RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat Interacts With Muslim Clerics From Across India To Foster 'Religious Harmony', Agree On Interfaith Dialogue
New Age Islam News Bureau
25 July 2025
Imams leave after a meeting with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat at Haryana Bhavan in New Delhi on Thursday
PTI
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· RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat Interacts With Muslim Clerics From Across India To Foster 'Religious Harmony', Agree On Interfaith Dialogue
· Half Of Public Think Islam Not Compatible With British Values
· French President Macron Says France Will Recognize Palestine As A State
· US Commission Report: Religious Freedom Concerns Persist In Bangladesh
· Hamas Says French Pledge To Recognize State Of Palestine ‘Positive Step’
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India
· Stop Unlawful Deportation Of Bengali Muslims, Human Rights Watch Tells Government
· Ex-Tripura CM Manik Sarkar Trains Guns At RSS, BJP Over Voter Revision Issue, Says ‘They Are Trying To Unleash Attacks On Constitution’
· Muslim BJP Leaders Celebrate Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis'sBirthday With Prayers At Sufi Shrine, Distribute Umbrellas Among Needy
· Kashmir Slogans Invite UAPA Glare As High Court Restores Charges Dropped By Trial Court
· India Opposes CPEC Expansion, Says Afghanistan’s Inclusion ‘Unacceptable’
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Europe
· Starmer Urged By MPs To Recognise Palestinian State
· Muslim community centre to open in Leigh town centre as planning permission granted
· Mosque planning application comments removed over racism
· Azerbaijan uniquely positioned to bridge Israel and Muslim world, says ex-U.S. ambassador
· Imam calls survey findings 'deeply worrying'
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North America
· CAIR Welcomes Guilty Plea for Threats Against Palestinian Rights Organization
· CAIR Community Advisory: Join Emergency Rally for Palestine in Baltimore, Maryland
· Venezuela-US prisoner swap: Freed American was serving 30-year sentence for triple murder; US aware of conviction
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Mideast
· IRGC Aerospace Forces Targeted Israel Wherever They Wanted: Iranian Speaker
· Iran, Bangladesh FMs stress urgent stop of Gaza genocide
· Once A Leading Force, Battered Tunisian Party Awaits Elusive Comeback
· Israeli lawmakers pass symbolic motion on West Bank annexation
· Canada calls for immediate resumption of UN-led aid in Gaza
· Remarks by Sayyid Abdul Malik al_Houthi on the latest developments
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Arab World
· Saudi Arabia Leads Arab And Islamic Condemnation Of Israeli Motion To Annex West Bank, Jordan Valley
· Saudi Arabia Welcomes Macron Announcement Of French Recognition Of Palestinian State
· Saudi Team Wins 4 Medals At 2025 International Physics Olympiad
· How AI Speech-To-Text Technology Is Tuning In To A Digital Saudi Arabia
· Muslim World League chief meets Afghan ministers in Kabul
· Saudis make electronic chips at KACST
· Is it a bird, is it a plane? No — it’s a Saudi aviation athlete
· Sands Sports Park playing key role in improving quality of life in Riyadh
· Saudi scouts join 16th World Scout Moot in Portugal
· Deputy minister of human resources says Saudi reforms boost women’s economic participation
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Africa
· Nigeria Heart Of EU–Africa Relations — EU
· Human Rights Watch call on Niger's Junta to release former President, Mohamed Bazoum
· NentaweYilwatda Emerges APC National Chairman
· Russia expands military footprint in Sahel with shift from Wagner to state-controlled Africa Corps
· Togo protests erupt after Constitutional changes extend Faure Gnassingbé’s grip on power
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Southeast Asia
· Measures Should Be Made For Prisoners To Return To Normal Life: Khalid
· Another student dies from injuries in Milestone plane crash
· Fakhrul calls for exemplary punishment of ex-CJ Khairul
· List killings by the AL, its affiliates, state forces: Yunus
· Frankfurt University Researcher: Deportation to Afghanistan Lack Legal Credibility
· Afghanistan to Send 2,000 Job Seekers to Qatar
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Southeast Asia
· Six Arrested Over Controversial Selangor ‘eHati’ Event As JAIS Probes False Doctrine, Insult To Islam
· ‘Not to Land’: 198 foreigners barred at KLIA over shady travel plans
· Anwar welcomes Thai, Cambodian openness to truce amid rising hostilities
· ‘Turun Anwar’ rally proof Perikatan lacks ideas, says Anwar aide
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
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RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat Interacts With Muslim Clerics From Across India To Foster 'Religious Harmony', Agree On Interfaith Dialogue
J.P. Yadav
25.07.25
Imams leave after a meeting with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat at Haryana Bhavan in New Delhi on Thursday
PTI
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RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Thursday interacted with over 50 Muslim clerics from across the country, in the second such outreach by the Hindutva outfit focused on the largest minority community to foster “religious harmony”.
The meeting came against the backdrop of the contentious Waqf Amendment Act that was pushed through Parliament early this year, overruling widespread protests by Muslim outfits and Opposition parties which accused the Narendra Modi government of trying to take over land of Muslims meant for religious purposes.
The interaction was organised by the All India Imam Organisation, a national body of Muslim clerics headed by Umer Ahmed Ilyasi, who is seen to be close to the Sangh. Ilyasi had referred to Bhagwat as “Rashtra Pita (father of the nation)” when the Sangh chief had paid a visit to his office and a madrasa on his invitation three years ago.
“This was the first ever interaction between Muslim ulemas and the RSS chief and we had a very fruitful interaction. More such interactions will take place to foster religious harmony,” Ilyasi told The Telegraph.
He said 60 ulemas of mosques and madrasa heads from across the country participated in the interaction at Haryana Bhavan in Delhi.
In September 2022, Bhagwat and some other Sangh leaders had visited Ilyasi’s office, which also has a mosque, in the heart of Delhi and also interacted with students of a madrasa. This was a first-of-its-kind outreach by the RSS towards Muslims.
The RSS did not issue a statement on Thursday’s interaction, terming the event a routine and continuous outreach effort by the Sangh chief to interact with all sections of society in national interest. The Sangh completes 100 years in October and has planned a series of events to mark the occasion.
Asked whether the Muslim clerics had voiced reservations about the Waqf Act, Ilyasi said that since it was their first interaction, the focus was on “building trust”.
“All relevant issues were discussed in a friendly atmosphere. We decided to continue with more such interactions because differences can be solved only through interactions,” Ilyasi said.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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Half Of Public Think Islam Not Compatible With British Values
25 July 2025
Only 24 per cent of the adults questioned said they believe Muslim immigrants contribute positively to the UK – Kypros
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More than half of the public think Islam is not compatible with British values, according to a survey.
The YouGov polling also found that four in 10 feel Muslim immigrants have a negative impact on the UK.
The survey of 2,130 adults in mid-July asked people if they felt different groups of immigrants by religion generally have a positive or negative impact on the UK.
While 41 per cent said Muslim immigrants have a negative impact, the proportions feeling this way were much lower for other groups.
Around 15 per cent felt this way about Hindu immigrants, 14 per cent about Sikh immigrants, 13 per cent about Jewish immigrants and 7 per cent about Christian immigrants.
Just under a quarter (24 per cent) of respondents felt Muslim immigrants had a positive impact on the UK, lower than for any of the other religions stated.
Earlier this week, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner urged Labour colleagues to acknowledge people’s “real concerns”, pointing out that immigration was one of a number of factors having a “profound impact on society”, as she updated Cabinet on her work on social cohesion.
Some 53 per cent of those polled said they believed Islam is not compatible with British values, while 25 per cent said it is and 22 per cent said they did not know.
Sabah Ahmedi, known as “the young imam” online, said he believes fear among people “stems from a lack of understanding of Islam”.
He said: “These findings are deeply worrying, revealing high levels of anti-Muslim sentiment in this country. As a British Muslim, it is tragic to think that we are disliked or hated because of our religious beliefs. It is unfair and unjust considering that the vast majority of Muslim immigrants to the UK are contributing positively.”
He encouraged people to “meet Muslims to see we are not a threat” and urged the media to “play a role as well”.
The polling was commissioned by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community ahead of a gathering for what it described as the UK’s biggest Muslim convention – the Jalsa Salana – this weekend in Hampshire, expected to be attended by 40,000 followers of the faith.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is made up of people and their descendants who generally fled Pakistan in the 1980s in the face of religious persecution.
Members said they now often face the same discrimination in the UK – from some Muslims who do not agree with their version of the faith, and from other people who have subjected them to racist bullying because of their Pakistani ethnicity.
Source: yahoo.com
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French President Macron says France will recognize Palestine as a state
July 24, 2025
PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron announced Thursday that France will recognize Palestine as a state, in a bold diplomatic move amid snowballing global anger over people starving in Gaza. Israel denounced the decision.
Macron said in a post on X that he will formalize the decision at the UN General Assembly in September. “The urgent thing today is that the war in Gaza stops and the civilian population is saved,” he wrote.
The mostly symbolic move puts added diplomatic pressure on Israel as the war and humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip rage. France is now the biggest Western power to recognize Palestine, and the move could pave the way for other countries to do the same. More than 140 countries recognize a Palestinian state, including more than a dozen in Europe.
The Palestinians seek an independent state in the occupied West Bank, annexed east Jerusalem and Gaza, territories Israel occupied in the 1967 Mideast war. Israel’s government and most of its political class have long been opposed to Palestinian statehood and now say that it would reward militants after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack.
‘’We strongly condemn President Macron’s decision,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement. ‘’Such a move rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy, just as Gaza became. A Palestinian state in these conditions would be a launch pad to annihilate Israel — not to live in peace beside it.”
The Palestinian Authority welcomed it. A letter announcing the move was presented Thursday to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Jerusalem.
‘’We express our thanks and appreciation” to Macron, Hussein Al Sheikh, the PLO’s vice president under Abbas, posted. ‘’This position reflects France’s commitment to international law and its support for the Palestinian people’s rights to self-determination.”
There was no immediate reaction from the administration of US President Donald Trump.
With Europe’s largest Jewish population and the largest Muslim population in western Europe, France has often seen fighting in the Middle East spill over into protests or other tensions at home.
The French president offered support for Israel after the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks and frequently speaks out against antisemitism, but he has grown increasingly frustrated about Israel’s war in Gaza.
″Given its historic commitment to a just and sustainable peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognize the state of Palestine,” Macron posted. ″Peace is possible.”
Thursday’s announcement came soon after the US cut short Gaza ceasefire talks in Qatar, saying Hamas wasn’t showing good faith.
It also came days before France and Saudi Arabia are co-hosting a conference at the UN next week about a two-state solution. Last month, Macron expressed his “determination to recognize the state of Palestine,” and he has pushed for a broader movement toward a two-state solution in parallel with recognition of Israel and its right to defend itself.
Momentum has been building against Israel in recent days. Earlier this week, France and more than two dozen mostly European countries condemned Israel’s restrictions on aid shipments into the territory and the killings of hundreds of Palestinians trying to reach food.
Macron will join the leaders of Britain and Germany for emergency talks Friday on Gaza, how to get food to the hungry and how to stop fighting.
“We are clear that statehood is the inalienable right of the Palestinian people. A ceasefire will put us on a path to the recognition of a Palestinian state and a two-state solution which guarantees peace and security for Palestinians and Israelis,” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in announcing the call. “The suffering and starvation unfolding in Gaza is unspeakable and indefensible.”
Israel annexed east Jerusalem shortly after the 1967 war and considers it part of its capital. In the West Bank, it has built scores of settlements, some resembling sprawling suburbs, that are now home to over 500,000 Jewish settlers with Israeli citizenship. The territory’s 3 million Palestinians live under Israeli military rule, with the Palestinian Authority exercising limited autonomy in population centers.
The last serious peace talks broke down in 2009, when Netanyahu returned to power. Most of the international community considers the establishment of a viable Palestinian state alongside Israel to be the only realistic solution to the century-old conflict.
Source:arabnews.com
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US commission report: Religious freedom concerns persist in Bangladesh
July 25, 2025
While Bangladesh's government has made progress in introducing needed reforms to direct political stability, tensions and religious freedom concerns still persist, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom has said.
Following a visit to Bangladesh in May, a delegation of the commission noted that although Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus reaffirmed his government's commitment to religious freedom, many individuals expressed concerns over their safety and ability to practise their faith openly.
In a report released on July 21, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) said that despite constitutional guarantees, Bangladesh maintains a blasphemy law under section 195A of the Penal Code. Provisions in the Cyber Security Act 2023 that criminalise content deemed to hurt religious sentiments and these offences carry penalties of up to two years in prison.
