Seerah Conclave 2025: Scholars Counsel Spreading The Prophetic Message For Peaceful, Prosperous India
New Age Islam News Bureau
25 November 2025
· Seerah Conclave 2025: Scholars Counsel Spreading The Prophetic Message For Peaceful, Prosperous India
· Saudi Arabia To Open New Alcohol Stores As Crown Prince Drives Reforms
· Abraham Accords 2.0: Azerbaijan And Kazakhstan – Key Players
· ‘In The Days Ahead We Will Kidnap A Governor, The President And Others’ – Terrorist Threatens
· Malaysia Reviews Islamic Family Law Bill, Considers Parent Maintenance Rules
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India
· PM Reviews White-Collar Terror Module As DGPs Meet On Rising Security Threats
· During Operation Sindoor, We Adhered To The Message Of Lord Krishna: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh
· PDP women blocked from power-tariff protest in Srinagar, Mehbooba says rights curbed
· Never Said BJP Doesn’t Want Muslim Votes: Bengal Assembly's Leader Of Opposition
· PM Hoists ‘Dharma Dhwaja’ At Ram Mandir: Here Are Top 5 Quotes By Modi At Ayodhya Event
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Arab World
· Saudi Arabia marks global success on UN World Conjoined Twins Day
· Arabic Language Day Event Takes Place In Makkah
· Yemeni minister visits Riyadh for culture week
· Kingdom expands aid efforts across 4 countries
· Jordanian artists shine at Riyadh handicrafts week
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Mideast
· Watchdog Raps Land Grabs Near West Bank Ancient Site
· UK Says Gaza Resolution A ‘Pivotal Moment’ For Peace At UN
· Israeli Settlers Build Illegal Outpost Near Tubas, Army To Seize Lands Near Jerusalem
· UK Embassy may have breached sanctions by employing Israeli with settlement home
· Turkish Delegation Holds Rare Peace Talks With Jailed Kurdish Leader Abdullah Ocalan
· Gazans Despair As Israeli Forces Mark Withdrawal Line
· How Israel is leveraging legal tools and development plans to seize Palestinian neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah
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Africa
· ‘No Time To Relax’ – Peter Obi Reacts As Victims In Kwara, Niger, Regain Freedom From Bandits
· ‘He Can’t Fix Nigeria, If He Can’t Build PDP’ – Oshiomhole Blasts Atiku
· Tinubu’s Direct Coordination Led To Rescue Of 38 Kidnapped Kwara Worshippers – Security Sources
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Southeast Asia
· From Netflix to Google: Malaysia nets RM1.62b from foreign digital giants, ending undercutting of local businesses
· PM Anwar urges SPM candidates to stay calm and confident
· PM Anwar returns from successful three-nation Africa tour
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Europe
· French Muslim Councils File Complaint Over Poll Accused Of Fuelling Anti-Muslim Hatred
· UN Slams 'Meagre' COP Results, 'Fatal Inaction' Of Leaders
· BBC may not be in 'safe hands' under its chair, says committee head
· Putin and Erdogan hold call on Ukraine conflict – Kremlin
· Arms industry investors in panic over Ukraine peace talks
· EU’s humiliation in Geneva: No influence, no voice, no plan
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North America
· Trump Moves To Designate Some Muslim Brotherhood Chapters As Terrorist Groups
· Canada needs to ban Muslim Brotherhood, advocates urge
· Man charged after entering mosque armed with AR-15, showing gun to children, officials say
· Muscatine County settles with jailer who made anti-gay, Muslim posts
· US Tags Group 'Linked' To Maduro Terror Outfit, To Slap Sanctions
· Ex-CIA Agent Says Weakened Islamic Republic Of Iran Won't Go Down Without A Fight
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South Asia
· Defence Lawyer Urges ICT-2 Not To Try Four AL Leaders Only For Their Political Identity
· Police Service Association condemns Jamaat leader’s remarks on ‘controlling’ admin, police
· Krishna Nandi likely Jamaat candidate for Khulna‑1
· Pakistan Airstrikes Kill 10 Civilians in Afghanistan, Including Nine Children
· Austria Approves 75% of Afghan Asylum Requests in First Ten Months of 2025
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/scholars-counsel-prophetic-prosperous-india/d/137771
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Seerah Conclave 2025: Scholars Counsel Spreading The Prophetic Message For Peaceful, Prosperous India
Nov 24, 2025
MUMBAI: A galaxy of faith leaders, scholars, educationists and activists gathered for the Seerah Conclave 2025 on Saturday. Held by Idea of India Foundation at Anjuman-i-Islam's Kalsekar Technical Campus in New Panvel, speakers at the well-attended, day-long meet stressed the need to take the timeless message of love, tolerance, peace and harmony in the conduct of Prophet Muhammad.
The Foundation's founder-president Umar Siddiqui said at the inaugural session that the purpose of Seerah Conclave 2025 was to brainstorm and find where Muslims went wrong and why they have failed to convince a section of Indian society that their faith is not to pester anyone or convert anyone. "We want to have honest dialogue and see how the holy Prophet's life can provide a panacea for the ills that bedevil us," said Siddiqui.
Maulana Bilala Hasani Nadwi, Chancellor of Nadwatul Ulama, Lucknow stressed on the need to serve the needy. He also said that we should acquire knowledge which is beneficial to all. He also emphasised that it is imperative for Muslims to embody and practically demonstrate the Prophet’s teachings in the contemporary world. He noted that only through living these values can people be guided by them, enabling the message of the Seerah to serve as a source of enlightenment for all humanity.
Former deputy chief of army staff and former VC of Aligarh Muslim University Lt General (Retd) Zameeruddin Shah stressed the need to look at the Islamic teachings in modern perspective. General Shah said that Muslims should not get distressed at the rampant Islamophobia being spread across the world. He counselled Muslims to read the Quran and traditions of the Prophet closely and do soul searching if their conduct is according to the Prophetic mission.
Mr. Salman Khurshid underscored the significance of the Conclave, describing it as a need of the hour. While discussing the centrality of intention (niyyah) in Islam, he also drew attention to the pivotal role of the Seerah, emphasizing that the Prophet’s life offers a practical roadmap for ethical conduct and social harmony. He noted that revisiting the Seerah in today’s context is essential for fostering a more compassionate and principled society.
President of Anjuman-i-Islam Dr Zahir Kazi, citing many stories and anecdotes, said':"Do not carry your worries to your home." He talked about the excellent performance of Anjuman's students, especially girls, in different arena and underlined the women's empowerment Anjuman's institutions lay stress on.
Former MP Mohammed Adeeb deplored the way the community is being subjected to hardships. He also protested the way the community is being vilified for some alled terror acts of a handful.
Former bureaucrat and president of Zakat Foundation Dr Zafar Mahmood explained the Quranic teachings and the Prophetic message through poet Allama Iqbal's couplets.
Islamic scholar Dr Zeenat Shaukat Ali emphatically explained how Islam treats both men and women equally. She also questioned why the community has failed to explain to the world that Islam is not violent and it doesn't suppress women.
Noted Islamic scholar Prof Akhtarul Wasey said that Muslims have always be loyal to the country and they need not strengthen their bonds with their non-Muslim brethren.
Gautam Vig, director, Art of Living underlined that the Prophet's teachings were aligned with the aspirations of patriotic Indians. He also stressed the need to have more inter-faith dialogues in order to remove misunderstanding.
Several other scholars like Uzma Naheed, Ram Puniyani, Maulana Zaheer Abbas Rizvi, Keshav Chandra Das of ISKON, Mumbai and experts on Christianity and Sikhism too shared their thoughts.
Over a dozen Seerah Awards 2025 were also given to individuals for excellence in their chosen fields.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/at-seerah-conclave-2025-scholars-counsel-spreading-the-prophetic-message-for-peaceful-prosperous-india/articleshow/125536391.cms
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Saudi Arabia To Open New Alcohol Stores As Crown Prince Drives Reforms
24.11.25
Mohammed bin Salman
File picture
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Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, plans to open two new alcohol stores, including one serving non-Muslim, foreign staff at state oil giant Aramco, as the kingdom further eases restrictions, according to people briefed on the plans.
The launch of outlets in the eastern province of Dhahran and one for diplomats in the port city of Jeddah would be a further milestone in efforts, led by de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to open up the country.
The kingdom, last year, opened an alcohol store serving non-Muslim diplomats in the capital Riyadh - the first such outlet since a ban was brought in 73 years ago.
A new store in Dhahran will be set up in a compound owned by Aramco, one of the three people who talked to Reuters said.
That store would be open for non-Muslims working for Aramco, added the source, who said Saudi authorities had informed them of the plan.
Two of the sources said a third liquor store was also in the works for non-Muslim diplomats in the city of Jeddah, where many missions have honorary consuls.
Both stores were expected to open in 2026, but no timelines had been released, two of the sources said.
The government media office did not immediately reply to questions over the plans for the stores in both locations, which were previously unreported. Aramco declined to comment.
There was no officially-announced change made to regulations after the opening of the Riyadh store in a nondescript building in the diplomatic quarter known to some diplomats as the "booze bunker".
The Riyadh store's customer base was recently expanded to include non-Muslim Saudi Premium Residency holders, two of the sources said. Premium residencies have been awarded to entrepreneurs, major investors and those with special talents.
Before the Riyadh store, alcohol was largely only available through diplomatic mail, the black market or home brewing and is still off limits for the vast majority of the population.
However, under bin Salman's reforms, both Saudis and foreigners can now participate in once-unthinkable activities, from dancing at desert raves to attending the cinema.
Other reforms have included allowing women to drive in 2017, easing rules on the segregation of men and women in public spaces and significantly reducing the power of the religious police.
The kingdom has been easing restrictions to lure tourists and international businesses as part of an ambitious plan to diversify its economy and make itself less dependent on oil.
In May a media report, picked up by some international media after appearing on a wine blog, said Saudi authorities had planned to allow alcohol sales in tourist settings as the country prepares to host the 2034 soccer World Cup.
The report, which was denied at the time by a Saudi official, did not give a source for the information.
That report had sparked a vigorous online debate in the kingdom, whose king also holds the title of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques - Islam's most revered places in Mecca and Medina.
Social liberalization has proceeded at a breakneck pace but the leadership have taken a more gradual and cautious approach on the question of alcohol.
Saudi Arabia has been aggressively expanding its local tourism portfolio with the giant Red Sea Global development, which includes plans to open 17 new hotels by next May.
These ultra-luxury resorts remain dry.
Asked by Reuters this month if there were any plans to ease restrictions on alcohol to help attract foreign visitors, Saudi Tourism Minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb said: "We do understand that some of the international travellers want to enjoy alcohol when they visit the Saudi destinations but nothing has changed yet."
Pressed on whether "yet" meant that could soon change, he said: "I will leave it to you on how to elaborate on it."
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/world/saudi-arabia-to-open-new-alcohol-stores-as-crown-prince-mohammed-bin-salman-drives-reforms/cid/2134571
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Abraham Accords 2.0: Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan – key players
24 November 2025
The Italian news agency AsiaNews has published an article by Vladimir Rozanskij highlighting the relaunch of the Abraham Accords. Caliber.Az presents the most insightful parts from the piece.
US President Donald Trump's revival of the Abraham Accords is an attempt to normalise relations between Israel and ‘moderate’ Sunni Arab countries traditionally opposed to Jews, such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Morocco and Sudan.
This approach is now being extended to Muslim countries in the Caucasus and Central Asia, such as Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. The priority of the project is obviously the cessation of armed hostilities in the Gaza Strip, with a view to a long-term truce to end the two-year war started by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023.
The tragedy of the Strip has prevented the establishment of full relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, which could pave the way not only for diplomatic relations between the Jewish state and pro-American regimes in the Middle East, but also with non-Arab Islamic countries as far afield as Pakistan, Malaysia and Indonesia.
The Abraham Accords 2.0 therefore presuppose a grand economic, political and even military alliance that could become a strategic counterweight to the anti-Western axis of Moscow and Beijing, extending throughout Central, South and South-East Asia, and also containing the ambitions of the Shiite regime of Iran and its satellites.
Azerbaijan is therefore one of the first candidates to form a decisive link in this new chain, considering its close relations with Israel for many years, also in opposition to Tehran. Furthermore, Baku could serve as a link for a vast “reconciliation pact” with the countries of Central Asia and the entire “Turanian world”, according to many commentators, thereby influencing Türkiye's positions in some way.
The first to join the new version of the Abraham Accords was Kazakhstan, with the official declaration by its president, Kasym-Zhomart Tokayev, in Washington on November 7, during the “5+1” meeting between the US and Central Asia, as had already been announced in June after the meeting between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Kazakh presidential adviser Murat Nurtleu.
American interest in this post-Soviet region has increased significantly since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, as pointed out by commentator Dov Zaheim of The Hill news website, which is very close to the White House, noting that Kazakhstan "is the main economic power in the region, which has maintained full diplomatic relations with Israel since 1992."
Kazakhstan is the United States' main economic partner in Central Asia, accounting for 96% of American exports to the region. The country is growing steadily, especially in the increasingly decisive markets for rare minerals such as antimony, tungsten and other rare earth elements, not to mention 40% of the world's uranium reserves. The search for these minerals is a decisive element in the United States' global geopolitical games, against the backdrop of peace negotiations in various latitudes.
Central Asia occupies a decisive place in this scenario, considering the real global economic conflict between Washington and Beijing, which in turn is continuously relaunching its activity in this region, as evidenced by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's recent trip to these areas.
