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Islamic World News ( 17 Jan 2025, NewAgeIslam.Com)

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Places of Worship Act Key To Secularism, Congress Tells Supreme Court

New Age Islam News Bureau

17 January 2025

Supreme Court of India

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· Places of Worship Act Key To Secularism, Congress Tells Supreme Court

· Bishops Reject Mohan Bhagwat’s Alleged Pranab QuoteRelating To Conversions And Tribal Communities, Call It 'False' And 'Fabricated'

· British MPs Call For Immediate Release Of Imran Khan, Other 'Political Prisoners'

· Islamic Jihad: Honorable Agreement To Stop Aggression, Withdraw, Exchange Prisoners

· Riyadh Hospital Performs World’s First Robotic-Assisted Artificial Heart Pump Implantation

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India

· At VHP Meeting Of Saintsduring Mahakumbh Mela, ‘Freeing Temples’ From Govt Control, Claims Over Muslim Monuments, Likely To Come Up

· RSS-Backed Muslim Group Moots Waqf Board For Sufi Malang

· Tharoor Urges Kerala Govt to Swiftly Resolve Waqf Land Dispute in Munambam

· Imran Masood hits out at Kejriwal for neglecting Muslim interests in Delhi elections

· ‘Anti-national statement’: Mamata Banerjee slams RSS chief for ‘true independence’ remarks

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Pakistan

· Nadra shifts registration services from website to mobile app from today

· PTI changes stance on meeting with military leadership

· SC asks for data on civilians tried by military courts

· Unicef, Muslim World League ink $1.5m skill building deal

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Mideast

· Hard-Line Israeli Minister Ben-Gvir Threatens To Quit Over Gaza Deal

· Khalil Al-Hayya: "Ansar Allah" are ones who changed equation of war and region

· Military expert: Gaza and its resistance triumphed with the help of Allah

· France’s Macron in Beirut to meet Lebanon’s new leaders

· Israeli cabinet to meet on ceasefire after Netanyahu says hostage deal finalized

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Arab World

· How AI Is Transforming The Fashion Retail Experience In The Middle East

· Carved in stone: Tuwaiq Sculpture Symposium returns to Riyadh for sixth year

· Centennial of iconic book that described King Abdulaziz as ‘crowning jewel’ of Arab leaders

· Saudi-Thai Coordination Council holds inaugural meeting in Bangkok

· Hajj Lab empowers global group of trainees

· UAE President appoints director-general of Islamic affairs authority

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North America

· US Says Gaza Ceasefire To Start As Planned Despite ‘Loose End’

· UN Security Council Calls For ‘Swift’ Formation Of Government In Lebanon

· Mclean County Recognizes EMA Volunteers, Muslim Community

· UN’s Guterres in Lebanon on ‘visit of solidarity’

· Trump Selects Dearborn Muslim Cleric For Inauguration Prayer

· Emory University, Dept. of Education settle complaint over alleged anti-Muslim discrimination

· Donald Trump's and JD Vance's official portraits released

· Three ways Democrats are breaking with tradition before inauguration

· Trump names three legendary actors as ‘special envoys’ to Hollywood

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Africa

· Group Kicks Against Planned Inauguration Of Sharia Court In Oyo

· Fresh Boko Haram Attack Hits Chibok Community

· Sudan Government Denounces US Sanctions As ‘Immoral’

· roops Neutralise Six Lakurawa Terrorists In Sokoto, Lose Five Soldiers In Operation

· Atiku Celebrates Six Nigerians Who Received President Biden’s Awards

· ASUU Begs NASS To Reject Tinubu’s Tax Reform Bill

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Southeast Asia

· PAS Leader: Hadi May Not Dance, But Can Waltz M'sia Into Islamic Era

· Man charged with criminal breach of trust in AlorSetar for allegedly misusing RM115,900 from mosque account

· RM415.5 million in fines imposed in five cartel cases last year - Armizan

· Company administrator defrauded of RM137,000 in fake investment scheme

· ‘Thrown under the bus’: Najib disagrees he’s to blame in 1MDB, claims was uneasy with Jho Low

· Company administrator defrauded of RM137,000 in fake cryptocurrency scheme, say Pahang cops

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South Asia

· Islamic Emirate Of Afghanistan Welcomes Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Accord

· Idol found broken at Gazipur temple

· Afghanistan never was a threat to others

· Government Employees Prohibited from Holding Multiple Positions

· Afghanistan Encourages Investment with New Economic Initiatives

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Europe

· Residents Raise Traffic And Construction Concerns At Farnham Muslim Funeral Building Inquiry

· UK pledges support for Ukraine with 100-year pact

· UK and France secretly discussing troops for Ukraine – Telegraph

· UK promises to ‘explore options’ for military bases in Ukraine

Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau

URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/secularism-congress-supreme-court-defence/d/134362

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Places of Worship Act key to secularism, Congress tells Supreme Court

17.01.25

Supreme Court of India

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The Congress went to the Supreme Court on Thursday strongly endorsing the 1991 law that forbids one religion’s sites to be converted to another’s, arguing it had been enacted to protect communal harmony and secularism.

The Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, passed under the Congress-led government of P.V. Narasimha Rao, “reflected the mandate of the Indian populace”, an intervention application moved through Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal said.

The 1991 law stands as a bulwark against a flood of petitions before lower courts that seek a handover of the sites of several mosques and dargahs to Hindus on the claim that these had been built by demolishing temples.

Hindu petitioners led by advocate Ashwini Upadhyay have challenged the 1991 Act’s constitutionality, arguing that by restricting Hindus’ right to reclaim religious sites that were allegedly converted into those of another religion by force, it validates vandalism by invaders.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna is scheduled to hear this batch of petitions, along with intervention applications from various groups and individuals, on February 17.

Section 3 of the 1991 Act bars the conversion of any place of worship of any religious denomination or segment of it into a place of

worship for a different religious denomination or a different segment of the same denomination.

Section 4 mandates the preservation of the religious character of a place of worship as it existed on August 15, 1947, with the sole exception of the Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid site in Ayodhya.

The Congress’s application, moved through advocate AbishekJebraj, argues that the Act “is essential to safeguard secularism in India

and the present challenge appears to be a motivated and malicious attempt to undermine established principles

of secularism”.

It expresses fear that any alterations to the 1991 Act “could jeopardise India’s communal harmony and secular fabric thereby threatening the sovereignty and integrity of the nation”.

Several other organisations such as the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, Indian Union Muslim League and the management committee of the Shahi Masjid Eidgah in Mathura besides several civil rights activists have also opposed the petitions challenging the 1991 law.

They have argued that the 1991 law was enacted with the avowed objectives of maintaining communal harmony and not allowing the past to destroy the country’s future.

The Congress’s petition has cited the five-judge constitution bench ruling of November 2019 that, while handing the Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri site over to Hindus, defended the 1991 Act.

“The Places of Worship Act is intrinsically related to the obligations of a secular State. It reflects the commitment of India to the equality of all religions,” the 2019 judgment said.

“Above all, the Places of Worship Act is an affirmation of the solemn duty which was cast upon the State to preserve and protect the equality of all faiths as an essential constitutional value, a norm which has the status of being a basic feature of the Constitution. There is a purpose underlying the enactment of the Places of Worship Act….”

The Congress has argued that the petitions moved by Upadhyay and others have “oblique and questionable motives”, and that the 1991 law is key to furthering the freedom of religion.

Source:telegraphindia.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/1991-law-key-to-secularism-congress-tells-supreme-court-in-defence-of-places-of-worship-act/cid/2077922

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Bishops Reject Mohan Bhagwat’s Alleged Pranab QuoteRelating To Conversions And Tribal Communities, Call It 'False' And 'Fabricated'

Pheroze L. Vincent

17.01.25

Mohan Bhagwat

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The apex body of Catholics in India on Thursday questioned the genuineness of a quote, relating to conversions and tribal communities, that RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has reportedly attributed to former President Pranab Mukherjee.

Bhagwat reportedly said in a speech in Indore on Monday that he had met Mukherjee at a time there was a ruckus in Parliament over "gharwapsi" — people returning to Hinduism from other faiths — a trend that organisations linked with the RSS were aggressively promoting.

Bhagwat quoted Mukherjee as saying: "What are you people doing? This creates controversy. Because this is politics. Had I been in the Congress, not holding the President’s post, even I would be protesting in Parliament."

The RSS chief added: "Then he said, 'But this work that you have done, because of that 30 per cent tribals….' I understood the line he was taking and I was happy…. I said, '…would (otherwise) have become Christian?' He said, 'Not Christian, but anti-national'."

In a statement, the Catholic Bishops Conference of India said: "Fabricated personal conversation being attributed to a former President of India and its posthumous publication with the vested interest of an organisation with questionable credibility raises a grave issue of national importance.

"Is it not the violent Ghar Wapsi programme of VHP and other similar organisations, curtailing the exercise of freedom of conscience of economically deprived tribals, the real anti-national activity?

"It also raises the issue whether the alleged statement was in the scheme of things when the former President Pranab Mukherjee was invited to one of their programmes. Why Mohan Bhagwat did not speak when Dr Pranab Mukherjee was alive? The intention seems to be diabolic, sinister and not genuine.

"We do not believe the statement to be true and spoken by the former President, because we hold him in great esteem for his contribution to the nation and the respect for pluralistic secular ethos of our motherland.

"It is unfortunate that the thrice banned organisation, attached with the kind of violent Indian history as has (been) seen over the past several decades, is allowed with impunity to call the non-violent, peace-loving and service-oriented Christian community as anti-nationals."

The CBCI added: "The real issue is the right to exercise freedom of conscience, a fundamental right under Art. 25, by the tribals and other vulnerable who too are entitled to live a life with human dignity as enshrined in the Constitution of India. Calling them anti-nationals for exercising their fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution exhibits the hidden motive and malicious agenda.”

Mukherjee had been chief guest at the Vijaydashami event of the RSS in Nagpur in 2018, the year after his presidency ended.

In his speech, he had said: "This nation and nationalism (were) not bound by geography, language, religion, or race."

He also quoted Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Rabindranath Tagore and others to drive home the point that Indian nationalism was secular.

Bhagwat has also been widely condemned for his remark on Monday that January 22, the day last year the Ram temple in Ayodhya was consecrated, should be celebrated as the day India secured "true independence".

Source:telegraphindia.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/bishops-reject-mohan-bhagwats-alleged-pranab-mukherjee-quote-call-it-false-and-fabricated/cid/2077920

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British MPs call for immediate release of Imran Khan, other 'political prisoners'

By Murtaza Ali Shah

January 16, 2025

Officials and British members of parliament gathered at an event for immediate release and fair travel of PTI founder Imran Khan at the Portcullis House on January 16, 2025. — Reporter

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LONDON: A large group of British parliamentarians called for the immediate release of former prime minister of Pakistan Imran Khan as well as other political prisoners facing charges on several counts, including the May 9 and November 26 violence and chaos caused in the country at an event at the Portcullis House on Thursday.

The event was organised by a newly formed Friends of Democratic Pakistan-UK (FODP), set up by Safina Faisal, who said she took the initiative to highlight the issues, including the "killing of peaceful protestors, enforced disappearances, and arbitrary arrests targeting political workers, women, and journalists. Military trials of civilians and the erosion of democracy demand urgent attention".

The event was chaired by James Frith MP (Labour Party) and addressed by former minister in the Khan's cabinet Zulfi Bukhari, former accountability chief Shehzad Akbar, Lord Daniel Hannan and some activists who alleged violations of their rights for standing up for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

The MPs who attended the event included Andrew Pakes (Labour), Naz Shah (Labour), Jeremy Corbyn (Independent), Paul Waugh (Labour), James Asser (Labour), Kate Deardon (Labour), Jas Athwal (Labour), GurinderJosan (Labour), Margaret Mullaine (Labour), WarinderJuss (Labour), Adnan Hussain (Independent), Preet Kaur (Labour), Ayoub Khan (Independent) and Iqbal Mohamed (Independent).

Azhar Mashwani and Khan’s nephew Sher Shah also attended the event; however, they didn’t address the gathering.

Friends of Democratic Pakistan’s Faisal called for the accountability of the establishment figures from different institutions over alleged violations of international law.

PTI founder's former adviser and cabinet minister Bukhari claimed that hundreds died during a PTI protest in Islamabad in November.

He said that a UN Working Group report has categorically said that Khan's detention is illegal and he has been facing inhumane conditions in prison.

"Since April 2022, torture has been used as a weapon to break down our party. Hundreds of our workers, lawmakers and leaders are in jail and have been tortured," he said.

"Azam Swati and Shehbaz Gill are two examples. They were tortured in daylight because they were close to Khan and stood by him. Intimate videos have been used against our politicians to blackmail them and break them down," Bukhari added.

Bukhari claimed that Khan remains mostly in solitary confinement and rarely gets the chance to meet his lawyers and family, “His wife was put in prison. She may not have been given poison but was given inadequate food to create massive health issues for her. Things were made so difficult for her at home that she went to the court to petition to be jailed with Imran Khan. His house was completely sealed down to torture her".

While Akbar in his address stated that Pakistan's democracy has "always been compromised".

"Transnational repression should concern the UK MPs as this concerns British citizens. I am a victim of that repression. After I moved to the UK, my brother was kidnapped and released only after intervention by my UK MP. Many overseas Pakistanis saw their family members abducted," he said.

"This is about the erosion and eradication of a whole democratic system. Rigging was done both before and after to steal the people’s mandate. The purpose was to bring new amendments to change the nature and structure of the judiciary. Judges have been kidnapped and blackmailed," he said.

"This was all done to get the system to surrender to the decision-makers. Military courts were not possible without the 26th Amendment and what’s happening now is for all to see. The power is in the hands of the s=executive, and free judiciary is over in today’s Pakistan," the former minister concluded.

Lord Hannan said Khan's PTI won the elections of 2023 “massively” but every effort was made to thwart the party from forming government in the centre.

"Pakistanis have been effectively living under martial law. The killings in Islamabad have been at a different scale. You cannot be indifferent to the agony of democracy in a friendly country. We must raise our voice as there are 1.5 million Pakistanis who are directly affected by what’s happening in Pakistan," Hannan said.

He said the sanctions don’t work against the states but can work if they are targeted and against the specific, named individuals involved in human rights violations.

At the end of the session, the forum called for the "restoration of judicial independence" and release of all political prisoners, targeted sanctions on the officials responsible for human rights abuses, an independent international investigation into the suppression of peaceful protests and the Pakistan government's role in it, investigate and raise concerns about the transnational repression, bring about the immediate publication of the Commonwealth election observation report, and ensure transparency and fairness of trials.

This hearing follows a similar session held last summer, where UK parliamentarians discussed the detention of former prime minister Khan, whose arrest triggered widespread protests.

A heated argument broke out outside the venue between a group of journalists and the organisers of the event.

The journalists, who protested, were not allowed entry into the event and were told their names were not approved for coverage.

Source:thenews.com.pk

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1272941-british-mps-call-for-immediate-release-of-imran-khan-other-prisoners

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Islamic Jihad: Honorable agreement to stop aggression, withdraw, exchange prisoners

16 Jan 2025

The Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine confirmed that the Palestinian people and their resistance imposed today "an honorable agreement to stop aggression, withdraw and conduct an honorable prisoner exchange, due to their legendary steadfastness and their brave and valiant fighters."

The movement stressed, in a statement, that it will spare no effort in serving the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, "and keeping pace with the challenges of the next stage," and "that the resistance will remain vigilant to ensure the full implementation of this agreement."

It also directed "a salute of reverence and appreciation to the sons of the Palestinian people and their steadfast mujahideen stationed in the Gaza Strip, and in all arenas of their existence, in the homeland and diaspora, and to all the resistance forces that have supported the Palestinians throughout the time."

Source:saba.ye

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.saba.ye/en/news3424834.htm

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Riyadh hospital performs world’s first robotic-assisted artificial heart pump implantation

January 16, 2025

The ground-breaking procedure was led by Dr. Feras Khaliel. (Supplied)

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RIYADH: The world’s first robotic-assisted implantation of an artificial heart pump has been carried out at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Riyadh.

The surgery was performed on a 35-year-old man who had been hospitalized for 120 days due to advanced heart failure, leading to deterioration of kidney and lung functions.

The ground-breaking procedure to implant the HeartMate 3, developed by Abbott, marks a significant advancement in medical technology and patient care.

It was led by Dr. FerasKhaliel, head of cardiac surgery and director of the hospital’s Robotics and Minimally Invasive Surgery Program.

