely held by Euroclear in Belgium, and the European Union is currently working on a plan to use the money to fund Kyiv financially and militarily.
The rest of those frozen assets would go to a "US-Russian investment vehicle", under the draft, so Russia would see some of its money come back, but again there would be a financial benefit for the US.
What is not in the plan?
Several commentators have pointed out that the plan does not require weapons limitations on Ukraine's military or its arms industry, even though there is a provision saying: If Ukraine fires a missile at Moscow or St. Petersburg then the security guarantee will be considered null and void.
But it does not place an restriction on the long-range weapons Ukraine has been developing - such as its Flamingo and Long Neptune missiles.
Is this a definitive peace plan?
We know the US is keen to press ahead fast under an "aggressive timeline" with this draft, with reports suggesting Ukraine has until Thanksgiving late next week to agree to it.
Equally US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was involved in drafting it, described it as "a list of potential ideas for ending this war", and German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has made clear he does not see the 28 points as a definitive plan, having spoken to the other key US official involved, Trump envoy Steve Witkoff.
In some respects the draft document seems like work in progress, with some details that were leaked to US websites on Thursday no longer apparent.
The European Union said on Friday morning it had not officially seen the plan yet, and the Russian foreign ministry said the same.
Is the draft a Putin wishlist?
Russian special envoy Kirill Dmitriev is known to have spent as long as three days with Witkoff discussing this plan, raising suggestions of a stitched-up deal to suit Moscow. Russia's response has so far been cautious but Putin has said it could be the "basis" for a peace settlement.
The handover of Ukrainian territory to Russia, even in a demilitarised zone, is the biggest sign of a slant towards Russia's narrative, but freezing the front lines in the south could prove difficult for the Kremlin which has annexed both Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in its constitution.
One of the proposals is for the lifting of sanctions to be "agreed upon in stages and on a case-by-case basis" - which Moscow will probably see as far too slow.
However, a plan for a "full amnesty" for all parties will go down well in Moscow and very badly in Kyiv and European capitals.
Commentators have pointed out that while there do appear to be major concessions to Putin, some of the requirements for Nato might be too vague for Kremlin tastes.
Russia has also consistently demanded that a peace plan would need to eliminate what it sees as "the root causes" of the war. One of those root causes is halting Nato expansion in Eastern Europe, which the draft appears to deal with.
Some of the other 28 points of the draft also nod to Russia's claims of discrimination against Ukraine's Russian-speaking population without explicitly endorsing them.
One point is explicit but even-handed: "Both countries will agree to abolish all discriminatory measures and guarantee the rights of Ukrainian and Russian media and education."
Another apparent attempt to be even-handed comes from a proposal to distribute electricity generated by the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant - the biggest in Europe - "equally between Russia and Ukraine".
Source: bbc.com
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Putin responds to Washington’s Ukraine peace proposal
21 Nov, 2025
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that the American plan for resolving the conflict in Ukraine is an updated version of a proposal developed following his meeting with US President Donald Trump in Alaska.
”During the discussions, the American side asked us to make certain compromises,” Putin said, during a meeting with the Security Council. Back in Anchorage, Moscow confirmed its agreement with the peace proposals, Putin noted. However, after the Alaska talks, the American side paused due to Ukraine's rejection of Trump's plan.
Putin also mentioned that Moscow had received the text of the new Trump plan, but it has not yet been discussed “in detail.”
“I believe it could also form the basis of a final peace settlement,” the president said.
Vladimir Zelensky has also responded to the plan, saying that Ukraine must brace for a tough choice between accepting it or risking losing a key backer.
According to Reuters, the White House has threatened to cut off Ukraine from intelligence and military aid, should Kiev reject it.
The US submitted the plan as Zelensky’s legitimacy at home has been significantly undermined by a corruption scandal. Ukraine’s forces at the front, meanwhile, have suffered a series of setbacks.
In recent months, Russian forces have been steadily advancing in the Donetsk People’s Republic, making significant gains. The Ukrainian military, by contrast, is facing severe personnel shortages.
Source: rt.com
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South Asia
Islamic Emirate Supreme Leader Urges Scholars to Guide Society Through Shariah Principles
November 22, 2025
KABUL: Shaikh Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Emirate, called on Islamic scholars to assume a greater role in guiding society according to Shariah, emphasizing their divinely assigned responsibility to educate the public on matters of faith, morality, and social conduct.
Speaking at a two-day seminar held for members and scholars of the Fiqh Councils in Kandahar, the Supreme Leader highlighted the central role of religious knowledge in shaping a righteous and stable society, the IEA Deputy Spokesman, Hamdullah Fitrat, said in a statement the other day.
He noted that scholars are entrusted by Allah to clarify what is lawful and unlawful, saying this obligation represents one of the highest forms of service to the nation.
“Scholars today enjoy a significant opportunity to serve the public by teaching authentic Islamic knowledge, promoting ethical conduct, and strengthening unity among communities,” the IEA leader said, adding that the success of religion depends on scholars educating people about their faith and urged participants to spread knowledge with sincerity and commitment.
Advising scholars to avoid division, work to resolve disputes among people, uphold truth, and practice what they teach, Shaikh Hibatullah said: “You are the representatives of the people.”
Source: thekabultimes.com
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Pakistan says Hasina’s death sentence Bangladesh’s ‘internal matter’
Nov 22, 2025
Pakistan on Friday said that the recent death sentence for former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina was an "internal matter" for the country and that its people were fully capable of solving their own issues.
A Bangladesh court had sentenced Hasina to death on Monday, concluding a months-long trial that found her guilty of ordering a deadly crackdown on a student-led uprising last year.
The verdict came months ahead of parliamentary elections expected to be held in early February.
Addressing his weekly press briefing on Friday, Pakistan's Foreign Office (FO) Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said several queries were received regarding the development, on which he said: "This is an internal matter of Bangladesh. The people of Bangladesh are fully capable of addressing their issues in accordance with their own democratic and constitutional processes."
The verdict by the International Crimes Tribunal -- a court that Hasina set up to try war crimes from Bangladesh's 1971 war for independence from Pakistan -- marked a dramatic turn for her political career.
After the sentence was handed down, the Bangladesh government had told India that failure to return her would be a highly unfriendly gesture and an affront to justice.
But all previous efforts so far to persuade New Delhi to send her back have faltered.
New Delhi said it was committed to "the best interests of the people of Bangladesh, including in peace, democracy, inclusion and stability in that country. We will always engage constructively with all stakeholders to that end".
The development also came amid a thaw in ties between Islamabad and Dhaka, with trade and bilateral relations seeing a marked improvement.
Source: thedailystar.net
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Terrorist Groups Increasingly Active in Afghanistan and Syria, Warns SCO
By Fidel Rahmati
November 22, 2025
The Executive Committee Head of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure warns of rising terrorist activity in Afghanistan and Syria, targeting Central Asia.
Ularbek Sharsheev, Executive Committee Head of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure, has issued a stark warning about the growing activity of international terrorist groups in Afghanistan and Syria.
According to Sharsheev, these groups are actively working to establish “sleeper cells” in Central Asian countries, posing a significant threat to regional security. His remarks came during the 11th International Conference on the Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), held in Tashkent on November 20-21.
