Woman Hindutva Leader In UP, Tulika Sharma, Seeks Five Minutes From Centre To Turn India Into A Hindu Rashtra
New Age Islam News Bureau
04 November 2025
Representational picture
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· Woman Hindutva Leader In UP, Tulika Sharma, Seeks Five Minutes From Centre To Turn India Into A Hindu Rashtra
· Centuries-Old ‘Phool Waalon Ki Sair’ At The Dargah Of Khwaja Bakhtiar Kaki Will Not Be Held This Year, DDA ‘Denies Permission’
· Israel Rocked By Scandal As Top Military Lawyer Resigns, Goes Missing, Is Found And Thrown Into Jail
· Trump Backs Cuomo For New York City Mayor And Threatens To Cut Funding If Mamdani Wins
· Muslim Convert, A Self-Styled, "Anglo Jihadi", Convicted Of Planning Terror Attack
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India
· Allahabad High Court Orders ₹50,000 Compensation For Man Jailed In False Anti-Conversion Case
· Kerala Waqf Board To Challenge HC Division Bench’s Verdict On Munambam Land
· Polls near, Mamata govt faces protests over slashing of Muslim share in Bengal OBC list
· Bengaluru’s Museum of Art and Photography shines a light on figures from the supporting cast of Indian myth
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Mideast
· Gaza’s psychological trauma brings large numbers to seek help
· In Gaza cemeteries, displaced Palestinians live among the dead
· How Israeli raids uprooted lives in the West Bank’s Tulkarem refugee camp
· Israel advances bill proposing death penalty for “deadly terror attacks”
· Iraq can disarm factions only when the US withdraws, prime minister says
· Palestinian prisoner from Jenin dies in Israeli detention
· Lebanon’s president says ‘no choice but to negotiate with Israel using diplomatic language’
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North America
· Election day 2025: From New York to California — key governor, mayor races, and poll timings to watch
· CAIR-Minnesota Condemns Assault Outside Church in Minneapolis, Calls for Stepped-Up Protection for Houses of Worship
· Alert: CAIR Urges All Americans to Head to the Polls Tomorrow and Make Their Voices Heard
· CAIR-Arizona Welcomes Sentencing of Man Who Threatened Mosque
· Everything Is Bigger in Texas, Including Its New Islamic Centre
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Europe
· Mosque plan for Watford St Thomas’ Church progresses
· Azerbaijan unveils new mosque project in Jabrayil
· China academic intimidation claim referred to counter-terrorism police
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South Asia
· Pakistan Says Three Militants, Including Two Afghans, Killed in Counterterror Raids
· 190 Bangladeshis fired for protesting exploitation
· Books Upholding Islamic and Afghan Values Approved, Ministry
· Muttaqi Underscores Diplomacy, Regional Cooperation as Cornerstones of IEA’s Foreign Policy
· OIC Urges Member States to Deliver Urgent Aid for Afghanistan’s Earthquake Victims
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Arab World
· Palestinian Self-Rule Key To Gaza Future, Say Top Muslim Countries
· Second Season Of Global Harmony Begins In Riyadh With Celebration Of Indian Culture
· Saudi Program Empowers Students In Historic Mosque Restoration
· Saudi Arabia and Japan mark 70 years of diplomacy in Riyadh
· Saudi forum to highlight sufficiency-based climate policies at UN conference in Brazil
· Training program boosts Saudi fashion talent
· Jeddah governor meets rights body chief
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Africa
· Nigeria Security Problem Is Beyond Muslim/Christian Crisis — Governor Anambra
· Tinubu Reaffirms Nigeria’s Commitment To Religious Freedom – Dabiri-Erewa
· Chad Shuts Its Border With Nigeria Amid Fears Of U.S. Troops Invasion
· Africa Did Not Invade America When Blacks Were Killed – Soludo Blasts Trump
· ECOWAS Silent As U.S.-Nigeria Tensions Escalate Over Trump’s Military Threat
· Guinea's junta leader enters the December presidential race
· Emirati official acknowledges missteps in Sudan crisis response
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Southeast Asia
· Anwar: Malaysia’s Trade Pact With US Fully Complies With Federal Constitution
· Malaysia can terminate US trade agreement at any time says AGC
· Deputy PM Zahid Begins China Working Visit To Boost Halal Exports
· Gobind: Malaysia on track to achieve AI nation status by 2030, with 2026 as turning point
· Prosecution links Najib directly to 1MDB deals, says Jho Low merely go-between
· King of Malaysia set to meet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during state visit
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/woman-hindutva-india-hindu-rashtra/d/137514
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Woman Hindutva Leader In UP, Tulika Sharma, Seeks Five Minutes From Centre To Turn India Into A Hindu Rashtra
Piyush Srivastava
04.11.25
Representational picture
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A woman Hindutva leader has sought five minutes of free rein from the Centre to convert the country into a “Hindu Rashtra”.
The Vishwa Hindu Mahasangh (Bharat), which claims to be working towards making India a nation “only for Hindus”, organised a mahayagna in Moradabad on Monday to pledge that they would transform India into a “Hindu Rashtra”.
“We want the government to give us five minutes (of permission to do anything). Each matri-shakti (mother-power) would take on 100 of them,” Tulika Sharma, general secretary of the organisation, said in an apparent reference to the minority community.
“We are learning to use weapons. I am myself learning sword fighting,” she added.
Sharma said the outfit had requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to declare India a Hindu nation “as soon as possible”.
“We can also do this. Nobody should think that we fear anybody. The Hindu religion is 10,000 years old. Those who belonged to other faiths came here either to popularise their religion or to loot India. Then they converted some Hindus. Those who left India after Partition (in 1947) were non-Hindus. Those who are still living here must convert to Hinduism or leave the country soon,” she warned.
Sharma claimed AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi had remarked in Moradabad a few years ago that they would have changed “the dynamic of the area if given 15 minutes”.
“We don’t need 15 minutes; we need only five minutes to handle them and make India a Hindu nation. Anybody can get a taste of our power by giving us five minutes only,” she said.
Sharma’s emergence as a hate-spewing Hindutva zealot in Uttar Pradesh comes close on the heels of the arrest of All India Hindu Mahasabha national general secretary Pooja Shakun Pandey in connection with the murder of local businessman Abhishek Gupta.
A senior BJP leader in Lucknow said he supported Sharma’s demand. “Even the BJP stands by her demand. Senior leaders of the BJP and the RSS have made similar demands in the past,” he said on condition of anonymity.
Samajwadi Party spokesperson Anurag Bhadauriya said: “We oppose both Owaisi and Sharma’s remarks. The government must take action against such people.”
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/hindutva-leader-sparks-controversy-with-call-for-five-minutes-to-make-india-a-hindu-rashtra-prnt/cid/2131104
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Centuries-Old ‘Phool Waalon Ki Sair’ At The Dargah Of Khwaja Bakhtiar Kaki Will Not Be Held This Year, DDA ‘Denies Permission’
by Devansh Mittal
November 4, 2025
Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena, Chairman of DDA, has attended previous editions of the festival. (Photo: X/@LtGovDelhi)
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Phool Waalon Ki Sair (procession of the florists), an annual festival symbolising communal harmony in the national capital, has been cancelled this year.
The reason? The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has allegedly not given the organisers permission to hold the event in one of their parks.
The week-long festival is unique as the Hindu and Muslim community together offer the floral Chadar and Pankha at the Dargah of Khwaja Bakhtiar Kaki in Mehrauli. Another floral Pantha and chhatra (canopy) is offered at the ancient temple of Devi Yogmaya in Mehrauli.
The festival is held at Aam Bagh in Mehrauli, where swings, stalls and sports are also set up.
Usha Kumar, General Secretary of the Anjuman Sair-E-Gul Faroshan, a non-profit that has been organising the festival since 1961, said, “Since we faced difficulty in getting permission last year also, we started early this year. We met the DDA in April to get permission to hold it in Aam Bagh, but they said a No-Objection Certificate is needed from the Forest Department. The Forest Department did not respond to calls or messages, so we had the message hand delivered to them. The Delhi government also supported us and attempted to coordinate between different government agencies, but the DDA did not give permission eventually.”
“Till 2023, they were allowing us to hold the festival at Aam Bagh,” she said. “How did they suddenly realise they can’t allow us?”
The DDA did not respond to requests for a comment.
The festival has its origins in the early 19th century, when the Mughal empire was beginning to decline. Prince Mirza Jahangir had fired at the British resident and was exiled to Allahabad. His mother, Mumtaz Mahal Begum, promised that once her son returned she would walk barefoot from the Red Fort to the dargah of Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki in Mehrauli to offer her gratitude.
When her prayers were answered, it is said, local flower-sellers scattered flowers along her route and made floral fans (Pankhas) which were offered at both the Kaki dargah and Yogmaya Temple.
From this act grew an annual fair instituted in 1811, bringing together people of different faiths in a syncretic celebration. It was halted during British rule in 1942 and revived in 1962 by then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena, Chairman of DDA, has attended previous editions of the festival. Last year, he presented the chadar at the Dargah; in 2023, he visited both the Dargah and the temple, organisers claimed. Last year, Leader of Opposition Atishi, then the Delhi CM, had also participated in the festival.
Anjuman Sair-E-Gul Faroshan has also been awarded the National Award for Communal Harmony and has represented Delhi at the national capital’s tableau during the Republic Day parade thrice.
Source: indianexpress.com
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https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/centuries-old-phool-waalon-ki-sair-dda-denies-permission-10345154/
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Israel rocked by scandal as top military lawyer resigns, goes missing, is found and thrown into jail
November 04, 2025
Israel’s Military Advocate General Maj. Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, at the supreme court in Jerusalem Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP)
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JERUSALEM: Until last week, Maj. Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi was the Israeli army’s top lawyer. Now she is behind bars and at the center of a scandal rocking the country after a bizarre sequence of events that included her abrupt resignation, a brief disappearance and a frantic search that led authorities to find her on a Tel Aviv beach.
The soap opera-worthy saga was touched off last week by Tomer-Yerushalmi’s explosive admission that she approved the leak of a surveillance video at the center of a politically divisive investigation into allegations of severe abuse against a Palestinian at a notorious Israeli military prison.
The video shows part of an assault in which Israeli soldiers are accused of sexually abusing a Palestinian detainee.
By leaking the video last year, Tomer-Yerushalmi aimed to expose the seriousness of the allegations her office was investigating. Instead, it triggered fierce criticism from Israel’s hard-line political leaders. After Tomer-Yerushalmi resigned under pressure last week, her critics continued to heave personal insults.
She left a cryptic note for her family and abandoned her car near a beach. That led to fears she may have taken her own life and prompted an intensive search that included the use of military drones.
She was found alive at the beach Sunday night, at which point more vitriol against her was unleashed.
“We can resume the lynch,” right-wing TV personality Yinon Magal, an ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, posted on X with a winking-face emoji.
After it was revealed that one of Tomer-Yerushalmi’s phones had disappeared, right-wing politicians and commentators began to accuse her of staging a suicide attempt as a way to destroy potential evidence.
The extraordinary episode shows two years of devastating war have done little to heal a country that was deeply divided even before Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack. It also makes Tomer-Yerushalmi the latest in a long line of top security officials who have either left office or been forced out, most of them to be replaced by people considered loyal to Netanyahu and his hard-line government.
Anger over leak distracts from severe abuse at heart of case
At a court hearing Monday, the judge said Tomer-Yerushalmi’s detention would be extended until Wednesday on suspicion of committing fraud, breach of trust and obstruction of justice. While the investigation into her actions continues, she is being held at a women’s prison in central Israel.
Israeli media reported that former chief military prosecutor Col. Matan Solomesh was also arrested in connection with the leak investigation. The prime minister’s office has refused to comment on Solomesh’s arrest.
The fury over the leaked video reveals the depth of polarization in Israel — and at least for the moment, keeps the media and the public focused on the leak and not the allegations of abuse.
The assault occurred on July 5, 2024, at the Sde Teiman military prison, according to the indictment against the accused soldiers. The AP has investigated allegations of inhumane treatment and abuse at Sde Teiman that predate those in the surveillance video.
That video, which has been aired by Israeli news, shows soldiers taking a detainee into an area they cordoned off with shields in an apparent attempt to hide their actions. The indictment said the soldiers assaulted the Palestinian prisoner and sodomized him with a knife, causing multiple injuries.
A medical staffer familiar with the case who spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear for his safety said the detainee arrived at a civilian hospital in life-threatening condition with blunt trauma to the abdomen and the chest and fractured ribs.
He said the detainee underwent surgery for a perforated rectum and was released back to Sde Teiman days later. The staffer said it was the most extreme abuse case he was familiar with from Sde Teiman.
When military police came to Sde Teiman in July to detain the soldiers suspected of abuse, they scuffled with protesters opposed to the arrests. Later, hundreds of violent protesters broke into the detention center.
In her resignation letter, Tomer-Yerushalmi wrote that she had exposed evidence of the abuse to counter the idea that the military was unfairly targeting its own soldiers. That idea was creating a danger to the military’s law enforcement, she said, citing the break-in.
She wrote that the military had a “duty to investigate when there is reasonable suspicion of violence against a detainee.
“Unfortunately, this basic understanding — that there are actions which must never be taken even against the vilest of detainees — no longer convinces everyone,” she wrote.
The Palestinian detainee who was the subject of the alleged abuse in the video was released back to Gaza last month as part of an exchange between living hostages and Palestinian prisoners, according to documents from the military prosecutor’s office obtained by the AP.
The case is still pending before the military court.
A web of legal issues
Three separate legal issues must be sorted out as part of Israel’s investigation into what happened at Sde Teiman, said Yohanan Plesner, the president of the Jerusalem-based think tank Israel Democracy Institute.
The first relates to evidence that Israeli soldiers abused Palestinian detainees while they were in detention. The second is whether Israeli civilians, including members of parliament, tried to disrupt the investigation by breaking into the military base where the soldiers accused of the actions were being held. The third is whether the military attorney general allegedly committed a host of offenses, including fraud, to undermine the investigation into how a video purporting to show the abuse was leaked to the media.
The intense rhetoric over the past few days is reminiscent of what it was like in Israel immediately before the Oct. 7 attack that launched the war in Gaza, Plesner said. At the time, the public was deeply divided over Netanyahu’s push to overhaul the judiciary.
The concern for a few hours Sunday night about Tomer-Yerushalmi’s fate should serve as a “stop sign” to the Israeli public — and especially to commentators who derided her personally, Plesner said.
“It was very sad to see how the internal discourse can bring about such potentially tragic outcome on a personal level,” Plesner said.
It felt especially symbolic, he said, that Tomer-Yerushalmi was in court while the Israeli government held its official memorial ceremony marking the 30th anniversary of the assassination of then-Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.
Many regard the assassination as Israel’s lowest point in terms of divisions and incitement among the Israeli public, and worry that the dramatic events of the weekend foreshadow Israel’s return to a similar period of internal strife.
“It was very sad to see how the internal discourse can bring about such potentially tragic outcome on a personal level,” Plesner said. “There’s a way how to debate our differences in a democratic society.”
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2621338/middle-east
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Trump backs Cuomo for New York City mayor and threatens to cut funding if Mamdani wins
NOVEMBER 4, 2025
Ana Faguy
Watch: 'Hard' to send money to New York City if Mamdani wins mayoral race, Trump says
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US President Donald Trump has endorsed Andrew Cuomo in the New York City mayor's race, urging voters not to elect left-wing front-runner Zohran Mamdani.
"Whether you personally like Andrew Cuomo or not, you really have no choice. You must vote for him, and hope he does a fantastic job," Trump posted on Truth Social Monday evening. "He is capable of it, Mamdani is not!"
Independent candidate Cuomo, a long-term Trump critic who was formerly a Democrat New York governor, responded to the tepid backing: " He's not endorsing me. He's opposing Mamdani."
The president earlier said he would be reluctant to send more than the minimum federal funding to his hometown of New York if Mamdani is elected.
Opinion polls indicate Mamdani, the Democratic nominee, is ahead of Cuomo, who is running as an Independent after Mamdani bested him in the Democratic primary. The Republican candidate, Curtis Sliwa, trails behind.
Trump, also a Republican, declined to endorse Sliwa in his post, saying "A vote for Curtis Sliwa ... is a vote for Mamdani".
The president added, "It is highly unlikely that I will be contributing Federal Funds, other than the very minimum as required" if Mamdani is elected.
This echoed comments Trump made in a television interview on Sunday, during which he incorrectly referred to Mamdani as a "communist".
"It's gonna be hard for me as the president to give a lot of money to New York," Trump said. "Because if you have a communist running New York, all you're doing is wasting the money you're sending there".
Responding to Trump's comments about funding on Monday, Mamdani said he would "address that threat for what it is: it is a threat. It is not the law."
The Trump administration has repeatedly tried to cut federal grants and funding for projects primarily located in Democratic-run areas. New York City received $7.4bn (£5.7bn) in federal funding this fiscal year.
Also on Monday, Mamdani said that "the MAGA movement's embrace of Andrew Cuomo is reflective of Donald Trump's understanding that this would be the best mayor for him."
"Not the best mayor for New York City, not the best mayor for New Yorkers, but the best mayor for Donald Trump and his administration," Mamdani said.
In his wide-ranging interview with CBS programme 60 Minutes on Sunday, Trump said that Mamdani in office would make left-wing former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio "look great".
"I got to see de Blasio, how bad a mayor he was, and this man will do a worse job than de Blasio by far," the president said of Mamdani.
Trump grew up in the New York borough of Queens and still owns property in the city.
"I'm not a fan of Cuomo one way or the other, but if it's gonna be between a bad Democrat and a Communist, I'm gonna pick the bad Democrat all the time, to be honest with you," the Republican president told CBS.
Mamdani describes himself as a democratic socialist, and has rejected accusations he is a communist, joking in one television interview that he was "kind of like a Scandinavian politician", only browner.
If he wins, he will become the city's first Muslim mayor and its youngest in more than 100 years.
The 34-year-old state assemblyman has called Cuomo, the former New York governor, a puppet and parrot of Trump.
"The answer to a Donald Trump presidency is not to create its mirror image here in City Hall," Mamdani said on Monday.
"It is to create an alternative that can speak to what New Yorkers are so desperate to see in their own city and what they find in themselves and their neighbours every day - a city that believes in the dignity of everyone who calls this place home."
Cuomo has sought to parry that line of attack by presenting himself as the only candidate experienced enough to deal with the Trump administration.
He was governor of New York during the Covid-19 pandemic when many states clashed with the Trump administration, though Cuomo himself came under scrutiny after state investigators found nursing home deaths were significantly understated during the outbreak.
"I fought Donald Trump," Cuomo said during a debate. "When I'm fighting for New York, I am not going to stop."
Trump has deployed National Guard troops to Democratic-led cities as part of a crime crackdown, while seeking to strip funding from jurisdictions that limit their co-operation with federal immigration authorities.
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c231e284345o
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Muslim Convert, A Self-Styled, "Anglo Jihadi", Convicted Of Planning Terror Attack
04 Nov 2025
Jordan Richardson was convicted on charges of preparing for acts of terrorism and distributing terrorist publications
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A self-styled "Anglo Jihadi" has been found guilty of planning a terror attack.
Muslim convert Jordan Richardson, 21, of Oliver Close, Howden, East Yorkshire, was planning an "atrocity", with possible targets including Meadowhall shopping centre, near Sheffield, a trial at Leeds Crown Court heard.
He also "regularly expressed a wish to kill Jews" and joked about going into a synagogue wearing a suicide vest, prosecutors said.
Richardson was convicted on charges of preparing for acts of terrorism, the collection of information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism and distributing terrorist publications.
Richardson, who was arrested on his way to work in December last year, was found to have handwritten notes in his backpack which detailed his attack plan, as well as ingredients and instructions on how to make mustard gas.
A search of his home, revealed weapons including a crossbow, crossbow bolts, and a combat-style knife.
Richardson's internet history also showed an "affiliation with extreme Islamist ideology, including material "depicting and glorifying terrorist actions".
Richardson had claimed he was "playing the character of an extremist" to escape from the rest of his life, where he felt depressed and isolated.
'Killing people brutally'
But, in her closing speech, prosecutor Katherine Robinson said there was evidence Richardson "wasn't just an online fantasist" but that he was "going to put his jihadi fantasies into reality".
"He was a man who kept a lethal crossbow and knife in his house, who had a recipe for explosives, who was carrying around a detailed set of notes for how to make a chemical warfare agent," Ms Robinson said.
Richardson also posted a video on Instagram of the exterior of Meadowhall shopping centre followed by a brightly coloured clip featuring pictures of rainbows and dolphins, overlaid with the words: "How life feels when you finally give up and just start killing people brutally".
Other video clips shown to the court included Richardson smashing a statue of Buddha in a garden, describing how it was a "polytheistic idol".
"We say the only possible intention in sharing that sort of material, in particular with a group of people who had professed allegiance to the Islamic State, was to encourage terrorist acts," Ms Robinson added.
Speaking at the conclusion of the case, Det Ch Supt James Dunkerley, head of counter terrorism policing North East, said Richardson had been inspired by the "violent propaganda" of the so-called Islamic State.
"He was preparing to conduct an attack on members of the public, and to become a martyr to others who share his ideology," he said.
"This case shows the real-world threat that terrorist content online poses, and how quickly people who view this content can radicalise themselves.
"In just a few short months, Richardson went from being a new convert to Islam, to being a committed and dangerous extremist."
Richardson is due to be sentenced on 15 December.
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1d0zy4qgq3o
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India
Allahabad High Court orders ₹50,000 compensation for man jailed in false anti-conversion case
November 03, 2025
The Allahabad High Court recently quashed an FIR registered under the U.P. Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021, against five persons accused of luring a Hindu woman to get converted. The court slammed the police action as “vexatious” and ordered the authorities to pay a compensation of ₹50,000 to one of the men who had to spend one-and-a-half months in jail.
The case stems from an FIR lodged by Bahraich resident Pankaj Kumar whose wife went missing from home with jewellery and cash on September 13. Mr. Kumar approached the police and said five men, named by him in the FIR, had lured his wife away. Police booked the men under Sections of the anti-conversion law and charged them with abduction.
The counsel representing Ubaid Khan, arrested by police after the incident, told the court that despite the woman recording a statement saying that she had fled on her own because of abuse, his client was not freed.
Ordering immediate release of Mr. Khan in an order on October 30, the Bench of Justices Abdul Moin and Babita Rani said the case was an example of the “State authorities falling and scrambling over each other in order to score brownie points” on the basis of the FIR.
“... after the FIR had been lodged on 13.09.2025, the petitioner No.1 was arrested on 18.09.2025 and the statement of the victim was recorded under Section 183 of the B.N.S.S., 2023 on 19.09.2025 totally falsifying the FIR yet the respondents authorities did not deem it fit to take any corrective action for release of the petitioner No.1 and he continues to languish in jail since a period of one and a half months and is still in jail... ,” the court noted.
It added that apathy shown by the authorities has compelled the court to award a cost of ₹75,000 on the State of Uttar Pradesh, of which ₹50,000 will be paid to Mr. Khan and the remaining ₹25,000 will be deposited with the Legal Aid Services of the court.
The court allowed the State to proceed against the erring officials and Mr. Kumar for registering a false case.
Source: thehindu.com
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https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/uttar-pradesh/allahabad-high-court-orders-50000-compensation-for-man-jailed-in-false-anti-conversion-case/article70237417.ece
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Kerala Waqf Board to challenge HC Division Bench’s verdict on Munambam land
November 04, 2025
K S SudhiK S SUDHI
The Kerala Waqf Board (KWB) will file a review petition against the Kerala High Court’s Division Bench order declaring the contentious Munambam land as not a Waqf property.
A two-member Bench consisting of Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice V. M. Shyamkumar had passed the judgment last month in a writ petition filed by the State government challenging a Single Judge’s order striking down the appointment of an inquiry commission into the Munambam issue.
The KWB will argue that an error was apparent on the face of the judgment, and the Bench exceeded its judicial mandate by passing the order on an issue that was never raised by the appellants or any other parties to the litigation, sources said.
The State government, the appellant in the case, had challenged the Single Judge’s order cancelling the appointment of C.N. Ramachandran Nair as the Commission of Inquiry. The Division Bench, which considered the appeal, transgressed the judicial boundaries in the case and decided on the nature of the disputed property, which none of the parties to the litigation had raised during the arguments, the board will argue, the sources said.
The board would also challenge the court order, which set aside the registration of the Munambam holding as a Waqf property, and the court’s findings regarding the delay in registering the holding as a Waqf.
A meeting of the Waqf Board held last week discussed the legal opinion it had received in the case.
The Division Bench, the KWB would argue, decided on the legal question of the nature of the land, which was originally to be decided by the Waqf Tribunal, the appropriate judicial forum, they said.
The judicial overreach has also jeopardised the legal mandate of the tribunal before which the Munambam land case was pending. The Bench’s order will cast a shadow of undue influence over the tribunal and may affect its free and fair dispensation of justice, the Board will argue, sources said.
Meanwhile, the Waqf Tribunal will consider the Munambam case later this week.
The tribunal, headed by District Judge T. K. Minimol, will hear the contentions of the board and the legal heirs of Mohammed Siddique Sait, who gave the disputed land to Farook College, Kozhikode, on November 6. The tribunal had recently allowed the residents of Munambam to challenge the board’s decision in registering the land as Waqf.
The Farook College, Kozhikode, too, had challenged the decision of the Board. The forum will hear and dispose of all the petitions together, the sources said.
Source: thehindu.com
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https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/kerala-waqf-board-to-challenge-hc-division-benchs-verdict-on-munambam-land/article70236513.ece
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Polls near, Mamata govt faces protests over slashing of Muslim share in Bengal OBC list
RAVIK BHATTACHARYA
November 4, 2025
A key feature of the Trinamool Congress’s (TMC) continued dominance in West Bengal politics is that it has been built on the foundation of support from women and the Muslim vote. However, months away from the Assembly elections, the TMC finds itself confronting brewing discontent among backward Muslims about changes in the state’s Other Backward Classes (OBC) list, keeping the Mamata Banerjee-led party on its toes.
On October 23, a few thousand Muslim youths organised a protest March in Murshidabad town, following a meeting at a local auditorium, marking the first protest by the minority community on this issue. The protesters, among whom are several Muslim intellectuals, allege that the new list, published in May and June this year following a fresh survey, has not only dropped several large Muslim groups but has also put in several Hindu sub-castes in the “OBC A” category (the most backward) that provides 10% reservation in government jobs and educational institutions and has pushed several Muslim groups in the “OBC B” category that allocates 7% reservation. The two lists earlier used to cater to around 80% of Muslims in the state, who comprise 27.1% of the state’s population, as per the 2011 Census. However, experts estimate that number has climbed in the last decade.
Category Old List New List
OBC A 80 groups (72 Muslims, 8 non-Muslims) 49 groups (35 Muslims, 14 non-Muslims)
OBC B 91 groups (40 Muslims, 51 non-Muslims) 91 (41 Muslims, 50 non-Muslims)
Progressive Intellectuals of Bengal president Manajat Biswas, whose outfit is spearheading the protests, said, “Thirty-seven Muslim groups have been removed, out of which 16 were from the old OBC A and 21 from old OBC B. Some of these are commonly known as extremely backward. Thirty-four Muslim and seven non-Muslim sub-castes have been moved from OBC A to OBC B. The problem is that prominent Muslim groups such as Shershabadia, Khotta, Mullick, and Rajmistry (mason) have been removed from OBC A, which is the most backward and placed in OBC B and non-Muslim groups with a large population and many sub castes have been placed in OBC A (from OBC B), such as Goala, Gope, Yadav, Kumbhakar, Yogi Nath, Tantubaya, and Chasatti. The Muslim Majhi community was removed, but the non-Muslim counterpart was moved from OBC B to OBC A.”
According to the protesters, this has led to Muslim youth in the state from backward communities to miss out on admissions to colleges and universities in the current academic calendar. For instance:
Three Muslim candidates lost out in an English PhD interview in Cooch Behar’s Panchanan Barma University, as their communities are not in the OBC A category anymore.
In Bankura University, subjects such as physics, mathematics, geography, history, philosophy, and journalism saw a negligible number of Muslim candidates apply under the OBC A category in postgraduate courses.
Of the 87 candidates that the West Bengal College Service Commission selected for the recruitment of principals in colleges, there were no Muslim candidates.
The protesters said that if the problem is not addressed properly, it will impact the coming selection process of the School Service Commission that has to be completed by December 31, as per the Supreme Court order. The Registrar General of the Calcutta High Court has also directed the district and session judges to keep all ongoing recruitment processes in the OBC A and B categories in abeyance for now.
“It remains unclear why the government deemed 37 Muslim groups unfit for any reservation, 16 of which previously belonged to the OBC A category, while simultaneously considering another 34 Muslim groups so empowered that they were moved to OBC B,” said Anisur Rehman, a member of Progressive Intellectuals of Bengal.
What the protesters want
With its political base eroding, the Left Front government included 66 Muslim sub-castes in the OBC list in 2010, bringing around 87% of the state’s Muslims under the reservation umbrella in a desperate, last-ditch effort to stop the Muslim vote from shifting to the TMC. However, the executive order was never enacted into law and the following year, the Left government fell.
In 2012, the Mamata Banerjee government passed a Bill adding 35 more sub-castes, 33 of them Muslims. The same year, a petition challenging the law’s constitutional validity was filed in the Calcutta High Court. Things came to a head last year when the Calcutta High Court Bench of Justices Tapabrata Chakraborty and Rajshekhar Mantha struck down the 2012 law and asked the state government to frame fresh rules in accordance with national norms before issuing OBC certificates again. However, the court did not extend this to the 66 communities that had been classified through the 2010 executive order. The matter is now pending in the Supreme Court, which is set to hear the matter next on November 6.
The resentment among Muslim groups that have been left out has been noted by the TMC, but the party pointed out that the matter was before the top court now. “Some Muslims are not happy with the list; we are aware of it. However, the survey done this time is fine and the Supreme Court will determine the case. Those who have grievances should approach the court,” said TMC MLA Mosharaf Hossain, a member of the West Bengal Commission for Backward Classes that oversaw the survey.
The Indian Express also reached out to TMC Rajya Sabha MP Samirul Islam, who is a member of the Commission, but he refused to comment.
“We have received petitions from around 41 groups, a majority of them Muslims. We are reviewing them, but are now waiting for the Supreme Court hearing on the matter. The survey and the hearing happened according to norms,” said Commission member Moloy Krishna Dey.
“The question is not only about the Hindus and Muslims,” said a senior state government official. “It is about reaching the deserving sections of the backward classes with welfare support. For this, a rigorous ethnographic study of the communities is needed to see how the sample populations were selected, what was the basis of their selection, were qualitative and quantitative studies carried out by fieldworkers properly trained in handling ethnographic tools to collect primary data from the field, how the data was stored and analysed, etc. There may be scores for the determination of the criteria for inclusion or exclusion of a community in a particular category, but it has to be properly verified. The study should be backed by solid research.”
The protesters want the government to raise the OBC quota ceiling to 25% to make space for the groups that have been left out. “We want the balance restored. Those Muslim groups that have been dropped from OBC A have to be brought back. We want the state government to go for another survey, a proper survey, and then revert to the old list, which gave backward Muslims a chance,” said Biswas, pointing out that various states have 25% reservation for OBCs, where the system is divided into more categories.
Political anthropologist Adil Hossain, who teaches at the Azim Premji University, questioned the survey. “What the OBC Commission has done is a sample survey. They have not followed proper survey methodology. They should have done a comprehensive survey of all castes and found out their representation in public jobs and universities. They should have made the list based on that data.”
Hossain said the government appeared to have reworked the OBC list to “politically satisfy some groups”. “It was a random arrangement, excluding marginalised Muslim communities. A comprehensive survey was needed, as was done in Bihar, Telangana, and Karnataka.”
Kolkata-based researcher Sabir Ahamed, who is associated with the Pratichi India Trust, said Muslims had historically faced disadvantages in higher education and government employment. “The provision of OBC reservation for them as socially backward groups created some opportunities in these areas. However, the recent notification has pushed them further to the margins,” he said.
Source: indianexpress.com
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Bengaluru’s Museum of Art and Photography shines a light on figures from the supporting cast of Indian myth
November 4, 2025
When speaking of the great figures of myths and epics across the world, it is often their protagonists who come to mind. It is Rama who embodies the Ramayana, and Odysseus who is foremost in the Odyssey. One of the newer exhibits at Bengaluru’s Museum of Art and Photography (MAP) is “In Celestial Company”, a collection of sculptures and similar artwork that focuses on the accompanying characters in Indian tales – from the vehicles of gods and their attendants to demigods and spirits.
Many of these are wooden sculptures from the 19th and 20th centuries – of Vishnu’s mount Garuda, or Airavata, the great elephant ridden by Indra. Those familiar with Christian and Islamic iconography may also recognise a depiction of angel Gabriel, while other pieces run the gamut from paintings to textile art.
Curator Priya Chauhan said with regard to the selection process behind the exhibit, “It was a nod to the point the exhibition is trying to make… once you start noticing these otherwise deemed ‘supporting’ figures, you realise they are everywhere and that no story is complete without them. They form an indispensable part of mythology, proving even the divine does not work in isolation – and makes you wonder about the ecosystem beyond the world of mythology, about life in general… the process of selection was more intentional in terms of displaying a broad variation in the kinds of figures, the different mediums, range of stories and grey areas, and a range of new and old works.”
The pieces in question are mostly selected from MAP’s own collection, with the pieces obtained either directly through acquisitions or donated by various collectors and museum patrons. Some items find crossovers with other exhibits at the museum – such as a textile ticket from the British textile trade.
With regard to visitors at the exhibit, the organisers said they were hoping that the “…people leave a little more curious. A little more aware of what they don’t see. And with a renewed love for stories hidden in the folds of history but taking it beyond the museum space and into their own lives, seeing how important the roles that margins play in the ecosystem there too.”
Visitors can view “In Celestial Company” after purchasing a ticket for Rs 100 to the relevant gallery at the Museum of Art and Photography. Admission to the gallery is free on Tuesday, and the exhibit will be open to visitors until February 15.
Source: indianexpress.com
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Mideast
Gaza’s psychological trauma brings large numbers to seek help
November 03, 2025
GAZA STRIP: Gaza residents are suffering “a volcano” of psychological trauma from Israel’s devastating military campaign that has become clear since last month’s truce, according to Palestinian mental health specialists.
Two years of intense Israeli bombardment and repeated military incursions that local health authorities say have killed more than 68,000 people, along with widespread homelessness and hunger, have affected all of Gaza’s 2.3 million inhabitants.
The crisis is evident in the large numbers now seeking treatment from the Gaza City Mental Health Hospital team, which is working out of a nearby clinic because its building is damaged, said its head, Abdallah Al-Jamal. “With the start of the truce, it was like a volcano erupting in patients seeking mental health services. Even the stigma that used to be present before, the fear of visiting a psychologist, does not exist anymore,” he said, describing “a very large increase” in numbers from before the conflict.
Al-Jamal and a colleague are working as best they can, but with the hospital suffering significant damage, their resources are limited, and they have to share a room, depriving their patients of privacy during consultations. “That is honestly insulting in the way services are provided, but we are trying as much as possible to find alternatives,” he said of the more than 100 patients they see there every day.
Among children, there are widespread reports of night terrors, bed-wetting, and other symptoms, including an inability to focus, according to mental health specialists for the Palestinian Red Crescent Society.
“Gazan children are now suffering from shortages of food, water, shelter, and clothing,” said Nivine Abdelhadi, a specialist from the organization, which is offering activities for children that include games and stories.
The ceasefire came into effect on Oct. 10, although there have been repeated outbreaks of violence since then. It brought a halt to major warfare in the conflict, which was triggered by the attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
Source: arabnews.com
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In Gaza cemeteries, displaced Palestinians live among the dead
November 03, 2025
KHAN YOUNIS: Skeletons are neighbors for some Palestinians in Gaza who found nowhere but cemeteries to shelter from the war.
Gravestones have become seats and tables for families like that of Maisa Brikah, who has lived with her children in a dusty, sun-baked cemetery in the southern city of Khan Younis for five months. Some 30 families shelter here.
A blonde-haired toddler sits outside one tent, running fingers through the sand. Another peeks playfully from behind a drape of fabric.
Nighttime is another matter.
“When the sun goes down, the children get scared and don’t want to go, and I have a few children, four small ones,” Brikah said.
“They are afraid to go out because of the dogs at night, and the dead.”
The vast majority of Gaza’s population of over 2 million people has been displaced by the two years of war between Hamas and Israel.
With the ceasefire that began on Oct. 10, some have returned to what remains of homes.
Others are still crowded into the strip of remaining territory that Israeli forces don’t control.
Here and in other cemeteries in Gaza, there is life among the dead. A prayer rug hangs on a line. A child pushes a water jug on a wheelchair between the graves. Smoke rises from a cooking fire.
One of Brikah’s nearest neighbors was Ahmad Abu Said, who died in 1991 at age 18, according to the carving on his tombstone. There is unease, a feeling of disrespect, at setting up camp here.
But there is little choice. Brikah said her family’s home elsewhere in Khan Younis was destroyed. There is no return for now. Israeli forces occupy their neighborhood.
Other residents of this cemetery come from Gaza’s north. They are often far from the land where their own loved ones are buried.
Mohammed Shmah said he has been living here for three months. He said his house had been destroyed, too.
“I’m a grown man, but I still get scared of the graves at night. I hide in my tent,” he said, perched on a broken tombstone and squinting in the sun.
He said he had only 200 shekels (around $60) on him when a friend took it to help bring his family to the cemetery.
The lack of money for shelter elsewhere is one reason keeping families living among the graves, said Hanan Shmah, Mohammed’s wife.
With care, she washed dishes in a soapy container the size of a pie tin, guarding precious water.
“Of course, life in the cemetery is full of fear, dread, and worries, and you don’t sleep in addition to the stress we experience,” she said.
There is no guarantee of safety, even among the dead. Israeli forces have bombed cemeteries during the war, according to the UN and other observers.
Israel has accused Hamas of using some cemeteries for cover, and has argued that the sites lose their protection when they are used for military purposes.
During the war, bodies in Gaza were buried wherever they could, including in hospital courtyards. According to custom, Palestinian families are buried near loved ones. The fighting has largely disrupted that.
Now, with the ceasefire, the search is on for the dead.
Israel presses Hamas to turn over the remains of hostages.
Palestinian health officials post gruesome photos of bodies returned by Israel in the hope that families can identify them.
Others search Gaza’s vast stretches of rubble for bodies that the fighting long made unable to claim.
The death toll in Gaza from the war — now over 68,800 — has jumped by hundreds since the ceasefire began from the recovery of such remains alone.
Families in this Khan Younis cemetery have watched as new additions arrive, often buried not under slabs but under sand, marked off by stones.
Recovery, reconstruction, return. All feel far away.
“After the ceasefire my life is the same inside the cemetery, meaning I gained nothing,” Mohammed Shmah said.
Source: arabnews.com
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How Israeli raids uprooted lives in the West Bank’s Tulkarem refugee camp
ANAN TELLO
November 03, 2025
LONDON: In Tulkarem, a refugee camp in the occupied West Bank, residential buildings have been reduced to piles of grey rubble, the facades of shuttered businesses blackened by soot. Damaged vehicles jut from the wreckage, and the surrounding streets are eerily quiet.
As of late September, about 32,000 Palestinians had been forced to flee the camps of Tulkarem, Nur Shams, and Jenin after months of Israeli military raids, orchestrated under Operation Iron Wall, according to the UN Relief and Works Agency.
Israel launched the campaign in Jenin in January, later expanding it in February to include the Tulkarem and Nur Shams camps. The military said it was targeting Iran-backed armed groups that had grown stronger in the camps and were launching attacks against Israelis.
What began as a series of targeted raids to neutralize Palestinian armed groups and protect Israeli settlements, has since become a sustained military campaign that has displaced thousands and reshaped life in the northern West Bank.
Samir, a displaced resident of Tulkarem camp whose name has been changed for his safety, says Israeli forces have demolished 24 properties belonging to his extended family over the past nine months. Each four-story building, he said, housed an average of five people.
“Our family has been wiped off the camp’s register,” he told Arab News. “They demolished everything we owned — we have nothing left in the camp.
“This is breaking up families and tearing at our social fabric. What did we do to deserve this? We’re simple people, and now everyone lives in a different place. Our family is separated.”
Ahmad, another displaced resident, said he and his wife knew they would never return when soldiers forced them from their home.
“When we were forced out, my wife said goodbye to our home by spraying Zamzam water and perfume — as if she were preparing a body for burial,” Ahmad told Arab News, referring to the Muslim ritual of washing and perfuming the dead. “She was in tears as she bid it farewell.”
At the time, his wife was pregnant with their third child. When the couple returned after she had given birth, hoping to recover a few possessions, he said they found only rubble and splintered wood.
“We wanted to go back to collect our belongings, but when we reached our home, we found that the Israelis had destroyed absolutely everything,” Ahmad said. “Our hearts were broken.”
He said the camp’s condition “is beyond description” and that the operation has rendered it “inhabitable.”
“We deserve to live with dignity, like everyone else in the world. Why must we endure so much injustice?”
Israel says it launched Operation Iron Wall in response to security threats.
According to data from the Israel Security Agency, between the start of the Gaza war and the end of April, there were 8,670 “terrorist attacks” in the West Bank, which killed 64 Israelis and injured 484, the Washington Institute reported.
Since January, the operation has sought to restrict the freedom of action of militants, especially in refugee camps that, according to Israel, had become launchpads for attacks and havens for armed groups organized in battalions.
The operation has led to a significant improvement in security for Israel, with only 25 major attacks originating in the area between January and May, compared with 135 in the same period last year.
But it has come at a significant human cost. Since the start of the operation, at least 550 housing units in Tulkarem have been destroyed and more than 2,500 have been damaged, according to Wael Abu Tahoun, an engineer on the camp’s Popular Committee for Services.
A July study by the committee found that 230 vehicles had been destroyed and 280 commercial premises damaged, looted, or burned.
“Institutions within the camp, such as centers for the disabled, the social club, kindergartens, and even the four existing mosques, were all damaged,” he said. “These figures reflect the scale of the disaster.”
Infrastructure in six main streets — Al-Awdeh, Al-Balawneh, Al-Khadamat, Qaqun, Okasha, and the street next to Al-Awdeh Hall — was also destroyed.
“There are no sewage networks, no water networks, no telecommunications networks, and no electricity,” Abu Tahoun said. “Even the lighting poles and transformers were damaged. Therefore, a complete reconstruction is needed, with new studies and planning.”
The camp’s narrow alleys and tightly packed homes made it especially vulnerable. “Military vehicles passing through newly opened streets caused some houses to collapse and others to crack,” Abu Tahoun said.
The camp, in the city of Tulkarem in the West Bank’s northwest, was established in 1950 to house Palestinians displaced during the Nakba — the mass expulsion that accompanied Israel’s creation in 1948.
Covering just 0.18 square kilometers, it is among the most densely populated refugee camps in the West Bank, according to UNRWA.
In early May, the Israeli military said it was “making changes in the camps — including opening routes and roads — to allow freedom of movement and operational capability (for Israel’s military forces).”
In a separate statement to The Times of Israel, the military described the camps as “terrorist strongholds, with gunmen operating from within civilian neighborhoods.”
It also said demolitions were part of efforts to “prevent the return and entrenchment of gunmen” and to “reshape and stabilize the region.”
Violence has escalated in the West Bank since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, which triggered Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
On Oct. 3, 2024, an Israeli strike on a residential building in Tulkarem camp killed at least 18 people, including Hamas commander Zahi Yaser Abd Al-Razeq Oufi, the Palestinian Authority-run Wafa news agency reported.
The UN Human Rights Office said most of those killed were civilians, including three children and two women — many in their homes or on the surrounding streets.
A mid-August report by the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, said Israeli operations in the West Bank’s northern camps “have significantly altered the geographical landscape through the destruction of buildings and infrastructure.”
It described the demolition of properties as “collective punishment” and raised “strong concern” about Israel’s “excessive use of force” in the West Bank. It stressed that Israeli actions since October 2023 show intent to forcibly transfer Palestinians, expand settlements, and entrench permanent occupation.
The commission noted parallels between operations in the West Bank and Gaza — including the use of tanks, airstrikes, and the destruction of civilian properties — which “give rise to concerns that Israel is targeting the Palestinian people as a whole.”
Since Oct. 7, 2023, Israel’s campaign in Gaza has killed at least 68,530 Palestinians, according to local health authorities, while more than 7,350 have been killed in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported.
In Gaza, more than 90 percent of housing units have been destroyed and 1.9 million Palestinians displaced.
Abu Tahoun said the Tulkarem camp had been deteriorating long before the raids began in late 2023.
“The water network, built in 1960, had not been upgraded since,” he said. “Sewage and rainwater systems were inadequate, and electricity lines were worn out.
“Most of the repairs carried out in the camp (before the operation) were temporary. Works were executed partially and quickly because the occupation forces would return after short periods and destroy what had been repaired.”
Repeated Israeli operations since 2023 “destroyed nearly everything that remained,” he added. “The most recent incursion was the most severe, leaving almost no infrastructure intact.”
Families displaced from Tulkarem camp are dispersed among schools, mosques, and temporary shelters.
Abdul Rahim Al-Muwahhid School, a newly built facility, is among the schools repurposed to shelter evacuees instead of welcoming pupils for the new academic year.
“There’s nowhere for us to go. We were born in the camp. All our lives and memories are there,” one displaced woman told Arab News. “We have been evicted from the camp, but our hearts are still there.
“People in the camp are poor and lead simple lives, but they’re like one big family — they love and respect one another. But this camp has also produced many highly educated people — doctors, engineers, and professionals in every field.”
Kun Sanadan Li Shaabik (Support Your People), a local volunteer initiative, said the displacement has devastated community structures and left children particularly vulnerable. Many have dropped out of school, it said, while others show signs of trauma and anxiety.
UNRWA has described the situation as a “cyclical displacement crisis” driven by military incursions, settler violence, and the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements.
More than 4,000 children have been forced from classrooms and now rely on remote or temporary education, UNRWA said on Oct. 22.
Meanwhile, widespread poverty, rising prices, and disrupted supply chains have left many families food insecure, some reducing meals or borrowing money to survive.
The agency said that Israel’s actions are “laying the groundwork for formal annexation of Palestinian land.”
Despite the devastation, Abu Tahoun is cautiously hopeful. “As soon as Israeli forces withdraw, reconstruction could begin in the least damaged areas,” he said. “But major projects require tenders and external funding. The municipality alone can’t bear the cost.”
The study by the popular committee estimated the total damage at more than 70 million shekels (about $21.5 million), excluding water and electricity networks.
That study was completed in early July, however. “Since then, demolition operations have continued for approximately 104 additional homes,” Abu Tahoun said, suggesting the true cost could be far higher.
“Future demolitions cannot be ruled out, as the occupation’s actions are unpredictable.”
Source: arabnews.com
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Israel advances bill proposing death penalty for “deadly terror attacks”
November 03, 2025
JERUSALEM: An Israeli parliamentary committee on Monday advanced a bill proposing the death penalty for “terrorists,” a move pushed for by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.
The National Security Committee approved the amendment to the penal code, which will now be passed on to the parliament for its first reading.
Israel’s hostages coordinator, Gal Hirsch, said he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu backed the measure.
Ben Gvir said he would stop his party Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) voting with the governing coalition if the law isn’t voted on by Sunday, threatening the government’s survival.
While the death penalty exists for a small number of crimes in Israel, it has become a de facto abolitionist country, with the Nazi Holocaust perpetrator Adolf Eichmann the last person to be executed in 1962.
A statement from the committee that includes the bill’s explanatory note says “its purpose is to cut off terrorism at its root and create a heavy deterrent.”
“It is proposed that a terrorist convicted of murder motivated by racism or hatred toward the public, and under circumstances where the act was committed with the intent to harm the State of Israel... will be sentenced to the death penalty — mandatory,” the statement said.
The rule, it said, was “not optional and without discretion.”
The text also proposes that the death penalty can be imposed by a majority of judges and the sentence cannot be commuted once the ruling is handed down.
Hirsch had previously opposed debating the bill citing concern for living captives held in Gaza.
“Since the hostages are now in Israel, this opposition is no longer relevant,” he said, according to the statement.
“The prime minister supports this proposal. I consider this law to be an additional tool in our arsenal against terrorism and for the release of hostages,” he added.
The bill was introduced by a lawmaker from Otzma Yehudit.
“There will be no room for discretion in this law,” Ben Gvir said on Monday, according to the statement.
“Any terrorist who is preparing to commit murder must know that there is only one punishment — the death penalty.”
Ben Gvir on Friday posted a video of himself standing over a row of Palestinian prisoners lying face down on the ground with their hands tied, in which he called for capital punishment.
Palestinian militant group Hamas condemned the move, saying it “embodies the ugly fascist face of the rogue Zionist occupation and represents a blatant violation of international law.”
“We call upon the United Nations, the international community, and relevant human rights and humanitarian organizations to take immediate action to stop this brutal crime,” it added in a statement.
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Iraq can disarm factions only when the US withdraws, prime minister says
November 03, 2025
BAGHDAD: Iraq has pledged to bring all weapons under the control of the state, but that will not work so long as there is a US-led coalition in the country that some Iraqi factions view as an occupying force, the prime minister said on Monday.
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani said a plan was still in place to have the multinational anti-Daesh coalition completely leave Iraq, one of Iran’s closest Arab allies, by September 2026 because the threat from Islamist militant groups had eased considerably.
“There is no Daesh. Security and stability? Thank God it’s there ... so give me the excuse for the presence of 86 states (in a coalition),” he said in an interview in Baghdad, referring to the number of countries that have participated in the coalition since it was formed in 2014.
“Then, for sure there will be a clear program to end any arms outside of state institutions. This is the demand of all,” he said, noting factions could enter official security forces or get into politics by laying down their arms.
‘No side can pull Iraq to war’, says Sudani
Iraq is navigating a politically sensitive effort to disarm Iran-backed militias amid pressure from the US, which has said it would like Sudani to dismantle armed groups affiliated with the Popular Mobilization Forces, an umbrella group of mostly Shiite factions. The PMF was formally integrated into Iraq’s state forces and includes several groups aligned with Iran.
At the same time, the US and Iraq have agreed on a phased withdrawal of American troops, with a full exit expected by the end of 2026. An initial drawdown began in 2025.
Asked about growing international pressure on non-state armed groups in the region such as Lebanon’s Hezbollah, part of Iran’s so-called Axis of Resistance created to counter US and Israeli influence in the Middle East, Sudani said:
“There is time enough, God willing. The situation here is different than Lebanon.”
“Iraq is clear in its stances to maintain security and stability and that state institutions have the decision over war and peace, and that no side can pull Iraq to war or conflict,” said Sudani.
Shiite power Iran has gained vast influence in Iraq since a US-led invasion toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003, with heavily armed pro-Iranian paramilitary groups wielding enormous political and military power.
Successive Iraqi governments have faced the challenge of keeping both arch-foes Iran and the US as allies. While the US slaps sanctions on Iran, Iraq does business with it.
Securing major US investment is a top priority for Iraq, which has faced severe economic problems and years of sectarian bloodletting since 2003.
Us companies increasingly active in Iraq, says Sudani
“There is a clear, intensive and qualitative entrance of US companies into Iraq,” said Sudani, including the biggest ever agreement with GE for 24,000 MW of power, equivalent to the country’s entire current generation capacity, he said.
In August, Iraq signed an agreement in principle with US oil producer Chevron (CVX.N), for a project at Nassiriya in southern Iraq that consists of four exploration blocks in addition to the development of other producing oil fields.
Sudani said an agreement with US LNG firm Excelerate to provide LNG helped Iraq cope with rolling power cuts.
Sudani praised a recent preliminary agreement signed with ExxonMobil, and he said the advantage of this agreement is that for the first time Iraq is agreeing with a global company to develop oilfields along with an export system.
Sudani said that US and European companies had shown interest in a plan for the building of a fixed platform for importing and exporting gas off the coast of the Grand Faw Port, which would be the first project there.
Sudani said the government had set a deadline for the end of 2027 to stop all burning of gas and to reach self-sufficiency in gas supplies, and to stop gas imports from Iran.
“We burn gas worth four to five billion (dollars) per year and import gas with 4 billion dollars per year. These are wrong policies and it’s our government that has been finding solutions to these issues,” he said.
Sudani is running against established political parties in his ruling coalition in Iraq’s November 11 election and said he expects to win. Many analysts regard him as the frontrunner.
“We expect a significant victory,” he said, adding he wanted a second term. “We want to keep going on this path.”
Sudani said he believed this year’s elections would see a higher turnout than last year’s roughly 40 percent in parliamentary polls, which was down from around 80 percent two decades ago.
Sudani campaigns as Iraq’s builder-in-chief
He has portrayed himself as the builder-in-chief, his campaign posters strategically laid out at key sites of Baghdad construction, including a new dual-carriageway along the Tigris in the center of the capital.
He ticks off the number of incomplete projects he inherited from previous governments – 2,582, he said — and notes he spent a fraction of their initial cost to finish them.
Many Iraqis have been positive about the roads, bridges and buildings they have seen go up, helping to somewhat alleviate the choking traffic in the city.
But it has come at a cost.
Sudani’s three-year budget was the largest in Iraq’s history at over $150 billion a year.
He also hired about 1 million employees into the already-bloated state bureaucracy, buying social stability at the cost of severely limiting the government’s fiscal room for maneuver.
“I am not worried about Iraq’s financial and economic situation. Iraq is a rich country with many resources, but my fear is that the implementation of reforms is delayed,” he said.
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Palestinian prisoner from Jenin dies in Israeli detention
November 03, 2025
LONDON: Palestinian prisoner Mohammad Hussein Mohammad Ghawadra, 63, from Jenin in the occupied West Bank, has become the 81st detainee to die in Israeli imprisonment since October 2023.
The Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs and the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society said that Ghawadra was detained in Ganot Prison since his arrest on Aug. 6, 2024.
His son, Shadi Ghawadra, was recently released from prison during one of the Israeli-Hamas truces and deported to Egypt, while his other son, Sami Ghawadra, remains in administrative detention, which grants authorities the power to imprison people without charge or trial.
His death comes as Israeli lawmakers prepare to vote on a law that would enable the execution of Palestinian prisoners, a measure advocated by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and backed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“The killing of Ghawadra adds to the series of complex crimes perpetrated by the occupation regime against prisoners, aimed at their slow death and psychological and physical destruction,” the commission and the PPS said in a statement.
The two organizations accused Israel of carrying out “systematic torture and extrajudicial killings” within the prisons and added that numerous bodies of Palestinians from Gaza handed over as part of the ceasefire agreement showed signs of torture.
Netanyahu faces an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court over allegations of war crimes in Gaza. Israel faces accusations from the UN and Western officials of committing acts of genocide in the Palestinian coastal territory.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2621308/middle-east
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Lebanon’s president says ‘no choice but to negotiate with Israel using diplomatic language’
NAJIA HOUSSARI
November 03, 2025
BEIRUT: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Monday reiterated his commitment to negotiate with Israel, saying that his country had “no option” in the matter.
However, he said: “Negotiation is not conducted with a friend or ally, but with an enemy.
“The language of negotiation is more important than the language of war, which we have seen what it has done to us.”
The media office at the Presidential Palace quoted Aoun as reaffirming his commitment to “the diplomatic language adopted by all of us, from Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri to Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.”
Lebanon remains committed to the framework of negotiation “through the Mechanism Committee,” which is limited to military representatives, with the possibility of including civilians in accordance with an American proposal put forward last week by Morgan Ortagus to Lebanese officials.
Aoun’s remarks came in the wake of Israel’s intensification of its attacks on southern Lebanon aimed at increasing the pressure on Hezbollah to disarm.
An Israeli airstrike targeted a motorcycle in Aita Al-Shaab, killing its driver, in the second strike within a few hours.
News outlets close to Hezbollah reported that the man killed was Youssef Naameh, the brother of two others previously killed in Israeli strikes.
In an earlier strike, Israel Defense Forces targeted the town of Doueir in the Nabatieh district, killing one person and injuring seven, according to a statement from the Lebanese Ministry of Health.
Multiple Lebanese news outlets reported that the man killed was Hezbollah commander Mohammed Ali Hadid, who had previously been wounded in a pager explosion carried out by Mossad in September 2024 — an operation for which Israel never officially claimed responsibility.
According to reports, Hadid had survived a prior Israeli strike on Sunday in the southern town of Zefta, where Israeli drones launched at least three missiles at a target. However, these strikes failed to hit their intended objective.
Footage circulated online showed the targeted car engulfed in heavy flames as firefighting teams fought the effects of the strike which had also resulted in several parked cars catching fire.
A commercial complex containing shops and restaurants was also damaged.
Israel’s Channel 12 reported that the recent Israeli attacks followed comments from an “Israeli security source” on Sunday.
The source said that “the Lebanese state does not enter certain areas where Hezbollah operates and, if we are asked to act, we know how to increase the pace of attacks in Lebanon if necessary.”
These escalating Israeli strikes have raised the death toll to 16 in less than a week, most of them members of Hezbollah.
A deadly airstrike on Saturday on the town of Kfar Roummane in Nabatieh killed four Hezbollah members and wounded three passersby.
A security source has been quoted as expecting an escalation of Israeli attacks during the remaining months of the year, which is the deadline given by the Lebanese army to complete the disarmament plan south of the Litani Line.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz accused Hezbollah on Sunday of “playing with fire.” He said he was holding the Lebanese government and the Lebanese president “responsible for procrastinating in fulfilling their commitments regarding the disarmament of the party and its withdrawal from the south.”
He also affirmed that “Israel will continue to implement a policy of maximum response in its military operations and will not allow any threat targeting northern residents,” calling on the Lebanese authorities to “assume their full responsibilities to ensure stability and prevent escalation.”
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2621291/middle-east
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North America
Election day 2025: From New York to California — key governor, mayor races, and poll timings to watch
Nov 4, 2025
Voters across the United States headed to the polls on November 4, 2025 for a series of state and local elections. While these contests were not as widespread as those held in presidential election years, they offered insight into party strength ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Here is a look at the key races and ballot measures in states holding elections in November 2025:
New Jersey
Governor race: Democrat Mikie Sherrill, a current US House member, and Republican Jack Ciattarelli, the 2021 GOP nominee, challenged one another to succeed term-limited Democratic Governor Phil Murphy, NBC news reported.
Jersey City mayoral primary: Seven candidates ran in an all-party primary. If no candidate received a majority, the top two were to move to a runoff election scheduled for December 2.
The voting time will be 6 am to 8 pm
Virginia
Governor race: Democrat Abigail Spanberger and Republican Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears vied to replace term-limited Governor Glenn Youngkin. The winner was set to become the state’s first female governor.
Lieutenant governor race: Democrat Ghazala Hashmi, a state senator, challenged Republican John Reid, a talk-radio host.
Attorney general race: Incumbent Republican Jason Miyares faced Democrat Jay Jones, a former state delegate, in an intense contest.
The voting time will be 6 am to 7 pm
California
Proposition 50: This ballot measure proposed adopting new congressional maps for the next three election cycles. It could add as many as five Democratic-held seats to Congress and served as a response to aggressive map changes in states like Texas.
The voting time will be 7 am to 8 pm
Colorado
Proposition MM: This measure proposed raising income taxes on households earning at least $300,000 annually. The revenue would fund a programme to provide free meals for public-school students statewide.
The voting time will be 7 am to 7 pm
Georgia
Atlanta mayor race: Incumbent Andre Dickens sought a second term in the officially non-partisan race. Four candidates qualified for the ballot, making this a competitive local contest.
The voting time will be 7 am to 7 pm
Maine
Question 1: This measure proposed overhauling the state’s election rules by requiring photo ID for all voting, shortening the absentee voting period, and banning absentee ballot requests by phone.
Question 2: This measure would have allowed family or household members to petition courts to temporarily restrict someone’s access to weapons if they were deemed a threat to themselves or others.
For municipalities with a population of 500 or more, polls can open between 6 am and 8 pm; For municipalities with a population of less than 500, polls can open between 6 am and 10 am; All voting places close at 8 pm
Michigan
Detroit mayor race: With three-term incumbent Mike Duggan not seeking re-election, this open race determined the next leader of Michigan’s largest city.
The voting time will be 7 am to 8 pm
Minnesota
Minneapolis mayor race: Incumbent Jacob Frey faced a challenge from state Senator Omar Fateh and others in a ranked-choice election, adding complexity to the city’s political future.
The voting time will be 7 am to 8 pm
New York City
New York City mayor race: Democrat Zohran Mamdani and Republican Curtis Sliwa appeared on the ballot, while former Governor Andrew Cuomo ran as an independent after a loss in the Democratic primary. Incumbent Eric Adams had dropped out but also remained on the ballot.
The voting time will be 6 am to 9 pm
Ohio
Cincinnati mayor race: Incumbent Aftab Pureval ran for re-election against challenger Cory Bowman, the half-brother of Vice President JD Vance, in this officially non-partisan city race.
The voting time will be 6:30 am to 7:30 pm
Pennsylvania
Supreme Court retention: Voters decided whether to retain three Democratic justices. With Democrats holding a 5-2 majority, the outcome had the potential to shift the court’s ideological balance.
Pittsburgh mayor race: Democrat Corey O’Connor, having defeated incumbent Ed Gainey in the primary, faced Republican Tony Moreno in the general election.
The voting time will be 7 am to 8 pm
Texas
US House, 18th District special election: A special election was set following the sudden death of Representative Sylvester Turner. If no candidate earned over 50 percent of the vote, the top two were to go to a runoff.
Proposition 15: This constitutional amendment affirmed parents as primary decision-makers for their children and protected choice in education and child-rearing.
Proposition 16: This measure proposed adding language explicitly requiring US citizenship to vote in Texas.
The voting time will be 7 am to 7 pm
Source: indiatimes.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/election-day-2025-from-new-york-to-california-key-governor-mayor-races-and-poll-timings-to-watch/articleshow/125073259.cms
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CAIR-Minnesota Condemns Assault Outside Church in Minneapolis, Calls for Stepped-Up Protection for Houses of Worship
November 3, 2025
The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned a reported assault on worshipers outside a Catholic church in Minneapolis and called for increased police protection and community vigilance to safeguard all houses of worship.
According to police reports, would-be robbers ambushed several churchgoers outside a Catholic church in south Minneapolis.
In a statement, CAIR-MN Executive Director Jaylani Hussein said:
“We strongly condemn this disturbing assault on individuals attending worship services and express our solidarity with the Minneapolis Catholic community. No one should ever fear for their safety while practicing their faith. We urge law enforcement to thoroughly investigate this crime and to provide increased protection for all houses of worship across Minnesota.
“These repeated attacks and threats – whether against a church, synagogue, or mosque – underscore the urgent need for stronger community partnerships and proactive safety measures. We encourage all religious and community leaders to review and strengthen their security protocols to protect their congregations.”
Last month, CAIR-MN condemned vandalism targeting a Minneapolis synagogue.
Also last month, CAIR-MN repeated its call for an investigation of a possible bias motive for a second arson attempt at Al Hikma Mosque in Minneapolis.
CAIR-MN is urging community leaders to increase security protocols for religious institutions of all faiths.
Washington, D.C., based CAIR offers a “Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety” booklet to help keep religious facilities safe. The advice in the booklet is applicable to all houses of worship.
CAIR and the American Muslim community stand in solidarity with all those challenging antisemitism, systemic anti-Black racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, white supremacy, and all other forms of bigotry.
CAIR-MN is the state’s leading Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization. Its mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
Source: cair.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-minnesota-condemns-assault-outside-church-in-minneapolis-calls-for-stepped-up-protection-for-houses-of-worship/
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Alert: CAIR Urges All Americans to Head to the Polls Tomorrow and Make Their Voices Heard
November 3, 2025
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, is urging all Americans to head to the polls tomorrow and make their voices heard. Tomorrow is Election Day, and it is not just another date on the calendar — it is a defining moment for our democracy.
In Virginia, the general and special election will be for the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General races. Virginians will also elect members to the House of Delegates, where all 100 seats are up for re-election, along with other state and local offices.
The New Jersey General Election voters will elect the next governor, all 80 members of the General Assembly, and various county and local officials.
Beyond these two states, local elections across the country will determine leadership in key cities, including:
New York City, N.Y. – Mayoral election.
San Antonio, Texas – Voters will choose the city’s first new mayor since 2009 in one of the year’s most crowded and expensive municipal contests.
In a statement, Government Affairs Department Director Robert McCaw said,
“This election is our opportunity to shape a future rooted in justice and compassion. Every ballot cast is a declaration that we refuse to be silent or sidelined. Whether you are Muslim, Christian, Jewish, or of no faith, tomorrow we stand united as Americans — and we vote for the values that make this nation worth fighting for.
“Across our country, we’ve witnessed rising hate, discrimination, and injustice — from the targeting of faith communities and racial minorities to the silencing of those who dare to speak truth to power. The only way to challenge this tide is through action. Voting is how we transform our frustration into progress, our pain into purpose, and our hope into policy. Every vote is a step toward a nation that truly reflects our highest ideals — equality, dignity, and justice for all.”
Additional Voting Information in Virginia
When voting in person, you will be required to present an acceptable form of identification at the polls. For more details on voting in person, voting absentee, military and overseas voting, accessible voting, and candidate information, please visit VDE’s website.
When voting in-person, you will be asked to provide an acceptable form of identification at the polls.
More details on voting in-person
More details on voting absentee
More details on military and overseas voting
More details on accessible voting
More details on candidates in election
Voting Resources in New Jersey
Check voter registration status
Find polling and early voting locations
Vote-by-Mail information
Secure drop box locations
Military and overseas voter information
Voter rights and accessibility details
County election official contacts
For more details, visit the New Jersey Division of Elections Official Website.
CAIR encourages all eligible voters to verify their registration status, learn about their local races, and make a plan to vote on or before November 4.
NOTE (2): As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, CAIR is legally prohibited from endorsing or opposing any candidates for public office. Our voter education materials, guides, and resources are provided solely for informational and educational purposes to help community members make informed decisions and participate fully in the democratic process. CAIR encourages all eligible voters to register, stay informed, and cast their ballots in every election.
Source: cair.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/alert-cair-urges-all-americans-to-head-to-the-polls-tomorrow-and-make-their-voices-heard/
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CAIR-Arizona Welcomes Sentencing of Man Who Threatened Mosque
November 3, 2025
The Arizona chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-AZ), a chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed the sentencing of a man who phoned violent threats to a mosque in that state
Mark Martinez, 36, admitted to calling Masjid Bilal ibn Rabah in Maricopa and threatening worshipers. He was sentenced to two years of unsupervised probation, 30 hours of community service, counseling and a fine.
In September, CAIR-AZ welcomed the release of an audio recording of the racist and anti-Muslim threats targeting the mosque.
In a statement, CAIR-Arizona Executive Director Azza Abuseif said:
“We welcome this sentencing as an acknowledgment that threats and hate speech targeting places of worship have real consequences. No community should have to live in fear of practicing their faith. We hope this case serves as a reminder that Islamophobia and hate-fueled harassment will not be tolerated in Arizona or anywhere else. CAIR-Arizona will continue to work with faith and community partners to promote understanding and ensure that all Arizonans can worship freely and safely.”
She added that CAIR offers a “Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety” booklet to help keep religious facilities safe. The advice in the booklet is applicable to all houses of worship.
Earlier this year, CAIR released its 2025 Civil Rights Report, Unconstitutional Crackdowns, which reveals that Islamophobia remains at record-high levels nationwide. CAIR said viewpoint discrimination against those speaking out against genocide and apartheid was a key factor in many cases.
Washington, D.C., based CAIR encourages community members facing bias or hate incidents to report them to law enforcement and to CAIR.
Source: cair.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-arizona-welcomes-sentencing-of-man-who-threatened-mosque/
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Everything Is Bigger in Texas, Including Its New Islamic Center
NOVEMBER 3, 2025
Houston is a city known for going big. America’s ninth-largest city by land area, it is home to the world’s largest medical center, one of the nation’s biggest ports, and Texas’ second-tallest building.
Houston’s Christianity is also big, hosting some of the most mega of megachurches, including Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church and the largest Episcopal church in the nation.
But it is also one of the US’s most religiously diverse cities. And another major religious space will soon join in: The Ismaili Center Houston.
Ismailis are a branch of Shiite Muslims who believe that religious authority continues through a line of imams—divinely guided descendants of Muhammad, the prophet of Islam. The center in Houston is owned by one of two main Ismaili branches, the Nizari Ismailis, who constitute around 1 percent of the global Muslim population.
For much of their history, Ismailis suffered persecution at the hands of other Muslim authorities. Today they wield substantial political and cultural influence, primarily through the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), administered by Aga Khan V, the current imam.
Set to open November 6, it will be the first Ismaili center in the US and the seventh worldwide—with others in London, Lisbon, Dubai, Dushanbe (in Tajikistan), Vancouver, and Toronto.
The Ismaili Center will certainly match Houston’s reputation for grandness—it will sit on an 11-acre site with nine gardens and a 150,000-square-foot building featuring a theater, banquet halls, a café, and place for prayer. It also aims to become a place for dialogue between Houston’s religious communities.
According to researchers from Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, 38 percent of Houstonians identify as Protestant, 26 percent as Catholic, and 27 percent as “nones,” people with no religious affiliation. Houston also has notable Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh populations.
Former Houston mayor Sylvester Turner, longtime member of the evangelical megachurch The Church Without Walls, which reports more than 20,000 members, stated that the center would be more than a “magnificent building” and would have an “impact on Houston, across Texas, and throughout the United States.”
Greater Houston has the largest Muslim population in Texas and the Southern United States, said Farah Lalani, a spokeswoman for the Ismaili Council for the Southwestern USA, including a sizeable Ismaili community. There are an estimated 35,000–40,000 Ismailis in this region, she added.
That community currently gathers at five jamatkhanas in the Houston area. Derived from the Persian word for a community gathering place, a jamatkhana is similar to a mosque but also incorporates social events and cultural activities—much as some larger churches do.
The center, however, is on another scale entirely. Omar Samji, a local lawyer and volunteer spokesman for the Ismaili Council, said that along with hosting theater productions, festivals, and art shows, the center is also part of a long-term vision for Ismailis to engage with and foster connections between faith communities. This, he said, is in line with what he found to be Houston’s reputation for being a welcoming city.
When Samji moved to Houston in 2012, he said one of the first things he noticed was a sense of connection between curious people of faith. As an Ismaili, he was heartened by Houstonians who knew what they believed and were not afraid to ask questions of others. Jewish, Christian, or Muslim, his neighbors were both inquisitive and respectful, he found.
That spirit pairs well with what Samji said is his faith’s emphasis on pluralism. Ismaili scholar Mohammed N. Miraly, in his book Faith and World: Contemporary Ismaili Social and Political Thought, described how their commitment to religious diversity originates in their interpretation of the Quran. Their previous leader, Aga Khan IV, said to be a direct descendent of Muhammad, founded the AKDN not only to improve the spiritual and material lives of his followers but also to demonstrate their ethical framework by benefiting the larger community.
Through the AKDN, Ismailis administer 1,000 development, education, and health care programs in more than 30 countries. Since 1982, this has included the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme for villages in the remote, mountainous, and ethnically diverse areas of India and northern Pakistan. Since 2000, the Aga Khan Music Programme has promoted peace through the preservation of musical heritage in Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. And since 2017, the Global Centre for Pluralism in Ottawa has produced evidence-based research into policies that work toward successful and diverse societies.
“Faith is not only confined to prayers,” said Lalani, “but expressed in how we serve.”
In Houston, this service has included disaster relief, refugee resettlement, and blood drives alongside other people of faith. Ismailis have also regularly taken part in an interfaith Thanksgiving service which features songs, dances, and prayers from numerous religious communities. Samji said he hopes the center will help Ismailis scale up these efforts and build more connections through movie screenings, festivals, and events meant to foster dialogue between religious communities in Houston.
Kim Mabry, a Methodist minister who facilitates engagement and collaboration between various faith communities at IM Houston—formerly Interfaith Ministries Houston—has seen firsthand how Ismailis have pitched in to help during the city’s frequent hurricanes and floods. Several Ismailis serve on the board of her 60-year-old organization, and she notes the potential of the center to expand future collaboration. Serving together helps transcend theological differences, she believes, and reminds people of different faiths about their shared humanity.
But some Christians have raised concerns. Houston’s conservative talk radio channel KTRH has broadcast the increased wariness many have toward Muslims. And its reporter B. D. Hobbs recently featured former president of Southern Evangelical Seminary Alex McFarland, who warned about the “growth of Islam in the West” and an alleged Muslim goal of replacing the US Constitution with sharia law.
Earlier this year in North Texas, the East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC), one of the largest mosques in the region, proposed a residential development of thousands of homes centered around a mosque and Islamic school. The plans drew backlash and political attention, including a law signed by Gov. Greg Abbott to challenge development’s legal framework on the grounds of discrimination. The US Department of Justice opened an investigation into potential illegal activities by the project’s organizers but ultimately closed it for lack of evidence.
Evangelical pastor Bob Roberts Jr., founder of NorthWood Church in Dallas–Fort Worth, who has spoken about his faith at EPIC, said the development was “never going to be a Muslim-only community.” But, he said, it was a potent reminder of how religious buildings can draw out extreme opinions in a time of polarization and social media half-truths.
Having worked with Ismailis over the years as part of his bridge building between Christians and Muslims, Roberts appreciates their commitment to development at the local and global levels. Christians should not fear their Muslim neighbors, he said. And they should be wary of taking cues from extreme voices online—about The Ismaili Center or any other Muslim sacred space. He encouraged evangelicals in Houston to visit Texas’ newest megaproject.
“There is no off-limits place for Christians,” Roberts said. “The gospel is bigger than any building.”
Source: christianitytoday.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.christianitytoday.com/2025/11/houston-islamic-center-ismaili-muslim-christian/
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Europe
Mosque plan for Watford St Thomas’ Church progresses
3RD NOVEMBER
By Liam Fitzpatrick
Plans to redevelop an abandoned Watford church into a mosque and community centre have moved forward after an official application was submitted.
The Ar-Rahmah Trust, which purchased for the former St Thomas’ United Reformed Church in Langley Road for £3.5 million, has now submitted plans for a "vibrant and inclusive community hub".
While the application has not appeared on the council's planning portal, details of the proposal have been shared with the Watford Observer, along with CGIs of how it could look.
It would be known as Masjid Al-Ummah and an opening date of summer 2026 is being targeted.
A spokesperson for the trust said: “The local community is genuinely excited to see this long derelict site on Langley Road brought back to life.
"Beyond serving as a place of worship, the revitalised Masjid Al Ummah will provide a range of facilities that benefit the wider community including sports and health spaces, a small nursery, café, gym facilities for men and women, meeting rooms, a youth games area and quiet study rooms.
"Throughout the design process, we have engaged closely with local residents and civic leaders to shape a space that truly meets local needs. Subject to planning approval, we hope to begin work in 2026 and deliver a project that Watford can be proud of.”
The submission of a formal planning application comes after the group spent most of 2025 gathering feedback on design priorities, accessibility and community use.
They claim that feedback was "overwhelmingly positive" and that particular support was expressed for the revival of a derelict building and the wider community role it will offer beyond being a place of worship.
The trust says that since acquiring the site in February it has worked with residents and councillors, as well as Watford MP Matt Turmaine and mayor Peter Taylor.
Following the church's closure in 2015, the site has become derelict and was repeatedly broken into and used by squatters.
Previous plans to reopen it as a church had failed to materialise, leaving the building in limbo.
On a site visit earlier this year, the Watford Observer found graffiti on the walls and ashes on the floor, with our reporter describing the scene as "very eerie".
Further details of the plan will be available when the relevant documents appear on the planning portal, possibly as early as this week.
Source: watfordobserver.co.uk
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/25591221.mosque-plan-watford-st-thomas-church-progresses/
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Azerbaijan unveils new mosque project in Jabrayil
03 November 2025
By Timur Rzayev
The design for a new mosque in the restored city of Jabrayil has been revealed following the foundation-laying ceremony on October 28, led by President Ilham Aliyev.
According to Caliber.Az, the two-storey mosque will span over 1,530 square metres and accommodate up to 615 worshippers simultaneously. The building will feature separate prayer areas for men and women.
The mosque’s minarets are set to reach 34.2 metres, while the domes will rise to 22.6 metres. The project was developed by the Design Institute of the State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture of Azerbaijan.
Officials say the mosque will serve as a central place of worship for the local community and a symbol of the city’s ongoing reconstruction efforts.
Source: caliber.az
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://caliber.az/en/post/azerbaijan-unveils-new-mosque-project-in-jabrayil
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China academic intimidation claim referred to counter-terrorism police
04 November 2025
Damian Grammaticas
An investigation into allegations that Sheffield Hallam University faced sustained pressure from China to shut down human rights research has been referred to counter-terrorism police.
The BBC and the Guardian newspaper has been reporting that documents show that China had waged a two-year campaign of intimidation and harassment, including demands the university stop sensitive research by one of its professors into claims of forced labour in the Xinjiang region of China.
A South Yorkshire Police spokesperson said the force has referred the investigation on because the "allegations fall under Section 3 of the National Security Act".
Section 3 of the act deals with "assisting a foreign intelligence service".
An offence is committed if someone behaves in a way that "intends that conduct to materially assist a foreign intelligence service in carrying out UK-related activities," or in conduct likely to assist that service.
Internal documents from Sheffield Hallam University were released under a Subject Access Request to Professor Laura Murphy, whose research is alleged to have been targeted.
They showed university staff in China had been threatened by individuals identified as being from China's National Security Service, who demanded the research by Prof Murphy taking place in Sheffield be shut down.
The documents went on to state that "a decision by the university not to publish a final phase of the research on forced labour in China was communicated to the National Security Service... Immediately relations improved and the threat to staff wellbeing appears to be removed".
China is not believed to have an organisation named National Security Service, so it is not clear who the individuals were.
A few months later, at the start of this year, Prof Murphy was told by the university that she could not continue her work on China. She started legal action for infringement of her academic freedom. The university then reversed its position.
In a statement issued earlier, Sheffield Hallam University had apologised to Prof Murphy.
A spokesperson said: "The University's decision to not continue with Professor Laura Murphy's research was taken based on our understanding of a complex set of circumstances at the time, including being unable to secure the necessary professional indemnity insurance."
The insurance for social sciences staff had been suspended by the university's insurers as a Chinese firm had brought a defamation suit against Sheffield Hallam after it was named in a report she produced. That lawsuit is ongoing.
The university spokesperson added: "Following a review, we have since approved Professor Murphy's latest research and are committed to supporting her to undertake and disseminate this important work.
"For the avoidance of doubt, the decision was not based on commercial interests in China.
"Regardless, China is not a significant international student market for the University.
"We have apologised to Professor Murphy and wish to make clear our commitment to supporting her research and to securing and promoting freedom of speech and academic freedom within the law."
Source: bbc.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj0e1lyyvdlo
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South Asia
Pakistan Says Three Militants, Including Two Afghans, Killed in Counterterror Raids
By Fidel Rahmati
November 4, 2025
Pakistan’s military said its security forces killed three militants, including two Afghan nationals, during separate operations in North Waziristan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, officials said Monday.
Pakistan’s army said on Monday that its security forces killed three militants, including two Afghan nationals, during separate operations in North Waziristan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed that the raids targeted members of an armed group accused of planning cross-border attacks. It said the operations were part of ongoing efforts to eliminate militants active along the Afghanistan border.
Islamabad has repeatedly urged Afghan authorities to prevent armed groups from using their territory to launch attacks against Pakistan. Officials say the issue has been at the center of escalating tensions between the two countries.
Kabul, however, has denied the allegations, saying no foreign terrorist groups are operating inside Afghanistan and accusing Pakistan of deflecting blame for its own security failures.
Relations between the two sides have worsened in recent weeks amid deadly border clashes and stalled peace talks mediated by Turkey and Qatar.
Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said details of a proposed joint border-security mechanism will be finalized during the next round of talks in Istanbul on November 6.
The renewed military operations underscore Islamabad’s growing concern over the security situation along its western frontier, as it seeks to curb militant violence while navigating strained ties with Kabul.
Source: khaama.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.khaama.com/pakistan-says-three-militants-including-two-afghans-killed-in-counterterror-raids/
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190 Bangladeshis fired for protesting exploitation
Nov 4, 2025
A Malaysian gloves manufacturer has terminated 190 Bangladeshi workers for protesting against exploitative practices, including the non-renewal of their visas.
The migrant workers at the Kuala Lumpur-based company Mediceram told The Daily Star yesterday that the management handed termination letters to all Bangladeshi employees on October 31 and has begun cancelling their visas to deport them.
"I heard visas of six Bangladeshis have already been cancelled and the company will do the same for others," said one worker.
"We also went to the Malaysian labour court and immigration department with a legal counsellor, but we were told that we cannot file any complaint," the worker said.
Over the past two years, since 2023, Mediceram workers have gone on strike multiple times, demanding payment of unpaid wages and recruitment fees.
Even Expatriates' Welfare Adviser Asif Nazrul had visited the workers in May and assured them their problems would be resolved.
"We had unpaid salary and visa renewal issues for many months. Eventually, the company renewed visas for nearly 90 workers but not for the rest," said another worker.
Around 90 others continued facing problems as their visas were not renewed despite the company's promise. "So, we went on strike from October 23," he added.
Malaysia-based migrant rights groups -- Workers' Solidarity Network, Socialis Alternative and Angkatan Kesatuan Siswa Sosialis -- issued a joint statement condemning the company's actions and demanding an end to the unlawful forced deportation.
They said the migrant workers were subjected to "slave-like conditions", with confiscated passports, delayed salaries, unrenewed visas and frequent threats from employers.
The statement said Mediceram has faced similar allegations since 2017.
Between 2022 and 2024, around 4.5 lakh Bangladeshis were recruited in Malaysia but were charged Tk 4.5 lakh to Tk 6 lakh, leaving many in debt and unemployed.
The statement said Mediceram workers had organised eight or nine protests over the years, and each time the employer made promises to settle outstanding debts and meet the workers' demands -- promises that were repeatedly broken.
"Even the involvement of government agencies has failed to bring meaningful pressure or decisive action to resolve the workers' claims," it said.
The situation worsened on September 30 when immigration officers raided the factory and detained about 90 workers for allegedly not having valid visas.
"In reality, all of them were legal employees, but the company failed to renew their visas," the statement added.
Although recruitment fees were reimbursed on October 27, the company has yet to return the workers' passports or renew their visas.
On October 31, all were terminated and told to prepare for deportation, accused of being absent without reason.
"This is a blatant distortion of the truth," the statement said, calling for immediate reinstatement of the workers, return of their passports and renewal of their visas.
"Mediceram must take full legal responsibility for its obligations," it added.
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/190-bangladeshis-fired-protesting-exploitation-4026331
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Books Upholding Islamic And Afghan Values Approved, Ministry
November 4, 2025
KABUL: The meeting of the Book Evaluation Commission was held under the chairmanship of Mawlavi Muhajir Farahi, the Deputy Minister of Information and Culture for Publication Affairs, approving a series of books that uphold Islamic principles and Afghan cultural values.
Decisions were also made regarding 90 other titles submitted for review, the ministry said in a statement, adding that at the conclusion of the session, 10 returned books were redistributed among commission members for further evaluation ahead of the next meeting.
Officials emphasized the importance of promoting responsible and culturally appropriate literature to preserve Afghanistan’s intellectual and moral heritage.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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https://thekabultimes.com/books-upholding-islamic-and-afghan-values-approved-ministry/
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Muttaqi Underscores Diplomacy, Regional Cooperation as Cornerstones of IEA’s Foreign Policy
November 4, 2025
KABUL: The country’s Foreign Minister, Mawlavi Amir Khan Muttaqi, reaffirmed that the Islamic Emirate places diplomacy and mutual understanding at the heart of its regional engagement, emphasizing the government’s commitment to fostering relations with all neighboring countries based on respect, non-interference, and constructive cooperation.
Muttaqi made the remarks in a telephone conversation with Uzbekistan’s Foreign Minister, Bakhtiyor Saidov, the ministry said in a statement the other day.
During the call, both sides reviewed the overall regional situation and emphasized the importance of constructive engagement.
Saidov welcomed Afghanistan’s constructive approach and praised its efforts to promote peace and stability in the region, noting that regional peace is a shared responsibility among all nations.
He stressed that dialogue, economic cooperation, and mutual trust are key to sustainable development across Central Asia.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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https://thekabultimes.com/muttaqi-underscores-diplomacy-regional-cooperation-as-cornerstones-of-ieas-foreign-policy/
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OIC Urges Member States to Deliver Urgent Aid for Afghanistan’s Earthquake Victims
By Fidel Rahmati
November 4, 2025
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) urged member states to provide urgent humanitarian aid to northern Afghanistan after a deadly earthquake killed 20.
Hissein Brahim Taha, Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), expressed solidarity with the people of Afghanistan and called on member states and humanitarian partners to provide urgent relief to those affected by the recent earthquake in the country’s north.
In a statement released on Monday, the OIC said its Afghanistan office has been instructed to coordinate with relevant authorities and assess the needs of affected communities.
The organization emphasized that its field office will work closely with humanitarian agencies and international partners to ensure the rapid delivery of aid and medical support to victims of the disaster.
The late-night earthquake on Monday struck several northern provinces, killing at least 27 people and injuring more than 530 others, according to local authorities.
Hundreds of homes were damaged, and rescue teams continue to search for survivors as aftershocks were reported in the affected areas.
The OIC reiterated its commitment to standing with Afghanistan during times of crisis and urged swift humanitarian response from the international community.
Regional and global relief organizations have also pledged support, warning that worsening winter conditions could further endanger displaced families in quake-hit northern Afghanistan.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/oic-urges-member-states-to-deliver-urgent-aid-for-afghanistans-earthquake-victims/
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Arab World
Palestinian self-rule key to Gaza future, say top Muslim countries
November 03, 2025
ISTANBUL: Gaza’s future must be Palestinian-led and avoid any new system of tutelage, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and 5 other countries said on Monday after talks in Istanbul.
“Our principle is that Palestinians should govern the Palestinians and ensure their own security; the international community should support this in the best possible way — diplomatically, institutionally and economically,” Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said after the talks.
“Nobody wants to see a new system of tutelage emerge,” he told a news conference.
The talks also involved top diplomats from Qatar, the UAE, Jordan, Pakistan, and Indonesia.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan arrived earlier on Monday in Istanbul to participate in the ministerial meeting.
The seven countries were called to a meeting with President Donald Trump in September on the margins of the UN General Assembly, just days before he unveiled his plan to end the Gaza war.
Brokered by President Trump, the Oct. 10 ceasefire has been tested by fresh Israeli strikes.
Israeli fire killed three Palestinians in the Gaza Strip on Monday, north of the southern city of Rafah, which remains under Israeli control, according to local health authorities.
Medics said one of those killed was a woman.
Residents said Israeli forces continued to demolish houses in the eastern areas of Rafah, Khan Younis, and Gaza City, where forces continue to operate.
Meanwhile, the Gaza Health Ministry said it received 45 bodies of Palestinians killed by Israel, whose bodies were in Israeli custody.
The Istanbul talks also focused on the humanitarian situation in the enclave.
Countries are still working on a UN Security Council mandate for an international stabilization force in Gaza, and will decide on any troop deployments once a framework is complete, Fidan said.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2621324/saudi-arabia
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Second season of Global Harmony begins in Riyadh with celebration of Indian culture
November 03, 2025
RIYADH: The second season of the Ministry of Media’s Global Harmony initiative began on Sunday with India taking the spotlight at Al-Suwaidi Park, in the south of Riyadh.
The event, which forms part of efforts to promote harmony between cultures in Saudi Arabia, is held in partnership with the General Entertainment Authority and runs until Dec. 20, featuring musical and dance performances.
The cultures of 14 countries and regions are to be celebrated, with India’s events lasting for 10 days.
Officials are aiming to shed light on the lives of expatriates living in Saudi Arabia, celebrating their social and recreational activities, their contributions to the Kingdom’s economy, and their personal success stories, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Suhel Ajaz Khan, India’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, said: “Following the great success achieved by the previous edition of the initiative in 2024, this year’s events are expected to be even more comprehensive in showcasing Indian arts, cuisine and handicrafts, with the participation of a number of artists and creators.”
The ambassador emphasized that cultural and entertainment events contributed to strengthening relationships between people of both countries.
Other nations and regions to be featured in the event include Bangladesh (Nov. 11-14); Egypt (Nov. 15-17); the Levant (Nov. 18-20); Yemen (Nov. 21-28); Pakistan (Nov. 29-Dec. 1); Indonesia (Dec. 2-4); the Philippines (Dec. 5-8); Uganda (Dec. 9-10); Ethiopia (Dec. 11-13), and Sudan (Dec. 14-20).
The Global Harmony initiative was first launched in October 2024 with the intention of celebrating the diversity of the Kingdom’s residents.
Last year’s event celebrated the cultures of Pakistan, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Yemen, Syria, Palestine, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, the Philippines, and Bangladesh.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2621293/saudi-arabia
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Saudi program empowers students in historic mosque restoration
November 03, 2025
RIYADH: The Mohammed bin Salman Project for the Development of Historical Mosques, in cooperation with the Heritage Commission and the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts, has enabled 15 Saudi students to take part in the restoration of several historic mosques.
Their participation is part of a six-month field training program in which trainees learn traditional mud-brick construction and woodworking techniques under the guidance of specialized Saudi engineers.
Another 15 students are scheduled to join the program in the coming days, with training continuing into early 2026, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.
The program is divided into two training tracks. The first focuses on traditional construction, providing hands-on experience in mud-brick building through practical modules at historic mosques restored using authentic materials under expert supervision.
The second track is dedicated to the craft of traditional Najdi doors, training participants in carpentry, carving, and production to help preserve and sustain this ancient art, the SPA added.
The project has restored 30 mosques in 10 regions in its first phase and another 30 in 13 regions in its second, according to the report.
It aims to revive authentic architectural styles and traditions of historic mosques, raise awareness of their cultural value, and balance traditional and modern construction standards to ensure long-term sustainability.
The project is guided by four main objectives: preparing historic mosques for worship, restoring their architectural authenticity, highlighting the Kingdom’s cultural heritage, and strengthening its religious and cultural standing — all in line with Vision 2030, which emphasizes the preservation of national heritage and the promotion of cultural and architectural legacy.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2621283/saudi-arabia
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Saudi Arabia and Japan mark 70 years of diplomacy in Riyadh
November 04, 2025
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and Japan held a ceremony in the capital Riyadh on Monday to commemorate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between their countries.
During a speech, Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Al-Khereiji highlighted the strong relationship between Saudi Arabia and Japan. He said that their cooperation, which began in 1955, plays a crucial role in promoting regional and global stability and prosperity.
“The tireless work between the two friendly countries can push mutual relations to a new stage,” he said. Al-Khereiji highlighted that the Saudi-Japan Vision 2030 established a comprehensive strategic partnership to achieve common goals, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
He expressed the Kingdom’s desire to enhance its relationship with Japan and achieve greater growth and prosperity for both countries, the SPA added.
Saudi Arabia is the primary supplier of crude oil to Japan, and Japan has become a significant partner for the Kingdom in trade and investment. Under Saudi-Japan Vision 2030, the two countries have agreed to enhance cooperation, including efforts in decarbonization, as highlighted in a blog post by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2621331/saudi-arabia
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Saudi forum to highlight sufficiency-based climate policies at UN conference in Brazil
November 03, 2025
RIYADH: The Saudi Green Building Forum will participate in the UN Climate Change Conference, to be held in Belem, Brazil, from Nov. 10-21.
The participation extends the forum’s role as a national institution with consultative status at the UN Economic and Social Council and accreditation from the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
It also reflects the contribution of Saudi experts and Vision 2030–inspired best practices in supporting global efforts toward sustainability and green transformation, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.
This year, the forum will highlight the principle of “Sufficiency Before Efficiency” in climate policies, the SPA added.
It emphasizes reducing resource demand at the source before improving efficiency to promote climate justice and balance economic growth with environmental protection.
Faisal Al-Fadl, the forum’s secretary-general, said the approach represents a shift in sustainable building thought, noting: “Sufficiency does not mean limiting development; it means achieving a balance between human needs and the planet’s capacity to provide resources, ensuring social equity and environmental protection.”
The forum will work to enhance international cooperation to develop sufficiency indicators and policies in coordination with partner countries, international organizations, and public- and private-sector stakeholders, contributing to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The Saudi Green Building Forum is a nongovernmental organization in the Arab world that collaborates with municipalities and housing authorities on environmental development, climate monitoring, combating desertification, and biodiversity through the Saaf framework.
It promotes the localization of green building and the circular economy across the Arab region, inspired by Saudi practices in sustainability and the green transition.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2621317/saudi-arabia
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Training program boosts Saudi fashion talent
November 03, 2025
RIYADH: The Fashion Commission has launched a new training program on content creation in the industry, aimed at helping Saudi talent develop advanced digital communication and brand storytelling skills.
Targeting mid-level Saudi fashion designers, the program enhances capabilities in building brand identity — using digital marketing tools — and producing high-quality creative content to strengthen brand presence in competitive markets.
Participants will also gain networking opportunities and exposure to international industry standards, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Delivered in collaboration with Fondazione Sozzani, the program begins with a virtual introductory session on Nov. 25, followed by intensive in-person training in Milan from Dec. 15-19.
Conducted in English, the training combines theoretical and practical learning, providing designers with specialized knowledge and hands-on experience to support their professional growth and international visibility.
This initiative reflects the commission’s commitment to empowering creative talent, expanding access to global learning, and advancing the Saudi fashion sector.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2621315/saudi-arabia
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Jeddah governor meets rights body chief
November 04, 2025
JEDDAH: Jeddah Gov. Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Jalawi received Dr. Hadi bin Ali Al-Yami, executive director of the Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission, in Jeddah on Monday.
During the meeting, the governor was briefed on the commission’s role in promoting and protecting human rights in line with international standards across various fields, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
He was also informed about its efforts to raise awareness of human rights and strengthen the values of dignity, justice and equality across the Islamic world.
Al-Yami thanked the Kingdom for supporting the establishment of the commission’s headquarters in Jeddah and for providing all necessary facilities for its operations.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2621329/saudi-arabia
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Africa
Nigeria Security Problem Is Beyond Muslim/Christian Crisis — Governor Anambra
By Umar Audu
November 3, 2025
The Governor of Anambra State, Charles Soludo, has condemned the threat by US President Donald Trump to carry out military action in Nigeria over false claims of Christian genocide.
He explained that the security challenges in Nigeria go beyond a conflict between Muslims and Christians.
Speaking during a media chat on Sunday, aired by Channels TV, the governor stated that Mr Trump’s threat of military intervention to “protect Christians in Nigeria” distorts the actual issues on the ground.
He emphasised the need for the Nigerian government to engage in a more substantive dialogue to address the concerns raised, noting that all relevant facts should be accurately presented.
He noted that if Nigeria were to seek foreign assistance, it should be through formal requests for military support, technology, or equipment, not through external threats.
He rejected any notion of an invasion, arguing that it would be equally absurd for African nations to threaten to invade the United States over incidents of racial violence.
“I am not quite sure if you have policemen killing some blacks. I remember the #BlackLivesMatter protest, and somebody would say maybe Africa should go and invade America because Blacks are being killed? I’m not quite sure,” he said.
“I think there is a need for deeper conversation,” he said.
“It must end in conversation, and I am sure the government of Nigeria will respond very robustly. Nigeria is such a big country, and the government is doing a whole lot to safeguard it,” he added.
He noted that the U.S. may have opinions on global matters, but any intervention must respect Nigeria’s sovereignty and international law.
“As a country, America has its own rights to have its own views about what is going on elsewhere.
“But when it comes to what it does, I am sure it must also act within the realm of international law,” he added.
Source: dailynigerian.com
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https://dailynigerian.com/nigeria-security-problem-is-beyond-muslim-christian-crisis-soludo/
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Tinubu Reaffirms Nigeria’s Commitment To Religious Freedom – Dabiri-Erewa
November 3, 2025
By Ernest Victor
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has urged Nigerians both at home and abroad to unite in defending the country’s image.
Naija News reports that Dabiri-Erewa stated this following former U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to classify Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern.”
In a statement e-signed by the Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols (NIDCOM), Abdur-Rahman Balogun, and released in Abuja earlier today, Dabiri-Erewa described Nigeria as a nation founded on tolerance, diversity, and democratic values.
She appealed to Nigerians in the diaspora to stay calm and continue portraying the country in its true light.
Referring to earlier remarks by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the NIDCOM boss reaffirmed the government’s stand on religious freedom and peaceful coexistence.
“Nigeria remains steadfast in upholding democracy, religious freedom, and the protection of all citizens,” she said.
Dabiri-Erewa dismissed reports suggesting that Nigeria persecutes Christians, insisting that such claims misrepresent the country’s reality.
“The perception is definitely not true. There are issues with evil terrorists in some parts of the country, no doubt. What President Trump needs to do is to support the efforts of our government in quashing them, not to falsely denigrate our country,” she stated.
She emphasised that President Tinubu has consistently upheld the nation’s commitment to religious liberty and mutual respect, which she said remain key pillars of Nigeria’s unity.
Dabiri-Erewa also encouraged Nigerians living abroad to speak against misinformation and stand firm in projecting the country’s values of peace and inclusivity.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/11/03/tinubu-reaffirms-nigerias-commitment-to-religious-freedom-dabiri-erewa/
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Chad Shuts Its Border With Nigeria Amid Fears Of U.S. Troops Invasion
November 3, 2025
By Richard Ogunsile
The Chadian Government has reportedly announced an immediate closure of its border with Nigeria, citing heightened security concerns and intelligence reports of possible militant infiltration from Northern Nigeria.
Military sources in N’Djamena confirmed on Monday that President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno ordered a military lockdown on the Nigerian border following reports that armed groups were planning to cross into Chad.
According to regional security analyst Zagazola Makama, Chadian troops have been deployed along key border corridors, backed by armoured vehicles and aerial reconnaissance units to prevent infiltration.
“Chadian troops and armoured vehicles have been deployed to critical routes from Nigeria, and all units are now at full readiness,” Makama reported.
President Déby was quoted as warning that “no armed group or foreign force will be allowed to enter Chadian soil under any disguise.”
Rumours of U.S. Forces’ Movement Heighten Tension
Naija News reports that the border closure follows growing tension across the Sahel and West Africa amid rumours of U.S. military movements in the region.
While no official statement has been issued from Washington, speculation about America’s alleged repositioning of troops in parts of West Africa has sparked diplomatic unease and security responses from several regional governments.
Security experts described Chad’s border closure as a preventive measure designed to protect its territory from potential spillovers of regional instability.
Chad’s latest action comes amid renewed militant activity across Lake Chad Basin countries and shifting alliances following military takeovers in neighbouring Niger and Burkina Faso.
With the Nigerian border now closed, movement between the two countries has been temporarily suspended.
Meanwhile, cross-border traders and transport operators have been advised to remain patient pending further directives from the Chadian authorities.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/11/03/breaking-chad-shuts-its-border-with-nigeria-amid-fears-of-u-s-troops-invasion/
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Africa Did Not Invade America When Blacks Were Killed – Soludo Blasts Trump
November 3, 2025
By Justina Otio
The Governor of Anambra State, Charles Soludo, has berated the President of the United States, Donald Trump, over his military threat in Nigeria following claims of Christian genocide.
Soludo pointed out that Africa did not take action against America when a black man was killed by the US police.
Speaking via a statement, Soludo argued that security challenges in Nigeria go beyond a conflict between Muslims and Christians, adding that Trump’s threat of military intervention to “protect Christians in Nigeria” distorts the actual issues on the ground.
He emphasised the need for the Nigerian government to engage in a more substantive dialogue to address the concerns raised, noting that all relevant facts should be accurately presented.
Soludo further stated that if Nigeria were to seek foreign assistance, it should be through formal requests for military support, technology, or equipment, not through external threats, rejecting any notion of an invasion and argued that it would be equally absurd for African nations to threaten to invade the United States over incidents of racial violence.
He said, “I am not quite sure if you have policemen killing some blacks. I remember the #BlackLivesMatter protested, and somebody would say maybe Africa should go and invade America because blacks are being killed? I’m not quite sure.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/11/03/africa-did-not-invade-america-when-blacks-were-killed-soludo-blasts-trump/
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ECOWAS Silent As U.S.-Nigeria Tensions Escalate Over Trump’s Military Threat
November 4, 2025
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), led by Sierra Leone President, Julius Maada Bio, has yet to make any official statement on the growing diplomatic row between Nigeria and the United States following President Donald Trump’s designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) and his threat of possible military intervention.
Naija News recalls that President Trump, on the 31st of October, announced that Nigeria had been placed back on the CPC list over alleged persecution of Christians and what he described as “genocide-like killings.”
“The United States will not stand by while Christians are being slaughtered in Nigeria,” Trump said, adding that his administration was considering “fast, vicious, and decisive” military action to end the violence.
His remarks came after several members of the U.S. Congress reportedly pressured him to act, citing reports of religiously motivated attacks in parts of northern Nigeria.
President Bola Tinubu swiftly rejected the U.S. decision, insisting that religious persecution has no place in Nigeria, and that the country’s constitution guarantees freedom of worship for all faiths.
The Nigerian government also dismissed Trump’s threat as “misinformed and unnecessary,” arguing that the violence in parts of the country was driven by criminality and insecurity, not religion.
Despite the firm response from Abuja, Trump doubled down on his earlier statement, saying the U.S. was “ready to act” if the Nigerian government failed to protect Christians and curb extremist violence.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/11/04/ecowas-silent-as-u-s-nigeria-tensions-escalate-over-trumps-military-threat/
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Guinea's junta leader enters the December presidential race
November 4, 2025
Guinea’s military leader, Mamady Doumbouya, will stand as a candidate in the country’s first presidential elections since he seized power in a coup in 2021.
The general handed in his documents at the Supreme Court on Monday, the last day for submitting candidacy in the 28 December polls that are meant to restore constitutional order.
Despite a promise when he seized power that he would not run, a new constitution submitted by the junta and approved in a September referendum opened the door for him to do so.
The charter replaced arrangements agreed to after the coup, which had barred members of the military government from contesting elections.
It also requires presidential candidates to live in Guinea and be between 40 and 80 years old.
The Forces Vives, a coalition of opposition political parties and citizen movements have denounced Doumbouya’s decision to stand.
Under his rule, the junta has cracked down on dissent, including attempts to mobilise people to support a return to democratic rule.
It has also been criticised for suspending media outlets, restricting internet access, and brutally suppressing demonstrations.
While about 10 other candidates have submitted their applications, two of the biggest opposition parties, RPG Arc en Ciel and UFDG, have been excluded from the contest raising concerns about its credibility.
The Supreme Court will now examine the validity of the applications and publish the official list of candidates by 13 November.
Source: africanews.com
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https://www.africanews.com/2025/11/04/guineas-junta-leader-enters-the-december-presidential-race/
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Emirati official acknowledges missteps in Sudan crisis response
November 4, 2025
An Emirati presidential diplomatic adviser said "looking back" everyone made a mistake in the handling of developments in Sudan.
Anwar Gargash made that remark when answering a question about the United Arab Emirates' support of the Rapid Support Forces at the Manama Dialogue.
"We all made the mistake when the two generals who are fighting the civil war today overthrew the civilian government," he told the audience at the annual security summit in Bahrain on Sunday.
"We did not call it a coup. We said it's a C O but did not put the U and P at the end of it," he added.
Paramilitary fighters in vehicles, on camels and on foot rampaged through the Sudanese military’s last stronghold in Darfur on Tuesday, killing and detaining hundreds of people in the latest atrocity of a war that has raged in Sudan for over 31 months.
The Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, overran the city of el-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state, in what the United Nations chief called a “terrible escalation” in the conflict.
The capture of el-Fasher, the provincial capital of North Darfur, by the powerful Arab-led force raises fears that Africa’s third-largest nation may split again, nearly 15 years after the oil-rich South Sudan gained independence following years of civil war.
The fighting for control of Sudan has killed over 40,000 people and created the world’s worst humanitarian crisis with over 14 million displaced.
The Emirates supports a three-month humanitarian ceasefire, with the two parties negotiating and a civilian transitional government being formed in nine months, he said.
"Let's take all the fog away and see, are the generals willing to hand over power to a civilian transition?" Gargash said. "That is really the crux of the question."
The Sudanese government and rights groups have repeatedly accused the United Arab Emirates of being involved in the war by supplying the RSF with weapons, a claim denied by the Gulf country.
Meanwhile, Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian Shahin said there has to be a "clear mandate" and timeline for the proposed international stabilization force in Gaza.
"That timeline is extremely important because we cannot have an ISF that is there forever," Shahin said.
A U.S.-brokered ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war took effect on Oct. 10.
The 20-point U.S. peace plan includes the formation and deployment of a temporary international stabilization force of Arab and other partners that would work with Egypt and Jordan on securing Gaza’s borders and ensure the ceasefire is respected.
The U.S. has ruled out American soldiers in Gaza.
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.africanews.com/2025/11/03/emirati-official-acknowledges-missteps-in-sudan-crisis-response/
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Southeast Asia
Anwar: Malaysia’s trade pact with US fully complies with Federal Constitution
By Kenneth Tee
04 Nov 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 4 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today said Malaysia’s Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) with the United States does not contain any provisions that contravene the Federal Constitution.
Anwar said this in response to a supplementary question from Kota Bharu MP Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan regarding whether the ART had been reviewed by the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) before it was signed.
“Several decisions made during Cabinet meetings were fine-tuned after obtaining input from the AGC, that is how things work.
“From start to finish, the Cabinet conducted a thorough review because we are fully aware of the implications. I would like to stress that, regarding domestic laws and international agreements, the AGC has a vital role because we do not want to sign anything that contravenes our laws or Constitution,” he said in the Dewan Rakyat here.
In statement issued earlier, the AGC said Malaysia has the right to terminate its ART with the United States at any time through written notice without requiring the consent of the US.
The AGC said that this is provided for under Article 7.5 of the ART, which also emphasises that all protections under the agreement are intended to defend and preserve Malaysia’s sovereignty and protect the country’s interests at all times.
Malaysia and the US signed the ART on October 26 during the 47th Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur.
The agreement is a US proposal to renegotiate tariffs on Malaysia from 25 per cent to 19 per cent, under Executive Order 14257 issued by US President Donald Trump on April 2, 2025.
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/11/04/anwar-malaysias-trade-pact-with-us-fully-complies-with-federal-constitution/197139
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Malaysia can terminate US trade agreement at any time says AGC
4 Nov 2025
Attorney-General’s Chambers confirms Malaysia can unilaterally terminate US trade deal with written notice under Article 7.5 of ART agreement.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia retains the right to terminate its Agreement on Reciprocal Trade with the United States at any time through written notice without requiring American consent.
The Attorney-General’s Chambers clarified this unilateral termination right exists under Article 7.5 of the ART agreement which safeguards Malaysian sovereignty and national interests.
This agreement will only take effect 60 days after both nations exchange written notifications confirming completion of their respective domestic legal procedures.
Malaysia’s implementation of all obligations and commitments under this trade agreement remains subject to applicable Malaysian domestic laws and procedures.
The ART also establishes provisions for good-faith consultations between Malaysia and the United States regarding implementation issues before either party can take action against the other.
Both nations as World Trade Organisation members will continue recognising rights obligations and protections established under WTO agreements for international trade according to Article 7.1.
Malaysia and the United States signed the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade on October 26 during the 47th ASEAN Summit held in Kuala Lumpur.
This agreement resulted from a US proposal to renegotiate tariffs on Malaysian goods reducing them from 25% to 19% under President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14257 issued on April 2 2025.
The Ministry of Investment Trade and Industry led negotiations for Malaysia while the Office of the United States Trade Representative represented American interests.
MITI involved relevant ministries and agencies throughout negotiations with all policy decisions regarding ART made by the Cabinet after considering economic political and legal aspects. – Bernama
Source: thesun.my
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Deputy PM Zahid begins China working visit to boost halal exports
4 Nov 2025
Deputy PM Ahmad Zahid Hamidi starts four-day China visit to strengthen halal industry cooperation and bilateral trade relations.
SHANGHAI: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has begun a four-day working visit to China from today until November 7.
He is accompanied by senior officials from relevant ministries and agencies along with Malaysian small and medium enterprise representatives.
This marks his first China visit in 2025 and demonstrates Malaysia’s ongoing commitment to enhancing bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors.
Wisma Putra confirmed Ahmad Zahid will officiate the Malaysia International Halal Showcase Shanghai 2025 during his visit.
The Rural and Regional Development Minister will also meet key stakeholders in China’s halal sector to strengthen Malaysia’s global halal leadership position.
China ranked as Malaysia’s second-largest halal export destination in 2024 with total exports valued at RM7.04 billion.
The delegation will participate in high-level discussions focusing on bilateral cooperation in the halal industry and Technical and Vocational Education and Training.
Ahmad Zahid is scheduled to attend the opening ceremony of the 8th China International Import Expo during his visit.
He will officiate at the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia Pavilion at the expo.
Several Memoranda of Understanding between Malaysian and Chinese companies will be signed during the visit.
These agreements will cover cooperation in the halal industry, trade, and investment sectors.
China has maintained its position as Malaysia’s largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years since 2009.
Total bilateral trade reached RM484.12 billion in 2024, accounting for 16.8% of Malaysia’s total global trade.
Malaysia and China elevated their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2013.
Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on May 31, 1974. – Bernama
Source: thesun.my
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Gobind: Malaysia on track to achieve AI nation status by 2030, with 2026 as turning point
04 Nov 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 4 — Malaysia is aiming to achieve the status of an artificial intelligence (AI) nation by 2030, with the year 2026 marked as a key transition point under the country’s National AI Action Plan.
The plan focuses on advancing technology, talent, governance, infrastructure, and sustainable investment.
Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo said 2026 will be a significant milestone in the Ministry of Digital’s efforts to elevate Malaysia as an AI-driven nation. He noted that the country’s AI ambition goes beyond technology development; it involves creating a comprehensive ecosystem that integrates policy, talent, infrastructure, digital trust, and investment, enabling Malaysia to position itself as a competitive and high-impact regional AI hub.
“With careful planning and a holistic approach, Malaysia is expected to become an inclusive, ethical, secure, and competitive AI nation, making AI a main driver of economic growth and transformation of citizens’ lives by 2030,” he said when winding up the debate on the Supply Bill 2026 (Budget 2026) at the policy stage in the Dewan Rakyat.
To realise this goal, the government has allocated RM1.36 billion to the Ministry of Digital under Budget 2026, including RM248.5 million for operating expenses and RM1.11 billion for development projects.
Among the key initiatives are RM53 million for the Malaysia Digital Accelerator Grant to boost the adoption of technologies such as blockchain, AI, and quantum computing, and RM18.1 million to strengthen the National Artificial Intelligence Office (NAIO). In addition, RM20 million has been set aside for the GovTech Malaysia initiative to enhance the efficiency and quality of government service delivery.
Gobind also highlighted that Malaysia attracted around RM115 billion in data centre investments between 2021 and 2023. The sector is expected to create approximately 30,900 jobs by 2030, in line with the rising regional demand for digital services.
He said data centres generate long-term economic spillover effects, benefiting local companies across the supply chain - including architectural firms, electrical contractors, HVAC suppliers, security providers, and facilities management companies - while also driving the growth of local Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) providers.
The Digital Ministry is also developing a Digital Trust and Data Security Strategy, which will serve as a comprehensive regulatory framework to strengthen data security governance in both the public and private sectors. “This strategy unites principles of security, accountability, and digital trust, in line with the 13th Malaysia Plan, as part of efforts to build a safe and trustworthy AI Nation,” the minister said. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Prosecution links Najib directly to 1MDB deals, says Jho Low merely go-between
By Ida Lim
04 Nov 2025
PUTRAJAYA, Nov 4 — Low Taek Jho was just a “messenger” who helped convey then prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s instructions over 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) affairs, the prosecution told the High Court today.
In Najib’s trial involving RM2 billion of 1MDB funds, the prosecution said evidence shows Low — better known as Jho Low — managed the former prime minister’s personal and financial matters, including handling his credit card problems abroad.
“For example, he was the one whom the accused called when he had trouble with his credit card overseas,” the prosecution said, adding that there were many other similar instances.
AmBank’s former relationship manager Joanna Yu, who testified earlier as the 41st prosecution witness, had described Low’s role in managing transactions in Najib’s private AmIslamic bank accounts.
Yu had told the court that Low personally alerted her whenever funds were expected to enter Najib’s accounts or when Najib’s credit card payments failed to go through.
During her testimony, the court was shown BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) text messages between Low and Yu, including one instance when Najib urgently sought help to verify RM3.3 million in credit card transactions for jewellery in Italy, and another involving a US$100,000 purchase in Hawaii.
The prosecution argued that Low, Najib’s late principal private secretary Datuk Azlin Alias, 1MDB’s former deputy chief financial officer Terence Geh, 1MDB’s former chief investment officer Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil and other fugitives had all acted as Najib’s “messengers.”
It said 1MDB officials and other prosecution witnesses had acted based on instructions from these individuals because they believed the directions came from Najib himself.
According to the prosecution, Najib’s silence despite being aware of these actions strongly supports the claim that he had authorised them.
It highlighted that these witnesses had initially sought confirmation from Najib about instructions given by Low or Azlin and, after receiving repeated affirmation, later stopped verifying each one because there was a “clear pattern” that all instructions aligned with Najib’s wishes.
The prosecution maintained that this pattern shows Najib had empowered the intermediaries to act on his behalf and urged the High Court to convict him on all 25 charges in the 1MDB case.
Earlier, Najib’s lead defence lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah argued that Low should be “at the very top in the hierarchy of criminals” in the 1MDB scandal.
He accused the authorities of “selective prosecution,” claiming Najib’s trial was politically motivated. “My client is being sought so that he is annihilated politically so that he will never recover politically,” he said.
While the prosecution said Najib had received more than RM2 billion of 1MDB’s money in his private accounts, the former prime minister has maintained that the funds were donations from Saudi Arabia and its late ruler King Abdullah.
Shafee cited King Salman’s 2017 visit to Malaysia as evidence supporting the Saudi donation claim.
“First, would King Salman have taken the invitation to visit Malaysia, if we have defamed his late brother’s name — King Abdullah — as having donated this sum of money which became the talk of not just the town, but the whole world?” he said.
He also argued there was “nothing sinister” in Najib’s admission that he did not personally inform the Saudis of his account number, suggesting that Low may have done so instead.
Shafee said Najib had trusted Low because he had arranged a meeting with King Abdullah and informed Najib in advance of receiving Saudi Arabia’s highest title.
The defence contended that Najib’s explanation was neither an “afterthought” nor a “bare denial” and urged the court to discharge and acquit him.
After more than 300 hearing days since September 2018, High Court judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah is expected to deliver his verdict on December 26.
Source: malaymail.com
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King of Malaysia set to meet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during state visit
04 Nov 2025
RIYADH, Nov 4 — His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, is scheduled to meet Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud at Al-Yamamah Palace here today.
A state welcome ceremony also awaits the King at the palace in conjunction with his four-day state visit to Saudi Arabia, followed by a state banquet.
Accompanying Sultan Ibrahim on the visit are Tunku Temenggong Johor Tunku Idris Iskandar Al-Haj, Tunku Panglima Johor Tunku Abdul Rahman Al-Haj and Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.
His Majesty arrived at the Royal Terminal of the King Khalid International Airport here at 12.30 pm yesterday, marking the first state visit by a Malaysian King to Saudi Arabia since the late Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al-Musta’in Billah’s visit in 1984.
Istana Negara, in a statement, said the state visit reflected the continued commitment of Malaysia and Saudi Arabia to further strengthen bilateral relations and expand cooperation in various areas, including the economy, geopolitics, defence and Islamic affairs.
The statement said that during the first 10 months of this year, there had been a total of 12 high-profile visits between Malaysia and Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia is Malaysia’s 14th largest trading partner, with total trade amounting to RM44.74 billion (USD9.79 billion).
Beyond economic ties, close relations are also evident in matters relating to haj and umrah, with His Majesty expected to convey appreciation to the Saudi government for its hospitality and special arrangements for Malaysian pilgrims each year.
This is the fifth state visit conducted by Sultan Ibrahim after Singapore, China, Brunei and Russia. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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