Operation Sindoor Marked a New Red Line as Lashkar, Jaish and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen Bases Targeted
New Age Islam News Bureau
08 May 2025
One of the terror sites targeted during Operation Sindoor in Muridke town of Pakistan’s Punjab province, on Wednesday. (AP)
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· Operation Sindoor Marked a New Red Line as Lashkar, Jaish and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen Bases Targeted
· After Op Sindoor, 12 Civilians Killed, 42 Injured as Pakistan Army Resorted to Intense Artillery Shelling In Poonch
· JeM Head Azhar Masood Warns ‘Minaret Will Fall On Indiain Such a Manner That Their Future Generations Won’t Be Able to Forget’
· Learning About Islam in Public Schools Isn’t Indoctrination, Appeals Court Rules
· Bangladesh Goes Up A Notch, Ranks 130th In Human Development: UNDP Report
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India
· Prominent Muslim Religious and Political Figures Back Operation Against Pakistan Terror Infra
· Muslims in Bharuch celebrate Indian air strike on terror camps in Pakistan
· Supreme Court accepts EC plan to not delete data from EVMs during disputes
· As Bhubaneswar Celebrates, Sale of Sindoor Sees Sharp Rise
· Control rooms set up across Kashmir's 10 districts
· Malegaon blasts case: Special court likely to pronounce verdict on July 31
· Three-day conference in Tiruchi to celebrate Tamil Muslim literature
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North America
· CAIR and @Muslim Call on Meta to Lift Ban on Popular Social Media Page in India, Reject Pressure from Modi Govt
· CAIR-Philadelphia Condemns House Committee’s Targeting of Haverford College Faculty and
· Canada has been 'over reliant on the US for too long', says Joly
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South Asia
· Ramna Batamul blast: HC adjourns verdict delivery, sets May 13 to read rest part
· ACC summons Hasina for quizzing today
· EC registration: SC to resume hearing on Jamaat’s appeal May 13
· NPC amends, approves 21 development projects worth 18 billion Afghanis
· Muttaqi and Meredov discuss TAPI progress and regional cooperation in virtual meeting
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Mideast
· Yemen Parliament Condemns Arab-Islamic Impotence, Calls For Global Condemnation Of Zionist-American Crimes
· Palestinians in razed West Bank hamlet vow to stay
· Israeli envoy accuses UN of walking away from Gaza aid talks
· Yemen’s Houthis to keep attacking Israeli ships despite US deal
· Iraqi Hezbollah Brigades: US Navy found itself stuck in quagmire of confrontation with Men of Allah in Yemen
· Hamas: Escalating Settler Storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque Is Conclusion of Occupation's Religious War on Quds
· Islamic Jihad: Zionist enemy is committing massacres in Gaza, expanding its aggression to Lebanon
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Arab World
· Saudi Arabia ‘Categorically Rejects’ Israel’s Plan to Seize Gaza Territory
· Red Sea International Film Festival Opens For 2025 Submissions
· Saudi Arabia showcases defence innovation at Athens expo
· Saudi project destroys 600 more Houthi landmines and other explosives in Yemen
· Saudi commission expands music access for people with disabilities
· Saudi surgeons separate Egyptian child from parasitic twin
· Call for Saudis to join national AI training
· Hajj 2025: 1st group of China pilgrims land in Saudi Arabia
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Europe
· Israeli Embassy in London Was Target Of Suspected Terror Plot
· Members of Bradford Mosque Help To Spruce Up Area
· Faith, peace and Gaeilge unite at inspiring Dublin book launch
· More offenders could be tagged, as minister insists he's 'not soft on crime'
· Germany cracks down on illegal immigration
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Africa
· Tinubu Govt Warns Journalists Against Giving Publicity To Terrorists
· Student Christian Movement Decry Deprivation Of Religious Rights
· Boko Haram Attacks Forces Army Chief To Relocate To Maiduguri
· Makinde tells Oyo intending pilgrims to be good ambassadors in Mecca
· Cape Town Mayor Hill-Lewis condemns bomb threat against District Six mosque
· Governor Alia Alleges Plot To Destabilize Benue, Remove Him
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Southeast Asia
· Malay Muslim Inmates Value Religious Guidance, Care for Their Families: Fitrah
· Malaysia Sets Sights On UN-Habitat Presidency for 2026-2029 Term
· Perak PGSM ready to assist mosque reclaim land
· Anwar: ASEAN must unite in medical research to cut costs, warns of ‘excessive profits’ by major companies
· Police dismantle drug syndicate, seize RM16m worth of meth in Klang Valley raids
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/operation-sindoor-lashkar-hizb-ul-mujahideen/d/135472
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Operation Sindoor Marked A New Red Line As Lashkar, Jaish And Hizb-ul-Mujahideen Bases Targeted
by Amrita Nayak Dutta, P Vaidyanathan Iyer
May 8, 2025
One of the terror sites targeted during Operation Sindoor in Muridke town of Pakistan’s Punjab province, on Wednesday. (AP)
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IN JUST 25 minutes, Operation Sindoor marked a new red line, significantly raising Pakistan’s cost of a terror strike against India.
The coordinated assault, using multiple long-range high-precision strike weapons at predetermined targets in PoK and in Pakistan, has “upped the ante and signalled that India can strike deep inside”, said a senior security official. “This is a big leap forward — just short of war.”
This is borne out by the range and number of targets on Tuesday and their relative distance from the LoC or the border.
In 2016, after the Uri attack, the incursions by the Army were up to 3 km inside PoK. In 2019, after Pulwama, the aerial strike was on Balakot, 60 km off the LoC in Pakistan. Operation Sindoor reached as deep as Bahawalpur, 150 km from the border.
The significance of the targets, particularly Muridke, Bahawalpur and Kotli, cannot be underscored since they represent many losses India has endured over decades. For India’s security establishment, Muridke, a sprawling seminary over 200 acres in the outskirts of Lahore, has been the quintessential nursery of lethal terror for more than three decades — from orchestrating the first major suicide attack in Kashmir during Kargil war to the 26/11 Mumbai attack. It is the official headquarters of Jamat-ud-Dawa, a salafi organisation set up by Hafiz Sayeed.
Bahawalpur, which houses Jamia Masjid Subhanallah, too has symbolic value. This is where Masood Azhar was born and subsequently set up Jaish’s base.
Similarly, Kotli in PoK is where Hizb-ul-Mujahideen has one of its oldest facilities. The target camp was used in early 1990s to train Kashmiri militants who would sneak across the LoC for arms training. Hizb chief Syed Salahuddin is at the top of the wanted list in India.
operation sindoor Army soldiers examine a building damaged after missile attack by India near Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan occupied Kashmir, Wednesday, May 7, 2025. (AP Photo)
Another shift from previous strikes, officials said, was the “capture of clear, conclusive evidence” that the targets had been struck. “This reinforces the credibility of the attack and points to an upgrade in capacity as well,” said the official.
While the weapons used in the operation — which hit 21 terror camps across nine locations in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir and in the Punjab province of Pakistan — have not been made public, the targets point to a range of precision-guided long-range weapons that India has acquired in its arsenal in recent years.
This includes the French SCALP cruise missile and the HAMMER air-to-ground precision-guided weapon system, the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, among others. The Indian military, in recent years, has also procured a variety of drones, including lethal loitering munitions.
Briefing on the operation earlier in the day, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, a helicopter pilot with the IAF, said that niche technology weapons with careful selection of warheads was ensured, to avoid any collateral damage. “The point of impact at each of the targets was a specific building or a group of buildings,” she said.
Operation Sindoor was launched in retaliation to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack last month in which 26 civilians — 25 tourists and one local — were killed. The tourist victims were men and were said to have been singled out because they were Hindu.
Sources said that since the decision to retaliate to the Pahalgam terror attack was taken, the armed forces, in consultation with intelligence agencies, have been carrying out detailed and extensive target-analysis.
“The selection of targets had already been done based on technical inputs and was corroborated by HUMINT(human intelligence),” a source told The Indian Express.
The source added that locations with large terrorist camps were put in the list.
“Locations where certain terrorists under the radar were moving to, after the Pahalgam attack, were also put under surveillance and new locations were analysed,” the source added. After narrowing down the sites, the precision strike weapons were chosen and the methodology for launch were worked out.
Op Sindoor -- terror camps In these screenshots from @MEAIndia via YouTube on May 7, 2025, targets struck as part of ‘Operation Sindoor’, being displayed during a press conference, in New Delhi. (PTI Photos)
A combination of precision strike missiles and drones was likely to have been selected to inflict maximum impact on targets, sources said.
Sources said that while the common notion was that the element of surprise would be lost if India were to retaliate immediately, not only was surprise maintained at each level, but the surprise factor was “created in reverse”.
For instance, advanced artillery guns of the Army were deployed and kept ready with adequate ammunition, silent registration of targets across the LoC were carried out, even as none were fired despite regular unprovoked firing by Pakistan all along the border in the last two weeks.
As reported by The Indian Express earlier, most artillery regiments deployed along the LoC on the Indian side have transitioned to 155m-calibre guns from their earlier 105 mm-calibre guns as part of the Army’s ongoing artillery modernisation plan.
There were discreet movements of other weapons, and they were kept ready for “eventualities”.
Sources said country-wide civil defence drills, a range of air exercises including one scheduled on the Rajasthan border on Wednesday and Thursday, also potentially diverted attention from the anticipation of an immediate offensive action by India.
Source: indianexpress.com
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https://indianexpress.com/article/india/operation-sindoor-new-red-line-drawn-as-lashkar-jaish-and-hizb-ul-mujahideen-bases-targeted-9989402/
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After Op Sindoor, 12 Civilians Killed, 42 Injured As Pakistan Army Resorted To Intense Artillery Shelling In Poonch
Ravi Krishnan Khajuria
May 08, 2025
Smoke billows after an artillery shell landed in the main town of Poonch district in India's Jammu region on Wednesday. (AFP)
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At least 12 civilians were killed and 42 injured as Pakistan army resorted to intense artillery shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district on Wednesday morning soon after India carried out precision strikes on nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to avenge the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that left 26 people dead.
A senior police officer of Poonch confirmed the casualties and said the dead include four children, aged between seven and 14 years. Among four minors, two were siblings. Four members of the Sikh community, including a woman, were also among the dead. A Muslim cleric of Darul Uloom Madrassa Quari Mohammad Iqbal was also killed in the Pakistani shelling.
The indiscriminate shelling created panic among the border residents who were forced to take refuge in underground bunkers or shift to safer places within or outside their villages. The shelling was reported from Balakote, Mendhar, Mankote, Sagra, Krishna Ghati, Gulpur, Kerni and even Poonch district headquarters, resulting in damage to dozens of houses.
Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha and Christ School in Poonch town were hit in the Pakistani artillery fire.
“Villagers are migrating to their relatives’ houses in Jammu,” said Darshan Bharti, a local resident of Poonch, which is located 20km from the LoC.
“There is panic in Poonch town, which has witnessed two deaths in the Pakistani shelling. You can see long queues at fuel stations,” Bharti said, adding he was evacuating his family to Jammu.
Poonch deputy commissioner Vikas Kundal and district police chief Shafqat Hussain didn’t respond to calls and messages.
The deceased included Mohd Adil of Sagra under Mendhar police station, Saleem Hussain of Balakot, also in Mendhar, Balvinder Kour, alias Ruby, 33, of Mohalla Sardaran in Mankote, Mohd Zain, 10, of Kalani village under Mandi police station in Poonch, Mohd Akram, 55, of Ward number 1 of Mohalla Sukka Katha, Amreek Singh of Mohalla Sandigate, Ranjeet Singh and Amarjeet Singh of Sandigate, Zoya Khan, 12, of Kalani village in Mandi, Mohd Rafi, 36, of Kojra, Bandichechian, and Mohd Iqbal, 45, of Baila village.
Source: hindustantimes.com
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https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/after-op-sindoor-12-civilians-killed-42-injured-in-pakistan-shelling-in-poonch-101746645291007.html
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JeM Head Azhar Masood Warns ‘Minaret Will Fall On Indiain Such a Manner That Their Future Generations Won’t Be Able to Forget’
Parwinder Sandhu
May 7, 2025
Amidst the multiple counterstrike’s conducted by India in Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir to avenge the deaths of 26 tourists killed in Pahalgam, Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terror outfit chief, Azhar Masood has revealed that 10 of his family members have been killed in ‘Operation Sindoor’.