The patient spent just four days in the intensive care unit, a stark contrast to the 26-day average for similar procedures performed using traditional methods. Recovery time is also expected to be significantly reduced, with discharge anticipated within 10 days instead of the usual 63.

Dr. Bjorn Zoega, deputy CEO of KFSHRC, said: “This milestone demonstrates our ability to balance bold innovation with strict safety measures, delivering cutting-edge medical solutions that redefine the possibilities in healthcare.”

He added it solidified the Kingdom’s position as a global leader in medical innovation.

Khaliel emphasized the precision and safety of robotic-assisted surgery, adding the patient experienced no infections or bleeding during or after the operation.

“The patient was amazed at the minimal scarring, reflecting the advanced capabilities of robotic technology,” he said.

Keith Boettiger, vice president of Abbott’s heart failure division, said: “We are honored to have partnered with KFSHRC in Saudi Arabia on this transformative initiative, with underscores the pivotal role of health technology in improving lives and enhancing health outcomes.”

This success builds on KFSHRC’s legacy of global achievements, including the world’s first fully robotic heart transplant and robotic liver transplantation.

Source:arabnews.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2586683/saudi-arabia

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India

At VHP Meeting Of Saintsduring Mahakumbh Mela, ‘Freeing Temples’ From Govt Control, Claims Over Muslim Monuments, Likely To Come Up

by DeeptimanTiwary

January 17, 2025

Issues related to “freeing of temples” from government control and Hindu claims over Muslim monuments, such as the Sambhal mosque and Ajmer Dargah, are likely to come up during a meeting of saints during the ongoing Mahakumbh Mela in Prayagraj. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) is holding a meeting of its Margdarshak Mandal, which comprises saints from across the country, at Prayagraj between January 24 and 27.

“The freeing of temples is top on the agenda of the VHP as we are also holding a nationwide campaign on it. But the saints who participate in the Margdarshak Mandal baithak (meeting) will raise their own issues and those concerning the larger Hindu society. Contemporary issues that have recently come to the attention of Hindu society may also be discussed,” VHP spokesperson Vinod Bansal told The Indian Express.

According to Bansal, the Margdarshak Mandal baithak will be followed by a meeting of the VHP’s Pranyas Mandal (Board of Trustees) that will take forward the suggestions made during the meeting of the saints. Sources said hundreds of saints are expected to attend the baithak, which will host the key mentors on the first day, sadhvis on the second day, saints on the third day, and young saints on the fourth day.

“The saints set the agenda and the Board of Trustees then takes it towards implementation. Issues such as love jihad, gharwapsi and conversions, apart from what is happening in Bangladesh may also be discussed,” Bansal said.

Another key agenda on the table, sources said, is pushing for Hindu unity across caste differences against the backdrop of the Opposition constantly pitching for Mandal (or caste politics) as a bulwark against Hindutva.

“During a recent meeting it was decided that the goal of building the Ram Temple has been completed and our work now is to take Ram to every house and individual. Now our main goal is creating social harmony. The Kumbh Mela is a great example of this. People from all walks of life, different castes, different communities come together forgetting all their differences and taking a dip in the same holy waters of the Ganga. It is time to leave our colonial past that entrenched caste system and untouchability behind and become a united nation,” Bansal said.

Sources said the meetings will discuss programmes that can take this agenda forward at the grassroots level.

In the past couple of months, petitions have been filed in courts making Hindu claims over the Shahi Jama Masjid at Sambhal in UP and the Ajmer Sharif Dargah in Rajasthan, among other sites across the country. A survey exercise at the Shahi Jama Masjid in November turned violent and five people were killed. Since then, the Supreme Court has stayed proceedings on such petitions. The issues, however, continue to dominate the political discourse in UP where the government appears to be on a drive to revive old temples by removing encroachments around them.

The VHP meet also comes at a time when RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has struck a note of caution against raising such claims. On December 19, during an event in Pune, Bhagwat underlined that the Ram Temple in Ayodhya was a “matter of faith” for Hindus, but it was “unacceptable” to rake up “such new issues on a daily basis” simply because of “extreme hatred, malice, enmity and suspicion”.

Source:indianexpress.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/kumbh-mela-vhp-meeting-freeing-temples-from-govt-hindu-claims-on-mosques-9781494/?utm_source=Taboola_Recirculation&utm_medium=RC&utm_campaign=IE&tbref=hp

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RSS-Backed Muslim Group Moots Waqf Board For Sufi Malang

Jan 17, 2025

Lucknow: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh backed Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM) has reached out to CM Yogi Adityanath for creation of a separate waqf board for Sufishah Malang (Muslim recluse) community on the lines of Shia and Sunni waqf boards which manage, regulate and protect waqf properties meant for religious and charitable purposes.

Sources said a delegation of MRM led by its patron and senior RSS functionary Indresh Kumar met Yogi recently and discussed the issue with him.

MRM national convener Syed Raza Rizvi said a separate board for Malang is important given their poor socio-economic conditions despite their sizable presence across the country. "The boards may take care of their welfare just like the ones meant for Shia and Sunni," he told TOI on Thursday. Rizvi, however, did not reveal the finer blueprint of the suggested board.

MRM has already created a separate Sufi-Malang cell, headed by Tahir Shah for the purpose.

The proposal comes days after several Muslim organisations, including All India Sajjadanashin Council and MRM, shared their views before the Joint Parliamentary Committee constituted for the Waqf (amendment) bill 2024.

Sources said MRM also presented Yogi Adityanath a copy of the book ‘Respect to Islam and Gift for Muslim', primarily describing the provisions on Waqf Bill 2024. The issue of the Waqf (amendment) bill - 2024, too, came up for discussion between the MRM and the CM.

A senior MRM functionary said the Manch representatives highlighted the content of the book describing the history of waqf, suggestions for improvement of their management, legal remedies and use of waqf for the welfare of socio-economically poor sections, primarily among the Muslim community. MRM senior functionaries including Shahid Akhtar, Shalini Ali, Shiraz Qureshi and Shahid Seed have contributed to the book.

The MRM has hailed the proposed amendments in the Waqf (amendment) bill and has agreed with the inclusion of backward Muslim women in the waqf council and the boards. It has also agreed with the provision of amending Sections 9 and 14 of the existing Act to allow inclusion of non-Muslims in the state waqf boards and their committees. "We have not objected to the two provisions after holding exhaustive deliberations with govt," Rizvi said, refusing to divulge further details.

Last month, the Manch members had met Union minority affairs minister KirenRijiju and gave representation on the subject.

Sources said a delegation of MRM led by its patron and senior RSS functionary Indresh Kumar met Yogi recently and discussed the issue with him.

MRM has already created a separate Sufi-Malang cell, headed by Tahir Shah for the purpose.

Last month, the Manch members had met Union minority affairs minister KirenRijiju and gave representation on the subject.

Source:indiatimes.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/rss-backed-muslim-group-moots-waqf-board-for-sufi-malang/amp_articleshow/117311253.cms

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Tharoor Urges Kerala Govt to Swiftly Resolve Waqf Land Dispute in Munambam

Jan 17, 2025

Kochi, Jan 16 (PTI) Congress MP Shashi Tharoor Thursday urged the Kerala government to act swiftly in resolving the Waqf land dispute in Munambam and appealed to them not to turn it into a communal issue.Residents in Cherai and Munambam in Ernakulam district allege that the "Waqf Board has been unlawfully claiming" their land and property, despite them holding registered deeds and land tax receipts.Protesters from Munambam village have urged Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to find a lasting solution to their ongoing land dispute with the Waqf Board.

Interacting with reporters after visiting the locals who have been on a hunger strike for the past 96 days, Tharoor said, "It's not a Muslim-Christian issue, it's a technical-legal issue and should be resolved in that way.""So let's not make it a communal conflict. It's an administrative, legal confusion which should be clarified in the earliest possible moment," he said while urging the state government to act immediately to resolve the issue.

The MP from Thiruvananthapuram said, "My appeal is no one should wait much more and the state government should not delay in establishing the facts on file what is happened."

"Whatever judicial process has already begun should be expeditiously concluded so that these people should get their lands," he added.

Responding to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's remark that India got "true independence" after the Ram temple consecration, Tharoor said, "Independence was won with a lot of sacrifices and hard work of a lot of people in our minds, starting with Mahatma Gandhi, the father of our nation."

Bhagawat may have several other ways of being happy in his political career or political interests but it's not the right category in which it was discussed, he added.

How can any responsible Indian denigrate the achievements of freedom fighters who have given their lives in several cases as well as their freedom in British jails to fight for the freedom that we take for granted today, he posed.

Welcoming the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal, the former union minister said, durable and permanent peace should be established.

Source:latestly.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.latestly.com/agency-news/india-news-tharoor-urges-kerala-govt-to-swiftly-resolve-waqf-land-dispute-in-munambam-6571448.html

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Imran Masood hits out at Kejriwal for neglecting Muslim interests in Delhi elections

Jan 16 2025

New Delhi, Jan 16 (IANS): Congress MP from Saharanpur, Imran Masood, has launched a broadside against former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, accusing him of ignoring issues crucial to the Muslim community during his party's election campaigns in Delhi.

“Kejriwal has remained silent on several incidents affecting the Muslim community,” Masood said while speaking to IANS.

He was silent on Jahangirpuri riots, the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) protests, the release of Bilkis Bano’s rapists, and the controversy over a party leader allegedly insulting the Quran. His party acts only when it senses potential vote banks," Masood told IANS.

Earlier at a press conference on Thursday, Kejriwal criticised the BJP for its inability to ensure public safety, in view of the tragic stabbing of Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan at his residence in Bandra but did not talk about the interests of Muslims in Delhi, Masood alleged.

Masood, however, condemned the sanction to prosecute Kejriwal in the excise policy case, saying, "This is a direct attack on democracy in our country."

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) earlier approved to prosecute him and his former deputy, Manish Sisodia, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in the case.

Responding to Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav's declaration of support for AAP in the Delhi elections, Masood remarked, “It is his party’s decision. Only he can explain his stance. But he should also clarify if this means he does not want Congress’ support in Uttar Pradesh. Let us not forget, that we won 43 seats in UP on the strength of the Congress and Rahul Gandhi's leadership.”

Earlier, Akhilesh Yadav at a press conference clarified his party’s support for AAP, saying that it did not signal an opposition to Congress. “Our strategy has always been clear -- the AAP is the party actively fighting in Delhi. The foundation of the INDIA Bloc was for regional parties to assert their strength where they have significant influence,” Yadav stated.

Source:daijiworld.com

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https://www.daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay?newsID=1262917

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‘Anti-national statement’: Mamata Banerjee slams RSS chief for ‘true independence’ remarks

January 16, 2025

KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, on Thursday, condemned the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat over the latter’s recent comments describing January 22, 2024, the date of Ram Mandir inauguration at Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, as the real “Independence Day” of the country.

“I do not know why he made such a statement. But in my opinion, this is an anti-national statement. I condemn such a comment and demand the withdrawal of such a statement,” the Chief Minister told mediapersons on Thursday.

The Trinamool Congress chief also said that no political party can distort the history of Indian freedom movement.

“This is a very dangerous trend. Already several chapters in the history had been distorted with. There are been changes in certain chapters of the Indian Constitution. But the latest comments are simply unacceptable. The Independence Day of India is August 15, 1947. That day is India’s pride,” the Chief Minister added.

Speaking to the mediapersons, she also termed the attack on Padma Shri awardee actor Saif Ali Khan as ‘shocking’.

“The event is simply shocking. I have already given my reaction on social media. Saif’s mother Sharmila Tagore has the family lineage of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore. I heard that previously similar death threats were given to Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan. Saif was not so far in the list. The matter is extremely concerning. I do not know whether the event was pre-planned or not? But all I can say is that prompt action should be taken in the matter,” the Chief Minister said.

Earlier on Thursday, Mamata Banerjee wrote on X: “It’s very concerning to hear about the attack on noted actor Saif Ali Khan. I pray for his speedy recovery, trusting that the law will take its course and those responsible will be held accountable. My thoughts and prayers are with Sharmila Di, Kareena Kapoor, and the entire family during this difficult time.” — IANS

Source:muslimmirror.com

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Pakistan

Nadra shifts registration services from website to mobile app from today

January 17, 2025

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Interior Mohsin Naqvi on Thursday announced a significant overhaul of the services of Nadra, including the launch of a new mobile app and the establishment of three regional offices in Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Gwadar and Gilgit-Baltistan.

The Pak-ID website will be officially discontinued starting January 17, with all services transitioning to the improved mobile app.

The decision came as a response to challenges faced by citizens, particularly overseas Pakistanis, who struggled with the websites interface, including issues with scanning and uploading fingerprints and documents. The closure of the website is also aimed at combating fraudulent activities.

Scammers were exploiting fake websites to assist in creating forged identity documents and misusing citizens personal information, said Minister Naqvi.

To enhance user convenience, Nadra (National Database and Registration Authority) has revamped its mobile app to include all services previously available on the website. Citizens can now apply for ID cards, NICOP, POC, B-Forms, and FRCs from their homes.

In addition to digital advancements, three new regional offices will become operational by March 31.

These offices aim to improve service delivery in remote areas, streamline communication between citizens and Nadra officials, and ensure faster resolution of complaints.

The minister also revealed that Nadra was on track to establish offices in all tehsils across Pakistan by the same deadline. Only 19 tehsils remain without Nadra offices, and work is progressing rapidly to ensure these are operational by March 31, he added.

The move underscores the government’s commitment to enhancing accessibility and combating fraud, providing a seamless and secure experience for citizens nationwide.

Meanwhile, the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) and Nadra Technologies Limited (NTL) signed a significant agreement to enhance transparency and efficiency in public procurement processes.

Under this agreement, the NTL will provide biometric verification services through over 21,000 Nadra e-SahuIat for suppliers and bidders who intend to register in the e-PAK Acquisition and Disposal System (EPADS).

Project Director of PPRA Sheikh Afzaal Rana stated that by integration of biometric verification into the EPADS system, “we are taking a proactive approach to combat fraud and ensure the highest standards of integrity in public procurement.”

Chief Executive Officer of the NTL Muhammad Umar Khan said that by providing secure and reliable biometric verification services, they were confident that this collaboration would contribute significantly towards improving the efficiency and transparency of public procurement in Pakistan.

The implementation of this agreement is expected to have a positive impact on the entire public procurement eco-system and during the first phase around 35,000 bidders/suppliers will be verified.

This number will be increased to 300,000 in the near future.

Chief Technology Officer Hafiz Javed Ahmed, Principal Software Engineer Syed Abid Ali Rizvi, Principal Business Analyst from PPRA Warda Tanveer, Head of e-Sahulat Irfan Anwar and Deputy Director NTL Malik Saleem Anwar were also present on the occasion.

Source:dawn.com

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PTI changes stance on meeting with military leadership

Malik Asad

January 17, 2025

ISLAMABAD: The issue of a meeting between Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir and PTI leaders Ali Amin Gandapur and Barrister Gohar Ali Khan came under intense scrutiny on Thursday, but the agenda of the rendezvous remained shrouded in mystery, amid conflicting claims from both sides.

Initially, the interim PTI chairman had denied a meeting took place, but on Thursday, he confirmed a meeting with the army chief, where he claimed to have “received a positive response”. A statement attributed to security sources, however, denied any political aspect of the gathering, saying the contents of the meeting were being reported out of context.

It is understood that the meeting took place during the army chief’s recent trip to Peshawar, where he also met other political leaders from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The meeting was also confirmed by former prime minister Imran Khan, who is incarcerated in Adiala jail, saying if talks had started between the two sides, then it was indeed a step in the right direction. Responding to a question by a reporter following the court hearing in Adiala jail, Mr Khan stated: “Yes, Barrister Gohar Khan has met the army chief, and it is a welcome move.”

The PTI founder reiterated his long-held stance that dialogue with the establishment was crucial for ensuring political and economic stability in the country. He said the PTI had always been open to talks with the establishment, but it was the establishment that had previously shut the doors to talks. “I never said our doors are closed. Only through talks can stability be brought to the country,” he remarked.

Speaking about the meeting, Barrister Gohar revealed that he and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur had met the army chief.

“In the meeting, we placed all our issues before the army chief,” he stated, adding that a positive response was received during the discussions. “All issues concerning the country’s stability were discussed,” he said, expressing optimism about the outcome. “Hopefully, the situation will improve now.”

KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur told reporters that he “met the army chief in Peshawar in a security meeting”, where leaders of other parties, including Barrister Gohar, were also present.