Sharsheev’s warning highlights the sophisticated tactics employed by terrorist organizations, which continue to recruit fighters and plan attacks through third-party countries. He stated that these groups are not only targeting Central Asia for recruitment but are also using fraudulent documents to move militants across borders to launch attacks, fund their operations, and expand their ranks.
As part of the discussions, participants emphasized the importance of international collaboration to address these mounting security challenges. The creation of a global center to combat these threats in Tashkent was proposed as a practical response to the increasing terrorism risks facing SCO member states. The center would serve as a hub for information sharing and coordinated efforts to combat terrorism across the region.
The escalating threat from international terrorist organizations in Afghanistan and Syria highlights the urgent need for increased cooperation among regional powers and international agencies. The conference’s outcome suggests that the SCO is committed to taking more proactive steps in addressing the evolving security threats in Central Asia, where the presence of militant groups could destabilize the entire region.
The creation of a global anti-terrorism center in Tashkent could provide a more robust framework for addressing the challenges posed by growing terrorist activities. By improving intelligence-sharing, enhancing regional cooperation, and focusing on the prevention of radicalization, the SCO hopes to curb the spread of extremism and bolster security across its member countries. This collaborative approach could help mitigate the risks posed by international terrorist networks and safeguard the stability of Central Asia in the face of increasing instability.
Source: khaama.com
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Six PTM Members Abducted in Peshawar, Amnesty Urges Pakistan to Investigate Disappearances
By Fidel Rahmati
November 22, 2025
Six PTM members, including Noorullah Tareen and Hanif Pashteen, were abducted in Peshawar. Amnesty International urges Pakistan to investigate these enforced disappearances.
Amnesty International has raised urgent concerns over the disappearance of six members of the Pashtun Protection Movement (PTM) and is calling on the Pakistani government to provide clarity on their whereabouts. In a statement issued on Friday, November 21, the organization revealed that the six activists were abducted from the city of Peshawar ten days ago, and to date, their fate remains unknown.
Ten days have passed since six Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) activists; Noorullah Tareen, Hanif Pashteen, Syed Irfanullah, Farman Wazir, Adnan Wazir, and Habib Wazir, were forcibly disappeared from Peshawar.
The human rights group emphasized that this incident is part of a broader, disturbing pattern of enforced disappearances targeting political opposition, particularly in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces. “These enforced disappearances are part of a troubling trend aimed at silencing dissent within Pakistan,” said Amnesty International. The organization called on the Pakistani government to take immediate and concrete action to locate the missing activists and hold those responsible for the abductions accountable.
The Pakistani authorities have yet to provide any information regarding the whereabouts or well-being of the six missing PTM members. Amnesty has demanded an independent, transparent investigation into the disappearances and called for the prosecution of those responsible. The PTM, which advocates for the rights of the Pashtun ethnic group in Pakistan, has faced increasing state repression, including arbitrary arrests, targeted attacks, and shootings of its members.
Members of the PTM have long been subjected to harassment and violence due to their outspoken criticism of military operations in Pakistan’s tribal areas. Their calls for justice for Pashtuns, who have faced systemic marginalization and violence, have made them a target for the state. Amnesty’s statement underscores the growing concerns about the safety of activists in Pakistan, where dissent is often met with forceful retaliation.
This incident is not isolated. Amnesty International warned that such forced disappearances have become an alarming trend, with political opponents and activists increasingly subjected to abuse by state security forces. These actions are part of a broader crackdown on freedom of expression and human rights in Pakistan.
Amnesty’s call for urgent action reflects growing global concerns over Pakistan’s human rights record, particularly regarding its treatment of political dissidents. The fate of the six PTM activists remains a critical test for the government’s commitment to human rights and its willingness to confront the growing pattern of political repression in the country.
Source: khaama.com
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GD filed over threatening call made to ICT-1 chairman after Hasina verdict
Nov 22, 2025
A general diary (GD) has been lodged with Shahbagh Police Station alleging that International Crimes Tribunal-1 Chairman Justice Dr Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder received a threatening phone call on November 18.
According to the GD, filed on Thursday by ICT court keeper Md Kamal Hossain, the threat was issued to the judge's personal mobile number, a day after the tribunal sentenced deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to death.
The complainant also said that a Facebook account under the name of "MD Ariyan Khan Shorif" had circulated "undesirable content," including a satirical post targeting the tribunal chief.
Screenshots of the posts were attached to the GD as evidence, police said.
Ariyan, from Bhola, has already been arrested in this connection in the district, confirmed ICT Prosecutor and Special Investigating Officer Tanvir Hassan Zoha.
Source: thedailystar.net
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Saudi King Salman Humanitarian Aid Foundation Distributes Assistance to 800 Earthquake-Affected Families in Balkh
November 22, 2025
MAZAR-E-SHARIF: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center of Saudi Arabia has launched a major humanitarian distribution campaign for families affected by the recent earthquake in Balkh province.
The aid will be delivered to 800 earthquake-hit families over the course of three days across Mazar-e-Sharif city and two surrounding districts, the provincial Afghan Red Crescent Society said in a statement the other day.
The opening ceremony was attended by representatives of the King Salman Foundation, Mohammad Yunus Masoumi, head of the Afghan Red Crescent in Balkh, as well as local authorities.
According to the Afghan Red Crescent, each family will receive a relief package consisting of flour, rice, sugar, beans, cooking oil, and a carton of dates.
Based on registration data, 300 families in Mazar-e-Sharif, and 250 families each in Char Kint and Alburz districts, will receive assistance within the three-day timeframe.
The King Salman Humanitarian Aid Foundation, which has been active in Afghanistan’s humanitarian sector for years, regularly provides emergency assistance during natural disasters.
In previous months, the foundation distributed household supplies, tents, and other essential items to affected families in Balkh and Samangan provinces. Additionally, it has extended support to thousands of earthquake-affected families in eastern Afghanistan following recent seismic events.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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Bangladesh seeks active regional role amid shifting global alignments: Foreign adviser
Nov 22, 2025
Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain today said Bangladesh intends to act as an active, sovereign and responsible player, noting that during periods of global realignment, states may feel pressured to pick sides -- but Bangladesh should first choose the right course.
"We will engage robustly, speak firmly when needed, and partner productively, always with an eye on national interest and regional stability," he said, outlining five priorities for this moment of global transition.
Touhid made the remarks while speaking at the inaugural session of the "Bay of Bengal Conversation 2025", organised by the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS).
Chief Justice of Bangladesh Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, CGS President Zillur Rahman and CGS Executive Director Parvez Karim Abbasi also spoke at the event.
Shifting Geometry of Power
Highlighting the first priority -- the shifting geometry of power -- Touhid said Bangladesh insists on its sovereignty and on the right to pursue its national interests.
"In practice, this means that our partnerships must deliver tangible benefits, not symbolic only," he said.
He noted that Bangladesh will engage with major and middle powers alike, but decisions will be guided by national interest, sovereign equality and mutual respect.
The Bay of Bengal region is emerging as a strategic fulcrum, and Bangladesh intends to be a confident actor, not a passive corridor, he added.
Fragmentation of Stability
On the fragmentation of stability, Touhid said that from Ukraine to Gaza, from Sudan to Myanmar, the global crisis-management system has been tested and often found inadequate.