Launched on the intervening night of May 6-7, Operation Sindoor targeted nine terror camps of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM, Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) located in both Pakistan and POJK. It included Markaz Subhan Allah, Bahawalpur – JeM, Markaz Taiba, Muridke – LeT, Sarjal, Tehra Kalan – JeM, Mehmoona Joya, Sialkot – HM, Markaz Ahle Hadith, Barnala – LeT, Markaz Abbas, Kotli – JeM, Maskar Raheel Shahid, Kotli – HM, Shawai Nalla Camp, Muzaffarabad – LeT, and Syedna Bilal Camp, Muzaffarabad – JeM.
In a statement released to the media, Masood said, “Ten members of my family including five children, my elder sister and her husband, my Islamic scholar nephew, his wife and my niece in addition to this, my old friend Hazifa, his mother and two other colleagues were killed.”
“I am grieved beyond words, but I am neither sorry, nor afraid. I have been praying to Allah that I should have been included in these 14 guests of Allah who become martyrs today,” he said while adding that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi targeted innocent children, women and elderly through the strike.
“The killing of children and innocent people have not dampened our resolve. They (Indians) should not expect any mercy from us now.
“The fallen minaret of Subhanullah mosque will finally fall on the Indian people in such a manner that their future generations won’t be able to forget”, he threatened.
Detailing the attack that was carried out in complete secrecy, Col Sofyia Quereshi said that it started at 1.05 am and was over by 1.30 am. Stating that the selection of targets for strike operation was based on credible intelligence inputs and role of these facilities in perpetrating terror activities, Quereshi said that the locations were selected with due diligence to avoid damage to civilian installations and loss of civilian lives.
Source: thestatesman.com
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https://www.thestatesman.com/india/jem-head-azhar-masood-warns-minaret-will-fall-on-india-post-op-sindoor-1503429687.html
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Learning about Islam in public schools isn’t indoctrination, appeals court rules
May. 07, 2025
A federal appeals court dismissed a parent’s claim that her son’s middle school curriculum violated the Constitution by teaching about Islam.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit upheld the constitutionality of a social studies curriculum that included instructional videos about Islam.
In its decision issued Monday, the court said that the Chatham School District’s curriculum does not show any signs of promoting a specific religion.
However, the attorney for the plaintiff, Chatham parent, Libby Hilsenrath, said he intends to appeal the ruling.
In 2018, Hilsenrath filed the lawsuit on behalf of her son, a then 7th grader at Chatham Middle School.
Her complaint named the Chatham School District and several school officials and teachers.
Hilsenrath argued that the inclusion of instructional videos about Islam in a World Cultures and Geography class violated the establishment clause of the first amendment, claiming it amounted to religious indoctrination and coercion.
The school district defended the curriculum, explaining that it covered various world religions, including Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, and Hinduism.
The district said that their aim was to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of global cultures and beliefs, as required by state standards.
They also explained that the videos were meant to educate students about the basics of Islam and noted that the videos were provided to students, but not shown in class or required to be watched by students.
Attorney Ruby Kumar-Thompson of Cleary Giacobbe Alfieri Jacobs in Oakland, who represented the school district, said she believes this is the first decision of its kind in any circuit court across the nation.
“It provides significant guidance to schools in allowing them academic freedom to include religion as a part of a broader academic study,” Kumar-Thompson said.
The court underscored that its role is limited to upholding constitutional rights, without expressing any opinions on the curriculum itself.
Hilsenrath was represented in court by Richard Thompson of the Thomas More Law Center, who said his next move will be to appeal for a new hearing before the entire the Third Circuit.
Thompson said if that hearing is denied, he will appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Source: nj.com
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https://www.nj.com/morris/2025/05/learning-about-islam-in-public-schools-isnt-indoctrination-appeals-court-rules.html
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Bangladesh goes up a notch, ranks 130th in human development: UNDP report
May 8, 2025
Photo: Reuters
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Bangladesh has been ranked 130th out of 193 countries and territories in the latest Human Development Index (HDI) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
This year's edition of the UNDP's flagship publication, the Human Development Report titled "A Matter of Choice: People and Possibilities in the Age of Artificial Intelligence", based on data from 2023, was released on Tuesday.
Bangladesh has improved its position by one spot from the previous year, when it ranked 131st.
The country's HDI value increased marginally from 0.680 in 2022 to 0.685 in 2023, keeping Bangladesh in the medium human development category, though edging closer to the threshold for high human development, which begins at an HDI score of 0.700.
The Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite index measuring average achievement in three basic dimensions of human development—a long and healthy life, knowledge and a decent standard of living.
From 1990 to 2023, Bangladesh has recorded an average annual HDI growth rate of 1.67 percent.
The report provided detailed indicators for Bangladesh. The country's life expectancy stands at 74.7 years—76.4 years for females and 73.0 years for males. Expected years of schooling is 12.3, while the mean years of schooling is 6.8. Gross National Income (GNI) per capita is reported at $8,498 in purchasing power parity terms.
The report also highlighted persistent inequality in income distribution within Bangladesh. The poorest 40 percent of the population hold only 20.4 percent of the national income, while the richest 10 percent control 27.4 percent. The top 1 percent alone possess 16.2 percent of the total income.
Among neighbouring countries, India shares the 130th position with Bangladesh. Sri Lanka ranks significantly higher at 89th with an HDI value of 0.776, while Nepal stands at 145th (0.622) and Pakistan at 168th (0.544).
Iceland tops the 2025 Index with an HDI value of 0.972, followed by Norway and Switzerland, both at 0.970. South Sudan remains at the bottom, ranking 193rd with a score of 0.388.
Countries included in the report are classified into four categories based on human development: very high, high, medium, and low. Bangladesh remains in the medium human development group.
Source: thedailystar.net
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India
Prominent Muslim Religious And Political Figures Back Operation Against Pakistan Terror Infra
May 8, 2025
JAIPUR/LUCKNOW/NAGPUR/HYDERABAD: Prominent Muslim religious and political figures voiced steadfast support for India's military action to decimate the terror camps inside Pakistan. Some of them also underscored the need to maintain unity and communal harmony, while displaying solidarity with the fight against terror.
Syed Sarwar Chishty, secretary of Anjuman - the managing body of clerics at the Ajmer Sharif dargah - said: "Sufi shrines across the country have always stood with our beloved motherland, India, in every situation."
Muslim clerics in UP hailed the precision strikes on the terror hideouts. Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahali, a senior executive member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board and head of the Islamic Centre of India, described Operation Sindoor as a necessary and commendable action. "After the brutal killing of 26 innocent people in Pahalgam on April 22, the entire nation was waiting for such a decisive action. This will certainly weaken the morale of the terrorists," he said.
All India Shia Personal Law Board general secretary Maulana Yasoob Abbas congratulated PM Narendra Modi and defence Minister Rajnath Singh "for taking this bold decision". In Bareilly, All India Muslim Jamaat president Mufti Shahabuddin Razvi said the operation sent a strong message globally that "India will go to any extent to protect its citizens and borders". Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) said terrorism was a heinous crime against humanity and its eradication was essential for safety, security and peace in India.
AIMIM president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi was among the most prominent Muslim political leaders to welcome Operation Sindoor. He posted a video on X in which he raised the slogan, "Pakistan Murdabad, Bharat Zindabad".
After the Pahalgam massacre, Owaisi had called for an effective retaliation to the "cowardly attack".
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/muslim-clerics-netas-back-operation-against-pakistan-terror-infra/articleshow/120979319.cms
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Muslims in Bharuch celebrate Indian air strike on terror camps in Pakistan
May 7, 2025
In Bharuch, members of the Muslim community distributed sweets and chanted “Indian Army Zindabad, Hindustan Zindabad” as they celebrated India’s air strike on terror sites in Pakistan on Wednesday in response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 civilians.
Videos of these people holding the Tricolour and distributing sweets have gone viral on various social media platforms.
A group of Muslim youths, some wearing skull caps and some in Kafni Pajamas, reached the Jambusar bypass road in Dahej in western Bharuch on Wednesday morning hours after ‘Operation Sindoor’ were carried out. These youths had Indian national flags in their hands as they raised slogans hailing the country and the armed forces. They stopped vehicles plying on the main road and distributed sweets to drivers and passengers.
“We came to know about the air strike by the Indian armed forces on terror camps in Pakistan through social media and news channels, on Wednesday morning. We are very happy and wanted to celebrate,” a social activist and a district leader of Samast Muslim Samaj, Bharuch, told The Indian Express.
“The air strike on terror camps was the best reply the Indian armed forces could have given to Pakistan. The family of the 26 people killed (in the Pahalgam attack) and the surivirors will be happy. The souls of the deceased rest in peace. Justice has been served today, and we hail the operation carried out by Government of India on the terror sites in Pakistan,” he further said.
Source: indianexpress.com
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https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/muslims-in-bharuch-celebrate-indian-air-strike-on-terror-camps-in-pakistan-9989058/
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Supreme Court accepts EC plan to not delete data from EVMs during disputes
May 8, 2025
The Supreme Court on Wednesday accepted the Election Commission’s (EC) proposal to not delete data from electronic voting machines (EVMs) whose verification is sought by candidates.
A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Dipankar Datta was hearing a plea by NGO Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) which alleged that the EC’s EVM verification procedure was not in accordance with an April 2024 Supreme Court order.
In its April 26, 2024 order, the top court gave second and third-placed candidates the option to get the burnt memory/microcontroller of 5% of EVMs per Assembly segment “checked and verified by a team of engineers from EVM manufacturers post the announcement of results” on a written request for a cost to be notified by the EC.
The ADR plea said the EC was only conducting mock polls for verification of the EVMs, but what was needed was the examination of its software and hardware of EVM to find out whether they had been manipulated.
Hearing the ADR plea on February 11, the SC, while seeking an ECI response to the plea, asked it to ensure that polling data is not deleted from the EVMs while they are being verified.
Hearing it again Wednesday, the bench recorded that, pursuant to the February 11 order, EC had filed an affidavit stating that it will no longer erase the data on the EVM units whose verification is sought by the candidates in terms of the April 26 judgment.
Accepting this, the court also said engineers from Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) and Electronics Corporation of India Ltd (ECIL) should do the verification and issue clearance certificates.
“We accept the said technical proposal. However, the said verification be done by the engineers of BEL and ECIL. The said engineers will also issue a certificate that they are satisfied that the burnt memory/microcontrollers and software have not been tampered with and their integrity is maintained,” the court ordered.
On mock polls, the SC said that any candidate who wants to conduct a mock poll on the EVM may place a request in writing.
Source: indianexpress.com
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https://indianexpress.com/article/india/supreme-court-accepts-ec-plan-to-not-delete-data-from-evms-during-disputes-9989511/
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As Bhubaneswar celebrates, sale of sindoor sees sharp rise
May 8, 2025
BHUBANESWAR: The sale of sindoor witnessed a significant jump in shops across the city on the morning after India's targetted strike on terror hideouts in Pakistan. Shopkeepers reported a dramatic increase in the sale of sindoor on Wednesday as people rushed to purchase red vermillion to celebrate 'Operation Sindoor'.
Showing support for India's decisive action against terrorist elements in Pakistan, people gathered at various locations, including housing complexes and public spaces, to demonstrate national pride using the sindoor and the tricolour.
"This is a historic moment for our nation. Though sindoor is used by women, we applied it on our clothes and face as a mark of respect for our armed forces," said college student Abhisek Tripathy, who was part of the celebration.
Akhaya Das, owner of a stationery shop in Chandrasekharpur area of Bhubaneswar, said he had only about 40 small sindoor packets in his stock. "A buyer came and purchased all of them. Out of curiosity when I asked him the reason, he attributed it to Operation Sindoor," Das said.
With people buying sindoor in bulk to express their patriotic sentiment, grocery store owner Prahalada Swain said, "On a good day, I sell only 10 or 15 packets of sindoor daily. I was pleasantly surprised when over 45 packets were sold out by Wednesday afternoon."
