2,900 Kg Of Explosives, Radicalised Doctors, And An Evil Design Of Hate: All That We Know About The ‘White Collar’ Terror Module Busted By J&K Police
New Age Islam News Bureau
11 November 2025
· 2,900 Kg Of Explosives, Radicalised Doctors, And An Evil Design Of Hate: All That We Know About The ‘White Collar’ Terror Module Busted By J&K Police
· Red Fort Blast: i20 Entered Delhi At 8:04 AM, Drove Around, Left Parking At 6:22 PM
· National Human Rights Commission: why Boko Haram, ISWAP kill Christians, Muslims
· Fake Islamic State Group Statement, Fabricated by Right-Wing, Targets Mamdani's NYC Mayoral Election
· Israeli Settlers Vandalize Graves In Bab Al-Rahma Cemetery In Jerusalem
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India
· Red Fort Blast: Cops File FIR Under UAPA Terror Attack Sections, Explosives Act
· Ricin Poison Terror Plot Busted: Lucknow’s RSS Building Among Spots Surveilled By Accused: Gujarat Anti Terrorist Squad
· UP CM To Make Vande Mataram Compulsory In All Uttar Pradesh Schools
· Supreme Court Stays Order To Form SIT With Hindu, Muslim Police Officers To Probe Akola Riots Case
· Lure Of The Gun For Kashmir’s Educated: Doctors’ Arrests In Delhi Blast Case Revive Militancy Concerns
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Africa
· NAF Bombs Several ISWAP Terrorists, Bandits To Death In Multiple Airstrikes
· Clash Between Boko Haram, ISWAP Claims 200 Lives
· Anwar-ul-Islam Movement of Nigeria Appoints National Chief Imam/Missioner
· Bandits Do Not Only Kill, They Now Make Laws In Northern Nigeria – Dambazau
· Some fuel stations, schools reopen in Mali amid jihadist blockade
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North America
· Right Now India Doesn't Love Me, But They'll Love Us Again, Says Trump, Saying Trade Deal Is Imminent
· Syria to join US-led coalition to defeat IS group after Trump meeting
· Imam council produces 'symbols of terror' guide for police, lawmakers
· UK Journalist Sami Hamdi to Return Home to Family
· CAIR, CAIR Action Release Muslim Voter Exit Polls Following Historic 2025 Elections
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Mideast
· Palestinian Sues EU After Dismissal From Gaza Border Role
· Lebanon Releases Hannibal Qaddafi From Prison On Bail: Lawyer
· Israel Army Chief Urges ‘Systemic’ Probe Into Oct 7 Attack
· Turkiye helping in talks over Hamas militants holed up in Gaza, sources say
· UAE President And British Prime Minister Discuss Gaza Ceasefire, Humanitarian Aid
· Netherlands looks at trade ban on goods from Israeli settlements
· Aoun calls Lebanese army’s disarmament mission ‘decisive’ amid ongoing Israeli attack
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Arab World
· Exceptional Saudis Headed For Oxford To Study As Rhodes Scholars
· Kingdom Achieves 24.9% Localization In Military Spending By 2024
· Riyadh Hosts Second International Judicial Conference
· More than 1 million Saudis trained in AI via SAMAI initiative
· Experts to discuss AI, advanced cancer care at Riyadh conference
· Could journey to Hajj stoning ritual be done by cable car?
· Saudi Arabia, UAE sign MoU to combat cross-border corruption
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Europe
· Shock As Two Muslim Men Subjected To 'Brutal Attack' In Portlaoise
· Horror footage shows Muslim boy screaming in agony after Tuam attack as gardai launch investigation
· Colchester City Council Announces Multi-Faith Committee To Strengthen Community Unity
· British journalist to be freed from US immigration detention
· EU sees influx of male Ukrainian migrants
· Belgium sets up anti-drone squad – then forgets to use it
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Southeast Asia
· Anwar: Malaysia Co-Ordinating, Not Dictating, Peace Talks Between Thailand And Cambodia
· Best Performing Currency: Malaysia’s Ringgit Tops In Asia At RM4.16 Against US Dollar, Says Anwar
· Anwar says 1MDB recovery effort making strong progress with latest RM1b inflow
· ‘I’ll be your top salesman abroad’: Anwar pledges to promote Perodua after 5.5 millionth car milestone
· Tariff shocks no hurdle: Anwar points to record RM2.235t Jan-Sept trade
· Jalan Masjid India reopens after road subsidence repairs completed
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South Asia
· Poet And Thinker Farhad Mazhar: ‘You Cannot Uphold, Defy Constitution At Once’
· IOM, HCI launch $250,000 initiative to combat trafficking in Rohingya camps
· Mohammad Naeem Says Pakistan’s Unrealistic Demands Caused Collapse of Talks
· Afghan Counter-Narcotics Delegation Departs for Iran to Attend UN-Sponsored Conference
· Islamic Emirate Invites Domestic and Foreign Investment Across Key Sectors
· Over 12,540 Afghan Refugees Return from Pakistan in One Day
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/radicalised-terror-module-evil-design/d/137599
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2,900 kg of explosives, radicalised doctors, and an evil design of hate: All that we know about the ‘white collar’ terror module busted by J&K police
November 11, 2025
Jammu and Kashmir Police, in a joint operation with their Haryana counterpart, on Monday busted a major ‘white collar’ terror module involving the Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ansar Ghazwat-ul Hind following a 15-day operation.
The joint teams of Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana police arrested eight terror suspects, including three doctors, and seized a whopping 2,900 kg of bomb-making material, including around 350 kg of explosive agent ammonium nitrate, during their raids in Haryana’s Faridabad and Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag.
Besides, timers, batteries, a Kalashnikov assault rifle with three magazines and 83 live rounds, a pistol with eight live rounds, and other incriminating material were also recovered during the raids.
Suspects arrested so far
Arif Nisar Dar, Yasir-ul-Ashraf, Maqsood Ahmad Dar, Zameer Ahmad Ahanger, Dr Muzammil Ahmad Ganaie, and Dr Adeel, all residents of Jammu and Kashmir, have been arrested.
A Muslim cleric, Irfan Ahmad, who is the Imam of a mosque in Shopian, was also arrested. Some reports claimed it was the cleric who radicalised the doctors and other white collar people. Their handlers believed security forces would not suspect medical professionals.
Lady Dr Shaheen Shahid, a resident of Lal Bagh in Lucknow, was also arrested after police allegedly recovered an AK-47 from her car. She was an associate of Dr Ganaie.
Both of them have been taken to Srinagar for further interrogation.
How did police get wind of the white collar terror module?
On October 19, 2025, JeM posters threatening security forces were found in Jammu and Kashmir’s Bunpora area in Nowgam.
The police registered an FIR under UAPA, the Explosive Substances Act, and other relevant BNS sections and launched a thorough probe.
The investigation, according to the police, uncovered a wide network that stretched across state borders and had alleged cross-border links.
The probe uncovered a “white-collar terror ecosystem” which involved radicalised medical professionals and students who operated through encrypted communication channels for indoctrination, coordination, fund transfers, and logistics.
Funds, the police said, were raised through professional and academic networks and sometimes disguised as social or charitable causes.
What was their plan?
According to initial reports, these people were planning a major terrorist attack in North India, including the national capital Delhi.
Fanning communal riots in Delhi-NCR was also said to be a major part of their failed conspiracy.
The suspects were in constant contact with their handlers in Jammu and Kashmir and awaiting orders to execute their evil designs of hate.
According to the police, the operation is still underway, and more suspects have been identified and are being tracked. As the investigation continues, more details are likely to emerge in the coming days.
Source: thestatesman.com
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https://www.thestatesman.com/india/2900-kg-of-explosives-doctors-an-imam-and-evil-design-of-hate-all-that-we-know-about-the-white-collar-terror-module-busted-by-jk-police-1503510063.html
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Red Fort blast: i20 entered Delhi at 8:04 am, drove around, left parking at 6:22 pm
Nov 11, 2025
According to the Delhi Police Special Cell, the i20 car was parked in the Sunehri Masjid parking lot for three hours before the blast. (Photo: ITG/@ArvindOjha)
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CCTV footage has revealed that the car, Hyundai i20, which exploded near Delhi’s Red Fort on Monday evening, was parked for over three hours near the historic Sunehri Masjid, leaving the spot just minutes before the deadly explosion that killed nine people and injured several others.
The footage shows the silver i20 entering the parking area adjacent to the mosque at 3.19 pm and remaining there until 6.22 pm, leaving the spot shortly before the 7 pm explosion that ripped through Subhash Marg near Gate No 1 of the Red Fort Metro Station.
A detailed timeline of the car has surfaced. Based on CCTV footage and toll booth records, Delhi Police’s Special Cell has mapped the car’s entire movement on November 10, from its entry into the city to the moments before the blast.
8.04 am: The car entered Delhi from the Badarpur toll booth, crossing over from the Faridabad side.
8.20 am: It was spotted at a petrol pump near Okhla Industrial Area, where it halted briefly.
During the day: The vehicle was also seen passing through Darya Ganj, Kashmere Gate, and near Sunehri Masjid, indicating movement across central and old Delhi.
3.19 pm: The Hyundai i20 entered the parking area adjacent to the Red Fort, near the historic Sunehri Masjid.
6.22 pm: The car exited the same parking area, as captured on CCTV.
Shortly after: The vehicle was seen moving through Chandni Chowk, taking a U-turn near Red Fort, and stopping on Subhash Marg near Gate No 1 of the Red Fort Metro Station, where it exploded just before 7 pm.
The car’s prolonged stay near Sunehri Masjid and its movement through multiple high-security zones suggest that the attacker may have conducted a reconnaissance before executing the blast.
The Delhi Police Special Cell, along with central intelligence agencies, is analysing the route frame by frame to identify every location where the car stopped and to determine whether more than one person was involved in driving the vehicle during the day.
CAR SEEN LEAVING MINUTES BEFORE EXPLOSION
Another CCTV clip captured the same vehicle navigating through dense evening traffic moments before the blast.
The driver, visible in the footage, is seen wearing a black face mask. A second camera angle has further intensified suspicion, appearing to show the masked man resembling Dr Umar Mohammad, a Faridabad-based fugitive previously linked to a terror module.
Investigators are now analysing multiple CCTV angles to verify the driver’s identity. Delhi Police sources said at least 13 suspects are being questioned based on the footage and local intelligence inputs.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who visited the spot where explosion occurred yesterday, said the investigating agencies are probing the high-intensity explosion from all angles and a detailed analysis of the blast will be conducted with top security officers on Tuesday. “All possibilities are being explored and a thorough investigation will be conducted, taking all options into account,” the Home Minister said.
KASHMIR CONNECTION UNDER LENS
The investigation has expanded beyond Delhi, with multiple raids carried out overnight in Jammu and Kashmir. Police in Shopian raided the residence of Imran alias Maulvi of Nadigam, whose name appeared in a terror module list connected to the incident.
In Pulwama, Tariq Ahmad Dar (38), son of retired patwari Ghulam Mohammad Dar and a tipper driver from Kharpora Sambura, was detained during the night.
CHAIN OF OWNERSHIP UNDER PROBE
Delhi Police have traced the chain of ownership of the Hyundai i20 revealing a complex trail of multiple transfers that ultimately led to the key suspect, Dr Umar Mohammad.
According to intelligence sources, the car was originally owned by Md Salman, who later sold it to Nadeem. Nadeem subsequently handed it over to a used car dealer named Royal Car Zone in Faridabad. After that, the vehicle was subsequently purchased by Aamir, then Pulwama-based Tariq, who is also believed to be a member of the Faridabad terror module.
The vehicle eventually found its way to Dr Umar Mohammad, the prime suspect in the Red Fort explosion.
Both Aamir and Tariq are currently being questioned by the Delhi Police’s Special Cell and the Crime Branch to determine whether the handovers were legitimate or part of a deliberate effort to conceal the vehicle’s ownership.
Records also show the same vehicle was challaned for illegal parking in Faridabad on 20 September 2025, a detail now being scrutinised by the Crime Branch.
Investigators suspect fraudulent documents may have been used to obscure the trail of possession, with several transactions taking place informally and without proper registration.
The car’s RC remains in Salman’s name, despite multiple exchanges, raising questions about how it was passed along without official transfer.
Meanwhile, the explosion site near Chandni Chowk, one of Delhi’s busiest stretches, remains sealed off as forensic teams continue their analysis. The blast, which occurred as the car idled at a red light, damaged nearby vehicles and shattered shopfronts, sending panic through the crowded area.
Source: indiatoday.in
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https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/cctv-shows-hyundai-i20-parked-near-red-fort-mosque-for-3-hours-leaving-just-before-blast-2817080-2025-11-11
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National Human Rights Commission: why Boko Haram, ISWAP kill Christians, Muslims
by Eric Ikhilae, Abuja
November 11, 2025
The motivation behind Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) killing both Christians and Muslims stems from their extremist ideology to Islamise Nigeria, the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Tony Ojukwu (SAN), has said.
Ojukwu explained that the groups view some Nigerian Muslims as “non-believers” and therefore legitimate targets, just like Christians.
“Boko Haram and ISWAP believe some Nigerian Muslims are not true Muslims and therefore should be killed like Christians, hence their attacks on mosques and churches.
“This has led to the killing of Christians and Muslims who do not agree with their ideology. The common enemy here is Boko Haram, which is killing both Christians and Muslims in Nigeria for religious reasons,” he said.
Ojukwu spoke in Abuja yesterday during the presentation of the October 2025 Human Rights Situation Dashboard by the NHRC.
He said the United States’ threat to intervene in the killings in Nigeria should serve as an opportunity for the Federal Government to reassess its anti-terrorism strategy.
According to him, there is an urgent need for security agencies to understand the true motivations behind terrorism and banditry to develop effective responses.
Ojukwu advised that rather than threatening Nigeria, the international community, including the US, should support the Federal Government and the armed forces in combating terrorism and religious extremism.
He said the US warning should instead motivate the government to take immediate steps to end the killings, expressing confidence that Nigeria has the capacity to do so.
Ojukwu reaffirmed the NHRC’s commitment to its constitutional mandate to protect and promote human rights for all Nigerians, guided by integrity, impartiality, and transparency under the Paris Principles and the rule of law.
He explained that the Commission received 406,088 complaints and monitored over 160 incidents of human rights violations in October 2025.
The complaints, he said, related mainly to arbitrary detention, police misconduct, access to justice, sexual and gender-based violence, and other violations of civil liberties.
Ojukwu described the monthly dashboard as a vital tool for tracking, analysing, and reporting the state of human rights in Nigeria.
Presenting the report, the NHRC’s Senior Human Rights Adviser, Hillary Ogbonna, said the October figures represented an 8 per cent increase from September’s 371,000 complaints.
The Northcentral region recorded the highest number of complaints (170,173), followed by the Northwest and Northeast.
He attributed the surge partly to ongoing conflicts and the inclusion of more state-level monitoring points, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The nine states with the highest number of complaints were Benue, Borno, Kaduna, Niger, Plateau, Taraba, Sokoto, Adamawa, and the FCT.
Leading categories of violations included law enforcement misconduct, human dignity violations, and gender-based discrimination.
Ogbonna also said the NHRC demanded justice for the late Miss Ochanya Elizabeth Ogbaje, a 13-year-old who died in 2018 from complications of sexual violence, and called for greater support for victims of sexual abuse.
He reported that the NHRC recorded 145 cases of kidnapping, 290 killings, 1,086 cases of child abandonment, and 22 killings of armed forces and law enforcement officers in October 2025.
The Senior Human Rights Adviser in the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, Ms. Adwoa Kufuor, commended the NHRC for its consistency in tracking rights violations and promoting transparency.
She said the United Nations, in partnership with agencies such as the UNDP, values the dashboard as “a valuable snapshot of what is happening in Nigeria,” which helps guide global engagement and accountability.
Source: thenationonlineng.net
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https://thenationonlineng.net/nhrc-why-boko-haram-iswap-kill-christians-muslims/
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Fake Islamic State Group Statement, Fabricated by Right-Wing, Targets Mamdani's NYC Mayoral Election
November 11, 2025
Right-wing influencers amplified a fabricated statement attributed to the Islamic State group in an effort to link New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani to the extremist organization after his victory in the US financial capital's highly anticipated election. Independent experts and terrorism-monitoring organizations told AFP the fake had not appeared on official IS channels and did not resemble the group's authentic communications.
"We, in the Islamic State, would like to express our sincerest excitement and deepest commendation for today's jihad in New York City and its valiant and righteous martyrs," says the alleged statement, written in English under logos for the Islamic State group and the jihadists' Amaq News Agency.
The message, titled "Operation 'Manhattan Project'" and dated November 4, 2025, cites the terrorist attacks Al-Qaeda carried out in the United States on September 11, 2001 before describing a "jihad" the day of elections across the United States. The so-called "11/4 operations" were supposedly carried out in response to American aggression by "109 Muslim brothers living in America," according to the text.
Apparent screenshots of the statement, which names US President Donald Trump, rocketed across X as Mamdani, a 34-year-old self-described socialist, became the first Muslim ever elected to lead America's largest city.
"This is all you need to know about jihadi Mamdani. ISIS is openly supporting and calling his victory already," said Alexander Duncan, a Republican running for a US Senate seat representing Texas in 2026, in one such post on Election Day.
AFP previously fact-checked Duncan for amplifying a hoax about a noncitizen voting for Mamdani.
Also among the influencers who linked the communique to Mamdani was Laura Loomer, a far-right figure and self-declared Islamophobe who has met and traveled with Trump.
"The Muslims can't think of a better way for the Muslims to celebrate the victory of a Muslim mayoral candidate today than by committing an ISIS attack in NYC," she wrote on X.
But the purported letter was a fabrication, multiple researchers who monitor the Islamic State organization told AFP.
The Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor team at the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), a nonprofit organization that tracks media and extremist communications from the Middle East and North Africa (archived here), told AFP on November 7 they believed the statement was a "hoax." The group said they had not seen it disseminated via any official IS accounts or corroborated by credible pro-IS sources.
"It is 100 percent fake," added Aaron Zelin, who directs the Islamic State Worldwide Activity Map project at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, in a November 7 email (archived here). "Everything about this poster is a joke for anyone that seriously knows and studies IS."
The fake, which also includes spelling errors, appeared to originate on the far-right message board 4chan, a known haven for conspiracy theories and extremism.
Meili Criezis, a contributor at the Global Network on Extremism and Technology, told AFP the rapid spread of the fake was "concerning" (archived here).
"It has drummed up a lot of hateful rhetoric targeting Mamdani himself, as well as wider Muslim communities," she said in a November 7 LinkedIn message.
Signs of inauthenticity
Among the most obvious clues that the statement was inauthentic were its format and publication in English, according to MEMRI, which said in its statement that the jihadists' Amaq News Agency only releases content in Arabic.
Amaq also specializes in publishing claims of attacks and images documenting the group's military operations, the institute said.
"The format itself is not consistent with Amaq from even just a first glance," said Criezis, who provided AFP with screenshots of real posts from official IS Telegram channels that were written in Arabic and had markedly different headers, branding and coloring than the fake propagated online.
She said she had observed the group's supporters "making fun of it as being disinformation."
"IS supporters themselves know immediately that it's fake."
The Information Epidemiology Lab, another research group, similarly wrote in a post on Substack that the communique diverged from IS "media practices in language, style, formatting, and distribution" (archived here).
Inconsistent with IS ideology
The alleged endorsement of Mamdani also runs counter to what the Islamic State group is known to believe.
Experts told AFP that IS does not endorse politicians and considers elections an affront to Islam, Sharia law and their beliefs about the sovereignty of God.
"The Islamic State would never endorse the outcomes of a democratic election," Criezis said. "The Islamic State opposes any form of democratic governance and governance by nation states, so that fake statement doesn't even make sense within the context of their ideological stance."
The researchers also noted that the extremist group follows a radical interpretation of Sunni Islam. Mamdani's background is Shiite Muslim, a community IS has been hostile towards.
"He wouldn't be considered a real Muslim according to IS, and it would be legitimate to kill him," said Zelin, from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
J.M. Berger, senior research fellow for the Center on Terrorism, Extremism and Counterterrorism at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, added in a November 9 email: "ISIS has always saved its worst venom for Muslims who do not conform to its ideology, so its adherents will always despise someone like Mamdani far more than Trump" (archived here).
AFP has debunked other misinformation about Mamdani here.
Source: factcheck.afp.com
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https://factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com.83FD266
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Israeli settlers vandalize graves in Bab Al-Rahma cemetery in Jerusalem
November 10, 2025
Ultra-Orthodox Jews pray during a demonstration against conscription into Israel's military in Jerusalem, Oct. 30, 2025. (AFP)
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LONDON: Israeli settlers on Monday vandalized several graves in the Bab Al-Rahma cemetery, which borders the eastern wall of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the walled city of occupied East Jerusalem.
The Palestinian Authority’s Jerusalem Governorate reported that the cemetery is repeatedly attacked by settlers perform Talmudic rituals in the area in an attempt to claim it. Israeli authorities are also conducting excavation work in the area to build a base for a cable car project that will encircle the Old City.
The Bab Al-Rahma cemetery covers approximately 1.2 acres and houses the graves of notable companions of the Prophet Muhammad, as well as warriors from the 1187 conquest of Jerusalem.
The Israeli government plans to convert part of the cemetery into a “biblical garden” as part of a broader plan to Judaize the Old City, the governorate said.
The area features a gate that was closed in the 16th century, providing direct access to Al-Aqsa Mosque from the eastern slopes of Jerusalem without having to navigate the alleyways of the Old City. Currently, Palestinian Muslims use gates on the western and northern sides to enter the compound, while settlers use the Mughrabi Gate, which Israel fully controls.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2622104/middle-east
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India
Red Fort blast: Cops file FIR under UAPA terror attack sections, Explosives Act
11.11.25
Delhi Police on Tuesday registered an FIR under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Explosives Act in connection with the blast near Red Fort that claimed 12 lives, officials said.
Raids are being conducted at multiple locations by Delhi Police. The national capital has been placed on high alert with strict vigil being maintained at the airport, railway stations and bus terminals.
According to a senior police officer, an FIR has been registered at Kotwali police station under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the Explosives Act and sections of the BNS.
The FIR has been registered under Sections 16 and 18 of the UAPA, which deal with punishment and conspiracy for a terror attack.
At least 12 people were killed and many others injured near Delhi’s Red Fort on Monday evening when a slow-moving Haryana-registered Hyundai i20 hatchback exploded at a traffic signal, scattering bodies, setting several vehicles on fire, and blanketing the area in smoke.
Police investigating nature of explosion
The explosion took place around 7pm near Gate No. 1 of the Lal Quila Metro station — about 300 metres from the historic monument — at a time when the area was crowded with evening commuters and tourists.
Police refrained from immediately calling it a terror attack, saying the “nature of the high-intensity explosion” was still being investigated in the absence of any claim of responsibility till late night.
A senior Delhi Police officer said: “The nature of the blast has not yet been determined. The investigation is being conducted from every angle, and the terror angle is not ruled out.”
Eyewitnesses recall horror at the scene
Eyewitnesses described horrifying scenes of “bodies flying out of the CNG-run Hyundai” (bearing registration number HR26 CE 7674, according to some media reports) and people running in panic as flames lit up the area.
Amit Mudgal, 36, told PTI: “While I was standing and talking to someone, a body part... a hand, with the man’s shirt still on it, fell right behind me.”
Zeeshan, an auto driver injured in the blast, told reporters: “The car in front of me was about two feet away. I don’t know whether there was a bomb in it or something else, but it exploded. It was a Swift Dzire.”
Irfan said: “Handcart pullers and taxi drivers were caught in the blast; some of them didn’t survive.”
Abdul Wahid, who was shopping nearby, recalled: “I saw people on the road… with injuries to their legs, hands and other parts of the body. I was horrified to see body parts flying out of the car. There was total chaos.”
Car owner detained; sale chain under probe
According to police, the car had three occupants at the time of the blast. “We haven’t found any pellet or puncture in the bodies of the injured, which is unusual in a bomb blast. We are investigating all angles,” a senior police officer told PTI.
The Delhi Police have detained the car’s owner, identified as Md Salman, in Gurgaon, Haryana. “He had sold it to a person in Okhla named Devendra. Later, the vehicle was again sold to someone in Ambala. The police are tracing these people,” a senior officer said.
Videos capture aftermath
A video shared by the Chandni Chowk Traders’ Association showed a body lying on a vehicle, while another showed a body on the road. A fire department official confirmed that six cars, two e-rickshaws and an auto-rickshaw had been burnt down. The blast shattered vehicle windows several metres away, and the sound was reportedly heard as far as ITO.
Terror module bust
Earlier in the day, security agencies had claimed to have busted a “white-collar” terror module involving Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind in a 15-day operation across Kashmir, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. However, officials said no link had yet been established between that module and the Red Fort explosion.
Speculation over timing ahead of Bihar polls
The blast occurred on the eve of the second phase of the Bihar Assembly elections, covering 122 seats including the Muslim-majority Seemanchal region, triggering speculation that it could polarise voters along communal lines.
Experts say probe likely to take time
A former Intelligence Bureau (IB) official told The Telegraph: “The police usually recover clues while examining samples and evidence from a blast site within three to four hours. In this instance, the investigators are maintaining a studied silence. It seems they are taking more time as nobody has yet claimed responsibility.”
Delhi and neighbouring states on high alert
Security has been ramped up across the National Capital Region. Sources said all district police units — including the special cell and crime branch — had been put on alert and directed to conduct random vehicle checks, especially near the Delhi-Haryana border.
“Surveillance has been enhanced at all border points connecting Delhi with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Security has been ramped up in sensitive zones, including railway stations and Metro premises,” an officer said.
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has also issued a high alert for installations across the country, including airports, the Delhi Metro, heritage sites and key government buildings.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/red-fort-blast-police-file-fir-under-uapa-terror-attack-sections-explosives-act/cid/2132318
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Ricin Poison Terror Plot Busted: Lucknow’s RSS Building Among Spots Surveilled By Accused: Gujarat Anti Terrorist Squad
by Brendan Dabhi
November 11, 2025
THE THREE accused arrested for allegedly plotting a terror attack had done a recce of the RSS office in Lucknow, the Agriculture Produce Market Committee in Azadpur, Delhi and the fruit market in Naroda, Ahmedabad, sources in the Gujarat Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) told The Indian Express Monday.
All these sites were surveilled by Azad Suleman Sheikh, 20, a tailor from Shamli, UP; and Mohammad Suhail Mohammad Saleem Khan, a 23-year-old student and a resident of Lakhimpur Kheri, UP — who are among those arrested, ATS sources said.
The third accused, Dr Ahmed Mohiyuddin Saiyed,35, hails from Khammam in Telangana and his family stays in Hyderabad. His brother Syed Omar Farooq, who is in Hyderabad, said, “I got a call from (Gujarat) ATS in the morning informing that my brother was arrested… We never suspected there was anything wrong with my brother. His marriage failed four years ago… we thought he was depressed.” Farooq said the accused used to consult patients online and also run an eatery business in Hyderabad.
Regarding the role of Azad Suleman Sheikh (20) and Mohammad Suhail Mohammad Saleem Khan, a source in the ATS said, “The two men were radicalised, and had been in contact with a Pakistani agent for the past one-and-a-half years. On instructions of this handler, these two accused did recce of three locations — the RSS office in Lucknow, and the mandis in Azadpur and Naroda… The latter two because they are crowded areas.”
The trio was caught with nearly four litres of castor oil, three guns and 35 live cartridges which led police to suspect they would use the chemical agent ‘Ricin’. What the trio was planning to do with the ricin is “still being investigated”, the investigators told The Indian Express. The castor oil was seized from Saiyed’s car, from near the toll plaza on the Ahmedabad-Mehsana road at Adalaj in Gandhinagar earlier this month.
“The accused told us they were trying to extract Ricin from castor beans. They were still processing it, so, we cannot comment on how they would have used it,” the ATS said.
Asked about an “workshop” where Saiyed was said to have been trying to extract Ricin as well as what other evidence the ATS had collected that they were booked under the UAPA, an official said, “We are yet to recover all the things from the workshop and can’t divulge the details at this stage of the probe. However, we do have evidence in the form of what materials he procured and from where, his search history in ChatGPT and the search engine, and so on.”
In a Sunday statement, Deputy Inspector General of the ATS, Sunil Joshi, said, “To execute a major terrorist attack, Ahmed Mohiyuddin Saiyed had been preparing a highly lethal poison named ‘Ryzin’ (Ricin). For this purpose, he had begun necessary research, procured equipment, raw materials, and initiated the initial chemical processing required for its preparation. It was found this individual had obtained an MBBS degree from China.”
The ATS Sunday claimed Saiyed had told them that his handler was one Abu Khadija, from Afghanistan, said to be associated with the ISKP (Islamic State Khorasan Province).
Source: indianexpress.com
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https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/ricin-poison-terror-plot-busted-lucknows-rss-building-among-spots-surveilled-by-accused-ats-10358164/
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UP CM To Make Vande Mataram Compulsory In All Uttar Pradesh Schools
Piyush Srivastava
11.11.25
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday said singing Vande Mataram would be made mandatory in all schools across the state, seeking to mine the controversy over the national song to draw political mileage for the BJP ahead of the second phase of polling in Bihar.
Addressing an Ekta Yatra (Unity March) in Gorakhpur, he said this step would inspire a feeling of reverence and pride among citizens towards “Bharat Mata” and the motherland.
“There should be a sense of respect for the national song Vande Mataram. We will make its singing compulsory in every school and educational institution of Uttar Pradesh,” he said at the event to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Ballabhbhai Patel. BJP governments across the country have planned month-long celebrations in Patel’s honour.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi ignited a political row last week by reciting extracts from Vande Mataram that carry religious connotations and alleging that the Congress’s adoption of only the first two stanzas as the national song in 1937 “sowed the seeds for the division of India”.
A Hindutva hardliner, Adityanath had campaigned extensively in Bihar, where the last phase of polling on 122 seats would be held on Tuesday. BJP sources have said the party didn’t get encouraging feedback from the ground after the first phase of polling on 121 seats on November 6.
“Our internal reports suggest that projecting Nitish Kumar once again as the NDA’s chief ministerial face may hurt us in Bihar. We need something else to pull voters in the second phase. But we don’t need to be on the spot to campaign. The news of Adityanath’s decision will reach Bihar through the media and may help us,” a senior BJP leader said on Monday.
At the Gorakhpur event, Adityanath said: “Vande Mataram has also completed 150 years. A Samajwadi Party MP didn’t attend a function (in New Delhi) to show respect to Sardar Patel, but attended a function to show his trust in (Mohammad Ali) Jinnah. We must identify those who divide our society. This kind of division in the name of caste, region and language is part of a conspiracy to create a new Jinnah,” he said.
He urged people to ensure that no new Jinnah ever arose in India again, and if anyone dared to challenge the nation’s integrity, “we must bury such divisive intent before it can take root”.
Adityanath said there was no justification for opposing Vande Mataram. “The opposition to Vande Mataram was the reason behind the partition of India,” he said.
Zia-ur-Rahman Barq, the Samajwadi Party MP of Sambhal, had said two days ago that singing Vande Mataram was difficult for Muslims because they were not supposed to bow before anyone but God.
“I have never shown any disrespect for our leaders of the past, but we will not recite Vande Mataram at any cost,” he had said at a media interaction in Sambhal.
“Vande Mataram” can be translated both as “I praise thee, Mother” and “I bow to thee, Mother”. The second formulation can be problematic for Muslims.
Noora Ahmad, a Muslim cleric, said: “Vande Mataram is a prayer for worshipping the motherland. We have great respect for our country, but Islam is against any puja.”
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/yogi-adityanath-makes-vande-mataram-singing-mandatory-in-up-schools-ahead-of-bihar-polls-prnt/cid/2132277
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Supreme Court stays order to form SIT with Hindu, Muslim police officers to probe Akola riots case
November 11, 2025
Two months after it directed the Maharashtra government to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising Hindu and Muslim police officers to probe an alleged murder during communal clashes in Akola in 2023, the Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed the order.
A bench of Chief Justice of India B R Gavai and Justices K Vinod Chandran and N V Anjaria also issued notice on the review petition filed by the state government. The court will now hear the case after four weeks.
The matter reached the three-judge bench after a two-judge bench of Justices Sanjay Kumar and S C Sharma, which had pronounced the order on September 11, delivered a split verdict on the review petition.
While Justice Kumar, who authored the September 11 verdict, dismissed the plea for review, Justice Sharma said the question of constituting an SIT on the basis of religious identity “requires consideration”.
Appearing for the state on Tuesday, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the bench that it could choose who should be members of the SIT. He submitted that even the petitioners had not made any prayer as was directed by the SC in the September 11 verdict.
The bench presided by CJI Gavai said in its order, “In the meantime, there shall be a stay of paragraph 24 (which has the relevant direction) of the judgment under review.”
On September 11, allowing an appeal by petitioner Mohammad Afzal Mohammad Sharif, the bench of Justices Kumar and Sharma ordered that “in these circumstances, we are of the opinion that this is a fit case to direct the Secretary, Home Ministry, Government of Maharashtra, to constitute a special investigation team, comprising senior police officers of both Hindu and Muslim communities, to undertake an investigation into all the allegations made by the appellant, by registering an FIR in connection with the assault upon him on 13.05.2023, and take appropriate action thereon as warranted.”
The state of Maharashtra and others filed a review petition against the court order.
In May 2023, clashes broke out in the Old City area of Akola after a social media post on the Prophet went viral. The clashes resulted in the death of one Vilas Mahadevrao Gaikwad and injuries to eight people, including Sharif. According to Sharif, four people assaulted Gaikwad with a sword, an iron pipe, and other objects.
Source: indianexpress.com
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https://indianexpress.com/article/legal-news/supreme-court-stays-order-to-form-sit-with-hindu-muslim-police-officers-to-probe-akola-riots-case-10359046/
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Lure of the gun for Kashmir’s educated: Doctors’ arrests in Delhi blast case revive militancy concerns
Muzaffar Raina
11.11.25
The police claims about the arrests of “white-collar militant operatives”, including two Kashmiri doctors, appear to suggest that militancy continues to be a troubling magnet for the educated in Kashmir.
Academics and PhD scholars from the Valley are known to have joined the militancy in the past, but labels like “white-collar jihadis” and “hybrid terrorists” have also been used to target journalists and other civil society members.
There’s a possibility of the involvement of a third Kashmiri doctor, who is on the run, the police said, adding a manhunt was underway for him.
Dr Adeel Ahmad Rather, arrested from Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh, is from Wanpora in Kulgam, while Dr Muzammil Ahmad Ganai, arrested from Faridabad in Haryana, is from Koil in Pulwama.
So far, neither has been accused of direct involvement in any militant operation.
A police spokesman in Srinagar said the duo had been “involved in identifying persons to radicalise, initiate and recruit to terrorist ranks, besides raising funds, arranging logistics, procurement of arms/ ammunition and material for preparing IEDs”.
Sources said the two doctors were engaged in radicalising “professionals and students” and were “in contact with foreign handlers, operating from Pakistan and other countries”.
While the security agencies gave few details, independent views were difficult to obtain on Monday evening. Even doctors representing some Valley-based medical associations refused to speak on the subject because of the sensitivities involved.
An acquaintance of one of the arrested doctors said the news was “impossible to believe” as he led “a very normal life”.
“He was religious, no doubt, but it’s hard to believe he could have been a militant,” he said, requesting anonymity.
A student leader said a few families had reached out to his organisation and said the men had been falsely implicated.
The arrests come in a year that saw militant recruitment from Jammu and Kashmir plunge to a historic low, with the total number of confirmed local rebels falling to a single digit.
Overall, however, militancy remains a formidable challenge, sustained by foreign militants adept in jungle warfare who have inflicted big casualties on the security forces and civilians.
Down the years, hundreds of Kashmir’s educated have felt the pull of insurgency.
In 2017, the security forces shot dead Azharuddin Khan, 27, who had a PhD in Arabic, in a gunfight. Khan was a lecturer in Kupwara.
Militant ideologue Manan Wani, who was doing his PhD in geology at Aligarh Muslim University, and Rafi Ahmad Bhat, a doctor of sociology and assistant professor with Kashmir University, were killed in separate gunfights in 2018.
While their involvement was confirmed, there have been multiple instances of professionals accused of militancy links being freed by the courts.
In recent years, the Jammu and Kashmir police and the army have targeted dissenting civil society members using a bouquet of appellations, from “narrative terrorism” and “white-collar terrorism” to “distant radicalisation groups”.
The police’s State Investigation Agency had in 2022 filed a chargesheet against journalist Fahad Shah and research scholar Aala Fazili in what it called a “narrative terrorism case”. They were detained for years before being released by the courts.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/lure-of-the-gun-for-kashmirs-educated-two-valley-based-doctors-arrested-in-delhi-blast-case-prnt/cid/2132275
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Africa
NAF Bombs Several ISWAP Terrorists, Bandits To Death In Multiple Airstrikes
November 10, 2025
By Oladipo Abiola
Air strikes carried out by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) have resulted in the killing of several terrorists and bandits across the country and the destruction of their hideouts.
According to a statement on Monday by the NAF Spokesman, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, scores of Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in Mallam Fatori and Shuwaram, Borno State, as well as bandits’ enclaves in Garin Dandi and Chigogo, Kwara State, as well as Zango Hill in Kankara local government area of Katsina State, were affected by the strikes.
He added that the coordinated missions were carried out on November 9, 2025, based on credible intelligence on the movement and activities of the criminals.
Ejodame said the missions represent a decisive phase in ongoing joint operations under Operation Hadin Kai and Operation Fansan Yamma, aimed at degrading terrorists and criminal networks across Nigeria’s northern theatres.
Naija News reports that the NAF airstrikes dealt a heavy blow to ISWAP terrorists entrenched in the Northern Tumbuns of Borno State.
According to the NAF spokesman, the Air Component guided by real-time Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) feeds conducted precision strikes southeast of Shuwaram before shifting to Mallam Fatori, where ISWAP elements were observed mobilising with motorcycles and boats along the Lake Chad Basin.
According to him, the strikes destroyed the insurgent hideouts, logistics hubs, and weapons storage facilities, eliminating several terrorists and crippling their mobility capabilities.
“Post-strike assessments confirmed multiple neutralisations and a significant degradation of ISWAP’s operational networks in the area,” he said.
Similarly, NAF aircraft carried out precision air interdiction missions over Garin Dandi and Chigogo in Kwara State, striking bandits,’ camps with devastating accuracy based on credible intelligence.
He said the attacks caused panic in the enemy camp and inflicted heavy losses among the criminals.
In a related operation, air assets under Operation Fansan Yamma struck Zango Hill in Kankara LGA, Katsina State, the hideout of a terrorist kingpin and his fighters.
Ejodame said the aircraft guided by actionable intelligence and ISR surveillance, executed multiple attack passes, destroying key logistics hubs and neutralising several terrorists in one of the most decisive strikes in the region.
Furthermore, the Air Component of Operation Fansan Yamma (Sector 1) conducted an Armed Reconnaissance mission across the northwest corridor, covering key settlements in Zamfara, Kebbi, and Kaduna States, including Kakihum, Dankolo, Kotonkoro, and Kuyello.
Ejodame said the locations served as known routes and hideouts for armed groups along the Birnin Gwari–Funtua axis.
“During the mission, coordination with Forward Operating Bases at Dankolo and Kotonkoro revealed suspicious movement near Wam Hill, where terrorists on motorcycles were spotted attempting to flee. The aircrew swiftly engaged and neutralised the targets, with no further hostile activity observed,” he said.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/11/10/naf-bombs-several-iswap-terrorists-bandits-to-death-in-multiple-airstrikes/
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Clash Between Boko Haram, ISWAP Claims 200 Lives
November 10, 2025
By Enioluwa Adeniyi
Fresh clashes between rival jihadist factions in the Lake Chad basin have left more than 200 fighters dead in one of the deadliest confrontations between Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in recent years.
Intelligence officials, militia leaders and jihadist sources confirmed the figures to AFP on Monday, describing the fighting as a brutal struggle for territorial dominance along the fringes of Lake Chad.
The deadly confrontation reportedly erupted on Sunday in Dogon Chiku, a strategic settlement on the lake’s shores.
Babakura Kolo, a member of a local anti-jihadist militia working alongside security forces, said ISWAP suffered heavy casualties.
“From the toll we got, around 200 ISWAP terrorists were killed in the fight,” he told AFP.
A former Boko Haram member who now monitors extremist activity in Borno State corroborated the claim, saying several weapons were seized during the clashes.
“Boko Haram lost four fighters in the battle,” added the former militant, who identified himself only as Saddiku. “This could be the worst clash between the two groups since they began attacking each other.”
Intelligence Officials Confirm Heavy Casualties
A Nigerian intelligence officer monitoring activities around the Lake Chad region said the death toll was also significant from their assessment.
“We are aware of the fighting, which is good news to us,” the source said. He estimated that the confrontation “killed more than 150”.
The renewed infighting reflects a deepening ideological divide between the two factions, which formally split in 2016 and have since engaged in intermittent but deadly battles for control of camps, territory, and supply routes.
The Lake Chad basin remains a volatile hotspot where both groups operate from remote islands and difficult terrain, frustrating military efforts to dislodge them completely.
Since their breakaway, Boko Haram and ISWAP have fought for dominance, each seeking to consolidate tax networks, recruitment pipelines and smuggling corridors across the border regions of Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/11/10/clash-between-boko-haram-iswap-claims-200-lives/
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Anwar-ul-Islam Movement of Nigeria Appoints National Chief Imam/Missioner
November 11, 2025
Anwar-ul-Islam Movement of Nigeria has appointed Sheikh Musliudeen Afisi as the National Chief Imam/Missioner.
The association also conferred a merit award on the outgoing National President, Alhaji Mubashir Ojelade.
At an elaborate Turbaning and Award event held at the Jubril Martins Memorial High School Hall, Iponri, Lagos as part of the Anwar-ul-Islam 2025 Annual Conference, the Chief Imam of Ogbomoso, Dr. Taliat Ayilara, lauded the movement for its role in advancing education and Da’wah.
Addressing the Chief Imam/Missioner, Sheikh Ayilara stressed that the primary duty of an Imam is to guide people to the worship of Allah alone and steer them away from transgression and falsehood.
He reminded the audience that leadership in Islam is a divine trust, not an opportunity for personal gain or position. He urged Imam Afisi and other Imams to remain firm, just, humble and constantly guiding their followers towards moral uprightness.
Imam Afisi reflected on the weight of the responsibility placed upon him, describing his appointment as both “overwhelming and unexpected.”
“I never imagined myself becoming the Chief Imam. I didn’t attend Islamic school with that goal in mind. Even when the idea was suggested, I rejected it several times. But ultimately, Allah’s will prevailed,” he said.
He recounted his long-standing service in the organisation, saying he was born into the movement and had served in several capacities, including serving as Personal Assistant to the immediate past Chief Missioner and as the pioneer Secretary of the Hajj Committee in the 1990s.
“I remained active within the missionary body for almost two decades before work took me out of Lagos. Now that I am back, I thank Allah for this opportunity to serve,” he said.
Alhaji Ojelade thanked Allah and acknowledged the collective efforts that led to the success of the four-day national conference and turbaning.
Reflecting on his nine-year tenure, Alhaji Ojelade noted key achievements, particularly in education. “Our secondary schools are now in a much better state. We’ve taken bold steps, and I believe the next administration will surpass us,” he stated.
Source: thenationonlineng.net
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https://thenationonlineng.net/islamic-group-gets-chief-missioner/
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Bandits Do Not Only Kill, They Now Make Laws In Northern Nigeria – Dambazau
November 11, 2025
By Richard Ogunsile
Former Minister of Interior and retired Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau, has warned that insecurity in Northern Nigeria has deteriorated to the point where bandits and insurgents now control some communities, impose taxes and enforce their own laws.
Naija News reports that Dambazau made the disclosure on Monday while speaking at the First Media and Security Summit held in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State.
The conference, themed “Existential Threats and National Security,” brought together security experts, governors, traditional rulers and policymakers.
He said the crisis, which has lasted for more than 20 years, has continued to mutate into deadlier forms. The retired general painted a grim picture of the region’s security reality.
According to him: “People were killed in Katsina, Borno, Zamfara and Kano mosques. The North has suffered from herders/farmers clash, terrorism and banditry.
“We have gotten to a situation where bandits and insurgents have taken some of our communities, taxing and making laws for them.”
Dambazau said thousands of lives have been lost, millions displaced, and countless families shattered by the prolonged violence.
He lamented the rising number of widows and orphans, the destruction of farmlands and the rustling of livestock without decisive action from authorities.
“Thousands have been killed and millions displaced. The number of widows and orphans has increased, and farmers have lost farms and herders’ cattle rustled without action from state actors,” the former Minister stated.
Dambazau urged northern state governments to restructure their governance and economic systems to tackle the crisis.
He called for the creation of a Ministry of Mineral Resources across northern states to harness the region’s vast natural deposits and reduce dependence on federal allocation.
The former Minister stressed that boosting local revenue is key to fighting poverty – one of the root causes of insecurity.
He also suggested restoring the authority of traditional rulers, addressing the out-of-school children crisis, revitalising agriculture, and pursuing genuine social inclusion.
Dambazau noted that more than 70 per cent of Nigerians currently trapped in poverty as a result of insecurity are from the northern region.
“Religious extremism is a major threat to security in northern Nigeria and has led groups like Boko Haram, Lakurawa terrorists and bandits to unleash violence on the people,” he warned.
Speaking earlier, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, said solving insecurity requires collective effort and honest dialogue.
“Security is everybody’s responsibility. We need to come together to talk with each other on how to solve this problem,” he said.
The Sultan said Nigeria was not always in its current state of turmoil and insisted that unity, understanding and implementation of agreed solutions remain the key to restoring peace.
“We were not like this before, Nigeria was not what it is today. We can solve the problem by coming together and having understanding, and going ahead to implement the decision we reached to have peace,” he added.
In his remark, Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule echoed the same concerns, saying northern leaders must jointly address the causes of insecurity rather than merely responding to attacks.
He said: “Insecurity in the North West is worrisome. The summit should look at the root cause of it. It may be due to climate change and other issues.”
Also speaking, Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, said the summit provides a crucial opportunity to examine the region’s mounting security challenges and proffer workable solutions.
He noted that northern leaders must align on a common front if lasting peace is to be restored.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/11/11/bandits-do-not-only-kill-they-now-make-laws-in-northern-nigeria-dambazau/
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Some fuel stations, schools reopen in Mali amid jihadist blockade
November 11, 2025
Some fuel stations in Mali's capital opened Monday for the first time since an al-Qaida affiliate imposed a fuel blockade on the West African nation, as supply convoys made their way through the landlocked nation while under fire.
Schools also managed to open in Bamako for the first time since the JNIM fighters' blockade began two weeks ago.
“The children went to school this morning, but I remain concerned,” one parent in Bamako, Salif Traoré, told The Associated Press. “Many petrol stations are still closed due to a lack of fuel, and I don't know how long the fuel availability in the city will last."
More than 100 fuel tankers have been destroyed, with several people killed and drivers taken hostage.
On Sunday, the African Union called for “urgent international action” to combat extremism in Mali. Its statement also condemned the abduction of three Egyptian nationals there.
Several countries, including France and the U.S., have advised their citizens to leave Mali immediately.
Source: africanews.com
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https://www.africanews.com/2025/11/10/some-fuel-stations-schools-reopen-in-mali-amid-jihadist-blockade/
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North America
Right now India doesn't love me, but they'll love us again, says Trump, saying trade deal is imminent
Nov 11, 2025
The TOI correspondent from Washington: US President Donald Trump on Monday said he would be reducing tariffs on India “at some point” because New Delhi had stopped or substantially reduced buying Russian oil.
At an Oval Office ceremony for the swearing in of Sergio Gor as the new ambassador to India, Trump seemed aware of the enormous damage his policies and his approach have caused to bilateral relations, conceding, “So right now, they don't love me, but they'll love us again.”
“We're getting a fair deal, just a fair trade deal. We had pretty unfair trade deals. They had very good negotiators there. We're getting close…I think we're pretty close to doing a deal that's good for everybody,” Trump said, without elaborating on when there will be an agreement and what is holding it up.
His segue from “they've stopped doing the Russian oil” to “it's been reduced very substantially,” in the same breath suggested he is waiting for a certain level of reduction of Russian oil purchases with a concurrent uptick in purchase of U.S energy before he signs off on the deal.
Unusually, Trump hosted Gor’s oath taking in the Oval Office, the ceremony attended by a phalanx of MAGA luminaries, some of whom had nothing to do with the India portfolio. Several liberal commentators savaged the event, calling it “creepy” “obsequious” and “Stalinesque” as several speakers, invited by Trump to make remarks, flattered him with what one observer called “North Korea level” sycophancy, with very little reference to India. Trump himself held forth on various other issues, including the government shutdown and ties with Syria, after brief boilerplate remarks on Gor’s mission to India.
Asserting that he (Trump) has a “fantastic” relationship with Prime Minister Modi, the U.S President called India “an important economic and strategic security partner in the Indo-Pacific region,” even though, from all accounts, he has diminished the partnership with punitive tariffs on India (as compared to China and Pakistan) and his shoddy treatment of Quad, a group whose mission was to counter China’s influence in the region.
“It (India) is an amazing country. Actually, 1.5 billion people. China is 1.4 billion. Those are two big countries. As Ambassador, Sergio will work to fortify our country's bond, promote investments in key industries and technologies, increase American energy exports and expand our security cooperation. And you know, we're making a deal with India, a much different deal, than we had in the past,” Trump said, having virtually ceded a co-equal peer position to China with repeated references to G-2 over the past fortnight.
He said he was trusting Gor to strengthen “ one of our country's most important international relations, the strategic partnership with India,” adding “being the ambassador to India is a big deal.”
Vice-president JD Vance, who formally administered the oath to Gor as per protocol, also tried to put some gloss on the damaged ties, saying, Gor would be a great ambassador to India, “which the President and I love.”
Bizarrely, Trump said Gor has already become friendly with PM Modi, and knowing that he is going to be the ambassador “they would call constantly to say, let's get to know this man, and they like what they see.”
“So I know you're going to have a great success over this,” he told Gor.
The presence of a large number of MAGA luminaries was also a testament to Gor’s proximity to the President and his popularity and influence in the administration, prompting Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who would technically be his boss, to say, “it looks like there are 1.5 billion people in the Oval Office today.”
Among those who spoke glowingly of Gor when they veered off from flattering Trump was former TV host Jeanine Pirro, attorney general for Washington DC, and Erika Kirk, widow of slain MAGA activist, Charlie Kirk.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.vzcc/world/us/right-now-india-doesnt-love-me-but-theyll-love-us-again-says-trump-saying-trade-deal-is-imminent/articleshow/125238114.cms
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Syria to join US-led coalition to defeat IS group after Trump meeting
November 11, 2025
Bernd Debusmann Jr at the White House & Raffi Berg
Syria will join the international coalition to combat the Islamic State group, marking a shift in US foreign policy in the Middle East, a senior Trump administration official has confirmed.
The announcement came as President Donald Trump met Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the White House - the first such visit from a Syrian leader in the country's history.
In an interview with Special Report on Fox News, al-Sharaa said the visit was part of a "new era" in which the country would co-operate with the US.
Trump has expressed his support for al-Sharaa, who until recently was designated a terrorist by the US government.
Syria will now be the 90th country to join the global coalition, which is aimed at eliminating remaining elements of the so-called Islamic State and stemming the flow of foreign militants to the Middle East.
Following the meeting, a senior administration official also confirmed that the US Treasury Department, along with the departments of state and commerce, will announce new measures to lift economic restrictions on Syria and provide "compliance clarity for investors".
As part of the measures, the administration is also issuing an 180-day suspension of the Caesar Act, which since 2019 had sanctioned the former Syrian government.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office several hours after the meeting, Trump said that "we want to see Syria become a country that's very successful."
"And I think this leader can do it," he added. "I really do."
Diplomatic relations between Syria and the US have been suspended since 2012, although the US will now allow Syria to re-open its embassy in Washington.
This is the third meeting between the two leaders, following one in May on the sidelines of the Gulf Cooperation Council and a dinner during the UN General Assembly in September.
Al-Sharaa's visit to the White House caps a remarkable re-branding for the former jihadist.
Not long ago, he led a branch of Al-Qaeda - the group behind the 9/11 attacks and many others - before breaking off ties.
Even until this year, he was the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an armed Islamist group which the US officially considered a terrorist organisation until four months ago, with a $10m bounty on his head.
The Treasury Department removed al-Sharaa from its "specially designated global terrorist list" just last week.
But since becoming interim Syrian president, al-Sharaa has worked to soften his public image as he tries to rebuild Syria, with foreign support, following 13 years of war.
"He has had a rough past," Trump said on Monday. "And I think, frankly, if you didn't have a rough past, you wouldn't have a chance."
In his interview, al-Sharaa said that he and Trump had not discussed his past, but instead focused on the "present and the future" of Syria in which it was a "geopolitical" and economic partner of Washington.
Al-Sharaa's rule, however, has been marred by killings of members of Syria's Alawite minority, as well as by deadly violence between Sunni Bedouin fighters and Druze militias.
He has vowed to root out members of his security forces that have committed human rights violations.
Trump, for his part, has repeatedly expressed support for al-Sharaa, referring to him as a "young, attractive guy" and a "fighter".
In June, President Trump signed an executive order lifting sanctions against Syria, which the White House said would help support the country's "path to stability and peace".
At the time, the administration said it would monitor the new Syrian government's actions, including "taking steps toward normalising ties with Israel" and addressing "foreign terrorists" and militant groups operating in the country.
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgvz6316zwo
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Imam council produces 'symbols of terror' guide for police, lawmakers
Nov 10, 2025
OTTAWA — To help combat a worrying rise of pro-terror support at Canadian protests, a local council of concerned imams developed a guide to help police and lawmakers identify commonly seen flags and symbols.
Entitled Symbols of Terror, the guidebook — produced by the Toronto-based Global Imams Council (GIC) — is meant to provide an easy means of identifying flags and logos used by designated Islamic terror groups.
Comprehensive guide for police, lawmakers
“There was a challenge in identifying the different flags,” said Imam Mohammad Tawhidi, better known on social media as the “Imam of Peace.”
“We believe that the extremists cannot operate without criticism and the religion needs to be reclaimed from the extremists.”
Tawhidi said the guidebook is designed to raise awareness and serve as a tool for policymakers and law enforcement.
The guidebook, available online in PDF format, organizes the various flags by colour — allowing a quick and concise look-up of what a potentially offending flag means and which terror group it represents.
Flags listed under the “yellow” heading, for example, include such terror organizations as Lebanon-based Hezbollah and its affiliates, as well as groups like the Indian Mujahideen, al-Ashtar Brigades and the Egyptian-based al-Gama’a al-Islamiyya.
Support for terror in Canada unacceptable: Imam
“When someone waves the flag of Hezbollah, calls for a global caliphate and destruction of the Canadian government institutions, rallies against the Canadian Constitution and burns the Canadian flag like Samidoun did, this is a potential terrorist,” Tawhidi said.
“We classify them as potential terrorists because they have the same ideology as ISIS — the only difference is that they have not acted upon their terrorism, which basically means the opportunity has not been there for them to act upon it.”
Despite taking nearly a year to revoke their not-for-profit status, Canada declared B.C.-based Samidoun a terrorist organization in October 2024.
The GIC, Tawhidi said, is the only Muslim body in the world that, shortly after the Oct. 7, 2023, terror attacks in Israel, condemned Hamas for their actions.
The GIC also regularly condemns anti-Israel activism, as well as denounces Canada’s explosion of antisemitism since the Hamas attacks.
“It is our religious and national duty and human obligation to counter the enemies of humanity and those who have hijacked the message of our God,” Tawhidi said.
“These people, they are anti-Israel, but their hatred for Israel is not what brought them to the streets — it’s their hatred of Jews.”
Source: torontosun.com
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https://torontosun.com/news/national/imam-council-terror-guidebook
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UK Journalist Sami Hamdi to Return Home to Family
November 10, 2025
Civil rights groups say U.S. punished him for criticizing Israel, not for any alleged wrongdoing
The California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA), along with co-counsel Hassan M. Ahmad of the HMA Law Firm and the Muslim Legal Fund of America (MLFA), today welcomed an agreement to release British Muslim journalist and political analyst Sami Hamdi from ICE imprisonment following his arrest at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) on Sunday, Oct. 26, while on a U.S. speaking tour.
Hamdi has chosen to accept an offer to leave the United States voluntarily. The immigration charging document filed in his case alleged only a visa overstay—after the government revoked his visa without cause and without prior notice—and never identified any criminal conduct or security grounds. This agreement establishes that the government does not consider Hamdi a danger to the community or to national security.
In a statement, CAIR-CA CEO Hussam Ayloush said:
“It is this simple: Sami never should have spent a single night in an ICE cell. His only real ‘offense’ was speaking clearly about Israel’s genocidal war crimes against Palestinians.
“Sami’s case shows how quickly our government officials are willing to sacrifice our First Amendment and free press when a journalist uses his platform to dare put America first before Israel. His forthcoming release is welcome, but it does not erase the message this sends to every activist and journalist watching—and every authoritarian dictatorship worldwide who can now claim they are following America’s example.”
BACKGROUNDER:
Hamdi traveled to the United States on a valid visa to speak at events across the country. After anti-Muslim, pro-Israel extremists began publicly urging U.S. officials to revoke his visa and remove him from the country, the government secretly revoked his visa and then detained him. At the time, the government refused to allow him to simply return to his native United Kingdom.
The Notice to Appear initiating Hamdi’s removal case charged only a visa overstay—an overstay created by the government’s own secret revocation.
CAIR-CA, Ahmad and MLFA promptly challenged his detention in federal court via a habeas petition, arguing that holding a journalist based on a manufactured overstay—after a sudden, unexplained revocation—raised grave First Amendment and due process concerns. The government’s response raised jurisdictional arguments and never rebutted the merits of Hamdi’s constitutional claims. The federal judge held that the court had jurisdiction and agreed with Hamdi, issuing a temporary restraining order (TRO) blocking ICE from transferring Hamdi out of California while his habeas petition and constitutional claims were litigated, preserving his access to counsel and to the court. It also found that Hamdi had “demonstrated that some form of injunctive relief regarding his custody status may be appropriate.”
Even as the government’s own filings depicted Hamdi’s case as an overstayed visa, DHS used its official social media platforms to malign him—a troubling misuse of power that raises broader civil liberties concerns.
CAIR-CA is a chapter of CAIR, America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
Source: cair.com
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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-ca-hma-law-firm-and-mlfa-welcome-government-agreement-to-release-uk-journalist-sami-hamdi-to-return-home-to-family/
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CAIR, CAIR Action Release Muslim Voter Exit Polls Following Historic 2025 Elections
November 10, 2025
Surveys of 1,626 Muslim Voters in NY, VA, NJ, and CA show overwhelming support for Zohran Mamdani, Ghazala Hashmi, Mikie Sherrill, and California Proposition 50
(WASHINGTON, DC – 11/10/2025) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, and CAIR Action, one of the nation’s leading Muslim political organizations, today released post-election exit poll findings from four states – New York, Virginia, New Jersey, and California – showing high turnout and overwhelming support among American Muslim voters for Zohran K. Mamdani (97%), Ghazala Hashmi (95%), Mikie Sherrill (84%), and California’s Proposition 50 (92%).
Methodology and Oversight: The surveys, conducted immediately after polls closed in each state and open for 48 hours, drew 1,626 self-identified Muslim respondents out of 196,463 likely Muslim voters contacted by text message between November 4–6. The survey was based on a randomized sample drawn from a national voter database of self-identified Muslim voters. While results were not weighted by demographic factors such as age or gender, they provide one of the clearest data-driven snapshots to date of Muslim voter participation and engagement in the 2025 elections.
Tracking Muslim Representation Nationwide: Earlier this week, CAIR and CAIR Action reported 38 confirmed victories out of at least 76 Muslim candidates who appeared on ballots across the nation in 2025, marking another record year of representation.
Those results included Zohran K. Mamdani’s election as New York City’s first Muslim mayor and Ghazala Hashmi’s victory as Virginia’s first Muslim woman elected to statewide office, alongside dozens of municipal, judicial, and legislative wins.
In a joint statement, CAIR and CAIR Action said:
“These exit poll results highlight an encouraging truth: American Muslims are showing up, speaking out, and shaping the future of our democracy.
“Across four states, Muslim voters demonstrated remarkable engagement and commitment to the civic process, casting ballots that reflect their growing role as active participants in American life. In the face of anti-Muslim bigotry, they are rising to build a better future for themselves and their neighbors, proving that participation, not prejudice, defines our nation’s strength.
“With strong turnout and expanding voter infrastructure, American Muslims were positioned to impact several critical races in this election cycle and are poised to play an even greater role in the upcoming 2026 midterms.
“CAIR and CAIR Action plan to continue investing in civic-engagement initiatives to help every American Muslim voter feel empowered, informed, and ready to make their voice heard in every election.”
New York City (314 Respondents): 97% of Muslim Voters Back Zohran Mamdani for Mayor
In New York City, 97% of surveyed Muslim voters supported Zohran K. Mamdani, who made history as the city’s first Muslim mayor.
Overall turnout was exceptionally high, with 93% reporting they had already voted and another 4% planning to vote, leaving just 2.6% abstaining.
54% of Muslims who voted reported voting in person on Election Day, 33% voted early in person, and 8% voted by mail, while 5% did not vote – demonstrating robust in-person participation and strong community engagement in the electoral process.
Virginia (403 Respondents): 95% Support for Ghazala Hashmi; Broad Backing for Spanberger and Jones
In Virginia, 95% of Muslim respondents voted for Lt. Gov.–elect Ghazala Hashmi, the first Muslim woman ever elected to statewide office in U.S. history.
Additionally, 86% supported Abagail Spanberger for governor and 86% supported Jay Jones for attorney general – clear alignment with candidates emphasizing civil rights, inclusion, and good governance.
Overall turnout among Muslim respondents reached 93%, demonstrating exceptional voter engagement in the commonwealth.
New Jersey (419 Respondents): 84% of Muslim Voters Back Mikie Sherrill
In New Jersey, 84% of Muslim respondents voted for Mikie Sherrill for governor, with just over 5% supporting Jack Ciattarelli and the remainder split among smaller third-party candidates.
More than 93% of respondents reported voting or planning to vote, reflecting steady civic participation and confidence in the electoral process.
Nearly 78% voted in person – 57% on Election Day and 22% during early voting – while 16% voted by mail, reflecting both strong same-day participation and continued adoption of early and absentee voting options.
California (394 Respondents): 92% Back Proposition 50; 70% Vote by Mail
In California, 92% of Muslim voters supported Proposition 50. In comparison, only 7% voted against the measure requiring legislators suspended for corruption or serious misconduct to forfeit salary and benefits – part of broader ethics and transparency reforms.
Nearly 70% voted by mail and 20% voted in person, reflecting strong institutional trust and sustained Muslim civic involvement across the state.
CAIR is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and America’s largest Muslim civil-rights organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims. As a 501(c)3 nonprofit, CAIR does not endorse or oppose candidates for office and makes no claims as to the favorability of one candidate being elected over another.
CAIR Action is a 501(c)(4) advocacy organization dedicated to engaging, educating, and mobilizing Muslim voters, training emerging leaders, and advancing policy priorities that improve community well-being and representation.
Source: cair.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-cair-action-release-muslim-voter-exit-polls-following-historic-2025-elections/
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Mideast
Palestinian sues EU after dismissal from Gaza border role
November 10, 2025
LONDON: The EU is being sued by a Palestinian who lost his job in Gaza after the outbreak of the war.
Mohammed Baraka worked in Rafah at the EU border assistance mission, where he had been employed since 2006.
He was evacuated to Cairo after the outbreak of the conflict in October 2023, but was dismissed this year after the EU decided to close its Rafah offices permanently.
Baraka is taking the bloc to court in Belgium on the grounds that European EUBam employees from Rafah “were transferred elsewhere” rather than dismissed.
His lawyer Selma Benkhelifa said this is tantamount to “discrimination on the basis of his nationality.”
In a submission to the court, Benkhelifa said Baraka “does not criticise the decision to close the Rafah office” as “the security situation justifies this.”
However, Baraka said he was employed under Belgian law and was handed rolling one-year contracts, which breaches Belgian legislation that states rolling roles must be made permanent after three consecutive years. He added that he is bringing the case to address the “injustice” he suffered as a result.
The lawsuit states: “A provision that allows an employer to renew fixed-term contracts is contrary to Belgian and European public policy.”
It adds: “It is shocking to note that a European institution is circumventing public policy provisions intended to protect workers. The applicant’s contract must be reclassified as a permanent contract.”
Baraka said: “During the first days of the war in Gaza, I was, like all other residents of Gaza, facing an unknown and frightening fate.
“When I was offered evacuation by the EU to a safe place, as an EU employee who had served for 20 years, I accepted the offer.
“But had I known that my fate would be dismissal from my job and being left in a place with no residence or basic human rights, I would have never agreed to it. None of this was explained to me beforehand.”
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2622084/middle-east
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Lebanon releases Hannibal Qaddafi from prison on bail: lawyer
November 10, 2025
BEIRUT: Lebanon released Hannibal Qaddafi, the son of deposed Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi, on bail on Monday after nearly a decade in prison, his lawyer told AFP.
“We left, he is free,” Laurent Bayon said, hours after Qaddafi’s bail of $900,000 was paid.
The younger Qaddafi, 49, was accused of withholding information about the 1978 disappearance of Lebanese Shiite cleric Mussa Sadr in Libya, but never put on trial.
He was two years old at the time of Sadr’s disappearance.
“The bail was paid this morning,” Bayon had told AFP earlier on Monday. “Hannibal Qaddafi will finally be free. It’s the end of a nightmare for him that lasted 10 years.”
In October, a judge ordered Qaddafi’s release against bail set at $11 million, which was reduced to $900,000 last week after an appeal by his defense team.
A Lebanese judicial source confirmed earlier on Monday that the bail was paid and said Qaddafi’s legal team had been completing release procedures.
Bayon said his client was set to leave Lebanon for a “confidential” destination, adding that he holds a Libyan passport.
“If Qaddafi was able to be arbitrarily detained in Lebanon for 10 years, it’s because the justice system was not independent,” Bayon said.
He said his client’s release reflected a restoration of judicial independence under Lebanon’s reformist government that was formed in January.
Mussa Sadr — the founder of the Amal movement, now an ally of militant group Hezbollah — went missing during an official visit to Libya, along with an aide and a journalist.
Beirut blamed the disappearances on then Libyan ruler Muammar Qaddafi, who was overthrown and killed decades later in a 2011 uprising.
Ties between the two countries have been strained ever since the trio went missing.
Married to Lebanese model Aline Skaf, Hannibal Qaddafi fled to Syria after the start of the Libyan uprising.
He was kidnapped in December 2015 by armed men who took him to Lebanon, where authorities released him from the kidnappers and later detained him.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2622130/middle-east
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Israel army chief urges ‘systemic’ probe into Oct 7 attack
November 11, 2025
JERUSALEM: Israel’s military chief called on Monday for a “systemic investigation” into the failures that led to Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack, as the government dragged its feet on establishing a state commission of inquiry on the matter.
Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir made the call following the publication of a report by an expert committee he himself had appointed, which, according to him, marks the conclusion of the military’s internal investigations into the October 7 attacks.
“The expert committee’s report presented today is a significant step toward achieving the comprehensive understanding that we, as a society and as an organization, require,” Zamir was quoted as saying in the report.
“However, to ensure that such failures never recur, a broader understanding is needed — one that encompasses the inter-organizational and inter-hierarchical interfaces that have not yet been examined,” he added.
“To that end, a broad and comprehensive systemic investigation is now necessary.”
According to polls, a large number of Israelis across the political spectrum support the establishment of an inquiry to determine who is responsible for the authorities’ failure to prevent the attack, the deadliest in the country’s history.
But the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has so far refused to set one up, arguing it cannot be established before the end of the war in Gaza.
Under Israeli law, the decision to create a national commission rests with the government, but its members must be appointed by the supreme court.
Netanyahu’s right-wing government, however, accuses the court of political bias and of leaning toward the left.
The effort to curb the supreme court’s powers lay at the heart of the government’s judicial reform plan — a project that deeply divided Israeli society before the war broke out.
‘Political tool’
On Monday, when pressed in parliament by the opposition to clarify his position on the creation of a national commission, Netanyahu accused the opposition of seeking to turn it into a “political tool.”
Instead, he suggested establishing an inquiry commission “based on broad national consensus,” modelled, he said, on what the United States did after the September 11 attacks — a proposal immediately rejected by the opposition.
Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,221 people on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.
It triggered a two-year retaliatory campaign by the Israeli military in Gaza, which has killed at least 69,179 Palestinians, according to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza.
The expert committee’s report acknowledged that Hamas’s attack “occurred against the backdrop of high-quality and exceptional intelligence that was already in the possession of various IDF (military) units.”
“From an internal military perspective, it is evident that despite the warning, the necessary military actions were not taken to improve the IDF’s alertness or readiness, nor to adjust the deployment of forces across the different arenas,” the report added.
The committee determined that most of the factors explaining the failure spanned several years and multiple branches of the military.
It said this indicated a “long-standing systemic and organizational failure.”
In February, an internal Israeli military investigation into Hamas’s attack acknowledged the armed forces’ “complete failure” to prevent the assault, saying that for years it had underestimated the group’s capabilities.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2622142/middle-east
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Turkiye helping in talks over Hamas militants holed up in Gaza, sources say
November 10, 2025
Turkiye is working with the United States and Arab mediators to secure safe passage for Hamas fighters who are holed up in tunnels in the Israel-controlled area of Gaza, a Palestinian source, a Hamas official and Turkish officials said on Monday.
The fate of about 200 fighters has complicated efforts to shift Gaza ceasefire talks, being conducted between Israel and the Palestinians militant group, to the next phase that aims to secure a permanent end to the two-year-old war.
A Palestinian source close to the mediation effort said Turkiye was involved in mediation over the fate of the fighters, working alongside Egypt, Qatar and the United States.
Two Turkish officials, including the spokesperson for President Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling AK Party, confirmed Turkiye was mediating in talks over the fate of 200 Palestinians, without giving details.
Last week, US envoy Steve Witkoff said resolving the standoff would be a test case for future steps in the wider ceasefire plan. He said it could be resolved by providing them with safe passage to Hamas-controlled areas of Gaza.
A Hamas official, who asked not to be identified, said Turkiye was a mediator but did not give details about the negotiations, saying they covered a sensitive security issue.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office did not respond to a request for comment on Turkiye’s role.
Last week, two sources said the Hamas fighters trapped in the Israeli-held Rafah area of Gaza were ready to surrender their arms in exchange for passage to other areas of Gaza.
Hamas has not confirmed the number of trapped fighters but has previously demanded that they be allowed to go to areas controlled by the group. Israel has so far resisted this.
Turkiye, a fierce critic of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and with close ties to Palestinian group, was a signatory to the US-backed Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2622115/middle-east
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UAE president and British prime minister discuss Gaza ceasefire, humanitarian aid
November 10, 2025
LONDON: The president of the UAE, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan on Monday discussed the latest developments in Gaza with the UK prime minister, Keir Starmer.
During their telephone conversation they also discussed efforts by their nations to promote mutual prosperity, and advance peace and stability across the Middle East and the wider world.
The leaders emphasized the need to ensure the ceasefire brokered in October continues to hold in Gaza, and to facilitate the delivery of aid in sufficient quantities to reduce the suffering of civilians in the territory, the Emirates News Agency reported.
They underlined the urgent need to work toward a just and lasting peace between Palestinians and Israelis based on a two-state solution, which they said remains the only viable path to stability in the region and a better future for all its peoples and nations.
The president and the prime minister also discussed ways in which cooperation between their countries might be enhanced in support of mutual interests.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2622139/middle-east
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Netherlands looks at trade ban on goods from Israeli settlements
November 10, 2025
LONDON: The foreign minister of the Netherlands has said his country is working to ban goods from illegal Israeli settlements in occupied Palestine.
David van Weel made the comments during a visit to the West Bank, where he visited an area previously attacked by Israeli settlers.
The Netherlands paused efforts to enact broader sanctions against Israel following the ceasefire with Hamas last month. However, violence by settlers in the West Bank has prompted international condemnation.
“Now we deem it is not a time to increase sanctions on Israel because we want to see the peace plan implemented and we want to also encourage Israel to play a positive part in this,” van Weel told The Guardian.
“At the same time, we’re not blind to any movements on the West Bank that might move the two-state solution further (away).”
Sanctions are tough for EU members to impose individually on trade as the issue falls within the broader remit of the bloc.
“It’s not easy to make a carve-out,” van Weel said. “We cannot just stop (all imports from illegal settlements) immediately because there is currently no legal basis for that. We are trying to make new policy now, then it has to go through parliament.”
The EU is Israel’s largest trading partner, making up a third of all Israeli exports. Goods from the settlements make up a relatively small proportion of those exports.
The Netherlands joins Spain, Slovenia, Belgium and Ireland in planning to sanction trade with Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Belgium and Spain have also cut consular services to those living in settlements.
In June, nine member states asked the EU Commission to assess cutting trade with Israeli settlements after the International Court of Justice ruling on the illegality of Israel’s occupation of Palestine. They included Finland, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal and Sweden.
The Netherlands is historically a staunch Israeli ally, but pushed the EU in May to review the association agreement with the country, which is the foundation of tariff-free trade and other links including in finance and scientific research.
This led to calls from within the EU in September to suspend the free trade agreement with Israel after it was found to have violated numerous human rights obligations.
There were also calls to sanction two far-right Israeli ministers, Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.
Sven Kuhn von Burgsdorff, a former EU envoy to Palestine, told The Guardian: “Business as usual is over … Time for impunity is over.”
More than 200 Palestinians have been killed by settlers and the Israeli military this year in the West Bank, including 40 children.
Eight attacks occurred daily on average in October, including against people, property and livestock. It marks a high point in the past 20 years of EU records.
The attacks come amid plans by far-right Israeli politicians in parliament to effectively annex the West Bank by making it subject to Israeli law. The bill passed the preliminary reading stage in October but is opposed by the US.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2622121/middle-east
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Aoun calls Lebanese army’s disarmament mission ‘decisive’ amid ongoing Israeli attack
NAJIA HOUSSARI
November 10, 2025
BEIRUT: Speaking from the Bulgarian capital on Monday, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun described the Lebanese army’s disarmament mission as “decisive” given the current circumstances.
“The Lebanese army’s mission to restrict the possession of weapons is decisive under the current circumstances, as it alone — without any external partners or forces outside the state — must extend state authority across its territory and borders, and assert full sovereignty, so that Israeli attacks on our land cease and Israel withdraws from the sites it occupies inside Lebanon,” Aoun said.
He emphasized that this mission should proceed alongside a negotiation process, which he considers “the only path to achieving our national objectives and Lebanon’s higher interests.”
He recalled that Lebanon previously engaged in over 10 negotiation rounds on such issues, with unanimous political support across factions.
The most recent of these negotiations occurred between 2020 and 2022, focusing on maritime border demarcation with Tel Aviv and, more recently, in November, efforts have aimed at halting attacks and consolidating arms under Lebanese state control.
The Lebanese president’s official talks with his Bulgarian counterpart Rumen Radev at the Bulgarian presidential palace coincided with further Israeli attacks deep into Lebanon, causing at least one fatality.
In the early hours of Monday, an Israeli drone targeted a civilian vehicle near Al-Baisariyah on the coastal road north of the Litani River, killing its driver Samir Fakih, an official with the Servants of Imam Hussain Association affiliated with Hezbollah.
Later that afternoon, Israeli drones launched airstrikes on areas in the Tyre governorate, the Rahyan hills, the areas of Qotrani and Al-Mahmoudiyeh in the Jezzine governorate, and Jabal Al-Rafi’a in Iqlim Al-Tuffah, reaching Al-Shaara in Al-Nabi Sheet in northern Bekaa.
The Israeli army spokesperson claimed that “the army, acting on intelligence information, attacked with its air force Hezbollah infrastructure in the Bekaa and southern Lebanon, used for launching rockets and for the production and storage of strategic combat equipment.”
Hezbollah MP Ali Fayyad stated that “the Israelis are escalating their field and military operations, with US support, in order to increase pressure on Lebanon and force it to submit to Israeli-US conditions.”
He accused the two powers of attempting “to transform Resolution 1701 and the ceasefire into a political and security track that goes beyond the essence of the existing resolution regarding withdrawal, border demarcation, detainees’ release, the imposition of a security agreement, normalization, and the end of hostilities, potentially leading ultimately to a peace agreement.”
Fayyad said Lebanon “will not accept such options, which would prove disastrous for its stability, sovereignty and national unity.”
According to Lebanese and Israeli officials cited by Reuters, “Israel is pressing Lebanon’s army to be more aggressive in disarming (the Iranian-backed militant group) Hezbollah by searching (private) homes in the south for weaponry.” It added: “The Israeli demand has been rejected by Lebanon’s military leadership, who fear it would ignite civil strife and derail a disarmament strategy.”
Since the ceasefire agreement took effect on Nov. 27, 2024, until Nov. 3, 2025, Israeli attacks have resulted in at least 309 deaths and 598 injuries. Meanwhile, Israeli violations of Lebanese sovereignty have exceeded 5,163 incidents.
The military pressures were accompanied by financial and economic measures from the US, conveyed to Lebanese officials by a delegation from the US Department of the Treasury and the National Security Council at the White House.
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stressed to the delegation on Monday “the government’s commitment to continuing the reform process, rebuilding state institutions and consolidating its sovereignty over all Lebanese territory.” The progress achieved in controlling the borders and regulating the movement of people and goods was also discussed.
The US delegation included Sebastian Gorka, deputy assistant to the president and senior director for counterterrorism; John Hurley, undersecretary of the treasury for terrorism and financial intelligence; and Rudolph Atallah, counterterrorism expert at the US National Security Council.
Salam’s media office explained that the PM “affirmed the government’s efforts in combating money laundering through promoting transparency and enforcing regulatory laws in the financial sector, with the aim of restoring confidence and ensuring compliance with international standards.”
The media office highlighted that the discussions focused on deploying the Lebanese army in southern and other regions to promote stability, reinforce state authority, and enhance control over seaports and airports.
Information circulating about the meetings of the US delegation indicated that it discussed “the executive aspect of measures to control money laundering and smuggling, and to put an end to illegal financial operations, including curbing the cash economy and halting the activities of Al-Qard Al-Hasan Association affiliated with Hezbollah.”
Salam affirmed on Sunday night that he “is striving to mobilize the necessary funds for the reconstruction of the south, and that reforms alone are not sufficient to attract investments without a sense of security.
“This requires turning the slogan of state monopoly over arms into a genuine and practical reality,” he added.
The US delegation’s visit to Lebanon is part of a regional tour that also includes Turkiye, the UAE, and Israel.
The US Department of the Treasury announced that the aim of the tour is “to pursue Iran’s financing networks in the region and prevent it from funding its military arms.”
Hurley made statements prior to his talks in Beirut in which he claimed that “Hezbollah has received around $1 billion from Iran since the end of the last Israeli war on Lebanon, and that the US is trying to seize a favorable opportunity to cut off Iranian funding to Hezbollah and push it to lay down its weapons, which would allow the Lebanese people to reclaim their country.”
The US delegation met with Aoun on Sunday evening, and a statement issued by the media office at the Presidential Palace said that “Lebanon is strictly enforcing the adopted measures to prevent money laundering or smuggling or their use in the financing of terrorism, and it harshly punishes financial crimes of all kinds. The army and security forces are working to pursue terrorist cells and refer their members to the competent judiciary, thereby thwarting any attempt to destabilize security and stability in Lebanese regions.”
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2622114/middle-east
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Arab World
Exceptional Saudis headed for Oxford to study as Rhodes Scholars
November 10, 2025
RIYADH: Three gifted Saudis have been awarded prestigious Rhodes Scholarships. Osama Aljohani, Omar Alomran and Osama Dabbousi will head to the University of Oxford in October next year to join more than a hundred fellow recipients from around the world and begin their fully funded postgraduate studies.
The Rhodes Scholarship is generally recognized the world’s oldest and preeminent graduate fellowship. It was established at Oxford in 1902 and the first scholars began their studies there the following year.
The inaugural award for Saudi Arabia was established in 2018 thanks to a gift from Mohammed Alagil, and additional scholarships were subsequently added through gifts from Abdulrahman Alagil Sons. The donors are co-founders of Jarir Bookstores and their donations were made in collaboration with the Saudi Ministry of Education.
Eighteen students from Saudi Arabia have been awarded Rhodes Scholarships to date. They have gone on to pursue a variety of careers in fields including genetics, medicine and the creative arts. This year’s winners continue a fantastic legacy of excellence, organizers said.
Aljohani is a senior chemical engineering student at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, specializing in hydrogen mobility. Born and raised in Yanbu Industrial City, he grew up overlooking local refineries and chemical plants, which sparked an interest in energy, chemicals and water.
His undergraduate research focuses on crude-to-chemicals conversion using fluid catalytic cracking, in particular the evaluation of catalyst performance and operating conditions. He completed an internship in Austin, Texas, as a data and chemometrics analyst at JP3 Measurement.
Aljohani describes himself as having a passion for building communities, and has held several public relations and leadership roles. He co-founded initiatives at the university, including the Gaming+ event to empower Saudi game developers, the CITE initiative to support local chemical engineering students, and Student Breakthrough Research, a program that trains undergraduates to conduct research and connects them with research centers.
He serves as the data analytics and insights lead on the Young Leaders Advisory Board at King Fahd University, where he contributes to university-level strategy. He also serves as vice president of the Chemical Engineering Club, where he manages an internal investment fund in support of student innovation.
Aljohani describes himself as passionate about solving water scarcity through energy innovation, and says his goal is to make renewable energy more reliable and dispatchable, especially through hydrogen storage and renewable integration, to enable sustainable desalination in arid regions.
At Oxford, he plans to pursue master’s degrees in energy systems, and in sustainability, enterprise and environment.
Alomran is a recent graduate of King Fahd University in software engineering, with a focus on artificial intelligence. He was awarded the Oxford/KAUST AI Program Scholarship, and an exchange-semester scholarship to study at Georgia Tech.
He is also an economist who has published research on public policy and international relations, focusing on Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, and has conducted several economic studies in collaboration with the Saudi Ministry of Economy and Planning.
He has worked at Thmanyah, a prominent Saudi media company, on economic and political coverage that reaches millions of people across the Arab world. He was the recipient of BCG’s Jeel Tamooh and Misk’s Ignited Voices fellowships, and won national olympiad medals in history, physics and Arabic.
At Oxford, Alomran plans to pursue a Master of Public Policy degree with the aim of advancing evidence-based economic and social reform in Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East, with a particular focus on reforms of the labor market and education through a neoclassical framework.
Dabbousi is a master’s student in computer science at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, where he carries out research in the field of high-performance computing. His thesis focuses on GPU-accelerated, large-scale acoustic simulation.
He holds a degree in data science from Boston University, where he graduated at the top of his class as a KAUST Gifted Student Program scholar and received the CDS Academic Excellence Award. He holds a US patent from his research at Aramco Americas, and co-founded CSTIP, a student club at Boston University that teaches algorithms and interview preparation. He plans to pursue a doctorate in computer science at Oxford.
Rick Trainor, interim warden and CEO of the Rhodes Trust, said: “For more than a century, the Rhodes Trust has brought exceptional individuals to Oxford and fostered a vibrant global community.
“We are delighted to introduce the 2026 Class of Rhodes Scholars Elect who represent cultures and perspectives from every corner of the world. I look forward to seeing the positive contributions they will make in the world through their studies and the many and varied activities and initiatives with which they are involved.”
Prof. Christian Sahner, national secretary of the Rhodes Scholarships for Saudi Arabia, said: “Each year, we receive applications from some of the best and brightest students in Saudi Arabia, and this year was no exception.
“Our winners, Osama Aljohani, Osama Aljohani and Osama Dabbousi, embody the best of their country, with outstanding academic records and impressive extracurricular achievements. We look forward to welcoming them to Oxford next year and to seeing the positive impact they will have on the Kingdom and the world going forward.”
Education is one of the core elements of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan for national development and diversification. The Rhodes Scholarships enable outstanding students from across the Kingdom to fully develop their skills and knowledge in the fields that will help the Kingdom achieve its goals, authorities said.
Students from anywhere in the world can apply for a Rhodes Scholarship and many find that taking part in the rigorous selection process is a positive experience, organizers say, that leaves them well placed to complete the scholarship or other opportunities worldwide.
The selection process aims to identify young people with proven records of academic excellence who also display exceptional character, leadership skills, the energy to use their talents to the full, and a commitment to solving humanity’s challenges. The process includes a rigorous review phase before finalists are invited to an interview with a selection committee composed of experts and leaders in their fields. The scholars form a lifelong community of people in many fields and careers, united by a commitment to making a positive impact on the world, organizers say.
Source: arabnews.com
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Kingdom achieves 24.9% localization in military spending by 2024
RAHAF JAMBI
November 10, 2025
RIYADH: The General Authority for Military Industries announced that the localization rate of military spending in Saudi Arabia reached 24.89 percent by the end of 2024, highlighting the Kingdom’s steady progress toward achieving over 50 percent localization by 2030.
The announcement came during the annual military industries sector meeting, held in Riyadh on Monday, with participation from government and private sector representatives, as well as local and international defense companies.
During the event, GAMI honored beneficiary entities, supporting partners, and companies that received the Excellence Award in Localizing Military Industries in recognition of their contributions to advancing the national defense sector.
GAMI Gov. Ahmed Al-Ohali told Arab News that the event reflects a “success story that continues to grow year after year, driven by collaboration across the defense ecosystem.”
He added: “By the end of 2024, we achieved a localization rate of 24.9 percent of total military spending, compared to just 4 percent in 2018. We also reached a record-high local content rate, surpassing our targets, thanks to the leadership’s unwavering support and the close cooperation between the military, security, and industrial sectors.”
Al-Ohali noted that GAMI’s strategy focuses on building a sustainable local defense industry that delivers security, strategic, developmental, and economic benefits for the Kingdom and its citizens.
He said the authority has issued a comprehensive set of policies, regulations, and incentives to support the sector’s growth and empower investors to contribute to the localization journey.
Al-Ohali emphasized that GAMI continues to work closely with other government entities to enhance the investment environment, stressing that collaboration and persistence remain key to achieving the Kingdom’s national defense targets.
Saudi Arabia is committed to partnering with leading global manufacturers to transfer advanced technologies and localize industrial capabilities. The presence of major international defense companies reflects strong confidence in the Kingdom’s investment environment and regulatory frameworks, according to a press release.
These efforts enhance “Saudi Arabia’s military readiness and defense independence, highlighting progress in building advanced, sustainable defense industries.”
During the meeting, Saudi Arabian Military Industries, Lockheed Martin, and Roketsan Saudi Arabia shared their experiences in the local market through a panel titled, “The Role of Global Companies in Developing Local Supply Chains for Military Industries.”
The session highlighted collaborative efforts to strengthen Saudi supply chains, enhance knowledge transfer, and accelerate the localization journey across the sector.
The meeting served as a strategic platform bringing together key government entities, defense industry leaders, and investors to review progress, exchange insights, and explore new cooperation opportunities. It was attended by several ministers, senior officials, and CEOs of local and international defense firms.
Source: arabnews.com
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Riyadh hosts second International Judicial Conference
HAIFA ALSHAMMARI
November 10, 2025
RIYADH: The Kingdom’s Ministry of Justice will host the Second International Judicial Conference on Nov. 23 and 24 in Riyadh, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.
The event will include over 4,000 legal experts and professionals from 40 countries.
Justice Minister Walid bin Mohammed Al-Samaani said in a statement that the gathering reflects the government’s commitment to continue developing the judiciary with leaders in the field.
The conference will showcase the progress of Saudi Arabia’s judicial system, particularly on outcomes, rights protection, and the acceleration of procedures, the SPA reported.
“This event demonstrates Saudi Arabia’s ability to lead global legal dialogue, exchange knowledge, and adopt international best practices to enhance judicial quality and efficiency,” Turki Aljurais, founder & owner of Turki Aljurais Law Firm told Arab News.
Aljurais went on to say: “With the ongoing improvements in legislative clarity, procedural efficiency, and digital judicial services, the justice sector today is more transparent, efficient, and accessible than ever before.”
There will be eight dialogue sessions featuring more than 50 speakers from around the world.
Source: arabnews.com
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More than 1 million Saudis trained in AI via SAMAI initiative
November 10, 2025
RIYADH: The national One Million Saudis in AI Initiative has successfully exceeded its target of training over 1 million Saudi citizens in artificial intelligence skills.
Of these, 9 percent are working-age Saudis who have earned AI skills certificates.
SAMAI is described as one of the largest AI training initiatives globally, offering simplified Arabic-language content that outperforms many regional and international programs in accessibility and reach.
International comparisons of AI training initiatives highlight SAMAI’s distinctive strengths, including ease of access, comprehensive training, and a flexible national approach tailored to Saudi society’s needs while keeping pace with global trends.
Its free access and official certification from the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority also provides significant academic and market value, setting it apart from programs offering non-accredited content.
Launched by SDAIA in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, SAMAI aims to empower Saudi citizens with AI skills and enhance their readiness for the digital future.
The initiative supports the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, which prioritizes technology and innovation as key pillars for sustainable development and the creation of a knowledge-based economy.
Open to all male and female citizens across the Kingdom, SAMAI attracted more than 1.2 million participants in less than a year, achieving a target originally set for three years at a record pace compared with global standards.
This rapid uptake reflects the initiative’s effectiveness in building national human capacities in line with Saudi Vision 2030 objectives.
SAMAI has become a model initiative both locally and regionally, offering AI training designed according to global best practices.
The program takes learners on an engaging educational journey, from the origins of AI technologies to their applications in daily life, including impacts on the workplace and potential future developments.
Using simple language and engaging visual explanations, the initiative has appealed to students, employees, job seekers, and technology enthusiasts.
Its remote format and flexible scheduling encouraged participants from across the Kingdom to register and take full advantage of the program’s offerings.
Through SAMAI, participants have gained knowledge of AI concepts, applications, ethics, and practical tools, equipping them to integrate AI safely and effectively into work and daily life — a strategic step in developing the Kingdom’s human capital and advancing Saudi Arabia’s vision of becoming a global leader in technology and innovation, in line with the leadership ambitions.
Source: arabnews.com
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Experts to discuss AI, advanced cancer care at Riyadh conference
November 10, 2025
RIYADH: The fourth Middle East Society of Therapeutic Radiation Oncology conference will take place at Alfaisal University in Riyadh from Nov. 21-22.
Experts, researchers and international pharmaceutical and medical technology companies from the Kingdom and overseas will take part in the event, which will focus on artificial intelligence and modern cancer treatment technologies.
Scientific sessions will begin with discussions on the latest developments in radiation therapy and oncology technologies across major Gulf centers, featuring speakers from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait and the UAE.
Panel discussions will also cover modern cancer treatment technologies in Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Turkiye and Iraq, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.
A specialized Saudi team will present efforts to advance proton therapy — an advanced technology that helps reduce radiation-related side effects, particularly in children — and the challenges of implementing it in the Kingdom.
Professor Fady Geara, chairman of the Department of Radiation Oncology at Cleveland Clinic, will give a presentation on carbon ion therapy, highlighting development plans for the Abu Dhabi treatment center. This innovative particle therapy precisely targets cancer cells, especially tumors resistant to conventional treatments.
The King Hussein Cancer Center in Jordan will share its experience in MR-guided radiotherapy, considered the first experiment of its kind in the region for its precision and technological advancement.
The program includes sessions on multidisciplinary cancer care, basic and applied research and clinical trials, along with an interactive platform for speakers and patients and a technical exhibition featuring pharmaceutical and medical technology companies.
Dr. Saad Al-Rashidi, conference president, said hosting the event at Alfaisal University reflected the Kingdom’s commitment to investing in health knowledge and medical technology.
He said the conference continued to expand each year, both in participants and the quality of scientific presentations, establishing it as a leading platform in the Middle East for exchanging expertise in radiation technology.
Source: arabnews.com
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Could journey to Hajj stoning ritual be done by cable car?
SALEH FAREED
November 10, 2025
JEDDAH: Young innovators and entrepreneurs are presenting new ideas for the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages, including a proposal for a cable car to improve safety for vulnerable pilgrims traveling to complete the stoning of the devil ritual.
With the support of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, these innovators are developing technologies, including mobile apps for navigation and platforms for managing pilgrim services, which are being presented at the Hajj Conference & Exhibition in Jeddah from Nov. 9-12.
The ritual journeys primarily take place on foot, yet Anhar Hamid Al-Luhiani, a student at King Abdulaziz University, is presenting an idea for a cable car project that could improve safety for more vulnerable pilgrims.
“My initiative is to develop a teleferic or cable car for those elderly and special needs pilgrims to move from Muzdalfah to Mina to avoid the crowd and heating and reach Mina faster,” she said.
She said she thought of this idea after her mother experienced difficulties when carrying out the stoning of the devil ritual.
“The purpose of this project is to make stoning more accessible to old Hajj pilgrims.”
She explained how the project is “smart transportation and sustainable. The distance for pilgrims from Mina to Muzdalfah takes them about 30 minutes walking, by bus 15 minutes, by train seven minutes, but with this teleferic it is going to take them about four minutes, which is faster and more comfortable for those elderly pilgrims and those with special needs.”
Saudi entrepreneur Abdulaziz Al Shawair is introducing an AI app for pilgrims called “Hadi.”
“It is a smart app which provides an integrated digital journey to enrich the experience of pilgrims from the moment of arrival until departure with high smoothness, through organized stages that include registration, guidance and smart transportation,” he said
“They can use it from (their) hometown until they reach Makkah. It guides them what to do in the airport, where to go in Makkah, informs them (of) the available transportation, the best time to perform Umrah in order to avoid crowded places, and in case of being lost, the app guides them to reach their place.”
Another new technology implemented by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah is a mobile phone app that can keep track of the number of pilgrims or visitors at the most crowded places in the holy sites.
The app was developed by Takween, a startup originating from the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology.
Essam Ewis from Tamkeen told Arab News that it offers a simple interface to allow officials to track capacity limits.
“We are already signed with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to implement this new system in order to update the count in real time, making it effective for capacity management,” he said. “It helps organizers estimate the number of people standing in a given area. We are currently using this new technology at this Hajj Conference & Exhibition.”
Garibaldy Mukti, from Indonesia, showed his Pilgrim Pal app, which helps travel agencies streamline Hajj and Umrah services.
“It features pilgrim management, accommodation and departure management, financial management, location tracking and navigating, translator, (an) emergency button and Hajj and Umrah virtual simulation.
“It has been already used with various Indonesian agencies and proved its success.”
On the other side of the startup area was Mohammed Akoojee and his wife Sumayya Suliman with their product, “My Wudhu Companion.”
Akoojee told Arab News: “It is an ablution bottle, crafted to redefine the way Muslims perform wudhu, ensuring accessibility anytime, anywhere.”
He went on to say: “I and my wife thought of a way to make wudhu reachable for pilgrims in case of crowded rest areas. We delve into the multifaceted importance of water conservation in the life of a Muslim, examining its relevance in daily activities such as showers, bathing, ablution (wudhu), and general household water use.”
The innovation zone at the fifth staging of the exhibition offers the opportunity to explore cutting-edge technologies from startups, while highlighting the success stories of entrepreneurs.
It also displays creative ideas and promising solutions shaping the future of Hajj services.
The exhibition includes a Hackathon Zone, a fertile ground for creativity where innovators and entrepreneurs come together to craft practical ideas that enhance services for pilgrims.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi Arabia, UAE sign MoU to combat cross-border corruption
ARAB NEWS
November 10, 2025
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia, represented by the Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority, and the UAE, represented by the UAE Accountability Authority, signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday to prevent corruption and enhance cooperation.
It was signed by Mazin Al-Kahmous, president of the Saudi Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority, and Humaid Obaid Abushibs, chairman of the UAE Accountability Authority.
The MoU aims to strengthen cooperation against cross-border corruption, facilitate information exchange, and develop institutional capacities.
During the ceremony, both sides discussed ways to further promote integrity and combat corruption.
Source: arabnews.com
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Europe
Shock as two Muslim men subjected to 'brutal attack' in Portlaoise
Nicola Donnelly
10 Nov 2025
A community leader has condemned a violent attack on members of Portlaoise’s Muslim community that left one male hospitalised - and urged residents to come together against racism.
Gardai are appealing for information after two men, both in their 30s, were attacked by a group of men and women in the Lyster Square area between 3am and 4am on Saturday.
Gardai are appealing for witnesses to come forward.
Naeem Iqbal, a Pakistani native who ran for Fianna Fáil in last year’s local elections, shared a video statement condemning the attack.
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Mr Iqbal, who ran for Fianna Fail in last year’s local elections, has appealed to people not to engage in such ‘senseless violence.’
A board member of Dignity Partnership CLG and former chairman of Laois Sports Partnership, Mr Iqbal warned this was not an isolated incident, citing several similar events in recent weeks.
“In the early hours last Saturday morning, between 3am and 4am, two of our dear friends were brutally attacked near Portlaoise Main Street.
“Our hearts are heavy, and our community is deeply shaken by this senseless violence. No one deserves to be treated in such a way,” Mr Iqbal said.
“We are standing with our friends and their families during this painful time and we are grateful to the gardai for their swift action and continued support."
He added: “We call on all peaceful and compassionate people across Ireland to reject hatred in every form. Let us not allow fear or division to take root in our communities. Together, we are stronger and together, we will stand for peace, respect, and justice.”
In a statement, An Garda Siochana said: “Gardai in Portlaoise are investigating an alleged assault that occurred on Main Street, Portlaoise in the early hours of Saturday morning, November 8.
"Two men, aged in their 20s and 30s received non-life threatening injuries and one man was taken to Portlaoise General Hospital to be treated for his injuries.
"Gardai are appealing for any witnesses to this incident to come forward.
"Any road users, taxi drivers or pedestrians who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were in the area of Main Street, Portlaoise on the morning of Saturday, November 8 between the hours of 2am and 3am are asked to make this footage available to investigating gardai.
"Anyone with any information should contact Portlaoise Garda Station on 057-8674100, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.
"Investigations are ongoing," the statement said.
Source: irishmirror.ie
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Horror footage shows Muslim boy screaming in agony after Tuam attack as gardai launch investigation
Andrew E Quinn
10 Nov 2025
Gardai have launched an investigation into an alleged assault on a Muslim schoolboy in Tuam, Co. Galway.
Footage of the alleged assault surfaced on social media last week but the actual incident occurred on Thursday October 16, 2025 as the youngster was on his way home from school.
The footage, which is graphic in nature, shows the schoolboy, who is a member of the Bangladeshi community, cowering against a wall as two male youths repeatedly slap the young boy in the face and order him to stop protecting himself.
The young boy can be heard begging the pair to leave him alone and at one point he even says he is 'sorry'.
One of the youths in the video offers the youngster a choice - "it's either a slap or me and you box (fight)". The youngster pleads with the youth to "please don't hurt (me)" and is ordered to "stop crying". One of the youths proceeds to punch the youngster in the face, knocking him to the ground and leaving him in tears and the clip ends.
Galway TD Hildegarde Naughton said: “It’s just awful. I’ve seen the video myself and it’s shocking stuff,”
When contacted by The Irish Mirror, a garda spokesperson confirmed they had started an investigation.
"Gardaí received report of an alleged assault in Tuam, Co. Galway, which occurred on Thursday 16th October 2025.
"Following enquiries, two male youths, aged in their teens, have been referred to the Youth Diversion Programme.
"Investigations are ongoing," the spokesperson said.
Young people who commit criminal offences or anti-social behaviour can be dealt with by a caution under the Diversion Programme, which informs them that they have committed an offence or anti-social behaviour. This is instead of the formal process of charge and prosecution for offences or an anti-social behaviour order.
A caution is a warning by An Garda Síochána against committing the offending behaviour or similar behaviour again.
Before the young person is considered for admission, they must: Admit responsibility for their criminal or anti-social behaviour; consent to be admitted to the programme and consent to be supervised by JLO, if necessary.
Source: irishmirror.ie
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Colchester City Council announces Multi-Faith Committee to strengthen community unity
10 November 2025
Colchester City Council is pleased to announce the formation of a new Multi-Faith Committee, an initiative designed to bring together leaders from across the city’s many faith communities to promote inclusion, mutual understanding, and shared support.
The announcement coincides with Interfaith Week 2025, a national celebration of dialogue and cooperation between different faiths. The Council is facilitating the initial coordination of the committee, but it will be shaped and led by faith representatives themselves. The committee will provide a space for faith leaders to meet regularly, share perspectives and work together to support the wellbeing of Colchester’s diverse communities.
The idea for the committee was developed following a historic Council meeting in October, where representatives from Jewish, Muslim and Christian communities came together to offer prayers in remembrance of victims of the recent Manchester tragedy. It was the first time a multi-faith reflection had opened a Council session in Colchester, and it marked a significant moment of unity and shared purpose.
The Multi-Faith Committee will meet quarterly, with additional meetings convened if needed in response to specific events. One of its key roles will be to coordinate a joint response from faith leaders during times of difficulty or tension, including issuing public statements of support and solidarity. The committee will also work closely with Essex Police, who will be invited to join the group to help inform its discussions and strengthen collaboration.
In addition to its role in crisis response, the committee will encourage respectful conversations between different faiths, helping to foster deeper understanding and build stronger relationships across communities. It will support wider efforts to promote community cohesion and will play a central role in organising events and initiatives that celebrate the cultural and spiritual richness of Colchester.
Councillor David King, Leader of Colchester City Council, said: “Colchester is a city of many faiths, and this committee will help us build stronger connections between communities. We are proud to support this initiative, which will be led by faith leaders and shaped by their shared values and vision. It will ensure that, when challenges arise, we respond together with compassion, clarity and unity.”
Councillor Michael Lilley, Mayor of Colchester, added: “The multi-faith prayers at our recent Council meeting were a powerful reminder of the values we share. This committee will help us continue that journey, creating a space for dialogue, reflection and collective action.”
Chairman of Colchester Mosque, Mohammed Mozir Uddin, shared his support for the initiative: “This Multi-Faith Committee is a welcome and timely step towards strengthening the bonds between our communities. As Muslims, we value peace, dialogue and mutual respect, and we are proud to stand alongside other faiths in building a more united and compassionate Colchester.”
Ruth Stone, Lay Reader, Colchester and District Jewish Community, added: "We welcome this new initiative and look forward to working alongside our fellow faith leaders as we go forward together.”
Colchester City Council is now inviting faith-based organisations and community leaders to register their interest in joining the Multi-Faith Committee. Expressions of interest can be submitted via email to cabinetofficer@colchester.gov.uk.
This Interfaith Week, Colchester reaffirms its commitment to inclusion, dialogue, and community spirit, and welcomes all faiths to be part of this important new chapter.
Source: colchester.gov.uk
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British journalist to be freed from US immigration detention
11 November 2025
Grace Eliza Goodwin
British journalist Sami Hamdi is set to be released from US custody two weeks after he was detained by immigration enforcement, his family said on Monday.
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Hamdi, a media commentator and outspoken critic of Israel, last month while he was on a speaking tour in the US.
The State Department and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) alleged at the time that Hamdi supports terrorism and poses a threat to national security, while his lawyers have argued he was targeted for criticising Israel and its war in Gaza.
Hamdi will be released from ICE detention in the next few days and return to the UK, his representatives say.
Hamdi was visiting the US to speak at events for the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a Muslim advocacy group, when ICE officers arrested him at the San Francisco International Airport on 26 October.
His detainment came after the US government revoked Hamdi's visa and criticism from far-right political activist and Trump ally Laura Loomer, who accused him of supporting terrorists.
"We've said it before, we'll say it again: The United States has no obligation to host foreigners who support terrorism and actively undermine the safety of Americans", the State Department said of Hamdi at the time he was detained.
The BBC has reached out to the US State Department, ICE, and DHS for comment and confirmation of the agreement to release Hamdi.
Lawyers for Hamdi and the California chapter of CAIR said in a Monday statement that they welcome an agreement allowing Hamdi to voluntarily return to the UK instead of facing deportation.
They said he was targeted for speaking against "Israel's war crimes against Palestinians".
CAIR said that the immigration charging document filed in Hamdi's case only accuses him of overstaying his visa, which the government revoked without notifying him first.
The organisation said the charging document does not identify "any criminal conduct or security grounds", which it said was proof that Hamdi was never a danger to the community or to national security.
"It is this simple: Sami never should have spent a single night in an ICE cell. His only real 'offense' was speaking clearly about Israel's genocidal war crimes against Palestinians," Hussam Ayloush, the CEO of California's CAIR chapter, said in the news release.
When reached for comment, the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) did not confirm details of Hamdi's detainment or release but told the BBC that it was providing consular assistance to a "British man detained in the USA". The office said it has also been in touch with the man's family and with local US authorities.
"This decision brings joy to me, his mother, his wife, our entire family, and all of Sami's supporters around the world," Hamdi's father, Dr Mohamed Elhachmi Hamdi, wrote on X.
"However, it does not erase the bitterness and shock we all feel over what happened to him in the United States — his arrest and the defamation of his reputation and character by US government-affiliated accounts without any legitimate reason whatsoever."
Source: bbc.com
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EU sees influx of male Ukrainian migrants
11 Nov, 2025
The EU has recorded its largest spike in arriving Ukrainian fighting-age men in September, just a month after Vladimir Zelensky allowed men aged 18 to 22 to leave the country, according to the latest Eurostat data.
In September, the bloc granted temporary protection status to 79,205 Ukrainians, a 49% increase compared to the month prior, the European statistical office said in a report on Monday.
For the first time since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, there were more adult men than women among Ukrainian migrants, the data shows. More than 47% of Ukrainians granted temporary protection status in September were adult males, spiking by more than a third compared to August.
Eurostat attributed this to Zelensky’s recent decree easing travel restrictions for men under the age of 23. Prior to this, martial law prevented males aged 18 to 60 from leaving the country.
As many as 650,000 fighting-age men have fled Ukraine over the nearly four years of the conflict, The Telegraph reported in August.
The country has faced mounting manpower shortages as it has been steadily loosing ground to Russia on the front lines, and Kiev has escalated its draft campaign to compensate.
Twice as many complaints over forced conscription have been lodged since early June as the early months of 2025, Ukrainian parliamentary human rights commissioner Dmitry Lubinets told local media last week.
Videos of Ukrainian draft officers ambushing and beating would-be recruits have regularly emerged on social media, leading to mounting public discontent. The campaign has also been marred with accusations of widespread corruption.
Source: rt.com
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Belgium sets up anti-drone squad – then forgets to use it
10 Nov, 2025
Despite having its own specialized anti-drone police unit, Belgium did not deploy it during any of the recent AUV incidents, Nieuwsblad reported on Monday. Instead, Brussels asked fellow NATO members for help in countering what it calls a “hybrid threat.”
The unit, created four years ago and known as C-UAS, consists of 30 certified officers equipped with two drone-detection antennas, four jammers, and three net launchers, according to the report. The police website says the team “provides technological support in combating drones that pose a serious threat to public safety.”
The unit, however, remained absent when an unidentified drone disrupted operations at Zaventem Airport near Brussels for hours last Tuesday or when drones were seen near Liege Airport over the weekend.
On Sunday, Defense Minister Theo Francken announced that the UK had sent a unit to Belgium to counter drone threats. Brussels also asked Berlin and Paris for aid, according to Nieuwsblad.
Belgian police seem unaware of their own capabilities, according to a member of the unit. “We’re still guessing why we weren’t called in,” the individual told Nieuwsblad. “We didn’t even try. I think many people in the police force don’t even know we exist.”
The unit’s antennas cannot detect newer 5G-enabled drones, and the lack of modern equipment often forces officers to rely on binoculars to track potential threats, the source said. All 30 members also have other responsibilities, making it impossible to provide round-the-clock monitoring even at a few key locations, according to the report.
Police declined to comment on its “resources or specific actions,” Nieuwsblad wrote.
Several Western officials have accused Russia of violating EU airspace with aircraft and drones, calling it a part of a “hybrid war.” The Kremlin has denied the allegations, branding them anti-Russian “hysteria.”
Drone sightings near sensitive sites such as airports and military bases have been common in Belgium, according to Skeyes, the national air traffic controller. The agency reported more than 31,000 drone flights near those areas in 2024, about 90% of which were unauthorized, L’Echo reported last month. The issue, however, had until recently received scant attention in the Belgian media.
Source: rt.com
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Southeast Asia
Anwar: Malaysia co-ordinating, not dictating, peace talks between Thailand and Cambodia
11 Nov 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 11 — Malaysia’s role in the peace negotiations between Thailand and Cambodia is limited to coordination and facilitation, without imposing any conditions, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.
Anwar stressed that Malaysia has never forced either side during the peace process, but has merely acted as a mediator to ensure constructive dialogue.
“We only coordinated. I still remember when I brought both prime ministers (of Thailand and Cambodia) together, I told them — you decide the terms; I’m only here to help coordinate and promote peace,” he said during the Ministers’ Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat today.
He said that the parameters of the peace talks were entirely determined by Thailand and Cambodia, not by Malaysia.
“They set the parameters, not us. We didn’t impose any conditions for peace. Both countries reached their own agreement,” he said in reply to Datuk Seri Dr Shahidan Kassim (PN–Arau), who asked how Malaysia handled criticism from certain quarters regarding the peace negotiations. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Best performing currency: Malaysia’s ringgit tops in Asia at RM4.16 against US dollar, says Anwar
11 Nov 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 11 — The ringgit is trading at RM4.16 against the US dollar, making it the best-performing currency in Asia, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.
Anwar, who also serves as Finance Minister, said the ringgit’s performance was achieved despite earlier criticism of the government when the domestic currency had weakened against the greenback.
“In the past, we were repeatedly criticised for the ringgit’s decline, yet now that it has strengthened, no praise is given. That is the problem. Today, the ringgit stands at RM4.16 against the US dollar and is the best-performing currency in Asia,” he said during the Question Time session in the Dewan Rakyat today.
He noted that the currency’s valuation was determined by the market, not the government, following positive sovereign credit ratings from international agencies S&P Global Ratings and Moody’s. Both agencies affirmed Malaysia’s sovereign ratings at A- and A3, signalling a stable and strong economic outlook.
At 6pm yesterday, the ringgit rose 0.4 per cent to 4.1555/1635 against the US dollar, up from 4.1735/1775 at Friday’s close.
The figure marks the ringgit’s highest level in 13 months, after it previously reached 4.1625 on 2 October 2024.
As of 8.01 am today, the ringgit strengthened further to 4.1540/1660 against the US dollar, from 4.1555/1635 at yesterday’s close.
Anwar made the remarks in response to a question from Aminolhuda Hassan (PH-Sri Gading) on how the government measures the effectiveness of the Madani Economic Policy after 18 to 24 months, and on ongoing and planned measures to ensure the policy meets its objectives. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Anwar says 1MDB recovery effort making strong progress with latest RM1b inflow
11 Nov 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 11 — Malaysia’s efforts to recover funds and assets linked to 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) have shown positive progress, with over RM1 billion recently returned to the country, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is also the finance minister, said the recovery process is ongoing through a special task force handling cases in Switzerland and London, the United Kingdom.
“The recovery process is in the final phase now. There were recent inflows, and I can’t specify the exact figure, but it exceeds RM1 billion in addition to previous recoveries,” he said in reply to Datuk Dr Zulkafperi Hanapi (Tanjong Karang) regarding the latest amount of 1MDB funds repatriated to Malaysia during the Minister’s Question Time.
Anwar added that beyond 1MDB, the government is intensifying efforts to combat financial crimes, including telecommunication scams, e-financial fraud, fake loans, non-existent and bogus investments, as well as love scams.
In October, the government and 1MDB announced settlements with three major financial institutions, namely Goldman Sachs (US$3.9 billion or RM16.48 billion), AmBank Group (RM2.83 billion), and JP Morgan (Switzerland) Ltd (RM1.4 billion). — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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‘I’ll be your top salesman abroad’: Anwar pledges to promote Perodua after 5.5 millionth car milestone
By R. Loheswar
11 Nov 2025
RAWANG, Nov 11 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today declared he would act as Perodua’s top salesman when travelling overseas, pledging to promote the national carmaker as part of Malaysia’s push to bring its automotive industry onto the world stage.
Speaking at the launch of Perodua’s 5.5 millionth car, Anwar said he was proud that the company’s vehicles were designed and built largely by Malaysians — many of them Bumiputera — and reflected his administration’s Madani values of sustainability, affordability and good governance.
“I’ve been waiting for the launch of a car that’s sustainable, environmentally friendly, locally produced and built with the latest state-of-the-art technology.
“This car represents all of it and is affordable — that’s what Madani means,” he said.
Anwar thanked Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz and Perodua president Datuk Zainal Abidin Ahmad for their efforts, saying the company’s success proved that discipline, innovation and teamwork could make Malaysian-made products globally competitive.
He said Malaysia was now attracting international attention not necessarily because of new projects but because of its determination and reform efforts.
“If we can produce an electric Perodua for the local market, why not aim to penetrate overseas markets too?” he said, adding that he would promote Perodua during his upcoming visits to South Africa and more.
“In those meetings, when ministers say there are procedures to follow, I’ll tell them straight I want Malaysia to be given priority. That’s how we build real international partnerships,” he said to applause.
Anwar also highlighted his government’s anti-corruption drive, saying RM15.57 billion had been saved in the past two years by curbing scams and leakages.
“We don’t do this for thanks from the Opposition. We do it because it’s our duty not out of love for the company alone, but for the country,” he said.
He reminded the audience that Perodua’s growth aligns with national goals to generate jobs, promote research and innovation, and deliver returns for the nation.
He even recalled buying his own Myvi years ago which he said is still being used.
“I bought my Myvi — not for free,” he quipped, adding that even his Mercedes under the Prime Minister’s Office would be returned to government use when he leaves office.
Anwar described the Perodua launch as a major national agenda, saying it symbolised how Malaysia could advance in electric vehicle technology through digital transformation, AI, and continuous training.
Recalling his first visit to the factory in 1997 before his imprisonment, Anwar said his return carried special meaning.
“It’s more pleasant being here at Perodua than answering questions in Parliament,” he joked.
“Back then, I came before being sent away. Today I come back to lift you up,” he said.
He urged Perodua to continue leading Malaysia toward a fully local-made EV at an affordable price.
“Make this an important national programme, show your best. With passion, skill and discipline, there’s nothing Malaysians can’t do.”
Anwar then met the staff, took pictures, inspected the blue Perodua Bezza 1.3l car which was the 5.5 millionth car.
Zainal said this model was Perodua’s best selling model since 2024 and will probably be the best selling car this year as well overtaking the ever popular Myvi.
Source: malaymail.com
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Tariff shocks no hurdle: Anwar points to record RM2.235t Jan-Sept trade
By Syed Jaymal Zahiid
11 Nov 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 11 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today cited Malaysia’s trade performance as proof that his Madani Economic Framework is on the right trajectory, as he addressed the Opposition’s scepticism towards his economic policies.
January-September trade rose 4.4 per cent to RM2.235 trillion year-on-year, according to data from the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry, released last month, the highest ever recorded in value terms.
Anwar said the increase was despite the volatility wrought by US President Donald Trump’s so-called Liberation Day levies.
Malaysia had its US-bound exports slapped with a 25 per cent tariff before the recently signed Agreement on Reciprocal Trade saw it reduced to 19 per cent, alongside exemptions for some key exports.
“What is the situation now? Our economy is strong and resilient…growth this year could even surpass current projections,” he replied to Sri Gading MP, Aminolhuda Hassan (PH)
“Trade trend continues to be positive. This year, between January to September, it rose by 4.4 per cent. And this is despite a very uncertain world caused by Donald Trump’s tariffs. It still rose to some RM2.2 trillion,” he added.
“And the ringgit. We were once attacked incessantly. They keep saying “ringgit is down, ringgit is down”. Now that it’s stronger, not even a word (from the Opposition).”
Anwar described the Madani Economy framework as a plan to restructure the economy so that it would be more “equitable” by “raising the ceiling” and “raising the floor” - the former to turn Malaysia into a rich economy, the latter focuses on raising living standards.
The framework was launched in 2023, and is meant to be the overarching theme guiding other economic blueprints.
The Malaysian economy grew 4.4 per cent in the first half of 2025, beating estimates. Anwar told Parliament that gross domestic product for 2025 could rise further, underpinned by robust economic performance.
Source: malaymail.com
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Jalan Masjid India reopens after road subsidence repairs completed
11 Nov 2025
Jalan Masjid India has reopened after DBKL completed repairs on road surface subsidence near Bombay Jewellery, with structural stability concerns addressed.
KUALA LUMPUR: Repair work on the road surface affected by subsidence near the Masjid India area has been completed.
Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) announced that Jalan Masjid India, closed this morning for safety reasons, reopened to the public at 6pm yesterday.
Investigations revealed the depression occurred locally, indicating a disturbance to the pavement structure’s stability.
“DBKL will continue close monitoring and conduct further inspections and scanning at the location and surrounding areas,” the authority stated.
DBKL emphasised that public safety remains its top priority.
The authority thanked all parties for their cooperation and compliance with safety instructions during restoration works.
Yesterday, road surface subsidence occurred at Jalan Bunus in front of Bombay Jewellery premises at 8.39am.
DBKL deployed teams alongside Air Selangor, Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) and Dang Wangi District Police Headquarters to conduct preliminary investigations and assess structural risks. – Bernama
Source:
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South Asia
Poet And Thinker Farhad Mazhar: ‘You Cannot Uphold, Defy Constitution At Once’
Nov 11, 2025
Poet and thinker Farhad Mazhar has questioned the authority of the interim government to hold a referendum on constitutional reforms, saying it has taken an oath to uphold the constitution.
"You can't uphold the constitution and act against it at the same time," he said. He made the remarks yesterday while addressing a discussion titled "Challenges of Building a New Bangladesh," organised by the Centre for Democracy and Peace Studies at the Jatiya Press Club.
Mazhar said taking oath under Sheikh Hasina's constitution was a "serious betrayal". Arguing that only a constituent assembly has the authority to amend or form a new constitution, he said the decisions of such an assembly could go to a referendum, but the decisions of a consensus commission have no legal basis.
Mazhar also suggested forming a "real interim government" with the power to establish a constituent assembly. Jamaat-e-Islami's Naib-e-Ameer Helal Uddin and National Hindu Grand Alliance Secretary General Govinda Chandra Pramanik also spoke at the event.
Source: thedailystar.net
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IOM, HCI launch $250,000 initiative to combat trafficking in Rohingya camps
Nov 11, 2025
A $ 250,000 partnership agreement was signed today to combat human trafficking and smuggling in Rohingya refugee camps in Cox's Bazar.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and Human Concern International (HCI) -- Canada's oldest Muslim relief organisation -- along with Human Concern USA, signed the agreement at the IOM office in Cox's Bazar.
The partnership aims to strengthen prevention and response efforts for vulnerable Rohingya refugees at risk of exploitation. The initiative will build on IOM's long-standing expertise in counter-trafficking in Bangladesh by deploying mobile protection teams to identify trafficking survivors and by strengthening coordination across all 33 camps in the region.
The project will also engage community leaders, volunteers, and youth groups to recognise and report trafficking risks, enhancing community-based protection and resilience.
IOM Bangladesh Chief of Mission Lance Bonneau said that the initiative ensures every refugee has access to consistent protection services through community engagement and capacity building.
"IOM remains committed to working hand-in-hand with the Government of Bangladesh, local authorities, and humanitarian partners to ensure that people at risk of trafficking are protected, supported, and empowered," he said.
"Our faith calls on us to stand against injustice and protect the most vulnerable among us," said HCI Global CEO Mahmuda Khan. "On behalf of our donors, HCI is putting our values of compassion, justice, and dignity into action so that we can ensure the Rohingya refugees are not only protected from exploitation but empowered to build safer and more hopeful futures," she added.
The partnership is funded through HCI's newly established Islamic Philanthropy Fund (IPF), which represents faith-based giving -- including Zakat and Sadaqah -- towards humanitarian initiatives. This collaboration marks a milestone for HCI, placing it among a select group of international organisations partnering with IOM in a faith-driven humanitarian effort.
The initiative complements IOM's ongoing counter-trafficking work in Bangladesh and contributes to broader humanitarian interventions in Sudan, Libya, and Ukraine.
Source: thedailystar.net
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Mohammad Naeem Says Pakistan’s Unrealistic Demands Caused Collapse of Talks
By Fidel Rahmati
November 11, 2025
Taliban Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammad Naeem said negotiations with Pakistan collapsed due to Islamabad’s unrealistic demands and lack of cooperation despite mediation efforts.
Mohammad Naeem, the Taliban’s deputy foreign minister, said the main reason behind the failure of recent talks with Islamabad was the “unrealistic demands” made by the Pakistani delegation.
According to Naeem, who spoke on Monday, the “irresponsible and uncooperative behavior” of the Pakistani side prevented any outcome from the negotiations, despite what he described as the Taliban’s goodwill and the efforts of mediators.
He further claimed that certain factions within Pakistan’s military were not interested in resolving issues through dialogue, adding that blaming the Taliban for all of Pakistan’s security problems was “unjustified.”
Naeem stated that the Taliban would be ready to resume talks through diplomacy and mutual understanding whenever Pakistan “demonstrates goodwill and makes reasonable demands.”
The remarks came after Pakistani official Tahir Hussain Andrabi earlier accused the Taliban of using the dialogue to make baseless allegations against Islamabad instead of addressing its terrorism concerns.
The failure of the latest round of talks has deepened tensions between Kabul and Islamabad, which have long blamed each other for cross-border violence and militant activity. Observers say sustained diplomatic engagement remains crucial to prevent further escalation along the frontier.
Source: khaama.com
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Afghan Counter-Narcotics Delegation Departs for Iran to Attend UN-Sponsored Conference
November 10, 2025
KABUL: An eight-member delegation from the Counter-Narcotics Department of the Ministry of Interior Affairs departed for the Islamic Republic of Iran on an official visit on Sunday.
The delegation, led by Mawlavi Haseebullah Ahmadi, Chief of Staff of the Counter-Narcotics Department, includes several department heads from the ministry as well as representatives from the Ministry of Public Health, the ministry said in a statement.
According to the statement, the visit was organized at the invitation of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Afghan delegation is expected to participate in a joint conference in Tehran focusing on drug control and the treatment of addicts.
The conference aims to enhance regional cooperation and share expertise on counter-narcotics efforts, prevention strategies, and rehabilitation programs.
Afghan officials expressed hope that the visit would pave the way for stronger collaboration between Afghanistan, Iran, and international organizations in tackling drug-related challenges and promoting effective treatment and rehabilitation frameworks.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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Islamic Emirate Invites Domestic and Foreign Investment Across Key Sectors
November 10, 2025
KABUL: The office of the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs said in a statement on Sunday that vast and secure investment opportunities are now available across multiple economic sectors in the country, encouraging both local and international investors to participate with full confidence.
“The Islamic Emirate has taken significant steps to ensure a stable environment for business growth and private sector participation, the statement said, emphasizing that investors can safely engage in trade, construction, energy, mining, agriculture, and other productive industries without fear of instability or bureaucratic obstacles.
The statement further assured that all necessary cooperation, protection, and facilitation will be provided to investors, reaffirming its long-term commitment to supporting lawful and transparent business operations throughout Afghanistan.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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Over 12,540 Afghan Refugees Return from Pakistan in One Day
November 10, 2025
KABUL: The Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation said in a statement on Sunday that 12,549 Afghan migrants returned from Pakistan within the past 24 hours through the Torkham, Spin Boldak, and Bahramcha border crossings along the Durand Line.
Additionally, 336 Afghan nationals returned from Iran during the same period via the Islam Qala and Silk Road entry points, the statement said.
The statement said that the returning migrants have been registered and provided with immediate humanitarian assistance, including food, temporary shelter, and medical support.
The ministry emphasized that efforts are underway, in cooperation with domestic and international organizations, to facilitate the smooth reintegration of returnees into their home communities.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/radicalised-terror-module-evil-design/d/137599