"My country knows the cost of fragility. We have opened our doors to hundreds of thousands of forcibly displaced Rohingyas from Myanmar, we have contributed to UN peace missions, and we know how quickly humanitarian crises can escalate," he said.
Stability, he stressed, is not only a regional concern but a global imperative.
"We must build efficacious multilateral and regional institutions that deliver, not just talk, with agendas that translate into action," he added.
Weaponisation of Knowledge
On the weaponisation of knowledge, Hossain said information today is not merely a by-product of power but a tool of power.
AI, deepfakes, orchestrated misinformation and disinformation, and surveillance are reshaping diplomacy, democracy and governance, he said.
"Bangladesh stands ready to engage with these themes -- to protect our information space and to promote regulatory frameworks that safeguard both security and rights," he added.
Economic Realignment
Discussing economic realignment, Hossain said supply chains are fragmenting, sanction regimes are multiplying, and "de-risking" has become a defining concept for the future of trade.
For Bangladesh, he said, this necessitates diversification, deeper regional cooperation and stronger connectivity.
"We also must ensure that economic partnerships are not predatory, but rooted in mutual opportunity and resilience," he said.
He emphasised the need to harness the Bay of Bengal's potential and transform it into a corridor of growth and prosperity.
Climate, Borders and Security
Speaking on climate, borders and security, Hossain noted that as a low-lying country facing rising sea levels, salinity intrusion and migration pressures, Bangladesh remains exposed to severe climate risks and internal displacement.
Across the region and its waters, he said, states must build cooperative frameworks, share technology and resources, and link environmental and security agendas.
"Let this region not just react to climate shocks but become a leader in climate-resilient diplomacy," Touhid said.
This year's theme, "Rivals, Ruptures, Realignments: Navigating Power and Purpose in a Disordered World", aptly captures the current global moment, he added.
At present, he said, the architecture of international relations is being rewritten, with older alliances under strain and new actors reshaping the balance of power.
"The patterns of yesterday no longer guarantee the outcomes of tomorrow. For Bangladesh, and for all littoral countries of the Bay of Bengal, these are not distant abstractions -- they are concrete, urgent realities," he said.
The Bay of Bengal Conversation (BoBC) 2025 will continue until November 24 in Dhaka.
CGS President Zillur Rahman said BoBC has emerged as one of South Asia's most important Track-II diplomacy platforms, offering space to examine the fast-changing landscape of global politics.
This year's conference focuses on global rivalries, regional realities, shifting alliances and partnerships, information warfare, artificial intelligence, climate change, economic pressures and migration -- issues defining today's world.
CGS Executive Director Parvez Karim Abbasi highlighted the region's strategic importance.
"The Bay of Bengal is one of the world's most dynamic zones of population growth and economic activity. BoBC creates a rare opportunity to bring together the region's diverse experiences and policy approaches under one platform," he said.
BoBC 2025 has brought together 200 speakers, 300 delegates and more than 1,000 participants from 85 countries.
Source: thedailystar.net
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Referendum on July charter: BNP in dilemma as Jamaat pushes for ‘yes’ vote
Nov 22, 2025
The BNP has yet to decide whether it will campaign for a "yes" or "no" vote in the July charter referendum. The party says it is observing the situation and will make its decision later.
On the other hand, the Jamaat-e-Islami and seven like-minded parties say they will urge the public to vote "yes" to give the charter a legal basis.
Although the BNP objects to the referendum question, it is keeping a soft stance for now, as its demand to hold the referendum alongside the national polls has been met. Senior leaders said confrontation now could distract attention from the polls and benefit opponents.
The Jamaat and its partners are taking a completely different approach, launching street programmes to demand that a "proper referendum" be held.
To press home their demand, they have announced rallies in seven divisions, starting on 30 November.
Asked about the party's demands, Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Hamidur Rahman Azad told The Daily Star that holding the referendum properly means they are demanding it must be held before the national polls.
Leaders of the parties said their programmes aim to put pressure on the government and the BNP over the referendum issue, while also keeping their leaders and activists energised on the ground.
On November 13, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus announced in an address to the nation that a referendum on the implementation of the July charter will be held on the same day as the upcoming election in February.
The referendum ballot will present a single, comprehensive question to voters, who must cast a "yes" or "no" vote to express their opinion on four collective constitutional reform proposals derived from the charter.
The BNP welcomed the decision, while Jamaat accused the chief adviser of creating confusion by this declaration that both the votes will be held on the same day.
Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, BNP Standing Committee member and former health minister, said, "BNP has not yet decided whether it will support the 'yes' or 'no' vote in the referendum. We will take more time to make this decision. Right now, we are trying to understand the direction of public opinion."
However, Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar said his party and seven other like-minded ones have agreed to take a collective stance in favour of the "yes" vote and work in persuading the nation.
BNP'S STANCE
BNP leaders say they stick to the objections to the proposed four-part referendum question and are not in a hurry to decide.
Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed said the referendum should be held on the signed charter alone, as voters have no option to cast their votes on the four questions separately.
"It is a complicated and impractical process," he said, adding that the party prefers a simple yes-or-no question on whether people agree with the July charter.
The BNP leader said that nearly half the population still lacks adequate education, and any referendum question must take that reality into account.
Some leaders argue that campaigning for the "no" vote could make BNP appear opposed to the reforms demanded after the July uprising, and that Jamaat and its partners may use this as a strategy to push for delaying the polls.
Others warn that if the party backs the "yes" vote, it may face complications governing the state if it comes to power in the future.
JAMAAT'S STANCE
Leaders of the Jamaat and its partners said their candidates will campaign for the "yes" vote and the national election together.
Several parties have already begun printing leaflets and preparing online and offline strategies dedicated to promoting the "yes" vote.
Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair, assistant secretary general of Jamaat and head of its publicity wing, said, "If 'yes' wins, the proposals in the July charter will be implemented. We want the people to take the side of 'yes', and we will campaign for it. Other parties in the movement will also do the same."
Maolana Yunus Ahmad, secretary general of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, said, "Our candidates will campaign for the 'yes' vote while conducting election campaigns."
Source: thedailystar.net
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Mideast
How Gaza trauma could linger in Palestinian DNA long after the bombing stops
KHALED AL KHAWALDEH
November 22, 2025
DUBAI: Surveying the landscape of Gaza after two years of Israeli bombardment, it is clear the damage inflicted on the Palestinian enclave will take decades to repair. The wounds sustained by civilians, both mental and physical, will likewise last a lifetime.
However, new research suggests the scars of the conflict may be felt by generations who have not even been born yet, with the effects of trauma shaping the very DNA of Gazans themselves, leaving a genetic footprint on the Palestinian people.
According to a paper by an international team of researchers titled “Epigenetic signatures of intergenerational exposure to violence in three generations of Syrian refugees,” trauma can edit our genome, altering how our bodies adapt to our environment.
“We know usually that epigenetic signatures are erased every generation,” Rana Dajani, professor of genetics and molecular biology at the Hashemite University of Jordan, who participated in the research, told Arab News.
“But what we found is that 14 sites of the genome were altered as a result of a grandmother’s exposure to violence had been passed through to her grandchildren, who themselves were not exposed to violence at all.”
