Swedish anti-Islam campaigner sentenced over Koran burnings days after co-defendant shot dead

New Age Islam News Bureau

4 February 2025

Salwan Momika (L) and Salwan Najem (R). File pic: TT News Agency/Reuters

---------

·         "Not A Hindu Or Muslim, Your Leader...": YouTuber's Delhi Poll Campaign Song

·         Broad-based Pak-US ties not limited to any party or person: defence minister

·         Pezeshkian: Islamic nations must unite to thwart enemies' plots

·         Saudi Arabia conducts military exercises with 15 countries at Air Warfare Center

·         Swedish anti-Islam campaigner sentenced over Koran burnings days after co-defendant shot dead

·         Islamic Emirate Offers Condolences to Hamas Leadership & Palestinian Martyrs

·         Religious leader: Protecting human rights is vital to peacemaking and essential for believers

·         Muslim burial dilemma in Japan sparks debate amid growing population

·         Nigerian Muslims warn against tenure extension for IGP Egbetokun

-----

India

·         Kharge says ‘thousands died’ in Maha Kumbh stampede, NDA members protest in RS

·         Will not tolerate love jihad, land jihad and cow slaughter, warns BJP leader Nitesh Rane

·         Waqf Amendment Bill - Attempt to Snuff the Soul of Indian Muslims

·         Muslim community has rejected Waqf Bill: Owaisi

·         Kumbh lessons pay off on dip day: Basant Panchami sees fewer pilgrims after stampede tragedy

·         Deoband: A town of love and harmony defamed by vested interests

·         Hits and misses in Uttarakhand UCC

·         Muslim bandmasters lead akhada processions for Amrit Snan

·         Muslim poet composes ghazal on Lord Ram, wins PM Modi's praise

·         Muslim clerk leads puja prep, keeps tradition alive at Bongaon court

·         Urfi Javed will never marry a Muslim man: Know why she says so 

-----

Pakistan

·         Distance between people and military growing, says Imran

·         SC Constitutional Bench urged to speak for rule of law

·         Legal fraternity split over judges’ transfer issue

·         Final 10 days of Ramadan in Karachi 'could be hot'

·         Sanaullah accuses Imran of attempting to stir discord between military, public

·         'Imran's transfer from Adiala stalled over his insistence for workers' release'

·         President Zardari to depart for China on five-day official visit today

·         Two arrested for BLA slogans on bubblegums in Punjab

·         Lawyer gunned down outside his house in Lahore

-----

Mideast

·         Members of Ansar Allah's political Office visit martyr al-Sammad's mausoleum & family

·         Pezeshkian calls for Muslims help to rebuild ruined Gaza

·         Youth Minister receives Bahrain Islamic Bank CEO

·         Science production grows noticeably after Islamic revolution

·         After Gaza hostage release, Israeli family demand ‘answers’ on wife, sons

·         Israeli army maneuvers on Lebanese border amid claims of dismantling Hezbollah military structures

·         Syrian president says elections could take up to five years

·         Russia tells Hamas to ‘keep promises’ on hostage release

·         Emir of Kuwait receives BlackRock CEO

-----

Arab World

·         Riyadh to host second Human Capability Initiative Conference in April

·         Deputy minister meets ambassador of India to Saudi Arabia

·         Saudi project clears 732 Houthi mines in Yemen

·         ‘Attractive’ Red Sea sites for solar, wind energy storage found

·         Kazakhstan envoy on strengthening Saudi ties in politics, trade, food security

·         Saudi crown prince receives Germany’s president in Riyadh

·         Makkah trials hydrogen-powered buses to promote clean energy, sustainability

·         Interim president of Syrian Arab Republic visits SDAIA headquarters

·         Japan, Saudi Arabia FMs hold second strategic meeting in Tokyo

·         HR ministry revises wage protection rule

----

Europe

·         EU state assists citizens eyeing mercenary roles in Ukraine

·         EU’s top diplomat warns against trade war

·         Fresco reveals Islamic tent in Medieval Christian worship

·         Stretford man in court after copy of Koran burned in Manchester

·         Plans for new mosque in Blackburn submitted to council

·         French filmmaker found guilty of abusing child actor Adèle Haenel

·         Spain football kiss 'stained' World Cup win, player tells trial

·         Santorini on alert as tremors rattle Greek island

·         Pro-Russia paramilitary leader killed in Moscow blast

·         UK not choosing between US and EU, says Starmer

-----

South Asia

·         Tajikistan FM and EU envoy discuss Afghanistan’s Security threats

·         Islamic University holds Saraswati Puja 

·         JCD announces nationwide protest programme on Feb 6

·         'Faruk Khan in jail, not possible for him to use FB'

·         ACCI holds press conference for national currency’s stability

·         Farahi chairs Book Evaluation Commission meeting

·         DAB and Chamber of Commerce Unite to Stabilize Afghan Currency

·         Acting Health Minister Meets Elders of Zarmat District

·         Over 90% of Maidan Wardak Residents Now Have Access to Healthcare Services

·         Two miners killed in Coal Mine collapse in Samangan province

------

North America

·         US sovereign wealth fund could buy TikTok, Trump says

·         What could be worse than the Muslim ban? Plenty.

·         Trump sows uncertainty - and Xi Jinping sees an opportunity

·         CAIR-NY Welcomes Passage of Resolution Recognizing Muslim History Month in New York State

·         Trump agrees to pause tariffs on Canada and Mexico but not on China

·         Who won and lost as Trump's trade war is delayed - for now

·         Turmoil as Trump and Musk take aim at top US aid agency

·         El Salvador offers to take in US criminals and migrants

·         Trump’s ‘America First’ turn aiming to shatter post-WWII system – Lavrov

·         Rubio says he is now in charge of USAID

-----

Southeast Asia

·         'DAP better learn Islamic basics than teach PAS about Chinese names'

·         New measures for KK City Mosque staff after alleged harassment video: Uniforms, training, and facility upgrades planned

·         PLKN 3.0 implementation cost significantly reduced - Mohamed Khaled

·         IGP: Traffic police record 10pc fewer traffic accidents during CNY period, a fall in fatal cases and deaths

·         PM Anwar: New paddy floor price to be announced next week, no impact on consumers

·         Sultan Ibrahim grants audience to new Chief of Defence Force

·         Indonesia’s Free Nutritious Meals Program to Continue Through Ramadan

-----

Africa

·         ‘Ga’nu si’ and the politics of business and religion among Yoruba muslims

·         Fresh outcry over hotel development next to historic Bo-Kaap mosque

·         FEC Approves Multi-billion Naira Road Projects Across The Country

·         I Am Surprised That Foundation Members Of APC Are Criticising Tinubu’s Govt – Gov Sani Laments

·         Emefiele Opposes Fresh Move By EFCC As Court Adjourns Ruling

·         National Assembly Resumes Today, Set To Fast-Track Tax Reform Bills

·         Gov Adeleke Orders Arrest, Prosecution Of Esa Oke, Ido Ayegunle Attack Sponsors

·         Foreign aid cuts: implications for Africa under Trump's leadership

Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau

URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/swedish-anti-islam-burnings-campaigner/d/134521

----

Swedish anti-Islam campaigner sentenced over Koran burnings days after co-defendant shot dead

3 February 2025

Salwan Momika (L) and Salwan Najem (R). File pic: TT News Agency/Reuters

-----------

A man who staged public burnings of the Koran in Sweden has been found guilty of hate crimes, five days after his co-defendant was shot dead.

Salwan Najem, a 50-year-old Swedish citizen, was given a suspended sentence and fined 4,000 crowns (£289) over the Koran burnings and derogatory comments he made about Muslims in the 2023 incidents.

His actions sparked unrest and anger towards Sweden in Muslim countries.

His fellow campaigner, Iraqi refugee Salwan Momika, 38, was shot dead last week on the day he had been due to receive his verdict in a parallel case.

Five people were detained over the killing but later released.

Swedish police said on the day after the shooting on 29 January that Momika was shot dead in a house in Sodertalje, a town near Stockholm. The case against Momika was subsequently dismissed.

Sweden's prime minister expressed concern the shooting may be linked to a foreign power.

Burning the Koran is seen by Muslims as a blasphemous act because they consider it the literal word of God.

The Stockholm district court said Sweden had extensive free speech rights and that followers of a religion must accept that they would sometimes feel offended, but that Najem and Momika had "by a wide margin" overstepped the mark for reasonable and factual religious criticism.

The court said the Koran did not have any special protection just because it was a holy scripture for Muslims and that there could be cases where burning was not considered a hate crime.

Najem was found guilty of hate crimes for "having expressed contempt for the Muslim ethnic group because of their religious beliefs on four occasions", the court said.

Najem's lawyer has said he would be appealing against the verdict.

Source:sky.com

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

https://news.sky.com/story/swedish-anti-islam-campaigner-sentenced-over-koran-burnings-days-after-co-defendant-shot-dead-13302549

--------

"Not A Hindu Or Muslim, Your Leader...": YouTuber's Delhi Poll Campaign Song

Feb 03, 2025

YouTuber Meghnad S has forayed into politics as an independent candidate from the Malviya Nagar constituency in the February 5 Delhi Assembly Elections.

With a pen as his election symbol, Mr Meghnad, a digital media journalist and public policy professional, recently released a campaign song on his YouTube channel, 'Meghnerd'. The song, "Dilli Ka Normie Neta," has catchy Hindi lyrics that translate to:

"Not a Hindu or Muslim, your leader will be a nerd.

He will take care of roads, air, and water, and your issues will be solved.

Hi, my name is Meghnad,

I'll take care of Malviya Nagar's people."

The song further introduces Mr Meghnad's candidacy, set against the chaotic backdrop of congested Delhi roads and ongoing civic issues like floods, pollution, and construction chaos. His playful yet determined tone continues in the next lines:

"Not your usual politician, I don't make tall claims,

So choose the pen on an EV machine once."

The song revealed people should vote for him because:

"I bring some hope to you. Not even one vote might come in, honestly, I know that too.

But I'm in this game, I know the rules, choose me, and I'll show it to you."

The song went on:

"I'm just trying to walk the talk because that's what we're supposed to do.

We need our own person, Who will win this time? Delhi wants a normie leader.

Even if no one votes, this song will play in every street."

"Delhi wants a normie leader," the song ended.

While his music video drew just about 1,000 views on YouTube, the independent candidate was undeterred. Volunteers distributed pamphlets with slogans like "Pen chuno, kaam dekho" (Choose the pen, see the work) and "Teach the herd, vote for the nerd."

Mr Meghnad is contesting from Malviya Nagar, where the political stage is set for a fierce battle between AAP's Somnath Bharti, a three-time MLA, and his BJP and Congress rivals, Satish Upadhyay and Jitender Kumar Kochar.

Despite the challenges of running as an independent candidate, Mr Meghnad stands firm in his belief that he's offering a fresh alternative. "I take pride in being an independent candidate. My primary goal is to prove a point: hyper-local leaders can best address local issues. My only boss is YOU, the people of Malviya Nagar," he told The Times Of India when asked about the difficulties he faces as an independent.

He also pointed out the significance of his election symbol - a pen - representing "the power of the educated who wish to bring change."

Source:ndtv.com

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

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/youtuber-meghnad-s-launches-campaign-for-delhi-elections-with-this-song-7623495

---------

Broad-based Pak-US ties not limited to any party or person: defence minister

February 03, 2025

PTI founder Imran Khan (left) and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif. — AFP/File

-----------

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Monday that Pakistan and the United States relations are broader than any party, person or incident, ruling out possibility of facing pressure from the Trump administration to release incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan.

"Canvas of Pakistan-US relations is very broad," said Asif speaking on Geo News programme "Capital Talk" on Monday, adding: "[…] it is not limited to a party, person or an incident."

He was responding to a question if the new US administration led by President Donald Trump could exert pressure on Pakistani authorities to release the former premier after a group of American congressmen posted in favour of Khan on X earlier.

It is noteworthy to mention here that the embattled opposition party pinned hope on the Trump administration and its team to exert pressure on the incumbent government for the release of its jailed founder and other political prisoners.

Without naming any American legislators, the defence czar further said that people should also notice that some of them [US lawmakers, including Trump's aide Richard Grennel] had also deleted their tweets. He concluded his remarks by saying that Islamabad has "proper engagement" with the US government.

His statement came after the visit of Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to the United States last month where he held meetings with Trump’s foreign policy team and key lawmakers and claimed that it would yield "positive results very soon" as both sides were enjoying very good ties.

According to a state-run news agency, the interior minister, during his visit to the US, attended a special dinner reception at the Lincoln Liberty Hall in Washington, where he met with American senators, members of Congress, and prominent figures, including Senator Tommy Tuberville, Member of Congress Ken Calvert and others.

Islamabad and Washington established diplomatic relations on August 15 1947, making the US one of the first two nations to recognise Pakistan.

Despite the ups and downs in their relationship, the US remains a critical partner for Pakistan particularly in the areas of security and counterterrorism.

Asif, while expressing his views on the wave of terrorism, reiterated that "sophisticated" US weapons in Afghanistan were being used by militants of banned outfits — Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) — in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

"Due to the use of this sophisticated weaponry, the intensity and frequency of attacks have increased with higher number of fatalities." He, however, expressed optimism that the nation and its armed forces will overcome the menace of terrorism by their resilience.

He also claimed that India was behind the terrorism incidents as he handed over evidence to Taliban authorities in Afghanistan against Indian consulates' operations in areas, including Jalalabad, bordering Pakistan.

Source:thenews.com.pk

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

https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1279139-broad-based-pak-us-ties-not-limited-to-any-party-or-person-defence-minister

---------

Pezeshkian: Islamic nations must unite to thwart enemies' plots

Feb 3, 2025

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian hosts Iraqi Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani (left) in Tehran on Monday.

-------------

Tehran, IRNA – Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has emphasized the need for unity among Islamic countries, which he said helps them defeat enemies in their conspiracies against Muslim nations. 

“We believe that fomenting internal disputes weakens the Islamic Ummah. If Islamic countries, while making efforts to develop economy and promote livelihood and security for their people, avoid disputes and get united in line with their common goals, the conspiracies of enemies and ill-wishers will definitely bear no result,” Pezeshkian said on Monday.

He made the comments as he hosted Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani and his accompanying delegation for talks on bilateral issues and regional developments.

Considering the current global conditions, Pezeshkian said, synergy, empathy, and the enhancement of unity among Islamic countries are among key requirements for these nations.

He also said that sustainable cooperation on trade and economy as well as science and borders are some of the fields that help boost relations among Islamic countries, helping them enhance their unity.

Further in his remarks, President Pezeshkian referred to developments in Syria which is in a transition period after the government of President Bashar al-Assad was toppled in early December last year.

Iran wants an inclusive government to be formed in Syria where tranquility and territorial integrity are preserved, Pezeshkian said, adding that Iran also wants regional security and stability to be protected, and remains in touch with other countries to realize that goal.

Regarding the situation in Gaza and Lebanon, which are still reeling from the devastating impacts of the Israeli aggression, President Pezeshkian proposed that all Islamic countries assist Palestinian and Lebanese people in reconstruction efforts and rebuilding their lives.

The Iraqi speaker, on his part, said that Iran and Iraq share a principled stance on the Palestinian issue.

He also said that the Resistance Front in the region has attained big achievements over the past months despite losing some of its high-profile figures and commanders. That highlights the importance of taking the initiative in the face of enemies at this critical juncture, he added.

Source:.irna.ir

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

https://en.irna.ir/news/85739460/Pezeshkian-Islamic-nations-must-unite-to-thwart-enemies-plots

---------

Saudi Arabia conducts military exercises with 15 countries at Air Warfare Center

February 04, 2025

Spears of Victory 2025 drills started this week at the Air Warfare Center. (SPA)

-------------

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is conducting military exercises called Spears of Victory 2025 at the Air Warfare Center, involving forces from 15 countries.

Some of the Kingdom’s prominent military branches are participating in the drills, including forces from the Presidency of State Security and the Saudi Arabian National Guard.

The drills started this week at the Air Warfare Center, a military air facility located at King Abdulaziz Air Base in Dhahran in eastern Saudi Arabia.

Maj. Gen. Pilot Mohammed bin Ali Al-Omari, the exercise commander, said that the drills would consist of lectures and missions for air, technical, and support crews, to improve readiness and combat capability.

Al-Omari added that Spears of Victory 2025 will enhance the planning and implementation skills of participating forces, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

It involves 10 days of conducting combat maneuvers and flights, as well as mixed tactical operations, some of which are conducted jointly with the forces of other countries to enhance cooperation, the SPA added.

Source:arabnews.com

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

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2588903/saudi-arabia

--------

Islamic Emirate Offers Condolences to Hamas Leadership & Palestinian Martyrs

2025-02-03

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

“Among the believers are men who have remained true to the covenant they made with Allah. Some have fulfilled their vow, while others await their time, and they have never wavered.” (Al-Ahzab 23)

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan extends its deepest condolences to the leadership of Hamas, the families of all Shaheed (martyrs), and the Palestinian people following the martyrdom of senior leaders of the Hamas military wing, including Shaheed Mohammad al-Deif, along with several other key figures.

These resistance leaders leave behind a legacy of unwavering struggle against occupation—one that will stand as a symbol of honor, courage, and commitment to the Palestinian cause for generations to come.

We reaffirm our belief that the jihadist struggle does not weaken with martyrdom; rather, it grows stronger and accelerates toward its ultimate goal.

The sacrifices of these martyrs, especially those at the leadership level, have once again brought the Palestinian cause to the forefront of international attention. As a result, Hamas has emerged even stronger, both politically and militarily.

Insha Allah (God willing),

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan

Source:bakhtarnews.af

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

https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/islamic-emirate-offers-condolences-to-hamas-leadership-palestinian-martyrs/

---------

Religious leader: Protecting human rights is vital to peacemaking and essential for believers

Feb 3, 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The role of human rights in peacemaking is so essential that people of faith have an obligation to protect them, a religious leader said Monday at a major international conference near the White House.

“Along with dialogue, protecting human rights is crucial to preserving peace,” said Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “These basic rights ... are the foundation of a just society. Rights such as freedom of opinion, expression, thought, conscience and religion are essential for communities to thrive.”

“These rights speak for themselves but cannot defend themselves,” he added. “That is our task. I believe our rights come from God, but that the care of those rights is up to us.”

Elder Soares kicked off the opening reception of IRF Summit 2025, an annual conference that convenes Christian, Jewish, Muslim and other religious leaders, charities and government officials from around the world.

People yearn for unified, peaceful societies, he told them.

“It is imperative to remember that yearning does not mean waiting. We can choose, individually, to offer more than just ‘thoughts and prayers’ for the things we hope for. We can choose to be peacemakers now,” he said.

A call to work together

Elder Soares also had a conversation on stage with a Baptist pastor on Monday night during the Global Faith Forum at the Washington Hilton. Earlier in the day, he met with religious ministers from more than 15 Latin American and Caribbean nations at the U.S. Institute of Peace.

“Peace is not passive,” he said at the IRF Summit reception. “It requires dialogue and action to protect it and spread it throughout society.”

He also quoted a Swiss theologian, Hans Küng, who observed, “There will be no peace among the nations without peace among the religions. There will be no peace among the religions, without dialogue among the religions.”

Elder Soares thanked IRF Summit participants for working together and promoting multi-faith work. The audience included IRF Summit co-chairs Katrina Lantos Swett and Sam Brownback, a former U.S. ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom.

“Your dedication to creating positive, lasting change is both noble and inspiring,” Elder Soares said.

Challenges to religious freedom are growing

Elder Soares said protecting religious freedom is a moral imperative but also a key to peace and stability. He cited a recent Pew Research Center report that showed that laws, policies and actions restricting religious belief are at an all-time high and impact every one of the 198 countries and territories surveyed.

That creates a major challenge to peace, Elder Soares said.

“Respect for fundamental human rights is the cornerstone of a peaceful society, and among these religious freedom holds a prominent place,” he said. “Researchers Brian Grim and Roger Finke have noted that: ‘The denial of religious freedoms is inevitably intertwined with the denial of other freedoms.’

“The protection of religious freedom is not just a moral imperative, but also a key to peace and stability.”

The good religion does

While some claim religious freedom leads to division and conflict, research shows religion strengthens communities, Elder Soares said. People who regularly participate in religious congregations tend to be happier and more civically engaged and religion encourages personal responsibility, hard work and strengthening families.

“These virtues flowing from a flourishing and diverse religious landscape serve to mend and tighten the fabric of our shared world in ways perhaps nothing else can, leading in turn to the unified and peaceful societies for which we yearn,” he said.

He said he was inspired to learn that, despite growing religious diversity in his native Brazil, there have been no reported incidents of hostility over conversions or missionary work, according to a report.

How to practice peace

Elder Soares shared teachings from the recent teachings on peacemaking by President Russell M. Nelson, the prophet and president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

“He emphasized that one of the best ways to promote peace is to avoid contention, which may seem difficult in a world marked by violence, online shaming, and intense political divisions,” Elder Soares said. “Though disagreements in life are inevitable and healthy conflict resolution can lead to positive outcomes, we must ensure that differences in perspectives do not lead to harshness, unkindness or disrespect toward others.”

He quoted President Nelson, who said, “Contention reinforces the false notion that confrontation is the way to resolve differences; but it never is. Contention is a choice. Peacemaking is a choice.”

President Nelson taught that a person can change the world one interaction at a time by “modeling how to manage differences of opinion with mutual respect and dignified dialogue.”

Elder Soares also quoted Thomas Merton, a monk, writer and theologian who said peace “demands greater heroism than war.”

“While peace building does not always come easily or naturally,” Elder Soares said, “it is a prize worthy of our finest and most determined efforts.”

Monday’s IRF Summit opening reception was held in the second floor ballroom of the Organization of American States Building across 17th Avenue from the Ellipse, a White House park.

Source:deseret.com

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

https://www.deseret.com/faith/2025/02/03/apostle-faith-protecting-human-rights-pivotal-to-peacemaking-essential-for-believers/

----------

Muslim burial dilemma in Japan sparks debate amid growing population

February 3, 2025

With Japan’s Muslim population now estimated at 350,000 the country faces increasing pressure to provide burial plots that align with Islamic customs in a nation where cremation is the norm. Islam is the fastest-growing religion in Japan.

Japan’s Kyodo News reports that Miyagi Prefecture’s Governor Yoshihiro Murai has acknowledged the issue, saying that he is considering a new cemetery after a Muslim resident told him that living in Japan “is very difficult” due to the lack of graves. Murai, pointing to the absence of burial cemeteries in the Tohoku region, stated, “Even if I am criticised, we have to do something about this.”

Elsewhere, efforts to secure burial sites have met resistance. In Hiji, Oita Prefecture, a planned cemetery backed by the Beppu Muslim Association was halted indefinitely after newly-elected Mayor Tetsuya Abe refused to sell the designated land, citing concerns over groundwater contamination. The plan, approved initially by residents in 2023, had included agreements to limit burials and conduct annual water quality tests.

Japan’s legal framework does not prohibit ground burials, yet more than 99.9 per cent of cemeteries continue to perform cremations. Cremation is strictly forbidden for Muslims. While some local governments consider establishing burial sites, opposition remains strong. “I feel that the government should be more concerned about the lack of attention to multiculturalism,” said Murai.

Tahir Khan, a professor in Oita and representative of the Beppu Muslim Association, insists on the necessity of burial sites for Japan’s Muslim community. “We cannot give up on graves for the sake of the next generation,” he said.

Despite the government’s push to attract Muslim tourists and foreign labour, the lack of burial provisions for Muslims remains unresolved, prompting calls for national intervention to establish guidelines. With Islam’s rapid growth in Japan, the issue is expected to become even more pressing in the coming years.

Source:middleeastmonitor.com

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

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20250203-muslim-burial-dilemma-in-japan-sparks-debate-amid-growing-population/

---------

Nigerian Muslims warn against tenure extension for IGP Egbetokun

 FEBRUARY 3, 2025

The Muslim Rights Concern has warned against tenure extension for IGP Kayode Egbetokun.

Ishaq Akintola, the executive director of MURIC, said in a statement on Monday that the extension could erode efficiency, breed division, and diminish public confidence in the police force.

According to him, the amendment to the Police Act that paved the way for Mr Egbetokun’s tenure extension is a cause for concern.

The amended Section 18(8) of the Act allows the inspector general of police to remain in office until the end of the term stipulated in the letter of appointment rather than retiring at the age of 60.

Mr Akintola noted that the police force had made significant strides in improving security in recent times, with hundreds of kidnap victims rescued and several high-profile crimes solved.

He feared that the tenure extension could undermine this progress and create divisions within the force.

“MURIC’s intervention is significant, given the organisation’s focus on promoting and protecting the fundamental human rights of Nigerian Muslims.

“While the issue of the I-G’s tenure extension may not be directly related to Muslim rights, it has a bearing on the security and welfare of all Nigerians, including Muslims.

“The move has sparked debate, with some arguing that it is necessary to maintain continuity and stability in the police force, while others see it as a violation of the Police Act,” he said.

Mr Akintola advised Mr Egbetokun to bow out before the controversy gets messy and his clean record is tarnished.

“Real heroes leave the stage while the ovation is loudest,” he said.

Source:gazettengr.com

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

https://gazettengr.com/nigerian-muslims-warn-against-tenure-extension-for-igp-egbetokun/

--------

 

India

 

Kharge says ‘thousands died’ in Maha Kumbh stampede, NDA members protest in RS

February 3, 2025

The Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday stirred a controversy after he claimed that “thousands died” in the stampede at the Maha Kumbh venue in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj.

However, he set a condition for him to apologise for his comment.

The tragedy that occurred due to overcrowding at the Maha Kumbh on January 29 during the Amrit Snan on Mauni Amavasya — considered an auspicious day for holy dips — killed 30 people and left at least 60 injured, the authorities said.

They said a massive crowd heading towards the ghat to take holy dips broke down barricades, leading to the stampede.

Kharge, Congress chief and the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, however, said the “thousand deaths” at the Maha Kumbh was his own estimate, in an attempt to not accept the number of dead that was reported by the authorities.

“I pay my tributes to the people who died in Maha Kumbh… the thousands who died in Kumbh,” he said, evoking the protests by members of the ruling alliance.

“This is my estimate and if this is not right, you (government) should tell what is the truth,” Kharge said.

“I did not say ‘thousands’ to blame anyone. But how many people died, give that information at least. I will apologise if I am wrong. They should give figures, how many died, how many are missing,” he added.

Kharge’s comment drew loud protests from the treasury benches and Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar even asked him to retract his comment.

“The LoP (Leader of Opposition) has indicated a scenario using figures to the extent of thousands. I appeal to him, in this House, whatever is spoken, carries great weight. You have spoken something which has numbed everyone,” Dhankhar said.

“A message that goes from here, even if it is contradicted, goes to the whole world. Can you go to that extent? I would appeal to you as one of the senior-most leaders of this country, if you put a figure in thousands, I can only appeal to your conscience,” Dhankar said.

The Opposition parties have accused the Centre and the UP government of not paying enough attention to safety at the Maha Kumbh Mela when it was anticipated that huge crowds would come to take holy dips on certain auspicious days. –IANS

Source:muslimmirror.com

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

https://muslimmirror.com/kharge-says-thousands-died-in-maha-kumbh-stampede-nda-members-protest-in-rs/

---------

Will not tolerate love jihad, land jihad and cow slaughter, warns BJP leader Nitesh Rane

February 4, 2025

Maharashtra Ports and Fisheries Minister Nitesh Rane, speaking at the Sakal Hindu Samaj rally, declared that the state government, driven by a Hindutva ideology, would not tolerate “love jihad, land jihad, and cow slaughter.”

He hinted at introducing stringent laws against forced religious conversions and warned of severe consequences for those involved.

Rane explicitly stated that if a certain community did not stop engaging in such activities, the government would take strict action, ensuring individuals were jailed. He asserted that the present administration would not allow Hindu women to be trapped, converted, or harmed.