The report highlighted that proposed constitutional reforms have presented unique implications for religious freedom. The Constitutional Reform Commission recommended replacing "secularism" with "pluralism" in the preamble. The BNP rejected the proposal, demanding reinstatement of the phrase "absolute faith in Almighty Allah". Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party proposed alternatives such as "multiculturalism" or a Bangla equivalent.
Religious minorities reported being excluded from the reform process and underrepresented in politics and state institutions, the USCIRF said.
The Women's Reform Commission proposed 433 recommendations to combat discrimination against women. However, groups like Hefazat-e-Islam labelled the proposals "anti-Islamic" and staged protests. One recommendation to introduce a civil code to supplement religiously based family and personal laws sparked mixed responses.
In May, Hefazat led a 20,000-person rally in Dhaka demanding the disbandment of the Women's Reform Commission, restoration of "full trust and faith in Allah" in the constitution, and withdrawal of all cases against its leaders.
More broadly, some women have complained of more public displays of conservative Islamic views on university campuses, the report said.
Although the interim government condemned attacks on minority communities, the USCIRF pointed to a lack of accountability, attributing it partly to a "collapse of the law enforcement system".
Hindu, indigenous, Ahmadiyya, and Sufi Muslim communities continue to report discrimination, the report said.
It said fears of religiously motivated violence persist with national elections due early next year, but the authorities have yet to outline a comprehensive strategy beyond increased police deployment.
The report observed that Bangladesh's political leadership has long oscillated between the Awami League and the BNP, both of which have drawn on religious identity for electoral gain. Though the Awami League is considered more secular and inclusive, attacks on religious minorities occurred under Sheikh Hasina's rule. The interim government has banned the party's activities.
The BNP, described as more conservative, has ties to Islamic parties like Jamaat-e-Islami, which was banned under Sheikh Hasina.
"Some religious minorities and Muslim women emphasized that they continue to face societal-level discrimination from more hardline Islamic groups, and they emphasized that attacks along religious lines, while sporadic, continue," the report said.
The commission reiterated that all religious minorities should be able to practise their faith without fear or retribution.
Source:thedailystar.net
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Hamas says French pledge to recognize State of Palestine ‘positive step’
July 25, 2025
A protester holds a Palestinian flag during a rally called by several French organizations in support of Palestinian people at Place de la Republique in Paris on May 7, 2024. (AFP)
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“We consider this a positive step in the right direction toward doing justice to our oppressed Palestinian people and supporting their legitimate right to self-determination,” Hamas said in a statement, after French President Emmanuel Macron’s announcement that France would formally state its recognition in September.
“We call on all countries of the world — especially European nations and those that have not yet recognized the State of Palestine — to follow France’s lead,” Hamas added.
More than 30 former UK ambassadors and 20 former senior diplomats at the UN have also urged Prime Minister Keir Starmer to recognize a Palestinian state.
In a statement, the diplomats called on Starmer to seize the “moment to recognise Palestinian statehood unconditionally," warning that “the risks of inaction have profound, historic and catastrophic implications.”
Starvation has affected the 2 million residents of the Gaza Strip amid Israeli attacks and aid restrictions.
“(Israel) cannot be secure from threats in the future if the question of Palestine is not taken forward to a political settlement,” they said.
The statement added: “In the face of the current horror and impunity, words are not enough … a partial suspension of arms sales, delays on trade talks and limited sanctions are far from the full extent of the pressure the UK can bring to bear on Israel.”
Recognising a Palestinian state would be a “foundational first step toward breaking the deadly status quo,” the letter said. The UK has consistently stated it would recognize Palestine in conjunction with allies “at the point of maximum impact.”
Source: arabnews.com
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India
Stop Unlawful Deportation Of Bengali Muslims, Human Rights Watch Tells Government
July 25, 2025 07:07
ALISHA DUTTA
Criticising India’s deportation of “ethnic Bengali migrants” to Bangladesh, the Human Rights Watch on Thursday (July 24, 2025) said the exercise was being done “without following due process”. Such acts done to “garner political support” reflect the “broader discriminatory policies against Muslims”, it said in a statement.
Citing various news reports of Bengali migrants being picked up from “BJP-run States” such as Assam, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh, Elaine Pearson, Asia director at Human Rights Watch said: “India’s ruling party BJP is fuelling discrimination by arbitrarily expelling Bengali Muslims from the country, including Indian citizens.”
The statement said the government should stop unlawfully deporting people without due process, and instead ensure everyone’s access to procedural safeguards against arbitrary detention and expulsion.
The body further said that it had interviewed 18 people in June, including affected individuals who returned to India after being expelled to Bangladesh, their family members, and relatives of those who were detained and are still missing. Subsequently, the body alleged that it had written to the Ministry of Home Affairs with its findings but did not receive any response.
‘1,500 Muslims sent out’
“The Indian government has provided no official data on the number of people expelled, but Border Guard Bangladesh has reported that India expelled more than 1,500 Muslim men, women and children to Bangladesh between May 7 and June 15, including about 100 Rohingya refugees from Myanmar,” the statement read.
It further noted that the authorities of “BJP-run States” of Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Odisha, and Rajasthan have “rounded up Muslims, mostly impoverished migrant workers”, and turned them over to Indian border guards. In some cases, the border guards allegedly “threatened and beat the detainees to force them to cross into Bangladesh” without adequately verifying their citizenship claims, the statement said.
The body further said in its statement that India’s detention and expulsion of anyone without due process violates fundamental human rights. “India is obligated under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination to ensure the protection of everyone’s rights and to prevent deprivation of citizenship on the basis of race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin,” it read.
Citing examples of Bengali Muslims from various States being “harassed” and Rohingyas being “deported”, the body said the Indian government is undercutting the country’s long history of providing refuge to the persecuted as it “tries to generate political support”.
“The Indian government is putting thousands of vulnerable people at risk in apparent pursuit of unauthorised immigrants, but their actions reflect broader discriminatory policies against Muslims,” Ms. Pearson further said.
Source: thehindu.com
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Ex-Tripura CM Manik Sarkar trains guns at RSS, BJP over voter revision issue, says ‘they are trying to unleash attacks on Constitution’
by Debraj Deb
July 24, 2025
Amid demands from the ruling camp for revision of voter rolls in Tripura on the lines of the recent exercise in Bihar, former Tripura chief minister Manik Sarkar Thursday said the RSS-BJP combine was trying to unleash attacks on the Constitution and revise it with an anti-Muslim, anti-women, and anti-Dalit mindset.
Sarkar said, “The common people are not saying this; only RSS-BJP is saying. If anyone speaks Bengali, then they are called Bangladeshis… Muslim community people, if they speak in their mother tongue, Bengali, how can they become Bangladeshi?”
When asked about his take on the smart electricity meter issue, he said, “The BJP in Bengal protested against the installation of smart meters by the Trinamool Congress. The same BJP is trying to install smart meters in Tripura. There was no problem with the existing machines. Why, all of a sudden, was the smart meter needed? It is clear that some capitalists are making the machines, and that’s why they have been forcibly trying to replace the existing meters. And people are receiving inflated power bills after the installation of smart meters. The protest by the people against smart meters is, therefore, relevant.”
On Thursday, Sarkar also participated in a march to the Governor’s House organised by the Fishermen Union. The rally culminated near Circuit House where Sarkar and other Left leaders addressed the gathering. Later, a six-member delegation met the Governor and submitted a memorandum comprising 13 demands.
Terming the 13-point charter of demands as “relevant, logical, and timely,” Sarkar emphasised safeguarding the interests of the fishermen community by attaining self-sufficiency in fish production.
“Even though importing fish may meet the demands of people here, crores of money are going outside the state to import these items. We have to bring the import to zero in phases…” said Sarkar.
“We appealed to the Governor to draw the attention of the chief minister towards these demands,” Sarkar added.
Source: indianexpress.com
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Muslim BJP leaders celebrate Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis's birthday with prayers at Sufi shrine, distribute umbrellas among needy
Jul 25, 2025
MUMBAI: A group of Muslim BJP leaders celebrated CM Devendra Fadnavis's birthday by offering chadar at the iconic Sufi shrine Haji Ali Dargah and distributing umbrellas and helmets among the needy.
BJP Transport Cell president and ex-chairman, Maharashtra State Minorities Commission, Haji Arfat Shaikh who led the "novel and compassionate" way of birthday celebrations of the CM said that, instead of wasting money on holding fabulous parties, he decided to do something for the needy and safety of the people.
"We offered chadar at the Haji Ali Dargah and prayed for our CM Devendra Fadnavisji's long and happy life. We also prayed for peace and prosperity in our state and the country," said Shaikh.
He added that umbrellas are very important in the monsoon season in Mumbai and they will help protect many poor from the torrential rains.
He added that, besides hundreds of umbrellas, with BJP's symbol and flag's colour decorating them, helmets too have been distributed to many bikers. "The distribution of helmets is also to send a message about safe driving and honouring traffic rules, " he added.
Vice-president of BJP Transport Cell D A Chaugle who also participated in celebrations of the CM's birthday by umbrella and helmet distribution said that such gestures go a long way in creating an atmosphere of goodwill, peace and harmony. "The desperately poor needs help from whatever way we can provide it. We were glad to see so many people turning up for the event," said Chaugle.
Founder of 'Borderless Babasaheb', a think tank to popularise Dr B R Ambedkar's ideas internationally, Rajendra Jadhav, was among those who attended the event.
Source: indiatimes.com
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Kashmir slogans invite UAPA glare as high court restores charges dropped by trial court
Muzaffar Raina
25.07.25
Chanting anti-national slogans alone constitutes an unlawful activity under the anti-terror law UAPA even if not accompanied by violence or disturbances, the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has ruled.
It has set aside a trial court’s discharge order and restored charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, against two Kashmiris accused of calling for Jammu and Kashmir’s secession from India and inciting people.
The verdict is being seen as lowering the legal threshold against individuals who freely engaged in such activities before the 2019 abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, and is likely to set a precedent with wide implications.
In the order, pronounced last week against Bandipora residents Ameer Hamza Shah and Rayees Ahmad Mir, the division bench of Justice Sanjeev Kumar and Justice Sanjay Parihar set aside an additional session judge’s order discharging them. The high court verdict was pronounced in the absence of the respondents, who “chose not to appear”.
Shah and Mir face prosecution for offences under Section 13 of the UAPA, which carries a maximum jail term of seven years.
The duo are accused of delivering “anti-national speeches” after Friday prayers on March 20, 2015, “with the intention to instigate the general public against sovereignty of India and to call for separation” of Jammu and Kashmir. Such calls were common before 2019.
Shah and Mir were arrested during the investigations and later released on bail.
The trial court dismissed the charges on September 29, 2021, saying that “except (for) raising of anti-national slogans, the respondents did not act in any manner prejudicial to the integrity of the country”.
“In absence of any proof that any law-and-order problem had arisen pursuant to the raising of anti-national slogans by the respondents, there appears to be no material to warrant their involvement in an unlawful activity,” the trial court said, as quoted by the division bench.
The high court said the trial court’s view that Section 13 did not apply to sloganeering unaccompanied by violence was “palpably wrong”.
For, advocating and inciting a struggle for Jammu and Kashmir’s secession from the Union of India is an activity punishable under Section 13(1) of the Act, it said.
“(It is) because what Section 13(1), read with Section 2(1)(o) of the UAPA, relates to is the commission of an unlawful activity, and the allegations raised against the respondents were squarely covered within the definition of ‘unlawful activity’,” the bench said.
It said that according to the chargesheet, the accused had been found “inciting general public that had gathered after Friday prayers” in Bandipora “to take up a struggle in order to effect secession of Jammu & Kashmir from the Union of India”.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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India Opposes CPEC Expansion, Says Afghanistan’s Inclusion ‘Unacceptable’
July 25, 2025
By Fidel Rahmati
India firmly opposed the expansion of the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor into Afghanistan, labeling the move unacceptable and citing sovereignty concerns over Pakistan-controlled Kashmir.
India has strongly opposed the proposed expansion of the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) into Afghanistan, calling the move “unacceptable” and a violation of its sovereignty.
KritiVardhan Singh, India’s Minister of State for External Affairs, reiterated New Delhi’s long-standing objection to CPEC, noting that parts of the project pass through Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh—territories India claims as its own but which are under Pakistan’s control.
He emphasized that any involvement of a third country or attempts to extend CPEC into other nations would not be tolerated. India has consistently communicated this position to all relevant parties, including Beijing and Islamabad.