In the wake of this claim, military sources released a clarification of sorts, specifying that the meeting in Peshawar was held in the context of security and counter-terrorism issues in KP province.

Sources said that Barrister Gohar had tried to discuss political issues during the meeting, but he was told to take them up with politicians instead of the military.

“The discussions were presented out of context,” the clarification said, adding that an attempt had been made to give political colour to the discussions on security issues, which was regrettable.

Toshakhana case

Also on Thursday, the Islamabad High Court directed the legal team of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi to remove the administrative objections raised by the registrar’s office regarding the acquittal applications of the PTI founder and Bushra Bibi in the Toshakhana case. During the hearing, Barrister Salman Safdar, along with other lawyers representing the petitioners, highlighted that the only objection raised was the lack of certified copies in their application.

Barrister Safdar explained that all relevant orders were duly attached with certified copies, and expressed frustration over the rapid pace of the trial. “The trial is being expedited unfairly with three hearings a week, and outside regular working hours,” he argued. Meanwhile, a hearing for the Toshakhana case took place in a makeshift courtroom in Adiala jail, with Special Judge Central Shahrukh Arjumand presiding over the proceedings.

Mr Khan was presented in the courtroom, while Bushra Bibi’s request for exemption from attendance on medical grounds was filed and subsequently accepted. The defence counsel completed the cross-examination of a prosecution witness Talat Mehmood. Over the course of the hearing, statements from seven witnesses were recorded, and cross-examination of five witnesses was successfully completed. The court also summoned additional witnesses to record their statements in the next hearing. The proceedings have been scheduled to continue on January 20.

Separately, a Rawalpindi anti-terrorism court judge hearing the May 9 cases against the PTI leadership banned the entry of lawyer Ali Imran Shehzad for disorderliness during the Jan 15 hearing and asked PTI leader Mussarat Jamshed to hire a new lawyer. Mr Shehzad was also issued a contempt notice.

Source:dawn.com

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SC asks for data on civilians tried by military courts

Nasir Iqbal

January 17, 2025

ISLAMABAD: The constitutional bench of the Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the Ministry of Defence to furnish complete data on civilians tried in military courts, barring the case of Indian spy commander Kulbhushan Sudhir Jadhav.

The instructions were issued by Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan while pointing towards the ministry’s counsel Khawaja Haris Ahmed in an apparent move to determine whether procedural justice was not sacrificed at the altar of expediency.

The bench had taken up a set of intra-court appeals (ICAs) against the Oct 23, 2023, order of nullifying the trial of civilians by military courts involved in the May 9 violence.

During the hearing, Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan underscored the need for clarity regarding the apparent lacuna in the Pakistan Army Act 1952 (PAA), which does not explicitly define the term ‘any person’.

Justice Afghan suggested that this omission, whether intentional or accidental, has led to the current proceedings on the trial of civilians by military courts.

He noted that while PAA originally focused on officers and personnel of the armed forces, amendments in 1967 introduced Sections 2(1)(d)(i) and (ii), which expanded the scope to include retired army officers under the military trial jurisdiction. Now the constitutional bench is tasked with addressing the cases related to individuals accused in the May 9 violence, he said.

Justice Afghan highlighted that if the bench upholds the striking down of these sections by the Oct 23 judgement, then retired army officers would no longer face military trials but would instead be tried in anti-terrorism courts (ATCs). This would also retroactively impact cases like that of F.B. Ali, who was convicted by a military court in 1975, potentially leading to his acquittal.

Justice Afghan asked the counsel whether he would concede that the ATC had not issued a speaking order while transferring the custody of May 9 violence accused to military courts.

Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar asked the counsel to show whether any sections had been added through supplementary FIRs during the investigation. Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhailinquired whether the charges added against the accused were introduced after the passage of the 26th amendment.

Justice Mazhar observed that constitutional bench was equivalent to regular benches of the Supreme Court, adding that the situation would have been different if a constitutional court had been established under the amendment.

The counsel also contended that the application of Article 10A was not relevant in all the previous judgements like the Shahida Zaheer Abbasi, Sheikh Liaquat Hussain, Rawalpindi Bar Association and Said Zaman cases though these had considered the requirement of fair trial.

Justice Mazhar observed that the requirements of Article 10A will also apply in the military trial of civilians.

The counsel argued that if Sections 2(1)(d)(i) and (ii) of the Army Act were upheld, then all petitions challenging these trials will become inadmissible also emphasising that military courts followed complete procedures in conducting trials. Evidence is presented and decisions are made based on these testimonies, he added.

At this, Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi repeated earlier directions by asking where was the record of these trials, adding that the court needs to examine how decisions were made based on the evidence.

The counsel said he would present the trial record before the court.

Source:dawn.com

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Unicef, Muslim World League ink $1.5m skill building deal

Amin Ahmed

January 16, 2025

ISLAMABAD: The Makkah-based Muslim World League will provide financial support to the ‘Green Skills Training Programme for Non-Formal Education Students’ in Pakistan to equip adolescents, especially girls, with essential green skills and digital skills.

The programme to be implemented by Unicef will enhance their employability and empower them to contribute to a sustainable future.

Unicef and the Muslim World League have signed a $1.5 million agreement to enhance education and skill-building programmes in Pakistan and Chad, and to improve maternal, newborn and childcare services in Afghanistan.

The agreement was signed by Unicef Representative in Pakistan, Abdullah A. Fadil, on behalf of Unicef Executive Director Catherine Russell, and MWL General Manager of Strategic Partnerships Dr ShaimaAlluqmani, on the sidelines of the global conference on Muslim World League initiative hosted by Pakistan.

The climate crisis and digital divide are critical challenges faced by children in Pakistan every day. Providing vulnerable children and youth, especially girls, with the education and skills they need will empower them to reach their full potential and help the country prosper.

“We look forward to working with the Muslim World League to help ensure that no girl is left behind,” said Unicef Representative, Abdullah Fadil.

Dr ShaimaAlluqmani, Director General of Strategic Partnerships at the Muslim World League, stated that the MWL is keen for such agreements to represent an important pillar of the MWL’s initiative: “Girls’ Education in Muslim Communities: Challenges and Opportunities,” through tangible projects that positively impact the future of millions of girls and women in Muslim societies.

Alluqmani said that the initiatives and partnerships established by the MWL with various governmental and non-governmental regional and international organisations have emphasised inclusivity in their programmes, whether in the field of girls’ education and its related services and institutions, or in raising awareness and correcting misconceptions and misinterpretations that cast doubt on the undisputed legitimate right of girls to receive education.

Muslim World League and Unicef had partnered for over 14 years, delivering impactful results for children and reaching the most vulnerable with humanitarian supplies and services in education, health, social protection, water and sanitation hygiene ‘WASH’.

This longstanding collaboration aims to create sustainable solutions that address the pressing needs of children and their families around the world.

Source:dawn.com

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Mideast

Hard-line Israeli minister Ben-Gvir threatens to quit over Gaza deal

January 16, 2025

JERUSALEM: Israel’s hard-line National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said on Thursday he would resign from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government if it ratifies the ceasefire deal in Gaza, which he has strongly opposed.

Israeli media outlets reported earlier that the cabinet was expected to vote to ratify the agreement on Friday, but there has been no confirmation from the prime minister’s office.

“The deal that is taking shape is a reckless deal,” Ben-Gvir said in a televised statement, saying it would “erase the achievements of the war” by releasing hundreds of Palestinian militants and withdrawing from strategic areas in Gaza, leaving Hamas undeafeated.

“If this irresponsible deal is approved and implemented, we the members of Jewish Power will submit letters of resignation to the prime minister,” he said.

Ben-Gvir, whose departure would not bring down Netanyahu’s government, this week urged Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to join him in a last-ditch attempt to prevent a ceasefire deal, which he described as a dangerous capitulation to Hamas.

Smotrich has described the deal to halt the fighting in Gaza and exchange Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners as a catastrophe for Israel but has not threatened the quit the government.

Earlier on Thursday, Smotrich’s Religious Zionism party repeated its opposition, threatening to quit the government if it did not go back to war to defeat Hamas after the first six-week phase of the ceasefire was completed.

Source:arabnews.com

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Khalil Al-Hayya: "Ansar Allah" are ones who changed equation of war and region

16 Jan 2025

The head of the Islamic Resistance Movement "Hamas" in the Gaza Strip, Dr. Khalil Al-Hayya, praised Yemen's heroic position in supporting Gaza during the Zionist war of extermination that lasted for 15 months.

Al-Hayya said in a speech: "Ansar Allah are the brothers of truth who transcended the geographical dimension and changed the equation of war and the region and launched missiles and drones into the heart of the enemy."

Source:.saba.ye

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Military expert: Gaza and its resistance triumphed with the help of Allah

16 Jan 2025

Palestinian military expert and analyst Mohammed Al-Muqabala confirmed that "Gaza and its resistance whitened the face of the nation and won for it."

He added, saying: "Everything that happened in Gaza is subject to one analysis that we must believe in militarily and ideologically, that the whole matter is with the help of Allah.

Source:.saba.ye

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France’s Macron in Beirut to meet Lebanon’s new leaders

January 17, 2025

BEIRUT: France’s President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Beirut on Friday for a visit that will see him meet his counterpart and offer support as Lebanon’s leaders seek to open a new chapter in their country’s turbulent history.

After more than two years of a political vacuum at the top, Joseph Aoun was elected president on January 9 and chose Nawaf Salam as prime minister-designate.

They now face the daunting task of leading Lebanon after a devastating Israel-Hezbollah war and years of economic crisis.

Macron is also expected to meet UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in the Lebanese capital as a January 26 deadline to fully implement an Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire deal approaches.

Macron’s visit aims to “help” Aoun and Salam “to consolidate Lebanon’s sovereignty, ensure its prosperity and maintain its unity,” the French presidency said prior to his arrival.

Analysts say Hezbollah’s weakening in the war with Israel last year allowed Lebanon’s deeply divided political class to elect Aoun and to back his naming of Salam as premier.

France has special ties with Lebanon, which it administered for two decades after World War I, and the two countries have maintained close relations even since Lebanon’s independence in 1943.

Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have given “their full support” to the formation of a “strong government” in Lebanon, the French presidency said on Thursday after a call between the two leaders.

The new government must “bring together Lebanon’s diverse people, ensure the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon is respected and carry out the reforms necessary for the prosperity, stability and sovereignty of the country,” the presidency said.

Macron is also set to meet Lebanon’s powerful speaker of parliament Nabih Berri, a Hezbollah ally.

He will also meet UNIFIL chief Aroldo Lazaro and the heads of a committee comprising Israeli, Lebanese, French and US delegates, alongside a UNIFIL representative, tasked with monitoring ceasefire violations.

Under the November 27 ceasefire accord, the Lebanese army has 60 days to deploy alongside UN peacekeepers in the south of Lebanon as the Israeli army withdraws.

At the same time, Hezbollah is required to pull its forces north of the Litani river, around 30 kilometers (20 miles) from the border, and dismantle any remaining military infrastructure it has in south Lebanon.

After an aid conference in Paris in October, France’s presidency promised “symbolic gestures” to mobilize the international community to come to Lebanon’s assistance.

Source:arabnews.com

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Israeli cabinet to meet on ceasefire after Netanyahu says hostage deal finalized

January 17, 2025

JERUSALEM: Israel’s security cabinet was set to meet Friday after final details of a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal were ironed out, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said, with the United States “confident” the truce would begin as planned this weekend.

If approved by Israel’s cabinet, the ceasefire agreement would take effect Sunday and involve the exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, after which the terms of a permanent end to the war would be finalized.

Away from the diplomacy, Israeli strikes killed dozens of people, Gaza rescuers said Thursday, while Israel’s military reported hitting about 50 targets across the territory over the past day.

Netanyahu’s office had accused Hamas on Thursday of reneging on key parts of the agreement to extort last-minute concessions – an allegation Hamas denied.

His office said early Friday a “deal to release the hostages” had been reached and he had ordered the political-security cabinet to meet later in the day.

“The government will then convene to approve the deal,” it added.

At least two cabinet members have voiced opposition to the ceasefire, with far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir saying that he and his party colleagues would quit the government – but not the ruling coalition – if it approved the “irresponsible” deal.

Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich also opposes the truce, calling it a “dangerous deal.”

But US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who has been involved in months of mediation efforts, said Thursday he believed the ceasefire would go ahead on schedule.

“I am confident, and I fully expect that implementation will begin, as we said, on Sunday,” he said.

Gaza’s civil defense agency said Israel pounded several areas of the territory after the deal was announced on Wednesday, killing at least 80 people and wounding hundreds since then.

Hamas’s armed wing, the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, warned that Israeli strikes were risking the lives of hostages due to be freed under the deal, and could turn their “freedom... into a tragedy.”

The war was triggered by the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,210 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official Israeli figures.

During the attack, the deadliest in Israeli history, Palestinian militants also took 251 people hostage, 94 of whom are still being held in Gaza, including 34 the Israeli military says are dead.

Israel’s ensuing campaign has destroyed much of Gaza, killing 46,788 people, most of them civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry that the UN considers reliable.

The ceasefire agreement followed intensified efforts from mediators Qatar, Egypt and the United States, after months of fruitless negotiations to end the deadliest war in Gaza’s history.

If finalized, it would pause hostilities one day before the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump, who claimed credit for the agreement.

“If we weren’t involved in this deal, the deal would’ve never happened,” Trump said in an interview Thursday.

Envoys from both the Trump team and the outgoing administration of President Joe Biden were present at the latest negotiations, with a senior Biden official saying the unlikely pairing had been a decisive factor in reaching the deal.

In Israel and Gaza, there were celebrations welcoming the truce deal, but also anguish.

Saeed Alloush, who lives in north Gaza, said he and his loved ones were “waiting for the truce and were happy,” until overnight strikes killed many of his relatives.

“It was the happiest night since October 7” until “we received the news of the martyrdom of 40 people from the Alloush family,” he said.

In Tel Aviv, pensioner Simon Patya said he felt “great joy” that some hostages would return alive, but also “great sorrow for those who are returning in bags, and that will be a very strong blow, morally.”

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, announcing the agreement on Wednesday, said an initial 42-day ceasefire would see 33 hostages released, including women, “children, elderly people, as well as civilian ill people and wounded.”

Also in the first phase, Israeli forces would withdraw from Gaza’s densely populated areas and allow displaced Palestinians to return “to their residences,” he said.

Biden said the second phase of the agreement could bring a “permanent end to the war.”

He added the deal would “surge much needed humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians, and reunite the hostages with their families.”

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi also underscored the “importance of accelerating the entry of urgent humanitarian aid” into Gaza.

Cairo said it was ready to host an international conference on reconstruction in Gaza, where the United Nations has said it would take more than a decade to rebuild civilian infrastructure.

In a statement Thursday, G7 leaders called the ceasefire deal “a significant development” and urged Israel and Hamas to work on its “full implementation.”

The World Health Organization’s representative in the Palestinian territories, RikPeeperkorn, said Thursday that at least $10 billion would probably be needed over the next five to seven years to rebuild Gaza’s devastated health system alone.

The UN Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA, facing an Israeli ban on its activities set to start later this month, welcomed the ceasefire deal.

“What’s needed is rapid, unhindered and uninterrupted humanitarian access and supplies to respond to the tremendous suffering caused by this war,” UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini wrote on X.

Source:arabnews.com

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Arab World

How AI is transforming the fashion retail experience in the Middle East

SULAFA ALKHUNAIZI

January 16, 2025

RIYADH: Once the preserve of the rich and famous, personal styling services are now accessible to everyone thanks to strides in generative artificial intelligence, helping shoppers find the look best suited to their body or special occasion.

With its latest creation, Amira, Riyadh-based AI-powered fashion marketplace Taffi is revolutionizing the shopping experience across the Middle East and North Africa, while showcasing how AI is redefining consumer engagement.

A personal stylist powered by generative AI and machine learning, Amira’s advanced algorithms, trained on a comprehensive dataset inspired by the Middle East’s latest fashion trends, delivers personalized and trend-driven styling recommendations.

Launched in September, Amira has been trained by a network of more than 180 expert fashion stylists from across the region. These professionals have contributed tens of thousands of recommendations, reflecting local tastes and cultural preferences.

Taffi co-founder and CEO Shahad Geoffrey described Amira as “the best friend who knows your style better than you do, eliminating all the guesswork in shopping.”

The AI stylist “engages users at every relevant touchpoint along their shopping journey to help them make better and faster decisions,” she added.