Criticizing the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, he alleged that those responsible for such activities had been emboldened under their rule, but his government would not permit this to continue.

“In our Hindu Rashtra, the interests of Hindus will be prioritized,” Rane declared, reinforcing his stance. He accused individuals of raising pro-Pakistan slogans during the MVA’s tenure and pledged that such incidents would no longer be tolerated.

Congress leader and former Opposition Leader Vijay Wadettiwar strongly condemned Rane’s statements, calling them divisive and unconstitutional. He argued that those who speak against religious harmony have no right to hold government positions. Wadettiwar urged the Chief Minister to decide whether Rane should continue in office, emphasizing that such remarks fuel communal discord.

Earlier, Rane had courted controversy by questioning the authenticity of the recent attack on Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan. He suggested that Khan’s alleged stabbing incident might have been staged, questioning how he appeared unscathed despite reports of an attack.

“Bangladeshis have now infiltrated Saif Ali Khan’s house in Mumbai,” Rane claimed. He alleged that such elements, once limited to street corners, had begun encroaching on people’s homes, implying that they had sinister intentions. Referring to Khan as “garbage,” he remarked that it would be good if such people were “taken away.”

Rane further stated that Bollywood actors like Saif Ali Khan and Shah Rukh Khan receive immediate public sympathy when harmed, whereas Hindu actors do not get similar support. He referenced the mysterious death of Sushant Singh Rajput, questioning why political figures such as Jitendra Awhad and Supriya Sule remained silent on Hindu artists but expressed concern for Muslim celebrities.

He criticized the media, urging them to take note of the disparity in responses. Rane’s remarks have stirred controversy, with opposition leaders demanding action against him for inciting communal tension. — With Agencies Inputs

Source:muslimmirror.com

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

https://muslimmirror.com/will-not-tolerate-love-jihad-land-jihad-cow-slaughter-warns-bjp-leader-nitesh-rane/

--------

Waqf Amendment Bill - Attempt to Snuff the Soul of Indian Muslims

03 Feb 2025

Syed Ali Mujtaba

CHENNAI: With the opposition having strong reservations to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, the Joint Parliament Committee (JPC) has wetted the bill with 14 amendments and scripted a majority with 15 "Ayes" and 11 “Nays.” Now the Waqf Bill is ready for the perusal of the Lok Sabha Speaker who will take further action to pass the bill.

The opposition is still unconvinced about the current structure of the bill draft. Assaduddin Owaisi, the MP from Hyderabad says; “We reject this Waqf amendment bill as all these amendments are not in the interest of the Waqf and Muslims will lose their endowed properties."

“These will destroy the Waqf Board’s character and increase interference of the Central government in its functioning.”

“The ‘evacuee properties,’ (the properties being endowed by the Muslims who left for Pakistan) will now be taken by the government. This is not acceptable to the Muslim community,” he said.

Congress member Imran Masood said, "You have violated our rights granted under Article 26 of the Constitution. You talked about the Uniform Civil Code, but there are Hindu Endowment Boards, Sikh Boards, and Christian boards that do not have non-Hindus, non-Sikhs, and non-Christians as members, but why there be Hindu members in the Waqf board? He asked. 

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant, said "When you say that the Waqf Board will have non-Muslims then by same count temple rules be amended to include Muslims, then only there would be parity, will the Hindus agree? 

"The other bewildering thing is that members of the Waqf Board will not be elected but selected by the government. Is this not a travesty of democracy,” asked Arvind Sawant.

Trinamool Congress MP, Kalyan Banerjee said, “The report indicated it was made with a predetermined mind by the ruling government. The statements of witnesses and the observations of the MPs were not considered and the proceedings of the JPC turned into mockery. What was the use of the whole exercise if its outcome was predetermined?” Asked Banerjee.

The opposition members of the JPC submitted dissent notes on the report and termed the entire exercise unconstitutional. They said that the 655-page draft report was circulated among the 31-member committee very late, and they got little time to go through the voluminous document.

“We received the 655-page report and were given not even 12 hours to respond.  It is humanly impossible to read such a voluminous report and respond in a short time. I have given a dissent report against the amendments that do not favor the Waqf Board,” said a member opposing the bill.

With the government making the pitch that amending the Wakaf law is the prime necessity of the country, the passing of the Wakf bill is a mere formality.

The government is convinced about the passing of the bill in the Parliament as it's touted to have sufficiently greased the palms of its allies Chandrababu Naidu, the Andhra Pradesh CM, and Nitish Kumar the Bihar CM, whose support is crucial. 

In this background, the Wakf bill will be bulldozed by the ruling government using the heavy steam roller of the Parliamentary majority even though it means snuffing the soul of Indian Muslims.

Source:kashmirtimes.com

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

https://kashmirtimes.com/news/controversial-waqf-bill-moves-forward-amidst-strong-dissent-from-opposition

--------

Muslim community has rejected Waqf Bill: Owaisi

04 February 2025

New Delhi: AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday said the Waqf Amendment Bill, in its current form, will lead to social instability as it has been rejected by the Muslim community.Participating in the debate on the President's Address, Owaisi said that the Bill has been rejected by the entire Muslim community and its implementation would take this country back to the 1980s and early 1990s.

"I am cautioning and warning this government - if you bring and make a Waqf law in the present form, it will be violation of Article 25, 26 and 14, it will lead to social instability in this country. It has been rejected by the entire Muslim community. No Waqf property will be left, nothing will be left," Owaisi said."You want to make India 'Viksit Bharat', we want 'Viksit Bharat'. You want to take this country back to the '80s and early '90s, it will be your responsibility. Because, as a proud Indian Muslim, I will not lose an inch of my Masjid... I will not lose an inch of my Dargah. I will not allow that," he said."We will no more come and give a diplomatic talk over here. This is the House where I have to stand and speak honestly, that my community - we are proud Indians. It is my property, not given by anyone. You cannot snatch it away from me. Waqf is a form of worship for me," Owaisi said.

Source:deccanherald.com

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

https://www.deccanherald.com/india/muslim-community-has-rejected-waqf-bill-owaisi-3387682

--------

Kumbh lessons pay off on dip day: Basant Panchami sees fewer pilgrims after stampede tragedy

Piyush Srivastava

04.02.25

The holy bath of Basant Panchami passed without incident on Monday, providing a sense of relief after the stampede tragedy of Mauni Amavasya on January 29.

Fewer pilgrims arrived for the holy dip on Monday and were more restrained, refraining from making a rush for the holiest site, the Triveni Sangam, which was closed to them like before.

The administration, on its part, allowed the crowd freer movement across most of the Mela area, avoiding the gridlock of roadblocks that had worsened the crush on Wednesday and set the stage for the stampede.

"Over 3 crore devotees had taken the holy bath by noon on January 29 but today the number is far lower. Many devotees decided not to come after hearing of the tragedy," an official deployed at the Mela said, asking not to be identified.

"Most of the pilgrims had rushed towards the Triveni Sangam on Mauni Amavasya but today, people seemed to have realised that trying to gather at one point could be dangerous."

The Mela administration said 1.25 crore sadhus and pilgrims had taken the holy dip along the 12km stretch of the Ganga and Yamuna riverbanks by noon.

"The ordinary devotees bathed away from the nose of the Sangam because the police didn’t let them go there," Parmeshwar Shukla, 55, from Hardoi in Uttar Pradesh, told reporters after taking the dip in Jhusi, about 2km from the Sangam.

"However, the sadhus from the akharas easily went there for the Shahi Snan. The foreign tourists were not stopped from going there, either."

Vaibhav Krishna, the deputy inspector-general of police in charge of the Mahakumbh, who was seen riding a horse in the festival area, said "everything is peaceful".

"We are staying alert to ensure there is no pressure point (a place where the crowd can gather in unexpected numbers). The last time (on January 29), there were many pressure points," he said.

Deploying horses or riding them in crowded places has since colonial times been a well-known police tactic to maintain order by intimidating people. Sources said the police had used this tactic first in Allahabad in the early 1990s during Mulayam Singh Yadav’s rule to suppress anti-reservation protests by students.

"There’s been no report of any unpleasant incident in the Mela area," Krishna said.

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath has admitted to only 30 deaths in the stampede but sources at the Mela claim there were several stampedes within a two-hour band and that the actual toll is much higher.

Pilgrims have blamed the stampede on the administration’s decision to close all 30 pontoon and steel bridges to ordinary devotees to try and create special passages for VIPs, including the mahamandaleshwars of several akharas.

Outlining the precautionary measures taken on Monday, a Mela official said: "We stopped all the four-wheelers outside Allahabad to ease the pressure on the city and the Mahakumbh. Even bikes are not allowed in the Mela area today. Those who have arrived at the railway stations have to walk to the Mahakumbh."

The distance from the Prayagraj (Allahabad) Junction railway station and the Kumbh is at least 30km.

Reports said hundreds of vehicles had been stopped outside Allahabad — in Jhusi, Naini and Phaphamau — leaving many devotees stranded.

The government claims that over 30 crore pilgrims have visited the Mela since the Kumbh began on January 14.

"The BJP government may claim that crores of devotees arrived in the Mahakumbh but they have failed to release the real figure of the deaths," Congress communications chief Jairam Ramesh said.

"It becomes clear that the government is the culprit and (is) trying to run away from its shortcomings."

Source:telegraphindia.com

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

https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/mahakumbh-lessons-pay-off-on-dip-day-basant-panchami-sees-fewer-pilgrims-after-stampede-tragedy/cid/2081418

---------

Deoband: A town of love and harmony defamed by vested interests

February 4, 2025

Deoband: Tareekh wa Tehzeeb ke Aine meN

Author: Dr Ubaid Iqbal Asim

Publisher: Kutab Khana Naimia, Deoband

Pages: 512. Hardback

Hindi version:

Etihasik Nagri Deoband

Price: Rs 600

Author: Dr Ubaid Iqbal Asim

Available from: Kutab Khana Naimia, Deoband

Pages: 528. Harback

Reviewed By M Ghazali Khan

Located approximately 93 miles away from Delhi, Deoband is a small and peaceful town in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. However, despite hostile propaganda against it in the post-9/11 era—first by Western agencies and later echoed by Hindutva organizations in India—Deoband remains remarkably non-sectarian and harmonious. Except for a disturbance in 1992, during which six or seven individuals, all of them Muslims, were killed in a police shooting amid a highly charged communal atmosphere following the demolition of the Babri Mosque, Deoband has never witnessed violent intercommunal strife—not even in 1947, when much of the Indian subcontinent was engulfed in communal frenzy and widespread violence. Such is the history of this town that when freedom fighters — mostly clerics from Darul Uloom Deoband—formed an Indian government in exile in Afghanistan on December 1, 1915, during World War I, Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh was appointed its president.

After 9/11, the West, particularly the USA, acted as if Islam had just been discovered. Taking a cue from the Bush administration at the time, Hindutva supporters also started behaving as if they had never heard of Islam or Muslims before. In the wake of the burning of the Sabarmati Express, when a Hindutva leader was asked why Muslims were being massacred instead of taking action against the real culprits, he justified the mass killings by arguing that no one had objected to the Bush administration’s bombing of Afghanistan.

In the highly Islamophobic atmosphere of the non-Muslim world and under the BJP-led government in India, how could Deoband—often, albeit without solid reason, considered a symbol of violent Islamic fundamentalism—be spared? Unfortunately, several follies of the Taliban government in Afghanistan, which claims to follow the Deobandi sect of Islam, both during their first regime and their current de facto rule, have provided additional fuel to vested interests seeking to maintain a tense atmosphere.

Unaware of Deoband’s history and failing to realize that ‘Deoband’ is not an Islamic name, in 2017 the newly elected BJP MLA of Deoband Brijesh Singh joined his party’s name-changing frenzy. He announced that he would propose renaming the town ‘Devband’ in the state assembly.

In such a situation, Dr. Ubaid Iqbal Asim’s book Deoband Tareekh wa Tehzeeb ke Aaine Mein, along with its Hindi translation Etihasik Nagri Deoband, makes a significant contribution to documenting the town’s history—both the author’s and the reviewer’s hometown.

Writes Asim: ‘According to the priests of Devi Kund, an ancient temple in Deoband, and Hindu historians, this town is mentioned in the Mahabharata. Some priests of the temple have told this writer that the Mahabharata contains one or two verses in which Deoband is explicitly mentioned. Based on this, it can be inferred that the town existed even during the time of the Kauravas and the Pandavas.’

Asim refers to Munshi Nand Kishore, the author of Tareekh-e-Deoband (published in Saharanpur in 1868), who describes Deoband as being one thousand years old. He also cites Maulana Fasihuddin’s Jughrafia Zila Saharanpur (Saharanpur, 1866), which traces Deoband’s origins to a time before Bikrama Ditya.

The book presents several fascinating historical accounts. For example, it mentions Syed Ahmad Shaheed’s visit to Deoband in 1818 AD to recruit Mujahideen, during which he stayed for ten days. The exact number of his recruits is unknown. However, according to the book, historical records mention the names of: ‘Four young sons of Muhammad Bakhsh—a gentleman from the fourth generation of Diwan Lutfullah—three of whom, Sheikh Buland, Maqsood Ali, and Syed Ahmad (also known as Sallu), were martyred in battle. The fourth brother survived and later passed away in Deoband. Others included Maulvi Fareeduddin, Syed Maqbool Alam, Maulvi Shamsuddin, Sheikh Rajab Ali, Maulvi Basheerullah, Ghazi Hafeezullah, Abdul Razzaq, and Abdul Aziz.’

The book provides brief accounts of each of these individuals. In a chapter dedicated to the freedom movement of 1857, along with a concise account of the role of the Deobandi ulema, it discusses the British government’s ruthless suppression of the struggle. It states: ‘Only in Deoband, 144 individuals were hanged. This scribe has himself seen the mango tree on which they were executed. This scribe has personally seen the mango tree on which they were executed, once known as ‘sooli wala darakht’ [the gallows tree]. Sixteen individuals were sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment each, while 20 received three-year sentences.

Thirty-four were fined, and several were forced to sign personal bonds to ensure future compliance. Seven were fortunate enough to be whipped and then set free. Three adjoining villages were burned down.’ (Quoted from Syed Mehmoob Rizvi’s book Tareekh-e-Deoband, p 186, Ilmi Markaz, Deoband, 1972)

In addition, the properties of all those who were even slightly suspected of participating in the uprising were confiscated. The Sheikhs and Syeds of Deoband were particularly affected by these actions of the British government. However, it is noteworthy that Hindus and Muslims fought side by side to free themselves from the yoke of British imperialism.

As Asim writes: ‘Although this town has been predominantly Muslim for ages, Muslims have never ignored their fellow countrymen on any occasion. On numerous occasions, they willingly accepted the leadership of Hindus.’

In a detailed chapter entitled “Azadi Ka Mansooba aur Deoband” (The Plan for Freedom and Deoband), the book provides insight into how Deobandi scholars strategized to expand the movement both within India and beyond. It discusses Gandhiji’s visit to Deoband on 29 October 1929, during which he was presented with ₹1,500 on behalf of its residents, as well as the deputation of students and teachers from Darul Uloom Deoband to various parts of the world, including Afghanistan, Turkey, and the Arabian Peninsula.

Regarding Maulana Mahmood al-Hasan, the renowned Deobandi scholar, the book states: ‘He was a great leader of his time… The uprising he sought to ignite was not meant for Muslims alone. He invited the Sikhs of Punjab, revolutionaries of Bengal, and members of the Ghadar Party to join his movement.’

Since many readers may not be familiar with Maulana Mahmood al-Hasan, it is worth mentioning that he was one of India’s foremost Islamic scholars and a key figure in the struggle against British rule. He had declared jihad against British colonial rule in India. Arrested in Saudi Arabia, he was sent to Malta, where he was imprisoned for four years. Those who performed his final rites reportedly observed several marks of torture on his body. However, this unsung hero of India’s freedom struggle never spoke about the suffering he had endured.

Asim writes: ‘Hindus and Muslims played a leading role in the anti-British movements of 1930, 1932, 1940, 1941, and 1942, enduring the hardships of imprisonment. After the country gained independence, a large number of freedom fighters migrated to Pakistan. Those who remained behind were mostly scholars associated with Darul Uloom Deoband, who refused to accept any government position or honorarium. They stated that they had not fought for personal recognition or material rewards but had done so as a religious duty, believing that their true reward lay with Allah.

‘One such example was the renowned scholar and freedom fighter Maulana Syed Husain Ahmad Madni, who served as the Sadar Mudarris (Head Teacher) of Darul Uloom. When he was offered prestigious honours such as the Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri, and Bharat Bhushan, as well as a seat in Parliament, he declined all of them, remaining steadfast in his principles.’

Unfortunately, despite its rich history, this town, where 70 percent of the population is Muslim, has always been treated unfairly—not only by the media but also by successive governments. Apart from two MPs and two MLAs, it has never had the opportunity to be represented by a Muslim in the state assembly or parliament. To add insult to injury, in the last municipal board chairmanship elections, the BJP-led state government went out of its way to impose a Hindu chairman on the town—someone who is not even a resident.

Strangely from 1948 until the 1960s Deoband and Kairana were grouped as a single parliamentary constituency. During this period, the Congress candidate, always a Hindu Rajput, consistently won in this electoral district. However, in 1964 Ghayur Ali Khan succeeded in winning the parliamentary seat on a ticket from Dr Ram Manohar Lohia’s Socialist Party, whose election symbol was the banyan tree. This unexpected experience was big shock for the then Prime Minister Mrs Indira Gandhi. Therefore, she merged Deoband with Haridwar, later designating it as a reserved seat for Scheduled Tribes.

The chapter, ‘Deoband Halqa Assembly’ is particularly interesting and offers many lessons for Muslims and fair-minded individuals.

Writes Asim, the long time MLA Thakur Phool Singh, ‘Due to his ill health, he could not stand in the midterm assembly polls. Therefore, Congress fielded another Thakur, Mahaveer Singh, as its candidate. His direct contest was with a well-known personality of the town and a candidate from Chaudhary Charan Singh’s Bharatiya Kranti Dal (BKD), Haji Jameel Ahmad Numbardar, who was equally popular among both Hindus and Muslims. However, general voters, especially Muslims, had hardly heard of Mahaveer Singh before. Due to his rustic tone, he struggled to attract voters. [He was an educated man but only learned to sign his name after becoming an MLA—viewer.]

It was widely believed that Haji Jameel Ahmad Numbardar would win the election. However, to everyone’s surprise, Mahaveer Singh secured victory by just a few hundred votes. His success was attributed to his Thakur background and the tireless campaigning of a dedicated Congress member and Municipal Board Chairman, Maulana Muhammad Usman. Maulana Usman played a crucial role in mobilizing support, even at the cost of sacrificing his friendship and neighbourly ties with Jameel Ahmad Numbardar. Interestingly, Mahaveer Singh received the highest number of votes in areas previously considered strongholds of Jameel Ahmad Numbardar.

‘In 1974, Mahaveer Singh found himself in a direct electoral battle against his old friend Maulana Muhammad Usman, who had once sacrificed everything to help him secure a seat in the assembly. However, when Maulana Usman sought a Congress ticket for himself, Mahaveer Singh disrupted his plans, ultimately sacrificing their long-standing friendship. The Socialist Congress, led by Morarji Desai, which had emerged from within the Congress itself, seized the opportunity and offered Maulana Usman a ticket to contest the election under its banner. However, in the end, communal politics played a decisive role, and Maulana Usman was defeated by his own political disciple.’ [Muslims form majority only in Deoband town. The rest is a Hindu majority constituency—viewer]

‘In 1974, it became clear that the Deoband constituency had become a monopoly of a particular caste, willing to discard party loyalty, sacrifice every principle, and cross every standard of honesty to maintain its hegemony. Thakur Mahaveer Singh re-entered the political arena in 1984. This time, his opponent was a young politician, Badar Kazmi, the younger brother of Qamar Kazmi, Vice President of the All India Muslim Majlis.’

It was a four-cornered contest involving three Thakur candidates: Mahindra Tyagi from the Bhartiya Lok Dal, Ms. Shashibala Pundeer from the Janata Party (Chandra Shekhar faction), and BJP candidate Jaswant Singh, along with Badar Kazmi, a Muslim Majlis candidate contesting on the ticket of V.P. Singh’s Janata Dal.

It was presumed that this time the victory of a Muslim candidate was certain. According to Asim: ‘When the election results were declared, Thakur Mahaveer Singh defeated Badar Kazmi by a huge margin. An analysis of the voting pattern revealed that, once again, Muslim votes were divided [based on individual sympathies along party lines—reviewer], while our countrymen seemed intent on keeping a Muslim candidate away from this seat.’

The sordid story did not end here. The same game was repeated in the 1989 parliamentary election. Writes Asim: ‘This time round Janata Party fielded Qamar Kazmi, as its candidate. He was very close to Janata Party leader, and later Prime Minister of India, Mr V.P. Singh. He was popular as a serious worker and had considerable influence in Deoband and surrounding areas…’

‘The Congress party fielded a Thakur candidate against him who had no relationship with Deoband in the past… [Mahaveer Rana] was selected for his dominating personality in his [Rajput] community and had been a strong leader of Youth Congress. The fact is that Qamar Kazmi lost his winning election by a few votes due to his excessively gentle nature— so much so that it could be perceived as cowardice. This scribe is a witness to how Kamar Kazmi was fraudulently defeated in the seventh round of counting. Until the sixth round he was far ahead of his main rival…Two bundles of 50 votes each were put with Mahaveer Rana’s votes and an increase was shown in his votes. When Qamar Kazmi’s supporters protested, Mahaveer Rana’s guys became ready to turn vote counting into a battlefield. Seeing the worsening situation Qamar Kazmi was disheartened and showed his preparedness to withdraw but did not tolerate the possibility of bloodletting. Thus, Mahavir Rana was declared the winner by approximately fifteen hundred votes, and this seat, which was almost within Qamar Kazmi’s grasp, ultimately slipped away due to Mahavir Rana’s shameless behaviour.’

According to an eyewitness who was present during the counting, late Qamar Kazmi was leading by 4,000 votes. In those days, before EVM machines, when votes were cast on ballot papers and counted manually, the counted votes for each candidate were bundled in groups of 49. Dr. Ubaid Asim, Tahir Khan Advocate (late), and Qamar Kazmi were present when Tahir Khan raised an objection. He pointed out that bundles of Qamar Kazmi’s votes were being removed, and on top of one such bundle, there was a vote cast in favour of Mahaveer Rana.

Upon his objection, one bundle was taken out and examined. Everyone, including the DM, saw that 49 votes were in favour of Qamar Kazmi, while only the top one was for Mahaveer Rana. At this, Qamar Kazmi’s supporters demanded that each bundle be rechecked. However, Mahaveer Rana took out his revolver, and his agents were ready to incite a communal riot.

Sensing Rana’s intentions, the late Qamar Kazmi virtually begged his supporters to leave and accept whatever outcome followed.

“How can we accept this injustice and goondaism?” they protested.

But Qamar Kazmi replied, “For me, accepting defeat is preferable to innocent lives being sacrificed.”

He then led all his supporters outside the building and ensured they boarded a bus to Deoband.

In this valuable book, the writer has not only provided an interesting history of this small but internationally renowned town—its population, its mohallas, the historical figures born and brought up here and their contributions in various fields, as well as its ancient and historical mosques and temples—but has also offered deep insights into its cultural heritage.

It is unfortunate that one or two chapters, primarily on Muslim scholars, have been omitted from the Hindi version. The author briefly covers the history of Darul Uloom Deoband, but readers should be aware that this book focuses on the history of Deoband town, not its renowned seminary. Consequently, it does not include any details about the capture of Darul Uloom by Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind, which was supported by the Congress government at the time. The Hindi version also contains photographs of historical places and institutions of the town.

There is no doubt that this is a good reference book on Deoband and also offers valuable insights into the current political scene in the country.

Source:muslimmirror.com

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

https://muslimmirror.com/deoband-a-town-of-love-and-harmony-defamed-by-vested-interests/

--------

Hits and misses in Uttarakhand UCC

By Tahir Mahmood

Feb 03, 2025 08:41 PM IST

The code may in the sight of its supporters be a proverbial bird in hand better than two in the bush, but it surely does not answer the call of the Constitution

The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) of Uttarakhand, which was recently brought into force, is a bulky enactment comprising 392 sections, seven schedules and multiple forms. Nearly 80% of its bulk contains procedural provisions relating to the registration of marriages, divorces and live-in relationships, execution and interpretation of wills, and administration of deceased persons’ estates. Its substantive principles, though not many, are replete with significant implications of far-reaching consequences.

The basic rules of matrimonial law spelt out in Part I of the code seem to have been drawn from a combined reading of parallel provisions under the Special Marriage Act and the Hindu Marriage Act of 1954-55. The provisions of this part on registration of marriages replace the Uttarakhand Compulsory Registration of Marriages Act of 2010, which the code repeals. Additionally, the code requires registration of divorces obtained through judicial proceedings. This is an innovation.

Section 391 (1) of the code declares that “any law (statutory or otherwise), practice, custom or usage in force in the state immediately before the commencement of this code relating to the matters covered by this code, shall cease to have an effect within the territory of the state, in so far as they are inconsistent with any of the provisions contained in this code”. This overriding provision will render ineffective certain provisions of personal laws, both statutory and non-statutory, in their application in the state.

The law on “degrees of prohibited relationship” (relatives between whom marriage is prohibited) under the code, found in section 3 (d) and Schedule I, is the same as under the Special Marriage Act, 1954. Under that Act, marriage with a second or third cousin (which the Hindu Marriage Act prohibits) will be valid under the code. On the contrary, marriage with a first cousin, which Muslim law allows, will be unlawful under the code. This is an unjustifiable discrimination.

Section 4 of the code, on conditions for marriage, does not say that the parties should be professing the same religion. Under section 25, on grounds for divorce, if the “other party” has “converted to another religion to which the petitioner belonged” it will be a ground for divorce to be granted by a court. Confusing words of this provision make the position of interfaith marriages under the code quite uncertain. Notably, post-marriage conversion is not a ground for divorce under the Special Marriage Act of 1954, and it is inexplicable why this secular code could not follow the latter Act in this regard.

Section 29 of the code declares that “No marriage solemnised/contracted before or after the commencement of this code shall be dissolved in any manner except in accordance with the provisions of this Part, notwithstanding any usage, custom, tradition, personal law of any party to the marriage, or any enactment to the contrary”. This means a blanket ban on all forms of extrajudicial divorce, whether at the instance of either party to the marriage or by the spouses’ mutual consent. The provision should override Section 29 (2) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 exempting from its purview “any right recognised by custom” to obtain dissolution of marriage. At the same time, it would surpass the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019 which invalidates and penalises only “talaq-e-bid’at” — commonly known as triple talaq — which instantly dissolves the marriage and is irrevocable. All other forms of extrajudicial divorce prevalent among the Muslims — “talaq-us-sunnat” (unilateral dissolution of marriage by the husband under three spaced utterances), “khula” (talaq at the instance of wife) and “mubra’at” (termination of marriage by the spouses’ mutual consent) — which had remained unaffected by the anti-triple talaq Act of 2019, will also be unlawful under the code.

The law of succession under Part II of the code mainly contains procedural provisions relating to testamentary succession and administration of estates, drawn from the Indian Succession Act of 1925. This Act, which had merely consolidated various 19th-century Acts on the related issues, is now itself a century-old law. In 1985, the Law Commission of India had recommended a complete overhaul of this Act, but its report on the subject is lying in the official archives. The architects of the Uttarakhand code, if they were aware of it, also did not take cognisance of this valuable report. Following the archaic pattern of the 1925 Act, they overloaded Part II of the code with superfluous illustrations, making it extremely disproportionate to the rest of the code.