Source: caliber.az
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https://caliber.az/en/post/abraham-accords-2-0-azerbaijan-and-kazakhstan-key-players
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‘In The Days Ahead We Will Kidnap A Governor, The President And Others’ – Terrorist Threatens
November 24, 2025
By Enioluwa Adeniyi
A man claiming to be a terrorist commander has issued fresh threats against Nigeria, declaring that his group intends to begin abducting top government officials, senior military officers, and even President Bola Tinubu.
In a video obtained by SaharaReporters, the armed militant, dressed in what appeared to be a Nigerian military jacket, boasted that his group was responsible for the recent mass abductions of schoolchildren in Kebbi and Niger states.
He warned that “bigger targets” would soon follow.
He said, “Everyone has woken up. We kidnapped school students in Kebbi State and Niger State. Next time, we will be kidnapping Nigerian military officers and taking them to the forest.”
Pointing to the military uniform he wore, the militant continued, “Look at the clothes I’m wearing, they belong to a soldier. Nigeria, in the days ahead, we will kidnap a governor, we will kidnap the President, and others.”
The man, whose identity has not been confirmed by security forces, declared that the Nigerian government had failed in its responsibility to protect its citizens.
He insisted that Nigerians should rely on divine protection rather than the state for safety.
He said, “We are not concerned that they have arrested anyone. The government cannot secure you. You people should return to God to protect you, answer your wishes, and wipe the tears from your eyes.”
The militant ended his video message by greeting his followers on social media, saying, “No one among the big men can wipe your tears. We have woken up. I greet all of you on social media. Have a pleasant day.”
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/11/24/in-the-days-ahead-we-will-kidnap-a-governor-the-president-and-others-terrorist-threatens/
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Malaysia reviews Islamic Family Law Bill, considers parent maintenance rules
25 Nov 2025
JAKIM reviews Islamic Family Law Bill with focus on maintenance for infirm parents, expected to be tabled in Parliament in March next year.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) is conducting an in-depth review of the draft Islamic Family Law (Federal Territories) Bill, which includes assessing whether the provisions on the maintenance (nafkah) of infirm parents should be refined.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar said the bill is expected to be tabled in Parliament in March next year.
He said the comprehensive review was being undertaken to ensure the provisions are in line with the principles of Islamic law and responsive to the current realities of the Muslim community in the country.
“The review allows the government to take a more comprehensive look at whether the existing provisions are sufficient or require further scrutiny.
“The preparation of the draft laws is currently being carried out actively through legal scrutiny, stakeholder engagement and technical review to ensure they truly meet the needs of the community and (align with) the principles of Islamic law,” he said during the Minister’s Question Time at the Dewan Rakyat today.
He said this in response to a question from Aminolhuda Hassan (PH-Sri Gading) on measures taken by the government to improve existing provisions in Islamic family law, making it mandatory for children to support their parents, particularly when they are infirm, without income, or unable to support themselves.
Mohd Na’im also said that the government, through the Department of Syariah Judiciary Malaysia, was working on the Syariah Court Bill, which would include clearer and more specific provisions on parental care and maintenance.
“This effort aims to ensure that the Syariah court has the jurisdiction to handle claims relating to the welfare of parents who are infirm or incapacitated in a more effective manner,” he said.
Mohd Na’im said engagement sessions were held with stakeholders to obtain detailed information, discuss practical issues in the field, and ensure that the model provisions being drafted were more practical and implementable.
“Through this mechanism, Jakim can evaluate, coordinate and draft a model law that can serve as a reference for the states, ensuring greater uniformity in the implementation, interpretation and practice of the Syariah courts nationwide,” he said. – Bernama
Source: thesun.my
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https://thesun.my/news/malaysia-news/malaysia-islamic-family-law-bill/
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India
PM reviews white-collar terror module as DGPs meet on rising security threats
Imran Ahmed Siddiqui
25.11.25
The recently busted "white-collar" terror module linked to the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed and the radicalisation of educated men are expected to top the agenda at the annual DGPs' conference that is to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sources said.
During the three-day conference likely to take place from November 28 to November 30 in Chhattisgarh’s Raipur, the top brass will also deliberate on the key threats and challenges, including Pakistan-sponsored militants in Jammu and Kashmir and terror attacks on security forces in the region, Chinese transgression in Ladakh and the ongoing offensive against Maoists.
Union home minister Amit Shah and national security adviser Ajit Doval will be present at the biggest security conference in the country.
"The recent bust of white-collar terrorism networks is a big challenge for security agencies that are also tracking the flow of funds to and from terrorists and their handlers outside India, including Pakistan,” said a security official with the home ministry.
Intelligence reports suggest Pakistan-based terror groups like Jaish are mobilising for a new wave of coordinated strikes on India, including expanded infiltration, reconnaissance and cross-border logistics, six months after Operation Sindoor, India’s military response to the Pahalgam attack.
The sources said the DGPs' conference would also include deliberations on critical components of national security, including counter-terrorism, Left-wing extremism, coastal security, new criminal laws and narcotics, among others.
The conference will provide an interactive platform for senior police officers and security administrators to freely discuss and debate diverse national security-related issues, as well as internal threats.
The chiefs of the Intelligence Bureau and the Research and Analysis Wing and all heads of the central police organisation and central armed police force will attend the meeting, besides nearly 250 officers of the rank of DGP and IGP from all states, Union Territories and the central government.
The alleged radicalisation of at least three doctors involved in the recently busted "white-collar" terror module came to light following the November 10 Red Fort blast.
Dr Umar un Nabi, the lone occupant of the car that blew up near the Red Fort on November 10, killing 13 people, worked at Al Falah Hospital in Hayana’s Faridabad along with his colleagues, Dr Muzammil Ahmad Ganai and Dr Shaheen Sayeed. All three are accused of links with the Jaish-e-Mohammed.
Hours before the blast, nearly 3,000kg of “bomb-making material” was reportedly seized from two flats rented by Muzammil outside the Faridabad campus.
The probe by the National Investigation Agency has so far indicated a concerning shift in cross-border terror strategy, where highly educated professionals were groomed entirely through digital means by handlers operating from Pakistan and other parts of the world, sources said.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/dgps-conference-to-prioritise-white-collar-terror-threat-and-jaish-radicalisation-prnt/cid/2134584
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During Operation Sindoor, we adhered to the message of Lord Krishna: Defence minister Rajnath Singh
24.11.25
At Kurukshetra, defence minister Rajnath Singh drew a direct link between India’s military response to terrorism and the ethical guidance of the Bhagavad Gita.
Addressing the 10th International Gita Conference on Monday, Singh said that during Operation Sindoor, India kept to the message Lord Krishna gave the Pandavas: that war should be guided by the establishment of righteous rule, not revenge or ambition.
“Lord Krishna also taught Arjun that a person who follows the path of righteousness is never afraid,” Singh said after inaugurating the conference. He later visited the Gita festival and offered prayers at the Brahmasarovar.
Singh revisited the Pahalgam terror attack of April, calling it an act that “still disturbs the national consciousness.”
According to him, the attackers “committed a dastardly and inhuman act when the innocent tourists were killed after they were asked about their religion.”
He stressed that India “combines compassion with courage” and refuses to stay silent in the face of terror.
“I believe that that incident was not only challenging the peace-loving nature of India; the terrorists and their patrons had assumed that India’s decency was its weakness, but they forgot that India is the country of the Gita, where there is compassion and also the inspiration to protect the ‘dharma’ on the battlefield,” he said.
On Operation Sindoor, Singh said the armed forces delivered a reply that “they have not been able to forget till today.”
He added, “We showed the world that India does not want war, but if it is compelled, then it does not run away and gives a strong reply.”
Singh described the operation as an expression of India’s self-commitment, self-respect and self-confidence.
Linking it to the epic once again, he said, “Lord Krishna had also explained the same to the Pandavas that war should not be fought for revenge or ambition but for the establishment of righteous rule. During Operation Sindoor, we adhered to the message of Lord Krishna. And this operation has given the message to the entire world that India will neither remain silent against terrorism nor fall weak under any circumstances. Shri Krishna had explained to Arjuna in Kurukshetra that Dharma is not protected only by preaching; it is protected by deeds, and Operation Sindoor was that Dharma-based deed which we adopted.”
The event was jointly organised by Kurukshetra University, the Ministry of External Affairs and the Kurukshetra Development Board. Spiritual leaders, scholars, Haryana ministers, MP Naveen Jindal and senior officials attended the gathering.
Singh also inaugurated the Haryana Pavilion at the festival.
He reminded the audience that Kurukshetra is where Lord Krishna delivered the message of ‘Karmayoga’ to Arjuna. Thanks to ongoing efforts by the Centre and the state, he noted, Gita Jayanti has gained international recognition.
Singh said the Gita’s message resonates far beyond India’s borders.
“The Gita is the scripture of the entire world. If one wishes to understand the true essence of India, it is found in the sacred dust of Kurukshetra,” he said, adding that the land still evokes the presence of “Lord Krishna’s eternal voice.”
Tracing its origins to “Margashirsha Shukla Ekadashi” over 5,000 years ago, Singh said the Gita was meant to awaken “the collective consciousness of humanity.”
In his words, “In moments of despair, the Gita becomes a source of hope. It is not only a document of self-reflection but also a form of therapy.”
He said the message of Karma Yoga applies to everyday life—from scientists and soldiers to farmers. “Struggle is part of everyone’s journey, and the Gita teaches us never to be defeated by it.”
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/during-operation-sindoor-we-adhered-to-the-message-of-lord-krishna-says-defence-minister-rajnath-singh/cid/2134569
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PDP women blocked from power-tariff protest in Srinagar, Mehbooba says rights curbed
24.11.25
Police in Srinagar prevented the PDP’s women’s wing from marching out of the party office on Monday to protest a proposed increase in power tariffs, prompting party chief Mehbooba Mufti to accuse authorities of stifling peaceful political expression in Jammu and Kashmir.
The party's women wing had planned to hold a protest against the proposed hike in power tariffs at peak hours; however, the police, according to officials, did not allow their workers to leave the party headquarters near Sher-e-Kashmir Municipal Park here.
"The J&K Police stopping PDPs Women Wing from holding a peaceful protest against the crushing rise in power tariffs is yet another continuation of the assault on our democratic rights since 2019.
"When even the most peaceful voices are throttled under the pretext of law and order it sends a chilling message that our pain is irrelevant that our rights are expendable and that speaking up now carries an unfair cost," Mufti posted on X.
She said such moves were pushing the Kashmiris against the wall and denying them their basic demand of being heard.
"This constant silencing is pushing Kashmiris to the wall suffocating our hopes and even our basic demand to be heard. Such relentless suppression leaves deep wounds on an entire community and fosters an overwhelming sense of collective punishment," she added.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/pdp-women-blocked-from-power-tariff-protest-in-srinagar-mehbooba-says-rights-curbed/cid/2134537
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Never Said BJP Doesn’t Want Muslim Votes: Bengal Assembly's Leader Of Opposition
Nov 25, 2025
Kolkata: BJP senior and Bengal assembly's leader of opposition Suvendu Adhikari said on Monday that he had never said BJP doesn't want Muslim votes, but Muslims don't vote for BJP in Bengal.
"I never said BJP doesn't want Muslim votes in Bengal. We don't get their votes," Adhikari said while speaking at a rally in Mandirbazar area of South 24 Parganas.
Pointing to how Muslim votes had consolidated in the previous elections, Adhikari said that in Nandigram, he got 400 Muslim votes, CPM's Meenakshi Mukherjee bagged 1,200, and the remaining 64,000 votes went to Trinamool.
"While we speak about development, Trinamool uses clerics to consolidate Muslim votes on religious lines. They (Muslims) have to realise BJP never discriminates on religious lines," Adhikari said.
On SIR, he said illegal Muslim immigrants would be removed from the voters' list. "Trinamool is opposing SIR because it has allowed illegal immigrants and Rohingya people to take shelter here. We won't allow it."
BJP's Bengal minder and Bihar health minister Mangal Panday said, "If illegal voters don't remain, Trinamool won't sustain. Trinamool goons are threatening BLOs and pressuring them to ignore EC rules."
Bengal BJP seniors said Muslim voters in Bihar had the option of diversifying their opinion this time beyond the mahagathbandhan.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/never-said-bjp-doesnt-want-muslim-votes-suvendu/articleshow/125549309.cms
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PM hoists ‘Dharma Dhwaja’ at Ram Mandir: Here are top 5 quotes by Modi at Ayodhya event
November 25, 2025
As the nation watched Narendra Modi unfurl the ‘Dharma Dhwaja’ atop the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya Tuesday, the PM said that the flag is a symbol of new awakening and will stand as a testament that truth ultimately triumphs over falsehood.
In his speech, Modi saluted all the devotees, contributors and foot-soldiers who helped in realising the dream of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.
Here are the top five quotes by Narendra Modi
1) “Wounds and pain of centuries are healing today. A 500-year-old resolve is being fulfilled. This sacred flag will stand as a testament that truth ultimately triumphs over falsehood.”
2) “Our Ram doesn’t discriminate and we too are moving forward with the same spirit.”
3) “What Macaulay envisioned was very extensive; we gained Independence but did not free ourselves from sense of inferiority. Our goal should be to free India from mentality of slavery in next 10 years: PM Modi at Ram temple event. We must take pride in our heritage, break loose from mentality of slavery for India to progress.”