Amira’s search assistant allows users to find complete styles directly from the store’s search box, eliminating the need to sift through irrelevant items. The AI stylist’s discovery assistant recommends relevant new products, while the product stylist pairs items with complementary upsell suggestions.

Geoffrey said that Taffi’s AI stylist “is available through a floating chat widget for conversational commerce,” providing “real-time expert advice and tailored shoppable style recommendations based on individual profiles and preferences to help customers quickly find their best styles via their natural language.”

The AI technology customizes the shopping experience to each customer’s individual needs and preferences, turning it into an assisted commerce journey.

This innovation is revolutionizing how shoppers discover new products, find purpose-driven outfits and complete tasks more efficiently — saving time, offering trusted recommendations and providing access to great deals.

“AI delivers real-time, hyper-personalized suggestions based on style preferences, lifestyle, size, physical attributes, budgets and existing wardrobe,” Geoffrey said. “It also inspires shoppers by offering ideas for mixing and matching outfits and exploring new trends.

“By reducing choice overload and creating customized product bundles based on user queries, AI ensures a more enjoyable, efficient and seamless shopping journey.”

Saudi Arabia’s fashion industry is expected to see cumulative annual growth of 48 percent from 2021 to 2025 as the Kingdom diversifies its economy, according to a 2024 report by the Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority.

The report also highlighted that the total value of the fashion sector in Saudi Arabia, including international brands, was $24.6 billion in 2022.

Taffi’s Amira was born from Geoffrey’s own frustration with the endless sea of fashion choices and the “static, impersonal shopping experiences.

“I always dreamed of having a virtual fashion assistant that truly understood my needs and preferences, finding personalized clothing effortlessly,” she said.

“Taffi was born to bring that vision to life, empowering shoppers with an AI fashion assistant that simplifies the shopping journey, making it seamless to discover and find outfits and tailor experiences to their unique preferences.”

Founded in 2021 by Geoffrey and Pradeep Bisht, the AI-powered fashion-focused shopping platform uses machine-learning, ChatGPT-4 and generative AI to provide users with styling recommendations based on their preferences, occasion and budget.

According to the company’s figures, users who engaged with Taffi had a 15 percent sales conversion rate — compared to just 0.67 percent for those who did not. This resulted in a 22-fold increase in sales conversions.

Additionally, Geoffrey highlighted that the average order value for purchases made through Taffi was 55 percent higher than those made without the platform

This success underscores the challenges in today’s e-commerce landscape. Originally designed decades ago to sell books, e-commerce has become an outdated experience.

Fashion e-commerce, in particular, has struggled to evolve beyond a generic shopping journey filled with impersonal choices, causing 75 percent of shoppers to leave sites without making a purchase. In fact, just 1-2 percent of visitors ever convert into buyers.

Frustrated customers often receive no response from overwhelmed customer support teams and return items at alarming rates. This creates a cycle of dissatisfaction for consumers while putting businesses under strain.

Amira, however, has received positive feedback from brands that have integrated the widget into their platforms.

Geoffrey said customers have described Amira as an innovative and highly useful feature for e-commerce, noting that it has significantly uplifted their brand image and dramatically enhanced the customer experience.

She predicts that AI will reshape the fashion industry by designing garments, streamlining manufacturing processes, enabling smarter inventory management and driving greater sustainability in fashion.

“AI will also transform the shopping experience — from discovery to checkout — empowering brands to cater to diverse markets, optimize supply chains, and elevate the retail experience with innovations like virtual try-ons and real-time fashion assistants,” she said.

Moreover, “AI enables brands to drive higher revenue, significantly reduce costs and enhance key business performance metrics, paving the way for a more prosperous, inclusive and efficient fashion industry.

“AI has immense potential to shape and revolutionize the fashion industry, spanning from retail to supply chain and manufacturing. What we see in AI today is just the beginning — a mere drop in the ocean.”

Source:arabnews.com

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Carved in stone: Tuwaiq Sculpture Symposium returns to Riyadh for sixth year

NADA AL-TURKI

January 16, 2025

RIYADH: Roshn Front is set to be the focus for all things artistic over the coming weeks as the sixth annual Tuwaiq Sculpture Symposium opened on Wednesday under the theme “From Then to Now: Joy in the Struggle of Making.”

According its curators, Sebastian Betancur-Montoya and Dr. Manal Al-Harbi, the event, which runs until Feb. 8, is a celebration of the artist’s journey — the joy, struggle and fulfillment that comes with the act of creation.

“I approach the curation from a place of exploration and understanding the idea of the symposium as a place to share knowledge and to produce knowledge,” Betancur-Montoya told Arab News.

“We are working with artists. They work with their hands, with their forms, with their shapes and (these are) the type of experiences and knowledge and things we’re producing here from that perspective.

“I’m interested in the processes of how things and ideas come about. Stone requires a technique and each artist approaches the boulder or the block of stone in a different way, so one of the first things that came to mind was ‘how do we make this visible?’”

Tuwaiq Sculpture focuses not only on the final creations but the creative, physical and intellectual process behind them.

Betancur-Montoya draws inspiration from Albert Camus’ “The Myth of Sisyphus,” an essay which ends with the line: “one must imagine Sisyphus happy.”

Instead of the traditional understanding of the myth as Sisyphus being punished by rolling the boulder up a hill just to see it roll back down over and over, Camus proposed that there was a meditative purpose in the aim for perfection.

“I connect that idea of this endless Sisyphean task of pushing the boulder to the labor of an artist, creating their works and then letting them go before they are ever completed, because it’s an impossibility. Projects are not completed. Projects are abandoned or let go or freed,” Betancur-Montoya said.

Over the coming weeks, Roshn Front will be transformed into a vibrant artistic playground where 30 sculptors from 23 countries will sculpt public artworks in real time. For visitors this is a rare opportunity to witness the magic of sculpture from the ground up, as raw materials slowly take form under the hands of craftspeople.

This year’s event also includes an apprenticeship program for young artists who aspire to be the next Tuwaiq participants.

Sarah Alruwayti, director of the symposium, said: “We were actually surprised to receive more than 400 applicants for the apprenticeship program.

“I think this was a huge milestone for us and we’re very proud of everyone who participated and who applied.”

Visitors will also have the chance to meet the artists and ask questions. The event features 11 panel discussions that will explore the role of public art in urban spaces, and 10 interactive workshops where people can try their hand at crafts like natural dyeing and sustainable art practices.

For those with a deeper curiosity, six masterclasses will dive into advanced sculptural techniques, including kinetic sculptures.

Guided tours and educational trips will also be available, offering insights into both the artists’ creative processes and Riyadh’s blossoming cultural landscape.

The finished sculptures will be unveiled at an exhibition from Feb. 12-24, giving visitors the chance to experience the completed works up close.

“Once the artists are done with the sculptures they are then relocated to different areas and we’ve already started this process (with creations from earlier events). Very soon, you will be able to actually witness these sculptures in their public areas,” Alruwayti said.

Source:arabnews.com

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Centennial of iconic book that described King Abdulaziz as ‘crowning jewel’ of Arab leaders

TAMARA ABOALSAUD

January 16, 2025

RIYADH: On Jan. 15, 1902, King Abdulaziz Al-Saud returned in triumph to Riyadh after a period of exile in Kuwait, and consolidated control over both the political and religious powers of Arabia.

The event marked the beginning of a new era for the Arabian Peninsula and the wider Islamic world.

This year on Jan. 15, to mark the monarch’s return 123 years ago, the King Abdulaziz Historical Center in Riyadh celebrated the centennial of an iconic book, “Kings of Arabia,” one of Lebanese-American writer and political activist Amin Rihani’s most notable books.

Published in 1925, it follows the writer’s journey across the Arabian Peninsula and his encounters with its most prominent Arab leaders.

Upon meeting King Abdulaziz, known at the time as the Sultan of Najd and its dependencies, Rihani famously had this to say about the late ruler: “Now that I have met all the Arab leaders. None of them (is) greater than this man.

“And I am not hastily judging nor am I exaggerating. As he is truly great. Great in his handshake and smile. Great in his words and his gaze.

“Great at stomping the Earth with his staff. He speaks his mind in the first meeting fearing no man. He reveals his secret and what a great secret it is.

“A man who knows his worth and believes only in Allah and himself. The man in him is greater than the Sultan. And he earned his people’s leadership with merits, not titles.

“I came to Ibn Saud with a heart that carries neither love nor hate as I told him. Neither the British’s nor the Hejaz’s opinions, neither the praises nor the condemnations had affected me, and the heart was filled with love in the first meeting between us.

“Even though this love might not be a result of admiration. I am delighted to have visited Ibn Saud after having visited them all. Truly, he is the crowning jewel.”

Prince Faisal bin Salman, special advisor to King Salman and chairman of the board of directors of the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives, spoke at the event which was hosted jointly by the foundation and the Amin Rihani Organization.

Prince Faisal spoke about how Rihani came to Saudi Arabia with the preconceived notions common among many people who “did not have the opportunity to get to know the Arabian Peninsula up close.”

“At that time, the Arabian Peninsula and its neighboring countries were wary of the other, and looked at it with suspicion,” he said.

“King Abdulaziz in his wisdom adopted an open and welcoming dialect for all, believing that living authentic Islamic and Arab values such as faith, trust in Allah, generosity, courage, and chivalry would change understanding and break barriers and distances.”

Prince Faisal also saluted the progress made in the Kingdom since the establishment of the First Saudi State in 1932.

“This scene pictured by Rihani in his book, conveyed ... the building of a contemporary state that combines authenticity, modernity, and ambitious fruits for the future.

“The success established by King Abdulaziz was continued in his sons, the kings after him, arriving at Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and His Royal Highness Mohammed bin Salman.”

Prince Faisal added that “they too walk on the same path of preserving the Islamic principles and authentic Arab values of Abdulaziz, the spirit of growth and opening up to the world, which made the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia today one of the most important models globally in development, progress and innovation.”

Prince Faisal said that he has never encountered anyone who had previously held a negative image of the Kingdom and who had not reevaluated their misconceptions after visiting and meeting its people.

Rihani’s nephew, president of the Amin Rihani Organization and professor at Notre Dame University in Lebanon, Amin Albert Rihani, delivered a speech remotely.

“Those interested in Middle Eastern studies around the world will find it difficult to understand the developments and current events in the Middle East at the beginning of the 21st century unless they read the book ‘Kings of Arabia,’ because it constitutes the cornerstone of the history of the Near East in general and the Arab world in particular, and it also constitutes the gateway to contemporary Arab history,” he said.

Rihani spoke about the rich history and affection that connects the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Lebanon.

“How did (Rihani’s) historical journey build, at the last of its stations, the first bridge of affection between the first two newly emerging Arab countries, between Lebanon, which was officially established in 1920, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, whose unification was announced in 1932?

“It is a bridge of affection, love, and appreciation between Sultan Abdulaziz and Amin Rihani.

“It is the first bridge between the small homeland with the big heart and the large homeland with the vast and wide vision, ready to keep up with the times and keep up with the model that is to be emulated in every poverty and victory.”

Rihani’s family also attended the event as the prince’s guests of honor.

Following the presentation, the event concluded with two panel discussions on the prominence of King Abdulaziz in “Kings of Arabia” and on the book’s history.

The celebration also featured a short clip of a newly released documentary film detailing Rihani’s journey and its significance in the birth of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Source:arabnews.com

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Saudi-Thai Coordination Council holds inaugural meeting in Bangkok

January 16, 2025

RIYADH: The first meeting of the Saudi-Thai Coordination Council was held in Bangkok on Thursday, in the latest sign of warming relations between the two nations after diplomatic ties were restored in 2022.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Thai counterpart Maris Sangiampongsa co-chaired the meeting, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The council aims to enhance cooperation between the two countries in various fields, including politics, security and defense, energy, economy, investment, education, culture, tourism and other areas of common interest.

The co-chairs reviewed relations, emphasized the importance of ongoing coordination and expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of related meetings, which have resulted in more than 70 joint initiatives.

Ties between Saudi Arabia and Thailand stalled in the 1980s but were renewed following a visit by the Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to Riyadh at the invitation of the crown prince.

Numerous diplomatic, trade agreements and official visits have followed and the two governments have signed a series of cooperation deals.

Cultural outreach programs include Arabic language training in Thai universities by the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language, which launched the Arabic Language Month in Thailand in November.

Riyadh also hosted a Thailand International Mega Fair in November, aiming to boost trade between the two countries.

Following Thursday’s meeting, the two sides signed a program for joint cooperation between the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, represented by the Prince Saud Al-Faisal Institute for Diplomatic Studies, and the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, represented by the DevawongseVaropakarn Institute of Foreign Affairs.

The program was signed by Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Ambassador Saud Al-Sati and Phubadi La-or-ngern, ambassador and dean of the DevawongseVaropakarn Institute.

The next meeting of the council will be held in Saudi Arabia.

Source:arabnews.com

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Hajj Lab empowers global group of trainees

AFSHAN AZIZ

January 16, 2025

JEDDAH: An intensive three-day Hajj training event in Saudi Arabia has boosted the skills of more than 2,000 trainees from around the world in all aspects of the pilgrimage.

The Hajj Lab, part of the Hajj and Umrah Conference and Exhibition 2025, finished on Jan. 16.

It was organized by the Licensing and Training Center for Workers in the Service Sector of Hajj and Umrah, which falls under the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.

The scheme, aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, provided a platform for knowledge sharing, training and collaboration, to enhance the services offered to pilgrims during the Hajj season.

Over the three days, the lab hosted a series of workshops designed to foster learning and development across various facets of the Hajj ecosystem.

With more than 60 trainers and 45 workshop sessions, the Hajj Lab brought together more than 2,000 global trainees committed to enhancing their skills and knowledge of the Hajj sector.

The workshops, tailored to meet the specific needs of the Hajj, covered new technologies, regulations and services related to transportation, healthcare, security and digital transformation.

General supervisor of the Licensing and Training Center, Abdul Bari Al-Salami, highlighted the comprehensive approach to the workshops.

“Twenty workshops each day, divided into five sessions, were held across four halls, each capable of hosting around 40 trainees,” he said.

“Trainers from both government sectors and companies providing Hajj services shared their expertise to ensure that attendees were well-informed about the latest regulations, technologies and strategies. This is part of our effort to improve services we are implementing for the upcoming Hajj and Umrah season.”

The workshop topics were chosen after extensive discussions with specialists from various sectors involved in the Hajj.

Ayad Fadl, director of the Licensing and Training Center, said: “The theme this year is all about the Hajj season and, particularly, what’s new for the next season. These workshops are a yearly opportunity for us to introduce innovations and improvements.”

The Hajj Lab also serves as a platform to assess the impact of new initiatives and gather feedback from attendees.

“We aim to observe the impact of each workshop,” Fadl added.

“Some sessions focus on specific knowledge areas, while others address broader industry challenges. After each session, we evaluate the effectiveness and decide on how to expand the training throughout the year.”

The Licensing and Training Center’s training content accreditation officer, Ahdab Badr, said: “One of the workshops discussed new regulations at Nusuk for Hajj pilgrims, which is an update for the upcoming season. We use the Hajj Lab to increase awareness and gauge the audience’s response about it. If successful, Nusuk aims to implement these changes on their official platforms.”

With a goal of training more than 150,000 workers this year, the Licensing and Training Center continues to focus on developing soft skills among those who work with pilgrims, based on extensive studies conducted in recent years. “We aim to create a more efficient workforce, which is crucial for enhancing the overall Hajj experience,” said Badr.

Sela Company served as a partner in hosting the lab. Sara Sheikh, Sela’s expo operations manager, highlighted the company’s role in the creation of the workshop programs: “Our collaboration with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah aims to ensure the quality and variety of the workshops, particularly in the nine specialized areas of focus, including crowd management, project management, medical and health services, digital transformation, business intelligence and marketing.”

One of the standout sessions, titled “Digital Transformation and its Effect on Enhancing Services Offered to Pilgrims,” was led by Eng. AmeenahNaytah, chief digital transformation officer and e-portal director at the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.

Naytah discussed the importance of digital transformation in enhancing services provided to pilgrims. “We began by introducing the concept of digital transformation, then discussed the tools and technologies that are available to enhance sustainability,” she said.

“The Hajj Lab was an essential platform for the ministry to interact with the audience, understand their level of knowledge about digital transformation, and gather feedback that will guide future developments.”

Another session, titled “Data Quality: From Basics to Best Practices in the Hajj System,” was conducted by Omar Bassam Bani Kenana, a data management consultant.