As regards the inheritance of a deceased person’s property, the code has placed both parents among the primary heirs. Happily, this is quite different from the Hindu Succession Act of 1956 which irrationally puts only the mother among the primary heirs, pushing the father to the residual class of secondary heirs. The position of the code in this regard is, remarkably, the same as under Muslim law which also treats both parents as primary heirs.

Part III of the code, on so-called live-in relationships, has the effect of more or less equating this socially disapproved practice with holy marital unions. This is an ill-considered move.

Under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, a minor’s marriage is not void and attracts only a penalty. Enacted 70 years later, the Uttarakhand code maintains this position. Thus, architects of this 21st-century law could also not muster the courage to outlaw this social evil. Nor could they, dittoing the policy behind the modern Hindu law, extend their “uniform” code to the state’s 30 million-strong tribal population. The constitutional provision on uniform civil code envisages a common family law nationwide, not in a particular state. The code may in the sight of its supporters be a proverbial bird in hand better than two in the bush, but it surely does not answer the call of the Constitution.

Tahir Mahmood is professor of law and former member of the Law Commission of India.The views expressed are personal

Source:hindustantimes.com

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

https://www.hindustantimes.com/opinion/hits-and-misses-in-uttarakhand-ucc-101738595465718.html

--------

Muslim bandmasters lead akhada processions for Amrit Snan

By K Sandeep Kumar , Prayagraj

Feb 04, 2025

In a city witnessing the gathering of millions of devotees for the world’s biggest fair of faith, communal harmony and inter-religion amity are on full display.

While lakhs of sadhus, including the revered Naga ascetics, from several akhadas (monastic orders) headed towards the banks of Sangam in the wee hours of Monday for the Basant Panchami Snan, their regal outings were accompanied by musical bands, some of which were led by Muslims.

As the tent city geared up for the third and last Amrit Snan of the Mahakumbh on Basant Panchami, bandmasters and their groups waited patiently near bonfires set up outside the akhada camps to help them beat the early morning chill.

At the Mahanirwani Akhada camp, Mohd Irfan, along with 12 members of his band, was eager to lead the sadhus to a Sangam ghat. “We led the Mahanirwani Akhada during the first ‘Amrit Snan’. This is our second outing with the akhada since Makar Sankranti as the stampede on Mauni Amavasya saw the akhadas keep a low-key affair. We had also accompanied the procession of ‘Nagar Pravesh’ and ‘Chavni Pravesh’ of the akhada,” he said.

In front of the Niranjani Akhada camp, Shamim aka Lallu Master stood with his band members waiting for the sadhus to arrive. “It is a matter of pride for us that we are accompanying sadhus in their pious procession. We have been doing this for years and the saints always call us for these special occasions,” Shamim noted.

Azad Band’s proprietor Mohammad Iqbal Ahmad, whose band accompanied the ‘Chavni Pravesh’ of Niranjani Akhada apart from on the first and third ‘Amrit Snan’, said he considered attending this event a special occasion in his life.

“I believe that I am getting the blessings of Ganga Maiyya (Mother Ganga) and I am very happy to participate in this event. Being a part of a Muslim band in a religious event such as the Mahakumbh is a symbol of unity and goodwill, especially when there are discussions about differences between Hindus and Muslims in the country,” he said.

Bandmasters Naushad and Shamshad of the Great Master Band and Ilu Master of Badi Station Arman Punjabi Bhangra Band also said they were upbeat about the procession.

Head of Akhil Bhartiya Akhada Parishad, the top body of the monastic orders, Mahant Ravindra Puri said Muslim bands were included in the Chavni Pravesh and other processions of the Niranjani Akhada and other monastic orders during the Mahakumbh Mela. He said the contractor who built the mutt of the Parishad in the Mela area was also a Muslim.

Source:hindustantimes.com

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

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/lucknow-news/muslim-bandmasters-lead-akhada-processions-for-amrit-snan-101738612026384.html

---------

Muslim poet composes ghazal on Lord Ram, wins PM Modi's praise

 Feb 4, 2025

A Muslim poet from Bhopal, Anjum Barabankvi, composed a ghazal in praise of Lord Ram, and it has received appreciation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Commending the gesture, PM Modi sent a letter to Barabankvi, expressing his gratitude for the composition.

In his letter, the Prime Minister remarked that efforts by countrymen like him are making the nation proud and will help elevate it to new heights.

“With a sense of pride in our rich heritage, we are moving towards building a grand and developed India in the Amrit Kaal. I am confident that the efforts being made by countrymen like you will take the nation to new heights,” the Prime Minister said.

PM Modi also praised Barabankvi for expressing his devotion to Lord Ram through his ghazal, composed to mark the first anniversary of the Pran-Pratishtha at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

Speaking to India Today, Barabankvi, who is originally from UP's Awadh, said that Lord Ram has had a profound influence on his life since childhood, as the ideals he embodied remain unparalleled--whether as a son, a brother, a husband, a hermit during his 14-year exile, a king, or a father.

“Shri Ram exemplifies the ideal brother, son, and husband--his character sets the standard for what one should admire in a man. That is why every man sees a reflection of himself in him. There is something so compelling about his character that draws you in, making it impossible to speak a word against him,” he said.

When asked about the possibility of opposition from community leaders over writing a ghazal on the Hindu god, Barabankvi said that even if a fatwa were issued against him for composing a ghazal on Shri Ram, it would not affect him.

He asserted that today's climate often leads to backlash when phrases like Vande Mataram are uttered, but he emphasised that he was raised in a way that never made him hesitate to say Vande Mataram. He expressed confidence that the situation would soon change again.

Source:indiatoday.in

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

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/lord-ram-ghazal-muslim-poet-anjum-barabankvi-prime-minister-narendra-modi-response-2674322-2025-02-04

---------

Muslim clerk leads puja prep, keeps tradition alive at Bongaon court

Feb 3, 2025

Kolkata: The Saraswati Puja organised by the Bongaon Lawyers' Clerks Forum turned out to be a symbol of communal harmony at Bongaon court. Mohibul Siddiqui, a member of the forum, took the lead in organizing and personally overseeing all the arrangements for the puja held on Monday.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the celebration. The theme, ‘Bina-te Veena Pani' (Saraswati with the Veena), was brought to life with vibrant colours, brushes, jute threads and jute sticks. Siddiqui himself meticulously crafted the pandal.

While speaking to TOI on Monday, Siddiqui said:"I stand with my brothers and sisters of the Sanatan faith in their worship of the goddess of knowledge. I perform Namaz, observe fasting, and at the same time, I take care of all the arrangements for Saraswati Puja. All other members of our forum entrust everything on me to organise the puja."

He further added: "At various places, puja is being opposed in the name of religion, and conflicts are arising. Those who engage in such acts have not become true human beings. I wish for everyone to become true human beings in this way so that communal peace may prevail." After the worship of Goddess Saraswati, the puja organisers, led by Siddiqui, distributed khichuri bhog prasad to visitors at the puja pandal.

Senior lawyers and other employees of the Bongaon court have also expressed their appreciation for Siddiqui's dedication to organising Saraswati Puja despite being from a different faith.

Source:indiatimes.com

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

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/muslim-clerk-leads-puja-prep-keeps-tradition-alive-at-bongaon-court/articleshow/117894031.cms

---------

Urfi Javed will never marry a Muslim man: Know why she says so 

03 Feb 2025

Urfi Javed, known for her bold fashion choices and unapologetic attitude, has sparked a conversation once again with her candid views on religion and marriage.

The Bigg Boss OTT fame, who is no stranger to controversy, has shared her thoughts on how religion has influenced her life, particularly about not marrying a Muslim guy.

In an old interview, Urfi revealed that she does not believe in Islam as Muslim men want their women to behave in a certain way. They want to control all the women in the community.

She went on to state that she does not believe in Islam due to these very reasons, explaining that the criticism stems from her not conforming to the expectations placed on her as a Muslim woman.

When questioned about interfaith relationships, Urfi made it clear that she would never marry a Muslim man. “I don’t follow any religion, so I don’t care who I fall in love with. We should marry whoever we want to,” she said, firmly standing by her belief in freedom of choice.

Urfi also shared her experiences with religion in her family. She emphasized the importance of personal choice, saying, “My mother is a very religious woman, but she never forced her religion on us. My siblings follow Islam, and I don’t, but they never force it on me. Religion should come from the heart, otherwise, neither you nor Allah would be happy.”

Urfi also revealed that she reads the Bhagavad Gita, expressing an interest in understanding Hinduism more deeply and focusing on its logical aspects.

On the work front, after the success of her reality show Follow Kar Lo Yaar, Urfi was last seen as a mentor in ‘Playground’, a reality web series.

Source:odishatv.in

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

https://odishatv.in/news/entertainment/urfi-javed-will-never-marry-a-muslim-man-know-why-she-says-so-255067#

--------

 

Pakistan

 

Distance between people and military growing, says Imran

Ikram Junaidi

February 4, 2025

ISLAMABAD: For­mer prime minister Imran Khan has written a letter to Chief of Army Staff Syed Asim Munir over what he claims is a growing distance between the military and the public.

“Mr Khan has described the reasons for growing distance and suggested […] steps to address the issue. He has also praised the sacrifices rendered by the armed forces,” Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan revealed while speaking to media persons outside the Adiala jail on Monday.

Barrister Gohar said that Imran Khan, in his letter, had reminded the army chief that as a former prime minister and the founder of the country’s ‘biggest political party’, he wanted to point out “certain things because of which the distance between the people and the establishment is widening”, Dawn.com reported.

Quoting Imran Khan, Mr Gohar said: “This [mistrust] should not take place at all, but there are certain reasons because of which this gulf is widening. Owing to those reasons, the army is being blamed, so the policy reasons must be re-evaluated.”

Imran Khan’s lawyer Faisal Chaudhry quoted the jailed leader as saying, “Army is ours but because of some policies of the establishment, the difference between army and masses is increasing.

“The letter will be shared by the party later and there are six points which have been raised in it,” he said while talking to Dawn.

Earlier, Barrister Gohar had said that the letter would be made public later in the day.

Faisal Chaudhry claimed that the judicial system has collapsed because of the 26th Amendment and all segments of society, including the legal fraternity, have been protesting against it.

When he [Imran Khan] was asked would he meet the powers that be, the party’s founding chairman said it depends on “people who are wearing boots”, said Mr Chaudhry, who appeared in the Toshakhana-II case.

Last month, Barrister Gohar and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur met the army chief in Peshawar. However, it was claimed that the meeting was purely on security-related issues.

“Judges are being appointed to decide cases against the PTI leadership. The Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act amendment has been made due to which internet-based industry, which has already faced a $1.7 billion loss, will further suffer. On the other hand, violations of human rights can affect the GSP Plus status,” he quoted Imran Khan as having said.

The lawyer said that the verdict in the Al-Qadir Trust case and the “rigged” elections were also mentioned in the letter.

It is worth mentioning that Imran Khan also wrote a letter to Chief Justice of Pakistan on Jan 31. The 249-page letter contained details of various issues.

Source:dawn.com

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

https://www.dawn.com/news/1889637/distance-between-people-and-military-growing-says-imran

--------

SC Constitutional Bench urged to speak for rule of law

Nasir Iqbal

February 4, 2025

• Justice Amin says they only have to see whether appeal in military trial case is accepted or rejected

• Counsel says nothing stops CB from rejecting ICAs

ISLAMABAD: Senior counsel Khwaja Ahmad Hosain on Monday urged the Constitutional Bench (CB) to speak for the Constitution and rule of law, reminding the bench that past decisions had let the nation down and caused suffering.

Closing arguments on behalf of former CJP Jawwad S. Khawaja, the counsel said Pakistan was founded by a brilliant lawyer with a firm belief in the constitution and the rule of law.

The seven-judge CB had taken up a set of intra-court appeals (ICAs) against the Oct 23, 2023, five-judge order that had nullified the trial of civilians by military courts in the May 9 violence case.

The counsel said that for the sake of the country’s future the bench should stand by the brave decision of their colleagues (Oct 23 judgement) by dismissing the appeals instituted by the ministries of defence, interior and the federal government.

He argued that there was no precedent which stops the CB from holding the court martial of civilians as unconstitutional and striking down Section 2(1)(d)(i) and (ii) of the Pakistan Army Act (PAA), 1952.

While citing the Brig F.B. Ali case, the counsel said that the judgement was not an authority for the proposition that court martial of civilians was fair. He pointed out that F.B. Ali’s court martial was presided over by Maj Gen Ziaul Haq, who later became a full general and then chief of army staff.

The counsel highlighted that on the passing of the Rowlatt Act 1919, Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah had tendered his resignation from the Central Legislative Assembly. The Rowlatt Act replaced judicial officers with executive officers, permitted speedy trials, allowed trials to take place without a jury and sanctioned internment of suspects without a trial.

The slogan to resist the Rowlatt Act was “no appeal, no vakeel (lawyer), no daleel (argument)”, said the counsel, adding that the same slogan holds true for the court martial of civilians now.

Penalty recalled

Meanwhile, the CB recalled the penalty of Rs20,000 it had earlier imposed on the petitioner seeking deferment of ICA hearings until the validity of the 26th amendment was determined. The bench had rejected the plea by declaring it frivolous and had imposed the Rs20,000 fine.

Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail observed that in the 21st Amendment, political parties were kept out, but said the only question before the bench was that on whom the army act will be applicable.

“God forbid, if there will be a simultaneous attack of terrorism on parliament, the Supreme Court and GHQ, the trial of the attack on parliament and the Supreme Court will be conducted in the Anti-Terrorism Court, whereas the attack on GHQ will be done in the military court, when all these attacks should be tried at the same forum. Why and how is the distinction made,” Justice Mandokhail wondered.

The counsel, however, said that the court should not open such a door that would allow a civilian to be tried in military courts.

“We are not opening any door, rather we only have to see whether the appeal is accepted or rejected,” observed Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan, who heads the CB.

While pointing towards the counsel, Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi observed, was there any difference between those who carried out blasts, those who conspired with anti-national spies, and the ordinary civilians.

The counsel said he was not giving arguments in defence of any terrorist or accused. If court martial of civilians is possible, then the 21st Amendment would not have been necessary, he said.

Justice Rizvi, however, observed that in the 21st Amendment, some crimes were included in the PAA. The counsel, however, said if court martial had been possible by amending PAA, then a constitutional amendment would not have been necessary.

Thus, if court martial is possible, then the court will have to declare that the 21st Amendment was unjustified, he said, adding that Article 175 was also amended in the amendment, besides there was no concept of bail until the verdict in military courts.

At this, Justice Rizvi remarked that speedy trials were conducted in military courts and if the cases were decided in 15 days, then the grant of bail will not matter.

The counsel argued that appeals against military courts do not go to an independent forum and no lawyer of choice was made available.

Advocate Salman Akram Raja, who represented the father of convict Arzam Junaid, argued that all over the world, military trial of a civilian was considered equivalent to destroying the constitution, but Pakistan’s criminal justice system lagged decades behind the world.

There is no question of such trial of civilians in India or Bangladesh since snatching away the civilians’ right was considered to be destruction of the constitutional value system.

He said the F.B Ali case does not say that fundamental constitutional rights do not apply to the provisions of the Army Act. It said the exact opposite and the judgement has not closed the door for examination under fundamental rights.

Source:dawn.com

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

https://www.dawn.com/news/1889627/sc-constitutional-bench-urged-to-speak-for-rule-of-law

---------

Legal fraternity split over judges’ transfer issue

Wajih Ahmad Sheikh

February 4, 2025

LAHORE: A clear division is visible within the legal fraternity on the transfer of judges from three provincial high courts to the Islamabad High Court (IHC), as two major groups in the bar have yet again come up with opposing stances.

A few days ago, three judges from as many different high courts were transferred to the IHC under Article 200 by the president, despite strong opposition by five out of 10 IHC judges and some lawyer bodies, who termed the move an attack on judiciary’s independence.

Bodies dominated by Senator Hamid Khan-led Professional group rejected the government’s move, while those represented by Ahsan Bhoon-led Independents, famously known as the Asma Jahangir group, supported the decision.

The Professional group is widely supported by the Insaf Lawyers’ Forum, the PTI legal wing, whereas the lawyers’ forums of the PPP, PML-N and PML-Q back the Asma Jahangir group.

The stance of both groups on the government’s decision related to the judiciary in particular is usually predetermined due to their political alignments.

“The Punjab Bar Council has fully endorsed President Asif Ali Zardari’s constitutional authority and procedure regarding the transfer of judges in the Islamabad High Court,” said a statement issued by PbBC Vice Chairman Irfan Tarar and Chairman Executive Committee Farooq Dogar.

They said the move was a significant step toward restoring the federal character of the IHC. They stressed that ensuring representation for all regions, including smaller provinces, in the judiciary of the federal capital aligned with the original vision at the time of the court’s establishment.

The PbBC representatives claimed that the weakening of its (IHC) federal role had resulted in a lack of proper provincial representation. They stressed that restoring the federal character of the IHC was essential to maintaining the integrity and inclusivity of Pakistan’s judicial system.

They expressed respect for all the judges transferred to the IHC, saying the inclusion of the judges would significantly improve the timely and fair resolution of cases in the high court.

They warned that any negative remarks or resistance against this decision would undermine the principles of federalism. The council’s leaders urged the legal community to rise above regional biases, welcome the decision, and refrain from engaging in negative propaganda.

‘Transfer is rejected’

However, the Professional group of Hamid Khan differed. At a press conference, the leaders of the group warned that if the rest of the judges of the IHC did not take a stand, their authority and stature would diminish.

The conference was addressed by Lahore High Court Bar Association Presi­dent Asad Manzoor Butt, its former presidents Ishtiaq A. Khan, Shafqat Mehmood Chohan, Rana Zia Abdur Rehman and former vice president Rabbiya Bajwa.

They rejected the transfer of the judges from other provinces to the IHC, demanding that the senior judiciary must take a stand on the issue.

They criticised the decision, alleging that fear led to the transfer of not just one but three judges simultaneously. They also expressed disappointment over what they termed the transfer of “handpicked” judges, arguing that the judiciary must take a clear position on the matter.

Lahore Bar Association President Mubashir Rehman also condemned the transfer of the judges from other provinces to the IHC.

The lawyers belonging to the Professional group also observed a partial boycott of the courts’ proceedings as a part of their protest against the transfer of the judges.

In Islamabad, the Islamabad High Court Bar Association, dominated by the Hamid Khan group, held a convention and strike in connection with the transfer but the response to their call was muted.

Source:dawn.com

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

https://www.dawn.com/news/1889623/legal-fraternity-split-over-judges-transfer-issue

----------

Final 10 days of Ramadan in Karachi 'could be hot'

By Uneeba Zameer Shah

February 03, 2025

KARACHI: Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) Chief Meteorologist Sardar Sarfraz on Monday said Karachi may experience slightly hotter weather during the final 10 days of Ramadan, as heat intensity in the city is forecasted to increase from March 20.

However, the top weatherman forecasted that the first few days of the holy month would likely have mostly good weather. "The days will relatively remain hot, but the sea breezes will make the nights better," he stated.

On the current weather condition, the official forecast that the cold wave might see slight increase on Tuesday and Wednesday nights as mercury could drop to 10-12°C.

Meanwhile, the PMD forecasts cool and dry weather for the next 24 hours with the lowest temperature to plunge to 13-11°C. Whereas, it said, the minimum temperature on Monday was recorded at 13.5°C.

"The winds are blowing at a speed of 7 kilometres from the north, while the humidity was recorded to be 32%," it added.

On the other hand, the Met Office said, the weather in Peshawar was cool, dry and partially cloudy. The mercury fell to 6°C and humidity was recorded at 64% in the metropolis, it added. Moreover, it forecasts cool and dry weather for the plain districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

As per an international website, the air quality index value in Peshawar was recorded at 260.

Simultaneously, the weather forecasting department said the sky remained partly cloudy in Quetta and its adjacent areas.

While it said the weather in Balochistan’s northern districts was extremely cold.

The department forecasts strong winds, light rain and snowfall in Quetta, Ziarat, Pishin, Zhob, Kalat, Mastung and Qila Abdullah. Light rain was expected in Noshki, Chaghi, Gwadar, Turbat and Panjgur as well, it added.

Source:thenews.com.pk

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

https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1279046-final-10-days-of-ramadan-in-karachi-could-be-hot

---------

Sanaullah accuses Imran of attempting to stir discord between military, public

February 04, 2025

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister’s Adviser on Public and Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah has alleged that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan wrote a letter to Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir with the intent of driving a wedge between the military and public and fostering misunderstandings within the armed forces.

Speaking on Geo News’ programme "Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath", Sanaullah questioned the origin of Khan’s letters from jail, asking: “Where are these letters coming from? If he wants to engage in political struggle, he should do so in parliament.”

Khan recently sent a six-point letter to the army chief, his lawyer Faisal Chaudhry revealed while speaking to the media outside Adiala Jail.

The letter’s first point highlights alleged election fraud and the victory of individuals accused of money laundering. The second point concerns the 26th Constitutional Amendment, the rule of law, and judicial independence, while the third references the Al-Qadir Trust case verdict.

Khan also raised concerns over terrorism charges, raids, and the use of force against PTI workers in the fourth point. The fifth point addresses the role of intelligence agencies, while he also asked the army chief to "change policies".

Judges' appointment

Sanaullah also addressed concerns over judicial appointments, questioning whether transferring judges in the Islamabad High Court was unconstitutional.

"Was Article 200 or the 26th Amendment not part of the Constitution? If we start questioning, then even the judges’ letter raises serious concerns,' he remarked.

He further criticised PTI’s stance on the judiciary, recalling that the party had strongly opposed the appointments of Justice Babar Sattar and Justice Tariq Jahangiri.

“Were the chief justice and the judges wrong, and those who wrote the letter right?” he asked.

Three judges — from Sindh, Balochistan, and Lahore — had been transferred to the IHC last week, drawing severe criticism from the legal fraternity.

Justice Sarfraz Dogar from Lahore High Court, Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro from Sindh High Court and Justice Muhammad Asif from Balochistan High Court were among those transferred to the federal territory's court. They have begun their duties as well.

Meanwhile, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi has termed the transfer of judges as a constitutional and positive step, emphasising that more judges from other provinces should also be inducted.

Source:thenews.com.pk

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

https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1279370-imrans-letter-to-coas-aims-to-deepen-army-public-divide-sanaullah

---------

'Imran's transfer from Adiala stalled over his insistence for workers' release'

By Web Desk

February 04, 2025

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan's transfer to Bani Gala, Nathia Gali or the CM House was proposed but was stalled due to former prime minister's insistence on the release of all detained workers before his transfer.

"When I set out for a mission, I burn my boats," said CM Gandapur while talking to journalists in Peshawar.

Regarding the November 24 protest, he revealed that the establishment had warned against staging demonstrations, citing the risk of clashes and damage.

The protests in question refer to the party's "final call" march towards Islamabad — for the release of political prisoners, restoration of democracy, returning people's mandate etc — which ended abruptly after the law enforcement agencies (LEAs) launched a late-night crackdown dispersing the PTI workers and forcing CM Gandapur and Khan's wife Bushra Bibi to flee.

Although the party has alleged that several of its workers were killed due to LEAs' action, the government has time again refuted such claims reiterating that neither any lives were lost nor live rounds were fired.

He said that PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and KP CM's Adviser on Information Barrister Saif were in contact with the establishment about Sangjani and had directly reached out to the PTI founder.

However, Gandapur had turned off his mobile phone at the time.

KP CM Gandapur claimed that the establishment’s message was conveyed to both him and the PTI founder, but he insisted that only the latter could announce any change of plans.

"The PTI founder had instructed us to march towards D-Chowk unless he said otherwise," Gandapur added.

Addressing reports about PTI workers refusing to stay at Sangjani, he clarified that their refusal was not due to Bushra Bibi’s instructions. Instead, he had asked the PTI founder to announce a stay at Sangjani himself, which did not happen, leading them to proceed towards D-Chowk as planned.

The KP CM claimed that as he approached D-Chowk, he found three PTI workers dead and 12 others injured. "We evacuated the wounded, but I couldn't take over 100,000 people where bullets were being fired. They were my responsibility," he said.

Discussing contacts with the establishment, Gandapur revealed that formal communications resumed on October 4 due to his official position, which facilitated dialogues.

He emphasised that a conducive environment was necessary for negotiations, asserting that discussions with the PTI founder should happen face-to-face.

However, he clarified that the PTI founder did not personally request to be relocated, saying, "He refused, saying that any discussion could happen where he currently was."

The CM's statement comes in the backdrop of the now-stalled talks between the PTI and the government, with the former citing the latter's failure to form a judicial commission to probe the May 9 riots and the party's November 2024 protests in Islamabad — two key points of the party's written charter of demands.

Since then, the PTI has warned of agitation against the ruling coalition and has sought permission from the local administration to hold a rally at Minar-e-Pakistan to mark the first anniversary of last year's February 8 polls — which it said would be observed as "Black Day" for alleged rigging in the general elections.

With the former ruling party also set to hold a power show in Swabi on the same day, the former ruling party, it seems, has also reached out to the establishment with PTI founder Khan — who has been behind bars for more than a year — writing a letter to Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir, urging him to change policies.

In his letter, as per lawyer Faisal Chaudhry, the former prime minister also complained of "fraudulent elections" as well as the impact of the 26th Constitutional Amendment on judicial independence and the rule of law coupled with criticism of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca).

The letter came as the PTI's leadership, including Chairman Barrister Gohar and KP CM Gandapur, held a meeting with the army chief earlier this month wherein the party's concerns and priorities were highlighted.

The PTI's attempts to reach out to the establishment can be contrasted with the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry's December 2024 remarks where he categorically said that no political leader's desire for power should be more important than Pakistan's interests.

Source:thenews.com.pk

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

https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1279369-imrans-transfer-from-adiala-jail-stalled-over-his-insistence-for-workers-release

--------

President Zardari to depart for China on five-day official visit today

By Web Desk

February 03, 2025

President Asif Ali Zardari, at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, will undertake a five-day state visit to China from February 4 to 8, 2025.

During the visit, President Zardari would hold meetings with Chinese leadership, including President Xi, Premier Li Qiang and other senior Chinese leaders in Beijing, read a statement issued by the Foreign Office.

The discussions will encompass the full spectrum of Pakistan-China relations, with a particular focus on economic and trade cooperation, counter-terrorism and security collaboration, China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and future connectivity initiatives, said FO spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan.

The spokesperson said that the two sides would also exchange views on the unfolding global and regional geopolitical landscape, and bilateral cooperation at multilateral fora.

“At the special invitation of the Chinese government, the president will also attend the inaugural ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, Heilongjiang province of China,” he added.

The visit underscores the tradition of high-level exchanges between Pakistan and China, reflecting deep commitment of the two countries to strengthen their all-weather strategic cooperative partnership, he added.

It reaffirms mutual support on the issues of core interests, advance economic and trade cooperation including CPEC, and to highlight their joint commitment to regional peace, development and stability, said the FO spokesperson.

Earlier, sources privy to the matter had told The News, that Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti would be part of entourage of President Zardari’s visit to China.

The source further said that developmental projects of Sindh and Balochistan would also be discussed with the Chinese authorities.

It would be first visit of President Zardari to China during this stint.

Source:thenews.com.pk

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

https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1279147-president-zardari-to-depart-for-china-on-five-day-official-visit-tomorrow

---------

Two arrested for BLA slogans on bubblegums in Punjab

February 4, 2025

TOBA TEK SINGH: Two bubblegum factory owners were arrested by Thikriwala, Faisalabad police on Monday for using printed packing labels of their products, showing slogans of the insurgents of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA).

According to the first information report (FIR) registered under Section 505(2) of the PPC, Tahir Muhayuddin and Muhammad Ahmad were using printed labels based on anti-state slogans of the Baloch separatists. Nine sacks and dozens of cartons of bubblegums had also been confiscated.

GANG RAPE: A divorced woman was gang-raped at Chak 216-RB of Faisalabad.