Epigenetics works like a light switch for genes, with DNA working like a big instruction manual. If we imagine each gene as a light bulb, epigenetics does not change the light bulbs but instead controls which ones are turned on or off.
Even if a child has not been exposed to conflict, Dajani says signatures of the violence can continue to linger in their genetic code from past generations, impacting the way their bodies react to their environment — or which genes are switched on and off based on various stimuli.
This means that the grandchildren of someone who has experienced conflict may be at risk of developing the same vulnerabilities as someone who has directly suffered trauma in their lifetime.
“We found that for women who are directly exposed to violence, 21 regions of their genome had epigenetic changes,” Dajani said.
“We have not been able to tie those to any particular health outcomes, but we already know from other research that anybody exposed to trauma in the past can demonstrate some outcomes, whether it’s mental health or cardiovascular or diabetes or even cancer.
“These kinds of results help us to really understand what the impact of the genocide in Gaza could be.”
The war in Gaza was triggered by the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, which killed 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and saw 251 taken hostage. The resulting Israeli assault on Gaza has killed at least 67,000 people, according to local health officials.
Israel’s embargo on humanitarian assistance entering Gaza led to famine conditions in several areas of the enclave. The alleged use of starvation was a weapon of war prompted multiple accusations of genocide — claims that Israel vehemently denies.
A fragile ceasefire came into effect on Oct. 10, allowing humanitarian aid to flood into the territory. However, violence has continued to flare, infrastructure lies in ruins, and at least 90 percent of the population remains displaced.
Connie Mulligan, a professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Florida who worked with Dajani on the research, said both physical and psychological trauma could result in epigenetic signatures.
Mulligan says the impact may differ depending on the type of trauma, but these differences have yet to be explicitly mapped. Although her research focuses primarily on psychological stress, she believes physical stressors are also likely to have an impact.
“Being exposed to environmental toxins will have similar but distinct impacts on the individual, including epigenetic marks, compared to psychosocial stress,” Mulligan told Arab News.
She said the “startling” discovery that epigenetic changes were able to carry generationally was important to reshaping conversations around recovery and rehabilitation. She hopes this would mark the start of a new understanding of trauma.
“Psychosocial stress sometimes gets dismissed — it’s just stress, just get over it. But what we are increasingly finding with all this research is that you can’t just get over it,” she said.
“Now we’ve got individuals who didn’t even experience it but still have a molecular signature of the event, and the question is how can they get over it? Because it’s something in there. It’s something in their epigenome.
“If we could better understand that, maybe we could better help people.”
The epigenetic clock is a way of estimating a person’s biological age by looking at specific chemical changes in their DNA, rather than just counting the years since birth.
It works like a biological stopwatch that ticks based on how the body is aging at the cellular level — influenced by someone’s environment, lifestyle, including their general health, as well as stress levels.
The research also found that trauma caused a significant increase in “epigenetic ageing” in fetuses, which had “profound” health impacts on children.
“The women who were pregnant themselves who were directly exposed to the trauma did not have accelerated aging. Neither did their grandchildren. However, the child born to that mother did,” said Dajani.
“To us, this speaks to the sensitivity of the fetus in the uterus, the prenatal stage, when the fetus is actively dividing, and they are very sensitive to what the mother is exposed to.
“Now, think of the impact of that on future generations? Because if you consider the thousands of women pregnant in Gaza during the last two years, what does that mean for that generation born of mothers who experienced it all?”
A separate study identified another notable impact that trauma in conflict appears to be having on child development.
Syrian children displaced to Lebanon who had lived experience of trauma appeared to be suffering stunted or slowed rates of biological aging.
“What we found is that the biological age of the children that experienced war was a little bit delayed compared to their chronological age,” Michael Pluess, a professor of developmental psychology at the UK’s University of Surrey, told Arab News.
“This is not where we expected to find. You would expect to find that the aging would have been accelerated, which is what we usually find in adults. If they experience stress, they age more quickly than their chronological age, which basically means it’s a decline in cognitive ability.
“But for children who are still developing, it seems to stunt that development and delay it.”
Pluess says more research is needed to fully establish the correlation, but said it appears that changes in genomes are more sensitive during developmental stages. Given that Gaza has such a young population, the impact of the war could be profound.
With researchers continuing to learn more about the human genome, Mulligan says she remains optimistic that epigenetic changes brought on by trauma in conflict can be undone.
“If they can change because of a bad exposure, it makes sense that they could change because of a good or corrective exposure,” she said. “We just need to figure out what those corrective interventions might be.”
For Dajani, the solution to such a complex issue lies in human traditions rather than the laboratory.
“We have survived as a species for three reasons, not just because we’re smart — it’s because we have agency,” she said. “We can adapt and resist. It’s because we are social and can depend on each other. And it’s because we have faith.”
She rejected many of the well-intentioned scientific solutions posited by Western aid agencies to help solve issues that she instead believes require communal and spiritual answers.
“The sterilization of the international community and science has denied us this trait which allowed us to survive as a species,” she said.
Solutions developed for Gaza going forward should be based on responses that are organic to the people of Gaza, that do not treat them as victims, but instead allow them to begin to heal in a way that is natural and sovereign to them.
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Lebanese president says state monopoly on weapons inevitable
NAJIA HOUSSARI
November 21, 2025
BEIRUT: Lebanon’s president, Joseph Aoun, on Friday reaffirmed that responsibility for the protection of southern Lebanon rests solely with the Lebanese army.
He was speaking during a visit to Benoit Barakat Barracks in Tyre, the army’s headquarters in the Southern Litani Sector, the night before Lebanon’s Independence Day, and just hours before a televised speech to the nation.
“The army, which protects southerners as well as all Lebanese, remains steadfast in its positions and commitment to defending national dignity, sovereignty and independence,” he said during the visit.
Aoun commended the army’s role south of the Litani River in implementing the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon, and honored “the memory of the 12 martyred soldiers who have been killed since the implementation of the security plan to establish a state monopoly over weapons.”
He stressed that the army was “undeterred by the smear campaigns, doubts and incitement to which it is sometimes subjected.”
The visit followed a diplomatic setback this week when the Trump administration in Washington canceled scheduled meetings in the US with the army commander, Gen. Rudolph Haikal, following criticism by several members of Congress of the Lebanese army’s performance so far in its efforts to confront Hezbollah.
Aoun, accompanied by Haikal, met Brig. Gen. Nicolas Tabet, the sector commander, and other senior officers at the barracks.
The president was given a comprehensive briefing on the security situation in the south of the country, where army operations continue. He reviewed maps and images showing areas in which Israeli forces have crossed the Blue Line separating Lebanon from Israel during construction of a wall that extends beyond internationally recognized borders, violations that have been documented and reported by the UN Interim Force in Lebanon.
Col. Rashad Bou Karroum, the head of operations in the Southern Litani Sector, provided an overview of the army’s progress in the region, including deployments at permanent and temporary checkpoints, newly established border positions, and ongoing patrols designed to maintain security and stability.
Tabet briefed Aoun on “discussions held during the most recent meeting of the Mechanism Committee” that monitors the truce between Israel and Lebanon, and reiterated “Lebanon’s firm position in defending the rights of the Lebanese state and its sovereignty over its territory,” the president’s office said.