4) “It is a distortion that we borrowed democracy from abroad; India is the mother of democracy. Democracy is in our DNA.”
5) “By 2047 when we complete 100 years of India’s Independence, we will have to ensure a developed India.”
From Babri Masjid to Ram Mandir, here’s a timeline of Ayodhya transition
🔹 1528: Mir Baqi, commander of Mughal emperor Babur, builds Babri Masjid
🔹 1885: Mahant Raghubir Das files plea in Faizabad district court seeking permission to build a canopy outside the Babri Masjid structure. Court rejects plea.
🔹 1949: Idols of Ram Lalla are placed under a central dome outside the disputed structure, leading to widespread protests. Both communities file cases, Hashim Ansari for Muslims and Mahant Paramhans Ramchandra Das for Hindus. The government declares the site as disputed and locks the gates to it.
🔹 1950: Gopal Simla Visharad files suit in Faizabad district court for rights to worship the idols of Ram Lalla.
🔹 1959: Nirmohi Akhara files suit seeking possession of the site.
🔹 1961: UP Sunni Central Waqf Board files suit for possession of the site.
🔹 Feb 1, 1986: Local court orders the government to open the site for Hindu worshippers. Rajiv Gandhi was the Prime Minister when the decision was taken. The Babri Masjid Action Committee is also formed at Lucknow.
🔹 Bhagwan Shri Ramlalla Virjman at Sri Ram Janam Bhoomi Ayodhya, Asthan Sri Ram Janam Bhoomi Ayodhya, files a title suit represented by “next friend” Deoki Nandan Agarwala, a former judge of the Allahabad High Court
🔹 Aug 14, 1989: Allahabad HC orders maintenance of status quo in respect of the disputed structure.
🔹 Sept 25, 1990: BJP leader LK Advani launches Rath Yatra from Somnath in Gujarat
🔹 Dec 6, 1992: Babri Masjid is demolished by karsevaks.
🔹 Apr 3, 1993: ‘Acquisition of Certain Area at Ayodhya Act’ is passed for acquisition of land by Centre in the disputed area. Various writ petitions, including one by Ismail Faruqui, are filed in Allahabad HC challenging various aspects of the Act. Supreme Court, exercising its jurisdiction under Article 139A, transfers the writ petitions, which were pending in the High Court.
🔹 Oct 24, 1994: SC says in the historic Ismail Faruqui case that mosque was not integral to Islam.
🔹 April, 2002: HC begins hearing on determining who owns the disputed site.
🔹 March 13, 2003: SC says, in the Aslam alias Bhure case, no religious activity of any nature be allowed at the acquired land.
🔹 Mar 14: SC says interim order passed should be operative till disposal of the civil suits in Allahabad HC to maintain communal harmony.
🔹 Sep 30, 2010: HC, in a 2:1 majority, rules three-way division of disputed area between Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla.
🔹 May 9, 2011: SC stays HC verdict on Ayodhya land dispute.
🔹 Feb 26, 2016: Subramanian Swamy files plea in SC seeking construction of Ram Temple at the disputed site.
🔹 Mar 2017: SC indicates it may consider reviving conspiracy charge against the BJP leaders in Babri Masjid demolition case. SC suggests fresh attempts to resolve Ayodhya dispute.
🔹 Apr: SC favours time-bound completion of trial in the case and reserves order on CBI’s plea.
🔹 SC restores criminal conspiracy charge against leaders including Advani, Joshi and Uma Bharti and clubs the trials in the matters pending against VIPs and kar sevaks.
🔹 Nov 2019: SC grants entire disputed land in Ayodhya to deity Ram Lalla, directs govt to allot an alternative five-acre plot to Muslims to build mosque.
🔹 Aug 2020: PM Narendra Modi conducts ‘bhoomi pujan’ in Ayodhya, launches construction of Ram temple.
🔹 Supreme Court extends by a month the deadline for completion of trial in the Babri Masjid demolition case.
🔹 Sep 30: Special Judge S K Yadav delivers judgment in the mosque demolition case, all accused acquitted.
🔹 January 22, 2024: Despite the construction of some wings still pending, the Ram temple is consecrated.
🔹 November 25, 2025: PM Modi hoists saffron flag marking the completion of the construction of Ram Temple
Source: indianexpress.com
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Arab World
Saudi Arabia marks global success on UN World Conjoined Twins Day
November 24, 2025
JEDDAH: On Nov. 24, the world marks the second UN World Conjoined Twins Day, celebrating courage and compassion while calling for stronger global support for children with disabilities.
Saudi Arabia continues to lead in this field through the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program, headed by Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, supervisor-general of KSrelief, which has earned international recognition since its launch in 1990.
To date, the program has assessed 152 cases from 28 countries across five continents. KSrelief is Saudi Arabia’s worldwide aid agency.
The Saudi Press Agency reports that 67 procedures have been carried out at King Abdulaziz Medical City, supported by King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The program has become a symbol of medical excellence and humanitarian leadership, offering hope to families facing complex medical conditions.
According to the SPA, the initiative is part of the Kingdom’s broader humanitarian medical portfolio through KSrelief.
The program fully covers surgery, treatment, rehabilitation, transportation, accommodation, and hosting for the children and their families, ensuring parental proximity and a supportive recovery environment.
To mark over 30 years of the program, KSrelief held an international conference from Nov. 24 to 25, 2024, bringing together ministers, policymakers, and global experts.
The event coincided with the UN-recognized day, an observance initiated by Saudi Arabia, and was the first conference dedicated exclusively to such cases.
During the conference, KSrelief signed cooperation agreements to enhance long-term post-separation support, including healthcare, education, and social services in the twins’ home countries.
A linked data platform will ensure ongoing monitoring and follow-up, marking a milestone in integrated care.
Further agreements were signed with Imperial College London and Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in the UK to advance research, knowledge exchange, international coordination, and the global registry of conjoined twins.
A memorandum was also concluded with the Ministry of Defense’s Aeromedical Evacuation Department to support specialized medical transport.
To mark the UN day, an event themed “From Words to Action” was hosted by KSrelief, UNICEF, and the Permanent Mission of Saudi Arabia to the UN, emphasizing the need to ensure every child can access healthcare, education, protection, and inclusion.
Conjoined twins represent one of the rarest and most complex medical and social challenges, reflecting the broader obstacles faced by millions of children with disabilities worldwide, from limited healthcare access to barriers in learning and participation.
Al-Rabeeah emphasized that the program “has shown that with expertise, compassion, and determination, children with complex medical conditions can be given a new chance at life.
“Our commitment, alongside UNICEF’s, is clear: no child should be denied care or dignity because of a disability.”
Source: arabnews.com
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Arabic Language Day event takes place in Makkah
November 24, 2025
MAKKAH: An event marking the launch of World Arabic Language Day celebrations, which was organized by the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language and the Muslim World League, has taken place in Makkah.
The event was attended by Dr. Mohammed Al-Issa, the league’s secretary-general; Abdullah Al-Washmi, the academy’s secretary-general; and prominent scholars, delegation heads, and experts in linguistic and cultural affairs.
Al-Issa praised the league’s partnership with the academy, noting its extensive efforts to promote Arabic, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.
He highlighted Saudi Arabia’s commitment to empowering the language through linguistic planning, digital platforms, dictionaries, cultural programs, and initiatives that strengthen linguistic identity across society.
Al-Washmi said the collaboration between the academy and the league during the celebrations of World Arabic Language Day provided a key step in international efforts to serve Arabic.
He added it reflected the academy’s role in coordinating initiatives and raising linguistic awareness globally, supporting Saudi Vision 2030’s goals to reinforce cultural identity and promote civilizational understanding.
The event included a scientific and cultural program with discussions on the state of Arabic in the Islamic world and approaches to teaching the language.
An accompanying exhibition showcased the academy’s projects, publications, and Arabic-related handicrafts, offering an interactive experience linking the language to Islamic cultural identity.
Source: arabnews.com
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Yemeni minister visits Riyadh for culture week
November 24, 2025
RIYADH: Yemeni Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Muammar Al-Eryani attended Yemen Culture Week in Riyadh, part of the Global Harmony 2 initiative.
Organized by the Ministry of Media and the General Entertainment Authority under the Quality of Life Program, the event supports Vision 2030 goals.
Al-Eryani said hosting such events reflects the brotherhood between the two nations and praised the Kingdom’s humanitarian initiatives, which have brought joy to over 400,000 Yemeni visitors recently.
The Yemeni minister added that the high turnout underscores the initiative’s impact and significance, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.
Al-Eryani was accompanied by a delegation of international officials, including Japan’s Ambassador to Yemen Yoichi Nakashima, US Embassy Charge d’Affaires to Yemen Jonathan Peccia, Chinese Embassy Charge d’Affaires to Yemen Zhao Cheng, and Turkiye’s Deputy Ambassador to Yemen Jihad Kocsuk, along with other officials and media representatives.
Delegates praised the diversity on display, including traditional shows, costumes, handicrafts, and activities reflecting Yemen’s rich heritage.
The event’s pavilions showcased Yemeni life, allowing visitors to explore villages, cities, regional lifestyles, and traditional attire representing the country’s culture and environment.
Visitors also experienced Yemeni traditions through musical presentations, entertainment, and displays by around 80 performers.
Pavilions featured silverware, bamboo products, live clothing demonstrations, and artifacts highlighting local craftsmanship.
Several Yemeni residents expressed gratitude for the event, noting it provides an important platform connecting Yemenis in the Kingdom and worldwide.
The event will run until Nov. 28, offering folk displays, interactive sessions, and performances that showcase the richness of Yemeni culture.
Source: arabnews.com
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Kingdom expands aid efforts across 4 countries
November 24, 2025
RIYADH: Saudi aid agency KSrelief continues to make an impact by providing critical assistance to some of the world’s most vulnerable communities.
In the Syrian Arab Republic, the organization distributed 2,340 cartons of dates in Rif Dimashq governorate, benefiting vulnerable families.
In Afghanistan, KSrelief provided 470 food baskets in Burka district, Baghlan Province, aiding returning Afghan families.
The agency also distributed 650 food baskets in Omdurman, Khartoum state, Sudan, supporting hundreds of people.
In Yemen, the KSrelief-supported prosthetics and rehabilitation center in Taiz governorate offered medical services to 605 amputees.
Over the course of a month, the agency delivered 2,199 services, including measuring, manufacturing, and fitting prosthetics, delivery and maintenance, rehabilitation, and physiotherapy.
KSrelief also distributed 450 cartons of dates to displaced persons in Marib governorate, benefiting 3,150 people.
Since its establishment in 2015, KSrelief has implemented 3,879 projects in 109 countries at a total cost exceeding $8.2 billion.
Its efforts cover key sectors, including food security, health, education, water and sanitation, shelter, and early recovery.
Source: arabnews.com
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Jordanian artists shine at Riyadh handicrafts week
November 24, 2025
RIYADH: Inside the Jordanian pavilion at the Saudi International Handicrafts Week, known as Banan, artisan Yazan Eid from Aqaba demonstrates his craft as visitors watch him transform graded sand into paintings inside glass bottles with precise skill.
The event, organized in Riyadh by the Ministry of Culture’s Heritage Commission and running until Nov. 26, features more than 400 artisans from over 40 countries.
Banan coincides with the Year of Handicrafts 2025 and is part of a national effort to support and empower artisans economically and culturally, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.
With 15 years of experience, Eid began this art as a hobby before opening his store in Aqaba. This is his first participation in the event, following previous exhibitions in Europe.
Eid can write names in sand inside a bottle in just five to 10 minutes. Larger pieces take one to two hours due to their intricate detail. His primary material is silica sand, one of the finest types in Jordan.
For Eid, the handicrafts week is an opportunity to showcase Jordanian heritage. Visitors often purchase his pieces as unique souvenirs.
Another Jordanian artist, Khaled Abu Alia, captivates visitors with distinctive pieces that merge recycled wires with natural stones sourced from across Jordan.
Standing behind his small display, he explains how discarded electrical wires are transformed into artworks inspired by Jordan’s mountainous, rocky identity.
Abu Alia says his craft is built on “wire and stone,” recycling electrical wires and shaping them into intricate forms intertwined with carefully selected natural stones.
He notes that each stone has its own character, influencing the final piece. The stones he uses include moonstone, stream stone, various types of Jordanian quartz, and other stones from northern and southern Jordan, each with unique colors, qualities, and formations that guide the direction of the artwork.
The artisan adds that creativity emerges during the process itself. Some pieces can be completed in a single day, while others require more time depending on the type of stone and the nature of the wire.
He explains that this blend of spontaneity and precision gives his work its distinct identity, making each piece feel like the result of a quiet dialogue between artist and material.
Abu Alia stresses that participating for the third consecutive year at Banan offers him a valuable opportunity to introduce this form of art to visitors seeking something different.
He says that many are surprised by how ordinary wires can be transformed into pieces that reflect the spirit of Jordan’s mountains and the texture of its rocks.
Source: arabnews.com
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Mideast
Watchdog raps land grabs near West Bank ancient site
November 24, 2025
JERUSALEM: Israeli cultural watchdog Emek Shaveh denounced on Monday a decision to expropriate nearly 500 acres of private Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank near the ancient archaeological site of Sebastia.
“Residents reported that the expropriation will severely restrict access to agricultural lands and could lead to the loss of roughly 3,000 olive trees, some of them centuries old,” the watchdog specializing in cultural heritage rights said in a statement.