Citizens took to the streets to celebrate India's targetted strike, with many applying sindoor tilaks in a symbolic gesture of support for the armed forces. "This is our way of showing solidarity with the forces. The sindoor also represents the blood our soldiers are willing to shed for the nation," said Sujit Mahapatra, another citizen.
Pradyumna Khatua, a cultural expert explained this trend as a spontaneous expression of support for the armed forces. "People are using sindoor, a symbol of prosperity and victory in our culture, to mark this moment," Khatua said. explained
Supporting the public response, Santosh Nayak, a retired SP said such displays of solidarity boost the morale of our armed forces. "It shows that the entire nation stands united," he said.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/as-bhubaneswar-celebrates-sale-of-sindoor-sees-sharp-rise/articleshow/120978460.cms
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Control rooms set up across Kashmir's 10 districts
May 8, 2025
SRINAGAR: Authorities in Srinagar have set-up central controls rooms across Kashmir to monitor developments in the wake of missile strikes by India on nine terror infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
"In view of the prevailing situation, a Joint Control Room is established at the District Emergency Operation Centre (DEOC), Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar under the overall supervision of the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Srinagar," the local district magistrate said in an order.
Similar control rom have been set up across 10 districts of Kashmir.
The DM said that the control room will operate round-the-clock and will serve as a centralised hub to facilitate interdepartmental coordination, monitor ongoing developments and ensure timely dissemination of information.
"It shall also act as a grievance redressal platform for the general public, enabling efficient resolution of issues arising in real time," the order said.
The room can be contacted to address public concerns, coordinate emergency services, and provide requisite support and assistance, it added.
Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir government has asked all administrative secretaries and heads of departments not to sanction employees any leave except under exceptional circumstances.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/control-rooms-set-up-across-kashmirs-10-districts/articleshow/120979758.cms
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Malegaon blasts case: Special court likely to pronounce verdict on July 31
By Revu Suresh
May 08, 2025
A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court on Thursday asked all seven accused in the September 2008 Malegaon bomb blasts case to appear before it on July 31 when the verdict in the matter is likely to be pronounced. Special judge AK Lahoti said the case was voluminous and required more time.
The hearings in the case concluded on April 19 after the prosecution and defence submitted their final written arguments. The special judge, who has been transferred out of Mumbai, was given an extension until August 31, as only the judgement remained to be pronounced.
The verdict is expected 17 years after two bombs concealed in motorcycles exploded near a mosque in a Muslim-majority area during fasting month of Ramzan in Malegaon, about 200 km from Mumbai, on September 29, 2008, killing six people and injuring 101 others. The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) probed the case before it was transferred to the NIA in 2011.
Muslim youths were arrested in the case before the matter took a turn when the ATS said it uncovered evidence pointing to Hindu groups. The NIA said the attack was aimed at provoking communal unrest and triggering retaliatory violence.
The accused Pragya Singh Thakur, a former ruling Bharatiya Janata Party parliamentarian from 2019 to 2024, Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Purohit, Major Ramesh Upadhyay (retired), Ajay Rahirkar, Sudhakar Dwivedi, Sudhakar Chaturvedi, and Sameer Kulkarni were charged under Indian Penal Code sections, including sections 302 (murder), 120B (criminal conspiracy), and 295 (injuring or defiling places of worship) and under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Explosives Act.
Special public prosecutor Avinash Rasal said that the prosecution presented overwhelming evidence, including eyewitness accounts about the accused placing the bombs, forensic links connecting the explosives Purohit allegedly obtained through his military network, and intercepted calls about the bombing logistics. He told the court that this was a meticulously planned act of terror designed to divide communities. Rasal insisted that the intent behind the attack and the deliberate targeting of Muslims warranted the death penalty.
Advocate Shrikant Shivade-led defence called the case politically motivated and alleged procedural flaws and fabricated evidence. He said key witnesses retracted their statements, raising doubts. Shivade argued that the evidence was unreliable. He said the accused were falsely implicated.
The attack survivors and relatives of those killed have expressed their dismay over the delay in justice delivery. In October 2024, they urged the NIA court to hand down the maximum sentence (death penalty) to all seven accused, claiming that the prosecution had proved the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.
The trial in the case began in October 2018. The prosecution concluded the evidence presentation against the accused in September 2023 after examining 323 witnesses. The court recorded the statements of the seven accused under the Criminal Procedure Code’s Section 313.
Purohit and Chaturvedi examined witnesses in their defence. The examination of defence witnesses was concluded in July 2024.
Source: hindustantimes.com
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https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/malegaon-blasts-case-special-court-likely-to-pronounce-verdict-on-july-31-101746690492998.html
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Three-day conference in Tiruchi to celebrate Tamil Muslim literature
May 07, 2025
The Islamic Literature Society (ILS) will celebrate its golden jubilee by organising a three-day conference from May 9-11 in Tiruchi aimed at showcasing diverse perspectives from indigenous and diaspora Tamil Muslim scholars.
At a press meet in Tiruchi on Wednesday, retired professor SeMuMu Mohamed Ali, president, ILS, said the conference, to be held at M.I.E.T. Engineering College, would be inaugurated by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and Deputy Chief Minister Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on May 9.
“The programme will showcase the outstanding contribution of Tamil Muslim scholars to the growth of the Tamil language and literature. At least 700 literary experts from India and abroad will participate in panel discussions and interactions during the conference,” Mr. Ali said.
ILS was founded in 1973 in Jamal Mohamed College and held its first global conference in the Tiruchi institution that year. The current programme would be the ninth such event for ILS.
Mr. Ali added that since its inception, ILS had published over 2,000 books on various topics by Tamil Muslim writers.
“These writings have helped to promote religious harmony and create awareness about human rights. The motto of the conference is ‘Integration through literature’,” said Mr. Ali.
K. M. Kader Mohideen, national president, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), said the conference would work to promote awareness of the contribution of Tamil Muslim scholars to the growth of Tamil language and literature in various fields.
Source: thehindu.com
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https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Tiruchirapalli/three-day-conference-in-tiruchi-to-celebrate-tamil-muslim-literature/article69549384.ece
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North America
CAIR and @Muslim Call on Meta to Lift Ban on Popular Social Media Page in India, Reject Pressure From Modi Govt
May 7, 2025
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization and @Muslim, one of the largest social media pages catering to Muslims, today condemned Meta for banning the page in India under pressure from the Indian government. CAIR and @Muslim called for Meta to reverse the “bigoted attack on free speech” by restoring full access to the Page in India.
Those attempting to view @Muslim posts within India received the message: “Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content.” @Muslim has millions of followers around the world, making it one of the most popular pages aimed at a Muslim audience.
In a statement, @Muslim founder Ameer Al-Khatahtbeh said:
“We have not received any messages or notices from Meta prior to the restriction set to our social media account in India. There is no appeal process or way for us to reach out about resolving this either. This is another instance of censorship we are facing for covering news impactful to our Muslim community. India makes up one of our largest reader demographics, and this restriction is harming our platform’s reach.”
In a statement, CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell said:
“We strongly condemn India’s increasingly fascist government for demanding that Meta shut down the popular social media page Muslim, and we call on Meta to reverse its decision to surrender to this bigoted attack on free speech. By silencing @Muslim in India without any basis while it also carries out a mass censorship campaign for the Israeli government, Meta has once again stood on the side of human rights abusers. This must end.”
Earlier today, CAIR strongly condemned India’s far-right and anti-Muslim Hindutva government for bombing mosques and civilians in Pakistan.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
Source: cair.com
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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-and-muslim-call-on-meta-to-lift-ban-on-popular-social-media-page-in-india-reject-pressure-from-modi-govt/
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CAIR-Philadelphia Condemns House Committee’s Targeting of Haverford College Faculty and Students Over False Allegations of Antisemitism
May 7, 2025
The Philadelphia chapter of Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR- Philadelphia), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned majority members of the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce for their unjustified targeting of faculty and students at Haverford College based on false and politically-motivated allegations of antisemitism.
In recent hearings, several members of the Committee have issued inflammatory remarks and misleading accusations against Haverford faculty and student organizations who have engaged in peaceful advocacy related to Palestinian human rights. These accusations distort the distinction between legitimate criticism of Israeli government policies and actual antisemitic rhetoric or behavior.
CAIR-Philadelphia said it strongly rejects all forms of antisemitism and stands firmly against hate directed at individuals because of their faith. However, conflating criticism of a foreign government with hatred of a people or religion is not only intellectually dishonest—it is dangerous. It silences legitimate political discourse, chills academic freedom, and contributes to an atmosphere of fear and repression on college campuses.
“Let us be clear: opposing racial apartheid, occupation, genocide, and war crimes is not antisemitic,” said Dr. Ahmet Tekelioglu, Executive Director of CAIR-Philadelphia. “The weaponization of antisemitism to attack student activists and professors engaging in peaceful advocacy is a disservice to the real fight against bigotry. We urge members of Congress to stop politicizing these issues and instead support the principles of free expression, academic integrity, and equal rights for all. We also urge Haverford College leadership to lend an ear to the majority of campus audience that has denounced this hearing and the intentions behind it. Haverford College must vigorously defend its faculty and students against outside political pressure and reaffirm its commitment to academic freedom and open dialogue.”
He said CAIR-Philadelphia calls on the House Committee majority to immediately cease its smear campaign against Haverford College and other academic institutions and to focus instead on protecting the rights of all students—including Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim students—who are increasingly facing harassment and intimidation for speaking out against injustice.
Washington, D.C., CAIR recently launched its “Unhostile Campus Campaign” aimed at fostering a campus environment in which Palestinian, Muslim, Arab, Jewish, and other students, faculty, and staff opposing the genocide in Gaza enjoy free speech and academic freedom and are not subjected to state force or university discipline due to their viewpoints.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
Source: cair.com
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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-philadelphia-condemns-house-committees-targeting-of-haverford-college-faculty-and-students-over-false-allegations-of-antisemitism/
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Canada has been 'over reliant on the US for too long', says Joly
May 8, 2025
Canada has been "over reliant on the US for too long," and wants to forge closer ties with the UK and the EU, Canada's foreign minister Melanie Joly said.
"We are the most European of all non-European countries," she told the BBC on Wednesday. "That's why we want to be closer to Europe."
Her latest remarks come after she and Prime Minister Mark Carney met with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Tuesday to talk about a new partnership.
US-Canada relations have been tense in recent months, after Trump imposed tariffs on Canada's auto, aluminium and steel industries, and said Canada would be better off as a US state.
The meeting between Trump and Carney, however, appeared to go well, as the two agreed on a "fresh start" for the US-Canada relationship, Joly said.
The foreign minister told the BBC on Wednesday that it was important for Canada to assert its sovereignty while putting itself in a position to negotiate a "new trade and security partnership" with its southern neighbour.
"I think we're up to a good start," Joly said, but added: "We know that there is a lot of unpredictability coming out of the White House, and we know that we have to be ready and hold steady."
While Trump praised Carney during and after the meeting, he did not indicate whether he would remove the tariffs he placed on Canada.
Trump has imposed general tariffs of 25% on Canada and Mexico, and sector-specific import taxes on cars, some of which have been suspended pending negotiations.
The US president, who accuses Canada of not doing enough to stop the flow of fentanyl south, levied similar duties on steel and aluminium.
Joly said the tariffs caused widespread anxiety in Canada, and became the number one ballot question in the recent Canadian election.
"Some have lost their jobs, and many families are affected," she said. "My job and the prime minister's job is to make sure that we defend them."
Carney told reporters that he "pressed the case" to the US president on lifting tariffs, and found him to be "willing to have that negotiation".
On Wednesday, the prime minister was back in Ottawa where he held a virtual meeting with the leaders of Canada's provinces to update them on his trip.
Ontario premier Doug Ford told reporters that they congratulated Carney.
"I don't think I'd have the restraint that he had, to be very frank, but in saying that, I think it's a good start on a new relationship," Ford said.
Carney is now busy assembling his cabinet, which is expected to be unveiled next week ahead of Canada's parliament opening later this month.