Later, during his televised address to the nation, Aoun launched a new initiative designed to provide a permanent solution to the situation in southern Lebanon.
“The state is ready to immediately present the five-member ceasefire-monitoring committee with a clear and specific timetable for the Lebanese army to take control of positions currently occupied by Israel, either gradually or all at once,” he said.
“This committee will ensure that the Lebanese armed forces alone assume responsibility for these points. The state pledges that it will retain sole responsibility for border security and the protection of all Lebanese territory.”
Aoun also emphasized that Lebanon was ready to negotiate with Israel under the auspices of the UN, the US, or other joint international mediation.
“The Lebanese state is prepared to engage in agreements that establish a framework for a final cessation of cross-border attacks,” he said.
He called on Lebanon’s regional allies to oversee the process, set clear deadlines and support the efforts of the Lebanese army, while helping to rebuild destroyed infrastructure.
“This will accelerate the achievement of our national goal: ensuring all weapons outside state control are permanently neutralized throughout Lebanon,” he added.
The president stressed that is important Lebanon takes an active role in shaping its own future.
“Because we are a people committed to peace, and because our region is entering a phase of stability, we are ready to engage fully, expanding previous agreements or establishing new ones,” Aoun said.
“We will not allow our country to become a bargaining chip or marginalized in regional affairs. From Beirut to our international borders, Lebanon will act independently, guided solely by national interests. This includes securing the full withdrawal of Israel from Lebanese territory, ensuring the return of prisoners, and finalizing border arrangements for lasting stability.
“Beyond our borders, we will act in line with the unified Arab position. Recent discussions in Washington between US President Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman are encouraging steps in this process. Lebanon will follow this path unwaveringly.”
Aoun touted his initiative as a message “to the world, to every friend and sincere supporter of Lebanon, committing to the establishment of security and stability along our borders and across the region. We are prepared and determined to see it through.”
Turning to supporters of Hezbollah, Aoun said: “We are navigating a critical moment akin to the early periods of our independence, amid seismic regional shifts and changing balances of power. Some skeptics believe nothing has changed; this is denial or stubbornness, attempting to justify distortions of the state’s sovereignty.
“Others may feel entire communities in Lebanon have vanished; this is equally misguided. The reality is Lebanon must reaffirm its independence.”
He continued: “Times have changed. Lebanon is weary of statelessness. The Lebanese have lost faith in mini-state projects, and the world’s patience is thin. The state must now ensure that all citizens are loyal to their homeland, respecting constitutional and legal authority.
“Public rights, property, funds and spaces cannot be encroached upon under any pretext, whether by power, politics or historical claims.”
Haikal, the army commander, delivered his own Independence Day message to the military, stating: “Today, Lebanon is going through one of the most critical periods in its history, in light of the continued Israeli occupation of part of its territory and the attacks that have caused fatalities and injuries, hindered the completion of the army’s deployment, and resulted in the destruction of property.”
Despite limited resources and the ongoing economic crisis in the country, he stressed that “the military institution has made significant efforts since the ceasefire agreement came into effect to reinforce its deployment south of the Litani River and to extend state authority,” in line with the decisions of the Lebanese government and the provisions of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, while working in coordination with UNIFIL and the Mechanism Committee.
Resolution 1701 was adopted by the Security Council in 2006 with the aim of resolving the conflict that year between Israel and Hezbollah.
The army, having “made immense sacrifices to uphold Lebanon’s right to sovereignty over every inch of its land, continues to support the return of displaced persons to their villages in the southern region,” Haikal added.
“Trust in the military institution and internal unity are vital to overcome this difficult period,” he said as he called for more resources and improved conditions for military personnel. He stressed that “exceptional circumstances require wisdom, professionalism and firmness, away from any political considerations.”
Haikal reiterated that the army will continue its multifaceted mission to combat terrorism, counter drug trafficking, control borders, prevent smuggling and pursue those who violate security, and will do so in coordination with Syrian authorities while also strengthening its own military capabilities through cooperation with allies and friendly nations.
Hezbollah, in its own statement for Independence Day, called for “all possible and immediate efforts to compel the Israeli enemy to implement the ceasefire agreement and Resolution 1701.”
It urged “guarantor states to pressure it (Israel) to cease its attacks, which continue to target civilians, to end the Israeli occupation, and to prevent its expansion and threat to Lebanon’s security and sovereignty.”
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Singapore imposes sanctions, entry bans on 4 Israeli settlers
November 21, 2025
SINGAPORE: Singapore will impose financial sanctions on four Israelis and bar them from entering the city-state, its Foreign Affairs ministry announced on Friday, accusing them of “egregious acts of extreme violence” against Palestinians in the West Bank.
The ministry said actions committed in the West Bank by Meir Mordechai Ettinger, Elisha Yered, Ben-Zion Gopstein, and Baruch Marzel were unlawful and had jeopardized the prospects for a two-state solution in Palestine.
“As a firm supporter of international law and the two-state solution, Singapore opposes any unilateral attempts to change facts on the ground through acts which are illegal under international law,” it said.
The EU has previously sanctioned all four people.
Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan announced in parliament in September that leaders of Israeli settler groups would be sanctioned.
He also chided Israeli politicians who had spoken about annexing parts of the West Bank or Gaza, the two Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories, and said the so-called E1 settlement project would fragment the West Bank.
Apart from imposing sanctions, Balakrishnan said Singapore would also recognize a Palestinian state under the right conditions.
Most of the international community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law. Israel disputes this, citing historical and biblical ties to the area and saying the settlements provide security.
While Singapore and Israel have shared close diplomatic and military ties since the former gained independence in 1965, the city-state in 2024 voted in favor of numerous resolutions expressing support for the UN recognition of a Palestinian state.
The Palestinian Authority, which exercises limited control over parts of the West Bank, insists it must play a key part in running Gaza in the future.
The EU has pressed to bolster reform of the Palestinian Authority, as Brussels hosted 60 delegations to discuss reconstruction and governance in Gaza.
“We aim to strengthen governance, build a more resilient economy, stabilize finances, improve services for the population, and create conditions for future effective governance across all territories,” said EU commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Suica.
As part of the efforts, a handful of EU countries signed contributions of more than €80 million ($92 million), part of broader support by the bloc worth around €1.6 billion over three years that has already been announced.
“Our financial support is linked to the Palestinian Authority reform agenda, which, of course, they committed to implement,” Suica said.
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc was “committed to working toward a Palestinian state with a reformed, well-functioning Palestinian Authority at its core.”
“We will continue to support all efforts to stabilize the region, including West Bank and Gaza transitional governance,” she said.
“We were clear today, as we have always been, that Gaza and the West Bank are one political and geographical unit, inseparable parts of the state of Palestine,” said Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa, the PA’s prime minister.
“Reunifying the two under one legitimate government, one law, and one administration is not a slogan. It’s the only workable path to stability.”
Source: arabnews.com
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Israeli military says Lebanon strike killed 13 Hamas militants
November 21, 2025
JERUSALEM: Israel’s military on Friday said a strike on a Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon earlier this week had killed “13 Hamas terrorists.”
Lebanese authorities said Tuesday’s strike on Ain Al-Helweh camp killed at least 13 people, without giving their identities.
“Thirteen Hamas terrorists were eliminated in a precise IDF (military) strike targeting the organization’s training compound in southern Lebanon,” the Israeli military said in a statement.