This reaction follows a May 2025 trilateral meeting in Beijing between the foreign ministers of China, Pakistan, and the Taliban administration. At the meeting, Wang Yi, Ishaq Dar, and Amir Khan Muttaqi agreed to expand CPEC into Afghanistan to enhance “regional connectivity.”
CPEC is a flagship project of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), linking Pakistan’s Gwadar Port to China’s Xinjiang region through highways, railways, and pipelines. India, however, has stayed out of the BRI, citing sovereignty concerns and warning that CPEC threatens its territorial integrity.
The project also involves major investments in infrastructure, energy, transit, and railways, with its route passing through disputed regions like Pakistan-controlled Kashmir—an issue that has consistently drawn strong objections from India.
India has also raised concerns about the debt risks associated with Chinese-backed infrastructure projects, pointing to Sri Lanka’s experience, where mounting debt forced Colombo to lease Hambantota Port to a Chinese company for 99 years.
Despite its hard stance on CPEC, India has shown limited diplomatic engagement with the Taliban. In May, Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar held his first official ministerial-level phone call with Taliban Foreign Minister Muttaqi following a terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir.
While India does not recognize the Taliban regime, it continues to provide humanitarian aid and maintain a small diplomatic presence in Kabul. Meanwhile, China has formally accepted a Taliban envoy in Beijing and, along with Pakistan and Russia, is pushing for wider normalization of ties with the “Islamic Emirate.”
Source: khaama.com
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Europe
Starmer urged by MPs to recognise Palestinian state
25 July 2025
Paul Seddon
The UK should immediately recognise the state of Palestine, a majority of MPs on the Commons foreign affairs committee have said.
It comes as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer faces fresh calls from within Labour's ranks to make the move, amid warnings of mass starvation in Gaza, and after France indicated it would be doing so within months.
In a new report, the Labour and Lib Dem MPs on the select committee argue that statehood is an "inalienable right" that should "not be made conditional".
But their two Tory colleagues said a state of Palestine should only be recognised as part of a long-term political solution to the conflict in the Middle East, echoing the Labour government's position.
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday evening that his country would officially recognise a Palestinian state at a UN meeting in September.
Sir Keir has previously said the UK should reserve recognition of Palestinian statehood for when it would have the "greatest impact" - without specifying when this would be.
But in a report published on Friday, the committee said the government should make the move "while there is still a state to recognise".
"An inalienable right should not be made conditional," the report adds.
"The government cannot continue to wait for the perfect time because experience shows that there will never be a perfect time."
That section of the report was backed by all six Labour MPs who voted, including chairwoman Dame Emily Thornberry, and the two Lib Dems on the committee.
It was not endorsed by its two Conservative members, AphraBrandreth and Sir John Whittingdale, who said the UK should only back the move as part of a wider two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict.
It is not unusual for select committees to be split on controversial issues but they will normally try to speak with one voice.
The Tory MPs on the foreign affairs committee made an unsuccessful attempt to change the report to reflect their views, arguing that recognition should accompany the release of hostages taken by Hamas in October 2023, and the creation of Palestinian authorities without Hamas supporters.
Around 60 MPs reportedly called for the UK to immediately recognise Palestine in a letter earlier this month, with London major Sir Sadiq Khan also making the call on Wednesday.
In a statement on Thursday evening condemning "unspeakable and indefensible" conditions in Gaza, Sir Keir said statehood was an "inalienable right".
He reiterated his call for a ceasefire in the conflict, adding this would "put us on a path" towards recognising a Palestinian state.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds had earlier said Labour ministers were "deeply committed" to recognition, but they wanted it to be "meaningful," adding: "At the minute, there is not a Palestinian state there".
'Not listening'
Most countries - about 139 in all - formally recognise a Palestinian state, although many European nations - and the United States - say they will only do so as part of moves towards a long-term resolution to the conflict.
Spain, Ireland and Norway formally took the step last year, hoping to exert diplomatic pressure to secure a ceasefire in Gaza.
Palestine currently has limited rights to participate in the work of the UN, and is also recognised by various international organisations, including the Arab League.
Sceptics argue recognition would largely be a symbolic gesture unless questions over the leadership and extent of a Palestine state are addressed first.
In their report, the MPs acknowledged that the Israeli government "is not listening to the UK," and was only "sporadically" listening to the United States, by far its most significant military backer.
Speaking to the BBC on Tuesday, former UK Foreign Office boss Lord McDonald argued recognition itself "doesn't really amount to very much," adding that a Palestine state lacked defined borders or an "agreed government".
Aid distribution call
The report comes after the UK and 27 other countries condemned the "drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians" seeking food and water in Gaza.
Israel's foreign ministry rejected the countries' statement, saying it was "disconnected from reality and sends the wrong message to Hamas".
In the rest of their report, which was endorsed unanimously, the MPs called for a UN-led system to distribute aid in Gaza, replacing the controversial US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) in place since May.
They also said the UK should justify how "allowing indirect exports" of British parts for F-35 fighter jets used by Israel complies with the UK's obligations under international law.
The UK says it does not export the parts directly to Israel, but rather to manufacturing centres abroad as part of a global programme, and it cannot prevent Israel from obtaining the components.
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly2yky91lpo
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Muslim community centre to open in Leigh town centre as planning permission granted
By Gaynor Clarke
24th Jul 2025
Plans to open a Muslim community centre and place of worship in Leigh town centre have been given the green light.
It is hoped the new centre will provide a “much-needed community asset” for Muslims living in the area, including families and professionals seeking a space for worship, education and community engagement.
Bharaldeen Mohammed Abakr applied to change the use of a ground floor storage area at Turnpike House, on the corner of Bradshawgate and Market Street.
The building is a three-storey, mixed-use property, with commercial units along Market Street on the ground floor and residential apartments on the upper two floors.
There are “extensive” storage facilities at the rear of the building and this area will be used for a Muslim community centre, providing a multi-purpose hall for prayers and community activities, along with toilet facilities.
There will be a new entrance on Back Market Street to provide direct access to the centre and additional windows will be installed to provide more light, but no other changes are planned for the exterior of the building.
The yard outside will be used for three parking spaces, including two charging points for electric vehicles, as well as bin and cycle storage.
A design and access statement prepared by Create It Studio Architects, which was submitted with the planning application, states: “The proposed conversion of the ground floor storage area into a Muslim community centre will enhance local community facilities, promote inclusivity and respect the historical context of the site.
“The project commits to delivering a high-quality, environmentally responsible development that meets the needs of the community while adhering to planning policies and regulations.”
Wigan Council’s planning department did not receive any submissions supporting or opposing the planning application.
The proposal was approved by planners using delegated powers.
This is the latest development at Turnpike House, which used to be home to council adult education offices.
It was described as a “blight on the town” in need of investment by a Leigh councillor in 2016 as it went up for sale in an auction.
Since then its two floors of vacant office accommodation have been turned into apartments, which are now said to be fully occupied.
Source: wigantoday.net
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https://www.wigantoday.net/news/people/muslim-community-centre-to-open-in-leigh-town-centre-as-planning-permission-granted-5237442
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Mosque planning application comments removed over racism
ByJohnWimperis
24 JUL 2025
The comments on a planning application to expand a Weston-super-Mare mosque have been removed from public view by North Somerset Council after it was overwhelmed with “offensive” objections.
Weston Islamic Education Centre on Waterloo Street recently purchased the building next door and has submitted a planning application to renovate the buildings into one larger mosque. The application states: “The aim is to create a landmark community facility that meets the spiritual, educational, and social needs of the local Muslim population while enhancing the site's contribution to Weston-super-Mare’s urban landscape.”
Now all public comments left on the application on the council’s planning portal have been removed from public view. Instead, a public notice left on the planning portal on July 22 states: “North Somerset Council has always been, and will continue to be, a place that celebrates and welcomes ethnic and cultural diversity and we stand against all forms of racism.
“Having received a significant number of comments which we consider to be offensive and which could cause distress, we have put in place measures to remove from our website all comments sent to us about this application.”
One objecting comment, seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which was left on the application and also shared on X (formerly Twitter) made highly racist claims. These included that approving the application would lead to the "Islamification” of the town and that it would lead to the people deciding the application having mixed-race descendants. Muslims make up 0.6% of the population of North Somerset. This is the district’s only mosque.
Comments in support or objection to the application can still be left on the council’s planning portal and will still be seen and considered by planning officers and elected councillors. The public notice states: “Please note that we are not legally obliged to display comments on our website and we reserve the right to decide what to display and when.”
In a post on X and Facebook, Reform UK’s Weston-super-Mare branch said: “This should send shivers down your spine.” It said: “North Somerset Council hasn’t just failed its duty, it has launched an operation to silence hundreds and hundreds of its residents.”
In a post on X on July 22, the Reform UK branch had urged people to object to the planning application. It said: “It's not racist to be concerned about the safety of women and children.” The account did not respond to a tweet in response asking why a mosque would make women and girls unsafe.
Leader of the town council of Weston-super-Mare, Ciaran Cronelley (Winterstoke, Labour) said in a post on Facebook that it was "appalling" North Somerset Council had to take the action due to the comments. He said: “The colour of someone's skin or their faith is not a valid, nor legal, planning reason to refuse an application — it's bigotry, end of.
“To those hiding behind anonymous social media accounts stoking hate — Weston sees through your games.”
The planning application would preserve the Victorian frontage of the two buildings on Waterloo Street. The “industrial” rear frontage off Palmer Street would have a new blue tiled facade with contemporary arches over the windows and doors. The application said it would “establish the mosque’s identity as an architectural feature within the streetscape.”
Inside, it seeks planning permission to create several “multifunctional spaces” with partition walls that can fold away, men's and women’s prayer halls, ablution facilities, and a ghusl for the religious preparation of a deceased’s body before a funeral. The application states: “The scheme is intended to foster a positive relationship with the surrounding neighbourhood by providing inviting, public-facing features and activities. [...] By integrating communal spaces and engaging with locals, the development aspires to function not only as a centre of worship, but also as a catalyst for social and cultural exchange.”
Source: somersetlive.co.uk
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https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/mosque-planning-application-comments-removed-10369943
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Azerbaijan uniquely positioned to bridge Israel and Muslim world, says ex-U.S. ambassador
24 July 2025
BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 24. Relations between Azerbaijan and Israel are sort of underappreciated, said Daniel B. Shapiro, former U.S. Ambassador to Israel, as he addressed the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the Middle East, Trend reports.
He emphasized that Baku’s ties with Israel did not begin with the Abraham Accords - a U.S.-brokered diplomatic initiative launched in 2020 - but rather well before that. "Azerbaijan has had diplomatic relations with Israel for many years, but it's one of the leading Muslim countries that has done that long before the Abraham Accords came on the scene," Shapiro pointed out.
Drawing attention to Azerbaijan’s geographical and geopolitical position, he highlighted the country’s relevance to regional security and energy dynamics."Because of their proximity to the region and even to the threats Israel faces from Iran, they've been a security partner because of their energy resources. And I might add with that, it's the only country in the world that borders Russia and Iran. So their strategic importance is really impossible to deny".
Beyond security and energy, Shapiro praised Azerbaijan’s capacity to act as a convener and bridge-builder between Israel and the wider Muslim world. "They also have that sort of cultural convening capability and are able to build bridges to strengthen Israel's relations with other Arab and Muslim countries, including some in Central Asia," he said.
"As we've thought about ways of broadening those regional convenings to really have the sense of a European Union or an ASEAN-style organization or gathering of countries in the Middle East. Azerbaijan most certainly should take part in something like that," Shapiro added.
Source: trend.az
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https://www.trend.az/azerbaijan/politics/4073619.html
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Imam calls survey findings 'deeply worrying'
25 July 2025
A survey ahead of a major Islamic convention has suggested four in 10 Britons think Muslim immigrants have a negative impact on the UK.
The YouGov poll was commissioned by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, which is preparing for the UK's biggest Muslim convention - the Jalsa Salana - this weekend in Alton, Hampshire.
It is expected to be attended by 40,000 followers of the faith.
The findings have been described by an imam as "deeply worrying", and showing "high levels of anti-Muslim sentiment" in Britain.
Sabah Ahmedi, 30, known as "the young imam" online, said he believed fear among people "stems from a lack of understanding of Islam".
"As a British Muslim, it is tragic to think that we are disliked or hated because of our religious beliefs," he said.
He encouraged people to "meet Muslims to see we are not a threat" and urged the media to "play a role as well".
