Muslims Can Be at Shakha If They Chant ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ and Carry 'Bhagwa Jhanda': RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat
New Age Islam News Bureau
7 April 2025
RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat
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· Muslims Can Be atShakha If They Chant ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ and Carry 'Bhagwa Jhanda': RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat
· Indonesian Police Detain Members of Islamic Group"Declared Deviant" By The Indonesian Ulema Council
· Boko Haram Attack in Borno: Soldiers and Terrorists Killed In Fierce Battle
· Bangladesh Erupts in Protest Against Israel's Oppression of Palestinians
· Hamas Fires Rockets at Israeli Cities, Israel Issues Evacuation Orders in Gaza
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India
· Waqf Amendment Bill:Muslim Leaders and Intellectuals Appeal to Muslim MPs for Unity in Safeguarding Minority Rights
· Ram Navami; Interfaith Amity Marks North Processions, Hindus and Muslims Embrace Each Other Across North Bengal
· SC will strike down Waqf Amendment Act: P. Chidambaram
· After Waqf, BJP will take away land of Christians, Hindu temples: Thackeray
· Waqf Bill Protests Reach JNU, JMI and Hyderabad Campuses, Demonstrating Students Call It 'Infringement' On Muslims' Rights
· UAPA invoked against two Hindu men in Beed mosque blast case
· 300 get notices for black armband Waqf Bill protest in Muzaffarnagar
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Southeast Asia
· Special National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs Discussion to Review Fatwa On Israel’s Invasion of Gaza
· Petronas Gas actively evaluating impacts of Putra Heights fire incident
· Tackle issues effectively to avoid exploitation by irresponsible parties – PM Anwar
· KL police ramp up security for Asean finance ministers and central bank governors’ meeting
· Akmal Nasrullah to defend Johor Baru PKR branch chief post, unveils full leadership slate
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Africa
· Hungarian Mission Helps Besieged Christians in Nigeria After Islamist Attacks
· Army Arrest Top Commander of Notorious Islamic Sect with Weapons, Cash
· Lawmakers Are Not in The Senate to Fight the Executive Arm of Govt – Adaramodu Dismisses Rubber Stamp Claims
· Peter Obi Reacts as Police IG Withdraws Invite to Emir Sanusi Over Death During Eid-el-Fitr Celebrations
· ‘This Is an Insult’ – Wabara Blasts Tinubu, Shettima ‘For Leaving Nigeria Headless’
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South Asia
· Government Officials Assesses TAPI Project Progress in Herat Province
· Pakistan Defense Minister Calls Critics of Afghan Refugee Expulsion ‘Enemies Of Pakistan’
· UN urges continued donor support amid Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis
· Malnutrition threatens the lives of millions of Children in Afghanistan: WFP
· Iran’s Industry and Trade Minister to visit Afghanistan soon
· Germany may pause evacuations of at-risk Afghan allies
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Mideast
· UAE Foreign Minister Presses Palestinian Cause During Meeting with Israeli Counterpart
· Top Iranian general warns of 'crushing, irreversible' retaliation amid U.S. provocations
· France’s Macron Meets Egypt Leader for Gaza Talks
· Palestinian official says Israeli forces killed West Bank teen with US citizenship
· Moroccans protest Israel’s offensive in Gaza and take aim at Trump
· Gaza rescuers say Israeli strikes kill 44
· UNICEF forced to shut down malnutrition centers in Gaza amid worsening humanitarian crisis
· IAEA chief acknowledges Iran has no nuclear weapons, says will visit Tehran in coming weeks
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Arab World
· ‘At The Edge’: Art Week Riyadh Signals Bold New Chapter in Saudi Cultural Renaissance, Say Organizers
· A look at NEOM’s prehistoric masterpieces etched in stone
· RCRC warns public against intermediaries offering assistance in applying for land use in Riyadh
· The Saudi volunteer team that carries out emergency rescues in the Northern region
· Events at Ithra attract more than 100,000 in 3 days
· Baha exhibition highlights Saudi maritime legacy
· Education Ministry to showcase 134 inventions at Geneva exhibition
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Europe
· Le Pen’s Verdict Exposes Western Europe’s Dangerous Trend
· MP condemns Britain First visit to Lakes Islamic Centre
· Globalisation era has ended, says Treasury minister
· Royal Navy worried about Russian superyachts – Times
· 12,000 Brits arrested per year over social media posts – Times
· EU preparing response to Trump tariffs – Reuters
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North America
· CAIR-NJ Rep to Speak at Princeton University’s Students for Justice in Palestine Press Conference
· Americans warn Trump to be ‘hands off’
· US cancels visas for South Sudanese over deportation dispute
· Lots of US companies asking to come back to Russia – Putin envoy
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Pakistan
· Karachi’s JPMC Doctors Face Govt’s Wrath for Seeking Judicial Relief
· Govt Keeps BNP-M Long March to Quetta At Bay
· Ministers Revel in Discord Within PTI Ranks
· Movement to mobilise workers for Imran’s release launched
· Have Imran’s Blessing to Open Channel for Talks, Claims Swati
· Crime Control Dept to recruit 4,000 officers across Punjab
· Gas exploration planned as PPL prepares to put out Korangi blaze
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/muslims-bharat-mata-bhagwa-jhanda/d/135083
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Muslims Can Be atShakha If They Chant ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ and Carry 'Bhagwa Jhanda': RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat
Apr 7, 2025
RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat
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VARANASI: Shakhas would welcome all those who respect the 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' slogan and 'Bhagwa Jhanda' (saffron flag). RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said this on Sunday morning at a shakha here while replying to a question whether Muslims could attend shakhas.
On a four-day visit to Varanasi, Bhagwat attended a shakha at Lajpat Nagar Colony. He was taking questions from swayamsewaks after speaking on the need for forming a strong society by ending caste discrimination and dwelling on environmental, economic and other issues. One swayamsewak wanted to know whether Muslims could join shakhas, to which Bhagwat said, "All Indians are welcome at the shakhas. The only condition is that each one coming to join shakha should have no hesitation in chanting 'Bharat Mata ki jai' and must show respect for the saffron flag."
Although Indians had different religious practices, their culture was same, said Bhagwat, mentioning that people from all faiths, sects and castes in India were welcome at the shakhas. Before taking part in the events at Lajpat Nagar, Bhagwat held a meeting with Vedic scholars of Kashi on Saturday evening where he exhorted them to work hard to achieve the goal of making India a Vishwa Guru.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/muslims-can-be-at-shakha-if-they-chant-bharat-mata-rss-chief-mohan-bhagwat/articleshow/120044851.cms
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Indonesian Police Detain Members of Islamic Group"Declared Deviant" By The Indonesian Ulema Council
April 07, 2025
Indonesian police visit the headquarters of the Ana Loloa Order, whose teachings have been declared as 'deviant' from Islam, in Maros Regency, South Sulawesi. (Photo: Maros District Police)
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Police in Indonesia’s South Sulawesi province have arrested members of a group accused of spreading a “deviant” form of Islam in villages.
Aditya Pandu, head of the Criminal Investigation Unit in Maros Regency, said on April 4 that five members of the Ana Loloa Order, including its leader, Petta Bau, 59, were detained for investigation.
He said the arrests were made because the group was “disturbing the community” and its teachings had been "declared deviant" by the Indonesian Ulema Council.
He said the group teaches that the pillars of Islam are eleven instead of five—the declaration of faith, prayer, almsgiving, fasting during Ramadan, and the Hajj pilgrimage.
“Followers of this sect are also taught that the Hajj need not be to Mecca, but can be done at the peak of Mount Bawakaraeng,” Pandu said, referring to the popular hike in South Sulawesi.
He said that followers of the group are also required to buy spiritual objects such as keris, a distinctive Indonesian dagger believed to possess magical powers, as a requirement to enter heaven.
The group believes that the apocalypse is near and only those who possess such objects will be saved.
People reported the group's activities in October last year, and the Ministry of Religion sent a team to investigate in coordination with Islamic organizations and local governments.
Bau and her members had then pledged to stop spreading their teachings, said Pandu.
However, they were reported to have imparted their teachings in the Bonto-bonto hamlet in Tompobulu district last month.
He said the accused could be charged with blasphemy.
Danial, the head of the Early Detection and Handling Team for Religious Social Conflict in Tompobulu district, told UCA News that the group's leader, Petta Bau , "could not explain her teachings theologically."
Danial, who, like many Indonesians, has only one name, said Bau claimed to have received the teachings in dreams.
Indonesia officially recognizes only six religions: Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. It also recognizes certain tribal religions.
Many belief systems and groups that are seen as deviations from Islam have also emerged, often causing a backlash from the majority Sunni Islamic group.
Mainstream Christian groups also report about neo-Christian sects pushing for membership in the Christian-majority pockets.
In 2022, the Church of Almighty God (CAG), a Chinese Christian cult, was accused of trying to lure local Catholics in Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara province.
This made the regency's National Unity and Political Agency conduct surveillance and monitoring of people suspected of having links with the group.
CAG, also known as Eastern Lightning, is believed to have 3-4 million members in China.
About 87 percent of Indonesia’s more than 275 million people are Muslims, and Christians make up 11 percent or some 30 million. Of these, some 8.5 million are Catholics, according to a 2022 government report.
Source: ucanews.com
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https://www.ucanews.com/news/indonesian-police-detain-members-of-deviant-islamic-group/108413
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Boko Haram Attack In Borno: Soldiers And Terrorists Killed In Fierce Battle
April 6, 2025
By Enioluwa Adeniyi
At least one Captain and Corporal soldier were among the scores of Boko Haram terrorists killed in a deadly attack on Izge village, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.
The attack occurred around 1 a.m. on Monday when heavily armed Boko Haram terrorists invaded a military formation in Izge, a strategic location near the Sambisa Forests, approximately 20km southwest of Gwoza town.
According to sources who spoke with Vanguard, the terrorists launched their assault with Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs) targeting the troops of Operation Hadin Kai, resulting in a fierce exchange of gunfire that lasted for hours.
Despite the overwhelming firepower of the attackers, residents of Izge, with support from local vigilantes and hunters, bravely rallied behind the military, helping to repel the assault.
The attackers, after suffering significant losses, quickly evacuated their fallen comrades from the scene.
A resident of Izge, Mallam Isa Usman, recounted the harrowing experience, saying, “We were attacked at 1 a.m. when most of us were asleep. Unfortunately, we lost a Captain and a Corporal in the clash. However, many of the terrorists were also neutralized. Those who survived retreated, carrying their fallen colleagues’ bodies with them.”
Reacting to the attack, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, expressed deep concern over the continued Boko Haram onslaught in his constituency. While acknowledging the efforts of the military and security agencies, he urged the federal government to take more decisive action.
Ndume called for the deployment of advanced technology, including drones, to bolster the military’s capacity to combat the Boko Haram insurgency.
“The federal government must equip and motivate our military with sophisticated tools to end the over-decade-long Boko Haram crisis. This will help address not just terrorism but other security challenges such as kidnapping and banditry,” he said.
Senator Ndume also commended the resilience of Izge residents who played a crucial role in assisting the troops during the attack.
Their courage, along with the support of local vigilantes and hunters, was instrumental in forcing the terrorists to retreat and recover looted arms and ammunition.
“The residents of Izge have shown great bravery. They assisted the troops in repelling the attack, leading to the recovery of looted arms and ammunition,” he added.
Despite efforts to contact the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Kenneth Daso, for confirmation, the Executive Chairman of Gwoza, Hon. Abba Kawu Idrissa Timta, confirmed the incident, acknowledging that while the number of casualties on the military side was still unclear, a significant number of terrorists were killed in the clash.
The federal government, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is now urged to enhance the capabilities of the Nigerian military and other security agencies to effectively combat terrorism and other forms of criminal activity affecting various parts of the country.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/04/06/boko-haram-attack-in-borno-soldiers-and-terrorists-killed-in-fierce-battle/
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Bangladesh erupts in protest against Israel's oppression of Palestinians
Apr 7, 2025
Photo: Amran Hossain
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Students, leaders and activists of different political parties and common people of Bangladesh have started demonstrations at various points in solidarity with the oppressed people of Gaza.
At some places, the protesters formed human chain and some groups held protest processions and rallies, demanding immediate stop of the ongoing genocide and mass destruction in Gaza.
Yesterday, Bangladeshi student leaders have called for a nationwide 'No Work, No School' campaign for today.
The protest programmes include strikes in educational institutions and workplaces and demonstrations in Dhaka and other cities.
Under the campaign, no classes and examinations were held at Dhaka University and university offices were closed from 9:00am to 11:00am today.
Students and common people including children thronged in front of TSC on DU campus and started demonstration. They chanted slogan against the aggression by the Israel force.
Many were seen carrying Palestine flags.
Talking to reporters, one of the protesters said, "We took to the streets as world leaders forget Palestine people. We want freedom of the Palestinian people and trial of the Israel leaders for war crimes."
Teachers and students of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) formed a human chain on the campus, with a demand to free the Palestine and stop genocide there.
In line with the global strike, Brac University students held a protest rally in front of the university, holding placards and banners to stop brutality in Gaza.
Talking to reporters, a female student of the university said they took to the street in solidarity with the Gaza people as they are being killed brutally there.
Students of different private universities and general people brought out protest procession in Bashundhara Residential Area and Bhatara areas while Students of Dhaka Medical College and many other institutions gathered at Central Shaheed Minar.
Students of University of Asia Pacific held a human chain in front of the university.
The protesters chanted slogans "Free, Free Palestine" "Stop Genocide in Gaza"
At some places, the protesters were seen carrying effigies of the Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Employees of many privately run institutions also brought out process at different points including Science Lab, Bosila and Uttara areas.
Many were heading towards Central Shaheed Minar where several organisations scheduled their programmes throughout the days.
Without any institutional banners, many students from schools, colleges and universities, carrying Palestinian flags, joined the protesters across the capital.
Jahangirnagar University has suspended academic activities as part of the global student movement titled "The World Stops for Gaza", condemning the ongoing genocide and humanitarian crisis in Gaza. In support of the movement, the university halted all administrative activities for two hours -- from 10:00am to 12:00pm -- today.
In addition, the university postponed all academic activities, including classes and exams, scheduled for tomorrow.
The decision was announced in an official notice issued by JU Registrar ABM Azizur Rahman last night.
JU's Director of Public Relations Mohammad Mohiuddin confirmed the observance of the two-hour suspension, saying that it was carried out according to the declared programme.
Many educational institutions, including North South University, East West University, across the country are also participating in the protest through holding processions and human chains.
Additional police members have been deployed to ensure security at the diplomatic zone in Gulshan and Baridhara areas.
Chattogram
People from all walks of life in Chattogram protested against the brutal Israeli attack on Gaza. Students from Chittagong Medical College initiated a protest procession from the academic building around 11:00am, marching across the college campus. A brief rally was held afterward, where speakers urged global solidarity with the people of Gaza and called for strong action against Israeli leadership for their role in the genocide.
Additionally, students from Chittagong College, Government Hazi Muhammad Mohsin College, Government Commerce College, and Hazera Taju College also organised protest processions on their campuses, condemning Israel's attacks on Gaza.
Narsingdi
Thousands of students from various schools and colleges held a protest rally on Dhaka-Sylhet highway for about an hour today, calling for a boycott of Israeli products and punishment for Israel.
They displayed anti-Israel banners and posters. Along with students, activists from several Islamic political parties also joined the rally, carrying their party banners.
Cumilla
Thousands of students, political party leaders, activists, and local people staged protests at different points to show solidarity with the people of Gaza. They gathered at Pubali Chattora Kandirpar area, forming human chains and holding processions.
Chandpur
In Chandpur, people from all walks of life, including students, held a protest rally at 10:30am with thousands of students marching from Hasan Ali High School and parading through the city's main roads.
Students from Chandpur Government Medical College and Chandpur Nursing Institute also staged a rally at 250-bed Chandpur Government General Hospital.
Pabna
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami organised a rally on Abdul Hamid Road, the main street in Pabna town this morning to protest Israel's attacks on Gaza.
Rajshahi
Students, teachers, and staff of Rajshahi University (RU) held a solidarity rally in support of the people of Palestine. The rally began around 11:00am on the university's Paris Road and continued until noon. Organised by various student and teacher groups, the protest attracted a large crowd chanting slogans condemning the Israeli attacks.
Participants carried Palestinian flags and banners, calling for an immediate end to what they described as genocide. They also displayed images of US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with messages criticising their roles in the ongoing conflict.
Patuakhali
Thousands of people from all walks of life staged a protest rally and demonstration in Patuakhali, condemning the ongoing brutal attacks by Israeli forces on Gaza and demanding an end to the aggression and recognition of a free Palestine.
Men, women, and children joined the protest, which began around 10:00am at Jhautola, near the local Circuit House. The demonstrators carried banners expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people and calling for an end to Israeli atrocities.
Leaders and activists from different political parties, professionals, students from various educational institutions -- including many female students and children -- participated in the rally, which organisers said drew a crowd of at least 5,000 people.
The programme followed a global call to action by Palestinian activists, urging schools, universities, offices, and courts to shut down simultaneously to demand an immediate end to the violence.
In response, students from dozens of institutions across the country yesterday announced the suspension of academic activities in protest against the brutality on the Gaza people. Dhaka University (DU) and Rajshahi University (RU) authorities officially backed the strike.
Since Israel launched its offensive on Gaza -- a 365-square-kilometre enclave of 2.4 million people -- on October 7, 2023, at least 50,695 Palestinians have been killed and 115,338 others wounded. According to the United Nations, nearly 69 percent of Gaza's buildings have been destroyed or damaged.
According to Wafa news agency, the official news agency of the Palestinians, the call for today's strike was made, protesting the horrific massacres and crimes committed by Israeli forces. These include the killing of civilians, particularly children and women, and the widespread destruction aimed at displacing Palestinians from their homes.
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/bangladesh-erupts-protest-against-israels-oppression-palestinians-3865421
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Hamas fires rockets at Israeli cities, Israel issues evacuation orders in Gaza
April 07, 2025
A firefighter stands at an impact scene following a hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza strip towards Israel, in Ashkelon, Israel April 6, 2025. (REUTERS)
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JERUSALEM/CAIRO: Palestinian militant group Hamas said it fired a barrage of rockets at cities in Israel’s south on Sunday in response to Israeli “massacres” of civilians in Gaza.
Israel’s military said about 10 projectiles were fired, but most were successfully intercepted. Israel’s Channel 12 reported a direct hit in the southern city of Ashkelon.
Israeli emergency services said they were treating one person for shrapnel injuries, and teams were en route to locations of fallen rockets. Smashed car windows and debris lay strewn on a city street, videos disseminated by Israeli emergency services showed.
Meanwhile, Gaza local health authorities said Israeli military strikes killed at least 39 people across the Gaza Strip on Sunday.
Shortly after the rocket firing, the Israeli military posted on X a new evacuation order, instructing residents of several districts in Deir Al-Balah city in the central Gaza Strip to leave their areas, citing earlier rocket firing.
“This is a final warning before the attack,” the military warning statement said.
Later, it said it struck the rocket launcher from which projectiles were launched earlier from the Gaza Strip.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on a flight to Washington for a meeting with US President Donald Trump, was briefed on the rocket attack by his Defense Minister, Israel Katz.
A statement issued by his office said Netanyahu instructed that a “vigorous” response be carried out and approved the continuation of intensive activity by the Israeli military against Hamas.
Israel’s Channel 12 television said at least 12 lightly injured people have been treated as a result of the rocket firing from Gaza, quoting officials at the Bazilai Hospital in Ashkelon.
The first phase of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas went into force on January 19 after 15 months of war and involved a halt to fighting, the release of some of the Israeli hostages held by Hamas, and the freeing of some Palestinian prisoners.
However, Israel said on March 19 that its forces resumed ground operations in the central and southern Gaza Strip. Both parties blamed one another for a stalemate in the ceasefire talks.
More than 50,000 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli offensive in Gaza, Palestinian officials say. Israel began its offensive after thousands of Hamas-led gunmen attacked communities in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and abducting 251 as hostages, according to Israeli tallies.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2596144/middle-east
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India
Waqf Amendment Bill:Muslim Leaders and Intellectuals Appeal to Muslim MPs for Unity In Safeguarding Minority Rights
April 6, 2025
In light of the growing challenges faced by the Muslim community in India, a group of prominent Muslim leaders, intellectuals, former bureaucrats, and civil society members have come together to appeal to Muslim Members of Parliament for unity and decisive action. They urge elected representatives to stand together across party lines to protect minority rights, particularly in the wake of recent developments such as the passage of the Waqf Amendment Bill, which has caused widespread concern and disillusionment. The appeal emphasizes the need for a collective strategy to uphold constitutional values, defend the dignity of the community, and ensure the inclusive vision of India’s founders is not lost.
To the Hon’ble Muslim Parliamentarians,
We, the undersigned members of the Indian Muslim community, extend our heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering efforts to safeguard the institutions of Waqf and your principled opposition to the proposed amendments to the Waqf Act in Parliament. Your commitment to preserving these culturally and religiously significant structures has not gone unnoticed.
We also sincerely appreciate the solidarity extended by secular allies during the debate on the Waqf Amendment Bill. As we move forward, we hope to deepen this collaboration to protect and promote the rights of the Muslim community and all marginalized groups.
The current socio-political climate starkly highlights the diminishing presence and relevance of minority voices, particularly those of Muslims, in the national discourse. This troubling reality demands a strategic and united approach to safeguard the constitutional rights of an increasingly marginalized community.
The recent passage of the Waqf Amendment Bill has left the Muslim community disillusioned and alienated. It appears to undermine constitutional guarantees and has triggered deep concern, especially among Muslim youth who are questioning their place and future within the Indian polity. This moment marks a turning point in the ongoing struggle for dignity, justice, and equal citizenship.
It is deeply distressing to witness how far we have drifted from the inclusive vision of our freedom movement’s leaders—those who rejected the idea of partition and chose to invest in a united India built on pluralism, justice, and shared prosperity. The erosion of this legacy is a warning sign that cannot be ignored.
Your unity and resilience have been a source of hope and inspiration. But this unity must now transcend parliamentary boundaries. We respectfully urge you to come together and make a joint representation to the Hon’ble President of India, requesting a reconsideration of the recent amendments to the Waqf Act. Such a step would not only reaffirm your dedication but would also amplify the collective voice of the Muslim community.
Should this appeal fail to receive a constructive response, we urge consideration of bold and peaceful democratic measures—daily protests both inside and outside Parliament, a potential boycott of parliamentary proceedings, and a joint press conference by Muslim MPs across party lines. A unified stance is essential to defend the rights of the community and to draw the strategic attention of both national and international media.
We place our trust in your wisdom and leadership to navigate this critical moment with courage and vision—to uphold justice, ensure inclusion, and speak for the voiceless within the community.
Once again, we offer our deepest thanks for your tireless efforts and assure you of our steadfast solidarity in this vital cause.
Yours sincerely,
Azeez Pasha, Former MP, Rajya Sabha
Ahmad Imran, Former MP, Rajya Sabha; Chairman, West Bengal Minorities Commission
Kunwar Danish Ali, Former MP, Lok Sabha
Shahid Siddiqui, Former MP, Rajya Sabha
Mohammad Adeeb, Former MP, Rajya Sabha
Wajahat Habibullah, IAS (Retd.), Former Chairman, National Commission for Minorities; Former Chief Information Commissioner
Gen. Zameer Uddin Shah (Retd.), 1971 War Veteran; Former Vice-Chancellor, Aligarh Muslim University
Syed Sadatullah Husaini, Ameer, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind
Feroze Ahmad Ansari, Advocate; President, All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat & All India Momin Conference
Dr. Syeda Saiyidain Hameed, Former Member, Planning Commission & National Commission for Women
Abdul Rauf Shaikh, Former Dy. Commissioner; Ex-CEO, Maharashtra Waqf Board
Afzal Amanullah, IAS (Retd.), Former Secretary, Government of India
Prof. Mohd. Aslam, Former Vice-Chancellor, IGNOU; Social Scientist
Prof. Abuzar Kamaluddin, Former Vice-Chairman, Intermediate Education Council
Adv. Khwaja Jaweed Yusuf, President, Humayun Kabir Institute; Vice-President, Anjuman Mufidul Islam, Kolkata
Advocate Firdos Mirza, Senior Advocate, Bombay High Court, Nagpur
Prof. Hasina Hashia, Incharge, Women’s Wing, All India Milli Council
Raza Haider, Social Activist & Development Professional
Mohd. Shafiquzzaman, IAS (Retd.)
Mohd. Wazir Ansari, IPS (Retd.), Former D.G.
Prof. M.H. Jawahirullah, MLA; President, Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam
Maj. S.J.M. Jafri, Veteran, Indian Army
Shabbir Ahmad Ansari, President, All India Muslim OBC Organisation
Salman Anees Soz, Economist, Political Commentator, and Author
Syed Masood Hussain, Former Chairman, Central Water Commission, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Govt. of India
Prof. Ismat Mehdi, Former Professor, English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad
Dr. Parvez Hayat, Delhi
Adv. Hafiz Rashid Ahmad Choudhary, Senior Advocate, Guwahati High Court
Ahmed Jawed, Working President, Urdu Media Association (India)
Source: muslimmirror.com
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https://muslimmirror.com/muslim-leaders-and-intellectuals-appeal-to-muslim-mps-for-unity-in-safeguarding-minority-rights/
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Ram Navami; Interfaith Amity Marks North Processions, Hindus and Muslims Embrace Each Other Across North Bengal
Bireswar Banerjee, Soumya De Sarkar
07.04.25
Hindus and Muslims embraced each other on Sunday as part of the Ram Navami celebrations across various parts of north Bengal, helping ease recent tensions that had emerged in some areas of the region.
Ram Navami is celebrated to mark the birth of Lord Ram.
One of the most striking scenes of unity was witnessed in Siliguri, north Bengal’s largest town. Throughout the day, a large procession of devotees moved through the city, culminating at Hashmi Chowk. There, members of the Muslim community welcomed the rally with flower showers, offered cold drinks and water, and joined in to click pictures with the participants.
“This was a beautiful display of faith, tradition and togetherness, as the entire city joined the celebration,” said Raju Bista, BJP MP from Darjeeling, who also participated in the rally.
The rally began from the Hanuman Temple premises in Mallaguri and made its way through key locations such as Mahatma Gandhi More, Sevoke More, and Hashmi Chowk, with participants chanting religious slogans.
Siliguri police commissioner C. Sudhakar, along with senior officers, were on the road through the day to prevent any untoward incident.
Malda, which witnessed communal clashes recently, displayed camaraderie on Sunday. In English bazar, Muslims welcomed the Ram Navami rally with flower showers, sweets, and drinks. Hindus from the rally responded with equal warmth, and many from both communities embraced one another. Some rallyists carried sharp weapons, but no untoward incident was reported.
A notable change in slogans was also heard. “Hindu Hindu Bhai Bhai (All Hindus are brothers)” recently chanted by the saffron ecosystem, was replaced with “Hindu Muslim Bhai Bhai (Hindus and Muslims are brothers)”.
At Foara More, Muslim leaders and Malda North BJP MP Khagen Murmu embraced each other when the rally arrived.
“This is the true spirit of Malda and India. This harmony should prevail,” said Md Nurul Islam, a Malda resident, showering petals on the rallyists.
“Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always promoted inclusive values. The gesture from our Muslim brothers reflects the true ethos of India,” said Murmu.
In Harishchandrapur block, Muslims offered sherbets to rallyists.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/ram-navami-interfaith-amity-marks-north-processions-hindus-and-muslims-embrace-each-other/cid/2092839
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SC will strike down Waqf Amendment Act: P. Chidambaram
April 07, 2025
Veteran Congress leader and former Union Minister P. Chidambaram on Sunday said he was confident that the Supreme Court would strike down the Waqf (Amendment) Act.
He urged non-Muslims to be vigilant, and said: “Don’t think that only Muslims are being attacked ...Soon, Christians, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists will also face a similar situation...”
Mr. Chidambaram was addressing a protest meeting organised by the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) at Saidapet here against the Waqf law.
The party organised State-wide black flag protests against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for passing the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, and against 11 years of “anti-Tamil Nadu policies” implemented by the BJP-led Union government. Protests were also held in district headquarters across Tamil Nadu, with the participation of leaders from parties in the INDIA bloc.
Alleging that the Modi government had been launching an assault against Muslims since 2014, he expressed confidence that the Supreme Court would strike down the law. “After Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister, the National Register of Citizens [was brought in] and the Citizenship Amendment Act was enacted. The only Muslim majority State, Jammu and Kashmir, was broken into two and its State status was taken away. The Uttarakhand Assembly passed the Uniform Civil Code. Now, the Waqf (Amendment) Bill has been passed,” he added. Mr. Chidambaram said that while any Hindu could donate his or her land or money to a Hindu temple, a Muslim should be practising the religion for five years to be able to donate to the Waqf under the new law. “Why is such a condition [introduced] for Muslims alone? That non-Muslims can also be appointed to Waqf board is directly opposed to Article 26 of the Constitution...,” he said.
“All Hindu temples have trustees. Can a Muslim be appointed as a trustee for a Hindu temple? Will anyone accept? Even the Muslims won’t accept it. But, non-Muslims can be appointed to the Waqf board....,” he pointed out.TNCC president K. Selvaperunthagai said: “The rights and properties of Muslims are being snatched away through the Waqf law. Similar to how they passed farm laws [since repealed] in the dead of the night, they have done the same this time. They are ready to destroy the peace in this country....”
Source: thehindu.com
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After Waqf, BJP will take away land of Christians, Hindu temples: Thackeray
Apr 07, 2025
MUMBAI: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday alleged that after making amendments to the Waqf Act, the BJP would now take away the lands of Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Hindu temples and hand these over to their “friends”. The remarks were made after Organiser, the RSS mouthpiece, claimed that Catholic churches owned more land than the Waqf board in India.
Thackeray was speaking to the media on Sunday at the launch of ‘Shiv Sena Sanchar’, the party’s IT and communications wing. “Hindu temples have a lot of land,” he said. “Many feel that these temples are with the government. They (BJP) will take the land and hand it to their friends. They have no love for any community. Their love is for land. They first snatched land from Muslims, next, they will target Hindus.”
President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday gave her assent to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which was passed by Parliament earlier this week. The government says the law will usher in reforms concerning Muslim religious endowments in the country, while the opposition and the Muslim community have been fiercely opposing it.
Thackeray said that the BJP created fights among religious communities, deliberately flared up communal violence, initiated police action and then used the bulldozer. “The BJP has used religion as a tool to poison people’s minds. This will prove costly for the country. We need to open people’s eyes,” said the former chief minister, claiming that Organiser had exposed the BJP’s agenda.
Organiser, in an April 3 article titled, ‘Who has more land in India? The Catholic Church vs Waqf Board Debate’, stated that for many years there was a common belief that the Waqf Board was the second largest landowner in the country after the government. However, it added, this claim did not align with the actual data, and it was the Catholic Church of India that had the distinction of being the largest non-governmental landowner in the country.
The article also said that the Catholic Church owned around 172.9 million acres (70 million hectares) of land throughout India. The article was pulled down by the website soon after Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, questioned its motive.
Other opposition leaders too attacked the BJP. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said that “they” had realised they had nothing left to sell so now they wanted to sell Waqf land. “In future, all the Waqf land will go to the industrial friends of the BJP,” he said.
NCP (SP) leader Jitendra Awhad too alleged that the BJP was now eyeing land donated by the Christian community. “Christians have many land parcels all over India,” he said. “These lands are in the possession of the Church, and one has to admit that Christians have done unprecedented work in the medical and educational fields. Their educational institutions are spread across the country… The real guide of the mother organisation (RSS) and BJP is M S Golwalkar, and he has mentioned this in his book. It is an open secret that over time lands will be taken away from the Christians.”
The article assumes significance as it has come at a time when the Waqf Bill, passed by both Houses of Parliament, has triggered a fierce debate, added Awhad.
Source: hindustantimes.com
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https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/mumbai-news/after-waqf-bjp-will-take-away-land-of-christians-hindu-temples-thackeray-101743967066351.html
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Waqf Bill Protests Reach JNU, JMI and HyderabadCampuses, Demonstrating Students Call It 'Infringement' On Muslims' Rights
07.04.25
Protests have broken out at universities against the passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, with the demonstrating students calling it an infringement on Muslims' rights.
Jawaharlal Nehru University and the Jamia Millia Islamia in Delhi as well as the Central University of Hyderabad witnessed protests last week.
Jamia saw heavy police deployment on Thursday and Friday, apparently to prevent protests. In December 2019, the police had entered the campus and allegedly assaulted students who were protesting against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill — another legislation criticised as anti-Muslim.
"The university turned into a fortress despite being meant to provide space for free discussion and protests," a faculty member said.
A Jamia student said that protests were still held on Friday near Gate no 7. The CPIML Liberation-backed All India Students Association was the main organiser. "The Jamia administration tried to prevent the protests by shutting all the gates," a student said.
"But students still gathered in numbers and the administration finally opened the gates. The students burnt copies of the bill and condemned the government’s communal motive."
JNU students' union president Dhananjay said a protest was held on the campus on Wednesday. "The (new) law is unconstitutional. It violates equality and must be withdrawn. We will organise more protests," he said.
A student of the Central University of Hyderabad said protests were held in the south and north campuses. "We protested against the bill since we feel the government will easily claim the waqf properties taking advantage of the lack of records. This will create communal tension," he said.
Abhay Kumar, a scholar who wrote his doctoral thesis on Muslim personal law at JNU, cited B.R. Ambedkar’s comment that the mark of a successful democracy was that it protected the rights of minorities. "The provisions to include non-Muslims in the Waqf Council and state waqf boards have created anxiety among Muslims," Kumar said.
"The fear is that people with a Hindutva background will be inducted into these bodies and they may not be sympathetic to their (Muslims') cause."
Kumar regretted that the power of the waqf tribunals, which decide disputes relating to wakf properties, has been diluted and greater power given to the district magistrates.
"Since the government is itself a party in a legal case concerning encroachment on waqf land, and the district magistrate has been entrusted with greater power, there will be a conflict of interest. Muslims fear that encroachments will increase and their interest will be compromised," he said.
Kumar said the Sachar panel had recommended that the government recruit up to 200 Grade A officers through the UPSC to manage waqf properties, and that the tribunals have full-time presiding officers. However, the government has ignored these suggestions, he said.
A retired bureaucrat said the provision allowing non-Muslims to become chief executive officers of the state waqf boards amounted to interference in Muslims' religious affairs.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/waqf-bill-protests-reach-campuses-demonstrating-students-call-it-infringement-on-muslims-rights-prnt/cid/2092785
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UAPA invoked against two Hindu men in Beed mosque blast case
April 6, 2025
Two men have been arrested in connection with a blast at a mosque in Ardha Masla village, located in Georai tehsil of Maharashtra’s Beed district. The incident took place on March 30, the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr, when gelatin sticks went off at the mosque.
According to officials, the explosion occurred following an altercation between two groups during a procession, which led to the arrest of Vijay Rama Gavhane (22) and Shriram Ashok Sagde (24), both local residents.
Although no injuries were reported from the blast, the internal structure of the mosque was damaged. The initial police investigation resulted in the registration of a case under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 298 (which deals with injuring or defiling a place of worship with intent to insult religion), Section 299 (which addresses acts meant to outrage religious feelings), and Section 196 (which involves promoting enmity between different groups).
However, as the investigation progressed, the police invoked more stringent legal provisions. The charges now include Section 113 of the BNS, which relates to a “terrorist act,” and several sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), specifically Sections 15, 16, and 18. These provisions cover offenses related to terrorist acts, the punishment for such acts, and conspiracy to commit terrorism.
The UAPA is known for making it extremely difficult for those arrested under its provisions to secure bail. As a result, Gavhane and Sagde remain in police custody while the investigation continues. The incident has sparked considerable attention, given the severity of the charges and the potential legal consequences for the accused. — With Agencies Inputs
Source: muslimmirror.com
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300 get notices for black armband Waqf Bill protest in Muzaffarnagar
by Neetika Jha
April 7, 2025
More than 300 people in UP’s Muzaffarnagar have been issued notices by the district administration for protesting against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill by wearing black armbands while offering prayers at a local mosque last Friday and on Eid three days later.
The notices were issued by City Magistrate Vikas Kashyap after receiving reports from the local police, officials said.
One of these notices, issued on April 3 and reviewed by The Indian Express, orders five men to appear before the City Magistrate’s court on April 16, explain their actions, and submit a bond of Rs 2 lakh and two sureties of the same amount, with the assurance that they will maintain peace in the jurisdiction for a year.
“In the current scenario, in order to maintain law and order in Muzaffarnagar, elements who could harm the social order were identified. More than 300 people were identified and notices have been issued to them,” Muzaffarnagar City SP Satyanarayan Prajapat told The Indian Express.
The notice reviewed by this newspaper names Maulana Shibli, Farukh, Naeem, Guddu and Afzal. “In the coming time, these five men can attempt to provoke common people and can incite others by giving the wrong message,” reads the notice, adding that it is based on a report from the Inspector in-charge of the Civil Lines police station in Muzaffarnagar.
City Magistrate Kashyap and SP Prajapat described this notice as “routine”. “If they are able to give a proper explanation, we will not take any action against them,” Kashyap said. “They are potential trouble makers, who have past history, particularly during the 2019 CAA-NRC protests,” Prajapat said.
The Indian Express spoke to 47-year-old Shibli, who is one of the men listed in the notice. “We wore armbands to the mosque while offering prayers. The decision was taken by the Muslim Sabha, and we did not do anything else, we just wore the armbands. At around 7 pm last Friday, two policemen knocked at my door and served me the notice. They said, ‘read it for yourself’,” said Shibli, a local supplier of ayurvedic medicine.
“We are now making arrangements to go to the court on April 16,” he said.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, which was passed in both Houses of Parliament last week and received the President’s assent on Saturday, proposes sweeping changes in the regulation of Waqf properties and settlement of disputes.
While the Opposition has accused the BJP-led NDA government of interference in Muslim religious affairs in contravention of the Constitution, the Government has denied the charge and said the Bill had no such provision.
Source: indianexpress.com
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https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/lucknow/300-get-notices-for-black-armband-waqf-bill-protest-in-muzaffarnagar-9928806/
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Southeast Asia
Special National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs Discussion to Review Fatwa On Israel’s Invasion of Gaza
Bernama
06-04- 2025
KUALA LUMPUR: A special discussion will be held soon by the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs (MKI) to review the fatwa issued by the Ijtihad and Fatwa Committee of the International Union Of Muslim Scholars regarding Israel’s invasion of Gaza, Palestine.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, in a statement today said the discussion, organised by the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM), will thoroughly examine the fatwa.
“I have also instructed agencies under my ministry to engage with religious scholars and Islamic organisations to discuss the implications of the fatwa from various perspectives.
“This is to protect the interests and welfare of the country and Muslims, especially our brothers and sisters in Gaza,“ he said.
According to international media reports, the fatwa calls for immediate military intervention by Arab and Muslim countries and urges a review of peace agreements signed by several Arab nations with the occupying force.
In addition, the Ijtihad and Fatwa Committee has also issued a fatwa calling for a financial jihad to support the people of Gaza and forbidding any form of support for Israel.
Mohd Na’im said that agencies under the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) will continue to assist, including through the Palestine Humanitarian Fund, to alleviate the suffering of the people in Gaza.
He emphasised the importance of continued support, solidarity, and prayers for the Palestinian people, hoping these efforts will lead to true freedom and peace for Gaza.
Source: thesun.my
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https://thesun.my/malaysia-news/special-mki-discussion-to-review-fatwa-on-israel-s-invasion-of-gaza-FL13900603
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Petronas Gas actively evaluating impacts of Putra Heights fire incident
Bernama
07-04- 2025
KUALA LUMPUR: Petronas Gas Bhd (PGB) is actively evaluating both the financial and operational impacts of the fire incident at its main pipeline in Putra Heights, near Puchong, Selangor.
In a filing with Bursa Malaysia today, the company said it is also cooperating fully with the relevant authorities to determine the root cause of the incident and identify the factors that contributed to the incident.
“The investigation is expected to be completed by May 2025. The company’s utmost priorities as we recover from this incident are ensuring the safety of people, assisting those impacted, and preserving the security of gas supply,” PGB said.
As part of the ongoing efforts, the company added that it is currently assessing potential remediation measures and is working closely with the relevant authorities to ensure a safe and efficient resumption of operations in the area.
“The company remains committed to resolving this matter with the highest priority and will continue to provide updates and subsequent announcement as the situation evolves,” it said.
Source: thesun.my
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https://thesun.my/malaysia-news/petronas-gas-actively-evaluating-impacts-of-putra-heights-fire-incident-DL13902256
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Tackle issues effectively to avoid exploitation by irresponsible parties – PM Anwar
Bernama
07-04- 2025
PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has reminded all quarters, including civil servants, to tackle every issue in the country effectively to prevent it from being exploited by irresponsible parties.
He said that ongoing issues must be appropriately handled while stressing that matters highlighted on social media should not be sensationalised for personal gain.
“We are sometimes dragged into issues, especially on social media or the media, because they thrive on sensationalism. As a result, small matters that could be handled well are blown out of proportion.
“It’s as if war is about to break out — the temple issue...the balloon (seller) issue, when, in fact, these can be handled well. That’s why I would like to suggest that we should not give room for exploitation,“ he said at today’s Prime Minister’s Department staff meeting for April.
Deputy Prime Ministers Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof were also present.
Anwar emphasised that some individuals still tend to exploit certain issues without considering the public interest, preferring to politicise them.
“Some people are foolish; they don’t think about the public interest; everything must be politicised, and everything must be dealt with through punishment,“ he said.
Citing the recent relocation of the Sri Pathrakaliamman Temple in the capital, Anwar said the MADANI government had resolved the matter peacefully and with respect for other communities.
“Our country is diverse – with various races and religions, yet Islam is the religion of the Federation, and the strength of Islam is undisputed... our decisions must be based on clear principles,“ he said.
The issue of the temple site near Jalan Masjid India, Kuala Lumpur, was resolved when the temple management agreed to relocate the house of worship to a new spot.
Anwar also reminded all ministries and government departments to be wary of issues related to integrity, corruption, and abuse of power.
“Don’t take it lightly or dismiss it, as there are still instances of negligence, leaks, and reports related to corruption. Therefore, leadership in departments and ministries must remain vigilant, as we intend to save the people and elevate the country’s status,“ he said.
He also assured that the MADANI government would continue to be committed to carrying out its responsibility to lead the country effectively and ensure that Malaysia becomes a great and excellent country.
“We will do our best and will not betray this trust. After going through the ups and downs of life, with its challenges and hardships, I am determined to restore the dignity of this country as a great and excellent nation,“ he added.
Also present at the event were the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform), Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, and the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar.
The Chief Secretary to the Government, Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, and the Public Service director-general, Tan Sri Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz, were also present.
Source: thesun.my
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https://thesun.my/malaysia-news/tackle-issues-effectively-to-avoid-exploitation-by-irresponsible-parties-pm-anwar-EL13901261
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KL police ramp up security for Asean finance ministers and central bank governors’ meeting
07 Apr 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, April 7 — Kuala Lumpur police have tightened security in several key areas to ensure the smooth running of the 12th Asean Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors’ Meeting (AFMGM) and related meetings at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), which begin today.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa said 22 senior police officers and 313 personnel of various ranks have been deployed to designated locations.
He said the deployment involves escort teams, security personnel, and traffic officers at key locations such as the main AFMGM venue at KLCC, the official hotels (Mandarin Oriental and Grand Hyatt), and several other sites involved in side events.
“We have also assigned mobile police units in the designated areas, in addition to ensuring that all officers and personnel involved are fully equipped and prepared to provide assistance and cooperation.
“We are also cooperating with Selangor police to handle foreign delegates’ arrivals and departures at KLIA (Kuala Lumpur International Airport) and Subang International Airport,” he told Bernama today.
Rusdi said that police have also carried out several special operations, conducted inspections and security screenings — particularly at meeting venues — and continuously updated relevant information to ensure security and smooth running of the AFMGM.
“On March 19, I presided over a security coordination meeting and received briefings from the Finance Ministry, the secretariat at Bukit Aman, relevant officers, and accommodation and meeting venue operators.
“We are committed to working with everyone to ensure not only a secure environment but also to provide a pleasant and memorable experience for participants and international delegates visiting Malaysia for this meeting,” he said.
More than 300 delegates, comprising Asean finance ministers, central bank governors, international financial institutions, and private sector representatives, are expected to attend the AFMGM and related meetings, investment conference, and exhibition, which will run until Thursday.
Over the four days, 14 meetings will be held, including high-level discussions with the Asean-US Business Council, Asean-European Union, and the Asean Business Advisory Council. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/04/07/kl-police-ramp-up-security-for-asean-finance-ministers-and-central-bank-governors-meeting/172187
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Akmal Nasrullah to defend Johor Baru PKR branch chief post, unveils full leadership slate
07 Apr 2025
JOHOR BARU, April 7 — Johor Baru PKR branch chief Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir will defend his post at the branch party elections this month.
The Johor Baru Member of Parliament, in a post on Facebook, also shared the list of candidates for the branch’s top posts, as well as its Wanita and AMK leadership.
“To remain relevant, we need to focus on making an impact, setting the right priorities, solving real issues and steadfastly upholding the party’s principles and values.
“Therefore, I hereby present the line-up of candidates for the leadership of the Johor Baru PKR branch, AMK and Wanita with full integrity, trust and responsibility,” he said.
Akmal Nasrullah, who is also deputy minister of energy transition and water transformation, said that PKR must stay focused, especially in preparing for the next general election.
“We will continue to work hard to ensure that victory in the Johor Bahru Parliament continues to be a prerequisite for Keadilan to lead the federal government in Putrajaya,” he said.
Akmal Nasrullah, who first assumed the position of Johor Baru PKR branch head in 2014, said ensuring victory for the party in Johor Baru back then was not easy.
“It was a suicide mission at the time, but it became a mission completed, and the rest is history. However, the bigger challenge came after the victory; the people’s hopes and expectations continued to rise,” he said. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Africa
Hungarian Mission Helps Besieged Christians in Nigeria After Islamist Attacks
2025.04.07.
The five-day mission of Hungary Helps in Nigeria has concluded with important results and a pledge for more humanitarian aid, the State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, responsible for programs to help persecuted Christians, said on his Facebook page on Sunday.
Checking in from a Christian refugee camp in Benue state, Tristan Azbej recalled that during their mission, they visited sites in Nigeria where the Hungarian government, in cooperation with local churches, provided humanitarian aid through the Hungary Helps program and visited persecuted Christian communities.
He added that
One of the highlights of the visit was the inauguration of a center for the training of 400 nurses in Onitsha township, he added.
In addition to the humanitarian field work, Tristan Azbej reminded that he attended government meetings together with MEP György Hölvényi, Goodwill Ambassador of Hungary Helps.
The government will continue its humanitarian programs in Nigeria. “In the coming weeks, we will support a Hungarian medical mission worth 23 million forints (56,475 euros), as well as the drilling of new drinking water wells,” he announced. We must express our compassion and support for the persecuted Christians, the State Secretary said, stressing that it is better for everyone if we take aid to where the trouble is, rather than bringing people in trouble to Europe.
The Hungary Helps Program is a specific national model that strengthens international humanitarian engagement. Through the program, Hungary is helping people in need to stay in their home country, and if possible, to return to it. Through humanitarian aid provided under the Hungary Helps Program, the government has so far helped half a million people to stay in or return to their home country. The program also aims to help persecuted Christians around the world, especially in the Middle East.
Source: hungarytoday.hu
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https://hungarytoday.hu/hungarian-mission-to-help-besieged-christians-in-nigeria-after-islamist-attacks/
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Army Arrest Top Commander Of Notorious Islamic Sect With Weapons, Cash
April 7, 2025
By Richard Ogunsile
The Nigerien Army has reportedly arrested a suspected high-ranking member of the terrorist organization Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) in the Tillabéri region.
Reports according to popular Security analyst Zagazola Makama indicated that cash, weapons, and logistical supplies believed to be intended for terrorist activities were recovered from the sect’s commander.
In its operational report for the period from April 3 to April 5, the army confirmed that the suspect was intercepted on April 3 at approximately 6:30 p.m. while traveling in a vehicle on the Torodi–Niamey route.
Military sources indicate that a search of the vehicle resulted in the recovery of a firearm, multiple mobile phones, and a total of 5,032,900 CFA francs. The army suspects that these funds were earmarked for acquiring logistics to facilitate terrorist operations.
Further investigations led the troops to a garden owned by the suspect in the village of Boborgou, which was reportedly utilized as a logistical hub by armed groups. Among the items found were food supplies, communication airtime, clothing, and black fabric believed to be used for camouflage purposes.
Additionally, security forces discovered a substantial stock of pasta in a nearby school building, which is thought to have been intended to support active terrorist operatives in the region.
The army has also indicated that the suspect is closely associated with the hijacking of two vehicles that occurred between Makalondi and Niaktiré on April 2.
Ongoing security operations in the area are part of a larger initiative aimed at dismantling terrorist networks and restoring stability.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/04/07/army-arrest-top-commander-of-notorious-islamic-sect-with-weapons-cash/
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Lawmakers Are Not In The Senate To Fight The Executive Arm Of Govt – Adaramodu Dismisses Rubber Stamp Claims
April 7, 2025
By Justina Otio
The Spokesperson of the Senate, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, has dismissed claims that the National Assembly is a rubber stamp to the executive.
He argued that it is not the job of lawmakers to constantly oppose the executive, adding that the country’s legislators are partners in progress with the executive.
Adaramodu insisted that the National assembly will not oppose the executive needlessly simply because it does not want to be seen as rubber stamp.
The lawmaker, representing Ekiti South Senatorial District at the National Assembly stated this when he was responding to questions from newsmen at the weekend in his home town, Ilawe-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
He said, “What is the meaning of rubber stamp? Does it mean that if the executive brings appropriation bill which is budget because we don’t want to be called rubber stamp we should oppose it and throw it away? Does it mean that if the federal government wants to tar road, because we don’t want to be called rubber stamp we should throw it away? Does it mean that if the federal government is increasing allocation to the judiciary because we don’t want to be called rubber stamp we should throw it away? Does it mean that if the federal government is giving minimum wage because we don’t want to be called rubber stamp we then throw it away?. So, what is the meaning of rubber stamping?
“Now, one thing is this, we are not in the Senate with gloves in our hands to go and be knocking, and be beating and be fighting the executive or other arms of government. That is not our calling. Our calling is that we are partners in progress and while we are partners in progress we make laws, to execute is in the hands of the executive, to interprete is in the hands of the judiciary. We will not be making laws at the same time be interpreting it and be executing it. So, once we make our laws, what are the laws that we have made that have shown the Senate or the House of Representatives as an entity that is not focused? I have never seen any. We have established schools, higher institutions for that matter, we have done appropriation, we have done tax bills even the tax bills thing many people who were criticising initially are those people saying the same thing anymore? Because people did not even see the tax bills before they started criticising and we know that even biblically when we say tax everybody will just raise high brows.”
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/04/07/lawmakers-are-not-in-the-senate-to-fight-the-executive-arm-of-govt-adaramodu-dismisses-rubber-stamp-claims/
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Peter Obi Reacts As Police IG Withdraws Invite To Emir Sanusi Over Death During Eid-el-Fitr Celebrations
April 7, 2025
By Rachel Okporu Fadoju
The Labour Party (LP) 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has commended the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) for the timely decision to withdraw the invitation extended to the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II.
Naija News reports that the police had summoned Emir Sanusi over the violence that erupted during the recent Eid-el-Fitr procession in Kano, which resulted in the death of a local vigilante member.
However, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, reversed Sanusi’s invitation to appear for interrogation in Abuja.
Egbetokun ordered the Kano State Police Command to gather the monarch’s statement concerning the incident within the State.
The IGP issued the order in a statement on Sunday, signed by the police spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, stating that the withdrawal was done based on the advice of well-meaning Nigerians and the need to avoid any attempt to politicize the issue.
In a post via 𝕏 on Monday, April 7, 2025, Peter Obi stated that the invitation was unnecessary and could have further heightened an already inflamed situation.
Supporting Egbetokun’s decision to withdraw the invite, Peter Obi cited the presence of a fully functional police command in Kano, which has sufficient capacity to address such matters within the state.
He said, “I would like to commend the Nigeria Police Force for the wise and timely decision it took to withdraw the invitation extended to His Royal Highness Muhammadu Sanusi II. In light of the current tensions within our society, such an invitation was unnecessary and could have further heightened an already inflamed situation.
“There is a fully functional police command in Kano, with sufficient capacity to address such matters within the State. That is precisely why we have senior-ranking officers, including Commissioners of Police and Zonal Assistant Inspectors-General (AIGs), to handle issues of this nature appropriately at the state and zonal levels.
“Once again, I appreciate the decision to withdraw the invitation. A decentralised approach would encourage peace and public trust.”
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/04/07/peter-obi-reacts-as-police-ig-withdraws-invite-to-emir-sanusi-over-death-during-eid-el-fitr-celebrations/
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‘This Is An Insult’ – Wabara Blasts Tinubu, Shettima ‘For Leaving Nigeria Headless’
April 7, 2025
By Rachel Okporu Fadoju
Former Senate President, Senator Adolphus Wabara, has slammed President Bola Tinubu, and Vice President, Kashim Shettima, over their simultaneous foreign trips, describing it as the height of executive rascality.
Recall that while President Tinubu travelled to France for a two-week working visit, Shettima departed for Dakar, Senegal, to represent the President during the country’s 65th Independence Day anniversary celebrations on April 4, 2025.
Expressing disappointment over the situation, Wabara, in a statement, faulted Tinubu and Shettima ‘for leaving Nigeria headless. ‘
According to him, if Nigeria must be represented at the event in Senegal, the relevant government official, in this case, the foreign affairs minister, should have been delegated instead of Shettima.
Senator Wabara, the Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) recalled that it was not the first time Tinubu and Shettima would be travelling out of the country at the same time, stressing it amounts to a flagrant display of disdain for the people they sworn an oath to defent.
He argued that abandoning the country when many national issues required Tinubu and Shettima’s attention “is to say the least, an insult both to Nigeria and the offices they occupy.”
He advised President Tinubu to follow due process and the standard practice in governance and stop making the nation’s democracy a laughing stock before the global community.
Wabara said, “It’s baffling to hear that the President and his Vice both abandoned governance and travelled out of the country simultaneously, thus leaving the country headless.
“It is a serious dereliction of duty and display of utter disregard for the people of Nigeria. While Mr President has the right to travel outside the country when necessary, he should duly hand over power to his Vice in an acting capacity.
“It is absolutely not proper for the VP who should be the Acting president to also travel out of the country while Mr President is still away. The office of the president and vice president of a country is so serious that the occupants should place national interest above personal gains.
‘’How can the country be burning and the number one and number two citizens of the country be away? This can only happen in Nigeria.
“How else can a leader show disdain for the people he swore an oath to lead and defend. Leaving the country headless at a time so many boiling issues demand presidential intervention is a misplacement of priority.
“With the rising tension in Edo State and threats of reprisal in parts of the north; the bloodbath in Plateau, Zamfara, Sokoto and Benue; the political apprehension in Rivers and Bayelsa states; plus the festering insecurity in many states, travelling out of Nigeria is the least to expect from any serious-minded, patriotic President and his Vice.
“Tinubu and his vice, have again, clearly demonstrated that either they are overwhelmed or simply not prepared for governance. They have shown that they have little or no regard for Nigeria and Nigerians.”
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/04/07/this-is-an-insult-wabara-blasts-tinubu-shettima-for-leaving-nigeria-headless/
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South Asia
Government Officials Assesses TAPI Project Progress in Herat Province
2025-04-06
HERAT(BNA): A delegation led by Mullah Hedayatullah Badri, the Acting Minister of Mines and Petroleum, recently visited the TAPI (Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India) project developments in Herat province.
The delegation included Sheikh Mawlana Islamjar, the Governor of Herat, Alhaj Mohajer Farahi, Deputy Minister of Publications at the Ministry of Information and Culture, and representatives from Turkmenistan.
During the visit, the officials discussed the importance of expediting the work process to ensure the timely completion of this significant project. They highlighted the strategic role of the TAPI pipeline in enhancing regional energy security and fostering economic cooperation.
As of now, approximately eleven kilometers of the gas pipeline have been completed within Afghanistan. The officials reiterated their commitment to advancing the project and addressing any challenges that may arise.
Source: bakhtarnews.af
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https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/government-officials-assesses-tapi-project-progress-in-herat-province/
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Pakistan defense minister calls critics of Afghan refugee expulsion ‘Enemies of Pakistan’
By Fidel Rahmati
April 7, 2025
Pakistan’s Defense Minister condemned critics of Afghan migrant expulsions, calling them “enemies” and asserting that they have no place in Pakistan.
Pakistan’s Defense Minister has responded to criticism regarding the forced expulsion of Afghan migrants, labeling critics as “enemies of Pakistan.” He emphasized that those who do not respect the country have no place in it.
On Saturday, Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif made strong remarks against opponents of the deportation process, stating that those who oppose the removal of Afghan migrants are effectively standing against Pakistan’s national interests. He also addressed reports suggesting Afghan migrants’ involvement in anti-government protests in Pakistan.
The minister pointed out that individuals who disrespect Pakistan’s flag and show no value for the country do not deserve to stay in Pakistan and should be expelled. He reaffirmed that the government would take a firm stance against any internal or external security threats.
Asif emphasized that the government’s priority is to ensure the country’s stability by removing elements that pose a threat to national security. The comments come as Pakistan continues its ongoing operation to expel Afghan migrants, with hundreds of thousands already sent back to Afghanistan.
The government of Pakistan has defended the deportations as part of its security measures, but human rights organizations and some citizens have condemned the policy as unethical and inhumane. According to international reports, many Afghan migrants fled to Pakistan due to insecurity and economic crises in their home country.
The Pakistani government’s stance on the forced expulsion reflects the country’s broader security concerns, but it continues to spark debate on the ethical implications and humanitarian impact on Afghan migrants. While the government insists on its necessity for national security, global attention remains focused on how the policy affects vulnerable populations in the region.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/pakistan-defense-minister-calls-critics-of-afghan-refugee-expulsion-enemies-of-pakistan/
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UN urges continued donor support amid Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis
By Fidel Rahmati-
April 7, 2025
The UN urges international donors to maintain critical support for Afghanistan, addressing urgent humanitarian needs amid a severe crisis.
The United Nations is urging international donors to maintain critical support for Afghanistan, a country facing the second-largest humanitarian crisis in the world. In 2025, approximately 22.9 million Afghans are in urgent need of assistance. The UN’s call for continued aid is highlighted ahead of the Afghanistan Coordination Group (ACG) meetings in Istanbul, where representatives from Member States, International Financial Institutions, and UNAMA will discuss the country’s situation.
The UN stated in a statement on 7 April 2025, as the ACG meetings commenced, that Indrika Ratwatte, the UN’s Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan, emphasized the importance of ongoing donor support. She highlighted that long-term resilience and stability for Afghanistan depend on the international community’s ability to address both immediate humanitarian needs and the underlying causes of vulnerability. The UN’s goal is to help the Afghan people break free from the cycle of poverty and suffering while focusing on sustainable solutions.
According to the statement, in 2024, the international community raised US$3.21 billion for Afghanistan’s humanitarian and basic needs programs. This generous funding enabled the UN and its partners to deliver essential life-saving assistance, sustain critical services, and enhance the resilience of vulnerable groups, especially women and girls. These contributions also helped achieve some positive results, including improved food security and moderate economic growth.
However, the global funding crisis threatens to undermine these hard-won gains. A decline in international support could undo progress made over the past four years, potentially triggering negative coping mechanisms among Afghans, such as irregular migration. This could lead to even greater instability in the region and further strain neighboring countries.
The UN stresses the need for sustained commitment from the international donor community to avoid setbacks in Afghanistan’s development. It is crucial to strike a balance between emergency assistance and long-term solutions. The continued engagement of global partners is essential to ensure Afghanistan’s stability and recovery.
The ongoing humanitarian crisis calls for a united response, with both immediate aid and sustainable investments in the country’s future. The UN’s plea serves as a reminder that Afghanistan’s recovery is a shared responsibility that requires continued global attention and action. Without this support, the risks of further destabilization could increase.
Meanwhile, maintaining funding and support for Afghanistan is not only vital for the country’s recovery but also for the broader stability of the region. The international community must remain committed to helping Afghanistan overcome its challenges, providing hope and opportunities for its people to rebuild their lives.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/un-urges-continued-donor-support-amid-afghanistans-humanitarian-crisis/
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Malnutrition threatens the lives of millions of Children in Afghanistan: WFP
By Fidel Rahmati
April 7, 2025
The World Food Programme (WFP) has once again warned about the dire situation facing children in Afghanistan, stating that millions of Afghan children are at serious risk of malnutrition this year.
According to WFP officials in Afghanistan, recent assessments reveal that at least 3.5 million children across the country will face malnutrition in the current year, a problem that continues to worsen daily.
The organization emphasized that every ten seconds, one Afghan child succumbs to malnutrition, highlighting the severity of the humanitarian crisis in a country that has struggled with decades of war, poverty, and deprivation.
The WFP has pointed out that the reduction in international aid has been a major obstacle in addressing the needs of the population. Millions of Afghan citizens, especially children, are at risk due to insufficient food resources.
Following the fall of the previous Afghan government and the rise of the Taliban, international aid to Afghanistan has drastically decreased. Alongside economic issues, drought, rising unemployment, and limited access to healthcare services, the nutrition situation, particularly among children, has reached a critical level.
The WFP has repeatedly warned that without adequate funding, it will not be able to assist all those in need in Afghanistan. The organization has previously stated that if the budget shortfall persists, it will have to scale back its operations, potentially exacerbating the humanitarian disaster in the country.
The international community’s support is crucial in addressing the severe food crisis in Afghanistan. If funding remains insufficient, millions of children and families will continue to face unimaginable hardships, deepening the existing humanitarian crisis.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/malnutrition-threatens-the-lives-of-millions-of-children-in-afghanistan-wfp/
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Iran’s Industry and Trade Minister to visit Afghanistan soon
By Fidel Rahmati
April 7, 2025
Iran’s Industry and Trade Minister is set to visit Afghanistan soon to discuss expanding bilateral trade and investment opportunities with Taliban officials.
The Iranian Embassy in Kabul has announced that Seyed Mohammad Atabak, Iran’s Minister of Industry, Mine, and Trade, is scheduled to visit Afghanistan in the near future.
According to the statement released Sunday, April 6, Iranian Ambassador Alireza Bikdeli shared this development following his meeting with Minister Atabak in Tehran to discuss bilateral priorities.
Minister Atabak emphasized the importance of strengthening economic ties with Afghanistan and stated that he would lead a high-level delegation to Kabul to pursue trade discussions.
This follows an earlier visit by Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who also led a delegation to Kabul as part of growing engagement between the two neighbors.
The Taliban have framed these visits as part of their broader efforts to deepen trade partnerships, particularly with regional allies, and promote Afghanistan’s economic development.
Reports from Iranian media indicate that formal trade between Iran and Afghanistan currently stands at approximately four billion U.S. dollars, highlighting the significance of these bilateral relations.
Taliban officials have been actively encouraging foreign investors to participate in Afghanistan’s mining, oil, and gas sectors, which they claim are key to the country’s recovery.
Iran’s engagement reflects its strategic interest in maintaining influence in post-withdrawal Afghanistan while expanding economic corridors and securing access to key Afghanistan resources.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/irans-industry-and-trade-minister-to-visit-afghanistan-soon/
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Germany may pause evacuations of at-risk Afghan allies
By Fidel Rahmati
April 7, 2025
Germany may pause evacuations of at-risk Afghan allies, aiming to reassess current procedures and develop alternative resettlement strategies by June.
The German newspaper Welt am Sonntag has reported that parliamentary members of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Christian Social Union (CSU) have called on the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) to halt the evacuation of Afghan nationals until June. Their goal is to create an alternative plan for the ongoing evacuation process.
Ruben Neugebauer, founder of the NGO “Kabul Luftbrücke,” warned that such a suspension could have deadly consequences for those who trusted Germany and are now being left behind. He emphasized the potential life-threatening impact of abandoning evacuation promises.
Andrea Lindholz, deputy of the CSU, stated that each Afghan applicant’s case should be carefully reviewed. She added that the objective is to conclude these evacuation programs, but those who have already been promised relocation should be considered individually and thoroughly.
According to Welt am Sonntag, following the Taliban takeover, the German federal government has spent over 182 million euros on Afghan evacuation efforts. With the suspension of further evacuations, Germany is now considering two new scenarios: canceling current asylum cases or reassessing its previous promises.
In the first scenario, pending cases will be individually re-evaluated and could be rejected if the threat level is deemed insufficient. The second scenario explores alternative resettlement mechanisms, such as transferring individuals through third countries or placing them in safe zones—although these alternatives remain vague and undeveloped.
Currently, approximately 4,800 Afghans in Afghanistan and Pakistan are waiting to be relocated to Germany under promised resettlement programs. Many of them are former employees of the German military and associated institutions, relying on Germany’s commitment for safe passage.
This situation reflects growing political pressure and internal debate in Germany regarding its responsibilities toward Afghan allies. While the CDU/CSU coalition pushes for stricter review and eventual phase-out of the evacuation programs, human rights groups and NGOs continue to advocate for honoring Germany’s past commitments. The coming months will determine whether Germany maintains its humanitarian stance or shifts toward a more restrictive asylum policy.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/germany-may-pause-evacuations-of-at-risk-afghan-allies/
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Mideast
UAE foreign minister presses Palestinian cause during meeting with Israeli counterpart
April 07, 2025
DUBAI/RIYADH: The United Arab Emirates foreign minister on Sunday pressed the need for a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict during a meeting in Abu Dhabi with his Israeli counterpart, the UAE foreign ministry said in a statement.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who is also the UAE's deputy prime minister, discussed with Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar “the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip” and efforts to reach a ceasefire, said the statement posted on the ministry website.
It said the meeting was attended by Saeed Mubarak Al Hajeri, UAE Assistant Minister for Economic and Trade Affairs, and Mohamed Mahmoud Al Khaja, UAE Ambassador to Israel.
Saar wrote on the X platform that it was his second meeting with Sheikh Abdullah.
The UAE and Israel established relations in 2020 as part of the US-brokered Abraham Accords. But there has been little bilateral contact since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023, after the Hamas attacks on Israel.
"Sheikh Abdullah stressed the priority of working towards a ceasefire and the release of hostages, as well as the importance of avoiding further escalation of the conflict in the region," the statement said.
Sheikh Abdullah also "reiterated the urgent need to advance a serious political horizon for the resumption of negotiations to achieve a comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution," it added.
"He reaffirmed the UAE’s longstanding fraternal and historic stance in support of the Palestinian people, underlining the country’s unwavering commitment to supporting the Palestinian people and their right to self-determination," it also said.
The UAE foreign minister further "emphasized the importance of ending extremism, rising tensions and violence in the region," said the statement.
The meeting comes as Israel continued to pummel Gaza, destroying homes and killing more civilians as it resumed its military offensive last month after disregarding a truce that the United States helped broker.
In the latest casualty count of the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry, more than 1,330 people have been killed since Israel's military resumed the offensive.
The overall death toll since the war erupted now stands at 50,695, according to the ministry.
The war began when Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 hostage. Fifty-nine hostages are still held in Gaza — 24 believed to be alive.
Among the latest in Israel's perceived deliberate targetting of civilians were15 medics from the Red Crescent, whose bodies were recovered only a week later.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2596148/middle-east
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Top Iranian general warns of 'crushing, irreversible' retaliation amid U.S. provocations
April 6, 2025
The top general declared on Sunday that Iran’s retaliation would be “swift, crushing, and irreversible,” underscoring the country’s readiness to counter escalating U.S. military provocations across West Asia.
“From the moment the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei’s order is issued, a flood of our capabilities will rain down upon the enemy in the shortest possible time,” General. Bagheri stated during an address to commanders and staff at the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters in Tehran.
While emphasizing Iran’s defensive stance, he stressed, “The Islamic Republic does not seek war, but it will never accept coercion or bullying and will stand firm against such behavior.”
The remarks come amid heightened tensions fueled by Washington’s aggressive military posturing in West Asia.
Over recent weeks, the U.S. has extended deployments of its USS Truman and USS Vinson carrier strike groups in the Persian Gulf, positioned B-2 stealth bombers at the illegally occupied Diego Garcia base in the Chagos Archipelago, and reinforced troops at regional bases encircling Iran.
Analysts describe these moves as part of a broader campaign to intimidate sovereign states into submission.
In response, Iran’s Armed Forces have intensified defensive preparations, with the Tehran Times exclusively reporting that advanced domestically developed missile systems—some housed in deep underground networks immune to foreign strikes—have been ready to be fully operational.
Iran’s military readiness was further highlighted by recent inspections conducted by senior commanders.
Brigadier General Alireza Sabahi-Fard, head of the Khatam al-Anbiya Joint Air Defense Base, and IRGC Aerospace Force Commander Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh recently assessed combat preparedness in southern coastal regions and islands.
“Our armed forces, particularly air defense units, are more prepared than ever to counter any threat,” Sabahi-Fard asserted, warning that adversaries’ “miscalculations will meet a decisive response.”
Last week, Hajizadeh cautioned U.S. forces stationed in the region, stating, “Those living in glass houses should not throw stones.”
The aerospace force chief noted the vulnerability of the U.S.’s 10 regional bases and 50,000 troops near Iran, adding, “Our precision-strike capabilities render their presence a liability.”
‘Leader’s response to Trump’s letter was strategic’
General Bagheri also addressed a recent letter from U.S. President Donald Trump to Ayatollah Khamenei, which reportedly contained threats and demands for negotiations.
Tehran chose to respond to the letter; and while the letter’s exact contents remain undisclosed, Bagheri revealed that Ayatollah Khamenei’s response outlined Iran’s principled positions:
- Iran will not initiate conflict but will retaliate with full force against any threat.
- The nation seeks regional stability and rejects nuclear weapons, focusing instead on peaceful nuclear energy for civilian needs.
- Direct talks with the U.S. are off the table due to Washington’s history of reneging on commitments, though indirect diplomacy remains possible.
“The Leader’s wise and measured reply exposed the U.S. as the least trustworthy party in negotiations,” Bagheri said, lambasting Trump as a “narcissistic bully” whose confrontational policies have alienated even traditional allies.
The exchange follows months of escalating rhetoric from Washington. Since January, Trump has repeatedly threatened to “bomb Iran” unless it capitulates to U.S. demands—a breach of international law widely condemned as reckless brinkmanship.
The U.S. president also signed a memorandum accusing Iran of “destabilizing behavior,” reinstating sanctions and outlining plans to further strangle its economy by reducing oil exports to zero—reviving the “maximum pressure” campaign initiated in 2018 after Trump unilaterally withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal in his first term.
Source: tehrantimes.com
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https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/511490/Top-Iranian-general-warns-of-crushing-irreversible-retaliation
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France’s Macron meets Egypt leader for Gaza talks
April 06, 2025
CAIRO: France’s President Emmanuel Macron started talks dominated by the Gaza war on Sunday with Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi after arriving in Cairo.
On Monday, Macron, El-Sisi and Jordan’s King Abdullah II will hold a summit as Israel renews its offensive against Hamas in Gaza.
On Tuesday, the French leader will head to the Egyptian port of El-Arish, near Gaza, to highlight the territory’s humanitarian plight.
Macron and El-Sisi held a dinner in a Cairo souk just after the French president arrived for the 48-hour visit.
Macron also took time for a private visit to the new Grand Egyptian Museum, to be officially inaugurated on July 3, that will show off 100,000 historic artefacts.
The two presidents will hold a more formal meeting on Monday morning before the summit with King Abdullah.
“The situation in Gaza will be widely discussed,” the French presidency said of the meetings stressing the importance of Egypt and Jordan in ending the war.
Egypt, along with Qatar and the United States, has been a mediator between Israel and Hamas. The United States has meanwhile called on Jordan and Egypt to accept Palestinian refugees from Gaza.
Israel has pushed to seize Gazan territory since the March 18 collapse of a short-lived truce with Hamas, in what it has called a strategy to force the militants to free hostages still held in Gaza.
Simultaneously, Israel has escalated attacks on Lebanon and Syria.
The port of El-Arish, 50 kilometers (30 miles) west of the Gaza Strip, has been a key transit point for international aid arriving for Gaza.
Macron is to meet humanitarian and security workers there to demonstrate his “constant mobilization in favor of a ceasefire,” his office said.
Most international aid went through the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt but this has been suspended by Israel since early March.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2596156/middle-east
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Palestinian official says Israeli forces killed West Bank teen with US citizenship
April 07, 2025
RAMALLAH, Palestinian Territories: A Palestinian official told AFP that Israeli forces shot dead a teenager holding US citizenship in the occupied West Bank Sunday, while the Israeli military said it had killed a “terrorist” who threw rocks at cars.
Omar Muhammad Saadeh Rabee, a 14-year-old “who was killed in Turmus Ayya, held US citizenship,” the town’s mayor, Lafi Shalabi, told AFP.
The Israeli military said that during “counter-terrorism activity” in Turmus Ayya, “soldiers identified three terrorists who hurled rocks toward the highway, thus endangering civilians driving.”
“The soldiers opened fire toward the terrorists who were endangering civilians, eliminating one terrorist and hitting two additional terrorists,” a military statement added.
The Palestinian health ministry said one person was in critical condition and another suffered minor injuries in the same incident.
Shalabi said one of the wounded also had US citizenship. And Turmus Ayya, northest of the main West Bank city of Ramallah, is known for having many dual US-Palestinian citizens.
The Palestine Red Crescent said its teams had taken the body of the deceased boy to a hospital. It also reported the injuries of two boys shot in the lower abdomen and thigh respectively, during “clashes” in Turmus Ayya.
One of the two, 14-year-old Abdul Rahman Shehadeh, told AFP he was shot by a soldier while collecting fruit near the town.
The second, who was shot in the abdomen, was identified as 14-year-old Ayoub Asaad by his father Ahed Asaad. He confirmed that the boy had a US passport.
Ahed Assad said that an ambulance that took his wounded son to hospital was stopped by soldiers.
“We were stopped at a military checkpoint at the village entrance, and a soldier told me that he was the one who shot the three boys,” he told AFP.
The Palestinian Authority’s foreign affairs ministry denounced the Israeli forces’ “use of live fire against three children.”
“Israel’s continued impunity as an illegal occupying power encourages it to commit further crimes,” it added.
Violence has soared in the West Bank since the Gaza war started on October 7, 2023.
Israeli troops or settlers have killed at least 918 Palestinians, including militants, in the West Bank since then, according to Palestinian health ministry figures.
Palestinian attacks and clashes during military raids have killed at least 33 Israelis, including soldiers, over the same period, according to official figures.
Israel has occupied the West Bank, home to about three million Palestinians, since 1967.
Source: arabnews.com
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Moroccans protest Israel’s offensive in Gaza and take aim at Trump
April 07, 2025
RABAT, Morocco: Tens of thousands of Moroccans on Sunday protested Israel’s latest offensive in Gaza, putting fury toward US President Donald Trump near the center of their grievances.
In the largest protest Morocco has seen in months, demonstrators denounced Israel, the United States and their own government. Some stepped on Israeli flags, held banners showing slain Hamas leaders and waved posters juxtaposing Trump alongside displaced Palestinians fleeing their homes.
Organizers condemned Israel’s ongoing military operation in Gaza. Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed since Israel renewed air and ground strikes last month, aimed at pressuring Hamas to release remaining hostages.
Such protests have erupted across the Middle East and North Africa, where leaders typically worry about demonstrations undermining domestic stability. Pro-Palestinian rallies were also staged this weekend in the capitals of Tunisia and Yemen as well as in Morocco’s most populous city Casablanca.
In countries that have historically aligned with the US, anti-Trump backlash has emerged as a theme. Demonstrators in Rabat on Sunday condemned his proposal to displace millions of Palestinians to make way for the redevelopment of Gaza. as well as the US efforts to pursue pro-Palestinian activists.
Still, many Moroccans said they saw Trump’s policies as mostly consistent with his predecessor, Joe Biden’s.
“(Trump) has made the war worse,” said Mohammed Toussi, who traveled from Casablanca with his family to protest.
“Biden hid some things but Trump has shown it all,” he added, likening their positions but not their messaging.
Protesters, Toussi said, remain angry about Morocco’s 2020 decision to normalize ties with Israel.
Abdelhak El Arabi, an adviser to Morocco’s former Islamist prime minister, said the reasons Moroccans were protesting had grown throughout the war. He predicted popular anger would continue until the war ends.
“It’s not a war, Gaza is getting erased from the earth,” the 62-year-old Tamesna resident said.
Demonstrations have included a range of groups, including the Islamist association al Adl Wal Ihsan. Moroccan authorities tolerate most protests, but have arrested some activists who have rallied in front of businesses or foreign embassies or implicated the monarchy in their complaints.
The war began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 hostages. Most have since been released in ceasefire agreements and other deals. More than 50,000 Palestinians have been killed as part of Israel’s offensive, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which doesn’t say whether those killed are civilians or combatants. The war has left most of Gaza in ruins, and at its height displaced around 90 percent of the population. Source: arabnews.com
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Gaza rescuers say Israeli strikes kill 44
April 06, 2025
GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories: Gaza’s civil defense agency said Israeli strikes killed at least 44 people on Sunday as Israel’s prime minister vowed a “strong response” to a rare salvo of rockets fired from the Hamas-ruled territory.
Dozens of Palestinians have been killed almost daily since Israel resumed its military offensive in Gaza on March 18, ending a two-month ceasefire that had brought relative calm to the territory.
“The death toll as a result of Israeli air strikes since dawn today is at least 44, including 21 in Khan Yunis,” a city in the southern Gaza Strip, civil defense agency spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP.
One strike killed six people on Al-Nakheel Street in the Al-Tuffah neighborhood of Gaza City, where a group had gathered near a bakery, Bassal said.
Three children were among the dead, he said.
A Hamas statement called the strike “a deliberate act of child killing” and a “confirmation of the sadistic and barbaric nature of the occupation and its fascist leaders.”
AFP footage captured thick plumes of smoke rising from central and northern Gaza as Israeli forces bombarded areas of the besieged Palestinian territory.
A ceasefire brokered by the United States, Egypt and Qatar ended on March 18 as Israel resumed its offensive in response to the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023.
Elsewhere Israel said it shot dead “one terrorist” in the West Bank for throwing rocks, with Palestinian officials claiming it was a 14-year-old boy with US citizenship.
Gaza has since endured a new wave of relentless strikes and artillery fire, with dozens of fatalities reported on a near-daily basis.
Efforts to revive the ceasefire and secure the release of the remaining hostages held in Gaza have so far failed.
The stalled efforts will be on the agenda during a meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump, set for Monday in Washington.
Netanyahu ordered a “strong response,” his office said, after the Israeli military reported about 10 “projectiles” had been fired from Gaza within minutes of each other on Sunday. Most were intercepted.
The Israeli offensive since 2023 has severely weakened Hamas, but the army has recorded 10 other rockets fired at Israel over the past two weeks.
Israeli police said debris fell in Ashkelon, near the Gaza border, and paramedics said one man had been wounded.
“The prime minister instructed to deliver a strong response and approved the continuation of the intensified IDF operations in Gaza against Hamas,” Netanyahu’s office said.
One Israeli strike on Sunday hit the home of the Abu Issa family in Deir el-Balah, killing women and children, according to witnesses.
“There were no wanted individuals in the house — even the men were at the mosque,” said Mohammad Al-Azaizeh, a resident.
“They were all civilians — children, women and girls. A missile tore through every floor, flattening the house. It felt like a nuclear bomb had hit us.”
AFP footage from another strike late on Saturday in Gaza City showed scenes of devastation at a hospital, where men and women mourned bodies wrapped in white shrouds.
“We heard the explosion and rushed to check on the children,” said Umm Haytham Al-Salakhi through tears, as she grieved a relative at Al-Ahli Hospital.
“I kept calling out for all our children.”
One sobbing man cradled a relative’s body, as dozens gathered to perform funeral prayers before the victims were taken for burial.
“They struck unarmed civilians while they slept,” said another resident, Mohammad Rahmi, who also lost a relative in the bombing.
Several men held the bodies of children wrapped in shrouds, while rescuers transported the wounded to the hospital, according to AFP images.
Some of the wounded, including children, were treated in the hospital’s corridor as relatives gathered nearby.
Scenes from a destroyed home revealed collapsed concrete slabs and twisted metal, as children sifted through the rubble in search of salvaged belongings.
Since Israel’s military resumed its offensive in Gaza last month, more than 1,330 people have been killed in the territory, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry.
The war began after Palestinian militants attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in the deaths of 1,218 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.
The overall death toll since the war erupted now stands at 50,695, according to the Gaza health ministry.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2596136/middle-east
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UNICEF forced to shut down malnutrition centers in Gaza amid worsening humanitarian crisis
April 06, 2025
GAZA: The UN Children’s Fund has closed 21 malnutrition treatment centers in the Gaza Strip, citing ongoing Israeli military operations and recent evacuation orders in the areas where these centres were operating.
Kazem Abu Khalaf, a spokesperson for the organization, said on Sunday that the closures were directly linked to Israel’s renewed military actions and the increasingly volatile security situation, Palestinian WAFA news agency reported.
Abu Khalaf added that UNICEF was currently awaiting findings from a special body tasked with assessing the scale of food insecurity in Gaza, with the aim of presenting a comprehensive picture of the deteriorating conditions.
The closures come as Gaza faces an unprecedented humanitarian emergency, exacerbated by Israel’s continued blockade of aid into the enclave.
According to UNICEF, Israeli authorities have blocked all crossings into Gaza for 35 consecutive days, preventing the entry of food, medical supplies, and nutritional supplements.
On Saturday, UNICEF issued a stark warning, stating that more than one million children in Gaza have been cut off from life-saving humanitarian assistance for over a month.
The organization condemned the blockade, calling it a violation of international humanitarian law with devastating consequences for children and other vulnerable groups.
UNICEF confirmed it has thousands of aid parcels ready for immediate delivery but has been unable to gain access. It also revealed that food supplies for infants in Gaza have been entirely depleted, while the remaining stock of ready-to-use infant milk is only sufficient to feed 400 children for one month.
The crisis in Gaza has intensified since the resumption of hostilities in March, which ended a temporary ceasefire which came into force earlier this year.
Israel’s war with Hamas, which started in October 2023, has left much of Gaza’s infrastructure in ruins and displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians.
Aid agencies have repeatedly warned of the risk of famine and a collapse of basic health services unless humanitarian access is urgently restored.
Source: arabnews.com
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IAEA chief acknowledges Iran has no nuclear weapons, says will visit Tehran in coming weeks
April 6, 2025
Speaking in an interview with Argentina’s "La Nación Más" television network, Grossi admitted that Iran has not developed the means to construct a nuclear bomb.
However, he alleged that Iran holds “significant quantities of enriched uranium,” a repeated claim that Iran has always rejected.
These remarks, while framed within a political narrative, still reaffirm what the Islamic Republic has maintained for years: Iran's nuclear activities are peaceful, legal, and under strict international supervision.
Grossi, who continues to echo political language influenced by certain Western capitals, nevertheless recognized that enriched uranium, even in significant quantities, does not constitute a nuclear weapon. “Our estimate is that Iran now has enough enriched uranium for six or seven weapons,” he claimed, “but that does not mean Iran has such weapons.” He further acknowledged that weaponization involves advanced technological systems which are not in place.
Grossi’s comments come amid increasing tension in international diplomatic circles. Referring to recent communications between Tehran and Washington, he revealed that the U.S. President Donald Trump had sent a direct message to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.
“In that message, Trump suggested negotiations,” Grossi noted, “but also issued threats, including reference to a two-month deadline and the possibility of bombing.” Such rhetoric, again resorting to the worn-out language of threats and coercion, highlights the double standards at the heart of American foreign policy.
Following his arrival in Buenos Aires, Grossi held a telephone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, during which it was agreed that the IAEA chief would travel to Tehran in the coming weeks. The objective of this visit is to address remaining technical questions and further de-escalate tensions caused largely by Western provocation. “We must avoid a confrontation that would be catastrophic,” Grossi said—an outcome that Iran has always sought to prevent through dialogue and transparency.
The Islamic Republic of Iran has always emphasized the peaceful nature of its nuclear program and has fully complied with its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Yet, despite Iran's cooperation, its peaceful efforts have been met with continuous pressure, misinformation, and sabotage.
After the signing of the JCPOA in 2015, Iran fulfilled all of its commitments, as confirmed by over a dozen IAEA reports. However, in 2018, the United States unilaterally violated the agreement by withdrawing from it and reimposing illegal sanctions on the Iranian nation. The European parties, while expressing regret, failed to take effective steps to honor their own commitments. In response, and within the framework of Articles 26 and 36 of the JCPOA, Iran exercised its legal right to reduce its commitments in a reversible manner.
Nonetheless, the Islamic Republic has always kept the door to diplomacy open. Recent talks with the European trio in Geneva and with China in Beijing are clear signs of Tehran’s constructive approach. Iran has reaffirmed its readiness to reach a sustainable and trustworthy agreement—one that ensures the full lifting of sanctions and provides guarantees against future violations.
In a reckless and inflammatory move, Donald Trump recently escalated tensions by stating in an NBC interview: “If they don’t agree to a deal, they will be bombed.” The Foreign Ministry of the Islamic Republic of Iran immediately summoned the Swiss chargé d'affaires in Tehran—the representative of U.S. interests—and handed over an official note of protest condemning Trump’s unlawful and provocative remarks.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei strongly condemned the statement, writing on social media platform X: “Such a threat is a flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter. Violence breeds violence. Peace breeds peace. The United States must choose its path—along with the consequences.”
Source: tehrantimes.com
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Arab World
‘At the Edge’: Art Week Riyadh signals bold new chapter in Saudi cultural renaissance, say organizers
April 06, 2025
RIYADH: Art Week Riyadh is making waves in the Saudi capital this week, with curators and creatives hailing the event as a pivotal moment in the Kingdom’s fast-evolving cultural landscape, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Organized by the Visual Arts Commission and hosted at the JAX District from April 6 to 13, the event is bringing together local and international artists, curators, and institutions in a celebration of contemporary creativity and cross-cultural dialogue.
The initiative reflects the growing momentum of Saudi Arabia’s cultural transformation, part of the broader Vision 2030 reform agenda that is reshaping the Kingdom’s social and artistic fabric, according to organizers.
Vittoria Matarrese, Director and Art Curator of Art Week Riyadh, described the event as a significant turning point.
“We chose the title ‘At the Edge’ because it reflects the nature of the phase Riyadh is undergoing,” Matarrese said. “It is a city positioned between the desert and urbanization, between heritage and renewal. This balance is evident in the diversity of participation and the dialogues presented by the exhibition.”
She added that Riyadh is increasingly defining itself as a space where modernity and tradition intersect, enabling a unique creative evolution.
Shumon Basar, curator of the Public Cultural Program at Art Week Riyadh, underscored the importance of the conversations taking place as part of the programme, titled “How to Create an Art World: Lessons in Value.”
He explained: “Our goal is not only to share experiences, but also to raise essential questions about the types of value that art creates in the contemporary world—whether economic, symbolic, or social—and how art can serve as a tool to understand cultural transformations, rather than merely reflect them.”
Art Week Riyadh serves as a key cultural platform that embraces diversity and encourages artistic experimentation, offering a space for critical reflection on the evolving role of art in society, SPA added.
Source: arabnews.com
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A look at NEOM’s prehistoric masterpieces etched in stone
TAREQ AL-THAQAFI
April 06, 2025
MAKKAH: In the heart of NEOM’s Hisma Desert, where sandstone mountains and plateaus rise from the arid landscape, is an extraordinary collection of ancient rock art and archaeological inscriptions. These priceless treasures illuminate the cultural and economic vitality of long-lost civilizations.
Once a vital corridor for caravans travelling the ancient trade routes of the Arabian Peninsula, this region preserves an invaluable legacy etched into its geological formations.
Abdulelah Al-Fares, a photographer and expert in ancient artifacts and a member of the Saudi Heritage Preservation Society, told Arab News that the rock art is in the mountains and plateaus in NEOM, part of a mountain range in the northwestern part of Tabuk.
Hisma Desert is bordered by the Sharah Mountains to the north, by Wadi Araba to the northwest, by the Hijaz Mountains to the west, and by Harrat Al-Raha to the south.
“The plateaus, part of the Hisma Desert and its geological formations, represent an open-air museum of nature, ancient rock art, and diverse historical inscriptions,” he said.
The rock drawings feature engravings of human figures, animals and various scattered scenes throughout the site.
The engravings on the plateau’s facades depict scenes of animals, including wild animals such as camels, cattle, ibexes, ostriches and wolves, as well as other predatory animals, and depictions of hunting scenes and human combat.
“These drawings are notable for their precision and have remarkably withstood the elements for thousands of years,” he said. “Most of the themes and scenes in some of the rock drawings in the region are repeated and depict, to some extent, the world of wild animals and the interactions of humans through hunting and warfare.
“The mountains embody a civilizational and cultural legacy through their distinctive rock drawings featuring human and animal forms,” Al-Fares said.
He also highlighted the value of exploring NEOM’s ancient rock art. These carvings — depicting animals, hunting scenes and human figures — are a bridge between our modern lives and the world of humans thousands of years ago. They are a source of cultural and historical knowledge.
The artworks also illuminate the journey of human civilization, revealing its cultural and social evolution in the region.
Scattered throughout the area, a wide array of rock art sites show a vast and dense collection of drawings and archaeological inscriptions from different eras etched on mountain surfaces.
Al-Fares pointed out their diversity, noting the varied artistic styles, forms, and themes that distinguish each piece.
Among the standout examples are life-sized camels crafted with remarkable precision and aesthetic detail. The careful attention to detail is thought to underscore the camel’s role as an essential sources of food and transport in ancient times.
Another façade shows a herd of cows, all facing forward, their large crescent-shaped horns curving at the tips. Encircling this herd, human figures of varying sizes are skilfully carved.
These ancient artworks are pictorial panels of human history, activity, environmental adaptation, and cultural development during ancient times. Their value shines brighter given the scarcity of insights into prehistoric life.
Studying rock art in the region matters deeply because it reveals economic and cultural changes that shaped the northern Arabian Peninsula.
The drawings show how people interacted with now-extinct animals in the area, as well as with livestock and camels.
Many carvings portray human beings astride animals, including a warrior wielding a spear and sword, rendered with finesse and skill.
Scattered throughout the region, some drawings hint at the presence of different ethnic groups that lived in the area. The provide clues to migratiosn and trace the routes of trade caravans that used these locations as settlement points.
Source: arabnews.com
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RCRC warns public against intermediaries offering assistance in applying for land use in Riyadh
April 07, 2025
RIYADH: Beware of unauthorized individuals or groups offering assistance in applying for land use in the national capital, the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) advised the public on Sunday.
The Commission issued the warning as it announced that it has begun implementing the royal directive issued by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on taking practical measures to achieve balance in the real estate sector in Riyadh, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The RCRC noted that it is currently working on developing an electronic platform dedicated to receiving land use applications directly from citizens without the need for any intermediaries or external parties.
Any claims or messages published regarding the existence of entities that allow or facilitate applications are baseless, the RCRC said.
The Commission also called on everyone to obtain information from official sources only, and to beware of any fraudulent attempts claiming to grant land outside the regulatory framework.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman earlier directed a series of measures aimed at achieving stability in the sector.
Among these measures was the lifting of restrictions on land transactions and development in northern Riyadh, as recommended in a study by the RCRC and the Council of Economic and Development Affairs.
Source: arabnews.com
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The Saudi volunteer team that carries out emergency rescues in the Northern region
TAREQ AL-THAQAFI
April 06, 2025
MAKKAH: A volunteer search and rescue team recently helped to evacuate a severely overweight man suffering a medical emergency in an apartment in Saudi Arabia’s Northern Borders region.
The man, weighing around 200 kilograms, was suffering from shortness of breath and low oxygen levels.
Due to the narrow staircase in the building — around a meter wide — the specialized team had to be brought in to evacuate the patient on a stretcher.
The team worked with the Saudi Red Crescent to safely transport him to a nearby hospital where he was placed on a respirator.
It was one example of a diverse range of rescue missions that the Turaif Falcons Search and Rescue Association regularly carry out.
Their work includes rescuing people from floods, assisting motorists stuck in the sand and locating people who have gone missing in the desert.
Operating under the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, they thrive in a spirited volunteer environment, committing their time, skills, and energy to community service while promoting a culture of volunteerism.
In an interview with Arab News, Mohammed Bashit Al-Ruwaili, head of public relations and media, and the official spokesperson for the association, said that the team is made up of over 150 dedicated volunteers, who play essential roles in multiple areas — most notably in supporting official agencies during search and rescue operations and contributing to life-saving efforts.
He emphasized that the team operates within a well-structured institutional framework, working in direct coordination with relevant security authorities to assist in the execution of rescue missions.
Al-Ruwaili noted that the team plays a vital role in raising community awareness through training programs that teach members of the public about wilderness safety.
It also offers support via interactive community service initiatives led by experienced and skilled members.
The team is equipped with a comprehensive system that includes vehicles fitted with communication and alert devices, and personnel trained in first aid and search operations under challenging conditions.
He pointed out that the Falcons face major challenges from harsh weather conditions, including sandstorms and extreme heat, which can hinder rescue efforts, and emphasized the continuous need to strengthen and capabilities by providing volunteers with more advanced equipment.
Al-Ruwaili also underscored the importance of unified efforts between official agencies and volunteer teams to ensure rapid and effective emergency response.
The team is committed, he said, to expanding its efforts by attracting new volunteers and forging strategic partnerships with relevant authorities.
Al-Ruwaili stressed the importance of cooperating with authorities and promptly reporting any emergencies.
He reaffirmed the Turaif Falcons’ commitment to remaining on the front lines, always prepared to respond, save lives, and serve the community.
Source: arabnews.com
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Events at Ithra attract more than 100,000 in 3 days
April 06, 2025
RIYADH: The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture has attracted more than 100,000 visitors in three days with its vibrant lineup of cultural events and exclusive shows, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.
The Children’s Museum captivated young audiences with performances and interactive exhibits, including “Eid in a Bag” creations where children designed their own colors and patterns.
The “World Table” workshop introduced participants to foods from various cultures, while other highlights included “The Scent of Eid,” “Eid Riddles,” a “Balloon Art” workshop, and the imaginative show “What If I Were the Sky.”
Visitors also enjoyed family-friendly performances like “Between the Clouds” and “Between Memories” at the Ithra Gardens play area.
The Energy Exhibit also attracted an enthusiastic crowd with hands-on activities such as “Let’s Fly with Science,” “Fun Without Corners,” and “What Does the Light Hide?”
The festivities concluded with cinematic screenings and musical performances, including a show blending video game music with live piano and guitar.
Source: arabnews.com
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Baha exhibition highlights Saudi maritime legacy
April 06, 2025
RIYADH: An exhibition in Baha celebrated Saudi Arabia’s rich cultural and environmental heritage while showcasing its maritime traditions through diverse artworks.
Accompanying the Theater Tour initiative in Baha, the exhibition saw a strong turnout from residents and visitors, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Those attending praised the exhibition’s diverse artistic content, reflecting the Kingdom’s cultural richness, especially its maritime heritage central to the project, as well as the mountainous and cultural identity of Baha.
The event featured 16 paintings in contemporary styles inspired by the Saudi environment; three photographs capturing nature, agriculture, and harvest; and three Arabic calligraphy artworks highlighting the beauty and authenticity of scripts.
The exhibition also showcased two key elements of national identity: the marine environment, symbolized by fishing, boats, and sea chants, and the natural landscapes and traditional crafts of Baha.
The strong attendance reflected the growing interest in cultural initiatives that preserve heritage and strengthen ties between younger generations and the Kingdom’s artistic legacy.
Those attending also witnessed the craftsmanship behind fishing cages and nets and gained insight into the ancient profession of pearl diving, the SPA reported.
Craftsmen demonstrated the use of natural tools in diving, and the manual weaving of fishing nets, offering a nostalgic connection to the past and the lives of coastal communities.
Organized by the Theater and Performing Arts Commission, the three-day Theater Tour initiative in Baha also attracted crowds to the award-winning play “Bahr.”
The initiative takes performances to cities, governorates and villages throughout the Kingdom, and the first phase features “Bahr.”
The production now moves to Jubail from April 17-19, Dammam (April 24-26), and Al-Ahsa (May 1-3).
Inspired by maritime heritage, “Bahr” explores the traditions of sailors’ lives, particularly diving and pearl hunting.
The production is part of the commission’s strategy to promote culture across the Kingdom.
Source: arabnews.com
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Education Ministry to showcase 134 inventions at Geneva exhibition
April 06, 2025
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Education is to participate in the 50th Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions, which is scheduled to take place from April 9 to 13.
The event will showcase 134 scientific inventions from Saudi Arabia, alongside more than 1,000 inventions from 35 countries, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.
Saudi Arabia’s delegation will consist of representatives from universities and companies, and individual inventors and private-sector researchers, the SPA added.
Students from general education, universities, and technical training institutions, along with faculty members and inventors from around the world, will compete for seven major awards presented at the exhibition.
The inventions span a wide range of fields, including marine safety and technology, environmental technology and energy efficiency, nanotechnology and materials science, and security and biometric technology.
They also feature healthcare and medical devices, robotics and electromagnetic technology, transportation and infrastructure, and artificial intelligence.
Deputy Minister for International Cooperation Nasser Al-Aqili emphasized that the ministry’s participation reflected its commitment to supporting and nurturing students.
Al-Aqili, who is also the head of the Saudi delegation, highlighted the importance of increasing student participation in international scientific forums, aligning national priorities with research, development, and innovation.
This effort aligns with the goals of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, which aims to cultivate globally competitive citizens, according to the SPA.
Al-Aqili also noted the exhibition’s significance as a leading international platform for invention and innovation.
Source: arabnews.com
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Europe
Le Pen’s verdict exposes Western Europe’s dangerous trend
6 Apr, 2025
What’s happening in Western Europe is increasingly raising uncomfortable questions. On March 31, a French court found Marine Le Pen guilty in the so-called “fictitious aides” case, sentencing her to four years in prison and banning her from running for office for five years. Remarkably, the ban took effect immediately, without even waiting for an appeal.
The court’s decision has proved highly controversial, and not only among Russians, who typically see Le Pen as part of Europe’s Moscow-friendly political forces. Even French political figures have expressed bewilderment. Given Le Pen’s position as the frontrunner in the 2027 presidential elections, her conviction has undeniably taken on political dimensions. Some French politicians have already called upon President Emmanuel Macron to pardon Le Pen in order to preserve the face of the country’s “democracy.” Prime Minister François Bayrou reportedly expressed alarm, admitting privately to aides, “France is the only country that does this.”
But Bayrou is mistaken in believing France stands alone. Suppressing opposition figures through tactics reminiscent of hybrid autocracies is becoming the latest trend in EU states. Recently, Romania spectacularly canceled the first round of its presidential election, later jailing Calin Georgescu, the leading candidate.
Germany seems likely to follow suit. The emerging coalition government between the CDU/CSU and SPD is drafting legislation that could bar anyone convicted of “incitement to hatred” from political activity. Though not openly stated, this measure unmistakably targets the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).
The reason behind this crackdown lies deeper than any immediate legal disputes. Far-right parties across the bloc have increasingly challenged the European integration project itself. These political forces have openly called for slowing down or completely dismantling the EU in favor of returning to traditional nation-state structures. While some of these right-wing parties, including Le Pen’s National Rally and Germany’s AfD, have moved toward the political center in order to broaden their appeal, their reputation as “destroyers of Europe’s garden” remains entrenched.
Western European bureaucrats and established national elites are deeply unsettled by the growing popularity of these parties. Having benefited tremendously from the EU’s expansion and centralization for over three decades, they are unwilling to surrender their privileged positions without a fight. It’s as if they feel the ground shifting beneath their feet and will do anything necessary to preserve their status quo.
Yet here lies the paradox: the more the EU establishment struggles to remain in power through repressive measures, the quicker its authority and legitimacy erode. The bloc’s foundational identity rests on liberal democratic ideals, institutional sanctity, and the rule of law. When Brussels arbitrarily removes opposition candidates, it saws off the very branch upon which its entire elite sits.
The surge of Europe’s far right has not emerged in a vacuum. Its popularity directly stems from the existing EU leadership’s chronic inefficiency and inability to respond adequately to today’s challenges. Attempting to remove right-wing politicians from the playing field is not a solution. Discontented voters will inevitably find alternative ways to express their frustrations – likely even more fiercely once their grievances are compounded by deep mistrust of the political establishment.
Romania’s recent experience provides a vivid example. After the scandal involving the canceled election, Calin Georgescu’s popularity surged dramatically – from 23% to 40%. Once Georgescu was banned from running, voters swiftly pivoted to another far-right candidate, George-Nicolae Simion, who is now leading the race. This scenario seems almost comical, but could soon be replicated across France, Germany, and other EU states where authorities are excessively targeting opposition figures.
Western European leaders appear somewhat aware they’re playing a dangerous game. However, their conclusions and reactions to this crisis remain fundamentally flawed. EU bureaucrats try to unify the continent by exploiting citizens’ fears – fear of global instability, fear of military threats, fear of economic chaos. Their agendas emphasize support for Ukraine, joint military initiatives, and endless symbolic summits. Billions of euros are readily allocated to armament and defense.
Yet none of these actions address the real issues underlying the bloc’s deepening political divisions – economic stagnation, deteriorating living standards, mass immigration challenges, and declining trust in traditional governance structures. The EU’s refusal or inability to tackle these fundamental problems continues to fuel voter disillusionment.
Ultimately, the more the EU establishment clings desperately to power through authoritarian methods, the faster its cherished structures crumble. Until Western Europe’s leaders face reality and address genuine citizen concerns, this spiral of distrust and repression will only accelerate, making the EU’s future increasingly uncertain.
Source: rt.com
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MP condemns Britain First visit to Lakes Islamic Centre
6TH APRIL
By Daniel Hunt
THE VISIT of a far-right group to the construction site of an Islamic Centre in Dalton has been condemned.
Political figures as well as an anti-racism organisation have spoken out after Britain First held a demonstration outside the construction site of South Lakes Islamic Centre off Ulverston Road.
Anti Racist Cumbria urged the local community to ‘stand against’ misinformation about the development and Muslims as a group.
A spokesperson for the organisation said: “There is a lot of disinformation out there from the far-right about this development, and it is driven by an Islamophobic and racist agenda to create discord in our communities.
“They are calling it a ‘mega mosque’ when in reality it is planned to be a privately funded Islamic Community Centre with prayer rooms.”
Approved plans for the nine metres tall Islamic Centre said the site will have 15 car parking spaces with two overspill spaces, one minibus space and one disabled parking space.
Britain First, including co-leaders Paul Golding and Ashlea Simon, held a banner which read ‘no mosque here’ on a visit to the site in Dalton.
The organisation has also set up a petition, which calls for planning permission to be revoked, and has received over 70,000 signatures.
The group say they want to ‘hand-deliver this petition to Cumbria County Council in Carlisle’.
Britain First co-leader Paul Golding said the group ‘attracted a lot of beeps’ from passing motorists and added there is ‘no Islamic population’ in the area.
MP for Barrow and Furness Michelle Scrogham said: “Britain First, which emerged from the old British National Party, are not welcome in Barrow and Furness where, for generations, we are proud to have a community which supports one another.
“The aim of Britain First has always been to create division and turn communities against each other in pursuit of their extremist agenda which is completely at odds with the views and values of people locally.”
The South Lakes Islamic Centre charity believes the centre in Dalton will prove beneficial for local Muslim families and visiting tourists.
Planning approval was originally granted in December 2022 with the group previously stating the space would cater to the 40 to 50 practising Muslim doctors at Furness General Hospital and their families.
It is also hoped to serve ‘professionals, business communities and other trade workers who will need basic prayer, burial, teaching and community facilities’.
Deputy Leader of the Conservative Group at Westmorland and Furness Council councillor Matt Brereton said: “There is a sizeable Islamic faith community in the wider Furness area and I don’t really see there should be an issue in terms of them having somewhere they can celebrate their faith.
“We don’t want to see groups including Britain First coming to stir up tensions and create division in the community.”
A spokesperson for South Lakes Islamic Centre said in a YouTube video posted on March 20: “We are at a critical time in the project timeline, and we need funds. This jobs" target="_blank">work shouldn’t stop, we have funding in place until April and we request your support.”
The original plans were met with 30 objections while comments online ‘demonising the Muslim community’ were condemned by local councillors.
Planning documents submitted with the initial proposal read: “The proposed South Lakes Islamic Centre has the aim of providing a facility that offers public prayer space for the Muslim Community in the local area and beyond.
“In addition, the facility is proposed to provide a public community space which is accessible to all and its location in such a sustainable location in close proximity to the local school, the established settlement of Dalton-in-Furness and local shops and services, it has the potential to be used by a wide range of community groups.”
Source: asianimage.co.uk
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Globalisation era has ended, says Treasury minister
April 06, 2025
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones said the era of globalisation has "ended" following Donald Trump's new tariffs.
It comes after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer suggested in a Sunday Telegraph article he was about to announce state intervention to protect UK firms from the US president's move.
The UK was among nations hit with a 10% "baseline" import duty, and negotiations on a trade deal to reduce tariffs are continuing.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch disagreed that globalisation was over and pointed to "great" trading relationships with other countries.
Some analysts fear a global recession following Trump's so-called Liberation Day, when he announced sweeping import taxes, sparking retaliatory action from countries including China and Canada.
The prime minister has said the government "will do everything necessary to protect Britain's national interest" and is "ready to use industrial policy" to help shelter businesses, because "the world as we know it has gone".
Speaking to the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, Jones was asked whether globalisation - which has resulted in a boom in imports of cheap fashion, electrical goods and other products - was over.
"Yeah it's ended, the prime minister said that himself this morning," he said.
"Globalisation as we've known it for the last couple of decades has come to an end."
The change meant the UK had to "build out" relationships with allies around the world but also invest in the UK's own economy, Jones said, denying ministers were "scrabbling" for solutions.
He insisted the government was "trying to get ahead of these challenges", and that was why the government is "investing in the NHS and skills as well as industrial policy".
Amid reports that elements of the spending review and the industrial strategy could be brought forward from their expected June publication date, Jones said Labour had been working on the industrial strategy since it was in opposition.
Pressed on whether measures would be brought forward, Jones deferred to Sir Keir's announcement expected in the coming days and laughed when Kuenssberg said "that sounds almost like a yes, but you're not allowed to say it to us this morning".
The UK government has continued its policy of not responding to US tariffs with counter-tariffs, as other countries have done - preferring, ministers have said, a "calm" approach focused on a UK-US trade deal.
"We're hoping to do a deal," Jones said, adding that "we have a better outcome than other comparable countries as a consequence of our diplomacy" on tariffs.
The Liberal Democrats have called for MPs to be allowed to vote on any deal struck with Trump due to concerns about the possibility of changes to regulations around farming, online content and the digital services tax on US social media giants.
The party's deputy leader Daisy Cooper said it would be "deeply undemocratic" to sideline Parliament on these "critical" issues.
She said: "Both Conservative and Labour MPs should commit now to voting down any Trump deal that sells out British farmers and their high food standards or waters down our online safety rules."
Asked to rule out watering down the Online Safety Act, Labour's Jones said protections for children are "non-negotiable" and committed to ensuring that social media platforms are "designed in a way that protects children from harm".
Environment Secretary Steve Reed has previously said "we won't undercut British farmers on welfare or environmental standards" in order to secure a US trade deal.
However, earlier this month, Chancellor Rachel Reeves suggested the UK could change its taxes on big tech firms as part of a deal to overturn US tariffs, despite the digital services tax bringing in about £800m per year since its introduction in 2020.
Speaking on the Kuenssberg programme, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch agreed that retaliatory tariffs were not a solution because they would only harm UK consumers.
However, she said she did not agree that globalisation was over, insisting what was happening was only "fragmentation", adding "we still have a great trading relationship with many other countries".
Badenoch added the Labour government should pick up the deal former Prime Minister Boris Johnson had tried to negotiate with Trump during his previous presidency, which ended in 2020.
Johnson and his successor Liz Truss tried to push Trump's predecessor Joe Biden to open trade talks but negotiations petered out without a deal being struck.
Rishi Sunak managed to agree the Atlantic Declaration with Biden, including commitments on easing trade barriers, closer defence industry ties, a data protection deal and more co-operation on AI.
Asked whether a UK-US trade deal was indeed "oven-ready", as Badenoch has previously claimed several times, the Tory leader suggested the government should "pick up where we left off".
She continued: "We had six rounds of negotiations where there were some decisions that were concluded and they can pick that up and take it.
"The most important thing is removing tariffs - the tariffs are going to be disruptive for our businesses... That is going to make a whole mess of the tax take that [Chancellor] Rachel Reeves thought she was going to be getting in her budget.
"We are in a worse place now because of the decisions that Labour has made and people out there are suffering."
Source: bbc.com
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Royal Navy worried about Russian superyachts – Times
6 Apr, 2025
The Royal Navy believes that luxury superyachts owned by wealthy Russians have been spying on British nuclear submarines, the Sunday Times has reported, citing three defense sources.
The navy had “credible intelligence” that, before Russia’s military operation in Ukraine began in 2022, yachts may have been used “to conduct underwater reconnaissance around Britain,” the newspaper claimed.
The Sunday Times suggested that some vessels have moon pools that can be secretly used to launch and retrieve deep-sea renaissance and diving equipment.
The newspaper quoted an unnamed foreign minister as saying that, in 2018, the amphibious assault ship HMS Albion had to leave the port of Limassol in Cyprus early after “a huge superyacht belonging to an oligarch pulled up alongside it.”
The navy has discovered a number of sensors it believes to be Russian in the seas around the UK, the newspaper said, adding that the British theory is that Moscow is spying on the UK’s four nuclear-capable Vanguard submarines.
Earlier this year, The Sun reported that the Royal Navy went on a days-long search to track sounds it believed belonged to a Russian stealth submarine. The suspicious noises were later reported to have been made by a farting whale.
In 2014, Sweden launched a major operation looking for a suspected Russian submarine, which turned out to be a civilian boat.
Source: rt.com
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12,000 Brits arrested per year over social media posts – Times
7 Apr, 2025
Thousands of people in the UK have been detained and questioned by police over online posts deemed threatening or offensive, The Times has reported, citing custody data.
According to figures published on Friday, officers make around 12,000 arrests annually under Section 127 of the Communications Act 2003 and Section 1 of the Malicious Communications Act 1988. These laws criminalize causing distress by sending messages that are “grossly offensive,” or by sharing content of an “indecent, obscene or menacing character” via electronic communications networks.
In 2023 alone, officers from 37 police forces made 12,183 arrests – around 33 per day. The Times said this marks a 58% increase from 2019, when 7,734 arrests were recorded.
At the same time, government data shows that convictions and sentencings have dropped by nearly a half. While some cases were resolved through out-of-court settlements, the most commonly cited reason was “evidential difficulties,” particularly when victims declined to proceed.
The statistics have sparked public outcry, with civil liberties groups accusing the authorities of overpolicing the internet and undermining free speech through the use of “vague” communications laws.
The Times highlighted the case of Maxie Allen and Rosalind Levine, who were arrested on January 29 after raising concerns in a private parents’ WhatsApp group about the hiring process of their daughter’s school. Six uniformed officers arrived at their home, detained them in front of their youngest child, and took them to a police station.
The couple was questioned on suspicion of harassment, malicious communications, and causing a nuisance on school property after the school alleged they had “cast aspersions” about the chair of governors. They were fingerprinted, searched, and locked in a cell for eight hours.
“It was hard to shake off the sense that I was living in a police state,” Allen told the Daily Mail, adding that the messages contained “no offensive language or threat” but were simply a “bit sarcastic.”
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/615320-12000-brits-arrested-social-media-posts/
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EU preparing response to Trump tariffs – Reuters
6 Apr, 2025
The European Commission will propose a list of US goods to target with additional tariffs in response to sweeping new ones imposed by the United States, Reuters wrote on Sunday citing sources.
In a fundamental overhaul of trade policy, US President Donald Trump announced a minimum 10% tariff on all imports, along with additional “reciprocal” duties on dozens of countries he accuses of unfair trade imbalances with the United States. EU exports were hit harder, facing a 20% rate. Trump argued that many nations were “ripping off” America through “harmful policies like currency manipulation and exorbitant value-added taxes.”
The EU’s planned counter-tariffs would cover up to $28 billion worth of US products, according to Reuters. The list includes meat, cereals, wine, wood, clothing, chewing gum, dental floss, vacuum cleaners, and toilet paper.
One product drawing particular attention is bourbon, which the European Commission has marked for a 50% tariff, prompting Trump to threaten a 200% counter-tariff on European alcoholic beverages.
The main aim of Monday’s meeting is “to emerge with a united message of a desire to negotiate with Washington a removal of tariffs, but a readiness to respond with countermeasures if that failed,” according to EU diplomats quoted by Reuters.
Despite a range of views among member states – France pushing for broader measures, Ireland calling for a “measured” response, and Italy questioning retaliation – the bloc is aiming to preserve unity. According to diplomats, the vote on tariffs is scheduled for April 9 and is expected to pass unless a qualified majority unexpectedly opposes it.
After that, they will enter force in two stages: the first starting April 15 and the rest a month later.
“Our biggest fear after Brexit was bilateral deals and a break of unity, but through three or four years of negotiations that did not happen. Of course, here you have a different story, but everyone can see an interest in a common commercial policy,” one EU diplomat told the agency.
Tens of thousands of left-wing activists took to the streets across the US on Saturday to protest the tariffs and other policies of the Trump administration. The organizers of the “Hands Off!” protests claimed that over 1,400 rallies were held outside state capitols, federal buildings, city halls, and parks.
JPMorgan has increased its estimate of the likelihood of a global recession from 40% to 60% following Trump’s announcement of new tariffs. Bruce Kasman, their chief economist, stated, “The impact of this tax increase is expected to be amplified by factors such as retaliation, a decline in US business sentiment, and disruptions in the supply chain.”
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/615312-eu-response-tariffs-trump/
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North America
CAIR-NJ Rep to Speak at Princeton University’s Students for Justice in Palestine Press Conference
April 6, 2025
On Monday, April 7, a representative of the New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) plans to speak at a news conference to voice opposition to an event held the Center for Jewish Life at Princeton University featuring former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.
Bennett’s visit is part of his tour across North American campuses, including Harvard, Columbia, and Yale, which coincides with the deportations, detainments, and disappearances of students at these same campuses spearheaded by the Trump administration for protesting the US-backed Israeli genocide on the Palestinian people.
Last month at his most recent talk at Harvard University, Bennett joked to hundreds of people about sending explosive devices to dissenting event attendees. The comment was an apparently referencing the September Israeli attacks on Lebanon and Syria, where Israel detonated thousands of handheld pagers and walkie talkies among civilians originally intended for members of the Lebanese group Hezbollah.
Source: cair.com
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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-nj-rep-to-speak-at-princeton-universitys-students-for-justice-in-palestine-press-conference/
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Americans warn Trump to be ‘hands off’
April 7, 2025
By Asad Mirza
Opponents of US President Donald Trump and his adviser, billionaire Elon Musk, staged rallies across the United States, over the weekend, to protest against the administration’s actions to overhaul the government and expand presidential authority. Reportedly, more than 1,200 “Hands Off” rallies were held on Aorul 5, with organisers anticipating the largest single-day mobilisation opposing the administration’s recent initiatives.
Tens of thousands of anti-Trump demonstrators gathered in cities around the globe on Saturday, April 5 as the impact of tariffs and cuts to government agencies galvanised the first big wave of protest against the Trump 2.0 administration.
The rallies came days after Donald Trump upended the global economy by using rarely invoked emergency powers to unleash tariff hikes on almost every country in the world, wiping out trillions of dollars in market value.
Those who attended the protests cited a list of administration policies, from the aggressive trade levies, lay-offs across the federal workforce, deportations of legal immigrants, attacks on the transgender community, and threats to invade Greenland, as well as Trump’s ally or adviser, Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Protesters also gathered in European cities including London, Lisbon, and Paris, and demonstrated in front of a Tesla showroom in Berlin. The electric-vehicle maker has become a focus of protests, against its billionaire chief executive, and there have been multiple attacks on vehicles and dealerships across the US.
Protesters on the National Mall in Washington – the largest gathering – held placards with slogans including “Penguins against Tariffs,” “Send Musk to Mars” and “Make my 401k Great Again.”
According to Financial Times, The ‘Hands Off!’ movement, which organised the protests in more than 1,400 cities and towns across the US, is backed by advocacy groups focused on everything from abortion rights to climate change. It has sought to reach Americans across the political spectrum, however, by placing most emphasis on economic issues, including tariffs, the plunging stock market, and feared changes to Social Security.
“This mass mobilisation day is our message to the world that we do not consent to the destruction of our government and our economy,” read one digital flyer for the rally in Washington.
Organisers and Democrats have seized on Musk’s unpopularity to energise protesters and voters. On Tuesday (April 1), his preferred candidate, Brad Schimel, was trounced in a Supreme Court race in Wisconsin that was widely seen as a referendum on the controversial billionaire.
Washington Post reported that people gathered in response to what they see as the administration’s overreach on a variety of issues: NATO; schools; libraries; courts; veteran services; fair elections; and, organizers said, “our jobs, our wallets, our bodies.”
The protests on Saturday were the first large-scale demonstrations against the administration since Trump began his second term in January. The president’s return to power has so far been greeted by a muted and largely disorganised response from America’s left, in contrast to the mass unrest, including the Women’s March, that greeted his first presidency.
The April 5 event in Boston was part of a planned day of action, with “Hands Off” anti-Trump protests planned nationwide. In a statement, organisers said Saturday is a “peaceful mass activation in defiance of the Trump-Musk billionaire takeover and the Republican assault on our freedoms and our communities. This is an all-in moment for the pro-worker movement, pro-constitutional rule of law order, and pro-democracy,” organisers said.
In Paris, approximately 200 demonstrators, predominantly Americans, gathered at Place de la Republique, displaying banners with messages like “Resist Tyrant,” “Rule of Law,” and “Feminists for Freedom not Fascism.”
Timothy Kautz, a spokesperson for Democrats Abroad, emphasised the importance of global solidarity. “We have to show solidarity with all the demonstrations in a thousand cities today in the USA,” he told Reuters.
Ezra Levin, co-founder of Indivisible, one of the organising groups, while speaking to Reuters said, “This is an enormous demonstration that is sending a very clear message to Musk and Trump and congressional Republicans and all the goose-stepping allies of MAGA that we don’t want their hands on our democracy, on our communities, on our schools and our friends and our neighbours.”
While the rallies remained peaceful and upbeat, the mood was one of simmering anger. Several protesters wore symbolic costumes, including outfits from The Handmaid’s Tale, to highlight fears over reproductive rights. Others chanted slogans denouncing authoritarianism, with one sign in Denver reading, “No king for USA”.
The White House, meanwhile, dismissing the protests in a statement, stated, “President Trump’s position is clear: he will always protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid for eligible beneficiaries. Meanwhile, the Democrats’ stance is giving these benefits to illegal aliens, which will bankrupt these programs and crush American seniors.”
Despite slipping approval ratings and mounting public pushback, Trump appears undeterred. “My policies will never change,” he said Friday (April 4).
Britt Jacovich, a spokesperson for the liberal group MoveOn.org, which was one of the organisers, said people not only want Trump to get his “hands off” abortion rights and civil rights issues, they want his hands off Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, the federal workforce, the value of their 401(k), the broader US economy, and much more.
Meanwhile, according to CNN the tech billionaire Musk said he hopes for a “zero-tariff situation” between Europe and the United States – just days after Trump announced sweeping tariffs, including a 20% levy on goods from the European Union.
Though earlier after Trump’s return as the American president, doubts were raised about the real condition of the American democracy. An issue on which the former president Joe Biden held several summits, on themes ranging from defending against authoritarianism, addressing and fighting corruption, and advancing respect for human rights. Yet, the recent anti-Trump demonstrations have proved that the American public can’t be befooled for long.
One only wishes the same was true about our own country, where it remains to be seen when the public will awake to the true calling of democratic principles and see through the web of false and unprincipled narratives being bandied about on every issue, which were held prized, earlier. Who subah kabhi tou aayegi!
Source: muslimmirror.com
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https://muslimmirror.com/americans-warn-trump-to-be-hands-off/
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US cancels visas for South Sudanese over deportation dispute
7 Apr, 2025
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced that the US is immediately revoking visas issued to all South Sudanese passport holders due to the African nation refusing to accept its citizens who have been removed from the US.
Rubio, in a statement on Saturday, added that the US will also block any arriving citizens of South Sudan, the world's newest country, at US ports of entry.
He blamed "the failure of South Sudan's transitional government to accept the return of its repatriated citizens in a timely manner".
A cornerstone of President Donald Trump's immigration policy is removing unlawful migrants from the US, with the promise of "mass deportations".
"It is time for the Transitional Government of South Sudan to stop taking advantage of the United States," said Rubio.
"Every country must accept the return of its citizens in a timely manner when another country, including the United States, seeks to remove them," he added.
It comes as fears grow that South Sudan may again descend into civil war.
On 8 March, the US ordered all its non-emergency staff in South Sudan to leave as regional fighting broke out, threatening a fragile peace deal agreed in 2018.
South Sudanese in the US were previously granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which allows them to remain in the US for a set period of time.
TPS for South Sudanese in the US had been due to expire by 3 May.
South Sudan, the world's newest nation, gained independence in 2011 after seceding from Sudan.
But just two years later, following a rift between President Salva Kiir and Vice-President Riek Machar, the tensions erupted into a civil war, in which more than 400,000 people were killed.
A 2018 power-sharing agreement between the two stopped the fighting, but key elements of the deal have not been implemented – including a new constitution, an election and the reunification of armed groups into a single army.
Sporadic violence between ethnic and local groups has continued in parts of the country.
Since returning to office, the Trump administration has clashed with international governments over deportations of their nationals from the US.
In January, Colombian President Gustavo Petro barred two US military flights carrying deported migrants from landing in his South American country.
Petro relented after Trump promised to place crippling tariffs and sanctions on Colombia.
One of the most famous South Sudanese citizens currently in the US is Duke University star basketball player 18-year-old Khaman Maluach.
A spokesman for the university said on Sunday the school is "aware of the announcement... regarding visa holders from South Sudan".
"We are looking into the situation and working expeditiously to understand any implications for Duke students."
Maluach, who played for the South Sudanese Olympic basketball team last summer, spent much of his life in Uganda after fleeing his violence in his homeland as a child.
The first-year student - whose Duke team was eliminated from the national championship tournament Saturday night after losing in the semi-finals to the University of Houston - is widely expected to join the ranks of the NBA after graduation.
Source: bbc.com
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Lots of US companies asking to come back to Russia – Putin envoy
6 Apr, 2025
A large number of US firms that left Russia due to political pressure are asking to come back, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s investment envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, has said.
Many US and European companies pulled out of Russia after a wave of unprecedented sanctions imposed by the West in the wake of the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022.
“We see a large number of requests from American companies, in the energy sector, in many other areas,” the investment banker told Russia 1 TV in a Sunday interview on the results of his recent visit to Washington.
Moscow gives priority to domestic businesses and joint ventures with foreign firms, added Dmitriev, who is also the CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF).
“They can only come where Russia will welcome them because the priority is both for Russian companies and for joint partnerships with foreign companies,” he said.
During the course of his talks with the US, he “discussed a large number of joint potential investment projects in rare earth metals, in the Arctic, and in the LNG sector,” Dmitriev said.
He expressed “cautious optimism” about a further thaw in US-Russian relations, and said that new contacts are expected next week.
Some 150 American companies are still active in Russia, despite political pressure to leave, Dmitriev said.
The US companies that left will not find their return easy, as a number of their former market niches have been filled by Russian companies, the envoy told Reuters in February.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/russia/615313-us-companies-want-return-russia/
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Pakistan
Karachi’s JPMC doctors face govt’s wrath for seeking judicial relief
April 7, 2025
• Federal health ministry has chargesheeted some women doctors over ‘frequent litigation against Sindh govt policies’
• Lawyer Hassan Mandviwalla says seeking legal recourse is every citizen’s fundamental right
KARACHI: Some senior women doctors at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) are facing backlash from both the provincial and federal governments for being part of a group of over two dozen federal employees who have moved courts to seek legal recourse against what they believed a gross violation of their service rights.
On Aug 8, 2023, the ministry of national health services had handed over the “management, operational control and financial liabilities” of the JPMC, the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) and National Institute of Child Health (NICH) to the Sindh government following an agreement between the Centre and provincial authorities.
However, in September 2023, several JPMC doctors/teachers and employees, including women, had challenged before the Sindh High Court the agreement to hand over the federal teaching institute to the provincial government.
Moreover, in late 2024, the Sindh government had extended the tenure of the incumbent executive director of the JPMC until June 24, 2026, and this decision was also challenged before the SHC.
A JPMC official, who is one of the many petitioners against the provincial government, told Dawn that the Sindh government had written to the federal government for taking action against JPMC employees, including lady doctors/teachers, for “filing petitions in the high court for their service rights”.
Inquiry over ‘frequent litigation’
Official documents reviewed by Dawn show that acting on the Sindh government’s complaint against some senior women doctors of the JPMC, the federal government instituted an inquiry under the Civil Servants (Efficiency and Discipline) Rules 2020 and issued charge sheets.
One of the doctors has been charged with “frequent litigation against Sindh government policies, filing case against appointment of contractual employees of JPMC and challenging the extension of the executive director’s tenure”.
Another doctor has been charged with “harassing” new JPMC faculty members recruited by JSMU, creating an environment of “hostility” and “refusing to cooperate with their integration into the hospital”.
“Your said acts are prejudicial to service discipline and unbecoming of an office. By reasons thereof, you appear to be guilty of ‘Inefficiency & Misconduct’ within the meaning of Rule 2(1) (h) & (k) and 3 (a) & (b) of the Civil Servants (Efficiency and Discipline) Rules 2020,” says one of the charge sheets.
The concerned federal officials have also been threatened with “major penalty of dismissal from service” and told to appear before an inquiry officer for an in-person hearing, that too in Islamabad.
There has been a sense of resentment against the federal government and the PPP-led government in Sindh for their attempt to silence those raising voice for their rights.
The JPMC employees, who got the employment after passing the Federal Public Service Commission exams, feel that the federal and provincial governments should have first considered them for executive director and other important posts rather than appointing some Sindh government official.
“What is the point of merit and seniority when the government appoints its favourites on key posts? And when we move courts, they accuse us of misconduct, initiate inquiries and threaten us, especially women, of dismissal from services,” one of the doctors said.
The concerned employees have now appealed to the prime minister and PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to take notice of the vindictive actions against them.
They also appealed to rights organisations, especially those raising their voice for women rights, to play their role to stop government harassment against women doctors of the JPMC.
‘Civil servants can’t be penalised for litigating’
Talking to Dawn, senior lawyer Hassan Mandviwalla said: “Civil servants cannot be penalised for litigating. Seeking legal recourse is a fundamental right, and any retaliation for doing so would be a violation of constitutional protections.”
He said that the fundamental rights of all citizens are protected under Part II, Chapter 1, of the Constitution.
He explained that “Article 25 (1) provides that all citizens are equal before law and are entitled to equal protection of law, which means that there can be no distinction under law between those who litigate or those who are perceived to habitually litigate against their department as they ought to be provided equal protection to safeguard their fundamental rights.
“Section 22 of the Civil Servants Act 1974 provides recourse for a civil servant to challenge an order affecting the terms and conditions of their employment, with an appeal lying to the Federal Services Tribunal established under Article 212 of the Constitution, and a final appeal to the Supreme Court.
“For matters beyond the terms and conditions of employment and where no alternate remedy is available, a civil servant may approach the high court in its constitutional jurisdiction under Article 199 seeking extraordinary relief, against a departmental charge sheet or order,” he said, adding: “This framework ensures that civil servants have access to legal remedies and safeguards against any punitive action taken in response to their pursuit of justice.”
Source: dawn.com
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1902540/karachis-jpmc-doctors-face-govts-wrath-for-seeking-judicial-relief
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Govt keeps BNP-M long march to Quetta at bay
Saleem Shahid
April 7, 2025
• Law enforcement personnel encircle sit-in to arrest Mengal; party calls for strike across Balochistan today
• Almost two dozen picked up as protesters clash with police
QUETTA: The Balochistan National Party’s (BNP-M) long march to Quetta could not move towards the provincial capital — despite the expiry of its April 6 deadline to allow the marchers to proceed — while a large contingent of law enforcers were deployed around the protest camp to arrest party leader Akhtar Mengal.
In light of the government’s action to stop his party’s march, Mr Mengal announced a shutter-down strike across the province today (Monday), while vowing to continue the sit-in at Lakpass — on the outskirts of Quetta — until the acceptance of their demands.
He said the sit-in at Lakpass would continue until the government allowed the long marchers to enter Quetta. The BNP president also asked the party workers and supporters to block all highways in the province and stage sit-ins wherever they are stopped by the security forces.
Meanwhile, the Balochistan government said Mr Mengal would risk arrest under the Maintenance of Public Order if he marched on Quetta. “Security personnel encircled the sit-in camp of BNP at Lakpass for the arrest of Sardar Akhtar Mengal, who refused to surrender to the police when informed about the decision of the provincial authorities,” said Shahid Rind, spokesman for the Balochistan government.
Sardar Akhtar Mengal also confirmed reports about the encirclement of the party sit-in.
“We are completely encircled and we decided to continue our protest sit-in at Lakpass and also asked the party workers and supporters who were stopped by the authorities in different towns and cities for joining the march towards Quetta to stage sit-ins and block all roads,” he added.
Meanwhile, BNP-M supporters and the police clashed in Sona Kahn, a neighbourhood on the outskirts of Quetta, leading to over two dozen arrests. The workers and supporters had arrived in large numbers to welcome their party leader and marchers.
They also blocked different roads and streets in Sariab and the western and eastern bypasses, burning tires and putting up barricades and boulders. They also pelted the police with stones, while the latter used batons and tear gas to disperse the crowd. The clashes continued between police and protestors in different areas till late evening.
They burned tyres and erected roadblocks at major junctions, including Mughal Chowk, Faizabad, Killi Bangulzai, Burma Hotel, and Qambrani Road. The barricades at highways had brought all types of traffic to a halt, leaving commuters and transporters stranded.
The central traders’ organisation also backed the shutter-down strike announced by Sardar Akhtar Mengal for Monday and said traders would close their business throughout the day in Quetta.
Separately, the protesters also took to the streets in Kalat, Hub, Noshki, Khuzdar, Mastung, and other districts.
Lakpass sit-in to continue
Meanwhile, BNP Senior Vice President Sajid Tareen said that the long march was not over despite the blockade. “Our protest at Lakpass continues, and we are being unlawfully prevented from exercising our democratic right to protest,” he said while speaking at a press conference flanked by the leaders of allied parties, including Agha Hassan Baloch (BNP), Shams Kurd (Jamhoori Watan Party), and Rasheed Khan Nasar (Awami National Party).
“We condemn the suppression of peaceful protests. The current regime has shut down all democratic avenues,” Mr Tareen said, announcing a province-wide strike on Monday.
He further revealed that BNP leaders had been approached by federal officials, including Sadiq Sanjrani, Ayaz Sadiq, and Khalid Magsi, who acknowledged they lacked the authority to resolve the situation, deferring responsibility to the establishment.
Shams Kurd of the Jamhoori Watan Party and Rasheed Khan Nasar of the ANP both denounced the government’s use of force. “The people are being made to suffer due to poor decisions. Roads have been closed for days, cutting off entire districts,” Nasar said, urging the government to allow the BNP to hold their sit-in at Quetta’s Hockey Chowk instead.
Meanwhile, Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind defended the administration’s actions, stating that Akhtar Mengal had been informed that he would face arrest under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) law if he advanced toward Quetta. “Law enforcement is on-site to prevent chaos. The BNP’s call to block highways only adds to the public’s difficulties,” Mr Rind posted on social media.
Source: dawn.com
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1902575/govt-keeps-bnp-m-long-march-to-quetta-at-bay
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Ministers revel in discord within PTI ranks
April 7, 2025
• Khawaja Asif claims party fragmented into multiple factions
• Marriyum says ‘party that divided the country’ itself broken into pieces
• Azma claims KP CM being labelled corrupt by his own party members
SIALKOT: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Sunday launched a scathing attack on Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, declaring that the party had fractured into multiple factions amid mounting internal disputes among senior leaders.
Speaking at an event in Sialkot, Mr Asif said the party was as divided as the number of its members. “We don’t need to abuse them — they are doing it themselves.”
His comments came as infighting within the PTI has intensified in recent days, with two more leaders calling for an inquiry against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur for terming them “conspirators”.
A tug of war is going on between KP assembly speaker Babar Saleem Swati and Azam Khan Swati, both from Mansehra, while former KP minister Taimur Saleem Jhagra has locked horns with the party’s internal accountability committee.
On Friday, former NA speaker Asad Qaiser and MNA Shahram Tarakai demanded that the party leadership hold an inquiry into a recent statement by the KP chief minister made during a podcast.
Referring to PTI’s inquiry into Mr Jhagra, Mr Asif said, “Party members are now calling each other thieves.”
In contrast, Mr Asif praised the economic progress made under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, particularly the recent reduction in electricity prices. “No one could have imagined a year or two ago that electricity prices could be brought down,” he said.
He added that inflation had been brought under control due to effective policies, citing a booming stock market, rising remittances, a stable exchange rate and a sharp drop in the interest rate by 10 percentage points as indicators of improving economic conditions.
Separately, Mr Asif also met citizens at his residence in Sialkot Cantt and issued directions to local authorities to resolve their grievances.
‘Product of chaos’
Meanwhile, Punjab’s senior minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said the party that divided the country has itself broken into pieces. “The entire nation has seen how the PTI held others accountable — by putting them behind bars — and now they’re turning on each other,” she said.
She accused the PTI-led government of “four years of incompetence”, claiming that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) had been stalled and 10 million people were left unemployed during their rule. “Those who are the product of chaos can only produce chaos,” she added.
Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari also joined the chorus, targeting KP Chief Minister Gandapur. “Even his own party and cabinet members are calling him corrupt,” she said.
Responding to remarks made by KP spokesperson Barrister Saif — who claimed profiteers had flourished in Punjab during Ramazan — Ms Bokhari said the province had delivered public relief through well-managed Ramazan Sahulat bazaars.
Source: dawn.com
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1902581/ministers-revel-in-discord-within-pti-ranks
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Movement to mobilise workers for Imran’s release launched
Mohammad Ashfaq
April 7, 2025
PESHAWAR: The provincial chapter of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf has asked its leaders, youth and students to make preparations for the next march on Islamabad for the release of incarcerated founder of the party Imran Khan, his spouse Bushra Bibi and other party workers.
The instructions to workers for making preparations for protest were issued by PTI leaders during ‘Janisaran-i-Imran Khan Convention’ here in Nishtar Hall.
The convention was addressed by absconding PTI leader and former federal minister Murad Saeed, Provincial Minister for Higher Education Meena Khan Afridi and the special assistant to chief minister for communication and works department, Sohail Afridi, and other party leaders.
PTI leaders reiterated their resolve to continue resisting the measures of state against the party and raise their voices for the release of imprisoned workers.
Addressing the convention through video link, Murad Saeed asked PTI leaders, youth and students to make preparations for next protest from today (Sunday).
“It’s my suggestion to student wing of party to start preparations in their respective educational institutions and convert these efforts into a student movement,” he said, adding that their movement for the release of Imran Khan entered a decisive phase.
Murad Saeed appreciated youth for playing important role in previous marches on Islamabad, especially in removing containers and other obstacles placed by the government on roads leading to the protest venue.
He said that in the previous protest march 10,000 youth were leading the procession. He said that for the next protest march they would need more, so they should start their work to prepare at least 5,000 youth from each district to lead the marchers.
Drawing attention of authorities at the helm of affairs, he said that they would adopt all options for a peaceful protest and that time they would definitely ‘feel the heat.’
He said that all ways were blocked for them including snatching their mandate in the previous general elections, stopping them from staging peaceful protest to raise their voice, violating sanctity of parliament and making the Constitution hostage.
“We will not stop speaking for our imprisoned workers,” he said, adding they were waiting for the call of Imran Khan and they would be on roads after his call.
Meena Khan Afridi said that the morale of party leadership and workers was high and they were ready for the next protest march. He said that they might go to Islamabad by foot if the vehicles were not available.
He demanded immediate release of all imprisoned workers including Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi and said that their destination would be Islamabad and no one would be able to hide from PTI workers.
He said that today (Sunday) was the start of the revolution. He said that they would mobilise youth in every district and area and ultimately march towards Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
Sohail Afridi said that Pashtuns would never forget the atrocities committed against PTI. He said that they were the followers of Imran Khan and anxiously waiting for his protest call.
Workers at the convention chanted slogans and said that they were waiting for Imran Khan’s order and whenever the order was given, they would move towards their destination.
Source: dawn.com
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1902650
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Have Imran’s Blessing To Open Channel For Talks, Claims Swati
Ikram Junaidi
April 7, 2025
ISLAMABAD: Imran Khan is still ready to come to the table, if the establishment is prepared to negotiate, party leader Azam Khan Swati has claimed, adding that he had the PTI founder’s blessing to initiate talks to secure his freedom.
In a lengthy video message released to — in his words — clear the air following his recent meeting with the party founder in Adiala jail, Mr Swati criticised “certain vloggers and anchors for selling a false story”, without naming anyone.
In the midst of a widening rift between the party’s ranks in Khyber Pakhtunkwa, Mr Swati also backed KP CM Ali Amin Gandapur, PTI KP leader Junaid Akbar and party general secretary Salman Akram Raja, saying that they were “picked by Imran Khan himself”.
Recounting his interaction with Mr Khan and Bushra Bibi in prison, he said he had repeatedly told the party founder he had “khotay sikkay” (counterfeit coins) in his pocket.
He also recounted a meeting with Mr Khan where, he claimed, the party leader had tasked him to reach out to Gen Asim Munir — following the latter’s appointment in Dec 2022 — to open the door for negotiations.
Mr Swati claimed that after this meeting, he had reached out to someone close to Gen Munir, a renowned anchorperson and a certain “Dr Tanveer” (thought to be a reference to Pakistani-American businessman Tanveer Ahmed), but to no avail.
“Give me permission to work with Dr [Arif] Alvi and others to open the doors for talks,” Mr Swati claimed to have asked the PTI chief in their latest meeting, adding that Mr Khan gave him his blessing to do so.
The former minister claimed that the PTI founder reposed trust in his efforts, as he had stood with him through thick and thin.
“If they are ready for talks, I am willing — like I was from day one,” he quoted the jailed ex-PM as saying.
Beseeching vloggers and anchorpersons to stop sowing discord and work towards securing Imran Khan’s release, he also said that a negative campaign had been started against PTI USA leaders and others who had recently visited Pakistan.
This is being interpreted as a reference to a delegation of prominent Pakistani-Americans — under the banner of First Pakistan Global — who recently met with establishment figures. Reportedly, the agenda of that meeting revolved around efforts to secure Mr Khan’s release.
But in the wake of news of the meeting going public, a schism has emerged among PTI’s diaspora supporters — with one side arguing that these people had no mandate to negotiate on behalf of the party.
Hitting out at those claiming that Mr Khan had given him a “shut up call” for proposing talks with the establishment, Mr Swati maintained that no one had rendered more sacrifices, apart from martyrs, than him and his family. “I have faced torture and I have shared all details with Imran Khan. I am the one who cared about the 1,100 workers in jail and made efforts to secure their bails.”
Source: dawn.com
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1902573/have-imrans-blessing-to-open-channel-for-talks-claims-swati
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Crime Control Dept to recruit 4,000 officers across Punjab
April 7, 2025
LAHORE: The newly formed Crime Control Department (CCD) of Punjab has begun the recruitment of 4,000 personnel as part of the plan to make the force operational across the province.
This was announced by Additional CCD Inspector General Sohail Zafar Chattha during a meeting on Sunday to review the department’s progress. The meeting was chaired by Inspector General of Police Dr Usman Anwar and attended by senior officers, including the additional IGs for welfare and finance, several DIGs and SSPs. Lahore police chief Bilal Siddique Kamyana, additional IG of south Punjab, as well as RPOs, CPOs and DPOs, joined the meeting via video link.
The meeting was convened following the approval of the CCD Ordinance and discussed various aspects of setting up the new department, including staffing, logistics, terms of reference and administrative planning.
Mr Chattha said the CCD will specifically target hardened criminals involved in serious crimes across Punjab.
IG Anwar acknowledged the challenges ahead but expressed confidence in the success of the department. He said RPOs and DPOs are already contributing by providing human resources, office space, vehicles and other logistical support to get the CCD off the ground.
He added that funds have been approved and the recruitment process for 4,000 personnel is now under way in phases. Procurement of transport, office furniture and other equipment will also begin soon, while locations are being identified for the CCD’s police stations.
The department will be equipped with a criminal database, surveillance and monitoring systems, advanced tracking tools and modern IT infrastructure. Personnel will be expected to deliver efficient and timely results.
The CCD will be tasked with cracking down on major drug dealers, hardened criminals and those operating in no-go areas. It will also be responsible for ensuring the arrest and prosecution of suspects involved in kidnapping for ransom, extortion, robbery, robbery-cum-murder and robbery-cum-rape cases.
Other targets include curbing vehicle theft, tackling the land mafia, targeting inter-provincial criminal gangs, and improving coordination between districts for crime prevention.
The IG said all units of Punjab police must strengthen coordination to effectively counter terrorism, maintain law and order, and curb criminal activity across the province.
Source: dawn.com
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1902615/crime-control-dept-to-recruit-4000-officers-across-punjab
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Gas exploration planned as PPL prepares to put out Korangi blaze
Imtiaz Ali
April 7, 2025
KARACHI: The Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) is set to initiate the process to contain and extinguish a mysterious huge fire that erupted last month during drilling for a borehole in Korangi Creek near an oil refinery after a report of the chemical analysis of groundwater and soil samples shows the presence of gases like benzene and toluene and minerals like iron and magnesium in much higher concentration under the ground.
Korangi deputy commissioner Masood Bhutto confirmed that experts concerned had submitted their report of the Korangi Creek fire incident.
He told Dawn the report showed presence of ‘heavy metals’ and the presence of gases like benzene in large quantities.
Regarding future course of action after the experts’ report, the DC said the PPL would initiate the process of containing the fire with help of experts.
Subsequently, the gas exploration would be carried out to see the extent of the presence of gas up to five-kilometre areas.
He recalled that initially, it was presumed by the PPL experts that there were “shallow gases” which might exhaust themselves. Therefore, the administration and firefighters had halted the operation of extinguishing the fire on the experts’ advice as it might be harmful.
“But now as the gases have not consumed themselves and the intensity of the flames has remained the same for the last eight days, the PPL experts have deemed it fit to start an exploration activity to find gases inside the reservoir,” he said.
The DC recalled that during construction of a high-rise project, drilling for a borehole was done up to 1,200 feet that might have broken the “shale” and gases emitted, which triggered the fire that did not stop till now.
Rescue-1122 spokesperson Hassaan Khan also confirmed that findings of the experts regarding the chemical analysis of boiling water had been shared with them.
Sharing the gist of the report, Mr Khan said that it has been noted that excessive amounts of benzene, toluene and tetrachloroethane has been found in the boiling water.
Regarding the quantity of the chemicals found in the water, he said as per chemical analysis, tetrachloroethane was detected at 33 micrograms per litre instead of the permissible five micrograms per litre.
The preliminary chemical report also shows that benzene level was found to be 19 micrograms per litre instead of the allowed five micrograms. Similarly, toluene detected at 15 micrograms per litre, exceeding the permissible limits of five micrograms.
In the report, the level of iron was 181.6mg/L against the reporting limit of 0.005; arsenic was 0.014mg/L; manganese 2.721mg/L; and lead was 0.032 mg/L against RL of 0.005.
The Rescue 1122 spokesperson said the chemical experts’ report shows that there was concentration of chemicals but the exact quantity of the chemicals at the site of the burning inside underground/reservoir was still not known.
In a recent filing to the Pakistan Stock Exchange, TPL Properties had stated that during a preliminary site investigation near Korangi Creek, its team encountered a pocket of underground gas while drilling a test well for water exploration.
“Based on initial technical evaluations as well as independent views expressed by industry experts indicate that the gas may be shallow biogenic methane, a naturally occurring gas resulting from organic material decomposition. Since this area is not part of a known natural gas reservoir, and based on similar occurrences elsewhere, this gas pocket is expected to dissipate naturally over time provided the flame is allowed to burn.
“The recent test was part of a series of extensive studies conducted over the past two years to reinforce our commitment to responsible and well-planned development. These assessments — carried out in collaboration with leading national and international consultancy firms — include geotechnical studies, soil composition and contamination tests, electrical resistivity surveys, a comprehensive environmental and social impact assessment and other baseline studies.
“All field investigations, including the recent hydrological study, were conducted with the necessary approvals from relevant authorities and in full compliance with regulatory standards,” it added.
Source: dawn.com
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1902542/gas-exploration-planned-as-ppl-prepares-to-put-out-korangi-blaze
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