“In our workshop, we worked closely with the audience to explain how we improve data quality across all departments and systems in the ministry. We aim to raise awareness about the importance of data quality and provide insights into how attendees can apply best practices in their own systems,” he said.

Mohammed, a consultant at Nusuk, said: “I am truly grateful for the opportunity to attend the Hajj Lab workshops. The sessions provided invaluable insights into the latest developments in Hajj services.

“The practical knowledge was eye-opening and I now feel better equipped to apply these new strategies in my work, enhancing the experience for pilgrims.

“This event not only expanded my understanding, but also inspired me to be part of the continued innovation in the Hajj ecosystem. I’m looking forward to implementing these lessons and seeing the positive impact on the Hajj season.”

Source:arabnews.com

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UAE President appoints director-general of Islamic affairs authority

January 16, 2025

Abu Dhabi: President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has issued a federal decree appointing Ahmed Rashid Saeed Al Neyadi as Director-General of the General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, and Zakat, with the rank of Undersecretary.

Al Neyadi brings extensive experience from a distinguished career across various leadership roles. He previously served as the Executive Director of the Support Services Sector at the Authority.

His earlier positions include Director of the Tenders and Contracts Department at the Department of Urban Planning and Municipalities in Abu Dhabi, and Head of the Legal Affairs Department at the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi.

Al Neyadi holds a Master’s degree in Law from Dubai Police Academy and a Bachelor’s degree in Sharia and Law from the United Arab Emirates University, which he earned in 2001.

Source:gulfnews.com

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North America

US says Gaza ceasefire to start as planned despite ‘loose end’

January 17, 2025

DOHA/CAIRO/JERUSALEM: The Gaza Strip ceasefire should begin on Sunday as planned, despite the need for negotiators to tie up a “loose end” at the last minute, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday.

With longstanding divisions apparent among ministers, Israel delayed cabinet meetings to ratify the ceasefire with Hamas, and media reports said voting could occur Friday or even Saturday, although the deal is expected to be approved.

Israel blamed the militant group for the hold-up, even as Israeli warplanes pounded Gaza in some of the most intense strikes for months. Palestinian authorities said at least 86 people were killed in the day since the truce was unveiled.

Hamas senior official Izzat el-Reshiq said the group remained committed to the ceasefire deal, which is scheduled to take effect from Sunday to halt 15 months of bloodshed

“It’s not exactly surprising that in a process and negotiation that has been this challenging and this fraught, you may get a loose end,” Blinken told a press conference in Washington. “We’re tying up that loose end as we speak.”

A US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the parties were making good progress in ironing out the last-minute obstacles. “I think we’re going to be okay,” the official told Reuters.

Earlier the official said the sole remaining dispute was over the identities of some prisoners Hamas wanted released. Envoys of President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump were in Doha with Egyptian and Qatari mediators working to resolve it, the official said.

Inside Gaza, joy over the truce gave way to sorrow and anger at the intensified bombardment that followed the announcement.

Tamer Abu Shaaban’s voice cracked as he stood over the tiny body of his young neice wrapped in a white shroud on the tile floor of a Gaza City morgue. She had been hit in the back with shrapnel from a missile as she played in the yard of a school where the family was sheltering, he said.

“Is this the truce they are talking about? What did this young girl, this child, do to deserve this? What did she do to deserve this? Is she fighting you, Israel?” he asked.

The ceasefire accord emerged on Wednesday after mediation by Qatar, Egypt and the US to stop the war that began with deadly Hamas attacks on Israel and saw Israeli forces kill tens of thousands of Palestinians and devastate Gaza.

The deal outlines a six-week initial ceasefire with the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces. Dozens of hostages taken by Hamas would be freed in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners detained in Israel.

It paves the way for a surge in humanitarian aid for Gaza, where the majority of the population has been displaced, facing hunger, sickness and cold. Rows of aid trucks were lined up in the Egyptian border town of El-Arish waiting to cross into Gaza, once the border is reopened.

Peace could also have wider benefits across the Middle East, including ending disruption to global trade from Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement which has attacked ships in the Red Sea. The movement’s leader Abdul Malik Al-Houthi said his group would monitor the ceasefire and continue attacks if it is breached.

Meeting revealed

Israel’s acceptance of the deal will not be official until it is approved by the security cabinet and government. A vote had been expected on Thursday, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delayed the meeting, accusing Hamas of making last-minute demands.

“The Israeli cabinet will not convene until the mediators notify Israel that Hamas has accepted all elements of the agreement,” Netanyahu’s office said.

Israeli media outlets reported the cabinet was expected to vote on Friday or Saturday, but the prime minister’s office declined to comment on the timing.

Hard-liners in Netanyahu’s government were still hoping to stop the deal, though a majority of ministers were expected to back it and ensure its approval.

Hard-line National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said on Thursday he would resign from the government if it ratifies the Gaza deal.

But opposition leader YairLapid told the prime minister in a post on X that he would “get every safety net you need to make the hostage deal,” suggesting opposition lawmakers would support the government to ensure the return of hostages.

In Jerusalem, some Israelis marched through the streets carrying mock coffins in protest at the ceasefire, blocking roads and scuffling with police. Other protesters blocked traffic until security forces dispersed them.

The agreement leaves the fate of most of the remaining 98 Israeli hostages still in Gaza unresolved for now. The list of 33 due to go free in the first phase includes women, children, elderly, sick and wounded.

Palestinians said they were desperate for the bombing to stop as soon as possible.

“We lose homes every hour. We demand for this joy not to go away, the joy that was drawn on our faces — don’t waste it by delaying the implementation of the truce until Sunday,” said Mahmoud Abu Wardeh.

Israel launched its campaign in Gaza after Hamas-led gunmen burst into Israeli border-area communities on Oct. 7, 2023, killing 1,200 soldiers and civilians and abducting over 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

If successful, the ceasefire would halt fighting that has razed much of heavily urbanized Gaza, killed over 46,000 people, and displaced most of the tiny enclave’s pre-war population of 2.3 million, according to Gaza authorities.

Source:arabnews.com

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UN Security Council calls for ‘swift’ formation of government in Lebanon

EPHREM KOSSAIFY

January 16, 2025

NEW YORK CITY: The UN Security Council on Monday reaffirmed its strong support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon, as it urged the country’s leaders to take swift action to form a government following the election last week of Joseph Aoun as president and the designation of Nawaf Salam as prime minister.

The council expressed its approval of the successful election of Aoun, describing it as a crucial step toward resolving Lebanon’s prolonged political crisis. The office of president had been vacant since the end of his predecessor’s term in October 2022, as political factions were unable to agree on a successor.

The council also welcomed the appointment of Salam as prime minister-designate, and underlined the fact that the formation of a government remains the next key step in efforts to ensure the stability and resilience of Lebanon amid ongoing domestic and regional challenges.

“The election of a new president is an important and long-awaited and critical step to overcome Lebanon’s political and institutional crisis,” council members said.

They stressed that the formation of a government is now imperative to help ensure Lebanon can address the many challenges it faces, both within its borders and across the wider region. The council encouraged all political factions in Lebanon to act with a renewed unity and determination to swiftly form a government.

Members also underscored the importance of continuing international support for Lebanon as it navigates this critical period, and acknowledged the international community’s role in creating the conditions that allowed for the election of Aoun.

The council also discussed the security situation in the country, expressing concern about violations of the cessation-of-hostilities agreement between Lebanon and Israel. The ceasefire deal struck on Nov. 27 to halt the war required Hezbollah to immediately lay down its arms in southern Lebanon, and gave Israel 60 days to withdraw its forces from this area and hand over control to the Lebanese army and UN peacekeepers.

Lebanon accuses Israel of continually violating the agreement. Last month, it filed a complaint with the Security Council accusing Israel of carrying out about 816 “ground and air attacks” between the start of the ceasefire and Dec. 22, 2024. The attacks have hindered Lebanese army efforts to deploy in the south and uphold its end of the ceasefire deal, it added.

Meanwhile, Israel accuses Hezbollah of breaching the agreement hundreds of times and has also raised the issue with the Security Council. The allegations include claims that Hezbollah militants are moving ammunition, trying to attack Israeli soldiers, and preparing and launching rockets toward northern Israel.

While the council welcomed the ceasefire as a significant step toward stabilization of the region, it called on all of those involved to adhere to the terms of the agreement, the aim of which is to deescalate tensions along the border between Lebanon and Israel.

“Reports of violations after Nov. 27 are troubling,” the council said. “The Security Council calls on all parties to cease any further violations and to implement the cessation of hostilities in full, with the support of the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, in line with their mandates.”

The council reiterated its strong support for UNIFIL, emphasizing the critical role the force plays in maintaining regional stability and assisting Lebanon in its peacekeeping efforts. Council members urged all parties to respect the safety and freedom of movement of UNIFIL personnel, noting that peacekeepers and their facilities must never be targeted.

The council also appealed to the international community to continue providing humanitarian and economic assistance to Lebanon. This includes support for displaced persons, financial aid for reconstruction efforts, help to strengthen state institutions, and promoting the return of displaced Lebanese citizens to their homes under the government’s authority.

Lebanon requires continuing international assistance to help rebuild its institutions and promote long-term stability, the council said. This support should include efforts to strengthen the Lebanese Armed Forces and help secure a lasting ceasefire, it added.

The Security Council’s call for international engagement comes as Lebanon continues to struggle with the aftermath of a series of crises, including political instability, economic collapse and the continuing challenges created by simmering regional tensions.

The council reaffirmed its commitment to the full implementation of previous resolutions adopted over the past 20 years relating to Lebanon, which address issues such as the disarmament of militias, the establishment of Lebanese sovereignty, and the promotion of political independence. These resolutions remain integral to Lebanon’s long-term peace and stability, the council said.

“The Security Council reaffirms that the preservation of Lebanon’s stability is essential not only for Lebanon but also for regional security,” it added.

Source:arabnews.com

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Mclean County Recognizes EMA Volunteers, Muslim Community

17 Jan, 2025

The McLean County Emergency Management Agency's volunteers were given special recognition during January's County Board meeting Thursday at the Government Center in downtown Bloomington.

BLOOMINGTON — McLean County acknowledged the contributions of Emergency Management Agency volunteers and the county's Muslim-American community with special proclamations for the month of January.

The County Board at its meeting Thursday also swore in Hudson resident Andy Ziebarth as its newest member. He will fill the seat vacated by former board Chair Catherine Metsker, who announced her resignation last month.

Board Chair Elizabeth Johnston said the county has a lot of unsung heroes who do hard work that often isn't seen but is especially appreciated in the worst times of someone's life.

"We wouldn't be who we are and be able to help our communities the way we do if we didn't have our volunteers," said EMA Director Cathy Beck, who added she has the best job in the world and urged residents to join EMA.

McLean County's EMA has 40 volunteers and seven dogs who dedicate thousands of hours of specialized training to assist residents in imminent danger or distress. Many attended the meeting.

Its search and rescue team is on hand 24 hours a day, seven days a week and has been called to assist in national emergencies, including hurricanes Helene last year and Katrina in 2005 and the 2011 tornado in Joplin, Missouri.

Several other volunteers are part of an operations team involved in running drones, command post driving, communications, severe weather operations and other services.

McLean County Board OKs local labor agreement

In recognition of this work, McLean County proclaimed the month of January to be McLean County Search and Rescue Month.

January also was recognized as Muslim American Heritage Month in the county.

Residents are encouraged to take the time to learn about and honor the history and contributions of Muslims locally, across the nation and around the world.

McLean County recognizes EMA volunteers, Muslim community in January

McLean County Board member Krystle Able delivered a proclamation recognizing January as Muslim-American Month during January's County Board meeting Thursday at the Government Center in downtown Bloomington.

Drew Zimmerman

"Observance can come in a multitude of ways, including arts and musical festivals, salon type events, various awards and scholarship contests for Muslim American professionals, screening of films featuring Muslim Americans and exploring the cuisines of Muslim American heritage," the proclamation read.

New member

Ziebarth said that although he works at State Farm, he grew up on a farm and knows that community is made of a lot of hard-working individuals who require support.

McLean County recognizes EMA volunteers, Muslim community in January

McLean County Clerk Kathy Michael, left, swears in Andy Ziebarth of Hudson, right, as a new McLean County Board member during January's board meeting Thursday at the Government Center in downtown Bloomington.

Drew Zimmerman

"I don't think I have any one given item at this point I really want to focus (on), but I'm going to strive to learn what the community is looking for from their representative for District 1," Ziebarth said.

Source:pantagraph.com

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UN’s Guterres in Lebanon on ‘visit of solidarity’

January 16, 2025

BEIRUT: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arrived in Lebanon Thursday on a “visit of solidarity,” he said, after a long-stalled presidential election and a devastating war between armed group Hezbollah and Israel.

“I have arrived in Beirut on a visit of solidarity with the Lebanese people,” Guterres posted on X.

“A window has opened for a new era of institutional stability with a state fully able to protect its citizens and a system that would allow the tremendous potential of the Lebanese people to flourish,” he added.

“We will do everything to help keep that window open wide.”

His deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said Guterres would meet political officials and visit UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon during his trip which would last until Saturday.

Lebanon’s deeply divided political class last week finally elected a new president, Joseph Aoun, after two years of deadlock.

Aoun on Monday named Nawaf Salam, until recently the presiding judge at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, to form a government.

Since Wednesday Salam has been consulting political parties ahead of drawing up a list of cabinet members.

Guterres is visiting the country as the deadline approaches for full implementation of a November 27 ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel in southern Lebanon.

Under the truce, which ended two months of all-out war between both sides, the Lebanese army is to deploy alongside UN peacekeepers in the south as the Israeli army withdraws before January 26.

Hezbollah is due to pull its forces north of the Litani River, some 30 kilometers (20 miles) from the border with Israel, and dismantle any remaining military infrastructure in south Lebanon.

Source:arabnews.com

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Trump selects Dearborn Muslim cleric for inauguration prayer

Jan. 16, 2025

A Muslim cleric in Michigan will reportedly deliver a prayer during President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremony.

Imam Husham Al-Husainy of the Karbalaa Islamic Education Center in Dearborn will be one of four faith leaders to deliver a benediction prayer during Trump’s inauguration on Monday, Jan. 20 in Washington, D.C., according to Matthew Foldi of the Washington Reporter.

Al-Husainy is the second faith leader from Michigan selected by Trump to participate in the main ceremony. The other, Rev. Lorenzo Sewell of 180 Church in Detroit, will also deliver a benediction during the ceremony.

Al-Husainy could not immediately be reached for comment.

Trump courted Michigan’s Arab American population as part of his bid to win the state in November, playing to frustrations over the Biden-Harris administration’s inability to end Israel’s war in Gaza.

Ahead of the election, Al-Husainy spoke in support of Trump.

“I am supporting Donald Trump because he opposes gay marriage and he is the most Christian person in the election,” Al-Husainy said, according to the Hill. “He will return us to conservative values, and I am a Muslim and I will stand with whoever opposes gay marriage.”

The other two faith leaders delivering benediction prayers during the ceremony are Rabbi Ari Berman, president of Yeshiva University in New York, and Rev. Frank Mann, a priest in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn, according to Foldi.

Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan and Rev. Franklin Graham, the son of the late evangelist Billy Graham, will deliver the invocation.

One of the biggest names in the inauguration ceremony program is country star Carrie Underwood, who will be performing “America the Beautiful.”

Source:mlive.com

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Emory University, Dept. of Education settle complaint over alleged anti-Muslim discrimination

Jan. 17, 2025

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has resolved a federal civil rights complaint filed against Emory University over alleged anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian discrimination in the wake of campus protests over the Israel-Hamas war, the department announced Thursday.

OCR said the university has entered into a resolution agreement to ensure compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 “with respect to alleged harassment of students based on national origin (shared Palestinian and/or Muslim ancestry).”

Last April, Emory students filed the complaint for what they claimed were instances of Islamophobia and severe anti-Palestinian and anti-Arab discrimination after protests erupted on campus over the war in Gaza.

OCR said its investigation “identified Title VI compliance concerns” related to Emory’s response to the protests and “to notice the university received of discrimination against Palestinian, Arab, or Muslim university students, based on shared ancestry, that could contribute to or create a hostile environment for students.”

The office was especially concerned that the “gratuitous violence of the law enforcement activity” seen in widely publicized videos from arrests during the April protests may have created a hostile environment within the campus community for the students “and those perceived to have associated with them.”