He said the majority of Muslim immigrants in the UK "cherish its values of freedom and tolerance" with many working in service of the country, in the armed forces, NHS, police or in education.
The Union flag will be raised at this weekend's gathering "alongside the Islamic flag of our community, to symbolise that love of our faith and country go hand in hand", Mr Ahmedi said.
The YouGov survey of 2,130 adults in Great Britain in mid-July asked people if they felt different groups of immigrants by religion generally have a positive or negative impact on the UK.
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjwnw4n884vo
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North America
CAIR Welcomes Guilty Plea for Threats Against Palestinian Rights Organization
July 24, 2025
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed a guilty plea by a man who made violent threats against a Palestinian rights organization.
A Utah man pleaded guilty to one felony count of transmitting threats in interstate commerce for making violent physical and sexual threats against a Palestinian rights organization ahead of a planned march in Washington D.C. back in 2023. The man reportedly left multiple threatening voicemails, saying “we know who you are, who your families are” and “you’re gonna die.” He also reportedly said “this is a war against Islam” and “Palestinians are going to die by the hundreds of thousands.”
SEE: Utah man pleads guilty to threatening Palestinian rights organization | wusa9.com
In a statement, CAIR Research and Advocacy Director Corey Saylor said:
“We welcome the guilty plea in this disturbing case and are thankful that this individual will not be able to carry out any of his threats. Such intimidation by bigots cannot stop Americans from standing up and speaking out for the rights of the Palestinian people and opposing the Israeli government’s genocide in Gaza.”
Source: cair.com
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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-welcomes-guilty-plea-for-threats-against-palestinian-rights-organization/
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CAIR Community Advisory: Join Emergency Rally for Palestine in Baltimore, Maryland
July 24, 2025
The Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today calls on community members to join CAIR, JVP Baltimore, and the Baltimore Rapid Response Network for an emergency rally for Palestine. The rally will be held this afternoon in Baltimore, Maryland from 5:30pm-7:00pm.
WHERE: Baltimore World Trade Center at the Inner Harbor, 401 E. Pratt Street, Baltimore, Maryland
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR esproteger las libertadesciviles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a losmusulmanesenlosEstadosUnidos.
Source: cair.com
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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-community-advisory-join-emergency-rally-for-palestine-in-baltimore-maryland/
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Venezuela-US prisoner swap: Freed American was serving 30-year sentence for triple murder; US aware of conviction
Jul 25, 2025
One of the ten Americans released from Venezuela last week in a prisoner swap was a convicted killer serving a 30-year sentence, Spanish and Venezuelan officials have confirmed.
DahudHanid Ortiz was jailed in Venezuela for the 2016 murder of three people inside a Madrid law office. As per Spanish interior minister, the 54-year-old Ortiz, had entered the firm looking for a specific lawyer, who headed the office.
However, the official was not there at the time. Ortiz then fatally stabbed two female staff members and a client.
Although he was arrested in Venezuela two years later, Ortiz was never extradited to Spain. He was sentenced on January 9, 2024, in Venezuela.
Despite being informed of Ortiz’s conviction, US officials went ahead with his inclusion in the swap, according to Venezuela’s justice minister Diosdado Cabello. A US official familiar with the matter confirmed that Washington knew of Ortiz’s past, but still opted to secure his release.
The prisoner exchange saw 10 Americans freed in return for over 200 Venezuelan migrants, who had been deported from the US and transferred to a high-security prison in El Salvador.
Eight of the Americans were officially classed by Washington as “wrongfully detained.” Ortiz was not classified in the category, ABC news reported.
Officials said the primary objective was to get US citizens out of Venezuela’s notoriously harsh prison system, even if that meant freeing a man once convicted of a triple killing.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/venezuela-us-prisoner-swap-freed-american-was-serving-30-year-sentence-for-triple-murder-us-aware-of-conviction/articleshow/122898110.cms
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Mideast
IRGC Aerospace Forces Targeted Israel Wherever They Wanted: Iranian Speaker
July 24, 2025
“You hit wherever you wanted and made the land and air of the occupied (Palestinian) territory unsafe for them (Israeli regime),” Qalibaf said, addressing a ceremony held in Tehran on Thursday to commemorate the force’s martyred commanders.
“The children of Gaza saw the fire of our missiles from the ruins (of the Gaza Strip) and (smiled) with satisfaction, and in this way you defended the oppressed,” he added.
“You warriors were swordsmen who became the cause of the enemy’s misery. In this war, we saw how you stood by the (missile) launchers to defend this nation. Our warriors, by sacrificing their lives, rendered the efforts of the (Israeli) F-35s meaningless, and our warriors took revenge on this brutal regime.”
The speaker of the parliament likened the IRGC Aerospace forces to Arash the Archer, a heroic archer-figure of Iranian mythology, and said, “Arash the Archer was a legend of our nation who was the guardian of Iran’s spirit, and today, at this point in history, we saw that our Arash archers in the IRGC Aerospace Force were able, despite all odds, to place their long-range arrows on the bow of faith and life, and shoot them towards the sky and the enemy, crossing countries, becoming a source of pride for the Islamic Ummah, and landing on the occupied (Palestinian territories), taking sleep away from their eyes.”
Elsewhere in his remarks, Qalibaf said the secret to the Islamic Republic’s longevity and authority is the presence of the people on the scene, adding, “The basis of our power is the hearts of each of our people, and in the recent war, we saw how God transformed these hearts and shaped the scene. While we lost some of our figures and commanders, this nation made us proud.”
He went on to say that despite enemy conspiracies, the Iranian people have become stronger and more united.
“America, England, and Israel are upset with a strong Iran and are angry with the Iranian nation; the enemies are upset with the Islamic Republic, which arose from the hearts and minds of the people.”
The Zionist regime waged an unprovoked war of aggression against Iran on June 13. It carried out airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear, military and residential sites that resulted in the martyrdom of over 1,000 people, including top military commanders, nuclear scientists and civilians.
The Iranian military forces started counterattacks immediately afterwards. The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Aerospace Force carried out 22 waves of retaliatory missile strikes against the Zionist regime as part of Operation True Promise III that inflicted heavy losses on cities across the occupied territories.
A ceasefire that came into force on June 24 brought the fighting to a halt.
Source:tasnimnews.com
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https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2025/07/24/3361129/irgc-aerospace-forces-targeted-israel-wherever-they-wanted-iranian-speaker
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Iran, Bangladesh FMs stress urgent stop of Gaza genocide
July 25, 2025
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his Bangladeshi counterpart, Touhid Hossain, exchanged views on bilateral ties, as well as recent regional and international developments in a telephone conversation on Thursday.
The top Iranian diplomat strongly condemned the crimes of the Israeli regime, especially depriving the Palestinians of access to water and food, and emphasized the need for immediate action by the Islamic states through holding an emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and activating other international mechanisms to stop the genocide in Gaza and confront the regime's aggressions.
Araghchi also considered the plan to annex the West Bank to the Israeli regime as another sign of the occupying regime's criminal plan to advance the plan to annihilate Palestine, and called for decisive and coordinated action by Islamic countries to confront the genocide in Gaza and send urgent aid to the defenseless Palestinian people.
The Bangladeshi Foreign Minister, for his part, condemned the continued Israeli crimes and stressed the need for urgent and effective action to support the oppressed Palestinian people, including through the mechanisms of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
The two sides also reviewed bilateral relations and emphasized the shared determination of the leaders of the two countries to develop relations and continue consultations between them.
Source: mehrnews.com
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https://en.mehrnews.com/news/234683/Iran-Bangladesh-FMs-stress-urgent-stop-of-Gaza-genocide
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Once a leading force, battered Tunisian party awaits elusive comeback
July 25, 2025
TUNIS: The party that once dominated Tunisian politics has faded away since President Kais Saied staged a dramatic power grab, with its offices shuttered and leaders behind bars or in exile.
But observers say that Ennahdha, the Islamist-inspired movement still considered by some Tunisians as the country’s main opposition party, could still bounce back after a devastating government crackdown.
On July 25, 2021, Saied stunned the country when he suspended parliament and dissolved the government, a move critics denounced as a “coup” a decade after the Arab Spring revolt ushered in a democratic transition in the North African country.
Many of Saied’s critics have been prosecuted and jailed, including Ennahdha leader RachedGhannouchi, 84, a former parliament speaker who was sentenced earlier this month to 14 years in prison for plotting against the state.
Ghannouchi, who was arrested in 2023, has racked up several prison terms, including a 22-year sentence handed in February on the same charge.
The crackdown over the past four years has seen around 150 Ennahdha figures imprisoned, prosecuted or living in exile, according to a party official.
“Some believe the movement is dead, but that is not the case,” said political scientist SlaheddineJourchi.
Ennahdha has been “weakened to the point of clinical death” but remained the most prominent party in Tunisia’s “fragmented and fragile” opposition, Jourchi added.
‘Crimes against the country’
RiadhChaibi, a party official and adviser to Ghannouchi, said that even after “shrinking” its political platform, Ennahdah was still a relevant opposition outlet.
“Despite repression, prosecutions and imprisonment” since 2021, “Ennahdha remains the country’s largest political movement,” Chaibi said.
He said the current government has been “weaponizing state institutions to eliminate political opponents,” but “once we’re free again, like we were in 2011, Ennahdha will regain its strength.”
Since 2011, when Ghannouchi returned from exile to lead the party, Ennahdha for years had a key role in Tunisian politics, holding the premiership and other senior roles.
But by 2019, the year Saied was elected president, the party’s popularity had already begun waning, winning only a third of the 1.5 million votes it had in 2011.
Experts ascribed this trend to the party’s failure to improve living standards and address pressing socio-economic issues.
Ennahdha has also been accused of jihadist links, which it has repeatedly denied.
Saied, who religiously avoids mentioning either Ennahdha or Ghannouchi by name, has often referred to the party’s years in power as “the black decade” and accused it of committing “crimes against the country.”
Crowds of Tunisians, increasingly disillusioned as a political deadlock trumped Ennahdha’s promise of change, poured into the streets in celebration when Saied forced the party out of the halls of power in 2021.
Analyst Jourchi said Ennahdha’s rise to power was a “poorly prepared adventure,” and the party had “made many mistakes along the way.”
Left-wing politician MongiRahoui said it was “only natural that Ennahdha leaders and their governing partners be prosecuted for crimes they used their political position to commit.”
Today, the party’s activities have been reduced mostly to issuing statements online, often reacting to prison sentences handed down to critics of Saied.
‘Weathering repression’
But Ennahdha has weathered repression before, harshly suppressed under Tunisia’s autocratic presidents Habib Bourguiba and Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.
Party leaders were jailed or forced into exile, and Ghannouchi was sentenced to life in prison under Bourguiba but then freed — and later exiled — under Ben Ali.
Tunisian historian AbdellatifHannachi said that the party “seems to be bending with the wind, waiting for changes that would allow it to return.”
It has been in “clear decline,” he added, but “that does not mean it’s disappearing.”
Ennahdha’s downfall was not an isolated case. Other opposition forces have also been crushed, and dozens of political, media and business figures are currently behind bars.
“This regime no longer distinguishes between Islamist and secular, progressive and conservative,” rights advocate KamelJendoubi, a former minister, recently said in a Facebook post.
Saied’s government “wants to silence everything that thinks, that criticizes, or resists,” Jendoubi argued.
The opposition, however, remains fractured, failing for example to come together in rallies planned for the anniversary this month of Saied’s power grab.
Source:arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2609356/middle-east
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Israeli lawmakers pass symbolic motion on West Bank annexation
July 24, 2025
JERUSALEM: More than 70 Israeli lawmakers passed a motion on Wednesday urging the government to impose sovereignty over the West Bank, though the symbolic move does not affect the Palestinian territory’s legal status.
The non-binding vote in Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, was backed by members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition, as well as some opposition lawmakers.
They said that annexing the West Bank “will strengthen the state of Israel, its security and prevent any questioning of the fundamental right of the Jewish people to peace and security in their homeland.”
“Sovereignty in Judea and Samaria” — the name Israel uses for the West Bank, which it has occupied since 1967 — was “an integral part of the realization of Zionism and the national vision of the Jewish people,” the text stated.
It passed by a vote of 71 to 13, with 36 other lawmakers absent.
Hussein Al-Sheikh, deputy to Palestinian Authority president Mahmud Abbas, said the motion was “a direct assault on the rights of the Palestinian people” that “undermines the prospects for peace, stability and the two-state solution.”
“These unilateral Israeli actions blatantly violate international law and the ongoing international consensus regarding the status of the Palestinian territories, including the West Bank,” he wrote on X.