On Nov. 12, the Israeli body that runs civil affairs in the Palestinian territories, COGAT, published a notice of intent for the expropriation of several plots, mostly belonging to the Palestinian village of Sebastia.
The stated purpose of the expropriation is the “preservation and development of the site.”
Sebastia is an archaeological site dating back to the Iron Age, which Israel began taking an interest in in 2023, first with a plan for the site itself, and then the seizure of the top of the mound that constitutes the site, Emek Shaveh said.
The site itself sits in Area C, which roughly 66 percent of the West Bank is placed under Israeli administration after the Oslo Accords of the 1990s.
The adjacent village of Sebastia had developed a tourism industry around the site, which will be threatened by new development plans that include a separate Israeli road, a fence around the site, and an entry fee.
Peace Now, another Israeli settlement watchdog, pointed out that the latest land seizure was the largest ever carried out for an archaeological purpose.
It added that land expropriations for antiquities development have occurred five times since Israel occupied the West Bank in 1967.
“In all cases, the expropriations were formally defined as serving a public purpose, but in practice, they led to the exclusion of Palestinians from the sites,” Peace Now said in a statement.
It said the plan for Sebastia would be no different, mostly easing access for Israelis while cutting access for local Palestinians.
Source: arabnews.com
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UK says Gaza resolution a ‘pivotal moment’ for peace at UN
November 24, 2025
NEW YORK: The UK has urged swift and full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2803, calling it a “pivotal moment” in efforts to end the conflict in Gaza and move toward a sustainable peace.
Addressing the Security Council on Monday, ambassador James Kariuki said last week’s adoption of the resolution “sent a powerful message of international support for President Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza, and the diplomatic efforts of Qatar, Turkiye and Egypt.”
He added: “This marks a pivotal moment after two years of horrendous suffering, and is crucial to cementing the ceasefire and charting a course toward lasting peace.”
Kariuki urged all parties to uphold the fragile truce and added that “Hamas must locate and hand over the bodies of the remaining three deceased hostages.”
The envoy outlined three key points the UK believes must guide the next phase.
“First, Resolution 2803 must be implemented fully, effectively and in accordance with international law,” he said.
That includes the rapid deployment of an International Stabilization Force and trained Palestinian police “to support the ceasefire and avoid a vacuum that Hamas could exploit,” he added.
“Hamas should uphold their commitments under the 20-point plan to disarm and end their governance over Gaza,” he added, highlighting that transitional arrangements “must respect Palestinian sovereignty and self-determination and pave the way for a reformed Palestinian Authority to resume governance in Gaza. Palestine must be run by Palestinians.”
The UK, he said, looks forward to “the urgent formation of a Palestinian Committee alongside the Board of Peace.”
Turning to humanitarian concerns, Kariuki warned that the resolution highlighted the importance of the full resumption of aid deliveries to Gaza, adding that the humanitarian situation remained catastrophic.
“Heavy rains have deepened the misery, worsening shelter needs as winter closes in,” he said, noting UN figures that show more than 1.5 million people are in urgent need of emergency shelter.
“Yet Israel continues to restrict lifesaving aid. Every crossing and route must be opened without delay, and essential items including shelter kits and medical supplies allowed in,” he said.
Kariuki recalled that last winter, at least eight newborns died of hypothermia in fewer than three weeks, deaths he warned were “preventable.”
He said: “Israel must allow aid in now, without delay, and permit the UN, including UNRWA, as well as international NGOs, to operate freely and effectively.”
On the situation in the occupied West Bank, Kariuki said that while the Gaza ceasefire “offers hope,” stability there is “essential to any sustainable peace.”
He said there had been further incidents of settler violence during the olive harvest, and that the OCHA recorded more than 260 such attacks last month.
Kariuki also said that this month there had been arson attacks, including on a mosque, in the West Bank.
“These unacceptable incidents must be thoroughly investigated and those responsible held accountable,” he said.
Kariuki also called on Israel “to end its stranglehold on the Palestinian economy by releasing withheld clearance revenues, protecting correspondent banking arrangements, and facilitating shekel transfers from Palestinian banks,” as well as halting “the expansion of illegal settlements, including the E1 plans.”
He closed by highlighting the urgency of the situation in Gaza.
“This is a pivotal moment for the future of the region. The UK will continue to work with all partners to implement Resolution 2803 and to forge a just and lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians, anchored in a two-state solution.”
Source: arabnews.com
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Israeli settlers build illegal outpost near Tubas, army to seize lands near Jerusalem
November 24, 2025
LONDON: Israeli settlers established a new illegal outpost in the northern Jordan Valley region of the occupied West Bank on Monday, while the Israeli army plans to confiscate dozens of acres of land owned by Palestinians in Jerusalem.
Mutaz Besharat, a Palestinian Authority official responsible for Jordan Valley affairs in the Tubas Governorate, said that settlers began building the outpost in Khirbat Al-Hadidiya after the military ordered the construction of a road.
On Monday, the Israeli army issued a military order to seize almost 19 acres of Palestinian-owned land in the towns of Al-Za’im and Al-Issawiya, located east of occupied East Jerusalem.
Israeli forces conducted search-and-arrest raids in West Bank towns overnight, detaining 16 Palestinians, according to the Palestinian Prisoners Club. Troops stormed homes in Nablus, Ramallah, El-Bireh, Tulkarm, Bethlehem and Jenin, arresting “wanted” individuals and attacking residents and property, according to Wafa news agency.
All settlements in the West Bank are considered illegal under international law. Excluding East Jerusalem, which was occupied and annexed by Israel in 1967, about 500,000 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank, alongside about 3 million Palestinians.
Source: arabnews.com
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UK Embassy may have breached sanctions by employing Israeli with settlement home
November 24, 2025
LONDON: The UK Embassy in Tel Aviv may have breached British sanctions and government security policies by employing an Israeli who owns an illegal property in the occupied West Bank, legal experts have told The Guardian.
Gila Ben-Yakov Phillips, who moved to the illegal settlement of Kerem Reim in 2022, is the embassy’s deputy chief of corporate services and human resources. She listed a house she bought in the settlement as her home address on financial documents.
Ben-Yakov Phillips later posted on social media advertising youth schemes and subsidized housing for childcare workers in the settlement.
Kerem Reim was constructed by Amana, which was targeted by British sanctions last year. In a government statement at the time, the UK said: “Amana has overseen the establishment of illegal outposts and provides funding and other economic resources for Israeli settlers involved in threatening and perpetrating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinian communities in the West Bank.”
Ben-Yakov Phillips bought her home from previous residents, not Amana, and the sale was completed before sanctions were introduced against the Israeli property developer.
Yet residents of Amana projects must still pay a monthly fee to the company, which would financially implicate Ben-Yakov Phillips and the embassy in sanctions violations. The Guardian viewed an itemized financial statement that demonstrates the monthly charge.
Dror Etkes, director of Kerem Navot, an organization that monitors Israeli land use, said: “If you live there, you pay.”
Sara Segneri, a sanctions law expert at Confinium Strategies, said: “UK sanctions law does not have a de minimis exception. Any funds or economic resources would be considered a sanctions breach, no matter how small.”
After the deployment of sanctions against Amana, the UK Embassy in Tel Aviv should have considered its legal responsibilities in relation to employees.
Ben-Yakov Phillips is not a British citizen and is therefore exempt from sanctions laws. Foreign citizens working at UK embassies, however, must comply with British sanctions law in order to obtain security clearances.
HR roles also regularly involve vetting, as in the case of a position offered at the British Embassy in Peru seen by The Guardian. The job advertisement says: “The successful candidate will be subject to a security clearance.”
It is unclear how Ben-Yakov Phillips potentially bypassed this requirement, or if it existed at all.
Segneri said: “If she is making payments to one of the settlements that is sanctioned then I think there could potentially be a violation (by the embassy).
“I hope the embassy has (investigated), or is in the process of investigating, the moneys that they’re paying to this employee and whether she has funds that are then going to the settlements.
“It goes against the meaning and intent of the sanctions programs if UK government employees around the world are allowed to disregard sanctions or potentially utilize their personal income from the UK government to pay sanctioned entities.”
In Israel’s last election in 2022, more than 85 percent of voters from Kerem Reim supported the far-right party of Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
“I would have thought the government will have taken steps to ensure that neither it nor any of its employees is in violation of any UK sanctions or its obligations under international law,” said Prof. Philippe Sands, a member of Palestine’s legal team for the International Court of Justice case concerning Israel’s occupation.
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Turkish delegation holds rare peace talks with jailed Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan
November 25, 2025
ANKARA, Turkiye: A Turkish parliamentary delegation held talks Monday with Abdullah Ocalan, the jailed leader of a Kurdish militant group, as part of an ongoing peace initiative to end a decades-long conflict.
The rare meeting with Ocalan, the leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, centered on the militant group’s decision earlier this year to disband and lay down arms. It also addressed the implementation of an agreement that envisioned integrating Kurdish forces into a new Syrian army, according to a statement from the Turkish Grand National Assembly.
The PKK, designated a terrorist organization by Turkiye, the United States and the European Union, has waged an armed insurgency against the Turkish government since 1984. It initially sought an independent Kurdish state, later shifting to demands for autonomy and expanded rights within Turkiye. The conflict has spilled into neighboring Iraq and Syria.
The implementation of the March 10 agreement between Syria’s government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF, has largely stalled.
Turkiye views the SDF as being closely linked to the PKK. It has been pressing for the execution of the deal, driven by concerns that the Syrian Kurdish fighters could retain autonomy in Syria and continue to pose security risks along its border.
“The meeting concluded with positive outcomes aimed at strengthening social cohesion, brotherhood, and advancing the process from a regional perspective,” Monday’s statement read, adding that the delegation had gathered “detailed declarations” from Ocalan during the talks.
Media reports said the meeting between Ocalan and three legislators on the prison island of Imrali, near Istanbul, lasted for five hours.
Ocalan, who has been imprisoned since 1999, remains an influential figure among Kurds and is seen as key in advancing the peace process aimed at ending the insurgency.
The PKK announced in May that it would disarm and disband, ending four decades of hostilities, heeding a call by Ocalan.
The group later held a symbolic disarmament ceremony in northern Iraq, where fighters began laying down their weapons, and announced last month that it was withdrawing its remaining forces from Turkiye to Iraq.
Previous peace efforts between Turkiye and the PKK collapsed, most recently in 2015.
Source: arabnews.com
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Gazans despair as Israeli forces mark withdrawal line
November 25, 2025
GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories: When Ibrahim Farahat awoke to discover a large yellow concrete block on his doorstep in Gaza City, he suddenly found himself right on the perilous demarcation line marking the withdrawal of Israeli troops.
Several residents of the Shujaiya neighborhood, east of Gaza City, told AFP that they had found such blocks around their homes — which they believed had been placed by Israeli forces overnight between Thursday and Friday.
“They placed the yellow block in front of our house. It was previously near the Al-Aqsa pharmacy,” about a kilometer away (less than a mile), Farahat told AFP.
“Things were fine — it was far from us,” he added.
“Now gunfire is reaching our house.”
Under the US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, Israeli troops have withdrawn to positions behind the so-called Yellow Line, though still in control of more than half the territory.
Since the fragile ceasefire came into effect on October 10, there have been multiple deadly incidents involving Israeli forces firing on people approaching or crossing the Yellow Line.
A number of Shujaiya’s residents have now decided to leave the neighborhood, yet another displacement for many since the start of the war more than two years ago.
Among them was Fadi Shafiq Hararah, who described to AFP how the large yellow blocks had been installed in his neighborhood.
“(The Israeli army) were equipped with robots, and there was a tank present. They also had a crane,” he said.
“We’re packing our belongings to leave. But where are we supposed to go?“
Akram Jaradah said this was his 16th displacement since October 7, 2023, when Hamas’s deadly attack on Israel triggered the war in Gaza.
“I’ve been displaced 16 times — from one street to another, from one city to another, from the north to the south,” he told AFP.
“This Yellow Line means the (Israeli) army will constantly be present in the area, posing a danger to us,” he added.
When contacted by AFP, the Israeli military said it was simply marking the Yellow Line.
“It was not expanding it in any way,” it added.
‘Escalating violations’
The Wall Street Journal published an investigation on Friday suggesting that Israel had sent reinforcements and installed water points along the yellow line.
The Israeli military told AFP that it could not comment on these allegations.
Under the truce agreement between Israel and Hamas, which was negotiated through mediators including the United States, Israeli troops are supposed to eventually withdraw further than the Yellow Line, in step with the progress of the peace process in the Gaza Strip.
On Monday, Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said Israel “continues daily its campaign of shifting the yellow line inside the Strip westward.”
“This is a blatant breach of the agreement,” he added.
In a statement published Saturday, Hamas accused Israel of “escalating violations” of the ceasefire, citing the yellow line’s “daily westward advance, accompanied by the mass displacement of our people, in addition to airstrikes and artillery shelling of areas in the eastern Gaza Strip.”
The Islamist movement said that this had “led to changes in the occupation army’s withdrawal lines, contradicting the agreed-upon maps.”
The Israeli military has frequently issued statements saying it has killed militants who have crossed the Yellow Line and posed a threat to troops, also denouncing truce violations.
Since Wednesday, Hamas and Israel have been accusing each other of violating the ceasefire.