Those killed included “Jawad Sidawi, who was involved in training terrorists in order to carry out terror attacks from Lebanese territory” against Israel and its troops, the statement said.
The Israeli army did not immediately respond to an AFP request for the names of the 12 other people killed in the strike.
Israel’s military “is operating against Hamas’s establishment in Lebanon, and will continue to operate against Hamas terrorists wherever they operate,” it said.
In a statement released Thursday, accompanied by pictures of 13 young-looking men, Hamas described the strike as a “horrific massacre that caused the deaths of several innocent civilian martyrs.”
On Tuesday, the militant group denied it had military installations in Palestinian camps in Lebanon and called Israel’s claims “lies.”
The Israeli military released a video of a strike hitting a building, but Hamas said that “the targeted site was an open sports field frequented by the youth of the camp,” and that “those targeted were a group of young boys” on the field at the time.
The crowded Ain Al-Helweh camp, located on the outskirts of the coastal city of Sidon, is the largest Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon.
Israel has kept up strikes on Lebanon despite a ceasefire agreed last November that sought to halt more than a year of hostilities with Hamas ally Hezbollah, including two months of full-blown war.
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Gaza women, children injured by Israeli military during shaky ceasefire, MSF says
November 21, 2025
GENEVA: Medecins Sans Frontieres said on Friday that its medical teams in Gaza had treated Palestinian women and children this week for injuries from Israeli airstrikes and gunfire, almost six weeks into a fragile Israel-Hamas ceasefire.
Since Wednesday, medical staff in northern and southern Gaza have treated women and children with open fractures and gunshot wounds to their limbs and heads, according to Medecins Sans Frontieres, a charity also known as Doctors Without Borders.
MSF said that medical care had been provided in hospitals and clinics in Gaza City in the north and Rafah in the south.
A nine-year-old girl was treated on Wednesday at a Gaza City hospital for an injury to her face caused by gunfire from an Israeli drone, MSF said, citing a nurse in Gaza.
The Israeli military had no immediate comment when reached by Reuters for comment for this article. In the past, it has said that it does not intentionally target civilians.
Under the ceasefire deal, Israel’s military pulled back to a so-called “yellow line,” leaving it in control of 53 percent of the Gaza Strip. Gaza City, the enclave’s largest urban area, is under Hamas control. Rafah is under Israeli control.
Both Israel and Hamas have accused each other of repeatedly violating the ceasefire, although it is still formally holding.
Israel’s military has said that since October 10 it has killed individuals it described as “terrorists” crossing the yellow line, and carried out strikes it has said were in retaliation for attacks on its soldiers.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, 312 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza by the Israeli military since October 11.
The United Nations children’s agency said on Friday that at least 67 children have been killed in what it called conflict-related incidents since the ceasefire went into effect.
“Dozens more have been injured. That is an average of almost two children killed every day since the ceasefire took effect,” UNICEF spokesperson Ricardo Pires told reporters in Geneva.
UNICEF said on Thursday that a baby girl was killed in an airstrike in eastern Khan Younis in southern Gaza, alongside her parents. On Wednesday, seven children were killed in airstrikes in Gaza City and the south, UNICEF said.
Israel’s military says three of its soldiers have been killed in attacks in Gaza since the start of the ceasefire.
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Arab World
Saudi deputy minister of foreign affairs participates in Palestine Donor Group meeting
November 21, 2025
RIYADH: Saudi Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed ElKhereiji participated in the meeting of the Palestine Donor Group co-chaired by the EU and State of Palestine, held in Brussels.
During the event, ElKhereiji underscored the Kingdom’s commitment to working with all partners to realize the aspirations of the Palestinian people in establishing an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
ElKhereiji highlighted the Kingdom’s launch of the Emergency Alliance to Support the Financial Stability of the Palestinian Authority, in cooperation with Spain, Norway, France and a number of international partners, to enable the Palestinian Authority to meet the needs of its people and ensure the continuity of its vital institutions.
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National Greening Season launched in support of national objectives
November 21, 2025
AL-AHSA: The Saudi Irrigation Organization has launched its 2025 National Greening Season in the Al-Asfar National Forest and Park in Al-Ahsa with the slogan “A hand plants, a land flourishes.”
The initiative aims to plant 100,000 trees during the season, as part of efforts to achieve the target of planting 2 million trees by 2030.
Al-Asfar Park was chosen to launch the season’s activities as it is one of the leading environmental projects fully managed and developed by the organization, which has worked on planting more than 600,000 trees at the site, which covers an area of about 21 million sq. meters.
The project relies on irrigation using treated water and an environmentally friendly infrastructure that includes 542 solar panels with a production capacity of up to 200 kilowatts, tanks with a capacity of 7,500 cubic meters, and irrigation networks extending for more than 682,000 linear meters, making it a national model in developing vegetation cover using modern and sustainable methods.
These efforts contribute to expanding vegetation cover, preserving biodiversity, raising environmental awareness, and reinforcing the culture of volunteerism to support the sustainability of natural resources and improve the quality of life in the Kingdom.
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KAUST, SkyGrid partner to develop AAM technologies
November 21, 2025
JEDDAH: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology and SkyGrid signed an agreement to develop and advance next-generation advanced air mobility technologies and operations across the Kingdom, on the sidelines of the Saudi-US Investment Forum.
The collaboration brings together KAUST’s leadership in scientific research, technology innovation, and national-level ecosystem development and SkyGrid’s expertise in high-assurance digital airspace integration.
In partnership, the organizations will collaborate to accelerate Saudi Arabia’s readiness for crewed and uncrewed aircraft operations, in alignment with the General Authority of Civil Aviation and international aviation standards.
Under the deal, KAUST and SkyGrid will establish a strategic framework to explore AAM technology pathways, strengthen regulatory readiness, and accelerate Saudi Arabia’s innovation capacity in advanced aviation.
The collaboration will emphasize joint innovation, ecosystem development, and the transfer of research into real-world operational capabilities that support the Kingdom’s long-term vision for next-generation transportation and sustainable aviation.
“This collaboration with SkyGrid aligns with KAUST’s mission to advance breakthrough technologies that address global and national challenges,” said KAUST President Sir Edward Byrne.
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London Business School writes new chapter in historic heart of Diriyah
HEBSHI ALSHAMMARI
November 21, 2025
RIYADH: London Business School inaugurated its new executive education office in Diriyah, in a move that strengthens the school’s longstanding partnership of more than a decade with the Kingdom.
It comes as part of Saudi Arabia’s growing focus on human capital development, a key pillar of Vision 2030.
The opening ceremony on Thursday was attended by senior government officials, including Eiman Al-Mutairi, vice minister of commerce, alongside representatives from the British Embassy and key members of the Saudi business community.
The LBS has long been recognized for shaping leaders who combine intelligence, ambition and purpose, said Al-Mutairi.
The school builds not only strong minds, but also strong character, equipping leaders with cutting-edge skills and disruptive thinking to drive meaningful transformation — a leadership style that resonates deeply with the Kingdom’s ambitions today, she added.
Al-Mutairi said that LBS’ presence in Saudi Arabia comes at a pivotal time, as the Kingdom’s transformation under Vision 2030 places human capability development at the center of national priorities.