The prime minister invited King Charles III to formally open parliament on 27 May - the first time Canada's monarch has done so since 1977.
The King's visit is yet another "clear signal" of Canada's sovereignty, Joly said.
Canada also plans to host the G7 summit in June, which Trump is expected to attend.
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg8gy6y8l4o
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South Asia
Ramna Batamul blast: HC adjourns verdict delivery, sets May 13 to read rest part
May 8, 2025
The High Court today started delivering its verdict on the death references and appeals in the 2001 Ramna Batamul carnage case, which left 10 people dead during Pahela Baishakh celebrations in Dhaka.
The bench of Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam and Justice Nasreen Akter began the delivery of the judgement at 11:30am and continued till 1:00pm.
Later, the bench set May 13 to deliver the rest of the verdict, our correspondent reports from the court.
On February 18, the bench kept the death references—trial court documents required for confirming death sentences—and the appeals filed by the convicts as curia advisari vult, meaning the judgement was reserved for delivery on any day after conclusion of the hearings.
On April 14, 2001, two bombs exploded during the 1408 Pahela Baishakh celebrations organised by Chhayanaut at Ramna Batamul in the capital. The blasts, which shocked the nation, killed 10 people and injured several others.
On 23 June 2014, a Dhaka court sentenced eight members of banned militant outfit Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami to death in connection with the attack.
They include Mufti Abdul Hannan, Moulana Akbar Hossain alias Helaluddin, Moulana Mohammad Tajuddin, Hafez Jahangir Alam Badar, Moulana Abu Bakar alias Selim Hawlader, Mufti Shafiqur Rahman, Mufti Abdul Hye, and Arif Hasan Suman.
Six others—Moulana Abu Taher, Moulana Sabbir alias Abdul Hannan, Moulana Yahiya, Moulana Shawkat Osman, Moulana Abdur Rouf, and Shahadat Ullah— were sentenced to life imprisonment.
Mufti Abdul Hannan, one of the country's most notorious militants and a key figure in Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami's attacks across Bangladesh, was executed on April 13, 2017 at Kashimpur High Security Prison. He was executed for a separate grenade attack on the then British High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury in Sylhet on May 21, 2004.
Several other accused in that case remain absconding.
During the hearings, a group of defence lawyers including Mohammad Shishir Manir represented the convicts, while Deputy Attorney General Sultana Akter Rubi appeared for the state.
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/crime-justice/news/ramna-batamul-blast-hc-adjourns-verdict-delivery-sets-may-13-read-rest-part-3889721
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ACC summons Hasina for quizzing today
May 8, 2025
The Anti-Corruption Commission has summoned ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina for questioning today over allegations of embezzling Tk 812 crore from development projects at three major airports across the country.
Hasina fled to India on August 5 last year amid a mass uprising.
ACC officials said she has been asked to appear at the commission's headquarters in Dhaka at 10:30am.
It also summoned Mahbub Ali, former state minister for civil aviation and tourism, and Mokammel Hossain, ex-civil aviation secretary, for interrogation.
Speaking to journalists yesterday, Akhtarul Islam, ACC deputy director and public relations officer, said letters summoning Hasina were sent to her addresses in Dhanmondi's Sudhasadan and in Tungipara, Gopalganj. The summons was signed by ACC Deputy Director Monirul Islam.
"She has been summoned for questioning over allegations of misappropriating thousands of crores of taka over the past 15 years in the name of airport development. The charges include collusion, fraud, forgery, irregularities, and large-scale corruption," Akhtarul said.
A senior ACC official, requesting anonymity, said failure to appear before the commission may cost Hasina the opportunity to defend herself.
Summons were also sent to the known addresses of Mahbub Ali and Mokammel Hossain in Dhaka and their respective hometowns. Mahbub Ali is behind bars while Mokammel is absconding, law enforcement sources said.
On January 27 this year, the anti-graft body filed four cases against 19 individuals, including Hasina's former military adviser Tarique Ahmed Siddique, over alleged misappropriation of Tk 812 crore from various airport development projects in Dhaka, Chattogram, and Sylhet.
Other accused in the cases include Mohibul Haque, former civil aviation senior secretary, who is in jail, and M Mofidur Rahman, ex-chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh .
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/crime-justice/news/acc-summons-sheikh-hasina-3888901
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EC registration: SC to resume hearing on Jamaat’s appeal May 13
May 8, 2025
The Supreme Court yesterday fixed May 13 for resuming hearing on Jamaat-e-Islami's appeal against a High Court verdict that scrapped its registration with the Election Commission as a political party.
A seven-member bench headed by the chief justice set the date following a prayer from Jamaat's lawyer Mohammad Shishir Manir.
The HC on August 1, 2013 scrapped Jamaat's registration with the EC following a writ petition filed by Syed Rezaul Haque Chandpuri, secretary general of the Bangladesh Tariqat Federation, along with 24 others, on January 25, 2009.
The EC scrapped Jamaat's registration in October 2018.
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/ec-registration-sc-resume-hearing-jamaats-appeal-may-13-3889316
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NPC amends, approves 21 development projects worth 18 billion Afghanis
May 7, 2025
KABUL: The meeting of the National Procurement Commission (NPC) of the Islamic Emirate, was held with Mullah Abdul Ghani Beradar Akhund, the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, on the chair, amending and approving 21 projects worth 18 billion Afghanis, Beradar’s office said in a statement Tuesday.
According to the statement, 27 projects were presented for approval during the session and after discussion, 18 projects were amended, three were approved, and three were canceled.
The meeting instructed relevant committees regarding three projects to negotiate prices with the winning companies and submit their reports to the leadership of the NPC, the statement said, adding that the NPC has disqualified “Afghan Gandamak Company” for two years and “Rafi Khalid Trading Company” for six months from participating in any projects due to violations.
“The companies had won two projects after reaching agreements with the respective ministries and agencies, and the NPC had approved them, but they later withdrew from implementing and completing the projects under the agreed prices and procurement terms, causing delays in national projects,” the statement said.
According to the statement, the projects included a section of the Qush Tepa Canal, the Shaflogh Dam in Chenartu district of Uruzgan, the first lot of the Nahr-e-Saraj Canal in Sangin district of Helmand, the second segment of the Kandahar–Spin Boldak road, required equipment for electricity projects in various provinces, and the provision of high-quality telecommunications and internet services in remote areas.
The projects are funded by the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.
It should be said that implementing development projects contributes significantly to the country’s economic growth and creates employment opportunities for a large number of people.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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https://thekabultimes.com/npc-amends-approves-21-development-projects-worth-18-billion-afghanis/
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Muttaqi and Meredov discuss TAPI progress and regional cooperation in virtual meeting
By Fidel Rahmati
May 8, 2025
Kabul and Ashgabat held a virtual meeting to discuss advancing the TAPI pipeline and strengthening regional economic and infrastructure cooperation.
In a recent virtual conference, Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and Turkmenistan’s Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov held discussions focused on strengthening regional cooperation, particularly emphasizing the progress of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project. The dialogue reflected a mutual interest in advancing regional energy and trade integration.
According to a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday, the two ministers reviewed the current state of bilateral relations, highlighting the importance of enhancing political and economic ties. The ministers also discussed elevating diplomatic engagement and accelerating the implementation of joint infrastructure projects.
Mr. Muttaqi described the current relationship between Afghanistan and Turkmenistan as stronger than ever, affirming the Kabul’s commitment to facilitating and securing regional projects. He reiterated that Afghanistan under current governance remains dedicated to playing a constructive role in regional energy and trade connectivity.
Foreign Minister Meredov expressed satisfaction over the reported progress of the TAPI project on Afghanistan soil. He outlined Turkmenistan’s strategic interest in expanding cooperation with Afghanistan, especially in sectors such as railway development, cross-border trade, and transit logistics. Meredov also pledged that Turkmenistan would soon ease visa issuance processes for Afghan traders to encourage economic exchange.
The two sides agreed to maintain regular consultations and technical meetings to accelerate implementation of the TAPI pipeline, expand rail links, enhance electricity transmission, and upgrade transportation infrastructure. They stressed the importance of sustained economic dialogue and practical cooperation.
The TAPI pipeline project, valued at over $10 billion, aims to transport natural gas from Turkmenistan’s Galkynysh field through Afghanistan into Pakistan and India. The project has faced numerous delays due to security concerns in Afghanistan, though recent Taliban assurances have revived optimism. According to Reuters and Al Jazeera, TAPI remains a critical component of Central and South Asian energy diplomacy.
If successful, the project could serve as a cornerstone for Afghanistan’s economic recovery, providing transit revenues, creating jobs, and strengthening regional interdependence. Continued engagement between Kabul and Ashgabat, supported by international stakeholders, is vital for realizing the project’s long-term potential.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/muttaqi-and-meredov-discuss-tapi-progress-and-regional-cooperation-in-virtual-meeting/
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Mideast
Yemen Parliament Condemns Arab-Islamic Impotence, Calls For Global Condemnation Of Zionist-American Crimes
07 May 2025
Parliament has denounced the humiliation and weakness of most Arab and Islamic regimes in the face of Israeli, American, and British attacks on Yemen, which it says are retaliation for Yemen's support of Palestine.
The Parliament stated that the Zionist entity and its allies are deliberately targeting Yemeni civilians, infrastructure, and resources, disregarding civilian lives and international law. It condemned the excessive use of force as evidence of their bankruptcy and terrorism. The Parliament vowed that those responsible for violating Yemen's sovereignty would be held accountable.
Recalling attacks on Lebanon and Syria and threats to neighbouring countries, the Parliament said it had sent letters to international parliamentary bodies outlining the "barbaric American-Zionist aggression" in Yemen.
The Parliament affirmed Yemen's commitment to maritime navigation safety in its waters, excluding ships to "occupied Palestinian ports." It stated that Yemen's blockade of hostile ships is contingent on a Gaza agreement, a ceasefire, an end to the blockade, and the continued flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
The Parliament criticized Netanyahu's "intransigence" regarding an agreement and condemned the "cowardly silence" of some Arab and Islamic regimes. It urged Arab, Islamic, and international parliaments to pressure for an end to the aggression and blockade.
The Parliament called on Arab and Islamic nations and free peoples worldwide to hold mass protests condemning "Zionist crimes" against Yemen and Palestine. It urged regimes practicing "betrayal" to reconsider their positions.
The Parliament called for unified official and public efforts against "Zionist arrogance," including a political and economic boycott. It urged the international community and UN to uphold their responsibilities and end double standards regarding Palestine.
The Parliament reaffirmed Yemen's support for Palestine until the aggression and blockade end and the targeting of the nation ceases. It considered recent understandings with the US a "great victory" for Yemen.
Finally, the Parliament expressed condolences for those martyred in recent "Zionist-American" airstrikes, all "martyrs" in "al-Aqsa Flood" battle.
Source: saba.ye
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https://www.saba.ye/en/news3477539.htm
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Palestinians in razed West Bank hamlet vow to stay
May 07, 2025
KHALLET AL-DABAA, Palestinian Territories: Standing in the rubble of what used to be his home, Palestinian farmer Haitham Dababseh cleared stones to make space for a tent after Israeli army bulldozers destroyed his village in the occupied West Bank.
Residents of Khallet Al-Dabaa and other hamlets in the West Bank’s Masafer Yatta region have for years contended with violence from Israeli settlers and repeated demolitions.
But the bulldozers that descended on Khallet Al-Dabaa on Monday carried out “the biggest demolition we’ve ever had,” said Dababseh, razing to the ground the hamlet that is home to about 100 Palestinians.
Israeli forces “came here in the past; they demolished three times, four times,” the 34-year-old farmer said, but never entirely destroyed a hamlet this size in Masafer Yatta.
“I just have my clothes. Everything I have is under the rubble.”
Behind him, his 86-year-old father struggled to move the house’s former door out of the way so that they can set up their shelter.
Khallet Al-Dabaa is one of several villages featured at length in the Oscar-winning documentary “No Other Land,” recounting the struggles of the Palestinian residents of the area in the West Bank’s south.
Several of the communities shown in the documentary have experienced settler attacks or army demolitions since it won an Academy Award in March.
Several years after occupying the West Bank in 1967, the Israeli army had declared Masafer Yatta a restricted firing zone.
Israeli forces regularly demolish structures that the military authorities say were built illegally in the area, where about 1,100 Palestinians live across several hamlets.
“Enforcement authorities of the Civil Administration dismantled a number of illegal structures that were built in a closed military zone in the South Hebron Hills,” the Israeli military said in a statement on the Khallet Al-Dabaa demolition.
The enforcement actions were carried out after the completion of all required administrative procedures and in accordance with the enforcement priority framework previously presented to the Supreme Court,” it added.
Some residents, and many of their ancestors, once lived in caves in the rocky terrain to escape the area’s stifling summer heat, and built houses with stone and other materials after the Israeli firing zone designation in the 1970s.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2599912/middle-east
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Israeli envoy accuses UN of walking away from Gaza aid talks
CASPAR WEBB
May 07, 2025
NEW YORK CITY: Israel’s ambassador to the UN has accused the organization of walking away from negotiations over a new Gaza aid proposal.
The remarks came after the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs on Sunday rejected a plan to deliver all aid supplies to the enclave through Israeli-operated hubs.
Israel’s security cabinet on Monday approved plans to “conquer” almost all of Gaza in a bid to step up military pressure on Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which still hold 59 Israeli hostages.
The rejected Israeli aid proposal involved the closure of the existing distribution system operated by the UN and its partners.
Speaking outside the UN Security Council on Wednesday, Israeli UN Ambassador Danny Danon said that his country’s efforts were aimed at ensuring humanitarian aid reached the right people.
“Israel has been engaged in constructive discussions to establish secure and effective aid delivery solutions that ensure food, water and medicine reach civilians, not Hamas terrorists.
“These are serious efforts aimed at solving a real problem — the constant and mass stealing of humanitarian aid by Hamas. Rather than engage with our proposals or seek constructive alternatives, the UN and the secretary-general chose to walk away,” he said.
“I must ask why. Why was there no attempt at a constructive dialogue, to hear ideas, to discuss them?”
The OCHA accused Israel of attempting to “reinforce control over life-sustaining items as a pressure tactic, as part of a military strategy.”
Jens Laerke, the office’s spokesperson, said on Tuesday: “It appears to be a deliberate attempt to weaponize the aid and we have warned against that for a very long time. Aid should be provided based on humanitarian need to whomever needs it.”
Only 16 of Gaza’s 29 Palestine Red Crescent Society clinics remain partially functional and are facing severe shortages.
Laerke relayed testimonies from colleagues in Gaza who had seen people “rummaging through garbage, trying to find something edible.”
He described the humanitarian situation in the enclave as “harsh, brutal and inhuman.”
But Danon accused UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres of protecting a failed system.
“If the goal is to exclude Hamas and deliver humanitarian assistance without political agendas, then why did the secretary-general abandon the table so quickly?
“Why is he trying to protect a failed model? I would remind the secretary-general that 59 hostages still remain in Hamas captivity. We will never leave them behind.
“Israel will continue doing what the UN should be doing: defending our people, dismantling terror and above all, fighting for the freedom of the 59 hostages held by Hamas.”
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2599898/middle-east
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Yemen’s Houthis to keep attacking Israeli ships despite US deal
May 07, 2025
SANAA: Yemen’s Houthi militants will continue targeting Israeli ships in the Red Sea, an official told AFP on Wednesday, despite a ceasefire that ended weeks of intense US strikes on the Iran-backed group.
A day after the Houthis agreed to stop firing on ships plying the key trade route off their shores, a senior official told AFP that Israel was excluded from the deal.
“The waterways are safe for all international ships except Israeli ones,” Abdulmalik Alejri, a member of the Houthi political bureau, told AFP.
“Israel is not part of the agreement, it only includes American and other ships,” he said.
The Houthis, who have controlled large swathes of Yemen for more than a decade, began firing on Israel-linked shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden in November 2023, weeks after the start of the Israel-Hamas war.
They broadened their campaign to target ships tied to the United States and Britain after military strikes by the two countries began in January 2024.
Alejri said the Houthis would now “only” attack Israeli ships. In the past, vessels visiting Israel, or those with tenuous Israeli links, were in the militants’ sights.
The US-Houthi deal was announced after deadly Israeli strikes on Tuesday put Sanaa airport out of action in revenge for a Houthi missile strike on Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport.
Sanaa airport director Khaled alShaief told the militants’ Al-Masirah television Wednesday the Israeli attack had destroyed terminal buildings and caused $500 million in damage.
Oman said it had facilitated an agreement between Washington and the militants that “neither side will target the other... ensuring freedom of navigation.”
US President Donald Trump, who will visit Gulf countries next week, trumpeted the deal, saying the Houthis had “capitulated.”
“They say they will not be blowing up ships anymore, and that’s... the purpose of what we were doing,” he said during a White House press appearance.
The ceasefire followed weeks of stepped-up US strikes aimed at deterring Houthi attacks on shipping. The US attacks left 300 people dead, according to an AFP tally of Houthi figures.
The Pentagon said last week that US strikes had hit more than 1,000 targets in Yemen since mid-March in an operation that has been dubbed “Rough Rider.”
Alejri said recent US-Iran talks in Muscat “provided an opportunity” for indirect contacts between Sanaa and Washington, leading to the ceasefire.
“America was the one who started the aggression against us, and at its beginning, we did not resume our operations on Israel,” he added.
“We did not target any American ships or warships until they targeted us.”
Scores of Houthi missile and drone attacks have drastically reduced cargo volumes on the Red Sea route, which normally carries about 12 percent of global maritime trade.
The Houthis say their campaign — as well as a steady stream of attacks on Israeli territory — is in solidarity with the Palestinians.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2599873/middle-east
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Iraqi Hezbollah Brigades: US Navy found itself stuck in quagmire of confrontation with Men of Allah in Yemen
08 May 2025
The Iraqi Hezbollah Brigades announced their welcome of the Oman agreement to halt the US aggression against the Yemeni people.
In a press statement, they said: "America's inability to impose its will through military operations against Yemen prompted it to accept the Oman agreement and forced it to halt its aggression against the Yemeni people."
Source: saba.ye
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https://www.saba.ye/en/news3477869.htm
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Hamas: Escalating Settler Storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque Is Conclusion of Occupation's Religious War on Quds
07 May 2025
Haroun Nasser al-Din, a member of the Political Bureau and head of the Jerusalem Affairs Office of Hamas, stressed that the escalating settler storming of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, with the participation of government figures and extremist Jews, and the issuance of a new petition calling for further aggression against Al-Aqsa, is a continuation of the occupation's religious war on Quds and a race to impose control over the mosque and Judaize it.
Nasser al-Din explained in a press statement on Wednesday that the fascist enemy government's support and protection of the settlers confirms that it does not care about any religious or historical considerations and is exploiting the state of slumber of our Arab and Islamic nation to continue its blatant aggression against our Islamic sanctities.
Source: saba.ye
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Islamic Jihad: Zionist enemy is committing massacres in Gaza, expanding its aggression to Lebanon
07 May 2025
The Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine condemned the massacres committed by the Zionist enemy against civilians, including the targeting of schools and residential neighborhoods crowded with displaced persons in Gaza City.
These attacks resulted in the deaths of at least 59 civilians, most of them women and children. Meanwhile, the eastern neighborhoods of the city remain under continuous bombardment.
The movement said in a statement on Wednesday that the enemy had expanded its aggression to Lebanon, where it assassinated Hamas leader Khaled Ahmed al-Ahmad (Abu Ibrahim) in a treacherous operation, despite the declared truce in Lebanon.
This operation demonstrates the enemy's clear intention to undermine regional stability and turn Lebanon into an arena for ongoing assassinations.
It noted that this escalation coincides with the Trump administration's decision to merge the Palestinian Affairs Office into the US Embassy in Quds, which gives political impetus to the plan to annex the occupied West Bank and Quds.
She emphasized that the entire world now knows that the war of extermination waged by the entity for nearly twenty months against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip would not have occurred and would not have continued without unlimited American support, starting with the supply of weapons used by the enemy in its war crimes against the Palestinian people, and ending with the political cover and guarantees of impunity for the entity's criminals.
She warned that continued Arab and international silence on these crimes will only increase the brutality of the enemy's practices and the arrogance of its government, which openly declares its intention to change the Middle East and impose its hegemony over the countries and peoples of the region.
Source: saba.ye
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Arab World
Saudi Arabia ‘categorically rejects’ Israel’s plan to seize Gaza territory
May 08, 2025
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has “categorically rejected” plans by Israel to expand its military operations in Gaza and seize control of the territory.
The ministry also “strongly condemned the continued Israeli violations of international law and international humanitarian law.”
Israeli authorities on Monday approved a new ground operation to take over parts of Gaza, forcibly displace Palestinians into the south of the territory, and control the distribution of humanitarian aid. The Israeli army is calling up tens of thousands of reserve soldiers.
The announcement sparked widespread international condemnation. Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry said it stood firmly opposed to any attempted expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, and stressed the importance of holding Israel accountable for failures to comply with international resolutions.
The Kingdom continues to have “unwavering support for the Palestinian cause, in line with international legitimacy, the Arab Peace Initiative, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders, with east Jerusalem as its capital,” the ministry added.
Source: arabnews.com
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Red Sea International Film Festival opens for 2025 submissions
May 07, 2025
JEDDAH: The Red Sea International Film Festival has opened its submissions portal for its fifth edition, which will run from Dec. 4 to 13 in the historic district of Al-Balad, Jeddah.
Filmmakers from Saudi Arabia, other countries in the Arab world, Africa and Asia have until Aug. 17 to submit their entries.
There will be no fee for entries submitted before July 7, after which a fee will apply: SR100 ($26) for short films and SR200 for feature films.
Submissions can be entered under three categories: the Red Sea Competition, Red Sea Shorts Competition and New Saudi/New Cinema.
The Red Sea Competition highlights outstanding works from Asia and Africa, including the Arab world, across narrative, documentary and animation.
The Shorts Competition showcases films under 60 minutes, focusing on original storytelling.
The New Saudi/New Cinema section focuses on emerging local talent, offering a platform for new voices in the Kingdom’s rapidly growing film scene.
Since its inception in 2019, the festival has served as a platform for cultural dialogue and cinematic discovery, while strengthening ties between regional and international filmmakers.
Selected films this year will vie for the prestigious Yusr Awards, including the Golden Yusr for Best Feature Film, which comes with a $100,000 prize. Other accolades include Best Director, the Jury Prize and the Golden Yusr for Best Short Film.
Shivani Pandya Malhotra, managing director of the Red Sea Film Foundation, said in a statement the festival has “firmly established itself as a distinctive force within the cinematic landscape, both locally and internationally.”
“Having showcased over 520 films from 85 countries, the festival stands today as a vital platform for cultural exchange and compelling storytelling,” she added.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi Arabia showcases defense innovation at Athens expo
May 07, 2025
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is taking part for the first time in the Athens International Defense and Security Exhibition in Greece, held from May 6-8.
The Saudi pavilion is organized by the General Authority for Military Industries, with contributions from the General Authority for Defense Development and Saudi Arabian Military Industries.
The opening was attended by Ahmad Al-Ohali, governor of the General Authority for Military Industries; Lt. Gen. Fahd Al-Juhani, chief of staff of the Royal Saudi Land Forces; and Muhannad Al-Basrawi, charge d’affaires at the Saudi Embassy in Greece.
Al-Ohali and other officials toured the Saudi pavilion and were briefed on the advanced defense and security technologies on display.
The pavilion highlights the progress of Saudi military industries and growing national defense capabilities. It also showcases strategic partnerships aimed at enhancing international cooperation and localizing defense technologies.
Al-Ohali said that the Kingdom’s presence reflects its strategic position in military industries, its attractive investment environment and its efforts to localize more than 50 percent of military spending under the Vision 2030 reform plan.
The pavilion showcases Saudi Arabia’s defense industry ecosystem, including policies, regulations, national priorities and investor incentives. It also presents streamlined business processes, key achievements and major initiatives in the defense sector.
Participating countries and international companies are showcasing their latest systems in land, naval and aerial defense, as well as cybersecurity solutions.
The Saudi preence comes amid rapidly growing Saudi-Greek relations across multiple sectors, reflecting the strength of their strategic partnership — particularly in defense, where both countries share a common vision for regional security, stability and technological collaboration.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi project destroys 600 more Houthi landmines and other explosives in Yemen
ARAB NEWS
May 07, 2025
RIYADH: Members of the Saudi Project for Landmine Clearance, also known as Project Masam, safely detonated 600 mines, unexploded ordnance and other explosive devices on Wednesday.
The project’s engineers had demined and removed the devices over the past few months from various parts of Yemen, including the town of Beihan and the districts of Usaylan and Ain in Shabwah governorate.
Hussein Al-Aqili, commander of the project’s survey team, said they carried out the destruction operation in the Thahba area of Ain district on Wednesday as part of their ongoing mission to clear mines and other remnants of war in Yemen, and save civilian lives.
The project has cleared nearly 500,000 mines from the country since its work there began in 2018.
Last week, Ousama Algosaibi, the managing director of Masam, warned that the Houthis continue to exploit periods of truce to plant more mines across Yemen.
“We are in a constant race with the Houthi militias; we clear mines from one side while they plant more on the other,” he said during an interview with Al-Ekhbariya TV.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi commission expands music access for people with disabilities
TAREQ AL-THAQAFI
May 07, 2025
MAKKAH: Saudi Arabia’s Music Commission has launched a national initiative to expand access to music education for people with disabilities, marking a key step toward their greater inclusion in the Kingdom’s cultural landscape.
Focused on Riyadh, Jeddah and Alkhobar, the program trains instructors to teach students with physical and cognitive disabilities.
It supports the ambitions of Saudi Vision 2030, which seeks to elevate quality of life and ensure opportunities for all segments of society.
Music education expert Issa Al-Qarbi praised the initiative as a transformative step in supporting individuals with disabilities.
“Music is a highly effective medium for stimulating brain activity, developing motor and social skills, and enhancing overall psychological well-being,” he said.
The initiative includes adapting teaching methods, specialized curricula and fully accessible learning environments aligned with the requirements of the Mowaamah certification, a program which provides support to increase participation among disabled individuals in the labor market.
In designing the program, the commission partnered with international experts in music on the curricula and programs that align with global best practices.
The existing models were reviewed using the standards set by the National Association for Music Education.
The commission’s goal is to empower students to express themselves through music, boost their self-confidence and enhance their social, cognitive and motor skills.
The students will receive extended training that prepares them for group performances while supporting their artistic, cognitive and social development. Sessions with parents and community members are also being planned to raise awareness and encourage family engagement.
Al-Qarbi said that long-term sustainability and lasting impacts could be ensured by closer partnerships between the education and healthcare sectors.
He praised the initiative as a regional model, opening the door to further research and innovation.
He said that teaching music to individuals with disabilities went beyond technical skills, nurturing essential personal qualities such as patience, discipline and social engagement, which in turn positively influenced many areas of their lives.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi surgeons separate Egyptian child from parasitic twin
May 07, 2025
RIYADH: A medical team from the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program successfully completed a surgical procedure on Wednesday to separate an Egyptian child from a parasitic twin.
The operation on 8-month-old Mohammed Abdulrahman Juma at King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital in Riyadh took eight hours and was split into six stages. It involved a multidisciplinary team of 26 consultants, including specialists in anesthesia, neurosurgery, pediatrics and plastic surgery.
A parasitic twin, also known as a vestigial twin, is an identical twin that stopped developing during gestation and is physically attached to a fully developed twin. Because it did not fully develop, it cannot survive on its own and often dies in the womb or during birth.
Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, who heads the surgical team and is an advisor at the royal court and supervisor general of Saudi aid agency KSrelief, said the twins were joined at the back, lower chest, abdomen and pelvis. The parasitic twin lacked a head and essential organs, including a heart and kidneys.
Al-Rabeeah described the operation as one of the most delicate his team has been involved with, and thanked his colleagues for their efficiency and skill during the surgery, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Mohammed and his parents flew to Saudi Arabia in March after King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman issued directives for medics in the Kingdom to help the child.
The operation on Wednesday was the 63rd separation procedure carried out under the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program, which has reviewed 149 cases of patients from 27 countries since its inception in 1990.
Source: arabnews.com
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Call for Saudis to join national AI training
May 07, 2025
RIYADH: The Saudi Data and AI Authority, in collaboration with the education and human resources and social development ministries, has invited citizens to register for the national initiative, “One Million Saudis in AI – SAMAI.”
The initiative, which is taking place for the first time, aims to train 1 million Saudis in artificial intelligence to strengthen national capabilities in line with Vision 2030, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
It will provide trainees with skills and knowledge in data and AI technologies, their applications and ethics, and practical training on the tools needed to integrate AI into business and daily life.
The initiative aligns with the Kingdom’s goal of becoming a global leader in technology and innovation while empowering citizens in advanced fields, according to the SPA.
The authority and ministries are encouraging citizens from all backgrounds to register at samai.futurex.sa/.
Source: arabnews.com
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Hajj 2025: 1st group of China pilgrims land in Saudi Arabia
May 08, 2025
Cairo: The first batch of Muslim pilgrims from China have arrived in Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj 2025 amid stepped-up preparations in the kingdom for the annual Islamic congregation due in early June.
The group landed at Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz airport in the Saudi holy city of Medina before heading to Mecca, home to Islam's most sacred mosque.
The Saudi Directorate of Passports has announced readiness to process pilgrims' entry at different access points, using the most up-to-date devices manned by personnel proficient in the arrivals' languages.
First groups of pilgrims have already arrived in Saudi Arabia from several nations including Indonesia, Pakistan, India, Iran and Turkey.
For the seventh straight year, Saudi Arabia is implementing a scheme offering Hajj-related facilities.
The “Mecca Route” benefits pilgrims from Malaysia, Pakistan, Morocco, Bangladesh, Turkey and Cote d’Ivoire at 11 airports in the beneficiary countries.
The initiative aims to provide fast-track services to the pilgrims from these countries by finalizing their procedures in the homeland smoothly, starting with taking their biometrics and issuing Hajj visas electronically, through to completing passport measures, after verifying that all health requirements are met.
Other facilities include tagging and sorting out luggage at the departure airports.
On arrival in Saudi Arabia, those pilgrims head directly to their residences in Mecca and Medina aboard buses moving on designated routes while their luggage are delivered right to their residences.
Around 1.8 million pilgrims, including 1.6 million from abroad, performed last year's Hajj, according to official Saudi figures.
Source: gulfnews.com
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Europe
Israeli embassy in London was target of suspected terror plot
May 08, 2025
Daniel Sandford
The Israeli embassy in London was the alleged target of five Iranian men arrested on suspicion of preparing an act of terrorism, the BBC understands.
Police have not yet confirmed that the embassy in Kensington was the suspected target, as first reported by the Times, citing operational reasons. But the BBC understands the report is accurate.
Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Metropolitan Police counter-terrorism command, said it was a "fast-moving" investigation and there were "significant operational reasons" why the force could not provide further details.
Iran "categorically rejects" any involvement, said the Iranian foreign minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, on the social media site X.
He added his country was ready to assist with the investigation.
The men - two aged 29, a 40-year-old, a 24-year-old and another aged 46 - were arrested on Saturday over an alleged plan to target "a specific premises", the Met said.
The men were arrested in Swindon, west London, Stockport, Rochdale and Manchester.
Four of the men are continuing to be questioned under the Terrorism Act. The fifth man, who was detained under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE), was released on bail until a date in May.
Officers carried out searches at a number of addresses in Greater Manchester, London and Swindon as part of the investigation.
Footage showed armed officers taking a man from a house in Rochdale, while another man was dragged through the street in Swindon with plastic bags over his arms.
Commander Murphy said "as soon as possible we will look to share further details and in the meantime we would ask the public to remain vigilant."
Commissioner for countering extremism Robin Simcox said it was quite unusual for an embassy to be targeted in the UK.
"I think the scale of Iranian-backed activity in this country is probably underestimated," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
"We are increasingly aware of the hard power side of things but Iran also looks to spread its influence in the UK via religious institutes it controls, television channels, charities, educational institutes, online disinformation campaigns - all organisations which share Tehran's aims and objectives.
"It is not always very visible. Iranian actives I think are a bit more subversive and a bit subtler - they are probably a bit more strategic in their targeting."
Speaking in the Commons on Tuesday, Home Office minister Dan Jarvis said hundreds of officers were carrying out forensic investigations at different sites across the country.
He said the arrests were "some of the largest counter-state threats and counter-terrorism actions that we have seen in recent times".
The five arrests took place on the same day as three other Iranian men were arrested as part of a separate counter-terrorism investigation.
They were arrested under section 27 of the National Security Act 2023, which authorises police to detain those suspected of "foreign power threat activity".
Source: bbc.com
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Members of Bradford mosque help to spruce up area
Michael Broomhead
8 May 2025
MEMBERS of a Bradford mosque have helped to tidy up the area.
Volunteers from JTI Southfield Square Mosque in the Manningham area of the city gathered on Saturday to complete their first ever litter pick.
They cleaned the area around the mosque.
There were around 15 volunteers, young and old, who joined on the day.
Shaykh Syed Ahsan Shah, director of JTI, said: "At JTI Southfield Square, we aim to serve the community in different ways, whether it is through the community fridge or cleaning our local area.
"Manningham is our town and we should aim to keep it tidy."
The monthly litter picks will take place on the first Saturday of every month, starting from JTI Southfield Square Mosque, and families are welcome to attend.
Source: yahoo.com
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Faith, peace and Gaeilge unite at inspiring Dublin book launch
May 08, 2025
The Irish Writers’ Centre in Dublin recently hosted the launch of Géarchéim Dhomhanda agus Slí na Síochána—the Irish translation of World Crisis and the Pathway to Peace by His Holiness Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. The book, a compilation of addresses promoting peace and justice, was welcomed as a powerful interfaith contribution to Irish society.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, founded in 1889 and active in over 200 countries, is dedicated to global peace, interfaith harmony, and humanitarian service. The event reflected these values, beginning with a Qur’an recitation followed by English and Irish translations. A short film introduced the community’s peace-focused mission.
Councillor Clodagh Ní Mhuirí, representing the Lord Mayor, praised the community’s outreach, while former TD Éamon Ó Cuív officially launched the book, describing it as a practical guide for peace across faiths.
Dr Anwar Malik, National President, emphasized the importance of promoting such messages through the Irish language. The evening ended with a silent prayer and a message of condolence from His Holiness on the passing of Pope Francis—affirming unity, respect, and peace for all.
Source: advertiser.ie
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More offenders could be tagged, as minister insists he's 'not soft on crime'
May 08, 2025
Prisons minister James Timpson has told the BBC more criminals could be tagged in future instead of being sent to prison - but insists he's not "soft on crime".
More than 30 companies, including Microsoft and Google, will meet the government today to explore how technology could help monitor offenders in the community more effectively and tackle violence in prison.
Lord Timpson says tagging more people instead of sending them to prison is a potential alternative punishment.
But critics have questioned his previous comments about the UK being "addicted" to sentencing and punishment, and how "only a third" of inmates should be in prison.
"I don't think I'm soft on crime at all," Lord Timpson says in the wide-ranging BBC interview. "I think I'm pretty tough in my style. In business, I'm tough but I use the evidence - and in this job I'm using the evidence."
He says he is passionate about rehabilitating offenders in prison so they don't commit further crimes when released. However, more than 26% of adult criminals in England and Wales go on to reoffend within a year of being let out of prison.
"How do we reduce re-offending? How do we deal with people's drug addiction, mental health problems, the fact that people leave prison they don't know where to live, people don't have a job? That is also a really important part of my job," he says.
The former CEO of the Timpson Group, which provides key cutting and shoe repair services, is known for hiring ex-offenders and is a former chairman of the Prison Reform Trust.
Lord Timpson took up his role at the Ministry of Justice in July last year, when the penal system in England and Wales was close to breaking point. Prisons were full, and months later thousands of inmates were released early as part of an emergency plan to ease overcrowding and free up space.
He says prisons are still in a state of "crisis", with fewer than 1,000 spare places and more than 88,000 people in custody in England and Wales.
"We recently opened HMP Millsike," he says, describing the new category C prison which opened in East Yorkshire in March, with capacity for up to 1,500 inmates. "We've got more cells opening across the country. We need to keep building prison places because the population is going up."
Last month, three prison officers were seriously injured at HMP Frankland, in Durham, after they were attacked with makeshift weapons and hot oil by one of the men responsible for the Manchester Arena bombing. Hashem Abedi was being held in a separation centre - used to house a small number of the most dangerous and extremist inmates - at the category A, maximum security jail.
"What happened in Frankland is absolutely shocking," Lord Timpson says. "The level of violence in prisons is far too high - and it is increasing.
"Our prison staff did an incredible job. I don't want them to turn up to work thinking that there's going to be violence. I want them to turn up to work helping people turn their lives around."
However, the number of assaults on staff in prison is the highest in a decade, with 10,605 recorded in 2024.
Lord Timpson refutes claims that gangs are in charge of some of Britain's biggest jails, but acknowledges that serious organised crime is the one thing that "keeps me awake at night".
"Serious organised crime brings drugs in and creates violence and intimidation in prisons," he says. "This has been a long-term problem in prisons, but it is even more of a problem when the capacity is as full as it is.
"If we had people who went to prison who didn't get drugs and weren't intimidated by serious organised criminals, they'd be far more likely to engage with a sentence and get well enough so that when they leave they don't commit further crime."
The government has commissioned an independent sentencing review to explore alternatives to prison in an attempt to ease overcrowding. The review will provide long-term solutions for the justice system and examine the use and composition of non-custodial sentences, including community alternatives to prison and the use of fines. Increased tagging will also be considered.
There are three types of ankle tags currently used to monitor offenders: alcohol, GPS, and curfew tags. A new study suggests tags that monitor curfews cut reoffending by 20%.
"We want them to have a one-way ticket - not a return back into prison or back into non-custodial sentences," Lord Timpson says.
"What's really important is we embrace technology and look at the evidence - tagging can have some very important benefits."
But the use of electronic tagging to monitor offenders has been problematic. In recent months several probation staff have told the BBC offenders who should be tagged, have not been. The security company Serco has been contracted by the government to manage tagging since October 2023.
"We inherited a contract with Serco and it's been far from perfect," Lord Timpson says. "We're putting a lot of pressure still on them to perform, but we need to work together to make sure that people are tagged on time in the right way. Things are getting better, but we're not there yet."
Anthony Kirby, Serco Group CEO, told the BBC he is pleased the prisons minister has recognised the progress Serco has made since taking over the electronic monitoring service: "We are proud of the role we have supporting the Criminal Justice System, monitoring record numbers of people in the community and protecting public safety in partnership with HMPPS."
Source: bbc.com
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Germany cracks down on illegal immigration
7 May, 2025
Germany’s new government has ordered tighter border controls, marking a sharp shift in immigration policy and fulfilling a key campaign promise of Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
The leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party, Merz was elected chancellor on the second attempt on Tuesday after failing his first confirmation vote in parliament earlier in the day. He had pledged to turn back illegal migrants at the border on his first day in office.
On Wednesday, newly appointed Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt signed an order banning asylum applications at all land borders. In a letter seen by Bild, he instructed the head of the Federal Police, Dieter Romann, to disregard a directive from 2015.
“I hereby withdraw the verbal instruction given… on 13 September 2015,” he wrote.
The instruction came from then Chancellor Angela Merkel, who opened Germany’s borders to more than a million migrants at the height of Europe’s 2015–16 refugee crisis. Her open-door policy later drew fierce political backlash and was labeled “disastrous” by critics.
Dobrindt said Germany would not close its borders but would significantly tighten control. Police have been instructed to turn people away directly at the border, he told a press conference, noting exceptions for children, pregnant women, and other “vulnerable” groups.
The minister added that around 2,000 to 3,000 officers would be added to the current 11,000-strong federal police force stationed at the borders. He emphasized that the new approach should not “place excessive demands” on neighboring states and confirmed consultations were already underway with those countries.
Germany has a 3,700km-long land border with nine countries, including Poland, Austria, France, and the Netherlands. All are part of the EU’s Schengen Zone, which allows passport-free travel for most EU citizens and many non-EU nationals.
Migration remains one of Germany’s most divisive political issues, with local authorities often warning that the number of asylum seekers is straining their budgets. The right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, known for its strong anti-immigration stance, was designated a “confirmed extremist entity” last week by the domestic intelligence agency BfV, which said its activities could threaten Germany’s democratic order. The party filed a legal challenge on Monday.
As the EU’s largest economy, Germany remains the top destination for asylum seekers. The country received a quarter (over 237,000) of all asylum applications across the bloc in 2024, though the number was significantly lower in annual terms.
Source: rt.com
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Africa
Tinubu Govt Warns Journalists Against Giving Publicity To Terrorists
May 7, 2025
By Richard Ogunsile
The federal government has urged media professionals to avoid providing excessive attention to terrorists, bandits, and other criminal elements that threaten the nation’s peace and security.
In his remarks during the seventh edition of the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing on Wednesday in Abuja, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, highlighted the vital role of the media in influencing public perception and bolstering national security initiatives.
He stated that the media, as essential partners in nation-building, play a significant role in uplifting our military’s spirit by showcasing their achievements and sacrifices.
“We must not grant these groups the excessive attention they seek. It is imperative to remove them from the headlines and report them accurately as the criminals they are, without glorifying their actions or legitimising their misleading narratives,” Idris said.
The Minister pointed out that terrorist and criminal organisations frequently exploit media coverage and social media to instil fear, disseminate misinformation, and recruit new members.
In light of this, he called on journalists and editors to embrace a responsible and patriotic approach to reporting by steering clear of sensational headlines and refraining from unintentionally amplifying terror propaganda.
“These are not freedom fighters; they are murderers, kidnappers, and destroyers, and they must be presented as such,” he said.
Emphasising President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, especially its focus on Enhancing National Security for Peace and Prosperity, the Minister highlighted that the federal government is investing significantly in military capabilities by procuring advanced equipment, improved intelligence, and strategic collaborations.
Idris mentioned that the series of ministerial press briefings, launched by his ministry, serves as an essential platform for ministers to inform Nigerians about their ministries’ major accomplishments, current projects, and policy strategies.
“Through this interactive platform, which is being broadcast live on national television stations and streamed across social media platforms, we continue to demonstrate our commitment to transparency, accountability, and public engagement,” the Minister stated.
He commended the media for their continued support of the Ministerial Briefing Series and their broader role in promoting public awareness of government initiatives.
The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, and his counterpart in the Ministry of Environment, Alhaji Balarabe Abbas, also briefed the media on the successes recorded in their respective ministries.
Source: naijanews.com
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Student Christian Movement decry deprivation of religious rights
May 8, 2025
by Adeola Ogunlade
The Student Christian Movement (SCM) of Nigeria has lamented the appalling deprivation of the religious rights of students in the North and across the country.
This outcry was communicated through a communiqué issued and signed by the National Secretary, SCM, Mr. Isuosuo Okeoghene and the Chairperson, Communiqué Committee, Dr. Orekyeh Emeka at the end of her 85th Anniversary and 33rd National Biennial Conference with the theme: “Restore: Rebuild, Renew and Restore” drawn from Isaiah 58: 6-12, which was held recently in Bariga, Lagos State.
Revealing concerns raised by the Movement on the issue of insecurity, particularly the killings in Benue and Plateau states, the communiqué said:
“SCM observes with dismay, the palpable insecurity in Nigeria particularly the unrelenting killings of Nigerians in Benue and Plateau states. The response of the government, security agencies, organisations and individuals have not been encouraging, to say the least.”
On the issue of one month-Ramadan fasting/holiday for public and private schools in some Northern states, affecting Muslim and non-Muslim students, SCM observes with dismay the recent arbitrary closure of public and private schools in some Northern states.
“In this regard, SCM supports the resolution and position expressed by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on this issue,” SCM stated.
The Movement further touched the forceful abduction, conversion and marriage of Christian girls in some northern states, citing the abduction, forceful conversion and intended forceful marriage in Niger State of Sister Mary Ishaya to one Bello Shuaibu Nasco as an example.
SCM regretted that despite reporting this situation to relevant government agencies, nothing was done in that regard.
SCM commended the Federal Government under the leadership of
Source: thenationonlineng.net
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Boko Haram Attacks Forces Army Chief To Relocate To Maiduguri
May 7, 2025
By George Oshogwe Ogbolu
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyode, has relocated to Maiduguri, Borno State, alongside top military commanders to lead a strategic overhaul of ongoing counter-insurgency operations in the North-East.
Naija News reports that the relocation comes amid intensified operations targeting remnants of Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists in the Lake Chad Basin and Sambisa Forest axis, as the military ramps up pressure on insurgent strongholds.
Lt.-Gen. Oluyode has reportedly spent the past three days in the trenches, personally assessing the battlefield and leading a high-powered delegation under Operation Hadin Kai.
A top military source told Zagazola Makama that the Army Chief’s presence is part of efforts to “drive home the urgency of operational recalibration and ensure our troops are adequately supported in all aspects.”
Oluyode’s itinerary includes interactive sessions with frontline commanders, members of the Theatre Command, intelligence units, and components of the Joint Task Force for real-time evaluations and strategy updates.
Closed-door meetings have also been held with tactical field leaders to refine combat strategies and strengthen inter-agency collaboration.
Military sources say the COAS’s presence is already boosting the morale of troops and sending a clear message of commitment to communities in the troubled region.
“The COAS is fully on ground,” the source added. “His leadership from the front is meant to inspire confidence and ensure our men have everything they need to win.”
Source: naijanews.com
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Makinde tells Oyo intending pilgrims to be good ambassadors in Mecca
MAY 8, 2025
Governor Seyi Makinde has asked intending pilgrims to Mecca to be good ambassadors of Oyo.
On Wednesday, Mr Makinde gave the charge during a farewell ceremony for the Oyo delegation to the 2025 pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, held at the Hajj Camp, Olodo, Ibadan.
The governor implored the pilgrims to follow laid-down rules and avoid acts capable of tarnishing the state’s image and that of their respective families.
He further urged them to pray for the state and federal government in the holy land.
The governor assured that those to perform the 2026 Hajj in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia would be airlifted directly from the Ladoke Akintola International Airport, Alakia, Ibadan.
He said the ongoing upgrade of the airport to international standards would be completed before the 2026 Hajj operations.
According to the governor, the airport project has been progressing well and has become a reality that will positively impact the state’s economy.
He commended the Oyo State Pilgrims Welfare Board (Muslim Wing) for successfully planning and coordinating the 2025 Hajj operations.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the chairman of the board, Sheikh Wahab Atere, appreciated the governor for his continuous support to the Muslim community and the board towards a smooth 2025 Hajj exercise.
Source: gazettengr.com
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Cape Town Mayor Hill-Lewis condemns bomb threat against District Six mosque
7 May 2025
CAPE TOWN - Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has been in contact with police about a bomb threat at the Al-Azhar Mosque in District Six.
He said that police confirmed that they are investigating a case of intimidation after the threatening cellphone message.
The mayor added that this follows another unacceptable incident when an explosive device was thrown over the front wall of the Jewish Community Centre in Hatfield Street in December.
"I condemn the sinister motives behind this threatening message. Cape Town is a city of peace-loving people where differences of faith and opinion are expressed loudly and fully but always peacefully. Our city has a long and proud history of being a safe city for people of all religions to live and express their faith and traditions."
The mayor called on police to prioritise these investigations to ensure those responsible were brought to justice.
"We should all work to reject extremism and zealotry of any sort. We call on all faith communities to stand united in condemning such acts and to use their platforms to preach tolerance in a plural society."
Source: ewn.co.za
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Governor Alia Alleges Plot To Destabilize Benue, Remove Him
May 7, 2025
By Enioluwa Adeniyi
Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has accused certain individuals of masterminding a plot to destabilize the state in order to remove him from office.
The governor made the allegation during a press briefing in Makurdi, which was addressed by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, on Wednesday.
Governor Alia claimed that part of the plot involves an orchestrated campaign of misinformation and the sponsorship of protests to discredit his administration.
He emphasised that these demonstrations were not genuine expressions of public dissatisfaction but rather attempts by disgruntled elements to settle personal scores and advance a malicious agenda.
“These demonstrations are not organic expressions of public sentiment but rather, calculated attempts by disgruntled elements to settle personal scores and advance a malicious agenda,” Governor Alia said.
He added that these individuals were driven by a desire to paint Benue in the worst possible light and believed they could manipulate President Bola Tinubu into declaring a state of emergency in the state.
Governor Alia described the actions of these elements as a misguided effort to create an atmosphere of chaos and instability. According to him, their ultimate goal was to exploit this situation for personal gain, while resisting positive changes in the state.
“Their ultimate goal, it seems, is to create an environment of chaos and instability, allowing them to exploit the situation for their own selfish gain,” he stated.
In addition to the protests, Governor Alia expressed concern over the misuse of the legal profession in this destabilisation plot. He cited incidents where ex-convicts were paraded at press conferences, individuals masqueraded as lawyers, and unregistered organizations submitted false petitions to the National Assembly.
He called on the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to take swift action against these instances of impersonation and professional misconduct.
“These actions not only undermine the integrity of the legal profession but also demonstrate the depths to which these individuals are willing to sink in their pursuit of personal vendettas,” Governor Alia said, urging the NBA to act decisively.
Despite the attempts to destabilize the state, Governor Alia assured the public that Benue remains safe and secure. He emphasized that all branches of government were functioning smoothly, with legislative business proceeding without disruption.
“Benue State is safe and secure. All the arms of government are functioning smoothly, and the legislative business is proceeding seamlessly,” he said.
Governor Alia reaffirmed his commitment to tackling insecurity in the state, particularly in curtailing the activities of armed herders and protecting communities. His administration, he said, was actively working to ensure the safety and well-being of all residents.
“Governor Alia is taking proactive steps to curtail the activities of armed herders and protect our communities,” the Chief Press Secretary added.
Source: naijanews.com
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Southeast Asia
Malay Muslim Inmates Value Religious Guidance, Care For Their Families: Fitrah
MAY 08, 2025
Spiritual and family needs are highly ranked by Malay/Muslim inmates, said Mr Mohamed Farik Omar, executive director of Fitrah (Family and Inmates Throughcare Assistance Haven).
Knowing that there are provisions for both these needs gives inmates hope, said Mr Farik. Fitrah is a programme by the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) to provide enhanced support services for Muslim inmates and their families in Singapore.
“Spiritual guidance helps (inmates) to manage their emotions (during incarceration),” Mr Farik told The Straits Times on the side-lines of a faith-based motivational talk for Muslim inmates at Tanah Merah Prison School on May 7.
“Family touchpoints through visits and letters are also important, as these give them a sense of hope that their families are supportive of them. These are the two important things they (inmates) will consider.”
The Singapore Prison Service (SPS) works with the Yellow Ribbon Community Project, which visits inmates’ families to monitor and assess the types of assistance they require.
Added Mr Farik: “In a way, the inmates who are (serving time) feel assured that the Community is helping their families to meet their socio-economic needs through the grassroots or the Community.”
The motivational talks, a collaboration between the SPS and Muis through Fitrah, have been jointly organised since 2020.
They provide deep religious insights and personal reflections to inspire inmates to take ownership of their rehabilitation journeys, said SPS, which added that there are other faith-based programmes for non-Muslim inmates.
About 30 inmates attended the talk at the SPS Cluster C auditorium. Associate Professor Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Minister of State for Home Affairs and National Development, was also present to observe the session.
Themed “Understanding Destiny and Strengthening Faith”, the talk was delivered by Ustaz Izal Mustafa Kamar, Deputy Mufti of Singapore (Fatwa Development and Research).
He quoted examples from the Quran and simplified the content so that inmates could better understand the wisdom and lessons behind the examples.
Among the questions asked by inmates were some that concerned the dua, or personal prayer, and the issue of fate.
The speaker explained that the essence of the stories in the Quran is to take responsibility for one’s actions and not blame others for one’s wrongdoing.
One inmate, known only as Afiq, said motivational talks, religious guidance and Friday prayers have kept him grounded after he was sentenced in 2024 to seven years’ imprisonment for drug trafficking.
Afiq told ST that he had not been close to his religion for the last 30 years. But seven months in remand helped him adjust and adapt to prison life.
“I found myself working out more, reading more and turning more to God spiritually, which I have not done in my life,” said Afiq, who is single and had graduated in March 2025 with a diploma in media (content production and management) via the prison school. “Going back to God keeps me grounded and calms me when I’m feeling down.”
While unsure about the future, Afiq said he welcomed the positive changes he is going through in prison.
After graduating from the media course, Afiq, previously an audio technician, now works at the prison’s multimedia hub. He gets to dabble in videography, photography, podcasts, subtitling and translations. The 44-year-old is also in charge of setting up the prison’s auditorium.
Afiq said he hopes to get a job in the media industry when he is released from prison.
Source: straitstimes.com
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Malaysia sets sights on UN-Habitat presidency for 2026-2029 term
08 May 2025
PUTRAJAYA, May 8 — Malaysia is aiming for the presidency of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) Assembly for the 2026–2029 term, said Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming.
He said the Cabinet had endorsed the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) to lead the country’s bid for the role.
“On May 29, KPKT will represent Malaysia in Nairobi, Kenya, to contest for the UN-Habitat presidency. We hope to proudly raise the Jalur Gemilang on African soil,” he said at the KPKT 2024 Excellence Appreciation Ceremony here today.
Nga earlier stated that KPKT has been entrusted with making all necessary preparations to support the nation’s candidacy.
UN-Habitat, established under the mandate of the United Nations General Assembly, is responsible for promoting socially and environmentally sustainable urban development, with the goal of ensuring adequate housing for all.
Meanwhile, Nga called on KPKT staff to equip themselves with knowledge and skills aligned with technological advancements and global geopolitical shifts, in line with the ministry’s people-centric mission.
“We also need unity and commitment across all levels of society, in line with the 4P (People, Public, Private Partnership) concept - to effectively address global issues that directly impact governance and the well-being of the people.
“Continuous improvements in good governance are also essential to meet public needs,” he said.
A total of 411 KPKT staff from various agencies received the Excellent Service Award, which includes a RM1,000 incentive and a certificate.
Also present were Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu and KPKT secretary-general Datuk M Noor Azman Taib. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Perak PGSM ready to assist mosque reclaim land
Bernama
07-05- 2025
IPOH: The Perak Branch of the Malaysian Syarie Lawyers Association (PGSM Perak) has expressed its readiness to assist the relevant parties from a legal perspective to reclaim a portion of the land belonging to Masjid Jamek Ar-Ridzuan, Alor Pongsu, which was transferred to a non-Muslim individual.
Its chairman, Adham Jamalullail Ibrahim, said his party is prepared to assist, especially regarding compliance with waqaf laws, the status of land ownership, and steps that can be taken to protect the interests of Muslims and the waqaf institution in the state.
“If needed, we are ready to provide legal opinions, represent stakeholders including the Perak Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (MAIPk) as well as the management of mosques, suraus and the sekolah agama rakyat (SAR) religious schools in the state to take appropriate action to address the issue of waqaf land.
“May this noble effort be blessed and become an example to all states in ensuring the sustainability of waqaf institutions and mosques for the benefit of Muslims as a whole,” he said in a statement today.
He said the association views seriously the matter as it involves land that was originally endowed for the construction of a mosque, but sold by the heirs of the endower to another party, causing the ownership of the land to change hands, thus posing a risk to the existence of the mosque itself.
“This situation proves the importance of systematic management of waqaf property and continuous monitoring so that there is no violation of the endower’s intention,” he said and urged all parties, including land administrators, religious institutions and the public to ercise caution when managing waqaf property so that it is not misused or transferred arbitrarily.
Adham Jamalullail said that the association also welcomes and fully supports the Perak government's plans to use Friday prayer donation collections from across Perak to buy back the land, which is estimated to be worth RM1.8 million.
There has been an ownership dispute over the land, but the owner has agreed to resell the land.
Source: thesun.my
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Anwar: Asean must unite in medical research to cut costs, warns of ‘excessive profits’ by major companies
08 May 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, May 8 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called on Clinical Research Malaysia (CRM) and other local medical research institutions to enhance collaboration with counterparts across Asean to help lower the cost of medicines, accelerate medical discoveries, and develop treatments tailored to the region’s needs.
He stressed that CRM should also work closely with local universities, particularly medical faculties, to ensure research efforts are impactful and serve the needs of the people.
“One of our key challenges is to prevent healthcare costs from escalating. The medical industry can become burdensome, as we’ve seen major companies earning excessive profits without considering the burden on consumers,” he said at the official opening of the CRM Trial Connect Conference 2025 here today.
Anwar added that a stronger and more coordinated Asean collaboration, involving major research centres in Phnom Penh, Vientiane, Singapore, Jakarta, Bangkok, Manila and beyond, could pave the way for meaningful progress in clinical research.
Also present were Health Minister Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad and Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, who also serves as the state’s Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government.
Reflecting on the 1970s, the prime minister highlighted that the Institute for Medical Research (IMR) in Malaysia benefited from international expertise, although its focus at the time was largely on diseases prevalent in Western countries.
He emphasised the need for medical research in the country to prioritise health issues affecting the majority of the local population.
“I clearly remember the late Prof Dr Ungku Omar (Ungku Ahmad) saying that we should first focus on our own problems, such as hookworm, malaria, and tuberculosis.
“As a result, the IMR shifted its focus to diseases affecting the South-east Asian region, while still acknowledging the importance of global health concerns,” he said.
In addition, Anwar urged the Ministry of Health (MOH) to ensure its staff and policymakers fully understand the broader economic context in order to tackle the “economic disease” plaguing Malaysia.
Anwar stressed that a clear policy framework should guide the ministry, its agencies, and research institutions to address health challenges effectively and sustainably.
“I always remind Dr Dzulkefly (Health Minister) to ensure his team not only understands diseases but also the broader economic challenges, including macroeconomic policies,” he said.
Anwar also pointed out that while every ministry, department, and research centre seeks increased funding, it is essential to consider competing national priorities such as schools, rural infrastructure, clinics, and hospitals.
“These challenges must be met equitably, with a clear understanding of our financial limitations,” he added.
While the government may allocate more resources, Anwar cautioned that doing so would require increased taxation, which could become a burden not only for the public but also for healthcare professionals.
He also noted that since 2012, the clinical research sector has contributed over RM1.5 billion to Malaysia’s Gross National Income (GNI) and has created more than 3,000 high-skilled jobs. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Police dismantle drug syndicate, seize RM16m worth of meth in Klang Valley raids
By Kenneth Tee
08 May 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, May 8 — A joint operation by federal and Kuala Lumpur narcotics police has dismantled a drug distribution syndicate, resulting in the seizure of over RM16 million worth of drugs.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa said five individuals, including a Filipino, were arrested during a series of raids last week.
The suspects, aged between 23 and 45, were detained at various locations in the Klang Valley between April 29 and May 6.
In the first raid on April 29, Rusdi said two suspects were apprehended in Ampang and Taman Melati, leading to the discovery of 205kg of methamphetamine worth RM6.56 million stored in their vehicles.
“Their modus operandi involves receiving drugs from Kelantan and using their vehicles as storage for the supplies,” he said.
In the second raid on May 5, Rusdi said a suspect was arrested and later led authorities to a shoplot at Berjaya Times Square, Jalan Imbi, where 221kg of methamphetamine worth RM7.07 million was stored.
“We believe this suspect has been operating since February, using shoplots in shopping malls as drug storage facilities to evade detection,” he said.
In the final raid on May 6, Rusdi said two suspects were arrested at a luxury condominium in Taman Mastiara. This led authorities to the discovery of various narcotics worth RM2.38 million inside a condominium unit.
“The seized drugs are estimated to potentially supply approximately 3.2 million users,” he added.
Source: malaymail.com
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/operation-sindoor-lashkar-hizb-ul-mujahideen/d/135472