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How Israel is leveraging legal tools and development plans to seize Palestinian neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah
ANAN TELLO
November 25, 2025
LONDON: Israel is entering a “new and dangerous phase” to cement its hold over occupied East Jerusalem, using sweeping legal and bureaucratic measures to reshape the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood and expand settlements, an Israeli nonprofit said in a new report.
The report, released in late October by human rights group Ir Amim, says the Israeli government is promoting two major housing projects under the guise of urban renewal.
Together, they would see about 2,000 Israeli families settled in Sheikh Jarrah, a neighborhood long emblematic of Palestinian identity.
According to the report, the plans would displace all Palestinians in the western section, a key Palestinian area known as the Western Neighborhood or Umm Haroun.
This push, Ir Amim notes, forms part of a wider set of state actions reshaping control over one of East Jerusalem’s most contested areas.
For residents, these policies compound years of pressure.
“Our neighborhood has been suffering for more than 20 years because of court cases, eviction orders and rising rents,” said Mahmoud Al-Saou, a community representative facing eviction. “All of this is being done to force the residents out.”
Al-Saou said that his own legal struggle began in 2005. “They decided they wanted to demolish my house and build a six-story building on its land, forcing me out,” he told Arab News.
“We go to the Israeli courts because there are no others, but they don’t give us justice. Honestly, we only go to court to buy time.”
That uncertainty, he said, has become a constant burden. “Imagine living in your home and constantly being threatened that at any moment, you might be forced to leave, with nowhere to go.”
His family has lived in their Umm Haroun home since 1963. “I was born here, my children were born here, and all our memories are in Sheikh Jarrah,” he said. “We can’t imagine handing our homes over to settlers.”
According to Al-Saou, settler groups have already seized several plots, turning empty land into parking lots to strengthen future claims. “They want to build settlement units, shopping centers, malls and playgrounds — all through land seizure,” he said.
Two families have already been removed; the Shamasnehs and the household of Hajj Abu Khalil and Hajjah Umm Khalil. The latter had no heirs, and the Israeli General Custodian placed settlers in their home after their passing.
“We tried so hard to take over that house legally, but we couldn’t,” Al-Saou said. “The neighborhood desperately needs housing for its own families.”
The Shamasneh family, AFP reported, was evicted in 2017 after an eight-year legal battle that ended with courts siding with heirs claiming pre-1948 Jewish ownership. Ir Amim’s report confirms that the second household had no heirs and was seized by the state.
These evictions, the report shows, lay the groundwork for the state-backed plans now moving forward. In late 2024, the Jerusalem Development Authority submitted a zoning plan to replace about 40 Palestinian homes in Umm Haroun with 316 housing units.
The plan is marketed as the renewal of the historic Jewish neighborhood of Nahalat Shimon, which existed before 1948.
The authority, jointly owned by the Ministry of Jerusalem Affairs and the Jerusalem Municipality, is responsible for carrying out government development initiatives.
Ir Amim said that past attempts at mass eviction stalled because residents held protected tenancy rights. But rebranding the effort as urban renewal, the group says, allows authorities and settler organizations to bypass these legal protections entirely.
In May, the Jerusalem Municipality’s Local Planning Committee recommended advancing the plan with several amendments.
Pressure is also mounting in the Eastern Neighborhood, or Karm Al-Jaouni, where several families — including the Hanouns, Al-Kurds and Al-Ghaouis — have already been evicted.
“They were evicted years ago,” Al-Saou said. “And the court cases continue in the eastern section.”
Beyond evictions, Ir Amim’s report cites ongoing land-registration processes enabling state and settler bodies to claim ownership, along with the expropriation of public spaces for Jewish institutions.
One such plan includes a yeshiva — a Jewish religious school and dormitory — on land expropriated by the municipality. Additional public spaces are also being targeted, further tightening Israel’s grip on the area.
A September study by the Israeli nonprofit Bimkom similarly found that the Israeli government’s Settlement of Land Title procedures in East Jerusalem have been used to dispossess and displace Palestinians.
The group argues that the legal framework structurally disadvantages Palestinian landowners seeking to prove and formalize ownership. These processes, Bimkom concluded, are “part of the broader policy to promote the annexation” of occupied East Jerusalem.
These legal maneuvers accompany large-scale municipal projects across East Jerusalem, including a business complex in Wadi Joz and a planned municipal park near Sheikh Jarrah, according to Ir Amim.
While city officials say the projects will improve services for Palestinian residents, Ir Amim argues they will instead entrench Israeli control over Sheikh Jarrah and the Old City Basin, accelerating Palestinian displacement.
Together, the report notes, these actions form a coordinated strategy of demographic transformation.
Titled “A Stranglehold on Sheikh Jarrah: New Tools for Israeli Takeover and Palestinian Displacement,” the report warns that the measures could turn Sheikh Jarrah from a historically Palestinian neighborhood into a major Israeli enclave, severing the heart of Palestinian Jerusalem from surrounding neighborhoods.
Aviv Tatarsky, an Ir Amim researcher, said that the state is now openly steering these initiatives.
“All the projects we discuss in the report are state-initiated — whether so-called urban renewal or the yeshiva project,” Tatarsky told Arab News. “Even though the yeshiva is supposedly a religious organization’s initiative, the land was allocated by the Israel Land Authority and the municipality.
“In the past, settler organizations would file eviction claims, and when criticized, state officials could say, ‘It’s a private matter; it has nothing to do with us.’ That pretense has now dropped. What we’re seeing today is the state itself directly driving these projects.”
The intensifying state role builds on decades of efforts by settler groups to seize properties in Sheikh Jarrah, north of Jerusalem’s Old City, since the area came under Israeli control following the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.
The neighborhood is divided into two primary sections: Karm Al-Jaouni, east of Nablus Road, and Umm Haroun, to the west. Each area has its distinct legal battles, community composition and historical land claims.
Central to many cases is the 1970 Legal and Administrative Matters Law, which Ir Amim calls “discriminatory” because it grants Jews exclusive rights to reclaim pre-1948 property while offering no equivalent right to Palestinian refugees displaced during the same period.
Since 1970, nearly 80 Palestinian families in Sheikh Jarrah have faced eviction lawsuits, according to Ir Amim.
Pressures intensified in 2021, when Israel’s Supreme Court considered appeals from seven Palestinian families in Karm Al-Jaouni. The court proposed allowing the families to remain as “protected tenants” if they acknowledged Jewish ownership and paid rent to a settler organization, according to media reports.
But Palestinian families insisted they were the rightful owners under a 1954 Jordan-UNRWA agreement. They were originally displaced during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war from areas including Haifa and Jaffa.
Amid protests in August 2021, the Israeli government declined to intervene in the cases. The Foreign Ministry insisted Sheikh Jarrah was a “private real estate dispute” that had been turned into an international anti-Israel issue, The Times of Israel reported then.
Jordanian civil law Article 395, along with the 1950s resettlement agreements with UNRWA, affirms Palestinian families’ claims, according to the Beirut-based Institute for Palestine Studies.
But Israel’s 1950 Absentee Property Law and 1972 Tenant Protection Law have enabled authorities to transfer refugee property to state or settler control.
Ir Amim’s report says eviction lawsuits continue against several families, filed either by the General Custodian — a department within the Israeli Justice Ministry — or by settler groups. The General Custodian oversees assets allegedly owned by Jews before 1948.
Tatarsky said that the state faces little resistance and is not required to justify its actions. “There is very little pressure against it,” he said. “Israeli society doesn’t care.”
He added: “There are those who are quite strong within Israeli society who actually support these moves. They are very happy to dispossess Palestinians and to create settlements in these places.
“And there are those who don’t necessarily support it, but just don’t care, and (this allows) it to take place. Without the silence of the Israeli public, this could not happen.”
Therefore, he added, “it’s all in the hands of the international community, which is allowing Israel to get away with everything,” including “the destruction of Gaza, the terrible nationalistic Jewish (radicalism) in the West Bank, and dispossessing Palestinians in East Jerusalem.
“Israel, until today, did not even have to justify these new actions. Our report shows that this is a new phase, one that’s much more dangerous in terms of its scope. People, governments and organizations need to understand how serious this is — and act.”
Israel maintains that disputes in Sheikh Jarrah are private property matters to be resolved by the courts.
The UN and the EU have declared the evictions and displacement policies in Sheikh Jarrah violations of international law, including Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits forcible transfers in occupied territory.
In July 2024, the International Court of Justice issued a landmark opinion declaring Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory illegal and calling for the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Still, international action has largely been limited to calls for accountability, documentation of abuses, diplomatic condemnation and support for Palestinian legal challenges.
Meanwhile, since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack triggered Israel’s retaliatory war in Gaza, a parallel escalation has unfolded in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
By October this year, more than 1,000 Palestinians had been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank, one in five of them children, according to UN figures.
The number represents 43 percent of all Palestinians killed in the West Bank over the past two decades and excludes those who died in Israeli detention during the same period.
Since Oct. 7, 2023, 59 Israelis have been killed in Palestinian attacks or armed clashes in the West Bank and Israel, including 16 women and five children. Twenty-two were members of Israeli security forces.
The UN Human Rights Office in the Occupied Palestinian Territory attributes the high Palestinian death toll to what it describes as systematic, unlawful and disproportionate use of lethal force by Israeli security forces, including live fire, airstrikes and shoulder-fired missiles, “with evident disregard for Palestinians’ right to life, including children.”
During the same period, more than 38,450 Palestinians across the West Bank have been displaced, according to UNRWA, with home demolitions a key driver. About 75 percent of them were forced to flee during large-scale Israeli military raids in the northern West Bank.
Despite these conditions, Al-Saou from Sheikh Jarrah’s western section still hopes something may change.
“We have been living in this suffering for a long time,” he said. “It’s hard to live your normal life under such conditions.
“These harsh circumstances were imposed on us to empty the neighborhood of its people, but we are holding on to Sheikh Jarrah with everything we have. And God willing, things will get better.”
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2623826/middle-east
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Africa
‘No Time To Relax’ – Peter Obi Reacts As Victims In Kwara, Niger, Regain Freedom From Bandits
November 25, 2025
By Oladipo Abiola
Former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has commended the rescue of 38 abducted victims from the Eruku Church attack in Kwara State by security forces, as well as the escape of about 50 students from the Catholic Private School in Niger State.
The former Anambra State Governor, however, said the positive developments are not a signal for rest.
He stated that the government and security forces must not relax until all the children are reunited with their families.
Obi further called on the government to go after the criminals, bandits and terrorists ravaging Nigeria and ensure the citizens can heave a sigh of relief.
“It is gratifying to receive some positive news on the rescue of the 38 abducted victims from the Eruku Church attack in Kwara State, as well as the escape of about 50 students from the Catholic Private School in Niger State.
“I would like to commend the security agencies and all those who played a role in this refreshing development.
“However, it is important to emphasise that there must be no relenting or relaxing until all the children are reunited with their families, whose situation must have been deeply agonising.
“There is also a pressing need for both security agencies and school authorities nationwide to remain proactive and ensure that adequate security measures are put in place to frustrate the plans of criminals,” Peter Obi wrote in a statement on his 𝕏 account on Monday.
Naija News recalls that on Sunday, November 23, abducted congregants of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Eruku in Ekiti Local Government Area, were safely rescued.
In the same vein, it was announced that 51 students from a Catholic school in Niger State, part of a much larger abduction case, have also been recovered.
Reacting to the developments in a statement, President Bola Tinubu noted that he cancelled his scheduled trip to the G20 summit in South Africa in order to personally oversee security operations in the country.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/11/25/no-time-to-relax-peter-obi-reacts-as-victims-in-kwara-niger-regain-freedom-from-bandits/
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‘He Can’t Fix Nigeria, If He Can’t Build PDP’ – Oshiomhole Blasts Atiku
November 25, 2025
By Enioluwa Adeniyi
Former All Progressives Congress (APC) national chairman and senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, has said former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, lacks the competence to lead Nigeria, arguing that his failure to stabilise the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) proves he cannot manage a complex nation.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Oshiomhole questioned Atiku’s leadership credentials, insisting that the former PDP presidential candidate had been unable to organise or strengthen the party where he once served as vice president.
He said, “If Atiku, as a former vice president under PDP, could not fix PDP, he could not reconstruct it, he could not provide leadership and use his influence which he had built, how can you lay claim to fix Nigeria?”
His comments came shortly after Atiku officially joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC), ending months of speculation about his political future.
Atiku confirmed his defection in a post on 𝕏, sharing a photo of himself lifting his ADC membership card with the caption, “It’s official.”
Oshiomhole also revisited Atiku’s earlier exit from the APC, accusing him of dumping the ruling party purely because he failed to clinch the presidential ticket.
He said, “He was once a member of the APC. He left because he lost the party’s presidential ticket.”
The Edo North senator dismissed Atiku’s new political alignment as another attempt to reposition himself for the 2027 elections, insisting that the former vice president’s track record disqualifies him from leadership claims.
He added, “He went back to the PDP. He’s so much in love with the PDP, at least for the purpose of contesting the election. He could not build PDP. So, if Atiku can’t build the PDP that made him Vice President, he can’t fix Nigeria.”