In the FIR registered under Section 375-A of PPC, the complainant woman, a resident of Chak 128/GB, Jaranwala, alleged that a woman had taken her away to the outhouse of suspect on promise of a job where he and his one unidentified accomplice gang-raped her at gunpoint.

Source:dawn.com

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

https://www.dawn.com/news/1889559/two-arrested-for-bla-slogans-on-bubblegums-in-punjab

--------

Lawyer gunned down outside his house in Lahore

February 4, 2025

LAHORE: A lawyer was gunned down by unidentified armed men at his doorstep in Chuhng area here on Monday morning.

The attackers sprayed Advocate Mohammad Naveed with bullets soon after he parked his car outside his Sultan Town house and pressed the doorbell.

Police say the lawyer received three bullets in his head and face area, which left him dead on the spot.

The police suspect it to be target killing, resulting from some old enmity.

Chuhng SHO Nasir Hameed told Dawn that Advocate Naveed was targeted when he returned home after dropping his children to the school.

He said the attackers riding a motorcycle approached the victim by violating one-way traffic and the firing was so sudden that he couldn’t find time to rush for any shelter.

The SHO says that initial inquiries suggest that accomplices of the attackers were already present near the crime scene in a car, who were keeping the killers informed of the victim’s movement.

He said both the motorcyclists and the car occupants left the scene immediately after the attack. The SHO said the policeimmediately responded to an emergency call about the firing, and picketed the area roundup the killers.

He says a separate police team examined the data from private cameras installed in the area and traced the fleeing attackers’ route.

Police experts are trying to track down the attackers with the help of the Punjab Safe Cities Authority cameras as well, he adds.

To a question, the SHO says the police are working on the case mainly from two angles – first, that the deceased had divorced his wife and contracted second marriage, and the other that the lawyer has been receiving threats from some proclaimed offender wanted in a murder case.

The body has been shifted to the city morgue for autopsy, says.

The police registered a murder case against the unidentified killers on the complaint of the deceased’s father Mian Jamil.

Source:dawn.com

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

https://www.dawn.com/news/1889558/lawyer-gunned-down-outside-his-house-in-lahore

---------

 

Mideast

 

Members of Ansar Allah's political Office visit martyr al-Sammad's mausoleum & family

03 Feb 2025

A number of members of the Ansar Allah Political Office visited on Monday the mausoleum of the martyr President Saleh Ali al-Sammad and his comrades in Sabeen Square in Sana'a, as part of the seventh anniversary of his martyrdom.

The visitors laid a wreath of flowers at the martyr's mausoleum and read al-Fatiha for his soul , the souls of his comrades and all the martyrs of the homeland who wrote heroic epics in the face of the US, Saudi and Emirati aggression coalition.

The visitors emphasized that the anniversary of the martyrdom of President Al-Sammad will remain immortalized in the conscience, from which generations will learn the meanings of redemption, sacrifice, independence and steadfastness, pointing to following the path of the martyr Al-Sammad and his renaissance project, which he launched under the title "A hand that protects ... and a hand that builds".

Members of the Ansar Allah Political Office also visited the family of martyr President Saleh al-Sammad today, as part of the anniversary of his martyrdom.

During the visit, Secretary General of the Political Office Fadl Abu Talib said, "We visit the family of martyr President Saleh al-Sammad today on the seventh anniversary of his martyrdom, in appreciation and honor for his heroic roles in confronting the US, Saudi and Emirati aggression and defending Yemen."

"The martyr offered his soul as a sacrifice for the homeland and for the victory of the underdog, and we affirm loyalty to God, His Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) and the revolution leader, Sayyed Abdulmalik Badr al-Din al-Houthi, by following the path of the great martyrs and leaders, including the martyr leader and martyr President al-Sammad," he added.

For his part, Taha Al-Mutawakel, a member of the Ansar Allah Political Office, referred to the national project launched by the martyr President Saleh Al-Sammad under the title "A hand that protects and a hand that builds".

"Today, the construction of the great Yemen in radical change is realized, as well as its protection and empowerment to achieve successes and victories on various tracks and levels," he said.

At the end of the visit, members of the Ansar Allah Political Office honored the family of the martyr President Al-Sammad with the Bureau's shield for his heroic roles and sacrifices in defending Yemen, which was received by his son Fadl Al-Sammad.

Source:saba.ye

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

https://www.saba.ye/en/news3433215.htm

---------

Pezeshkian calls for Muslims help to rebuild ruined Gaza

Feb 3, 2025

The Iranian president made the remarks in a meeting with the visiting Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani in Tehran on Monday.

In the meeting, Pezeshkian reiterated Iran's call on the Islamic nation to unite as the best way to thwart the conspiracies designed against them by the enemies, adding that constant cooperation and coordination in the fields of trade and economy, science and technology, and border issues are among the appropriate grounds for consolidating and strengthening relations between Islamic countries that pave the way for greater cohesion and unity in the Islamic world."

Pezehskian also thanks Iraqi government for their support for the people of Palestine, saying that "When it comes to helping Gaza and Lebanon, we suggest that each Islamic country should provide assistance and help as much as it can afford it for the reconstruction and return of the people of these regions to their normal life, because indifference to the pain and suffering of the Muslim people of Gaza and Lebanon is a breach of our religious and humanitarian duties."

The Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament, for his part, emphasized the Iraqi Parliament's commitment to supporting the government of the country in implementing the agreements reached between the two countries, saying "We also emphasize consolidating and strengthening bilateral, regional and international commonalities and cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran."

Al Mashhadani stressed the need to continue supporting the Resistance Front in the face of the enemies of the Islamic Ummah at the current sensitive time.

During this meeting, members of the Iraqi parliamentary delegation, including the head of the parliamentary friendship group between the two countries, expressed their views and opinions on various fields of cooperation between the two countries.

Source:mehrnews.com

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

https://en.mehrnews.com/news/227870/Pezeshkian-calls-for-Muslims-help-to-rebuild-ruined-Gaza

---------

Youth Minister receives Bahrain Islamic Bank CEO

03 Feb 2025

Manama, Feb. 3 (BNA):  Fatima Musa Al Alawi, Minister of Youth Affairs, received Fatima Moosa Al Alawi, Chief Executive of Bahrain Islamic Bank.

The meeting discussed enhancing cooperation to support and empower Bahraini youth across various sectors.

The meeting also discussed the launch of joint initiatives and programs aimed at developing youth capabilities and entrepreneurial projects.

The minister highlighted Bahrain Islamic Bank as a leading model in youth support, noting its role in equipping young Bahrainis with the necessary skills to enter the labor market.

Source:bna.bh

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

https://www.bna.bh/en/news?cms=q8FmFJgiscL2fwIzON1%2bDlDaTyi8lcT6MxuPJ4%2bu4NM%3d

---------

Science production grows noticeably after Islamic revolution

February 3, 2025

The country ranked second in science production among Islamic nations in 2024, compared with fifth in 1980, Mehr news agency reported.

Forty-six years after the Islamic revolution, the country has made great strides in different stores including science, health, security, economy, industry, and legislation.

A review of Scopus data shows that in the first twenty years following the Islamic revolution, scientific production moved up significantly, rising from 284 articles published in 1980 to 1450 articles in 1999, reaching 8497 articles in 2005. In 2024, Iran published 75,928 scientific articles.

Iran targets world’s 12th spot in science production

Despite ongoing sanctions, Iran is planning to elevate the country’s ranking for scientific productions from currently 17 to 12 by 2027.

Due to sanctions, economic restrictions, and the limitations on publishing papers by Iranian scholars, particularly during the last three years, Iran’s ranking in scientific productions has lowered from 15 to 17, Shahin Akhoundzadeh, an official with the health ministry, has said.

The country’s advancement in science production requires compensating for the regression in research and technology through providing funds, facilitating research, and promoting meritocracy which will reduce young elites’ migration, as well, the health ministry’s website quoted Akhoundzadeh as saying.

Scientific associations grow by 23%

The number of scientific associations as one of the pillars of science in the country has increased from 322 in the Iranian year 1392 (2013 -2014) to 396 last year (ended on March 19), signifying a 22.9 percent growth.

Interdisciplinary and humanitarian associations have experienced the highest growth. Within a decade, the number of interdisciplinary and humanitarian associations has increased from 50 and 102 to 85 and 142, respectively, IRNA reported.

Scientific associations have always played an essential role in producing knowledge and achieving scientific development.

They are the main foundation of institutions beyond political, racial, ethnic, religious, and sexual boundaries.

Scientific associations have emerged in response to the needs of the world of democracy and the enhancement of human solidarity. They have also created an appropriate environment for free thinking and the establishment of a culture of conversations.

Their Independence from governments in finance and human resources, speed of action, high decision-making power, limited bureaucracy, and flexible mechanism bolster their efficiency at national and international levels.

Source:tehrantimes.com

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

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/509365/Science-production-grows-noticeably-after-Islamic-revolution

--------

After Gaza hostage release, Israeli family demand ‘answers’ on wife, sons

February 03, 2025

RAMAT GAN, Israel: Relatives of an Israeli hostage freed in the latest Gaza ceasefire swap made an emotional plea Monday for answers from Israeli authorities on the fate of his wife and sons.

Yarden Bibas, 35, was released by Gaza militants on Saturday, after being held captive in the Palestinian territory for more than 15 months.

Together with his wife Shiri and their two sons Ariel and Kfir, they were all seized by militants during Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel that triggered the war.

Hamas has previously declared that Shiri Bibas and the two children had been killed in an Israeli air strike in November 2023, but Israel has not confirmed their deaths.

“We will no longer accept uncertainty. We demand answers. We demand them back,” Shiri Bibas’s sister, Dana Silberman-Sitton, told reporters at the Sheba hospital in central Israel.

“The state failed to protect them. The state has been failing for almost 16 months to bring them home.”

“It’s the responsibility of the government and the state to Shiri, Ariel and Kfir, to Yarden, to me and our entire family, and to all the citizens of Israel,” she added, her voice breaking.

Gal Hirsch, the government’s hostage coordinator, said on Saturday that “we have been searching for them for a long time” and demanding “information about their condition from the mediators.”

Footage filmed by Hamas militants during their attack showed Shiri Bibas clutching her two red-haired boys outside their home near the Gaza border.

The boys — Kfir, the youngest hostage whose second birthday fell in January, and his five-year-old brother Ariel — have become symbols of the hostages’ ordeal.

During the Hamas attack, militants took 251 hostages, 76 of whom remain in Gaza, including 34 the Israeli military has confirmed are dead.

Shiri Bibas’ parents, Yossi and Margit Silberman, died in a fire in their home in Nir Oz kibbutz, in southern Israel, when it came under attack on October 7, 2023.

Since the first, 42-day phase of Gaza ceasefire began on January 19, militants have so far freed 18 hostages, in four hostage-prisoner swaps.

During the current phase a total of 33 hostages are to be freed in return for some 1,900 Palestinian prisoners.

Source:arabnews.com

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

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2588896/middle-east

---------

Israeli army maneuvers on Lebanese border amid claims of dismantling Hezbollah military structures

NAJIA HOUSSARI

February 03, 2025

BEIRUT: Security authorities at Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport effectively fulfill their responsibilities, caretaker Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi said on Monday.

Mawlawi’s assurance followed his meeting with the Central Security Council.

In response to Israeli claims that Hezbollah was receiving cash through the airport, Mawlawi emphasized that the council had set up new checkpoints to inspect all items entering through the airport.

He stressed that the Lebanese army was fulfilling its duties to control the Lebanese border with the Syrian Arab Republic “despite the challenges” and urged increased cooperation from Syrian authorities.

Syria’s Ministry of Interior announced on Sunday that it had seized shipments of weapons intended for smuggling into Lebanon through land routes in the Talkalakh area of Homs.

On Jan. 26, Syrian security forces reportedly discovered a missile depot at a former regime site in Homs. They also seized a weapon shipment that was “intended for Hezbollah.”

There are six official border crossings between the Syrian Arab Republic and Lebanon and numerous illegal crossings along a 375-km border.

On Monday, the Israeli army said that it was continuing its “defensive operations” in southern Lebanon, under agreements with Lebanon, to maintain the operational gains in the region.

Recently, the Israeli army said it conducted extensive operations to eliminate threats in the region, “dismantle Hezbollah’s infrastructure, and prevent any potential dangers to Israel and its citizens.”

The announcement came a day after Defense Minister Israel Katz toured Israeli military positions in southern Lebanon, where Israeli forces continue to violate the ceasefire agreement.

The ceasefire between the Israeli army and Hezbollah was extended at Israel’s request through US mediation until Feb. 18.

Israel is exerting pressure on Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah and eliminate its military presence south of the Litani line. Israeli threats to disarm Hezbollah extend beyond this region to areas north of the Litani and even to the Lebanese border with Syria.

Since the ceasefire began, Israeli airstrikes have repeatedly targeted vehicles transporting weapons and ammunition, as well as storage facilities for stockpiling arms.

In its statement, the Israeli army clarified that during a survey operation in the border area, troops from the 769th Brigade discovered weapons storage facilities. These facilities contained mortar shells, rockets, explosives, firearms, and a significant amount of military equipment. All the weapons were confiscated, and the storage sites were dismantled.

The statement indicated that Israeli soldiers “eliminated several Hezbollah members in the area and apprehended suspects who posed a threat to Israeli forces.”

The Israeli army announced it was conducting a military exercise on Monday in the Upper Galilee region, which has remained in a state of tension following months of military operations against Hezbollah.

The Israeli army issued a warning against civilian entry into areas expected to see “increased military activity.”

Israeli media reports indicate that residents of northern settlements in Israel have begun repairing their homes after damage caused by “fire from Hezbollah.”

The Israeli military has withdrawn from the western region of southern Lebanon and from certain villages in the central area while still maintaining its presence in other towns.

At the same time, it is engaged in bulldozing and demolition activities in the eastern sector, where it has not retreated from any villages.

It seems likely that the military will continue to occupy strategic positions in southern Lebanon.

Former MP Mustafa Alloush stated that Israel’s release of information about the significance of maintaining control over strategic heights and five key points overlooking the southern territories, as well as a substantial portion of occupied Palestine, was quite plausible.

He stated that Hezbollah was giving Israel reasons to justify its actions, evident both in the deployment of drones and in the group’s insistence on maintaining resistance without disarming.

Additionally, remarks from Hezbollah’s leadership, including statements made by its secretary-general, ministers, and MPs, emphasized that the resistance was regaining its strength and readiness.

Alloush claimed that Israel was leveraging this situation to conduct its daily airstrikes, which have targeted areas from Nabatieh and the Bekaa to northern Lebanon.

The Israeli army still holds El-Hamames Hill, located at the southwestern entrance to the town of Khiam.

This strategic hill overlooks the entire town of Khiam and the Hasbaya region, all the way to Ebel Al-Saqi.

It also holds the strategic Awida Hill, between Adaisseh and Taybeh, in the Marjeyoun district.

It overlooks the entire western sector up to Tyre and the whole central sector up to the Litani River and the western Bekaa from the direction of Jezzine.

The Israeli army also holds the hill of Khallet Wardeh, a strategic point located southwest of the town of Aita Al-Shaab in the Bint Jbeil district and overlooking the southern coast from Tyre to Naqoura and the western sector up to Tayr Harfa and Al-Jbein.

Israeli forces are still penetrating the strategic Shebaa and Kfar Shuba hills, which overlook the entire Arqoub region and the western Bekaa to the north, Hasbaya and Marjeyoun to the west, and Mount Hermon and Syrian lands to the west.

Source:arabnews.com

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

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2588893/middle-east

---------

Syrian president says elections could take up to five years

February 03, 2025

DAMASCUS: Syrian Arab Republic President Ahmed Al-Sharaa said Monday that organizing elections could take up to five years, the week after he was appointed interim president and less than two months after ousting Bashar Assad.

“My estimate is that the period of time will be approximately between four and five years until the elections,” Sharaa said in a pre-recorded interview broadcast on a private Syrian television channel.

In late December, he told Al Arabiya TV the election process could take four years.

The infrastructure for the vote “needs to be re-established, and this takes time,” Sharaa added on Monday.

He also promised “a law regulating political parties,” adding that Syria would be “a republic with a parliament and an executive government.”

Military commanders last Wednesday appointed Sharaa interim president, after opposition factions toppled Assad on December 8, ending more than five decades of the family’s iron-fisted rule.

Sharaa’s appointment has been welcomed by key regional players Egypt, Qatar, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia.

Sharaa was also tasked with forming an interim legislature, and the Assad-era parliament was dissolved, along with the Baath party, which ruled Syria for decades.

Syria’s constitution was also repealed, and the Assad-era army and security forces were dissolved, as were armed groups, including Sharaa’s Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham.

A transitional government has been installed to steer Syria until March 1.

Source:arabnews.com

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

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2588889/middle-east

---------

Russia tells Hamas to ‘keep promises’ on hostage release

February 03, 2025

MOSCOW: A deputy Russian foreign minister met Monday with a senior Hamas official in Moscow and urged Hamas to keep “promises” to release a Russian hostage, the ministry said.

Mikhail Bogdanov, who is also President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy on the Middle East, met with Musa Abu Marzuk, a senior member of Hamas’s political bureau.

Russia has called for the release of dual Russian-Israeli citizen Alexander Trufanov and Maxim Herkin, an Israeli man from the Donbas area of Ukraine with Russian relatives.

At their talks, Bogdanov “again placed particular stress on the necessity of carrying out the promises given by Hamas’s leadership on releasing from imprisonment Russian citizen Trufanov and other hostages,” the ministry said.

Trufanov, known as Sasha, was abducted on October 7, 2023, with his girlfriend, Sapir Cohen, from the Nir Oz kibbutz near the Gaza border.

His father was killed in the attack and his mother and grandmother were abducted and released in November 2023. The family had emigrated to Israel from Russia in the late 1990s.

Islamic Jihad, a militant group allied with Hamas, published undated clips of Trufanov in November 2024.

Herkin emigrated to Israel from Ukraine with his mother and was taken from the Supernova rave music festival.

Marzuk told Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency Monday that “Trufanov will definitely be released in the near future. He will be released despite the fact that he is a soldier but the decision was taken to release him in the first stage of the deal.”

“That is our answering gesture to Russia’s position on the Palestinian question,” Marzuk was quoted as saying in translated comments.

Talks on releasing Herkin will be held at a “second stage,” he added.

The Russian ministry said the two also discussed “the progress of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, with the stress on the importance of increasing humanitarian aid to the suffering Palestinian population.”

Source:arabnews.com

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

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2588888/middle-east

-------

Emir of Kuwait receives BlackRock CEO

February 03, 2025

LONDON: Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the emir of Kuwait, received Larry Fink, chairman and CEO of BlackRock, in the presence of Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah.

Fink and his accompanying delegation were received at Bayan Palace on Monday, the Kuwait News Agency reported.

During the meeting, Sheikh Meshal highlighted the importance of fostering investment in Kuwait and enhancing cooperation with foreign companies.

He highlighted the significance of attracting capital to support the national economy and create job opportunities for youth to advance the country’s development.

Fink, the CEO of the US-based multinational investment company established in 1988, highlighted the importance of enhancing collaboration with Kuwait and supporting the country’s Vision 2035.

Minister of Finance Noora Al-Fassam and the Director-General of the Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority Sheikh Meshaal Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah attended the meeting.

Source:arabnews.com

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

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2588873/middle-east

----------

 

Arab World

 

Riyadh to host second Human Capability Initiative Conference in April

February 03, 2025

RIYADH: Under the patronage of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Riyadh will host the second Human Capability Initiative Conference on April 13–14 under the theme “Beyond Readiness.”

In collaboration with the conference, the Ministry of Education will hold the Education Global Exhibition from April 13–16.

The themes of the event focus on learning, belonging, and action, addressing the critical need to develop human potential in an era of unprecedented global change.

Minister of Education Yousef Al-Benyan said: “The convening of the second edition of Human Capability Initiative is an affirmation of the importance of harnessing efforts and enriching global dialogue in a way that contributes to the development of the future of human capabilities.”

Expanding on the Education Global Exhibition, Al-Benyan added: “The exhibition will provide opportunities for local and international universities and leading companies to explore cutting-edge technologies, practices, and innovative educational programs, including advancements in artificial intelligence, thereby creating new investment opportunities to achieve the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.”

The conference will bring together over 12,000 experts, officials, and decision-makers and feature more than 300 speakers from governmental, private, and nonprofit sectors, global think tanks, and international organizations. They will share insights, best practices, and inspiring success stories from around the world.

Meanwhile, the Education Global Exhibition will showcase leading local and international universities and institutions, highlighting the latest technological advances and innovative programs shaping national and global education systems.

It will also feature workshops aimed at fostering knowledge exchange, sharing success stories among participants, and facilitating the signing of strategic agreements with prominent global educational institutions.

Source:arabnews.com

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

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2588872/saudi-arabia

----------

Deputy minister meets ambassador of India to Saudi Arabia

February 03, 2025

RIYADH: Saudi Deputy Minister of Finance for International Relations Khalid Bawazier recently met with Ambassador of India to the Kingdom Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan in Riyadh.

During the meeting, they discussed bilateral relations and other issues of common interest, the Indian Embassy wrote in a post on X on Monday.

Meanwhile, Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Jalawi, the governor of Jeddah, held cordial discussions with Consul General of India in Jeddah Fahad Ahmed Khan Suri on Monday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Source:arabnews.com

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

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2588887/saudi-arabia

---------

Saudi project clears 732 Houthi mines in Yemen

February 03, 2025

RIYADH: Members of Saudi Arabia’s Project Masam removed 732 explosive devices from various regions of Yemen last week.

The total included 11 anti-personnel mines, 31 anti-tank mines, 685 unexploded ordnances and five explosive devices, according to a recent report.

Ousama Al-Gosaibi, the initiative’s managing director, said a total of 480,526 mines had been cleared since its inception in 2018.

The explosives were planted indiscriminately and posed a threat to civilians, including children, women and the elderly.

The demining operations took place in Marib, Aden, Jouf, Shabwa, Taiz, Hodeidah, Lahij, Sanaa, Al-Bayda, Al-Dhale and Saada.

The initiative trains local demining engineers and provides them with modern equipment. It also offers support to Yemenis injured by the devices.

Teams are tasked with clearing villages, roads and schools to facilitate safe movement for civilians and the delivery of humanitarian aid.

Source:arabnews.com

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

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2588847/saudi-arabia

---------

‘Attractive’ Red Sea sites for solar, wind energy storage found

February 04, 2025

RIYADH: Scientists at a top Saudi Arabia university have identified several locations across the Kingdom that would be ideal for the storage of solar and wind energy, which would ultimately benefit water management and food security, the institution stated on Monday.

The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology study identified 10 sites but said two Red Sea ones were the most feasible after several scientific and economic factors were taken into account.

The two “attractive” locations require an investment of around $16.5 billion but more research is needed to evaluate their feasibility.

This is according to the study titled “The potential role of seasonal pumped hydropower storage in decarbonizing the power sector in Saudi Arabia.”

The study conducted by Yoshihide Wada, Julian Hunt and colleagues is already available on the website of the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews journal.

The researchers stated that the storage sites could “potentially contribute to the decarbonization of the power sector in Saudi Arabia and the balancing of the electricity grid as part of a full suite of energy storage options.”

The scientists looked at the potential for seasonal hydro storage of desalinated water and the role it can play in meeting the high summer electricity and water demand in the Kingdom.

“The Kingdom is rich in solar and wind power potential. We are interested in determining how transitioning to these two renewable energy sources can benefit water management in the Kingdom,” said Wada.

As a part of the wide-ranging Saudi Vision 2030 plan, the Kingdom plans to source at least 50 percent of its electricity from renewables by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2060, in an effort to reduce its carbon footprint and promote sustainable development.

To reach that goal there would need to be a considerable change in the power industry, KAUST stated. The sector was responsible for “around half of the carbon dioxide emissions by the Kingdom in 2022.”

Renewable energy is a part of Saudi Arabia’s long-term sustainability vision, but storing the resource for times of high need still remains a challenge.

“Electricity consumption almost doubles in some years from the winter to summer months, which gives tremendous value for infrastructure that can keep energy stored in the cooler months from solar and wind and use the energy to generate electricity in the hotter months,” the release said.

There have been investments in battery storage solutions, but these can only store energy over daily cycles.

“For longer, seasonal cycles, seasonal pumped hydropower storage is under consideration. Here, desalinated water can be stored in reservoirs in high mountains and released upon demand to generate power and supply water.”

But with each seasonal pumped hydropower storage site costing around $10 billion, finding the most appropriate locations for construction is crucial.

Factors such as evaporation of the stored water, the salinity of the water, and the feasibility of building solar or wind plants nearby, were studied by the scientists.

“These storage sites have extraordinary upfront investments, so their value must be estimated as accurately as possible. Our study incorporates water management into the design, giving a more holistic estimate on how large-scale projects support the adoption of renewables in Saudi Arabia,” said Hunt.

Source:arabnews.com

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

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2588914/saudi-arabia

---------

Kazakhstan envoy on strengthening Saudi ties in politics, trade, food security

LAMA ALHAMAWI

February 03, 2025

RIYADH: Kazakhstan’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Madiyar Menilbekov, has said his mission will be dedicated to furthering Saudi-Kazakh ties in politics, trade, culture, tourism and agriculture.

“As ambassador extraordinaire of the country of Kazakhstan to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, I received instructions from our president to develop bilateral relations, first on the political side,” Menilbekov told Arab News.

“Thanks to our very strong relations in the political field, we had organized a working visit of our president to Riyadh in December of last year,” he added. The trip was President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s official visit to Riyadh, during which he participated in the One Water Summit.

The ambassador said his secondary focus would be trade.

“I’m focusing on the development and the strengthening of trade and economic relations and, of course, the implementation of investment projects,” he said, adding he was working closely with the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce. This year, two missions will be organized with entities from both countries paying a visit.

Menilbekov explained the Saudi delegation would make the trip in the first quarter of 2025, with the Kazakhstan delegation visiting the Kingdom at a later stage.

Speaking about tourism, the envy said he hoped to enhance relations in this sector, pointing out the number of Saudi and Kazakh tourists was increasing annually.

“Before, it was a visit for pilgrims to Jeddah and Madinah, but last year and in 2023, I found a number of Kazakh tourists who are visiting Riyadh in big numbers, as well as AlUla and Madinah,” said Menilbekov.

The ambassador said around 7,000 Saudis visited Kazakhstan each year, with more than 20,000 Kazakhs making the opposite journey.

“Kazakh people love sports and events in Riyadh during Riyadh Season and other activities also,” he said, extending an invitation to all Saudis to visit Kazakhstan, whose key features include nature, mountains and historic cities.

Asked where immediate results of cooperation between the two countries could be seen, the ambassador pointed to renewable energy and food security/agriculture.

He cited cooperation with ACWA Power Co. to implement a common investment project in Kazakhstan with a 1 gigawatt wind power capacity.

On the topic of agriculture, the ambassador said Kazakhstan had plans to start investment projects with Saudi companies: “Taking into account the importance of food security in the near future, I think we can implement and start joint investment projects in agriculture. We want the situation to be win-win — one project in Kazakhstan and one project in Saudi Arabia.”

During the interview, the ambassador applauded the Kingdom for holding high-caliber summits and forums such as the Future Minerals Forum, the FII and LEAP Forum that brought world leaders and influential figures together in one hub.

It presented “a big opportunity to gather all decision-makers and all shareholders of this industry in one place,” he said.

During the recent Future Minerals Forum, he said, the Kazakhstan minister of industry met a lot of Western and US companies in Riyadh and said he could find other gatherings to meet such people.

“That’s why Riyadh is providing a good platform and good opportunity to meet other people,” Menilbekov added.

The envoy reflected on his arrival in the Kingdom as an ambassador in May 2024 and how impressed he had been with both the country and its Vision 2030 initiatives.