It also identified “concerns that the university’s publicly available policies and procedures for receiving and responding to reports of discrimination based on national origin and race lack the clarity necessary to ensure that the university provides a prompt and effective response, consistent with the requirements of Title VI,” to such reports.

The office said, at Emory’s request, it agreed to resolve the discrimination allegations “without making a determination as to whether those allegations raise Title VI compliance concerns, given the scope of remedy already confirmed to date in this investigation.”

It recognized Emory’s efforts during the investigation to address a climate “that the university characterized as marked by anxiety, tension, and fear” for the students.

OCR said the university acknowledged “shocking” and “deeply distressing” scenes from the law enforcement response to the April protests and “expressed willingness to launch a thorough review, including of how Emory engages external law enforcement.”

The office said by signing the resolution agreement, Emory “has committed to ensuring a safe and non-discriminatory educational environment for all students.”

Emory University released the following statement:

Source:atlantanewsfirst.com

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https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2025/01/16/emory-university-dept-education-settle-complaint-over-alleged-anti-muslim-discrimination/

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Donald Trump's and JD Vance's official portraits released

Jan. 17, 2025

The official portraits of US President-elect Donald Trump and his second-in-command JD Vance have been released ahead of their inauguration on Monday.

Both Trump and Vance are pictured in blue suits, white collared shirts and blue ties, with Trump wearing a small US flag pin on his lapel.

Trump's expression contrasts with Vance's, with the president-elect's head tilted slightly downward, one eyebrow raised and his lips pressed together.

Vance smiles at the camera, with his arms crossed, in a more relaxed pose.

The new image of Trump has drawn comparisons to his 2023 mugshot, which was taken in Fulton County Jail after he was charged with attempting to overturn his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden in the state of Georgia - a charge Trump denied.

The now-famous image was used by Trump to fundraise for his campaign.

The Trump-Vance transition said in a press release that the portraits "go hard".

The portrait Trump opted for this time differs markedly with the image used in 2017, when he first became president.

While he wears similar attire, he smiles broadly at the camera in the earlier portrait.

"Trump may be embracing a defiant image, transforming a moment of legal adversity into a symbol of resilience and strength," QuardricosDriskell, a political science professor at George Washington University, told the BBC.

"The stark contrast to his earlier, more traditional portrait could also signify a shift in his public persona, emphasizing a tougher, more combative stance as he prepares to assume office for a second time."

The portraits were released by the Trump transition team just days before Trump and Vance's inauguration on 20 January.

The official portraits of Trump and his former Vice-President Mike Pence were not released until nine months after they were both sworn in.

Source:bbc.com

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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly443wxl78o

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Three ways Democrats are breaking with tradition before inauguration

Jan. 17, 2025

The very first US presidential inauguration, of George Washington in 1789, birthed traditions that are still observed nearly to this day - such as an oath of office and an inaugural address.

Four years ago, conventions that had been observed for generations were shattered. Republican Donald Trump became the first former president for more then 150 years to skip the swearing-in of his successor, as he raged about the result of an election that he falsely claimed he had won.

Fast forward to 2025, and Trump will ceremonially return to the White House on 20 January - a date enshrined in the US Constitution.

Democrats have contrasted the orderly transfer of power this time around with the violence and dysfunction of four years ago when the Capitol riot occurred. But in smaller ways they, too, are breaking with tradition.

Michelle Obama ducks inauguration

It was announced this week that former First Lady Michelle Obama would not join her husband, Barack, at the 47th president's inauguration on Monday.

On Thursday, former House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she would skip it, too. Other Democrats are also expected to avoid the ceremony, though they have not so far organised a formal boycott as they did for Trump's first inauguration in 2017.

No reason was given in the brief statement from the Obamas' office. The announcement came just days after Mrs Obama did not attend the funeral of another former US President, Jimmy Carter, where her husband was seen chatting with Trump.

Other living former first ladies attended Carter's funeral - and Mrs Obama has been present for the two other inaugurations since her husband left office, including Trump's first swearing-in in 2017. She later said she had not enjoyed that occasion, citing a lack of diversity on stage.

Trump, too, broke a 150-year-old tradition last time - as he refused to attend the inauguration of Joe Biden after the Republican baselessly claimed he lost because of mass voter fraud.

Harris not hosting Vance at VP residence

Outgoing Vice-President Kamala Harris has not extended the traditional invitation to her successor, JD Vance, to meet at the VP's residence in Washington DC, according to sources who spoke to the BBC's US partner, CBS News.

Harris was said to have been consumed with other matters, including the response to devastating wildfires in Los Angeles. There has been no official comment from either side.

This is another tradition that also appears to have been passed over four years ago, when Harris took over from Mike Pence.

In the bad blood that followed the 2020 election, there was no formal sit-down between the pair, according to CBS.

The Harris team claimed no invitation was ever sent - something that's disputed by the Pence camp, which said a discreet offer was made.

No farewell press conference for Biden

With just days left in the White House, Biden looks unlikely to maintain the modern convention of taking reporters' questions in an exit press conference.

That was performed by George W Bush and Obama, but not by Trump in the acrimony after the 2020 election.

Biden's team has long insisted he interacts regularly with the media - and could point to the fact he gave a major address on Wednesday night, or that he is due to appear on Thursday in a final sit-down interview with MSNBC.

But during his term, the outgoing president has done fewer news conferences than any other for decades - delivering a yearly average of just 9.4, according to the American Presidency Project at the University of Santa Barbara.

Source:bbc.com

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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly9vmrxz89o

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Trump names three legendary actors as ‘special envoys’ to Hollywood

16 Jan, 2025

US President-elect Donald Trump has named movie icons Jon Voight, Mel Gibson, and Sylvester Stallone as his “special ambassadors” to Hollywood, a position apparently invented by the incoming president on Thursday.

”It is my honor to announce Jon Voight, Mel Gibson, and Sylvester Stallone, to be Special Ambassadors to a great but very troubled place, Hollywood, California,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on Thursday.

“They will serve as Special Envoys to me for the purpose of bringing Hollywood, which has lost much business over the last four years to Foreign Countries, BACK—BIGGER, BETTER, AND STRONGER THAN EVER BEFORE!” he continued, adding that the three men will serve as his “eyes and ears” inside the film industry.

It is unclear what the position, which has never existed before, will entail. However, all three actors are outspoken supporters of Trump, making them rarities in a Democrat-dominated industry.

Voight was a vocal supporter of Trump during the latter’s first term in office, and received a National Medal of Arts from then-President Trump in 2019. Gibson came out in support of Trump before November’s election, describing his rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, as someone with “the IQ of a fence post.”

Stallone spoke at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate after the election, praising the Republican as “a really mythical character” and “the second George Washington.”

Hollywood has been mired in a downturn since the Covid-19 pandemic, with competition from foreign countries and streaming services chipping away at profits and forcing multiple studios – including Disney, Warner Bros Discovery, Paramount, and NBCUniversal – to announce layoffs over the last year.

The number of US productions during the second quarter of 2024 was down 40% on the same period in 2022, and fell another 5% in the third quarter of last year, according to figures from ProdPro and Film LA. The US box office take fell to $8.7 billion last year, a 3.3% drop in 2023 and a 23.5% drop from 2019, according to Variety.

Source:rt.com

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https://www.rt.com/pop-culture/611040-trump-names-hollywood-envoys/

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Africa

Group kicks against planned inauguration of Sharia Court in Oyo

January 16, 2025

by SegunShowunmi, Ibadan

Yoruba Regional Alliance Worldwide, comprising of various groups like Agbekoya, Soludero, OPC, hunters and others, has kicked against proposed inauguration of Sharia Court in Oyo town by some individuals.

The group described the step as an attempt to disrupt peace in Yorubaland.

Speaking with newsmen in Ibadan, the world chairman of the group, Arch. Opeoluwa George said the step was an attempt to cause chaos in Oyo town, its environs, Oyo State and Yorubaland in general, adding that it will also disrupt the progress and development of the State.

According to him: “Yoruba people are historically peace loving and accomodating, we built our culture and traditions to the administration of people all over the world. Yoruba has not been adjudged bastion of religious tolerance and harmonious living worldwide.

“It is in the interest of Oyo town and it’s environs, Oyo State and the rest of Yorubaland that we are saying inauguration of the Sharia Court is not allowed as it will lead to chaos and cause massive dislocation beyond the imagination of everyone.

“We totally reject and condemn it and we are calling on Oyo state government to forestall impending catastrophe by immediately putting a stop to any further preparation by those who initiated it to be inaugurated in Oyo town and it’s environment, Oyo state or any part of Southwest.”

Responding to news that bandits from northern part of the country were infiltrating southwest, particularly Oyo State, George threatened that the group will resolve into self defence against bandits and insecurity in the region.

He said gone were those days bandits will raid, maim and destroy towns and villages in Southwest, saying the group was ready to resolve into self help should there be need.

Source:thenationonlineng.net

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https://thenationonlineng.net/group-kicks-against-planned-inauguration-of-sharia-court-in-oyo/

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Fresh Boko Haram Attack Hits Chibok Community

16 January 2025

By EnioluwaAdeniyi

The Southern Borno Senatorial District continues to reel from a series of Boko Haram attacks, with the latest assault reported in Yimirmugza village in Chibok.

Naija News reports that this follows earlier attacks in Damboa and other communities in the region, which have left dozens dead and properties destroyed.

The terrorists targeted Bamzir, Njilang, and Shikarkir communities, torching churches and residential houses. The devastation has caused widespread fear and displacement among residents.

In a separate but related incident, the Dumba riverine community in Baga, Kukawa Local Government Area, witnessed the gruesome killing of 40 dry-season farmers.

According to Vanguard, investigation revealed that most of the victims were farmers from Gwoza Local Government Area, also in Southern Borno.

The terrorists reportedly looted agricultural produce and destroyed properties, further crippling the livelihoods of peasant farmers who rely on subsistence farming to survive

A source who spoke with Vanguard said, “We are much traumatised from the beginning of this year, as Boko Haram terrorists resurfaced and have been perpetrating serious casualties on our communities in Chibok and others.

“It is by the grace of God Almighty that I and my family escaped and ran into the bush for safety as the armed insurgents invaded Yimirmugza village this evening.

“As it is for now, we have fled out of the village, but most of our people, including the aged ones, are still trapped in the ensuing sound of gunshots.

“It is only God Almighty who will determine the kind of devastation the attacks will infringe on those trapped right now.”

Source:naijanews.com

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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/01/16/just-in-fresh-boko-haram-attack-hits-chibok-community/

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Sudan government denounces US sanctions as ‘immoral’

January 17, 2025

PORT SUDAN: Sudan’s army-aligned foreign ministry rejected as “immoral” US sanctions declared on Thursday against army chief Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, saying that they “lack the most basic foundations of justice and transparency.”

In a statement, it said the sanctions “express only confusion and a weak sense of justice,” after 21 months of war between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, in which the foreign ministry said Burhan was “defending the Sudanese people against a genocidal plot.”

On Thursday, the US treasury department announced sanctions against Burhan, accusing the army of attacking schools, markets and hospitals and using food deprivation as a weapon of war.

It came a week after the US slapped sanctions on RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, accusing his group of committing genocide.

Sudan’s foreign ministry on Thursday said the US’s “flawed decision cannot be justified by claiming neutrality,” saying it amounts to “support of those committing genocide.”

12 million people uprooted

Since April 2023, the war between the army and the RSF has killed tens of thousands, uprooted more than 12 million people and pushed hundreds of thousands into famine.

Both sides have been accused of targeting civilians and indiscriminately shelling residential areas, with the RSF specifically accused of ethnic cleansing, systematic sexual violence and laying siege to entire towns.

“Taken together, these sanctions underscore the US view that neither man is fit to govern a future, peaceful Sudan,” outgoing Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement in which he voiced regret at his failure to end the brutal war.

The United States previously had steered clear of sanctions on the two leaders so as to preserve diplomacy with them.

But Blinken, who leaves office on Monday, said the army had repeatedly failed to join peace initiatives, although he hoped President-elect Donald Trump would keeping trying on Sudan.

“It is for me, yes, another real regret that when it comes to Sudan, we haven’t been able on our watch to get to that day of success,” Blinken said at a farewell news conference.

There have been “some improvements in getting humanitarian assistance in through our diplomacy, but not an end to the conflict, not an end to the abuses, not an end to the suffering of people,” he said.

The war erupted over a failure to integrate the army and the RSF, with joint US and Saudi diplomacy succeeding only in limited humanitarian agreements including on the entry of aid.

More than 24.6 million people — around half of Sudan’s population — face “high levels of acute food insecurity,” according to a recent review by the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification.

Genocide in Darfur

The United States last week said that the RSF has committed genocide in Darfur through systematic killings and rapes of the ethnically African people there.

The atrocities are an echo of the scorched-earth campaign by the RSF’s militia predecessor, the Janjaweed, also accused of genocide two decades ago in Darfur.

The US special envoy on Sudan, Tom Perriello, pointed to actions taken last time in Darfur — “naming and shaming” of perpetrators, a “tremendous global activism” and the prospect of African Union intervention.

“Most of those tools are either off the table completely or seriously diluted right now,” Perriello said at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Perriello, a former Democratic congressman who also leaves office Monday, said the United States was also no longer the same “major bank for the world” that can spell dire economic consequences through sanctions.

US options are “much weaker in a world where people can go to other countries and get billion-dollar checks without having any conversations about human rights and democracy,” he said.

Perriello also voiced shock that regional power South Africa welcomed RSF leader Dagalo on a visit and that there was not “much of an outcry from South African civil society.”

But he said African powers increasingly focused on domestic issues and “want to be seen as economic powerhouses of the future, not necessarily the moral police.”

The Sudan conflict has brought in a series of foreign players, with the United Arab Emirates facing repeated charges of arming the RSF.

Perriello saluted the role of Egypt, saying he was surprised to work so closely but that Cairo exerted pressure on the Sudanese army in the interest of decreasing refugee flows.

Source:arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2586742/middle-east

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roops Neutralise Six Lakurawa Terrorists In Sokoto, Lose Five Soldiers In Operation

17 January 2025

By EnioluwaAdeniyi

Troops of the Defence Headquarters Special Operations Brigade have successfully carried out a coordinated offensive operation against Lakurawa terrorists in the Gudu Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

According to a statement released on Thursday by the Coordinator of the Joint Media Coordination Centre, Operation FansanYamma, Lt. Col. AbubakarAbdullahi, six terrorists were neutralised during an intense firefight.

“The troops recovered the following items from the operation: four AK-47 rifles, 160 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, and one box of 12.7mm ammunition,” Abdullahi disclosed.

While the operation was deemed a success, it came at a significant cost. “Five gallant soldiers tragically lost their lives in the line of duty,” Abdullahi confirmed, adding that their sacrifice underscores the military’s commitment to restoring peace in the region.

Public Cooperation Essential

The military has urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to security agencies. “Public cooperation is essential in safeguarding lives and maintaining peace in our communities,” the statement read.

Naija News understands that the Lakurawa sect, believed to have infiltrated Nigeria from neighbouring Niger and Mali, has become a major security concern in the northwestern region.

Initially formed as a self-defence militia around 2016 or 2017 in Sokoto State, the group was reportedly invited by local leaders to combat banditry.

Over time, however, the sect evolved into a radical faction, imposing strict religious laws and asserting control over local communities.

The sect’s activities have expanded into Kebbi State, with violent attacks and atrocities recorded in recent months. In November 2024, the group carried out a deadly operation in Mera village, Augie Local Government Area, resulting in multiple deaths and widespread cattle rustling.

The Nigerian Defence Headquarters has identified the Lakurawa sect as a terrorist group with ties to extremist elements from Mali and Niger, exacerbating the insecurity in Sokoto and Kebbi states.

Source:naijanews.com

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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/01/17/troops-neutralise-six-lakurawa-terrorists-in-sokoto-lose-five-soldiers-in-operation/

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Atiku Celebrates Six Nigerians Who Received President Biden’s Awards

16 January 2025

By UdezeEkene

Former Vice President AtikuAbubakr has congratulated diaspora Nigerians who were recipients of President Joe Biden’s award for distinguishing themselves in their careers.

Naija News reported that six Nigerians were among 400 recipients of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) in the United States conferred by Biden as part of a ceremony leading to the end of his administration.

The awardees were Azeez Butali, a Gilbert Lilly Professor of Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, University of Iowa; IjeomaOpara, an Associate Professor of Public Health (Social and Behavioral Sciences), Yale School of Public Health, Yale University; Dr. OluwatomiAkindele, a researcher at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; EnoEbong, an Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering, and Biology at Northeastern University; OluwasanmiKoyejo, an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Stanford University; and AbidemiAjiboye, an Executive Vice Chair of the Case School of Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University.

In a statement on Thursday, the former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku, commended them for putting the name of the country on the global map.

His words: “On the 14th of January 2025, President Biden named 400 recipients of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) in the United States. It is no surprise that six Nigerians stand to be counted among the honorees.

“Take a bow Azeez Butali, a Gilbert Lilly Professor of Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, University of Iowa; IjeomaOpara, an Associate Professor of Public Health (Social and Behavioral Sciences), Yale School of Public Health, Yale University; Dr. OluwatomiAkindele, a researcher at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; EnoEbong, an Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering, and Biology at Northeastern University; OluwasanmiKoyejo, an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Stanford University and AbidemiAjiboye, an Executive Vice Chair of the Case School of Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University.

“It is a thing of pride and joy to have scientists and engineers of Nigerian origin counted among the awardees.”

Source:naijanews.com

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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/01/16/atiku-celebrates-six-nigerians-who-received-president-bidens-awards/

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ASUU Begs NASS To Reject Tinubu’s Tax Reform Bill

16 January 2025

By Richard Ogunsile

The Yola Zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has expressed its disapproval of the proposed Nigeria Tax Bill (NTB) 2024, urging the National Assembly to also reject the legislation.

Naija News reports that the academic union contended that if enacted, the bill would progressively diminish the funding allocated to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) starting this year, ultimately leading to a complete depletion of the Fund’s resources by 2030.

The Coordinator of ASUU Yola Zone, Dani Mamman, stated that it is intolerable for the contentious NTB 2024 to aim at undermining TETFund by designating only 50 per cent of the development levy to TETFund from 2025 to 2026, while the remaining portion is redirected to NITDA, NASENI, and NELFUND.

The zone, which includes Adamawa State University (ADSU) Mubi, ModibboAdama University (MAU) Yola, Federal University Gashua (FUGA), Taraba State University (TSU) Jalingo, University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), and Yobe State University (YSU) Damaturu, emphasized that the bill would effectively dismantle TETFund and severely impact tertiary education.

The association further asserted that it cannot accept the provisions that would further diminish TETFund’s allocation between 2027 and 2029, culminating in a 0% allocation by 2030.

ASUU said it opposed “Replacing TETFund’s vital role with NELFUND such that by the year 2030 and beyond, TETFund will receive zero allocation from the development levy.”

The academic union added that TETFund has done so much to put infrastructure in universities and other tertiary institutions of learning, stressing that depriving it of funds may return such institutions to the bad state that they were which informed the creation of TETFund in the first place.

“Redirecting funds meant for TETFund to other agencies contradicts the TETFund Act 2011 and a gross misallocation of resources,” the union stressed.

Source:naijanews.com

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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/01/16/asuu-begs-nass-to-reject-tinubus-tax-reform-bill/

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Southeast Asia

PAS leader: Hadi may not dance, but can waltz M'sia into Islamic era

Jan 17, 2025

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang may not be able to gyrate his hips to a tune, but he will be able to lead the nation into an Islamic era, said senior PAS leader Mokhtar Senik.

He was responding to the various reactions, including negative comments, for naming the veteran politician as a candidate for prime minister.

Source:malaysiakini.com

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https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/731919

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Man charged with criminal breach of trust in AlorSetar for allegedly misusing RM115,900 from mosque account

16 Jan 2025

ALOR SETAR, Jan 16 — A bank clerk pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here today to committing a criminal breach of trust (CBT) involving RM115,900 in a bank account belonging to a mosque.

Mohd Abd Rahman Hamzah, 41, who was entrusted with the money in the bank account belonging to KampungPaya Mosque, was charged with CBT for using the fund for personal use between March 23 to July 26, 2022, at the Kuala Nerang Bank Rakyat Branch.

The charge, under Section 408 of the Penal Code, provides imprisonment for up to 14 years with whipping and a fine, if convicted.

Judge Mazdi Abdul Hamid allowed him bail of RM15,000 with one surety and ordered him to report to the police station every month as well as to surrender his passport to the court. He also set Feb 16 for mention.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Nurul Atikah Ab Rashid appeared for the prosecution, while lawyer IlyanaSyafiqaMd Saad represented the accused. — Bernama

Source:malaymail.com

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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/01/16/man-charged-with-criminal-breach-of-trust-in-alor-setar-for-allegedly-misusing-rm115900-from-mosque-account/163471

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RM415.5 million in fines imposed in five cartel cases last year - Armizan

BERNAMA

17-01- 2025

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysia Competition Commission (MyCC) imposed financial penalties of RM415.5 million on five major chicken producers in Malaysia last year, said Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk ArmizanMohd Ali.

He said in a statement today that a total of RM1.5 million in financial penalties was also imposed on 15 companies for their involvement in bid-rigging.

“At the same time, MyCC has issued three proposed decisions against 92 other companies and one final decision against seven companies based on evidence of their involvement in bid-rigging cartels.

“To date, MyCC continues to investigate over 500 companies suspected of being involved in bid-rigging related to government tenders worth RM2.3 billion,“ he said.

Meanwhile, Armizan said in efforts to enhance MyCC workflow in breaking down cartel activities, the government has allocated RM27 million for the commission under Budget 2025, the highest amount that the independent body has ever received since its establishment in 2011.

According to Armizan, KPDN hosted a competition law symposium today titled “Behind Closed Doors: The Hidden Drivers of Market Distortion” to delve into critical issues related to competition, such as bid-rigging in public procurement, rising food prices, merger control regimes, and the dominance of digital economy players, as part of the efforts to strengthen MyCC.

Source:thesun.my

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://thesun.my/malaysia-news/rm4155-million-in-fines-imposed-in-five-cartel-cases-last-year-armizan-ED13541566

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Company administrator defrauded of RM137,000 in fake investment scheme

BERNAMA

17-01- 2025

KUANTAN: A company administrator lost RM137,000 of his savings after falling victim to a fraudulent investment scheme promising high returns in November last year.

Pahang police chief Datuk Seri Yahaya Othman said the 32-year-old man was lured into a cryptocurrency investment by the suspect on Nov 28, who instructed him to download an app called RASTHRV.

“The victim was instructed to transfer RM87,000 from his bank account to the Luno app, and then to the RASTHRV app between Nov 28 and Jan 15.

“On Jan 15, the victim was asked to pay a deposit of RM50,000 to withdraw a profit of approximately RM100,000. He became suspicious that it was a scam when the promised returns didn’t materialise. He had invested his savings,” he said.

Yahaya cautioned the public to be wary of investment schemes that promise fast, high returns and urged them to verify with the Royal Malaysian Police and Bank Negara Malaysia before committing to such investments to avoid falling victim to scams.Resipimasakan Malaysia

Source:thesun.my

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://thesun.my/malaysia-news/company-administrator-defrauded-of-rm137000-in-fake-investment-scheme-ID13546680

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‘Thrown under the bus’: Najib disagrees he’s to blame in 1MDB, claims was uneasy with Jho Low

By Ida Lim

17 Jan 2025

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 17 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak today disagreed with Low TaekJho’s attempt to “throw him under the bus” and pin all the blame of the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal on him.

Najib said this in the High Court while responding to an April 1, 2015 article by business and finance magazine Euromoney, where Low tried to shift the blame from himself to Najib by suggesting that the focus should be on the “ultimate decision-maker” on 1MDB and the shareholder’s role instead.

MDB was owned by the Minister of Finance (MOF) Incorporated, which comes under the Finance Ministry. Najib, who was the prime minister, had signed off on shareholder resolutions for 1MDB on behalf of the MOF Inc as he was finance minister then.

In an excerpt of the Euromoney article which was read out to Najib, Low questioned if the prime minister does not make his own decisions, and if individuals at the Finance Ministry such as the finance minister would sign off on shareholder resolutions without evaluating them.

Deputy public prosecutor Mohamad Mustaffa P Kunyalam today asked: “The highlighted part which I read out, the interview by Jho Low which placed the blame on the 1MDB shareholder, namely you yourself, agree or not, based on this article? Jho Low has thrown you under the bus, so to say, and blamed the shareholder.”

Najib replied: “I disagree because I comply with corporate governance. The corporate governance is clear, the shareholder comes later, what is important is the board and management.”

Throughout his testimony today in his own 1MDB trial where over RM2 billion of 1MDB funds allegedly entered his personal accounts, Najib said his practice was to only sign shareholder resolutions to approve 1MDB decisions after the 1MDB board had made its decision.

Najib disagreed with Low’s remarks that suggested the 1MDB blame should be on the shareholder, saying: “I don’t agree, because in the company we have the management and the board, and my role as shareholder is I’m discharging my official duty, that’s all.”

Najib said no one had brought this Euromoney article to his attention or told him about it, and that he had not looked at it.

Najib also confirmed that local financial publication The Edge’s owner Tan Sri Tong Kooi Ong had on March 6, 2015 had told him that Low had committed wrongdoing and should be probed and prosecuted, but stressed that he did not ask Tong to leave the house after hearing about this.

Najib disagreed that he had opened and shown Tong to the door of his house because he did not like what he heard from Tong.

When asked if this March 2015 meeting with Tong increased his suspicion towards Low’s role in 1MDB, Najib said it increased his “ketidakyakinan” (lack of trust) then.

Mustaffa suggested that Najib’s suspicion towards Low should have increased after the March 2015 meeting with Tong and after the April 2015 Euromoney article, with Najib saying: “Yes, I doubted, but at that time, no firm proof yet.”

When it was pointed out that no action was taken on Low, Najib said he was waiting for the report from the Malaysian agencies that were carrying out investigations.

When suggested that he had chosen to shut his eyes to the obvious despite the red flags against Low, Najib said he had taken action by directing the PAC to carry out a probe and that he had never stopped agencies from investigating 1MDB.

Najib also said that the then attorney-general Tan Sri Abdul GaniPatail’s termination was unrelated to 1MDB and that he did not order for the 1MDB task force to be dissolved.

Najib disagreed that he should have started distancing himself from Low and that he should have taken actions on the latter after his suspicions grew.

Najib also disagreed that his failure to distance himself from Low was a breach of the Code of Ethics for Members of the Administration. This was a code of conduct issued by the Prime Minister’s Department in 1997 and which also applied to him.

Mustaffa read out item 8(iii) of the Code of Ethics, where members of the administration --- such as Najib then --- were required to always be careful and show exemplary behaviour, and to avoid from being involved with “undesirable characters” that could harm their reputation as they would always be targeted, and to avoid any actions that could cause suspicion.

Najib disagreed he should have avoided having relations with Low to comply with item 8(3), saying: “I was not so comfortable with him, but I left this to the investigating agencies, which I refer to the PAC (Public Accounts Committee) which made studies.”

Najib was then asked about his reliance on Low to make logistics arrangements for his then special officer Datuk Amhari Efendi Nazaruddin’s visit to China in June 2016 and Low’s role in introducing senior Chinese officials to Amhari, despite Najib’s claims of suspicions towards Low as early as 2015.

But Najib said Low played a role in the China visit “because we have bigger interests” and because there was a desire to achieve matters for “national interest”.

About Jho Low at family holidays and at PM’s office

Najib today acknowledged that Low was seen with him during family holidays on yachts owned by Middle East royalty, but said that was because Low was representing the yacht owners.

“I want to say that I have other holidays where he is not there at all. I don’t want there to be an impression that each time I holiday, Jho Low is there, it’s not true. There were many holidays, visits of mine where he was not there,” he said, suggesting that the prosecution had only singled out a few holidays where Low was present because of his links to the yacht owners.

Asked about 1MDB former chairman Tan Sri Mohd Bakke Salleh’s court testimony that Low was also seen at his offices and private residence, Najib said: “Ya, many people come to my office, ok? This prime minister’s office, there are many who come.”

Najib disagreed that Low was involved in all of 1MDB’s affairs, as he said all 1MDB matters went through the 1MDB board and management and that it was the board which made the final decision.

Najib disagreed that he was using Low to orchestrate transfers of money to various entities before it eventually ended up in his account, saying that there was no evidence that he was involved in the money transfers.

“I have no knowledge of money coming into my account, ok,” Najib said.

When Mustaffa then said “but nevertheless you knew how to spend the money”, Najib replied: “That was based on the donation by King Abdullah that as far as I know, the money came from Saudi, that’s it.”

When suggested that money originating from 1MDB ended up in his personal bank account, Najib said the extent of his knowledge was that the money was from Saudi Arabia, before disagreeing that Low was his mirror image in 1MDB matters.

Among other things, Najib today confirmed that he did not know about what he was signing on in June 22, 2012 shareholder resolutions regarding a 1MDB matter, saying: “Because this is my official duty, because the board has agreed, so I just signed lah.”

Asked by deputy public prosecutor Kamal Baharin Omar if he had just signed the document because the 1MDB board had allegedly agreed to the same matter, Najib said: “Yes, the board is very professional. I am confident with the board and didn’t want to micromanage, I as the shareholder should have trust towards the board.”

Asked if he had signed it first without making any queries and without knowing anything of what he was signing, Najib merely said he was confident with the 1MDB board.

As for other shareholder resolutions shown to Najib today, he did however said he knew in general about what he was signing, and continued to say that he signed them only after the board had signed its resolutions.

Source:malaymail.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/01/17/thrown-under-the-bus-najib-disagrees-hes-to-blame-in-1mdb-claims-was-uneasy-with-jho-low/163598

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Company administrator defrauded of RM137,000 in fake cryptocurrency scheme, say Pahang cops

17 Jan 2025

KUANTAN, Jan 17 — A company administrator lost RM137,000 of his savings after falling victim to a fraudulent investment scheme promising high returns in November last year.

Pahang police chief Datuk Seri Yahaya Othman said the 32-year-old man was lured into a cryptocurrency investment by the suspect on Nov 28, who instructed him to download an app called RASTHRV.

“The victim was instructed to transfer RM87,000 from his bank account to the Luno app, and then to the RASTHRV app between Nov 28 and Jan 15.

Source:malaymail.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/01/17/company-administrator-defrauded-of-rm137000-in-fake-cryptocurrency-scheme-say-pahang-cops/163592

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South Asia

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan welcomes Israel-Hamas ceasefire accord

January 16, 2025

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) on Thursday welcomed the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, and said the accord was the result of “the historic struggle and sacrifices of the Palestinian people.”

The IEA’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement it is grateful for the efforts of the mediator countries, especially the governments of Qatar and Egypt.

The complex ceasefire accord between Israel and Hamas, which controls Gaza, emerged on Wednesday after months of mediation by Qatar, Egypt and the US and 15 months of bloodshed that devastated the coastal territory and inflamed the Middle East.

The deal outlines a six-week initial ceasefire with the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, where tens of thousands have been killed.

Hostages taken by Hamas would be freed in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

According to a statement issued by the IEA, the “cease-fire agreement is the result of the historic struggle and sacrifices of the Palestinian people's legendary tolerance and brave resistance in the Gaza Strip.

“The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan congratulates the leadership of Islamic resistance and the patient people of Palestine for this great achievement.”

The IEA stated that it is now necessary that all phases of the agreement are fully implemented so that the cease-fire is permanent and humanitarian aid reaches the people of Gaza urgently.

“Considering the results of the previous agreements, the parties involved and the international community should ensure that the Israeli regime fulfills its commitments responsibly,” the IEA stated.

“Permanent peace and tranquility in the Middle East can only be achieved through a legitimate solution to the Palestinian issue and the independence of the Palestinian people,” the Islamic Emirate added.

In conclusion the IEA said it will continue to support an independent Palestinian state and the Palestinian people.

Wednesday’s ceasefire agreement calls for a surge in humanitarian assistance to Gaza. Both the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross said they were preparing to scale up their aid operations.

"A ceasefire is the start - not the end. We have food lined up at the borders to Gaza - and need to be able to bring it in at scale," said Cindy McCain, World Food Program executive director, on X.

Global reaction to the ceasefire was enthusiastic. Leaders and officials of Egypt, Turkey, Britain, the United Nations, the European Union, Jordan, Germany and the United Arab Emirates, among others, celebrated the news.

At a news conference in Doha, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said the ceasefire would take effect on Sunday. Negotiators are working with Israel and Hamas on steps to implement the agreement, he said.