Some 500,000 Israelis live in settlements in the West Bank, which is home to around three million Palestinians.
Israeli settlement there is regularly condemned by the UN and is considered illegal under international law.
It is seen as one of the main obstacles — along with ongoing violence between the two sides — to a lasting peace agreement through the creation of a viable Palestinian state with authority over the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2609288/middle-east
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Canada calls for immediate resumption of UN-led aid in Gaza
July 24, 2025
OTTAWA: The Canadian government said on Wednesday that Israeli military operations against civilians and aid workers in Gaza were unacceptable, and called for the immediate resumption of UN-led aid distribution in the war-torn enclave.
“Israeli military operations against WHO staff and facilities, World Food Programme aid convoys, & the ongoing killing of Palestinians seeking urgently needed food and water are unacceptable,” the Canadian foreign ministry said on X.
“Hunger in Gaza has reached catastrophic levels ... Canada calls for the immediate resumption at scale of UN-led aid,” the ministry added.
Sourcearabnews.com:
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2609217/middle-east
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Remarks by Sayyid Abdul Malik al_Houthi on the latest developments
July 24, 2025
Today, Thursday, the leader, AbdulmalikBadr al-Din al-Houthi, delivered a speech about the developments of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip.
The followings are some remarks from his speech:
- The state of inaction and spectatorship by the Arabs represents a collective death of conscience and a general denial of values
- Where are the Arabs? What happened to the Muslims? Why this silence? Why this spectatorship toward this tragedy in Gaza? Where is the humanitarian, Islamic, and moral responsibility?
- For 22 months, there have been Islamic and Arab regimes whose ships have not stopped carrying food and goods to the Israeli enemy.
- The Israeli enemy is not seeking peace, but rather seeks to achieve its ultimate goal of completely eliminating the Palestinian cause.
- Why is it desired that our nation be disarmed at a time when it is being subjected to a brutal and criminal Israeli-American attack?
The general atmosphere for my fellow mujahideen in the Gaza Strip is one of cooperation, solidarity, and concerted efforts, and this is a great and important thing.
- Al-Azhar yesterday withdrew a statement condemning Israeli crimes, but it was quickly retracted and deleted. This is sad and regrettable., July 24, 2025
- The state of inaction and spectatorship by the Arabs represents a collective death of conscience and a general denial of values
- Where are the Arabs? What happened to the Muslims? Why this silence? Why this spectatorship toward this tragedy in Gaza? Where is the humanitarian, Islamic, and moral responsibility?
- For 22 months, there have been Islamic and Arab regimes whose ships have not stopped carrying food and goods to the Israeli enemy.
- The Israeli enemy is not seeking peace, but rather seeks to achieve its ultimate goal of completely eliminating the Palestinian cause.
- Why is it desired that our nation be disarmed at a time when it is being subjected to a brutal and criminal Israeli-American attack?
The general atmosphere for my fellow mujahideen in the Gaza Strip is one of cooperation, solidarity, and concerted efforts, and this is a great and important thing.
- Al-Azhar yesterday withdrew a statement condemning Israeli crimes, but it was quickly retracted and deleted. This is sad and regrettable.
Source: ansarollah.com
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https://ansarollah.com.ye/en/archives/793866
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Arab World
Saudi Arabia leads Arab and Islamic condemnation of Israeli motion to annex West Bank, Jordan Valley
July 24, 2025
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has led Arab and Islamic condemnation of an Israeli bill passed in the Knesset on Wednesday evening imposing sovereignty over the West Bank and the Jordan Valley to annex Palestinian territory occupied since the 1967 Middle East War.
The Kingdom, along with Bahrain, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Nigeria, the State of Palestine, Qatar, Turkiye and the UAE, as well as the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, said Israel’s actions undermined efforts to achieve peace through the two-state solution and reflected an ongoing insistence on destruction and destabilization.
“Israel does not have sovereignty over the Occupied Palestinian Territory ... This unilateral move by Israel has no legal effect and cannot alter the legal status of the OPT, particularly East Jerusalem, which remains an integral part of this territory,” they stated.
Since the peace agreement between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization in 1993, Palestinians have aimed to establish an independent state in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip, with East Jerusalem as its capital. However, Israeli policies — such as expanding settlements, segregating towns in the West Bank with military checkpoints and the bombing and significant destruction of the Gaza Strip since late 2023 — have all obstructed the realization of Palestinian statehood aspirations.
Israel effectively annexed East Jerusalem in 1980 and the Golan Heights — a territory captured from Syria — in 1981, moves not recognized by most of the international community.
On Wednesday evening, more than 70 members of the Israeli Knesset voted in favor of a motion calling on the government to impose sovereignty over the West Bank and the Jordan Valley. While the motion is deemed “symbolic” and does not change the legal status of the Palestinian territory, it reflects the intention of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right government to annex the area, which over 500,000 settlers consider has significant historical and religious importance. A vote on annexing the Jordan Valley, a mineral and water-rich area that comprises a third of the West Bank, did not take place in the summer of 2020 due to international pressure.
Saudi Arabia and other countries said on Thursday that the Israeli parliamentarian motion violated several UN Security Council resolutions, including 242 (1967), 338 (1973), and 2334 (2016), which affirm the invalidity of all measures aimed at legitimizing the occupation of Palestinian territories.
“Israeli actions will only fuel tensions in the region, exacerbated by Israel’s aggression against the Gaza Strip and the ensuing humanitarian crisis in the enclave,” they stated. They also confirmed their commitment to the two-state solution and urged the international community to take immediate action against illegal Israeli policies that aimed to impose a “fait accompli by force.”
Earlier, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the Israeli motion as “provocative,” saying it undermined efforts to establish lasting peace and highlighted Tel Aviv’s insistence on “sabotage and destruction.”
The Kingdom reaffirmed its support for Palestinians’ right to self-determination, statehood and a dignified existence on their land “within an independent state along the 1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.”
Saudi Arabia and France will next week lead an international conference at UN headquarters in New York to garner support for recognizing a Palestinian state and to put an end to the war in Gaza, where Israel faces accusations of war crimes and genocide.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi Arabia welcomes Macron announcement of French recognition of Palestinian state
July 25, 2025
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has welcomed a statement by French Emmanuel Macron that his country would recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September.
“True to its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognize the State of Palestine,” Macron wrote on social media on Thursday evening.
“The Kingdom commends this historic decision, which reaffirms the international community’s consensus on the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and to establish their independent state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital,” a Saudi Foreign Ministry statement released on Friday said.
“The Kingdom underscores the importance of continued efforts by states to implement international resolutions and uphold international law.”
It added that the Kingdom renews its call to the rest of the countries that have not yet recognized a Palestinian state to take similar steps in doing so.
Saudi Arabia has repeatedly called for the creation of an independent state for the Palestinians.
Around 142 countries now support Palestinian statehood, according to an AFP tally.
The ministry statement urged all countries to adopt serious stances in support of peace and the rights of the Palestinian people.
Israel is currently conducting a devastating military campaign in Gaza and has been accused of using starvation as a war tactic.
An Israeli-backed organization distributing aid had been accused of shooting unarmed civilians trying to get food.
The UN said 875 people had been killed within the preceding six weeks near the aid sites created by Israel.
Peace negotiations to end the war and exchange prisoners and hostages appeared to have collapsed on Thursday night after US President Donald Trump recalled his negotiators.
US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff said: “We will now consider alternative options to bring the hostages home and try to create a more stable environment for the people of Gaza.”
Hamas said they were surprised by Witkoff’s comments but would be willing to continue negotiations.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi team wins 4 medals at 2025 International Physics Olympiad
July 25, 2025
PARIS: Saudi Arabia's National Physics Team won four medals at the 55th International Physics Olympiad held in Paris from July 17 to 25, the Saudi Press Agency reported Friday.
Mazen Al-Shakhs won a silver medal while students Hussein Al-Saleh, Mohammed Al-Arfaj, and Ali Al-Hassan collectively earned three bronze medals.
The latest medal haul has raised the Kingdom's total tally in this international competition to seven silver medals, 23 bronze medals, and 22 certificates of appreciation.
This year's competition saw 425 students from 85 countries competing.
Saudi Arabia’s achievement culminates the intensive training provided to the students by the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba), in strategic partnership with the Ministry of Education, and with support from exclusive sponsor Saudi Aramco.
The IPHO is an annual competition for high school students, with each national delegation allowed up to five student competitors plus two leaders.
Like in other Olympiads, member countries take turns hosting the competition. It was first held in Warsaw, Poland in 1967. Last year, it was held in Isfahan, Iran. In 2026, the host will be Bucaramanga, Colombia.
In the event's 58-year history, China has emerged as the most dominant, with Russia, South Korea, Taiwan and United States completing the top 5.
Source: arabnews.com
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How AI speech-to-text technology is tuning in to a digital Saudi Arabia
July 25, 2025
DHAHRAN: In a world racing toward automation, KlemenSimonic believes the most natural interface is also the most enduring: the human voice.
As founder and CEO of Soniox — a cutting-edge speech-to-text platform — Simonic is betting that voice-powered technology will drive the next wave of digital innovation.
And in a country like Saudi Arabia, where smartphones dominate daily life and a young population is hungry for digital solutions, the potential is hard to ignore.
Soniox, which Simonic launched five years ago, offers speech recognition, transcription and real-time multilingual translation in more than 60 languages.
Unlike many competitors, it delivers ultra-fast, token-level outputs in milliseconds — a critical advantage for live assistants, wearables, bots and smart speakers.
But Simonic’s journey toward building the company began long before the rise of generative AI.
“I started in programming development right after high school, and I was invited to join the Jozef Stefan Institute in Slovenia, one of the best institutes in this part of Europe,” he told Arab News.
“I was working there with Ph.D. students and postdocs on machine learning, natural language processing, dependency parsing, tokenization, tagging and entity extraction.”
That early exposure led him to two internships at Stanford University in 2009 and 2011, where he worked alongside top researchers in AI. “I wanted to join Google to work on these cool things,” he said.
After an internship there in 2014, Simonic was courted by both Google and Facebook — ultimately joining the latter in 2015 to help build speech recognition systems now used across Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.
Today, his company is focused entirely on voice AI, and its promise goes beyond convenience.
With privacy and compliance built in — including SOC 2 Type II certification and HIPAA readiness — Soniox is already being used in hospitals, call centers and emergency rooms where clear, accurate transcription can be a life-saving tool.
“We have many healthcare customers using our API in emergency rooms where real-time AI interpretation can bridge communication gaps that human translators sometimes cannot, especially with complex medical terminology,” said Simonic.
Saudi Arabia represents a particularly compelling market for the company’s ambitions. With more than 90 percent smartphone penetration and a population where 70 percent of people are aged under 35, the Kingdom is fertile ground for voice-enabled technologies.
The widespread adoption of government-developed platforms like Tawakkalna during the COVID-19 pandemic only accelerated the Kingdom’s reliance on mobile-first services.
“Data and artificial intelligence contribute to achieving Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030; this is because, out of 96, 66 of the direct and indirect goals of the vision are related to data and AI,” according to the Saudi Data & AI Authority.
The Kingdom’s communications and IT sector is now worth more than $44 billion — 4.1 percent of gross domestic product — and expanding quickly with strategic investments in cloud computing, automation and smart infrastructure.
Although Soniox does not yet have a team on the ground in the region, the company sees significant interest from Saudi organizations exploring AI-powered transcription and customer service tools.
Simonic said there are pilot programs in countries like Portugal and interest from companies in Saudi Arabia looking to improve call center and transcription services.
And while Arabic remains one of the more complex languages for voice AI, Simonic sees both the challenge and the opportunity. Many of Saudi Arabia’s rural communities speak dialects rich in cultural nuance — languages that are often excluded from mainstream datasets.
This environment offers fertile ground for Soniox’s technology, which strives to “enable all languages, so everyone in the world can speak and be understood by AI.”
Simonic’s team, primarily based in Slovenia, is committed to expanding language support to make the technology more inclusive, even in markets where none of the developers speak the local tongue.
Soniox is also designed with flexibility in mind. Businesses can integrate its API without storing any audio or transcripts, ensuring tight data control. For individual users, features like encrypted transcripts and a summarizing tool enhance productivity — even for the tech-averse.
“My mom is not very tech-savvy, but she uses our app to build her grocery shopping list,” Simonic said. “That was not the original purpose, but it shows how technology can evolve in ways we didn’t expect.”
In July, Soniox launched a new comparison tool that allows developers and businesses to benchmark different speech AI providers using their own voice samples and real-world data.