“My first impression was very positive; it was very nice. I have known Saudi Arabia for a long time; it is a very rich country in culture, heritage, and religion, and also the biggest economy in the Arab world,” he said.

Menilbekov first visited the Kingdom in 2003, during a trip to Umrah. He returned in 2012, accompanying Kazakhstan Minister of Foreign Affairs Yerzhan Kazykhanov to Riyadh, and in 2017 when he was consul general in Dubai and attended the first Arab, Islamic and US summit. He has also visited various provinces and cities, including Jeddah, Makkah, Madinah, Dammam and Tabuk.

“There are huge reforms and big changes in Saudi Vision 2030, big changes in economic social life, in tourism, in sport,” he said.

“Saudi is fast-growing and implementing all tasks in Saudi Vision 2030, and (it is a) big achievement to host Expo 2030 and (the 2034) World Cup.”

Source:arabnews.com

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

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2588886/saudi-arabia

---------

Saudi crown prince receives Germany’s president in Riyadh

February 03, 2025

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received Germany’s President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh on Monday.

The two leaders held an official session of talks after the crown prince hosted a reception ceremony in honor of the president.

Prince Mohammed and Steinmeier discussed relations between their countries and ways to support and enhance them, Saudi Press Agency reported.

Regional and international developments and efforts made with regard to them were also discussed.

Steinmeier arrived in the Kingdom on Sunday evening.

Source:arabnews.com

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

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2588869/saudi-arabia

--------

Makkah trials hydrogen-powered buses to promote clean energy, sustainability

February 03, 2025

RIYADH: The second trial of a hydrogen fuel cell-powered bus has been launched in Makkah.

It is overseen by the Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites, in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy, the Transport General Authority, the General Directorate of Civil Defense and the General Department of Traffic.

The scheme is part of a memorandum of understanding between the commission and the ministry to implement a pilot project for hydrogen fuel cell buses on designated routes, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

It aims to explore hydrogen applications in transportation, gain commercial and technical expertise, and gather insights for potential future expansion. It also seeks to raise public awareness of hydrogen technology.

Through the initiative, the commission aims to introduce clean energy-based transportation solutions, enhancing quality of life in alignment with Vision 2030’s goals to reduce emissions and protect the environment.

The project also seeks to improve services for pilgrims and Umrah performers, enhancing their experience at the holy sites, the SPA reported.

The hydrogen bus trial is integrated into the Makkah Bus Project, with an operational plan ensuring security and safety. This includes running buses along the designated route and deploying a mobile hydrogen fueling station.

An evaluation of the trial will focus on efficiency, performance, operational sustainability, cost-effectiveness and passenger comfort, ensuring Makkah’s public transportation system evolves into a more sustainable service.

Source:arabnews.com

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

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2588866/saudi-arabia

---------

Interim president of Syrian Arab Republic visits SDAIA headquarters

February 03, 2025

RIYADH: Ahmad Al-Sharaa, the interim president of the Syrian Arab Republic, has visited the headquarters of the Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence in Riyadh, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.

Al-Sharaa was received upon his arrival by the Minister of State Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban; the Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah Alswaha; Majed Al-Mazyed, the governor of the National Cyber Security Authority; and Suhail Abanmi, the governor of the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority.

Al-Sharaa toured SDAIA’s facilities, led by the President of the SDAIA Abdullah bin Sharaf Alghamdi.

Alghamdi highlighted the technological advancements and efforts made by Saudi Arabia, in accordance with Vision 2030, to make the Kingdom a global center for artificial intelligence technologies.

He also spoke about the Kingdom’s efforts to optimize data usage, including the Tawakkalna application that provides a unified platform for government services.

The National Cybersecurity Authority and the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority also delivered presentations.

Established in 2019 by royal decree, the SDAIA is an independent government agency that focuses on AI and big data.

On his first visit to the Kingdom since taking office, Al-Sharaa met Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Sunday and the parties discussed ways to support the security and stability of the Syrian Arab Republic.

They also discussed ways to improve diplomatic relations between the two countries, and reviewed developments in the region more broadly.

The leader of the Syrian Arab Republic then traveled to Jeddah on Monday before heading to Makkah to perform Umrah.

The Saudi Press Agency shared photographs of Al-Sharaa wearing Ihram clothing, garments worn by Muslims during pilgrimage.

Source:arabnews.com

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

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2588858/saudi-arabia

----------

Japan, Saudi Arabia FMs hold second strategic meeting in Tokyo

ARAB NEWS JAPAN

February 03, 2025

TOKYO: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on Monday said Osaka Expo 2025 was an “important opportunity” to strengthen collaboration between Japan and the Kingdom.

At the second Japan-Saudi Arabia Foreign Ministerial Level Strategic Dialogue meeting in Tokyo, Prince Faisal met with his Japanese counterpart Takeshi Iwaya.

The two officials discussed collaboration and “working together for a better future.”

Prince Faisal also emphasized that this year marks the 70th anniversary of the two nations’ diplomatic relations.

The two officials signed a memorandum of understanding on the strategic partnership, and visa waivers for the two countries’ diplomats and officials.

Iwaya said he was looking forward to further collaboration between the two nations’ private and public sectors.

Japan wants to work with Saudi Arabia to help achieve peace and stability in the Middle East, added Iwaya.

Source:arabnews.com

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

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2588857/saudi-arabia

---------

HR ministry revises wage protection rule

February 03, 2025

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has reduced the wage protection file upload period on the Mudad platform from 60 to 30 days, effective March 1.

Previously, establishments could upload files in a two month period, but they must now submit them within one month to ensure accuracy and compliance with wage agreements and payment timelines, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.

The ministry made this change after a study found that 91 percent of establishments already upload wage files within 30 days.

The goal is to enhance compliance, ensure timely wage payments, and strengthen trust in the work environment, the SPA reported.

Establishments are urged to upload wage files on time and review Payroll Management System details to meet program requirements, support labor market stability, and protect workers’ rights.

Source:arabnews.com

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

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2588846/saudi-arabia

---------

 

Europe

 

EU state assists citizens eyeing mercenary roles in Ukraine

3 Feb, 2025

The Finnish foreign ministry has published official guidelines for its citizens who want to fight for Ukraine as mercenaries. An information page that appeared on the ministry’s website on Monday contains a broad range of recommendations covering anything from practical steps before moving to Ukraine, through to payment, compensations and “declaring death in Finland.”

“Volunteering in the Ukrainian Armed Forces is not a crime in Finland,” the information page states, adding however that the foreign ministry “does not recommend or promote volunteering.” Diplomats will provide assistance to Finnish nationals fighting for Kiev “in accordance with the Consular Services Act, when possible,” the page specifies.

The word “mercenary” is not used in the text, but would-be foreign fighters are referred to as “volunteers.”

A warning that the “possibilities for providing consular assistance in Ukraine are very limited” and would-be foreign fighters would have to resolve issues through Ukrainian, not Finnish authorities, is also included.

“The service contract is a private law contract and is subject to Ukrainian law,” the guidelines state, adding that the Finnish foreign ministry “cannot assist in concluding or withdrawing from contracts.” According to the information page, payments, compensations and medical treatment in case of a combat injury should also be provided by the Ukrainian side.

Back in December, Finnish diplomats told media in Helsinki that some 100 citizens had travelled to Ukraine since February 2022. Around 10 of them have been confirmed dead or are missing in action, according to the head of the consular services department at the foreign ministry.

Kiev has been actively attracting foreigners to join its forces as mercenaries since the start of the hostilities with Russia. Last month, Ukraine’s notorious neo-Nazi Azov unit announced it was seeking English-speaking fighters to form an international battalion, according to the Guardian.

The Ukrainian military has been struggling to replenish its ranks between heavy losses and a mobilization campaign fraught with massive draft dodging and desertions. According to a recent report, up to 1,700 members of a brigade trained in France have fled without firing a shot.

Moscow has repeatedly warned that all foreign nationals fighting with the Ukrainian military are legitimate military targets. The Russian Investigative Committee also said last September that it had concluded investigations against 785 such foreign mercenaries, including over suspected war crimes. In December, one such case was launched against Brazilian national Lucas Ribeiro de Jesus, who was accused of engaging in terrorist activities and torturing POWs in Russia’s Kursk Region.

Source:rt.com

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

https://www.rt.com/news/612122-eu-state-guidelines-mercenaries-ukraine/

---------

EU’s top diplomat warns against trade war

3 Feb, 2025

A trade war between the US and EU would be detrimental to both sides, the bloc’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has warned, suggesting that only China would ultimately benefit from such an outcome. 

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly accused the EU of unfair trade practices. After announcing sweeping tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China last week, he indicated on Sunday that the same will “definitely happen with the EU,” claiming that the bloc has “really taken advantage” of the US.

Speaking ahead of an informal gathering of EU leaders in Brussels on Monday, Kallas responded to Trump’s warnings by stating that a trade war would not be beneficial to either side.

“There are no winners in trade wars,” Kallas stressed, pointing out that the US and the EU are “very interlinked” and need each other. She warned that imposing tariffs would increase costs, which would not be good for the people. “If the United States starts the trade war, then the one laughing on the side is China,” she added.

Other European leaders have echoed Kallas’ concerns. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for diplomatic engagement, stating that while the EU could “react to tariff policies,” cooperation should be prioritized. 

French officials have also warned that escalating tariffs could lead to a cycle of retaliatory measures. French central bank governor Francois Villeroy de Galhau stated that “everybody loses in this kind of protectionist trade war.”

Trump has pointed out that the EU consistently exports significantly more goods to the US than it imports. “They don’t take our cars, they don’t take our farm products. They take almost nothing and we take everything from them,” he said. He acknowledged that there will be “some pain” for Americans if tariffs are imposed, but stressed that it would all be “worth the price.”

Following Trump’s inauguration last month, a number of EU leaders, such as Germany’s Scholz and France’s Emmanuel Macron called on the bloc to unite in the face of the Republican’s return to office, expressing concern about his “America First” approach to foreign policy.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested that EU officials will nevertheless soon “stand at the master’s feet and gently wag their tails,” claiming that they had previously spent years “happily” carrying out any orders from Washington under the administration of former President Joe Biden and would soon fall into line.

Source:rt.com

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

https://www.rt.com/news/612120-eu-us-tariff-war/

----------

Fresco reveals Islamic tent in Medieval Christian worship

February 3, 2025

By:Mark Milligan

A 13th-century fresco in Ferrara, Italy, provides a rare example of medieval churches using Islamic tents to veil high altars.

The fresco was identified by Cambridge historian Dr Federica Gigante at the Monastery of Sant’Antonio in Polesine, a Catholic monastic complex of the Order of Saint Benedict nuns.

The fresco, painted between the late 13th and early 14th centuries, portrays a richly decorated canopy with blue and gold drapery, topped by a bejewelled conical tent. While Islamic textiles in medieval European churches are well-documented, images of Islamic tents are extremely rare.

Dr. Gigante’s research suggests that the fresco likely depicts a real, now-lost tent, adapted as a tetravela (altar curtain), used to conceal the altar during religious rituals. It is possible that the tent was a diplomatic gift from a Muslim ruler or a war trophy, that Pope Innocent IV likely gave to the monastery during the mid-13th century.

According to Dr. Gigante, the apse walls, embedded with nails and brackets, may have once supported a hanging textile. The fresco’s intricate details with golden eight-pointed stars, pseudo-Arabic inscriptions, and a striking resemblance to Andalusi tent designs, further suggest it was modelled after an actual Islamic tent.

In the 13th century, Islamic tents were prized diplomatic gifts and sought-after spoils of war. Some were sent to European rulers, including a captured Almohad tent gifted to Pope Innocent III in 1212.

“Islamic textiles were associated with the Holy Land from where pilgrims and crusaders brought back the most precious such Islamic textiles,” Gigante said. “They thought there existed artistic continuity from the time of Christ so their use in a Christian context was more than justified. Christians in medieval Europe admired Islamic art without fully realising it.”

Source:heritagedaily.com

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

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2025/02/fresco-reveals-islamic-tent-in-medieval-christian-worship/154453

---------

Stretford man in court after copy of Koran burned in Manchester

3rd February

A man was due to appear in court after a copy of the Koran was burned in Manchester and livestreamed.

Martin Frost, 47, has been charged with using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress in the city on Saturday afternoon.

He is also accused of a second offence of racially or religiously aggravated intentional harassment or alarm to Fahad Iqbal, by displaying some writing, sign or other visible representation which was threatening, abusive or insulting thereby causing that or another person harassment, alarm or distress and the offence was religiously aggravated.

Frost, of Barkway Road, Stretford, was due to appear at Manchester Magistrates’ Court today (Monday, February 3) after being held in custody since Saturday.

The burning of the Islamic holy book was advertised online beforehand and streamed on social media.

Footage of the incident from X, formerly Twitter, showed the book being burned and a suspect being arrested by police near to The Glade of Light, the memorial to the 22 people murdered in the Manchester Arena bombing.

After the incident, Assistant Chief Constable Stephanie Parker of Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said: “We understand the deep concern this will cause within some of our diverse communities and are aware of a live video circulating.

“We made a swift arrest at the time and recognise the right people have for freedom of expression, but when this crosses into intimidation to cause harm or distress we will always look to take action when it is reported to us.”

Source:messengernewspapers.co.uk

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

https://www.messengernewspapers.co.uk/news/24906052.stretford-man-court-copy-koran-burned-manchester/

---------

Plans for new mosque in Blackburn submitted to council

3rd February

A second attempt to provide a mosque for an East Lancashire town's Kurdish community has been made.

In January 2024, a proposal to convert a terraced house in Harrison Street, Blackburn, was rejected by Blackburn with Darwen Council on grounds of disturbance to neighbours, parking and highway safety.

Now a new planning application has gone in to turn a vacant two-storey late Victorian villa in Preston New Road in the Corporation Park Conservation Area into a place of worship and Islamic education centre.

The application from the committee secretary of the Kurdish Community Centre wants to reuse the former office building as a mosque and religious hub for around 20 worshippers.

The Kurdish community hails from an area covering sections of present-day northern Iran, Iraq and Syria, and south-eastern Turkey.

A supporting statement from the Urban Future Planning Consultancy says: "The application site comprises a two-storey late Victorian villa, designed in the Gothic revival style, positioned to the eastern side of Preston New Road, Blackburn.

"The property lies within the designated Corporation Park Conservation Area and comprises of red brick, slate roof and has a gabled front elevation with a curved bay window.

"The site is currently vacant but has previously been in use as offices and as an NHS dentist.

"Consent is sought for the change of use from a vacant former dentist to an educational centre and place of worship.

"The building would comprise a prayer facility for worship with classrooms for the madrassa/after-school learning element.

"The ground floor worshipping element will also include other ancillary elements including hygienic ablution facilities.

"The proposal provides the opportunity for the direction of prayer to face the Qibla.

"The first floor would feature three small classrooms for after-school madrassa classes.

"There are very limited changes proposed to the building’s exterior.

"The applicant is looking to meet the needs of the area’s growing Muslim resident community.

"Within Blackburn with Darwen, the proportion of Muslim population is the third highest among all local authorities in the UK and the highest outside London.

"The worship/small madrassa element is not considered to be unduly noisy and there are many examples within the borough and beyond where such facilities exist adjacent to residential properties.

"Community facilities such as churches, mosques, village halls etc are purposefully located within residential settings to serve the local community and the applicant confirms that most of the congregation reside in the surrounding residential streets and attend the site on foot.

"Average daily attendance for prayers would be around 20.

"No external call to prayer system or amplifying equipment would feature within the proposed scheme."

Source:lancashiretelegraph.co.uk

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

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/24904774.blackburn-kurdish-community-submit-new-mosque-plan-council/

--------

French filmmaker found guilty of abusing child actor Adèle Haenel

3rd February

A French film director has been found guilty of sexually assaulting actor Adèle Haenel when she was underage.

Christophe Ruggia, 60, was given a four-year sentence, two of which were suspended. He will spend two years under house arrest, when he will also have to wear an electronic bracelet.

In addition to the sentence, Ruggia has been ordered to pay €15,000 (£12,500) to Haenel in compensation, as well as €20,000 for the years of psychological therapy she had as a result of the abuse.

The court president said Ruggia had "taken advantage" of his influence over Haenel, who was aged between 12 and 15 at the time of the assaults.

Ruggia's lawyer Fanny Collin said he would appeal the sentence.

Haenel, now 35, was applauded by women's rights activists as she left the courtroom in Paris, as had been the case during the earlier phases of the trial.

Reporters in court on Monday said she appeared nervous before the verdict but showed no reaction as Ruggia's sentencing was read out.

Haenel alleged that Ruggia started molesting her during the shoot of his 2002 film Les Diables (The Devils), when she was 12, which he denied.

The film is an incestuous tale of a relationship between a boy and his autistic sister, and features sex scenes involving the children including close-ups of Haenel's naked body.

Before the trial, investigators had spoken to members of the film's crew who told them of their unease at Ruggia's behaviour on set.

A summary of the charges quoted by French media says Ruggia and Haenel continued to see each other every Saturday after the shooting of the film wrapped up, "under the guise of film lessons" during which Ruggia would allegedly touch her sexually and put his hands in her underwear.

During interviews with French media, Haenel also said she was controlled and manipulated by Ruggia when she was a child and that nobody protected her when she was "asked to do things in the name of art".

In court late last year, Ruggia denied the accusations, arguing that he had merely tried to "protect" Haenel during the early days of her fame.

Investigators had also said they had found notes on Ruggia's computer in which he wrote about 12-year-old Haenel's "overflowing sensuality".

Ruggia said Haenel had been "radicalised" and that he thought he was a lightning rod for France's #MeToo movement.

His comments eventually led Haenel to shout at him to "shut up" before storming out in the middle of the trial last December.

Haenel starred in the acclaimed 2019 film Portrait of a Lady on Fire.

The same year, she gave a lengthy and emotional interview to French outlet Mediapart in which she detailed what she called the "sexual harassment" she suffered at Ruggia's hands.

She said she had decided to speak out about her alleged abuse after watching the documentary Leaving Neverland, which explored the singer Michael Jackson's relationships with children.

"It made me see I had clung for too long to the version of Ruggia, that it had all been a story of love," she said, adding that it made her understand the mechanisms of "control and fascination".

Haenel quit the French film industry in 2023 in protest at what she called its "complacency" towards sexual predators.

Since then, actor Gérard Depardieu has been accused of rape and is due to stand trial next month. Film directors Benoît Jacquot and Jacques Doillon have also been accused of rape and sexual offences by actress Judith Godrèche.

Director Céline Sciamma, Haenel's ex-partner and the director of Portrait of a Lady on Fire, and Godrèche were in the courtroom to hear the verdict on Monday.

Source:.bbc.com

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

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c983gw79ywko

---------

Spain football kiss 'stained' World Cup win, player tells trial

3rd February

Jenni Hermoso has told the trial of Spain's former football chief Luis Rubiales that the kiss he gave her at the 2023 World Cup "stained one of the happiest days of my life".

The Spanish world champion footballer was the first witness in Rubiales' trial over the kiss, where he is accused of sexual assault and coercion.

She told the court in Madrid: "My boss was kissing me, and this shouldn't happen in any social or work setting."

Rubiales sparked major controversy when he kissed the athlete on the lips during the medal ceremony for the side's World Cup victory in Australia, triggering protests and calls for his resignation. He denies any wrongdoing.

Hermoso told the court that she had never given permission to be kissed and felt "disrespected" as a woman.

"I greeted the queen, I greeted her daughter. The next thing was meeting Rubiales."

Hermoso said she and the then-president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation hugged and celebrated.

"The next thing he did was to grab me by the ears and kiss me on the mouth."

"I didn't hear or understand anything," she said.

She went on: "A kiss on the lips is only given when I decide so".

"No one came to ask me how I was" after the kiss, she told the trial on Monday.

The footballer said she felt "completely abandoned by the federation".

She continued to celebrate "the greatest achievement" of her life with her teammates, Hermoso explained.

"There was no place for me to be crying or lying in the corner of the dressing room."

The other players initially made fun of the incident before one, Irene Paredes, intervened to say: "Stop, this is serious."

Hermoso said she was pulled aside soon after the kiss and asked to consent to a statement minimising the incident, which she refused to do.

She added that Rubiales asked her to record a video with him on the flight home because he was being accused of assault on social media.

"I said no, that I was not going to do anything, that I was not the cause of this."

She said people were huddled around Rubiales during the flight, and that she saw his daughters crying.

The footballer said her life had been "on stand-by" until the trial began on Monday.

She said she had received death threats that prompted her to leave Madrid with her family. She now plays club football in Mexico, as well as for Spain's national team.

Prosecutors are calling for Rubiales, 47, to receive a one-year prison sentence for sexual assault.

They are also calling for him to be given a sentence of a year-and-a-half for coercion, for allegedly trying to pressure Hermoso into saying publicly that the kiss was consensual.

Rubiales denies the charges.

At the time, Rubiales said the kiss had been consensual and denounced a so-called witch-hunt by "fake feminism," before resigning from his position.

Three of his former colleagues are also on trial accused of coercing Hermoso into saying the kiss was consensual.

Jorge Vilda, coach of the World Cup-winning side, Rubén Rivera, the federation's former head of marketing, and former sporting director, Albert Luque all deny the charges.

Spain's Equality Minister Ana Redondo thanked Hermoso for her "bravery" in a post on X, shortly before the trial started.

The trial runs until 19 February.

Source:.bbc.com

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

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c04n353nn7go

---------

Santorini on alert as tremors rattle Greek island

4rd February

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has urged people on the island of Santorini to "stay calm" after an increase in seismic activity.

His remarks come as schools were told to close on Monday and authorities advised against large gatherings in enclosed spaces across the island, a popular tourist destination known for its whitewashed buildings and blue-domed churches.

More than 280 earthquakes were recorded across Greek islands in the past 48 hours, according to the University of Athens' Seismological Laboratory.

Tremors of up to 4.9 in magnitude were recorded north-east of Santorini on Monday, while there have been quakes of 4.3 and 3.9 magnitude reported nearby in recent days.

Speaking from EU talks in Brussels, the prime minister said the country is working to manage "a very intense geological phenomenon", adding that he has asked the authorities to provide a "comprehensive presentation" of the geological data, to ensure everyone knows the scale of this seismic event.

Mitsotakis's remarks come as many people in Santorini spent Sunday night outdoors, amid fears of potential damage to buildings during the quakes.

Some focal points of the tremors have been recorded at a depth of just 2km (1.2miles) below the surface.

Some residents have chosen to leave the island while the seismic activity is ongoing, including Kostas Sakavaras, a tour guide who has lived there for 18 years, and his wife and children.

"We decided yesterday to take the ferry and come to the mainland," he told BBC News.

"We stayed calm. It's not such a big deal. It was more like, the schools were closed. We considered it's a better choice to come to the mainland as a precaution."

He said they were keeping in touch with friends and family who had remained, and that the tremors had been "mild".

"Nothing has been falling, or anything like that," he said, adding that the worst part had been the sound.

"That's the most scary part of it," said Mr Sakavaras, who plans to return home once schools reopen.

Santorini is on what is known as the Hellenic Volcanic Arc - a chain of volcanic islands created by plate tectonics - but the last major eruption was in the 1950s.

Greek authorities said that the recent minor earthquakes were related to tectonic plate movements instead of volcanic activity.

The tremors are being caused by the Aegean sea plate subducting beneath the African plate, causing resistance and friction to build up along the fault line.

When the plate shifts, energy is released in the form of an earthquake.

Earthquakes are very common in this region, but authorities say activity in the Santorini caldera - the volcanic basin the island sits around - remains in decline.

While the recent tremors are thought to be unlikely to be a precursor to a volcanic eruption, the possibility cannot be ruled out.

The tremors recorded by geologists are considered minor, but authorities have recommended a number of preventative measures in addition to the school closures, including asking ships to avoid the ports of Ammoudi and Fira.

Big cruise ships often anchor near the Old Port of Fira, with passengers being brought to shore on smaller boats.

Schools were also told to close on the nearby islands of Anafi, Ios and Amorgos, and will remain so until 7 February.

On Monday, a message from the emergency services was sent to the residents of Santorini, urging them to leave the areas of Ammoudi, Armeni and the Old Port of Fira due to landslides.

According to the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre, a total of over 555 earthquakes have been recorded since January 28 in the area between Amorgos and Santorini.

Kostas Papazachos, a professor of geophysics at Thessaloniki Aristotle University, told public broadcaster ERT that the precautionary measures were "precisely to limit the impact of a stronger earthquake", as quakes cannot be predicted.

He added: "When you have a sequence next to you that is so vivid, so intense, you have to be a bit careful, precisely because there is always the risk of something like that happening."

Earthquakes are measured on the Moment Magnitude Scale (Mw) - instead of the better-known Richter scale, which is now considered less accurate. The number attributed to an earthquake represents a combination of the distance a fault line has moved and the force that moved it.

A tremor of 2.5 or less usually cannot be felt, but can be detected by instruments. Quakes of up to five are felt and cause minor damage.

Prof Papazachos said that were a minor earthquake to occur while people were gathered in large crowds, it could create panic that may lead to people being injured.

The South Aegean Regional Fire Department has been placed on general alert and rescue teams as well as the regional commander have been dispatched to Santorini.

Various airlines have added extra flights as people rush to leave the island, and more ferries have also been deployed. Hotel owners are reporting a series of cancellations in their bookings, as tourists are avoiding the island.

Though the island has a population of around 15,500, it welcomes millions of tourists each year.

Source:.bbc.com

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

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2eg12jn730o

---------

Pro-Russia paramilitary leader killed in Moscow blast

3rd February

The leader of a pro-Russian paramilitary group in eastern Ukraine has died in hospital after being injured in an explosion in Moscow on Monday morning, Russian media have said.

Armen Sargsyan, the leader of the "Arbat" battalion, was severely injured following a blast in the entrance hall of a residential building in north-west Moscow, 12km (7 miles) from the Kremlin.

He was evacuated to a hospital by helicopter and placed in intensive care after the explosion, but eventually succumbed to his injuries, according to usually reliable Telegram sources.

Others - including one of Armen Sargsyan's bodyguards - were also reportedly seriously injured, with some sources saying one other person had died.

Ukraine has not yet commented on the blast.

In December, the Ukrainian security service SBU said "crime boss" Mr Sargsyan was a suspect in "recruiting prisoners to fight in Ukraine" and added that he had been on an international wanted list since May 2014 for his involvement in murders carried out in the centre of Kyiv.

The SBU added that Mr Sargsyan was part of the inner circle of fugitive former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.

"The assassination attempt on Sarkisyan was carefully planned and was ordered. Investigators are currently identifying those who ordered the crime," TASS quoted a law enforcement official as saying.

Images shared on social media show rubble and plaster strewn across a heavily damaged entrance hall with blown-out windows and doorways.

Olga Voronova, a 36-year-old mother of three who lived in the building next door to the explosion, told AFP news agency that she was "very scared" and did not understand how the blast could've happened.

"We have quite serious security guards, they ask every car at the checkpoints, we order passes for guests, even for family members," she said.

Mr Sargsyan was born in Horlivka, a city in Ukraine's Donetsk region which has been occupied by Russia since 2014.

In a Telegram post confirming his death, the town's mayor, Ivan Prikhodko, said Mr Sargsyan's "most significant achievement was the creation and leadership of a separate special forces battalion".

Mr Prikhodko said Mr Sargsyan was also the head of the Boxing Federation of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic.

The "Arbat" battalion has been known to operate in Russia's Kursk region, where Ukrainian troops are still present after they launched a surprise offensive in August.

There have been a number of attacks on high profile supporters of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Moscow and in occupied areas.

Senior Russian naval officer Valery Trankovsky and Russian prison boss Sergei Yevsyukov died after car bombs exploded in Russian-occupied Ukraine in late 2024.