"This deal will halt the fighting in Gaza, surge much-needed humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians, and reunite the hostages with their families after more than 15 months in captivity," US President Joe Biden said in Washington.

However, Israel's acceptance of the deal will not be official until it is approved by the country's security cabinet and government, with votes slated for Thursday, an Israeli official said.

The accord was expected to win approval despite opposition from some hardliners in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government.

While people celebrated the pact in Gaza and Israel, Israel's military escalated attacks after the announcement, the civil emergency service and residents said.

Heavy Israeli bombardment, especially in Gaza City, killed 32 people late on Wednesday, medics said. The strikes continued early on Thursday and destroyed houses in Rafah in southern Gaza, Nuseirat in central Gaza and in northern Gaza, residents said.

Israel's military made no immediate comment and there were no reports of Hamas attacks on Israel after the ceasefire announcement.

Source:ariananews.af

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.ariananews.af/islamic-emirate-of-afghanistan-welcomes-israel-hamas-ceasefire-accord/

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Idol found broken at Gazipur temple

Jan 16, 2025

An idol of a Hindu goddess was found broken inside a local temple in the Baraitoli area of Kaliakairupazila, Gazipur early today.

According to police and locals, a passer-by named Mahadev and the temple priest, Sukumar Chakraborty, discovered the broken idol inside the temple this morning. They promptly informed the police about the incident.

The idol had been kept overnight in a small walled room with no doors or windows on the side of the road.

Riyad Mahmud, officer-in-charge (OC) of Kaliakair Police Station, said, "Yesterday, members of the Hindu community performed a puja at the site, which involved animal sacrifices. Due to the blood in the area, a wild animal might have attacked the idol. While some locals claim it was vandalised, others suggest it may have fallen. We are still sceptical and are investigating the incident."

Temple President Anil Chandra Biswas and priest Sukumar Chakraborty said that, upon receiving the report, KaliakairupazilaNirbahi Officer and Kaliakair police have already visited the scene.

Kaliakair Upazila Nirbahi Officer Kausar Ahmed told The Daily Star, "Further details can be provided after the investigation is completed. Authorities are continuing their inquiry to determine the exact cause of the damage."

Source:thedailystar.net

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/crime-justice/news/idol-found-broken-gazipur-temple-3800786

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Afghanistan never was a threat to others

January 16, 2025

The incumbent U.S. President, Joe Biden, has recently described the current situation in Afghanistan as satisfactory, saying that the country would no longer pose a threat to America. Reports quoted Biden as saying in his final speech as president that Afghanistan has not been a safe haven for terrorists or a threat to the U.S. since the withdrawal of American forces. He referred to the murder of the al-Qaeda leader by the American forces saying: “…the primary objective of war has been accomplished” and that threat would no longer be from Afghanistan “but, from elsewhere.” So, they do not need to station a sizable number of American forces in Afghanistan. “Contrary to assumptions, Afghanistan did not become a safe haven for terrorists after the U.S. withdrawal, and the United States has maintained its capability to manage Afghanistan remotely over the past three years.” “Remember, critics said if we ended the war it would damage our alliances and create threats to our homeland from foreign-directed terrorism out of a safe haven in Afghanistan. Neither has occurred. Neither has occurred. Our alliance has stayed strong,” Biden said describing his country’s forces’ withdrawal from Afghanistan as one of his administration’s significant achievements as he believed ‘there was no justification for the extensive U.S. military presence in Afghanistan.’ One thing should also be admitted by the incumbent and future U.S. administrations that Afghanistan has never been and would never be a threat to other countries nor is the country now being managed by the Americans but by its real Afghan leaders, under an Islamic system. Afghanistan has been ‘managed’, led and controlled by the Americans and their NATO alliance for the past 20 years. But now, the Americans acknowledge the facts and realities that their way of fueling war and patricide in Afghanistan was wrong and that they were in the fight against real freedom fighters instead of what they claimed terrorists in the country. There were no terrorist groups in Afghanistan, but certain powers were seeking excuses to turn the country into a proxy battlefield. Afghanistan will never be a safe haven for any militant groups posing threats against other countries nor does the Islamic Emirate allow militant militancy to influence Afghanistan’s borders shared with other nations. The U.S. should also stand by its promises and make sure that it never interferes in the internal affairs of Afghanistan nor does it support and strengthen the past government’s corrupt regimes to once again fuel war and bloodshed in the country. Afghanistan welcomes any positive interaction, viewpoints, and bilateral relations and is impatiently waiting for a future U.S. leadership to resume powerful bilateral diplomatic relations with the Islamic Emirate. The Islamic Emirate once again calls on the international community, particularly the upcoming U.S. administration and other world powers to resume their diplomatic and economic relations with Afghanistan in line with bilateral interests and most importantly based on Islamic principles.

Source:thekabultimes.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://thekabultimes.com/afghanistan-never-was-a-threat-to-others/

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Government Employees Prohibited from Holding Multiple Positions

2025-01-16

KABUL(BNA): The Ministry of Justice of the Islamic Emirate has officially republished an important decree from the Supreme Leader of the IslamicEmirate, emphasizing that government employees are prohibited from working in two positions simultaneously.

This order, initially issued in the spring of last year 1402 and previously published in the official gazette, seeks to ensure the integrity and efficiency of government operations.

In the renewed announcement, the Supreme Leader, has reiterated that any government employee currently holding multiple roles must resign from one of their positions. This measure aims to streamline government functions and enhance accountability among public servants.

The Ministry of Justice encourages all employees to comply with this directive to uphold the standards of public service and to maintain the trust of the citizens they serve.

Source:bakhtarnews.af

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/government-employees-prohibited-from-holding-multiple-positions/

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Afghanistan Encourages Investment with New Economic Initiatives

2025-01-16

KABUL(BNA): In a recent investment call, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund, the Deputy Minister Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, emphasized the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s commitment to fostering a supportive environment for investors.

He highlighted that the Islamic Emirate has taken significant steps to ensure the growth of both domestic and foreign businesses, reinforcing its dedication to economic development.

Deputy PM Mullah Baradar stated that the Islamic Emirate has prioritized the promotion of domestic products, reflecting a broader strategy to strengthen the local economy. “All necessary facilities have been provided for investors in the country,” he noted, urging both domestic and international investors to consider Afghanistan as a viable investment destination.

He called on potential investors to contribute to the nation’s development, assuring them of the support and resources available to facilitate their endeavors. The commitment to creating a conducive atmosphere for business is seen as a crucial step toward revitalizing Afghanistan’s economy and enhancing the livelihoods of its citizens.

Source:bakhtarnews.af

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https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/afghanistan-encourages-investment-with-new-economic-initiatives/

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Europe

Residents raise traffic and construction concerns at Farnham Muslim funeral building inquiry

16th January 2025

At a planning inquiry into a Muslim funeral building in Farnham, residents have expressed concerns about the impact of construction on the local environment.

The Ismaili Trust has appealed to the planning inspector after their application to build the structure next to Hale Road was turned down by Waverley Borough Council.

On the second day of the inquiry, which took place on Zoom, planning inspector Gareth Wildgoose went through a series of legal arguments surrounding planning conditions. Residents of the Hale Road area have opposed the plan, arguing that it will increase traffic in an already congested area, while the construction and extra visitors would harm the environment.

Representing the residents was Catherine Powell, a councillor on Surrey County Council.

She told the inquiry: “In your final consideration, you should consider that mechanical excavation and movement is now being proposed and there were limitations imposed in earlier provisions.”

Cllr Powell also said there were concerns about damage to foliage in the area.

She said: “There is a slight concern in the community about how long it will take for planting to take place, as well as how the existing trees, which are part of the landscape, are protected in this.”

Cllr Powell also argued there were water drainage issues locally, which should be considered.

The Ismaili Trust is being represented by Lord Charles Banner KC, one of the UK’s leading planning lawyers.

The Legal 500 clients guide describes him as “an all-round superstar of the Bar in more ways than one. He has unrivalled Supreme Court experience, making him the go to for court advocacy."

The ongoing planning inquiry can be viewed live on YouTube here.

Source:farnhamherald.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.farnhamherald.com/news/community-news/residents-raise-traffic-and-construction-concerns-at-farnham-muslim-funeral-building-inquiry-756786

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UK pledges support for Ukraine with 100-year pact

16 JAN 2025

Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to put Ukraine in the "strongest possible position" on a trip to Kyiv where he signed a "landmark" 100-year pact with the war-stricken country.

The prime minister's visit on Thursday was at one point marked by loud blasts and air raid sirens after a reported Russian drone attack was intercepted by Ukraine's defence systems.

Acknowledging the "hello" from Russia, Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine would send its own "hello back".

An estimated one million people have been killed or wounded in the war so far. As the invasion reaches the end of its third year, Ukraine is losing territory in the east.

Zelensky praised the UK's commitment on Thursday, amid wider concerns that the US President-elect Donald Trump, who is set to take office on Monday, could potentially reduce aid.

Zelensky is looking to firm up security guarantees from key allies as there are worries the US - which is Ukraine's biggest financial backer - could start pushing Ukraine to make peace with Russia.

Sir Keir said the apparent air raid that greeted him in Kyiv was a "reminder of the daily attacks and the resolve of the Ukrainian people".

"We are with you not just today, for this year or the next - but for 100 years - long after this terrible war is over and Ukraine is free and thriving once again," he told Zelensky in Kyiv.

He also said that the UK would work with all its allies to ensure that any deal ending the war would be strong enough to "guarantee Ukraine's security" and "deter any future aggression."

Zelensky has previously asked for the UK, as well as other European allies like France, to send troops to Ukraine for a peacekeeping operation after the war.

Starmer has not said whether the UK would deploy troops - saying only in response to a journalist's question: "It's really important that Ukraine is put in the strongest possible position."

The latest pledges build on the £12.8bn the UK has already given to Ukraine and commitments of £3bn every year for "as long as it takes".

As well as military support, including the delivery of a new mobile air defence system to be designed in the UK and funded by Denmark, the accord includes economic aid, support for healthcare, and increased military collaboration on maritime security and drone technology.

The UK will also continue to train Ukrainian troops. More than 50,000 have been trained on British soil so far.

In Kyiv, the two leaders visited a memorial where they laid wreaths in the national colours of the UK and Ukraine. St Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery is covered in photos of the dead and has become a place of pilgrimage for grieving families to pay tribute.

Later, when the leaders met at Kyiv's Mariinsky palace, multiple explosions and air raid sirens were heard.

Sir Keir also visited a hospital specialising in treating burns, where he met wounded Ukrainians on a rehabilitation ward supported by the British Red Cross.

"If Ukraine falls, so does Europe," an injured civilian who had burns across both hands and arms told the prime minister.

Sir Keir said the injuries he saw were "a grim reminder of the heavy price that Ukraine is paying".

"One of the consequences of this conflict has been to draw Nato more strongly together," he added.

Zelensky has previously said he is looking to the UK for help getting security guarantees to deter future attacks.

Joining Nato is near the top of his wish list, but Ukraine also wants its allies to send peacekeepers to the country if fighting does stop, to patrol the current frontline which could become a buffer zone in any peace agreement.

Russian forces are gaining ground more quickly than at any time since the country launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, despite Ukrainian strikes on Russia.

According to reputable Ukrainian open source material, Russia has cut off a key highway and railway to the south-west of Pokrovsk, a strategically important hub in eastern Ukraine.

They have also made big advances in other population centres in the east – Toretsk and ChasivYar.

Ukraine has already been using British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles to attack Russian military facilities far from the border.

Thursday's announced partnership, formed of a treaty and a political declaration, is due to be presented to Parliament in the coming weeks. Plans for it began under the previous Conservative government.

While this is his first visit as prime minister, Sir Keir visited Ukraine when he was leader of the opposition in 2023, and has hosted Zelensky twice at Downing Street since entering office.

Source:bbc.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgem31jekvo

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UK and France secretly discussing troops for Ukraine – Telegraph

16 Jan, 2025

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron have discussed sending soldiers into Ukraine as a peacekeeping force, the Telegraph has claimed citing anonymous sources.

Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky first mentioned the idea last week, and said he would discuss it with Starmer when he visits Kiev. According to the British outlet, however, Starmer is not fully on board yet.

“There are challenges over what we could support, what would we want to support, and the broader question about the threat that those troops may be under and whether that is escalatory,” the Telegraph quoted a Whitehall source as saying on Wednesday evening.

Spokespeople for 10 Downing Street and the Elysee Palace did not deny that Starmer and Macron discussed the peacekeeper possibility last week at the Chequers estate in the UK, but gave no details about the conversation.

Starmer was in Kiev on Thursday, promising a “100-year partnership” pact with Ukraine.

One of the rumored plans US President-elect Donald Trump might propose after taking office next Monday involves Western troops deployed as peacekeepers along the demilitarized zone between Russia and Ukraine, supposedly running along the current line of conflict. No US forces would be involved, only “European” soldiers not acting under NATO command, according to media reports that have been impossible to verify.

Macron reportedly brought up the idea of “European” peacekeepers with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk last month, but Warsaw said it was “not planning any such actions.”

Earlier this week, Zelensky wrote on social media that he had discussed with “key allies” the “practical steps” for the implementation of the peacekeeper idea.

“We are getting slightly ahead of ourselves. We are not there yet,” one British official told the Telegraph.

Putting boots on the ground in Ukraine has been endorsed by former PM Boris Johnson, former Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt, and two ex-defense ministers, Grant Shapps and Gavin Williamson.

The UK has given 12.8 billion pounds ($16 billion) in military and civilian aid to Kiev since the conflict between Russia and Ukraine escalated in February 2022, and reportedly trained 50,000 Ukrainian troops on British soil.

The British government’s continued support for Kiev means London “clearly does not seek to resolve the conflict,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said recently, accusing the UK of “doing everything possible to make it drag on, thus prolonging the suffering of the Ukrainian people.”

Source:.rt.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.rt.com/news/611036-uk-france-ukraine-troops/

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UK promises to ‘explore options’ for military bases in Ukraine

17 Jan, 2025

London has revealed details of a long-term partnership agreement with Kiev, which includes broad plans for military infrastructure development and defense cooperation over the next century. The document suggests the potential establishment of military bases in Ukraine, with an emphasis on aligning these initiatives with NATO standards for maximum effectiveness.

The 15-page declaration, signed on January 16, 2025, lays out a framework for cooperation between the United Kingdom and Ukraine across various sectors, with a primary focus on military collaboration. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky formalized the deal during a ceremony in Kiev on Thursday.

“The Participants will explore options for deploying and maintaining defence infrastructure in Ukraine, including military bases, logistics depots, reserve military equipment storage facilities and war reserve stockpiles,” the document states.

The agreement also emphasizes maritime cooperation, particularly in the Black Sea region. The UK has pledged to enhance Ukraine’s interoperability with NATO in the maritime sphere through joint naval operations, port visits, and the development of Ukrainian naval bases.

“We will work together to ensure NATO learns the lessons from Ukraine’s experience in the Black Sea to inform its development of future maritime capabilities. We will promote the development of naval bases on the territory of Ukraine,” the document reads.

Another section highlights plans to “deepen cooperation on long-range strike capabilities,” integrated air and missile defense, and the stockpiling of complex weapons to bolster “deterrence.”

Additionally, London has committed to providing Ukraine with annual military assistance of no less than £3 billion until at least 2031, and “for as long as needed to support Ukraine.”

While the agreement lacks detailed, binding commitments beyond promises to expand, intensify, and facilitate collaboration across multiple sectors, Zelensky hinted at potential “secret” components within the pact.

The UK has been one of Ukraine’s prime backers since the escalation of conflict between Moscow and Kiev in February 2022. It has committed 12.8 billion pounds ($16 billion) in military and civilian aid to Ukraine and reportedly trained 50,000 Ukrainian troops on British soil.

Russia has sharply criticized London’s continued support of Kiev as a sign that the UK government “clearly does not seek to resolve the conflict.” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova previously said “they are doing everything possible to make it drag on, thus prolonging the suffering of the Ukrainian people.”

Meanwhile, reports suggest that US President-elect Donald Trump, set to take office next Monday, may propose deploying Western troops as peacekeepers along a demilitarized zone between Russia and Ukraine. The rumored plan reportedly excludes US forces, relying instead on “European” soldiers acting outside NATO’s command structure.

London remains cautious about the idea of sending British troops to Ukraine as part of any peacekeeping force, even though Starmer is said to have discussed the matter with French President Emmanuel Macron, according to The Telegraph.

Source:.rt.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.rt.com/news/611047-uk-ukraine-military-bases/

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