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Islamic World News ( 2 Dec 2025, NewAgeIslam.Com)

Consuming Beef Essential To Be Good Hindu: Buddha Prakash Bouddha Accused Of Sharing WhatsApp Text Denied Relief by MP High Court

New Age Islam News Bureau

02 December 2025

An FIR was registered against the man under Sections 196(1)(b), 299, 353(1) (c) 353 (2) of BNS. (File Photo)

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· Consuming Beef Essential To Be Good Hindu: Buddha Prakash Bouddha Accused Of Sharing WhatsApp Text Denied Relief by MP High Court

· Four Muslim Traders From Bengal Given 72 Hours To Leave Odisha On Claims Of Being Bangladeshis

· Boko Haram Attacks Not About Religion; Terrorists Killing Muslims, Christians: Gov. Zulum

· Quran Copies Torn In French Mosque Break-In Amid Rising Anti-Muslim Hatred

· Pope Leo Wraps Up Lebanon Visit With Silent Prayer At Site Of 2020 Port Explosion

· Nuclear Experts Gather In Riyadh To Tackle Emerging Threats And Response Gaps

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India

· Four Muslim Traders From Bengal Given 72 Hours To Leave Odisha On Claims Of Being Bangladeshis

· 'Beef Curry’ Label At Aligarh Wedding Sparks Fight; Samples Sent For Forensic Test

· Muslims Should Give Up Gyanvapi, Hindus Must Stop New Demands: Ex-ASI Top Official

· ED Raids In Maharashtra In Connection With Case Against Islamic Seminary In Nandurbar

· 800 KMs From Ayodhya, A Babri Masjid-Ram Mandir Replica Showdown Fuels A Fresh Political Row In Bengal

· Allahabad High Court Refuses To Quash Case Against Jitendra Sahani Chargesheeted For ‘Insulting Hindu Deities’

· NIA raids eight Kashmir sites over Red Fort blast as probe widens into terror module

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Africa

· ACF Denies Endorsing Amnesty For Terrorists, Bandits

· ‘It Is Impossible For Repentant Boko Haram Members To Find Their Way Into Military’ – Irabor

· Terrorists Attack Adamawa Governor’s Home Town, Kill Ex Councillor, Abduct Sons

· No breakthrough in ECOWAS talks with Guinea-Bissau coup leaders

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Europe

· British Army Committed War Crimes In Afghanistan – Combat Veteran

· Azerbaijan's Baku to host int'l conference on "Launch of AI Index for Islamic World"

· UK criticises Gaza aid delays as tents take year to arrive

· Moscow responds to NATO pre-emptive strike threat

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Mideast

· Pope Leo Visits Annaya Monastery, Meets Religious Leaders And Young People In Lebanon

· The IDF Whistleblower testimonies appearing to confirm claims of Israeli war crimes in Gaza

· Trump warns Israel not to ‘interfere’ in Syria

· Palestinian Authority Receives $90m In Support From Saudi Arabia

· Settlers uproot more olive trees south of Hebron

· Jordan sends two more mobile bakeries to Gaza to support Palestinians

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Arab World

· King Faisal hospital uses 3D printing for tumour surgery

· Eastern region governor receives newly appointed British ambassador

· Circular Economy Forum in Riyadh examines future of sustainability

· Saudi envoy hails FII Priority Asia 2025 in Tokyo

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South Asia

· Islamabad–Kabul Peace Talks Launched Under Saudi Mediation; Reports Say the Effort Failed Again

· Govt to ensure uninterrupted treatment for Khaleda Zia: Advisory Council

· One party plays ‘Liberation War’ card, other ‘religion’

· BNP leads with 33% support, Jamaat close behind with 29%: IRI survey

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North America

· While Many Religious Communities Shrink, This Growing Cleveland Mosque Has Big Plans To Expand Campus

· ‘Cruel, Inhumane’: Zohran Mamdani Slams ICE Raids; Reveals What He Told Trump When He Met Him

· USF Christian Community Rejects Actions Of Men Who Targeted Muslim Students

· Trump releases fraudster executive days into prison sentence

· Trump ‘very satisfied’ with new Syrian leadership

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Southeast Asia

· Indonesia's Islamic Banking Market Share Lags Behind Malaysia, Saudi Arabia

· Anwar: Requesting firms to be ‘considered’ for govt projects isn’t sacking-worthy

· Sultan Nazrin calls for AI adoption to modernise Malaysian education

· Anwar clarifies stance on ‘for consideration’ letters by public officers

· King urges graduates to build strong civilisation with knowledge and integrity

Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau

URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/beef-essential-hindu-buddha-high-court/d/137860

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Consuming Beef Essential To Be Good Hindu: Buddha Prakash Bouddha Accused Of Sharing WhatsApp Text Denied Relief by MP High Court

by Ashish Shaji

December 2, 2025

An FIR was registered against the man under Sections 196(1)(b), 299, 353(1) (c) 353 (2) of BNS. (File Photo)

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The Madhya Pradesh High Court recently dismissed a plea seeking quashing of FIR registered against a man accused of sharing a WhatsApp message that ‘consuming beef was essential to being a good Hindu’ and ‘Brahmins regularly consumed bovine meat, and cows.’

Justice Milind Ramesh Phadke on November 19 observed that the allegations in the FIR disclosed prima facie ingredients of the offences invoked.

“The present matter involves allegations of publication or circulation of material capable of hurting religious sentiments or promoting disharmony. The allegations contained in the impugned FIR, when taken at their face value, disclose prima facie ingredients of the offences invoked,” the court held.

Case

The prosecution had alleged that the accused, Buddha Prakash Bouddha had posted on a seven-page message on WhatsApp on September 26 containing derogatory and misleading comments regarding the Hindu religion and the Brahmin community.

It was further alleged that the messages claimed ‘consuming beef was essential to being a good Hindu and bull sacrifices and meat consumption were obligatory on certain occasions.’ The messages also claimed that ‘Brahmins regularly consumed bovine meat, and cows and bulls were allegedly slaughtered in various religious ceremonies.’

Following this, an FIR was registered against the man under Sections 196(1)(b) (promotion of enmity between groups), 299 (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings), 353(1)(c) and 353(2) (statements conducing to public mischief) of BNS.

Arguments

Advocate Aman Raghuwanshi, counsel for the accused, submitted that the accused is the administrator of the WhatsApp group titled “B.P. Bouddh Patrakar News”. He submitted that said message was posted in good faith, without any malicious or deliberate intention to outrage the religious feelings.

He further argued that the post was academic in nature, sourced from a published literary work, and was shared within a limited, non-public, voluntarily joined forum. It was also added that the FIR was registered at the behest of the local police authorities due to the accused’s independent and critical reporting on police excesses.

The counsel for the accused also pointed out that the message was shared from a book authored by Dr. Surendra Kumar Sharma (Agyaat), which has not been banned by the central or state government.

Opposing the submissions, advocate Padamshri Agarwal, appearing for the prosecution, submitted that the allegations in the complaint indicated ‘intentional publication of highly inflammatory and provocative material capable of outraging religious sentiments and disturbing public tranquility’.

Court’s Ruling

At the outset the court noted that the allegations disclosed prima facie ingredients of the offences invoked.

The court said, “Whether the Petitioner acted with deliberate and malicious intention, whether the extract was quoted in good faith, and whether the content was merely academic or capable of disturbing public tranquillity and whether the Petitioner’s post oversteps the permissible limits of free speech are the matters to be examined based on evidence collected during investigation.”

These are not issues that can be adjudicated at this preliminary stage, the court said.

The court observed that the mere assertion of FIR being a counterblast to earlier journalistic reports cannot, in itself, justify quashing of the FIR when the allegations disclose cognizable offences.

The court, therefore, dismissed the petition.

“This Court is of the considered opinion that no case is made out for exercise of extraordinary jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution. The petition is accordingly dismissed,” it held.

Source: telegraphindia.com

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

https://indianexpress.com/article/legal-news/mp-high-court-denies-relief-to-man-accused-of-sharing-whatsapp-message-that-consuming-beef-essential-to-be-good-hindu-10397423/

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Four Muslim traders from Bengal given 72 hours to leave Odisha on claims of being Bangladeshis

Scroll Staff

December 1, 2025

Nayagarh district in Odisha | Google Maps

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Four Muslim traders from West Bengal’s Murshidabad district were given a 72-hour deadline to leave Odisha’s Nayagarh after being accused of being Bangladeshis and Rohingya migrants, The Telegraph reported on Tuesday.

The men had lived in Nayagarh for several years selling mosquito nets, quilts and woollens on two-wheelers. All four of them were from the Sagarpara gram panchayat in the Jalangi block of the Domkal subdivision in Murshidabad.

On November 27, one of the men, Saheb Sekh, said that police officers had come to their rented accommodation and accused them of being “Rohingya living illegally in India”, The Telegraph reported.

Sekh said that the officers asked for his identity papers.

“I showed him my Aadhaar and voter card,” the newspaper quoted him as saying. “He was not satisfied. He called my landlord and asked all of us to report to the station by 5pm.”

Later in the day, the four men went to the Odagaon police station, where an officer asked them to leave the town within three days. The men alleged that they were also accused of being Rohingya and Bangladeshis for speaking in Bengali.

The police also took signed copies of their documents.

Abdus Salam, one among the four men, claimed that another group that was also present in the police station and harassing them was part of a Hindutva outfit. “We have seen them in markets and other places,” The Telegraph quoted him as saying.

It was not clear whether the four men had returned to Murshidabad.

The incident comes amid allegations by the Trinamool Congress that Bengali-speaking workers are being discriminated against in states ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party on the suspicion of being Bangladeshis.

Since the terror attack on April 22 in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, the police in several states ruled by the BJP have been detaining Bengali-speaking persons – mostly Muslims – and asking them to prove that they are Indian citizens.

Several persons have been forced into Bangladesh after they allegedly could not prove their Indian citizenship. In some cases, persons who were mistakenly sent to Bangladesh returned to the country after state authorities in India proved that they were Indians.

The matter is also being heard by the Supreme Court on a petition filed by the West Bengal Migrant Workers Welfare Board.

In Odisha, there have been several instances in recent months of Bengali Muslims facing violence and intimidation.

On November 24, Rahul Islam, a 24-year-old winterwear seller from Murshidabad, was allegedly accused of being Bangladeshi and beaten up by a mob in Ganjam after he refused to chant “Jai Shri Ram”, The Telegraph reported.

Islam’s employer, Mainul Sarkar, who also returned to his home in Murshidabad, alleged that he had gone to the police in Odisha for help but did not receive any.

In July, hundreds of Bengali workers in Odisha’s Jharsuguda had been detained on the suspicion of being Bangladeshis. Several of them were released after the authorities ascertained that they were Indians.

Source: scroll.in

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https://scroll.in/latest/1088930/four-muslim-traders-from-bengal-given-72-hours-to-leave-odisha-on-suspicion-of-being-bangladeshis

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Boko Haram attacks not about religion; terrorists killing Muslims, Christians: Gov. Zulum

DECEMBER 1, 2025

Governor of Borno State, Babagana Umara Zulum

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Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno, on Monday, said the Boko Haram conflict was not a religious crisis as portrayed by some groups.

The governor stated this while addressing the leadership of the Muslim and Christian faiths in the state, where he called for reconciliation and harmony among the diverse people of the state.

“The Boko Haram conflict is not a religious crisis. It is an assault on our civilisation, humanity, and all that we hold dear, irrespective of creed.

“It is absolutely crucial that we collectively dispel all false narratives that seek to portray our security crisis in a religious colouration. Religious conflict is alien to us.

“The perpetrators of violence have killed, maimed, and displaced Muslims and Christians alike. They have destroyed Mosques and Churches with equal impunity.”

According to the governor, the statistics of victimhood are stark and heartbreaking.

“While every single life lost is regrettable, the data clearly shows that the overwhelming majority of those who have suffered death, abduction, and displacement are our Muslim brothers and sisters.

He said the tragedy should bind the people of Borno in a common grief and solidarity for a united response.

Mr Zulum said principles of justice, equity, and inclusivity guide his administration’s reconstruction, resettlement and rehabilitation programmes.

“We rebuild based on need and on our commitment towards restoring the social fabric of every community,” the governor said.

He said his administration had reconstructed 45 Christian worship centres that were destroyed during the Boko Haram insurgency.

“This number includes 16 from Hawul, 11 from Gwoza, 10 from Askira-Uba and eight from Chibok.

“We did not do all these as a favour; we did it as a duty. Just as we have rebuilt countless mosques, markets, schools, and homes.”

He urged religious leaders to continue to champion interfaith harmony, denouncing violence and fostering reconciliation in the state.

He stated that the purpose of calling them was for him to address a fundamental pillar that would shape the future of the peaceful coexistence between Muslim and Christian communities in the state.

Mr Zulum further urged the international community to partner with the state in addressing the underlying causes of the insurgency, which he said were not limited to endemic poverty, illiteracy and hunger, among others.

Responding, the state chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Bishop John Bakeni, and his counterpart of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), Sheikh Jafar Ngamdu, promised to take his message of peace to the people.

Source: gazettengr.com

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

https://gazettengr.com/boko-haram-attacks-not-about-religion-terrorists-killing-muslims-christians-gov-zulum/

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Quran copies torn in French mosque break-in amid rising anti-Muslim hatred

02 Dec 2025

Attack was aimed at "undermining the practice of living together and disrupting this atmosphere of serenity," an association says. / Reuters Archive

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The French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM) has announced that copies of the Quran were torn and thrown after an individual broke into a mosque in south-central France.