And in December, a high-ranking general in the Russian armed forces and his assistant were killed in Moscow by Ukraine's security service, a Ukrainian source told the BBC.

Source:bbc.com

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

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0rqj171zzvo

---------

UK not choosing between US and EU, says Starmer

4rd February

The UK is "not choosing between the US and the EU", Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said after President Donald Trump threatened the European Union with trade tariffs.

Over the weekend, Trump announced 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico - which have both since been paused - and said he would take similar action against the EU but suggested a deal could be "worked out" with the UK.

Asked if he would be willing to water down attempts to forge closer ties with the EU in exchange for keeping the US on side, Sir Keir said both relationships were important to the UK.

"Now, that for me isn't new, I think that's always been the case and will be the case for many, many years to come," he added.

The prime minister told a press conference in Brussels it was "early days" when it came to tariff talks with the US and that he backed "open and strong trading relations".

Sir Keir was in Belgium to meet Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte and attend talks with EU leaders - the first PM to do so since Brexit.

Asked about tensions between the US and the EU, Rutte said there were "always issues between allies" but that would "not get in the way of our collective determination to keep our deterrent strong".

On Ukraine, he said Nato - the military alliance of Western countries - had to "not only sustain but continue to step up our support" to ensure Ukraine could negotiate with Russia from "a position of strength".

He added that spending 2% of national income on defence was "not enough to keep us safe" and that there was "no time to waste" in boosting funding.

Currently Nato asks every member country to spend a least 2% of GDP on defence, however it is thought only 23 of the 32 members meet the target.

Sir Keir said the UK currently spends 2.3% and that his government would shortly be setting out "the path" towards reaching 2.5%.

Speaking at a European Council dinner, the prime minister called for more military collaboration between the UK and Europe including by improving military mobility and logistics across Europe, focusing on research and development and deepening industrial collaboration.

He also said there should be more co-operation to protect against state threats and sabotage, including on subsea infrastructure. This comes after the UK issued a warning to Russia last month after a spy ship was spotted near undersea cables.

While defence is the focus of his Brussels trip, for Sir Keir it is also part of an ongoing bid to "reset" UK-EU relations.

The UK government wants to forge stronger links with the EU - but that could anger the US and risk the UK getting caught up in a trade war.

Similarly, the EU might object to Sir Keir siding with the US rather than its European neighbours.

Earlier, No 10 said the prime minister trusted Trump and pointed to "a really constructive early set of conversations" between the two men.

"We've got a fair and balanced trading relationship which benefits both sides of the Atlantic," the spokesman added.

"It's worth around £300bn and we are each other's single largest investors, with £1.2tn invested in each other's economies."

Following Trump's tariffs announcements over the weekend, European and Asian stock markets fell, with car manufacturers particularly badly hit.

The UK was also impacted but to a lesser extent than the EU.

Analysis produced last year by the University of Sussex suggested the UK could face a £22bn hit to exports if the US imposed a blanket 20% tariff on all imports.

Trump believes imposing tariffs will help grow the US economy and protect jobs, however it could lead to consumers paying more as prices adjust to the taxes.

On Monday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said the imposition of the 25% tariffs had been delayed after reaching an agreement with the US which would see her country deploy 10,000 troops to tackle drug trafficking into the US.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also confirmed that Trump's proposed tariffs of 25% on Canadian goods would be "paused for at least 30 days while we work together".

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU wanted a constructive dialogue with the US but was ready to respond firmly if it was "unfairly" targeted by the new Trump administration.

French President Emmanuel Macron said that if EU interests were attacked, the trading bloc would have to "make itself respected and thus react".

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said there were "no winners in trade wars", but if there was a trade war with the US "then the one laughing on the side is China".

Asked earlier if he would put tariffs on the UK, Tump said: "UK is out of line but I'm sure that one... I think that one can be worked out."

He added his discussions with the British prime minister had "been very nice" adding: "We've had a couple of meetings. We've had numerous phone calls. We're getting along very well."

As well as defence the UK wants to discuss easing restrictions on the trade of food and animal products and co-operation on emission trading schemes with the EU.

The mutual recognition of professional qualifications and allowing touring musicians to travel more easily are also areas of interest.

The EU is keen to set up a youth mobility scheme, which would make it easier for young EU citizens to study and work in the UK and vice versa. However, ministers have so far rejected the idea.

Downing Street has not ruled out joining the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Convention, which would allow tariff-free trade on some goods.

The Conservatives have accused the government of "trying to reopen the divisions of the past and edge us back into the EU".

In contrast, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has been urging the government to negotiate a new UK-EU customs union, allowing tariff-free trade between the two sides.

Following the tariff announcements, Sir Ed said the US president was "acting like a playground bully" and the UK should "work with our allies in the Commonwealth and Europe to stand strong against Trump".

Source:bbc.com

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

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3e1wnvkzeyo

---------

 

South Asia

 

Tajikistan FM and EU envoy discuss Afghanistan’s Security threats

ByFidel Rahmati

February 4, 2025

Tajikistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced a meeting between Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin and Tomas Niklasson, the European Union’s Special Representative for Afghanistan.

According to the ministry’s statement, the two officials discussed the current situation in Afghanistan on Monday, February 3, addressing key regional challenges and security threats.

The statement indicates that both sides held constructive talks on the risks posed by ongoing instability in Afghanistan. They also explored ways to enhance cooperation in countering terrorism and border security threats.

Tajikistan’s Foreign Minister also expressed views on his country’s diplomatic relations with the European Union, emphasizing the importance of strategic cooperation in maintaining regional stability.

The recent meeting underscores the growing concerns over Afghanistan’s security landscape, particularly the rising influence of extremist groups. Tajikistan, being a key regional player, continues to advocate for stronger international cooperation to counter cross-border threats.

Since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan, Tajikistan has consistently voiced concerns over terrorist group activities and cross-border security risks. The Tajik government has refrained from officially recognizing the Taliban administration.

Previously, a Taliban official stated that negotiations regarding diplomatic relations between the Taliban and Tajikistan had begun, though no formal agreements have been reached.

The US policies on Afghanistan, including troop withdrawals and restrictive immigration measures, have left a security vacuum that groups like ISIS have sought to exploit. The presence of extremist factions in Afghanistan remains a pressing issue, posing significant threats to regional stability and international security.

Source:khaama.com

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

https://www.khaama.com/tajikistan-fm-and-eu-envoy-discuss-afghanistans-security-threats/

---------

Islamic University holds Saraswati Puja 

03 Feb 2025

ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY, Kushtia, Feb 3, 2025 (BSS)- Saraswati Puja, also known as

Basant Panchami, was celebrated today at Islamic University (IU) in Kushtia

with great enthusiasm and festivity.

Students of the Hindu community joyfully participated in the event, marking

the arrival of spring, worshipping Goddess Saraswati and celebrating the

triumph of good over evil.

The rituals and scriptures of the Puja were performed by Partha Pratim

Chakrabarty from the Department of Statistics of IU.

In connection with the event, a 'Bani Archona' programme was organised near

the Islamic University Thana. Vice-Chancellor (VC) Professor Dr. Nakib

Muhammad Nasrullah attended the event as the chief guest with Prof Dr.

Arabinda Saha in the chair.

Other distinguished guests are Pro-VC Prof Yeaqub Ali, Student Advisor Prof

Dr. Obayedul Islam, Chuadanga Zone ADC Nayan Kumar Rajbangshi and IU Law

Adviser Advocate Subrata Kumar Chakrabarty.

The keynote speaker for the event was Chinmayananda Das Babaji Maharaj,

Principal of Nitai Gour Gopal Seba Ashram in Magura. Additionally, Prof Dr.

Gautam Chandra Das and Prof Dr. Pareah Chandra Barman also addressed the

gathering.

Students adorned the Puja venue with colorful designs and alpana.

Participants from diverse religious backgrounds joined the celebration, which

was followed by cultural programmes.

The VC remarked, "People might assume that this University only nurtures

Islamic culture, but Islamic University always treats everyone based on their

identity as students, regardless of their religious beliefs."

"As long as I serve in this position, I will ensure that Islamic University

upholds equality for all," he added.

Source:bssnews.net

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

https://www.bssnews.net/news/243329

--------

JCD announces nationwide protest programme on Feb 6

 Feb 4, 2025

Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), the student wing of BNP, has announced a nationwide protest, titled "March for Justice," on Thursday.

In a press release issued this morning, the party said the demonstration aims to demand accountability for alleged criminal activities by banned student outfit Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) in educational institutions during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's tenure.

It will also call for punishment of BCL men who acted against the July-August uprising last year.

JCD leaders Rakibul Islam Rakib and Nasir Uddin Nasir urged party members, activists, and students to participate in the programme, which will include marches and the submission of memorandums at educational institutions across the country.

On October 24, the home ministry issued a gazette notification with immediate effect, stating that the government invoked the Anti-Terrorism Act-2009 to ban BCL, a 76-year-old pro-Awami League student organisation.

Source:thedailystar.net

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

https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/politics/news/jcd-announces-nationwide-protest-programme-feb-6-3815886

---------

'Faruk Khan in jail, not possible for him to use FB'

 Feb 3, 2025

A screenshot of a Facebook post from an account named "Faruk Khan" has been widely shared on social media platforms, causing confusion among people by falsely implying that it was posted by former minister colonel (retd) Faruk Khan, who is currently in prison, said a press release today.

The statement was signed by Jannat-Ul Forhad, Department of Prisons assistant inspector general of prisons (development).

According to the press release, it is impossible for former minister Faruk Khan to operate a Facebook account or make any posts from within Dhaka Central Jail, Keraniganj, where he is currently detained.

The post was made today.

Prisoners are strictly prohibited from using mobile phones or accessing social media platforms while in custody, it said.

The origin of the Facebook account remains unclear, and it is unknown whether the Facebook account is being operated by relatives of Faruk Khan, it added.

The Department of Prisons has requested law enforcement agencies to investigate the matter thoroughly and take appropriate legal action, read the press release.

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/faruk-khan-jail-not-possible-him-use-fb-3815391

--------

ACCI holds press conference for national currency’s stability

February 4, 2025

KABUL: The Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and In vestment (ACCI) held a press conference in support of Da Afghanistan Bank’s efforts to maintain the stability of the value of the Afghani currency, ACCI said in a statement Monday. The conference was attended by the representatives of Da Afghanistan Bank, the union of money changers, and unions of the trade sector, the statement said. Addressing the conference, Sediqullah Khalid, First Vice President of Da Afghanistan Bank, said that the bank has taken a series of necessary measures for the stability of the value of the Afghan currency and the strength of the country’s economic sector. “The Afghani currency is the national identity of our country, and compatriots, especially businessmen, should use Afghani currency in their business transactions,” he said, as quoted by the statement. The Kabul Times

Source:thekabultimes.com

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

https://thekabultimes.com/acci-holds-press-conference-for-national-currencys-stability/

---------

Farahi chairs Book Evaluation Commission meeting

February 4, 2025

KABUL: The meeting of the Book Evaluation Commission was held with the Deputy Publications Minister of Information and Culture, Mawlavi Hayatullah Muhajer Farahi, on the chair, evaluating a number of books, the ministry said in a statement Monday. Muhajer Farahi talked about the achievements and decisions of the previous meeting and added that books that do not conflict with the principles of Sharia and national values are allowed to be published, according to the state ment. The members of the commission shared their views on a number of books, the statement said, adding that necessary decisions were made regarding both published books and those that have not yet been printed. Also, at the end of the meeting, several books were distributed to the commission’s members, and they were instructed to evaluate and share their findings at the next meeting. The Kabul Times

Source:thekabultimes.com

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

https://thekabultimes.com/farahi-chairs-book-evaluation-commission-meeting/

---------

DAB and Chamber of Commerce Unite to Stabilize Afghan Currency

2025-02-03

KABUL(BNA): Da Afghanistan Bank and Chamber of Commerce and Investment held a press conference today, Monday attended by key partners including representatives from Da Afghanistan Bank, the Money Changers Union, and various trade unions.

Sediqullah Khalid, the first deputy head of Da Afghanistan Bank, emphasized the institution’s commitment to maintaining the value of the Afghan currency, describing it as a vital element of national identity. “The Afghan currency represents our country, and it is crucial for businessmen to utilize it in their transactions,” Khalid stated.

He acknowledged recent fluctuations in the exchange rate but assured attendees that the Afghanistan Bank has implemented measures to restore market stability. “We have sufficient financial resources and will enact reasonable monetary policies as needed to ensure stability,” he added.

Mohammad Younis Momand, Deputy Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Investment, echoed Khalid’s sentiments, highlighting the shared responsibility of maintaining the currency’s value. He praised the Afghanistan Bank for its timely interventions and noted that the Afghan currency is currently regarded as one of the more stable currencies globally.

Khanjan Alkozi, deputy head of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment, further stressed the importance of collaboration between the government and the private sector in enhancing the economy. He called on businessmen to actively participate in this initiative to bolster economic growth.

Source:bakhtarnews.af

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

https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/dab-and-chamber-of-commerce-unite-to-stabilize-afghan-currency/

---------

Acting Health Minister Meets Elders of Zarmat District

2025-02-03

GARDIZ (BNA): Mawlawi Noor Jalal Jalali, the Acting Minister of Public Health, met with tribal elders from the Zarmat district of Paktia province at his office.

According to the Ministry of Public Health, in the meeting the construction of a public hospital in Zarmat district and the necessary equipment were discussed.

The tribal elders of Zarmat district emphasized the importance of providing quality health services to patients and requested the Ministry of Public Health’s leadership to build a public hospital in the district.

The Acting Minister of Public Health, after listening to their requests and suggestions, assured that the ministry would address their concerns.

Source:bakhtarnews.af

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

https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/acting-health-minister-meets-elders-of-zarmat-district/

---------

Over 90% of Maidan Wardak Residents Now Have Access to Healthcare Services

2025-02-03

WARDAK(BNA): The Public Health Directorate has announced that over 90% of residents in Maidan Wardak province now have access to essential healthcare services.

Dr. Rasool Khan Nazari, the Director of Public Health for the province, confirmed to a reporter from the Bakhtar News Agency that this year, the department has successfully constructed five health centers and two ambulance buildings across the districts of Narkh, Saydabad, and Chak.

In conjunction with these developments, a decree from Amir-ul-Mumineen, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), mandates the construction of fully equipped hospitals in every district across the nation, funded by the national budget.

Source:bakhtarnews.af

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

https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/over-90-of-maidan-wardak-residents-now-have-access-to-healthcare-services/

--------

Two miners killed in Coal Mine collapse in Samangan province

ByFidel Rahmati

February 4, 2025

Local authorities in Afghanistan’s Samangan province have reported that two miners lost their lives following the collapse of a coal mine in the Dara-i-Suf district.

Hashmatullah Rahmani, spokesperson for the provincial security command, stated in a press release that the incident occurred on Monday, February 3, in the “Shakol Sheikha” area of the district.

He confirmed that a team has been dispatched to investigate the cause of the collapse and provide assistance to any injured miners at the site.

This is not the first time such incidents have occurred in Samangan. Many coal miners in the province have previously lost their lives due to mine collapses and explosions.

Just a day earlier, another mining-related accident in Badakhshan province’s Wakhan district resulted in the death of a gold mine worker, further highlighting the dangers faced by miners in Afghanistan.

The lack of standardized mining practices and inadequate safety measures remain key causes behind these recurring tragedies. Many mines in Afghanistan operate with outdated techniques and insufficient protective infrastructure, putting workers’ lives at constant risk.

Samangan, known for its vast natural resources, employs hundreds of laborers in its mines. Without urgent reforms in mining regulations and safety protocols, more lives will likely be lost to similar preventable disasters.

Source:khaama.com

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

https://www.khaama.com/two-miners-killed-in-coal-mine-collapse-in-samangan-province/

---------

 

North America

 

US sovereign wealth fund could buy TikTok, Trump says

February 4, 2025

US President Donald Trump has taken the first step towards setting up a sovereign wealth fund for the United States, and suggested that it could end up buying TikTok.

The president signed an executive order on Monday, to kickstart the process, saying the fund would soon be "one of the biggest".

More than 90 countries have sovereign wealth funds, investing surplus income for the benefit of future generations. However, the US currently runs a budget deficit.

"We're going to create a lot of wealth for the fund," Trump told reporters, without clarifying where the money would come from.

When Trump first floated the idea of a sovereign wealth fund during his election campaign, he suggested it could be funded by "tariffs and other intelligent things".

He has already announced plans to impose tariffs on imports from America's three biggest trading partners - China, Mexico and Canada.

But on Tuesday the levies on Mexico and Canada were paused for 30 days.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the fund would be set up within the next 12 months and that the plan was to monetise assets currently owned by the US government "for the American people".

Saudi Arabia and Norway have two of the world's largest sovereign wealth funds, supported by the proceeds of fossil fuel sales. They invest in companies and projects around the world.

President Trump has previously said that a US sovereign wealth fund would finance "great national endeavours" including infrastructure projects such as airports, roads as well as medical research.

After signing the executive order for the fund's creation, he also floated the idea that it could buy up the social media platform TikTok.

The Chinese-owned social media company was briefly taken offline in the US last month, over national security concerns, after the previous administration ordered its owner to sell its US operations or face a ban.

Trump has delayed the ban, promising to find a solution, after TikTok's US users protested at its shutdown.

"We're going to be doing something, perhaps with TikTok, and perhaps not," Trump said. "If we make the right deal, we'll do it. Otherwise, we won't... we might put that in the sovereign wealth fund."

However, the president has also recently said that technology giant Microsoft was in discussions to acquire TikTok and that he would like to see a "bidding war" over the sale of the social media app.

Other big names in tech, including Larry Ellison and Elon Musk, have also been floated as possible buyers.

Source:bbc.com

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

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgm81x2d3ko

---------

What could be worse than the Muslim ban? Plenty.

February 3, 2025

(RNS) — In 2017, President Donald Trump’s chaotic attempt to exclude Muslims from immigrating to the United States by restricting arrivals from several Muslim-majority countries was met with no uncertain response. At Dulles International Airport outside Washington, Los Angeles International Airport, George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston and elsewhere, scores of lawyers, faith leaders and concerned lay people formed circles around Muslims as they paused in protest in airport hallways to perform their congregational prayers.

As challenging as that was for refugees and travelers from the affected countries, two new executive orders in Trump’s second term are proving of equal concern to civil rights organizations and Muslims Americans, especially Palestinian and Arab Americans, particularly when it comes to foreign students studying in the U.S.

Trump’s first attempted ban, which targeted refugees and travelers holding visas from seven majority-Muslim countries, was immediately hit with numerous legal challenges and widespread condemnation. Eventually a third version of the executive order was upheld by the Supreme Court in June of 2018.

Four years later, the president began his second term with a flurry of executive orders, including two that many see as precursors to another “Muslim ban,” but more sinister and problematic. The first order goes beyond the 2017 travel ban by introducing language to deny people visas or entries into the U.S. if they “bear hostile attitudes toward its citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles.” It also sets up processes for the potential removal of those granted visas since January of 2021.

Second, it sets up a 60-day window for the State and Justice Departments, as well as Homeland Security and other intelligence officials, to pinpoint countries, arguably those without a consulate or U.S. embassy, whose “vetting and screening processes are so deficient as to warrant a partial or full suspension on the admission of nationals from those countries.”

These steps have several civil rights organizations, particularly those advocating for Muslim, Arab and Palestinian American communities, worried. “The danger is that it’s not (targeting) Muslims per se. It’s for anyone who holds any public discourse or discussion that could be linked to criticizing the country of Israel,” said Dawud Walid, executive director of the Council on American Islamic Relations-Michigan.

“There could be discussions on university campuses, (or students) could participate (in anything) from encampments to social media posts, and that could constitute, in this ambiguous language, views that are hostile to the United States,” Walid told me.

Abed Ayoub, executive director of the Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), agreed. “The ideological exclusion is the more difficult part. They can use it to go after people in the U.S. It can be used for people who have a visa and are here as well as people who are applying for a visa,” Ayoub said. “It’s an attack on the freedom of expression, and it’s going to target our communities.”

Since Trump was elected, American neighborhoods where immigrants tend to live have been papered with lists of documents to keep on hand and advice on how to help the detained. It’s less clear what to tell those who have put their visas at risk due to what they’ve said. “It’s really difficult to put a ‘know your rights’ thing out there when we don’t know how they’re going to enforce it,” said Ayoub. “At the same time we don’t want our communities to be silent.”

The other executive order, issued Jan. 29, aims to combat antisemitism by taking “immediate action” to prosecute “terrorist threats, arson, vandalism, and violence against American Jews” and use federal resources to fight “the explosion of antisemitism on our campuses and streets” since Oct. 7 of 2023.

There has been no mention, of course, of violence against Muslims, Arabs and Palestinians.

The implications of these bans for universities and their foreign students in particular are unsettling to say the least. Coupled with the targeting of DEI programs across federal and state government, public universities and in the private sector, the threats to minority communities are very real.

All this comes, as Stanford Law Professor Shirin Sinnar wrote in The Stanford Daily, after a “year of congressional investigations attacking student protestors and academic freedom have left many universities desperate to avoid the limelight.”

Sinnar went on to say that many in academia are “choosing the course of least resistance,” citing Harvard University’s settling of a lawsuit by adopting a broad antisemitism definition, which includes criticizing Zionism and other speech critical of Israel as subject to possible disciplinary action.

“Colleges and universities, like other institutions, seem to be hoping that their muted responses — and affirmative acquiescence (like ending or changing DEI initiatives) — will spare them,” Sinnar argued. “This sort of acquiescence will not only fail to protect institutions, but will expose all of us to further repression.”

But there is a difference between being cautious and being alarmist. “Alarmist is basically saying ‘I am not going to partake in anything. I’m going to hide in my dorm room and shut down my social media accounts,’” said Ayoub. “Being vigilant is, ‘Ok I’m going to take part in these protests, but I’m not going to try and get arrested. I’m not going to engage in acts of civil disobedience.’” In short, he advised, “Don’t go around shutting down traffic.”

As the executive orders rain down in these early weeks, “We have to focus on the real threats versus what is rhetoric,” Ayoub added.

But the orders, leaving so much open to interpretation, make it difficult for Muslim, Arab, Palestinian and other minority communities to discern what is smoke and mirrors and what is meant to deflect from something else. Their vagueness is in some ways more threatening and more limiting than firm lines.

How do we focus on what is real in this environment? “As of now we are being more cautious and are observing very attentively,” said CAIR-Michigan’s Walid.

For now one thing is certain: It’s going to be a long four years.

Source:religionnews.com

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

https://religionnews.com/2025/02/03/what-could-be-worse-than-the-muslim-ban-plenty/

---------

Trump sows uncertainty - and Xi Jinping sees an opportunity

February 4, 2025

If China is angry at the United States for imposing an extra 10% tariff on all Chinese goods, it is doing a good job of hiding it.

Both Canada and Mexico vowed to retaliate and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his country "will not back down" as he announced a 25% levy on more than $100bn (£81bn) of American goods.

US President Donald Trump then agreed to temporarily pause tariffs on goods imported from both countries after reaching separate agreements with them. The tariffs on China, however, are slated to go into effect on Tuesday.

So far Beijing has held its fire.

In 2018, when Trump launched the first of many rounds of tariffs targeting Chinese imports, Beijing declared that it was "not afraid of a trade war". This time, it urged the US to talk and "meet China halfway". And reports suggest a call between Trump and Xi Jinping could take place this week.

This isn't to say that the announcement will not sting. It will, especially because the 10% levy adds to a slew of tariffs he imposed in his first term on tens of billions of dollars of goods.

And the Chinese government's muted response is partly because it doesn't want to worry its population, when many are already concerned about the sluggish economy.

But that economy is not as reliant on the US as it was back then. Beijing has strengthened its trade agreements across Africa, South America and South East Asia. It is now the largest trading partner of more than 120 countries.

The additional 10% may not offer the leverage that Trump wants, says Chong Ja Ian from Carnegie China.

"China will think that it can probably endure 10% - hence, I think Beijing is playing it cool. Because if it's not that big a deal, there's no reason to pick a fight with the Trump administration unless there's a real benefit to Beijing."

Xi's 'win-win' as America retreats

President Xi Jinping may also have another reason: he may see an opportunity here.

Trump is sowing division in his own backyard, threatening to hit even the European Union (EU) with tariffs - all in his first month in office. His actions may have other US allies wondering what is in store for them.

In contrast, China will want to appear a calm, stable and perhaps more attractive global trade partner.

"Trump's America-first policy will bring challenges and threats to almost all countries in the world," says Yun Sun, director of the China programme at the Stimson Centre.

"From the perspective of US-China strategic competition, a deterioration of US leadership and credibility will benefit China. it is unlikely to turn well for China on the bilateral level, but Beijing surely will try to make lemonade..."

As a leader of the world's second-largest economy, Xi has made no secret of his ambition for China to lead an alternative world order.

Since the end of the Covid pandemic, he has travelled extensively, and he has supported major international institutions such as the World Bank and agreements such as the Paris climate accords.

Chinese state media has portrayed this as embracing countries across the world and deepening diplomatic ties.

Before that, when Trump halted US funding to the WHO in 2020, China pledged additional funds. Expectations are high that Beijing may step in to fill America's shoes again, following Washington's exit from the WHO.

The same applies for the aid freeze that is causing such chaos in countries and organisations that have long depended on US funding - China may wish to fill the gap, despite an economic downturn.

On his first day back in office, Trump froze all foreign assistance provided by the US, which is by far the world's biggest aid donor. Hundreds of foreign aid programmes delivered by USAID ground to a halt. Some have since restarted, but aid contractors describe ongoing chaos as the future of the agency hangs in the balance.

John Delury, a historian of modern China and Professor at Yonsei University in Seoul, says Trump's 'America First' doctrine could further weaken Washington's position as a global leader.

"The combination of tariffs on major trade partners and freezing of foreign assistance sends a message to the Global South and OECD alike that the US is not interested in international partnership, collaboration," he tells the BBC.

"President Xi's consistent message of 'win-win' globalisation takes on a whole new meaning as America retreats from the world."

In its bid for global governance, Beijing has been looking for a chance to upend the the American-led world order of the last 50 years - and the uncertainty of Trump 2.0 may well be it.

New alliances

"Whether it really confers Beijing a key advantage - of that I'm a little less sure," Mr Chong says.

"Many US allies and partners, especially in the Pacific, have a reason to work with Beijing, but they also have reasons to be wary. That's why we've seen Japan, South Korea, the Philippines and Australia move closer together, in part because of the apprehensions they harbour towards China."

There is "gathering momentum" for a possible trilateral relationship among Australia, Japan and South Korea, motivated by "the impact of a second Trump administration", according to The Australian Institute of International Affairs.

All three are concerned about China's assertiveness in the South China Sea, along with the Philippines. They are also worried about a possible war over the self-governed island of Taiwan - Beijing sees it as a breakaway province that will, eventually, be part of the country, and has not ruled out the use of force to achieve this.

Taiwan has long been one of the most contentious issues in US-China relations, with Beijing condemning any perceived support from Washington for Taipei.

But it may be difficult for Washington to hit back at signs of Chinese aggression when Trump repeatedly threatens to annex Canada or buy Greenland.

Most countries in the region have used a military alliance with Washington to balance their economic relationship with China.

But now, wary of Beijing and usure of the US, they could create new Asian alliances, with neither of the world's biggest powers.

Calm before the storm

Trump announced the tariffs on the weekend, as Chinese families were celebrating the New Year and inviting the God of Fortune into their homes.

Bright red lanterns currently swing over empty Beijing streets as most workers have left for their hometowns during the biggest holiday of the year.

China's response has been far more muted than Canada or Mexico's. The commerce ministry announced plans to take legal action and use the World Trade Organisation to air its grievances.

But this poses little threat to Washington. The WTO's dispute settlement system has been effectively shut down since 2019 when Donald Trump - in his first term then - blocked the appointment of judges to handle appeals.