Atiku resigned from the PDP in July following prolonged internal disagreements and accusations that the party had abandoned its founding ideals.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/11/25/he-cant-fix-nigeria-if-he-cant-build-pdp-oshiomhole-blasts-atiku/
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Tinubu’s Direct Coordination Led To Rescue Of 38 Kidnapped Kwara Worshippers – Security Sources
November 24, 2025
By Enioluwa Adeniyi
The successful rescue of all 38 worshippers abducted from the Christ Apostolic Church, Eruku, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, was achieved through the direct and personal coordination of security operations by President Bola Tinubu, top security sources have revealed.
Last Wednesday, several armed men wielding AK-47 rifles stormed the church during a service. The attack, which was inadvertently streamed live, left two worshippers dead and several others injured before the attackers fled into the bush with 38 congregants.
The abduction sparked widespread outrage, both locally and internationally.
According to trusted security insiders who spoke with The Nation, President Tinubu personally took control of the rescue mission, receiving “round-the-clock briefings,” assessing operational strategies, and making firm decisions to counter criticism that his administration was not doing enough to protect Christian and non-Christian communities.
One source said the President was determined “to go to extreme lengths” to ensure the abducted worshippers were rescued alive.
The President’s involvement reportedly triggered unprecedented intelligence coordination, including detailed mapping and aerial surveillance by the Office of the National Security Adviser.
This led DSS operatives to storm identified coordinates in the forests of Oreke Okeigbo, Ifelodun LGA.
Security sources disclosed that Tinubu approved the Sunday raid jointly carried out by the Department of State Services and the Nigerian Air Force, which culminated in the rescue of all 38 abductees around 3:20 pm.
Given the classified nature of the operation, the sources said it remained unclear whether the kidnappers fled upon sighting security forces or were neutralised during the raid.
They also recalled that in June, gunmen had attacked a marble mining site within the same axis, killing two policemen and abducting Chinese workers. Victims Aged Between 5 and 67 Years
A breakdown of the 38 rescued kidnapped church worshippers showed that 26 of them are females, while the remaining 12 are males.
The oldest victim is 67 years old, while the youngest worshipper is five. Four other rescued victims are six and nine years old, respectively.
Two of them are 10 years old; three are in their pre-teens, four are teenagers, while the rest are between 20 and 58 years old, the sources disclosed.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/11/24/tinubus-direct-coordination-led-to-rescue-of-38-kidnapped-kwara-worshippers-security-sources/
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Southeast Asia
From Netflix to Google: Malaysia nets RM1.62b from foreign digital giants, ending undercutting of local businesses
25 Nov 2025
By R. Loheswar
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 25 — Malaysia collected RM476 million from the Low Value Goods (LVG) tax and RM1.62 billion from the Service Tax on Digital Services (STODS) in 2024, Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan told the Dewan Rakyat today.
He said figures show the government is now capturing revenue from overseas online sellers and foreign digital platforms that previously operated without paying local taxes, unlike Malaysian businesses that are subject to SST and strict compliance rules.
The LVG of 10 per cent on imported goods below RM500 in 2024 was RM476 million.
The STODS for 2021 was RM802 million, 2022 RM999 million, 2023 RM1.15 billion and RM1.62 billion in 2024.
“People should no longer see imported goods as cheaper just because they avoided sales tax in the past. Foreign digital services like Netflix, Apple, Microsoft and Google must now register with customs and pay the same 6 per cent service tax that local providers have been paying.
“STODS creates a level playing field between local digital service companies and foreign platforms that previously operated without paying service tax,” Amir Hamzah said.
But Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman suggested that those foreign tech giants could escape from paying taxes in Malaysia by making large political donations as the Finance Ministry held broad powers that enabled them to grant tax exemptions.
“Young people are barred from travel over small unpaid PTPTN loans but big corporations can get tax waivers with one signature,” he said, using the Malay abbreviation to refer to the National Higher Education Fund.
The backbencher called for annual public disclosures of beneficiaries.
Defending the exemption mechanisme, Amir Hamzah said incentives are only granted when they benefit national investments and must go through a committee.
“Those exemptions aren’t arbitrary, they are targeted to attract investment and keep Malaysia competitive.
“Sometimes exemptions are only partial, not full. We compete with other countries for investment and incentives are important. We’re always open to improving the process if there are better ways to ensure transparency,” the minister added.
Amir Hamzah said that the LVG and STODS ensure that imported goods and foreign services no longer undercut Malaysian businesses.
He said the government also provides support for small and medium enterprises from lower corporate tax rates to digitalisation grants so that local players are not disadvantaged in the increasingly globalised e-commerce environment.
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/11/25/from-netflix-to-google-malaysia-nets-rm162b-from-foreign-digital-giants-ending-undercutting-of-local-businesses/199583
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PM Anwar urges SPM candidates to stay calm and confident
25 Nov 2025
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim encourages SPM candidates, including those in flood-hit areas, to take their exams with confidence until December 23.
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has urged all Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) candidates to remain calm and confident throughout their examinations.
In a social media post, he specifically addressed students in flood-affected areas, encouraging them to trust in their abilities during the exam period running until December 23.
“The government, through the Ministry of Education and relevant agencies, is fully prepared to ensure every candidate can sit for the examination in a safe, orderly and secure environment,” he said.
Anwar emphasised that candidates’ effort, prayers and perseverance could lead to future success.
He also shared a video showing first-day examination checks at SMK Putrajaya Presint 11(1), which involved 228 candidates.
The written SPM 2025 examination began today with Bahasa Melayu Paper 1, followed by Visual Arts Education and Bahasa Melayu Paper 2.
Meanwhile, flood conditions continue to affect multiple states across Malaysia.
As of this morning, 20,146 flood victims have been placed at 119 temporary relief centres across eight states.
Pahang has become the latest state affected by flooding, joining Kelantan, Terengganu, Perlis, Kedah, Selangor, Perak and Penang.
The Northeast Monsoon began on November 13 and is expected to continue until March 2026.
Source: thesun.my
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https://thesun.my/news/malaysia-news/pm-anwar-urges-spm-candidates-to-stay-calm-and-confident/
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PM Anwar returns from successful three-nation Africa tour
25 Nov 2025
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim concludes seven-day Africa visit, strengthening ties and expanding strategic cooperation through MADANI Diplomacy Mission.
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim arrived home at 9.15 am today after completing a three-nation tour of Africa.
In a Facebook post, he said the MADANI Diplomacy Mission to the continent yielded significant outcomes, strengthening ties, opening new opportunities and expanding strategic cooperation.
“It is now time to translate these commitments and agreements into policies and actions that bring real benefits to the people and the nation,” he said.
Anwar departed Nairobi on a chartered Malaysia Airlines flight from the State Pavilion Terminal at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at 7 pm local time yesterday (midnight Malaysian time).
The seven-day visit began in Ethiopia from Nov 18 to 20, continued in South Africa from Nov 20 to 23 for the G20 Leaders’ Summit, and concluded in Kenya from Nov 23 to 24.
He was accompanied by Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz; Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Zaliha Mustafa; senior officials; and a delegation of business leaders. – Bernama
Source: thesun.my
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https://thesun.my/news/malaysia-news/pm-anwar-three-nation-africa-tour/
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Europe
French Muslim Councils File Complaint Over Poll Accused Of Fuelling Anti-Muslim Hatred
24.11.2025
Several Muslim religious councils in France have filed a legal complaint over an Ifop survey they say distorts the religious practices of French Muslims and fuels a climate of growing anti-Muslim hostility.
The complaint targets a poll commissioned by the little-known magazine Ecran de veille and released on Nov. 18, which claims to show a rising “re-Islamisation” among Muslims in France, particularly among younger people.
The survey highlights what it calls more “radical” behaviour among the youth — including prayer frequency, Ramadan observance and wearing the veil — findings the councils say are framed in a way that reinforces prejudice.
In a joint statement on Sunday, the departmental councils of Muslim worship in Loiret, Aube and Bouches-du-Rhone said the survey “violates the principle of objectivity” required under France’s 1977 law on opinion polling, BFM TV reported.
They argued the poll was based on “leading questions” and selectively highlighted minority responses “for polemical purposes.”
Lawyers Raphael Kempf and Romain Ruiz, representing the councils, described Ecran de veille as a “nebulous and reactionary organisation,” saying the study “spreads the poison of hatred in the public sphere” at a time when official data shows a sharp increase in anti-Muslim incidents.
Figures from the Interior Ministry indicate anti-Muslim acts rose by 75% compared with 2024, they noted.
The councils said the survey reinforced harmful conflations and amplified narratives promoted by far-right media outlets.
“This poll, picked up by several far-right media outlets, is an insult to Muslims in France and an affront to the values of equality and fraternity promoted by our Republic,” the complaint said.
The publication has drawn wide debate as France faces heightened tensions around religious identity and political use of Islam. While the poll has circulated among far-right figures as evidence of a supposed “threat,” Muslim organisations say it reflects a longstanding pattern of portraying French Muslims as a problem for the Republic.
The case will now be examined by prosecutors as part of a preliminary investigation.
Source: aa.com.tr
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https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/french-muslim-councils-file-complaint-over-poll-accused-of-fueling-anti-muslim-hatred/3752672
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UN slams 'meagre' COP results, 'fatal inaction' of leaders
Nov 24, 2025
GENEVA: The UN rights chief lamented Monday the "meagre results" at the COP30 climate summit, warning that the "fatal inaction" of leaders might one day be considered a crime against humanity.
Nations sealed a modest agreement at the UN climate summit in the Brazilian Amazon on Saturday as many countries swallowed weaker terms on a fossil fuel phaseout to preserve unity.
The agreement calls on countries to voluntarily "accelerate" their climate action, but only with an implicit nod to phasing out fossil fuels.
In an address to the UN's business and human rights forum in Geneva, UN rights chief Volker Turk warned that the "meagre results of COP30 in Belem" illustrated how "corporate power imbalances ... play out in the climate emergency".
"The fossil fuel industry is generating massive profits while devastating some of the poorest communities and countries in the world," he said.
"There needs to be proper accountability for this injustice, and for all other harms related to climate chaos."
Turk highlighted a recent ruling by the International Court of Justice determining that "governments need to prevent significant harm to our climate, including by regulating businesses".
And the Inter-American Court of Human Rights had also recognised the right to a stable climate and called on countries to "enforce corporate due diligence and provide remedies for climate related harm", he said.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights told Monday's gathering that he often wondered "how future generations will judge our leaders' actions - and their fatal inaction - on the climate crisis in 50, 100 years from now".
"Could the inadequate response of today be considered ecocide or even a crime against humanity?"
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/europe/un-slams-meagre-cop-results-fatal-inaction-of-leaders/articleshow/125540380.cms
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BBC may not be in 'safe hands' under its chair, says committee head
25 November 2025
The head of the culture select committee has questioned whether the BBC board is in "safe hands" under its chair Samir Shah, describing his evidence to MPs on Monday as "wishy-washy".
Shah appeared in front of the Commons committee after a turbulent period for the BBC, which has seen its director general and head of news resign after claims about impartiality in its reporting.
Speaking to the BBC's World Tonight after the hearing, Dame Caroline Dinenage, the most senior MP on the committee, said she was concerned about a lack of "grip at the heart of BBC governance".
Shah told the Commons committee he would not walk away from the job, saying he would "steady the ship" and "fix it".
Shah and other senior BBC figures were summoned to give evidence about how the corporation is addressing concerns raised about impartiality in its news coverage.
The row was triggered by the leak of a memo written by an ex-independent advisor on editorial standards, which included criticism of how a Donald Trump speech was edited by the Panorama programme.
The fallout has seen two of the BBC's most senior leaders quit, the US president threaten to sue and renewed pressure on the organisation from senior politicians in the UK.
Asked about the assurances Shah gave to the committee, Conservative MP Dame Caroline said: "He didn't really have direct answers on the questions of how to get the BBC to act quicker, act more decisively... we were really looking for hard evidence that the BBC board are going to grip this... I'm not entirely convinced that they can and they will."
Asked about Shah's position, she said: "The BBC can't be left without a [director general] and without a chair - someone needs to be there to lead the march to replace the leadership.
"But equally I don't think we as a committee were wildly enthused that the board is in safe hands."
She continued: "We're going to need to see a lot more robust answers to questions like the ones we were posing today... everything was very wishy-washy... there wasn't a huge sense that there was grip at the heart of the BBC governance."
Shah told the committee the search for a new director general had begun, and that he wanted to create a deputy role because the job was "too big for one person".
He also told the committee the BBC had been too slow to respond to controversy over how Trump's speech from 6 January 2021 had been edited.
In that speech, Trump said: "We're going to walk down to the Capitol, and we're going to cheer on our brave senators and congressmen and women."
More than 50 minutes later in the speech, he said: "And we fight. We fight like hell."
In the Panorama programme the clip shows him as saying: "We're going to walk down to the Capitol... and I'll be there with you. And we fight. We fight like hell."
The BBC apologised for the edit after the leaked memo triggered public scrutiny and criticism from the White House more than a year after it had first been broadcast.
The corporation later said it had given "the mistaken impression [Trump] had made a direct call for violent action", but Shah said on Monday that it had taken too long to do so due to an internal dispute over the wording and nature of the apology.
He told the committee: "It took time to get it right, what the actual apology was for."
While the BBC has apologised for the edit, it has strongly rejected Trump's position that he has cause to sue the corporation for defamation, and said it would not pay financial compensation, which the president's lawyers had demanded.
The leaked memo was authored by Michael Prescott, who previously acted as an external advisor to the BBC on editorial matters.
He claimed there had been "systemic" failings over a range of topics, including claims of bias in how BBC Arabic had covered the Israel-Gaza conflict, and in the BBC's coverage of trans issues.
Giving evidence to the same committee, Prescott said he believed issues were "getting worse" at the BBC, and that the board was "not taking stuff as seriously as I hoped" - though added that he did not believe the organisation to be "institutionally biased".
Monday's hearing also took evidence from other senior figures connected to the BBC. Their evidence included:
Board member Sir Robbie Gibb, a former BBC editor and ex-communications director for Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May, rejected claims he had orchestrated a politically motivated coup against the director general and head of news as "complete nonsense"
Caroline Thomson told MPs that BBC News had argued the Trump edit was "justified" but was not "transparent enough", while the board felt it was "misleading"
Caroline Daniel, another former external editorial advisor, said there had been "robust debate" on some issues within the BBC, and described the leaked memo as Prescott's "personal account"
In an email to staff on Monday, Shah said recruiting a new director general, the most senior position in the BBC, to replace Tim Davie would be a "top priority" for him in the coming months.
He said work was under way to assess whether action taken in response to issues raised in the leaked memo was "appropriate" or whether "further action is required".
Shah also said a review would be carried out into how the BBC's Editorial Guidelines and Standards Committee operates, in order to ensure it has the necessary powers, represents a "broad range of voices", and is accountable.
Both Davie and head of news Deborah Turness, who quit within hours of each other in an unprecedented shake-up at the top of the BBC, rejected there was systemic bias in the corporation's reporting.
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd74ne84lqdo
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Putin and Erdogan hold call on Ukraine conflict – Kremlin
24 Nov, 2025
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, have agreed to intensify contacts between the two countries’ diplomats on settling the Ukraine conflict, the Kremlin said on Monday following a phone conversation between the two leaders.
Putin and Erdogan discussed a recently leaked US-drafted proposal on resolving the ongoing hostilities. Washington presented the plan to both Moscow and Kiev earlier this month. The details were not officially made public, but media reports indicated that it included de facto recognition of Crimea and Donbass as Russian, as well as a cap of 600,000 personnel on the Ukrainian military and a requirement for Kiev to stay out of NATO.
Putin has confirmed that Moscow received the plan but said it has yet to be discussed “in detail.” Speaking to Erdogan on Monday, the Russian president said the proposals were consistent with the understandings reached during the Alaska summit in August, and that the initiative could serve as the basis for a potential peace agreement.
Moscow is interested in resolving the Ukraine conflict through political and diplomatic means, the Russian president stated.
Erdogan reaffirmed Ankara’s readiness to help Russia and Ukraine reach a “just and lasting peace.”
The Turkish city of Istanbul served as a venue for three rounds of talks between Moscow and Kiev earlier this year, yielding some progress on humanitarian issues, including POW exchanges. Putin also said in September that Turkish mediation in the Ukraine conflict continues to be valued and would be desirable in the future.
The phone call occurred while US officials were discussing Washington’s peace proposals with the EU and Ukrainian representatives in Geneva. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said afterward that a “tremendous amount of progress” had been made on the plan but “there is still some work to be done.”
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/russia/628323-putin-erdogan-ukraine-conflict/
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Arms industry investors in panic over Ukraine peace talks
24 Nov, 2025
The prospect of a possible peace in Ukraine has caused “panic” among investors in the German defense industry, sending stocks of arms manufacturers such as Rheinmetall tumbling.
The US reportedly handed Kiev a 28-point peace proposal last week and gave it until Thursday to respond. The framework was discussed in Geneva on Sunday, with US President Donald Trump saying afterwards that “something good” may be happening.
The peace push immediately unnerved investors, triggering a fierce sell-off of shares in Rheinmetall, Germany’s largest arms manufacturer and a key supplier of military equipment to Kiev. Rheinmetall stock has fallen by over 14% over the past five days, with defense-electronics producer Hensoldt recording a similar drop.
“Investors fear that an end to hostilities could also mean the end of the “super-cycle” for defense stocks,” Boerse-Express wrote.
Germany has become Kiev’s second-largest arms provider after the US, and Rheinmetall, which produces tanks, artillery systems, and ammunition, recently reported surging profits for the first nine months of 2025, alongside a record order backlog driven by the conflict and rising EU military budgets. Company shares have climbed nearly 2,000% since fighting escalated almost four years ago.
During the previous US attempt to broker peace in February, Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger argued that even if the fighting were to end, it would be “wrong” for Europe to assume “a peaceful future.” In 2024, the company announced plans to build four manufacturing plants in Ukraine.
The broader European defense sector has been expanding at roughly three times its pre-2022 pace, Financial Times reported in August. Western leaders claim the accelerated buildup is needed to meet NATO readiness targets, maintain arms deliveries to Kiev, and deter what they describe as a potential Russian threat.
Moscow has called such claims “absurd” fearmongering aimed at justifying increased military spending and condemned what it calls the West’s “reckless militarization.”
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/business/628322-rheinmetall-shares-fall-ukraine-peace/
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EU’s humiliation in Geneva: No influence, no voice, no plan
24 Nov, 2025
This weekend’s emergency consultations in Geneva between senior officials from the United States, Ukraine and handful of European NATO states were convened after President Donald Trump’s peace plan burst into the open. The meeting was supposed to clarify the roadmap for a settlement in Ukraine. Instead, it preserved the intrigue and the deliberate “strategic ambiguity” that now surrounds Washington’s approach.
The final statement issued by Washington and Kiev was remarkably vague. It offered only a general commitment to building a “lasting and just peace” in Ukraine, without saying whose definition of justice or whose version of peace would prevail. And while Kiev and its Western European backers had loudly objected to key elements of Trump’s 28-point proposal, it’s still unclear whether the document was meaningfully amended at all. Even so, several conclusions from Geneva are already visible.
First, the main winner was the American delegation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Representative Steven Witkoff set the tone of the meeting, and Rubio’s insistence that “there is only one peace plan, not two” became the defining line of the day. Only 24 hours earlier, both Kiev and European capitals were buzzing about an alternative scheme supposedly being rushed to Switzerland. French President Emmanuel Macron warned that Trump’s document included provisions directly affecting all of Europe – frozen Russian assets, Ukraine’s EU prospects, NATO activities – and therefore required broader agreement.
Yet none of this resulted in real changes. Whatever Western European leaders hoped to insert, nothing of substance appears to have made it into the negotiations. Trump’s peace plan did not become, and will not become, a joint American–EU project.
The second conclusion follows from the first: Britain, France and Germany were sidelined. The Geneva meeting was officially trilateral, yet the final outcome was a bilateral US–Ukrainian statement. Western European officials, present in the room, vanished from the document. That omission is not an accident, it’s a clear sign of who holds leverage and who does not.
Third, Ukraine itself emerged as the other loser of the day. According to the White House, Kiev has now agreed that Trump’s draft “reflects its national interests” and provides “reliable and feasible mechanisms” for Ukraine’s security. That is a dramatic reversal from President Zelensky’s address the previous evening, in which he accused his “main partner” of trying to deprive Ukraine of its dignity and promised to resist. Geneva shows how little of that rhetoric survived contact with reality.
Trump’s plan, dismissed at first as a political “fog,” is beginning to solidify into the framework for future agreements. Whether Kiev or its Western European backers like it or not, Washington is setting the terms, and everyone else is learning to live with them.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/russia/628330-eus-humiliation-in-geneva/
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North America
Trump moves to designate some Muslim Brotherhood chapters as terrorist groups
Nov 25, 2025
Max Matza
US President Donald Trump has ordered officials to examine whether to designate some chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorists groups, a move that would target the group with economic and travel sanctions.
His executive order on Monday calls for his top aides to produce a report investigating whether the branches in Egypt, Lebanon and Jordan should be listed as foreign terrorist organisations and specially designated global terrorists.
The order cites the groups' alleged ties to Hamas, and "destabilization campaigns that harm their own regions, United States citizens, and United States interests".
The Muslim Brotherhood, founded almost 100 years ago, is banned in Jordan and Egypt.
The executive order directs US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to consult Attorney General Pam Bondi and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and to produce a report within 30 days.
It then gives the US officials 45 days to levy sanctions if they are determined to be warranted.
The designation, which Trump could order at any time, would make it illegal to provide support for the group. It would also lead to economic sanctions, and the banning of its members from entering the US.
"President Trump is confronting the Muslim Brotherhood's transnational network, which fuels terrorism and destabilization campaigns against US interests and allies in the Middle East," the White House said in a statement.
Last week, the governor of Texas declared the Muslim Brotherhood a foreign terrorist organisation and transnational criminal organisation.
The Texas order also assigns the same status to the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the largest Muslim advocacy group in the US, and prevents both groups from being able to purchase land in the state.
The Brotherhood was founded in Egypt almost 100 years ago and has local branches across the world. Each chapter varies in ideology, and one of its aims is to create a state ruled by Islamic law, or Sharia.
Trump considered designating the group a terrorist organisation during his first term after meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi. It is outlawed in Egypt and several Arab countries, whose governments see it as a threat.
In April, Jordan banned the group after arresting members on suspicion of planning rocket and drone attacks.
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1w9j0jqj99o
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Canada needs to ban Muslim Brotherhood, advocates urge
Nov 24, 2025
OTTAWA — As the United States prepares to declare a contentious Islamic group a terrorist entity, pressure is growing here at home for Canada to follow suit.
On Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump reinstated his administration’s intention to declare the Muslim Brotherhood — an Islamist organization founded in Egypt nearly a century ago — a terrorist organization.
“It will be done in the strongest and most powerful terms,” Trump told American news outlet Just the News on Sunday.
“Final documents are being drawn.”
Tumultuous history in Egypt
Founded by Egyptian Cleric Hassan al-Banna in 1928, the teachings of the Muslim Brotherhood spread throughout the Arab world after Israel’s victory in the Six-Day War in 1967, eventually becoming influential enough to enter popular politics in Egypt.
The Muslim Brotherhood has been banned on-and-off in Egypt, most recently in 2013, following the overthrow of brotherhood-affiliated president Mohamed Morsi.
Many notorious figures in Islamic terror have allied themselves with the Brotherhood, including Egyptian scholar Sayyid Qutb — whose writings on Islamic monotheism inspired al Qaeda founders Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri.
Canada should follow-suit, advocates urge
Among those who want Canada to outlaw the Muslim Brotherhood are Imam Mohammad Tawhidi, head of the Global Imams Council (GIC.)
“Let me be unequivocal, there is no threat greater to national security today than the Muslim Brotherhood,” Tawhidi said last week in Ottawa during the Parliamentary Forum on Peace and Security.
“(There is) no threat greater in its reach, no threat greater in its ideological influence, no threat greater in its ability to infiltrate, manipulate and mobilize. This is not rhetoric, it is reality.”
As the same meeting, former Canadian justice minister Irwin Cotler described Tawhidi’s words as a “call to action.”
“All this is a standing threat to Canadian national security, to Canadian values, and to our own shared identity and commitment,” Cotler said.
“This has to be seen as a wake-up call here because this radical Islamic extremism is not just a threat to minorities, it’s not even just a threat to Muslims, it’s a threat to the very things that are bringing us here today — the struggle for peace, the struggle for security, and the struggle for the pursuit of justice.”
Nations that have already outlawed the brotherhood include Austria, Egypt, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan.
Brotherhood problem in Canada for ‘decades’
Macdonald-Laurier Institute Senior Fellow Casey Babb, who is also an advisor to Secure Canada, told the Toronto Sun the Brotherhood has been a problem in Canada for decades.
“They’ve infiltrated key sectors of our economy and society, from health care, to finance, to all levels and government, and they’ve been incredibly effective in turning this country into an ATM and forward operating base for jihadists,” he said.
“For at least a quarter of a century, Islamists connected to the Brotherhood have encouraged their followers to use to use Canada subtly and gradually to introduce Sharia guidelines and regulations in Canada, and while we’ve known about these things, we’ve done nothing to combat them — and now we’re paying a price.”
Unlike similar organizations, the Brotherhood largely operates in the shadows, which Babb said makes them all the more dangerous.
Canada, many observers say, cannot afford to stay silent on the threat this group poses.
“The world is moving, nations are waking up, security establishments are responding, and yet Canada’s notably absent from this international conversation,” Tawhidi said.
“We cannot afford this silence.”
Source: torontosun.com
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https://torontosun.com/news/canada-needs-to-ban-muslim-brotherhood-advocates-urge
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Man charged after entering mosque armed with AR-15, showing gun to children, officials say
Nov. 24, 2025
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS/Gray News) – A man in South Carolina is facing charges after police said he entered a mosque armed with a rifle.
The Richland County Sheriff’s Department said 29-year-old Adam White turned himself in Thursday. He was charged with disturbance of a place of worship, aggravated breach of peace and two counts of pointing and presenting a firearm.
According to the sheriff’s department, White went into the mosque on Nov. 9 carrying an AR-15 rifle and disturbing worship.
Authorities also said surveillance video from the mosque showed White talked to some children who were there at the time and showed them the gun.
The situation involving White was not reported until Nov. 14, according to the sheriff’s department.
Officials said an effort was made to find White on Nov. 19, a day before he turned himself in.
As of Friday night, records show White was booked at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center. He was given a $3,720 bond.
The sheriff’s department said they believe this was an isolated incident.
Source: kcrg.com
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https://www.kcrg.com/2025/11/24/man-charged-after-entering-mosque-armed-with-ar-15-showing-gun-children-officials-say/
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Muscatine County settles with jailer who made anti-gay, Muslim posts
Nov. 24, 2025
MUSCATINE, Iowa (KWQC) - A former jailer in Muscatine County will receive nearly $87,000 from the county to settle a lawsuit.
Dean Naylor was fired by the county over online posts he made about Muslims and LGBTQ people.
Naylor, a jail administrator and captain in the sheriff’s department, sued, seeking $1.5 million.
An attorney for the county told supervisors on Monday that the much smaller settlement will save the county the costs of prolonged litigation.
Naylor had argued his firing violated his First Amendment rights. His posts involved several videos on YouTube where he talked about Muslims as “pawns of the devil” and “the gay agenda.”
Naylor said he’s a devout born-again Christian.
In exchange for the money, Naylor promises not to sue the county again.
Source: kwqc.com
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https://www.kwqc.com/2025/11/24/muscatine-county-settles-with-jailer-who-made-anti-gay-muslim-posts/
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US tags group 'linked' to Maduro terror outfit, to slap sanctions
Nov 25, 2025
WASHINGTON: The US on Monday formally designated Cartel de los Soles a foreign terrorist organization, layering additional terrorism-related sanctions on the group it has said includes Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and other high-ranking officials.
Venezuela's govt rejected what it called a "ridiculous" US plan to designate the "non-existent" group.
Secretary of state Marco Rubio said this month his country would announce the designation as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) for its alleged role in importing illegal drugs into the US. Maduro faces escalating pressure from President Trump's massive US military buildup in the Caribbean, raising concerns that the US may seek to use the designation to justify military action.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/us-tags-group-linked-to-maduro-terror-outfit-to-slap-sanctions/articleshow/125553450.cms
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Ex-CIA Agent Says Weakened Islamic Republic Of Iran Won't Go Down Without A Fight
Negar Mojtahedi
Nov 25, 2025
Worsted in war and sapped by sanctions, the Islamic Republic remains determined to quash with deadly force any domestic move to topple it, former CIA case officer Reuel Marc Gerecht told Iran International.
Few understand the stakes better than former CIA case officer Reuel Marc Gerecht, a man who once risked his life to enter Iran on his own.
After four decades of watching the Islamic Republic from every angle - as a CIA officer, a historian and someone who smuggled himself into Iran just to see what it was really like - Gerecht’s conclusion about Iran today is stark.
“These people are not moving to Paris,” he said. “They are going down swinging.”
Tehran, he says, is fundamentally unstable, badly shaken by a US-Israeli war in June and deeply suspicious of intelligence penetration by its enemies.
“It has spiritually and perhaps bureaucratically dealt a death blow to the Supreme Leader,” he said, asserting that the stature of veteran theocrat Ali Khamenei who since the conflict has emerged in public more rarely is on the wane.
“I am very doubtful that the eighty-six-year-old gentleman is actually running the government now," he said. "His clones are. He has been effective replicating himself inside the system.”
The surprise Israeli air campaign in June appeared to expose broad intelligence failures and killed hundreds of military personnel and civilians.
Assassinations of top commanders need not have required many Israeli personnel or agents, said Gerecht, a former so-called Iranian targets officer who identified and recruiting Iranians to work for US intelligence.
“The number wouldn’t be that large,” he said.
Young men
Still, the impasse over Iran's disputed nuclear program festers despite US President Donald Trump's assertion that US attacks on nuclear facilities had "obliterated" it.
Khamenei and other top leaders have ruled out US conditions to restart talks even as US and international sanctions on Iran have deepened, driving up costs of living and undermining popular support for authorities.
“The regime cannot make a full recovery and they know that,” he said. “They know how many people dislike them intensely.” Yet as long as Tehran maintains “X number of young men willing to commit violence” on its behalf, it survives.
The United States, he said, is unlikely to seek Tehran's downfall by force.
“The unexpected could happen,” he said. “It is the unexpected that really scares them.” But he sees no serious external push for regime change. “Trump certainly does not have a regime change strategy,” he said. “The bureaucracies are always opposed to that.”
Given US reluctance to get embroiled in another Mideast adventure, any change to the nearly fifty-year-old Islamic system would come from within.
The "Woman, Life, Freedom" protest movement sparked by the death of a young woman, Mahsa Amini, in 2022 was quashed with deadly force by security forces.
“Women can’t bring the Islamic Republic down," Gerecht said. "It has to be young men.”
Going rogue
It was the early 1990s and Iran was still emerging from revolution and a devastating war with Iraq when Gerecht made a decision few would dare.
Driven by a relentless desire to understand the country from within, he left the agency and paid a truck driver to hide him in a cramped storage compartment as they crossed the border from Turkey into Iran.
“They (the CIA) didn’t allow me to go inside Iran,” he said. “So I went rogue.”
In his view, the governing system has lost legitimacy but not its capacity for violence, and real change will only come from fractures among the men who enforce the clerical establishment, not from foreign pressure or peaceful transition.
Gerecht recalled an anecdote far from Iran. At a party in Moscow years ago, he asked a group of former and current KGB officers what had disturbed them most about their service. “They all said they got tired of lying to their children,” he recalled.
He wonders whether one day those inside Iran’s own security establishment might face that same reckoning.
“If that type of scenario is possible,” he said, “then you could conceivably have real change in the Islamic Republic.”
Until then, he sees Iran as a country full of contradictions and a clerical establishment determined to maintain its grip by force.
Source: iranintl.com
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https://www.iranintl.com/en/202511248777
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South Asia
Defence lawyer urges ICT-2 not to try four AL leaders only for their political identity
Nov 25, 2025
A state-appointed defence lawyer today urged the International Crimes Tribunal-2 not to conduct the trial of Mahbubul Alam Hanif and three others "only because they belong to the Awami League."
Md Amir Hossain made the appeal while defending AL Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif and three Kushtia-based party leaders in a crimes against humanity case linked to the killing of six people in Kushtia and their alleged command responsibility during last year's July uprising.
Amir previously served as state defence counsel for Sheikh Hasina and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal at tribunal-1.
The prosecution delivered its opening statement before the two-member bench of tribunal-2.
Prosecutor Mizanul Islam outlined evidence related to alleged attacks on students and residents during the uprising, saying there was "undeniable proof" implicating Hanif and the others.
The co-accused are Kushtia district AL president and former zila parishad chairman Sadruddin Khan, district general secretary Azgar Ali, and Kushtia city general secretary Ataur Rahman Ata. All four are currently absconding.
Responding to the defence's concerns, the bench said the tribunal was committed to ensuring due process.
The case, includes 38 witnesses, among them family members of victims, eyewitnesses, injured survivors, movement participants and investigators.
The tribunal has rescheduled the first witness deposition to December 8 following a prosecution request.
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/crime-justice/news/defence-lawyer-urges-ict-2-not-try-four-al-leaders-only-their-political-identity-4043136
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Police Service Association condemns Jamaat leader’s remarks on ‘controlling’ admin, police
Nov 25, 2025
The Police Service Association (PSA) has issued a strong condemnation against the recent remarks made by Jamaat-e-Islami leader Shahjahan Chowdhury regarding "controlling" local administration and police.
In a statement issued on Monday night, the association, representing BCS cadre police officials, termed the remarks "derogatory" toward the police force, saying that such comments incite the political use of a crucial democratic institution.
Shahjahan Chowdhury, a member of Jamaat's central working committee, made the controversial remarks during an event in Chattogram on Saturday. A video of the speech has since been circulated widely on social media, drawing criticism.
"You must bring the administration in your respective constituencies under our control. They will stand, sit, arrest, and file cases at our command. The police will have to walk behind you. The OC of the police station will know your schedule in the morning and provide you protocol," Shahjahan was heard saying in the video.
Without mentioning Shahjahan's name, the PSA statement quoted this remark.
The statement, signed by Dhaka District Superintendent of Police (SP) Md Anisuzzaman, emphasised that Bangladesh Police operates according to the constitution and the law.
The statement acknowledged that over the last 17 years, attempts were made to politically influence the institution by using some "ambitious members" of the force. That has created a distance between the police and the public. However, it asserted that following the uprising on August 5 of 2024, police are now performing their duties with greater neutrality and professionalism than before.
"The police will no longer work to implement political ambitions by becoming anyone's partisan slave," the statement added.
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/crime-justice/news/police-service-association-condemns-jamaat-leaders-remarks-controlling-admin-police-4042931
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Krishna Nandi likely Jamaat candidate for Khulna‑1
Nov 25, 2025
Krishna Nandi, president of the Jamaat-e-Islami Hindu Committee in Dumuria, is likely to be nominated by the party to contest the Khulna-1 (Batiaghata -Dacope) constituency, according to party sources.
Nandi himself confirmed the development.
Speaking to The Daily Star, Krishna Nandi said, "They have confirmed me for the Khulna-1 seat. You will know officially once Jamaat makes the announcement."
He also added that he would begin campaign activities soon. "The central ameer and secretary general, Golam Parwar, will introduce me formally. After that, I will start working," he said.
Asked when central leaders might visit the constituency, Nandi replied, "They will come very soon."
Mizanur Rahman, secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami's Khulna metropolitan unit, told The Daily Star that the final decision would come from the central leadership.
"Unofficially, his name is being considered, but nothing is final yet," he said.
Meanwhile, the BNP has already announced candidates for five of the six constituencies in Khulna. Khulna-1 (Batiaghata-Dacope) remains the only seat for which it has not yet declared a nominee.
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/politics/news/krishna-nandi-likely-jamaat-candidate-khulna-1-4042826
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Pakistan Airstrikes Kill 10 Civilians in Afghanistan, Including Nine Children
By Fidel Rahmati
November 25, 2025
Pakistan’s overnight airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Khost province killed 10 civilians, including nine children, intensifying already fragile relations and sparking renewed regional alarm.
Overnight airstrikes by Pakistan have reportedly struck multiple locations inside Afghanistan, killing at least ten civilians, according to the Taliban administration. Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, said the dead include nine children and one woman from the same family after a residential home was hit in the Mughalki area of Gurbuz district in Khost province around midnight.
In addition to the strike in Khost, authorities say Pakistani warplanes carried out aerial operations in Kunar and Paktika provinces, where four civilians were injured and two houses destroyed. Meanwhile, reports indicated that fighter jets bombed the Sagi area in Asadabad, the capital of Kunar province.
Islamabad has not yet commented on the accusations, and no official statement has been issued by Pakistani authorities regarding civilian casualties or the objectives of the strikes. The Taliban have condemned the attacks, calling them a violation of Afghanistan’s airspace and territorial sovereignty. Mujahid warned that continued strikes risk destabilizing the region and further harming relations between the two neighbours.
The incident occurred just hours after suicide attackers targeted a Pakistani security facility in Peshawar. Pakistani media claimed the assailants were Afghan nationals. Pakistani officials confirmed the deaths of three security officers and injuries to several others.
Cross-border hostilities have surged in recent months, with Islamabad repeatedly alleging that militants orchestrating attacks inside Pakistan are operating from Afghan territory. Kabul denies the allegations and accuses Pakistan of using military force instead of dialogue.
Similar airstrikes were reported in October, targeting Kabul, Khost, Jalalabad and Paktika over two consecutive days, before both sides entered ceasefire talks in Doha and later in Istanbul. Those negotiations failed to produce a lasting agreement.
The latest strikes in Kunar are the first since the temporary ceasefire collapsed. Afghan authorities reiterate that Pakistan must respect Afghanistan’s airspace, adding that civilian populations are shouldering the cost of unresolved political and security disputes.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/pakistan-airstrikes-kill-10-civilians-in-afghanistan-including-nine-children/
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Austria Approves 75% of Afghan Asylum Requests in First Ten Months of 2025
By Fidel Rahmati
November 24, 2025
Austria reported a significantly high 75 percent approval rate for Afghan asylum applications during the first ten months of 2025, highlighting intensified migration pressures from Afghanistan.
Austria’s Interior Ministry has reported that the acceptance rate for Afghan asylum applications reached 75 percent during the first ten months of 2025. Officials noted that a significant number of these applicants are women, indicating a continued rise in female migration from Afghanistan.
At the same time, Austria has recorded a drop in the total number of asylum applications this year. From January to October 2025, the country registered 14,325 asylum requests, reflecting a 33 percent decrease compared to 2024. Nearly one-third of the applicants during this period were children under the age of seven.
According to the EU Agency for Asylum, Afghans remain the second largest group of asylum seekers in Europe during the first half of 2025. Despite this strong presence, political pressure within Europe to deport undocumented Afghan migrants continues to grow.
Experts believe the high approval rate for Afghan applicants reflects the severity of living conditions in Afghanistan. A dire humanitarian situation, rising unemployment, economic collapse, and lack of job opportunities have forced thousands, especially young people, to leave the country. Restrictions on basic freedoms, increasing security risks, and fear of targeted threats have further fueled mass migration, making Europe a destination of necessity rather than choice.
In contrast, the prospects for Syrian migrants are much weaker. Only 21 percent of asylum requests submitted by Syrians in Austria are approved, revealing a stark difference in approval trends between the two migrant populations.
Earlier this year, 20 European countries, including Germany, Italy, Poland, Finland, Sweden, and Norway, called on the European Commission to begin deporting Afghan migrants who lack legal residency. Reports confirm that both the European Union and individual European states have opened direct discussions with Kabul on forced returns.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/austria-approves-75-of-afghan-asylum-requests-in-first-ten-months-of-2025/
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