It is another step toward transparency and broader adoption — especially in regions like the Gulf, where choosing the right solution can hinge on performance in diverse linguistic contexts.
“The tech morphs, but the human voice remains the most intimate and effective way we communicate,” Simonic said.
As Saudi Arabia pushes forward with its digital transformation under Vision 2030, technologies like Soniox may find their voice amplified — not just as a tool for productivity, but also as a bridge between language, innovation and access in a rapidly changing world.
Source:arabnews.com
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Muslim World League chief meets Afghan ministers in Kabul
July 24, 2025
KABUL: Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, secretary-general of the Muslim World League and chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars, conducted high-level meetings with senior Afghan officials during his visit to Kabul.
Al-Issa met Afghan Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi. Discussions centered on strengthening solidarity and promoting Islamic values worldwide. Key topics included the imperative to present Islam’s true character through its principles of justice, rights protection, moderation and universal compassion.
The officials emphasized that religious tolerance, as outlined in the Qur’an, Sunnah and prophetic traditions, must be reflected in Muslim conduct at both individual and community levels.
The dialogue addressed contemporary challenges facing these objectives, particularly conflicting scholarly interpretations on critical issues that should unite the Muslim community.
Officials referenced the significance of the “Makkah Document” and the “Document for Building Bridges Between Islamic Schools of Thought,” while highlighting the crucial role of the league’s Islamic Fiqh Council as the premier jurisprudential body serving the Islamic nation’s muftis and senior scholars.
The meeting stressed the importance of promoting religious awareness through wisdom and sound guidance, while preventing those who exploit such discrepancies — whether deliberately or through ignorance — from damaging Islam’s image and fueling Islamophobic sentiments.
Al-Issa commended the Afghan government’s counter-terrorism efforts during the talks.
In a separate meeting, Al-Issa held discussions with Afghan Interior Minister Khalifa Sirajuddin Haqqani, focusing specifically on Afghanistan’s fight against terrorist organizations.
Both officials underscored that Islamic unity carries profound significance, while division and discord threaten Muslim solidarity and tarnish Islam’s reputation. They agreed that such damage far outweighs any perceived benefits some scholars might identify in jurisprudential matters that rank below this paramount Islamic goal, adhering to the established principles of weighing benefits against potential harm recognized across all Islamic schools of thought.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudis make electronic chips at KACST
July 24, 2025
RIYADH: King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology has designed and produced 25 advanced electronic chips which had been developed in laboratories by Saudis for training, research, and development purposes. The achievement is part of the establishment’s efforts to support and empower the semiconductor ecosystem in the Kingdom.
The chips are distinguished by their potential applications in various fields, such as electronics, wireless and high-frequency communications, integrated circuits, energy-efficient lighting, and miniaturized sensing systems, in addition to industrial and research applications in measurement and testing.
The design of the chips involved researchers from the national laboratory, along with a number of students from four Saudi universities. It formed part of the initiatives integral to the Saudi Semiconductors Program, which aims to qualify national talents in this vital field.
Source: arabnews.com
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Is it a bird, is it a plane? No — it’s a Saudi aviation athlete
July 24, 2025
RIYADH: Most people live their lives on the ground, but Faisal Al-Olayan chose the sky.
The Saudi aviation athlete, this week’s guest on The Mayman Show, is an aerospace engineer, pilot, skydiver and a member of the Kingdom’s national paragliding team. Most of us travel, but he chases storms, soars above mountains and dives into clouds in ways most of us only dream about.
From experiencing rain that “almost stops the heart” mid-flight to emotional moments when he completed his wingsuit training in Russia, Al-Olayan lives life one adrenaline rush at a time. His story is not so much about escaping gravity, as about finding freedom within it.
“I started having fun in flying because my mom, when I was young, she was telling me (I was) half bird. And when I started with this mentality, I started to do all of my activities in the sky. I started from graduating with sports until I am here with the national team,” said Al-Olayan.
He began paramotoring in 2019, a form of ultralight aviation using a paraglider wing and a motor worn as a backpack.
“I started to train (in) paramotoring here in Riyadh,” he recalled. “A paramotor is basically a parachute, but you have an engine (on) your back and you can foot-launch from anywhere.”
He then planned to do his pilot training in the US, but the global pandemic and resulting lockdowns put paid to that.
Al-Olayan loves to travel and has visited 67 countries to date.
“I started to take my paraglider with me to fly from mountains, I was getting more experience with this sport as a paraglider. And this is what makes me continue in all of those aerial sports,” he said.
His role as an aerospace engineer also plays a big part in his experiences in the air.
“If you want to start to fly, you have to know aerodynamics … you have to know how the wind (is) flying and all of those things,” he explained.
It also helped him become a fast learner and understand what was happening when he flew.
“There are two kinds of pilots. There is an experienced one and there is (an) experience and no physics one … it’s like driving … you know how to drive the car, but you don’t know anything about the car, you don’t know about the engine,” he said.
Al-Olayan added that was what made him fall in love with paramotoring and other sports.
“I even built my own paramotor. I was designing it, everything with my specifications and things like that,” he said. “And all of that happened when I studied at KFUPM (King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals) in Dhahran.”
For five years, he did nothing but study until he obtained his degree in aerospace engineering. After that, he started taking part in competitions, doing well enough to earn his place in Saudi Arabia’s national paragliding team, run by the Saudi Paragliding Federation.
“Shaheen (is) the name of the paragliding organization. And that was like … a new chapter for me because to compete is something — you’re holding your name — but now you compete with the Saudi name … bringing your flag and your clothes, and everyone is seeing you as a Saudi athlete,” he explained.
“It’s not like Faisal, the old one, is coming to compete. In the competitions that I was in, (I) was less nervous and less pressured. But when I was going with the national team, it was much, much more pressure. But for me, I enjoyed it a lot because it was more exciting.”
Source: arabnews.com
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Sands Sports Park playing key role in improving quality of life in Riyadh
July 24, 2025
RIYADH: The capital’s Sands Sports Park is one of the flagship components of the Sports Boulevard project, combining the natural beauty of the desert with a range of sporting facilities.
Located southeast of King Khalid International Airport, the park is designed to enhance residents’ quality of life, inspiring them to exercise and enjoy nature, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.
The facility opened earlier this year and is a significant addition to the Kingdom’s growing network of sporting and entertainment offerings.
The park stretches across a vast expanse of sand dunes and features more than 45 km of multi-use trails, making it the longest open-air project dedicated to outdoor activities in the Kingdom.
Sands Sports Park was designed with local heritage in mind, and features sculptures of the Najdi rose at the convergence of several trails.
Several specialized trails offer different activities including cycling, mountain biking, running, walking, hiking and horseback riding.
In its construction, more than 350,000 sq. meters of sand dunes were rehabilitated with facilities integrated into the terrain to preserve the natural ecosystem, demonstrating dedication to sustainability and mindful urban development.
The park is also equipped to host major cycling competitions and endurance races, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s presence on the global map of sports and eco-tourism, aligning with the rising international interest in outdoor and sustainable experiences.
As a symbol of Riyadh’s dynamic transformation, the park merges modern vision with cultural authenticity, aligning with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, the SPA reported.
By expanding access to safe, inclusive, and sustainable recreation, the park plays a key role in shaping a more vibrant, livable capital and encouraging a deeper connection between people and nature.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi scouts join 16th World Scout Moot in Portugal
July 24, 2025
JEDDAH: The Saudi Arabian Boy Scouts Association is participating in the 16th World Scout Moot, taking place in Portugal from July 25 to Aug. 3.
The global event has drawn more than 6,000 Rover Scouts from around the world, and officially opened in the capital, Lisbon. It marks Saudi Arabia’s continued engagement in international scouting initiatives aimed at fostering global citizenship and cross-cultural understanding.
As part of the program, participants embark on an exploratory journey across various regions of Portugal under the “Paths” initiative, designed to immerse young scouts in the country’s diverse landscapes and heritage.
The delegation then proceeds to the main camp in Bucaco, near Porto, where they will spend five days engaged in activities focused on cultural exchange, environmental awareness, and traditional Portuguese practices.
Mubarak bin Awad Al-Dosari, the Saudi Scouts media officer, told Arab News: “A total of 93 Saudi participants are taking part in the event, including 72 rovers, both male and female from various sectors of the association, 17 members of the International Service Team, and an administrative team composed of 4 individuals.”
He added: “Activities include workshops, exploratory hiking trips, visits to landmarks in several Portuguese cities, and programs designed to foster networking and friendship-building.
“The Saudi delegation will also take part in the International Day for Cultural Exchange, showcasing traditional foods, clothing, jewelry, and serving Saudi coffee.”
Al-Dosari emphasized the significance of the moot: “This event is an opportunity to gain more scouting experience, build new friendships and relationships with scouts from around the world, and to promote and introduce Saudi culture to others.
“It also allows participants to learn about other cultures and benefit from workshops focused on skill development and personal growth,” he said.
The main camp features skill-building workshops, intercultural dialogue sessions, and an International Day, where each participating delegation showcases its national identity and customs. The event will conclude with a closing ceremony in the city of Porto.
SABSA said its participation is part of broader efforts to enhance leadership skills among Saudi youth, while promoting dialogue, understanding, and international cooperation.
The World Scout Moot is organized every four years and is open to young people aged 18 to 25. Individuals over the age of 26 are eligible to participate as members of the International Service Team.
The association emphasized that international engagement is a key pillar in its mission to equip young Saudis with the tools needed to thrive as active, globally minded citizens.
Source: arabnews.com
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Deputy minister of human resources says Saudi reforms boost women’s economic participation
July 24, 2025
RIYADH: Dr. Tariq Alhamad, Saudi Arabia’s deputy minister for international affairs at the ministry of human resources and social development, outlined how reforms under Vision 2030 are helping to remove barriers to women’s participation in economic and social life during the official review of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 5 on Gender Equality.
“Vision 2030 is more than a set of goals,” he said. “It brings government, civil society, and the private sector into shared delivery,” he said at the 2025 UN High-Level Political Forum in New York City on Tuesday.
“We’ve focused not only on policy, but on the support systems women need to participate fully — whether that’s jobs, childcare or reliable transport.
“There’s more to do, but we’ve made real progress, and we’re determined to build on it,” Alhamad said.
He described Vision 2030 as a national framework that aligns closely with the SDGs and provides the basis for long-term reform.
The deputy minister noted that female workforce participation reached 36.3 percent in the first quarter of 2025, up from 19.7 percent in 2018. Initiatives such as Qurrah, which has supported more than 40,000 women with childcare, and Wusool, which has helped more than 300,000 women with transport to and from work, have been key to this shift.
Maternity leave has been extended to 12 weeks with full pay, and close to 1.3 million women are now working freelance.
“Change doesn’t happen in isolation,” Alhamad said. “It needs institutions that can partner, systems that allow for transparency, and frameworks that reflect our national priorities while staying aligned with global standards.”
HRSD has introduced new legal frameworks for volunteering, donations and non-profit work. Alongside the National Center for Non-Profit Sector, the ministry is helping to expand the role of civil society in service delivery and innovation.
Initiatives such as the National Volunteer Portal and the Ehsan platform are making it easier for citizens to participate, while helping institutions track and improve impact.
The ministry is working to contribute to several SDGs, including Gender Equality (SDG 5), Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), Reduced Inequality (SDG 10), Strong Institutions (SDG 16), and Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17).
Dr. Tariq also spoke about the value of international partnerships, highlighting HRSD’s collaboration with the International Labour Organization and the World Bank, both part of the broader UN system. These relationships, he said, help ensure that national reforms meet international standards while staying rooted in local realities.
“Vision 2030 and the 2030 Agenda were launched the same year. They’re not the same, but they speak to many of the same goals,” he said.
“For us, the SDGs are not abstract. They’re reflected in the way we build institutions, form partnerships, and serve our communities.”
The minister of economy and planning, Faisal Al-Ibrahim, delivered the Kingdom’s address at the UN High-Level Political Forum in New York City.
Source: arabnews.com
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Africa
Nigeria heart of EU–Africa relations — EU
July 25, 2025
By Dalhatu Liman
The European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr. Gautier Mignot, said Nigeria remained central to the EU’s engagement with Africa, describing the country as “a priority for enhanced partnership” under the Global Gateway Investment Strategy.
He described Nigeria’s evolving foreign policy — anchored on democracy, development, demography and national optimism — as a strategic response to global instability and disinformation.
He made the remarks during his keynote address at the Diplomatic/Security International Conference held at the ministry of foreign affairs premises in Abuja.
The conference was organised by the Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DICAN) with participants drawn from diplomatic missions, security institutions and the media.
The conference brought together diplomats, media professionals, and security experts, reinforcing the synergy between diplomacy, intelligence, and communication in confronting modern threats to global stability.
Mignot said Nigeria’s “4D diplomacy” reflects a refined balance of values, policy goals and demographic dynamics, calling it “a mix of assets and challenges” that positions the country for global relevance.
Nigeria’s 4Ds Foreign Policy Strategy — Democracy, Development, Demography, and Diaspora — is a strategic framework introduced under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and championed by Foreign Minister Yusuf MaitamaTuggar.
The ambassador stressed that, “In the darkness, we need compasses, we need lighthouses. And this is what media and what diplomacy must be.
“It is even more important to explain clearly what your diplomacy stands for—and this is what Nigeria has managed to encapsulate very elegantly within its 4D diplomacy,” the ambassador said.
He explained that the four pillars of democracy, development, demography and euphoria offer both strengths and hurdles, especially in terms of delivering services and shaping foreign perception.
Turning to the EU’s foreign relations model, Mignot said Europe’s diplomacy focuses on peaceful cooperation, respect for sovereignty, and advancing the common good.
“Our diplomacy is not about rivalry or threat. It is about negotiation, shared prosperity and promoting a rule-based global order.”
He outlined the European Union’s current strategic framework, including a triple transition: green, digital and inclusive. According to him, these transitions aim to ensure that innovation, particularly in artificial intelligence and technology, benefits all societies.
“The digital transition should serve all human beings—not just the few owners of big tech companies,” he said.
He disclosed that projects such as OMIECO—Lagos’ Future Electric Maritime Transport System—and the rollout of 90,000 kilometres of optic fibre are already in motion.
He also noted ongoing interventions in renewable energy, agriculture, health and digital infrastructure.
Mignot reaffirmed the EU’s support for democratic governance, gender equality and human rights, saying these commitments are aligned with Nigeria’s role in regional peacebuilding and institutional reform.
On the challenge of disinformation, he warned that “rogue players” are leveraging false narratives to destabilise governments and societies.
He said the EU has intensified efforts to counter misinformation through fact-checking, media literacy and civil society partnerships.
“Winning the battle of information is critical to preserving democratic values. And you, diplomatic correspondents and journalists, have a vital role to play.”
He assured Nigerian stakeholders that the EU would remain a dependable partner and uphold its commitment to shared goals and values.
Disinformation major threat to diplomacy – Tuggar
While addressing the gathering, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf MaitamaTuggar, warned that “strategic misperceptions, deepfakes, and hostile narratives” pose increasing threats to diplomatic engagement globally.
He called for stronger collaboration between diplomats, intelligence agencies, and the media to counter these challenges.
Tuggar said Nigeria’s response to rising geopolitical instability has been encapsulated in the country’s 4Ds Foreign Policy Strategy — Democracy, Development, Demography, and Diaspora.
“Our embrace of democratic norms is a signal of stability and credibility in international engagements,” he said, adding that diplomacy must drive economic growth through trade and partnerships.
He described Nigeria’s youthful population and its global diaspora as strategic assets, noting efforts to harness both for international policy, investment, and peacebuilding.
“Nigeria stands ready to work with all who share these ideals,” the minister said.
Disinformation poses threat to Nigeria’s security – IGP
Also speaking, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, KabiruAbdullahi, who represented the Inspector General of Police, warned that disinformation remains a major threat to Nigeria’s internal security.
“We are solely concerned with internal security. And internal security has a very devastating nature of relationship with information and disinformation.”
He noted that false reports from outside the country could negatively affect domestic peace, stressing the role of accurate journalism in national stability. “Credible journalism is very important at this crucial stage in our life,” he added.
DCP Abdullahi highlighted regional challenges facing the country, citing military activities in the North, crime in the South, and insurgency in the Northeast.
“What is happening thousands of miles away can have a devastating impact. The importance of credible information is very, very crucial,” he said.
Source: arabnews.com
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Human Rights Watch call on Niger's Junta to release former President, Mohamed Bazoum
July 24, 2025
Human Rights Watch is calling on Niger’s military junta to release former president Mohamed Bazoum, who has been detained since his government was overthrown in a coup in July 2023. Bazoum has remained under house arrest in the presidential palace for two years without trial.
The rights group says Bazoum’s detention is arbitrary and a clear violation of the rule of law. It accuses the junta of suppressing due process and ignoring international legal standards.
Following the coup, Niger’s new military rulers announced plans to try Bazoum on charges of plotting against state security and treason. If convicted, he could face the death penalty. In June 2024, a state court established by the junta lifted his presidential immunity, paving the way for prosecution. However, no formal case has been initiated to date.
Bazoum’s legal team has sought support from international institutions, including the United Nations and the Economic Community of West African States. Although Niger has since withdrawn from ECOWAS, both bodies have echoed Human Rights Watch’s concerns and have demanded Bazoum’s immediate release.
Calls for his freedom continue to grow as rights groups and legal experts question the legitimacy of his prolonged detention without trial.
Source: africanews.com
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NentaweYilwatda Emerges APC National Chairman
July 24, 2025
By Rachel OkporuFadoju
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, NentaweGoshweYilwatda, has emerged as the new National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Naija News reports that this development puts to rest the intense speculation over who will replace the immediate past national chairman, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who resigned from the position due to health reasons.
Yilwatda’s emergence was formally announced on Thursday during the national executive council (NEC) meeting of the APC, held at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja, where party leaders gathered to chart a new direction ahead of the 2027 general election.
Confirming the appointment, Special Adviser, Media & Public Communication/Spokesperson to President Bola Tinubu, Sunday Dare, in a post via X, stated that Yilwatda was immediately sworn into office.
He wrote, “APC GETS NEW CHAIRMAN IN PROFESSOR NENTAWE GOSHWE YILWATDA. TAKES OATH OF OFFICE IMMEDIATELY.
“Former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction. Professor NentaweGoshweYilwatda is a distinguished academic, a visionary leader, and a passionate advocate for humanitarian and poverty reduction initiatives. Born on August 8, 1968, in Dungung, Kanke Local Government Area, he hails from a lineage of service, being the son of the Late Rev. TomaYilwatda.”
Source:naijanews.com
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Russia expands military footprint in Sahel with shift from Wagner to state-controlled Africa Corps
July 24, 2025
By RédactionAfricanews
A new report from the Timbuktu Institute sheds light on Russia’s latest move in the Sahel. The transition from the shadowy Wagner Group to a new, state-run force called Africa Corps marks what analysts describe as an unprecedented strategy to expand Russian influence in the region.
After more than three years in Mali, Wagner forces officially withdrew on June 6, 2025. The next day, Russia’s Ministry of Defense announced the deployment of Africa Corps, a new paramilitary force operating within a formal government framework.
In its report titled “Russian Repositioning in the Sahel – From Wagner to Africa Corps,” the Timbuktu Institute says this move directly strengthens Russia’s military and diplomatic footprint in countries like Mali.
Unlike Wagner, Africa Corps is fully controlled by the Russian state and tied to military intelligence. The report calls this the end of "plausible deniability."
It also warns that Africa Corps inherits Wagner’s troubling legacy, which includes allegations of extrajudicial killings and torture, such as the massacre in Moura in 2022.
Source: africanews.com
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https://www.africanews.com/2025/07/24/russia-expands-military-footprint-in-sahel-with-shift-from-wagner-to-state-controlled-afri/
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Togo protests erupt after Constitutional changes extend Faure Gnassingbé’s grip on power
July 24, 2025
Protests are set to continue in Togo this Friday, following the government's adoption of a new constitution that allows long-time leader Faure Gnassingbé to remain in power indefinitely, now in the role of prime minister. At least five demonstrators have died in recent weeks during confrontations with security forces in the capital, Lomé.
The new constitutional framework, introduced in early 2024 without a public referendum, transfers all executive authority to the prime minister and reduces the presidency to a ceremonial role. Faure Gnassingbé, who has ruled since 2005, was officially installed as prime minister in May. The new president, 86-year-old Jean-Lucien Savi de Tové, was selected by the legislature.
Critics say the changes allow Gnassingbé to retain control without facing future elections. The Union pour la République (Unir) party, which dominates the national assembly, remains firmly in power due to electoral boundaries that favor its northern support base.
Protests have largely been led by young people, artists, and online activists, rather than the traditional opposition, which performed poorly in recent local elections. Government officials maintain the election was fair and argue that demonstrations must remain lawful.
Opposition groups and activists continue to call for reform and transparency.
Source: africanews.com
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https://www.africanews.com/2025/07/24/togo-protests-erupt-after-constitutional-changes-extend-faure-gnassingbes-grip-on-power/
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Southeast Asia
Measures should be made for prisoners to return to normal life: Khalid
July 24, 2025
DHAKA, July 24, 2025 (BSS) - Religious Affairs Adviser Dr. A. F. M. Khalid Hossain today underscored the need for taking initiatives to ensure that the prisoners who are part of society do not get involved in crime again after being released from prisons.
“They should have a chance to correct themselves. Arrangements should be made in prisons so that prisoners can return to normal life,” he told reporters after visiting Dhaka Central Jail today.
The adviser said religious and moral education is being conducted by the Islamic Foundation in this prison.
Here, a teacher from the Islamic Foundation teaches Islamic religious education to prisoners and detainees and some of the prisoners are also involved in this work.
“We will appoint more religious teachers in this prison as per the demand of the prison authorities. We will also appoint religious teachers for the Hindu community detainees and prisoners imprisoned here,” he said.
Khalid said due to the security of the prison and some strategic reasons, it is not possible to build a mosque, temple or any other religious institutions inside the prison.
The prison authorities have been requested to take measures so that the prisoners can practice their religion and worship in each ward, he said, adding for this, the necessary materials including prayer mats, carpets and religious books will be provided by the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
The adviser visited the central maktab, hifz branch, library, meditation and physical exercise center, computer training center, kitchen, various technical branches, wards and cells of the prison and spoke to the detainees and prisoners.
He promised to provide religious books and papers from the Islamic Foundation to Dhaka Central Jail as soon as possible.
Islamic Foundation started a prison maktab in Dhaka Central Jail since September 2018. Currently, twelve maktabs are operating in this prison.
As of June 30, 8,222 prisoners have learned Arabic and 2,470 prisoners have learned the Quran from these maktabs. So far, the Quran has been completed 2,500 times.
During the prison inspection, Islamic Foundation Director General A. Salam Khan, IG (Prison) Syed Md. Motaher Hossain, AIG (Prison) Jahangir Kabir and Senior Jail Superintendent Suraiya Akhter were present, among others.
Source:bssnews.net
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https://www.bssnews.net/news/295488
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Another student dies from injuries in Milestone plane crash
July 25, 2025
Another student who suffered severe burns in the Bangladesh Air Force training jet crash at Milestone School and College in Dhaka's Uttara has died while undergoing treatment.
Ten-year-old Ayman passed away around 9:30am today at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, said Dr ShawonBin Rahman, a resident surgeon at the institute.
"He had suffered 45 percent burns on his body, including his airways. He was in critical condition and had been kept in the intensive care unit," the doctor told The Daily Star.
With Ayman's death, the death toll from the jet crash now stands at 14 at the burn institute.
Source: thedailystar.net
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Fakhrul calls for exemplary punishment of ex-CJ Khairul
July 25, 2025
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has demanded exemplary punishment for former Chief Justice ABM KhairulHaque, holding him directly responsible for the gravest political and constitutional crises in Bangladesh's history.
Thanking the government for detaining him, even if belatedly, Fakhrul said Khairul caused great harm to the country by misusing his position.
"He should be given exemplary punishment so that no one can dare to harm the country being in such a position in the future," Fakhrul told reporters outside the BNP Chairperson's Gulshan office yesterday.
"He was in a position to determine the fate of Bangladesh, and from that position, former Chief Justice KhairulHaque cheated the people, he cheated the state," he added.
Fakhrul said his party hopes a proper investigation will be carried out on all matters and that KhairulHaque's trial will be conducted fairly.
Detective Branch officials detained KhairulHaque from a house in Dhaka's Dhanmondi area yesterday morning. Khairul served as the 19th chief justice of Bangladesh.
Responding to a question, Fakhrul said, "His short verdict and the full version were so drastically different -- like sky and earth. This was not a judicial decision; it was a political manoeuvre."
The BNP leader said the judiciary is supposed to be the institution people trust the most. "But he destroyed that trust because of his political mindset, which caused major damage to the country," he said.
Fakhrul also commented on reports about plans to demolish the Shishu Academy building opposite Curzon Hall, next to the High Court.
"We oppose this," he said, noting that BNP founder and President Ziaur Rahman took the initiative to construct the Shishu Academy and was the first to establish it.
"I believe relocating this institution from its current location would be a completely wrong decision. Our position on this matter is clear -- we do not want the Shishu Academy building to be moved from that area or replaced with another location," Fakhrul said.
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/politics/news/fakhrul-calls-exemplary-punishment-ex-cj-khairul-3947051
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List killings by the AL, its affiliates, state forces: Yunus
July 25, 2025
Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has asked the relevant authorities to prepare a list of victims killed in attacks by Awami League and its affiliated groups and state forces acting on the then government orders in the 15 years leading up to the July 24 mass uprising.
The instruction came during yesterday's meeting at the state guesthouse Jamuna, where the family of slain BUET student Abrar Fahad met the chief adviser. Abrar's father Mohammad Barkat Ullah, his younger brother AbrarFayaz, and uncle Mohammad Mofazzal Hossain were present.
The family requested probes into all political killings allegedly carried out by the then ruling party-backed groups before the uprising.
Abrar's father also urged the government to take initiatives to expedite the trial of the Abrar murder case.
"My son was brutally beaten to death by political thugs for speaking out for the country," said the father. "He raised his voice against unequal water-sharing deals.
"His mother still mourns her son every day. No other mother should have to endure such a loss. No mothers should lose their children this way."
He also appealed to the chief adviser to take steps to build a long-demanded bridge over the Gorai river in Kushtia, saying that some 30,000 people are suffering due to the absence of a bridge.
AbrarFayaz, a third-year student at BUET, urged the government to make educational institutions more student-friendly.
"Our campuses still lack essential labs, equipment, and resources for learning. We have high hopes for the interim government," said Fayaz. "We want it to take effective steps to make educational institutions more supportive of students."
He also called on the authorities to take strict measures against ragging at BUET.
"This was not the first incident of abuse at BUET," he said. "There have been others. Those cases also need to be investigated and justice delivered."
Yunus said the brutal killing of Abrar had shocked the entire nation.
"The perpetrators will be brought to justice. Each killing carried out by party-affiliated groups before the July 24 uprising will be investigated, as will those executed using state forces on government orders. The government has already begun taking action."
Abrar, a second-year student, was beaten to death on October 6, 2019, at Sher-e-Bangla Hall by leaders and activists of the BUET unit of Chhatra League, now a banned organisation.
The incident triggered nationwide protests and outrage, prompting the university to ban all forms of student politics on campus.
On December 8, 2021, a Dhaka court sentenced the accused. On March 16 this year, the High Court upheld the trial court verdict sentencing 20 BUET students to death and five others to life imprisonment.
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/list-killings-the-al-its-affiliates-state-forces-yunus-3947066
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Frankfurt University Researcher: Deportation to Afghanistan Lack Legal Credibility
July 25, 2025
By Fidel Rahmati
Nicole Deitelhoff, a peace and conflict researcher from the University of Frankfurt, criticized Germany’s Afghanistan policy, saying deportations undermine legal and humanitarian credibility.
Germany’s latest deportation flight to Afghanistan has sparked widespread criticism, particularly from peace and conflict researchers and human rights advocates. On July 18, a plane carrying 81 Afghan men with failed asylum claims and criminal records departed from Leipzig to Kabul. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt praised the move, calling it a fulfillment of the coalition government’s promise to begin deporting criminals and dangerous individuals to Afghanistan and Syria.
The policy has been described as part of a broader “repatriation offensive,” which aims to increase pressure on countries to accept the return of their citizens. However, this initiative comes at a sensitive time, as Germany does not officially recognize the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan. Despite this, two Taliban-affiliated representatives are now being stationed at the Afghanistan embassy in Berlin to facilitate future deportations—an unprecedented step for a regime that Germany refuses to acknowledge diplomatically.
The Taliban returned to power in August 2021 following the withdrawal of international troops, triggering a deep humanitarian crisis. Girls and women have since faced systematic repression under the regime. Currently, over 377,000 people of Afghan origin live in Germany, with nearly 11,500 listed as “required to leave” by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF). However, the agency has not clarified how many of them pose criminal or security threats.
While German officials insist that serious offenders have no right to stay, critics argue that deporting individuals to a country with ongoing human rights abuses violates international legal standards. Government spokesman Stefan Kornelius stated that the deportation process would continue and acknowledged Qatar’s role as a mediator in facilitating communication with Afghanistan’s de facto authorities—without formally recognizing them.
Peace and conflict researcher Nicole Deitelhoff of Frankfurt University has strongly condemned the German government’s actions. Writing in Tagesspiegel, she warned that deporting individuals to regions where they risk torture or inhumane treatment undermines Germany’s legal and moral credibility. She argued that such policies contradict the country’s humanitarian commitments and could damage its international reputation.
Deitelhoff also criticized the government for ending its special admission program for former Afghan aides who supported the German military mission. “Who can trust a country that promises safety to its civilian allies, only to abandon them when it matters most?” she asked, underscoring the perceived breach of moral responsibility.
Germany’s recent deportation efforts reveal a growing tension between political expediency and human rights obligations. While authorities frame the policy as a security measure, legal experts and humanitarian voices argue that it risks eroding the country’s global standing.
As geopolitical dynamics shift and countries like Russia formally recognize the Taliban, Germany’s approach to Afghanistan remains fraught with contradiction. Without consistent ethical leadership, critics warn, policies rooted in fear rather than justice could define the future of German asylum and migration strategy.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/frankfurt-university-researcher-deportation-to-afghanistan-lack-legal-credibility/
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Afghanistan to Send 2,000 Job Seekers to Qatar
July 25, 2025
Afghanistan to Send 2,000 Job Seekers to Qatar
By Fidel Rahmati
Afghanistan announced the planned deployment of 2,000 job seekers to Qatar, offering legal employment opportunities amid rising unemployment and returning refugees.
The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of the Taliban administration has announced that Qatar has allocated an additional 1,300 job opportunities for Afghan workers. In total, 2,000 Afghan laborers are set to be deployed to Qatar in the coming phases.
In a statement released on Wednesday, July 23, the ministry stated on its official X account that this marks the beginning of a broader program for the legal deployment of Afghan workers abroad. The number of job opportunities is expected to increase significantly in the future.
According to the ministry, necessary coordination between Kabul and Qatari officials has already taken place, and the labor deployment will be implemented in stages.
The ministry also noted that registration requirements and designated centers for applicants will be announced soon. Afghan citizens interested in applying will need to meet specific criteria, which will be shared publicly in the coming days.
Afghanistan is facing a dire humanitarian crisis marked by widespread poverty, food insecurity, and collapsing public services. The situation has been further strained by the mass return of Afghan refugees from neighboring countries, particularly Pakistan and Iran, where many had sought safety and work opportunities.
As thousands return home, Afghanistan struggles to absorb the influx amid a crippled economy and a severe lack of job opportunities. With limited employment prospects and few formal work programs, many returnees and local residents are left without means to support their families, deepening the cycle of poverty and instability across the country.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/afghanistan-to-send-2000-job-seekers-to-qatar/
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Southeast Asia
Six arrested over controversial Selangor ‘eHati’ event as JAIS probes false doctrine, insult to Islam
25 Jul 2025
SHAH ALAM, July 25 — The Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) has detained six individuals in connection with the controversial eHati marriage motivation programme held from Sept 27–30 last year at a convention centre here.
JAIS director Datuk MohdShahzihan Ahmad said the suspects, two men and four women aged between 26 and 47, were picked up in Shah Alam on July 18.
He said investigations were opened under Sections 7 (false doctrine), 8 (false claims), 10 (insulting Islam) and 16 (unauthorised religious publications) of the Syariah Criminal Offences (Selangor) Enactment 1995.
“The investigation was launched following suspicions that a ritual or ceremony contrary to Islamic teachings was held during the programme,” he said in a statement yesterday.
To date, JAIS has recorded statements from 38 witnesses and identified 282 participants whose statements will also be taken. Three books and three VCDs seized from the event have been submitted to the Selangor Mufti Department for review.
He said a comprehensive investigation into the programme’s full content and module is ongoing, and findings will be submitted to the Selangor Syariah Prosecution Department for further action.
On July 16, Selangor police chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan confirmed reports of nude scenes involving four women during a segment called ‘Queens Night’.
That same day, six individuals, including the husband-and-wife founders of the programme and their child, were remanded for three days to assist in a separate investigation into indecent behaviour and minor offences. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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‘Not to Land’: 198 foreigners barred at KLIA over shady travel plans
25 Jul 2025
SEPANG, July 25 — A total of 198 foreign nationals were denied entry at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminals 1 and 2 for failing to meet immigration requirements, including insufficient funds, lack of accommodation bookings and unclear travel purposes.
Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) director-general Datuk Seri MohdShuhailyMohd Zain said those barred entry will be deported under the ‘Not to Land’ (NTL) procedure, with airlines responsible for returning them to their countries of origin.
Of the total, 128 were intercepted at Terminal 1, comprising 123 Bangladeshis, two Pakistanis, two Indonesians, and one Syrian. The remaining 70 at Terminal 2 included 51 Indonesians, 13 Indians, four Pakistanis, and two Vietnamese nationals.
Shuhaily also revealed possible syndicate involvement, following the discovery of photos of AKPS officers on the phones of several detainees, believed to be used to help others evade enforcement.
“These images were likely shared by individuals previously deported. It’s a sign that syndicates are adapting to enforcement actions,” he said.
He warned that operations will continue to ensure Malaysia is not used as a transit hub for illegal entry. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Anwar welcomes Thai, Cambodian openness to truce amid rising hostilities
25 Jul 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, July 25 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has welcomed the positive signals and willingness shown by Bangkok and Phnom Penh to consider a ceasefire to prevent further hostilities along the borders between the two countries.
Anwar said he had spoken to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and acting Thai Prime Minister PhumthamWechayachai Thursday evening to express Malaysia’s concern over the escalation of tensions.
“In our conversations, in Malaysia’s capacity as ASEAN Chair for 2025, I appealed directly to both leaders for an immediate ceasefire to prevent further hostilities and to create space for peaceful dialogue and diplomatic resolution.
“I welcome the positive signals and willingness shown by both Bangkok and Phnom Penh to consider this path forward,” he said in a Facebook post.
The prime minister said Malaysia stands ready to assist and facilitate this process in the spirit of ASEAN unity and shared responsibility.
“I firmly believe that ASEAN’s strength lies in its solidarity and that peace must always be our collective and unwavering choice,” he said.
Thai and Cambodian troops reportedly clashed early Thursday in a disputed area along their shared border, with both sides accusing each other of initiating the latest confrontation.
Tensions between the two Southeast Asian neighbours have been rising since May 28, following a deadly border clash near the PreahVihear area that left one Cambodian soldier dead.
The two Southeast Asian neighbours have been disputing an 817-km undemarcated border for decades, which continues to sour diplomatic ties.
On Wednesday, the Thai government downgraded diplomatic relations with Cambodia in immediate retaliation after a Thai soldier was injured by what the government claimed was a newly planted landmine.
The Cambodian government reciprocated by lowering its diplomatic ties with Thailand to the lowest level on Thursday. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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‘Turun Anwar’ rally proof Perikatan lacks ideas, says Anwar aide
25 Jul 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, July 25 — The ‘Turun Anwar’ rally this Saturday is the culmination of PerikatanNasional (PN)’s mental block to present ideas as an alternative to the alleged accusation that the “government has failed to manage the economy”.
Political Secretary to Finance Minister Muhammad Kamil Abdul Munim said current figures and reports showed that the country’s economy is recovering and growing consistently, thus burying their baseless claims.
“Growth, inflation, unemployment rates, investment volumes are being demonised because of hatred and greed.
“This is clear evidence of how they have failed to argue and propose alternatives to the various good policies that we have translated,” said the AngkatanMudaKeadlilan (AMK) chief in a tweet on X yesterday.
He said while the country’s leaders are working hard to develop the country, the opposition has chosen the path of fighting, and even to this day they have failed to present a candidate to replace Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
However, Muhammad Kamil said the MADANI government upholds freedom, especially to assemble peacefully, while informing that the prime minister has given assurances that there will be no intimidation from the authorities.
“However, demonstrating just to hate Anwar Ibrahim physically shows how weak, shallow and inept their politics are in the face of our agility in translating the wishes and desires of the people now,” said Kamil. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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