As the holiday draws to a close and party officials return to Beijing and to work – they have decisions to make.

Officials have been encouraged in recent weeks by signs that the Trump administration may want to keep the relationship stable especially after the two leaders had what Mr Trump called "a great phone call" last month.

For now, China is remaining calm perhaps in the hope of a doing a deal with Washington to avoid further tariffs and to keep the relationship between the world's two largest economies from spiralling out of control.

But some believe this cannot last as both Republicans and Democrats have come to view China as the country's biggest foreign policy and economic threat.

"Mr Trump's unpredictability, his impulsiveness and recklessness will inevitably lead to significant shocks in the bilateral relationship," says Wu Xinbo, professor and director at the Centre for American Studies at Fudan University.

"Additionally, his team contains quite a few hawks, even extreme hawks on China. It is unavoidable that the bilateral relationship will face serious disruption over the next four years."

China is certainly concerned about its relationship with the US and the harm a trade war could do to its slowing economy.

But it will also be looking for ways to use the current political pendulum to swing the international community its way and within its sphere of influence.

Source:bbc.com

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

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c78xj7j719jo

----------

CAIR-NY Welcomes Passage of Resolution Recognizing Muslim History Month in New York State

February 3, 2025

The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY), a chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed the passage of Resolution No. 257 by the New York State Senate, recognizing May 2025 as International Muslim Heritage Month. 

International Muslim History Month was created with the goal of offering Muslims in New York and across the globe an opportunity to reflect on and explore the rich and authentic history of Islam. The observance highlights significant events, influential figures, and transformative contributions that have shaped societies throughout history. 

“This resolution reflects New York’s celebration of religious diversity and is an important opportunity to amplify the voices of American Muslims to combat the prejudice and discrimination they often face. We are deeply grateful to for the advocacy and support of this resolution.” 

She urged communities to participate in International Muslim Heritage Month, which aims to foster understanding and promote solidarity of understanding the Muslim faith. 

CAIR-NY’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.  

La misión de CAIR-NY es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.  

Do you like reading CAIR-NY’s press releases and taking part in our action alerts? You can help contribute to CAIR-NY’s work of defending civil rights and empowering American Muslims across the country by making a one-time contribution or becoming a monthly donor. Supporters like you make CAIR-NY’s advocacy work possible and defeating Islamophobia an achievable goal. Click here to donate to CAIR-NY. 

Source:cair.com

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

https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-ny-welcomes-passage-of-resolution-recognizing-muslim-history-month-in-new-york-state/

---------

Trump agrees to pause tariffs on Canada and Mexico but not on China

February 4, 2025

President Donald Trump has agreed to hold off imposing 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico for 30 days, pulling the North American neighbours back from the brink of a potentially damaging trade war.

After last-minute calls with Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau agreed to reinforce his country's border with the US to clamp down on migration and the flow of the deadly drug fentanyl.

Earlier, Trump made a deal with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. She agreed to reinforce the northern border with troops. In return the US would limit the flow of guns into Mexico.

But a US tariff of 10% on Chinese imports has come into effect, after a deadline of 00:01 EST (05:00 GMT) on Tuesday passed.

Shortly after, Beijing announced it was imposing retaliatory tariffs on a raft of American products, including 15% on coal and liquefied natural gas and 10% on crude oil and agricultural machinery.

Trump earlier said he planned to speak on the phone to his Chinese counterpart soon. He described the 10% import taxes as the "opening salvo" and said they could become "very, very substantial" if no agreement is made.

Monday's breakthrough with Canada and Mexico came as they prepared retaliatory tariffs on American goods.

After two phone calls on Monday, Trump and Trudeau posted on social media that they had reached a temporary agreement on securing the border that would avoid tariffs for at least 30 days.

Both leaders portrayed the plan as a win.

"As president, it is my responsibility to ensure the safety of ALL Americans, and I am doing just that. I am very pleased with this initial outcome," Trump wrote on his social media site Truth Social.

Trudeau said Canada was implementing a $1.3bn (£1bn) border plan that included nearly 10,000 frontline workers and more resources to halt the flow of fentanyl, a synthetic drug 50 times stronger than heroin, which Trump has cited as a major concern.

The prime minister also said Canada would appoint a "fentanyl czar" and launch a joint strike force with the US to combat crime, fentanyl and money laundering.

Much of the border security plan had already been announced by Canada in December.

It includes enhanced co-ordination with US law enforcement, increased information sharing, limiting traffic at the border, and the deployment of drones and Black Hawk helicopters for surveillance.

The news came just hours after Trump paused a separate tariff on Mexican goods in exchange for that country sending 10,000 National Guard troops to its border with the US.

President Sheinbaum broke the news on X, writing she had had a "good conversation with great respect for our relationship and sovereignty" with her US counterpart.

Trump described his phone conversation with the Mexican leader as "very friendly".

In 2019, Mexico's government agreed to send 15,000 soldiers to its northern frontier to avoid tariffs from the first Trump administration.

Trump has framed tariffs as a tool for growing the US economy, protecting jobs and raising tax revenue.

"Tariffs for us, nobody can compete with us because we're the pot of gold," he said on Monday afternoon.

"But if we don't keep winning and keep doing well, we won't be the pot of gold."

Economists, however, have warned that tit-for-tat tariffs could raise prices for a wide range of products, including cars, lumber, steel, food and alcohol.

Items had already been removed from some shelves, and stock markets lurched downwards on Monday before recovering slightly with the announcement that tariffs had been suspended.

Andrew Furey, premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, acknowledged that the 30 days had brought some relief, but warned Canadians that a trade war still loomed.

He told the BBC he looked forward to using "the calm Canadian diplomatic approach to try to resolve any future tariffs", but cautioned against further "chaotic" actions from the US president.

"We're left as Canadians feeling a bit confused by this attack from our closest friend, our largest trading partner, our ally, family," Furey said.

The premier of Ontario - Canada's most populous province, which makes up about 38% of the country's GDP - welcomed the pause and said he would suspend plans for retaliatory measures.

Premier Doug Ford wrote on X: "Make no mistake, Canada and Ontario continue to stare down the threat of tariffs.

"Whether it's tomorrow, in a month or a year from now... President Trump will continue to use the threat of tariffs to get what he wants."

On Sunday, Trump indicated the 27-nation European Union would be his next target for tariffs, without providing further details.

The American president suggested that Britain, which left the EU in 2020, might be spared much duties.

Source:bbc.com

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

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c87d5rlee52o

----------

Who won and lost as Trump's trade war is delayed - for now

February 4, 2025

President Donald Trump has suspended for 30 days the hefty tariffs on Mexico and Canada that he threatened after last-minute negotiations with the two US neighbours.

He can point to concessions on border and crime enforcement as a victory. But Canada's Justin Trudeau and Mexico's Claudia Sheinbaum also can claim political wins.

A trade war that would send economic shockwaves through North America and beyond is on hold - for now.

So who blinked first and what happens next?

Trump brinkmanship appears to pay off

By Courtney Subramanian, BBC News, Washington DC

President Trump's high-stakes confrontation with the United States' closest trading partners appears to have paid off, with both Mexico and Canada agreeing to stricter border security and taking bigger steps to address fentanyl trafficking.

The strategy to leverage the US economy to force concessions from other countries notches a win for Trump's "America first" agenda, allowing him to follow through on core domestic issues without American consumers feeling the sting of the economic consequences of a continental trade war.

His tariff playbook is hardly new.

Trump's tariffs on steel and aluminium during his first term prompted backlash from Mexico, Canada and the European Union, but economists say those measures were more limited in scope.

This time, Trump has promised sweeping tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada, and China, which is still set to see a 10% tariff increase on goods starting at midnight on Tuesday.

But it remains unclear whether Trump will follow through on his threats to Canada and Mexico once the 30-day deadline is up. That uncertainty stirs fears that could see businesses reducing their reliance on American markets, holding off on investing in building new factories or hiring workers until the trade stand-off becomes more clear.

Lame-duck Trudeau pulls off a trade truce

By Jessica Murphy, BBC News, Toronto

That was not a January Arctic blast from the north - it was a widespread sigh of relief from Canadian politicians and business leaders at the 30-day pause on US tariffs.

While the threat of tariffs remains, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau can claim a political win: a temporary truce in what was shaping up to be a devastating trade war.

Canadian politicians have been scrambling to figure out what exactly would satisfy Trump - a situation not helped by Canada's domestic politics, with Trudeau wrapping up his last weeks in power as a lame-duck prime minister.

The border security measures announced on Monday aren't all new.

In December, Canada announced C$1.3bn ($900m; £700m) in measures that included efforts to disrupt the fentanyl trade, new tools for law enforcement and enhanced co-ordination with US law enforcement.

Canadian surveillance drones and two Black Hawk helicopters recently began patrolling the boundary between the two countries.

Officials have cited those efforts for weeks to show they are taking Trump's border concerns seriously.

A new element appears to be the appointment of a "fentanyl tsar" and a C$200m intelligence directive to fight organised crime and fentanyl.

One question that remains is what this means for the future of the Canada-US relationship. The partnership between the allies has been deeply shaken by Trump's economic threats.

Mexico's Sheinbaum buys herself time

By Will Grant, BBC Central America and Cuba Correspondent, Mexico City

Throughout this trade crisis, President Claudia Sheinbaum has called for "cool heads" and "calm".

Even on Friday, she said she was confident of a last-minute reprieve from the 25% tariffs on Mexican goods. And so it proved, following an early morning telephone call with President Trump.

Announcing the agreement soon after, she could barely wipe the smile from her face and her supporters have heralded what they see as a masterclass in how to negotiate with Donald Trump.

Yes, she agreed to send National Guard troops to the border to focus on fentanyl-smuggling, but crucially she secured what she wanted from Trump, too.

As well as the obvious – a pause on tariffs – she also got Trump to "promise" the US would do more to tackle the traffic of high-powered weapons from the US into Mexico, to prevent them from ending up in the arms of cartel gunmen.

But she also bought herself another vital commodity: time.

She now has several weeks to build on the points agreed in that phone call and turn the temporary hold on tariffs into a permanent one.

The expectation is that now Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit Mexico soon to discuss these matters and a joint group on fentanyl will be established with Mexican and US health and security officials.

If in fact Sheinbaum does manage to prevent further trade hostilities, it will go down as the first significant victory of her new government, having only been in office since October. And it may set the tone for future interactions with President Trump and his administration.

Source:bbc.com

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

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c805jjk2klko

--------

Turmoil as Trump and Musk take aim at top US aid agency

February 4, 2025

The Trump administration reportedly intends to merge the US government's main overseas aid agency with the state department, as workers were asked to stay out of its Washington headquarters on Monday.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters he was now the acting head of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the agency that distributes billions of dollars in aid around the world.

Democratic lawmakers have called it an "illegal, unconstitutional" move that would hurt poor people abroad, harm national security and reduce US influence on the global stage.

President Donald Trump and one of his top advisers, billionaire Elon Musk, have been strongly critical of the agency.

Speaking to reporters at the White House on Monday, Trump alleged the agency run by "radical left lunatics" was getting away with "tremendous fraud", but did not provide names or details.

USAID was established in 1961 by President John F Kennedy, and has around 10,000 employees and a budget of nearly $40bn (£32.25bn), out of a total of $68bn in US government foreign aid spending.

Calling USAID "a completely unresponsive agency", Secretary Rubio said that a lot of functions of the organisation "are going to continue".

"They're going to be part of American foreign policy, but it has to be aligned with American foreign policy," he told reporters in El Salvador.

It's not clear how the administration plans to implement such a change.

The announcement follows comments from Musk, who heads an unofficial cost-cutting agency, that the administration plans to shut USAID down. Over the weekend, two top security officials were placed on leave and the agency's website went dark.

Workers were told to stay home on Monday. Hundreds of employees were also locked out of their email, according to an internal message obtained by the BBC.

Outside USAID offices Democratic Party lawmakers said the moves were against the law and that shuttering the agency would harm national security.

"It's not only a gift to our adversaries... it is plain illegal," said Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland.

Maryland Congressman Johnny Olszewski cited reports that prison guards in Syria responsible for containing thousands of Islamic State fighters nearly walked off the job after the earlier freeze on US aid.

"This is real life, this is dangerous and this is serious," he said.

Others alleged that Musk was motivated by his business interests.

"Elon Musk makes billions of dollars based off of his business with China, and China is cheering at this action today," claimed Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut.

Musk has been put in charge of an initiative called the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), a team that is not an official government body but given broad leeway by Trump to slash government spending.

Its legal status is unclear, as is its authority to order the shutdown of government programmes. It has already been the subject of several court challenges.

Over the weekend, Musk posted dozens of messages including allegations that the agency was rife with fraud and corruption.

On X, the social network that he owns, he called USAID "evil", a "criminal organisation" and a "radical-left political psy op" - short for "psychological operation", a term commonly used online to allege a conspiracy or cover-up.

In a live stream on X early Monday, he told followers: "You've got to basically get rid of the whole thing. It's beyond repair. ... We're shutting it down."

US media on Monday, citing unnamed White House sources, said Musk had been given an unpaid job as a part-time "special government employee", a status which would potentially make him subject to several rules about financial disclosures and conflicts of interest.

At the White House, Trump defended Musk's handling of the situation, saying the tech tycoon has "access only to letting people go that he thinks are no good, if we agree with him, and it's only if we agree with him".

"Elon can't do and won't do anything without our approval," he said.

USAID distributes billions in aid to non-governmental organisations, aid groups and nonprofits around the world.

With its website down, several key information hubs, including an international famine tracker and decades of aid records, were unavailable.

Top officials have been placed on leave or resigned in the last several days following clashes with Musk's Doge, including over requests that employees of the unofficial department be given access to a highly secure area used for reviewing classified information, the Washington Post and CNN reported this weekend.

"No classified material was accessed without proper security clearances," Katie Miller, Doge spokesperson, wrote on X.

USAID director for security John Vorhees and deputy Director for Security Brian McGill, were both placed on administrative leave as a result, CBS reports.

A top political appointee, USAID chief of staff Matt Hopson, also resigned, the Washington Post reported.

Source:bbc.com

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

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdjdmx12j9no

---------

El Salvador offers to take in US criminals and migrants

February 4, 2025

El Salvador has offered to take in "dangerous criminals" held in American jails - including those with US citizenship, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says.

After meeting President Nayib Bukele on a visit to the Central American country, Rubio said the US was "profoundly grateful", adding that "no country's ever made an offer of friendship such as this".

El Salvador will also accept for deportation migrants of any nationality who are criminals and in the US unlawfully, the secretary of state said.

Rubio has praised Bukele for his policies on gang violence which have dramatically reduced crime rates in El Salvador - once the murder capital of the world - but have been criticised by human rights groups.

Rubio told reporters: "He has offered to house in his jails dangerous American criminals in custody in our country, including those with US citizenship and legal residency."

"We are profoundly grateful. I spoke to President Trump about this earlier today," he said.

Rubio is on his first overseas tour as the US top diplomat, and has been seeking to assert the Trump administration's priorities in the region, including demanding that Panama make "immediate changes" to what he calls the "influence and control" of China over the Panama Canal.

Rubio said Bukele was willing to take back citizens from El Salvador as well as migrants from other countries, and appeared to suggest the focus would be on Latin American gang members - such as MS-13 or Tren de Aragua.

Since his return to the White House, President Donald Trump has focused on speeding up the removal of unlawful migrants, with the promise of "mass deportations".

In allied moves, more active duty troops have been sent to fortify the US-Mexico border and the president has sought to halt the processing of migrants and asylum seekers via an executive order.

Bukele suggested to reporters that his offer on prisons went further than a 2019 agreement on accepting migrants.

And in a post on X, he said he had offered the US an opportunity to "outsource part of its prison system".

"We are willing to take in only convicted criminals (including convicted US citizens) into our mega-prison... in exchange for a fee."

Bukele, a former mayor of the capital, San Salvador, first won power in 2019 on a pledge to create a "new era" for El Salvador, take on gang violence and corruption and foster better relations with the US.

He saw his popularity soar after launching a crackdown on crime and gangs, turning El Salvador from the murder capital of the world into one of the region's safest countries.

His government carried out sweeping arrests of anyone suspected of being involved in gang activity during his first term in office.

An estimated 75,000 people have been arrested under emergency measures that have been repeatedly extended, alarming human rights groups.

Amnesty International criticised the "gradual replacement of gang violence with state violence" in the country.

Source:bbc.com

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

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0jn5291p52o

---------

Trump’s ‘America First’ turn aiming to shatter post-WWII system – Lavrov

4 Feb, 2025

The administration of US President Donald Trump sees both the UN-based international system and the so-called “rules-based order” as undesirable, and will likely test its limits, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said.

The US and its allies have never followed the UN Charter’s principles of equality of states, believing the Yalta-Potsdam agreements to be against their interests, Lavrov wrote in an op-ed published in the Russia in Global Affairs magazine on Tuesday.

The agreements were signed by the leaders of the victors of World War II in 1945 – the Soviet Union, the US, and the UK – and shaped the post-war world.

“The West evidently subscribed to these principles with ulterior motives, and then grossly violated them in Yugoslavia, Iraq, Libya, and Ukraine,” Lavrov said. Still, the UN Charter should not be abandoned, lest the world lose its common guiding values, he added.

For all its shortcomings and strengths, “the Yalta-Potsdam order has provided the international system’s normative-legal framework for eight decades,” Lavrov said. “The UN-based world order fulfills its main task − safeguarding everyone against a new world war,” the top diplomat stressed.

However, the new Trump administration has openly stated that the framework is both outdated and “undesirable,” as well as allegedly acting against US interests, Lavrov said.

“In other words, not only the Yalta-Potsdam order is undesirable; so, too, is the ‘rules-based order’ that had seemed to embody the selfishness and arrogance of the US-led West after the Cold War,” the diplomat added.

While the world is moving towards multipolarity, the US will likely stress-test the post-war order in the coming years, Lavrov said.

Last month, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that “the post-war global order is not just obsolete, it is now a weapon being used against us.” Dictators sow chaos and “hide behind their veto power at the United Nations Security Council,” he claimed.

Lavrov has stressed that the UNSC right of veto – held by permanent members Russia, China, the US, the UK, and France – is a responsibility and not a privilege, as well as one of the ways that the council can ensure that Western states take into account all countries’ interests.

Last year, the top diplomat stated that Russia would like to see Brazil, India, and African representatives join the UNSC as permanent veto-holding members, as part of the global majority.

Source:rt.com

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

https://www.rt.com/news/612134-trump-shatter-order-lavrov/

----------

Rubio says he is now in charge of USAID

3 Feb, 2025

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Monday that he has assumed the role of acting administrator of the US Agency for International Development (USAID). Earlier in the day, it was reported in the US media that the agency had closed its headquarters.

President Donald Trump has accused the agency’s leadership of being “radical lunatics” and proposed major changes to the organization. USAID also found itself under scrutiny by the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) led by tech billionaire Elon Musk, who has become a close advisor to Trump.

“I’m the acting director of USAID,” the top US diplomat told journalists in El Salvador. He also said he had handed over day-to-day duties of running the agency to a staffer but did not identify that person.

“This is not about ending the programs that USAID does, per se,” Rubio stated, adding that some of them were “good” but others raised “strong questions.” He also maintained that “everything” that USAID does “has to be in alignment with the national interest and the foreign policy of the United States.” He did not elaborate on any specific changes he might want to make within the agency.

He earlier stated that a program-by-program review would be carried out to determine which ones make “America safer, stronger or more prosperous.”

Musk had previously claimed that Trump had “agreed” to shut down the agency altogether. The president also branded it a “criminal organization” that he believes was financing bioweapons research, including projects that allegedly led to the emergence of Covid-19.

Established in 1961, USAID is a soft-power agency that distributes billions of dollars each year to projects that promote US interests around the world under the premise of humanitarian development. Last week, Trump halted all its programs for 90 days and ordered them to be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. According to Rubio, the move led to “a lot more cooperation” from the recipients of US assistance.

The agency’s website went dark and its account on the social media platform X, which is owned by Musk, disappeared over the weekend. On Monday, USAID also reportedly closed its main office in Washington, DC, and told personnel to stay away from it.

Source:rt.com

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

https://www.rt.com/news/612129-rubio-take-over-usaid/

---------

 

Southeast Asia

 

'DAP better learn Islamic basics than teach PAS about Chinese names'

Feb 4, 2025

PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari has sarcastically "thanked" DAP for offering to pay for lessons to educate PAS about Chinese names.

However, he said it would be better for DAP to enrol its leaders in a basic Islamic education class instead.

"This is because there is a DAP minister who said something that...

Source:malaysiakini.com

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

https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/733486

--------

New measures for KK City Mosque staff after alleged harassment video: Uniforms, training, and facility upgrades planned

By Julia Chan

03 Feb 2025

KOTA KINABALU, Feb 3 — The staff at the city mosque here will soon be required to wear a standard uniform and undergo customer service training following the emergence of a controversial video showing tourists being harassed for taking photos outside the mosque.

State Tourism, Culture, and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew said the authorities have introduced two immediate proactive measures to enhance the experience for tourists visiting the Kota Kinabalu City Mosque.

“The measures are uniform standards for staff, and training and infrastructure improvements, whereby the mosque will conduct customer service and communication training for its front-line staff to improve visitor interactions.

“All front-line personnel at the city mosque will be required to wear proper uniforms to ensure they are easily identifiable and accessible to visitors.

“Plans are also underway to construct a dedicated public toilet for tourists,” she said, adding that she hoped these measures would ensure safety, service quality, and tourism regulations are observed.

Last week, a video posted by a Chinese-speaking tourist went viral, alleging that tourists were being harassed at the mosque, with certain individuals stopping tourists and making threatening gestures.

The person recording the video also mentioned that “unauthorised” individuals were coercing people into paying a fee for taking pictures outside the mosque.

The City Mosque, with its signature blue dome sitting atop a lagoon at Likas Bay, is a popular stop for tourists to take photos.

According to Liew, the Sabah Tourism Board (STB), through its Industrial Support Committee (ISC), held a meeting with Masjid Bandaraya’s Tourism Management Team on January 28 to discuss the incident.

Liew said the ministry will implement a number of revised standard operating procedures to enhance visitor management at the mosque, especially in regard to e-hailing service providers.

“STB will work with e-hailing service providers to ensure proper drop-off and pick-up protocols at the mosque. The proposal for a designated drop-off zone for tour buses will be discussed with JKR to enhance traffic flow and visitor convenience,” she said.

Source:malaymail.com

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

https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/02/03/new-measures-for-kk-city-mosque-staff-after-alleged-harassment-video-uniforms-training-and-facility-upgrades-planned/165381

---------

PLKN 3.0 implementation cost significantly reduced - Mohamed Khaled

BERNAMA

04-02- 2025

KUALA LUMPUR: The cost of implementing the National Service Training Programme (PLKN) 3.0 has been significantly reduced, with an estimated cost of RM2,000 per trainee, in contrast to previous versions of the programme.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said that the PLKN 1.0 had an annual cost of RM565 million for 71,300 participants, while PLKN 2.0 cost RM361 million for 20,000 participants

In contrast, he said that the annual cost of PLKN 3.0 is RM200 million, yet it benefits over 100,000 participants, as the programme is now held not only at Territorial Army Regiment camps under the Malaysian Armed Forces but also in universities and polytechnics.

“The cost per trainee in PLKN 1.0 was RM7,900, in PLKN 2.0 it was RM18,000, while for PLKN 3.0, it is only RM2,000,” he said during a question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today.

He was responding to a question from Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (MUDA-Muar), who had raised concerns about the high cost of PLKN 3.0 and its military training content.

Mohamed Khaled said that the ministry would implement thorough monitoring to ensure the effectiveness of PLKN 3.0, which will involve various parties.

“This evaluation approach encompasses monitoring throughout the programme, continuous assessments, and follow-up after its completion,” he said.

The first series of PLKN 3.0 for 2025, which includes 120 trainees, began at the 515th Territorial Army Regiment Camp in Kuala Lumpur on Jan 12.

This marks the programme’s reimplementation seven years after it was discontinued.

Source:thesun.my

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

https://thesun.my/malaysia-news/plkn-30-implementation-cost-significantly-reduced-mohamed-khaled-OF13613397

---------

IGP: Traffic police record 10pc fewer traffic accidents during CNY period, a fall in fatal cases and deaths

By Anis Zalani

04 Feb 2025

PETALING JAYA, Feb 4 — Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said today that Op Selamat 23 held from January 28 to February 2 recorded a total of 7,882 traffic accidents — a reduction of 902 cases during the same operation last year.

He also said that it is a 10 per cent reduction, compared to the 8,784 cases recorded during the same operation in 2024.

“The number of fatal accidents also saw a decline, with 64 cases recorded compared to 104 cases in 2024.

“Similarly, the number of deaths decreased, with 66 fatalities reported compared to 117 in 2024,” he said during his speech at the Op Selamat 23 appreciation ceremony in conjunction with the Chinese New Year here today.

He then said that according to the statistics, motorcyclists, and pillion riders remained the group with the highest number of fatalities, totalling 47 deaths.

However, he said this also represents a decrease compared to Op Selamat 21, which recorded 82 fatalities.

In a separate development, he said the Op Selamat 23 issued a total of 124,286 summonses, compared to 183,033 summonses during Op Selamat 21.

“This decrease clearly reflects the growing awareness and understanding of road safety rules and regulations among the public,” he added.

Razarudin also said that the police, through the Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department, has identified 407 hotspot locations and 76 black spot locations nationwide at federal roads, state roads, municipal roads, and others.

He further said there was a significant increase in traffic flow across the country, which is believed to have been influenced by the number of registered vehicles, with a total of 36.6 million as of January 2025.

“This increase was also driven by people taking the opportunity to travel during the 50 per cent toll discount for the 2025 Chinese New Year celebrations, contributing to the rise in traffic volume,” he said.

Source:malaymail.com

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

https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/02/04/igp-traffic-police-record-10pc-fewer-traffic-accidents-during-cny-period-a-fall-in-fatal-cases-and-deaths/165470

--------

PM Anwar: New paddy floor price to be announced next week, no impact on consumers

04 Feb 2025

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 4 — The government is expected to announce an increase in the paddy purchase floor price next week, along with additional subsidies to mitigate the impact on consumers.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu would table a ministerial paper to announce and clarify the floor price increase.

The rise in the floor price will inevitably lead to an increase in rice prices for consumers. Our challenge is to balance this - while the price of paddy rises for farmers, we do not want to burden consumers,” he said.

“I have already discussed this with the Ministry of Finance to ensure the government will cover the subsidy, preventing an increase in local rice prices for consumers. The government will allocate an additional RM150 million over the next six months to support this effort, and the details will be finalised soon,” he said during Ministerial Question Time at the Dewan Rakyat.

Anwar was replying to a supplementary question from Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee (PN-Beluran), who had raised the issue of paddy farmers’ demand to raise the paddy purchase floor price to RM1,800 per metric tonne.

In 2023, the government raised the paddy purchase floor price to RM1,300 per metric tonne, up from RM1,200 per metric tonne, where it had remained since 2014.

However, on Jan 27, the Pertubuhan Persaudaraan Pesawah Malaysia (PeSAWAH), an association representing paddy farmers, urged the government to consider increasing the paddy floor price further, from RM1,300 per tonne to RM1,800.

Anwar, who is also the finance minister, acknowledged the issue and said that he had reviewed the memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), in addition to discussing it with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

He also slammed the opposition for attempting to undermine the government’s efforts to assist paddy farmers by raising the floor price. Anwar pointed out that during their tenure in government, the opposition had failed to take similar action.

“Don’t deny it, this is the truth. You made noise, but when you were in power, you didn’t raise the floor price of paddy. We are the ones who raised it,” he said.

He stressed that the government must strike a balance, acknowledging both the needs of consumers and the livelihoods of paddy farmers, particularly as many in the B40 group face financial difficulties.