She added: “We are investing in people, leadership, and the knowledge that will define our economic and social future.” Tailored programs for Saudi leaders will prepare local talent to accelerate the transformation, Al-Mutairi said.
“Together, there is an opportunity to set a new global model for developing leaders during rapid change — one that blends heritage with innovation and places people at the heart of national progress.”
Sergei Guriev, dean of LBS, told Arab News: “Saudi Arabia is pursuing one of the world’s most ambitious transformations. Our presence in Diriyah reflects our commitment to supporting this journey through world-class, locally relevant executive education.”
More than 200 Saudi nationals have completed LBS MBA and executive MBA programs over the past 10 years, and 6,776 Saudis have attended the School’s Executive Education programs since 2022–23.
Guriev highlighted LBS’ role in advancing women’s leadership in the Kingdom, pointing to the almost 1,000 Saudi women executives who have been trained through LBS programs over the past five years — with a 52 percent year-on-year increase in participation during the last academic year.
LBS aims to empower 10,000 Saudi leaders and collaborate with 100 organizations by 2030, building on existing partnerships with entities such as the Diriyah Company, SABIC and BSF.
Prof. Sir Steve Smith, the UK’s international education champion, described the opening as a “key milestone” in UK-Saudi educational cooperation that will support innovation and skills development in line with Vision 2030, as well as the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy.
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Diriyah Storytelling Festival finds fitting home in Al-Bujairi
November 21, 2025
RIYADH: With the arrival of Diriyah Storytelling Festival on Nov. 16, Al-Bujairi District has emerged as a hub of knowledge and culture, “a place where storytelling blends with setting,” according to a press release from the festival organizers.
A district once famed for welcoming scholars and poets has found a natural extension of its intellectual spirit with the festival, attracting readers, authors, and other visitors eager to engage with storytelling.
Over the past few days, the festival — the theme of which is “Where Stories Live On” — has included talks exploring how writers draw on history “to illuminate hidden meanings and human experiences. Through discussions on identity and memory, participants have uncovered new perspectives on truth as interpreted by experts through a contemporary lens,” the press release stated.
Local and international storytellers have examined how historical figures can be reintroduced into the present day, and how interpretation can balance narrative authenticity with creative freedom.
Workshops and interactive sessions have offered audiences deeper insight into descriptive and visual storytelling techniques, revealing how image and text complement each other and how rhythm can open new pathways to meaning.
At The Storyteller’s Forum, one of the festival’s key features, visitors can browse exhibits on a range of literature. Meanwhile, Majlis Ar-Rawi presents narratives inspired by Saudi memory, and “reflecting the values that have shaped Diriyah’s identity and history through the ages.”
The Tell Us a Story experience has attracted participants eager to record their personal memories at the festival, while Who Is the Storyteller? and Diriyah Between the Lines both introduce innovative ways to engage with texts beyond traditional forms.
The festival runs until Nov. 29 and is open daily from 5 p.m. Over that time, more than 40 workshops sessions and panels — in both Arabic and English — will be held, in addition to around 20 inspiring talks with contributions from more than 30 storytellers.
Diriyah Storytelling Festival is part of Diriyah Season 25/26, which is being held this year under the theme “Your Pride, Your Place.”
Diriyah Season includes a range of diverse interactive experiences, live performances, and art exhibitions, all shedding light on Diriyah’s rich cultural and economic heritage.
The festival serves, according to its organizers, as “an open invitation to connect with Saudi Arabia’s celebrated past and discover the beauty of its present in an atmosphere filled with authenticity and tradition.”
Source: arabnews.com
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Diriyah Art Futures announces winners for Emerging New Media Artists Program
RASHID HASSAN
November 21, 2025
RIYADH: Diriyah Art Futures, a pioneering new media arts hub in Saudi Arabia, has announced 18 successful applicants for the second Emerging New Media Artists Program.
“We are pleased to announce the 18 artists joining the second edition of our Emerging New Media Artists Program, representing 12 countries including Saudi Arabia and the wider MENA region. A year of creativity and exploration begins in Riyadh,” DAF said.
Designed in collaboration with Le Fresnoy — Studio National des Arts Contemporains in France, the Emerging New Media Artists Program is part of the Saudi Ministry of Culture’s efforts to facilitate creativity across art, technology and academia.
Located in Diriyah, home of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of At-Turaif, DAF is establishing Riyadh as a global capital of new media art by empowering the next generation of artists and scholars.
Running from November 2025 to September 2026, the cohort includes a diverse array of promising talent representing a range of creative practices and backgrounds, with strong representation from Saudi Arabia and the wider MENA region.
Running for a year, the fully supported program offers access to cutting-edge professional facilities, a production budget, learning experiences with international guest professors specializing in new media art, and personal mentorships from prominent international digital artists.
The program concludes with “Continuum,” an annual exhibition that celebrates and showcases the works created by its participants, Saudi Press Agency reported.
The second group of Emerging New Media Artists includes: Fai Ahmed (Saudi Arabia), a media artist exploring collective memory and the politics of technology; Njood Albawardi (Saudi Arabia), a media artist working with immersive technologies and interactive systems to examine identity and presence; Foreseen — Pat Wong and Kachi Chen (Hong Kong), an artist duo creating XR installations critiquing the ethics of data capitalism and bodiless digital existence; Harpreet Sareen (India), a designer and researcher hybridising organic and digital systems; Gabriela Itzel Reyes Jasso (Mexico), a visual programmer and new media artist investigating light, space and sensory perception; Hiba Nusrat Ali (US), a digital artist and scholar developing immersive environments through the framework of digital somatics; Ezzat Morad Abbas Ali Shamsan (Yemen), a filmmaker and visual artist exploring collective memory, urban decay and postcolonial narratives through immersive digital media; Noel Apitta (Uganda), an audiovisual artist working with light, space and sound to create generative installations; Declan Colquitt (UK), one half of the post-disciplinary duo Y7, exploring AI, recommendation algorithms and cultural criticism; Evgenii Popov (Russia), an interdisciplinary artist using generative systems, lasers and sound to shape immersive sensory environments; Omar Adel (Egypt), a visual artist researching geo-specific landscapes and poetic traditions in relation to Gulf futurism; Ahmad Aiuby (Egypt), a media artist examining AI as a neo-colonial agent through immersive and interactive environments; Mena El-Shazly (Egypt), a visual artist working with analogue video, embroidery and performance to explore decay and transformation; Badria Alsalem (Kuwait), an architect and researcher investigating Arab astronomy and environmental temporal logics; Linda Dong (China), a filmmaker and multimedia artist exploring cultural dislocation, memory and identity; Dina Khalil (Egypt), an XR artist creating inclusive, interactive experiences celebrating diverse cultures and communities; and Yasir Thani (Nigeria/Sudan), a media artist combining immersive technologies and photogrammetry to explore cultural memory.
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Southeast Asia
Indonesia's biggest Islamic group asks chief to resign over invitation to pro-Israeli speaker
Nov 22, 2025
JAKARTA - Indonesia's biggest Islamic organisation, Nahdlatul Ulama, has asked its chief to resign for inviting a U.S. scholar known for his support of Israel during the Gaza war to an internal event in August, according to meeting minutes reviewed by Reuters.
The leadership of NU, which is also the world's biggest Islamic organisation with around 100 million members and affiliates, has given Chairman Yahya Cholil Staquf three days to offer his resignation or be removed from his post, according to the minutes from a meeting on Thursday.
NU cited Staquf's invitation to a person "affiliated with an International Zionism network" for an internal event and alleged financial mismanagement as reasons for his ouster.
Staquf, who has been NU's chairman since 2021, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
NU official Najib Azca told Reuters the decision was linked to Staquf's invitation to former U.S. official and scholar Peter Berkowitz for an August training event.
Staquf has apologised for the invitation and called it an oversight as he had not carefully checked Berkowitz's background, adding that he condemned Israel's "brutal genocidal acts in Gaza".
Berkowitz often writes in support of Israel's campaign in Gaza, according to his website, including a piece in September aiming to refute allegations of genocide against Israel.
Berkowitz spoke at NU seminars about the history of Western political thought in August, his website showed.
Berkowitz did not immediately respond to an email requesting comment that reached him outside of office hours.
Indonesia, the world's Muslim-majority nation, has routinely condemned Israel's actions in the Palestinian enclave of Gaza since the war broke out in 2023. It has long advocated for a two-state solution and has no diplomatic relations with Israel. REUTERS
Source: straitstimes.com
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Anwar donates Qurans, talks bilateral halal ties with African nations on four-day mission
21 Nov 2025
JOHANNESBURG, Nov 21 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia is ready to strengthen cooperation in the halal sector with countries in Africa, as stated in a meeting with South African Islamic leaders here.
He said this included the development of halal certification as well as capacity building that could provide added value to the local Muslim community.
“Starting today’s programme with an engagement session with South African Islamic leaders, a meeting that opened up a meaningful space for us to discuss, exchange views and identify efforts to strengthen the development of the ummah,” he said in a post on social media after the meeting.
“As a symbol of brotherhood, I also donated a special edition copy of the Quran with rehal, in addition to four boxes of English-language and Tajweed-translated Qurans,” said the Prime Minister.
Anwar, who is currently on a four-day working visit starting yesterday, is to attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg as a guest of South African President, Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa.
The Prime Minister was invited to attend the summit, which starts tomorrow until Nov 23, in Malaysia’s capacity as ASEAN 2025 chairman.
Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, was accompanied by Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa, Malaysian government officials and business delegations. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Anwar dismisses talk of Nurul Izzah replacing Amirudin as Selangor MB
22 Nov 2025
JOHANNESBURG, Nov 22 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said there were no discussions on PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar taking over the role of Selangor Menteri Besar from Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari.
“That is his view. He never discussed it with me,” he said when asked about Amirudin’s suggestion that Nurul Izzah succeed him.
Amirudin earlier said he had conveyed the proposal to Nurul Izzah and that it was up to her to decide.
On the Gombak MP’s willingness to undertake duties at the federal level, Anwar said: “When is the election? Still a long way to go… we will discuss later.”
The prime minister also remained tight-lipped when asked about a possible Cabinet reshuffle.
“A reshuffle is to fill vacancies. Can you suggest some names? I will consider,” he quipped when asked about a pending Cabinet reshuffle after a dinner event with the Malaysian diaspora here.
On suggestions that Amirudin was ready for a federal role, he said: “That is only one position. There are three vacancies, at least.”
Meanwhile, during a question-and-answer session, the prime minister responded positively to a proposal to establish a Centre for African Studies to deepen Malaysia’s understanding of the continent’s 54 countries.
“I will certainly take it up. It is a good proposal.
“We have European Studies, we understand American history, we are familiar with Indian civilisation — but less is known about Africa as a whole, and Latin America,” said Anwar, who is here for the G20 Leaders Summit.
On calls for more Malaysian investment in the African continent, Anwar said the business community was best positioned to explore opportunities and make commercial decisions.
“The government’s role is to encourage and facilitate,” he said.
Earlier, in his speech, Anwar urged Malaysians abroad to give their best and never rest on their laurels.
“Do your very best. We need to acquire knowledge, but not just the acquisition or assimilation of knowledge. We must also be committed to disseminating what is right, what is true and what is just,” he said. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Anwar seeks to join UN big leagues, asks South Africa to back Malaysia’s bid
21 Nov 2025
JOHANNESBURG, Nov 21 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he has sought South Africa’s support for Malaysia’s nomination to several international bodies, including the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
Malaysia is also bidding for the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) and the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), said the Prime Minister.
He said the request was made during a courtesy visit to South African President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa.
“I have also sought South Africa’s support for Malaysia’s nomination to several international bodies, including the IMO, ECOSOC, ITU, HRC, and UNSC,” he said in a statement here.
Anwar added that Malaysia is committed to strengthening ties based on solidarity, trust, and a mutually beneficial development agenda for the peoples of both Malaysia and South Africa.
The IMO is United Nations specialised agency responsible for safety and security of shipping and the ECOSOC is one of the six principal organs of the UN that coordinates economic, social, and environmental work.
Meanwhile, International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is the UN specialised agency for information and communication technologies while the Human Rights Council (HRC) is an intergovernmental body within the UN.
The UN Security Council, is the primary organ responsible for ensuring international peace and security.
Anwar is currently on a four-day working visit that began yesterday to attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg as a guest of the South African President.
The Prime Minister was invited to attend the summit, which runs from tomorrow until November 23, in Malaysia’s capacity as Asean Chair 2025. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Selangor aims for a spectacular Islamic Solidarity Games in 2029
22 Nov 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 22 — Malaysia, through the state of Selangor, is looking forward to host a spectacular Islamic Solidarity Games in 2029.
Olympic Council of Malaysia Datuk Mohd Nasir Ali said the council hopes to work closely with Selangor and the Islamic Solidarity Sports Association (ISSA) to host the Games enriched with the renowned Malaysian hospitality as it represents a historic milestone for the Islamic sports movement in Malaysia.
"On behalf of OCM president and Olympic Council of Asia vice president for Southeast Asia zone Tan Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria, we would like to express our sincere appreciation to ISSA, under the visionary leadership of His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz Turki Al-Faisal, for entrusting Malaysia and the state of Selangor with the honour of hosting the seventh Islamic Solidarity Games in 2029,” he said in a statement.
ISSA had awarded the hosting rights for the Islamic Solidarity Games in 2029 to Malaysia and Selangor during its 14th general assembly on Oct 8.
Meanwhile, a symbolic handover ceremony was conducted during the closing ceremony of the sixth Islamic Solidarity Games at the Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday.
During the final segment of the closing ceremony, Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SOPC) vice president and chairman of the supreme organizing committee of the sixth Islamic Solidarity Games Prince Fahd Jalawi Abdulaziz Musaed handed the ISSA Flag to Prince Abdulaziz.
Subsequently, Prince Abdulaziz presented the ISSA Flag to the Selangor State Youth, Sports and Entrepreneurship Committee chairman Mohd Najwan Halimi and Mohd Nasir, which officially marked the handover of the responsibility to host the next Islamic Solidarity Games. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/singapore/2025/11/22/selangor-aims-for-a-spectacular-islamic-solidarity-games-in-2029/199360
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/karnataka-indian-navy-suspected-pakistan/d/137739