"Muslims in France are deeply shocked and hurt by the desecration of copies of the Quran, which were torn and thrown on the ground by individuals who broke into a mosque in broad daylight in Le Puy-en-Velay (Haute-Loire department)," the French Council of the Muslim Faith wrote on X on Sunday.

While noting that there were no victims, the group warned of the risk of such acts multiplying in a “toxic climate” recently fueled by “biased” surveys, reports, and stigmatising proposals targeting Muslims.

"This desecration, which symbolically targeted the sacred book of Muslims within a place of worship, constitutes a serious Islamophobic act that reflects a hatred that must not be underestimated," the Council of the Muslim Faith added.

‘Disrupting this atmosphere of serenity’

On Wednesday, the Montreal-la-Cluse Cultural Center, affiliated with the Turkish-Muslim umbrella group DITIB (Turkish-Islamic Union for Religious Affairs), was also targeted in an attack.

"A bullet, apparently from a firearm, was found in the mailbox of our association. We strongly condemn this attack targeting the Turkish community of Montreal-la-Cluse and the practice of living together in harmony," the association wrote in a statement issued on social media.

It noted that the attack was aimed at "undermining the practice of living together and disrupting this atmosphere of serenity."

"As an association, we will undertake all necessary legal measures and follow this matter with the utmost seriousness," the statement added.

Source: trtworld.com

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

https://www.trtworld.com/article/80a58d432362

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Pope Leo wraps up Lebanon visit with silent prayer at site of 2020 port explosion

December 02, 2025

Pope Leo XIV visits Lebanon during his first apostolic journey

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BEIRUT: Pope Leo XIV visited the site of a deadly 2020 Beirut port explosion and offered a silent prayer on the last day of his trip to Lebanon.

Leo was also expected to meet with relatives of some of the 218 people killed by the blast, which tore through Beirut and did billions of dollars in damage after hundreds of tons of ammonium nitrate detonated in a warehouse.

Five years on, these families are still seeking justice. No official has been convicted in a judicial investigation that has been repeatedly obstructed, angering Lebanese for whom the blast was just the latest crisis after decades of corruption and financial crimes.

When he arrived in Lebanon on Sunday, Leo urged the country’s political leaders to pursue the truth as a means of peace and reconciliation.

The American pope opened his final day with a visit to the De La Croix hospital, which specializes in care for people with psychological problems, and is expected to close it with a Mass along the Beirut waterfront before returning to Rome.

Leo sought to bring a message of peace to Lebanon as it copes with years of economic and political crises, punctuated by the port blast. On Monday, he presided over a gathering of Lebanon’s Christian and Muslim spiritual leaders, celebrating the country’s interfaith coexistence as a potent message of peace in the conflict-plagued region.

Source: arabnews.com

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

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2624688/middle-east

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Nuclear experts gather in Riyadh to tackle emerging threats and response gaps

LAMA ALHAMAWI

December 01, 2025

The International Nuclear Emergency Preparedness and Response conference opened in Riyadh on Monday. (AN photo by Lama Alhamawi)

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RIYADH: The International Nuclear Emergency Preparedness and Response conference opened in Riyadh on Monday, with key industry leaders addressing the emerging threats and new response technologies for nuclear and radiological emergencies.

The four-day event, which runs from Dec. 1-4, is being held in partnership with the Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Commission and the International Atomic Energy Agency.

It began with a keynote speech from conference president Khaled Al-Eissa, who underlined the importance of institutional preparedness when dealing with radiological accidents.

“The history of our field is marked by moments that tested the boundaries of science, governance and human resolve,” he said.

“In Chernobyl in 1986, the world witnessed how a single accident could transcend borders, turning a local tragedy into a global wake-up call that redefined the principles of transparency, notification, early warning and shared accountability.”

He stressed “that the need for integrated, multi-sectoral frameworks for preparedness and response is imperative.”

Al-Eissa also highlighted how historic nuclear accidents have transformed the way nations think, plan and respond.

“Every one of these incidents in our history has proven one truth: that preparedness must be institutional, not accidental; proactive, not reactive,” he said. “And that the measure of progress is not just in avoiding the challenge, but also in the ability to respond with unity and a singular purpose.”

The conference, which has the theme “Building the future in an evolving world,” centers on two key topics — anticipating emerging threats and hazards, and embracing new technologies to enhance response capabilities.

IAEA Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi, speaking via video call, said: “Our theme is, ‘Building the Future in an Evolving World.’ This is timely and fitting. The world is changing faster than our traditional emergency and preparedness and response frameworks.

“The risks we face are different to those we imagined even just a decade ago. If we rely only on yesterday’s scenarios, we will fall behind the realities of today and tomorrow. Anticipation must be at the core of our preparedness.”

He also emphasized three essential points: Trust is essential, the risk landscape is evolving, and the future rests on innovation, cooperation and the next generation.

“I urge all countries to build their national response capacities, strengthen regional cooperation, and join the relevant international conventions. We must ensure there are no gaps in our global systems. Preparedness and response go hand in hand,” he said.

Session topics during the event include comprehensive decision-making in radiological and nuclear crises, emergency preparedness and response for floating, mobile, and small modular reactors and building a resilient public health workforce.

The conference will also discuss how member states and international organizations can maximize their EPR effectiveness, sustainability and resilience.

With the public able to watch proceedings via livestream, it also aims to enhance global awareness of crucial emergency preparedness and response topics.

Attendees include response organizations such as medical services, law enforcement and civil protection, as well as industry experts in nuclear and research, civil society organizations and academics.

Source: arabnews.com

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

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2624613/saudi-arabia

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India

Four Muslim traders from Bengal given 72 hours to leave Odisha on claims of being Bangladeshis

Scroll Staff

December 1, 2025

Sekh said that the officers asked for his identity papers.

“I showed him my Aadhaar and voter card,” the newspaper quoted him as saying. “He was not satisfied. He called my landlord and asked all of us to report to the station by 5pm.”

The police also took signed copies of their documents.

It was not clear whether the four men had returned to Murshidabad.

The matter is also being heard by the Supreme Court on a petition filed by the West Bengal Migrant Workers Welfare Board.

In Odisha, there have been several instances in recent months of Bengali Muslims facing violence and intimidation.

Islam’s employer, Mainul Sarkar, who also returned to his home in Murshidabad, alleged that he had gone to the police in Odisha for help but did not receive any.

Source: scroll.in

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

https://scroll.in/latest/1088930/four-muslim-traders-from-bengal-given-72-hours-to-leave-odisha-on-suspicion-of-being-bangladeshis

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'Beef curry’ label at Aligarh wedding sparks fight; samples sent for forensic test

01.12.25

Confusion over a dining-counter label that read “beef curry” set off a scuffle at a wedding reception in the Civil Lines area on Sunday night, prompting police to intervene and collect samples for forensic testing.

Two guests, Akash and Gaurav Kumar, objected to the sticker and tried to record a video at the party, triggering the fight. A police team and Food and Drug Administration officials reached the venue soon after and gathered food samples for examination.

Circle Officer Sarvam Singh said three people — the caterer and two others allegedly involved in the altercation — were detained for questioning and released later in the night. “Action will be taken only after the forensic report establishes the nature of the meat. No case has been filed so far,” he said.

Gaurav Kumar submitted a written complaint against the caterer, alleging deliberate hurting of religious sentiments. Police said confusion over the term “beef”, often used for both buffalo meat (legal) and cow meat (banned), frequently leads to tensions in the region.

Police said confusion over the term "beef", used interchangeably for both buffalo meat (legal) and cow meat (banned), often leads to tensions in the region.

As news spread, BJP workers gathered at the Civil Lines Police Station, demanding strict action.

BSP leader Salman Shahid, who also reached the station, accused BJP workers of "high-handed behaviour" and ignoring explanations that the issue arose from a misunderstanding.

Source: telegraphindia.com

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

https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/beef-curry-label-at-aligarh-wedding-sparks-fight-samples-sent-for-forensic-test/cid/2135694

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Muslims should give up Gyanvapi, Hindus must stop new demands: Ex-ASI top official

Dec 2, 2025

Former Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) regional director KK Muhammed has called for restraint in ongoing mandir-masjid disputes, saying that only three sites -- Ram Janmabhoomi, Mathura, and Gyanvapi -- should be at the centre of the discussion.

He suggested that Muslims should willingly hand over these sites, while also urging Hindus to avoid making further demands, emphasising that expanding claims would only create more problems. Muhammed’s remarks come as several petitions regarding the temple-masjid row are pending before courts across the country.

Talking to India Today, Muhammed pointed out that Mathura and Gyavapi are two other places apart from Ram Janmabhoomi that are "as important for the Hindu community as Mecca and Medina are for Muslims."

AYODHYA ROW WAS CREATED OUT OF LEFT PROPAGANDA: KK MUHAMMED

Reflecting on the Ayodhya dispute, the former ASI top official recounted his involvement in the 1976 excavation of the Babri Masjid, led by BB Lal. He said the controversy grew because of the influence of a communist historian. According to him, the historian persuaded the Muslim community to reject the evidence of a temple beneath the mosque.

According to Muhammed, most Muslims were initially inclined to resolve the matter by allowing the construction of a temple at the disputed site.

Muhammed asserted that the historian was not an archaeologist and had not visited the site at any stage of the excavation. He slammed the spread of what he described as false narratives, pointing out the lack of direct knowledge among those influencing public opinion at the time.

"At that very important time, it was a communist historian who interfered in all these things and then persuaded the Muslim community that Professor Lal had excavated the site, and he did not get anything which favoured the previous existence of a temple. So this was their creation. So, Muslims had no other way," he told India Today.

"They had never visited the site, even before the excavation nor during the excavation nor after the excavation. So, without knowing the subject, they were propagating this kinds of false stories. So, somebody had to give an answer for that one. So, for the first time, professor BB Lal, who had led the team, gave a befitting reply," he said.

On the broader issue of mandir-masjid debates, Muhammed advised caution, saying, "We should be very careful." He identified Mathura and Gyanvapi, alongside Ram Janmabhoomi, as sites of particular importance to the Hindu community, describing their significance as comparable to Mecca and Medina for Muslims.

"So, Muslims should willingly hand over these three places," he added.

Responding to questions about other petitions concerning religious sites, Muhammed said, "Other than these three, there should be no demand that should be coming from the Hindu community." He warned that pursuing additional claims would not solve the issue and risked further conflict.

"The only solution for unity should be that all these three places should be handed to the Hindu community and Hindus should stop coming with a long list of places. That won't solve the problem," he told India Today, highlighting the need for restraint and compromise from both communities.

Muhammed also commented on the lack of internal control regarding such demands, saying, "There is no one to control them" with respect to the problem within the Hindu community.

He categorically dismissed allegations by some Hindu groups regarding the origins of the Taj Mahal, calling them "totally false." Muhammed detailed the historical transfer of the site, noting that it was originally Raja Mann Singh's palace, which was later transferred to Jai Singh and subsequently to Shah Jahan, with supporting documents preserved in Bikaner and Jaipur museums.

He described such claims as "another attempt by fanatical Hindu groups to claim that everything belongs to them."

'BJP'S 11 YEARS A DARK AGE FOR ASI'

On cultural heritage preservation, Muhammed stated that the expectations placed on the government, particularly regarding protection of sites, "did not materialise." He referred to the current period as the "dark age of the Archaeological Survey of India," criticising the lack of substantial progress.

"We all expected a lot from the BJP government when it came to power. So, we thought there would be a kind of...the protection would be more from the side of these people, and they would be taking a lot of interest in culture, but it was not like that. We call it the dark age of the period of the BJP for the last 11 years. It is the dark age of the Archaeological Survey of India," he told India Today.

He further noted that his own restoration work at the Bateshwar temple complex in Chambal had slowed considerably in recent years, with only ten temples reconstructed during the last eleven years, despite significant effort.

However, the Director General of the ASI, Yadubir Singh Rawat, disputed the claims saying, "ASI is doing a lot of work; we have a big budget but also have thousands of monuments to manage."

"Some people have said things years after retirement. Why didn’t they raise it when they were in ASI?," he added, taking a veiled dig at Muhammed.

Rawat also said that the ASI does not take any political sides and the organisation’s job is to ascertain and document the chronology of events, and based on these findings that historians and other professionals make their interpretations.

Source: telegraphindia.com

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

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/ram-janmabhoomi-mathura-gyanvapi-dispute-kk-muhammed-urges-restraint-resolution-2828953-2025-12-01

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ED Raids In Maharashtra In Connection With Case Against Islamic Seminary In Nandurbar

December 1, 2025

THE ENFORCEMENT Directorate (ED) carried out raids at 12 premises in Maharashtra including Nandurbar district and Mumbai in the case of Jamia Ismalia Ishatul Uloom (JIIU) which was booked by Maharashtra police earlier for allegedly sheltering a Yemeni national whose visa had expired. The Nandurbar police had registered the FIR and filed a chargesheet in the matter on April 11, earlier this year.

An ED official said that based on the FIR registered by the Maharashtra police in February this year, they had initiated a probe in the matter and carried out raids at 12 premises across the state including Nandurbar district and Mumbai. The official said that earlier the Ministry of Home Affairs vide its order dated 15.07.2024, has cancelled the FCRA Registration Certificate of Jamia Ismalia Ishatul Uloom trust after finding that the trust is involved in channelising foreign contribution funds to other non-FCRA registered NGO.

In February this year, the Akkalkuwa police station in Nandurbar had registered an FIR against some of the office bearers of the institute for allegedly providing a Yemeni citizen Al-Khadami Khaled Ibrahim Saleh with a place to stay and other documents when he did not have a relevant visa to stay in the country. An FIR was also registered against the Yemeni national and his family members under the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita 2023 and the Indian Telegraph Act 1885. The police filed a chargesheet in the case in April this year.

Local BJP leader Nitesh Rane had then written to the chief minister Devendra Fadnavis seeking an SIT be formed to probe the matter and sought that funding of the institute be checked. As per its website, JIIU is an educational and charitable trust and Islamic university located in Akkalkuwa, Nandurbar. The institute was founded by Indian Islamic scholar and educationalist Ghulam Mohammad Vastanvi who passed away in May this year.

Source: indianexpress.com

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https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/ed-raids-maharashtra-case-islamic-seminary-nandurbar-10396611/

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800 KMs From Ayodhya, A Babri Masjid-Ram Mandir Replica Showdown Fuels A Fresh Political Row In Bengal

by Ravik Bhattacharya

December 2, 2025

Hoardings, posters, and leaflets circulating across villages and towns in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district depict the Babri Masjid and call for laying its foundation stone on December 6 — 856 km from Ayodhya and 33 years after its demolition. The proposed structure has sparked a row in West Bengal months before Assembly polls in the state.

At the centre of the “revival” is ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) Bharatpur MLA Humayun Kabir, who plans to lay the “foundation stone” of what he describes as a smaller version of the Babri Masjid in the district’s Beldanga block on December 6, the day in 1992 when the mosque in Ayodhya was brought down by Hindu kar sevaks. In response to Kabir’s remarks, two Hindu groups have formed trusts to begin construction of what they are saying are replicas of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir in the district.

With the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls across the state — a key flashpoint between the Mamata Banerjee government and the Election Commission (EC) — and Assembly polls on the horizon, Murshidabad, which borders Bangladesh, is in focus. Banerjee herself is scheduled to visit Murshidabad on December 4.

Since the 2002 SIR, Murshidabad has seen a 87.65% rise in the number of voters. Other border districts have also seen an uptick with Uttar Dinajpur (105.49% increase in number of registered voters), Malda (94.58%), South-24 Parganas (83.30%), Jalpaiguri (82.3%), Cooch Behar (76.52%), North-24 Parganas (72.18%), Nadia (71.46%) and Dakshin Dinajpur (70.94%).

As December 6 approaches, despite some setbacks, Kabir, who is also the secretary of the newly formed West Bengal Islamic Foundation of India, remains determined to lay the foundation stone of the mosque.

“As announced earlier, we will lay the foundation stone of the Babri Masjid on December 6. A trust has almost been formed and we are drawing up a plan to implement the construction of Babri Masjid. It will be an exact replica of the Babri mosque, but on a smaller scale. We are trying to get land, but those who had agreed are backing out because of pressure from the police and administration. However, when I said we will lay the foundation stone, we will do it on December 6. Come what may, I will build the Babri Mosque here,” he told The Indian Express over phone.

Claiming he had received “good response” from across the state, Kabir said the trust also plans to construct a 200-bedded hospital and a five-storeyed guest house on the premises of the mosque. “It will take around three years to complete. There is no question of backing off. Building a place of worship is my Constitutional right,” he said.

The Congress has latched on to the issue with former MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury targeting the TMC for its “silence”. “The TMC is not saying a word against Kabir and no action has been taken. The CM’s silence indicates a tacit support. On one hand, she has built the Jagannath temple, and now wants communal polarisation,” he said.

The BJP’s former Murshidabad president, Sakharab Sarkar, said he would construct a Ram Temple, though he has not decided where it will come up. “We will conduct Bhumi Pujan on December 6. I am not giving out details of the land since the TMC will immediately create roadblocks for the project. It will be in Baharampur town and will be a smaller version of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir,” he told The Indian Express.

Another proposed Ram Mandir is being built by the “Bongiyo Ram Sevak Parishad Charitable Trust”, for which a groundbreaking ceremony was held on January 22 in Alankar village of the Sagardighi Assembly constituency. “We will soon start the construction. It will be a replica. We are receiving good funds from people across the state,” said Ambikananda Maharaj, president of the Trust.

“There will be a Ram temple, and beside it, two other temples — one dedicated to Lord Shiva and another to Hanumanji,” said Dharmajit Debnath, secretary of the Trust, speaking to The Express.

While the TMC has distanced itself from Kabir and is not formally commenting on his moves, Left leaders blamed both the BJP and the ruling party for engaging in communal politics by raking up such issues in a district that saw communal tension in Beldanga in November 2024, with the administration imposing prohibitory orders and an internet ban.

“The TMC and BJP have no issues to raise on employment, food, health or other concerns. They are happy to play with people’s emotions on mandir and masjid, dividing people on religion, caste and creed,” said Sujan Chakraborty, CPI(M) central committee member.

Former state BJP president Rahul Sinha said, “Ram Mandir is not an issue there. But the manner in which Kabir is creating controversy and instigating people is clear. Yet, the TMC is maintaining its distance and not acting against him despite his anti-party statements. TMC too wants to instigate communal overtones in the district.”

“However, it is clear that the Rashtrabadi (nationalist) Muslims are not with Kabir. Local Muslims are refusing to give land to him. This shows his communal designs are being resisted,” Sinha said.

Reacting on the issue, BJP leader Uma Bharti had a piece of “advice” for the Bengal CM. “God, worship, we will honor a mosque built in the name of Islam, but the building made in the name of Babur will meet the same fate as what happened in Ayodhya on December 6—the bricks had also disappeared. I advise my friend Mamata Banerjee ji to take action against those who talk of building a mosque in the name of Babur; for the identity and harmony of Bengal and the country, you too have a responsibility,” she said in a post on X on November 23.

Indian Secular Front (ISF) MLA Naushad Siddiqui also weighed in on the issue. “People are now talking about universities and hospitals in the district whenever the Babri Masjid issue comes up. This shows the government has failed to build universities and proper hospitals for Murshidabad,” he said.

Source: indianexpress.com

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https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/kolkata/ayodhya-babri-masjid-ram-mandir-replica-showdown-fuels-fresh-political-row-bengal-10395929/

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Allahabad High Court Refuses To Quash Case Against Jitendra Sahani Chargesheeted For ‘Insulting Hindu Deities’

by Vineet Upadhyay

December 2, 2025

Observing that the retention of Scheduled Caste (SC) status after religious conversion amounts to a “fraud on the Constitution”, the Allahabad High Court has denied relief to a man who allegedly insulted Hindu religious beliefs.

Justice Praveen Kumar Giri on November 21 also directed the Cabinet Secretary and chief secretary of UP, principal secretary, minorities welfare department to take appropriate action to ensure that the distinction between minority status and SC status is strictly enforced.

The court referred to a Supreme Court judgment in which it was held that an individual ceases to belong to their original caste upon conversion to Christianity and therefore said, “The conferment of scheduled caste communal status to the appellant, who is a Christian by religion, but claims to be still embracing Hinduism only for the purpose of availing reservation in employment, would go against the very object of reservation and would amount to fraud on the Constitution.”

Case

One Jitendra Sahani had moved the high court for getting the chargesheet against him and its cognisance order quashed. He was accused of mocking Hindu deities and accused of promoting enmity between religious groups on December 12, 2023 and on the previous occasions. He moved the high court seeking to get the chargesheet and cognisance order dated July 24, 2024 quashed.

He was charged with offences under Sections 153-A (Promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) and 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) IPC.

Arguments

Sahani’s counsel Patsy David, Vandana Henry informed the court that their client was falsely implicated in the case.

They said he had merely sought permission to preach the words of Jesus Christ on his own land.

Opposing the submissions, additional government advocate Pankaj Tripathi claimed that the applicant was Hindu who later became a Christian priest.

Citing testimony of two witnesses, the prosecutor said the man lured the poor to convert the persons of hindu religion as Christians. The witness had alleged that Sahani used abusive language about Hindu deities.

Ruling

The order referred to Section 2 of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956, and noted that “Hindu” includes Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs, as well as any person who is a follower of the Brahmo, Prarthana, or Arya Samaj.

It also covers any other person not a Muslim, Christian, Parsi, or Jew, unless it’s proven they are not governed by Hindu law or custom. Moreover, a person is considered Hindu if they are the child of two Hindu parents or one Hindu parent who was brought up as a Hindu, or if they have been converted or reconverted to Hinduism, the court noted.

It came on record that Sahani had described his religion as ‘Hindu’ in the affidavit filed in support of his application but the police investigation pointed otherwise as the statement of a witness recorded under Section 161 CrPC stated that Sahani, who originally belonged to a Hindu ‘Kewat’ community, converted to Christianity.

The court, therefore, directed the Cabinet Secretary, chief secretary, UP to look into the matter of scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes as well as the provisions of law and “act in accordance with law”.

The court further ordered all the state district magistrates to act within four months and communicate to the chief secretary, UP and other principal/additional chief secretary so that “such fraud on the Constitution may not occur as per observation made by the Supreme Court”.

“District Magistrate, Maharajganj is directed to enquire into the matter regarding religion of the applicant, within three months and if he is found guilty of forgery, take strict action against him in accordance with law so that such affidavits may not be filed before this Court in future,” the court said.

It also directed the additional government advocate to communicate this order to the Cabinet Secretary, chief secretary, UP, principal secretary/additional chief secretary, minorities welfare department and additional chief secretary, social welfare department and all the district magistrates in UP to take action in the matter and related issues.

While dismissing Sahani’s plea, the court left it open for him to file an application requesting discharge before the trial court raising all his grievances including that the ingredients of Section 153A as well as Section 295A IPC are missing in the FIR as well as material collected during investigation.

Source: telegraphindia.com

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https://indianexpress.com/article/legal-news/allahabad-high-court-order-chargesheet-man-insult-hindu-deities-10397682/

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NIA raids eight Kashmir sites over Red Fort blast as probe widens into terror module

Muzaffar Raina

02.12.25

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday raided eight locations in Kashmir, including the homes of two Valley doctors, as part of its expanding investigation into last month’s Red Fort car blast and “white-collar terror” module.

Officials said the central agency conducted simultaneous raids in Pulwama, Kulgam and Shopian districts.

An official said the raided residences included those of Dr Adeel Ahmad Rather in Kulgam and Dr Muzamil Shakeel Ganai at Koil village in Pulwama.

The two, along with Lucknow resident Dr Shaheen Shahid, were arrested from Haryana’s Faridabad and Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur ahead of the blast in Delhi.

Police had recovered a large quantity of explosives from them in Faridabad, which was transferred to Srinagar. An “accidental blast” of the seized explosives had killed nine people in Srinagar last month.

The doctors are allegedly part of the module linked to the Ansar Ghazwat ul Hind militant group, which had planned to carry out explosions at multiple places in the country. Adeel’s brother, Dr Muzaffar Rather, is believed to be hiding in Afghanistan.

The NIA has not confirmed any fresh arrests, but sources said electronic devices, documents and other materials were seized for forensic analysis.

The Jammu and Kashmir police had arrested half a dozen people in connection with the terror module and later handed them over to the NIA after it took over the probe.

One of the key leaders of the module was Pulwama resident Dr Umar un Nabi, whose home was allegedly blown up by the security forces last month. Umar was reportedly behind the blast, which had killed 13 people and wounded 32 on November 10.

Officials said the agency also raided the homes of cleric Mufti Irfan Ahmad Wagay in Shopian, Dr Adeel’s neighbour Jasir Ahmad Wani and a resident of Samboora village in Pulwama, Amir Rashid.

“The raids were conducted simultaneously by separate NIA teams accompanied by contingents from the police and other security forces. The family members of the accused were questioned during the raids,” a police official said.

The official said the raids were aimed at “unravelling the larger conspiracy” and finding out whether it involved other people, too.

Source: telegraphindia.com

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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/nia-raids-eight-kashmir-locations-in-red-fort-blast-probe-linked-to-terror-module-prnt/cid/2135725

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Africa

ACF Denies Endorsing Amnesty For Terrorists, Bandits

December 2, 2025

By Richard Ogunsile

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has strongly denied claims circulating on social media that it proposed amnesty and financial incentives for terrorists and bandits wreaking havoc across northern Nigeria.

In a rebuttal on Monday, December 1, the northern socio-political group said the allegation stemmed from a deliberately distorted video clip taken from an interview granted to ARISE News by its Board of Trustees Chairman, Bashir Dalhatu.

Naija News reports that the viral clip, which circulated widely over the weekend, suggested that the ACF was pushing for a programme similar to the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s Amnesty initiative for Niger Delta militants.

But the forum said the interpretation was false and mischievous.

The ACF, in the statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Prof. T. A. Muhammad-Baba, accused unnamed groups of manipulating Dalhatu’s comments to mislead the public.

“The piece in circulation was truncated and mischievously abstracted to reach some predetermined conclusion(s),” the statement said.

The forum added that the full, unedited interview remained available on digital platforms for anyone seeking the actual context.

The ACF stressed that Dalhatu’s remarks in the interview were “largely personal reflections” and not an official position of the organisation.

“Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu spoke mostly in his personal capacity,” the statement clarified, noting that only “sporadic references” in his submission touched on broader northern views.

To set the record straight, the forum reminded the public that Dalhatu had firmly condemned terrorism at the beginning of the ARISE interview.

The ACF said he “assertively and emphatically condemned the spate of terrorist activities” and called for “the total annihilation of the terrorists and bandits” in order to restore peace across the region.

Niger Delta Amnesty Reference ‘Misrepresented’

The group acknowledged that Dalhatu made references to the Yar’Adua-era Amnesty Programme but insisted the comments had been twisted beyond recognition.

According to the statement, his intention was merely to illustrate the need for the government to consider all kinetic and non-kinetic pathways in tackling insecurity, not to replicate the amnesty model wholesale.

“He did not categorically propose the unadulterated application of the same pathway,” the forum stated. “Anyone promoting that narrative is expressing a personal opinion.”

The ACF also dismissed claims that Dalhatu had attributed terrorism or banditry to any ethnic or religious group. “Nowhere in the interview did Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu refer to the terrorists and bandits with their primordial characteristics such as ethnicity, religion, etc.,” the statement stressed.

It described contrary interpretations as vile reactions motivated by mischief. The organisation insisted its position on terrorism had always been “categorically and unambiguously clear.”

“At no time has the organisation called for any amnesty in favour of any terrorists or bandits,” it declared.

The ACF reaffirmed its support for the Federal Government and security agencies “in their various endeavours to stamp out the scourge of terrorism and banditry in Nigeria.”

Source: naijanews.com

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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/12/02/acf-denies-endorsing-amnesty-for-terrorists-bandits/

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‘It Is Impossible For Repentant Boko Haram Members To Find Their Way Into Military’ – Irabor

December 1, 2025

By Rachel Okporu

Former Chief of Defence Staff General, Lucky Irabor, has clarified claims that repentant Boko Haram members were recruited into the Nigerian military.

Naija News reports that Irabo, during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, maintained that structures within the military make it almost impossible for just anyone to gain entry.

While insisting there was no basis for such claims, Irabor explained that his roles as Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Force Commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force, Chief of Defence Training and Operations, and later Chief of Defence Staff gave him a clear understanding of the system.

Irabor clarified that the Operation Safe Corridor programme, often cited by critics, is designed for the rehabilitation of low-risk individuals who were either conscripted or inadvertently drawn into terrorist activities. According to him, such individuals are profiled, deradicalised, trained in skills, and reintegrated into society, similar to correctional processes, rather than being absorbed into the armed forces.

He emphasised that the Nigerian military operates strict recruitment procedures, including biometric data checks and scrutiny by recruitment officers across the states. He added that verification by local government authorities is also required before any individual can be enlisted.

He said, “Well, I’m glad that you’ve mentioned this. It has always been a burden for me, where we got this information from. How can they be? That doesn’t exist.

“Before I became CDS, I was theater commander, Operation Lafia Dole. From there I become Force Commander, Multinational Task Force. When I left, I became the Chief of Defense Training and Operations. I was overseeing all that, and I got appointed as a CDS, which I spent two and a half years in that post. How could it be? Where people got that impression from I cannot tell.

“Now, we have Operation Safe Corridor, which are supported, which I will support today, and I will continue to support even tomorrow. What does it entail?

“It’s looking at those that have been arrested, engaged in the act of, you know, terrorism and banditry, that are profiled. And so the low risk amongst them, meaning that those who were conscripted into that criminal enterprise, and those perhaps, who you know got themselves caught up in the milieu of the criminality are now separated and then sent to the camp where they are de-radicalised over a period.

“It’s like somebody also in a correctional facility where, you know, certain teachings are brought to them, and then some skills also given to them before allowing them to be reintegrated into society.

“On what grounds were then people talking about this? How can they find their way into the military when, first and foremost, their biometrics were taken, the records of them. And not only were the biometrics taken, the there is numberd on those services, especially, let me speak for the military, Army, Navy and Air Force system, when they are recruiting, you have recruitment officers in every of the states who go with those data, and they are meant to scrutinize them so structurally within the military.

“It’s almost impossible. It is impossible for them to find their way into the military. And besides, you can’t come into the military if those from your local government have not actually sanctioned you”.

Source: naijanews.com

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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/12/01/it-is-impossible-for-repentant-boko-haram-members-to-find-their-way-into-military-irabor/

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Terrorists Attack Adamawa Governor’s Home Town, Kill Ex Councillor, Abduct Sons

December 1, 2025

By George Oshogwe

The Kirchinga community in the Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State, the home village of Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, was attacked by terrorists on Monday.

The attack resulted in the murder of a former local councillor and the abduction of his two children.

The victim, Hon. Thlama Sini, who previously represented Kirchinga Ward, was seized late at night along with his two sons during the invasion.

Local sources confirmed that the assailants subsequently killed Mr. Sini while retreating with the boys. The incident has intensified fears and shock in the community, which has a history of struggling with sporadic terrorist attacks.

Family sources told SaharaReporters that the terrorists stormed Sini’s residence and ordered him to accompany them into the forest with his children.

”He told them he was diabetic and hypertensive and could not make the journey into the forest, and instead asked them to name their price,” a family source said.

The sources added that the attackers refused to negotiate, forcibly marched Sini to the outskirts of the village, and shot him dead before fleeing with his two sons.

As of the time of reporting, authorities have not issued an official statement regarding the attack, and the search for the abducted children is ongoing.

Source: naijanews.com

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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/12/01/just-in-terrorists-attack-adamawa-governors-home-town-kill-ex-councillor-abduct-sons/

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No breakthrough in ECOWAS talks with Guinea-Bissau coup leaders

December 1, 2025

A high-level delegation from the West African regional bloc known as ECOWAS ended a mediation mission to Guinea-Bissau on Monday with no breakthrough, but pledged to continue talks with coup leaders later this month.

Led by Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio, the regional bloc traveled to Bissau seeking a return to civilian rule following a military coup last Wednesday.

The junta, which has banned protests and strikes, argued it acted to restore security and stability in the small West African nation. “We’ve had today very fruitful discussions,” said Sierra Leone’s Foreign Minister Timothy Musa Kabba, speaking on behalf of Bio.

“The chair of the authority condemned the coup, and calls for the immediate restoration of constitutional order, which includes allowing the electoral process to a logical conclusion.”

ECOWAS has condemned the coup and called for the reinstatement of President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, who fled to Brazzaville after being detained. In his absence, the military installed former army chief Gen. Horta Inta-a as head of a transitional government that has already appointed a new cabinet, largely composed of allies of the ousted president.

Foreign Minister João Bernardo Vieira, appointed by the junta, said ECOWAS would remain engaged.

"The solution (to returning to constitutional order) is to continue collaborating with ECOWAS," Vieira said on Monday. "A one-year deadline had been set for the end of the transition, but the issue will be submitted to the ECOWAS Conference of Heads of State and Government on December 14. Depending on this decision or the one that follows from it, we will know what the next steps will be.”

ECOWAS suspended Guinea-Bissau from its decision-making bodies the day after the coup, pending a return to civilian rule.

The United Nations has also condemned the coup, with Secretary-General António Guterres urging the unconditional release of all detained political actors and warning that the will of the people expressed in the November 23 vote must be respected. The military take over happened as the country was waiting for the results of last month’s presidential election.

Guinea-Bissau has endured multiple coups since independence from Portugal in 1974.

Source: africanews.com

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https://www.africanews.com/2025/12/02/no-breakthrough-in-ecowas-talks-with-guinea-bissau-coup-leaders/

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Europe

British army committed war crimes in Afghanistan – combat veteran

1 Dec, 2025

UK special forces in Afghanistan executed suspects without facing repercussions despite widespread knowledge of their behavior in the army chain of command, a former senior British officer has told a public inquiry.

The testimony transcript was one of four interviews released on Monday as part of a years-long investigation into the conduct of the UK special forces (UKSF), including the SAS, in Helmand province from 2010 to 2013.

The officer, who was formerly assistant chief of staff for operations in the UKSF HQ and was identified only as N1466, described serious allegations reported within the force. These included claims that officers had confessed to one unit’s policy “of killing fighting aged males on target regardless of threat,” he said.

The whisleblower added that raid reports often listed more Afghans killed than weapons recovered, and said that claims of detainees grabbing guns or grenades after capture did not seem credible.

According to N1466, more than one special forces director had known about the issue, and tried to “suppress” it. “Other directors... clearly knew there was a problem,” the officer claimed.

The issue was brushed aside as inter-unit rivalry, which “just didn’t chime with the evidence,” he added.

“We didn’t join UKSF for this sort of behavior, you know, [for] toddlers to get shot in their beds or random killing. It’s not special, it’s not elite, it’s not what we stand for,” he said.

According to another officer questioned, Western-trained Afghan forces refused to deploy alongside the British unit in question on multiple occasions, which he described as “indicative of a problem, a real problem.”

A third officer said the emerging evidence was likely “just the tip of the iceberg,” arguing that the “very kinetic” and violent NATO and UK operations did nothing to win Afghan “hearts and minds.”

The UK deployed forces alongside the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, and withdrew along with other NATO troops in 2021.

Source: rt.com

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https://www.rt.com/news/628733-british-army-war-crimes-afghanistan/

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Azerbaijan's Baku to host int'l conference on "Launch of AI Index for Islamic World"

1 December 2025

BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 1. An international conference titled "Launch of the AI Index for the Islamic World," organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Ministry of Science and Education and in partnership with ICESCO, will be held at the Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku on December 8-9, Trend reports.

ICESCO Director General Salim bin Mohammed Al-Malik and Supreme Chairman of the Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation Sheikh Rashid bin Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum are coming to Baku to participate in the event.

The document "AI Index in the Islamic World," prepared to measure the scientific development trends of artificial intelligence (AI), will also be presented for the first time at the Baku conference.

The aim of the conference is to strengthen cooperation on AI in the Islamic world, as well as to discuss the ethical, social, and economic impacts of AI.

The event will bring together ministers of education from 10 ICESCO member countries, international experts, representatives of government agencies, and a total of about 150 participants. Within the framework of the conference, discussions will be held on the role of artificial intelligence in the education system, and a final declaration on the "Launch of the AI Index for the Islamic World" will be adopted.

Source: trend.az

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https://www.trend.az/azerbaijan/society/4124175.html

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UK criticises Gaza aid delays as tents take year to arrive

2 December 2025

Jennifer McKiernan

The UK government has criticised delays in aid being allowed into Gaza after a consignment of more than 1,100 tents it sent to the strip took more than a year to arrive.

The foreign secretary has also raised concerns that other UK-funded aid had been unable to reach residents, despite the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel.

Yvette Cooper said the situation in Gaza remains "dire" as the United Nations warned that 1.5 million people are in need of urgent shelter amid worsening rains and plummeting temperatures ahead of winter.

The BBC has asked the Israeli government for a response.

The tents - each capable of housing a family of five - reached Gaza on Monday, with more expected to arrive this week.

Government sources said the tents will provide shelter to as many as 12,000 people over the winter months.

Cooper said the delay in getting aid into the strip could not be allowed to continue and that all crossings into the territory should be opened to allow unhindered humanitarian access.

She said: "The situation in Gaza remains dire, with worsening weather conditions compounding the critical issues caused by damaged infrastructure and over two years of conflict.

"Parents have been trying to shelter their children under broken roofs and open skies.

"These tents will provide a lifeline to thousands of people needing shelter, protecting them from the cold winds and relentless rain turning rubble into mud."

About 1.9 million people in Gaza, nearly 90% of the population, have been displaced since the Israel-Hamas conflict began in October 2023, according to the UN.

Cooper said the arrival of the aid was welcome but only a step towards the major reconstruction that is "badly needed" and she was frustrated to see "yet another consignment of aid stuck at the border" earlier this year.

"This cannot be allowed to continue," she said.

"The arrival of these tents shows the scale of potential impact when our aid gets in, and we will continue to do all we can to urge unhindered humanitarian access, the opening of all the crossings, the implementation of the peace plan, and a path to peace."

Unicef Special Representative to the State of Palestine Jonathan Veitch said the arrival of the tents "represents months of ongoing work by the international community to push for greater aid access".

"The situation in Gaza is devastating as cold, and heavy rains continue to affect families living in extremely difficult conditions.

"Even with the ceasefire, daily life remains incredibly challenging for children in the Gaza Strip.

"UK aid–supported tents have now entered Gaza and will provide urgently needed shelter to help families face the harsh winter. Much more is needed."

Source: bbc.com

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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqlk663555no

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Moscow responds to NATO pre-emptive strike threat

1 Dec, 2025

A recent statement by a NATO admiral that the bloc could consider a “pre-emptive strike” against Russia shows that it is seeking escalation and wants to derail the Ukraine peace process, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said.

Zakharova was responding to an interview Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, chair of the NATO Military Committee, gave to the Financial Times over the weekend. According to the admiral, the bloc should become “more aggressive” and “proactive” in its dealings with Moscow. He also claimed that a “pre-emptive strike” could be considered a “defensive action,” although it would be “further away from our normal way of thinking and behavior.”

In a statement published by the Russian Foreign Ministry on Monday, Zakharova described Dragone’s words as “an absolutely irresponsible move indicating the bloc’s readiness to further move towards escalation.”

“Anti-Russian hysteria” whipped up by NATO members is only stirring up the ongoing confrontation even further, she warned.

Dragone’s statement also debunks a myth about the “purely defensive” nature of the military bloc, Zakharova said, adding that NATO “has not been hiding its goals and intentions for a long time.” The spokeswoman further accused the bloc of “deliberately seeking to disrupt efforts aimed at finding a way out of the Ukraine crisis.”

The EU has increasingly used anti-Russian rhetoric to justify massive military expenditures. The ReArm Europe package, presented in March, aims to mobilize up to €800 billion ($933 billion) to expand EU nations’ militaries under the pretext of countering an alleged “Russian threat.” NATO also pushed its members commit to spending a total of 5% of their GDPs on the military this summer.

Moscow has repeatedly stated that it has no intention to attack any NATO member, but has warned of a harsh response if attacked.

Source: rt.com

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https://www.rt.com/russia/628747-russia-respond-nato-preemptive-strikes/

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Mideast

Pope Leo visits Annaya monastery, meets religious leaders and young people in Lebanon

NAJIA HOUSSARI

December 01, 2025

BEIRUT: On the second day of his three-day visit to Lebanon, Pope Leo XIV prayed “for peace in this country and the countries of the Middle East.”

His itinerary on Monday included a visit to the Monastery of St. Maron in Annaya, Mount Lebanon, marking a historic moment as he became the first pope to visit the shrine of Saint Charbel, revered patron saint of the Maronite community.

Many Christians and Muslims visit the holy site seeking intercessions or the healing of incurable diseases. Charbel, a Maronite monk and priest who was born Youssef Antoun Makhlouf in Lebanon in 1828 and died in 1898, was canonized in 1977 by Pope Paul VI.

Despite the cold weather and heavy rain, thousands of people of all ages gathered from early morning to greet the pope, lining roads leading from the coastal city of Byblos to Annaya. They came from Lebanon and other countries. Security, enforced by the Lebanese army, was tight.

President Joseph Aoun and his wife formally welcomed the pope, who acknowledged the crowds from his “popemobile” vehicle as the sound of applause, church bells and chants filled the air along the 3 kilometer route to the monastery.

Aoun was joined by Maronite Patriarch Bechara Al-Rahi and the superior general of the Lebanese Maronite Order, Abbot Hady Mafouz, as well as other prominent political, religious and social leaders.

At the monastery, a site central to Maronite heritage and the location of Saint Charbel’s tomb, the pope knelt in prayer and lit a candle he brought as a gift from Rome for the people of Lebanon and Christians worldwide.

In a speech at the shrine, Pope Leo said that Saint Charbel had lived in Annaya “hidden from view and in silence. However, his reputation spread throughout the world, teaching prayer to those whose lives were devoid of God, demonstrating silence to those consumed by noise, modeling humility for those craving recognition, and exemplifying poverty to those chasing riches. This combination of radical witness and humble service carries a message for all Christians.”

He emphasized the importance of “communion and unity, beginning with the churches and extending to the universal church,” adding: “There is no peace without repentance of the heart.”

The pope then visited the Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in the town of Harissa, where he met Catholic leaders, including bishops, as well as priests, nuns, other religious figures and laypeople engaged in pastoral service.

The pope made his way, with some difficulty, to the altar at the site through a capacity crowd of about 2,700 worshippers who had traveled from Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Europe, and as far afield as America and Australia.

Men and women recounted stories of human suffering caused by war, displacement, migration, imprisonment and violence. In response, the pope called for “love to triumph over hatred, forgiveness over revenge, service over domination, humility over pride, and unity over division, so that we are no longer ground down under the weight of injustice and exploitation.”

He continued: “Even when people betray us, as we have heard, and unscrupulous institutions exploit the despair of those who have no other choice, we can return and fill our hearts with hope for a better tomorrow, despite the harshness of the present we must face.”

During all of his public appearances in Lebanon and his preceding visit to Turkiye, his first official foreign trip since becoming pope in May, Leo has stressed the important need to promote the involvement of young people in the church, including in ecclesiastical roles.

“Even amid the ruins of a world suffering from painful failure, it is essential that we offer them real and practical prospects for advancement and growth in the future,” he said.

The Pope later held a closed meeting with Catholic patriarchs at the Papal Embassy in Harissa. And at Martyrs Square in downtown Beirut, he held talks with more 300 religious leaders and dignitaries. The event also featured a screening of a documentary about peaceful interfaith coexistence and dialogue, and speeches by faith leaders. It culminated with the pope planting an olive tree as a symbol of peace.

During the event, he emphasized Lebanon’s role as a beacon of interfaith harmony. “The eyes of the world are turned towards the Middle East, the cradle of the Abrahamic religions, and towards the arduous journey and constant pursuit of the gift of peace,” the Pope said.

Acknowledging regional conflicts, he added: “Amidst these challenges, we can find meaning in hope and consolation when we focus on what unites us: our shared humanity and our faith in a God of love and mercy.”

Lebanon, he noted, proves that “fear, mistrust, and prejudice do not have the final say, and that unity, communion, reconciliation, and peace are possible.” Citing the Second Vatican Council’s Nostra Aetate document from 60 years ago, the Pope urged religious leaders to be “peacemakers: to confront intolerance, turn a blind eye to violence, reject exclusion, and illuminate the path to justice and harmony for all, through the witness of your faith.”

His day ended with a gathering of young people from Lebanon and other nations at the Maronite Patriarchate in Bkerki. More than 12,800 people of various Christian denominations, including Catholics, Maronites, Orthodox, Protestants and Evangelicals, had registered to attend, along with representatives of Islamic communities.

The Pope, traveling through cheering crowds in an open vehicle that broke from protocol, addressed them in English: “The future is in your hands, and you have a historic opportunity to change it. Love can heal everyone’s wounds, and blessed are those who bring peace and make it.”

Source: arabnews.com

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The IDF whistleblower testimonies appearing to confirm claims of Israeli war crimes in Gaza

KHALED AL-KHAWALDEH

December 01, 2025

DUBAI: Unarmed and unaware of their impending fate, two teenage boys pushed a handcart along a Gazan street when, without warning, a shot rang out. One of the boys fell to the ground, shot in the head by an Israeli soldier with no discernible provocation.

This is just one of dozens of examples of alleged war crimes committed by Israeli soldiers in Gaza revealed in a new documentary, “Breaking Ranks: Inside Israel’s War,” which features the accounts of active and former combatants turned whistleblowers.

“If they walk too fast, they’re suspicious. If they walk too slow, they’re suspicious, they’re plotting something,” one soldier, whose identity is hidden, tells the interviewer, as he describes the incident of the two teenage boys.

“If three men walk and one is lagging, then that is two-to-one military formation. You can incriminate everyone. I can incriminate the whole strip if I want.”

The hour-long film, produced by documentary filmmaker Benjamin Zand, recounts several instances of civilians being killed, wholesale destruction of infrastructure without justification, and acts of vandalism.

It raises questions about the morality and ultimate aims of the Israeli military at a time when it has come under heavy scrutiny and has even been accused of genocide by a UN independent commission of inquiry — accusations it strenuously denies.

“We made ‘Breaking Ranks’ because we wanted to understand how decisions were being made, particularly decisions that resulted in horrific acts against Gazan civilians, as described by the soldiers themselves,” Zand told Arab News.

“We hope the film helps bring much-needed transparency to a conflict where so much remains hidden.

“When soldiers describe acts that caused immense harm to civilians, those accounts deserve to be heard and examined, not sensationalized, not politicized, but understood as part of the factual record.”

Through these testimonies, the documentary questions the Israel Defense Forces’ claim of being a modern professional military and instead paints a picture of a brazen, vengeful, and at times depraved entity, acting with impunity.

Some of the whistleblowers expressed remorse for their actions, which included using human shields, defecating on Palestinian property, burning homes, killing paramedics, and using drones to blow up unarmed men walking the streets.

“In hindsight, I am disgusted with myself, but at the time, I thought this house was going to get destroyed anyway, so I might as well do what I want,” one whistleblower said in the film. “It’s crazy to think that people do such extreme things not out of revenge but just because they can.”

However, others like Lt. Col. B, an air force officer who did not share his real name, appeared to have little remorse.

“If you ask me, I would have pushed them all into the sea on Oct. 7,” he said, referring to the 2023 Hamas-led attack on southern Israel that left 1,200 dead, saw 250 taken hostage, and triggered Israel’s retaliation against Gaza.

“(I’d have) given them snorkels and had them swim to Egypt.”

Tom Giles, controller of current affairs at the UK broadcaster ITV, which aired the film, said the documentary charts the “growing disillusionment and shame of some about the war.”

However, prominent Israeli analyst Ori Goldberg said he believed the documentary would do little to bring about a moral reckoning in a society that denies any criminal responsibility for its actions in Gaza.

“There’s a general sense that, yes, of course, bad things happened, crimes were committed,” Goldberg told Arab News. “But I think most Israeli Jews will tell you that you can’t blame individual soldiers.

“Generally, they will raise Oct. 7, 2023, and say, well, after what was done to us, how could you blame anybody?”

There does not seem to be any acknowledgment among Israelis that the war in Gaza was in any way genocidal, said Goldberg. Even “reasonable” Israelis had become almost fanatical in their defense of the war, in part due to the personal loss.

“Israel is fully committed to denying the nature of its campaign in Gaza. We can’t face any consequence of owning up to what we did in Gaza because that would mean that we were wrong,” he said.

“I know people who have friends and sons and acquaintances in Gaza, these people you would consider utterly sensible, but once you start talking to them about it, then they just shut off. What are they going to say? My son is a war criminal?”

The documentary has faced criticism from pro-Israel writers like Adam Levick, editor of CAMERA-UK, the UK division of the US-based Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting and Analysis, which monitors media portrayals of Israel.

Levick said the film lacked hard evidence, was based on a selection of hand-picked testimonies, and although it chronicled individual crimes, was unable to substantiate systemic problems with the IDF’s conduct.

Zand told Arab News this kind of criticism was inevitable, adding that the film had not attempted to represent the entire Israeli military but had instead given soldiers a chance to speak for themselves.

“What I can say is that ‘Breaking Ranks’ presents the testimonies of soldiers who took part in the Gaza war and who describe, in their own words, actions that had devastating consequences for civilians,” he said.

Indeed, Yuval Ben Ari, an infantryman who spent more than 50 days in Gaza, and Yotam Vilk, an armored corps officer who spent 269 days in the enclave, appear to be under no illusion about the corruption of the military in which they served.

Vilk said Israeli troops are trained to kill only when a target is considered to have the clear intent, means, and ability to cause harm, yet this training was consistently ignored in Gaza.

One whistleblower describes an incident in which his platoon killed 111 people, all of them unarmed, and his feelings of dismay when he learned that no one had even checked whether or not they were armed.

In another instance, a soldier describes a whole building being demolished, killing scores of civilians, because one man was seen on the roof hanging out laundry and was suspected of being a “spotter.”

The soldier told the interviewer: “The man was just standing there hanging jerseys. There is no intent, no means, and no ability. This man, what can he do to you?”

The documentary also examines allegations of widespread looting, vandalism, and even the practice of using Palestinian civilians as human shields to map potentially boobytrapped Hamas tunnels — known as the “mosquito protocol.”

One soldier said the practice spread like wildfire and almost every company in the IDF had at least one Palestinian human shield — many of them picked up and forced to walk into the tunnels where they are used as a GPS tracker.

“As a platoon, we eventually decided we were not going to use human shields anymore,” the soldier said.

“Many said they were committing war crimes, and it was against international law. But the battalion commander came and said we don’t have to worry about international law, only the IDF spirit.”

While much of Israeli society appears to be caught in a doom loop of denial over its military’s alleged conduct in Gaza, Goldberg believes reality is quickly catching up with them, as more evidence emerges and international opinion hardens.

“The general approach is denial. We are denying it,” he said.

“But I don’t think it’s going to last us very long because I don’t think anybody’s rooting for us at the moment. And as proof accumulates, we’re going to have to face up to the consequences of our actions, which is exactly what we’re trying not to do.”

The IDF has repeatedly said it operates in accordance with international law, targets Hamas rather than civilians, prohibits coercion, and investigates specific allegations when they are raised.

However, it has not published a dedicated rebuttal of the allegations raised in the film.

Source: arabnews.com

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Trump warns Israel not to ‘interfere’ in Syria

December 01, 2025

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump warned Israel on Monday against destabilizing Syria and its new leadership, days after a deadly operation by Israeli forces in the south of the country.

“It is very important that Israel maintain a strong and true dialogue with Syria, and that nothing takes place that will interfere with Syria’s evolution into a prosperous State,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform.

Trump said he was “very satisfied” with Syria’s performance under President Ahmad Al-Sharaa, who made a historic visit to the White House in November.

Trump has been pushing for a security pact between Israel and Syria since Sharaa’s coalition overthrew longtime ruler Bashar Assad a year ago.

But tensions have risen over hundreds of strikes by Israel on Syria. In the deadliest so far, Israeli forces killed 13 people on Friday in an operation in southern Syria, saying they targeted an extremist group.

Trump said Sharaa “is working diligently to make sure good things happen, and that both Syria and Israel will have a long and prosperous relationship together.”

He added that the United States was “doing everything within our power to make sure the Government of Syria continues to do what was intended” to rebuild the war-torn country.

Good relations between Syria and Israel would add to his efforts for a wider Middle East peace following the fragile Gaza ceasefire in October, added Trump.

Source: arabnews.com

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Palestinian Authority receives $90m in support from Saudi Arabia

December 01, 2025

LONDON: The Palestinian Authority on Monday received $90 million from Saudi Arabia as part of the Kingdom’s support for the Palestinian government.

Estephan Salameh, minister of planning and international cooperation and acting minister of finance, received the tranche at the Saudi Embassy’s headquarters in Amman during a meeting with Saudi Ambassador to Jordan and non-resident envoy to Palestine Prince Mansour bin Khalid bin Farhan Al-Saud.

Salameh commended Saudi Arabia for its financial and political support for the rights of Palestinians, and the establishment of an independent state, according to Wafa news agency.

Prince Mansour highlighted Saudi Arabia’s efforts as a co-chair, alongside France, of the high-level international conference in New York City that supported the Palestinian cause and the implementation of the two-state solution.

During the September conference, several countries recognized Palestinian statehood, including the UK, France, Australia and Canada.

He said that the tranche of a grant is part of the Saudi leadership’s commitment to support the Palestinian government and help it meet its financial obligations.

Prince Mansour affirmed support for strengthening the resilience of the Palestinian people and for supporting key sectors such as health and education, Wafa added.

In September, Saudi Arabia announced the launch of an emergency international coalition to provide direct funding to the Palestinian Authority and pledged $90 million in support.

Source: arabnews.com

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Settlers uproot more olive trees south of Hebron

December 01, 2025

HEBRON: Israeli settlers uprooted about 850 olive trees and grapevines on Monday belonging to a Palestinian family southeast of Yatta, south of Hebron, a local activist has told Palestinian news agency WAFA.

Anti-settlement activist Osama Makhamreh said that armed colonists from Susiya — which was illegally established on land south of Hebron — stormed property at Khirbet Khallat Al-Hummus, southeast of Yatta, under the protection of the occupation army.

The settlers uprooted olive trees and grapevines, destroyed the contents of a room in an agricultural building, and vandalized barbed-wire fences.

Violence in the West Bank has increased since the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023.

The UN said that October had been the worst month for settler violence since it began recording incidents in 2006, with 264 attacks that had caused casualties or damage to property.

More than 500,000 Israelis currently live in settlements in the West Bank — which has been occupied since 1967 — along with 3 million Palestinians.

Three Italians and a Canadian were treated at a Jericho hospital on Sunday after being attacked by settlers in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, one of the group told the Agence France-Presse news agency.

Italy’s Foreign Ministry in Rome said that “three Italian international volunteers were attacked last night by Israeli settlers,” adding that they were “still in shock from the incident.”

Riyad Eid, director of the Jericho government hospital, said: “Four foreigners arrived at the hospital this morning after being beaten by settlers, according to what they reported.

“They were suffering from bruises on the face … and on the chest, and one of them was beaten in a sensitive area. They were examined, given X-rays and ultrasound scans, provided with the necessary treatment and then discharged.”

One of the four, who had visible bruising and did not wish to be identified, told AFP that three of the people were from Italy and one from Canada. They had been staying in the Duyuk area on the western edge of Jericho in the central West Bank.

They said: “We were asleep at night … 10 masked settlers came, two of them had guns, some of them had sticks. They kicked me multiple times in the face, in the ribs, in the hip.

“It lasted about 10 to 15 minutes. And then they took all of our things. They stole my passport, my phone, my wallet, my bank cards, and then they left.

“We had to have X-rays, (and) painkillers. Our friend was beaten more severely than we were.”

Italy’s Foreign Ministry added that “the settlers reportedly entered their home, attacked the volunteers, and stole all their personal belongings.”

Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani is reported to be “following the incident,” while in close contact with Italy’s consul general in Jerusalem.

Source: arabnews.com

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Jordan sends two more mobile bakeries to Gaza to support Palestinians

December 01, 2025

LONDON: Jordan sent two new mobile bakeries to Gaza in partnership with the World Central Kitchen organization, following a royal directive to aid Palestinians in the coastal enclave.

The new bakeries will start operations upon arrival in Gaza. They can produce nearly 70,000 loaves of bread each day.

Jordan will now operate three mobile bakeries in Gaza as part of its efforts to provide relief and medical aid, helping to bolster food supplies, particularly bread, amid the challenging humanitarian situation, according to Petra news agency.

The first Jordanian mobile bakery started operating in Gaza in January and has produced more than 11 million loaves of bread since its inception, according to WCK, the organization overseeing its operations.

Over the past two years, Israel has restricted the entry of essential food into Gaza, including flour, and at times entirely blocked humanitarian aid.

The Jordanian mobile bakery and WCK’s initiatives were among the few that supported Palestinians. WCK is an international nongovernment organization that provides meals and food aid to those affected by crises and conflicts worldwide.

Source: arabnews.com

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Arab World

King Faisal hospital uses 3D printing for tumor surgery

December 01, 2025

RIYADH: Complex surgery to remove a tumor from the proximal femur extending to the left hip joint using 3D-printing technology has been performed at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre.

Patient-specific, 3D-printed cutting guides allowed the team to excise the tumor while preserving the limb, enabling the patient to walk immediately after surgery.

High-resolution imaging was used to design the custom guides, minimizing bone loss and improving surgical precision, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

An advanced prosthetic hip joint was implanted after the tumor’s removal, restoring mobility quickly and safely.

The success highlights the hospital’s leadership in 3D printing, recognized with the Global Excellence Award in Technology Project Management.

The 3D-printing program has improved diagnostic accuracy, surgical efficiency, and reduced time and costs, the SPA added.

The site continues to stand out regionally and internationally in complex orthopedic oncology, supported by dedicated 3D-printing facilities and multidisciplinary teams across orthopedic oncology, radiology, medical oncology, pathology, and rehabilitation medicine.

The facilities offer new options for patients with challenging bone tumors, shortening operating times and accelerating recovery.

Source: arabnews.com

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Eastern region governor receives newly appointed British ambassador

December 01, 2025

DAMMAM: Eastern Region Gov. Prince Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz received newly appointed British Ambassador Stephen Charles Hitchen in Dammam on Monday.

Meanwhile, Taif Gov. Prince Saud bin Nahar received the Indian consul-general in Jeddah, Fahad Ahmed Khan Suri, in Taif on Monday, Saudi Press Agency reported.

During the meetings, all sides held friendly talks and discussed topics of common interest.

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Circular Economy Forum in Riyadh examines future of sustainability

NADA ALTURKI GHADI JOUDAH

December 01, 2025

RIYADH: Policymakers, entrepreneurs, researchers, and industry leaders have gathered in Riyadh at the Circular Economy Forum, which runs until Dec. 2, to discuss how solutions in the sector are reshaping industries, sustainability and the future.

Ali Al-Ghamdi, the CEO at the Saudi National Center for Environmental Compliance, said the forum was “an opportunity to align our environmental responsibility with our economic growth and drive meaningful impact across the Kingdom.”

Andres Sutt, Estonia’s minister of energy and environment, told Arab News: “In a world where resources are scarce, we need to move fast to reduce our CO2 footprint.

“This shared effort and work is something that we can build jointly together, and the technologies are becoming increasingly available.

“This is also what we bring here to the Kingdom to see where we can jointly work together to make the world a better place.”

Prince Nikola of Montenegro was a guest of honor and highlighted his country as a pioneer in the sector. Other high-level guests included Princess Noura bint Turki Al-Saud, the co-founder of Aeon Collective, and Ville Skinnari, Finnish member of parliament and chair of the Gulf Region Friendship Group.

The event began with a performance by Nordic-Saudi cello duo Kaur Nellis and Mohammed Al-Guthmi.

Taavi Madiberk, the CEO of Skeleton Technologies, told Arab News that the Kingdom was now positioned to transition from a technology importer to an innovation hub.

He said it was doing so by building local value chains and adopting advanced energy‑efficiency technologies.

Based in Germany and backed by Siemens and Marubeni, Skeleton Technologies develops energy‑storage systems, and Madiberk spoke about the importance of public-private collaboration.

He said: “The business case is only enabled by Vision 2030. Policy provides the enablement, but companies must execute.

“There is a strong policy in place; now it is time for companies to execute. Events like this forum create the dialogue between policymakers, technology companies and investors that makes large‑scale transformation possible.”

Madiberk added that combining high‑tech energy solutions with the Kingdom’s current momentum had given Saudi Arabia a unique opportunity to lead the world in sustainable industrial innovation.

Source: arabnews.com

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Saudi envoy hails FII Priority Asia 2025 in Tokyo

December 01, 2025

Tokyo hosted FII Priority Asia 2025 over the weekend, building on the momentum of the FII Institute’s annual conference in Riyadh.

Speaking to Arab News Japan on the sidelines of the event, Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Japan Ghazi Faisal Saeed Binzagr highlighted the significance of the gathering and its timely alignment with a historic milestone in bilateral relations.

“Today I attended the FII Priority event in Tokyo as the ambassador of Saudi Arabia. It is a momentous occasion (that) comes as we commemorate the 70th anniversary of the relationship between Saudi Arabia and Japan.

“The timing of this event is impeccable, as it addresses the important topics of financing in Japan, Saudi Arabia, and globally. This initiative aims to foster the creation of the future we all aspire to achieve.

“There couldn’t have been a better event (to be held at this time) because the event explores how we can direct finance in Japan and Saudi Arabia and globally to be able to create the future that we all aspire for.

“It’s a very bold initiative. Today, we had the (Japanese) prime minister speak, and the minister of finance and the minister of economy and trade and industry. They delivered inspiring presentations, each emphasizing the potential and the opportune timing for the significant advancements that will activate an excellent economy.

“It presents a unique opportunity to engage with a dynamic economy like that of Saudi Arabia, particularly as you undertake a bold and ambitious multidimensional transformation.

“The dimensions present numerous opportunities across various sectors. Some of these opportunities are traditional, while others are emerging. Essentially, there is a substantial potential for all segments and sectors of the economy to collaborate in order to create a better and brighter future.”

This year’s FII Priority Asia 2025 was convened under the theme “The New Asia.” The summit positions the region as the “gravitational center of the global economy,” with Japan acting as a bridge between East and West.

While the conference focuses on investment, its scope is broader: to chart how Asia can lead humanity through a “new era defined by technological disruption, demographic shifts, cultural influence and sustainable prosperity.”

Source: arabnews.com

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South Asia

Islamabad–Kabul Peace Talks Launched Under Saudi Mediation; Reports Say the Effort Failed Again

By Fidel Rahmati

December 1, 2025

Islamabad and Kabul resumed Saudi-hosted talks in Riyadh to ease border tensions, but sources say the effort failed again, with both sides yet to comment.

A senior Kabul delegation, comprising Anas Haqqani, Deputy Interior Minister Rahmatullah Najib, and Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi, travelled to Riyadh last week for talks with Pakistani officials, according to local media outlets. Saudi Arabia, which has recently positioned itself as a mediator, facilitated the meeting as part of efforts to ease mounting tensions between Kabul and Islamabad.

People familiar with the discussions said the talks focused on restoring a structured communication channel and addressing persistent cross-border security concerns. The consultations, held behind closed doors, were expected to revive dialogue suspended after months of friction. However, the negotiations in Riyadh ended without progress, marking yet another failed attempt to bridge differences.

Sources reported that the talks “yielded no results,” echoing the collapse of earlier rounds held in Istanbul. The Taliban have not issued any statement on the Riyadh meeting, and Pakistan has also remained publicly silent. Previous efforts by Qatar and Turkey, including an emergency session in Doha that briefly produced a ceasefire, similarly failed to deliver a lasting agreement.

Relations between Kabul and Islamabad have worsened in recent months following a rise in attacks Pakistan attributes to the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), disagreements over border management, and clashes around key crossings such as Torkham. Islamabad continues to demand “decisive action” against armed groups allegedly operating from Afghanistan territory, an accusation the Taliban repeatedly dismiss.

With Saudi Arabia’s effort now joining earlier failed mediation attempts, analysts say the path to meaningful dialogue remains uncertain. Without a verifiable security framework or sustained diplomatic engagement, the Afghanistan–Pakistan relationship is expected to remain fragile and prone to renewed escalation.

Source: khaama.com

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Govt to ensure uninterrupted treatment for Khaleda Zia: Advisory Council

Dec 2, 2025

The Advisory Council, in a special meeting, has decided that the government will ensure uninterrupted treatment for BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia at the hospital and make arrangements to send her abroad if necessary.

The meeting was held today at the State Guest House Jamuna, chaired by Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus.

Planning Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud read out the government statement at a press briefing outside Jamuna after the meeting.

During the meeting, prayers were offered for the early recovery of Khaleda Zia -- a three-time former prime minister and wife of a former president -- and the nation was urged to pray for her as well.

For her security, travel convenience and status, the government has declared her a "very very important person (VVIP)". All relevant agencies have been directed to implement this immediately, the statement read.

Khaleda Zia's family and party have been informed of the decisions, Wahiduddin said.

He, however, did not take questions after the briefing, where Law Adviser Asif Nazrul was also present.

Source: thedailystar.net

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One party plays ‘Liberation War’ card, other ‘religion’

Dec 2, 2025

National Citizen Party convener Nahid Islam yesterday said political strategies used during the Awami League era were being revived ahead of the upcoming election.

Speaking at a prayer programme at the NCP central office in the evening, organised to mark the release of Bangladeshi expatriates imprisoned in the UAE during the July uprising, he accused rival parties of playing a divisive game.

"One party is playing the Liberation War card, while another is using the religion card, Islam versus anti Islam," he said.

Nahid warned that attempts were being made to create confusion before the polls and obstruct the reform process.

"One party openly opposes reforms, while another secretly opposes them. As a result, we have not been able to reach a consensus on reforms," he said.

"Through the referendum, citizens will decide for or against reforms, and we believe people will vote wisely. Except for the followers of the fallen fascist, few are expected to oppose the reforms. We will all vote yes," he said while speaking on the referendum.

At the event, Nahid also wished good health for BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia.

Source: thedailystar.net

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BNP leads with 33% support, Jamaat close behind with 29%: IRI survey

Dec 1, 2025

If national elections were held next week, 33 percent of respondents said they would vote for BNP, while Jamaat-e-Islami followed with around 29 percent, according to a survey released on Monday by the US-based International Republican Institute (IRI).

IRI's Center for Insights in Survey Research also predicted that six percent would vote for the National Citizen Party, five percent for Islami Andolan Bangladesh, and four percent for the Jatiya Party.

The study reported that 11 percent of respondents refused to answer, seven percent said they did not know, and two percent stated they would not vote. The survey further revealed that 41 percent strongly support the suspension of Awami League's registration, while 28 percent somewhat support it. In contrast, 16 percent strongly oppose the suspension, and 11 percent oppose it to some extent.

Enthusiasm for the upcoming election appears high. Of the 4,985 adult respondents, 66 percent said they are very likely to vote, while 23 percent reported being somewhat likely to participate. Furthermore, 80 percent expressed optimism that the elections will be free and fair, according to IRI's statement. At the same time, 67 percent of respondents said past elections were rigged.

The latest national survey, conducted between September and October across 63 districts, also found that 72 percent of respondents believe the condition of the country's democracy is in good or somewhat good condition, while 26 percent said it was in bad or somewhat bad condition.

In April 2023, 50 percent had said democracy was in good or somewhat good condition, compared to 45 percent who believed it was in bad or somewhat bad condition. Regarding political expression, 29 percent of respondents said they feel free to openly express their political opinions, while 34 percent feel somewhat free.

However, 35 percent reported feeling somewhat or very afraid when expressing political views. The survey also highlighted the role of religion in politics. Half of the respondents said the influence of religion in politics has increased significantly or somewhat over the past year. Nineteen percent said it has decreased significantly or somewhat, while six percent reported no change.

Bangladeshis expressed strong approval of Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus and the interim government's performance. Sixty-nine percent of respondents said Yunus is doing a good job, while 70 percent gave the same approval rating to the interim government. "It is clear Bangladeshis see progress under Dr Yunus's leadership," said Johanna Kao, IRI's senior director for Asia-Pacific.

"Their vote of confidence in him and the interim government reflects a widespread desire for stability, accountability, and reform," she added. Kao further said, "The excitement of Bangladeshis highlights the importance of sustaining reform efforts and ensuring the elections are credible and peaceful."

Source: thedailystar.net

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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/bnp-leads-33-support-jamaat-close-behind-29-iri-survey-4048366

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North America

While many religious communities shrink, this growing Cleveland mosque has big plans to expand campus

Dec. 01, 2025

CLEVELAND, Ohio – While participation in religious organizations is down over the last couple of decades across most faiths in Cuyahoga County, a growing group is attracting residents to one Cleveland neighborhood where there are plans for a major expansion around a religious campus.

What not too long ago was a small mosque and school serving the Muslim community on the city’s southwest side is now bursting at the seams – prompting a long-term vision that could cover more than a city block with a bigger school, athletic fields, park and more for use by both members of the Al Alomary Mosque congregation and others in the neighborhood.

Next up is a store as a start to a small plaza across the street and a new wing for Al Ihsan School, adding nine classrooms, two science labs and administrative space. Construction could begin early next year.

An estimated 22,134 Muslims were affiliated with 17 Cuyahoga County congregations in 2020, according to the most recent U.S. Religious Census, administered by Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies.

Muslims are still far and away in the minority - paling in comparison to the nearly 340,000 Catholics in the county.

But while the number of Muslims grew by an estimated 1,830 since 2000, the total number of adherents of all faiths in the county dropped by more than 200,000, according to the Religious Census, which counts both members and regular attendees as adherents. This included a loss of about 145,000 Catholics.

“The stereotype of my neighborhood is firefighters named Patrick,” said City Councilman Charles Slife. “But we have this growing Muslim, mostly Middle Eastern population.”

Slife cited Planning Commission data saying the home occupancy rate is 99% in the vicinity of the mosque.

“We have people moving in from suburbs seeking to be near the institution, to send their children to the school that is affiliated with it. It is a great growth point. I don’t think people outside the neighborhood know this is happening,” Slife said.

But it’s the broader vision shared by representatives of the Al Alomary Mosque at a recent city Planning Commission meeting that signals a new wave of growth and rising demand just south of Kamm’s Corners.

Imam Ayham Abazid, the mosque’s spiritual and community leader, said he’ll let God and the generosity of the congregation help determine how fast plans move along, but that he would be happy if much of it could be finished in five years.

The track record of recent growth speaks to the possibility of the concept coming to fruition, even if it does take a little longer.

More than 1,000 people often show up for Friday prayers – creating parking and traffic problems. It’s a headache frequently cited by nearby residents but it also illustrates the significance of what is happening.

The congregation grew from just a few dozen members a couple decades ago. Many of those who come to pray at the mosque live in North Olmsted, Parma, Strongsville, Westlake and other nearby towns, Abazid said.

The city has added parking spaces to Rocky River Drive, and the mosque is now converting some former residential properties into a new parking lot. But Abazid also estimated more than 100 families in the congregation now live nearby: “People want to be near the mosque.”

About 98% of the students are American-born, Abazid estimated. Their parents or grandparents, when not born here, are most often Palestinian, Syrian, Afghan, Indian, Pakistani, Egyptian or Jordanian, Abazid said.

Syrian-born and a Clevelander since 1992, Abazid has been involved with Al Alomary since about 2000, leading the congregation as its imam since 2007.

The new and larger mosque opened in 2016. A funeral home was added across the street about three years ago. A large gym opened earlier this year.

The city Planning Commission late last month approved plans for a 12,000-square-foot expansion to create space to nearly double enrollment for the school, which is now at capacity with 295 students in kindergarten through high school.

All along, the mosque, under the name of the Cleveland Muslim Community Center, has been buying up homes and other property. This is both to serve the long-term vision and, in the meantime, to meet the need for parking. Sixteen parcels are now under ownership, records show.

Plans are also moving along for the start of construction of a small plaza across Ferncliffe Avenue from the current school. Initial plans call for a food store. As the plaza expands, Abazid hopes to add a coffee shop and a barber shop, or other amenities for the community.

Further down the line is the big-picture stuff – more conceptual at this point – covering nearly 10 acres from Rocky River Drive to West 185th Street.

Renderings depict a second school addition of three stories, as well as an athletic field, pickleball courts, pool and community park.

“We assume we could create enough continuous parcels to allow for the creation of some town homes, to allow for some of the elderly population who would want to walk to the mosque,” Jim Ptacek of Larsen Architects told the Planning Commission.

The overarching goal, Abazid said, is to have “things designed to welcome both Muslims and others from the community.”

But for Abazid, 55, the added reward is getting to shape this vision in his adopted hometown.

“When I came here from Syria, I lived on the West Side,” Abazid said. “I’ve lived in the city since I came here. My heart is in Cleveland.”

Source: cleveland.com

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https://www.cleveland.com/news/2025/12/while-many-religious-communities-shrink-this-growing-cleveland-mosque-has-big-plans-to-expand-campus.html

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‘Cruel, inhumane’: Zohran Mamdani slams ICE raids; reveals what he told Trump when he met him

Dec 2, 2025

New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani on Monday, sharply criticised federal immigration raids, calling them “cruel and inhumane” and arguing they fail to advance public safety. The remarks came after more than a dozen protesters were arrested during a violent confrontation with federal agents in lower Manhattan over the weekend.

Speaking to reporters Monday, Mamdani referred to his meeting with the President Donald Trump, and said he had conveyed to him that these raids are doing no good.

“When I met the President I made it very clear that these kinds of raids are cruel and inhumane, that they are raids that do nothing to public safety. And that my responsibility is to be the mayor to each and every person that calls this city their home and that includes millions of immigrants of which I'm one,” he said.

Mamdani’s comment reflects his campaign promise to defend New York’s immigrant communities against aggressive federal immigration actions. The self-described democratic socialist - born in Uganda and naturalised as a US citizen - is poised to become the city’s first Muslim and South Asian mayor when he takes oath next month.

Clashes in Manhattan

Mamdani’s remarks came two days after a tense standoff in lower Manhattan where protesters attempted to block federal agents from exiting a garage during an ICE enforcement action, according to law enforcement officials. Demonstrators chanted “ICE out of New York,” locked arms to form a human barrier, and some hurled roadside planters at government vehicles. Officers responded with what appeared to be pepper spray to disperse the crowd, the officials said, reported CNN

More than a dozen people were arrested. Saturday’s confrontation follows a series of protests nationwide over the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown and came just weeks after a chaotic ICE raid on Chinatown’s Canal Street.

A department of homeland security spokesperson said individuals “dressed in black clothing with backpacks, face masks, and goggles” obstructed officers after social media posts “called agitators to ICE’s location.” Publicising federal officers’ movements “puts a target on their backs,” the spokesperson added, warning that “anyone who assaults law enforcement will be prosecuted.”

Source: indiatimes.com

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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/cruel-inhumane-zohran-mamdani-slams-ice-raids-reveals-what-he-told-trump-when-he-met-him/articleshow/125708854.cms

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USF Christian community rejects actions of men who targeted Muslim students

December 1, 2025

Kyle Bell, the executive director of the Catholic Student Center at USF, was ordained a Catholic priest in 2018 and has been at USF since 2021.

Bell said he had always experienced a strong spirit of collaboration among people of all faith traditions and backgrounds during his time at USF.

Still, Bell said he was “saddened” when he found out his Muslim brothers and sisters were interrupted by Christians during an on-campus prayer.

“These men who accosted the Muslim students, if they were in my flock, I would tell them that they should repent and apologize,” Bell said. “They were probably thinking that they were ‘preaching truth,’ but they were doing it in a way that is very unchristlike.”

Eleven members of the Muslim Student Association at USF were holding a Fajr and Breakfast event on the top floor of the Collins Boulevard Parking Facility on Nov. 18 when three men approached them.

The men disrupted the students’ prayers by yelling obscenities and offering them bacon — all while filming the encounter for a YouTube livestream for the online Christian ministry “Warriors for Christ.”

USF’s University Police announced on Nov. 22 that the three men had been identified and were directly filed for prosecution with the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office.

Christopher Svochak, 40, Richard Penskoski, 49, and Ricardo Yepez, 28, are facing two misdemeanor charges and one felony charge under Florida’s hate crime statute.

The three men have no affiliation with USF and have been trespassed from the university, according to UP.

Some members of the Christian community at USF said they were disheartened by the incident and urged others not to take the three men as examples of their faith.

Bell said the Catholic Student Center team reached out to the Muslim Student Association through Instagram after the incident to apologize for the men’s actions and offer support.

The Catholic Student Center is located on N 50th St. and holds daily services and events.

The organization hosts a “Catholic Bulls Night” at USF every Tuesday — a large co-ed social event that has been held in the Marshall Student Center Amphitheater, the MSC Oval Theater and the Crescent Hill Parking Garage.

But Bell said there are also times when students informally gather on campus to pray together.

“[Christians] pray on campus, and we would not like it if people came and heckled us,” Bell said. “Who are we to do so to anyone else?”

The Catholic Student Center echoed this criticism at the end of its Nov. 23 services, where Bell directly addressed the incident.

Bell said the men’s actions were “unacceptable,” and quoted Jesus’ Golden Rule — “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

Cullen Jones, a senior advertising major, has been a member of the Chi Alpha Campus Ministry since he joined USF in 2022.

The campus ministry holds services every Tuesday night in the C.W. Bill Young Hall, and also offers guys’ and girls’ small groups in residence halls throughout the week, according to its website.

Jones said he felt confused and angry when he heard about the incident through social media.

“Once I found out that it was a true thing and that they had also recorded themselves doing it, I literally had to go to God,” Jones said. “I was like, ‘God, what the heck should I even do about this?’”

Jones said he was “baffled” that the three men felt the need to force Christianity on the Muslim students.

“Christianity shouldn’t be something that’s forced,” he said. “It’s something that’s developed over time.”

And Jones said frying bacon and pushing it into students’ faces is not an act of love — it is “pure hate” at its core.

“If you look into the Bible once, you would see that Jesus never forced anyone to be Christian,” Jones said. “It was always a choice of, ‘Will you follow me or not?’”

Jones said the men acted on their own impulses and followed what they thought was right rather than seeking guidance from Jesus or the Bible.

Jones said the Muslim students present during the incident handled the situation in the best way possible by staying together even when they were spat on.

“It absolutely just frickin’ breaks my heart that that happened,” he said. “I feel like the Muslims had the best response in this.”

For Jones, the behavior of the three men doesn’t reflect the values he stands for.

“I hope that people can look past Christians like that and get to know what Christianity actually looks like — because this is not it.”

Bell said every person has “inherent human dignity,” and is therefore afforded respect no matter their creed, nationality, race or gender.

“[Christians] may not agree with what the Quran says, but that does not give us the right to degrade or to denigrate people,” he said. “As a spiritual father, the entire campus is my flock. So whether they’re Christian or not, my call is to care for them. My call is to love them.”

Bell said some preachers who come to USF are not hostile and are just exercising their right to free speech — but the three men are examples of the unfortunate “bad actors.”

“On behalf of Christians everywhere, I’m sorry,” Bell said. “What happened should not have happened, and you are most welcome to pray on our campus.”

Source: usforacle.com

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https://www.usforacle.com/2025/12/01/usf-christians-reject-fajr-disruption/

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Trump releases fraudster executive days into prison sentence

December 2, 2025

Sakshi Venkatraman

US President Donald Trump has commuted the sentence of former investment manager David Gentile, who was just days into a seven-year prison sentence for fraud.

Bureau of Prisons records show that Gentile was released on Wednesday, less than two weeks after he reported to prison.

Gentile, the former chief executive and founder of GPB Capital, was convicted last year in what federal prosecutors described as a multi-year scheme to defraud more than 10,000 investors by misrepresenting the performance of private equity funds.

He's the latest in a string of white-collar criminals whose sentences Trump has commuted.

Gentile was convicted in August last year of securities and wire fraud charges, and sentenced in May. His co-defendant, Jeffry Schneider, was sentenced to six years on the same charges and is due to report to prison in January.

US attorney Joseph Nocella said at the time of Gentile's sentencing that GPB Capital was built on a "foundation of lies" and that the company made $1.6bn (£1.2bn) while using investor capital to pay distributions to other investors.

"The sentences imposed today are well deserved and should serve as a warning to would-be fraudsters that seeking [sic] to get rich by taking advantage of investors gets you only a one-way ticket to jail," he said.

But the White House says the Department of Justice under former President Joe Biden made multiple missteps - and that investors were aware that their money could be going towards other people's dividends.

"Even though this was disclosed to investors the Biden Department of Justice claimed this was a Ponzi scheme," the White House official said.

"This claim was profoundly undercut by the fact that GPB had explicitly told investors what would happen."

The official also cited concerns from Gentile that prosecutors had elicited false testimony.

Trump's commutation of Gentile's sentence does not clear him of his crimes like a full presidential pardon would, and it does not get rid of other potential penalties imposed.

So far in his second term, the president has pardoned or commuted the sentences of multiple people convicted of different types of fraud, including wire, securities, tax and healthcare fraud.

Last month, he pardoned Tennessee state House Speaker Glen Casada who was convicted of fraud, money laundering and conspiracy charges.

Source: bbc.com

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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c7vmn61l75ro

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Trump ‘very satisfied’ with new Syrian leadership

1 Dec, 2025

US President Donald Trump has said that he is “very satisfied” with Syria’s new government.

A coalition led by jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a regional offshoot of Al-Qaeda, captured Damascus and displaced former President Bashar Assad late last year.

“The United States is very satisfied with the results displayed” since the takeover, Trump said on Truth Social on Monday.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who once led HTS, is “working diligently to make sure good things happen, and that both Syria and Israel will have a long and prosperous relationship,” he said.

It is important that West Jerusalem not “interfere with Syria’s evolution into a prosperous State,” Trump added.

Just days earlier, Israeli media reported that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) sustained casualties after a clash with gunmen in the south of Syria, where West Jerusalem annexed a strip of land near the occupied Golan Heights last year.

The area was also recently the target of joint US-Syrian operations.

US forces and the Syrian Interior Ministry destroyed more than 15 caches of weapons and drugs belonging to Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS) in the south of the country over the last week, CENTCOM reported on Sunday.

Al-Sharaa promised his support against IS during his visit to Washington earlier this month.

The new Syrian government has struggled to rein in sectarian violence since taking over; thousands of people from the Druze, Alawite, and Christian communities have reportedly been killed in sporadic outbursts.

Source: rt.com

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https://www.rt.com/news/628744-trump-satisfied-syrian-leadership/

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Southeast Asia

Indonesia's Islamic Banking Market Share Lags Behind Malaysia, Saudi Arabia

December 2, 2025

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia's Islamic banking market share is lagging behind other Muslim-majority countries, said the head of the Center for Islamic Economics and Business Faculty of Economics and Business at the University of Indonesia (PEBS FEB UI), Rahmatina Awaliah Kasri. Indonesia is known to have the largest Muslim population in the world.

PEBS noted that the market share of Indonesian Islamic banking this year is parked at 7.3 percent, while Indonesia's population amounts to 242.7 million. This is far lower than in Saudi Arabia and Malaysia.

The market share of Islamic banking in Saudi Arabia reached 73.5 percent with a population of 31.5 million. Meanwhile, Malaysia's market share reached 33.2 percent with a population of 20 million.

Rahmatina argued that Indonesia must continue to bolster its market share of Islamic banking. "We must strive to increase the market share for Islamic banking towards 15-20 percent, which is a psychological threshold needed for sustainable and self-reinforcing industry growth," said Rahmatina at the launch of the Indonesia Sharia Economic Outlook 2026 at the University of Indonesia, Depok, on Monday, December 1, 2025.

On the other hand, Islamic finance assets have increased over the past five years, reaching Rp3,029 trillion as of September 2025. This marks a 68 percent leap compared to the Rp1,801 trillion recorded in 2020. These assets consist of Rp1,840.5 trillion in the Islamic capital market, Rp1,006.8 trillion in Islamic banking, and Rp182.2 trillion in non-banking financial industries.

In an optimistic scenario, PEBS projected that Islamic finance assets could reach Rp3,715 trillion in 2026. Meanwhile, in a moderate scenario, Islamic financial assets next year are projected to reach Rp3,565 trillion.

"And we project that Islamic finance assets can double in five years in an optimistic scenario, amounting to Rp5,439 trillion," said Rahmatina.

Source: tempo.co

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https://en.tempo.co/read/2070262/indonesias-islamic-banking-market-share-lags-behind-malaysia-saudi-arabia

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Anwar: Requesting firms to be ‘considered’ for govt projects isn’t sacking-worthy

By Syed Jaymal Zahiid

02 Dec 2025

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 2 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said today he saw no reason to sack officers who ask certain firms to be considered for government tenders.

Taking questions from Opposition MPs during Question Time, the Tambun MP suggested a letter requesting for companies to be considered for public projects is not illegal.

“To me if there is a recommendation letter, yes we can advise (the sender) but it’s not a wrongdoing to the point that we must sack them,” he said in a reply to Masjid Tanah MP, Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (PN).

“If we are talking about recommendation letters all of you have been ministers before. These are official letters, so we need to assess them regardless but we keep them for record,” Anwar added.

“These letters usually contain requests for “consideration”, “assessment”. What we cannot tolerate is when the letter demands approval.”

Anwar’s office had been rocked by allegations of corruption involving his former political secretary, Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Akin, who remains in Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission custody amid a probe into claims that he received bribes.

Mas Ermieyati, who is also the sitting chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, cited the scandal as a stain on Anwar’s reform credentials.

The Masjid Tanah MP then suggested Anwar had reposted social media messages that appeared to have supported Shamsul, even as investigation is ongoing.

Days before he resigned, Shamsul denied the allegations and said he would fight to clear his name.

“I hope the prime minister can guarantee that there will be no political interference in the investigation,” she said.

Anwar replied saying he had made it publicly clear that the MACC is free to probe without any intervention, but denied knowledge of Mas Ermieyati’s claim that he had reposted postings that were supportive of his former political secretary.

“I have no idea what you’re referring to but if anything please file a complaint,” he said.

The prime minister also countered the Opposition by accusing them of hypocrisy.

He alleged Perikatan Nasional administrations in Kelantan and Terengganu had submitted letters that requested companies they recommended be directly selected for government tenders, despite using Shamsul’s arrest to attack his government.

These letters were supposedly written by state executive councillors, the Tambun MP claimed.

“What I find to be hypocritical is not a single word mentioned about this. What hypocrisy is this? One of the letters gave instructions for approval. Yet nothing is said about it,” he said.

Source: malaymail.com

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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/12/02/anwar-requesting-firms-to-be-considered-for-govt-projects-isnt-sacking-worthy/200451

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Sultan Nazrin calls for AI adoption to modernise Malaysian education

2 Dec 2025

Sultan of Perak urges modernising education with AI tools to boost quality, align skills with industry, and tackle Malaysia’s chronic brain drain.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah, has called for Malaysia to modernise and raise the quality of education at every level, including through the adoption of generative artificial intelligence tools.

He said strengthening technical education must remain a priority to ensure graduates’ skills stay aligned with industry needs.

“Modernising and improving the quality of education, for example, leveraging generative AI tools, should be a priority at all levels,” he said when launching the book ‘Chronicling Themes in the Economic and Social History of Malaysia’.

His Royal Highness stated that the quality of Malaysia’s labour force will be critical in adapting effectively to future challenges.

He added that institutional adjustments will also be required to arrest and reverse the nation’s chronic brain drain.

The Perak ruler said Malaysia’s aspiration to become a fully developed and high-income nation requires adapting to a global environment of economic fragmentation, rising populism and new opportunities.

“If we succeed in making the bold domestic policy choices required to accelerate productivity growth and promote further structural shifts, we will be even better placed to take advantage of the opportunities these turbulent times present,” he said.

Sultan Nazrin also highlighted the importance of understanding economic and social history in shaping effective policies.

“Policies are not conceived and implemented in a vacuum. Context matters. History matters. Culture matters, as does institutional capacity,” he said.

He noted that the new book traces Malaysia’s transformation from colonial rule to independence and examines key historical episodes.

The chapters also address contemporary issues such as the middle-income trap, education challenges and women’s contributions to development.

Sultan Nazrin expressed appreciation to the authors and publisher of the compilation. – Bernama

Source: thesun.my

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https://thesun.my/news/malaysia-news/sultan-nazrin-ai-adoption-education/

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Anwar clarifies stance on ‘for consideration’ letters by public officers

2 Dec 2025

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim says officers issuing ‘for consideration’ letters should be reprimanded, not dismissed, but draws line at letters seeking project approvals.

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today said that public officers who issue letters asking that certain matters be given due consideration or attention should be reprimanded, but not dismissed.

He stressed, however, that it becomes an offence when officials issue support letters or request approvals on behalf of companies or individuals seeking projects.

“I have made it clear that I disagree with such letters of support, but we must differentiate the letters. In a recent case involving an officer from my office, a list of six companies was forwarded with a note to ‘consider’, so a reprimand is sufficient for that.

“But should he be dismissed for such a letter? It said ‘for consideration’, not ‘for approval’. (The same goes for) another case involving an officer at the Finance Ministry who merely ‘forwarded’ a letter,” he said in reply to Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (PN-Masjid Tanah) during Minister’s Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat.

Mas Ermieyati wanted to know whether internal audits would be conducted on ministerial officers following recent warnings on oversight.

Anwar explained that he often receives letters during visits to various districts and states.

“When someone hands me a letter, I write ‘please review’. What is unacceptable are letters that endorse a company or ask that approval be granted,” he said.

He also reiterated that all allegations of power abuse or corruption are handed entirely to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for investigation, with no government interference.

At the same time, Anwar criticised the opposition for appearing dissatisfied with the MACC’s investigation into his former senior political secretary, Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin.

“Look at the current case under MACC. What more do they want? The individual has been handcuffed and placed in the orange lock-up attire. Many more serious cases didn’t even see that.

“Are they still not satisfied? I haven’t interfered, not a single word to the MACC. I’ve said from the start that they are free to investigate, and they are doing exactly that,” he said.

Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, said the MADANI Government’s political will and commitment to fighting corruption, together with MACC, the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) and Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), have enabled the recovery of RM15.5 billion in national revenue.

“These actions target syndicates that operated for decades.

“Many knew of them, but action was only possible because there is now political resolve and the determination to act,” he said. – Bernama

Source: thesun.my

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

https://thesun.my/news/malaysia-news/anwar-for-consideration-letters/

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King urges graduates to build strong civilisation with knowledge and integrity

2 Dec 2025

Sultan Ibrahim reminds graduates to use their knowledge for society, uphold integrity, and contribute meaningfully to the nation’s progress.

KUALA LUMPUR: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, today reminded graduates not to be complacent amid rapid modernisation or fall into unhealthy pursuits, urging them instead to become builders of a strong civilisation using the knowledge they have gained.

Knowledge acquired at university, His Majesty said, is an amanah (trust) to be returned to society and the nation, and not merely a personal asset.

“What matters is how that knowledge is used for the good of all.

“History shows that knowledge can lift a community from ignorance to the light of truth,” the King said when officiating the 15th Convocation of Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM) at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur here.

Also present were UPNM Pro-Chancellor Admiral (Rtd) Tan Sri Mohd Anwar Mohd Nor, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, and Chief of Defence Forces General Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaffar.

In his royal address, Sultan Ibrahim, who is also UPNM Chancellor, also expressed hope that graduates will emerge as young leaders who excel in their fields while upholding integrity and dedication to national service.

“Use your knowledge wisely and contribute meaningfully to the country. Never disappoint your parents, nor engage in actions that erode our national identity,” His Majesty said.

The King also congratulated all graduates and prayed for UPNM’s continued progress as the region’s leading defence university.

A total of 1,011 graduates were honoured at the convocation ceremony, including 24 PhD holders, 54 master’s graduates, 783 bachelor’s degree recipients and 149 diploma holders.

Of the total, 15 were participants of the First-Child Undergraduate Programme, an initiative to support social mobility among B40 families. – Bernama

Source: thesun.my

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

https://thesun.my/news/malaysia-news/king-graduates-lead-integrity-purpose/

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Consuming Beef Essential To Be Good Hindu: Buddha Prakash Bouddha Accused Of Sharing WhatsApp Text Denied Relief by MP High Court

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