Responding to a supplementary question from Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin (PN-Larut) on the paddy floor price of RM1,300 - which he noted was relatively low compared to the increase in diesel prices - Prime Minister Anawr said he would look into the matter.

“If there are farmers struggling with diesel costs, submit their names, and we will reimburse them,” he assured.

In his reply to Ronald’s question on the rising cost of paddy production, Anwar said that since the MADANI Government took office, several initiatives have been implemented to support paddy farmers, including two consecutive years of special assistance in 2023 and 2024.

“Only after the MADANI Government came to power were cash contributions for paddy farmers increased - by RM228 million in 2023 and by RM600 per year in 2024 for each farmer. This had never been done before,” he said.

Additionally, Anwar highlighted the introduction of the Paddy Crop Takaful Scheme with an initial allocation of RM50 million. He also noted that over RM400 million had been allocated to Sabah and Sarawak to offset the higher cost of rice in those states.

Meanwhile, in his reply to Ronald’s original question, Anwar said that the government had approved RM1 billion for the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (MADA) to implement a programme aimed at increasing paddy productivity, set to be launched later this month.

“It can at least meet the current local needs from around 56 per cent to 70 per cent,” he said.

Ronald had inquired whether the government planned to review its policy of maintaining a 70:30 ratio between locally produced and imported rice to ensure the sustainability of the paddy industry in line with the National Agrofood Policy 2021-2030. — Bernama

Source:malaymail.com

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

https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/02/04/pm-anwar-new-paddy-floor-price-to-be-announced-next-week-no-impact-on-consumers/165461

---------

Sultan Ibrahim grants audience to new Chief of Defence Force

 04 Feb 2025

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 4 — His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, today granted an audience to the new Chief of Defence Force Gen Datuk Mohd Nizam Jaffar at Istana Negara.

According to a post on the official Facebook page of Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, His Majesty also granted an audience to former Chief of Defence Force Gen Tan Sri Mohammad Ab Rahman.

Mohd Nizam, who previously served as the Malaysian Armed Forces' Assistant Chief of Staff for Personnel Services, was appointed as the 23rd Chief of Defence Force on Jan 31, succeeding Mohammad, who retired after nearly four decades of distinguished service.

The post further noted that the King expressed his sincere appreciation to Mohammad for his invaluable contributions to the Armed Forces. — Bernama

Source:malaymail.com

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

https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/02/04/sultan-ibrahim-grants-audience-to-new-chief-of-defence-force/165454

---------

Indonesia’s Free Nutritious Meals Program to Continue Through Ramadan

Hanif Musyaffa

 February 4, 2025

Jakarta. The Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Dadan Hindayana, has confirmed that the Free Nutritious Meals program will continue during Ramadan, with adjustments made to its distribution. Dadan assured that children would still receive nutritious meals according to their needs.

“For Ramadan, we’re continuing the program. As long as students are attending school, they will receive Free Nutritious Meals, although the distribution pattern will differ,” Dadan said on Monday.

As the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, Indonesia observes Ramadan with the majority of Muslims, including children, fasting daily from dawn to sunset. This year, Ramadan is expected to begin on February 28.

During the implementation of the program, meals will be distributed to children while they are still at school. To accommodate the breaking of the fast, the meals will be designed to remain fresh for extended periods, allowing students to take them home and consume them at iftar.

“Children will come to school and then take meals home that can last until it’s time to break their fast,” Dadan explained.

Dadan also clarified that all students, including those who are not fasting, would receive the same meals.

“For those who are not fasting, they are encouraged to eat at home to show mutual respect,” he added.

Indonesia officially launched the program, which aims to provide nutritious meals to nearly 83 million students and expectant mothers, on January 6. The government has allocated Rp 71 trillion ($4.3 billion) in state funding for the program throughout 2025. The initiative is part of a broader effort to reduce the country’s stunting rate, which stood at 21.5 percent as of 2023.

Source:jakartaglobe.id

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

https://jakartaglobe.id/news/indonesias-free-nutritious-meals-program-to-continue-through-ramadan

---------

 

Africa

 

‘Ga’nu si’ and the politics of business and religion among Yoruba muslims

February 4, 2025

The slang “Ga’nu si”, a recent popular expression, has become very controversial as used in the social media space. On January 17, 2025, it became news that the popular Fuji maestro, Olori Omo Oba Akile Ijebu (Head of all Ijebu Princes and Princesses), Wasiu Ayinde Anifowose, popularly known as K1 the Ultimate, lost his mother, Alhaja Halimat Anifowose (a native of Ilupeju Ekiti). Based in Ijebu Ode, Alhaja Anifowose passed on, and it is a common practice to bury a woman in the hometown of her husband (a convergence of Yoruba and Muslim culture). In an aired public conversation, K1 highlighted that as a titled prince, he informed the king, Oba Sikiru Adetona (Awujale), about his mother’s demise, and immediately, the king informed the Council of Imam in Ijebu Ode to take charge of the burial. Within the Yoruba Muslim community, that signifies the honour and regard he commands within Ijebu Ode and in the Ijebu Ode Muslim Community. K1, as a popular Fuji musician, has been in the limelight since the mid-1980s, and he was popularly known for Talazo Wese. Now in his late sixties, he has grown over time as a Yoruba man whose understanding of the nuances of Yoruba culture, language, and people manifests in his music. The immediate past Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Layiwola Adeyemi, bestowed on him the title of Mayegun of Yorubaland. This title speaks a lot about his influence in the social, political, and business spaces in Yorubaland.

With these traditional titles, perhaps much is expected of him to understand the dynamics of language use and the emotions surrounding implications of word usage. Days after his mother’s demise, K1 keeps receiving guests commiserating with him. In one of such visits, a conversation he had with a guest in his living room went viral. In the conversation, he was glaringly informing the guest, expressing his frustrations and also highlighting the schedules for the eighth day (Fidau prayer, commonly practiced among Yoruba Muslims). The schedule narration obviously states that he is not celebrating the eighth day in his personal house and that he is frustrated that some Muslim clerics keep coming to his house using the slang “Ga’nu si” to describe their visits. In Yoruba language use and implication, some words signify derogation, “Ga’nu si” is a typical word that comes as such. It typifies joblessness, intention to beg, and lack of purpose and direction. A typical Yoruba person would not feel mentally comfortable to possess such a description. Literally, the word seems disturbing, but in context it sounds different.

As a Yoruba Muslim, it is a culture that you don’t perform activities about the death of your parents in your house; it is done in your parent’s house. It is understandable why he said: the Muslim clerics refuse to visit Fidipote (his ancestral home); rather, they choose to keep visiting his personal house. As a Yoruba Muslim man, he sees himself as a son whose loyalty for the death of his mother should be celebrated in Fidipote and not his home; indirectly, it is also a way of recognising the fact that he has elderly siblings; it is not about him alone. However, he had to pay the price of fame.

Perhaps the vituperations that came with the word—”Ga’nu si”—wouldn’t have been significant if Sheikh Sulaiman Faruk Onikijipa (Mufti Diyar of Ilorin) did not request that he should apologise publicly at the Fidau prayer in honour of K1’s mother on January 24, 2025, at Ijebu Ode. The Mufti of Ilorin requested the apology from K1 on the grounds that Yoruba Muslim clerics are angry about using the word “Ga’nu si” to describe their visits to his personal house. Such requests for an apology should have been discussed privately, considering the fact that they are close family friends. The refusal to apologise created new layers of vituperations and also became a phenomenon used for skits, music composition, video blogging, common sayings, and comedy. Whether the Muslim clerics felt angered or not, it is a given that he would spend money for the category of Muslim clerics invited to officiate at the Fidau prayer; the video evidence showed that.

Some comedy skits and video blogs have attacked the Yoruba Muslim clerics, claiming that what “Ga’nu si” derogatorily means applies to them because of the officiating roles they play at events. And there are allegations of overdoing the roles at events, which makes them appear to choke the organisers as they request layers of money to appease. The Yoruba Muslim community in each town, state, and city is highly organised, as there are leagues or councils in charge of Islamic affairs. The Imamate institution is well defined to take charge of issues, even though their organisation may appear disjointed. Also, the Muslim of Southwest Nigeria (MUSWEN) is a more cosmopolitan agglomeration of Muslim clerics, scholars, and professionals that perform the think tanks on the affairs of Muslims. There are ideological underpinnings that may make disposition to issues differ. The concept of Fidau prayer is highly contested, as some scholars believe that it has no basis in Islam; therefore, those who hold that view don’t even have the cause to fault K1 for using the word “Ga’nu si.” They are of the view that if a Muslim dies, visitors are expected to troop in with decorum and not to disturb family members of the deceased. In fact, if you visit, you should endeavour to bring gifts along, such as food and provisions, to help the families ease their grieving times.

However, K1 finds himself in a situation where he has to give, rather than be given. On Fidau prayer, some findings revealed that it was a method used by Yoruba Muslim clerics of a century ago to divert the attention of Muslims from traditional religious practices, which signifies polytheism. Then, traditional religious worshippers carry out sacrificial celebrations on some days after death to appease the gods. Realising how Yoruba Muslims engage in the practice, the Muslim clerics introduced eighth-day prayers for the deceased to divert the attention of Muslims away from polytheist practices. Over time, it has been a culture Yoruba Muslims adopt across generations. Fidau prayer appears as a culture of camaraderie, socialisation, and family get-togethers given the nature of modern times.

K1 might not have really attended much formal schooling, but he has displayed some levels of entrepreneurship; Fuji music is business, and his other businesses in hospitality, farming, and food processing throughout Yorubaland are business! There are several Yoruba Muslims with similar life trajectories. To the Yoruba Muslim clerics, entrepreneurship also differs; more of social entrepreneurship, there are scholars whose Madrasah (Islamic schools) are evolving into universities, whose Asalatu congregations have evolved into establishing formal schools, service industries, factories, and universities. Everyone looks on to God!

Source:businessday.ng

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

https://businessday.ng/opinion/article/ganu-si-and-the-politics-of-business-and-religion-among-yoruba-muslims/

---------

Fresh outcry over hotel development next to historic Bo-Kaap mosque

4 February 2025

By Matthew Hirsch

There has been a renewed call to “save the Auwal Mosque”. This follows a City of Cape Town planning appeals advisory panel meeting over a proposed six-storey hotel behind the mosque in the historic suburb.

Last month, we reported on the arguments for and against the proposed hotel.

Now, in a fresh outcry, a petition has been signed by more than 4,000 people opposing the hotel development just metres away from the country’s oldest mosque.

“We call upon the municipalities, the planning departments, the businesses involved in this development, and every Capetonian who values the preservation of our cultural heritage to halt this development,” the petition reads.

In a separate statement, the Bo-Kaap Civic and Ratepayers Association (BKCRA) called for solidarity “with our fight to protect our way of life, our living heritage, practice and traditions”.

“This is a battle for Bo-Kaap, for Auwal, if this is approved it will open the floodgates,” it said.

The civic association called on the mayor to uphold its appeal against the current iteration of the development.

Community engagement

There have been several attempts to develop the site since a permit for demolition of the previous one-storey structure on the property was issued in 2007 by Heritage Western Cape (HWC). The permit stipulated conditions for the replacement structure.

Flyt purchased the plot in 2017, two years before Bo-Kaap was declared a Heritage Protection Overlay Zone (HPOZ). Flyt then submitted a revised development to HWC for approval.

In 2019, the civic appealed to the Independent Tribunal constituted by the MEC of Cultural Affairs and Sport, against a decision to approve a development proposal for a nine-storey mixed-use development in the Bo Kaap area.

The Tribunal provided a directive for parties to have meaningful engagement with an independent facilitator. The facilitation process was undertaken by the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) with Flyt, HWC, and the civic association.

In 2022, Flyt resubmitted plans for an eight-storey mixed-used development. This required a new public participation process. This design was then scaled down to a six-storey development, which was approved by the Municipal Planning Tribunal in July last year, resulting in the current appeal.

Flyt, in its submission to the City appeals panel, argued that it has “gone above and beyond on this project and tried our best to accommodate all interested and affected parties in a fair manner, whilst still maintaining a viable project.”

A 2023 report from SAHRA said the process eventually “yielded very positive outcomes and it could be used as a baseline for facilitating amicable outcomes to balance the legislative processes, development rights, and affected communities”.

SAHRA said that the threat of “marginalisation and gentrification”, as well as the Bo-Kaap community’s “determination to preserve their neighbourhood” were both matters of public record.

It acknowledges that because of its proximity to the CBD, Bo-Kaap faces extreme pressure from urban development.

“The crux of the facilitation was to ensure that such development rights should not have a negative impact on the urban fabric of Bo-Kaap, and community concerns needed to be taken on board. It was pleasing to see the developer, their architects, and community representatives, accommodating each other as the facilitation was progressing in the spirit of positive engagement and trust.”

According to SAHRA, a total of five revised plans and designs have been produced.

In response to the recent petition, Zane De Decker, CEO of Flyt Property Investment, told GroundUp they had already made significant design changes to the hotel.

“The problem is that the goalposts keep moving and Bo-Kaap Civic is not honouring the agreement that we reached during the facilitation process.”

He said that the civic association asking for more changes “was simply unreasonable” and an “act of bad faith”.

Osman Shaboodien, chairperson of the ratepayers’ association, denied the Civic had acted in bad faith. “We told them time and time again that this site was not suitable for what was envisaged purely because of the proximity of the Auwal Mosque. They only looked at brick and mortar and what the plan says.”

“There’s a lot of grey areas but ultimately we must face the facts. The Auwal is the oldest mosque. The Auwal is a symbol for Islam throughout South Africa. It is the most precious building,” he said.

He said the petition was “important because it creates awareness”.

He warned that “a big backlash” was likely if there was a “negative” decision.

Next steps

In a statement on social media, Eddie Andrews, deputy mayor and mayco member for spatial planning and environment, said he had received numerous messages regarding the application for the proposed development.

Andrews said the City would not be making any comments on the matter until the development application process had fully concluded.

“This process will only be complete once a decision has been made by the final appeals authority.

“According to the City’s Municipal Planning By-law, the appeal authority has 90 days to make a decision,” he said.

Source:groundup.org.za

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

https://groundup.org.za/article/fresh-outcry-over-hotel-development-on-doorstep-of-historic-bo-kaap-mosque/

---------

FEC Approves Multi-billion Naira Road Projects Across The Country

 4 February 2025

By Oladipo Abiola

The Federal Executive Council (FEC), presided over by President Bola Tinubu on Monday, has approved funds for several key road projects across the country.

This was made known by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, while briefing newsmen after the FEC meeting at the State House in Abuja.

He explained that majority of upcoming infrastructure initiatives, such as the Lokoja-Benin and Abuja-Kano highways, will utilize reinforced concrete pavement rather than the conventional asphalt approach.

According to him, concrete roads are more durable and cost-effective than asphalt roads and warned contractors against doing a shoddy job.

He said, “Concrete roads are not only more durable but also cost-effective in the long run. In fact, the cost of these concrete projects is significantly cheaper than previous asphalt-based contracts rejected by some contractors.

“We are not accepting excuses such as high temperatures for road failures. The affected sections are being redone with proper oversight.”

Some of the approved projects include reconstruction of three segments of the Lokoja-Benin road, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway (Phase 2, Section 1), structural evaluation of the Third Mainland Bridge and Carter Bridge in Lagos, Ado-Ekiti–Igede Road Project, Onitsha-Owerri expressway and many others.

Naija News understands ₦470.9 billion has been allocated for the access road in Delta State, while ₦148 billion is earmarked for the access road to the Second Niger Bridge in Anambra State.

The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway (Phase 2, Section 1) has received approval of ₦195 billion for reconstruction as part of the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF).

The reconstruction of three segments of the Lokoja-Benin road will be fully executed with concrete with a total budget of ₦305 billion. This includes N64 billion for the section from Obajana to Benin (Section I), ₦110 billion for Auchi to Edo (Section II), and ₦131 billion for the area around Benin Airport (Section III).

A contract valued at ₦3.571 billion has been authorized for a comprehensive structural evaluation of the Third Mainland Bridge and Carter Bridge in Lagos.

FEC has also granted approval for the Ado-Ekiti–Igede Road Project, which is allocated a budget of ₦5.4 billion. Additionally, ₦22 billion contract for the Onitsha-Owerri expressway.

The Wusasa-Jos route in Kaduna State has received approval for an allocation of ₦18 billion.

Abia and Enugu states have been allocated ₦12.75 billion for a collaborative road project targeting essential areas within the budget constraints.

The FEC has also sanctioned ₦252 billion for the Abuja-Kano highway, which has now been divided into two primary segments.

The Minister explained that section one stretches from the boundary of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to Niger state, incorporating an extra 5.71 kilometers. Meanwhile, section two encompasses regions within Kano state, featuring a 17-kilometer extension.

Source:naijanews.com

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

https://www.naijanews.com/2025/02/04/fec-approves-multi-billion-naira-road-projects-across-the-country/

---------

I Am Surprised That Foundation Members Of APC Are Criticising Tinubu’s Govt – Gov Sani Laments

4 February 2025

By Justina Otio

The Governor Of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, has expressed concern over members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) making critical remarks about the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

He lamented that most of the politicians criticising Tinubu’s government are founding members of the ruling party.

Sani urged politicians who feel they can defeat Tinubu to work very hard and see if they successfully wrestle power from Tinubu and the APC.

Speaking in an interview with TVC News on Monday, Sani said, “I can tell you as a member of APC, we have been engaging ourselves; I cannot say we are perfect— but I can say that most of the people that are making the comments (against Tinubu’s administration) are also members of our own party.

“Most of them are foundation members of APC from the beginning and that is the reason why I was really surprised when I heard the coalition of politicians coming together at this critical time to make most of those comments they made.

“I can say it was really unfortunate because some of them were even calling for people to come out and take laws into their hands, oppose the government in a way that I feel is undemocratic.

“Of course, I also want to make it clear here that if you ask me, when a democratic dispensation, and we have virtually just two and a half years to the next election, and any politician who feels he is popular or he can defeat Bola Ahmed Tinubu or APC —I think they need to go and work very hard and present themselves in the next election, which will be 2027.

“There is still time, but they can go back to the drawing board and mobilise and come out. But what I can say here is that as someone who is a governor, I can say that the current government under Bola Ahmed Tinubu have done extremely well.”

Source:naijanews.com

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

https://www.naijanews.com/2025/02/04/i-am-surprised-that-foundation-members-of-apc-are-criticising-tinubus-govt-gov-sani-laments/

---------

Emefiele Opposes Fresh Move By EFCC As Court Adjourns Ruling

4 February 2025

Embattled former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, has urged the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja to prevent the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from calling additional witnesses beyond the 10 initially listed in his ongoing procurement fraud trial.

Emefiele’s lead counsel, Matthew Burkaa (SAN), argued that since the EFCC had only included 10 witnesses in its proof of evidence submitted to the court, it should not be permitted to introduce more.

However, the EFCC’s prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), opposed the motion, stating that additional testimonies were essential for a comprehensive and fair trial.

Oyedepo contended that restricting the agency from presenting more witnesses would violate its right to a fair hearing.

After hearing arguments from both sides on Monday, Justice Hamza Muazu adjourned the case to March 20 for a ruling.

Emefiele faces 20 charges, including criminal breach of trust, forgery, and conspiracy, under case number FCT/HC/CR/577/2023. He is also accused of using his position as CBN governor to grant corrupt advantages to two companies, April 1616 Nigeria Ltd and Architekon Nigeria Ltd.

During Monday’s proceedings, the EFCC’s 10th witness, Salawu Gana, testified that the contract awarded to April 1616 for procuring vehicles for the CBN complied with procurement laws and the bank’s guidelines.

Under cross-examination by Emefiele’s lawyer, Gana explained that the CBN’s Procurement Department had reviewed and vetted quotations from bidders before awarding the contract to April 1616, which had the lowest bid. He stated that Emefiele’s approval was based on the CBN Tenders Board’s recommendations.

The witness confirmed that the vehicles were delivered and that April 1616 was paid following the board’s recommendations. As the former Head of the Procurement Unit, Gana emphasized that Emefiele was not a member of the CBN Tenders Board.

He also noted that neither he nor the five procurement officers who recommended April 1616 had been charged by the EFCC. Furthermore, Gana stated that he had not seen any evidence linking Emefiele to payments from April 1616’s bank account.

According to Gana, Emefiele was neither a director, shareholder, nor signatory to April 1616’s bank account, as confirmed by the company’s registration certificate. He also testified that Emefiele did not influence the procurement process through phone calls or SMS, adding that he reported directly to his supervisor, Mr. Ekanem Akpan, and not to Emefiele.

During the session, EFCC counsel Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) submitted bundles of exhibits detailing the bidding processes for 45 different vehicle supply contracts awarded by the CBN to April 1616, RT Briscoe, and Globe Motors.

In his evidence-in-chief, Gana reiterated that April 1616 secured the contracts because it offered the lowest quotations.

Source:naijanews.com

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

https://www.naijanews.com/2025/02/04/emefiele-opposes-fresh-move-by-efcc-as-court-adjourns-ruling/

---------

National Assembly Resumes Today, Set To Fast-Track Tax Reform Bills

4 February 2025

By Enioluwa Adeniyi

The National Assembly will resume plenary today, with plans to expedite the passage of the much-debated tax reform bills, Daily Trust has learned.

Following its first plenary of the year on January 14, 2025, both chambers adjourned until January 28 to allow committees to conclude work on the 2025 Appropriation Bill, presented by President Bola Tinubu on December 18, 2024.

However, the resumption was further pushed to February 4, to give committees more time to engage with Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) on the budget.

Before the legislative recess, President Tinubu’s tax reform bills, submitted on October 13, 2024, were at the centre of heated debates.

Lawmakers, particularly from the North, alongside northern governors and traditional rulers, had called for the withdrawal of the bills, arguing they would worsen economic hardship in their region.

Naija News recalls that during the recess, the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) met with the Presidential Committee on Tax Policy and Fiscal Reforms, which championed the reforms, and reached a compromise.

The governors endorsed the bills after securing key adjustments, particularly on Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue allocation.

Under the original proposal, 60% of VAT revenue was to be distributed based on derivation, meaning states would receive funds proportional to VAT generated within their territories—a move that sparked opposition from northern states.

To ensure a more equitable distribution, the governors proposed the following adjustments:

– 30% of VAT revenue to be allocated based on derivation (down from 60%).

– 50% of VAT revenue to be shared equally among all states.

– 20% of VAT revenue to be distributed based on state population.

Following the agreement, Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State confirmed that governors would work with their legislators to ensure the bills are passed in line with the revised consensus.

Source:naijanews.com

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

https://www.naijanews.com/2025/02/04/national-assembly-resumes-today-set-to-fast-track-tax-reform-bills/

-------

Gov Adeleke Orders Arrest, Prosecution Of Esa Oke, Ido Ayegunle Attack Sponsors

 3 February 2025

By Richard Ogunsile

The Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, has ordered the swift arrest and prosecution of individuals responsible for the violent assaults on the Ido Ayegunle community, regardless of their societal standing.

In response to the attacks that resulted in loss of life and property, the governor expressed his astonishment at the audacity of these acts.

Naija News reports that Adeleke praised the security forces for apprehending and detaining numerous perpetrators and urged for additional arrests of those funding these heinous acts.

In a statement released by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke refuted any claims of procedural violations regarding the appointment of the new Olojudo, who has held the position since 2014.

The governor lauded the security agencies for their swift action in quelling the unrest and pledged to ensure that those who incite violence are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.

Additionally, he instructed the Commissioner of Police to extend the investigation to uncover the remote sponsors of the attacks, while also expressing his condolences to the victims among local residents and security personnel.

“I call on residents to remain calm. The security agencies are already rounding up the perpetrators of the violence. Culprits will face justice”, the state governor warned.

Source:naijanews.com

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

https://www.naijanews.com/2025/02/03/gov-adeleke-orders-arrest-prosecution-of-esa-oke-ido-ayegunle-attack-sponsors/

---------

Foreign aid cuts: implications for Africa under Trump's leadership

3 February 2025

Many Africans were aware that Trump's "America First" policy suggested their continent would be low on his list of priorities.

However, they did not anticipate the sudden suspension of foreign aid from the largest donor in the world, which halted funding for various initiatives such as disease control, girls' education, and free school meals.

Despite some exceptions being made in response to global backlash, sub-Saharan Africa may experience the most significant impact as most international aid is paused for 90 days for a spending review.

Last year, the U.S. provided over $6.5 billion in humanitarian aid to the region.

For many in Africa, attention quickly shifted to the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, known as PEPFAR, which is often regarded as the most effective foreign aid initiative globally.

Over the past twenty years, this program, which has enjoyed bipartisan support, has been credited with saving more than 25 million lives, primarily in Africa, the continent it was intended to benefit the most.

“The world is perplexed,” stated South Africa's health minister, whose country has the highest number of people living with HIV, following the U.S. aid freeze.

Pontsho Pilane, an activist and author, asserts that the issue at hand revolves around the rights of marginalized individuals.

She believes there is potential for a reevaluation of U.S. international interests, but fundamentally, this is driven by an anti-rights agenda.

It is not primarily concerned with the economic independence of nations like South Africa and other African countries.

Minister Aaron Motsoaledi noted that the U.S. contributes nearly 20% of South Africa’s $2.3 billion annual HIV/AIDS program through PEPFAR, putting the largest response to a single disease in jeopardy.

In South Africa, over 8 million individuals are living with HIV, and officials report that PEPFAR provides essential antiretroviral treatment to 5.5 million people daily.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has declared that programs providing “life-saving” assistance, including medications, medical services, food, and shelter, would be exempt from the aid freeze, although the criteria for what qualifies remain unclear.

The United Nations AIDS program indicated that many organizations reliant on PEPFAR funding have shut down due to the aid suspension, leading to “lack of clarity and great uncertainty about the future.”

According to UNAIDS, over 20 million people worldwide receive HIV treatment supported by PEPFAR.

In Johannesburg, South Africa's largest city, and other locations, facilities funded by PEPFAR remained closed days after the exemptions were announced, forcing HIV patients to seek care at government hospitals and clinics.

In Soweto, Johannesburg's largest township, two employees at the PEPFAR-supported HIVSA center turned away patients. A notice at the well-known Wits RHI Key Populations Clinic, which caters to adults and children living with HIV, stated: “We apologize for the inconvenience this causes.”

Experts are uncertain about the impact on HIV programs, but they warn that the repercussions could be immediate and severe.

Even high-ranking officials within the aid community are unclear about which U.S.-funded programs can continue operations, even temporarily.

Gethrude Tukura, a digital marketing professional, backs former President Uhuru Kenyatta's warning to African leaders regarding an overdependence on foreign aid.

She stated, "The aid he reduced for Africa aligns with Uhuru Kenyatta's message. I believe it's a crucial reminder for African leaders to improve and not depend exclusively on international assistance."

The Trump administration has cautioned USAID contractors and staff that they may face disciplinary action for communicating with anyone outside the agency without top-level approval, leading aid organizations to worry about potentially losing funding if they speak out.

A humanitarian official informed The Associated Press that at least 1.2 million individuals in Congo could lose critical support due to the aid freeze.

This official, who requested anonymity due to lack of authorization to speak publicly, noted that nearly half of their organization’s funding comes from USAID.

In total, over $100 million for humanitarian programs across more than 30 countries has been suspended, according to the official.

This aid blockage coincided with a significant escalation in conflict in eastern Congo, where millions were already displaced and outbreaks of the mpox virus were declared a global health emergency last year.

Despite the exemption for life-saving services, the official indicated that their organization had been instructed not to resume any USAID-funded activities until they receive confirmation that the waiver applies to them.

Source:africanews.com

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

https://www.africanews.com/2025/02/03/foreign-aid-cuts-implications-for-africa-under-trumps-leadership/

---------

 

URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/swedish-anti-islam-burnings-campaigner/d/134521

New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism